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The Way Back To You
Not yet published
Expected 16 Jun 26A second chance hockey romance about first love, heartbreak, and the family they never got to be.
Kendall chose survival over love.
Three years ago, she walked away from Kai—the only man she’s ever loved—keeping a life-changing secret that shattered their future. Now she’s a single mom, determined to protect her son at all costs…even if it means never telling Kai the truth.
Kai has spent the last three years outrunning heartbreak. A driven, type-A professional hockey player, his life looks perfect from the outside—but he’s never recovered from losing Kendall. And deep down, he knows he never will.
When Kendall suddenly reappears, the past he tried to bury comes rushing back. But this time, she’s not alone.
As buried truths come to light, Kai and Kendall are forced to face the love they lost, the pain they never healed from, and the family they might still have a chance to become.
In the end, some loves don’t fade…they wait.
A deeply emotional second chance romance
Secret child, First love / lost love, Single mom heroine, Professional hockey romance, Found family, emotional healing
Kendall chose survival over love.
Three years ago, she walked away from Kai—the only man she’s ever loved—keeping a life-changing secret that shattered their future. Now she’s a single mom, determined to protect her son at all costs…even if it means never telling Kai the truth.
Kai has spent the last three years outrunning heartbreak. A driven, type-A professional hockey player, his life looks perfect from the outside—but he’s never recovered from losing Kendall. And deep down, he knows he never will.
When Kendall suddenly reappears, the past he tried to bury comes rushing back. But this time, she’s not alone.
As buried truths come to light, Kai and Kendall are forced to face the love they lost, the pain they never healed from, and the family they might still have a chance to become.
In the end, some loves don’t fade…they wait.
A deeply emotional second chance romance
Secret child, First love / lost love, Single mom heroine, Professional hockey romance, Found family, emotional healing
Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 16, 2026
11 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Hayden Fox
1 book10 followersHayden Fox is an author, educator, and mother that writes stories with heat and heart that break you apart... then stitch you back together again.
The Way Back To You is her debut novel. it is a second chance hockey romance about first love, heartbreak, and family.
Hayden is excited to bring Kai & Kendall's love story to readers across the world
The Way Back To You is her debut novel. it is a second chance hockey romance about first love, heartbreak, and family.
Hayden is excited to bring Kai & Kendall's love story to readers across the world
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 7, 2026
Review of advance copy received from author.
This book was so incredibly well written and the characters had so much depth. I went through a range of emotions while reading and thoroughly enjoyed every moment. I truly felt like I knew these people and I was heavily invested in their story. Both Kai and Kendall face mental health concerns and it was nice to see it so well represented.
Kai is such a kind hearted man and I was really rooting for him throughout the story. He has his share of setbacks and then some, but he finally finds the love and happiness he deserves. Kendall is an incredibly strong woman who made some tough decisions when she was younger and faced with life changing challenges. She’s a natural caretaker who tries to accommodate others above herself. I loved watching her finally find her much deserved happy ending!
Their story concludes flawlessly. I feel everything was addressed and didn’t leave me hanging at the end. If you enjoy reading books that keep you hooked until the last page, this is a must read!
This book was so incredibly well written and the characters had so much depth. I went through a range of emotions while reading and thoroughly enjoyed every moment. I truly felt like I knew these people and I was heavily invested in their story. Both Kai and Kendall face mental health concerns and it was nice to see it so well represented.
Kai is such a kind hearted man and I was really rooting for him throughout the story. He has his share of setbacks and then some, but he finally finds the love and happiness he deserves. Kendall is an incredibly strong woman who made some tough decisions when she was younger and faced with life changing challenges. She’s a natural caretaker who tries to accommodate others above herself. I loved watching her finally find her much deserved happy ending!
Their story concludes flawlessly. I feel everything was addressed and didn’t leave me hanging at the end. If you enjoy reading books that keep you hooked until the last page, this is a must read!
Review of advance copy received from Auteur
ARC review -⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book completely consumed me emotionally 😭🤍
What starts as a second chance romance between childhood best friends slowly unfolds into something so much deeper about love, guilt, healing, family, and learning how to stay when things become painful and complicated.
Kai and Kendall have known each other since they were children. They grew up side by side, became best friends, fell in love, lost each other, and somehow found their way back together years later carrying unresolved pain, unspoken fears, and far too much history between them.
One of my favorite things about this story was the dual timeline. The transitions between past and present felt seamless, and every flashback added another emotional layer to their relationship. Watching their friendship slowly evolve into love while seeing them struggle to rebuild trust in the present made every moment hit so much harder.
And honestly… this book shattered me emotionally.
Kendall’s character broke my heart. Her insecurities run so deep, and so much of her life is shaped by guilt, fear, and the belief that she is somehow “too much” for the people she loves. Watching her carry that emotional weight while still loving so fiercely was devastating.
But what made this story feel so special is that it never forced either character into the role of “the bad one.” They were both hurt. Both flawed. Both trying. The story gives them space to be messy, traumatized, vulnerable, and deeply human.
And Kai Matsumoto 😭🤍
He completely stole my heart.
The way he loves Kendall is patient, protective, unwavering, and all-consuming, but what impacted me most was seeing the cracks in him too. Seeing the caretaker slowly unravel under the pressure of everything he carries made their relationship feel incredibly balanced and real.
Their emotional growth throughout the story felt so genuine. Nothing was magically fixed overnight. They had to confront years of pain, misunderstandings, family wounds, abandonment, and fear, and that made every step toward healing feel earned.
And Akio 😭🤍
He brought so much warmth and tenderness to the story. The little family they slowly build together became the emotional heart of the book for me.
What surprised me most was how much depth this romance had beyond the relationship itself. The story explores family expectations, identity, emotional manipulation, mental health, grief, and the terrifying vulnerability that comes with loving someone enough to let them truly see you.
There were multiple moments where this book had me genuinely stressed, heartbroken, and emotionally overwhelmed… only to turn around and heal me again a few chapters later 😭
At its core, this story is about two people learning that love isn’t about perfection. It’s about staying. About choosing each other even through grief, fear, uncertainty, and all the messy parts of being human.
Kai and Kendall will stay with me for a very long time 🤍
This book completely consumed me emotionally 😭🤍
What starts as a second chance romance between childhood best friends slowly unfolds into something so much deeper about love, guilt, healing, family, and learning how to stay when things become painful and complicated.
Kai and Kendall have known each other since they were children. They grew up side by side, became best friends, fell in love, lost each other, and somehow found their way back together years later carrying unresolved pain, unspoken fears, and far too much history between them.
One of my favorite things about this story was the dual timeline. The transitions between past and present felt seamless, and every flashback added another emotional layer to their relationship. Watching their friendship slowly evolve into love while seeing them struggle to rebuild trust in the present made every moment hit so much harder.
And honestly… this book shattered me emotionally.
Kendall’s character broke my heart. Her insecurities run so deep, and so much of her life is shaped by guilt, fear, and the belief that she is somehow “too much” for the people she loves. Watching her carry that emotional weight while still loving so fiercely was devastating.
But what made this story feel so special is that it never forced either character into the role of “the bad one.” They were both hurt. Both flawed. Both trying. The story gives them space to be messy, traumatized, vulnerable, and deeply human.
And Kai Matsumoto 😭🤍
He completely stole my heart.
The way he loves Kendall is patient, protective, unwavering, and all-consuming, but what impacted me most was seeing the cracks in him too. Seeing the caretaker slowly unravel under the pressure of everything he carries made their relationship feel incredibly balanced and real.
Their emotional growth throughout the story felt so genuine. Nothing was magically fixed overnight. They had to confront years of pain, misunderstandings, family wounds, abandonment, and fear, and that made every step toward healing feel earned.
And Akio 😭🤍
He brought so much warmth and tenderness to the story. The little family they slowly build together became the emotional heart of the book for me.
What surprised me most was how much depth this romance had beyond the relationship itself. The story explores family expectations, identity, emotional manipulation, mental health, grief, and the terrifying vulnerability that comes with loving someone enough to let them truly see you.
There were multiple moments where this book had me genuinely stressed, heartbroken, and emotionally overwhelmed… only to turn around and heal me again a few chapters later 😭
At its core, this story is about two people learning that love isn’t about perfection. It’s about staying. About choosing each other even through grief, fear, uncertainty, and all the messy parts of being human.
Kai and Kendall will stay with me for a very long time 🤍
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC REVIEW
Let me tell you something!! As a reader who usually runs the other way from any pregnancy/baby tropes, this one DELIVERED (and if you know me, you know that’s saying a lot). With that being said, let’s get into my reactions while reading this ARC.
First of all, I have not been this obsessed with both an FMC and MMC at the same time as I am with Kai and Kendall. Their relationship is far from perfect, but it’s written and delivered in such a way that you feel everything for these two fictional characters. The mental health representation in this book is incredible—to the point where it had me sitting there reflecting on my own experiences and realizing that my struggles aren’t faults; they’re part of what makes me human and resilient. I love seeing characters open up about their fears and insecurities, and watching them heal and grow through their trauma.
The story gently walks you through Kendall and Kai’s journey… and then suddenly throws you for an absolute loop. A full bamboozle. It got to the point where I was sending scream voice notes to my besties with zero context, and honestly? Worth it.
Hayden Fox absolutely nailed the discussion of heavier topics like anxiety, panic disorder, postpartum depression, and motherhood. The writing is so engaging that you can easily lose yourself for hours—I’m talking “how did I just read 500 pages in a day?” energy.
If this sounds like your kind of read, I highly recommend picking it up when it releases on June 16, 2026. Add it to your TBR now. But be warned—this one will have you deep in your feelings, because it gets real. Like REAL REAL.
Let me tell you something!! As a reader who usually runs the other way from any pregnancy/baby tropes, this one DELIVERED (and if you know me, you know that’s saying a lot). With that being said, let’s get into my reactions while reading this ARC.
First of all, I have not been this obsessed with both an FMC and MMC at the same time as I am with Kai and Kendall. Their relationship is far from perfect, but it’s written and delivered in such a way that you feel everything for these two fictional characters. The mental health representation in this book is incredible—to the point where it had me sitting there reflecting on my own experiences and realizing that my struggles aren’t faults; they’re part of what makes me human and resilient. I love seeing characters open up about their fears and insecurities, and watching them heal and grow through their trauma.
The story gently walks you through Kendall and Kai’s journey… and then suddenly throws you for an absolute loop. A full bamboozle. It got to the point where I was sending scream voice notes to my besties with zero context, and honestly? Worth it.
Hayden Fox absolutely nailed the discussion of heavier topics like anxiety, panic disorder, postpartum depression, and motherhood. The writing is so engaging that you can easily lose yourself for hours—I’m talking “how did I just read 500 pages in a day?” energy.
If this sounds like your kind of read, I highly recommend picking it up when it releases on June 16, 2026. Add it to your TBR now. But be warned—this one will have you deep in your feelings, because it gets real. Like REAL REAL.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Way Back to You was emotional, tender, and heartbreakingly honest. This story explored grief, healing, forgiveness, and the kind of love that never truly leaves you, even after years apart.
Kendall and Kai felt incredibly real to me. Their relationship carried so much history, pain, longing, and unresolved emotion that every interaction between them felt meaningful. The dual timeline worked beautifully and added so much depth to their story, allowing the past and present to mirror each other in such a powerful way.
What stood out most was how human these characters were. They were flawed, messy, and trying to heal from wounds that shaped who they became. The mental health representation and complicated family dynamics made the story feel grounded and authentic while still delivering all the emotional tension and swoon you want from a second chance romance.
Kai especially had my heart. Beneath the polished exterior was someone carrying so much hurt, and watching both characters slowly confront the past and learn how to heal felt incredibly rewarding.
It’s also hard to believe this is Hayden Fox’s debut novel because the emotional depth and character work were so strong. Supporting Black authors matters, and Hayden absolutely delivered a romance that was both deeply emotional and unforgettable.
If you love second chance romances, hockey romance, secret baby tropes, slow burns, and stories about finding your way back to the person who still feels like home, I highly recommend this one.
Kendall and Kai felt incredibly real to me. Their relationship carried so much history, pain, longing, and unresolved emotion that every interaction between them felt meaningful. The dual timeline worked beautifully and added so much depth to their story, allowing the past and present to mirror each other in such a powerful way.
What stood out most was how human these characters were. They were flawed, messy, and trying to heal from wounds that shaped who they became. The mental health representation and complicated family dynamics made the story feel grounded and authentic while still delivering all the emotional tension and swoon you want from a second chance romance.
Kai especially had my heart. Beneath the polished exterior was someone carrying so much hurt, and watching both characters slowly confront the past and learn how to heal felt incredibly rewarding.
It’s also hard to believe this is Hayden Fox’s debut novel because the emotional depth and character work were so strong. Supporting Black authors matters, and Hayden absolutely delivered a romance that was both deeply emotional and unforgettable.
If you love second chance romances, hockey romance, secret baby tropes, slow burns, and stories about finding your way back to the person who still feels like home, I highly recommend this one.
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨Arc Review✨
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2🌶️🌶️
The Way Back to You had me feeling all sorts of feelings🥹from giddy, to devastated, to frustrated - I went through a roller coaster of emotions. This beautiful romance gives second chances a whole new meaning, the writing is so real and raw that you feel everything the MC’s are going through.
First off, I absolutely adore Kai and Kendall!! From page one I knew they’d end up with a piece of my heart, and I was right. Their relationship is heartbreakingly beautiful, it is far from perfect but what relationship is? Despite their issues they work through it and come out stronger than ever.
Kai🥰my MAN! He was everything I didn’t know I needed. He had a sweet and nurturing side to him, but also had a protective side that had me swooning. I loved how he’d give Kendall words of affirmation and show her how much she meant to him. Do I think he forgave Kendall too easy? Personally, yes. But I think the love he had for her just made it impossible for him to hold any grudges.
Kendall is such a strong woman! She made the impossible decision to walk away from the love of her life for reasons we later on find out, and put herself through college all while raising a baby. The dedication she has to raising Akio is commendable and she did it with such grace. Did her character frustrate me at times? Yes it did, but ultimately it was her insecurities and the fact that she was living in fear that kept her from being openly honest with Kai.
I loooved the dual timelines🤌🏻it gives you a more in depth look at how Kai and Kendall’s relationship transpired from when they were young and how they found their way back to each other. Each past POV chapter had its purpose and it ultimately ties in with the present chapters so well.
Thank you so much to the author for the eArc in exchange for my honest review!
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2🌶️🌶️
The Way Back to You had me feeling all sorts of feelings🥹from giddy, to devastated, to frustrated - I went through a roller coaster of emotions. This beautiful romance gives second chances a whole new meaning, the writing is so real and raw that you feel everything the MC’s are going through.
First off, I absolutely adore Kai and Kendall!! From page one I knew they’d end up with a piece of my heart, and I was right. Their relationship is heartbreakingly beautiful, it is far from perfect but what relationship is? Despite their issues they work through it and come out stronger than ever.
Kai🥰my MAN! He was everything I didn’t know I needed. He had a sweet and nurturing side to him, but also had a protective side that had me swooning. I loved how he’d give Kendall words of affirmation and show her how much she meant to him. Do I think he forgave Kendall too easy? Personally, yes. But I think the love he had for her just made it impossible for him to hold any grudges.
Kendall is such a strong woman! She made the impossible decision to walk away from the love of her life for reasons we later on find out, and put herself through college all while raising a baby. The dedication she has to raising Akio is commendable and she did it with such grace. Did her character frustrate me at times? Yes it did, but ultimately it was her insecurities and the fact that she was living in fear that kept her from being openly honest with Kai.
I loooved the dual timelines🤌🏻it gives you a more in depth look at how Kai and Kendall’s relationship transpired from when they were young and how they found their way back to each other. Each past POV chapter had its purpose and it ultimately ties in with the present chapters so well.
Thank you so much to the author for the eArc in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Kendall & Kai.. What a rollercoaster of emotions!!! This story was so good! It had me hooked from beginning to end.. it is a very real story about two people who never stopped loving each other and the struggles they had, I felt them to my core.. I loved every moment of Kai & Kendall's relationship. How they were able to go back to each other, every insecurity, every doubt, every feeling.. I love how this story portrays situations that in real life are not addressed and aren't given the importance they deserve, I'm talking about mental health. If you are looking for a story where your emotions will be all over the place but give you that HEA that they deserve so much..This is it!
My fav quote from Kai:
“I want you to know I'm always going to choose you. Then. Now. Every lifetime before this and after this, I’m going to choose you. In every hypothetical scenario and alternate universe. I would choose both of you in every lifetime that we’re together,"
SWOON!
Thank you for the ARC 🩷
My fav quote from Kai:
“I want you to know I'm always going to choose you. Then. Now. Every lifetime before this and after this, I’m going to choose you. In every hypothetical scenario and alternate universe. I would choose both of you in every lifetime that we’re together,"
SWOON!
Thank you for the ARC 🩷
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC review
I read this book in one night and my heart went through it all.
This story carried so much raw emotion that my heart felt shattered and healed all at once. Kai and Kendall went through so much heartbreak, pain, and love throughout their journey, and I felt every bit of it alongside them. I laughed, I cried, and I absolutely fell in love with Kai. That man deserved the entire world.
Kendall’s story took time to fully unfold (including time for me to stop being angry at her and hear her out) and once it did, everything hit so much deeper. And their little boy? Completely melted my heart.
Hayden handled mental health with such honesty and care. The emotions felt incredibly real, and you could truly feel the weight of what these characters were carrying. This story hit home in so many ways.
I read this book in one night and my heart went through it all.
This story carried so much raw emotion that my heart felt shattered and healed all at once. Kai and Kendall went through so much heartbreak, pain, and love throughout their journey, and I felt every bit of it alongside them. I laughed, I cried, and I absolutely fell in love with Kai. That man deserved the entire world.
Kendall’s story took time to fully unfold (including time for me to stop being angry at her and hear her out) and once it did, everything hit so much deeper. And their little boy? Completely melted my heart.
Hayden handled mental health with such honesty and care. The emotions felt incredibly real, and you could truly feel the weight of what these characters were carrying. This story hit home in so many ways.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Received an advanced copy from the author
I am still processing the emotional damage and healing. This is not a typical hockey romance. The MCs have already fallen in love and have given their hearts to each other. But the healing process through betrayal, fears of not being enough and trauma is what makes this book so good. You’re invested in their relationship but also the journey that the FMC and MMC take individually.
There is so much representation: mental health, interracial relationships, single motherhood and the nuances of different cultures. It is also a clear picture about how healing isn’t linear but in layers. The love that the two have for each other is there from the start, but shows the complexity of relationships in learning how to support your partner best. The author does rip out your heart a few times before we get a HEA. Spice 🌶️🌶️
I am still processing the emotional damage and healing. This is not a typical hockey romance. The MCs have already fallen in love and have given their hearts to each other. But the healing process through betrayal, fears of not being enough and trauma is what makes this book so good. You’re invested in their relationship but also the journey that the FMC and MMC take individually.
There is so much representation: mental health, interracial relationships, single motherhood and the nuances of different cultures. It is also a clear picture about how healing isn’t linear but in layers. The love that the two have for each other is there from the start, but shows the complexity of relationships in learning how to support your partner best. The author does rip out your heart a few times before we get a HEA. Spice 🌶️🌶️
Review of advance copy received from Author
Received as an ARC from the author.
This one had me hooked in the feelings from the start with a fake wedding in third grade! You just knew Kai and Kendall were soulmates and would survive anything thrown at them. They have that kind of love we all hope is real; your person that you'll always want to dance to Whitney Houston with. The story hit on so many tropes from second chance romance, mental health, emotional scars, secret child, hockey romance, and interracial relationships that just all pull at the heart strings.
The only issue I had with the story was the ending with the mob. I was expecting more from this storyline and felt let down with it being such a big deal and then not mentioned again until the end with a quick line to tie it up. I was expecting so much more. This was why I only gave it 4 stars instead of 5.
This one had me hooked in the feelings from the start with a fake wedding in third grade! You just knew Kai and Kendall were soulmates and would survive anything thrown at them. They have that kind of love we all hope is real; your person that you'll always want to dance to Whitney Houston with. The story hit on so many tropes from second chance romance, mental health, emotional scars, secret child, hockey romance, and interracial relationships that just all pull at the heart strings.
The only issue I had with the story was the ending with the mob. I was expecting more from this storyline and felt let down with it being such a big deal and then not mentioned again until the end with a quick line to tie it up. I was expecting so much more. This was why I only gave it 4 stars instead of 5.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Way Back to You
By: @authorhaydenfox
🌺If you enjoy an emotional roller coaster of a love story that feels real enough to paint vivid imagery then you need to pick this up.
🌺If you enjoy a diverse and inclusive cast of characters with a man who falls hard, repeatedly, and a woman who tries to put everyone else first then you need to pick this up.
🌺Hayden has explored many heavy themes in this book including pregnancy and mental health and writes them wonderfully. Be prepared to have the feels as you unravel the intricacies of Kai and Kendall's relationship because this is one contemporary romance you won't be able to put down.
#TheWayBackToYou #AuthorHaydenFox #romance #SecondChanceLove #hockeyromance
By: @authorhaydenfox
🌺If you enjoy an emotional roller coaster of a love story that feels real enough to paint vivid imagery then you need to pick this up.
🌺If you enjoy a diverse and inclusive cast of characters with a man who falls hard, repeatedly, and a woman who tries to put everyone else first then you need to pick this up.
🌺Hayden has explored many heavy themes in this book including pregnancy and mental health and writes them wonderfully. Be prepared to have the feels as you unravel the intricacies of Kai and Kendall's relationship because this is one contemporary romance you won't be able to put down.
#TheWayBackToYou #AuthorHaydenFox #romance #SecondChanceLove #hockeyromance
Review of advance copy received from Author
HAYDON FOX, REMEMBER THAT NAME IF YOU LOVE ANGSTY, ALL THE FEELS, EPIC LOVE STORIES. FIRST, MAKE SURE TO CHECK THE CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS. THIS IS A LOVE STORY BUILT TO LAST.
THE UPS, THE DOWNS AND THE TRAUMA IN A LIFETIME OF LOVING.
MY HEART HURT AND I HAD TEARS. I WAS FIGHTING FOR THESE CHILDHOOD FRIENDS ALL THE WAY.
A BOOK YOU CAN'T PUT DOWN!
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS JOURNEY ABOUT SOULMATES
THE UPS, THE DOWNS AND THE TRAUMA IN A LIFETIME OF LOVING.
MY HEART HURT AND I HAD TEARS. I WAS FIGHTING FOR THESE CHILDHOOD FRIENDS ALL THE WAY.
A BOOK YOU CAN'T PUT DOWN!
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS JOURNEY ABOUT SOULMATES
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews