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What We Knew Then
He should know better. She’s the coach’s daughter.
Lane Maxwell has one season left to prove he’s more than the reputation that followed him from his last school. Transferring to Great Lakes U wasn’t a fresh start—it was his last shot at keeping his NHL dream alive.
Cora Banks has built her life on being the one everyone can count on. Between classes, extra research projects, and doing whatever the Great Lakes U hockey team needs behind the scenes, she keeps everything moving—even when it means there’s nothing left for herself.
She’s always known the don’t get involved with hockey players. Not when your dad is the coach. But Lane keeps showing up… on the ice and behind the scenes. The more time they spend around each other, the harder it is to ignore what’s between them.
Until one reckless moment changes everything.
Suddenly, Lane is back in the same spotlight. Same accusations. Same assumptions. Different college.
Only this time, Cora knows the truth—and how much it will cost to prove it.
WHAT WE KNEW THEN is a college hockey romance with forbidden chemistry, a hero with everything to lose, and consequences neither of them can outrun.
Lane Maxwell has one season left to prove he’s more than the reputation that followed him from his last school. Transferring to Great Lakes U wasn’t a fresh start—it was his last shot at keeping his NHL dream alive.
Cora Banks has built her life on being the one everyone can count on. Between classes, extra research projects, and doing whatever the Great Lakes U hockey team needs behind the scenes, she keeps everything moving—even when it means there’s nothing left for herself.
She’s always known the don’t get involved with hockey players. Not when your dad is the coach. But Lane keeps showing up… on the ice and behind the scenes. The more time they spend around each other, the harder it is to ignore what’s between them.
Until one reckless moment changes everything.
Suddenly, Lane is back in the same spotlight. Same accusations. Same assumptions. Different college.
Only this time, Cora knows the truth—and how much it will cost to prove it.
WHAT WE KNEW THEN is a college hockey romance with forbidden chemistry, a hero with everything to lose, and consequences neither of them can outrun.
325 pages, Paperback
Published July 16, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
October 6, 2026
Wow, for those who are fans of Hockey romances, I can’t seem to get enough of these guys, I highly recommend this start to the Great Lakes U series. The guys on the team were heavily involved, which I love for a series starter, lets us get to know their personalities which primes the reader for the books to come. Told in alternating chapters, our MMC, Lane, starts his senior year at Great Lakes U after some unknown trouble he got into at his last school. We find out later what that is about because it does affect our mc’s. Cora is a type A personality from head to toe. She’s got tabs all over her school work and calendar, working to graduate college with a 4.0. They meet at a bar, him coming to her aid, and sparks fly off the page. This is a spicy romance with at least 2 big scenes. But for all the “bad boy” set up, Lane is a pussycat. I was swooning at how protective he was with Cora and how he didn’t bat an eye at her idiosyncrasies. She has two awesome girlfriends who hopefully get their own books, they deserve it. I’m excited for this series starter and definitely am recommending to my fellow puck bunnies. Follow author! Done.
July 11, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 Stars)
*rounded up
I am a sucker for a good hockey romance, and What We Knew Then by Rachel Laberge did not disappoint.
From the very beginning, I was rooting for Lane. He’s been through so much in his life, and all I wanted was for him to finally get the fresh start he deserved. Then Cora comes into his life, and while she’s exactly what he needs, she’s also someone who has the potential to change everything he’s worked so hard to build.
One of my favorite parts of this book was how supportive they were of each other. When Lane opened up about his past and the struggles he carried, Cora didn’t try to fix him. She simply listened, gave him the space to share, and supported him in the way he needed most. Their relationship felt genuine, caring, and built on trust.
I also really appreciated Cora’s storyline with her migraines. I had no idea they could be so debilitating, and seeing how they affected her daily life was both eye-opening and heartbreaking. It added another layer of depth to her character and the story as a whole.
If you’re looking for a hockey romance with two characters you’ll be cheering for from beginning to end, emotional moments, plenty of heart, and a team you’ll fall in love with right alongside the romance, definitely pick this one up.
*rounded up
I am a sucker for a good hockey romance, and What We Knew Then by Rachel Laberge did not disappoint.
From the very beginning, I was rooting for Lane. He’s been through so much in his life, and all I wanted was for him to finally get the fresh start he deserved. Then Cora comes into his life, and while she’s exactly what he needs, she’s also someone who has the potential to change everything he’s worked so hard to build.
One of my favorite parts of this book was how supportive they were of each other. When Lane opened up about his past and the struggles he carried, Cora didn’t try to fix him. She simply listened, gave him the space to share, and supported him in the way he needed most. Their relationship felt genuine, caring, and built on trust.
I also really appreciated Cora’s storyline with her migraines. I had no idea they could be so debilitating, and seeing how they affected her daily life was both eye-opening and heartbreaking. It added another layer of depth to her character and the story as a whole.
If you’re looking for a hockey romance with two characters you’ll be cheering for from beginning to end, emotional moments, plenty of heart, and a team you’ll fall in love with right alongside the romance, definitely pick this one up.
August 7, 2026
Rachel LaBerge doesn’t miss 😮💨
The Queen of sports romance, always with some mental health representation and this one included some chronic health condition representation too (specifically debilitating migraines). The spice was spicing, the banter was bantering, and the found family was excellent.
Lane and Cora had amazing chemistry from the minute they met, even when they wish they didn’t. I loved their banter and their forced proximity while they were mad at each other and trying to stay away. Lane is a green flag of a man, trying to protect and take care of everyone else. He deserves all the love. The way the team steps up and includes Cora (coaches daughter) was one of my favorite parts.
This is a hockey romance, forbidden love between the coaches daughter and the “bad boy” transfer from a rival team with a lot of growth and genuine found family vibes. I hope you read it and love it too.
The Queen of sports romance, always with some mental health representation and this one included some chronic health condition representation too (specifically debilitating migraines). The spice was spicing, the banter was bantering, and the found family was excellent.
Lane and Cora had amazing chemistry from the minute they met, even when they wish they didn’t. I loved their banter and their forced proximity while they were mad at each other and trying to stay away. Lane is a green flag of a man, trying to protect and take care of everyone else. He deserves all the love. The way the team steps up and includes Cora (coaches daughter) was one of my favorite parts.
This is a hockey romance, forbidden love between the coaches daughter and the “bad boy” transfer from a rival team with a lot of growth and genuine found family vibes. I hope you read it and love it too.
July 26, 2026
Lane is marked as the renowned bad boy. Off to another college in hopes of wiping the slate clean. Redeeming himself. Cora is a good girl. She works hard on her classes, does everything she’s told. She just genuinely a sweet girl. And she knows not to date or get involved with the hockey players. Especially since her dad is the coach. But Lane Leo’s popping up wherever she is. It was so sweet to see the two develop a friendship, spend time together, and her break the rules and fall for him. But when rumors are spreading about Lane messing up this time, Cora knows the truth. And Lane hasn’t done anything wrong.
I loved the suspense that came with this super sweet romance. The way Cora stood up for Lane no matter what it cost her. An absolute wonderful read.
I loved the suspense that came with this super sweet romance. The way Cora stood up for Lane no matter what it cost her. An absolute wonderful read.
July 17, 2026
I was so excited to get back into sports with Rachel! I really enjoyed this one, especially with the migraine rep. I did almost want to punch her dad in the face though with this whole car drama. The ending was perfection and gave me all the warm and fuzzies! Can’t wait to see what’s in store for the rest of the series!
August 5, 2026
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️
A coach’s daughter book is going to get em every single time. There is just something about them that I eat up, and this one was no different.
I had such a good time with this book, and really love that Rachel is writing college hockey now!
This book was so good. One thing I love is a book is when the people who have a one night stand find out later that they have to work together or there is a connection, and I loved this one.
✨ Hockey Romance
✨ One Night Stand
✨ Coach’s Daughter
✨ Broken Boy MMC
✨ Secret Relationship
I cannot wait for more in this world and to dive into the friend group more.
ALSO I suffer from severe chronic migraines and seeing it done so dang well made me feel seen and validates! I loved that Rachel really took care exploring that.
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️
A coach’s daughter book is going to get em every single time. There is just something about them that I eat up, and this one was no different.
I had such a good time with this book, and really love that Rachel is writing college hockey now!
This book was so good. One thing I love is a book is when the people who have a one night stand find out later that they have to work together or there is a connection, and I loved this one.
✨ Hockey Romance
✨ One Night Stand
✨ Coach’s Daughter
✨ Broken Boy MMC
✨ Secret Relationship
I cannot wait for more in this world and to dive into the friend group more.
ALSO I suffer from severe chronic migraines and seeing it done so dang well made me feel seen and validates! I loved that Rachel really took care exploring that.
July 20, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
*Thank you to the author, Rachel LaBerge for providing me with E ARC, in exchange for an honest review *
Hockey had always been one of my favorite sports to read about. I love watching it and reading about it. I knew when I came across What We Knew Then that I had to check this story out. The cover and the blurb had me hooked, and I couldn’t wait to dive into Lane and Cora’s story. Rachel Laberge did not disappoint. It didn’t take me long to get invested in the story, and if it weren’t for my moving, I wouldn’t have stopped reading. This is one of those books that once you pick it up, it’ll be hard to find a stopping point.
From the very beginning, I loved Lane, and I rooted for him throughout the book. He was such a good guy and went through so much; I wanted him to get a fresh start where others wouldn’t judge him for his past. I knew that it wasn’t easy for him in the beginning, and that’s why I was glad that he had Cora in his corner. Lane and Cora needed each other. My favorite parts of the book are the ways Lane and Cora support each other. When Lane told her about his past, she was there, and she didn’t judge; she just listened. Also, the way that Lane helped Cora during one of her migraine attacks. I was rooting for two of them to end up together.
I get monthly migraines, but the way that Rachel represented chronic migraines made me see them in a completely different way. Mine were bad, but not as bad as Cora’s, and seeing how it affected her daily life, my heart went out to her. What We Knew Then was my first book by Rachel Laberge, and I am already eager to check out her others. Highly recommended for sports romance fans
*Thank you to the author, Rachel LaBerge for providing me with E ARC, in exchange for an honest review *
Hockey had always been one of my favorite sports to read about. I love watching it and reading about it. I knew when I came across What We Knew Then that I had to check this story out. The cover and the blurb had me hooked, and I couldn’t wait to dive into Lane and Cora’s story. Rachel Laberge did not disappoint. It didn’t take me long to get invested in the story, and if it weren’t for my moving, I wouldn’t have stopped reading. This is one of those books that once you pick it up, it’ll be hard to find a stopping point.
From the very beginning, I loved Lane, and I rooted for him throughout the book. He was such a good guy and went through so much; I wanted him to get a fresh start where others wouldn’t judge him for his past. I knew that it wasn’t easy for him in the beginning, and that’s why I was glad that he had Cora in his corner. Lane and Cora needed each other. My favorite parts of the book are the ways Lane and Cora support each other. When Lane told her about his past, she was there, and she didn’t judge; she just listened. Also, the way that Lane helped Cora during one of her migraine attacks. I was rooting for two of them to end up together.
I get monthly migraines, but the way that Rachel represented chronic migraines made me see them in a completely different way. Mine were bad, but not as bad as Cora’s, and seeing how it affected her daily life, my heart went out to her. What We Knew Then was my first book by Rachel Laberge, and I am already eager to check out her others. Highly recommended for sports romance fans
July 8, 2026
4.5⭐️!
I feel like only one thing will explain my thoughts for this book properly haha. I don’t really like hockey romance…but when Rachel writes it? I will eat👏🏻 it👏🏻 up👏🏻 I REALLY loved this one!
It’s so easy to get lost in Rachel’s books, and this one was no different. I love a good character who carries the weight of the world on their shoulders, and when both Cora and Lane were that kind of character? The way they could see right through each other’s walls, as if they weren’t even there, had me melting into a puddle🥹 their stolen moments together, their secret looks, the way they could immediately feel when the other was close? Stellar, no notes, I need more of them like I need air🤭
And to make it even better, Rachel hits us with a chronic migraine rep that made me feel *seen*. I can always rely on her for that, her books have the best representation that I always turn to whenever I feel a little alone in the suffering.
A huge thank you to Rachel for sending me a digital arc in exchange for my honest review! You always keep my kindle stocked with the best books🫶🏻🫶🏻
You’ll love this if you love:
📖 coach’s daughter
📖 secret relationship
📖 dual POV
📖 migraine rep
📖 grumpy X sunshine
✨TW: this book contains cuss words and topics of sexual content, drug and alcohol abuse, childhood neglect, abusive parents, and car accident.
🎬 Sexual Content: NC-17: detailed and frequent on-page scenes (chp 4, 35, 39-40, and 54). Not for under age 18.
🩸Violence: PG: violence/harm is mild or off-page
💬 Language: frequent strong language (including f***); frequent sexual innuendos
I feel like only one thing will explain my thoughts for this book properly haha. I don’t really like hockey romance…but when Rachel writes it? I will eat👏🏻 it👏🏻 up👏🏻 I REALLY loved this one!
It’s so easy to get lost in Rachel’s books, and this one was no different. I love a good character who carries the weight of the world on their shoulders, and when both Cora and Lane were that kind of character? The way they could see right through each other’s walls, as if they weren’t even there, had me melting into a puddle🥹 their stolen moments together, their secret looks, the way they could immediately feel when the other was close? Stellar, no notes, I need more of them like I need air🤭
And to make it even better, Rachel hits us with a chronic migraine rep that made me feel *seen*. I can always rely on her for that, her books have the best representation that I always turn to whenever I feel a little alone in the suffering.
A huge thank you to Rachel for sending me a digital arc in exchange for my honest review! You always keep my kindle stocked with the best books🫶🏻🫶🏻
You’ll love this if you love:
📖 coach’s daughter
📖 secret relationship
📖 dual POV
📖 migraine rep
📖 grumpy X sunshine
✨TW: this book contains cuss words and topics of sexual content, drug and alcohol abuse, childhood neglect, abusive parents, and car accident.
🎬 Sexual Content: NC-17: detailed and frequent on-page scenes (chp 4, 35, 39-40, and 54). Not for under age 18.
🩸Violence: PG: violence/harm is mild or off-page
💬 Language: frequent strong language (including f***); frequent sexual innuendos
July 18, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5! I am not even sure where to start with this book. You all know I am a SUCKER for a good hockey romance, but this one was unique in so many ways. First I have to mention the presence of anxiety and how both characters deal with it. It really shows how anxiety is experienced differently in everyone, and how people cope. I truly enjoyed this element being included as I am a fellow anxious girl, who is also a perfectionist. Just like Cora when I mess up the ever looming crushing sensation of not being enough is a hard battle. So it felt really great to relate to a character. Also the presence of migraines and how debilitating they can be was a great addition. I have read characters that have experienced them, but it never felt like they were described accurately, in this book they were. Overall, this was a beautiful story about a man with a dream, not knowing if he will achieve it and a girl barely holding it together, questioning if she is actually enough. Then they come together and lean on each other. So if my review wasn’t enough this book is totally worth the read!
July 7, 2026
As a fellow Michigander, when I seen this book was based in Michigan- I just had to read it, plus hockey?? Yum!
Lane is such a lovable character, seriously tbere wasn’t a moment when I wasn’t rooting for him. I just wanted to hug him and never let go.
Cora battling with the “perfect girl” label she put on herself was refreshing to read about, I feel like
it’s not talking about a lot. The pressure, needing
to be perfect! I loved watching how Lane handled
her when she was having her migraines or needed
to blow off steam.
The banter was 10/10. The spice was hot, and —
the way he makes her use her words…
They’re made for each other and I cannot wait to
read the next book!!
Lane is such a lovable character, seriously tbere wasn’t a moment when I wasn’t rooting for him. I just wanted to hug him and never let go.
Cora battling with the “perfect girl” label she put on herself was refreshing to read about, I feel like
it’s not talking about a lot. The pressure, needing
to be perfect! I loved watching how Lane handled
her when she was having her migraines or needed
to blow off steam.
The banter was 10/10. The spice was hot, and —
the way he makes her use her words…
They’re made for each other and I cannot wait to
read the next book!!
July 7, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
Thank you so much to the author for the ARC! 💙
Y’all, I fell in love with this book from the very beginning and it never let me go. Lane and Cora had me completely hooked, and I was rooting for them from page one.
This is hands down one of my top sports romances and I loved it so much. The chemistry, the angst, the swoony moments, the secret relationship vibes… it all just worked.
And Lane? Protect him at all costs. 🥺
This was my first book by Rachel LaBerge, but she is officially an auto-buy author for me now because I already need more of her books immediately.
If you love sports romance, add this one to your TBR ASAP. 🏒✨
Thank you so much to the author for the ARC! 💙
Y’all, I fell in love with this book from the very beginning and it never let me go. Lane and Cora had me completely hooked, and I was rooting for them from page one.
This is hands down one of my top sports romances and I loved it so much. The chemistry, the angst, the swoony moments, the secret relationship vibes… it all just worked.
And Lane? Protect him at all costs. 🥺
This was my first book by Rachel LaBerge, but she is officially an auto-buy author for me now because I already need more of her books immediately.
If you love sports romance, add this one to your TBR ASAP. 🏒✨
July 16, 2026
I love Lane and Cora! Lane is a brooding, bad boy, hockey player that's new to the team. Cora is a rule follower and the coach's daughter. A relationship is forbidden, but there is a connection that refuses to fade. I love how they keep showing up for each other even though there are major risks. I have read The Play Caller series and really enjoyed it, but this may be my favorite so far!
Thank you Rachel LaBerge for the ARC!
Thank you Rachel LaBerge for the ARC!
September 23, 2026
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗲 𝗞𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 │ 𝗟𝗜𝗠𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗗-𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘 𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗟 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 $.𝟵𝟵! │Thanks Rachel for the #Gifted eARC.
𝘘𝘖𝘛𝘋: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘦𝘯𝘥?
𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 💭
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.0 stars
Cora and Lane were beautiful together in this new hockey romance by the lovely Rachel LaBerge.
When I was told by Rachel she was putting out a sports romance, of the hockey variety, I was shooketh. This story had all the endearing qualities I love in Rachel’s stories.
Cora is a woman working with a lot of strong personalities and she was a great FMC to read about. I love how Rachel writes a fierce FMC. Lane was a sweet, protective MMC and I love the way he was presented. He’s been through so much.
Also….the penalty box scene! 🥅 🏒 🥵
Available now on Kindle Unlimited & on sale now for only 99 cents!
𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀 / 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗯 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸:
🏒 Forbidden chemistry
🩵 Forced proximity
🏒 0ne night stand
🩵 Spicy College Romance
🏒 Book 1 of a series
🩵 Coach’s Daughter
🏒 Found Family
🩵 Secret Relationship
🏒 Grumpy & BrokenMMC
🩵Mental Health & Migraine Rep
🏒 He Takes Care of Her
🩵 Dual POV
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦
🏷️ @rachellabergeauthor @rachels_romantics #RachelLaBerge #WhatWeKnewThen #HockeyRomance #KindleUnlimited
𝘘𝘖𝘛𝘋: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘦𝘯𝘥?
𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 💭
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.0 stars
Cora and Lane were beautiful together in this new hockey romance by the lovely Rachel LaBerge.
When I was told by Rachel she was putting out a sports romance, of the hockey variety, I was shooketh. This story had all the endearing qualities I love in Rachel’s stories.
Cora is a woman working with a lot of strong personalities and she was a great FMC to read about. I love how Rachel writes a fierce FMC. Lane was a sweet, protective MMC and I love the way he was presented. He’s been through so much.
Also….the penalty box scene! 🥅 🏒 🥵
Available now on Kindle Unlimited & on sale now for only 99 cents!
𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀 / 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗯 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸:
🏒 Forbidden chemistry
🩵 Forced proximity
🏒 0ne night stand
🩵 Spicy College Romance
🏒 Book 1 of a series
🩵 Coach’s Daughter
🏒 Found Family
🩵 Secret Relationship
🏒 Grumpy & BrokenMMC
🩵Mental Health & Migraine Rep
🏒 He Takes Care of Her
🩵 Dual POV
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦
🏷️ @rachellabergeauthor @rachels_romantics #RachelLaBerge #WhatWeKnewThen #HockeyRomance #KindleUnlimited
July 12, 2026
I’m so excited that Rachel is in her hockey era! 🙌 I loved this forbidden, coach’s daughter x bad boy college hockey star romance! The chemistry between Cora and Lane right from the beginning was so electric and hot 🥵! I couldn’t get enough of them! They try to avoid their attraction to one another but their struggles (her -debilitating migraines and him -childhood trauma) only bring them closer until they can't stay away.
- college hockey romance
- coach's daughter
- one night stand
- secret dating
- chronic illness rep
- women in stem
- he has piercings
I'm excited to see where this series goes and can't wait to get to know the hockey team even more! Thank you so much to Rachel for the advanced copy in return for my honest review! 🖤
- college hockey romance
- coach's daughter
- one night stand
- secret dating
- chronic illness rep
- women in stem
- he has piercings
I'm excited to see where this series goes and can't wait to get to know the hockey team even more! Thank you so much to Rachel for the advanced copy in return for my honest review! 🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
[ARC review]
[4.5 stars]
I'm finally getting around to posting my review for What We Knew Then, and I can't believe it's taken me this long! Life has been so busy lately, but this book has been on my mind ever since I finished it, and I knew I had to give it the love it deserves.
First, I want to say a huge thank you to Rachel Laberge for sending me an early copy and for trusting me to beta read this story. It truly was such an honor to be a small part of this book's journey. Getting to see this story come together before release was such an amazing experience, and I'll always be grateful that Rachel trusted me with her words.
I've been reading Rachel's books for quite a while now, and every new release reminds me why she's become one of my auto-read authors. I absolutely love her writing style. She has a way of pulling you into the story from the very first page and creating characters who feel like real people. Her books are always full of heart, emotion, healing, and hope, and they stay with me long after I finish them.
One of the things I admire most about Rachel's writing is how beautifully she represents chronic illness and autoimmune diseases. As a fellow chronic illness girlie, that representation means the world to me. So many of the symptoms, emotions, and everyday struggles she writes about are things I can genuinely relate to. There were moments where I found myself thinking, "Wow...I know exactly what that feels like." It's not something I see represented often, and Rachel handles it with so much care and authenticity. It makes her stories even more meaningful to me because I feel seen in ways I rarely do while reading.
If you know me, you already know I can never say no to a hockey romance, and this one completely stole my heart.
From the very beginning, I couldn't help but root for Lane. Everything he'd been through made me want to reach into the pages and give him the biggest hug. All I wanted was for him to finally find the happiness he deserved, and watching his journey unfold had me feeling every emotion. I found myself smiling during the sweet moments, tearing up during the emotional ones, and cheering him on every step of the way.
I also loved Cora. She was such a strong, compassionate character, and I admired how she continued to push through everything life threw at her. I especially appreciated seeing her experience with chronic migraines represented in the story. It's not something I've seen explored very often, and it gave me an even greater appreciation for what so many people live with every day.
Together, Lane and Cora just made so much sense. Their relationship felt natural, comforting, and full of so much love. I loved watching them slowly become each other's safe place. They supported one another through the hard moments without trying to change each other, and that's one of my favorite kinds of romances to read.
And can we talk about the team? I absolutely loved them. They brought so much humor, friendship, and found-family energy to the story, and they made me love this world even more. I already know I'll be so excited anytime I get to come back to this series.
Overall, this book reminded me exactly why I love hockey romances. It gave me emotional moments, characters I genuinely cared about, incredible friendships, healing, hope, and a romance that completely stole my heart.
Thank you again, Rachel, for letting me beta read this story and for sending me an early copy. It truly was such an honor working with you on this book, and I'm so proud of everything you've accomplished. I can't wait for everyone else to meet Lane and Cora because I know they'll love them just as much as I did.
If you're looking for a hockey romance that's full of heart, healing, found family, emotional depth, and characters you'll be rooting for from beginning to end, I can't recommend What We Knew Then enough. 💙🏒
[4.5 stars]
I'm finally getting around to posting my review for What We Knew Then, and I can't believe it's taken me this long! Life has been so busy lately, but this book has been on my mind ever since I finished it, and I knew I had to give it the love it deserves.
First, I want to say a huge thank you to Rachel Laberge for sending me an early copy and for trusting me to beta read this story. It truly was such an honor to be a small part of this book's journey. Getting to see this story come together before release was such an amazing experience, and I'll always be grateful that Rachel trusted me with her words.
I've been reading Rachel's books for quite a while now, and every new release reminds me why she's become one of my auto-read authors. I absolutely love her writing style. She has a way of pulling you into the story from the very first page and creating characters who feel like real people. Her books are always full of heart, emotion, healing, and hope, and they stay with me long after I finish them.
One of the things I admire most about Rachel's writing is how beautifully she represents chronic illness and autoimmune diseases. As a fellow chronic illness girlie, that representation means the world to me. So many of the symptoms, emotions, and everyday struggles she writes about are things I can genuinely relate to. There were moments where I found myself thinking, "Wow...I know exactly what that feels like." It's not something I see represented often, and Rachel handles it with so much care and authenticity. It makes her stories even more meaningful to me because I feel seen in ways I rarely do while reading.
If you know me, you already know I can never say no to a hockey romance, and this one completely stole my heart.
From the very beginning, I couldn't help but root for Lane. Everything he'd been through made me want to reach into the pages and give him the biggest hug. All I wanted was for him to finally find the happiness he deserved, and watching his journey unfold had me feeling every emotion. I found myself smiling during the sweet moments, tearing up during the emotional ones, and cheering him on every step of the way.
I also loved Cora. She was such a strong, compassionate character, and I admired how she continued to push through everything life threw at her. I especially appreciated seeing her experience with chronic migraines represented in the story. It's not something I've seen explored very often, and it gave me an even greater appreciation for what so many people live with every day.
Together, Lane and Cora just made so much sense. Their relationship felt natural, comforting, and full of so much love. I loved watching them slowly become each other's safe place. They supported one another through the hard moments without trying to change each other, and that's one of my favorite kinds of romances to read.
And can we talk about the team? I absolutely loved them. They brought so much humor, friendship, and found-family energy to the story, and they made me love this world even more. I already know I'll be so excited anytime I get to come back to this series.
Overall, this book reminded me exactly why I love hockey romances. It gave me emotional moments, characters I genuinely cared about, incredible friendships, healing, hope, and a romance that completely stole my heart.
Thank you again, Rachel, for letting me beta read this story and for sending me an early copy. It truly was such an honor working with you on this book, and I'm so proud of everything you've accomplished. I can't wait for everyone else to meet Lane and Cora because I know they'll love them just as much as I did.
If you're looking for a hockey romance that's full of heart, healing, found family, emotional depth, and characters you'll be rooting for from beginning to end, I can't recommend What We Knew Then enough. 💙🏒
Review of advance copy received from Author
4 stars.
"What We Knew Then" by Rachel LaBerge is a hockey player x coach's daughter forbidden romance. Cora's (FMC) dad is the coach of the Great Lakes U hockey team, and he has one rule for her: no dating hockey players. Little does she know when she meets Lane (MMC) in a meet-cute-style encounter that he is just joining their team. It's his last season to prove his worth and try to make it to the NHL. Still, even when they find out who the other is in the context of their hockey world, they cannot stay away from each other. Lane keeps showing up, and Cora keeps letting him. Lane has a reputation, but it couldn't be further from the truth; Cora is known as a good girl, but she wants to break out of that shell. Despite Lane being a huge grump, Cora knows there is more than meets the eye when it comes to him. They are both carrying a heavy load, and they find solace in one another, confiding in one another and divulging their deepest, darkest secrets and pains and angers to each other. They are *perfect* for each other. I enjoyed the instant connection between Cora and Lane, and I typically don't love insta-lust/love. I think they just worked together. Their personalities played off of one another well, and when combined with the forbidden aspect of the story, it made it even more appealing. The end of the book really got me! My jaw dropped because of how bad the situation could have been for (redacted). I was really upset by that, but luckily, it all got resolved... my heart went out to (redacted), though... man, so well-written in that moment!! I thought this book flowed well, and it exceeded my expectations!
Thank you to Rachel LaBerge for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
"What We Knew Then" by Rachel LaBerge is a hockey player x coach's daughter forbidden romance. Cora's (FMC) dad is the coach of the Great Lakes U hockey team, and he has one rule for her: no dating hockey players. Little does she know when she meets Lane (MMC) in a meet-cute-style encounter that he is just joining their team. It's his last season to prove his worth and try to make it to the NHL. Still, even when they find out who the other is in the context of their hockey world, they cannot stay away from each other. Lane keeps showing up, and Cora keeps letting him. Lane has a reputation, but it couldn't be further from the truth; Cora is known as a good girl, but she wants to break out of that shell. Despite Lane being a huge grump, Cora knows there is more than meets the eye when it comes to him. They are both carrying a heavy load, and they find solace in one another, confiding in one another and divulging their deepest, darkest secrets and pains and angers to each other. They are *perfect* for each other. I enjoyed the instant connection between Cora and Lane, and I typically don't love insta-lust/love. I think they just worked together. Their personalities played off of one another well, and when combined with the forbidden aspect of the story, it made it even more appealing. The end of the book really got me! My jaw dropped because of how bad the situation could have been for (redacted). I was really upset by that, but luckily, it all got resolved... my heart went out to (redacted), though... man, so well-written in that moment!! I thought this book flowed well, and it exceeded my expectations!
Thank you to Rachel LaBerge for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
August 14, 2026
I didn't know my heart could break twice for Lane Maxwell, but here we are.
Everyone has already decided who Lane is based on his reputation without ever bothering to learn the full story. He transfers to Great Lakes U for his final chance at keeping his NHL dreams alive, carrying the weight of an incredibly difficult past with him. Food insecurity, abuse, an unstable home life, and circumstances that have followed him from one school to another have shaped so much of his life. Yet beneath the broody, hard-headed hockey player is a genuinely good man who continues to put others before himself.
Rachel, the way you made me care about this man.
Lane has spent so much of his life fighting to survive that I desperately wanted him to finally have somewhere, and someone, where he could put his guard down. I wanted to reach into the pages, hug him, and tell him that somebody believed him. That somebody believed in him.
And then there’s Cora.
Cora is the coach’s daughter, but she's also the person everyone depends on. She's constantly keeping things moving, checking the boxes, taking on another responsibility, and putting an enormous amount of pressure on herself to hold everything together. That part of Cora resonated with me in more ways than one. There is an exhaustion that comes with always trying to be the dependable one, and Rachel captured that so well.
I also really appreciated the way Cora’s chronic migraines were portrayed. They aren't simply mentioned when they're convenient for the story. You see how debilitating they can be and how they affect her ability to be the person she expects herself to be. I think there will be readers who feel incredibly seen through Cora.
And I would be remiss if I didn't talk about Lane taking care of her through one of those migraines.
That scene melted my heart. There was something so incredibly intimate about his need to make sure she wasn't alone. He couldn't make the pain disappear. He couldn't fix it for her. So he simply took care of her and stayed until she made it to the other side.
And really, that moment encompasses so much of what I loved about their relationship.
They see each other.
Lane doesn't just see a beautiful woman or his coach's daughter. He sees Cora's intelligence, her determination, her work ethic, her ambition, and how fiercely she cares about everyone around her. He sees the woman underneath everything she does for other people.
And Cora sees Lane beyond the reputation that everyone else has already decided defines him.
She gives him a safe place to talk about the things he's spent so long carrying alone. She listens. She believes him. She doesn't try to save him or erase his past. She simply gives him somewhere he finally feels safe enough to be himself.
Watching them slowly become each other's safe place was everything.
I also loved that their relationship never felt like one person needed to fix the other. They showed up. They listened. They respected boundaries. They stumbled and figured things out together. They learned how to make space for each other's needs while also learning that choosing themselves didn't mean they loved the other person any less.
And GOOD LORD, the chemistry. The intimate scenes were emotional, vulnerable, beautifully written, and incredibly hot, but they also meant something. Each one deepened the trust between Lane and Cora and allowed another piece of their walls to come down.
And since we're here...
The piercing.
THE. PIERCING.
Rachel, I was trying to have feelings about these people and then you went and did THAT.
But my heart really broke when Lane's past came roaring back and he once again found himself facing the same assumptions from people who didn't know the whole story. Knowing everything he'd already survived and how hard he'd fought for this second chance made watching it happen again almost unbearable.
At the same time, Cora has spent her entire life trying to do what is expected of her, and suddenly she has to decide whether she's going to keep checking everyone else's boxes or finally listen to herself.
That parallel between them was one of my favorite parts of the story. Lane is fighting to be seen as more than his past. Cora is fighting to be seen as more than everything she does for everyone else. Somehow, in the middle of all of that, they become the two people who see each other most clearly.
What We Knew Then is ultimately a story about second chances, assumptions, and how desperately we all want to be known for who we actually are rather than the version of us other people have created.
Sometimes people don't need someone to save them. Sometimes they just need someone willing to stay, listen, believe them, and remind them they don't have to carry everything alone. Lane and Cora became that for each other.
Everyone has already decided who Lane is based on his reputation without ever bothering to learn the full story. He transfers to Great Lakes U for his final chance at keeping his NHL dreams alive, carrying the weight of an incredibly difficult past with him. Food insecurity, abuse, an unstable home life, and circumstances that have followed him from one school to another have shaped so much of his life. Yet beneath the broody, hard-headed hockey player is a genuinely good man who continues to put others before himself.
Rachel, the way you made me care about this man.
Lane has spent so much of his life fighting to survive that I desperately wanted him to finally have somewhere, and someone, where he could put his guard down. I wanted to reach into the pages, hug him, and tell him that somebody believed him. That somebody believed in him.
And then there’s Cora.
Cora is the coach’s daughter, but she's also the person everyone depends on. She's constantly keeping things moving, checking the boxes, taking on another responsibility, and putting an enormous amount of pressure on herself to hold everything together. That part of Cora resonated with me in more ways than one. There is an exhaustion that comes with always trying to be the dependable one, and Rachel captured that so well.
I also really appreciated the way Cora’s chronic migraines were portrayed. They aren't simply mentioned when they're convenient for the story. You see how debilitating they can be and how they affect her ability to be the person she expects herself to be. I think there will be readers who feel incredibly seen through Cora.
And I would be remiss if I didn't talk about Lane taking care of her through one of those migraines.
That scene melted my heart. There was something so incredibly intimate about his need to make sure she wasn't alone. He couldn't make the pain disappear. He couldn't fix it for her. So he simply took care of her and stayed until she made it to the other side.
And really, that moment encompasses so much of what I loved about their relationship.
They see each other.
Lane doesn't just see a beautiful woman or his coach's daughter. He sees Cora's intelligence, her determination, her work ethic, her ambition, and how fiercely she cares about everyone around her. He sees the woman underneath everything she does for other people.
And Cora sees Lane beyond the reputation that everyone else has already decided defines him.
She gives him a safe place to talk about the things he's spent so long carrying alone. She listens. She believes him. She doesn't try to save him or erase his past. She simply gives him somewhere he finally feels safe enough to be himself.
Watching them slowly become each other's safe place was everything.
I also loved that their relationship never felt like one person needed to fix the other. They showed up. They listened. They respected boundaries. They stumbled and figured things out together. They learned how to make space for each other's needs while also learning that choosing themselves didn't mean they loved the other person any less.
And GOOD LORD, the chemistry. The intimate scenes were emotional, vulnerable, beautifully written, and incredibly hot, but they also meant something. Each one deepened the trust between Lane and Cora and allowed another piece of their walls to come down.
And since we're here...
The piercing.
THE. PIERCING.
Rachel, I was trying to have feelings about these people and then you went and did THAT.
But my heart really broke when Lane's past came roaring back and he once again found himself facing the same assumptions from people who didn't know the whole story. Knowing everything he'd already survived and how hard he'd fought for this second chance made watching it happen again almost unbearable.
At the same time, Cora has spent her entire life trying to do what is expected of her, and suddenly she has to decide whether she's going to keep checking everyone else's boxes or finally listen to herself.
That parallel between them was one of my favorite parts of the story. Lane is fighting to be seen as more than his past. Cora is fighting to be seen as more than everything she does for everyone else. Somehow, in the middle of all of that, they become the two people who see each other most clearly.
What We Knew Then is ultimately a story about second chances, assumptions, and how desperately we all want to be known for who we actually are rather than the version of us other people have created.
Sometimes people don't need someone to save them. Sometimes they just need someone willing to stay, listen, believe them, and remind them they don't have to carry everything alone. Lane and Cora became that for each other.
Review of advance copy received from Author
OFFICAL ARC REVIEW
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ 4/5 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 for spice
"Maybe it was trusting what we knew then... and choosing it anyway."
🚨⚠️POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD…STOP NOW⚠️🚨
-
-
-
-
First of all... I have to say how excited I am that this was my first ever ARC. Honestly, I couldn't have asked for a better book or experience.
Right from the first chapter, I was HOOKED. The humor immediately pulled me in, and Lane's internal monologue had me laughing more than once. The dialogue throughout the whole book felt natural and realistic, and I loved that Rachel didn't sugarcoat things. The swearing, the awkward moments, the emotions... all of it… it made these characters feel like actual people instead of perfect fictional ones.
Yes, parts of the story were a little predictable, but honestly, I didn't mind. It was the kind of predictability that honestly just felt right. I wanted to watch these two figure things out, and the journey was worth it.
One of my favorite parts of this book was just how relatable the characters were. Cora's migraines, the pressure she puts on herself, and constantly feeling like she has to hold everything together and “check the boxes” hit home. Lane's story was even heavier… touching on food insecurity, abuse, an unstable home life, and trying to escape a reputation that wasn't entirely his fault (at all). Those struggles felt incredibly real, and they gave both characters so much depth, and made them that much more relatable.
I loved the message about second chances. What We Knew Then reminds you that there is almost always more to someone's story than what you see on the surface. Sometimes people just need someone willing to listen and see them, instead of making assumptions, and I think that was one of my favorite takeaways from the entire book.
Lane completely won me over. More than anything, I loved how he noticed the little things about Cora. He didn't just admire how beautiful she was. He admired her determination, her intelligence, her work ethic, and how fiercely she cared about the people around her. I think that's every reader's dream honestly... finding someone who truly sees you for who you are.
And can we talk about the chemistry for a second? 🔥🥵 The intimate scenes were *chef's kiss.* They were emotional, so beautifully written, incredibly hot, and never felt cringey or overdone. They weren't just there to be spicy. Every scene built trust, vulnerability, and connection between them, which made them feel so much more meaningful. Also… the piercing…UGGGGHHHHHHHH👀🤤
There were quite a few moments that genuinely made me emotional. Watching both Lane and Cora spiral in different ways while still trying to support each other made them feel incredibly human. By the end, I was definitely tearing up.
As someone from Michigan, all of the little Michigan references were such a fun bonus and made the story feel even more personal. “October in Michigan has a way of sinking into your bones.” <—— another of my favorite quotes.
Overall, this was such a heartfelt college hockey romance with humor, relatable characters, emotional growth, and incredible chemistry. It truly exceeded my expectations, and I honestly couldn't have asked for a better first ARC experience. I am incredibly grateful that Rachel entrusted me with being one of her ARC readers.
I’ll absolutely be picking up whatever Rachel Laberge writes next, and I would TOTALLY read books from Oliver's or Brinn's perspectives in a heartbeat.
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ 4/5 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 for spice
"Maybe it was trusting what we knew then... and choosing it anyway."
🚨⚠️POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD…STOP NOW⚠️🚨
-
-
-
-
First of all... I have to say how excited I am that this was my first ever ARC. Honestly, I couldn't have asked for a better book or experience.
Right from the first chapter, I was HOOKED. The humor immediately pulled me in, and Lane's internal monologue had me laughing more than once. The dialogue throughout the whole book felt natural and realistic, and I loved that Rachel didn't sugarcoat things. The swearing, the awkward moments, the emotions... all of it… it made these characters feel like actual people instead of perfect fictional ones.
Yes, parts of the story were a little predictable, but honestly, I didn't mind. It was the kind of predictability that honestly just felt right. I wanted to watch these two figure things out, and the journey was worth it.
One of my favorite parts of this book was just how relatable the characters were. Cora's migraines, the pressure she puts on herself, and constantly feeling like she has to hold everything together and “check the boxes” hit home. Lane's story was even heavier… touching on food insecurity, abuse, an unstable home life, and trying to escape a reputation that wasn't entirely his fault (at all). Those struggles felt incredibly real, and they gave both characters so much depth, and made them that much more relatable.
I loved the message about second chances. What We Knew Then reminds you that there is almost always more to someone's story than what you see on the surface. Sometimes people just need someone willing to listen and see them, instead of making assumptions, and I think that was one of my favorite takeaways from the entire book.
Lane completely won me over. More than anything, I loved how he noticed the little things about Cora. He didn't just admire how beautiful she was. He admired her determination, her intelligence, her work ethic, and how fiercely she cared about the people around her. I think that's every reader's dream honestly... finding someone who truly sees you for who you are.
And can we talk about the chemistry for a second? 🔥🥵 The intimate scenes were *chef's kiss.* They were emotional, so beautifully written, incredibly hot, and never felt cringey or overdone. They weren't just there to be spicy. Every scene built trust, vulnerability, and connection between them, which made them feel so much more meaningful. Also… the piercing…UGGGGHHHHHHHH👀🤤
There were quite a few moments that genuinely made me emotional. Watching both Lane and Cora spiral in different ways while still trying to support each other made them feel incredibly human. By the end, I was definitely tearing up.
As someone from Michigan, all of the little Michigan references were such a fun bonus and made the story feel even more personal. “October in Michigan has a way of sinking into your bones.” <—— another of my favorite quotes.
Overall, this was such a heartfelt college hockey romance with humor, relatable characters, emotional growth, and incredible chemistry. It truly exceeded my expectations, and I honestly couldn't have asked for a better first ARC experience. I am incredibly grateful that Rachel entrusted me with being one of her ARC readers.
I’ll absolutely be picking up whatever Rachel Laberge writes next, and I would TOTALLY read books from Oliver's or Brinn's perspectives in a heartbeat.
July 16, 2026
“𝓛𝓪𝓷𝓮 𝓴𝓲𝓼𝓼𝓮𝓼 𝓶𝓮 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓱𝓮 𝓱𝓪𝓼 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓸 𝓹𝓻𝓸𝓿𝓮, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓲𝓽 𝓲𝓼, 𝓘'𝓶 𝓫𝓾𝔂𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓲𝓽.”
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5
At this point, when I see Rachel La Berge on a book?
I’M READING IT.
😂
She’s one of my favorite authors because she can write about so many different topics and characters and somehow make each story feel completely its own.
But one thing Rachel does REALLY fucking well?
🏒 SPORTS ROMANCE.
And What We Knew Then was no exception.
College hockey?
Coach’s daughter?
Forbidden romance?
A hockey player with a reputation and everything to lose?
Found family?
Banter?
Emotional baggage?
👁️👄👁️
Yeah. I’m seated.
Lane Maxwell has one season left to prove himself.
And this poor fucking man…
I JUST WANTED TO HUG HIM.
😭
There genuinely wasn’t a point in this book where I wasn’t rooting for Lane.
He’s carrying around this reputation built from accusations, assumptions and a past that continues following him even after changing colleges.
People already think they know who he is.
They’ve already made their judgments.
And Lane is trying desperately to prove that he’s more than the version of himself everyone else has decided is true.
Then there’s Cora.
THE COACH’S DAUGHTER.
Which means we have one of the sacred commandments of sports romance:
THOU SHALT NOT FUCK AROUND WITH THE COACH’S DAUGHTER.
Lane:
👀
Cora:
👀
Me:
Well, obviously we’re breaking that rule.
😂
Because otherwise why are we even here?!
But Cora was so much more than simply the coach’s daughter, and that’s one of the things I loved about her.
She’s spent so much of her life trying to be the perfect girl.
Perfect daughter.
Reliable.
Responsible.
Put together.
The person who can handle everything.
And when you’ve built your entire identity around being the person who is always okay?
Eventually there’s nowhere left for YOU to fall apart.
🥹
I loved seeing that explored.
Because we talk so much about rebellious characters or characters who refuse expectations.
We don’t always talk about what happens to the girl who spends her entire life meeting them.
The pressure.
The anxiety.
The exhaustion.
That feeling that you’re only allowed to struggle privately because everyone expects you to have your shit together.
And then Lane comes along.
😭
The way this man pays attention to her…
DONE.
When Cora has migraines?
He notices what she needs.
When she’s overwhelmed?
He gives her space to let it out.
When she needs to stop being perfect for five fucking minutes?
Lane gives her somewhere she doesn’t HAVE to be.
THAT’S THE SHIT THAT GETS ME.
Because apparently we’ve entered an era where my hockey men are emotionally observant.
I’m concerned about the league.
😂
And that’s what made their relationship work so well for me.
Cora sees beyond Lane’s reputation.
Lane sees beyond Cora’s perfection.
They actually SEE each other.
Not the rumors.
Not the expectations.
Not the labels.
Each other.
🥹
Which makes the forbidden aspect even better because they KNOW this is complicated.
Cora knows hockey players are off-limits.
Lane certainly knows the coach’s daughter should be off to limits.
They have every reason to stay away from each other.
And yet…
HE KEEPS FUCKING SHOWING UP.
On the ice.
Behind the scenes.
In all those little moments where attraction starts becoming something neither of them can pretend isn’t happening.
And the chemistry?
🔥🔥🔥
HELLO.
The banter was 10/10.
I love when characters can actually play off each other instead of the author simply informing me:
They have great banter.
No.
Make me grin.
Make me kick my feet.
Make me want them in the same room because I know somebody is about to say something.
Lane and Cora DELIVERED.
And then the tension finally crosses that line?
👀
Well.
The coach would probably like me to stop talking now.
😂
But let’s just say…
Lane making Cora actually use her words?
Sir.
Your performance has been noted.
📝
Five stars for athletic achievement.
Moving on.
😂
Then one reckless moment changes EVERYTHING.
And suddenly Lane is right back in the exact situation he’s been trying to escape.
The spotlight.
The accusations.
People assuming the worst.
Except this time?
CORA KNOWS THE TRUTH.
And proving it comes with consequences of its own.
That’s when this became so much more than a cute forbidden hockey romance for me.
Because Lane has already experienced what happens when people decide who you are before you ever get the chance to defend yourself.
You feel that history hanging over everything.
So when it starts happening AGAIN?
I WAS STRESSED.
😭
Like excuse me???
Can everyone leave my boy alone?!
I have adopted him.
The paperwork is complete.
😂
But watching Cora and Lane navigate all of that made me love them even more.
They’re both carrying expectations they didn’t necessarily choose.
Lane is fighting against what everyone thinks they know about him.
Cora is fighting against the version of herself she thinks she has to maintain.
And together they find this little space where neither one has to perform.
That’s why they felt made for each other.
🥹
And I have to mention the found family because Rachel always knows how to surround her characters with people who make the world feel bigger than the central romance.
This felt like an actual college hockey environment with relationships and friendships I wanted more of.
Which is dangerous.
Because now I’m looking around at everybody else like:
👀 Which one of you is getting a book?
😂
Rachel, you know I’m coming back.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
🏒 College hockey romance
💕 Coach’s daughter
🚫 Forbidden romance
🏒 Hockey-player MMC
🥹 Misunderstood hero
💕 He sees the real her
🖤 Reputation & past accusations
💕 Found family
🏒 Sports romance
😂 10/10 banter
🥹 Comfort & caretaking
🖤 “Perfect girl” pressure
💕 Emotional vulnerability
🧠 Migraine representation
🔥 Strong chemistry
💕 He shows up for her
🏒 Everything-to-lose stakes
🔥 Spice
💕 Dual emotional growth
FIVE “THE COACH SAID DON’T TOUCH HIS DAUGHTER, SO OBVIOUSLY WE’VE FOUND THE LOVE INTEREST” STARS.
😂🏒
I loved this.
But most of all?
I LOVED LANE.
Someone protect this man.
Put him in bubble wrap.
Give him a snack.
Tell him I believe him.
😭
He’s one of those MMCs who made me want to crawl through the pages and hug him because he spends so much of this story carrying the weight of what other people THINK they know about him.
And Cora?
I loved watching her realize she doesn’t have to be perfect to deserve love.
She doesn’t have to hold everything together.
She doesn’t have to perform being okay.
And Lane doesn’t need the perfect version of her anyway.
He just wants HER.
😭
Goddammit, Rachel.
I came here for forbidden hockey-player shenanigans.
Why am I having feelings?!
😂
That’s exactly why Rachel La Berge continues to be one of my favorites.
Give me the romance.
Give me the banter.
Give me the spice.
Give me the hockey.
But underneath all of that, give me characters I actually give a fuck about.
She does.
Every damn time.
And after finishing this?
I’m already looking toward the next book like:
👁️👄👁️
Rachel.
You have created additional hockey men.
I know they’re there.
HAND THEM OVER.
🏒😂
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5
At this point, when I see Rachel La Berge on a book?
I’M READING IT.
😂
She’s one of my favorite authors because she can write about so many different topics and characters and somehow make each story feel completely its own.
But one thing Rachel does REALLY fucking well?
🏒 SPORTS ROMANCE.
And What We Knew Then was no exception.
College hockey?
Coach’s daughter?
Forbidden romance?
A hockey player with a reputation and everything to lose?
Found family?
Banter?
Emotional baggage?
👁️👄👁️
Yeah. I’m seated.
Lane Maxwell has one season left to prove himself.
And this poor fucking man…
I JUST WANTED TO HUG HIM.
😭
There genuinely wasn’t a point in this book where I wasn’t rooting for Lane.
He’s carrying around this reputation built from accusations, assumptions and a past that continues following him even after changing colleges.
People already think they know who he is.
They’ve already made their judgments.
And Lane is trying desperately to prove that he’s more than the version of himself everyone else has decided is true.
Then there’s Cora.
THE COACH’S DAUGHTER.
Which means we have one of the sacred commandments of sports romance:
THOU SHALT NOT FUCK AROUND WITH THE COACH’S DAUGHTER.
Lane:
👀
Cora:
👀
Me:
Well, obviously we’re breaking that rule.
😂
Because otherwise why are we even here?!
But Cora was so much more than simply the coach’s daughter, and that’s one of the things I loved about her.
She’s spent so much of her life trying to be the perfect girl.
Perfect daughter.
Reliable.
Responsible.
Put together.
The person who can handle everything.
And when you’ve built your entire identity around being the person who is always okay?
Eventually there’s nowhere left for YOU to fall apart.
🥹
I loved seeing that explored.
Because we talk so much about rebellious characters or characters who refuse expectations.
We don’t always talk about what happens to the girl who spends her entire life meeting them.
The pressure.
The anxiety.
The exhaustion.
That feeling that you’re only allowed to struggle privately because everyone expects you to have your shit together.
And then Lane comes along.
😭
The way this man pays attention to her…
DONE.
When Cora has migraines?
He notices what she needs.
When she’s overwhelmed?
He gives her space to let it out.
When she needs to stop being perfect for five fucking minutes?
Lane gives her somewhere she doesn’t HAVE to be.
THAT’S THE SHIT THAT GETS ME.
Because apparently we’ve entered an era where my hockey men are emotionally observant.
I’m concerned about the league.
😂
And that’s what made their relationship work so well for me.
Cora sees beyond Lane’s reputation.
Lane sees beyond Cora’s perfection.
They actually SEE each other.
Not the rumors.
Not the expectations.
Not the labels.
Each other.
🥹
Which makes the forbidden aspect even better because they KNOW this is complicated.
Cora knows hockey players are off-limits.
Lane certainly knows the coach’s daughter should be off to limits.
They have every reason to stay away from each other.
And yet…
HE KEEPS FUCKING SHOWING UP.
On the ice.
Behind the scenes.
In all those little moments where attraction starts becoming something neither of them can pretend isn’t happening.
And the chemistry?
🔥🔥🔥
HELLO.
The banter was 10/10.
I love when characters can actually play off each other instead of the author simply informing me:
They have great banter.
No.
Make me grin.
Make me kick my feet.
Make me want them in the same room because I know somebody is about to say something.
Lane and Cora DELIVERED.
And then the tension finally crosses that line?
👀
Well.
The coach would probably like me to stop talking now.
😂
But let’s just say…
Lane making Cora actually use her words?
Sir.
Your performance has been noted.
📝
Five stars for athletic achievement.
Moving on.
😂
Then one reckless moment changes EVERYTHING.
And suddenly Lane is right back in the exact situation he’s been trying to escape.
The spotlight.
The accusations.
People assuming the worst.
Except this time?
CORA KNOWS THE TRUTH.
And proving it comes with consequences of its own.
That’s when this became so much more than a cute forbidden hockey romance for me.
Because Lane has already experienced what happens when people decide who you are before you ever get the chance to defend yourself.
You feel that history hanging over everything.
So when it starts happening AGAIN?
I WAS STRESSED.
😭
Like excuse me???
Can everyone leave my boy alone?!
I have adopted him.
The paperwork is complete.
😂
But watching Cora and Lane navigate all of that made me love them even more.
They’re both carrying expectations they didn’t necessarily choose.
Lane is fighting against what everyone thinks they know about him.
Cora is fighting against the version of herself she thinks she has to maintain.
And together they find this little space where neither one has to perform.
That’s why they felt made for each other.
🥹
And I have to mention the found family because Rachel always knows how to surround her characters with people who make the world feel bigger than the central romance.
This felt like an actual college hockey environment with relationships and friendships I wanted more of.
Which is dangerous.
Because now I’m looking around at everybody else like:
👀 Which one of you is getting a book?
😂
Rachel, you know I’m coming back.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
🏒 College hockey romance
💕 Coach’s daughter
🚫 Forbidden romance
🏒 Hockey-player MMC
🥹 Misunderstood hero
💕 He sees the real her
🖤 Reputation & past accusations
💕 Found family
🏒 Sports romance
😂 10/10 banter
🥹 Comfort & caretaking
🖤 “Perfect girl” pressure
💕 Emotional vulnerability
🧠 Migraine representation
🔥 Strong chemistry
💕 He shows up for her
🏒 Everything-to-lose stakes
🔥 Spice
💕 Dual emotional growth
FIVE “THE COACH SAID DON’T TOUCH HIS DAUGHTER, SO OBVIOUSLY WE’VE FOUND THE LOVE INTEREST” STARS.
😂🏒
I loved this.
But most of all?
I LOVED LANE.
Someone protect this man.
Put him in bubble wrap.
Give him a snack.
Tell him I believe him.
😭
He’s one of those MMCs who made me want to crawl through the pages and hug him because he spends so much of this story carrying the weight of what other people THINK they know about him.
And Cora?
I loved watching her realize she doesn’t have to be perfect to deserve love.
She doesn’t have to hold everything together.
She doesn’t have to perform being okay.
And Lane doesn’t need the perfect version of her anyway.
He just wants HER.
😭
Goddammit, Rachel.
I came here for forbidden hockey-player shenanigans.
Why am I having feelings?!
😂
That’s exactly why Rachel La Berge continues to be one of my favorites.
Give me the romance.
Give me the banter.
Give me the spice.
Give me the hockey.
But underneath all of that, give me characters I actually give a fuck about.
She does.
Every damn time.
And after finishing this?
I’m already looking toward the next book like:
👁️👄👁️
Rachel.
You have created additional hockey men.
I know they’re there.
HAND THEM OVER.
🏒😂
July 16, 2026
4.5/5 Full review on thegraduatedbookworm.com
First, I'd like to thank Rachel for sending me a copy to review! I have to say as the first book in the series, I already know it's going to be a favorite for me!
Right from the start you're hooked on Cora and Lane's attraction, and it doesn't stop after their one night together. Of course him being the new guy at Great Lakes U, AND now hooking up with the coaches daughter? Some rules are meant to be broken, and Lane and Cora are finding themselves right in the middle of these rules.
I also really loved the way that Lane was always there for her no matter what. Even when he knew he should stay away. Even when he felt like he was reliving some things that he definitely didn't want to deal with. Even through the stress of trying to fit in with this team when he was an outsider in his senior year... through all of it, he was there for Cora with whatever she needed. So when things started tilting on it's axis, you could really feel the pain he was dealing with.
Throughout the story you see Lane dealing with his past, and the reasons why he ends up coming to Great Lakes U show up, and I'll say I'm a little surprised in the sense that the reasons didn't go exactly how I thought they would, but it's a good thing because in my head, it was much worse! LOL. With Cora, you see her dealing with migraines. And not just little ole migraines. Debilitating ones. The kind that makes you want to hurl into the toilet, curl up into a ball and admit defeat. I do wish there was a touch more on this with her, but overall the way it was written was really good. Rachel showcased a type of issue that's not exactly visual for everyone to see, but something she deals within her body.
Now... when these two get together, hot damn... get a fan because things get steamy! Even from the very beginning!
Lastly, one thing I do kind of hope to see going into the rest of the series is more of the group of guys. Like I know that for Lane, it was hard trying to fit in, but now we know how this team truly is with one another, and I would so love to see even more of that found family dynamic to shine through. Nothing gets me more than when a group of friends have that perfect banter!
Overall, this was a really really good start to the series! I couldn't get enough, and found myself at the end of this rollercoaster ride of emotions from beginning to end. The way Cora and Lane help one another individually and together was amazing! It was hot, heavy, emotional, deep, and the perfect amount sports to the romance! I so cannot wait for the next book because I am hooked on Great Lakes U!!
First, I'd like to thank Rachel for sending me a copy to review! I have to say as the first book in the series, I already know it's going to be a favorite for me!
Right from the start you're hooked on Cora and Lane's attraction, and it doesn't stop after their one night together. Of course him being the new guy at Great Lakes U, AND now hooking up with the coaches daughter? Some rules are meant to be broken, and Lane and Cora are finding themselves right in the middle of these rules.
I also really loved the way that Lane was always there for her no matter what. Even when he knew he should stay away. Even when he felt like he was reliving some things that he definitely didn't want to deal with. Even through the stress of trying to fit in with this team when he was an outsider in his senior year... through all of it, he was there for Cora with whatever she needed. So when things started tilting on it's axis, you could really feel the pain he was dealing with.
Throughout the story you see Lane dealing with his past, and the reasons why he ends up coming to Great Lakes U show up, and I'll say I'm a little surprised in the sense that the reasons didn't go exactly how I thought they would, but it's a good thing because in my head, it was much worse! LOL. With Cora, you see her dealing with migraines. And not just little ole migraines. Debilitating ones. The kind that makes you want to hurl into the toilet, curl up into a ball and admit defeat. I do wish there was a touch more on this with her, but overall the way it was written was really good. Rachel showcased a type of issue that's not exactly visual for everyone to see, but something she deals within her body.
Now... when these two get together, hot damn... get a fan because things get steamy! Even from the very beginning!
Lastly, one thing I do kind of hope to see going into the rest of the series is more of the group of guys. Like I know that for Lane, it was hard trying to fit in, but now we know how this team truly is with one another, and I would so love to see even more of that found family dynamic to shine through. Nothing gets me more than when a group of friends have that perfect banter!
Overall, this was a really really good start to the series! I couldn't get enough, and found myself at the end of this rollercoaster ride of emotions from beginning to end. The way Cora and Lane help one another individually and together was amazing! It was hot, heavy, emotional, deep, and the perfect amount sports to the romance! I so cannot wait for the next book because I am hooked on Great Lakes U!!
July 17, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Welcome to Great Lakes U, not only the college our story takes place at, but the name for Rachel LaBerge’s newest series. What We Knew Then has definitely set the tone for this series and I already can’t wait for more. While I am old enough to know better than staying up late to read about fictional characters, something about Rachel’s writing makes me throw all that to the side and binge her books from start to finish in a matter of hours. This book is no different, as it hooked me immediately and I was invested in our characters and their story.
Cora is the daughter of the college’s hockey coach and does so much for everyone else. I absolutely loved her and she resonated with me. Her need to keep everything moving, check all the boxes, and the pressure she puts on herself hit home for me in more ways than one. So when she is finally seen for who she is and not for what she does, I ate it up. Rachel wrote her migraines with clarity and definitely allowed for this chronic pain to be seen and felt in her book. I am positive that many people will feel seen by this representation.
Rachel, the way you made me care about Lane!! Transferring to a new school to escape a bad situation, fighting for his final shot to make it to the NHL, and also to be seen for who he is made him very easy to want to reach through the book and hug. His life has not been easy, but he still holds his head high and fights for everything he wants, including Cora. He truly sees her and makes it evident over and over again. In turn, Cora provided a safe place for Lane to be himself and know he is safe to talk about things. I mean, their entire relationship is just amazing.
The chemistry between these two is off the charts and felt so natural as the book progresses. When things come to a head, Lane’s past is called into question once again and Cora has to decide to put herself first or once again do what’s best for everyone else. Their fight to be seen by others, the way they see each other, had me unable to put this book down until I knew the outcome. Rachel, you have truly written an amazing book that provides everything romance readers love to see in their books. This is a total must read for me and I highly, highly recommend it!
As always, review any author notes before reading.
What to Expect:
🏒Hockey Romance
💖College Romance
🏒Found Family
💖ONS to More
🏒Off Limits Romance
💖Secret Relationship
🏒Coach’s Daughter
💖Mental Health Rep
🏒Migraine Rep
💖Broken MMC
🏒Spin Instructor FMC
Welcome to Great Lakes U, not only the college our story takes place at, but the name for Rachel LaBerge’s newest series. What We Knew Then has definitely set the tone for this series and I already can’t wait for more. While I am old enough to know better than staying up late to read about fictional characters, something about Rachel’s writing makes me throw all that to the side and binge her books from start to finish in a matter of hours. This book is no different, as it hooked me immediately and I was invested in our characters and their story.
Cora is the daughter of the college’s hockey coach and does so much for everyone else. I absolutely loved her and she resonated with me. Her need to keep everything moving, check all the boxes, and the pressure she puts on herself hit home for me in more ways than one. So when she is finally seen for who she is and not for what she does, I ate it up. Rachel wrote her migraines with clarity and definitely allowed for this chronic pain to be seen and felt in her book. I am positive that many people will feel seen by this representation.
Rachel, the way you made me care about Lane!! Transferring to a new school to escape a bad situation, fighting for his final shot to make it to the NHL, and also to be seen for who he is made him very easy to want to reach through the book and hug. His life has not been easy, but he still holds his head high and fights for everything he wants, including Cora. He truly sees her and makes it evident over and over again. In turn, Cora provided a safe place for Lane to be himself and know he is safe to talk about things. I mean, their entire relationship is just amazing.
The chemistry between these two is off the charts and felt so natural as the book progresses. When things come to a head, Lane’s past is called into question once again and Cora has to decide to put herself first or once again do what’s best for everyone else. Their fight to be seen by others, the way they see each other, had me unable to put this book down until I knew the outcome. Rachel, you have truly written an amazing book that provides everything romance readers love to see in their books. This is a total must read for me and I highly, highly recommend it!
As always, review any author notes before reading.
What to Expect:
🏒Hockey Romance
💖College Romance
🏒Found Family
💖ONS to More
🏒Off Limits Romance
💖Secret Relationship
🏒Coach’s Daughter
💖Mental Health Rep
🏒Migraine Rep
💖Broken MMC
🏒Spin Instructor FMC
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this as an ARC reader and it’s my second ARC opportunity for one of Rachel’s books. I’m so grateful each time to be chosen because I know when reading one of her books I won’t be able to put it down. I can confirm that I read this in under 24 hours and my thoughts on her writing stand firm.
I’m giving What We Knew Then 4 stars on Goodreads but I think if I could it would be more of a 3.5 just because at times toward the end it did feel slightly rushed. I wanted a little bit more in the aftermath of the fallout between the two main characters but overall the book was good. The main characters were the epitome of what I wanted them to be in a forbidden coach’s daughter x teammate trope. Lane is very misunderstood and Rachel did a really good job of showing us as readers his softer side towards Cora and his new teammates. Cora’s story line did really infuriate me when she did what she did towards the end but Rachel wrapped it up nicely for us after the fact. I plan to continue with the Great Lakes U series because I’m a sucker for a hockey romance so I really do look forward to more. I’m just hoping to not feel as rushed at the ending of those.
I do feel like I wish I could’ve connected to Cora a bit more. I’m not sure if it was the bit with the migraines or the perfectionism aspect but there was just a disconnect between her and I. I will give it to her though for night 1 of meeting Lane; that to me was more of who I wanted Cora to be. A badass, no f’s given, do what feels right for you in the moment main female character. She would show aspects of that personality when it came to the loser ex Freddy but then when the meltdown happened later in the book she lost it and it just seemed a bit like a disconnect between the two personalities. I don’t expect to connect to every character and I’m fine when I don’t so overall it’s something I can look past.
As an ARC reader we sometimes have to remember that things can be added or taken away prior to release of the book. I trust Rachel’s team to fix a few minor mistakes that I noticed while reading and will suggest this book on my social media pages to other hockey romance fans because in truth Rachel’s writing deserves it.
@jessiesbooknook_
I’m giving What We Knew Then 4 stars on Goodreads but I think if I could it would be more of a 3.5 just because at times toward the end it did feel slightly rushed. I wanted a little bit more in the aftermath of the fallout between the two main characters but overall the book was good. The main characters were the epitome of what I wanted them to be in a forbidden coach’s daughter x teammate trope. Lane is very misunderstood and Rachel did a really good job of showing us as readers his softer side towards Cora and his new teammates. Cora’s story line did really infuriate me when she did what she did towards the end but Rachel wrapped it up nicely for us after the fact. I plan to continue with the Great Lakes U series because I’m a sucker for a hockey romance so I really do look forward to more. I’m just hoping to not feel as rushed at the ending of those.
I do feel like I wish I could’ve connected to Cora a bit more. I’m not sure if it was the bit with the migraines or the perfectionism aspect but there was just a disconnect between her and I. I will give it to her though for night 1 of meeting Lane; that to me was more of who I wanted Cora to be. A badass, no f’s given, do what feels right for you in the moment main female character. She would show aspects of that personality when it came to the loser ex Freddy but then when the meltdown happened later in the book she lost it and it just seemed a bit like a disconnect between the two personalities. I don’t expect to connect to every character and I’m fine when I don’t so overall it’s something I can look past.
As an ARC reader we sometimes have to remember that things can be added or taken away prior to release of the book. I trust Rachel’s team to fix a few minor mistakes that I noticed while reading and will suggest this book on my social media pages to other hockey romance fans because in truth Rachel’s writing deserves it.
@jessiesbooknook_
July 8, 2026
•Advanced Reader Copy from Author•
First of all, I’ve never actually read about an FMC that is going through the same medical issues I am. I also suffer with chronic, debilitating migraines that no one can find the reasoning for. I’ve learned to just cope with it as well for the past 14yrs. So it’s refreshing to read about someone that also deals with this.
Lane, sweet baby Lane! Who wouldn’t want a completely obsessed brooding hockey player to be obsessed with you since the moment he meets you? But it turns out he is down bad for his new coach’s daughter, the one who is absolutely supposed to be off limits to all hockey players. He tries to keep his distance and stay away, but that only proves to be difficult. Cora, who is the perfect student, always has to be in control and is always 10 steps ahead, doesn’t account for Lane. He is the only thing she cannot control and seems to be breaking rules for.
Lane’s story is so traumatic and emotional. You really see the pressure he puts on himself. Cora is similar to Lane, in the way she puts all this pressure on herself to be perfect and never wanting her condition to be seen as a crutch. I enjoyed that they worked through these issues together.
Only thing I didn’t like was what Cora did while Lane was driving, knowing what he went through and got tight of a leash he was on. I appreciate that she helped make it better and ultimately was for the best in the long run, but I was still very much upset that she did what she did.
Fav quotes:
“BETTER NOT BITTER”
“Fuck it. I don’t want to fight you anymore, Cora. Unless I’m fighting for you.”
Thank you Rachel LaBerge for the ARC🫶🏼
First of all, I’ve never actually read about an FMC that is going through the same medical issues I am. I also suffer with chronic, debilitating migraines that no one can find the reasoning for. I’ve learned to just cope with it as well for the past 14yrs. So it’s refreshing to read about someone that also deals with this.
Lane, sweet baby Lane! Who wouldn’t want a completely obsessed brooding hockey player to be obsessed with you since the moment he meets you? But it turns out he is down bad for his new coach’s daughter, the one who is absolutely supposed to be off limits to all hockey players. He tries to keep his distance and stay away, but that only proves to be difficult. Cora, who is the perfect student, always has to be in control and is always 10 steps ahead, doesn’t account for Lane. He is the only thing she cannot control and seems to be breaking rules for.
Lane’s story is so traumatic and emotional. You really see the pressure he puts on himself. Cora is similar to Lane, in the way she puts all this pressure on herself to be perfect and never wanting her condition to be seen as a crutch. I enjoyed that they worked through these issues together.
Only thing I didn’t like was what Cora did while Lane was driving, knowing what he went through and got tight of a leash he was on. I appreciate that she helped make it better and ultimately was for the best in the long run, but I was still very much upset that she did what she did.
Fav quotes:
“BETTER NOT BITTER”
“Fuck it. I don’t want to fight you anymore, Cora. Unless I’m fighting for you.”
Thank you Rachel LaBerge for the ARC🫶🏼
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5-5
Apparently when I arc read for Rachel I can’t stop reading and will binge read the entire book in one sitting. I love her writing style and how she does such a fabulous job writing mental health representation.
I love a good meet cute and this one was awesome - I love a help me just follow my lead meet cute and paired with hidden identity… YES PLEASE.
Cora is very relatable as the coaches daughter who has a hard time finding people who like her for her, not for what she can get for them. She also has the perfectionist who doesn’t want help vibe - also relatable. She’s smart, she’s driven, she’s knows what she wants, and she’s not afraid to speak it. I loved her sass and her banter with Lane. Rachel did a really great job with the migraine rep. I won’t spoil this but bless Rachel for understanding that accommodations need to be requested through the disability office. I know that seems weird to say, but it’s so refreshing to see an author write a consequence correctly without making it magically better.
Lane - my sweet golden retriever. I love me a golden retriever hockey player. Again, Rachel did an amazing job writing him. New guy on the team, holding a secret, a little bit broken, trying to always do the right thing, and just an all around nice guy. I actually think he’s written pretty realistically as a good nice college guy. I loved how his story played out and how he was so down bad for Cora and truly cared for her.
I loved this story obviously and Rachel obviously takes the time and care to learn about what she’s writing about to make it realistic and relatable.
She’s an auto read author for me .
Apparently when I arc read for Rachel I can’t stop reading and will binge read the entire book in one sitting. I love her writing style and how she does such a fabulous job writing mental health representation.
I love a good meet cute and this one was awesome - I love a help me just follow my lead meet cute and paired with hidden identity… YES PLEASE.
Cora is very relatable as the coaches daughter who has a hard time finding people who like her for her, not for what she can get for them. She also has the perfectionist who doesn’t want help vibe - also relatable. She’s smart, she’s driven, she’s knows what she wants, and she’s not afraid to speak it. I loved her sass and her banter with Lane. Rachel did a really great job with the migraine rep. I won’t spoil this but bless Rachel for understanding that accommodations need to be requested through the disability office. I know that seems weird to say, but it’s so refreshing to see an author write a consequence correctly without making it magically better.
Lane - my sweet golden retriever. I love me a golden retriever hockey player. Again, Rachel did an amazing job writing him. New guy on the team, holding a secret, a little bit broken, trying to always do the right thing, and just an all around nice guy. I actually think he’s written pretty realistically as a good nice college guy. I loved how his story played out and how he was so down bad for Cora and truly cared for her.
I loved this story obviously and Rachel obviously takes the time and care to learn about what she’s writing about to make it realistic and relatable.
She’s an auto read author for me .
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a new college hockey romance by Rachell and I couldn’t wait to dive in when she announced it.
Lane had my heart almost immediately. Beneath the talented hockey player was someone carrying so much emotional weight, and watching him slowly learn that he didn’t have to shoulder everything alone made his journey incredibly rewarding. I wanted nothing more than to see him find peace and Cora became exactly the kind of person he needed.
One thing I appreciated most was how authentic their relationship felt. There wasn’t unnecessary drama or someone trying to “save” the other. Instead, they showed up, listened, respected boundaries, and learned how to be each other’s safe place. That kind of emotional maturity made their connection feel genuine.
I also loved seeing chronic migraines represented in such a realistic way through Cora’s story. It’s not something that’s often explored in romance, and I thought it added another level of vulnerability and strength to her character. Watching her navigate life while refusing to let her condition define her made me admire her even more.
Of course, the hockey atmosphere added plenty of fun, but for me, this book was always about the people behind the game. The friendships, family dynamics, healing, and quiet moments carried just as much weight as the romance.
If you enjoy college hockey romances with emotional depth, a protective hero who’s impossible not to love, heartfelt character growth, and a romance built on trust instead of instant perfection, this one deserves a spot on your TBR.
A big thanks to the author for gifting me this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 27, 2026
I love that Rachel has entered her hockey era, and she has done so with a BANG! (slapshot?)
Cora & Lane were so good. We start off at their first meeting. Lane’s first night in town, and the meet at a bar where Lane pretends to rescue Cora from a creepy dude. They have a hot ONS, and he doesn’t know he’s breaking cardinal rule #1, "don't sleep with the coach’s daughter! She doesn't leave her number, he goes off to practice thinking hey that was a great night.. Oops. Then we do get the forced proximity, with Cora needing to work with Lane on her school project moving forward.
This was such a great ride! I’m a sucker for the “pretend to be my boyfriend” scene, and they did it perfectly. I definitely related to Cora, and the need to be on top of everything and succeed. I kinda liked how the scene with her exam played out. I don't want to spoil it, but it felt different than a lot of books do with the resolution of that, and it felt more genuine to me.
I loved all the references to otters & eye rolling that it caused by Lane. The found family is big, with the team taking Lane in and I loved the friendships that developed “I’m fucking glad I’m playing with you instead of against you” play with you, than against you” I also very much appreciated how the Coach treated Lane (for most of the book & we do get redemption, don't worry) Also loved the resolution with the Knight family from Michigan. We do learn more about why Lane is in the situation he is, and along with his back story you definitely understand his hesitancy to get close, and why he needs to focus on hockey.
I like how Cora did try to be up front, but also understood Lane’s feelings with him not knowing she was the coach’s daughter at first. We get some lovely caretaking scenes, with Cora dealing with severe migraines. Certainly not a slow burn, as we get some lovely spice in the the chapter, but LaBerg definitely makes us work for more. So good!
This is book 1 in the Great Lakes U series, and I am so excited for the rest!
Thank you to the author for the ARC!
Cora & Lane were so good. We start off at their first meeting. Lane’s first night in town, and the meet at a bar where Lane pretends to rescue Cora from a creepy dude. They have a hot ONS, and he doesn’t know he’s breaking cardinal rule #1, "don't sleep with the coach’s daughter! She doesn't leave her number, he goes off to practice thinking hey that was a great night.. Oops. Then we do get the forced proximity, with Cora needing to work with Lane on her school project moving forward.
This was such a great ride! I’m a sucker for the “pretend to be my boyfriend” scene, and they did it perfectly. I definitely related to Cora, and the need to be on top of everything and succeed. I kinda liked how the scene with her exam played out. I don't want to spoil it, but it felt different than a lot of books do with the resolution of that, and it felt more genuine to me.
I loved all the references to otters & eye rolling that it caused by Lane. The found family is big, with the team taking Lane in and I loved the friendships that developed “I’m fucking glad I’m playing with you instead of against you” play with you, than against you” I also very much appreciated how the Coach treated Lane (for most of the book & we do get redemption, don't worry) Also loved the resolution with the Knight family from Michigan. We do learn more about why Lane is in the situation he is, and along with his back story you definitely understand his hesitancy to get close, and why he needs to focus on hockey.
I like how Cora did try to be up front, but also understood Lane’s feelings with him not knowing she was the coach’s daughter at first. We get some lovely caretaking scenes, with Cora dealing with severe migraines. Certainly not a slow burn, as we get some lovely spice in the the chapter, but LaBerg definitely makes us work for more. So good!
This is book 1 in the Great Lakes U series, and I am so excited for the rest!
Thank you to the author for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5⭐️
Arc review
Wow wow wow wow. This was beautiful. This was everything i love in a hockey romance. We had coaches daughter. We had banter. We had some sneaking around. Just EVERYTHING 😛
Lane started off as a hard headed broody hockey player but boy did this man melt like BUTTER😭😭 I loved his character. I loved how he didnt give up. His past came rearing back when he has the same thing happen and my heart was down in my ass. CAUSE MY GOSH. He truly was such a sweet soul and didnt deserve all the backlash from his past. But he deserved Cora in his life 100%🥹 also....the unexpected ✨️piercings✨️?! I FOLDED.
Cora. Cora Cora Cora. Honestly a baddie. The way she knew who Lane was instantly but decided to shoot her shot?😉 girly had me rooting from here. She was smart and it was HOT. As a girl who suffers from bad migraines time to time I wanted to cry with her. They can be so debilitating but she was a tough ass bitch💅 I loved her love for Lane. It was so easy and so sweet, even with the unexpected happening and needing time to heal she was so forgiving of his past. It truly made me love her and her true colors 🥹
These two were so adorable together, they just worked out everything so perfectly to make sure their life was set up so they both were happy and i admired that. Both were equals and Cora....I'm still proud of you being a boss🧎🏼♀️
“Fuck it. I don’t want to fight you anymore, Cora. Unless I’m fighting for you.”
“You kiss me like I’m worth saving. It’s not something I’m used to feeling.”
Thank you so much Rachel for this earc 🥹
Booksta- romance.with.bri
Arc review
Wow wow wow wow. This was beautiful. This was everything i love in a hockey romance. We had coaches daughter. We had banter. We had some sneaking around. Just EVERYTHING 😛
Lane started off as a hard headed broody hockey player but boy did this man melt like BUTTER😭😭 I loved his character. I loved how he didnt give up. His past came rearing back when he has the same thing happen and my heart was down in my ass. CAUSE MY GOSH. He truly was such a sweet soul and didnt deserve all the backlash from his past. But he deserved Cora in his life 100%🥹 also....the unexpected ✨️piercings✨️?! I FOLDED.
Cora. Cora Cora Cora. Honestly a baddie. The way she knew who Lane was instantly but decided to shoot her shot?😉 girly had me rooting from here. She was smart and it was HOT. As a girl who suffers from bad migraines time to time I wanted to cry with her. They can be so debilitating but she was a tough ass bitch💅 I loved her love for Lane. It was so easy and so sweet, even with the unexpected happening and needing time to heal she was so forgiving of his past. It truly made me love her and her true colors 🥹
These two were so adorable together, they just worked out everything so perfectly to make sure their life was set up so they both were happy and i admired that. Both were equals and Cora....I'm still proud of you being a boss🧎🏼♀️
“Fuck it. I don’t want to fight you anymore, Cora. Unless I’m fighting for you.”
“You kiss me like I’m worth saving. It’s not something I’m used to feeling.”
Thank you so much Rachel for this earc 🥹
Booksta- romance.with.bri
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an advance reader copy of this book and am delighted to share my review.
Lane transfers to Great Lakes U for one final chance to prove himself and make it to the NHL. Cora Banks has always lived her life by staying organized, responsible, and constantly on the go. She's also had one rule drilled into her by her father, the hockey coach: don't date his players.
After Cora's long-term boyfriend breaks up with her, she finds herself at a bar where she meets Lane. Knowing exactly who he is, she keeps her identity a secret, and the two share one unforgettable, steamy night. Everything changes when Lane discovers that Cora is the coach's daughter. Determined to avoid crossing any lines, he tries to keep his distance. But when Coach recommends Lane as the subject of Cora's research project, they're forced to spend more time together, making it nearly impossible to ignore their growing feelings.
As their relationship deepens, Lane opens up about the events that led to his dismissal from his previous hockey team. At the same time, Cora lands herself in a downward spiral unintentionally pulling Lane back into the same situation that forced him to question everything he's worked so hard for—putting his NHL dreams at risk.
Both Lane and Cora face personal challenges throughout the story, learning to confront their pasts while questioning whether love alone is enough to overcome the obstacles in their way. I loved every bit of this book and can't wait to see what's next for the Great Lakes U hockey team!
Lane transfers to Great Lakes U for one final chance to prove himself and make it to the NHL. Cora Banks has always lived her life by staying organized, responsible, and constantly on the go. She's also had one rule drilled into her by her father, the hockey coach: don't date his players.
After Cora's long-term boyfriend breaks up with her, she finds herself at a bar where she meets Lane. Knowing exactly who he is, she keeps her identity a secret, and the two share one unforgettable, steamy night. Everything changes when Lane discovers that Cora is the coach's daughter. Determined to avoid crossing any lines, he tries to keep his distance. But when Coach recommends Lane as the subject of Cora's research project, they're forced to spend more time together, making it nearly impossible to ignore their growing feelings.
As their relationship deepens, Lane opens up about the events that led to his dismissal from his previous hockey team. At the same time, Cora lands herself in a downward spiral unintentionally pulling Lane back into the same situation that forced him to question everything he's worked so hard for—putting his NHL dreams at risk.
Both Lane and Cora face personal challenges throughout the story, learning to confront their pasts while questioning whether love alone is enough to overcome the obstacles in their way. I loved every bit of this book and can't wait to see what's next for the Great Lakes U hockey team!
July 13, 2026
🩵🏒ARC Review🏒🩵
Thank you Rachel LaBerge for this ARC of What We Knew Then, ugh what a crazy beautiful secret relationship 🩵
Did I read this in a day? Yes, yes I did 😏
Oh sweet Lane 🥹 I just wanted to hop into my kindle and hug him‼️the way he continuously struggled with the thought that he wasn’t good enough for the life that he was earning was heartbreaking. How he thought that he couldn’t be lucky enough to have all his dreams come true, including the way that he fell for Cora.
What started as lust and a night to feed the desire between each other, turned into a passion that simmered until they couldn’t fight it anymore. Always being drawn to one another in a way that only two people who are destined to be together.
Lane and Cora were everything to each other and when it came down to it hands down they showed up for one another 🫶
Rachel knows how to write the most beautiful romances full of love, swoon and spice and her ability to showcase the perfect representation of chronic illness is always top notch! As someone who suffers from chronic illness I saw so much of myself in Cora. With the need to create a multitude of tasks just to exhaust yourself to ensure that you checked them off. With that serotonin boost only lasting till the next list is created. Yet never knowing when or where you will have an “episode” or how long it will last. This absolutely made Cora so relatable 🫶
Tropes:
🩵Coach’s Daughter
🏒One Night Stand
🩵Dislike to Lovers
🏒Found Family
🩵Secret Relationship
🏒Hurt/Comfort
🩵Forced Proximity
🏒Mental Health & Migraine Rep
🩵Spicy
Thank you Rachel LaBerge for this ARC of What We Knew Then, ugh what a crazy beautiful secret relationship 🩵
Did I read this in a day? Yes, yes I did 😏
Oh sweet Lane 🥹 I just wanted to hop into my kindle and hug him‼️the way he continuously struggled with the thought that he wasn’t good enough for the life that he was earning was heartbreaking. How he thought that he couldn’t be lucky enough to have all his dreams come true, including the way that he fell for Cora.
What started as lust and a night to feed the desire between each other, turned into a passion that simmered until they couldn’t fight it anymore. Always being drawn to one another in a way that only two people who are destined to be together.
Lane and Cora were everything to each other and when it came down to it hands down they showed up for one another 🫶
Rachel knows how to write the most beautiful romances full of love, swoon and spice and her ability to showcase the perfect representation of chronic illness is always top notch! As someone who suffers from chronic illness I saw so much of myself in Cora. With the need to create a multitude of tasks just to exhaust yourself to ensure that you checked them off. With that serotonin boost only lasting till the next list is created. Yet never knowing when or where you will have an “episode” or how long it will last. This absolutely made Cora so relatable 🫶
Tropes:
🩵Coach’s Daughter
🏒One Night Stand
🩵Dislike to Lovers
🏒Found Family
🩵Secret Relationship
🏒Hurt/Comfort
🩵Forced Proximity
🏒Mental Health & Migraine Rep
🩵Spicy
Review of advance copy received from Author
New hockey series by Rachel Laberge.
Lane transfers from Ohio to Great Lakes U in Michigan. He didn’t expect that his hookup, Coralee, would be the coach’s daughter. He can’t afford any more screw ups. He needs to stay away from Cora as far as possible. But when he helps her with her research, sparks are still there and their attraction isn’t fizzling out anytime soon.
Theres a sweetness about Lane and Cora. Both fighting their own battles. The perceived bad boy who is focusing on his hockey career and the good girl with the 4.0 gpa. Both of them are so hard on themselves. Trying to prove to other people that they are enough and they have everything handled.
Lane’s background has him wanting to play it safe now, but being with Cora is anything but that. I love their relationship. Cora was there for him in the end and helped him even though he didn’t want her too. When you love someone, you do whatever it takes to help them even if they don’t want or ask for it.
I feel for Cora for her need to be perfect. I think a lot of have felt like that at one point or another. I don’t know much about migraines, but I can’t believe it can get that bad. I just want to give Cora a hug!
This story is heartfelt and emotional. Learning that sometimes doing something for others with the best intentions isn’t always what’s best for yourself. Or you can have a nice balance of work and play. Leaning heavily on one side of it can be terrible.
Lane transfers from Ohio to Great Lakes U in Michigan. He didn’t expect that his hookup, Coralee, would be the coach’s daughter. He can’t afford any more screw ups. He needs to stay away from Cora as far as possible. But when he helps her with her research, sparks are still there and their attraction isn’t fizzling out anytime soon.
Theres a sweetness about Lane and Cora. Both fighting their own battles. The perceived bad boy who is focusing on his hockey career and the good girl with the 4.0 gpa. Both of them are so hard on themselves. Trying to prove to other people that they are enough and they have everything handled.
Lane’s background has him wanting to play it safe now, but being with Cora is anything but that. I love their relationship. Cora was there for him in the end and helped him even though he didn’t want her too. When you love someone, you do whatever it takes to help them even if they don’t want or ask for it.
I feel for Cora for her need to be perfect. I think a lot of have felt like that at one point or another. I don’t know much about migraines, but I can’t believe it can get that bad. I just want to give Cora a hug!
This story is heartfelt and emotional. Learning that sometimes doing something for others with the best intentions isn’t always what’s best for yourself. Or you can have a nice balance of work and play. Leaning heavily on one side of it can be terrible.
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