Just Playing for Keeps

𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒ᰔᩚ
𝙥𝙧𝙚-𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙: currently in my hockey romance era and this one has fake dating so my expectations are already dangerously high

thank you so much to Hambright PR and Lauren Blakely for the ARC + ALC 🎧💕

⋮ ⌗ ┆ 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙: 21st May,2026

sabrina

367 reviews595 followers

MissPetiteBrunetteBookBlog

RTC

1,492 reviews273 followers

May 18, 2026

Remy Hatmaker was dumped in the most embarrassing way in front of the world. Thank goodness hockey right winger, Lake Axelrod, was watching and stepped in to help. Now, she needs a date to her sister’s wedding since her ex is the best man and Lake wants to be her faux boyfriend to help her out. One thing though, he might be emotionally unavailable but he always had a thing for Remy. Can being her “boyfriend” maybe get him to open up to something real? This is a sweet, faux boyfriend romance. Lake was such a sweet man even with his occasional grump persona and Remy was his perfect match. Told in first person and dual POV.

cute fake-couple feel-good-romance

Emmy Wong

480 reviews19 followers

Sara J [saras kindle era]

Hockey fake dating romances are pretty common and are quite literally what I’m craving considering I just finished watching Off Campus. This book was beautifully written, with the sweetest and most lovable characters that made on of the most cliche sports romances storylines into a book I will not forget. This book is kind of a forging of Play Along by Liz Tomforde (with Lake being obsessed with her while she was engaged to someone else) and The Deal by Elle Kennedy (with the fake dating and one bed trope that had me swooning).This book has the one bed trope in its complete and utter glory! They’ve been fake dating a while and literally salivating over each other, so once they have to share a bed the tension SNAPS. The plot is pretty good and despite the many cliches had so many fun and unique parts too. Most of it was cute and focused on them selling in their fake relationship (which they had no problem doing) and trying not to fall in love. I did love how possessive Lake got though and the cute like “before I do” to do list which was beautiful. The characters really caught my attention, both Lake and Remy were so special and relatable. Despite his grumpy hockey player persona, Lake is actually a nature enthusiast with a PhD in pining. Because his longing stares are soo obvious the whole team knows before he does and when she’s single this man does not let the chance go to waste. He is also the epitome of the gift giving love language, the amount of sweet and thoughtful gifts he left her had me swept off my feet. Remy is his total opposite but also so similar to him in many ways, she’s sunshiney and a romantic at heart but also loves the quiet and nature. They fit perfectly like two pieces of a puzzle and made me so jealous and hopeful of finding someone who just gets me like that. Overall a perfect swoony, spicy, sports romance and I give it a 5/5

478 reviews

Y'all know I by now that if Lauren writes it, I am gonna devour it! Remy & Lake are no different! I love me some grumpy x sunshine/fake dating, and they are such a fun time!

Audio: Full cast & duet is basically my catnip that instantly makes any story better, & this one is no different! This one is led by Erin Mallon and Jason Clarke who are fantastic! They bring Remy and Lake to life so well, really capturing their chemistry & banter! Loved loved loved! 1000% recommend for immersive reading!

Story: Fake dating, grumpy x sunshine, best friend's brother? Hockey? Written by Lauren? These are a few of my favorite things! I love how this one started, I mean I FELT the second hand embarrassment for Remy & was cringing so hard for her, but boyyyy did it lead to the best thing with Lake! Lake, who has had a little something something for Remy for a hot minute, & can't stand to see her hurting. Lake, who is down bad but a little damaged. Lake who wants so much more than just putting on a show for Remy's ex! If ya can't tell, I liked him a smidge.

I enjoyed this one so much, it was a fun, sweet, & spicy ride! The way Lake grew was also done so well! I don't want to give it all away, so I'll leave it with I love Remy & Lake, & I love their journey!

*Thank you to Lauren & team for the ARC & ALC opportunity!*

alcs arcs hockey

Rachel

189 reviews15 followers

May 17, 2026

Beta-full review to come!

104 reviews4 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

Thank you to Lauren Blakely & Good Girls PR for this ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Sometimes a romance novel knows exactly what readers want and delivers every single trope with confidence.

That was absolutely my experience with Just Playing for Keeps.

Fake dating. Hockey romance. Grumpy/sunshine. Best friend’s brother. Obsessed hero. This book basically walked into the room carrying a checklist of my favorite romance tropes and somehow made all of them work together naturally.

For my first Lauren Blakely novel, I’ve got to say… I’m a fan.

The chemistry between Lake and Remy works immediately, both emotionally and physically. Lake delivers exactly the kind of broody hockey-player energy readers want from this trope, while Remy balances him perfectly with warmth and humor. The grumpy/sunshine dynamic never feels forced, and the fake dating tension creates plenty of entertaining moments throughout the story.

One of the biggest strengths here is how easy the book is to consume. The pacing absolutely flies by. I listened to the audiobook version, and the duet narration from Erin Mallon and Jason Clarke elevated the entire experience. Their performances work incredibly well together, especially during the banter-heavy and emotional scenes. This became one of those audiobooks you can throw on while cleaning the house, sitting in car line, or even working, and still stay fully engaged the entire time.

Lauren Blakely’s writing style also worked perfectly for me. The prose feels natural, conversational, and approachable without losing emotional weight. Some romance novels get bogged down trying to sound overly dramatic or overly witty. This one simply feels comfortable in its own voice, which made it incredibly easy to binge.

Most importantly, the book understands exactly what kind of reading experience it wants to provide. This is not trying to reinvent romance. It is trying to give readers a fun, emotional, chemistry-filled hockey romance that fully commits to the tropes people love. And honestly? It succeeds.

⭐ Category Breakdown ⭐
Storytelling: 4.0
Trope-heavy in the best possible way.

Character Work: 4.0
Lake and Remy’s chemistry absolutely carries the story.

Pacing: 4.0
Fast, entertaining, and elevated by fantastic duet narration.

Prose & Style: 5.0
Natural, approachable writing that makes the story incredibly easy to binge.

Emotional Impact: 4.0
A romance I would absolutely recommend to hockey romance readers.

⭐ Final Rating ⭐
Average: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Final Thoughts
This was exactly the kind of romance read I wanted it to be.
Fun chemistry. Strong tropes. Great audio performances. And a writing style that makes the pages disappear quickly.

I’ll absolutely be continuing with Lauren Blakely’s work, and if hockey romance is your thing, this is definitely one to pick up when it releases on June 3rd.

HollyJane

297 reviews7 followers

Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers

Just Playing for Keeps by Just Playing for Keeps — 5 ⭐️

Lauren Blakely seriously does it again. This book was EVERYTHING I want in a hockey romance and fake dating done right. From the very first jumbotron breakup scene, I was completely hooked. The second Remi gets publicly dumped and Lake swoops in to save her? Immediate obsession.

Remi was such a refreshing FMC. She’s a relationship coach/date designer who fully believes in romance, love, and happily ever afters, which made her heartbreak hit even harder. And Lake? Oh my god. This man. He’s a grumpy NHL hockey player wrapped up in alpha protective energy, but underneath all that he’s also a total cinnamon roll golden retriever of a man. The combination WORKED SO WELL. Add in the fact that he’s secretly been crushing on Remi forever, she’s his sister’s best friend, AND he’s a widower carrying emotional baggage? Yeah. I was done for.

The banter in this book was top tier. It had so many genuinely funny romcom moments balanced perfectly with emotional depth. The pacing was honestly phenomenal too. Nothing felt rushed, which is so important in fake dating romances. Watching these two naturally go from acquaintances to friendship to fake dating to something real felt effortless and believable.

I also really loved that both characters had insecurities and emotional walls they had to work through. Neither of them fully believed they deserved love or another chance at happiness, and seeing them slowly heal and choose each other was so rewarding.

And let’s not forget Thor the cat because honestly he deserves his own honorary mention.

If you love:

* Fake dating
* Hockey romance
* Grumpy/sunshine vibes
* Sister’s best friend
* Protective MMC
* Pining hero
* Banter-filled romcoms
* Emotional healing
* Cats in romance novels

…this one absolutely delivers. One of my favorite Lauren Blakely romances yet.

Thank you so much to Hambright PR for gifting me an ALC of this story. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to listen to this absolutely fabulous romance. The narration by Erin Mallon and Jason Clarke was PERFECT. These two together are honestly chef’s kiss and brought so much emotion, humor, and chemistry to Lake and Remi’s story. We also get performances from Savannah Thomas and Ryan West, which made the audiobook experience even better. I highly, highly recommend picking this one up on audio because it is SO GOOD.

read-2026

Emma Ashley

1,565 reviews55 followers

Review of advance copy

🩷 Blurb-
A grumpy/sunshine fake dating hockey romance from #1 NYT Bestseller Lauren Blakely!
Ever hear the story about the dating coach who got dumped on the hockey arena’s jumbotron?
Everyone did. But I lived it. Including the moment when Lake Axelrod, the team’s broody, tattooed right winger, swooped in on skates to rescue me from public humiliation.
Even more surprising? When the famously grumpy (and ridiculously sexy) hockey star insists on being my fake boyfriend for my sister’s high-profile wedding.
It’s the perfect plan. His family stops pressuring him to settle down, and I’ll get the ultimate revenge, since my ex is the best man. Bonus – I might even salvage my professional reputation.
We need rules though.
1. To pull this off, everyone from his teammates to my boss has to believe we’re a real couple.
2. That means swoony touches and knee-weakening kisses are required.
3. When it ends, we walk away.
But the intensity in Lake’s eyes after every post-game kiss makes me wonder if he’s pretending. With each whispered secret, the line between fake and real bends. Until it shatters one night in a hotel room.
Soon, he isn’t just playing the protective boyfriend—he’s the only one who truly sees me.
If I’m not careful, I’m going to break the most important rule of all: don’t fall for your fake date.
This is Lake and Remy's romance. Tropes include: grumpy/sunshine hockey romance, fake dating, workplace romance, best friend's brother, obsessed hero.
🩵 Review -
Even though I hadn't read the first book in the series I soon understood who was who and what was going on. The story was cute and easy to follow and had a good cast of characters. I also loved the main characters chemistry and I wanted them to have their happy ending. I'm loving all the sports romance novels that are around at the moment and the author wrote it really well. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to Hambright PR and the author Lauren Blakely for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Devon (tips_and_tropes)

266 reviews3 followers

Remy Hatmaker just wants to create a perfect moment for the proposal she thinks is coming since finding an engagement ring shaped box in her boyfriend’s hoodie. So maybe she goes a little overboard—planning with arena staff for her big moment to be featured on the jumbotron during a hockey game of the team she’s working for, hiring a photographer to capture the moment, buying an expensive bottle of champagne and arranging for it to be delivered into the stands after she says yes… then life flips the script. After witnessing the “Jumbotron Dump”, Lake Axelrod, the star right winger for the Golden State Foxes, can’t help but step in to steal the spotlight in the arena so she can make her escape. It’s a premise that perfectly sets up the fake dating scheme to help Remy save face at her sister’s wedding, since the Ex is also the Best Man to her Maid of Honor.
Lake and Remy really stole my heart. I love a broody guy with big feelings, and Lake has been struggling. He is dealing with so much on his own, from grief to family worries, and professional pressure. On top of all that, the man would definitely be on top of the podium if “Pining for Remy” was an Olympic sport. We love a man who YEARNS!! And he’s a devoted cat daddy to the mischievous, scene stealing, leash walking, Siamese, Thor. What more could a girl ask for? Remy is so strong, and kind, and open that she pulls that man right into the sunshine with her. The chemistry between the leads is sizzling, and once we hit “only one bed” - look out!
I did an immersive read with the ebook and the audiobook, and I highly recommend the audio! It features duet style narration featuring Erin Mallon as Remy and Jason Clarke as Lake, and it is a full ensemble cast recording including supporting narration from Savannah Thomas and Ryan West! Lauren’s audiobooks are always top tier, but this one really is in the sweet spot. It’s funny, sexy, and charming as hell. Make sure to stick around for the bloopers!
Thank you to Lauren Blakely and her team for this ARC/ALC opportunity!

2026 alc arc

Nicole

194 reviews7 followers

netgalley-other-arc-reads

Summary: Remy thinks her boyfriend is about to propose at a hockey game, only to be publicly dumped instead. After the humiliating breakup, hockey player Axel steps in to save the day and offers to be her fake boyfriend for her sister’s upcoming wedding events. With rules in place to keep things fake between them, the two quickly realize it may not be so easy.

My thoughts: I’ve been really enjoying sports romances lately, so this book immediately caught my attention! One of my favorite parts of sports romances is the closeness and camaraderie within the team, and this book delivered exactly that. I loved the team dynamic and the sense of friendship and support woven throughout the story.

Axel was easily my favorite character. He carries a lot of emotional baggage from difficult events in his family and personal life, which gives his broody personality more depth. Even though he’s definitely a grumpy MMC, he still has tender moments that make him incredibly lovable. Watching him slowly show Remy what genuine love, care, and support should look like—even under the guise of a fake relationship—was one of the highlights of the book.

Remy balanced Axel perfectly with her sunshine personality. She was warm, fun, and easy to root for. I especially loved the relationships she built with her friends, family, and the side characters throughout the story. Her caring nature shines through in every interaction.

The pacing felt a little slow at times, and there was some extra fluff that could have been trimmed down. Still, I really enjoyed the San Francisco setting and loved seeing familiar characters from previous books appear throughout Just Playing for Keeps. It’s always fun revisiting characters from earlier stories in a series.

Thank you to Lauren Blakely for the ARC of Just Playing for Keeps. This was a fun and emotional hockey romance, and all opinions are my own.

Jo Cooper

315 reviews6 followers

Review of advance copy received from Publisher

JUST PLAYING FOR KEEPS by LAUREN BLAKELY ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Just Playing For Keeps is the second (#2) book in the HOCKEY EVER AFTER series.

When Remy gets dumped publicly, on the Jumbotron at a ice hockey match, Lake Axelrod, team winger and renowned grump, saves her humiliation by drawing the attention to himself.

Realising she’s now lost her plus one for her sisters upcoming wedding, Lake offers to be Remy’s fake boyfriend, even though it’s going to make his long held secret longing for Remy harder to keep hidden.

As the pair spend time together so the ‘fake’ part of their relationship blurs at the edges but the pair each have their own issues and the thought of them opening their hearts to the other seems unattainable. But when Remys ex starts to interfere everything starts to fall apart….

—————————

This is a well written, easy to read book.

With relatable characters, some humorous moments that relieve the more serious topics, and good pacing.

I particularly like the Lake character, who puts himself out to do what he can for Remy even when it makes him uncomfortable.

Remy is a people pleaser which gets her into uncomfortable situations at times and Jameson was a perfect ‘villain’. There are plenty of interesting side characters that help the story move along.

Their relationship was perfectly paced and you can’t help but wish them on to their hea. There are some spicy, open door scenes as the relationship develops.

I read an ebook version of this entertaining book, with around 440 pages, a hockey couple illustrated cover and good editing.

With thanks to Lauren Blakely and Hambright PR for an early read of this book. All comments are my own honest, unbiased opinion.

🏒 Fake Dating
🏒 He Falls First
🏒 Open Door Spice 🔥🔥🔥
🏒 Close Proximity
🏒 Rebound

Caitlin

226 reviews4 followers

ALC Review : Just Playing for Keeps by Lauren Blakely (Hockey Ever After Book 2) || Releasing 6.3.26

What to Expect:
Hockey Romance
Fake Dating
Opposites Attract
Possessive Hero
Only One Bed
Mirror Fun
He Gives Good Growl
She Cuts His Hair
He 💦 In His Pants

Narrated in Duet by Erin Mallon and Jason Clarke. Performances also by Savannah Thomas and Ryan West.

Absolutely devoureddddd this Audiobook. Let me tell you, I was sat. The narrators brought both Lake and Remy to LIFEEEEE & the chemistry was undeniable.

Remy is a hopeless romantic who gets dumped on the Jumbotron at a hockey game. Thankfully her friend’s brother and hockey star, Lake, is there to save the day.

To stick it to her jerk of an ex, Remy enlists Lake to be her fake boyfriend. Little does she know Lake has been crushing on her for over a year. Lines blur and feelings deepen, and the two of them can’t remember what’s fake or real anymore.

Lauren has a way of writing the most lovable characters in her books.

Lake Axelrod, the grumpy hockey player, just became a fave of mine. He was so determined to prove to Remy what she deserves in a relationship. He was such a simp for her and I loved watching him overcome his past to give love another chance. He was a total nature geek (which I LOVED). He was so sweet and understanding towards his father’s struggles and it made my heart melt.

Remy Hatmaker was a bright light. I absolutely loved her sunshiny personality. She deserved so much in life and she finally was able to receive everything she wanted.

Overall this book was AMAZING. The perfect swoon-worthy hockey romance with some spice to top it off.

I will definitely re-listen to this one.

Thank you Lauren and Hambright for the early copy!

arc-alc audiobook

LibraryNinja_Beritk

76 reviews1 follower

Review of advance copy received from Publisher

Hot on the heels in the Hockey Ever After trilogy comes Just Playing for Keeps. Remy is a successful dating coach who, after finding a small jewelry box among her boyfriend's things takes matters into her own hands to stage her pro-po- the only hitch- he is actually dumping her on the Jumbotron at a game, center ice seats- which has the ability to tank her fledgling business.

But the one guy who has been paying attention to Remy for far longer is widower Lake Axelrod- the winger for the Foxes and he sees his opportunity to finally seize the moment. Remy needs a plus-one for her sisters' many wedding events that are a reality show and Lake is ready to jump into the fray- as her 'fake boyfriend' while trying to turn her into his 'real ever after'. They come up with rules that eventually lead to more rules that lead to so much heat, the book will burn your hands.

This is one of the spiciest novels I've read of hers to date- and that's saying a WHOLE LOT.

So. Much. Spice. I literally sweat thinking about it.

Lauren Blakely does a fantastic job of introducing Lake's family, including his father who has become agoraphobic after loss. There aren't punches pulled here- and the scenes between Lake and his father and the struggle to regain normalcy- and what that looks like- is a backstory so worth telling.

Thank you so much to Lauren Blakely's team, who allowed me to read this arc in advance for free in exchange for an honest review.

#LaurenBlakely #JustPlayingforKeeps #libraryninja📚

Jennifer Epperly

49 reviews2 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

I received an ARC of Just Playing for Keeps by Lauren Blakely and absolutely adored Lake and Remy’s story.

Lake, star player for the Golden State Foxes, is grumpy, private, fiercely loyal, and completely gone for Remy long before either of them admits it. Beneath the hockey star exterior is a man carrying a grief and weight, while also being the sweetest cat dad ever to Thor, his leash-walking cat who stole every scene.

Remy is sunshine part time PR for the team and planning romance experiences on the side, she’s built a life helping everyone else believe in love. After being publicly humiliated when her ex Jameson dumped her she needed a fake date to her sisters wedding bc her ex was best man.

The fake dating setup for her sister’s wedding was perfection. Watching them slowly blur the lines between pretending and real feelings while both secretly terrified to admit they wanted more had me completely invested. Their chemistry felt natural, emotional, and so easy to root for.

Lauren Blakely balanced humor, heart, tenderness, and swoony romance perfectly. Lake being protective without overpowering Remy made their relationship feel even stronger, and every moment between them just worked. Hockey romance, fake dating, grumpy/sunshine, secret crushes, and family dynamics all wrapped into one addictive story.

And honestly? Thor deserves his own fan club.

turnthedamnpage

117 reviews29 followers

I adore a sweet grumpy man.
So much that I married one.

This is a sweet fake dating/hockey romance (that’s a mouthful but so is he 🤷🏻‍♀️) that did not disappoint (just like…).

If I had been dumped the way Remy was, Lake could win me over for sure. Honestly, her breakup was AWFUL. WHO DOES THAT!!

But, where there are endings there are also fresh beginnings. Or, well, fake ones.

Remy needed a date for her sister’s wedding but she wasn’t ready for another relationship. One thing after the other and a fake date suggestion, Remy asks Lake. Semi-correction: Lake assumes and agrees before she even has a chance to fully ask out loud. (Swoon.)

Lake is much softer inside than he is outside (yeah, that too 🌶️🌶️🌶️). But he’s not wearing this rough exterior for no reason. >> His gestures were perfect book boyfriend material. 😭

This book is layered like Lake Onion. There’s trauma, heartbreak, grief, friendship, anxiety — it’s all woven together so well. (As a widow, this book touched me in sensitive places. No, not those places. Heads out of the gutter, guys. 😉 The pacing for that was perfect. ) I can’t recommend it enough!

TROPES:
🏒 Hockey Romance
🌗 Grumpy Sunshine
🤫 Fake Dating
🧲 Opposites Attract
🛏️ Only One Bed
💪🏼 Possessive Hero
•••••
Thank you for allowing me to read and review this ARC, @laurenblakelybooks & @hambright_pr.

Stephanie

171 reviews

Review of advance copy received from Author

itsallaboutbooksandmacarons

ALC/EARC REVIEW

Book 2 in the Hockey Ever After series

I loved Corbin in book one But I LOVE LAKE. He's so cute. Everything he does is because he likes her.

Shes his sisters best friend and the fact that hes been in love with her forever was just so heart warming. The way he talked to her and did things for her 🤧. Hes so cute lol and I could just hear him saying "Im not cute" haha.

Remy has her podcast and she loves love. Lake has his cat and his hockey team. They are so prefect for each other too.

When Lake agrees to be her 'fake' date to the wedding and all of the wedding events, I was like this is it. Shes going to see how amazing he is and shes gonna fall in love with his cat (obviously) 🐈. I love the wedding dress and the list. I thought that was such an important detail and was what really drove them together, although it would have happened either way but just made their experience that much better.

BTW Jameson should have been properly kicked in the gonads for being such a wet turkey, like excuse me how dare you.

I was lucky enough tonget both the earc and the alc. So I read along as well as listened and in 2 days I finished this bad boy.

Lauren had always been a favorite of mine and will continue to be because these books are just amazing.

Love love love this 100% recommend.

A.Onstad

497 reviews2 followers

May 17, 2026

Thank you Lauren Blakely for the ARC of your upcoming new release….Just Playing for Keeps–Hockey Ever After Book #2 Release date June 3rd, 2026

Two of my favorite tropes–fake dating and grumpy/sunshine–all wrapped up in Lake and Remy’s story. Although Lake is a little less grumpy than he is a guy who appreciates some privacy in the world of professional hockey where he cannot always have it. Remy, however, is definitely sunshine–even though in the first chapter, her ‘boyfriend’ dumps her on the Jumbotron at a hockey game. And this ‘dumping’ was a new story idea to me. He dumps her by asking for her hand in….friendship….I’m mean seriously Jameson.

After Lake acts quickly to take the heat off of Remy in that moment, readers learn that our man Lake has been pining for her for quite some time. The story delightfully unfolds from there. If you are a fan of yearning and watching two people navigate their growing feelings in a joyful manner, then this is the book for you. Add in a strong supporting cast of familiar faces from previous books, and you feel as much a part of their story as everyone on the pages.

Fans of romance with more romance than angst will appreciate Blakely’s storytelling and the other family relationship storylines as well.

2026-reads

Candy

169 reviews5 followers

May 19, 2026

5 ⭐ ARC Review 'Just Playing For Keeps'

What better way to stick it to your ex?

Fake date a gorgeous hockey player, ah yes please!

🩷 Fake Dating

🩷 Hockey Romance

🩷 Grumpy v's Sunshine

🩷 Spicy

🩷 Mirror Fun

🩷 Opposites Attract

🩷 One Bed

🩷 He gives a good growl

This story was absolutely delightful all the way through, totally devoured it!

Always such a pleasure to read one of Lauren's books. Writing style that captures your attention and always written beautifully.

Loving this series so far, especially these two characters. The easy, fun loving connection and banter, to the beautiful love and lessons.

Love a great fake dating trope that blossoms into something heart warming and real.

It was so nice to see this different side of Lake who's known for the private grump. The protector, cat daddy to the burly mischievous Siamese and his passion for the owls and nature. For Remy facing her fears and letting go, to feel in the moment. Acceptance when something is not your passion anymore, or what you love doing. Learning to accept what you can't control. The fun loving energy between these two characters was amazing, I so thoroughly enjoyed this read!

Can't wait to visit and learn about the next couple in this 'Hockey Ever After Series' 🩷

2,543 reviews48 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

The audiobook completely carried this story to another level for me. The duet narration was honestly one of my favorites because both narrators brought so much emotion into every conversation, argument, and quieter moment between the characters. It made the relationship feel immediate and personal in a way that kept me emotionally invested the entire time.

At the beginning, I was actually frustrated for the female main character because of how badly everything started for her. Watching her deal with that situation made me want something good to finally happen to her, which is why the male main character worked so well for me. He brought such a calming and supportive presence into the story without feeling unrealistic or overly perfect. The way he showed up for her emotionally made their connection believable even when the story leaned into romantic tropes.

The fake dating aspect ended up being much more emotionally layered than I expected. It stopped feeling like a setup very quickly because of how naturally their bond developed through everyday moments, conversations, and growing trust. By the second half of the book, I was completely invested in them together and genuinely wanted them to work through everything.

Hope

117 reviews7 followers

🏒☀️ Grumpy/sunshine + fake dating + hockey romance? This book had me smiling the entire time.

I was hooked from the very first chapter thanks to the absolutely hilarious — though definitely not hilarious for her — Jumbotron scene 😂 From that moment on, I knew I was going to love this story!

Remy desperately needs a date for her sister’s wedding where her ex will also be attending… enter Lake, the swoon-worthy hockey heartthrob 🥵🏒
Lake and Remy were such a perfect fake dating couple, and their chemistry was effortless from the start. I also have to give a shoutout to Remy’s sister because she was such a fun side character and added so much humor and heart to the story!

And the AUDIO?! 🎧✨ Absolutely perfection. The full cast narration truly brought the story to life and made every funny, sweet, and emotional moment hit even harder. I loved listening to this one!

This was such a sweet, swoony romance with great banter, lovable characters, and all the hockey romance vibes I adore 💙

Thank you to Hambright PR and Lauren Blakely for this fantastic ALC!

📚 Be sure to add this one to your TBR before it releases on June 3!

TROPES ✨ 🏒 Hockey Romance ☀️ Grumpy x Sunshine 💍 Fake Dating 💞 Wedding Romance 😂 Meet Cute Chaos 🎧 Full Cast Narration ❤️‍🔥 Forced Proximity

Kimsread

83 reviews

Review of advance copy received from Author

ARC/ALC Review: 4⭐ 3🌶️

Thank you Lauren and KP Simmons for the Advance Copy 🥰

Loved the audio, Jason Clarke and Erin Mallon did a great job portraying Lake and Remy. Full cast including Savannah Thomas and Ryan West. Listening while reading really bring the story to life 😃

Remy is the Romance planner who got dumped on the hockey arena’s jumbotron.
Lake Axelrod, the team's broody winger, swooped in on skates to rescue her from public humiliation.
When Remy needs a date to her sister wedding, the famously grumpy and sexy hockey star insists on being her fake boyfriend.
It’s the perfect sweet revenge plan since her ex is the best man.
They set some rules but they all shatter when they have to share a bed one night in a hotel room.
For Lake it was always real, so how can he convince her to go on a real date and show her what it's like to be treated right?

This is Lake and Remy's romance. Tropes include: grumpy/sunshine hockey romance, fake dating, workplace romance, best friend's brother, obsessed hero.

Lauren's book are always a delight to read and I'm looking forward to reading the next book 🥰

Christina

67 reviews

Review of advance copy received from Author

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from @laurenblakely and her team, and I could not have been MORE EXCITED!!!! Just Playing for Keeps is releasing 6.3.26

🏒 Fake dating. 🐈 Cat dad hockey player. 💔 Jumbotron humiliation. 🔥 Real feelings.

Grab your Golden State Foxes jersey and lace up your skates because Remy and Lake's story is here!

After being spectacularly dumped on the arena jumbotron instead of receiving the proposal she expected (I would personally relocate to another continent), Remy agrees to fake date her best friends brother: Lake. A grumpy hockey player with trust issues, a soft spot for cats, and absolutely zero plans to fall in love (again).
Naturally, that plan goes about as well as you'd expect.

This was such a fun mix of fake dating, forced proximity, emotional vulnerability, and that delicious "everyone knows except the two people involved" energy. Sweet, spicy, funny, and filled with the kind of chemistry that makes you yell, "JUST KISS ALREADY" at a book.

Also, can we all agree that getting dumped on a jumbotron is nightmare fuel? 🫠

Happy reading! 📚💕

arc

Josie Bookstagram

415 reviews36 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

"If I'm not careful, I'm going to break the most important rule of all: don't fall for your fake date." 💎

Just Playing For Keeps absolutely lived up to every expectation I had and honestly reminded me why Lauren Blakely is one of my all-time favourite romance authors. 😍 Her Love and Hockey books already own a huge piece of my heart, so this had a lot to live up to… and somehow it exceeded it anyway.

Fake dating is my ultimate trope and Remy and Lake delivered EVERYTHING I wanted from it. 💙 The chemistry between them was instant, the tension was perfection and every fake affectionate moment slowly turning real had me completely obsessed. Grumpy hockey player mixed with sunshine FMC? 🌞 Elite combination. Lake being secretly soft and obsessed underneath all the broody energy absolutely melted me. Thor the Siamese cat too... 😍

And that epilogue?? Lauren, please 🥺 I was literally crying in the airport reading it. This book was funny, romantic, spicy, heartfelt and just ridiculously easy to fall in love with from beginning to end. I adored every second of it 🏒❤️✨

Tropes & Themes
🏒 Hockey Romance
💍 Fake Dating
☀️ Grumpy x Sunshine
👀 Best Friend’s Brother
🔥 Forced Proximity

Rosi Colmenares

206 reviews5 followers

For fans of:
Hockey romance
Fake dating
Grumpy/sunshine
Workplace romance
Best friend’s brother
Obsessed hero
Opposites attract
He falls first
Dual POV

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an ALC of this title.

First of all, the spice in this book was REALLY well done. The chemistry during those scenes was definitely there.

I also really liked the MMC. Underneath all the grumpy hockey player energy, he genuinely cared for the FMC and I loved seeing his softer side come out throughout the story. His character growth was probably my favorite part of the book.

The fake dating setup was fun too and there were definitely some cute moments between them.

That being said, I think the audiobook didn’t fully work for me personally. The MMC narrator’s voice was SO deep that at times it almost felt like I was listening to a dark romance, while the FMC narrator was super bright and bubbly, so the contrast felt a little off sometimes.

I also think the grumpy/sunshine trope was a bit over exaggerated in certain scenes.

Overall still a fun hockey romance with good spice and an obsessed MMC that a lot of readers will probably love.

Kimberly

889 reviews4 followers

Review of advance copy received from Publisher

No cliffhanger
Standalone
Told from both POVs

Tropes:
Hockey Romance
Grumpy Sunshine
Fake Dating
Opposites Attract
He falls first

Summary:
Remy is an aspiring dating coach who gets publicly dumped on the Jumbotron at a hockey game. Lake is a pro hockey player who witnesses it all go down and jumps in to try to take the spotlight off her. He is also her best friends brother and has harbored feelings for her for a long time.

They decide to fake date in an effort to help her get past her sisters wedding but as the more they “fake it”, the more real their feelings become.

The question is, what happens when the jig is up and everyone knows it’s fake?

Thoughts:
I had both the ebook and the audio book for this one and I vacillated between the two. This was actually the first book I preferred the audio version of and enjoyed the “bloopers” at the end.

Overall it was a cute read. The spicy scenes were definitely spicing but this just wasn’t my favorite read. I can’t put my finger on why but when I put this up against other books I have read recently, it was good, but not great.

Ashley

655 reviews77 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

arc-s best-friend-s-brother fake-dating

Lake is a hockey player and is also the brother of Remy's best friend. He helps save her from some serious public humiliation and then offers to be her fake boyfriend to all her sister's wedding events. Her ex will be there so this is the perfect plan to show she's already moving on. Lake's had a crush on Remy for a while and this was his chance to act on it. I loved how he showed her how she deserved to be treated. He's a grumpy man but his soft side definitely comes out for Remy.

If you want a fun, sweet, spicy & swoony hockey romance you should definitely check this one out.

🎧Audio:🎧
This was a full cast narration by Jason Clarke & Erin Mallon as Lake & Remy. Then we also had Ryan West and Savannah Thomas. I split this book about 50/50 - 50% eyeball reading and 50% narration. I'll be honest. I wasn't completely feeling the chemistry between them until I started listening to the audio. Jason & Erin are a power duo and they helped keep me invested in Remy & Lake's story.

What to expect:
💋Fake Dating
🩷Best Friend's Brother
🏒Hockey Romance
☀️Grumpy x Sunshine

Thank you to Lauren Blakely and team for the ARC/ALC. All opinions are my own.

Sarah Kwilecki

28 reviews

Review of advance copy received from Author

May 18, 2026

Thank to Lauren Blakely and Hambright PR for the ARC!

I absolutely adored this story and couldn't put it down! I read it in 24 hours!

This is a sweet and satisfying hockey romance that contains my favorite trope which is fake dating. It is executed so well in this book. The leads Remy and Lake pretend to date for her sister's wedding and things get real very quickly but they're scared to admit their true feelings to one another and the tension of that is really well written. While there are many sweet moments, grief, trauma, and anxiety are woven into the story flawlessly and Blakely does a great job portraying these things accurately. Remy and Lake both evolve a lot throughout the book and they both grow more confident in their abilities to feel their feelings and to live their truth which I think is something all of us can take inspiration from. I cannot recommend this book enough!

I will definitely be reading more of Blakely's books!

Megan W

63 reviews1 follower

Anticipating a proposal, Remy is publicly dumped at a hockey game resulting in star player Lake stepping up to deflect the attention. With Lake being her best friend's brother, Remy asks him to be her fake date to her sister's upcoming wedding events. Lake accepts the arrangement with the intention of showing her how a good boyfriend should treat her. Of course as time goes on, lines start to blur and feelings get complicated.

This was my first Lauren Blakely book, and it was a fun read! I enjoyed that Lake had a bit of depth beneath his broody exterior and how he helped Remy work through her people-pleasing tendencies to figure out who she is and what she really wants. Remy was also so gentle with Lake and working through the past that he keeps hidden. I loved the found family as well, the entire friend group was a good time and made me want to read some of the other stories in this world.

Some of the dialogue did feel a little immature and ultimately, I didn't enjoy this story as much as others with a similar plot and tropes, but it was definitely still an easy read to get lost in.

Thank you to Hambright PR for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ashley Cole

79 reviews5 followers

Review of advance copy received from Publisher