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Skating the Line
Not yet published
Expected 2 Mar 27A spicy, sapphic hockey rom-com about two rival university hockey stars, turned teammates, who find out they may have more chemistry off the ice than on it—for fans of Heated Rivalry, Cleat Cute and Ashley Herring Blake.
Marley Hayes has spent her life skating on thin ice. Growing up in a small town in Northern Ontario, Marley’s life has always revolved around hockey. Fighting her way onto boys’ teams and earning a full-ride scholarship, it’s always been her escape, and the only thing that’s ever truly been hers. But now, as the once-star forward of her university team, Marley’s struggling. Her grades are slipping, and with them, her ice time. And if she wants a shot at the pro draft, she can’t afford to be benched.
Élodie Leblanc has always had it all. As the daughter of an NHL legend, she grew up with a famous last name and the kind of privilege Marley could only dream about. To everyone else, Élodie’s life looks effortless. So when she transfers to Marley’s team just in time for her final season, it feels like yet another thing handed to her on a silver platter.
Marley’s furious, and not just because Élodie’s a threat on the ice—she’s also the girl Marley’s ex-girlfriend left her for.
Their coach has a simple solution to the growing tension between work together to coach a kids’ team. But nothing about their early Sunday mornings at the rink feels simple. The more they’re forced to share the ice, the more they have to confront not only their interwoven pasts, but the surprising ways they seem to fit into each other’s futures.
Marley Hayes has spent her life skating on thin ice. Growing up in a small town in Northern Ontario, Marley’s life has always revolved around hockey. Fighting her way onto boys’ teams and earning a full-ride scholarship, it’s always been her escape, and the only thing that’s ever truly been hers. But now, as the once-star forward of her university team, Marley’s struggling. Her grades are slipping, and with them, her ice time. And if she wants a shot at the pro draft, she can’t afford to be benched.
Élodie Leblanc has always had it all. As the daughter of an NHL legend, she grew up with a famous last name and the kind of privilege Marley could only dream about. To everyone else, Élodie’s life looks effortless. So when she transfers to Marley’s team just in time for her final season, it feels like yet another thing handed to her on a silver platter.
Marley’s furious, and not just because Élodie’s a threat on the ice—she’s also the girl Marley’s ex-girlfriend left her for.
Their coach has a simple solution to the growing tension between work together to coach a kids’ team. But nothing about their early Sunday mornings at the rink feels simple. The more they’re forced to share the ice, the more they have to confront not only their interwoven pasts, but the surprising ways they seem to fit into each other’s futures.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 2, 2027
About the author
Shayna Douglas
1 book261 followersSHAYNA DOUGLAS is a Canadian author born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario. She owes much of her personality to discovering fanfiction at a young age, spending her winters at the rink, and a childhood habit of chasing validation from her English teachers. Now based in Toronto, she writes contemporary sapphic romances set across Canada—the kinds of stories she wishes her younger self could have read—where sapphics get to be messy, driven, complicated, and deeply in love.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
October 6, 2026
thank you so much to netgalley for this arc!
i loved this SO. MUCH.
as an avid sapphic romance reader, i feel like i have been WAITING for a book like this to come into my life. this is a sapphic hockey romance, with two of my favourite female leads i have ever read from. this felt so organic and so ‘natural’ (I’m not sure if that’s the word I’m looking for, but essentially nothing felt forced), and it felt like the romance itself was paced in a way that felt very accurate to real life.
we get dual POV in this book, and i loved being in each character’s head. you can tell they are both struggling with a lot internally, and i appreciated how they didn’t seem to let this hold them back from forming a really gorgeous relationship with each other. their humour and banter was GORGEOUS, and i flew through this so quickly. very much giggling and kicking of feet took place.
i also loved how overall sapphic this book was - almost every character we come across is lesbian, and its spoken about with such love and celebration throughout this book. it also felt very accurate to the sapphic experience to me!
in short, i loved this book, and would highly recommend you to check it out once its available!! i will be looking into this author to see if they have any further books because I’m hooked!! loved!!
i loved this SO. MUCH.
as an avid sapphic romance reader, i feel like i have been WAITING for a book like this to come into my life. this is a sapphic hockey romance, with two of my favourite female leads i have ever read from. this felt so organic and so ‘natural’ (I’m not sure if that’s the word I’m looking for, but essentially nothing felt forced), and it felt like the romance itself was paced in a way that felt very accurate to real life.
we get dual POV in this book, and i loved being in each character’s head. you can tell they are both struggling with a lot internally, and i appreciated how they didn’t seem to let this hold them back from forming a really gorgeous relationship with each other. their humour and banter was GORGEOUS, and i flew through this so quickly. very much giggling and kicking of feet took place.
i also loved how overall sapphic this book was - almost every character we come across is lesbian, and its spoken about with such love and celebration throughout this book. it also felt very accurate to the sapphic experience to me!
in short, i loved this book, and would highly recommend you to check it out once its available!! i will be looking into this author to see if they have any further books because I’m hooked!! loved!!
Want to Read
October 2, 2026oh yesss I got the arc heated yuri here i come 😻😻
Review of advance copy received from Author
It is so incredibly surreal that my debut novel will be out in the world in less than six months.
Anyone who knows me knows that all I’ve ever wanted to do is be an author, and though I have been writing for as long as I can remember, this book is truly the story I’ve always wanted to tell.
It was so important to me to write a lesbian love story, one where they get to be messy, driven, complicated, and deeply in love. There is so much of me in this book, and I am *so* excited for all of you to all meet Marley & Élodie.
Anyone who knows me knows that all I’ve ever wanted to do is be an author, and though I have been writing for as long as I can remember, this book is truly the story I’ve always wanted to tell.
It was so important to me to write a lesbian love story, one where they get to be messy, driven, complicated, and deeply in love. There is so much of me in this book, and I am *so* excited for all of you to all meet Marley & Élodie.
Want to Read
October 10, 2026
*Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!*
It's giving sapphic Heated Rivalry and I'm here for it! *tucks hair behind ear* 🫦
It's giving sapphic Heated Rivalry and I'm here for it! *tucks hair behind ear* 🫦
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was so excited when I got accepted for this ARC that I pretty much started reading it straight away. Over the past year, I've found myself gravitating more toward sports romances, especially those centered around ice sports like hockey and figure skating, so I had high hopes for this one. And let me tell you, Skating the Line absolutely delivered! I wasn't expecting it to become one of my favorite books in the genre, but here we are.
One thing I deeply admire in sports romance is when an author knows how to balance the actual sport with the leads and their relationship, and Shayna absolutely nailed that here. The hockey never felt like an afterthought or something thrown into the background once the romance started taking center stage. We actually get plenty of scenes where the characters are playing, which sounds like something that should be a given in these books, but sadly isn't always the case! At the same time, the emotional development and romantic storyline get enough attention to make everything feel well-rounded. That’s honestly what set this book apart for me. I could fully check into both the sports aspect and the characters' individual journeys without feeling like one was distracting from the other.
Now, let's talk about the characters because I have THOUGHTS. I sometimes struggle with NA books when the dialogue makes the cast feel way younger than they're supposed to be, so I was genuinely relieved to see that wasn't an issue here. The leads actually sounded like real women in their mid-twenties. This might seem minor, but it had a massive impact on how much I enjoyed the book, especially since NA can be such a hit-or-miss genre for me to get into.
And Marley and Élodie? I ended up getting attached to both of them much faster than I expected. Shayna wrote them in a way that made their personalities and struggles feel incredibly real to me. They weren't just characters with a few defining traits thrown together to move the plot forward. They had their own motivations, personal histories, and insecurities that helped explain why they behaved the way they did. Getting to know them felt like gradually peeling back layers, and I truly valued that.
Marley, in particular, resonated with me because of how much she struggled with feeling like she was falling behind everyone else. She constantly questioned whether she measured up, and some of her experiences at school even made me wonder whether she might have undiagnosed ADHD. What really got me, though, was how much she cared about the things and people she loved. She could act as if nothing bothered her, coming across as carefree or overly confident, but underneath all that was someone who pushed herself incredibly hard and gave more than 100 percent to hockey and her relationships. She was also much more sensitive than she initially let on, and seeing that softer side of her made me love her even more.
Élodie's struggles hit differently. Having a hockey legend for a father meant she was constantly trying to prove herself, hoping that being the best would finally make him care about her the way she wanted him to. I found myself sympathizing with her because I think a lot of us know what it's like to seek validation from our parents while growing up. However, I do wish we'd gotten more exploration of her dynamic with her dad, considering how much it influenced her. That subplot felt like it had the potential to go deeper than it did. Thankfully, her connection with Manon made up for some of that. Their bond was complicated in a way that went beyond the usual sisterly dynamic, and it really shed some light on why Élodie felt the need to micromanage so much of her life. It was exactly the kind of detail that made her feel so much more fleshed out as a person.
The found family vibes were another thing I couldn't get enough of! The team felt like a bunch of people who genuinely cared about one another, not just teammates who happened to spend a lot of time together. And Marley's family? Absolutely lovely. Her relationship with her brother was so entertaining, and I loved how comfortable they were around each other. Then there's Amber, her mom, who was such a refreshing presence. She's supportive and understanding without constantly hovering over Marley, and seeing her welcome Élodie with that same warmth was incredibly sweet.
BUT THE ROMANCE. Oh, the romance!
Marley and Élodie have the kind of relationship that sneaks up on you until suddenly you're sitting there wondering when exactly you got so invested. Their transition from rivals to friends to lovers was genuinely one of my favorites in recent reads. It wasn't all about dramatic declarations or grand gestures. Instead, their feelings grew through small moments, shared experiences, and the gradual realization that the person standing beside them had become so much more than they'd expected.
Their chemistry felt natural, and I was very happy with how they handled their feelings for each other. They were open about where they stood romantically, took their time figuring things out, and actually communicated when fears and insecurities came up. Imagine that! Characters talking to each other instead of letting one misunderstanding drag on for half the book!? What a concept. Then, the shared-ex complication added just enough tension without turning their relationship into an unnecessary mess, and I was so here for it. I've honestly had enough of authors using miscommunication as their main source of romantic conflict, so seeing Shayna create tension without relying on that trope was refreshing.
If I could ask for one more thing, it would be an epilogue set further down the line. I would have loved to see Marley and Élodie navigating their lives together as professional athletes, just to get a little glimpse of the world they've built. The ending itself worked for me, so this isn't really a complaint. I was simply greedy for more time with them, and I'm not even going to pretend otherwise!
Overall, Skating the Line was such a wonderful surprise and a fantastic debut. Whether you're picking it up for the hockey or the slow-burn romance, there's plenty to enjoy here. What makes it even more meaningful is how it explores the insecurities that come with growing up, trying to meet other people's expectations, and figuring out who you want to be. I could see pieces of myself in both Marley and Élodie, and I think many other readers will feel the same way. I'm already excited to see what Shayna writes next because if this is what her debut looks like, I'm seriously looking forward to whatever she has planned for us!
One thing I deeply admire in sports romance is when an author knows how to balance the actual sport with the leads and their relationship, and Shayna absolutely nailed that here. The hockey never felt like an afterthought or something thrown into the background once the romance started taking center stage. We actually get plenty of scenes where the characters are playing, which sounds like something that should be a given in these books, but sadly isn't always the case! At the same time, the emotional development and romantic storyline get enough attention to make everything feel well-rounded. That’s honestly what set this book apart for me. I could fully check into both the sports aspect and the characters' individual journeys without feeling like one was distracting from the other.
Now, let's talk about the characters because I have THOUGHTS. I sometimes struggle with NA books when the dialogue makes the cast feel way younger than they're supposed to be, so I was genuinely relieved to see that wasn't an issue here. The leads actually sounded like real women in their mid-twenties. This might seem minor, but it had a massive impact on how much I enjoyed the book, especially since NA can be such a hit-or-miss genre for me to get into.
And Marley and Élodie? I ended up getting attached to both of them much faster than I expected. Shayna wrote them in a way that made their personalities and struggles feel incredibly real to me. They weren't just characters with a few defining traits thrown together to move the plot forward. They had their own motivations, personal histories, and insecurities that helped explain why they behaved the way they did. Getting to know them felt like gradually peeling back layers, and I truly valued that.
Marley, in particular, resonated with me because of how much she struggled with feeling like she was falling behind everyone else. She constantly questioned whether she measured up, and some of her experiences at school even made me wonder whether she might have undiagnosed ADHD. What really got me, though, was how much she cared about the things and people she loved. She could act as if nothing bothered her, coming across as carefree or overly confident, but underneath all that was someone who pushed herself incredibly hard and gave more than 100 percent to hockey and her relationships. She was also much more sensitive than she initially let on, and seeing that softer side of her made me love her even more.
Élodie's struggles hit differently. Having a hockey legend for a father meant she was constantly trying to prove herself, hoping that being the best would finally make him care about her the way she wanted him to. I found myself sympathizing with her because I think a lot of us know what it's like to seek validation from our parents while growing up. However, I do wish we'd gotten more exploration of her dynamic with her dad, considering how much it influenced her. That subplot felt like it had the potential to go deeper than it did. Thankfully, her connection with Manon made up for some of that. Their bond was complicated in a way that went beyond the usual sisterly dynamic, and it really shed some light on why Élodie felt the need to micromanage so much of her life. It was exactly the kind of detail that made her feel so much more fleshed out as a person.
The found family vibes were another thing I couldn't get enough of! The team felt like a bunch of people who genuinely cared about one another, not just teammates who happened to spend a lot of time together. And Marley's family? Absolutely lovely. Her relationship with her brother was so entertaining, and I loved how comfortable they were around each other. Then there's Amber, her mom, who was such a refreshing presence. She's supportive and understanding without constantly hovering over Marley, and seeing her welcome Élodie with that same warmth was incredibly sweet.
BUT THE ROMANCE. Oh, the romance!
Marley and Élodie have the kind of relationship that sneaks up on you until suddenly you're sitting there wondering when exactly you got so invested. Their transition from rivals to friends to lovers was genuinely one of my favorites in recent reads. It wasn't all about dramatic declarations or grand gestures. Instead, their feelings grew through small moments, shared experiences, and the gradual realization that the person standing beside them had become so much more than they'd expected.
Their chemistry felt natural, and I was very happy with how they handled their feelings for each other. They were open about where they stood romantically, took their time figuring things out, and actually communicated when fears and insecurities came up. Imagine that! Characters talking to each other instead of letting one misunderstanding drag on for half the book!? What a concept. Then, the shared-ex complication added just enough tension without turning their relationship into an unnecessary mess, and I was so here for it. I've honestly had enough of authors using miscommunication as their main source of romantic conflict, so seeing Shayna create tension without relying on that trope was refreshing.
If I could ask for one more thing, it would be an epilogue set further down the line. I would have loved to see Marley and Élodie navigating their lives together as professional athletes, just to get a little glimpse of the world they've built. The ending itself worked for me, so this isn't really a complaint. I was simply greedy for more time with them, and I'm not even going to pretend otherwise!
Overall, Skating the Line was such a wonderful surprise and a fantastic debut. Whether you're picking it up for the hockey or the slow-burn romance, there's plenty to enjoy here. What makes it even more meaningful is how it explores the insecurities that come with growing up, trying to meet other people's expectations, and figuring out who you want to be. I could see pieces of myself in both Marley and Élodie, and I think many other readers will feel the same way. I'm already excited to see what Shayna writes next because if this is what her debut looks like, I'm seriously looking forward to whatever she has planned for us!
October 11, 2026
Who doesn’t love a rivals to lovers sports romance? There’s something about that hate to love that drags me by my hair every time (and trust me, I’m into it).
It was overall a cute book. Just enough hate, just enough build up, just enough love. That’s what it was though, just enough.
I really liked both Elodie and Marley, they had just enough flaws to make them feel real. It’s also so lesbian coded to have the same ex, I mean seriously. The community can be too small sometimes, especially in a sport like hockey where it can seem like they’re all queer in some way.
There were times where it was a bit cheesy, such as the things Elodie or Marley would say. The sex scenes being vaguely described while it happened didn’t work for me. I can handstand not walking to write full blown sex scenes, but I would’ve rather either more details, or a skip over completely.
I know absolutely nothing about hockey, but I was able to imagine the women playing, the author did a fantastic job of being descriptive.
Another solid read put onto the finished list :)
Thank you NetGalley and the author for the ARC!
It was overall a cute book. Just enough hate, just enough build up, just enough love. That’s what it was though, just enough.
I really liked both Elodie and Marley, they had just enough flaws to make them feel real. It’s also so lesbian coded to have the same ex, I mean seriously. The community can be too small sometimes, especially in a sport like hockey where it can seem like they’re all queer in some way.
There were times where it was a bit cheesy, such as the things Elodie or Marley would say. The sex scenes being vaguely described while it happened didn’t work for me. I can handstand not walking to write full blown sex scenes, but I would’ve rather either more details, or a skip over completely.
I know absolutely nothing about hockey, but I was able to imagine the women playing, the author did a fantastic job of being descriptive.
Another solid read put onto the finished list :)
Thank you NetGalley and the author for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Hockey sapphics unite!!
There hasn’t been a better year to launch a sapphic hockey romance than 2026. This one hits all the spots.
One thing about sapphic sports romances is that they’re USUALLY fem4fem/femme4femme; rarely are they masc4fem or butchfemme; and even more rarely are actual masc4masc/butch4butch.
This book is masc4masc which made it already a winner to me!
It’s so so so good - so much tension, so spicy, so much FIGHTING!!! For !!! Her !!! Honour!!!! Are you kidding me. The hatreeeed. The rivalry.
This book is for:
- Everyone who said “please give us Heated Rivalry but for lesbians BUT IT HAS TO BE MASC4MASC!!!” (Was it just me?)
- Connoisseurs of enemies-to-lovers romances
- Anyone who has casually bought their crush a coffee “just because”
- Everyone ?? Why aren’t you reading this book already?
There hasn’t been a better year to launch a sapphic hockey romance than 2026. This one hits all the spots.
One thing about sapphic sports romances is that they’re USUALLY fem4fem/femme4femme; rarely are they masc4fem or butchfemme; and even more rarely are actual masc4masc/butch4butch.
This book is masc4masc which made it already a winner to me!
It’s so so so good - so much tension, so spicy, so much FIGHTING!!! For !!! Her !!! Honour!!!! Are you kidding me. The hatreeeed. The rivalry.
This book is for:
- Everyone who said “please give us Heated Rivalry but for lesbians BUT IT HAS TO BE MASC4MASC!!!” (Was it just me?)
- Connoisseurs of enemies-to-lovers romances
- Anyone who has casually bought their crush a coffee “just because”
- Everyone ?? Why aren’t you reading this book already?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
LONG LIVE LESBIANS. Por dios que delicia de romance, me la pasé sonriendo todo el tiempo. La escritura es una belleza y me gusta la construcción y profundidad de los personajes contenidas por el mundo del hockey. Me gustó también las idas y vueltas y el yearning entre ambas que hacía a la historia más adictiva. Precioso, léanlo cuando se publique!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I don’t know what it is about sports girlies in books but they truly do just hit me different. Like they just OOZE off of the page, like I am obsessed with them from the very first page.
I loved this book and read it quicker than I thought I would, I don’t know why I put it off for so long because it’s everything I knew it would be. I would say it’s the perfect length, there are a few time skips (not including the epilogue) but they make sense and don’t ruin the flow or lead to any confusion. It all felt right. Whenever I was checking my percentage it was always a feeling of excitement when I saw how much I had left. The pacing was perfect, the character growth happened at a perfect speed, each story arc was perfectly paced, the third act argument (I am not calling that a breakup because I don’t think it was) was solved without a second thought. I did truly just love this book, Everything was perfect and beautiful and REAL! The things each character went through was so real for their age! Shout Out Marley’s Mum!!!
This book was about Marley and Élodie. They are both GOOD at hockey, it’s both of their last years of university hockey and they both dated a girl called Juliette. Marley had a bad hockey season last season, so she’s determined to pick herself up this year and get back to her best, it is her final year after all. That’s when her Lovely coach announces to the team that Élodie will be joining their team and school. The same Élodie that her ex Juliette broke up with her to go back to. The same Élodie that destroyed her wrist last season. Élodie is the best at hockey, her dad quite literally owns the rink she skates on, but her being the best isn’t enough for her dad, she’s never good enough, there’s always more she can do. Since she was thirteen Élodie has also had to be a mother figure to her younger sister Manon, who always acts out and isn’t the happiest of people on earth. Élodie has a lot on her plate, but every single item on it is important, so she has to balance it all- she has no choice.
The romance aspect of this book was SO good. So hot. It was hot without being overly explicit, I’d say it was quite a sweet amount of explicit actually. They were a very sweet couple. I did like the conversation they had about the masc and femme thing, I would have liked that to be a longer conversation because it is a big thing in the lesbian community. How not every couple has to have a masc and a femme, how no lesbian couple has a man in the relationship, How it is okay to have two femmes, “If she’s hot, shes hot.”
I also loved the found family aspect of this book, especially from Élodies point of view, that felt very special to read. Especially Marley’s mum, she’s a very special woman.
Thank you so much for this book, it was so special and a beautiful, refreshing read.
I loved this book and read it quicker than I thought I would, I don’t know why I put it off for so long because it’s everything I knew it would be. I would say it’s the perfect length, there are a few time skips (not including the epilogue) but they make sense and don’t ruin the flow or lead to any confusion. It all felt right. Whenever I was checking my percentage it was always a feeling of excitement when I saw how much I had left. The pacing was perfect, the character growth happened at a perfect speed, each story arc was perfectly paced, the third act argument (I am not calling that a breakup because I don’t think it was) was solved without a second thought. I did truly just love this book, Everything was perfect and beautiful and REAL! The things each character went through was so real for their age! Shout Out Marley’s Mum!!!
This book was about Marley and Élodie. They are both GOOD at hockey, it’s both of their last years of university hockey and they both dated a girl called Juliette. Marley had a bad hockey season last season, so she’s determined to pick herself up this year and get back to her best, it is her final year after all. That’s when her Lovely coach announces to the team that Élodie will be joining their team and school. The same Élodie that her ex Juliette broke up with her to go back to. The same Élodie that destroyed her wrist last season. Élodie is the best at hockey, her dad quite literally owns the rink she skates on, but her being the best isn’t enough for her dad, she’s never good enough, there’s always more she can do. Since she was thirteen Élodie has also had to be a mother figure to her younger sister Manon, who always acts out and isn’t the happiest of people on earth. Élodie has a lot on her plate, but every single item on it is important, so she has to balance it all- she has no choice.
The romance aspect of this book was SO good. So hot. It was hot without being overly explicit, I’d say it was quite a sweet amount of explicit actually. They were a very sweet couple. I did like the conversation they had about the masc and femme thing, I would have liked that to be a longer conversation because it is a big thing in the lesbian community. How not every couple has to have a masc and a femme, how no lesbian couple has a man in the relationship, How it is okay to have two femmes, “If she’s hot, shes hot.”
I also loved the found family aspect of this book, especially from Élodies point of view, that felt very special to read. Especially Marley’s mum, she’s a very special woman.
Thank you so much for this book, it was so special and a beautiful, refreshing read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. This book was so fun and such a refreshing take on the hockey romance genre. I also really appreciate that Marley and Elodie were both fully fleshed out characters and the entire plot didn’t revolve solely on the romance. It was definitely a slow burn by the tension was super strong throughout. I really enjoyed all of the side characters as well because they made the story feel so much more real. I would definitely recommend this book for my fellow romance readers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
the sapphic sports romance of my DREAMS and one of the best books i’ve read all year !!!
one of my best friends wrote this book, and instead of loving this book because i love her, i’m somehow left loving her more because I LOVED THIS BOOK. SO MUCH.
in a genre full of recycled tropes and egotistical men, skating the line stands out like a star in the night.
elodie and marley shared one thing in a common — a shared ex-girlfriend — and now they share a hockey team too, and oh boy. the chemistry is off. the. charts.
i found their characters to be so believable, i was surprised i wasn’t able to watch them play on my tv. shayna has such a way with writing, a sharpness and wit with vulnerability slicing through, it’s shocking this is her debut.
if you’ve been looking for a modern sapphic romance that’s to die for with characters you’ll become unbelievably attached to— look no further <3
one of my best friends wrote this book, and instead of loving this book because i love her, i’m somehow left loving her more because I LOVED THIS BOOK. SO MUCH.
in a genre full of recycled tropes and egotistical men, skating the line stands out like a star in the night.
elodie and marley shared one thing in a common — a shared ex-girlfriend — and now they share a hockey team too, and oh boy. the chemistry is off. the. charts.
i found their characters to be so believable, i was surprised i wasn’t able to watch them play on my tv. shayna has such a way with writing, a sharpness and wit with vulnerability slicing through, it’s shocking this is her debut.
if you’ve been looking for a modern sapphic romance that’s to die for with characters you’ll become unbelievably attached to— look no further <3
October 3, 2026
Initial review: made me cry. lesbianism is so powerful.
Full review:
Ever since the popularization of Crave’s adaptation of Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid, lesbians have been clamoring for our own version of a steamy, emotionally engaging hockey romance between two women. Especially since queer women have been out and proud within the hockey space (and women’s sports in general) for a much longer span of time than queer men.
Because of that reason, Skating the Line by Shayna Douglas is not a true one-to-one “lesbian version” of Heated Rivalry. These characters are not dealing with being closeted and living with the fear of their livelihoods, careers, and ability to travel back to their home country being stripped away. Even still, Skating the Line is impactful and deeply resonate, including a rivalry that is messy in the way that only lesbians can be and a romance that you will be rooting for the entire time.
Skating the Line is everything I could want in a sapphic hockey romance. I haven’t felt this feral for a book since I read The Long Game by Rachel Reid. Gorgeously written with characters that feel real and fully fleshed out. One of the main factors that makes me enjoy a romance book is if I can understand why these characters even like each other - and Marley and Élodie’s relationship was expertly set up to do just that. They have deep relationships with family and friends outside of one another, and the community they have with their team was so precious. The parts I cried at while reading involved their individual character growth and their friendships, not just the romantic moments.
One of the key ways that this book differs from Heated Rivalry is the sheer volume of hockey. There was so much hockey in this book, and I mean that in a complimentary way. How Marley and Élodie interact as teammates is one of the most important ways the plot moves forward, and I was so invested in the scenes of them playing and practicing together. Their willingness to work together, the way they push each other to be better, and their support and defense of each other on the ice reflects their growing relationship off the ice. Douglas uses these scenes as pivotal moments to reinforce Marley and Élodie’s love of hockey, their individual character development, and their growing infatuation with one another.
The writing is shockingly good for a debut. There were moments that genuinely took my breath away. I was highlighting my ARC copy all over the place for funny moments and deeply romantic sentiments.
I only have two major critiques, but they obviously weren’t enough to drop this book below five stars. First is that there are some repetitive writing quirks that got a little grating towards the end (overuse of “feels like” and a vague “something” that isn’t ever defined, but the reader picks up on anyways). These were little things that just needed to be changed up so they weren’t so repetitive, but I really started noticing them around the 70% mark.
Also, I have a small amount of beef with the sex scenes - they were TOO SHORT! TOO TASTEFUL! Shayna, I KNOW that you have a background in fanfiction, and I know you could’ve taken us there. I needed the sex scenes to be longer, more detailed, and carry more weight emotionally for our characters. This is definitely more of a preference thing than a real critique, but I think this book had such amazing set-up and such a beautiful romantic dynamic between Marley and Élodie and sex scenes can be such a powerful and intimate way to further develop a relationship, especially when there has been so much work done in other ways to make their relationship believable.
ANYWAYS, I loved this book and felt insane reading it. Any fans of sports romance and sapphic romance will have so much to love here, and I am excitedly awaiting Douglas’s next book!
Full review:
Ever since the popularization of Crave’s adaptation of Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid, lesbians have been clamoring for our own version of a steamy, emotionally engaging hockey romance between two women. Especially since queer women have been out and proud within the hockey space (and women’s sports in general) for a much longer span of time than queer men.
Because of that reason, Skating the Line by Shayna Douglas is not a true one-to-one “lesbian version” of Heated Rivalry. These characters are not dealing with being closeted and living with the fear of their livelihoods, careers, and ability to travel back to their home country being stripped away. Even still, Skating the Line is impactful and deeply resonate, including a rivalry that is messy in the way that only lesbians can be and a romance that you will be rooting for the entire time.
Skating the Line is everything I could want in a sapphic hockey romance. I haven’t felt this feral for a book since I read The Long Game by Rachel Reid. Gorgeously written with characters that feel real and fully fleshed out. One of the main factors that makes me enjoy a romance book is if I can understand why these characters even like each other - and Marley and Élodie’s relationship was expertly set up to do just that. They have deep relationships with family and friends outside of one another, and the community they have with their team was so precious. The parts I cried at while reading involved their individual character growth and their friendships, not just the romantic moments.
One of the key ways that this book differs from Heated Rivalry is the sheer volume of hockey. There was so much hockey in this book, and I mean that in a complimentary way. How Marley and Élodie interact as teammates is one of the most important ways the plot moves forward, and I was so invested in the scenes of them playing and practicing together. Their willingness to work together, the way they push each other to be better, and their support and defense of each other on the ice reflects their growing relationship off the ice. Douglas uses these scenes as pivotal moments to reinforce Marley and Élodie’s love of hockey, their individual character development, and their growing infatuation with one another.
The writing is shockingly good for a debut. There were moments that genuinely took my breath away. I was highlighting my ARC copy all over the place for funny moments and deeply romantic sentiments.
I only have two major critiques, but they obviously weren’t enough to drop this book below five stars. First is that there are some repetitive writing quirks that got a little grating towards the end (overuse of “feels like” and a vague “something” that isn’t ever defined, but the reader picks up on anyways). These were little things that just needed to be changed up so they weren’t so repetitive, but I really started noticing them around the 70% mark.
Also, I have a small amount of beef with the sex scenes - they were TOO SHORT! TOO TASTEFUL! Shayna, I KNOW that you have a background in fanfiction, and I know you could’ve taken us there. I needed the sex scenes to be longer, more detailed, and carry more weight emotionally for our characters. This is definitely more of a preference thing than a real critique, but I think this book had such amazing set-up and such a beautiful romantic dynamic between Marley and Élodie and sex scenes can be such a powerful and intimate way to further develop a relationship, especially when there has been so much work done in other ways to make their relationship believable.
ANYWAYS, I loved this book and felt insane reading it. Any fans of sports romance and sapphic romance will have so much to love here, and I am excitedly awaiting Douglas’s next book!
September 13, 2026
an incredible, realistic, modern sapphic romance with all the messiness and yearning inherent to a wlw relationship!!!! loved this through and through, a stunning debut novel. (also the author is super sexy and funny and a great friend and roommate)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Is Skating the Line my new favourite hockey romance? I think it may be.
Marley had a rough year. Her girlfriend broke up with her. Said girlfriend's new (and old) girlfriend hits her in a hockey game causing a season-ending injury. Oh, and she's fighting to stay off academic probation. And she has one season to turn it all around if she wants a shot at being drafted—a dream she's had since before women could even be professional hockey players. And then just before the season starts, she finds out the girl her girlfriend dumped her for, the girl who injured her, and the only other girl in Canadian collegiate hockey league who also has a legitimate shot at the draft is transferring schools and will be her new teammate? Marley's luck isn't improving.
Is Shayna Douglas doing anything new here? No. But Skating the Line is a rivals-to-lovers story, slow burn that I did not want to put down.
Douglas does a great job of showing Marley and Elodie (the nemesis) as full people, each dealing with things that are hard. For Marley, it's simply staying afloat. For Elodie, it's the pressure of legacy and the crush of loneliness. What I really liked about this book is that Douglas doesn't rush their romance. They have a lot to overcome as individuals, yes, but they also need to reconcile who their are to each other, I.e. the way they impact and collide in each other's lives.
If I have any criticism, it's that I wanted more Juliette. I kept waiting for her to appear and when she did it wasn't quite enough. I also think that Manon storyline left me wanting, too. It wrapped up a little too cleanly for me. But these are minor criticisms.
I also think it's important to note that this book is very Canadian. Ringette? I have lived in Canada for nearly two decades and this was the first time I've ever heard of the sport (so thank you, Shayna Douglas, for shining light on it). And I've also never heard of bantam (which is a hockey thing?). For those of us who are Canadian/live in Canada or Toronto, there are going to be things you recognize here. My favourite was "West Side Luigi's" (I see what you did there, Shayna).
I believe this is Shayna Douglas' debut, and I was really impressed. Read this if you like hockey and romance and an actual enemies-to-lovers story.
Thank you, HarperCollins Canada and Netgalley, for an advance reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Marley had a rough year. Her girlfriend broke up with her. Said girlfriend's new (and old) girlfriend hits her in a hockey game causing a season-ending injury. Oh, and she's fighting to stay off academic probation. And she has one season to turn it all around if she wants a shot at being drafted—a dream she's had since before women could even be professional hockey players. And then just before the season starts, she finds out the girl her girlfriend dumped her for, the girl who injured her, and the only other girl in Canadian collegiate hockey league who also has a legitimate shot at the draft is transferring schools and will be her new teammate? Marley's luck isn't improving.
Is Shayna Douglas doing anything new here? No. But Skating the Line is a rivals-to-lovers story, slow burn that I did not want to put down.
Douglas does a great job of showing Marley and Elodie (the nemesis) as full people, each dealing with things that are hard. For Marley, it's simply staying afloat. For Elodie, it's the pressure of legacy and the crush of loneliness. What I really liked about this book is that Douglas doesn't rush their romance. They have a lot to overcome as individuals, yes, but they also need to reconcile who their are to each other, I.e. the way they impact and collide in each other's lives.
If I have any criticism, it's that I wanted more Juliette. I kept waiting for her to appear and when she did it wasn't quite enough. I also think that Manon storyline left me wanting, too. It wrapped up a little too cleanly for me. But these are minor criticisms.
I also think it's important to note that this book is very Canadian. Ringette? I have lived in Canada for nearly two decades and this was the first time I've ever heard of the sport (so thank you, Shayna Douglas, for shining light on it). And I've also never heard of bantam (which is a hockey thing?). For those of us who are Canadian/live in Canada or Toronto, there are going to be things you recognize here. My favourite was "West Side Luigi's" (I see what you did there, Shayna).
I believe this is Shayna Douglas' debut, and I was really impressed. Read this if you like hockey and romance and an actual enemies-to-lovers story.
Thank you, HarperCollins Canada and Netgalley, for an advance reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 8, 2026
thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc!
overall, i fucking loved this book, excuse my language. all i have heard about for the last few years has been gay hockey romance this and straight hockey romance that, but lesbians have had NOTHING. this book definitely helped me see what i was missing out on.
marley and élodie are amazing characters, and their arc from enemies to rivals to friends to lovers mixed so many good tropes into one, and it never felt overdone. i loved that it was set in canada because i spent all summer obsessed with lake muskoka and sterling point, so that made it extra fun for me. i also appreciated the lack of conflict between marley and élodie at the climax of the book. romance usually turns me off because the main characters go through a conflict towards the end that, for me, would be very hard to come back from, and then somehow a grand gesture makes up for the psychological warfare the characters put each other through. skating the line didn’t have that, which taught me more about love and what i would want for myself than any straight romance could ever.
my main issue (used lightly) with this book is the pacing. some things are told in depth and span over multiple chapters, and some things happen quickly, are written generically, and you kind of miss out on the full experience. for example, their first time together did not go into detail. i’m not usually a slut for smut, but i wouldn’t have minded a long chapter going into detail about that experience! we saw them go from enemies to friends in the first half of the book, but the friends to lovers arc happened fairly quickly. i’m not complaining!!!!!!!! i’m just saying, the pacing was a little all of the place.
to sum it up, i loved this book. i can tell the author is sapphic and has a fanfiction-writing past, and that only enhanced the reading experience for me. this is a must read when it comes out!!!!
overall, i fucking loved this book, excuse my language. all i have heard about for the last few years has been gay hockey romance this and straight hockey romance that, but lesbians have had NOTHING. this book definitely helped me see what i was missing out on.
marley and élodie are amazing characters, and their arc from enemies to rivals to friends to lovers mixed so many good tropes into one, and it never felt overdone. i loved that it was set in canada because i spent all summer obsessed with lake muskoka and sterling point, so that made it extra fun for me. i also appreciated the lack of conflict between marley and élodie at the climax of the book. romance usually turns me off because the main characters go through a conflict towards the end that, for me, would be very hard to come back from, and then somehow a grand gesture makes up for the psychological warfare the characters put each other through. skating the line didn’t have that, which taught me more about love and what i would want for myself than any straight romance could ever.
my main issue (used lightly) with this book is the pacing. some things are told in depth and span over multiple chapters, and some things happen quickly, are written generically, and you kind of miss out on the full experience. for example, their first time together did not go into detail. i’m not usually a slut for smut, but i wouldn’t have minded a long chapter going into detail about that experience! we saw them go from enemies to friends in the first half of the book, but the friends to lovers arc happened fairly quickly. i’m not complaining!!!!!!!! i’m just saying, the pacing was a little all of the place.
to sum it up, i loved this book. i can tell the author is sapphic and has a fanfiction-writing past, and that only enhanced the reading experience for me. this is a must read when it comes out!!!!
October 6, 2026
thank you to net galley for this advance reader’s copy!!
this was the lesbian hockey romance of my dreams. élodie and marley had such depth and care put into them that i could tell how much this story meant to the author. i think the darker themes were handled beautifully as well. the chemistry was truly off the charts and i adored how real and capital L Lesbian this story felt. down to the text messages between the characters, this felt like a world that i could live in. my only wish was that we got a few more scenes with the team and marley with sienna because i am such a sucker for found family. i truly cannot wait for everyone to read skating the line because this story brought me so much joy that i think the world could benefit from right now <3
this was the lesbian hockey romance of my dreams. élodie and marley had such depth and care put into them that i could tell how much this story meant to the author. i think the darker themes were handled beautifully as well. the chemistry was truly off the charts and i adored how real and capital L Lesbian this story felt. down to the text messages between the characters, this felt like a world that i could live in. my only wish was that we got a few more scenes with the team and marley with sienna because i am such a sucker for found family. i truly cannot wait for everyone to read skating the line because this story brought me so much joy that i think the world could benefit from right now <3
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There’s something so special about seeing fiction finally catch up with the reality of women’s hockey, with its openness, its love, and the freedom to be exactly who you are. Skating the Line captures that beautifully, with two complex, lovable protagonists and a romance that feels genuine and deeply touching. What a refreshing debut !
September 26, 2026
HELLO!!! okay i ate this up this was such a cute refreshing read genuinely so pleasantly surprised at how much i liked this the dialogue flowed so well without being cringe and the vibes were just perffff
god bless this arc and god bless abby for convincing me to read 🙌🙌🙌
god bless this arc and god bless abby for convincing me to read 🙌🙌🙌
October 12, 2026
Thanks for ARC Avon & NetGalley.
This was a lovely and funny and sweet read- my petition for more sapphic sports romances has been answered.
Shoutout to the Carleton representation and Quebec rep that read like it was written by someone whose experienced a Quebec person before.
This was a lovely and funny and sweet read- my petition for more sapphic sports romances has been answered.
Shoutout to the Carleton representation and Quebec rep that read like it was written by someone whose experienced a Quebec person before.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A wonderful book that I encourage everyone to read. I especially liked the portrayal of Quebec in the book. You quickly grow attached to the characters in the story, and it’s hard to put the book down. This was my first book by this author, and it certainly won’t be my last.
A wonderful book that I encourage everyone to read. I especially liked the portrayal of Quebec in the book. You quickly grow attached to the characters in the story, and it’s hard to put the book down. This was my first book by this author, and it certainly won’t be my last.
October 8, 2026
Honestly, the gorgeous cover illustrated by @peaches.obviously was the first thing that drew me to this book. I was then intrigued by the ex’s ex trope, and totally hooked when I heard it was a hockey romance set in Ontario with one of the MCs being French-Canadian (allô!). Marley and Élodie share an ex and aren’t very happy to be forced to collaborate for their last year of school. Somehow, they warm to each other, and you get to roll your eyes at them a lot because they clearly have a lot of chemistry they are trying to push away. It was definitely a page-turner for me. Congrats to the author on this great debut novel!
*Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
*Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
heated rivalry but make it yuri!!!! this is exactly what i’ve been needing and it was done so perfectly. i had so much fun reading this. we need more rivalry books with yuri!!
heated rivalry but make it yuri!!!! this is exactly what i’ve been needing and it was done so perfectly. i had so much fun reading this. we need more rivalry books with yuri!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
SAPPHIC HOCKEY ROMANCE!
I REPEAT!
SAPPHIC HOCKEY ROMANCE!
This book was so fun, but it also had real emotional depth and tackled some heavier themes beyond the romance. The banter was adorable, and I loved the will-they-won’t-they and all the little almost-touches. They built so much tension before it finally broke! It’s fast-paced too, and I read it in one day because I could not put it down. Also, we are getting more sapphic hockey books, and I am so here for it. I need MORE.
My only issues were with pacing. Some parts felt rushed, especially the third-act conflict, which got resolved almost as quickly as it started. I also wasn’t expecting the ex drama to be so recent based on the synopsis. One of the FMCs was still very attached to her ex, and I think that needed more healing time before starting something new. I also wanted to dive deeper into the undiagnosed ADHD storyline. It was more of a background detail than something fully explored. That said, lots of women go undiagnosed with ADHD, so in a way it felt realistic.
Overall, I loved every element of this book, but it needed to be longer to wrap everything up properly. This was a very strong debut, and I’d still happily recommend it to anyone looking for a sapphic rivals-to-lovers sports romance.
Read this if you love:
- College romance
- Rivals to lovers
- Hockey romance
- Relatable characters
- Angst
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I REPEAT!
SAPPHIC HOCKEY ROMANCE!
This book was so fun, but it also had real emotional depth and tackled some heavier themes beyond the romance. The banter was adorable, and I loved the will-they-won’t-they and all the little almost-touches. They built so much tension before it finally broke! It’s fast-paced too, and I read it in one day because I could not put it down. Also, we are getting more sapphic hockey books, and I am so here for it. I need MORE.
My only issues were with pacing. Some parts felt rushed, especially the third-act conflict, which got resolved almost as quickly as it started. I also wasn’t expecting the ex drama to be so recent based on the synopsis. One of the FMCs was still very attached to her ex, and I think that needed more healing time before starting something new. I also wanted to dive deeper into the undiagnosed ADHD storyline. It was more of a background detail than something fully explored. That said, lots of women go undiagnosed with ADHD, so in a way it felt realistic.
Overall, I loved every element of this book, but it needed to be longer to wrap everything up properly. This was a very strong debut, and I’d still happily recommend it to anyone looking for a sapphic rivals-to-lovers sports romance.
Read this if you love:
- College romance
- Rivals to lovers
- Hockey romance
- Relatable characters
- Angst
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 12, 2026
Review of an Advanced Copy Received from NetGalley
Thank you so much to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for the opportunity to receive an advanced copy of this book.
Two hockey players and the same ex who jumped from one to the other? It doesn’t get more lesbian than that, lmao!
I loved Éloise and Marley from the very beginning, chaotic as they were. Éloise is what we older sisters are all about, with that self-imposed burden of making sure everyone around us is okay. Marley, on the other hand, embodies the insecurities we all have, making it impossible for us to celebrate our own achievements. The romance was a realistic enemies-to-lovers that developed gradually. One of my biggest issues with this trope is how quickly everything tends to happen, but here, there was enough history between the characters to make everything feel just right. The back-and-forth of realizing you’re falling for someone who used to date your ex was also handled really well.
The side characters were great, too, from Bennet to Manon. Their influence on the girls’ lives made their story together much more interesting and even helped make their relationship more understandable. The only thing I felt was missing was a little more spice. The spicy scenes were somewhat restrained, and I would have loved to see a bit more desperation from the characters.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for the opportunity to receive an advanced copy of this book.
Two hockey players and the same ex who jumped from one to the other? It doesn’t get more lesbian than that, lmao!
I loved Éloise and Marley from the very beginning, chaotic as they were. Éloise is what we older sisters are all about, with that self-imposed burden of making sure everyone around us is okay. Marley, on the other hand, embodies the insecurities we all have, making it impossible for us to celebrate our own achievements. The romance was a realistic enemies-to-lovers that developed gradually. One of my biggest issues with this trope is how quickly everything tends to happen, but here, there was enough history between the characters to make everything feel just right. The back-and-forth of realizing you’re falling for someone who used to date your ex was also handled really well.
The side characters were great, too, from Bennet to Manon. Their influence on the girls’ lives made their story together much more interesting and even helped make their relationship more understandable. The only thing I felt was missing was a little more spice. The spicy scenes were somewhat restrained, and I would have loved to see a bit more desperation from the characters.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Literally YES to everything about this!!! New Adult sapphic is a practically nonexistent subgenre in the traditional publishing space, and I'm so genuinely hyped that this book exists. Hockey lesbians? ✔️ Amazing premise and tension? ✔️ Two girls you can't help but root for as they go from rivals to lovers? YES! ✔️
I adored Shayna Douglas's debut! I'm 100% the target audience with the hockey, a college backdrop, and an unapologetically queer and beautiful wlw romance. Everything about this was good because it did not fall to the typical trappings of tropes. Skating The Line makes sure to give its girls heart, conflict, and growth alongside their love story which is what made it perfect. Marley and Elodie's chemistry was totally undeniable, and their romance was totally steamy and sweet in equal measure! I really enjoyed this one and appreciated the slow-burn this story takes its time developing. I cannot wait to shout more about it when it releases - I hope this becomes an instant bestseller! It certainly deserves it!
I received a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to HarperCollins for providing me access!
I adored Shayna Douglas's debut! I'm 100% the target audience with the hockey, a college backdrop, and an unapologetically queer and beautiful wlw romance. Everything about this was good because it did not fall to the typical trappings of tropes. Skating The Line makes sure to give its girls heart, conflict, and growth alongside their love story which is what made it perfect. Marley and Elodie's chemistry was totally undeniable, and their romance was totally steamy and sweet in equal measure! I really enjoyed this one and appreciated the slow-burn this story takes its time developing. I cannot wait to shout more about it when it releases - I hope this becomes an instant bestseller! It certainly deserves it!
I received a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to HarperCollins for providing me access!
October 13, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC !!
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The writing of this book was so descriptive I felt like I was in this story and was very much invested. The story line and pacing flows well and I feel like alot of conversations were had at appropriate times. I loved Marley and Élodie relationship and their back and forth.
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The hockey writing in this (from someone who has never played hockey) was also written really well. Not too technical and you could follow along but it felt like watching a real game.
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Random side note: This book is written by a Canadian and I learned alot in this book specifically about ringette & beaver tails - I just liked how different it was from like an American hockey books.
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There are ALOT of quote I want to include but I am going to reread this when it’s officially out and update :)
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The writing of this book was so descriptive I felt like I was in this story and was very much invested. The story line and pacing flows well and I feel like alot of conversations were had at appropriate times. I loved Marley and Élodie relationship and their back and forth.
- -
The hockey writing in this (from someone who has never played hockey) was also written really well. Not too technical and you could follow along but it felt like watching a real game.
- -
Random side note: This book is written by a Canadian and I learned alot in this book specifically about ringette & beaver tails - I just liked how different it was from like an American hockey books.
- -
There are ALOT of quote I want to include but I am going to reread this when it’s officially out and update :)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘈𝘷𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺!
You know a book is good when you eat it up in a day! As someone with almost zero hockey knowledge, I loved getting to learn more about women's hockey through our lovely main characters, Marley and Elodie. They are some of most realistic and grounded characters I have read in a long time and you can't help but love the drama of being exes of the same girl. It's incredibly satisfying reading about them overcoming their mutual distain for the other and growing into something more. There was a bit of an "oomph" missing for me when it came to the romance, but I still definitely recommend any sports romance fans give her a go!
You know a book is good when you eat it up in a day! As someone with almost zero hockey knowledge, I loved getting to learn more about women's hockey through our lovely main characters, Marley and Elodie. They are some of most realistic and grounded characters I have read in a long time and you can't help but love the drama of being exes of the same girl. It's incredibly satisfying reading about them overcoming their mutual distain for the other and growing into something more. There was a bit of an "oomph" missing for me when it came to the romance, but I still definitely recommend any sports romance fans give her a go!
September 26, 2026
Thank you to my wonderful Barnes and Noble job, as well as edelweiss and Harper Collins for the arc!! Oh my god, this book is what every lesbian romance should be. I feel like the online book space is definitely not made for lesbians, and when it is and the books are actually good, they’re usually just sad and depressing doomed yuri 🥀. We deserve this love and happiness!!! What a great time, I cannot wait to read more from this author in the future :) 4.5🌟 (rounded up)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a cutesy, hockey romance. I had trouble connecting with it though and I think it may have been because our leading ladies were a little immature. Their relationship was cute once we got past the shared ex jealousy.
This was a dual POV, hockey, sapphic romance.
Thanks NetGalley and Avon for the ARC.
This was a dual POV, hockey, sapphic romance.
Thanks NetGalley and Avon for the ARC.
October 16, 2026
In my hockey era, I guess! thank you Net Galley for the ARC <3
I loved reading this!! Marley and Élodie were relatable and getting to see their personal and professional growth throughout the book was really sweet. I thought that the author handled some tough topics with sensitivity and grace. But I especially loved how much hockey was actually in this! The author did an amazing job at describing the action and intricacies of the game(s), and it was so fun to read along. My hometown is getting a PWHL team this season and getting to read this ahead of it was so exciting!!
I loved reading this!! Marley and Élodie were relatable and getting to see their personal and professional growth throughout the book was really sweet. I thought that the author handled some tough topics with sensitivity and grace. But I especially loved how much hockey was actually in this! The author did an amazing job at describing the action and intricacies of the game(s), and it was so fun to read along. My hometown is getting a PWHL team this season and getting to read this ahead of it was so exciting!!
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