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Hockey Boys of Loft 3B #2
Rival Season
Not yet published
Expected 14 May 26He's trying to outrun his past...
Penn Matthews is living beyond his wildest dreams. He's made it to the NHL, shares a swanky loft with his teammates, and best of all, he's able to support his little sister. Life is good, and his rocky past is finally behind him.
Until Hazel Palmer shows up at his door.
His downstairs neighbor is as feisty as she is gorgeous, and the type of woman he'd be very interested in--if he hadn't sworn off falling in love years ago. But when Penn finds out Hazel just got her heart broken by his longtime rival, he steps in to help.
...She wants revenge on her cheating ex
Hazel should be writing her dissertation, but it's difficult to focus while dealing with betrayal, a breakup, and the constant distractions from her rowdy upstairs neighbor.
At first, she's convinced the tattooed hockey player in 3B is just another idiot playboy, but when Penn comes to her defense one night, the feuding neighbors realize they share a common enemy--and decide to get payback.
The plan is simple: fake date to make her ex jealous, and get the jerk out of both their lives for good.
But when fake kisses turn into real connection and Penn's past threatens to catch up to him, what started out as sweet revenge soon escalates to risking everything...
Penn Matthews is living beyond his wildest dreams. He's made it to the NHL, shares a swanky loft with his teammates, and best of all, he's able to support his little sister. Life is good, and his rocky past is finally behind him.
Until Hazel Palmer shows up at his door.
His downstairs neighbor is as feisty as she is gorgeous, and the type of woman he'd be very interested in--if he hadn't sworn off falling in love years ago. But when Penn finds out Hazel just got her heart broken by his longtime rival, he steps in to help.
...She wants revenge on her cheating ex
Hazel should be writing her dissertation, but it's difficult to focus while dealing with betrayal, a breakup, and the constant distractions from her rowdy upstairs neighbor.
At first, she's convinced the tattooed hockey player in 3B is just another idiot playboy, but when Penn comes to her defense one night, the feuding neighbors realize they share a common enemy--and decide to get payback.
The plan is simple: fake date to make her ex jealous, and get the jerk out of both their lives for good.
But when fake kisses turn into real connection and Penn's past threatens to catch up to him, what started out as sweet revenge soon escalates to risking everything...
309 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication May 14, 2026
28 people are currently reading
1185 people want to read
About the author
Leah Brunner
14 books1,603 followersLeah Brunner is an Amazon top 25 best selling author who writes romance filled with explosive chemistry and relatable, flawed characters. She loves writing character driven stories that will tug at your heart strings and also make you smile.
When she's not writing, she can be found spoiling her Maine Coon cats, or watching The Office with her kids.
Although she's a Midwestern girl at heart, Leah has moved all over the United States with her husband and three children.
You can find Leah on Instagram @leah.brunner.writes
Or join her Facebook reader group: Leah's Lit Lovers
When she's not writing, she can be found spoiling her Maine Coon cats, or watching The Office with her kids.
Although she's a Midwestern girl at heart, Leah has moved all over the United States with her husband and three children.
You can find Leah on Instagram @leah.brunner.writes
Or join her Facebook reader group: Leah's Lit Lovers
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
May 7, 2026
✨ Rating: 4.5⭐️
🫧 Vibes: this isn't pretend for me anymore
🎶 Song: she - zayn
📖 Favourite Quote: "I’ll spend my life loving Hazel in every thought, word, and action. Showing her she’s loved as well as telling her."
📚 Would I recommend? YES
💬 tldr thoughts: another sweet romance by one of my favourite authors duo!
In the package:
📦 fake dating
📦 neighbours to lovers
📦 family drama
📦 tension & angst
Plot: Hazel just found out her boyfriend cheated on her, and now she wants revenge. Her and her upstairs neighbour, Penn, decide to fake date each other. Hazel thought he was another hockey playboy but there's much more to Penn and things start to feel all too real.
Thoughts: I need everyone to pick up this series!! It's so underrated and if you liked the Off Campus books then you will definitely love these books as well. They're sweet, heartfelt and full of emotional depth. I equally loved Penn and Hazel together and as individuals. They both showed up for each other every time and it was so sweet. Penn grew up in the foster system and has time trusting others and thinking he's worthy of love but Hazel makes him realize that he is. I love that the romance is never surface level with these books, the characters all have internal conflicts to work through and they always do it together.
I despised Hazel's parents and how much they belittled her so when Penn stood up to them for her, I was swooning.
Thank you Eleventh Avenue Publishing Inc & LBP LLC and NetGalley for the eARC!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok and instagram⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
🫧 Vibes: this isn't pretend for me anymore
🎶 Song: she - zayn
📖 Favourite Quote: "I’ll spend my life loving Hazel in every thought, word, and action. Showing her she’s loved as well as telling her."
📚 Would I recommend? YES
💬 tldr thoughts: another sweet romance by one of my favourite authors duo!
In the package:
📦 fake dating
📦 neighbours to lovers
📦 family drama
📦 tension & angst
Plot: Hazel just found out her boyfriend cheated on her, and now she wants revenge. Her and her upstairs neighbour, Penn, decide to fake date each other. Hazel thought he was another hockey playboy but there's much more to Penn and things start to feel all too real.
Thoughts: I need everyone to pick up this series!! It's so underrated and if you liked the Off Campus books then you will definitely love these books as well. They're sweet, heartfelt and full of emotional depth. I equally loved Penn and Hazel together and as individuals. They both showed up for each other every time and it was so sweet. Penn grew up in the foster system and has time trusting others and thinking he's worthy of love but Hazel makes him realize that he is. I love that the romance is never surface level with these books, the characters all have internal conflicts to work through and they always do it together.
I despised Hazel's parents and how much they belittled her so when Penn stood up to them for her, I was swooning.
Thank you Eleventh Avenue Publishing Inc & LBP LLC and NetGalley for the eARC!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok and instagram⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
April 27, 2026
As a huge fan of the first book in the series, Rookie Season, I knew I was going to love this one. This sports romance series follows a group of hockey players who share a loft and navigate life, professional hockey, love, and friendships. These are the kind of books that don’t need spice to have amazing tension and romance. They can be read as standalone’s but I would recommend reading them in order to fully connect to the group of characters.The loft setting and banter between them all is very “New Girl” coded. A fun time for anyone looking for an underrated sports romance series to obsess over.
Hazel and Penn’s story did not disappoint. They are neighbors whose relationship consists of her coming to his door angrily to complain about the noise constantly. She’s the serious one and he loves to push her buttons every chance he gets. When he sees her arguing with her ex boyfriend who cheated on her, he steps in to help her. What starts out as a fake dating situation quickly evolves into something neither of them expected. I loved the chemistry between these two so much. He calls her “Bubbles” and it’s literally my favorite thing.
-Hockey Romance
-Neighbors To Lovers
-Cinnamon Roll Hero
-Revenge Fake Dating
-”New Girl” Coded Group
-Spice Free Romance
Coming May 14th. Plenty of time to read book one, Rookie Season, before the release!
Hazel and Penn’s story did not disappoint. They are neighbors whose relationship consists of her coming to his door angrily to complain about the noise constantly. She’s the serious one and he loves to push her buttons every chance he gets. When he sees her arguing with her ex boyfriend who cheated on her, he steps in to help her. What starts out as a fake dating situation quickly evolves into something neither of them expected. I loved the chemistry between these two so much. He calls her “Bubbles” and it’s literally my favorite thing.
-Hockey Romance
-Neighbors To Lovers
-Cinnamon Roll Hero
-Revenge Fake Dating
-”New Girl” Coded Group
-Spice Free Romance
Coming May 14th. Plenty of time to read book one, Rookie Season, before the release!
April 16, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
- Book 2 of the Hockey Boys of Loft 3B
- FTB New Adult Romcom
- Complicated family relationships/past
- Faking dating
- Found family
- Hockey player MMC
- PhD student FMC
- She’s older
✨ a few of my favorite things:
- Sweet Penn and his protectiveness
- Penn & Cassie have the sweetest relationship
- Ally & Hazel becoming friends
- the red dress 😏
- “Some rules were meant to be broken”
- THE TENSION
- The nicknames
- How he takes care of her
- Their thoughtfulness for one another
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Ahhh!! I was just as obsessed with book 2 as I was with book 1! I was again so entertained by the hockey boys of loft 3B. Maybe even more! I really loved how Penn and Hazel’s relationship developed. Penn was so good at comforting her and putting her at least. I adored the way the gravitated towards one another and teased each other. Their flirting was so fun and holy crap do these two have so much chemistry!! Leah and Katie KNOW how to write chemistry!!! All the little touches!!! I couldn’t get enough of them.
I appreciated the depth of character and how both MCs weren’t perfect. Rather they both had to work through some insecurities and internal conflicts. Also I so appreciated that Hazel made the move 😉 *no spoilers* but I LOVE the honesty. I appreciated how Penn recognized sleeping around and partying are not fulfilling. I liked him showing her in actions and words that he wasn’t in it for the physical even though they were attracted to one another.
This is a fade to black romcom with mild language, passionate/descriptive making out, strong innuendo, and a quick non-descriptive fade to black in the epilogue. The characters do party, drink, and talk about sex. The authors have a content warning in the beginning of the book.
**Thank you so much to Leah, Katie, and Booked With The Emilys for letting me read this gifted ARC. No positive review was required. All thoughts are my own.**
Song:
Grave by Avery Anna
Mr. Predictable by Avery Anna
Slim pickins by Sabrina Carpenter
Pancakes for Dinner by Lizzy McAlpine
Glad you exist by Dan + Shay
Dress by Taylor Swift **
Wow by Sabrina Carpenter & Zara Larson
Nonsense by Sabrina Carpenter
- Book 2 of the Hockey Boys of Loft 3B
- FTB New Adult Romcom
- Complicated family relationships/past
- Faking dating
- Found family
- Hockey player MMC
- PhD student FMC
- She’s older
✨ a few of my favorite things:
- Sweet Penn and his protectiveness
- Penn & Cassie have the sweetest relationship
- Ally & Hazel becoming friends
- the red dress 😏
- “Some rules were meant to be broken”
- THE TENSION
- The nicknames
- How he takes care of her
- Their thoughtfulness for one another
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Ahhh!! I was just as obsessed with book 2 as I was with book 1! I was again so entertained by the hockey boys of loft 3B. Maybe even more! I really loved how Penn and Hazel’s relationship developed. Penn was so good at comforting her and putting her at least. I adored the way the gravitated towards one another and teased each other. Their flirting was so fun and holy crap do these two have so much chemistry!! Leah and Katie KNOW how to write chemistry!!! All the little touches!!! I couldn’t get enough of them.
I appreciated the depth of character and how both MCs weren’t perfect. Rather they both had to work through some insecurities and internal conflicts. Also I so appreciated that Hazel made the move 😉 *no spoilers* but I LOVE the honesty. I appreciated how Penn recognized sleeping around and partying are not fulfilling. I liked him showing her in actions and words that he wasn’t in it for the physical even though they were attracted to one another.
This is a fade to black romcom with mild language, passionate/descriptive making out, strong innuendo, and a quick non-descriptive fade to black in the epilogue. The characters do party, drink, and talk about sex. The authors have a content warning in the beginning of the book.
**Thank you so much to Leah, Katie, and Booked With The Emilys for letting me read this gifted ARC. No positive review was required. All thoughts are my own.**
Song:
Grave by Avery Anna
Mr. Predictable by Avery Anna
Slim pickins by Sabrina Carpenter
Pancakes for Dinner by Lizzy McAlpine
Glad you exist by Dan + Shay
Dress by Taylor Swift **
Wow by Sabrina Carpenter & Zara Larson
Nonsense by Sabrina Carpenter
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Content: There is language that is comparable to book 1 such as sh*t, a$s, a$shole, da*n or h*ll , and d*ck throughout the book. While f-bombs were not used, using puck was the substitute. (40 times) Now, realistically these are hockey players so it makes only sense for the novel. This book had parts was a tad bit attraction driven for my taste but nothing in this book is gross or derogatory. The protective nature of Penn was so wonderful and I love that this was also more than a romance. It talked about self worth, foster care and had aspects of found family. Every situation is this book was well thought out and the ending made me tear up. This book is 100% closed door and never crossed any lines even in the make-out scenes . The make-out scene was detailed for my taste and there is also one scene that fit a partying lifestyle the authors are portraying and it was tastefully done. This was your classic fake dating story in the world of hockey and the writing was bingebable. I also like how the story unfolded and there was so much clear communication. Also can we talk about a studious PHD queen? Do I wish we seen more chemistry between them, yea but they were also fighting to get rid of the ex. I think the FMC fell more in love or you can see her fall in love Penn beyond attraction compared to Penn, just saying. ALSO the fade to black happens very vaguely between a married couple in the last two pages of the book. This was a quick, cute, NA hockey romance .
All in All, if you love Leah Brunner and Katie Bailey and were are okay with book 1, this book is fun. I would only recommend this if you read book 1 and liked it.
I wasn’t bothered by the content because I knew what I was getting into and I applaud Leah and Katie for address that this does not go into the clean and wholesome category because of the inneudo and language.
was the one bed necessary? no , it would have been better if it wasnt there.
Hazels ex was a dirtbag hahah maybe too much
All in All, if you love Leah Brunner and Katie Bailey and were are okay with book 1, this book is fun. I would only recommend this if you read book 1 and liked it.
I wasn’t bothered by the content because I knew what I was getting into and I applaud Leah and Katie for address that this does not go into the clean and wholesome category because of the inneudo and language.
was the one bed necessary? no , it would have been better if it wasnt there.
Hazels ex was a dirtbag hahah maybe too much
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2026
This is an ARC Review of Rival Season by Leah Brunner and Katie Bailey. Rival Season is scheduled for release on May 14, 2026.
Thanks to Booked with the Emilys, Leah Bruner, and Katie Bailey for the gifted copy of this book. It is always a privilege to be an ARC reader.
A few months ago, I wondered what all the hype with hockey romances was. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good romance novel. I just wasn’t sure why hockey specifically had become such a popular theme in romance stories.
Since then, I have read a few hockey romances including Rival Season. Rival Season is a great example of why these books are so loved these days. It includes classic tropes such as fake dating, good girl/reformed bad boy, and neighbors.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was sweet, funny, and quick-paced. The secondary characters were just as likable as the main characters. There’s nothing I would change except for maybe some of the names, but that’s 100% a me problem.
Thanks to Booked with the Emilys, Leah Bruner, and Katie Bailey for the gifted copy of this book. It is always a privilege to be an ARC reader.
A few months ago, I wondered what all the hype with hockey romances was. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good romance novel. I just wasn’t sure why hockey specifically had become such a popular theme in romance stories.
Since then, I have read a few hockey romances including Rival Season. Rival Season is a great example of why these books are so loved these days. It includes classic tropes such as fake dating, good girl/reformed bad boy, and neighbors.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was sweet, funny, and quick-paced. The secondary characters were just as likable as the main characters. There’s nothing I would change except for maybe some of the names, but that’s 100% a me problem.
April 25, 2026
“Penn Matthews—as superfluous as he might seem—is an intimidating man. An intimidating and admittedly good-looking, man who I know my ex-boyfriend can’t stand. Suddenly, an idea pops into my head, and for the first time in days, I feel like I know exactly what I need to do.”
Rival Season is the super cute story of Penn and Hazel aka Playboy and Bubbles! While these two start out as rivals, the need to get rid of an ex-boyfriend quickly extinguishes the hate in order for some fake dating to happen! It doesn’t take long for the sparks to fly and the fake dating to become not-so-fake.
I freaking LOVED Penn and Hazel! Penn may have been a big, tough, tattooed hockey player, but his soft spot for Hazel and the way he loved, cared for, and protected her had my heart melting into a puddle! Hazel was cute and spunky and deserved someone amazing like Penn after daring Chadwick—who was the worst!
I loved Penn’s friends/roommates! It was fun to see Fisher, Ally ,and Noah again and see how quickly they drew Hazel in and made her feel loved. I loved the chemistry between Hazel and Penn and their fun flirting and banter. I loved how he stood up for her to her parents. And I loved how Hazel loved Penn for the man he had become and didn’t judge him for his past mistakes or his family. They were soooo cute together!
Favorite quotes:
Penn glances down at my lips. “Bubbles, if we were really together… there’s no way I wouldn’t kiss you every chance I got.”
“I don’t know how you walk around carrying an ego that large. Surely the weight of it is crippling.” I flex my arms so my biceps strain under the thin fabric of my long-sleeved shirt. “Muscles, Bubbles. They come in handy for carrying heavy things.”
“Hazel Palmer is turning out to be the gift that keeps on giving—a surprise under every layer I peel back. And as I watch her retreating form as she makes her way up the steps of the beautiful limestone building, I can’t help but think about how eager I am to unwrap the next layer.”
Rival Season is the super cute story of Penn and Hazel aka Playboy and Bubbles! While these two start out as rivals, the need to get rid of an ex-boyfriend quickly extinguishes the hate in order for some fake dating to happen! It doesn’t take long for the sparks to fly and the fake dating to become not-so-fake.
I freaking LOVED Penn and Hazel! Penn may have been a big, tough, tattooed hockey player, but his soft spot for Hazel and the way he loved, cared for, and protected her had my heart melting into a puddle! Hazel was cute and spunky and deserved someone amazing like Penn after daring Chadwick—who was the worst!
I loved Penn’s friends/roommates! It was fun to see Fisher, Ally ,and Noah again and see how quickly they drew Hazel in and made her feel loved. I loved the chemistry between Hazel and Penn and their fun flirting and banter. I loved how he stood up for her to her parents. And I loved how Hazel loved Penn for the man he had become and didn’t judge him for his past mistakes or his family. They were soooo cute together!
Favorite quotes:
Penn glances down at my lips. “Bubbles, if we were really together… there’s no way I wouldn’t kiss you every chance I got.”
“I don’t know how you walk around carrying an ego that large. Surely the weight of it is crippling.” I flex my arms so my biceps strain under the thin fabric of my long-sleeved shirt. “Muscles, Bubbles. They come in handy for carrying heavy things.”
“Hazel Palmer is turning out to be the gift that keeps on giving—a surprise under every layer I peel back. And as I watch her retreating form as she makes her way up the steps of the beautiful limestone building, I can’t help but think about how eager I am to unwrap the next layer.”
May 4, 2026
Rival Season by Katie Bailey & Leah Brunner 🎧
Dual narration by Andi Arndt & Tim Paige
I was so ready to be back with the Loft 3B crew, and this one delivered exactly what I wanted. After loving Rookie Season, this felt like coming home to the roommates, the chaos, and the kind of story that just makes you smile the whole way through.
Hazel and Penn start off as neighbors with very different vibes. She’s structured, focused, and not exactly thrilled about his presence. He’s the one who nudges, teases, and absolutely refuses to let her stay in her perfectly curated bubble - and he nicknames her Bubbles. When her cheating ex enters the picture, Penn steps in and the fake dating setup takes off from there… and the banter is so good. Playful, constant, and full of that easy chemistry that makes their connection feel natural from the start.
🩵 neighbors to lovers
🏒 dislike to lovers (on her side)
🩵 revenge fake dating
🏒 cinnamon roll / golden retriever MMC
🩵 “New Girl” coded loft dynamic
🏒 closed door romance
This is closed door, and it never feels like anything is missing. The emotional connection, the buildup, the small moments between them… it all carries the story in such a satisfying way. Penn is the kind of MMC who shows up without hesitation, steady, supportive, and quietly all in. The way he brings Hazel out of her shell and lets her just be herself is everything.
🎧 Andi Arndt captures Hazel’s personality so well. You can feel how controlled and put-together she is at the start, and then hear that shift as she softens and opens up.
🎧 Tim Paige absolutely nails Penn. Warm, playful, and full of heart. He leans into that golden retriever energy in the best way, bringing humor and sincerity into every scene.
This one is just a genuinely fun, feel good listen. Great characters, great dynamic, and a story that leaves you smiling by the end.
Thank you to Katie Bailey, Leah Brunner, Must Love Audio, NetGalley, and 11th Ave Publishing for the ALC and ARC
Dual narration by Andi Arndt & Tim Paige
I was so ready to be back with the Loft 3B crew, and this one delivered exactly what I wanted. After loving Rookie Season, this felt like coming home to the roommates, the chaos, and the kind of story that just makes you smile the whole way through.
Hazel and Penn start off as neighbors with very different vibes. She’s structured, focused, and not exactly thrilled about his presence. He’s the one who nudges, teases, and absolutely refuses to let her stay in her perfectly curated bubble - and he nicknames her Bubbles. When her cheating ex enters the picture, Penn steps in and the fake dating setup takes off from there… and the banter is so good. Playful, constant, and full of that easy chemistry that makes their connection feel natural from the start.
🩵 neighbors to lovers
🏒 dislike to lovers (on her side)
🩵 revenge fake dating
🏒 cinnamon roll / golden retriever MMC
🩵 “New Girl” coded loft dynamic
🏒 closed door romance
This is closed door, and it never feels like anything is missing. The emotional connection, the buildup, the small moments between them… it all carries the story in such a satisfying way. Penn is the kind of MMC who shows up without hesitation, steady, supportive, and quietly all in. The way he brings Hazel out of her shell and lets her just be herself is everything.
🎧 Andi Arndt captures Hazel’s personality so well. You can feel how controlled and put-together she is at the start, and then hear that shift as she softens and opens up.
🎧 Tim Paige absolutely nails Penn. Warm, playful, and full of heart. He leans into that golden retriever energy in the best way, bringing humor and sincerity into every scene.
This one is just a genuinely fun, feel good listen. Great characters, great dynamic, and a story that leaves you smiling by the end.
Thank you to Katie Bailey, Leah Brunner, Must Love Audio, NetGalley, and 11th Ave Publishing for the ALC and ARC
May 1, 2026
After adoring book one, Rookie Season, I was so excited to get an ARC/ALC for Rival Season! And oh I ate this up!
Hockey romance… fake dating… he’s a cinnamon roll reformed bad boy… she’s a high achiever eldest daughter… they’re neighbors… and they both want some revenge on her ex.
I already loved Penn from the last book. But oh man, I had no idea how much I would love him now that I saw him fall SO HARD for his fake girlfriend.
Hazel was super relatable for me (eldest daughters unite). I loved watching her confidence grow throughout the story.
The heart behind this story was amazing… the topics were heavy, so make sure you read the author’s content warnings.
Thank you to the authors and MLA for my advance copies. I mixed reading audio and ebook. Great dual narration from Andi Arndt and Tim Paige.
Excited for book 3 already!!
{Note: this is a closed door new adult romance.}
Hockey romance… fake dating… he’s a cinnamon roll reformed bad boy… she’s a high achiever eldest daughter… they’re neighbors… and they both want some revenge on her ex.
I already loved Penn from the last book. But oh man, I had no idea how much I would love him now that I saw him fall SO HARD for his fake girlfriend.
Hazel was super relatable for me (eldest daughters unite). I loved watching her confidence grow throughout the story.
The heart behind this story was amazing… the topics were heavy, so make sure you read the author’s content warnings.
Thank you to the authors and MLA for my advance copies. I mixed reading audio and ebook. Great dual narration from Andi Arndt and Tim Paige.
Excited for book 3 already!!
{Note: this is a closed door new adult romance.}
April 28, 2026
I loved Rookie Season and I LOVED Rival Season!!! I love the growth of the characters and their trust for each other! If a book has fake dating and no third act break up I will eat it up! I love the men of loft 3B and I cannot wait for Fishers book it’s going to be so good I know it!
Thank you NetGalley, Eleventh Ave Publishing, both authors Katie Bailey & Leah Brunner for allowing me to read this in exchange for my honest review!
Thank you NetGalley, Eleventh Ave Publishing, both authors Katie Bailey & Leah Brunner for allowing me to read this in exchange for my honest review!
May 1, 2026
Rival Season by Leah Brunner and Katie Bailey
-Hockey Boys of 3B, Book 2-
3.5/5🌶️
🚪*fade to black
2/3🦋
•My Thoughts•
Overall this was entertaining and a quick and easy read. I enjoyed the storyline and the tropes. However, I struggled with feeling like an old grandma during this - it felt very college without anyone being in college. There were certain scenes that felt really young to me (house party, drinking shots) and even the way the main characters were dealing with their past or families somehow felt young. Young doesn’t feel like the right word but I’m struggling to communicate, maybe two dimensional or obvious? Like the issues weren’t really given a lot of depth and the people we don’t like were so obviously horrible. A few back story items weren’t given a lot of time or development and I wanted more! I realize that this is labeled as New Adult so maybe I need to take my old self to a different genre *but* usually, I’m unbothered. I did continue to enjoy the friend group of 3B and their banter. Penn and Hazel were easy to root for and I loved the way they complimented each other. Fake dating is one of my favorites, too, so this was a fun time. The epilogue had some fun insight into the next book and I’m intrigued by Fisher’s story!
Thank you to the authors and the Emily’s for the early copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
-Hockey Boys of 3B, Book 2-
3.5/5🌶️
🚪*fade to black
2/3🦋
•My Thoughts•
Overall this was entertaining and a quick and easy read. I enjoyed the storyline and the tropes. However, I struggled with feeling like an old grandma during this - it felt very college without anyone being in college. There were certain scenes that felt really young to me (house party, drinking shots) and even the way the main characters were dealing with their past or families somehow felt young. Young doesn’t feel like the right word but I’m struggling to communicate, maybe two dimensional or obvious? Like the issues weren’t really given a lot of depth and the people we don’t like were so obviously horrible. A few back story items weren’t given a lot of time or development and I wanted more! I realize that this is labeled as New Adult so maybe I need to take my old self to a different genre *but* usually, I’m unbothered. I did continue to enjoy the friend group of 3B and their banter. Penn and Hazel were easy to root for and I loved the way they complimented each other. Fake dating is one of my favorites, too, so this was a fun time. The epilogue had some fun insight into the next book and I’m intrigued by Fisher’s story!
Thank you to the authors and the Emily’s for the early copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 29, 2026
My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This was a sweet fake dating sports romance. Looking forward to book 3!
May 5, 2026
Review coming soon!!
Want to Read
April 3, 2026Pre-release : DYING SCREAMING CRYING THROWING UP, I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS!!! CAN'T WAIT TILL IT COMES OUT.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you authors Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner and BookFunnel for the ARC of Rival Season in exchange for an honest review!
4 stars!
I LOVED Rookie Season and was SO excited to return to this series. The Boys of Loft 3B is a very New Girl coded found family with three hockey rookies living in a loft together-- it's my perfect venn diagram and Penn and Hazel's story did not disappoint!
In Rival Season, we follow NHL rookie Penn Matthews and his grad student neighbor Hazel Palmer that fake date to get revenge on her cheating ex. Their fake dating dynamic quickly shifts from annoyed with each other neighbors to friendship to real, genuine feelings. Though it can sometimes feel attraction forward, the relationship felt real. The banter the two of them shared felt genuine for their circumstances and their communication felt mature and healthy. The trust and vulnerability both shared with each other made their relationship feel believable. It was truly refreshing to see them communicate, truly listen to each other, and respect each other's boundaries with a little flirting and teasing pushing each other's buttons. There was a raw depth to both characters and their stories that were beautifully melded together all the way to the gift he got her in the epilogue - big swoon. Overall, this was a great addition to the series, and I definitely recommend to anyone looking for a closed-door hockey series to start!
ALSO — Are we gonna see Fisher and [redacted]'s story??? I'm so here for an artist moment!!
TW: child abandonment, family trauma, arrest recounted, alcoholism, foster care, foster system, "bad" foster family placements recounted, older sibling being caregiver for younger, infidelity/cheating, betrayal, breakup with ex, physical interactions in hockey, hockey injury, party, casual drinking, moderate language, some innuendoes throughout, closed door/fade to black - only kissing on page
Fake Dating for Revenge. Hockey Romance. Sports Romance. Neighbors to Lovers. Found Family. He Falls First. Dual POV. First Person POV. No Spice (Closed Door/Fade To Black).
4 stars!
I LOVED Rookie Season and was SO excited to return to this series. The Boys of Loft 3B is a very New Girl coded found family with three hockey rookies living in a loft together-- it's my perfect venn diagram and Penn and Hazel's story did not disappoint!
In Rival Season, we follow NHL rookie Penn Matthews and his grad student neighbor Hazel Palmer that fake date to get revenge on her cheating ex. Their fake dating dynamic quickly shifts from annoyed with each other neighbors to friendship to real, genuine feelings. Though it can sometimes feel attraction forward, the relationship felt real. The banter the two of them shared felt genuine for their circumstances and their communication felt mature and healthy. The trust and vulnerability both shared with each other made their relationship feel believable. It was truly refreshing to see them communicate, truly listen to each other, and respect each other's boundaries with a little flirting and teasing pushing each other's buttons. There was a raw depth to both characters and their stories that were beautifully melded together all the way to the gift he got her in the epilogue - big swoon. Overall, this was a great addition to the series, and I definitely recommend to anyone looking for a closed-door hockey series to start!
ALSO — Are we gonna see Fisher and [redacted]'s story??? I'm so here for an artist moment!!
TW: child abandonment, family trauma, arrest recounted, alcoholism, foster care, foster system, "bad" foster family placements recounted, older sibling being caregiver for younger, infidelity/cheating, betrayal, breakup with ex, physical interactions in hockey, hockey injury, party, casual drinking, moderate language, some innuendoes throughout, closed door/fade to black - only kissing on page
Fake Dating for Revenge. Hockey Romance. Sports Romance. Neighbors to Lovers. Found Family. He Falls First. Dual POV. First Person POV. No Spice (Closed Door/Fade To Black).
April 19, 2026
Rival Season by Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner—Spoiler Free
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️
Things for Hazel were going ok, not great, but ok. She’s finishing up her doctorate in social work, which her parents think is beneath her, but she has a very nice place to stay apartment sitting for her boyfriend’s aunt and uncle. Her boyfriend is a professional hockey player in another town and pretty much the only person she’s close with in California. She sees no problem putting everything into her schooling to get it done. Her biggest issue is the apartment directly above hers that is the home to 3 professional hockey players that seem to make a racket anytime she needs to focus on her work.
Penn has just started his career as a professional hockey player in San Francisco after graduating college. He had a rough upbringing, but things are finally looking up for him. He even enjoys his downstairs neighbor that comes up to complain every so often. While she seems uptight, he finds her beautiful and fun to flirt with.
When Hazel finds out her boyfriend has been cheating on her, he keeps trying to see her and convince her to forgive him, Penn swoops in and pretends to be her brand new boyfriend. At first hesitant, Hazel decides to play along with the fake dating so her ex will leave her alone. What starts as fake slowly becomes real as Hazel and Penn start to get to know each other.
Like all of Katie and Leah’s stories, this was super cute and such a sweet swoony love story. They always remind me of the feeling of first true young love. I’m always a fan of a fake dating story, especially when it takes forever for them to admit their actual feelings for each other. I like how both the FMC and MMC were green flags and even though they were fake dating, I never felt like they played games with the others’ feelings.
I’m so excited for our last Loft 3B Hockey player to find his match.
#bookstagrammer #bookreview #bookreviewer #Netgalley #RivalSeason
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️
Things for Hazel were going ok, not great, but ok. She’s finishing up her doctorate in social work, which her parents think is beneath her, but she has a very nice place to stay apartment sitting for her boyfriend’s aunt and uncle. Her boyfriend is a professional hockey player in another town and pretty much the only person she’s close with in California. She sees no problem putting everything into her schooling to get it done. Her biggest issue is the apartment directly above hers that is the home to 3 professional hockey players that seem to make a racket anytime she needs to focus on her work.
Penn has just started his career as a professional hockey player in San Francisco after graduating college. He had a rough upbringing, but things are finally looking up for him. He even enjoys his downstairs neighbor that comes up to complain every so often. While she seems uptight, he finds her beautiful and fun to flirt with.
When Hazel finds out her boyfriend has been cheating on her, he keeps trying to see her and convince her to forgive him, Penn swoops in and pretends to be her brand new boyfriend. At first hesitant, Hazel decides to play along with the fake dating so her ex will leave her alone. What starts as fake slowly becomes real as Hazel and Penn start to get to know each other.
Like all of Katie and Leah’s stories, this was super cute and such a sweet swoony love story. They always remind me of the feeling of first true young love. I’m always a fan of a fake dating story, especially when it takes forever for them to admit their actual feelings for each other. I like how both the FMC and MMC were green flags and even though they were fake dating, I never felt like they played games with the others’ feelings.
I’m so excited for our last Loft 3B Hockey player to find his match.
#bookstagrammer #bookreview #bookreviewer #Netgalley #RivalSeason
Review of advance copy received from Author
Rival Season completely lived up to my expectations - and honestly, maybe even exceeded them. I was so excited to dive back into this series after the first book, and from the very beginning this story pulled me right back into the world and reminded me why these characters are so easy to become invested in.
Penn was such a standout MMC for me. Even though he’s younger than Hazel, he never came across as immature or careless. His actions spoke louder than words throughout the story, and I absolutely adored him for it.
Hazel starts this book carrying so much emotional weight from both her toxic ex and the pressure from her parents, and you can really feel how worn down she is because of it. What I loved most was that her growth felt realistic. She didn’t magically become confident overnight, but through Penn’s support and the healthy relationship they built together, she slowly learned how to stand up for herself and stop accepting less than she deserved.
The chemistry between Penn and Hazel felt natural and effortless, but what made their relationship truly special was the trust they built. Their connection wasn’t just based on attraction - it was rooted in emotional safety, communication, and genuine care for one another, which made every romantic moment hit even harder.
And then there was Fluffy… honestly, such an iconic addition to the story 😂
While this can technically be read as a standalone, I do think reading Ally and Noah’s story first makes the experience even better because you already feel connected to the world and some of the side characters. It adds that extra layer of familiarity that makes coming back to the series so enjoyable.
And that EPILOGUE??? Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner absolutely knew what they were doing because now I’m desperate for the next book. The teasing for what’s to come has me completely invested already.
Such a heartfelt, comforting, and emotionally satisfying romance from start to finish. Another win from these authors!
Penn was such a standout MMC for me. Even though he’s younger than Hazel, he never came across as immature or careless. His actions spoke louder than words throughout the story, and I absolutely adored him for it.
Hazel starts this book carrying so much emotional weight from both her toxic ex and the pressure from her parents, and you can really feel how worn down she is because of it. What I loved most was that her growth felt realistic. She didn’t magically become confident overnight, but through Penn’s support and the healthy relationship they built together, she slowly learned how to stand up for herself and stop accepting less than she deserved.
The chemistry between Penn and Hazel felt natural and effortless, but what made their relationship truly special was the trust they built. Their connection wasn’t just based on attraction - it was rooted in emotional safety, communication, and genuine care for one another, which made every romantic moment hit even harder.
And then there was Fluffy… honestly, such an iconic addition to the story 😂
While this can technically be read as a standalone, I do think reading Ally and Noah’s story first makes the experience even better because you already feel connected to the world and some of the side characters. It adds that extra layer of familiarity that makes coming back to the series so enjoyable.
And that EPILOGUE??? Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner absolutely knew what they were doing because now I’m desperate for the next book. The teasing for what’s to come has me completely invested already.
Such a heartfelt, comforting, and emotionally satisfying romance from start to finish. Another win from these authors!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you so much to Must Love Audio for the ALC! And to Katie and Leah for having me beta read this!
I thoroughly loved the finished product of this book. Penn is a former foster kid turned professional hockey player, who did everything he could to help raise his sister and get her to the states once she was ready for college. And for just EXISTING, Hazel immediately hates Penn and his roommates, because they're her upstairs neighbors and they make a TON of noise.
But when Hazel's boyfriend cheats on her, and Penn steps in to play the fake boyfriend, chemistry that was once hate turns into something so much more! While Hazel was raised by business savvy parents who "want more for their daughter," her work is admirable to someone who cares about her for the first time, thanks to Penn. And even better. Hazel sees Penn for the man he is today, not the foster kid with a troubled past.
READ IF YOU LOVE:
- Professional hockey player x PhD student
- Neighbors to lovers
- Hate to love
- REVENGE fake dating
- "This isn't pretend for me anymore" vibes
- Very public first kisses that steal your breath away!
- Forced proximity
- Sports romance
- Closed door
THE AUDIOBOOK: SO SO GOOD! Andi Arndt and Tim Paige were the perfect Hazel and Penn duo! This dual narration audiobook runs about 8.5 hours, and I thought it moved SO QUICKLY. I was immersed from the very beginning. Hazel stomps her way into Penn's life, and he's a cinnamon roll softie on the inside, yet he's so protective of her. Andi Arndt brought that spicy personality and the softness, too, and Tim Paige brought the gruff hockey playing softie to life in the best way. I get chills just thinking about how swoony this story is read by these two! Definitely check it out when it lands wherever audiobooks are sold on May 14th!
I thoroughly loved the finished product of this book. Penn is a former foster kid turned professional hockey player, who did everything he could to help raise his sister and get her to the states once she was ready for college. And for just EXISTING, Hazel immediately hates Penn and his roommates, because they're her upstairs neighbors and they make a TON of noise.
But when Hazel's boyfriend cheats on her, and Penn steps in to play the fake boyfriend, chemistry that was once hate turns into something so much more! While Hazel was raised by business savvy parents who "want more for their daughter," her work is admirable to someone who cares about her for the first time, thanks to Penn. And even better. Hazel sees Penn for the man he is today, not the foster kid with a troubled past.
READ IF YOU LOVE:
- Professional hockey player x PhD student
- Neighbors to lovers
- Hate to love
- REVENGE fake dating
- "This isn't pretend for me anymore" vibes
- Very public first kisses that steal your breath away!
- Forced proximity
- Sports romance
- Closed door
THE AUDIOBOOK: SO SO GOOD! Andi Arndt and Tim Paige were the perfect Hazel and Penn duo! This dual narration audiobook runs about 8.5 hours, and I thought it moved SO QUICKLY. I was immersed from the very beginning. Hazel stomps her way into Penn's life, and he's a cinnamon roll softie on the inside, yet he's so protective of her. Andi Arndt brought that spicy personality and the softness, too, and Tim Paige brought the gruff hockey playing softie to life in the best way. I get chills just thinking about how swoony this story is read by these two! Definitely check it out when it lands wherever audiobooks are sold on May 14th!
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5⭐
Rival Season is book 2 in the Hockey Boys Of Loft 3B series and it can be read entirely fine as a standalone, you definitely will benefit from reading in order to understand the entire group's dynamic. I really enjoyed book 1 in this series and the second did not disappoint. This series is just so sweet, cute, the characters have so much chemistry and tension without needing the spice which I needed as I've been reading really spicy reads 🫣. I love how even though these reads are super fun, there's also depth to the characters and the storyline.
Hazel & Penn were so much fun to follow. I loved their relationship, how it came about and how it developed. The fake dating trope always gets me. Their chemistry was fire, the tension was hot and I adored them for one another. Penn was just so sweet, kind and I just love his golden retriever side. The way he comforted Hazel and made her see her worth was beautiful. What I appreciate from the authors also is that there is a lot of showing, not just telling from the characters, that sometimes gets lost but not in this one.
Overall, this was a really good addition to this series. I am absolutely obsessed with the series and can't wait to see where it goes. These characters, the stories, the friendships and romances are just the best.
🎧 The narration by Andi Arndt & Tim Paige was amazing. I really loved them together, loved how they brought the characters to life. I feel like their softer, younger tones were perfect for these characters. The emotions, the tension, the banter, the tears, everything was felt. Highly recommend!
✨️ Thank you to @mustloveaudio, @katiebailey & @leahbrunner for my gifted ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Rival Season is book 2 in the Hockey Boys Of Loft 3B series and it can be read entirely fine as a standalone, you definitely will benefit from reading in order to understand the entire group's dynamic. I really enjoyed book 1 in this series and the second did not disappoint. This series is just so sweet, cute, the characters have so much chemistry and tension without needing the spice which I needed as I've been reading really spicy reads 🫣. I love how even though these reads are super fun, there's also depth to the characters and the storyline.
Hazel & Penn were so much fun to follow. I loved their relationship, how it came about and how it developed. The fake dating trope always gets me. Their chemistry was fire, the tension was hot and I adored them for one another. Penn was just so sweet, kind and I just love his golden retriever side. The way he comforted Hazel and made her see her worth was beautiful. What I appreciate from the authors also is that there is a lot of showing, not just telling from the characters, that sometimes gets lost but not in this one.
Overall, this was a really good addition to this series. I am absolutely obsessed with the series and can't wait to see where it goes. These characters, the stories, the friendships and romances are just the best.
🎧 The narration by Andi Arndt & Tim Paige was amazing. I really loved them together, loved how they brought the characters to life. I feel like their softer, younger tones were perfect for these characters. The emotions, the tension, the banter, the tears, everything was felt. Highly recommend!
✨️ Thank you to @mustloveaudio, @katiebailey & @leahbrunner for my gifted ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I flew through Penn and Hazel's story, even with other ARCs I should have read first. This was so engaging and easy to read. This is the second book in the Hockey Boys of Loft 3B series, which are stand-alone stories and can be read in any order, but are best enjoyed in order.
The tension between Penn and Hazel arises because he's a loud neighbour and she's trying to write her PhD. Penn is a flirty teaser, without being obnoxious. When Hazel discovers that her boyfriend has cheated on her, Penn steps in to help her convince the ex that she's moved on and doesn't want him back. It doesn't hurt that the ex is Penn's rival/nemesis/bully. Enter the fake dating arrangement.
This is a high heat book, described as closed door but not clean. Check content warnings, as there's a lot of innuendo. Know whether you enjoy innuendo before picking up this book.
I liked that it wasn't long after they realised that their feelings were real, that they admitted it and went from fake dating to real dating. Their real relationship still had some obstacles to overcome after that, which carried the tension in the last part of the book.
What you'll find in this book:
*"enemy" neighbours to lovers
*tattooed MMC
*PhD candidate FMC
*fake dating
*age gap
*nicknames
*screw it moment
*found family
Content warning: frequent innuendo, cheating boyfriend (not MMC), mild coarse language (21 x sh**, 41 x d**k, 38 x he**, no f-word, it's substituted for "puck")
Romance level: 6 (passionate kisses, handsy, fade to black scene between married couple)
Thank you to the authors and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The tension between Penn and Hazel arises because he's a loud neighbour and she's trying to write her PhD. Penn is a flirty teaser, without being obnoxious. When Hazel discovers that her boyfriend has cheated on her, Penn steps in to help her convince the ex that she's moved on and doesn't want him back. It doesn't hurt that the ex is Penn's rival/nemesis/bully. Enter the fake dating arrangement.
This is a high heat book, described as closed door but not clean. Check content warnings, as there's a lot of innuendo. Know whether you enjoy innuendo before picking up this book.
I liked that it wasn't long after they realised that their feelings were real, that they admitted it and went from fake dating to real dating. Their real relationship still had some obstacles to overcome after that, which carried the tension in the last part of the book.
What you'll find in this book:
*"enemy" neighbours to lovers
*tattooed MMC
*PhD candidate FMC
*fake dating
*age gap
*nicknames
*screw it moment
*found family
Content warning: frequent innuendo, cheating boyfriend (not MMC), mild coarse language (21 x sh**, 41 x d**k, 38 x he**, no f-word, it's substituted for "puck")
Romance level: 6 (passionate kisses, handsy, fade to black scene between married couple)
Thank you to the authors and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Set in San Francisco, California, Hazel Palmer is tired of complaining about the noise in Loft 3B. Hazel is house sitting for her boyfriend's aunt and uncle while working on her PhD and just wants some quiet. Penn Matthews just started in the NHL and loves sharing a great loft apartment with his teammates, except maybe for the feisty downstairs neighbor. But when he finds out her boyfriend cheated on her and is also his long-time rival, Penn steps in to help. Now fake dating to get the jerk out of their lives, Hazel and Penn find more beyond their initial impressions of each other. Can they find a real connection and move past fake into real?
This series has been fantastic for me! There was a glimpse of this couple in Rookie Season, but I absolutely loved seeing Hazel and Penn get together. Their complicated dynamics around her ex made the tension so delicious. And when fake turns into real! So good! Given the sneak peek into the third book's couple, I'm so ready for more!
This new-adult romance features:
💕 Hockey player MMC x PhD student FMC
💕 Neighbors to Lovers
💕 Hate to Love
💕 Revenge fake dating
💕 She's older
💕 Sports Romance
💕 Found family
💕 Complicated families
💕 Foster care
💕 Golden retriever MMC
💕 Forced proximity
Closed door / fade to black (with innuendo and references to sex)
5 / 5 stars
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC!
This series has been fantastic for me! There was a glimpse of this couple in Rookie Season, but I absolutely loved seeing Hazel and Penn get together. Their complicated dynamics around her ex made the tension so delicious. And when fake turns into real! So good! Given the sneak peek into the third book's couple, I'm so ready for more!
This new-adult romance features:
💕 Hockey player MMC x PhD student FMC
💕 Neighbors to Lovers
💕 Hate to Love
💕 Revenge fake dating
💕 She's older
💕 Sports Romance
💕 Found family
💕 Complicated families
💕 Foster care
💕 Golden retriever MMC
💕 Forced proximity
Closed door / fade to black (with innuendo and references to sex)
5 / 5 stars
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This fake dating hockey romance was a beauty!!! And I’m not just talking about this absolutely stunning cover 😍😍😍
Hazel was a sweet, studious, people-pleaser who I related to on multiple levels. Penn was a man of men who cared so deeply, spoke volumes with his actions, and had the perfect golden retriever energy. Together, these two had chemistry that was off the charts and I loved how respectful and understanding they were both when things were going well and when things were rocky. There was a lot of healthy communication in this one, folks!!!
I experienced a lot of anxiety throughout the whole book because of Hazel’s ex and kept waiting to see what would happen with all that. Though he was an abhorrent dick, he proved to be the best foil for Penn and proved just how exceptional Penn was.
Hazel’s family dynamics hit all too close to home and I was so happy she found friends who became her chosen family. Penn’s relationship with his sister was so touching and while their childhood was unstable and traumatic, I appreciated the representation of foster care (both the good and the bad) and how it affected them.
It was so fun seeing Ally and Noah and Fisher again and I cannot wait to read Fisher’s story!!! There was a little setup for where it could go and I am so excited to learn more about him and see who he falls for.
(I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
Hazel was a sweet, studious, people-pleaser who I related to on multiple levels. Penn was a man of men who cared so deeply, spoke volumes with his actions, and had the perfect golden retriever energy. Together, these two had chemistry that was off the charts and I loved how respectful and understanding they were both when things were going well and when things were rocky. There was a lot of healthy communication in this one, folks!!!
I experienced a lot of anxiety throughout the whole book because of Hazel’s ex and kept waiting to see what would happen with all that. Though he was an abhorrent dick, he proved to be the best foil for Penn and proved just how exceptional Penn was.
Hazel’s family dynamics hit all too close to home and I was so happy she found friends who became her chosen family. Penn’s relationship with his sister was so touching and while their childhood was unstable and traumatic, I appreciated the representation of foster care (both the good and the bad) and how it affected them.
It was so fun seeing Ally and Noah and Fisher again and I cannot wait to read Fisher’s story!!! There was a little setup for where it could go and I am so excited to learn more about him and see who he falls for.
(I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
Review of advance copy received from Author
Individually, Leah Brunner and Katie Bailey are authors whose books I always love... put them together? Even better! Once again, these two knocked it out of the park (or whatever the hockey equivalent of that would be) with this one. All the banter. All the chemistry. All the swoon. Penn and Hazel had a really fun dynamic between them. I loved the back and forth at the start of the story. Despite them not initially getting along, I loved how he stepped in to help her out with her horrible ex (seriously, he's the absolute worst!)... insert a fake dating plan! I loved watching their chemistry grow as they spent more time together... right along with that protectiveness. Both of these characters were layered and had some complicated family relationships, adding a lot of depth and emotion to their story. There was a lot to love about this one, and I certainly did just that.
Rival Season is a fade to black romance. There is just one minimally detailed fade to black scene, but there are some more detailed kisses, frequent innuendo and mentions of sex as well as mild/moderate language. It is the second book in the Hockey Boys of Loft 3B series. While you will see some familiar characters, I do think this could be enjoyed as a standalone as well.
**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
Rival Season is a fade to black romance. There is just one minimally detailed fade to black scene, but there are some more detailed kisses, frequent innuendo and mentions of sex as well as mild/moderate language. It is the second book in the Hockey Boys of Loft 3B series. While you will see some familiar characters, I do think this could be enjoyed as a standalone as well.
**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and the authors for this eARC. All opinions are my own :)
This book??? It just made me so freaking happy!
From the very first page to the last, I had the biggest smile on my face. Every time Penn and Hazel were together, every little moment between them, every time they clearly loved each other but were still in denial and I was living for it.
Their chemistry? Insane. So strong, so natural, you just know they belong together.
One of my favorite things was Penn. The way he believed Hazel, the way he handled things rationally, the way he showed up for her?? I adored him. Truly top-tier book boyfriend.
And can we talk about the fact that there was no frustrating miscommunication?? 😭🙏
They actually talked to each other, communicated like adults, and it made the whole story feel even better.
The romance itself was just so sweet, fun, and addictive. I genuinely had a hard time putting my Kindle down because I needed to know what happened next.
Also, seeing Ally and Noah again made me so happy. I love how interconnected these stories are.
And the side characters?? Amazing. Every single one of them added something to the story.
But most importantly:
Fishers story is a NEED!
Because that epilogue??? WHAT WAS THAT?! 👀
Overall, I loved everything about this book. It was fun, emotional, swoony, and just pure happiness from start to finish.
This book??? It just made me so freaking happy!
From the very first page to the last, I had the biggest smile on my face. Every time Penn and Hazel were together, every little moment between them, every time they clearly loved each other but were still in denial and I was living for it.
Their chemistry? Insane. So strong, so natural, you just know they belong together.
One of my favorite things was Penn. The way he believed Hazel, the way he handled things rationally, the way he showed up for her?? I adored him. Truly top-tier book boyfriend.
And can we talk about the fact that there was no frustrating miscommunication?? 😭🙏
They actually talked to each other, communicated like adults, and it made the whole story feel even better.
The romance itself was just so sweet, fun, and addictive. I genuinely had a hard time putting my Kindle down because I needed to know what happened next.
Also, seeing Ally and Noah again made me so happy. I love how interconnected these stories are.
And the side characters?? Amazing. Every single one of them added something to the story.
But most importantly:
Fishers story is a NEED!
Because that epilogue??? WHAT WAS THAT?! 👀
Overall, I loved everything about this book. It was fun, emotional, swoony, and just pure happiness from start to finish.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to Booked with the Emilys, Katie Bailey, and Leah Brunner for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Bubbles, 2B, Hazel. No matter what name she's going by, she is our perfect heroine. And Penn, we met him in Rookie Season, and it's his time to shine. Specifically, as Hazel's fake boyfriend to make her cheating ex Chadwick jealous. Eventually, real feelings start to grow between them and faking it becomes a thing of the past.
Penn has a heart of gold, and it really comes through in his treatment of Hazel. He is absolutely everything for her that Chadwick was not, and we love him for it. The cinnamon roll of a hockey player will never get old. Especially when he has a weakness for Fluffy. On that note, if you read Rival Season and enjoyed Harry Styles, I hope you are equally as in love with Fluffy.
I simply cannot say enough good things about this book. The authors do a good job of navigating class issues and the foster care system as well as combining cultures and traditions between Canada and the Bay Area. And before you try to tell me there are no differences, you cannot pay me enough dollars, US or Canadian, to try ketchup chips.
CW (fully disclosed by the authors): parental addiction, violence, criminal activity, foster care, toxic relationships with family members, gaslighting, and cheating. Most occur off page.
Bubbles, 2B, Hazel. No matter what name she's going by, she is our perfect heroine. And Penn, we met him in Rookie Season, and it's his time to shine. Specifically, as Hazel's fake boyfriend to make her cheating ex Chadwick jealous. Eventually, real feelings start to grow between them and faking it becomes a thing of the past.
Penn has a heart of gold, and it really comes through in his treatment of Hazel. He is absolutely everything for her that Chadwick was not, and we love him for it. The cinnamon roll of a hockey player will never get old. Especially when he has a weakness for Fluffy. On that note, if you read Rival Season and enjoyed Harry Styles, I hope you are equally as in love with Fluffy.
I simply cannot say enough good things about this book. The authors do a good job of navigating class issues and the foster care system as well as combining cultures and traditions between Canada and the Bay Area. And before you try to tell me there are no differences, you cannot pay me enough dollars, US or Canadian, to try ketchup chips.
CW (fully disclosed by the authors): parental addiction, violence, criminal activity, foster care, toxic relationships with family members, gaslighting, and cheating. Most occur off page.
April 30, 2026
Absolutely adored Penn and Hazel's story. Their relationship started off rocky as Hazel lived below Penn and always complained about how much noise they made in their apartment when she was trying to work on her PhD dissertation. But once Penn stepped in when her ex-boyfriend and his hockey rival tried to corner her and they decided to fake date, all bets were off! Penn is genuinely very protective and caring of his people which included Hazel. Watching him slowly build a friendship with her that turned into real love was so sweet. He never tries to change her, but just loves her for who she is. Hazel, a girl who comes from money, but loves to thrift and is trying to make an impact on the world through her work had a huge heart. I loved how she opened up to Penn and how she never judged him. It was also the best watching her fold into the 3B family. These boys in Loft 3B really set the bar for found family. Another wonderful closed door romance to this series. You don't need to read book 1 to appreciate this one as a standalone. The banter is fun, chemistry is hot, and outings with the roomies were the best. The drama is never between Penn and Hazel, but their family and her ex which I am a fan of because watching them trust their relationship was hot!
Thanks for the ARC. Cannot wait for Fisher's story.
Thanks for the ARC. Cannot wait for Fisher's story.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Just like in the first book of this series, I was hooked from the very first pages! The authors’ writing is very fluid and light, which made it really easy to get immersed in the story. However, it was the characters that completely won me over! They felt like characters with real problems, and that made me like them even more. There was one particular character that made me want to shake some sense into them and tell them to leave…
The found family in this book is incredible, and the way Hazel was welcomed so easily completely melted my heart. I definitely want to keep reading the books, and I can’t wait to read Fisher’s story!
Tal como no primeiro livro desta série, eu fiquei viciada logo nas primeiras páginas! A escrita das autoras é muito fluída e leve e, por isso, foi muito fácil envolver-me na história. Contudo, foram as personagens que me fizeram ficar rendida por completo! Senti que eram personagens com problemas reais e isso contribuiu para que eu gostasse ainda mais delas. Houve uma certa personagem que me apeteceu abaná-la até ela ganhar noção e ir embora... A found family presente no livro é incrível e a forma como a Hazel foi acolhida tão facilmente, fez-me derreter o coração. Sem dúvida de que quero continuar a ler os livros e mal posso esperar para ler a história do Fisher!
The found family in this book is incredible, and the way Hazel was welcomed so easily completely melted my heart. I definitely want to keep reading the books, and I can’t wait to read Fisher’s story!
Tal como no primeiro livro desta série, eu fiquei viciada logo nas primeiras páginas! A escrita das autoras é muito fluída e leve e, por isso, foi muito fácil envolver-me na história. Contudo, foram as personagens que me fizeram ficar rendida por completo! Senti que eram personagens com problemas reais e isso contribuiu para que eu gostasse ainda mais delas. Houve uma certa personagem que me apeteceu abaná-la até ela ganhar noção e ir embora... A found family presente no livro é incrível e a forma como a Hazel foi acolhida tão facilmente, fez-me derreter o coração. Sem dúvida de que quero continuar a ler os livros e mal posso esperar para ler a história do Fisher!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Rival Season by Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner
Neighbours to lovers, Fake Dating and Hockey Romance count me in. Penn and Hazel's story had me giggling and in fits of laughter at points and a little bit of anger at others. Hazel has found herself banging on Penn's door more than once with a noise complaint. And Penn seems to like getting on her nerves, pushing on everyone of her buttons.
So it is no surprise that when he sees her with her cheating ex boyfriend who is also his hockey rival he pretends to be her new boyfriend. The nickname Penn gave Hazel “Bubbles” is the cutest darn thing ever.
I think i may be a little obsessed with the boys of loft 3B, cause I cannot seem to get enough of these boys. I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVED rookie season but Rival Season is definitely knocking it off my top spot of Leah and Katie's books that I love.
-Hockey Romance
-Neighbors To Lovers
-Cinnamon Roll Hero
-Revenge Fake Dating
-Good Girl Heroine
-Reformed Bad Boy
-First Born Daughter
The audio for this book was absolutely phenomenal. I loved how Andi Arndt and Tim Paige managed to bring Hazel and Penn to life. I have been waiting for this book so when the sign up went live for the ALC and I saw who was going to be narrating it, I was ecstatic and these two managed to make the audiobook flawless.
An ALC was provided by Must Love Audio in exchange for an honest review.
Neighbours to lovers, Fake Dating and Hockey Romance count me in. Penn and Hazel's story had me giggling and in fits of laughter at points and a little bit of anger at others. Hazel has found herself banging on Penn's door more than once with a noise complaint. And Penn seems to like getting on her nerves, pushing on everyone of her buttons.
So it is no surprise that when he sees her with her cheating ex boyfriend who is also his hockey rival he pretends to be her new boyfriend. The nickname Penn gave Hazel “Bubbles” is the cutest darn thing ever.
I think i may be a little obsessed with the boys of loft 3B, cause I cannot seem to get enough of these boys. I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVED rookie season but Rival Season is definitely knocking it off my top spot of Leah and Katie's books that I love.
-Hockey Romance
-Neighbors To Lovers
-Cinnamon Roll Hero
-Revenge Fake Dating
-Good Girl Heroine
-Reformed Bad Boy
-First Born Daughter
The audio for this book was absolutely phenomenal. I loved how Andi Arndt and Tim Paige managed to bring Hazel and Penn to life. I have been waiting for this book so when the sign up went live for the ALC and I saw who was going to be narrating it, I was ecstatic and these two managed to make the audiobook flawless.
An ALC was provided by Must Love Audio in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review 5 ⭐️
Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner have done it again in Rival Season! Such a fantastic story of resilience, discovering more about what meets the eye, and unwavering love. Hazel and Penn were both fun, quirky, and had the BEST banter.These two had unbelievable chemistry throughout the entire story. Katie and Leah really turned up the heat with this one! Whew!
I loved seeing Hazel come out of her shell around Penn. She and Noelle from Flirtation or Face-off would be besties. I really appreciated the way these two learned to look past appearances and truly get to know each other. It was so sweet the way they both not only supported each other but came to the other persons defense. Not because they needed it, but because they cared so much about each other they didn’t want them to be alone. 💜 I adored the found family element of this story, and Hazel and Penn are proof that you can be more than what your blood relatives expect of you. There were some really powerful scenes in this book that just warmed my heart and at times got me emotional. I just love these two so much!!!
This series truly is just so special and these characters are just incredible!I am SO excited to see what they do with Fisher and his mystery FMC.
Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner have done it again in Rival Season! Such a fantastic story of resilience, discovering more about what meets the eye, and unwavering love. Hazel and Penn were both fun, quirky, and had the BEST banter.These two had unbelievable chemistry throughout the entire story. Katie and Leah really turned up the heat with this one! Whew!
I loved seeing Hazel come out of her shell around Penn. She and Noelle from Flirtation or Face-off would be besties. I really appreciated the way these two learned to look past appearances and truly get to know each other. It was so sweet the way they both not only supported each other but came to the other persons defense. Not because they needed it, but because they cared so much about each other they didn’t want them to be alone. 💜 I adored the found family element of this story, and Hazel and Penn are proof that you can be more than what your blood relatives expect of you. There were some really powerful scenes in this book that just warmed my heart and at times got me emotional. I just love these two so much!!!
This series truly is just so special and these characters are just incredible!I am SO excited to see what they do with Fisher and his mystery FMC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Rating: really really enjoyed this one! Read it in 3 days ;)
Oh it is so fun to be back with the boys of 3B & I was so excited for Penn's story when we met him & the girl who lived downstairs - and let's just say, their story is as fun as it is sweet & tender! I adored every minute of it & loved watching the characters develop & grow together. So much fun fake dating turned real dating with a hottie hockey player with tats!!
As a total random side note, there were so many points where the authors could have chosen to go a different direction which would have made me wanna scream, but they always seemed to choose the emotionally healthy & mature option & it was just such a breath of fresh air to not be cranky with the lead characters & only cranky with the dumb side character who no one likes anyway.
Anyway, put this one on your list if you like hot tatted up hockey players who fall for sweet studious grad students + bonus if you have always wondered what it would be like to be roommates with a tarantula (iykyk).
Huge thanks to Netgalley for this arc. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
Oh it is so fun to be back with the boys of 3B & I was so excited for Penn's story when we met him & the girl who lived downstairs - and let's just say, their story is as fun as it is sweet & tender! I adored every minute of it & loved watching the characters develop & grow together. So much fun fake dating turned real dating with a hottie hockey player with tats!!
As a total random side note, there were so many points where the authors could have chosen to go a different direction which would have made me wanna scream, but they always seemed to choose the emotionally healthy & mature option & it was just such a breath of fresh air to not be cranky with the lead characters & only cranky with the dumb side character who no one likes anyway.
Anyway, put this one on your list if you like hot tatted up hockey players who fall for sweet studious grad students + bonus if you have always wondered what it would be like to be roommates with a tarantula (iykyk).
Huge thanks to Netgalley for this arc. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy
Hazel and Penn start off as neighbors, but Hazel isn’t exactly thrilled about it at first, his noisy apartment clashes with her need for peace and quiet. But everything shifts when Penn steps in without hesitation when she needs someone in her corner. From that moment on, I was completely sold on Penn for Hazel.
Penn is incredibly sweet and intuitive, always understanding how to support Hazel without her having to ask. Hazel truly deserves someone who sees her, values her, and puts her first, and Penn does exactly that. Their connection feels so genuine, and I love how they refuse to let outside forces come between them.
The narration only made the story better. Andi Arndt captures Hazel’s structured, studious nature perfectly while also bringing out her gradual growth into someone more open to taking risks. Tim Paige absolutely nails Penn’s golden retriever charm, highlighting just how warm and caring he is.
This story is adorable, heartfelt, and such a joy to listen to, I loved every second of their journey.
Thank you, Katie Bailey, Leah Brunner and Must Love Audio for the ALC.
Penn is incredibly sweet and intuitive, always understanding how to support Hazel without her having to ask. Hazel truly deserves someone who sees her, values her, and puts her first, and Penn does exactly that. Their connection feels so genuine, and I love how they refuse to let outside forces come between them.
The narration only made the story better. Andi Arndt captures Hazel’s structured, studious nature perfectly while also bringing out her gradual growth into someone more open to taking risks. Tim Paige absolutely nails Penn’s golden retriever charm, highlighting just how warm and caring he is.
This story is adorable, heartfelt, and such a joy to listen to, I loved every second of their journey.
Thank you, Katie Bailey, Leah Brunner and Must Love Audio for the ALC.
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