The Wrong Playbook: A College Hockey Romance

by Bree Hayden, Morgan Waddle (Editor), Inked Alpha (Illustrator)

Genres: Sports Romance

464 pages, Paperback

Published July 22, 2026

About the author

A lover of romances, it’s not unusual to find Bree Hayden curled up with a book, sobbing her eyes out. On the off chance she’s doing real-life things, she resides in Washington, tries to get birds to whistle along with her, and enjoys baking ancient recipes in the hopes one actually tastes good.

Check out Bree’s newsletter for playlists (they’re pretty good), upcoming character art (that’s way better), chances to read her books before anybody else (!!!), and free extra stories about the characters in her novels (the best!!!)

Reviews

[JuwairiyyahDawood · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review
This book was such a fun Rollercoaster.

Ex's best friend. Celibacy and bucket lists.

Who would have thought the #UCKBoY would find a love so sweet. But from his best friends ex. Although he did see her first. So Dibs counts right.

This book was so different from other Hockey books like they focus on what the players go through. The Bromance and and not only fixated on the hockey games. I could not put it down. My heart broke for Nick when I found out what he qnd others went through.
Tallullah is so BadA$$. Putting herself first and standing up for herself and the people she loves.

Like I said Rollercoaster but an amazing one.

I recommend you add this to your TBR.

[Hayley Marrinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc from Author!!!

I had such a great time with this book! Nick and Tallulah were so cute together, and I loved how their relationship grew!! The way nick seemed to see her, and make a conscious effort to be different from her ex was really perfect!! Had such a fun time reading this!!

[Cass · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ | 3.5–4 🌶️

Thank you, Bree Hayden, for the ARC! ❤️

Okay, I think I can officially say it now… THIS IS MY FAVORITE BOOK IN THE SERIES. 🥹❤️

Nick and Tallulah completely won me over. The chemistry between these two is UNBELIEVABLE. It’s almost like an instant connection, but the slow burn gives them the time to really feel each other out, and the payoff? SO worth it. These two are officially my favorite couple of the series so far.
This romance really had everything I want: humor, spice, yearning, genuine emotional depth, character growth, and a love story that actually made my heart feel FULL. 🥹

Tropes:
Best friend’s ex | Spicy bucket list | Yearning & pining
Reformed playboy | He falls first | A man who is DOWN. BAD.
College hockey romance | Slow burn + high heat | Forced proximity
Bad boy x good girl | Good girl gone bad

NICK: Basically: fuckboy-to-obsessed-loverboy. And I will never get tired of that trope.
This man has been down bad for Tallulah forever, but never allowed himself to go there because she was dating his best friend. So he avoided her completely—didn’t talk to her, didn’t look at her, basically removed himself from her orbit. And honestly? I thought it was ridiculously sweet because it says SO much about his character.
Nick has the reputation of being a playboy/fuckboy, and he absolutely earned it. But underneath that is this loyal, caring, attentive man who listens, notices everything, and genuinely wants to take care of Tallulah.
Watching this laid-back playboy turn into a completely lovesick, panicked, hopelessly devoted mess around her was EVERYTHING. 🫠

And Tallulah?! 🥹

She’s the book-smart nerd who doesn’t always feel like she fits in. She’s spent so much time trying to be perfect on paper that she doesn’t always see how much more there is to her.
Because this girl is fun, bold, fierce, funny, fiery, and SO much sassier than I expected. Watching her find her voice and become more confident was one of my favorite parts.

She struggles with anxiety and people-pleasing, and I really appreciated how those struggles were handled with patience and care. Watching her become brave enough to stand up for herself—and especially stand up to that dick-face coach—was EVERYTHING.

And then we have the real star of the book…
RAT TRAP: A cute black cat named Rat! I am a SUCKER for animals in books, and Rat delivered. And Nick being a cat dad?! UHHHHH. 🫠🫠🫠 There is something about an MMC being a cat dad that immediately earns bonus points from me. And Nick being so sweet with Rat? Panty-melting times a million.

And can we talk about the nicknames?!
Tallulah, my girl… you know you love nicknames now. 😂 “Sweetheart” fits her so perfectly because that’s exactly what she is. And then when she finally called Nick “baby”?! OH. YEAH.
Usually, that’s not even my favorite thing, but coming from these two? It was SO damn cute. It just fit them.

These two really brought out the best in each other. Tallulah made Nick a softy sweetie pie, and Nick made Tallulah feel safe enough to be herself. And the puddle Nick became around her?! 😂😭 MY FAVORITE.

Watching confident, laid back Nick turn into a frantic ball of panic because he has BIG FEELINGS and no idea what to do with them was incredible. He was absolutely NOT prepared for Tallulah.

And the dates + bucket lists?! SO damn sweet. I loved how it became about more than just checking things off, it was about them experiencing things together and taking care of each other.

My only real complaint was that I missed seeing more of the Gladiator family. I loved the close knit team dynamic in the earlier books, so I would have loved a few more scenes with everyone together. BUT we did get several moments with Montoya, so I was happy.

I’m also still sad we never got to see Fridge and Nick in the same room after everything that happened. Fridge really took me by surprise, and I was MAD at that man. I wanted his redemption, but we never quite got there…so now I’m over here wondering WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH FRIDGE?!

Overall, this book had me HOOKED. The spice was RED FREAKING HOT 🔥🔥🔥 and Nick and Tallulah completely won me over.
Thank you, Bree Hayden, for the ARC! ❤️

[Justina · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s very satisfying to be able to say you loved an ARC. And I did. I absolutely, 100% loved The Wrong Playbook. The yearning, the anxiety rep, the characters, this series is such a good time and this book absolutely deserves 5 stars!

I practically inhaled two previous For the Arena books so I tried to pace myself with this one. I looooooove this universe, these characters, their interactions and internal monologues. I love Bree Hayden’s writing, I will not shut up about it - For the Arena books are fantastic!

the ebook is currently $0.99 on Amazon, do yourself a favor and go pre-order it!

I’m in love with Tallulah and Nick and their relationship. The character growth (and the way they supported each other) was beautiful to witness. All the feels, all the chills. And the spice, as always, is spicyyyy! I will miss them a lot.

***

Nick, the MMC, is a former mega-fvckboy / manwh*re (I know it’s a cliché, but give him a chance). A year ago our fvckboy met a good girl, Tallulah, who completely rendered him speechless and became his singular point of focus and the ultimate dream girl. In a karmic slap in the face Nick’s best friend started to date Tallulah before Nick gathered the courage to approach her, so Nick was left with no choice but to quietly (and celibate-ly) yearn from afar.

It’s essentially a fvckboy to an obsessed loverboy trope. We don’t experience Nick’s fvckboy phase in this book, we get to witness the next step of his journey. Tallulah becomes single, so Nick, our obsessed lover boy, decides to go for it, now or never. He’s all in, jumping head first. But how do you approach your best friend’s ex / your secret mega-crush? Well, it’s best when you both leave the country for the summer, not-so-coincidentally landing in the same city in Canada. YUM!

Tallulah, our „good girl” FMC, is wonderfully smart, brave and kind. She struggles with anxiety and people-pleasing, and her struggles are described and worked through with patience and care. I loved the thoughtfulness of the Author, it was wonderful to watch Tallulah open up to Nick and him unwaveringly supporting her (especially since he so desperately wanted to be there for her for so long already). Nick appreciated all parts of Tallulah, her anxiety was just one of them.

It was also amazing to see casual and laid back Nick become frantic ball of panic because he was overwhelmed by his own feelings for our FMC, he was not prepared to handle them. Tallulah was so lovely to Nick, she was careful and intentional and adoring, ahh what a book! They both needed to grow to find their way through the huddles, and they did it together enthusiastically. It was amazing to witness such soft, wonderful love.

I loved Zariah and Denali’s book, now I don’t know which one is my favorite. OH NO, I guess I need to reread them both, soon. What can you do ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Fav quotes:

“Nick,” Tallulah interjected.
“No.”
“Nick.”
“No.”
Her eyes settled on mine, the softest, deepest, warmest brown. “Nick.”
“Yes,” I said without thinking. Wait, why did I say that? “I mean no. Maybe.”

With a sigh, I pushed myself to stand up. “Anxiety fucking sucks.”
Her eyes dropped to the floor. “I’m sorry⁠—”
“No, anxiety sucks, because it makes you think that you’re to blame. With everything. With anything. That you’re inconveniencing people. That you can’t be happy and take that happiness. Your anxiety convinces you that you don’t deserve it. But this is the truth—” I cut the distance between us, taking her chin between my fingers, making sure she understood every word. “Being with you is a goddamn gift.”

I have a—uh—cat.”
Her mom frowned. “You have a pet?”
“She has two,” I joked, holding out my hand. “Hey, I’m her boyfriend.”


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


I received this book as a free ARC from the Author. My opinion is sincere (and enthusiastic!), I purchased the ebook for myself regardless of having the free ARC copy as I’m in love with this series and I love Bree Hayden’s For the Arena books. <3

I’m so thankful for the opportunity to read this one early.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Montoya’s book is next. Something’s up with those post-its…

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Read this book for:
📚 Ex’s Best Friend
🏒 Spicy Bucket List
📚 Reformed Playboy
🏒 Summer Romance
📚 He’s Obsessed
🏒 College Hockey Romance

Synopsis
This summer was supposed to be about reinvention.

A new country. A new internship. A chance to leave heartbreak behind and become the confident woman she’s always wanted to be.

Then Nick shows up.

As her ex’s best friend and one of hockey’s most notorious charmers, Nick is the last person she should trust. But from the moment they meet again, the tension between them is impossible to ignore.

When he offers to help her complete a personal bucket list, she knows she should say no.

Instead, she keeps saying yes.

The more time they spend together, the more complicated things become. What starts as playful flirtation soon feels dangerously real, and she begins to suspect that Nick’s presence in Canada isn’t a coincidence.

Now she must decide whether following her heart is worth risking everything she thought she knew about love, friendship, and the man she can’t seem to stay away from.

My Thoughts
This is the third book in the For the Arena series, and I honestly think it is my favorite one so far because Nick and Tallulah completely stole my heart.

From the moment I learned that Nick had gone celibate after meeting Tallulah, I knew this story was going to be something special. The former playboy was ready to leave that lifestyle behind because he wanted to ask her out, but before he had the chance, his best friend Fridge started dating her instead. That immediately made me curious to see how everything would unfold.

Reading about Tallulah’s relationship with Fridge was honestly frustrating. The way he constantly belittled her and made her feel small was so toxic, and I could not understand how anyone could treat their partner that way. What made it even worse was seeing her parents constantly praise him and put him on a pedestal, even after the relationship ended. I found myself getting more and more annoyed with every chapter.

That is why I loved Nick even more. He saw everything Tallulah had gone through and made a conscious effort to be different. He wanted to be the man she deserved, someone who supported her, respected her, and made her feel valued. Their relationship started as a friends-with-benefits arrangement, but it naturally grew into something so much deeper. Their chemistry was incredible, and I loved watching their friendship turn into love.

And then there was the plot twist involving Tomasini… absolutely chef’s kiss! I genuinely did not see it coming, and it added so much excitement to the story. It was one of those twists that made me want to keep reading long into the night because I had to know how everything would end.

The only thing I missed a little was seeing more of the Gladiator family. One of my favorite things about the earlier books was the close-knit team dynamic, and I would have loved a few more scenes with them in this one. Hopefully, we will get more of that in the fourth book.

Speaking of the next book... I am really hoping it will be Montoya’s story. There is just something about him that has me completely intrigued, and I have a feeling his book might end up being my favorite of the entire series. I cannot wait to find out!

[Olivia Epley · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Read this if you like:
🏒hockey romance
📝Spicy bucket list
📚 He falls first
📚 Black cat/golden retreiver dynamics
🌻 Strong female MC
🌶️ SPICE
💕 If you just want to swoon over hockey romances some more!

Nick and Tallulah have officially won me over as my favorite couple in this series. Watching them skate around each other and see it morph into something more was the best slow (ish) burn I could have read about. And the way Bree Hayden handles the diversity of her characters with such care and respect, you really see she put the work in to do them justice. UGH, and the spice: immaculate. We love a woman who owns her sexuality and a man who respects her power.

🌻Tallulah
Tallulah, my girl, my badass, my favorite FMC arc. She may start out timid, and wary of her strength, but watching her take a leap into the unknown, despite the consequences, really resonates with me. As someone who also has anxiety, Bree Hayden did such an amazing job getting into the head of an anxious girl, the constant back and forth, the everpresent doubt, and the exhaustion it leaves behind. But she also paints the beauty of it - to acknowledge we’re alive and to push us beyond what we think we’re capable of. Tallulah not only grows into her confidence, but she remains this woman who loves fiercely, is considerate and holds her own moral standards. I very much appreciate the tidbit she talked about her body image, which quickly became one of my favorite quotes:
“I liked how I looked because I looked like some of my favorite people in the world, my grandma, my mom, my aunts. It wasn’t a brag. I would just never want to change that, to sever the connection we had.”
I thank my lucky stars every day I look like my mom, because I’m proof that her love lives on even though she’s gone🤍 Wonderfully done, Bree!

🏒 Nick

Oh Nick, we love a reformed bad boy. You deserved every bit of this redemption arc. The over the top gestures, the caring of everyone’s feelings, the encouragement of Tallulah’s dreams, perfect, no notes. He absolutely did not deserve what Tomasini put him through, but I’m glad he put that energy into better things, like his relationship with Tallulah. How he was so willing to try for her, it was really beautiful. And it very much appreciate how attuned he was to her anxiety and knew when to accommodate her or push her through it. Bravo!

Thank you so much Bree for the opportunity to read this book, it was fabulous!

[Shelby Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc read.

If you revel in the heartbreak and angst of a man who falls first and pines for a woman… read this!

He missed his chance for her, and instead had to slowly die inside as she began dating his best friend. When he finally has the opportunity for a second chance with her, he isn’t going to let it pass by.

Nick is a fuckboy. Or rather…. Nick was a fuckboy. Now, he’s smitten. He pines, he gets jealous, he’s possessive, he up and leaves the country to follow her to her summer job, and he’s a sexy sweetheart to boot. In this dual point of view book, his chapters are full of his emotional insecurities, his desperate wanting of her, and his efforts to make her life better.

Tallullah suffers from anxiety, and I felt like that was well done and consistent throughout the book. She has a few badass moments (such as telling Nick that she wasn’t asking), and her character does grow and become more assertive by the end. She is a bit oblivious to Nick’s feelings, which seems unrealistic at times considering how much he throws himself and his money at her. But she’s insecure, so I suppose it could make sense.

This book was an enjoyable read, and easy to make “one more chapter” turn into two…eight…many late night chapters. Despite the delicious pining, it’s designed to make you feel good most of the time. The story moves along, there’s a cute pet and a few good friendships, Nick’s first couple of chapters are pretty funny and entertaining, you don’t have to wait til the 50% mark before spice happens, and there’s a full long-term HEA.

Some criticism…

Now, some of the dialogue was a bit unrealistic I thought. Such as her parents confirming that he was “Nick the dick” and “Nick the playboy” to his face rather than asking Tallulah privately. There’s a few different moments similar to that. (Also I didn’t like her parents at all). There is a tiny bit of a miscommunication trope in here due to Nick bottling up his emotions and his past. The hockey portion of the story is minimal. It could have been replaced by any sport. I don’t even know what position he played. And… the spice was okay but not mind blowing. I actually preferred their dialogue during the spicy scenes more than the action or the description of them. I felt like the emotional side of it took over and the physical descriptions were a bit underdone. Not bad, just nothing to write home about.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tallulah and Nick...where oh where do I start with these two? Tallulah is an anxiety riddled quiet journalist who has been selected to attend an internship in Canada for the Olympics. Nick, he’s a former playboy who used to sleep with anyone to get into opponents heads. That all changed when he met Tallulah. The moment she came into his life, he gave it all up. The only problem? She started dating his best friend and roommate. Fridge (nickname) didn’t want her to go to Canada, thinking it wasn’t her – and among many other things – the two split. Nick saw this as his chance, and he signs on with a summer league team in, you guessed it, Canada, turning down other teams so that he can be near Tallulah, away from other people who know about his reputation (or so he thought). With this close proximity, and Nick being the only person she knows, the two end up getting close. She ends up showing him during one of her anxiety spirals, her spicy bucket list – which she is determined to complete while in Canada. Nick volunteers as tribute. Thus begins their love story. She begins to open up to him, but it takes him longer to do the same.
The way Bree develops their relationship is nothing short of absolutely adorable. Nick has been smitten with her from day one, but getting this man to open up is like pulling teeth. The two are working under the same shitty guy, and during a hockey game, Tallulah accidentally finds out just how terrible this man is. It becomes her mission to bring him down. I’m not sure how many sensitivity readers Bree brought into this story, as I saw on socials her asking for them seeing as Tallulah is an Indigenous character, I thought the way she portrayed both characters and bringing up their identities (with Nick being Brazilian and Japanese) was done wonderfully – said by a very white woman. These identities were mentioned, some important traditions brought up, but never was the soul focus of the story, and never used to bring harm to the communities. Even when Tallulah was mentioned in the news on several different occasions. They focused more on her being a student than being Indigenous. Stressing student, that it was a student that brought this man down. I throughly enjoyed this story so much more, and I can’t wait to see who’s next!

[Allie Akin]

Notes while reading:
-Heroine's parents are really intriguing me
- Didn't like heroine's sexual boundaries being pushed, even if hero had good intentions.
- Easy to read
- Slow start
- I want more forces pushing the heroine and the hero to grow as characters outside of themselves.

Thoughts after the book
-This kind of reads to me like an older less cheesy Sarah Adams book. I would love this in an audio format.
-The heroine's parents were really intriguing to me. There was a few things between them and another significant character that were kind of odd to me and I wanted to see how that situation came to be and how they justified it, whether it was through manipulation or otherwise.
-When the heroine was setting sexual boundaries, one was no safe words, and no oral, after she had a bad experience with her ex boyfriend. Which totally fair, no one is owed her body. However, there was a bit of pushyness that I didn't enjoy. The discussion about doing oral sex was done in a way were I thought was fine, no red flags were raised. The part that bothered me is the hero's insistance on safe words. The heroine really didn't want one, yet he really pushed for one, and he wore her down to where she relented. Later, when she used it in a semi-non-spicy time, he was like "See I told you you'd want one", and it rubbed me the wrong way because she said no multiple times before that. (He was going to throw her into a waterfall)
- The later 50% was very bingable, I was hooked and the pacing ramped up and from 50% onward we were getting answers, and the ending was satisfying. In comparison the first half was slow.
-I loved that the heroine grew into herself and started learning how to stick up for herself; however, I just wanted more things to push her to grow outside of Nick, and vice versa with him too.
-Also the last college romance and the last sports romance I read annoyed me and this was a really good balance between both things and the characters having a personality outside of it. Yes they were in college, but that's not all they think about 24/7. Yes it's a sports romance, and it makes sure you remember it's a sports romance, by including the hero going to practice and playing his sport, but again, it's not so in your face that it's his whole personality.

Overall 4 stars.
Despite how I had a bit of a gripe with the boundaries thing, this book made me want to read, and that's the main thing I look for in a story, and that did just that, and it's one of my favorite sports romance I've read so far.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wrong Playbook by Bree Hayden
⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5)

I can't believe I hadn't come across Bree Hayden before now. The Wrong Playbook has everything I love: a deeply yearning hero, a multifaceted heroine, fantastic banter, and enough heat to raise the temperature in the room.

Tallulah is such a fantastic character. Her entire life, she's been seen as dependable and a little meek, but she doesn't want to be confined to those labels. She has a very healthy sexual curiosity (get it, succubus!!—IYKYK) and isn't afraid to stand up for the people she loves. She's constantly underestimated by those around her, especially her parents and ex-boyfriend, who have boxed her into someone she's not. That's why it melted my heart that Nick sees all of her and believes in her completely. Honestly, Tallulah is the biggest badass in the book, and I loved her for it.

And Nick? He is the most yearning, down-bad man to ever exist. He is completely obsessed with Tallulah and willing to put himself through absolute hell just to be with her. Yes, he keeps secrets, but they're born out of love rather than selfishness. He's terrified of scaring her away with the depth of his feelings. Show me another college-aged man who invents an entire dating bucket list just to spend more time with his crush... I'll wait.

Together, Tallulah and Nick are everything. They're incredibly vulnerable with each other and learn to understand one another in a way that feels intimate and earned. I also have to shout out the anxiety representation. Tallulah is one of the most accurate portrayals of anxiety I've read in romance. Nick recognizes what she's experiencing almost immediately and does everything he can to help ease it—not by trying to fix her, but by reassuring her and giving her exactly what she needs in those moments. It was beautiful to read.

And the spice? Hot and emotional. Aftercare talks? YES!!

The Wrong Playbook is the third book in the For the Arena series. It works perfectly well as a standalone, but I'll definitely be going back to read the first two books.

Thank you to the author for providing an ARC!

[LunafloritaReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay... SWOON. I absolutely loved Nick and Tallulah!!

I am so, so glad we got Nick's redemption arc because he officially earned his spot as one of my all-time favorite book boyfriends. This man literally went to Canada to play for a hockey team just so he could be close to Tallulah. If that isn't romantic, I don't know what is.

While I do wish we'd gotten a little more time with the side characters, I actually think giving Nick and Tallulah a story that focused almost entirely on the two of them made their romance even stronger. Their relationship was able to take center stage, and I loved every minute of it.

Tallulah is hands down my favorite FMC in the series so far. Her character development was so well done. She starts out shy and reserved, but it's never portrayed as something she needs to "fix." She simply wants to become more adventurous and confident in all areas of her life—not just romantically. Taking the internship in Canada was the first huge step in bringing herself out of her comfort zone, and watching her continue to grow throughout the book was so rewarding.

I also loved how Nick helped her discover what she truly wanted in a relationship. Fridge is a genuinely good guy, but seeing Tallulah realize just how deeply Nick understood her—while Fridge never really did—was written so well. That realization felt natural and made their love story even more satisfying.

And Nick... where do I even begin? He went from the team's playboy to the absolute perfect MMC. This man was literally celibate because he liked Tallulah that much. He had to watch his best friend date the girl he was in love with, and yet he never stopped caring for her. The yearning was everything. He protected her, supported her, and loved her from afar without expecting anything in return. Nick set the standard, and I was kicking my feet through this entire book.

This has easily become one of my favorite books in the series, and I honestly don't think I'll be getting over Nick and Tallulah anytime soon.

[Aly CardoneRyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be my favorite in the series and I devoured it in under a day!! It is a college sports, best friend’s ex, reformed playboy x good girl story.
I was so excited when I heard this book would be Nick and Tallulah. Very quickly we learn how they are currently viewed, who they want to be, and that both aren’t quite sure how to accomplish it.
Getting to dive into Tallulah’s thoughts and see her anxiety, uncertainty and insecurities just made me want to reach in and hug her. I loved watching her find freedom, confidence and limits throughout this book. On the other side, watching always confident Nick stumble and just keep striking out was so much fun. He was down bad so much more than I expected for her. (I also loved Montoya as the long distance sidekick) I did have some moments of wanting to fight Nick every time he chose not to open up to Tallulah because he was convinced she wasn’t ready or didn’t need to know. He was so observant about her anxieties and likes/dislikes and protective, that he took on too much burden. But the swooning, the spice, the learning to communicate… I just love them!!

Additional notes:
Bree Hayden always has wonderful diversity in her characters, and uses sensitivity readers before publishing to ensure responsible writing and authenticity.
This is book 3 in a series of interconnected standalones so it could be read independently, but I am so glad that I read the first two book first. The breadcrumbs of Nick and Tallulah awkwardly dancing around each other in the earlier books make them finding their HEA so much sweeter.


*Review of an ARC copy*

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC FINISHED! ☑️

Title: The Wrong Playbook by @breehaydenauthor

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spicy/ Smut: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/ 🥵🥵

This book had me hooked from the first couple lines!

I absolutely loved this book! I gave it 5 stars! I loved how after the book ended the author gave us an epilogue of what happened to the characters and where there life went after the book ended which I absolutely loved bc I hate having to guess what happen to the characters! This book definitely deserves the 5 stars !

Tululah is the FMC she is an college student who wants to be a journalist,she has a lot of anxiety, which causes her to overthink and believes she is a burden to people, her and her ex boyfriend broke up and she was accepted into a journalist summer contest, trying to make herself into a better person and branch out to do things she normally would be to scared to do and after her ex told her it would be a mistake to take the position, bc she would be to scared, she took the position just to prove could do things without him and by herself! She is also being a smex bucket list with her of things she wants to do while she’s in Canada!

Nick is the MMC, he’s a hockey player ,reformed playboy, tululah ex boyfriends best friend and absolutely secretly in love with tululah, they use to be friends he wanted to ask her out but his best friend got to her first and asked her out! He applied for a summer hockey league in Canada just to be able to spend time with her and get closer to her!

With close proximity, and have a smex bucket list, and those 2 being the only ones in Canada that knows each other, I bet they will definitely keep there distance and not start a secret relationship! 😳🤭🤭

[Rebeccalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just wow. This book is literal perfection.

Let me start off by saying hockey players are normally portrayed as having f-boy tendencies and being way out of pocket. So, it came as a relief to see that they author Bree had written them to have a sweet and softer side to them. I absolutely adored that. My two favorite parts about the book, 1. Them rallying together for tallulah at the end, and 2. When nick and tallulah finally got their heads out of their books.

I can’t say what I want to say without spoiling a few things, but trust and believe, come August 4th when the book is officially released. I will be updating my review faster than you can say celibate. I will definitely be keeping this book in my steady rotation of my comfort books that read a majillion times over. It’s not often that you get so into a book you feel like your part of their world (yes that’s a little mermaid reference). But when I tell you I felt like a fly on their wall the whole book it was wild.

I’m super super excited to hear that fridge will be getting his own book in the future, because I have a feeling it’s going to be wild! But can I say my ick with him is the day tallulah broke up with him. Like come on dude you could’ve waited at least a day to be a jerk.

Final thoughts.
Characters were very well written.
You inspired me to name my animals some interesting names.
We definitely need another book for tallulah and nick.
Also her parents were kind of d*cks.

Ps. Tomasini is a major d*ck, and I’m so glad to see his life crumble around him. He absolutely deserved it.

[Jennifer Naval Peak · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the biggest reasons I keep coming back to Bree Hayden’s books is because she writes MMCs who are down bad for their women. MMC Nick Kurosawa's yearning for FMC Tallulah was my favorite part of this story. The lengths this man went to just to be near her was next level.

I also loved seeing the diversity in this series continue. Having a Japanese/Brazilian MMC and a Cherokee FMC brought another layer to the story that I really appreciated, and seeing representation like this can truly make people feel seen.

I'll admit, Tallulah was a little harder for me to connect with in the beginning because her self-doubt was so overwhelming and exhausting sometimes. But watching her slowly work through her anxiety, find her voice, and start believing in herself made her growth feel so rewarding. It was extra sweet that so much of that confidence came from having Nick who never stopped believing in her, be there rooting her on even when she couldn't believe in herself.

Nick wasn't immediately lovable either. His reputation definitely had me questioning him at first, but the more I got to know him and his current intentions, the more I was invested in seeing these two find their way to each other.

I also really enjoyed that so much of the story took place away from campus and outside their usual friend group. As much as I love the cast of characters in this series, it was refreshing to watch Nick and Tallulah build their relationship without everyone else's opinions or drama getting in the way. It gave their connection the space to grow naturally.

[Alejandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

⚠️ARC REVIEW

The Wrong Playbook by Bree Hayden was absolutely AMAZING! I honestly couldn't put it down and finished it in no time. It might even be my favourite book in the series so far!

If you love college sports romances, best friend's ex, reformed playboy x good girl, plenty of yearning, humour, and lots of spice, this book is for you. 🥹🔥

Nick and Tallulah completely stole my heart. I loved seeing Tallulah's journey as she learned to overcome her anxiety, build confidence, and realise she deserved so much better than the relationships she'd had before. Her character growth felt so genuine and inspiring.

Nick was everything. Watching the confident playboy completely lose his composure because he was so gone for Tallulah was incredibly entertaining. He was thoughtful, protective, and paid attention to every little detail about her, even if I wanted to shake him every time he kept his feelings to himself instead of communicating. 😭💙

Their chemistry was incredible, the banter had me laughing out loud, and the emotional moments hit just as hard as the romantic ones. I also loved how determined Nick was to fight for the woman he loved.

Bree Hayden's writing completely hooked me, and now I can't wait to go back and read the rest of the series. If you're a fan of hockey romances or series like Off-Campus, you definitely need to add this one to your TBR.

I absolutely loved every page and would 100% recommend it! 🏒📖✨❤️🥹🔥

[Aki · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a surprisingly delightful book! I was definitely intrigued by the premise of this book. A spicy list, a bookworm, anxiety, and best friend’s ex? Sign me up! but it exceeded my expectations in a huge way.

The chemistry between the two main characters was extremely believable. The way Nick was down bad for Tallulah was so endearing. One thing I really liked about his character is he never made his feelings for her a problem for her to navigate. Even when he was having a bad day (iykyk), Nick really did his best to communicate effectively to avoid triggering her. I will say it was super refreshing to see Nick call out his own friend and his failures in his relationship with Tallulah. Men holding men accountable *chefs kiss*.

I really loved Tallulah’s growth in this book. For her to have the upbringing that she had, feel so small, and yet find her voice throughout the book…🥹. Did her parents make me want to pull my hair out? Sure. Her ability to standup to them really highlighted just how much confidence she gained over her internship. Her calling out the terrible men? Just wow.

So many hard topics were covered and Bree did it so artfully. The violence, anger, pure negligence even (not between MMCs), were discussed, explored, and the plot never stopped moving or being relevant.

This is a really good book. I’m so happy that I was able to receive an ARC copy. Highly recommend.

ps. Montoya is awesome.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is listed as Book 3 in the For The Arena series, as an interconnected standalone.

It's a fun sports romance book..... I found it to be a bit on the longer side (not a bad thing, but be aware it's not a short read) & it deals with some emotional things (bullying & abuse, among other things) - so it's not all lighthearted...but I like how it plays out & I enjoyed Tallulah & Nick's story.

I enjoyed Tallulah's bucket list.... and it was a funny twist what came out near the end of the book regarding that (I can't share the spoiler - read the book!! 😏😉). Nick had been a playboy... but went celibate for a long time because he was in love with her.... and she was with his best friend, Fridge.... It's a fun story as all the details come to light. And I like how others came out of the woodwork to help give evidence against the bully who was tormenting them.

Told in a dual 1st person POV. I look forward to the next book, which is rumored to be Fridge's book!!

Spice level: 3/5

*college sports romance
*hockey romance
*YA/new adult romance
*forced proximity
*emotional romance
*TW include bullying, manipulation, abuse & more
*he falls first
*he's her ex's best friend (although he liked her before she dated her ex)

Thank you to the author (Bree Hayden), publisher (Victory Editing), & Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[De Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me completely and utterly hooked from the very beginning. Talk about playing the long game. Pure perfection. I loved everything about this story. Even though it hurt my heart at points. The characters were so relatable. I just wanted to hold Tallulah’s hand and tell her it was all going to be okay constantly. Her struggles with anxiety were beyond accurate. And it made connecting with her so easy. And Nick was such a complicated character. But one you couldn’t help but cheer for nonetheless. He isolated himself and changed so much to try and be worthy of Tallulah and to not hurt her. Watching this smooth playboy stumble over words and get nervous talking to her…instant swoon. But there was no denying the chemistry between them. I could feel it on the page. The connection and bond they develop had me immediately on team Nillulah. It’s so genuine and meaningful. The way Nick supports Tallulah and helps give her confidence the boost she needs to stand up for herself was so endearing. These two made each other better. And that’s more than most couples we read nowadays. It wasn’t just physical with them. And I loved that so much. And that ending…be still my fluttering heart. It was absolute perfection.

[Alexandria · Rating 5 out of 5]

The chapter names gave me a laugh and also made me want to read faster than I know is possible for me.
Each of the characters is their own, yet they mesh together well, each dramatic in their own ways.
I love Nick and Tallulah and their growth throughout the book.
The fact that Nick went from playboy to celibacy overnight because he saw Tallulah is cute, a total cliché but cute. Then he is practically obsessed with Tallulah, to the point where his laid-back self turns into a raging panicker because of his feelings for her, which is both humorous and sweet, as he doesn't want to mess anything up. And Tallulah in her soft, caring ways.
Nick is mush from the start. He practically turns into a bumbling teenager. And also gets dropped in it multiple times in the beginning; nothing he does goes right. Having to figure out how to attract a girl rather than them falling all over him just by entering a room.
Love the spicy bucket list.
Really into sport romances, so this fits nicely with my current obsession.
Some plot twists I didn't expect, and the humour is spot on, not over the top but enough to either make me laugh out loud or do a double-take.

ARC review.

[Lou Li Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

HELLO new book boyfriend, Nick! Who doesn't love a boy obsessed? not me! Nick will quite literally do anything for Tallulah. I've enjoyed all of the For the Arena books so far, this is book 3 in the series and it is my absolute favourite yet. I don't think I stopped to take a breath reading Nick and Tallulah's story, unputdownable and I may or may not have a little book hangover.
Aside from the tiny fact that Nick is best friends with Tallulah's ex, these two have chemistry for days when he finally makes a move... and what a move it was, follow / stalk her to Canada for the summer, yup, don't mind me over here swooning. Tallulah has big anxiety issues and I'm so proud of her following through stepping out of her comfort zone and sticking out the internship, and once Nick was helpfully informed (by the best wingman ever! FYI- Montoya needs a book), he had everything he needed to win her over, which he did in style! Love love love!!

I voluntarily reviewed a free advance copy of this book provided by the author. The opinions expressed are my own

[Becca Angevine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way that I loved this book made me extra happy that I received the ARC. This book had the banter, the yearning you would just fall in love with the characters.

Tallulah and Nick’s relationship was everything. Their on going support for each other but also how they grew as couple but also as an individual.

Tallulah, what a FMC! This girl is just amazing, so sweet, smart and with her anxiety so brave. Seeing her start to open up to Nick and trust him was beautiful to witness. Seeing how Nick handled w everything with her anxiety was just amazing. Saying always that he saw her not her anxiety.

Nick, oh Nick! Going from that typical boy that sleeps around to someone that easily walked away from that lifestyle. He now knows that she’s single so now was his time to go for it. He knew the risk with it being his best friend’s ex but he already was to invested. He just really needed to release the crush and get what he always wanted.

Also a shout out to Rat! Thank you to Bree for the ARC and can’t wait to see who’s next! 💜

[Assyriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review

I adore Tallulah. Never have I felt more seen with my anxiety leading to a need to excel at what I do. Nick absolutely reformed when he met her, but couldn't show her for almost a year. Her ex and his past made for a complicated start. The way he was willing to face his trauma for her and how she slowly let him in was painful and endearing in equal measure. His tendency to spin a joke and shy away from hard topics is something I do frequently--almost as often as I overthink (I see you, Tallulah, truly). They grow as individuals and together as a couple and I love the way they approach the hard things... Most of the time. It is realistic that couples sometimes struggle and have to make up, so even if I disagreed, I enjoyed it. A good girl like Tallulah needed a player like Nick to rise to the occasion and help her with her... list. It was hot and sweet and I cannot say enough how much I appreciated this couple.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a sucker for a book where the boy with the playboy reputation ends up going soft for the right girl, and Nick absolutely blew me away. I also loved that this wasn’t the typical sibling’s‑best‑friend setup, and instead it was the ex’s best friend, which added a whole extra layer of complication. You had Nick’s friends who didn’t know how to feel, and then you had Tallulah’s parents, who are totally in love with her ex and still talk to him, even trying to push them back together.

Hayden did a great job writing college‑age emotion: the pressure to perform, the fear of disappointing your family, the way one summer can change everything. Tallulah and Nick are both carrying so much, and it turns out they’re exactly the right people to help push each other into becoming the best versions of themselves. Their growth over the summer was my favorite part of the book, in addition to all the spice.

This was my first Bree Hayden book, and for sure, it will not be my last.

[Jess Scaife · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read as an ARC and I really loved Bree’s writing. This is also the first book of Bree’s I have read and I can’t wait to go back and read the other books in this series.
If you are a fan of the off campus series then you will love this series too. The story has depth, lots of yearning from the MMC Nick and a very spicy bucket list from our good girl FMC Tallulah. I love the way Nick supports and builds up Tallulah, throughout the book you can see Tallulah’s confidence grow and take on more challenges.
Nick has wanted Tallulah for a long time, even while she was dating his best friend and he finds a way to follow her to Canada to ‘win her over’ and show his true self. We love a determined man who will do anything to get his girl.

I would really recommend this book to all us hockey/sports romance loving people as a new series! Releases 4th August!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

[ARC Reader]

This was such a cute read! From the very beginning, it had a fun, lighthearted charm that made it incredibly easy to get invested in the story. The chemistry between the main characters was adorable, and I couldn't help but smile at so many of their interactions.

I especially enjoyed the banter and the way the romance developed. It felt sweet, genuine, and full of those little moments that make you root for a couple. The pacing kept me engaged, and it was the kind of book that was easy to curl up with and read in one sitting.

While it may not have completely reinvented the genre, it delivered exactly what I was hoping for—a feel-good romance with lovable characters, plenty of heart, and a satisfying happily ever after.

If you're looking for a cute, comforting romance that will leave you smiling, I'd definitely recommend picking this one up.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nick and Tallulah are, without a doubt, my favorite couple. I love a good redemption story, and Nick’s journey was everything I hoped it would be. The famous playboy finally getting his redemption? Chef’s kiss.

I’ll be honest—I did not like Nick at first. He was arrogant, frustrating, and a complete jerk. But that’s what made his character arc so satisfying. Beneath all that confidence was someone who had a softer side, even if he refused to let anyone see it. It took Tallulah to challenge him, break down those walls, and help him become the man he was always capable of being.

One of my favorite parts of the book was watching Nick completely lose his cool around Tallulah. Seeing the confident playboy stumble over his words, strike out, and have no idea what to do was both hilarious and incredibly endearing. Those moments made his growth feel genuine, and I found myself rooting for him more and more with every chapter.

Being able to see this book come together from the beta stage to the final product has been such a special experience. Watching all the hard work, edits, and incredible writing transform into a finished story makes me appreciate it even more.

This was an emotional, heartfelt, and incredibly satisfying redemption romance, and it’s easily my favorite book. I loved every minute of Nick and Tallulah’s journey, and I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to experience it from the very beginning.

[Heather Dance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc review!!!

🌶️: 4 ⭐️:4
Release date: 8/4/26

As a Beta reader for this book, I was so excited to read the ARC and fall in love with Nick and Tallulah all over again 😍😍😍

Tallulah is ready to find herself and experience all sides of life. She goes to Canada for an internship and in hopes of completing her sex list. Little does she know the man who’s been yearning for her is also going to show up. Nick is her ex boyfriend’s best friend and roommate, but little does Tallulah know he has been pining for her since he met her in class. Before they embark Canada, Tallulah has a girls night where they do a BDSM quiz and her results print downstairs. Nick finds it and keeps it learning all the things she likes. Once in Canada he agrees to help her with the list and make her wildest dreams come true!

[Maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to the author for the ARC. That was so cute.
I really enjoyed this one. My only real criticism was the setting. I kept forgetting where they were actually supposed to be and honestly feel like the story could have just stayed at college.
The FMC was such a sweetheart. I really appreciated the anxiety representation and loved seeing her gradually come into herself as the story went on. Her growth felt natural and was one of my favourite parts of the book.
The MMC was lovely, but he kind of felt like an extension of the FMC rather than his own fully developed character. I just wanted a little more depth from him outside of the romance.
Overall though, this was such a fun, wholesome read and I had a really good time with it.
I will 100% be going back to read more from this author.

[Joss G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good girl who is secretly spicy and reformed playboy who is willing to do what it takes to be with her? Including traveling to Canada? Sign me up!

Nick had me cracking up in just about all of his chapters. His relationship with the cat, who he named Rat BTW, is top tier. He is so supportive of Tallulah and is ready to be her helping hand all day every day. The extent he will go to for her does not exist because homeboy knows she’s his future.

Watching Tallulah become confident in herself was amazing. Seeing her accomplish that and realizing it stems from feeling safe around Nick was very heartwarming. Her big moment in the book, the interview, had me fist pumping in excitement. Especially because of where she started in the book and how she grew.

Thanks to Tallulah and her list, I would rate the spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5