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Teammates to Lovers
Not yet published
Expected 16 Mar 27A professional hockey player falls headfirst into fanfiction—and ends up shipping himself with his captain—in this slow-burn friends-to-fanfiction-to-lovers romance.
When star forward Will Burns gets sent a fic about him and his best friend (and team captain), he laughs it off. It’s a joke. It has to be. But one late-night scroll turns into another . . . and another—and suddenly Will’s a little too invested.
Because the fic gets a few things right.
Like how good Théo looks in the locker room. How steady he is under pressure. How he’s always been Will’s person, on and off the ice. And the more Will reads, the harder it is to ignore the Maybe he’s not as straight as he thought. Maybe he never was. And maybe what he feels for Théo has never been just friendship.
So Will does what any normal person would He dives deeper. He tears through every fic he can find—then starts writing his own. But the deeper he gets, the more he realizes he might be chasing a hopeless fantasy. Can two teammates really become lovers? Or is fanfiction the only place Will can ever find his One True Pairing?
When star forward Will Burns gets sent a fic about him and his best friend (and team captain), he laughs it off. It’s a joke. It has to be. But one late-night scroll turns into another . . . and another—and suddenly Will’s a little too invested.
Because the fic gets a few things right.
Like how good Théo looks in the locker room. How steady he is under pressure. How he’s always been Will’s person, on and off the ice. And the more Will reads, the harder it is to ignore the Maybe he’s not as straight as he thought. Maybe he never was. And maybe what he feels for Théo has never been just friendship.
So Will does what any normal person would He dives deeper. He tears through every fic he can find—then starts writing his own. But the deeper he gets, the more he realizes he might be chasing a hopeless fantasy. Can two teammates really become lovers? Or is fanfiction the only place Will can ever find his One True Pairing?
352 pages, Paperback
Expected publication March 16, 2027
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’m so sad about this rating! This had so much potential but it didn’t meet my expectations at all. I actually wrote a rant review but then took a day to calm down and rewrite it…
Overall, I just wanted more. There’s a lot happening between fanfic Will and Theo, but the real Will and Theo? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Will yearns for 80% of the book and writes fanfiction. Because of this, the story felt very repetitive. More than half the book was stuck in a loop: Interact with Theo > Yearn > Go home and write fanfic > Repeat the next day. It focused so much on all the moments that could have happened between them, that nothing actually happened.
There’s a scene where some girls ask one of Will’s friends to kiss another guy because “it’s hot”. Will thinks, “Oh if this was fanfic, they would ask me and Theo to kiss, but that is too unrealistic” and then nothing happens. What? No! Go back and BE UNREALISTIC. THAT was literally all I wanted 😭😭
When they finally find out they’ve been reading fanfics about each other it’s happily ever after just three chapters later. And that’s my main issue with this book. I wanted to know what comes after. How they deal with their feelings together, how it impacts their lives, their careers, their friendship with each other and everyone else. But once they get together none of these issues matter one bit.
So yeah, I enjoyed parts of it but I also felt let down. Great premise, so so execution.
I will say, I really hope the next book (if there is one) is about Aidan. I liked him a lot and would love to see more of him!
✎ᝰ. pre-read: a hockey player discovers fanfic about him and his captain and gets a little too invested? yes please
💌 Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
Overall, I just wanted more. There’s a lot happening between fanfic Will and Theo, but the real Will and Theo? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Will yearns for 80% of the book and writes fanfiction. Because of this, the story felt very repetitive. More than half the book was stuck in a loop: Interact with Theo > Yearn > Go home and write fanfic > Repeat the next day. It focused so much on all the moments that could have happened between them, that nothing actually happened.
There’s a scene where some girls ask one of Will’s friends to kiss another guy because “it’s hot”. Will thinks, “Oh if this was fanfic, they would ask me and Theo to kiss, but that is too unrealistic” and then nothing happens. What? No! Go back and BE UNREALISTIC. THAT was literally all I wanted 😭😭
When they finally find out they’ve been reading fanfics about each other it’s happily ever after just three chapters later. And that’s my main issue with this book. I wanted to know what comes after. How they deal with their feelings together, how it impacts their lives, their careers, their friendship with each other and everyone else. But once they get together none of these issues matter one bit.
So yeah, I enjoyed parts of it but I also felt let down. Great premise, so so execution.
I will say, I really hope the next book (if there is one) is about Aidan. I liked him a lot and would love to see more of him!
✎ᝰ. pre-read: a hockey player discovers fanfic about him and his captain and gets a little too invested? yes please
💌 Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
October 9, 2026
Some books just exist to make you smile, take you away from your real life, and lift your mood. Teammates to Lovers is such a book.
I knew this from the moment I started reading and just couldn’t stop. I had so much fun, and Will and Theo were so sweet together. There isn’t even a third-act breakup. Okay, I have to admit that this is such a slow-slow burn that a third-act breakup wasn’t really possible, but still…
The middle dragged a little bit. I’d have loved to see a bit more of IRL Will and Theo on the page, especially toward the end. But who cares? I just had too much fun!
This was such a great escapist romance with a fun premise! Be aware, though, that there is some homophobia in the story.
Thank you, MIRA and Edelweiss, for this fun ARC!
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I knew this from the moment I started reading and just couldn’t stop. I had so much fun, and Will and Theo were so sweet together. There isn’t even a third-act breakup. Okay, I have to admit that this is such a slow-slow burn that a third-act breakup wasn’t really possible, but still…
The middle dragged a little bit. I’d have loved to see a bit more of IRL Will and Theo on the page, especially toward the end. But who cares? I just had too much fun!
This was such a great escapist romance with a fun premise! Be aware, though, that there is some homophobia in the story.
Thank you, MIRA and Edelweiss, for this fun ARC!
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Have you ever thought “I couldn't be famous because I would 100% read fanfiction of me and complain out loud about inaccuracies?”. If the answer is yes, Teammates to Lovers was made for you!
Everyone that knows me even a little bit knows I grew up in fandom, and that means I made a home on ao3 and other fans became close friends who I'll cherish for life. My own best friend of 10 years I met on a fandom so it's ingrained in every part of my life, and very important to me.
From the second I saw the title of this novel I knew I HAD to read it, fanfic and hockey romance? Sign me tf up!! Two things I love so much and spend a lot of time reading. I went in with high expectations, I would accept nothing except a laugh out loud story, and I got that, but I also cried. There's a lot of heart in this story, but first let me tell you what it is about.
Teammates to Lovers is a book about a hockey player who freshly out of a break up with his girlfriend of many years discovers that many people on the internet think he's in a relationship with his best friend. And they write stories about it! What a crazy concept! He's curious, so of course he starts reading it, but what happens when it starts to make him feel things and see his real life a little differently?
The beginning was just really funny, I had to stop to laugh at almost every page and I was just having a great time, everything I signed up for. But then it got a little deeper. There's one scene with a younger teammate and you could hear my heart break into a million tiny pieces. It made me so sad I had to take a little break. Knowing this is probably the reality for real people didn't help my case, and after that moment there was always an underlying melancholy while I was reading. That is until the very end, when I could just focus on this happily ever after that is not as happy as it could be but it is the reality for them.
The yearning and pinning is top notch. It's the kind of thing you very rarely see done this well in romance books, this is not a fast burn they work for it and you can feel the desperation and the yearning for something Will thinks he doesn't get to have.
The ending leaves a few openings and I saw this listed as a series on Netgalley so it makes sense. I also caught a little mention of a certain popular(?) shipp at the very end and color me intrigued, I can only assume they will be the couple of the next book and I cannot wait.
Thank you Netgalley and Dell Romance for this ARC!
Everyone that knows me even a little bit knows I grew up in fandom, and that means I made a home on ao3 and other fans became close friends who I'll cherish for life. My own best friend of 10 years I met on a fandom so it's ingrained in every part of my life, and very important to me.
From the second I saw the title of this novel I knew I HAD to read it, fanfic and hockey romance? Sign me tf up!! Two things I love so much and spend a lot of time reading. I went in with high expectations, I would accept nothing except a laugh out loud story, and I got that, but I also cried. There's a lot of heart in this story, but first let me tell you what it is about.
Teammates to Lovers is a book about a hockey player who freshly out of a break up with his girlfriend of many years discovers that many people on the internet think he's in a relationship with his best friend. And they write stories about it! What a crazy concept! He's curious, so of course he starts reading it, but what happens when it starts to make him feel things and see his real life a little differently?
The beginning was just really funny, I had to stop to laugh at almost every page and I was just having a great time, everything I signed up for. But then it got a little deeper. There's one scene with a younger teammate and you could hear my heart break into a million tiny pieces. It made me so sad I had to take a little break. Knowing this is probably the reality for real people didn't help my case, and after that moment there was always an underlying melancholy while I was reading. That is until the very end, when I could just focus on this happily ever after that is not as happy as it could be but it is the reality for them.
The yearning and pinning is top notch. It's the kind of thing you very rarely see done this well in romance books, this is not a fast burn they work for it and you can feel the desperation and the yearning for something Will thinks he doesn't get to have.
The ending leaves a few openings and I saw this listed as a series on Netgalley so it makes sense. I also caught a little mention of a certain popular(?) shipp at the very end and color me intrigued, I can only assume they will be the couple of the next book and I cannot wait.
Thank you Netgalley and Dell Romance for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really enjoyed this unique take on friends-to-lovers, as Will and Theo circle around one another for most of this story while diving headfirst into a wide array of fanfiction to quell their growing feelings and attraction to one another. I really liked the slow-building aspect of this story. Will has a lot of discovery throughout this story, and that makes his ability to act on his feelings very delayed and slow-moving, which helps the reader understand why he is so drawn to Theo while giving his newfound feelings time to breathe and expand as his venture into fanfic writing grows alongside his attraction to his teammate Theo.
Overall, this is a fantastic story that kept me invested and so happy when both of them finally admitted to their feelings, which are so painfully obvious to everyone but them. I fully recommend this story for its low angst and really sweet, emotional tone throughout.
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
Overall, this is a fantastic story that kept me invested and so happy when both of them finally admitted to their feelings, which are so painfully obvious to everyone but them. I fully recommend this story for its low angst and really sweet, emotional tone throughout.
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
September 7, 2026
*4.5 rounded up
Now someone write a fanfic about this book so we can have a full on inception.
The premise of this book is absolutely ridiculous and reads like fanfic but like that’s the whole point. If you’ve ever been in fandom spaces or are an enjoyer of fanfiction you will absolutely eat this one up.
Would any of this ever happen in real life? Probably not and that’s what makes it fun. I thought it was hilarious how sort of addicted Will got reading fanfic, and that fanfic being about himself mind you. The beginning did feel a bit repetitive at times as Will’s inner monologue was constantly thinking about the fact he was enjoying reading fic about him and his captain, but as the story progressed other plot beats started to take the forefront.
The fandom aspect of this was really well done, you can tell this author definitely has experience. There was exploration in how certain fans will over analyze everything from a look to conversations. In their eyes Will and Théo are together therefore they look at their interactions through this romantic lens. But perhaps what the fans see isn’t so far from the truth.
This is what I consider the perfect slow burn, keeping me engaged till the end hence why I devoured this in just two days. Also, major bonus points for this having one of my favorite tropes.
Thank you so much to Dell and Penguin Random House for providing me with this eARC.
Now someone write a fanfic about this book so we can have a full on inception.
The premise of this book is absolutely ridiculous and reads like fanfic but like that’s the whole point. If you’ve ever been in fandom spaces or are an enjoyer of fanfiction you will absolutely eat this one up.
Would any of this ever happen in real life? Probably not and that’s what makes it fun. I thought it was hilarious how sort of addicted Will got reading fanfic, and that fanfic being about himself mind you. The beginning did feel a bit repetitive at times as Will’s inner monologue was constantly thinking about the fact he was enjoying reading fic about him and his captain, but as the story progressed other plot beats started to take the forefront.
The fandom aspect of this was really well done, you can tell this author definitely has experience. There was exploration in how certain fans will over analyze everything from a look to conversations. In their eyes Will and Théo are together therefore they look at their interactions through this romantic lens. But perhaps what the fans see isn’t so far from the truth.
This is what I consider the perfect slow burn, keeping me engaged till the end hence why I devoured this in just two days. Also, major bonus points for this having one of my favorite tropes.
Thank you so much to Dell and Penguin Random House for providing me with this eARC.
Read
July 10, 2026hehehehe people are gonna eat this tf up
.....can't wait to get my grubby little hands on this
.....can't wait to get my grubby little hands on this
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have a lot to say about this one and the two stars is really just because it's very readable in terms of the writing itself, the writing style is competent as far as hockey romance goes and it was compelling enough that I finished it pretty quickly.
The problem, though? Literally all of the plot, oh my god.
The problem, though? Literally all of the plot, oh my god.
Want to Read
August 6, 2026i'm telling you i cannot WAIT to read this one!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There’s a very specific target audience of this book. First the MM hockey romance readers and then the “ao3 is my bedtime stories” so if you in the middle of this beautiful venn diagram lucky you (LUCKY ME LET ME TELL YOU)
Yeah is it a little cheesy and unrealistic? Obviously but its a romance where Will a hockey player got a little too addicted reading to fanfics of him and his very close friend teammate and its an outlet for him to explore is feeling and sexuality while silently pinning like what did you expect. ITS SLOW BURNNNN!!! It’s borderline second hand embarrassment sometimes. It’s 3am rolling around your bed one more chapter PLEASE!!
Ugh I can’t even begin with how much fun this was and I still feel like I’m floating from the adrenaline.
It’s soooo clear that this author is very active in fandom culture and ao3 in general and that just made it so much more fun to read.
Yeah is it a little cheesy and unrealistic? Obviously but its a romance where Will a hockey player got a little too addicted reading to fanfics of him and his very close friend teammate and its an outlet for him to explore is feeling and sexuality while silently pinning like what did you expect. ITS SLOW BURNNNN!!! It’s borderline second hand embarrassment sometimes. It’s 3am rolling around your bed one more chapter PLEASE!!
Ugh I can’t even begin with how much fun this was and I still feel like I’m floating from the adrenaline.
It’s soooo clear that this author is very active in fandom culture and ao3 in general and that just made it so much more fun to read.
September 29, 2026
”Théo meets his eyes in the mirror, his hair kind of fluffed out over his forehead, his T-shirt softly rumpled above Will's sweatpants, and Will wants—
Will just fucking wants.”
OOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHH YEAH that’s what I’m talking about!!!! This read like it was straight out of AO3 and I am the target audience. (I read 15 hours of fanfic a week…minimum).
Will’s angsty yearning was everything. It felt like adding a check mark to the angst category in the Additional Tags to include. PHEW! He was the most unreliable narrator in the best way possible. Because at times even I was thinking… “Does Théo actually like him back?” with how stuck in Will’s head we as readers were. This could be seen as a critique, but I personally think it makes it more realistic and interesting as a third-person limited story. Now I need a second book to be in Théo’s head the WHOLE time (the snippet at the end wasn’t enough).
All in all, this was a fast-paced, easy-to-read, and sweet book. I’d LOVE to read more in this universe and WILL be recommending this to my fellow AO3 / reader friends.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for sending me an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
Will just fucking wants.”
OOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHH YEAH that’s what I’m talking about!!!! This read like it was straight out of AO3 and I am the target audience. (I read 15 hours of fanfic a week…minimum).
Will’s angsty yearning was everything. It felt like adding a check mark to the angst category in the Additional Tags to include. PHEW! He was the most unreliable narrator in the best way possible. Because at times even I was thinking… “Does Théo actually like him back?” with how stuck in Will’s head we as readers were. This could be seen as a critique, but I personally think it makes it more realistic and interesting as a third-person limited story. Now I need a second book to be in Théo’s head the WHOLE time (the snippet at the end wasn’t enough).
All in all, this was a fast-paced, easy-to-read, and sweet book. I’d LOVE to read more in this universe and WILL be recommending this to my fellow AO3 / reader friends.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for sending me an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
This was SO much fun. Read it in one sitting and was kicking my feet the whole time. Cheesy, endearing, and sweet. I loved this!!!!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
what a JOY this was to read!!!!! such a fun premise, such a flawless execution. i saw the deal announcement for this book when it first dropped and proceeded to check netgalley religiously for it (thank you, Dell, for the ARC)! it lived up to all of my hopes!
the characters were three dimensional, will and théo’s friendship was so believable, and the reflections on identity were lovely. and the yearning. the nuclear-grade, titanic YEARNING! simply exquisite.
you know a book was good when you disregard sleep and/or professional responsibilities to binge it. in this instance, i did both. Teammates to Lovers is an easy addition to my comfort rereads list. i can’t wait to grab a physical copy upon release!
the characters were three dimensional, will and théo’s friendship was so believable, and the reflections on identity were lovely. and the yearning. the nuclear-grade, titanic YEARNING! simply exquisite.
you know a book was good when you disregard sleep and/or professional responsibilities to binge it. in this instance, i did both. Teammates to Lovers is an easy addition to my comfort rereads list. i can’t wait to grab a physical copy upon release!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
✧˖°. Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC of this wonderful book!!
For all the "slow-burn friends to lovers and mutual pining with a little bit of angst" tag enjoyers, this was an absolute FEAST!!!!
"It's all like that, gorgeous and lush and agonizing. Will aches, reading it. He wants a hundred thousand words of it. Wants to roll around in it for hours." (same, Will)
Honestly, it had so many favorite tropes and elements that just made me speed through this book, eyes glued onto the screen. I love a bizarre premise paired up with obliviously in love idiots who yearn, and this absolutely delivered on that. Another amazing aspect I enjoyed was how much the characters explored their sexuality through the fandom culture and writing:
"I didn't know anyone could just—write down the things that I wanted, put them on a page like that. It was like finding a magic spell."
And oh man, were those fantasies explored.
Aside from the excellent slowburn that never got boring, the story also explored the homophobia hockey leagues harbor and a certain side character was heartbreaking and I would love to see his return in a future book in this series.
Overall, I had so much fun with this book and really went through ALL the feels while devouring this.
"Théo meets his eyes in the mirror, his hair kind of fluffed out over his forehead, his T-shirt softly rumpled above Will's sweatpants, and Will wants—
Will just fucking wants."
Also, big fan of the eye-fucking at the end.
For all the "slow-burn friends to lovers and mutual pining with a little bit of angst" tag enjoyers, this was an absolute FEAST!!!!
"It's all like that, gorgeous and lush and agonizing. Will aches, reading it. He wants a hundred thousand words of it. Wants to roll around in it for hours." (same, Will)
Honestly, it had so many favorite tropes and elements that just made me speed through this book, eyes glued onto the screen. I love a bizarre premise paired up with obliviously in love idiots who yearn, and this absolutely delivered on that. Another amazing aspect I enjoyed was how much the characters explored their sexuality through the fandom culture and writing:
"I didn't know anyone could just—write down the things that I wanted, put them on a page like that. It was like finding a magic spell."
And oh man, were those fantasies explored.
Aside from the excellent slowburn that never got boring, the story also explored the homophobia hockey leagues harbor and a certain side character was heartbreaking and I would love to see his return in a future book in this series.
Overall, I had so much fun with this book and really went through ALL the feels while devouring this.
"Théo meets his eyes in the mirror, his hair kind of fluffed out over his forehead, his T-shirt softly rumpled above Will's sweatpants, and Will wants—
Will just fucking wants."
Also, big fan of the eye-fucking at the end.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I struggled a bit with the pacing of this book (some parts were a little too slow and then a little too fast for my liking), but I'm rounding up to four stars because god, the ending of Teammates to Lovers was fabulous! The whole thing really built up to a full gallop in the final third.
I also appreciated Jenny Linsky's clear understanding of fanfic mechanics and her delicate writing around Will’s understanding of his sexuality.
I also appreciated Jenny Linsky's clear understanding of fanfic mechanics and her delicate writing around Will’s understanding of his sexuality.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
OBSESSEDDDDDDDD. Idk if I’ll ever get over how cute this was. 😩😭 I had to keep reading a certain page over and over because it was so goddamn cute. 10/10 thank you for this masterpiece
~thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for giving me a ARC in exchange for an honest review ~
🏒💙
~thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for giving me a ARC in exchange for an honest review ~
🏒💙
October 4, 2026
I’m so excited about this book. I was reading it slowly in the beginning and I really did try to read it slowly but I just couldn’t. That’s how well written and how good this book is. I haven’t had a five star in a while and Teammates To Lovers definitely deserved that rating. I love a good 5 ✨ especially one that has yearning and is a slow burn like this one.
Theo and Will were literally so cute. When I wasn’t reading this book I couldn’t get these two out of my head. I honestly loved how Theo and Will had no idea that they were pining for each other and I also loved that they had no idea that they were literally texting each other over tumblr. Theo and Will were honestly so relatable even though I don’t play hockey and because they were having similar feelings about not knowing if a person likes you or not.
If there was one thing that I would absolutely recommend about this book, it’s that you will definitely want to underline and highlight all of the quotes, special moments, and just little things that our characters notice about each other. In every chapter I feel like I was getting read like a book because of how relatable and honest Will and Theo were when we’re in their heads or when we’re reading their writing. Honestly, Linsky’s writing just made me feel for our characters and feel for myself. She knew what she was doing when she wrote this masterpiece.
Everyone experiences coming out differently and Linsky did an amazing job of showing us two sets of parents who either supported and loved their child or the types of parents who didn’t like the idea of their child being gay. Linsky also showed us what it was like to experience someone who’s homophobic. I could feel all the emotions through my screen, some of which didn’t really feel good. It was a whole body experience to read this book because you go through the highs and lows with Will, Theo, and the rest of our characters which makes you feel like you know them.
I’m honestly so happy I got to read this book because the found family was amazing. You get to see Will and Theo thrive in different and new spaces together, but you also get to see all of their friends have fun and flourish. This is one of the best books I’ve ever read and I was happy to receive this arc copy from NetGalley and Jenny Linsky. I honestly couldn’t get enough of Theo and Will! They are the cutest couple and the premise and the way everything was executed couldn’t have been better. Again, thank you to Jenny Linsky and NetGalley for allowing me to read this because it was phenomenal.
Theo and Will were literally so cute. When I wasn’t reading this book I couldn’t get these two out of my head. I honestly loved how Theo and Will had no idea that they were pining for each other and I also loved that they had no idea that they were literally texting each other over tumblr. Theo and Will were honestly so relatable even though I don’t play hockey and because they were having similar feelings about not knowing if a person likes you or not.
If there was one thing that I would absolutely recommend about this book, it’s that you will definitely want to underline and highlight all of the quotes, special moments, and just little things that our characters notice about each other. In every chapter I feel like I was getting read like a book because of how relatable and honest Will and Theo were when we’re in their heads or when we’re reading their writing. Honestly, Linsky’s writing just made me feel for our characters and feel for myself. She knew what she was doing when she wrote this masterpiece.
Everyone experiences coming out differently and Linsky did an amazing job of showing us two sets of parents who either supported and loved their child or the types of parents who didn’t like the idea of their child being gay. Linsky also showed us what it was like to experience someone who’s homophobic. I could feel all the emotions through my screen, some of which didn’t really feel good. It was a whole body experience to read this book because you go through the highs and lows with Will, Theo, and the rest of our characters which makes you feel like you know them.
I’m honestly so happy I got to read this book because the found family was amazing. You get to see Will and Theo thrive in different and new spaces together, but you also get to see all of their friends have fun and flourish. This is one of the best books I’ve ever read and I was happy to receive this arc copy from NetGalley and Jenny Linsky. I honestly couldn’t get enough of Theo and Will! They are the cutest couple and the premise and the way everything was executed couldn’t have been better. Again, thank you to Jenny Linsky and NetGalley for allowing me to read this because it was phenomenal.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When it comes to the friends/teammates to lovers storyline in hockey romance I have 2 very specific gold-star standard books that I think of and those are Delay of Game by Ari Baran and Season's Change by Cait Nary. Why do I mention this? Because I think that with Teammates to Lovers, Jenny Linsky has similarly captured some very key elements that make this trope work so well (for me). And those things are:
-The absolutely heart-aching pining that our main POV character goes through
-AND the well-earned moments of effervescent joy when the love interests FINALLY figure out that their feelings are reciprocated.
And while the other two previously mentioned books have sharper teeth; more grounded in the realities of struggling with mental health and the toxic/bigoted culture within professional men's sports (a lot of angst), Teammates to Lovers is a little softer and a little sillier- closer to a rom-com in those aspects. The plot revolves around the main character discovering the world of fanfiction, specifically RPF (real person fiction), about him and Theo, the captain of his team, being in love. Sometimes it's fluffy, a lot of times its porny. At first he's horrified (but curious) and then he gets sucked into this rabbit hole of not being able to stop reading these stories, fantasizing about new situations, and then ultimately creating an Ao3 account to write the stories himself.
It's ludicrous. The fanfiction plotline and love connection is CAMPY and FUN. It's over the top and unbelievable but that's the whole point. This story, similar to Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian and Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade, reads like a love letter to fandom and the relationships that are built in those spaces. Will finds comfort and belonging in the Will/Theo fandom. He gets to process his feelings. He makes friends that help him with his stories and he gets support from fans of his work that keep his loneliness and hopelessness at bay. Jenny Linksy is very clearly fond of fandom spaces and it resonates so nicely in this story.
I do think some readers might not be able to look past the ethical grey areas of Will actively participating in RPF about him and his real life friend and captain. And if that's the case, then I don't think this ones for you. But if you're a fan of any of the previous books that I mentioned, this one may work for you too.
So I say KUDOS (heh) to Jenny Linsky for this debut because it was an absolute JOY to read.
-The absolutely heart-aching pining that our main POV character goes through
-AND the well-earned moments of effervescent joy when the love interests FINALLY figure out that their feelings are reciprocated.
And while the other two previously mentioned books have sharper teeth; more grounded in the realities of struggling with mental health and the toxic/bigoted culture within professional men's sports (a lot of angst), Teammates to Lovers is a little softer and a little sillier- closer to a rom-com in those aspects. The plot revolves around the main character discovering the world of fanfiction, specifically RPF (real person fiction), about him and Theo, the captain of his team, being in love. Sometimes it's fluffy, a lot of times its porny. At first he's horrified (but curious) and then he gets sucked into this rabbit hole of not being able to stop reading these stories, fantasizing about new situations, and then ultimately creating an Ao3 account to write the stories himself.
It's ludicrous. The fanfiction plotline and love connection is CAMPY and FUN. It's over the top and unbelievable but that's the whole point. This story, similar to Star Shipped by Cat Sebastian and Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade, reads like a love letter to fandom and the relationships that are built in those spaces. Will finds comfort and belonging in the Will/Theo fandom. He gets to process his feelings. He makes friends that help him with his stories and he gets support from fans of his work that keep his loneliness and hopelessness at bay. Jenny Linksy is very clearly fond of fandom spaces and it resonates so nicely in this story.
I do think some readers might not be able to look past the ethical grey areas of Will actively participating in RPF about him and his real life friend and captain. And if that's the case, then I don't think this ones for you. But if you're a fan of any of the previous books that I mentioned, this one may work for you too.
So I say KUDOS (heh) to Jenny Linsky for this debut because it was an absolute JOY to read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
tysm to netgalley and the publisher for this earc!!
This was a very cute book, I was kicking my feet through most of this!! It was very lighthearted and it read very fast. The plot was sometimes very predictable and occasionally very unserious but I had so much fun reading it! Theo & Will were so cute together and the yearning was very well written, this was probably one of my favorite reads of the year!!
This was a very cute book, I was kicking my feet through most of this!! It was very lighthearted and it read very fast. The plot was sometimes very predictable and occasionally very unserious but I had so much fun reading it! Theo & Will were so cute together and the yearning was very well written, this was probably one of my favorite reads of the year!!
October 16, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this novel. All my thoughts and opinions are my own.
Real rating: 3.75 stars
This was such a crackfic idea, I HAD to see the execution.
I’m a sucker for friends-to-lovers; that’s one of my favorite tropes, so I was already sold on that front. I think Will and Théo have a really solid friendship. I would’ve loved to see them be even more co-dependent, honestly. This was very entertaining and kept me interested from start to finish.
However, I have two main gripes with this novel. Actually, three.
…
(3.5)
The first is the fact that AO3 and Tumblr are mentioned by name specifically. I genuinely really hated that, especially AO3. Not to say that AO3 is super niche and only small pockets of the world knows this site exists, but the author could’ve just as easily made a parody of it instead. I hate when hyper-specific references, people, and things from our reality are put in pieces of fiction. The only exception is historical fiction and the time travel trope. I’m a firm believer (and no one can change my mind on this; this has always and will always be something I don’t like seeing/reading) that fictional worlds exist in alternate realities from our own. So, it’s incredibly jarring when I read these very real words/people/things within a world that doesn’t exist. It just takes me out the story. Plus, it also dates the book as a whole. Create your own AO3 and Tumblr. Call it BE1 and Glass for all I care, but don’t use the actual names.
My second issue with this novel is the fact that, although the chosen execution is still kind of sweet, it could’ve been sweeter if it was actually used to its full potential. This felt…safe. I was expecting Théo and Will to actually grow their relationship past platonic /while/ Will started writing about them. I expected moments Will wrote about to come to fruition on both ends. I expected a first kiss that took place before the last three chapters of the damn story. I expected to see way more intimate moments between them that /actually/ happened that were fueled by and/or helped fuel Will’s writing. So much untapped potential.
(My .5 reason that kind of ties into this: we missed the golden opportunity for social media reactions. There were very few that were solely tied to the fics. But imagine the good soup we could’ve gotten from fan analyses of their interactions.)
And my last issue: I feel like I don’t really know Théo, if I’m honest. He could be walking down the street and I wouldn’t know a thing. He’s a good captain, he’s an only child, he’s gay, and his parents are getting a divorce. That’s it. He’s kind of cardboard, no shade. I feel like too much time was spent on Will observing Théo from a distance, reading about fictional Théo, or writing about him. Not enough time was spent with them /actually/ interacting and just making him a more nuanced character. Théo’s biggest conflict was something that, to be quite honest, had nothing to do with him and really did not need to affect him as deeply as it did considering he’s a fully grown and independent individual that doesn’t even interact with those people on a day-to-day basis.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I just wish it did /more/.
Real rating: 3.75 stars
This was such a crackfic idea, I HAD to see the execution.
I’m a sucker for friends-to-lovers; that’s one of my favorite tropes, so I was already sold on that front. I think Will and Théo have a really solid friendship. I would’ve loved to see them be even more co-dependent, honestly. This was very entertaining and kept me interested from start to finish.
However, I have two main gripes with this novel. Actually, three.
…
(3.5)
The first is the fact that AO3 and Tumblr are mentioned by name specifically. I genuinely really hated that, especially AO3. Not to say that AO3 is super niche and only small pockets of the world knows this site exists, but the author could’ve just as easily made a parody of it instead. I hate when hyper-specific references, people, and things from our reality are put in pieces of fiction. The only exception is historical fiction and the time travel trope. I’m a firm believer (and no one can change my mind on this; this has always and will always be something I don’t like seeing/reading) that fictional worlds exist in alternate realities from our own. So, it’s incredibly jarring when I read these very real words/people/things within a world that doesn’t exist. It just takes me out the story. Plus, it also dates the book as a whole. Create your own AO3 and Tumblr. Call it BE1 and Glass for all I care, but don’t use the actual names.
My second issue with this novel is the fact that, although the chosen execution is still kind of sweet, it could’ve been sweeter if it was actually used to its full potential. This felt…safe. I was expecting Théo and Will to actually grow their relationship past platonic /while/ Will started writing about them. I expected moments Will wrote about to come to fruition on both ends. I expected a first kiss that took place before the last three chapters of the damn story. I expected to see way more intimate moments between them that /actually/ happened that were fueled by and/or helped fuel Will’s writing. So much untapped potential.
(My .5 reason that kind of ties into this: we missed the golden opportunity for social media reactions. There were very few that were solely tied to the fics. But imagine the good soup we could’ve gotten from fan analyses of their interactions.)
And my last issue: I feel like I don’t really know Théo, if I’m honest. He could be walking down the street and I wouldn’t know a thing. He’s a good captain, he’s an only child, he’s gay, and his parents are getting a divorce. That’s it. He’s kind of cardboard, no shade. I feel like too much time was spent on Will observing Théo from a distance, reading about fictional Théo, or writing about him. Not enough time was spent with them /actually/ interacting and just making him a more nuanced character. Théo’s biggest conflict was something that, to be quite honest, had nothing to do with him and really did not need to affect him as deeply as it did considering he’s a fully grown and independent individual that doesn’t even interact with those people on a day-to-day basis.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I just wish it did /more/.
September 6, 2026
I'll start with this: the premise of this book is bonkers. Will, a 21 professional hockey player, gets sent a hockey RPF (real person fiction) story shipping him and his teammate Théo. Will, who is straight (because obviously hockey players are straight, especially professional ones!), becomes deeply obsessed with reading stories about him and Théo, and even starts writing some smutty ones himself. As he writes, Will slowly starts to realize that, hey, maybe fantasizing about your teammate and reading/writing smutty gay fanfic about yourself is not actually normal straight guy behavior.
I went into this book with low expectations because of the wild premise, but wow, I loved it. Once you suspend your disbelief at the idea of a hockey player not only being literate but also a good writer, it turns into a lot of fun. I laughed so much, especially at the beginning, as Will is introduced to the idea of fanfiction and the common tropes and types of AU (alternate universe) - he complains about the hockey details being wrong, being mischaracterized, and the characters being oblivious idiots. But there are also many parts that felt deeply sad - Will is freshly dumped by the woman he was about to propose to, and he is hurt, lonely, and afraid he's going to be alone forever. As he starts to figure out his feelings for Théo, that only multiplies because all he can think about is the person he spends most of his time with but will never get to really be with.
Altogether, Will's self-discovery journey was very satisfying. Théo was a very sweet and thoughtful character, Will's sister Sadie was the real MVP, and Will's friends were charming and fun. I hope there's more of this world to come!
(I received a free advanced review copy from the publisher/NetGalley.)
I went into this book with low expectations because of the wild premise, but wow, I loved it. Once you suspend your disbelief at the idea of a hockey player not only being literate but also a good writer, it turns into a lot of fun. I laughed so much, especially at the beginning, as Will is introduced to the idea of fanfiction and the common tropes and types of AU (alternate universe) - he complains about the hockey details being wrong, being mischaracterized, and the characters being oblivious idiots. But there are also many parts that felt deeply sad - Will is freshly dumped by the woman he was about to propose to, and he is hurt, lonely, and afraid he's going to be alone forever. As he starts to figure out his feelings for Théo, that only multiplies because all he can think about is the person he spends most of his time with but will never get to really be with.
Altogether, Will's self-discovery journey was very satisfying. Théo was a very sweet and thoughtful character, Will's sister Sadie was the real MVP, and Will's friends were charming and fun. I hope there's more of this world to come!
(I received a free advanced review copy from the publisher/NetGalley.)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this!! You can tell the author knows her shit about fan fiction and the writing very much feels like it came from someone who has spent a lot of time writing it, which obviously makes sense given the plot.
You definitely have to suspend a LOT of disbelief while reading this because the characters do not really act their age and the entire plot is kind of ridiculous. I read a lot of ridiculous books so that didn’t bother me at all and the book was so cute that I was willing to overlook a lot of it.
My biggest issue was that this really needed to be dual POV. We obviously know Theo feels the same way about Will, but if we didn’t, Will writing all this smutty fan fiction about his best friend and teammate would be SO violating and weird. The fact that Theo is secretly doing the same thing makes the whole premise work but I really wanted to see more of Theo’s feelings and his side of the story. I also wish the characters had a little more going on outside of writing fan fiction for each other and playing hockey because they felt a little two dimensional at times. I also wish they had figured out they were writing about each other a little earlier because we only really get to see them as an actual couple for like a chapter or two. I loved that there was no third act breakup and that we got to see them being together and happy but I definitely would’ve liked to see them more as a couple.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
You definitely have to suspend a LOT of disbelief while reading this because the characters do not really act their age and the entire plot is kind of ridiculous. I read a lot of ridiculous books so that didn’t bother me at all and the book was so cute that I was willing to overlook a lot of it.
My biggest issue was that this really needed to be dual POV. We obviously know Theo feels the same way about Will, but if we didn’t, Will writing all this smutty fan fiction about his best friend and teammate would be SO violating and weird. The fact that Theo is secretly doing the same thing makes the whole premise work but I really wanted to see more of Theo’s feelings and his side of the story. I also wish the characters had a little more going on outside of writing fan fiction for each other and playing hockey because they felt a little two dimensional at times. I also wish they had figured out they were writing about each other a little earlier because we only really get to see them as an actual couple for like a chapter or two. I loved that there was no third act breakup and that we got to see them being together and happy but I definitely would’ve liked to see them more as a couple.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 5, 2026
I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley; all opinions are my own.
Fun, compulsively readable, and incredibly meta, Teammates to Lovers is an exciting new addition to the queer hockey romance canon. Though a times the story felt just a bit too farfetched, the meta aspect certainly worked in its favor to ease the reader past that. I do have to say, however, I feel like the synopsis reveals more than it should, setting up the reader to expect a few things that don't happen until very close to the end of the book.
Fun, compulsively readable, and incredibly meta, Teammates to Lovers is an exciting new addition to the queer hockey romance canon. Though a times the story felt just a bit too farfetched, the meta aspect certainly worked in its favor to ease the reader past that. I do have to say, however, I feel like the synopsis reveals more than it should, setting up the reader to expect a few things that don't happen until very close to the end of the book.
September 27, 2026
✨ ty to netgalley and ballantine for a copy of my arc ✨
2 closeted hockey players writing fanfic about each other while intensely yearning? sign me tf up.
this book was FOR THE YEARNERS y’all oh my god. my sweet will and theo. we must protect them. this is a slooooooowwwww burn though so proceed with caution. for me, it was worth it cuz i love an S-tier yearn and this checked my boxes. my heart was feeling things and my eyes were crying
i enjoyed the part that aidan played in their story, as well as how it relates to sports (esp. hockey) irl. i liked how theo and will (mostly) didn’t jump to conclusions and tried to take the time educate aidan. until he acted like too much of a fool and will went off 🤣
2 closeted hockey players writing fanfic about each other while intensely yearning? sign me tf up.
this book was FOR THE YEARNERS y’all oh my god. my sweet will and theo. we must protect them. this is a slooooooowwwww burn though so proceed with caution. for me, it was worth it cuz i love an S-tier yearn and this checked my boxes. my heart was feeling things and my eyes were crying
i enjoyed the part that aidan played in their story, as well as how it relates to sports (esp. hockey) irl. i liked how theo and will (mostly) didn’t jump to conclusions and tried to take the time educate aidan. until he acted like too much of a fool and will went off 🤣
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.
This was pretty fun. The writing was cohesive and pleasant to read, and I enjoyed various characters. The plot just spent so much time on the fanfiction writing aspect that I felt the relationship lost a lot of crucial time to thoroughly develop into a romance and so left me wanting.
This was pretty fun. The writing was cohesive and pleasant to read, and I enjoyed various characters. The plot just spent so much time on the fanfiction writing aspect that I felt the relationship lost a lot of crucial time to thoroughly develop into a romance and so left me wanting.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Thank you to Dell for the advanced copy! All thoughts are my own.
this had me giggling and kicking my feet the entire time. the yearning!!! the tension!!!! so much fun. can't wait for everyone else to read this one!
more in depth review to come closer to pub day!
this had me giggling and kicking my feet the entire time. the yearning!!! the tension!!!! so much fun. can't wait for everyone else to read this one!
more in depth review to come closer to pub day!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Linksy is a pro at hitting the sweet spot between fan fiction's too-sweet-to-be-real and a sweet, swoony romance.
I enjoyed all the fan fiction easter eggs, the laugh-out-loud one liners and the often homoerotic codependency of a male sports team.
A really fun read that hockey fans will enjoy thoroughly if they don't spend too much time trying to pick apart who the characters might be "based on."
I enjoyed all the fan fiction easter eggs, the laugh-out-loud one liners and the often homoerotic codependency of a male sports team.
A really fun read that hockey fans will enjoy thoroughly if they don't spend too much time trying to pick apart who the characters might be "based on."
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The premise of the book caught my attention I never really read fanfic of IRL people so I was excited to read about a book that deals with that kind of theme.
This one was such a fun read, it was everything I expected a fluffy, lighthearted , fun kind of read with some good slow burn romance. I love both characters Will yearning was top tier and Theo was also amazing. My only complaints are that I needed more IRL moments and less fanfic writing but overall it was an enjoyable read and it seems it might become a series so can’t wait to dive in for more
This one was such a fun read, it was everything I expected a fluffy, lighthearted , fun kind of read with some good slow burn romance. I love both characters Will yearning was top tier and Theo was also amazing. My only complaints are that I needed more IRL moments and less fanfic writing but overall it was an enjoyable read and it seems it might become a series so can’t wait to dive in for more
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
RATING: 4.75/5 STARS
A MUST READ for HEATED RIVALRY fans and AO3 addicts!! Two hockey players secretly writing about each other <3 I was obsessed with the premise from the start and it was executed incredibly well. Just trust, you will not be disappointed! The tension was so delicious it gave fanfic level butterflies. Will and Théo were the cutest. There was a little hint at the end for a possible next couple and I really hope we’ll get their book!
A MUST READ for HEATED RIVALRY fans and AO3 addicts!! Two hockey players secretly writing about each other <3 I was obsessed with the premise from the start and it was executed incredibly well. Just trust, you will not be disappointed! The tension was so delicious it gave fanfic level butterflies. Will and Théo were the cutest. There was a little hint at the end for a possible next couple and I really hope we’ll get their book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗝𝗲𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗸𝘆, 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽
okay, I genuinely had such a good time with this book because the premise alone had me smiling. Will burns is an NHL hockey player who starts reading fanfiction about himself and his best friend, Theo, who also happens to be his team captain. and instead of just laughing it off and moving on like a normal person might, this man gets completely hooked, starts reading more and more of it, AND THEN DECIDES TO WRITE HIS OWN. 😭 sir, please explain yourself because I was watching this whole situation unfold like, are we really going to pretend you don't have feelings for your best friend?!
What I loved most was how the fanfiction became a way for will to explore feelings he hadn't really allowed himself to understand yet. At first, it's something he can hide behind, something he can treat like a harmless little obsession, but the more he reads and writes, the harder it becomes to ignore what he's actually feeling. I really enjoyed seeing him work through his sexuality and slowly figure himself out, especially when he's been carrying these feelings for someone who's already such a huge part of his life. There was something both funny and genuinely sweet about watching him get closer to the truth through stories about himself.
AND THE YEARING. oh my god. The slow burn was exquisite. I love friends-to-lovers romances where the feelings are there, the closeness is already established, and everything becomes so much more complicated because neither person knows what to do with it. Will's feelings for théo had me invested, and I wanted him to stop overthinking everything and just let himself be happy. At the same time, I understood why opening that door was scary when so much was at stake, not just their friendship but also their lives and careers. Sometimes the person you want most is also the person you're most afraid of losing, and that made the emotional side of their relationship hit even harder for me.
I also loved the fanfiction and AO3 side of the story. It added such a fun, unique element to the romance, especially when will starts interacting with an author online and things get a little too personal. Watching him navigate all of that while trying to understand his own feelings was entertaining, but it also gave the story room to explore the difference between imagining something and actually being brave enough to want it for yourself. the humor worked so well with the more emotional moments, and I liked that the story wasn't only about the romance but also about will figuring out who he is and what he truly wants.
Theo was such a sweet part of this story, too. I loved the bond between these two and how much their relationship mattered before either of them could fully put their feelings into words. their friendship made the possibility of something more exciting and terrifying at the same time, which is exactly what I want from a good friends-to-lovers romance.
and this quote really captures the kind of yearning that made me love this book:
“Theo meets his eyes in the mirror, his hair kind of fluffed out over his forehead, his T-shirt softly rumpled above Will's sweatpants, and Will wants—Will just fucking wants.”
LIKE YES. EXACTLY. 😭 sometimes a character's feelings are so obvious to everyone except the character himself, and will had me feeling that so much.
Overall, i had such a fun time reading this. it's funny, sweet, a little ridiculous in the best way, and full of the kind of slow-burn yearning that makes you want to shake two characters by the shoulders and tell them to talk to each other. I especially loved the way Will's fanfiction obsession turned into part of his journey toward understanding himself, rather than just being a random funny premise.
**favorite things:** the slow burn, the yearning, will discovering himself, the fanfiction plot, and the relationship between Will and Theo.
This was such a fun read, and honestly, i could have spent even more time with these two. 💗
okay, I genuinely had such a good time with this book because the premise alone had me smiling. Will burns is an NHL hockey player who starts reading fanfiction about himself and his best friend, Theo, who also happens to be his team captain. and instead of just laughing it off and moving on like a normal person might, this man gets completely hooked, starts reading more and more of it, AND THEN DECIDES TO WRITE HIS OWN. 😭 sir, please explain yourself because I was watching this whole situation unfold like, are we really going to pretend you don't have feelings for your best friend?!
What I loved most was how the fanfiction became a way for will to explore feelings he hadn't really allowed himself to understand yet. At first, it's something he can hide behind, something he can treat like a harmless little obsession, but the more he reads and writes, the harder it becomes to ignore what he's actually feeling. I really enjoyed seeing him work through his sexuality and slowly figure himself out, especially when he's been carrying these feelings for someone who's already such a huge part of his life. There was something both funny and genuinely sweet about watching him get closer to the truth through stories about himself.
AND THE YEARING. oh my god. The slow burn was exquisite. I love friends-to-lovers romances where the feelings are there, the closeness is already established, and everything becomes so much more complicated because neither person knows what to do with it. Will's feelings for théo had me invested, and I wanted him to stop overthinking everything and just let himself be happy. At the same time, I understood why opening that door was scary when so much was at stake, not just their friendship but also their lives and careers. Sometimes the person you want most is also the person you're most afraid of losing, and that made the emotional side of their relationship hit even harder for me.
I also loved the fanfiction and AO3 side of the story. It added such a fun, unique element to the romance, especially when will starts interacting with an author online and things get a little too personal. Watching him navigate all of that while trying to understand his own feelings was entertaining, but it also gave the story room to explore the difference between imagining something and actually being brave enough to want it for yourself. the humor worked so well with the more emotional moments, and I liked that the story wasn't only about the romance but also about will figuring out who he is and what he truly wants.
Theo was such a sweet part of this story, too. I loved the bond between these two and how much their relationship mattered before either of them could fully put their feelings into words. their friendship made the possibility of something more exciting and terrifying at the same time, which is exactly what I want from a good friends-to-lovers romance.
and this quote really captures the kind of yearning that made me love this book:
“Theo meets his eyes in the mirror, his hair kind of fluffed out over his forehead, his T-shirt softly rumpled above Will's sweatpants, and Will wants—Will just fucking wants.”
LIKE YES. EXACTLY. 😭 sometimes a character's feelings are so obvious to everyone except the character himself, and will had me feeling that so much.
Overall, i had such a fun time reading this. it's funny, sweet, a little ridiculous in the best way, and full of the kind of slow-burn yearning that makes you want to shake two characters by the shoulders and tell them to talk to each other. I especially loved the way Will's fanfiction obsession turned into part of his journey toward understanding himself, rather than just being a random funny premise.
**favorite things:** the slow burn, the yearning, will discovering himself, the fanfiction plot, and the relationship between Will and Theo.
This was such a fun read, and honestly, i could have spent even more time with these two. 💗
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was the ultimate slow burn and literal pining fest! But LUCKY FOR ME! I LOVE PINING, I love longing and pining, and slow burn angst. I love tension!
Will & Theo are professional hockey players, fairly early in their career, but old enough to be captain & alternate captain. We learn quickly that Will has just suffered a breakup from his girlfriend of four years. Although Will doesn't seem to see it, it’s implied that he just couldn't give his girl as much attention as he was giving his best friend, and linemate Theo. Since Will has been with the same woman since high school, we see him start to panic a little and learn that, it’s not so much Erika he is missing, but just having someone! (not a good sign my guy.) One day his friends ask him if he knew there are people online writing stories about he and Theo, and shipping them hard. He laughs it off as creepy and weird, but one night can’t help but keep reading after he’s sucked in reading Will & Theo happy ever afters. Meanwhile, single for the first time in years he tries to get back in the saddle and start dating someone new. but those freaking fan fics keep him from thinking about his new girlfriend, and instead he can’t get Theo out of his mind! Will starts to realize, he just doesn’t get what the big deal is about sex and never has. He thinks he likes it enough, but it’s laughable to him all the fireworks and explosions featured in the stories he’s reading. But as he keeps reading, all these new feelings are surfacing that he’s either kept locked away or just newly discovering for himself, about his best friend. Uh oh.
As someone whose book count dramatically dropped since discovering Heated Rivalry fan fic on AO3, this story might have been written just for me. Is this storyline objectively a lil’ crazy - heck yes, but aren’t all fics that ship two professional athletes? Yet this story is so good and just keeps that little flame of hope alive that maybe, just maybe it could be real. Isn’t that what all of us fan fic readers and writers want? Will sums it up pretty well when he thinks to himself early on after discovering fan fics about himself….
I couldn't agree more. Like Will and his AO3 discovery, this book makes me feel things too. Is the storyline kind of out there, is this a needle in a haystack coincidence between Will & Theo? Sure, but that’s what also makes it so freaking good.
Since the book is written from Will’s POV, we never really know what is going on in Theo’s head. But I think the author gives us enough observations to think maybe, just maybe Theo is right there too with the feels and mutual pining. Keeping Theo’s thoughts and feelings from us, helps build the tension and the angst.
I really enjoyed reading this one, and it kept me up way too late, and then distracted me from my workday the next day, but I HAD TO finish it. I loved all of this story and loved most of the supporting characters (Except Aiden, screw homophobic Aiden! Although, is he being set up for a redemption arc?) Sadie, Will’s sister, and his best friends from juniors. Would love to also know about Tyler and Danny too! Is that a thing or am I just shipping them and making it weird? Lol. Don’t make it weird.
My only commentary is that the pacing at the very end, went super fast. These two finally kick off their HEA, and then boom it's over. Like, cmonnnn. I wanted a little more detail about all the feelings they experience now, finally together. I did love how the author chose to close things out with Theo’s fan fic. Overall, great story, a super fun and original premise, and I want more.
Will & Theo are professional hockey players, fairly early in their career, but old enough to be captain & alternate captain. We learn quickly that Will has just suffered a breakup from his girlfriend of four years. Although Will doesn't seem to see it, it’s implied that he just couldn't give his girl as much attention as he was giving his best friend, and linemate Theo. Since Will has been with the same woman since high school, we see him start to panic a little and learn that, it’s not so much Erika he is missing, but just having someone! (not a good sign my guy.) One day his friends ask him if he knew there are people online writing stories about he and Theo, and shipping them hard. He laughs it off as creepy and weird, but one night can’t help but keep reading after he’s sucked in reading Will & Theo happy ever afters. Meanwhile, single for the first time in years he tries to get back in the saddle and start dating someone new. but those freaking fan fics keep him from thinking about his new girlfriend, and instead he can’t get Theo out of his mind! Will starts to realize, he just doesn’t get what the big deal is about sex and never has. He thinks he likes it enough, but it’s laughable to him all the fireworks and explosions featured in the stories he’s reading. But as he keeps reading, all these new feelings are surfacing that he’s either kept locked away or just newly discovering for himself, about his best friend. Uh oh.
As someone whose book count dramatically dropped since discovering Heated Rivalry fan fic on AO3, this story might have been written just for me. Is this storyline objectively a lil’ crazy - heck yes, but aren’t all fics that ship two professional athletes? Yet this story is so good and just keeps that little flame of hope alive that maybe, just maybe it could be real. Isn’t that what all of us fan fic readers and writers want? Will sums it up pretty well when he thinks to himself early on after discovering fan fics about himself….
You know, Will has to hand it to the writer. This is a completely ludicrous setup, and Will and Théo would never say any of the things they’re saying. But also, that moment kind of gets him. It’s something about, like, the structure of a romantic scene. It’s built for that swoopy feeling in your stomach.
I couldn't agree more. Like Will and his AO3 discovery, this book makes me feel things too. Is the storyline kind of out there, is this a needle in a haystack coincidence between Will & Theo? Sure, but that’s what also makes it so freaking good.
Since the book is written from Will’s POV, we never really know what is going on in Theo’s head. But I think the author gives us enough observations to think maybe, just maybe Theo is right there too with the feels and mutual pining. Keeping Theo’s thoughts and feelings from us, helps build the tension and the angst.
I really enjoyed reading this one, and it kept me up way too late, and then distracted me from my workday the next day, but I HAD TO finish it. I loved all of this story and loved most of the supporting characters (Except Aiden, screw homophobic Aiden! Although, is he being set up for a redemption arc?) Sadie, Will’s sister, and his best friends from juniors. Would love to also know about Tyler and Danny too! Is that a thing or am I just shipping them and making it weird? Lol. Don’t make it weird.
My only commentary is that the pacing at the very end, went super fast. These two finally kick off their HEA, and then boom it's over. Like, cmonnnn. I wanted a little more detail about all the feelings they experience now, finally together. I did love how the author chose to close things out with Theo’s fan fic. Overall, great story, a super fun and original premise, and I want more.
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