Guard My Heart

by Sabrina Fedel

A girl who dreams of being a D1 ice hockey goalie meets a hot hockey player who offers a deal to boost her skills in this young adult hockey romance!

Hit me with your best shot . . .

RYLEIGH VENTO has one goal—literally. She dreams of becoming an all-star goalie on a Division 1 women’s ice hockey team. Senior year is her last shot, and she can’t afford distractions. Not injuries. Not family drama. And definitely not a relationship. 

Enter Jett Robitaille, the school’s new hockey god. He wants Ryleigh to be his fake girlfriend to make another girl—Ryleigh’s nemesis—jealous. Ryleigh’s answer? To block his goal. Until Jett ups the He’ll train her, push her, and use his own skills to help her become the best goalie in the league. As the season heats up, Ryleigh has to decide if letting Jett in will make her stronger—or throw her completely off her game. Because sometimes the hardest save isn’t on the ice . . . it’s guarding your heart.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Sports, Hockey, Contemporary, Hockey Romance

328 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 13, 2026

About the author

Thanks for stopping by to learn about me:)
I grew up in a house filled with books. I mean, floor-to-ceiling filled with books. My dad’s field of study was Anglo-Irish literature (written in English rather than Gaelic), and our house was often filled with Irish writers and poets as well as their books. I had no idea this wasn't normal, and that it was special.
I have always loved reading and stories and spent a lot of time as a kid daydreaming myself into the stories other people created for me. (Okay, they weren’t creating them for me specifically, but it often felt that way).

I wanted to become an English major in college and write, but my dad discouraged me because he thought it was too hard to make a living as a writer (he was right about that.) So I did other things and eventually came back to writing.

My YA debut, Leaving Kent State, (Harvard Square Editions) has won multiple awards, and my latest YA Romance is forthcoming from Delacorte Press in Summer '24. It's called All Roads Lead to Rome and it tells the story of Story Herriott, a girl who gets pulled into a fake dating scheme while trying to start a charity to honor her dad, who died when she was eleven.

I also write short stories and poetry, and you can links to my other work, via my website, www.sabrinafedel.com

I hope you’ll enjoy reading my work as much as I’ve enjoyed creating it. Happy reading!

Reviews

[ellie]

🏒 — pre-read .ᐟ ⌗

𐔌 ♯┆10.6.26
⤷ YAYYY another hockey romance and a new book by sabrina fedel!! so honored to be reading this, thank you underlined and netgalley! im REALLY loving this, espc for the rep of young girls in sports 🤞this is super relatable and i can already see myself recommending this in all my future ya recs! BUT ANYWAY can we also talk about the new goodreads update about stars.. FINALLLLYY.

[Giselle in Chapters ☾]

★★★★☆ (4.5⭐ rounded to 4)

If I didn’t have responsibilities, I genuinely think I would’ve finished this book in one sitting.

This was one of those books where I kept saying, “Okay one more chapter,” and suddenly another hour had gone by. I genuinely did not want to put it down.

I’ll start by saying this is definitely more YA than adult romance. If you’re looking for spice, this isn’t that book. There’s basically none. And honestly? I didn’t even care.

The chemistry between Jett and Ryleigh was so good that I never felt like anything was missing.

The banter? Adorable.

The fake dating? One of my favorite tropes.

The slow build? Exactly what I wanted.

I was fully invested in these two from beginning to end.

What really surprised me, though, was how emotionally relatable both characters were.

Jett comes across as someone who has everything going for him. He’s talented, optimistic, always smiling, and somehow manages to make everyone around him feel better. But underneath all of that, he’s carrying his own struggles while still choosing to show up for everyone else. That part of his character honestly made him feel so real to me.

Then there’s Ryleigh, who’s carrying the weight of everything she’s been through while trying to prove herself. Watching her slowly regain confidence in herself, and seeing how Jett believed in her even when she couldn’t, was one of my favorite parts of the book.

Their relationship was so cute. Like, legitimately kicking-my-feet cute.

I loved watching them slowly fall for each other, and every time Jett spoke French to her, I absolutely melted.

Did I love the third-act breakup? No 😂 I’m pretty sure I’ve accepted that I’ll never be a third-act breakup girl.

That being said, I actually understood why it happened. Given everything Ryleigh had been through, her reaction made sense, and I appreciated that the conflict didn’t drag on forever before it was resolved.

I also loved the hockey setting, the family dynamics, the friendships, and honestly just the writing in general. Sabrina Fedel made it ridiculously easy to keep turning the pages.

The only reason this wasn’t a full five stars for me is because I would’ve loved just a little bit more after they finally got together. (And yes, the romance reader in me would’ve happily accepted some spice if this had been written for an adult audience 😂)

Overall, this was such a sweet, addictive romance that completely reminded me you don’t need spice to write incredible chemistry. If you love fake dating, sports romances, slow-burn tension, and characters you’ll immediately start rooting for, I absolutely recommend picking this one up.

[HeadCanonHeadCase]

3.5

Ryleigh needs an impressive year to make it to a D1 program. Jett moved to town to play for a junior team and ends up as Ryleigh’s lab partner. He offers to help her on the ice if she pretends to be his girlfriend to make someone else jealous. But is that all there is to their relationship?

Read if you like:
-YA Sports Romance
-Fake Dating
-Athlete x Athlete
-Lab Partners

Guard My Heart was super cute. I love how Ryleigh’s confidence grew over the course of the book. She started as a girl who was hoping and wishing with everything she had and by the end she knew she had what it took to make it in a D1 program. Some of the drama with the girl Jett said he was trying to make jealous didn't quite sit quite right with the overall theme of the book, but I still enjoyed Guard My Heart a lot.

[Cait | GoodeyReads]

Thank you Get Underlined for the gifted copy and PHR Audio for the gifted audiobook.

CUTE YA.

BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK

This is one of those books that didn’t quite HIT for me but I can absolutely see the merits for the true young adult audience. The characters felt realistic to their age and regards to thought processes and actions, while also not having excess language or anything more than kisses. It’s a sweet young adult hockey romance with some fake dating.

I did love that the FMC is a player too!! And a goalie. Loved this so much. Having both of the leads be athletes was a good dynamic for the story. I liked the banter and that you could see the friendship turn into more. I liked the themes of never knowing what someone is going through and how being kind is key. Both of the MC’s are carrying things that are hard for an adult, even more so for a teen. There’s a pretty classic third act break up that goes back to my first paragraph about this fitting better for a younger audience and that’s okay haha.

🎧: I liked the narrator for the audiobook. Sometimes Jett’s voice wasn’t great and he sounded younger than 17, but otherwise it was fine! I did about 3/4 as audio and it’s a solid format choice for reading Guard My Heart.

Overall audience notes:
- YA Sports Romance
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: low
- Content warnings: loss of a parent from cancer (recounted), a parent who is in remission from cancer

[Preri]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance copy of this book.

This was a sweet book with some cute moments. If you like hockey romance, fake dating, and wholesome YA, then this is a good fit for you. Unfortunately, the book lost me with the third-act breakup and the angst surrounding that whole issue. It seemed abruptly inserted and unnecessarily prolonged, and took me out of the story. Nevertheless, the book as a whole was easy to get through and cute overall.

And I'm out.

[lex loves reading :)]

I would’ve ate this up in high school. It was cute enough, but just too young for me. The end did make me slightly nostalgic for family dinner after school in high school. A couple really cringey moments (“you look slay in that jersey”) just took me out. It was a fun and cute YA romance, but not for me at this age.
2.75⭐️

[Liralen]

3.5 stars; review to come October 2026

[Punkin’]

This was just to young for Me. That’s not to say this wasn’t cute read! Just was not for me or my personal tastes! Thank you!

[Chelsea]

In this fake-dating sports romance, Ryleigh is determined to get into a D1 school for hockey, but she knows she needs to work hard to get noticed. Her history with teams and coaches is rocky. She was previously on a team that felt suffocating and limited her autonomy, ultimately leading her to leave, and leaving her with a blow that set her training back. Now, she’s with a coach who believes in her and is helping push her toward her goals. What she doesn’t realize she needs most is someone skilled and talented enough to give her some extra training, guidance, and support.

Enter Jett, an exchange student from Canada, hockey god, and all-around genuine good guy. He needs Ryleigh to make another girl jealous, while Ryleigh needs him to help coach her. So, why not fake date to help each other get what they want?

As these two spend more time together, they slowly open up, genuinely enjoy each other’s company, and bond over their shared drive for hockey. Of course, somewhere along the way, they start falling for each other.
This was such a sweet and fluffy YA romance that managed to have some solid characters who actually grew throughout the story, along with a plot that made sense. I especially loved the support both characters received from their families. It really helped keep them focused while also reminding them that they were cared for.

The third-act breakup was crap, but that’s pretty normal for me, it’s my least favorite thing about most books. 😂 It’s all about communication, and while I understand the drama is necessary, I still have a hard time getting through those parts without wanting to scream, “JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER!” 😂
Overall, this was such a cute, feel-good romance with plenty of hockey, fake dating, and two characters who were easy to root for. I loved watching Ryleigh and Jett grow individually while also becoming each other’s biggest supporters. If you’re looking for a sweet YA sports romance with a fun fake-dating setup and lots of heart, this one is definitely worth picking up.

[Alexandra Elek]

Thank you to Penguin Random House and Sabrina Fedel for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you’re looking for a beginner-friendly romance with no explicit content and a cute hockey romance storyline, this could be a great fit. One thing I especially appreciated was that the FMC plays hockey herself. In many hockey romances, the female character can sometimes feel like she’s there mainly to support the male character, so it was refreshing to see a girl who is just as passionate about the sport, with her own goals, ambitions, and identity outside of the romance.

I think this book will work well for its intended audience. Unfortunately, the female main character wasn't particularly easy for me to connect with. For much of the story, she insists the MMC is a terrible person despite him being consistently kind, thoughtful, and patient, and I found it difficult to understand why she held onto that opinion for so long. She also tends to assume the worst of people and is reluctant to accept help because she wants to earn everything on her own. While her difficult backstory helps explain some of these behaviors, I personally would have liked to see her character growth happen more gradually throughout the story, rather than feeling concentrated in the second half of the book. The conflict surrounding the breakup also didn't quite land for me. Given the MMC's actual motivation, the fallout felt much bigger than the situation seemed to warrant, so I found it difficult to fully understand the FMC's reaction. As someone who is not at the emotional level of a high schooler, I found it difficult to fully connect with some of the FMC’s reactions to the conflict.

That said, I do think the story achieves what it's setting out to do for a younger YA audience. For readers in that age range, the pacing and romance will likely be enjoyable. As someone who tends to gravitate toward YA that also appeals strongly to older readers, I found the story a little repetitive at times, with similar interactions and emotional beats recurring throughout, making it feel lower stakes than what I’m typically used to. I also would have loved to spend more time with the side characters. Dom, in particular, was such a fun presence, and I think the supporting cast had a lot of potential that I would have enjoyed seeing explored further.

Ultimately, I can see this being a really sweet and enjoyable read for its intended audience. The wholesome romance, hockey storyline, and FMC’s genuine love for the sport give it a lot of charm, and I think younger YA readers in particular will find plenty to enjoy here. I’m glad I gave it a chance and can definitely see this being a great choice for readers looking for a clean, lighthearted hockey romance.

Note: A more in-depth review was provided to NetGalley and the book’s publisher.

[Charlene]

4.5*
Thank you, GetUnderlined and Sabrina Fedel, for this physical ARC.
OMG. I LOVED this book. I think it was everything I needed. It was absolute hockey perfection. I needed a lighthearted pick-me-up, and this gave me everything I needed.
These characters were amazing. I really enjoyed reading from Ryleigh’s POV. She was very kind and caring, but she also thought before she acted, which I really enjoyed. I really connected with her perfectionist tendencies and her internal pressures.
I loved Jett so much. I loved his character development and his positivity. He had such a great character, even when he made mistakes. You could tell Jett was very genuine throughout the whole book. His backstory was so wonderful, and it made him very easy to love. I wish both Jett and Ryleigh’s development was explored more, but I was still very impressed with everything that was explored.
The romance between Jett and Ryleigh was amazing. Jett continued to bring the best out of Ryleigh and help her grow and develop. They balanced each other out very well. It definitely gave black cat and golden retriever vibes. I adored their tension and romance.
The side characters were cute. I would’ve loved to see more of them, but I am glad that it was focused on the main couple. I hope this extends to a series because I would love to see more of this world and the characters. Plus, I loved Ryleigh’s family so much. It was really sweet to see how much they care for both Ryleigh and Jett.
The hockey element was woven in really well. The terminology was well explained, and I never felt confused, which is great. I felt like a true hockey fan when I caught all the references and jokes. I really loved the hockey elements in this one.
Overall, a really age-appropriate romance for younger readers that’s super fun and easy to read!
There were a few kisses.

[Sukie QZ]

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

What makes Guard My Heart stand out in the current wave of sports romance is its refreshing premise: a high school hockey story where the female lead isn't just on the sidelines, but is a fierce, competitive goalie herself. Ryleigh is deeply passionate about her sport, navigating set-backs, college ambitions, and family responsibilities, while Jett—the star new player—is consistently patient and supportive. For readers seeking a clean, lighthearted, and wholesome YA romance where both characters love the game, there is plenty of charm in their dynamic.

While the setup has strong potential, the overall execution and pacing hindered the reading experience for me. For instance, scene transitions felt abrupt—jumping mid-beat from the rink straight into the locker room without spatial grounding—alongside hyper-specific descriptions that felt forced. I felt at times that the writing was also relying heavily on tell-heavy exposition and dialogue tags, repeatedly emphasizing how 'elite' or talented characters are for instance, rather than letting those qualities speak for themselves as the story progresses. I also felt a bit turned off whenever Ryleigh held onto a rigid prejudice against Jett long after he demonstrated his kindness, making her growth felt delayed. When the third-act conflict arrives, the miscommunication fallout felt disproportionate to the actual situation, followed by a resolution that wraps up quite quickly at the end, which led the ending to feel rushed.

Overall, this sweet hockey romance offers a great premise for younger YA readers looking for an ambitious FMC, hockey romance, and fake dating trope.

[Clover ~ ARC Reader and Narrator 🌶️💕]

This was a very hard book to rate.

Overall, I give the book 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

This is a no-spice book as it's a YA/Teens book.

I fully believe the plot was there. It was understandable and easy to follow. It was easy to be able to tell what was going on a little early though. Being single POV, we got to see how Ryleigh was navigating obstacles to her dream: becoming a D1 goalie.

Obstacles were her size, the treacherous previous year in her career as a goalie and hockey player. Jett enters and it's sort of a hard entry where they don't get along at all for a moment but quickly find out how to help each other. But it seemed he had slightly ulterior motives.

What kept pulling me out of the book was strictly formatting. There was a lot of texts back and forth, but it wouldn't stay in a text bubble so sometimes it was hard to see if it was an actual text sent or thoughts inside her head at some point.

Additionally, while it is a shorter story I feel like there could have been more development in Jett's life. He's kind of just there. But there was so much potential before... well, that would be a spoiler.

Either way, I did enjoy reading the book. Thank you Sabrina, Random House, and Netgalley for allowing me to be an ARC reader for this book!

[BookieCookie12]

Something about hockey in the fall makes life so much better! I think I could summarize this book in a few words; fake dating, hockey, and romance. What more could you want? From witty banter to intense coaching on the ice, tension is in the air as Ryleigh and Jett slowly become closer. One of my favorite parts of the fake dating trope is how close it brings the couple together. When they meet each other's families and friends or go on not-so-fake dates, the relationship building slowly starts to progress.
Now let's take a closer look at the MMC. First of all, he is your typically hockey boy, the hair and the smile to the max. Second, he is completely dedicated and so swoony! I might have loved him more than Ryleigh! I love how he treats their relationship and how everything works out perfectly for them. The kisses are sweet and stay sweet!
Time for a little bit of advice. From reader to reader, go to your favorite bookstore, get a cute drink, and pick up this new release! I can't wait to hear more about how much readers will adore this novel! As always, thank you to Netgalley for this reviewing opportunity, reviews will be posted on Goodreads, Fable, TikTok, Amazon, Barnes and Nobels, and Instagram!

[Courtney]

Guard My Heart is an adorable, feel-good high school hockey romance that completely charmed me from beginning to end.

One of my favorite things about this story was that the female main character is a hockey player herself. It was so refreshing to see a heroine chasing her own dream of being recruited after high school instead of hockey being reserved solely for the male love interest. It added a unique dynamic to the romance and made me even more invested in her journey.

The romance is sweet, wholesome, and full of heart. If you’re looking for a clean romance that leaves you smiling, this one delivers. The characters were easy to root for, and the story struck a wonderful balance between personal goals, first love, and the excitement of the sport.

Overall, Guard My Heart is a heartwarming read that proves you don’t need high drama or spice to tell a meaningful love story. I would absolutely recommend it to readers who enjoy clean YA romance, hockey stories, and uplifting happily-ever-afters.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Alexandreya Laney]

3.5 ⭐️

Thank you to the author/publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a good book! Fake-dating is one of my favorite tropes in a book, and this one did things differently in a way that was very new to me! I can’t explain more without spoiling so I will update this review when the book is released if I can remember to, lol.

While the story was good and I did enjoy the characters, this book definitely felt like it was geared more towards a younger audience, which is perfectly okay! The characters just felt a bit too young for me, and a little less mature in their actions and reactions than I typically enjoy from my books, but I think this would make a great book for the younger audiences or people who like easy reads without too much drama or complexity.

I did like the relatability with the Jett and Ryleigh, and it was fun to see them come together fully, even if I did feel it was a little bit rushed, but even that is very on par with high school relationships. Overall this was a solid read!

[Makiyah]

4.5 ☆


I really enjoyed this book, and I especially loved how much background information the author provided about the sport. The fake dating aspect was so sweet, and watching the two of them develop their relationship felt natural and realistic. The book also had such great humor that had me smiling throughout. I flew through this book and genuinely enjoyed every moment of it.

I also really appreciated the way Sabrina Fedel incorporated deeper and more emotional topics into the story. Some of the more serious scenes genuinely made me emotional, but there was still a lightness throughout the book that kept it feeling like the cute romance I was expecting. I thought this balance was handled really well and added more depth to the story without taking away from the romance.

If you enjoy Lynn Painter and her writing style, I definitely think you’ll enjoy this book! The romance and banter gave me similar vibes, and I found myself excited to keep picking it up and see what would happen next. Overall, this was such a fun and enjoyable read!

[Ella]

4.25 ⭐️

I love me a YA Hockey Romance and this was no exception! This story was the cutest fake dating, friends to lovers EVER!!

Ryleigh and Jett were both such amazing characters, and I truly loved their friendship and romance. This was super age appropriate, and just so sweet to read. These two were so perfect for each other, and I loved how passionate they were about hockey.

This story also got so many hockey details right which I really appreciated! The way Jett was willing to help Ryleigh out with extra practice so she could achieve her goals was so sweet, and made me instantly love him. The friendship between them truly made this book, as well as the friendships with other characters.

I also adored our family dynamic with Ryleigh and her family, they were all so close and felt so special to me. They showed up for Ryleigh so much, and embraced Jett with open arms. They were totally rooting for the two of them this whole book, which was just so sweet.

Overall if you are a fan of Heart Check by Emily Charlotte, or Fake Skating by Lynn Painter, you will absolutely LOVE THIS BOOK!

Thank you to Underlined for the gifted ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Dara]

Guard My Heart 📖
✍🏻 by: Sabrina’s Fedel

𝕋𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕜 𝕪𝕠𝕦 🫶🏻 A huge thank you to PRHAudio and Delacourte Press for the gifted copies! I am so grateful! #partner #getunderlinedpartner #loveunderlinedpartner

𝔽𝕒𝕧𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕖 𝕢𝕦𝕠𝕥𝕖 💕
“I don’t know how a game that bruises you so badly can be so much fun, but it is.”

𝕊𝕦𝕞𝕞𝕒𝕣𝕪 ✏️ (from the publisher)
A girl who dreams of being a D1 ice hockey goalie meets a hot hockey player who offers a deal to boost her skills in this young adult hockey romance!

𝕄𝕪 𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤 💭
This was such a fun story and a super cute take on a hockey romance! The banter and yearning is top tier and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to a teen reader especially if they like sports romance. Ryleigh and Jett are both such sweet souls. I loved how they fell for one another. 

𝔸𝕦𝕕𝕚𝕠 ℕ𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕤 🎧
The audio is very well done! Taylor Meskimen does a great job with the narration and I had so much fun listening to the story unfold!

ℝ𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕚𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 📖
✩ YA Sports Romance
✩ Fake Dating
✩ Mutual Yearning
✩ Hockey Romance

[Maria]

My heart was aching through the entire first half of this book. I honestly don’t know if it was Ryleigh’s heartbreaking history with her mom, the trauma from her past hockey coach, or just seeing how little she truly believed in herself, but my chest was literally hurting!
Ryleigh is such a resilient character, and her journey on and off the ice was so emotional to follow. Then enter Jett Robitaille. OMG, Jett. He was the absolute sweetest! His relationship with Ryleigh, his whole vibe, and his amazing family and brothers were just so special and welcoming (same goes for Ryleigh’s family!).
Did Ryleigh exaggerate a little bit during their fight? Honestly, yeah, I thought she overreacted a smidgen—but Jett remained so supportive, patient, and sweet through it all that I couldn't even stay mad.
My only slight wish is that we got a little bit more of an epilogue! I was dying to see more of their life together at Cornell and what their future looked like, but it was still a genuinely beautiful, heartwarming ending.
If you love fake dating, high-stakes sports romance, emotional growth, and a hero who will completely melt your heart, definitely put this on your TBR!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

[Kelsie Bowler]

If you are wanting a YA hockey romance recommendation, this is mine!

This stayed in its YA lane perfectly without feeling dumbed down. Sabrina Fedel did a wonderful job at letting her characters be true high schoolers with accurate high school concerns. Both MCs were adorable and I loved our yearning Jett.

I am a stickler for the third act break ups and this one was just a bit too blown up for me. I am torn about that opinion though because it might conflict with my earlier compliment about the book sticking true to high school feelings. I just never had a hot boy pretend to date me in order to get to spend time with me, so I'm not as in touch with how I would feel when I learned about his plan. TBH I am desperate enough that I would probably be flattered by it lol.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Fantasy Book Nerd]

Guard My Heart was such a sweet, feel-good YA romance. I really enjoyed the two main characters, especially that the heroine was a hockey player. One of my favorite parts was how genuinely Jett liked and respected her from the very beginning—it made their relationship feel authentic and easy to root for. I also loved how he supported her goals and encouraged her to pursue her dreams, which is such a positive message for YA readers.

If you enjoy clean hockey romances with lovable characters and plenty of heart, I'd definitely recommend this one for all hockey fans!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Danielle]

Ryleigh plays for an all girls hockey team as a goalje, Jett plays for the Danbury Hat Tricks hockey team. They meet at a local rink and then again at her high school. They end up chemistry partners, Ryleigh swore off any dating during the season, but Jett wants her to fake date him, to make Peyton jealous. They start seeing each other but soon Jett wants Ryleigh and Ryleigh wants Jett but they fight the attraction. When they finally admit they like each other they fall completely in love. But when Ryleigh finds out Jett never really wanted Peyton and that Peyton helped Jett get to date her, she snaps. Can Ryleigh forgive Jett or will her shot at true love go past her net?

[Michelle Matejka]

ARC copy courtesy of Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for an honest review.

I think I could have read this book in one sitting if I had the time. It’s cute, sweet, and swoon-worthy. Rey needs to improve in goal or she’s never going to get her D1 offer and Jett is just the guy to help her do it. Throw in a lovable junior goalie turned pseudo-coach (Dom), a high school mean girl (Peyton), and a chemistry teacher who knows no chill (Mr.G) and you have yourself a recipe for a good read. Unfortunately I am not big on the third act breakup so did lose some points there but this was a great read.

[Johnna Wilford]

A great concept, because I need more female hockey player romance books! And both of them being hockey players was just so delicious!

However, the execution sort of fell flat for me. I never quite bought into the fake dating scheme, nor later why she was so mad at him. Their relationship was very cute, although I'm torn on whether I even believed that. 😅 I also felt like some of the character backstory could have been explored a bit more.

So… maybe more enjoyable for actual young adult readers, but less so for adults?

Thanks to Random House through NetGalley for the ARC!

[Shania Emerick]

This was a cute read. I enjoyed it until about 80-90% of the way through and then got hit with a 3rd act break up, not my cup of tea. But at least it had a happy ending, or I would've been really upset.

I don't typically gravitate toward YA books, but I'm glad I chose this one. I liked that both the MMC and the FMC played hockey, not just the MMC, so it was something a little different.

[The Weaver]

This was really cute to read and I loved the idea of hockey in this book. I definitely recommend it to Off Campus book girlies. I really got hooked into the characters and they were interesting.