The Comeback Season

by Gretchen Ives

Lights. Camera. Tension. He runs the team, her father runs the show, and when a stoic hockey captain falls for his boss’s daughter, their forbidden romance becomes the most dangerous production in Los Angeles.

He’s the surly captain holding a failing team together. She’s the struggling filmmaker sent to capture its demise.

Frederica Hearst is an aspiring horror director, estranged from her wealthy father—until he offers her a deal she can’t afford to turn down: film a documentary about his failing hockey team before he liquidates it, in exchange for a cut of its sale. The payout could be the boost she needs to finally make a name for herself.

Mattias Falkenberg is the league’s fastest forward on the league’s worst team, and time is running out. Desperate to clinch a championship before he's forced to move back to Sweden, the last thing he needs is the owner’s daughter and her camera in his locker room.

She’s a distraction. He’s off-limits.

Falling for him could ruin Freddie's last chance to prove herself, and trusting her could cost Mattias everything he’s worked for. With the franchise sale closing in, Freddie faces an impossible choice: betray the love that wasn’t in the script, or leave her dreams on the cutting-room floor.

Genres: Hockey, Sports, Romance

375 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2026

About the author

Gretchen Ives is an author of contemporary romance. Originally from Texas, she currently splits time between Los Angeles and her husband’s hometown in Sweden. When she's not writing, she likes taking pictures with her vintage film camera, watering her balcony garden, going to hockey games, and seeking out oddities in the California desert.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 (4.5/5)

"Lights. Camera. Tension" is the perfect tagline for this book because the chemistry between Freddie and Mattias was cinematic!

I am such a sucker for hockey romance, but this one felt fresh thanks to its setup. Freddie is not just the "owner's daughter"; she is an aspiring horror director trying to make it in Hollywood (LA). She has been given an opportunity to film a documentary on a failing team, the Monarchs. Mattias Falkenberg #24 is the perfect grumpy, stoic Swedish hockey captain who just wants to revive his team and definitely does not want a camera in his face.

The forced proximity of her following him around and the team, for the documentary, created so much deliciously awkward tension. I loved seeing Mattias's icy exterior melt (even if he fought it every step of the way). The stakes felt real, too, with her complicated family dynamics colliding with the immense pressure on his career; you were genuinely rooting for them to find a way out of the mess.

I am giving this book 4 1/2 stars, mostly because I just wanted more time seeing them happy! After all the intensity and the high-stakes drama with the team, I was craving a few more chapters of them just being together and enjoying their relationship. I felt like we needed a little more of that sweet, carefree couple time to balance out the tensions.

Do not wait for the final buzzer! Pre-order now to score the ultimate game-winning read!

The Tropes:

Hockey Romance

Grumpy x Sunshine (Stoic Captain & Director)

Forbidden Love (Boss' Daughter)

Forced Proximity

Workplace Rivals

***I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.***

[EwreckaAnnReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Comeback Season by Gretchen Ives is the kind of story that sneaks up on you – soft at first, then suddenly you’re all in, heart on the line like it’s the championship game.

We meet Freddie, an aspiring horror director with something to prove (and everything to lose), and Mattias, the fastest forward on the league’s worst team who’s chasing one last shot at glory. She’s handed a camera and a crumbling hockey team. He’s holding onto a dream that refuses to go quietly. Together? They create a story neither of them planned…but one you can’t help but root for.

There is something magical about the way this story unfolds. I found myself cheering not just for Freddie and Mattias, but for the entire team – the coach, the staff, every player grinding their way toward something bigger than themselves. Who doesn’t love a good underdog story? It’s the kind of found-family energy that wraps around you and doesn’t let go.

The story takes its time. It builds. And it builds. But, man, that payoff. Watching Freddie and Mattias grow – individually and together – felt so genuine, so tender, and so real. Their relationship doesn’t rush, it blooms, and it is beautiful to witness.

At its core, this is a sweet, heartfelt hocky romance about dreams, second chances, and choosing what truly matters – even when it costs you. And honestly? It’s impossible not to fall a little bit in love with it.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Aleksandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Comeback Season by Gretchen Ives is a heartfelt hockey romance about a struggling filmmaker and a stoic team captain whose forbidden connection grows while she documents his failing franchise. What starts as tension and mutual dislike slowly turns into something tender, complicated, and deeply real as both characters face career pressures, family expectations, and the fear of wanting more.
I honestly couldn’t put this down—I read it in one sitting. The story feels comforting in that messy, emotional way life often does, with imperfect characters who doubt themselves and make mistakes but keep trying anyway. Mattias absolutely shines as a hero (seriously, his personality is elite), and the banter in the early chapters makes the slow shift from enemies to lovers incredibly satisfying and believable. I also loved the balance: rom-com moments, sports stakes, and just enough suspense to keep things interesting.
The writing leans beautifully into character growth and emotional realism rather than over-the-top drama, which made the relationship progression feel authentic and earned. If you want a hockey romance with heart—not just highlights and hearts—this delivers.
Overall: emotional, cozy, and impossible to stop reading. A perfect 5-star romance comeback.

[lauren ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is probably the most fun i’ve had in ages reading a hockey romance, it felt so refreshing!!

anyway, i randomly decided to read this bc i follow the la kings and thought it would be fun bc i rarely see any hockey books set in la

this was genuinely SO close to being a 5 star and i think this author has soo much potential to get there bc this is her first book i just had a few issues.. i think it could have been edited a bit more concisely and like the horror references got a bit overdone too..

i did really appreciate how much hockey was in this and how accurate it was!! my only qualms where the use of “puck bunny” and also the reference of their being shoot outs in the Stanley cup final 😭 bc shoot outs are not part of playoffs but i was willing to let it slide maybe in this version of the nhl they exist since the author called it the “founder’s cup” lol

anyway i highly recommend this to people who love chelsea curto and stephanie archer !! really excited for this series to (hopefully) continue and whatever this author does next.

[chloe bolton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The chemistry between Freddie and Mattias was off the chart from the moment they met!

Freddie is an aspiring horror film director trying to make it in LA. She takes a job working for her father to film a sports documentary for the Monarchs who Mattias is the captain for. He is a grumpy Swedish hockey player who wants more than anything to win the cup and wants the camera nowhere near him.

The force proximity created so much tension from the get go, with the pressure she feels from her complicated family colliding with the pressure he has on his career had you rooting for it to work with them both.

I found it well paced although I would like to have seen more of them being happy together, you see so much of the buildup but not so much once they’re together. But overall the story was written beautifully. I absolutely love the character I’ve seen throughout the story with emotional realism instead of over the top drama. You can tell the author did her research into hockey and horror films. It really showed.

Thank you to the author for the chance to receive an ARC version of this book and I look forward to reading more from them in the future.

[Nathalie DeSousa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an addictive read! A story that mixes action, sport, growth, a team, a redemption story, a slow burn, a coming of age -of sorts-, and the sweetest love story between two unlikely people.

Freddie is an aspiring horror movie director, the daughter of the hockey team's owner, and cash strapped. Mattias is a team player in the worst hockey team in the league, fast, and wanting to make a change. When Freddie is tasked to create a documentary about the team, these two will have a chance to work side to side and the most unexpected love.

What works in this book is the slow burn between the main characters, they are so relatable, they are flawed, but they both have common goals: they want to matter and be seen for who they are. Their dreams mesh nicely together, and it is them who carry a team together. The plot is fast and developed showing different facets of the MC as well as the team. You will see them grow and struggle and love them through it all!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love when the main character is a heroine that knows what she wants, has her goals in place, and is just trying to figure out life just like the rest of us. Enter Grumpy Hot Male Hockey Hero that just wants to continue to live his dreams in peace.

Obviously heroine and hero stumble to understand each other and it’s not all lollipops/roses even when in the bubble of private jets and hockey games.

It was refreshing that the heroine had to put it all on the line with her ridiculous family. Not just to get the guy, but to make peace with her own situation-ship with her “f-ed” up family dynamic.

Rated it 4 stars because it was a great story, but I didn’t get most of the horror movie references and didn’t feel like using Google Translate for the Swedish curse words.

***Thanks so much to Author Gretchen Ives for an ARC copy!***

[Emelie Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC-copy!

I really liked this book! I think that moviemaking and hockey was a nice take, one I’ve never read before. I totally loved that the MMC Mattias is from Sweden and the Swedish words and customs that were woven in to the story. The author also did a great job explaining the parts where the words were in English but in the storyline he needed to talk in Swedish. The story was easy to follow.

The FMC Freddie’s story is important! Both not putting your value in other people’s opinions as well as the courage to go your own way instead of pressure from family legacy. I do know a lot about hockey, I’ve been a big fan of Swedish hockey and I also found that the hockey part of the story was well written.

This is a really good debut! If you like hockey sports romance you should definitely pick this one up!

[Kirti Gupta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT I READ THIS BOOK IN ONE GO!! It felt like home in a way I wasn’t expecting. The Comeback Season is about being unsure, messing up, and still trying to move forward anyway. It captures that feeling of wanting something badly but being scared to hope too much, and that made the story feel very close to real life.

What I liked most is how imperfect everyone is. The characters doubt themselves, carry emotional baggage, and don’t always make the right choices-and that’s exactly why they work. Nothing feels rushed or over-dramatic. It’s a quiet, emotional read that stays with you, especially if you enjoy character-driven stories and second-chance themes.

Also..

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Luisa Lübke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It’s a nice mixture between romcom and sports romance with a little suspense.
I absolutely loved both characters. They were very relatable and each of them had their individual perks. Mattias’ personality is just stellar.
I loved the banter between them especially in the beginning. The fact that they loathed each other in the beginning made the outcome so much sweeter because they were really so different from each other that it seemed impossible at first for them to have a relationship. Yet it was still believable as their relationship progressed. If you enjoy a good hockey romance that is realistic concerning the progression of the relationship and not only filled with hearts, this is for you!

[Ulli Zaiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a hockey romance set in L.A. and it tells the story of hockey player Matthias and aspiring horror director Freddie. Since Freddie is the daughter of the team‘s owner and her father wants to increase the popularity of the hockey team she is ordered to film a documentary about it. Team captain Matthias is not impressed at first but the more they get to know each other the more their mutual attraction grows. But Freddie‘s father has his own agenda…

I enjoyed reading the book, the story was entertaining, had relatable main characters and some obstacles on the way to the HEA.

All in all an entertaining hockey romance.

I received an ARC via booksirens.com and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Wendy Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a hard one to put down. It has a steady pace to it and I was halfway through it before I even realized it.
The characters are well developed and you can't help but feel for them in their predicaments.
It's hard not to root for Mattias and Freddie as they navigate life and the circumstances they find themselves in.
The only critique, and it's minor enough not to diminish the rating, is that I had to look up the Swedish words that were sometimes used.
I look forward to reading more books with this team. Hoping for a book about the character Poirier!

[MisTea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!! The story was incredible with a sweet slow burn and some spice. The FMC, Freddie, is a strong female who is also battling feelings of self-worth. The MMC is classically grumpy but I feel in love with Mattias. I went through all of the emotions throughout the book - laughter, sadness, anger, tears. The author did an incredible job and I can’t wait to read more from her. I highly recommend this book.

I did receive an advanced reader copy from the author. My review is voluntary and my own opinion.

[Danyelle Tasker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a lot of potential but just fell a bit flat for me. I loved the story line and I loved all the horror references. I found myself laughing a lot but I was just missing the chemistry, the yearning between the MMC and FMC. This was a very slow burn and when things are set up this way I need to feel the tension and yearning and relationship building to keep me interested in the couple. The spice was nice, I wish it was spread out a bit more. I’d rate this a 1.5 on the spice scale

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Zoe]

I loved the characters - how they each developed individually and in every relationship throughout the story. I was rooting for everyone across the book. The only thing keeping it from 5 stars is the amount of industry references. It was distracting to have everything compared to a movie or hockey term (maybe just because I'm not super well versed in either). If you're in either of those industries maybe it wouldn't bother as much? I just found myself looking up a lot of the references. But I read it quickly and enjoyed everything about it.

[Read with Latifa 🌸 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great read, I loved the plot and characters! Bubbly chaotic film director FMC vs grumpy hockey captain MMC!! The chemistry and tension between these two 🔥🔥 I am very picky when it comes to contemporary books, but I was surprised of how entertaining this was for a hockey workplace romance, I really enjoyed the banter and plot. I related to Freddy (FMC) so much in terms of embracing her imperfections and being true to herself. This was a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me and a 🌶️🌶️ spice level. Thank you for the ARC looking forward to reading more from this author 🥰🔥

[Taylor Faubel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Advanced reading!!!

I loved these characters so much. The slow burn helped aid to the plot and I felt that they had an amazing connection and banter between the two prior to the falling in love of enemies is to die for! I genuinely couldn’t put this book down. It felt extremely vulnerable and relatable when looking at high expectations of families and wanting more for yourself! The relatability definitely made the book impossible to put down!

[Kirstan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through this book, I really felt for both Mattias and Freddie. I thought both characters were written well. The only thing I will critique is I wish there were more interesting between the two main characters before there were feelings coming out. Otherwise, good hockey back and I love that the author used her real life personal experience for this. I did receive an advanced copy but this review is voluntary and honest.

[Karen Wheat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this hockey romance book. It was filled with all the good things a book needs to succeed in my opinion. Action, love, drama , spice, betrayal and a happily ever after I cant live without. I cried with her each time her dad berated her for her foolish dreams. The way she stood up for the team is all I needed and more. If you love sports romance / romcom you will adore this novel.

[Ivy Church · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! The relationship between Mattias and Freddie was perfect, the build up was not to quick and felt very natural. I’m someone who doesn’t like too much spice and this book at the perfect amount. Would read more from this author.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for my arc copy Booksirens & Gretchen Ives.

The tropes for this book drew me in so fast. I love a good hockey book! The new owner’s daughter and the hockey player. Cue the tension! These 2 had an uphill battle for sure.

While I enjoyed the story line & tropes of this book, I found it to be slower for me.

[ImSuddenlySue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so well-written!
I never lost the plot.
The characters had purpose, depth, and history.
I cheered and cried, and wrung my hands right along with them.
Hockey romance holds a place in my heart, and this one did NOT disappoint!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. These opinions are my own, and reflect only my thoughts.

[Jasmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t connect to the book even though I love the troupes. It might have been where I wasn’t in the right mindset to read the book so it felt like that could have contributed to the lower rating. I would probably rate it higher if that wasn’t the case. I may need to go back and read this book again.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Julia bernoski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved getting to read this arc!! This was a great hockey romance story! I loved the different concepts talked about in the story. I would have liked more depth on the father in the end, but otherwise, I ate this book up!! 💝

[Britney Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Fast paced novel about a hockey romance. The story was great in developing the main characters from start to finish. There were minimal romance scenes that didn’t detract from the overall story line.

[Danae Southerland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for an early copy in exchange for a review.

I throughly enjoyed this book! The main characters, their stories, and their “Comeback Seasons” was fantastic to read. And it also just goes to show that your found family is sometimes the best to have! Well done!

[Laura Moncrief · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! I am a huge fan of hockey romances, but this one delivered with lots of unexpected twists and turns! Love Freddie’s friendships with Grace & Margot! Also with Parker & Ryan. Love the kindness Freddie is always shown by Coach Marshall! Love Freddie’s relationship with Matthias!!

[Breanna Tyree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall cute story! I love Mattias. I love his character growth. I feel like he made the most out of any of his situations. If you are into horror film trivia, you will like the references to situations or characters throughout the novel.

[Emily Cahoon Horvath · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one. Definitely a slow burn.

[Ellin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 ⭐️

This was a quick and enjoyable read from start to finish. As a native Swedish speaker, born and raised in Sweden, I really liked how the author left Easter eggs of Swedish culture throughout the story; everything from words in Swedish to typical Swedish dishes, candy and holidays. It somehow made it all more genuine. The characters with their emotional baggage and the high stakes felt vulnerable and relatable and the found family with the hockey players in the team was a nice touch to the story. I also liked how the dynamic and the typical rough and hard hockey culture amongst the players was portrayed making it feel very real.

The book made me laugh and smile but it wasn’t until close to the end that I started to feel and root more for Mattias and Freddie, romance wise. With the forced proximity around them, I was missing the chemistry and the yearning between them, or at least I wished there was more of it.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.