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Keeping Him #1
Keeping Casey
Casey Preston is the guy with the plan. The list-maker. The one who micromanages his own life.
Spontaneously offering to be his best friend’s fake boyfriend to get Ethan’s annoying team captain off his back?
That’s not thinking things through. It’s not even smart given Casey’s been fighting his feelings for Ethan for years.
Ethan Rain just wants to play hockey and get his college degree. Adding a fake boyfriend to the mix? He doesn’t need that complication.
If Casey were his real boyfriend, though? If he got to keep Casey forever? Now we’re talking.
But what if Casey doesn’t want to be kept?
Spontaneously offering to be his best friend’s fake boyfriend to get Ethan’s annoying team captain off his back?
That’s not thinking things through. It’s not even smart given Casey’s been fighting his feelings for Ethan for years.
Ethan Rain just wants to play hockey and get his college degree. Adding a fake boyfriend to the mix? He doesn’t need that complication.
If Casey were his real boyfriend, though? If he got to keep Casey forever? Now we’re talking.
But what if Casey doesn’t want to be kept?
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 18, 2021
105 people are currently reading
618 people want to read
About the author
Amy Aislin
38 books915 followersAmy's lived with her head in the clouds since she first picked up a book as a child, and being fluent in two languages means she's read a lot of books! She first picked up a pen on a rainy day in fourth grade when her class had to stay inside for recess. Tales of treasure hunts with her classmates eventually morphed into love stories between men, and she's been writing ever since. She writes evenings and weekends—or whenever she isn't at her full-time day job saving the planet at Canada's largest environmental non-profit.
An unapologetic introvert, Amy reads too much and socializes too little, with no regrets. She loves connecting with readers. Join her Facebook Group to stay up-to-date on upcoming releases and for access to early teasers, find her on Instagram and Twitter, or sign up for her infrequent newsletter here: http://bit.ly/AmyAislinNewsletter
An unapologetic introvert, Amy reads too much and socializes too little, with no regrets. She loves connecting with readers. Join her Facebook Group to stay up-to-date on upcoming releases and for access to early teasers, find her on Instagram and Twitter, or sign up for her infrequent newsletter here: http://bit.ly/AmyAislinNewsletter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 202 reviews
February 24, 2021
This was a very lukewarm read for me. As I got closer to the end, I knew I was going to rate it three stars (unless something great happened) and that I'd feel bad about the rating. Only, something opposite of great happened, and now, though the rating is still three, I don't feel bad about it.
The story follows two best friends, Ethan and Casey. At first, it seemed like we were gonna get the nerd-and-jock trope, but that's not the case. Yes, Ethan plays a sport, but he's also a science major. Casey is nerdy, but he also enjoys hiking. And though I've seen the nerd/jock trope done brilliantly ( Power Plays and Straight A's comes to mind), the book kinda subverted expectations, and it was interesting.
Anyway, Ethan and Casey, surprise surprise, are in love with one another. But of course, neither knows the other's feelings. And they have valid reasons not to confess those feelings. Both of them lost a parent five years ago in a workplace accident. Casey, since then, has had trouble getting close to people. He generally pushes everyone away. So dating Ethan and making himself even more vulnerable is just not something he's prepared to do.
For Ethan's part, he knows Casey isn't open to dating, so there's really no point in telling him anything. And it's their fake-boyfriend act, thanks to a homophobic teammate of Ethan's, that finally makes them wonder if the feelings are worth confronting.
These were all things that I liked about the book. Also, I'm a fan of the pining and longing. But I was never very invested in the relationship. I mean, it was good, but not something I'd want to revisit. Also, Casey's hangups kinda bothered me. Ethan lost his mom the same time Casey lost his dad. And I don't like that Casey gets to act like he's the only one having a hard time. And, more importantly, that the book focuses only on Casey's struggle. I mean, Ethan has issues with his dad, but the whole thing got convenience-d away in a single phone call.
I did like how the book dealt with Ethan's rheumatoid arthritis, though. Not just the symptoms; but the lifestyle changes and decisions one has to make to live with RA.
Finally, a thing that bothered me almost as much as something Casey did toward the end, and that was all the character cameos.
I've mentioned in plenty of my reviews how much fun it can be when characters from previous books show up. But this is supposed to be a new series. And it's one thing if one or two people show up briefly, or if you want one of them to be a side character. But this was half a dozen of them in multiple scenes. None were developed enough to feel like side characters, and there were so many names being thrown around...
I've read almost all of Aislin's books, and even I got confused and annoyed. And again, this is supposed to be a new series!
Overall, this just wasn't a very memorable book for me. Still, I'm not giving up on the series or the author. I hope that her next book is more... something that I can't put my finger on. Entertaining? Exciting? Lively? I don't know.
One last thing, it's something I wanted to mention, but I couldn't figure out where to put it in the review: there's no sex in the book. There's one scene, but it's like half a page and not graphic. Some people might be fine with that (I was), but others might not, and I just thought I should let you know.
The story follows two best friends, Ethan and Casey. At first, it seemed like we were gonna get the nerd-and-jock trope, but that's not the case. Yes, Ethan plays a sport, but he's also a science major. Casey is nerdy, but he also enjoys hiking. And though I've seen the nerd/jock trope done brilliantly ( Power Plays and Straight A's comes to mind), the book kinda subverted expectations, and it was interesting.
Anyway, Ethan and Casey, surprise surprise, are in love with one another. But of course, neither knows the other's feelings. And they have valid reasons not to confess those feelings. Both of them lost a parent five years ago in a workplace accident. Casey, since then, has had trouble getting close to people. He generally pushes everyone away. So dating Ethan and making himself even more vulnerable is just not something he's prepared to do.
For Ethan's part, he knows Casey isn't open to dating, so there's really no point in telling him anything. And it's their fake-boyfriend act, thanks to a homophobic teammate of Ethan's, that finally makes them wonder if the feelings are worth confronting.
These were all things that I liked about the book. Also, I'm a fan of the pining and longing. But I was never very invested in the relationship. I mean, it was good, but not something I'd want to revisit. Also, Casey's hangups kinda bothered me. Ethan lost his mom the same time Casey lost his dad. And I don't like that Casey gets to act like he's the only one having a hard time. And, more importantly, that the book focuses only on Casey's struggle. I mean, Ethan has issues with his dad, but the whole thing got convenience-d away in a single phone call.
I did like how the book dealt with Ethan's rheumatoid arthritis, though. Not just the symptoms; but the lifestyle changes and decisions one has to make to live with RA.
Finally, a thing that bothered me almost as much as something Casey did toward the end, and that was all the character cameos.
I've mentioned in plenty of my reviews how much fun it can be when characters from previous books show up. But this is supposed to be a new series. And it's one thing if one or two people show up briefly, or if you want one of them to be a side character. But this was half a dozen of them in multiple scenes. None were developed enough to feel like side characters, and there were so many names being thrown around...
I've read almost all of Aislin's books, and even I got confused and annoyed. And again, this is supposed to be a new series!
Overall, this just wasn't a very memorable book for me. Still, I'm not giving up on the series or the author. I hope that her next book is more... something that I can't put my finger on. Entertaining? Exciting? Lively? I don't know.
One last thing, it's something I wanted to mention, but I couldn't figure out where to put it in the review: there's no sex in the book. There's one scene, but it's like half a page and not graphic. Some people might be fine with that (I was), but others might not, and I just thought I should let you know.
July 7, 2021
Okay, I'm halfway through and just found out there was no sex in the book, and it's not that good and I am striking a blow for myself and DNF.
There's nothing wrong with the book, but life is too short.
There's nothing wrong with the book, but life is too short.
May 30, 2021
This is a light, warm take on best friends to lovers and fake boyfriend to real. Casey and Ethan have been friends forever, and really close since they each lost a parent in an accident. Casey's reaction to that loss was to push everyone away, and Ethan has battled his way in to being best buddy and support guy, but Casey's still keeping up some walls. Ethan is a college hockey player with a chronic health issue that makes his future a bit precarious, and a determination to push himself and never ask for help.
I liked the way these two guys were together as best friends, and the cast of characters brought back some favorite secondaries from previous books. There was a bit too much time spent on "I love him but I don't want him to know" from both guys, with the emotional reasons for that distance feeling a bit sparse. Their mutual misunderstandings didn't feel real enough to keep them apart for that long. But I appreciated that Ethan's health issue was low key, not the center of the book but something he lived with. And that there wasn't much sex on page - I've been skimming a lot of sex scenes lately, and I enjoyed a story that was focused on the emotional side and didn't short-circuit that with sex.
I liked the way these two guys were together as best friends, and the cast of characters brought back some favorite secondaries from previous books. There was a bit too much time spent on "I love him but I don't want him to know" from both guys, with the emotional reasons for that distance feeling a bit sparse. Their mutual misunderstandings didn't feel real enough to keep them apart for that long. But I appreciated that Ethan's health issue was low key, not the center of the book but something he lived with. And that there wasn't much sex on page - I've been skimming a lot of sex scenes lately, and I enjoyed a story that was focused on the emotional side and didn't short-circuit that with sex.
February 10, 2022
3.5
Friends to lovers, mi favorito, con una pareja monísima. Me ha gustado, he lanzado algún suspirito y con esa dosis de angst que a mí me gusta.
Friends to lovers, mi favorito, con una pareja monísima. Me ha gustado, he lanzado algún suspirito y con esa dosis de angst que a mí me gusta.
September 30, 2021
Review to come
June 22, 2021
Disappointed. That's how I mainly feel after finally finishing this story and I am Bummed (with a capital B).
I absolutely love hockey sports romances, and I was ridiculously excited when I found out one of the main characters has rheumatoid arthritis and is demisexual (yay for good representation!), but ultimately I was frustrated by the storyline, including an entire third of the book that was completely and utterly unnecessary, and the fruitless miscommunication that drives much of the plot forward.
Almost all of the conflicts in this book could have literally been solved with a single conversation and that drives me up a wall. It's simply a personal preference to avoid stories that feature that kind of writing.
I have enjoyed Amy Aislin's books in the past, but I think it best for me to avoid her new adult stories, although, to be fair, I might just avoid new adult romances altogether from here out because I do not have the chill for it. I lose my damn mind at the absolute childishness and I don't want to be upset when reading a romance.
Dual POV, hockey sports, fake boyfriends, romance, best friends to lovers, low steam, demisexual representation, chronic illness representation, and a happy ending.
To watch me lose my mind read the status updates.
I absolutely love hockey sports romances, and I was ridiculously excited when I found out one of the main characters has rheumatoid arthritis and is demisexual (yay for good representation!), but ultimately I was frustrated by the storyline, including an entire third of the book that was completely and utterly unnecessary, and the fruitless miscommunication that drives much of the plot forward.
Almost all of the conflicts in this book could have literally been solved with a single conversation and that drives me up a wall. It's simply a personal preference to avoid stories that feature that kind of writing.
I have enjoyed Amy Aislin's books in the past, but I think it best for me to avoid her new adult stories, although, to be fair, I might just avoid new adult romances altogether from here out because I do not have the chill for it. I lose my damn mind at the absolute childishness and I don't want to be upset when reading a romance.
Dual POV, hockey sports, fake boyfriends, romance, best friends to lovers, low steam, demisexual representation, chronic illness representation, and a happy ending.
To watch me lose my mind read the status updates.
Want to read
May 25, 2021
Keeping Casey
is on $0.99 sale until 05.31!
AMZ -> http://readerlinks.com/l/1639037
Apple -> http://readerlinks.com/l/1639038
B&N: -> http://readerlinks.com/l/1639039
Kobo -> http://readerlinks.com/l/1639040
***
Coming February 23, a college romance between childhood best friends who've been dating this whole time but are too dense to know better. Also fake boyfriends between said BFFs. Because reasons. Pre-order it now!
AMZ -> http://readerlinks.com/l/1639037
Apple -> http://readerlinks.com/l/1639038
B&N: -> http://readerlinks.com/l/1639039
Kobo -> http://readerlinks.com/l/1639040
Content warnings: grief over an off-page past parental death, minor panic attack, chronic pain, mild homophobia
AMZ -> http://readerlinks.com/l/1639037
Apple -> http://readerlinks.com/l/1639038
B&N: -> http://readerlinks.com/l/1639039
Kobo -> http://readerlinks.com/l/1639040
***
Coming February 23, a college romance between childhood best friends who've been dating this whole time but are too dense to know better. Also fake boyfriends between said BFFs. Because reasons. Pre-order it now!
AMZ -> http://readerlinks.com/l/1639037
Apple -> http://readerlinks.com/l/1639038
B&N: -> http://readerlinks.com/l/1639039
Kobo -> http://readerlinks.com/l/1639040
Content warnings: grief over an off-page past parental death, minor panic attack, chronic pain, mild homophobia
January 22, 2023
Casey and Ethan were cute, but I was more excited by the cameos from Mitch, Roman and Alex 😬
It seemed like Ethan's only personality trait besides liking hockey was his rheumatoid arthritis and suffering alone, and Casey's was his over planning and obsession with archaeology that always went back to his dead parent without fail, which didn't really make for that interesting a couple. They basically had the exact same conversation every time they spoke!
The bully team mate was super weird also, there was no real resolution, the book just kind of ended with a brief update in the epilogue - considering how many times it was referred to by almost every character I expected more to come from it I guess.
I did really like Brant though and I'm hoping his book is better.
It seemed like Ethan's only personality trait besides liking hockey was his rheumatoid arthritis and suffering alone, and Casey's was his over planning and obsession with archaeology that always went back to his dead parent without fail, which didn't really make for that interesting a couple. They basically had the exact same conversation every time they spoke!
The bully team mate was super weird also, there was no real resolution, the book just kind of ended with a brief update in the epilogue - considering how many times it was referred to by almost every character I expected more to come from it I guess.
I did really like Brant though and I'm hoping his book is better.
April 12, 2021
that was khyuuuuuuute
that’s the kind of best friends to fake boyfriends to lovers i love to read !
and seeing characters from Stick Side appear (it takes place yeaars after it) was AWESOME ! omg i missed Roman and Cody so much they were my absolute favorite of the series and Ethan and Casey are their fœtus version lol
loved it !!
that’s the kind of best friends to fake boyfriends to lovers i love to read !
and seeing characters from Stick Side appear (it takes place yeaars after it) was AWESOME ! omg i missed Roman and Cody so much they were my absolute favorite of the series and Ethan and Casey are their fœtus version lol
loved it !!
February 20, 2021
I’ve read most of this authors previous work and am a huge fan so I was looking forward to this book. I was so disappointed when it started off slow and for some reason things just weren’t clicking for me. Somehow the storytelling seemed off…a kind of third party narration that just didn’t hit right, more telling than showing. Plus I couldn’t connect with the MCs and actually kind of disliked one of them. I contemplated giving up.
Then all of a sudden things started clicking. The storytelling got better, almost like someone else started writing the book and now Aislin was there saying “ok, I’ve got it from here.” And I started to connect to the MCs, especially Ethan (Casey was still irritating me a bit) and the action of the story picked up. I was also excited to see characters from previous books making an appearance which I had not been expecting, having not made the connection.
Once things turned for the better the book was great. We got the whole gamut of emotions. I was choked up, there was laughter, there were tears, and I wanted to throat punch a couple people. I always call that a win. The crisis moment was tense and completely captivating…I couldn’t put the book down wanting to see what happened and this turned into an all night read. The ending was sweet. I hope there’s another book as I loved the way this one ended and would love to follow Casey and Ethan’s journey as well as get to know other characters from the book better.
I had some minor issues with parts of the book that seemed to indicate lack of research or unrealistic plot points (can’t mention the specifics without spoilers) and that always annoys me but it’s nothing that completely derails the story. I just find it so frustrating when authors set their stories in a real setting that has real parameters in which it operates and then they ignore the realities of that setting. And sorry, I don’t buy the “it’s fiction” or “willing suspension of disbelief” as you chose a setting/environment that exists in our reality. In my mind, if you just ignore basic realities it’s lazy storytelling as you just didn’t want to figure out how to work your story in the parameters you set for yourself. (And yes, it’s a pet peeve of mine, most people probably won’t care, most probably won’t even notice, and I should just shut up now!)
In summary, while the story started slow once it took off it was engrossing, hit all the emotional buttons and had a sweet and satisfying ending and that is what I assume we all want from a book. Plus, I’d like to read more about these characters so that is always a good sign.
**I voluntarily read an arc and this is my unbiased opinion.**
Then all of a sudden things started clicking. The storytelling got better, almost like someone else started writing the book and now Aislin was there saying “ok, I’ve got it from here.” And I started to connect to the MCs, especially Ethan (Casey was still irritating me a bit) and the action of the story picked up. I was also excited to see characters from previous books making an appearance which I had not been expecting, having not made the connection.
Once things turned for the better the book was great. We got the whole gamut of emotions. I was choked up, there was laughter, there were tears, and I wanted to throat punch a couple people. I always call that a win. The crisis moment was tense and completely captivating…I couldn’t put the book down wanting to see what happened and this turned into an all night read. The ending was sweet. I hope there’s another book as I loved the way this one ended and would love to follow Casey and Ethan’s journey as well as get to know other characters from the book better.
I had some minor issues with parts of the book that seemed to indicate lack of research or unrealistic plot points (can’t mention the specifics without spoilers) and that always annoys me but it’s nothing that completely derails the story. I just find it so frustrating when authors set their stories in a real setting that has real parameters in which it operates and then they ignore the realities of that setting. And sorry, I don’t buy the “it’s fiction” or “willing suspension of disbelief” as you chose a setting/environment that exists in our reality. In my mind, if you just ignore basic realities it’s lazy storytelling as you just didn’t want to figure out how to work your story in the parameters you set for yourself. (And yes, it’s a pet peeve of mine, most people probably won’t care, most probably won’t even notice, and I should just shut up now!)
In summary, while the story started slow once it took off it was engrossing, hit all the emotional buttons and had a sweet and satisfying ending and that is what I assume we all want from a book. Plus, I’d like to read more about these characters so that is always a good sign.
**I voluntarily read an arc and this is my unbiased opinion.**
February 25, 2021
I don’t knowwww.... maybe 3.75 stars?
Much of this book worked for me. There were even parts where I texted my husband to tell him how much I was enjoying the story. I loved the story of two best friends finally officially dating even though they’ve been “dating” for years without realising. I loved seeing a bunch of her precious characters, although their reason for being included was a bit of a stretch. I loved the side characters.
There were other parts of the book I really didn’t like, or just felt like I was left wanting. This reads as a very mild NA book, which I wish I’d known going in. I’m a bit tired of NA books and the “blue balls” they leave me with. There is no steam in this story. There’s a ton of plot lines that are never resolved - things that are brought up once and never followed through with. Casey was kind of an asshole and Ethan was kind of a pushover. I didn’t like that we didn’t see Ethan and Casey’s family discover that they were finally together. The pacing was odd, and a lot of scenes fell flat. We got two angsty stupidity scenes, etc.
But still, after all that, I’ll definitely be back for more because I did enjoy the characters.
Much of this book worked for me. There were even parts where I texted my husband to tell him how much I was enjoying the story. I loved the story of two best friends finally officially dating even though they’ve been “dating” for years without realising. I loved seeing a bunch of her precious characters, although their reason for being included was a bit of a stretch. I loved the side characters.
There were other parts of the book I really didn’t like, or just felt like I was left wanting. This reads as a very mild NA book, which I wish I’d known going in. I’m a bit tired of NA books and the “blue balls” they leave me with. There is no steam in this story. There’s a ton of plot lines that are never resolved - things that are brought up once and never followed through with. Casey was kind of an asshole and Ethan was kind of a pushover. I didn’t like that we didn’t see Ethan and Casey’s family discover that they were finally together. The pacing was odd, and a lot of scenes fell flat. We got two angsty stupidity scenes, etc.
But still, after all that, I’ll definitely be back for more because I did enjoy the characters.
February 14, 2021
I enjoyed this new book. Admittedly, it did take me until-I want to say 40% into the book to really get into it. Apart of the reason for that may have to do with that there were a lot of characters from the author's previous series (Stick Side) that were featured in this book that I did not know or did not remember. I only read a couple of the books in that series with plans to read the ones I forgot about at some point ( My TBR pile is ridiculous). All the cameos confused me for a minute because I didn't know why they were significant, and it clearly felt like their presence within the story was supposed to mean something, and it frustrated me that I did not immediately get it.
The fake boyfriends and best friends to lovers tropes fit within this story as Casey and Ethan were quite the adorable couple. More so adorable because they did not realize (like everyone else did) that they were essentially already acting like they had been dating each other for years. I loved that the author featured a character with a chronic disorder; the added bonus of featuring that and not having the character be identified by that really impressed me.
At times though I felt that Ethan was a bit ashamed of his diagnosis, and that made me a bit protective of him. I could understand why he didn't want to burden his problems on anyone, but I wish he stuck up for himself more. He kept shouldering all these responsibilities on himself and ignoring the help of his friends (Brant and Theo) who desperately wanted to support him. He was quite stubborn in his whole "a man is a island" mentality.
Another thing I struggled to like or fully understand was Casey's flight response in certain situations that triggers past trauma. I get that Casey does not have full control over how he reacts to his personal triggers, but I could not help but feel angry on Ethan's behalf. I think I wanted Casey to fully understand how lucky he is to have Ethan in his life because that is the one person who would never judge him on his bad decisions or panicked reactions.
Overall, this was a great beginning to a new series, and I hope we get to learn more about Brant in the next installment. Oh, I do hope Brant is next, but I would appreciate less Britton (who doth protest FAR too much).
Also want to add that I loved the LGBTQ rep in this already. There were Gay, Bi, Demi, & Pan (possibly) characters featured in this series, and it definitely made me happy to see that.
*I received an ARC of this title through Gay Romance Reviews and have given my honest review.*
The fake boyfriends and best friends to lovers tropes fit within this story as Casey and Ethan were quite the adorable couple. More so adorable because they did not realize (like everyone else did) that they were essentially already acting like they had been dating each other for years. I loved that the author featured a character with a chronic disorder; the added bonus of featuring that and not having the character be identified by that really impressed me.
At times though I felt that Ethan was a bit ashamed of his diagnosis, and that made me a bit protective of him. I could understand why he didn't want to burden his problems on anyone, but I wish he stuck up for himself more. He kept shouldering all these responsibilities on himself and ignoring the help of his friends (Brant and Theo) who desperately wanted to support him. He was quite stubborn in his whole "a man is a island" mentality.
Another thing I struggled to like or fully understand was Casey's flight response in certain situations that triggers past trauma. I get that Casey does not have full control over how he reacts to his personal triggers, but I could not help but feel angry on Ethan's behalf. I think I wanted Casey to fully understand how lucky he is to have Ethan in his life because that is the one person who would never judge him on his bad decisions or panicked reactions.
Overall, this was a great beginning to a new series, and I hope we get to learn more about Brant in the next installment. Oh, I do hope Brant is next, but I would appreciate less Britton (who doth protest FAR too much).
Also want to add that I loved the LGBTQ rep in this already. There were Gay, Bi, Demi, & Pan (possibly) characters featured in this series, and it definitely made me happy to see that.
*I received an ARC of this title through Gay Romance Reviews and have given my honest review.*
March 29, 2021
This is a friend-to-fake dating-to-lovers story. Casey is a plan maker, a list maker, and definitely not a risk-taker. So he has no idea what he was thinking when he decides to be his best friend Ethan's fake boyfriend to get a team bully off his back. Ethan has no idea what's gotten into Casey but his biggest complaint about the fake boyfriend situation? He wishes it were real.
Ethan is gay and demi and I think the author did a really great job handling the demisexuality aspect of it. The conversation around it was limited to Ethan himself, and I really liked getting his perspective and recognizing what he physically feels for Casey isn't like anything else he's felt before. Ethan also struggles with his Rheumatoid Arthritis, and the disability rep here felt very believable.
Casey refuses to label his sexuality, and that's something else I actually really appreciate. Sometimes I think we don't always fit into a perfect little box, and not slapping a label on ourselves just for the sake of having one shouldn't be the norm, IMO. Casey has a lot of grief surrounding his storyline, and I was so worried it would be a situation where the relationship fixed all, but the worry was unfounded.
Overall, such a sweet college romance and I definitely recommend it! So glad it came in February's box!
Ethan is gay and demi and I think the author did a really great job handling the demisexuality aspect of it. The conversation around it was limited to Ethan himself, and I really liked getting his perspective and recognizing what he physically feels for Casey isn't like anything else he's felt before. Ethan also struggles with his Rheumatoid Arthritis, and the disability rep here felt very believable.
Casey refuses to label his sexuality, and that's something else I actually really appreciate. Sometimes I think we don't always fit into a perfect little box, and not slapping a label on ourselves just for the sake of having one shouldn't be the norm, IMO. Casey has a lot of grief surrounding his storyline, and I was so worried it would be a situation where the relationship fixed all, but the worry was unfounded.
Overall, such a sweet college romance and I definitely recommend it! So glad it came in February's box!
July 31, 2023
Best friends Casey Preston and Ethan Rain (sadly not the character from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) are starting their freshman year a couple years late. Ethan spent a couple years playing hockey before college and now he's been recruited by the college team. And where Ethan goes, so goes Casey (and vice versa). Luckily the school Ethan was recruited to has an Archeology major.
Unbeknownst to the two best friends they've both been fighting their feelings for each other. When the pair start to fake date due to a conflict with the captain of the hockey team their feelings bubble to the surface and are hard to ignore.
This was the definition of formulaic but I didn't mind. It was really cute and the side characters that were introduced were pretty great. I also really loved the cameos from various Stick Side series characters.
Unbeknownst to the two best friends they've both been fighting their feelings for each other. When the pair start to fake date due to a conflict with the captain of the hockey team their feelings bubble to the surface and are hard to ignore.
This was the definition of formulaic but I didn't mind. It was really cute and the side characters that were introduced were pretty great. I also really loved the cameos from various Stick Side series characters.
August 26, 2024
I'd rate this 3 stars.
It's a cute friends to lovers with some fake dating thrown into the mix.
The characters are supposed to be a little older than college freshman but they seem both immature and a little too wise for their years?
There is too little hockey for being a hockey romance.
A lot of the author's other characters from different series and books make an appearance which is super confusing and doesn't add anything to the development of the story.
I really liked how a chronic disease like RA was portrayed and represented.
It's a cute friends to lovers with some fake dating thrown into the mix.
The characters are supposed to be a little older than college freshman but they seem both immature and a little too wise for their years?
There is too little hockey for being a hockey romance.
A lot of the author's other characters from different series and books make an appearance which is super confusing and doesn't add anything to the development of the story.
I really liked how a chronic disease like RA was portrayed and represented.
June 2, 2021
I’ve read this author before. This is a mm romance set in a USA college involving ice hockey. Main characters are Casey and Ethan. Both are joined together following a personal tragedy five years before with each losing a parent in the same workplace accident. This is a best friends to lovers story. Lots of side characters from the stick side series too. Can’t wait to read book 2.
February 5, 2021
Keeping Casey is such a sweet college romance, between best friends who have always secretly wanted more. Mostly what kept them from taking that step was fear and miscommunication. Casey and Ethan were always so tuned in to each other. The ways they looked out for the other's needs and interests was admirable. The storyline was interesting and the side characters were the kind you want more of, so here's hoping to see future stories. I did tear up a bit at one point, and had a hard time putting this down. The steamy moments weren't a huge focus, more of just another part of their relationship progression. And I think that worked best in this particular story.
February 22, 2021
Damn, I love this book! Keeping Casey is an amazing sports romance by Amy Aislin. The first book in the Keeping Him series, it's a wonderful college hockey romance.
Casey and Ethan are best friends. They're the kind of best friends one dream of having. A bromance for the ages. Except that they're also secretly in love with each other.
This is a book that has all my favorites in one. Sports. Hockey specifically. College. Best Friends. I can't get enough of books like this.
The men are best friends who have been acting like a couple long before they were. They're always together as best friends, but never made the move to be together in a relationship. Until Casey helps out his bestie by pretending to be his boyfriend.
I love these men, and the depth of their backgrounds.
Casey's past has left him in fear of losing those he loves. He's terrified to allow love into his life. It's definitely heartbreaking and has me wanting to hug and love him.
Ethan's sexuality is well explored. He's asexual and has always been in love with Casey. But, damn, once the physical want and need hits, watch out! Love it!
The characters are charming, the storyline sweet, and the ending wonderful. As well, there's some good humor sprinkled throughout.
Everything about this story is sweet and tender. Well, almost everything. I mean, there is a homophobic teammate to deal with. And there's so fear and anxiety. But, it's all wonderfully done.
One overriding theme is that of grief. The author excels in exploring that there is no one way to grieve. Everyone grieves differently and at their own pace.
And then there's the RA. I appreciate the way the author deals with this aspect. It's written with knowledge and care. As someone who has arthritis myself, I fully relate to the way this is all explored. It's a big part of who Ethan is, and I'm glad it's written as such.
I truly adore Keeping Casey. This is another fabulous hockey romance by Amy Aislin. With appearances by some of her characters from her Stick Side series, the fun just increases. I can't wait for more of this series.
Casey and Ethan are best friends. They're the kind of best friends one dream of having. A bromance for the ages. Except that they're also secretly in love with each other.
This is a book that has all my favorites in one. Sports. Hockey specifically. College. Best Friends. I can't get enough of books like this.
The men are best friends who have been acting like a couple long before they were. They're always together as best friends, but never made the move to be together in a relationship. Until Casey helps out his bestie by pretending to be his boyfriend.
I love these men, and the depth of their backgrounds.
Casey's past has left him in fear of losing those he loves. He's terrified to allow love into his life. It's definitely heartbreaking and has me wanting to hug and love him.
Ethan's sexuality is well explored. He's asexual and has always been in love with Casey. But, damn, once the physical want and need hits, watch out! Love it!
The characters are charming, the storyline sweet, and the ending wonderful. As well, there's some good humor sprinkled throughout.
Everything about this story is sweet and tender. Well, almost everything. I mean, there is a homophobic teammate to deal with. And there's so fear and anxiety. But, it's all wonderfully done.
One overriding theme is that of grief. The author excels in exploring that there is no one way to grieve. Everyone grieves differently and at their own pace.
And then there's the RA. I appreciate the way the author deals with this aspect. It's written with knowledge and care. As someone who has arthritis myself, I fully relate to the way this is all explored. It's a big part of who Ethan is, and I'm glad it's written as such.
I truly adore Keeping Casey. This is another fabulous hockey romance by Amy Aislin. With appearances by some of her characters from her Stick Side series, the fun just increases. I can't wait for more of this series.
February 12, 2021
[ I received a digital arc for an honest review]
Keeping Casey is the start of a new MM romance series by Amy Aislin. The romance story between best friends Casey Preston and Ethan Rain. They both love each other, but one's afraid of confessing his feelings and losing him and the other doesn't think he feels the same. When they decide to solve a problem with a homophobic teammate by being fake boyfriends, all of a sudden feelings are being forced into the open, and it will either break their friendship or evolve it into what they both secretly want it to be.
"Casey's voice alone did crazy things to Ethan's nerves. Keeping his feelings to himself was quickly becoming impossible."
I really enjoyed the characters in this book. Both Casey and Ethan were sweethearts and their friendship was precious. They were affectionate, and you never doubted how they feel about each other. Ethan has rheumatoid arthritis and plays hockey, he doesn't let his RA hold him back. He's always there to lend a hand to his family and friends, putting others before his own discomfort and needs. An introvert who would rather chill with his best friend and needle felting little animals than go out partying. Casey is kind and focused. He has routines and methods that help him focus to get things accomplished, it also keeps him busy which take his mind of his grief. He never really faced his fathers passing, and it's one of the reasons why he holds himself back from Ethan. His fear of losing him keeps him from taking that next step and his indecision about them when it matters the most hurts to read.
"Ethan held Casey's every murmur, every gasped breath, every kiss, every trail of nails across his skin, in the palm of his hand to cherish always."
I also really enjoyed the supporting characters, their friends Brant and Theo were entertaining and called them out on their obliviousness. While this is the start to a new series, fans of Amy Aislin's previous books will be pleasantly surprised by familiar locations and friendly faces. Since Ethan is on the college hockey team there are cameos from some of the leads from Aislin's hockey series and our lead characters themselves are from her fictional town of Lighthouse Bay.
Keeping Casey is a friends to lovers mm romance with the fake relationship trope thrown into it ( which is one of my all-time favorite tropes). This was a sweet comforting read with just the right amount of angst and a whole lot of love.
Keeping Casey is the start of a new MM romance series by Amy Aislin. The romance story between best friends Casey Preston and Ethan Rain. They both love each other, but one's afraid of confessing his feelings and losing him and the other doesn't think he feels the same. When they decide to solve a problem with a homophobic teammate by being fake boyfriends, all of a sudden feelings are being forced into the open, and it will either break their friendship or evolve it into what they both secretly want it to be.
"Casey's voice alone did crazy things to Ethan's nerves. Keeping his feelings to himself was quickly becoming impossible."
I really enjoyed the characters in this book. Both Casey and Ethan were sweethearts and their friendship was precious. They were affectionate, and you never doubted how they feel about each other. Ethan has rheumatoid arthritis and plays hockey, he doesn't let his RA hold him back. He's always there to lend a hand to his family and friends, putting others before his own discomfort and needs. An introvert who would rather chill with his best friend and needle felting little animals than go out partying. Casey is kind and focused. He has routines and methods that help him focus to get things accomplished, it also keeps him busy which take his mind of his grief. He never really faced his fathers passing, and it's one of the reasons why he holds himself back from Ethan. His fear of losing him keeps him from taking that next step and his indecision about them when it matters the most hurts to read.
"Ethan held Casey's every murmur, every gasped breath, every kiss, every trail of nails across his skin, in the palm of his hand to cherish always."
I also really enjoyed the supporting characters, their friends Brant and Theo were entertaining and called them out on their obliviousness. While this is the start to a new series, fans of Amy Aislin's previous books will be pleasantly surprised by familiar locations and friendly faces. Since Ethan is on the college hockey team there are cameos from some of the leads from Aislin's hockey series and our lead characters themselves are from her fictional town of Lighthouse Bay.
Keeping Casey is a friends to lovers mm romance with the fake relationship trope thrown into it ( which is one of my all-time favorite tropes). This was a sweet comforting read with just the right amount of angst and a whole lot of love.
February 11, 2021
Glen Hill (VT) College students, Casey Preston and Ethan Rain have been best friends since childhood. They share - and have dealt differently with - the tragic loss of a parent.
Both want to be more than just best friends. Both, for different reasons, have convinced themselves that can never be. Early on Casey says, ‘You’re all I see, Ethan.’ That simple declarative statement resonates throughout the story.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my 3.75 Star honest review.
Amy Aislin’s ‘Keeping Casey’ addresses so many issues that it’s almost as difficult to characterize the novel as it is to keep track of the sexuality of the multiplicity of characters she’s created. The term ‘no labels, please’ comes to mind.
As the novel begins, Casey is an archeology major. Ethan is a biochemistry major, and a gay hockey player who knits to relax. What few others know is that he also has rheumatoid arthritis.
Topics such as grief, loneliness, friendship, homophobia, chronic disease, homosexuality, bisexuality, demisexuality, love, loss, doubt, compassion, and more are explored through the multiplicity of characters the author has created. In fact there are nearly two dozen supporting characters and at least one charming kitten, Sasha, who appear during the course of the story.
Some issues are addressed with greater understanding, sensitivity, and realism than others. For instance, it’s hard to believe that even today a National Hockey League team would have as many gay players as the fictional Vermont Trailblazers. Still, the members and coaches of that team play important roles in helping the protagonists realize what their lives together could be.
There are wonderful descriptions of some aspects of college life - particularly a scene where Casey explores the various student groups available to underclassmen and collects pins from each. Two I particularly liked were ‘I dig you’ one of the pins from the Archeology Club, and ‘Forget Hydrogen, you’re my number one element’ one of the pins from the Chemistry Club.
‘Keeping Casey’ is a stand alone M/M romance novel. The author notes that there are other ‘stand alones’ available featuring some of the secondary characters in this book. If you enjoy 'Keeping Casey', you may want to explore some of the other novels as well.
Both want to be more than just best friends. Both, for different reasons, have convinced themselves that can never be. Early on Casey says, ‘You’re all I see, Ethan.’ That simple declarative statement resonates throughout the story.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my 3.75 Star honest review.
Amy Aislin’s ‘Keeping Casey’ addresses so many issues that it’s almost as difficult to characterize the novel as it is to keep track of the sexuality of the multiplicity of characters she’s created. The term ‘no labels, please’ comes to mind.
As the novel begins, Casey is an archeology major. Ethan is a biochemistry major, and a gay hockey player who knits to relax. What few others know is that he also has rheumatoid arthritis.
Topics such as grief, loneliness, friendship, homophobia, chronic disease, homosexuality, bisexuality, demisexuality, love, loss, doubt, compassion, and more are explored through the multiplicity of characters the author has created. In fact there are nearly two dozen supporting characters and at least one charming kitten, Sasha, who appear during the course of the story.
Some issues are addressed with greater understanding, sensitivity, and realism than others. For instance, it’s hard to believe that even today a National Hockey League team would have as many gay players as the fictional Vermont Trailblazers. Still, the members and coaches of that team play important roles in helping the protagonists realize what their lives together could be.
There are wonderful descriptions of some aspects of college life - particularly a scene where Casey explores the various student groups available to underclassmen and collects pins from each. Two I particularly liked were ‘I dig you’ one of the pins from the Archeology Club, and ‘Forget Hydrogen, you’re my number one element’ one of the pins from the Chemistry Club.
‘Keeping Casey’ is a stand alone M/M romance novel. The author notes that there are other ‘stand alones’ available featuring some of the secondary characters in this book. If you enjoy 'Keeping Casey', you may want to explore some of the other novels as well.
February 25, 2021
Check out our full post for KEEPING CASEY on Wicked Reads, which includes an excerpt.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the first book in a new series, but any Aislin fan will find some old friends popping up from the Stick Side series, and there is even mention of Lighthouse Bay... I really enjoy such references, it makes me feel like I'm at a family event and catching up on latest happenings!
Casey and Ethan have been best friends forever, and have a common bond as each lost a parent in a construction site accident. I found that rather weird, but whilst it has to some extent shaped their views, particularly Casey, who does not want to love anyone in case they leave him. We see almost immediately that his love for Ethan knows no limits, and yet he hasn't acknowledged the issue. The way that they do finally come to terms with how they both really feel is beautifully written. It is gentle, loving, and passionate.
As well as navigating college as older (but still under 21) new students, these two men give us two very different experiences, and yet are almost always together. Ethan is playing hockey, but silently suffering with a chronic illness. He stands up to the homophobic captain, and yet cannot face telling anyone that he is sick. It is an interesting facet to Ethan's character. As a lecturer who is no fan of group work assignments, I loved that element of Casey's story, and I could predict exactly where that was going!
There are lots of fun elements to this book. and I am really looking forward to the next one!
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
February 23, 2021
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~
This is the first book in a new series, but any Aislin fan will find some old friends popping up from the Stick Side series, and there is even mention of Lighthouse Bay... I really enjoy such references, it makes me feel like I'm at a family event and catching up on latest happenings!
Casey and Ethan have been best friends forever, and have a common bond as each lost a parent in a construction site accident. I found that rather weird, but whilst it has to some extent shaped their views, particularly Casey, who does not want to love anyone in case they leave him. We see almost immediately that his love for Ethan knows no limits, and yet he hasn't acknowledged the issue. The way that they do finally come to terms with how they both really feel is beautifully written. It is gentle, loving and passionate.
As well as navigating college as older (but still under 21) new students, these two men give us two very different experiences, and yet are almost always together. Ethan is playing hockey, but silently suffering with a chronic illness. He stands up to the homophobic captain, and yet cannot face telling anyone that he is sick. It is an interesting facet to Ethan's character. As a lecturer who is no fan of group work assignments, I loved that element of Casey's story, and I could predict exactly where that was going!
There are lots of fun elements to this book. and I am really looking forward to the next one!
This is the first book in a new series, but any Aislin fan will find some old friends popping up from the Stick Side series, and there is even mention of Lighthouse Bay... I really enjoy such references, it makes me feel like I'm at a family event and catching up on latest happenings!
Casey and Ethan have been best friends forever, and have a common bond as each lost a parent in a construction site accident. I found that rather weird, but whilst it has to some extent shaped their views, particularly Casey, who does not want to love anyone in case they leave him. We see almost immediately that his love for Ethan knows no limits, and yet he hasn't acknowledged the issue. The way that they do finally come to terms with how they both really feel is beautifully written. It is gentle, loving and passionate.
As well as navigating college as older (but still under 21) new students, these two men give us two very different experiences, and yet are almost always together. Ethan is playing hockey, but silently suffering with a chronic illness. He stands up to the homophobic captain, and yet cannot face telling anyone that he is sick. It is an interesting facet to Ethan's character. As a lecturer who is no fan of group work assignments, I loved that element of Casey's story, and I could predict exactly where that was going!
There are lots of fun elements to this book. and I am really looking forward to the next one!
February 20, 2021
Keeping Casey is a wonderful book in Amy Aislin's new series, Keeping Him. It includes several tropes - fake relationship, best friends to lovers, hurt/comfort, sports/college.
Casey and Ethan have been best friends for as long as they can remember and it really shines through in all of their interactions, as does that they have feelings for each other, though with neither having a clue about the other. When the idea of fake boyfriends comes up to help keep a teammate off of Ethan's back, Casey jumps at the chance whilst still denying that he's capable of more due to the grief he still lives with at the loss of his father five years previous.
There is a fair about of angst as there is unrequited love for a good amount of the book, both men lost a parent but have coped with it in different ways and then the fallout of a fake relationship between best friends is always rife with endless possibilities. One thing I really loved was how much care and attention Casey and Ethan have of each other, even before a relationship was thought up. Ethan's stubbornness to accept help doesnt really extend to Casey as the man knows him too well to see when he's in pain with his RA. It's interesting reading as well for the possibility of playing hockey whilst living with such a disease.
Several side characters really helped the MC's and kept spirits up. I hope we hear more from them, especially Theo and Brent. There are also appearances from characters from Amy's Stick Side series which was a fun bonus and a chance for a mini catch up with them.
I really enjoyed this story and am looking forward to who comes next in the series. Definitely a recommended read.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
Casey and Ethan have been best friends for as long as they can remember and it really shines through in all of their interactions, as does that they have feelings for each other, though with neither having a clue about the other. When the idea of fake boyfriends comes up to help keep a teammate off of Ethan's back, Casey jumps at the chance whilst still denying that he's capable of more due to the grief he still lives with at the loss of his father five years previous.
There is a fair about of angst as there is unrequited love for a good amount of the book, both men lost a parent but have coped with it in different ways and then the fallout of a fake relationship between best friends is always rife with endless possibilities. One thing I really loved was how much care and attention Casey and Ethan have of each other, even before a relationship was thought up. Ethan's stubbornness to accept help doesnt really extend to Casey as the man knows him too well to see when he's in pain with his RA. It's interesting reading as well for the possibility of playing hockey whilst living with such a disease.
Several side characters really helped the MC's and kept spirits up. I hope we hear more from them, especially Theo and Brent. There are also appearances from characters from Amy's Stick Side series which was a fun bonus and a chance for a mini catch up with them.
I really enjoyed this story and am looking forward to who comes next in the series. Definitely a recommended read.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
February 23, 2021
I couldn't put it down!
I’ve been reading Amy Aislin’s books for a little over three year now and I have loved them all. I am particularly fond of her hockey books and Keeping Casey is a great addition to the rest of her work.
Friends-to-lovers is one of my favorite romance tropes and this one combines that with a fake boyfriend scenario which just adds to the deliciousness. If you are looking for a lot of hot, sexy time you won’t find it in this book but don’t let that keep you from reading it. What you will get is a story with so much heart that it brought me to tears more than once.
Ethan and Casey have been friends forever. They both suffered a tragic loss that impacted their lives greatly. Ethan managed to bounce back fairly well but Casey still struggles and won’t allow himself to get close to anyone for fear of losing them. Ethan also faces a health challenge and Casey is concerned about hockey causing Ethan more pain.
Some of my comments above may make you think that this is an overly angsty story but it isn’t. It’s a great story about the life of a couple of college kids, the friends they make and how their personal struggles, school work and sports, impact their lives. There is a great HEA and I loved the epilogue but I hope we see more of Ethan and Casey in future books in this series.
Fans of Amy’s Stick Side series will be pleased to see some familiar faces turn up in Keeping Casey.
A copy of this book was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
I’ve been reading Amy Aislin’s books for a little over three year now and I have loved them all. I am particularly fond of her hockey books and Keeping Casey is a great addition to the rest of her work.
Friends-to-lovers is one of my favorite romance tropes and this one combines that with a fake boyfriend scenario which just adds to the deliciousness. If you are looking for a lot of hot, sexy time you won’t find it in this book but don’t let that keep you from reading it. What you will get is a story with so much heart that it brought me to tears more than once.
Ethan and Casey have been friends forever. They both suffered a tragic loss that impacted their lives greatly. Ethan managed to bounce back fairly well but Casey still struggles and won’t allow himself to get close to anyone for fear of losing them. Ethan also faces a health challenge and Casey is concerned about hockey causing Ethan more pain.
Some of my comments above may make you think that this is an overly angsty story but it isn’t. It’s a great story about the life of a couple of college kids, the friends they make and how their personal struggles, school work and sports, impact their lives. There is a great HEA and I loved the epilogue but I hope we see more of Ethan and Casey in future books in this series.
Fans of Amy’s Stick Side series will be pleased to see some familiar faces turn up in Keeping Casey.
A copy of this book was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
December 11, 2025
I think Casey needs to GROVEL. Like, properly. Honestly, he probably needs to spend the rest of his life worshipping Ethan after that last chapter. I mean… laughing (even if it was the Casey-thought-Ethan-was-joking kind of laugh) and then actually leaving when Ethan was hurt?? I was disappointed on Ethan’s behalf.
Yes, yes, Casey’s default stress response is “flight,” but his whole reason of “I’m scared Ethan will die if I love him” is… sorry, but lame. So if he only loves Ethan as a friend, Ethan magically won’t die someday?? Make it make sense. Casey needs counseling *grumbles*.
To be fair, Ethan isn’t a saint either. His inability to ask for help because he “doesn’t want to rock the boat” is exactly the kind of mindset that will get him hurt—which it did. So, yeah, these two boys have things to unpack.
BUT as a story? I adored it. I love Aislin’s best-friends-to-lovers books—they’re soft, tender, and feel like a cozy friend you cuddle under a blanket with. Just know: this is not really a hockey book. Hockey action is minimal. Honestly, we get more scenes of Casey and his archaeology subject than anything happening on the rink.
Anyway, I definitely need to read Harkhader’s book next.
Yes, yes, Casey’s default stress response is “flight,” but his whole reason of “I’m scared Ethan will die if I love him” is… sorry, but lame. So if he only loves Ethan as a friend, Ethan magically won’t die someday?? Make it make sense. Casey needs counseling *grumbles*.
To be fair, Ethan isn’t a saint either. His inability to ask for help because he “doesn’t want to rock the boat” is exactly the kind of mindset that will get him hurt—which it did. So, yeah, these two boys have things to unpack.
BUT as a story? I adored it. I love Aislin’s best-friends-to-lovers books—they’re soft, tender, and feel like a cozy friend you cuddle under a blanket with. Just know: this is not really a hockey book. Hockey action is minimal. Honestly, we get more scenes of Casey and his archaeology subject than anything happening on the rink.
Anyway, I definitely need to read Harkhader’s book next.
February 21, 2021
Back to hockey with Amy Aislin! I love this author’s writing style, it’s catching and engaging and her books always drag me in from the first to the last page!
This new college-age, hockey book is a real treasure. Ethan and Casey have been best friends for all their lives. They are so close and so in tune with each other that everybody who meets them just assumes they are together. Secretly, they are both in love with the other, but they both have something preventing them to take the step to change their relationship… until they stage a fake relationship.
The book is very sweet and it has a lot of funny and light-hearted moments, but it’s also very deep, as it deals with unresolved grief and a chronic disorder. It gets very emotional at points, but not too heavy, and the underlying tenderness between these two boys is always there to keep you reading because you want to see them finally settled in their HEA.
I absolutely adored seeing so many acquaintances from the Shots on Goal series make a reappearance, it was so good to catch up with their lives.
This new college-age, hockey book is a real treasure. Ethan and Casey have been best friends for all their lives. They are so close and so in tune with each other that everybody who meets them just assumes they are together. Secretly, they are both in love with the other, but they both have something preventing them to take the step to change their relationship… until they stage a fake relationship.
The book is very sweet and it has a lot of funny and light-hearted moments, but it’s also very deep, as it deals with unresolved grief and a chronic disorder. It gets very emotional at points, but not too heavy, and the underlying tenderness between these two boys is always there to keep you reading because you want to see them finally settled in their HEA.
I absolutely adored seeing so many acquaintances from the Shots on Goal series make a reappearance, it was so good to catch up with their lives.
February 8, 2021
Keeping Casey is a beautifully sweet college hockey romance featuring two lifelong best friends. It has pretty much all my favourites things: friends to lovers, all the mutual pining, wonderful side characters, college hockey, and some cameos from the Stick Side series that made me squeal out loud! Ethan and Casey are very much in sync, so much so that I had no trouble in seeing that they belonged together right from the beginning.
The depth of their connection meant I could really enjoy their journey in going from friends to fake boyfriends to the real deal. It’s not free from hurt or angst though, and both Ethan and Casey have to deal with fear and grief. I do applaud how the issues of Ethan’s illness and Casey’s grief were dealt with. It makes the story raw and emotional and puts your heart on the line right alongside these beautiful characters.
The depth of their connection meant I could really enjoy their journey in going from friends to fake boyfriends to the real deal. It’s not free from hurt or angst though, and both Ethan and Casey have to deal with fear and grief. I do applaud how the issues of Ethan’s illness and Casey’s grief were dealt with. It makes the story raw and emotional and puts your heart on the line right alongside these beautiful characters.
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February 9, 2021I got this as an ARC and I really didn't like it because it had a LOT of my personal writing pet peeves, but I also know that I chose a book full of tropes I don't really like (new adult, sports romance), so I'm not sure it's fair to rip it apart. Keep reading if you really want to know what I thought of this book, otherwise just ignore this one and try a different review.
The story was as juvenile as you'd expect NA to be, and though the writer was super careful about setting up scenes (describing rooms down to the furniture placement even), she didn't show the same care in describing her characters or giving them much of a personality. The characters were fairly generic and interchangeable, and I didn't care much about them.
The reason I chose to read this book is because there are a LOT of hockey romances in the m/m genre, and I thought I would try one to see what the attraction is to this sport in particular. I grew up in hockey country, and I legitimately can't imagine a sport less hospitable for being out in, and I have to say that this book was so unrealistic that it has done nothing to change my mind. The author has set up a whole professional hockey team full of same sex couples, and she decided to put every single character from former books into this one even though they add exactly nothing to the story. This is one of my biggest pet peeves that writers do: sure, put your characters in from other series if it adds something, but if it doesn't add anything I just get increasingly annoyed about having to read about characters I know and care nothing about. Just keep the focus on the main couple and quit wasting my time!
Additionally, there was a lot of random stuff thrown in that made the story less than cohesive: the one character did needle felting in a few of the chapters before that got dropped, there was a big deal made about a group project that didn't end up being a big deal, there was a bunch of talk about joining clubs and making friends that never really developed, and then there was a bunch of conversation about the fake boyfriend trope in the book between the characters: "Isn't that something that just happens in books?" The whole book is just silly and pointless. So yeah, hated it. Don't recommend. Won't read anything else by this author.
The story was as juvenile as you'd expect NA to be, and though the writer was super careful about setting up scenes (describing rooms down to the furniture placement even), she didn't show the same care in describing her characters or giving them much of a personality. The characters were fairly generic and interchangeable, and I didn't care much about them.
The reason I chose to read this book is because there are a LOT of hockey romances in the m/m genre, and I thought I would try one to see what the attraction is to this sport in particular. I grew up in hockey country, and I legitimately can't imagine a sport less hospitable for being out in, and I have to say that this book was so unrealistic that it has done nothing to change my mind. The author has set up a whole professional hockey team full of same sex couples, and she decided to put every single character from former books into this one even though they add exactly nothing to the story. This is one of my biggest pet peeves that writers do: sure, put your characters in from other series if it adds something, but if it doesn't add anything I just get increasingly annoyed about having to read about characters I know and care nothing about. Just keep the focus on the main couple and quit wasting my time!
Additionally, there was a lot of random stuff thrown in that made the story less than cohesive: the one character did needle felting in a few of the chapters before that got dropped, there was a big deal made about a group project that didn't end up being a big deal, there was a bunch of talk about joining clubs and making friends that never really developed, and then there was a bunch of conversation about the fake boyfriend trope in the book between the characters: "Isn't that something that just happens in books?" The whole book is just silly and pointless. So yeah, hated it. Don't recommend. Won't read anything else by this author.
February 24, 2021
This book was just sweet. All the characters were sweet, the storyline was so sweet. I really enjoyed it. There wasn’t a lot of angst, and the angst there was felt natural. I didn’t feel SUPER connected to the characters, but I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that Ethan and Casey had known each other since they were little; lots of shared history and secretly in love with each other for a long time.
It felt like the only thing that changed when they finally started dating for real was how they were physically. And I would have loved to have read more about that. Instead they kissed... no description. And when they had sex with each other for the first time, it was also Ethan’s first time ever, with anyone. And I wanted more information, more description, more insight into their feelings about it.
Overall I liked it.
It felt like the only thing that changed when they finally started dating for real was how they were physically. And I would have loved to have read more about that. Instead they kissed... no description. And when they had sex with each other for the first time, it was also Ethan’s first time ever, with anyone. And I wanted more information, more description, more insight into their feelings about it.
Overall I liked it.
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September 18, 2025nevermind im def not the problem bc this book was so everything to me. had me cheesing and giggling and 😝😝😝ed. i read the last 20% of this at the gym and i was still acting like a fool, that's how you know it's good.
was the writing clunky at time? yes. but god this was so good, best friends to lovers is always going to hit and outside of their romance (which god. so so so lovely cutie) this was SOSOSOSOOOOO good, the way the grief was portrayed?? the chronic illness??? the DEMISEXUALITY HELLOOOOO i love you amy aislin i found out the author herself was demi and i knew we were in for a GREATTT TIME i want to shoutout my acespecs i love us soooo badd <3333 this was just so fucking cute!!!! they were so cute!!!! romance is so back you guys im going to CONSUME this authors backlog now
was the writing clunky at time? yes. but god this was so good, best friends to lovers is always going to hit and outside of their romance (which god. so so so lovely cutie) this was SOSOSOSOOOOO good, the way the grief was portrayed?? the chronic illness??? the DEMISEXUALITY HELLOOOOO i love you amy aislin i found out the author herself was demi and i knew we were in for a GREATTT TIME i want to shoutout my acespecs i love us soooo badd <3333 this was just so fucking cute!!!! they were so cute!!!! romance is so back you guys im going to CONSUME this authors backlog now
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