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Hockey Bois
Nick Porter has always loved hockey. Ever since he can remember, it's been his favorite thing in the world. It's too bad he never learned to play, he'd tell himself, but it was too late to do it now. Adults don't just magically learn to skate and join a hockey team. That'd be ridiculous.
Except maybe they do? On a whim, he decides to sign-up for an adult beginner's class. He learns to skate, joins a team, and meets a really hot teammate… and it’s pretty much a disaster from there on out.
Except maybe they do? On a whim, he decides to sign-up for an adult beginner's class. He learns to skate, joins a team, and meets a really hot teammate… and it’s pretty much a disaster from there on out.
407 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 26, 2021
73 people are currently reading
1880 people want to read
About the author
A.L. Heard
18 books180 followersAshley, pen name A.L. Heard, fandom name jhoom, is a 34 year old teacher, writer, and mother of two little boys. She’s been writing fanworks since she discovered ff.net back in her middle school days; the platform has changed and the writing’s improved, but Ashley ultimately still spends her free time writing about characters she adores in worlds she’d like to explore. Her first novel, Hockey Bois, was published in 2021. In between writing projects, she works as a language teacher in the Pittsburgh area, plays hockey, and plays trains with her sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 281 reviews
September 20, 2021
this was actually really cute, but it was also waaay too long. there really was no need for this story to be 400+ pages when the romance doesn’t even really start until the 70% mark, tbh. a lot of the banter (especially the cousin stuff) in the first half of the book could have been easily trimmed without really affecting the story at all. i’d say this was written more as a sports comedy than an actual romance, though, so if romance is what you’re looking for here, just keep that in mind.
Nick, who is our POV character, was very well developed and fleshed out, but i never really felt we got a good sense of who Brady is? we only really learn about Nick’s idealized version of Brady until right at the end of the story, like the last ten percent, where we suddenly get an info dump of his backstory and his various issues with his sexuality etc. i think that decision really hindered his character, and the sudden onslaught of his depression and anxieties left me scratching my head a bit? i think using dual POVs really would’ve enhanced the story for me and fleshed Brady out more. i feel like some of the side characters actually got more development than he did??
those issues aside, i do think this was mostly a very pleasant book. 3.5 stars rounded up.
Nick, who is our POV character, was very well developed and fleshed out, but i never really felt we got a good sense of who Brady is? we only really learn about Nick’s idealized version of Brady until right at the end of the story, like the last ten percent, where we suddenly get an info dump of his backstory and his various issues with his sexuality etc. i think that decision really hindered his character, and the sudden onslaught of his depression and anxieties left me scratching my head a bit? i think using dual POVs really would’ve enhanced the story for me and fleshed Brady out more. i feel like some of the side characters actually got more development than he did??
those issues aside, i do think this was mostly a very pleasant book. 3.5 stars rounded up.
December 13, 2021
✰ 3.75 - Jaromír Jágr - Stars ✰
Hockey Bois: A Beer League Romance is the literal definition of "awww" in book form. Seriously, this romance was really freaking sweet while being so very hockey at the same time. The romance in this book was oh so adorable, and while these boys really really really needed to learn the delicate art form of -
I was surprisingly not all that bothered by it?! shocking right. In other news, thanks to this book I now officially have a favorite hockey player! Behold, Jaromír Jágr, former right wing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, you're welcome ladies & gents -
“You’re such a fucking dork,” Brady said. “And I love you. More than hockey, more than Jagr."
Hockey Bois: A Beer League Romance is the literal definition of "awww" in book form. Seriously, this romance was really freaking sweet while being so very hockey at the same time. The romance in this book was oh so adorable, and while these boys really really really needed to learn the delicate art form of -
✨ c o m u n i c a t i o n ✨
I was surprisingly not all that bothered by it?! shocking right. In other news, thanks to this book I now officially have a favorite hockey player! Behold, Jaromír Jágr, former right wing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, you're welcome ladies & gents -
that mullet = glorious✨ how can a girl resist?
March 25, 2025
1,5 stars rounded down.
This started great but got worse and worse, sadly. How long can an author drag the lack of communication about an important issue out? Very, very long, this book shows.
Too long in fact.
Zero conversation about what holds one MC (Brady) back, lets him even ghost the other MC (Nick) 2 times, without justification, for weeks, coupled with the fact that we only got Nick's pov (and the author wasn't able to convey Brady's stance), and no visible development of their emotional connection?
To be clear that's 410 pages without a talk between the MCs about the one important issue!!
I get so mad thinking about the hours I spent reading about these characters without getting anything in return, lol. Because that excuse/explanation at the end? Wow. Lame, stupid, unbelievable that I had to read 410 pages to only get that flimsy (and not even honest, in my opinion) explanation.
Plus. You can't drag the lack of communication out until over 95% and not even let me see more than 2 kisses? But suddenly you tell me that there had been many kisses and intimate scenes??
I've loved many closed door romances (Catherine Cloud is a master at them in the mm hockey romance genre), but here we didn't even get to enjoy the kisses they'd shared after the first one up until over 80%? Didn't even know they had happened?
Why would the author tell us at 82% that there had been kisses without having mentioned them? "It was short, chaste, only a brief-but-firm press of lips to his. It was a new type of kiss for them, intimately familiar, different from the passionate kisses leading to sex, or the lazy, languid kisses shared while making out during commercials, or the quick pecks shared in stolen moments in the semi-public space of Nick’s foyer with the door half open before they headed out for work. Nick cataloged this one with the others and hoped to learn a hundred others."
Whaaattt??? They had been making out repeatedly?? Why did nobody tell me?
I would have liked to cataloge all those past kisses, too?!?
Ps I know there are two novellas out there, one is Brady's pov and one has the missing sex scenes. I read the one with the missing sex scenes alongside this book for a while, up until 34% of the novella, but had to stop because it felt anticlimactic reading how Brady got a character transplant during sex, urgh, while in this book we got a silent, grumpy and emotionally repressed Brady.
This started great but got worse and worse, sadly. How long can an author drag the lack of communication about an important issue out? Very, very long, this book shows.
Too long in fact.
Zero conversation about what holds one MC (Brady) back, lets him even ghost the other MC (Nick) 2 times, without justification, for weeks, coupled with the fact that we only got Nick's pov (and the author wasn't able to convey Brady's stance), and no visible development of their emotional connection?
To be clear that's 410 pages without a talk between the MCs about the one important issue!!
I get so mad thinking about the hours I spent reading about these characters without getting anything in return, lol. Because that excuse/explanation at the end? Wow. Lame, stupid, unbelievable that I had to read 410 pages to only get that flimsy (and not even honest, in my opinion) explanation.
Plus. You can't drag the lack of communication out until over 95% and not even let me see more than 2 kisses? But suddenly you tell me that there had been many kisses and intimate scenes??
I've loved many closed door romances (Catherine Cloud is a master at them in the mm hockey romance genre), but here we didn't even get to enjoy the kisses they'd shared after the first one up until over 80%? Didn't even know they had happened?
Why would the author tell us at 82% that there had been kisses without having mentioned them? "It was short, chaste, only a brief-but-firm press of lips to his. It was a new type of kiss for them, intimately familiar, different from the passionate kisses leading to sex, or the lazy, languid kisses shared while making out during commercials, or the quick pecks shared in stolen moments in the semi-public space of Nick’s foyer with the door half open before they headed out for work. Nick cataloged this one with the others and hoped to learn a hundred others."
Whaaattt??? They had been making out repeatedly?? Why did nobody tell me?
I would have liked to cataloge all those past kisses, too?!?
Ps I know there are two novellas out there, one is Brady's pov and one has the missing sex scenes. I read the one with the missing sex scenes alongside this book for a while, up until 34% of the novella, but had to stop because it felt anticlimactic reading how Brady got a character transplant during sex, urgh, while in this book we got a silent, grumpy and emotionally repressed Brady.
dnf
March 21, 2023There was nothing wrong with this book, but by 8% there was nothing special about it either. I wasn’t hooked by Nick’s voice; he was nice but bland. I got bored.
So I checked to see whether I’d spent money on it. Turns out it's a KU loaner that's been sitting on my Kindle for a while, so I felt free to DNF without pushing myself any further.
But like I said, there’s nothing wrong with it. Kindle samples usually go to 10%, so why not give it a try and see if it appeals to you more than it did me.
So I checked to see whether I’d spent money on it. Turns out it's a KU loaner that's been sitting on my Kindle for a while, so I felt free to DNF without pushing myself any further.
But like I said, there’s nothing wrong with it. Kindle samples usually go to 10%, so why not give it a try and see if it appeals to you more than it did me.
June 14, 2022
Loved this story, couldn't put it down, I could read more about Nick and Brady happily 😊
October 12, 2024
This was an EXCRUCIATING and painful slow burn and I was HERE FOR IT.
God, I was rooting so hard for these two Bois. When I tell you that I could not put the book down, I mean it. I could not put the damn book down. Work? Going outside at all? Doing laundry and other grown up things you gotta do? It all had to wait, until these two got together. The pining was almost unbearable (but in a cute way?) and when they finally got together… ooh boy. You know it’s a good slowburn when a look, a teasing comment or a lingering shoulder squeeze gives you more butterflies than actual ‘action’.
Yeah, it’s long, and yeah, it was a whole lot of hockey, which was exhausting sometimes - not gonna lie - but the cast, people. The CAST in this one was amazing. From Brady and Nick, to his cousins and especially the teammates, they were all distinct, three dimensional, funny and just… good? I had such a good time with this book, even if I didn’t understand half of all the… hockeying.
There was one thing, I didn’t like that much, though. This is absolutely a me-thing, but I can’t handle the miscommunication/no-communication trope very well and it does play a huge part here. They don’t talk. Period. It’s a whole thing in the last 20% of the book, that they need to learn how to communicate, because they just… don’t talk about anything other than hockey (we don’t even find out what Brady’s job is lol)?! Brady, because of his internalised biphobia and difficult past and Nick because Brady is so emotionally unavailable, that Nick is too scared and insecure to ask even the most basic personal questions. Honestly, Brady was kinda treating Nick like shit for a lot of the book and you don’t understand why, because it’s single POV. Maybe I would have handled that trope better, if we got dual POV? I dunno. Anyway, they were able to pull their heads out of their asses in the end, but I can’t deny I wanted to scream at my kindle many times until then lol
Also, there were a lot of typos that threw me.
I did love these idiots though - a LOT - and enjoyed the slow burn, pining, relationship development and meddling friends.
I wished for a little less hockey, a lot more talking and for chunks of Brady’s story much earlier though, so 3,5⭐️ rounded up it is.
God, I was rooting so hard for these two Bois. When I tell you that I could not put the book down, I mean it. I could not put the damn book down. Work? Going outside at all? Doing laundry and other grown up things you gotta do? It all had to wait, until these two got together. The pining was almost unbearable (but in a cute way?) and when they finally got together… ooh boy. You know it’s a good slowburn when a look, a teasing comment or a lingering shoulder squeeze gives you more butterflies than actual ‘action’.
Yeah, it’s long, and yeah, it was a whole lot of hockey, which was exhausting sometimes - not gonna lie - but the cast, people. The CAST in this one was amazing. From Brady and Nick, to his cousins and especially the teammates, they were all distinct, three dimensional, funny and just… good? I had such a good time with this book, even if I didn’t understand half of all the… hockeying.
There was one thing, I didn’t like that much, though. This is absolutely a me-thing, but I can’t handle the miscommunication/no-communication trope very well and it does play a huge part here. They don’t talk. Period. It’s a whole thing in the last 20% of the book, that they need to learn how to communicate, because they just… don’t talk about anything other than hockey (we don’t even find out what Brady’s job is lol)?! Brady, because of his internalised biphobia and difficult past and Nick because Brady is so emotionally unavailable, that Nick is too scared and insecure to ask even the most basic personal questions. Honestly, Brady was kinda treating Nick like shit for a lot of the book and you don’t understand why, because it’s single POV. Maybe I would have handled that trope better, if we got dual POV? I dunno. Anyway, they were able to pull their heads out of their asses in the end, but I can’t deny I wanted to scream at my kindle many times until then lol
Also, there were a lot of typos that threw me.
I did love these idiots though - a LOT - and enjoyed the slow burn, pining, relationship development and meddling friends.
I wished for a little less hockey, a lot more talking and for chunks of Brady’s story much earlier though, so 3,5⭐️ rounded up it is.
November 1, 2025
Great news for me, but bad news for A.L. Heard: this book finally convinced me to watch a hockey game and I'm now obsessed!! WITH THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS!! Brady would be so happy!
I'm a big fan of this author's work, so I knew going into this I would have a blast -- and boy, did I! Nick and Brady had great chemistry and while the unnecessarily drawn out miscommunication was the reason I knocked this down a star, I enjoyed every moment with them. The side characters were also great, as well as the writing. Seriously, I don't think I'll ever be disappointed by anything A.L. Heard writes.
I'm a big fan of this author's work, so I knew going into this I would have a blast -- and boy, did I! Nick and Brady had great chemistry and while the unnecessarily drawn out miscommunication was the reason I knocked this down a star, I enjoyed every moment with them. The side characters were also great, as well as the writing. Seriously, I don't think I'll ever be disappointed by anything A.L. Heard writes.
May 10, 2021
This is one sloooooooow burn, a strangers to friends to lovers hockey romance that really takes its time getting where it’s going and commits fully to a realistic portrayal of a messy, fragile relationship. It also commits to the hockey part of the equation - A.L.Heard clearly knows the sport and now I know more than I ever thought I would. Add the detailed relationship and the detailed sports play together and you end up with a long novel. Too long for me, in parts, but the MCs are so beguiling they got me through it.
The story is single POV, told by Nick Porter, a generally sunshine-y accountant who has taken up ice hockey as an adult. He meets Brady Jensen, a buttoned up grump who wears shorts and flip flops in winter, when he joins a local beer league. Jensie is a brilliant skater, a great defence man, way too good for the Jagr Bombs. There’s definitely a story there, but he’s not telling. Over many months the two become friends by inches, and then something more than friends although neither is willing to say it out loud. While Nick is an out gay man, Brady’s sexuality is unclear. One things for certain: he’s private, so private it’s touch and go whether anyone is getting past his protective shell.
The conflict between these two was real and painful, drawn out in a way that was both realistic and kind of excruciating. Every time they failed to talk, every time they had a near miss at intimacy...gah it was mostly intense, but occasionally too much. The load was lightened, and stretched out even further, by great cameos from the hockey team - I loved their Facebook message exchanges! - and Nick’s brilliantly supportive network of cousins. I love Jenna forever.
I believe this came out of fic, and maybe that explains some of its bagginess; it has that episodic feel. With some judicious editing it could have been great; without it was still very good. I’d definitely read more in the series. I’m going for Benns book next!
CWs: homophobia, internalised homophobia, depression, hockey injuries
The story is single POV, told by Nick Porter, a generally sunshine-y accountant who has taken up ice hockey as an adult. He meets Brady Jensen, a buttoned up grump who wears shorts and flip flops in winter, when he joins a local beer league. Jensie is a brilliant skater, a great defence man, way too good for the Jagr Bombs. There’s definitely a story there, but he’s not telling. Over many months the two become friends by inches, and then something more than friends although neither is willing to say it out loud. While Nick is an out gay man, Brady’s sexuality is unclear. One things for certain: he’s private, so private it’s touch and go whether anyone is getting past his protective shell.
The conflict between these two was real and painful, drawn out in a way that was both realistic and kind of excruciating. Every time they failed to talk, every time they had a near miss at intimacy...gah it was mostly intense, but occasionally too much. The load was lightened, and stretched out even further, by great cameos from the hockey team - I loved their Facebook message exchanges! - and Nick’s brilliantly supportive network of cousins. I love Jenna forever.
I believe this came out of fic, and maybe that explains some of its bagginess; it has that episodic feel. With some judicious editing it could have been great; without it was still very good. I’d definitely read more in the series. I’m going for Benns book next!
CWs: homophobia, internalised homophobia, depression, hockey injuries
October 4, 2025
This book was amazing!
Even though I'm a fan of dual POVs, and considering this book is told entirely from Nick's POV I was surprised that I loved it so much; however, I think it particularly works since we see through Nick's eyes the mystery that is Brady and along with him we try to decipher and interpret all their little interactions to try and gather clues.
This is a very very slow burn friends-to- lovers, but oh boy is it worth it!
It is all hockey, so if that is not your thing this book will not be for you.
Even though I'm a fan of dual POVs, and considering this book is told entirely from Nick's POV I was surprised that I loved it so much; however, I think it particularly works since we see through Nick's eyes the mystery that is Brady and along with him we try to decipher and interpret all their little interactions to try and gather clues.
This is a very very slow burn friends-to- lovers, but oh boy is it worth it!
It is all hockey, so if that is not your thing this book will not be for you.
March 29, 2022
I wish we had half stars. Because this is very much a 3.5 but I can't round up on it, for a few reasons. First of which.. this is a bit lengthy. And the conflict, being that these two do not know how to communicate and one of the two lets the other get away with it for too damn long, just drags it all out and dulls some of the shine -- of which there was a lot.
This is probably one of the most hockey books to hockey. People who aren't fans may glaze over at some (a lot) of the dialogue and arguments about real life (not fictional) teams and characters. But there's also a good chunk of practice, games, tournaments, which is exciting and fun. Also, let me say, this book made me laugh. Quite a lot. There's some funny shit in here.
But along with the length, well.. the romance was unexpected. It was sweet and tentative and wholesome and I liked that. But I never felt much zing. And no, that's not me criticizing the fact that this was closed door. I did really like them as flirty friends and then more. Just missed some of the t e n s i o n.
If you love an ensemble, you'll be very pleased by this one. Half the hilarity were the group chats and games and general hijinks of the variety of personas involved. It was great.
Would definitely read this author again.
3.5 stars
This is probably one of the most hockey books to hockey. People who aren't fans may glaze over at some (a lot) of the dialogue and arguments about real life (not fictional) teams and characters. But there's also a good chunk of practice, games, tournaments, which is exciting and fun. Also, let me say, this book made me laugh. Quite a lot. There's some funny shit in here.
But along with the length, well.. the romance was unexpected. It was sweet and tentative and wholesome and I liked that. But I never felt much zing. And no, that's not me criticizing the fact that this was closed door. I did really like them as flirty friends and then more. Just missed some of the t e n s i o n.
If you love an ensemble, you'll be very pleased by this one. Half the hilarity were the group chats and games and general hijinks of the variety of personas involved. It was great.
Would definitely read this author again.
3.5 stars
September 25, 2025
I hesitated for (too) long before reading this, because I’ve read my share of stupid hockey romances (you know which ones I mean) and I was worried it would be like that.
I was wrong. So wrong.
It took me a while to get hooked, but once I was, I stayed up late through the night because I wanted more. The slow burn was killing me and I felt all the feelings. I loved Brady and Nick so much.
I mistakingly thought it was a series and I’m so sad it’s not because I want so much more.
4.5 stars
I was wrong. So wrong.
It took me a while to get hooked, but once I was, I stayed up late through the night because I wanted more. The slow burn was killing me and I felt all the feelings. I loved Brady and Nick so much.
I mistakingly thought it was a series and I’m so sad it’s not because I want so much more.
4.5 stars
April 3, 2022
3.5 stars**
September 6, 2022
I’ll admit I was pretty dubious when this was rec’d to me, seeing as it I don’t like sports romances and don’t like hockey in general. But, I’m generally willing to give anything a try and good writing wins out over all else.
I really enjoyed the writing. I really loved the characters. It was single POV and third person, which I love and which I find is becoming far less common these days. I don’t want to know what the LI is thinking all the time, thank you very much.
I was told this was “a lot hockey”. And while that was pretty accurate, I surprisingly didn’t mind. The only time that I found it a bit much was when they would lapse into discussions of actual hockey players. If I never hear of Ovechkin and Jagr again, it will be too soon.
I also really dislike texts and group chats in books. While I was a bit irked by their appearance, they did grow on me… with one exception. The messages that were memes or gifs or photos, and there was just image descriptions of them was odd. It kind of made sense once I knew this author writes fanfic, as the texts with memes, etc is something I’ve encountered lots of Ao3 (except with actual images). I just think there could have been a way write those chats that didn’t involve describing memes.
I liked where this ended. Everything wasn’t magically fixed, and I don’t need or want everything tied up in a near little bow in the epilogue.
I really enjoyed the writing. I really loved the characters. It was single POV and third person, which I love and which I find is becoming far less common these days. I don’t want to know what the LI is thinking all the time, thank you very much.
I was told this was “a lot hockey”. And while that was pretty accurate, I surprisingly didn’t mind. The only time that I found it a bit much was when they would lapse into discussions of actual hockey players. If I never hear of Ovechkin and Jagr again, it will be too soon.
I also really dislike texts and group chats in books. While I was a bit irked by their appearance, they did grow on me… with one exception. The messages that were memes or gifs or photos, and there was just image descriptions of them was odd. It kind of made sense once I knew this author writes fanfic, as the texts with memes, etc is something I’ve encountered lots of Ao3 (except with actual images). I just think there could have been a way write those chats that didn’t involve describing memes.
I liked where this ended. Everything wasn’t magically fixed, and I don’t need or want everything tied up in a near little bow in the epilogue.
May 7, 2025
So, I don't like Brady. Let's just get that out of the way.
This is a long ass book about how far two people can make it WITHOUT talking about things. Turns out? They don't make it far but they somehow manage to take too long doing even that.
'It was too soon to be tired of whatever it was they were doing together.'
All I have to say to that is WAS IT? Was it really too soon to be tired? I wasn't in it and I was tired of it.
You can't be saying, 'I'm not really into guys', two months and a lot of sex later.
You just CAN'T. Because what do you mean?
And I love that Nick(for the first time) called bullshit and said, 'Well you've been IN at least one guy'
Because??????
And I'm really sickkkkkkkk of the childhood trauma stuff always being used a reason because honestly, there's got to be a deadline on that stuff. Everyone has their issues but beyond a certain point, you either work on them or you leave other people out of it. It's really not a big ask.
And this is why this book would have worked for me if the MCs had been young adults. 18-23 maybe.
But 30 year old Brady playing ping-pong with Nick's feelings for months? Sorry, no.
And I had no issues with him when he seemed to sense Nick's feelings but hadn't acknowledged them in either direction. I could lie to myself that nobody had said or done anything therefore nobody was at fault for the fuckery.
Everything after Pittsburgh, I firmly hold Brady accountable. Because there's no point in starting things, tensing everytime it's referenced, ghosting at will(multiple times, FYI)
Could have left that poor guy alone. Nobody ever died of unrequited feelings. It feels like you might but nobody ever does. That I know of, anyway.
“I’m not the guy you think I am. I’m not… I’m not easy to date."
91% in when we've already seen this. Yeah, dude, no SHIT?!
Also, not a huge fan of Brady basically saying yeah, I know we've had our issues but at least no one was angry and no one got kicked off the team and no one was injured. Because, yeah, no. It might not have been a broken ankle but Nick WAS injured. Do emotional injuries not count? I know Nick has never met the phrase self - respect or interfaced with it in any way, whatsoever, but isn't it hurtful to text the guy you've been seeing for months and not get a response for weeks? And it's happened more than once?
Fuck all the way off, Brady.
Gag is, if they'd had the discussion they had 92% in at LITERALLY any point before Pittsburgh, I'd have felt very different about everything Brady.
It's way different to tell someone 'Look, I have these hang ups but I really like you and if you think you'd like to try regardless, I'd really like the opportunity to see where things go' vs the avoidance shit he did that STILL ended up with them having this conversation except he'd hurt Nick a lot by then.
Meanwhile, I'd fully given up on Nick as being an MC I could respect because Brady gives him some sob story and he's instantly jumping over himself to offer absolution and THEN Brady made some inane comment about Nick needing to get a new job and Nick immediately thought, “Not all of us run from our problems.”💀💀💀💀
Thought it and didn't say it because duh, but still. So there was a little spice in Nick. Who'd have thought. Which brings me to my next soapbox.
If you don't feel comfortable expressing your discontent to your partner even after they've hurt you, that's not a healthy relationship dynamic.
Because here he is, with a man he was scared of asking if they were dating, and he couldn't even take the opportunity to tell him off after the ghosting and masqueraded behind 'you'll need to make it up to me in the bedroom' and is now surprised the resentment festered.
And this is how we get scenes like what happened 97% in. Where in most books, we'd be at the ghastly too-happy stage..
Which usually bores me, so I'm glad this happened. But also-what do you expect when you try to have a relationship where you can't talk?
So maybe I'm overthinking it but it felt like Nick saw Brady as this paragon of hockey and hotness and just COULDN'T believe he got to be with him, in any capacity, undefined though it was, and he was so scared of losing it that he kept brushing things under the rug even when he had every right to cause a stink.
Also, yeah. Doesn't help that when you CAN'T talk about something, you can't apologize for it, either.
So Nick was just going around excited to be involved while his heart kept a mental tally of all the Brady Fuck Ups.
Whoever said love keeps no record of wrongs clearly lied.
And Brady STILL thinks Nick wasn't upset about PA. LOL. But to be fair, that's what Nick gets.
Again Brady still didn't apologize. He explained. Giving an explanation then ending it with, "You forgive me?" IS NOT AN APOLOGY.
Good Lord. I really don't like this guy.
Nick is, and I mean this with utmost DISrespect, a very convenient boyfriend. You tell him you're kinda scared of being out but you'd like to try(for him) and he's basically all, nah, babes, we can make the closet comfortable. 😂
He JUST said he wanted to try. What is WRONG with Nick?
So easy to please. Great news for Brady.
This is a long ass book about how far two people can make it WITHOUT talking about things. Turns out? They don't make it far but they somehow manage to take too long doing even that.
'It was too soon to be tired of whatever it was they were doing together.'
All I have to say to that is WAS IT? Was it really too soon to be tired? I wasn't in it and I was tired of it.
You can't be saying, 'I'm not really into guys', two months and a lot of sex later.
You just CAN'T. Because what do you mean?
And I love that Nick(for the first time) called bullshit and said, 'Well you've been IN at least one guy'
Because??????
And I'm really sickkkkkkkk of the childhood trauma stuff always being used a reason because honestly, there's got to be a deadline on that stuff. Everyone has their issues but beyond a certain point, you either work on them or you leave other people out of it. It's really not a big ask.
And this is why this book would have worked for me if the MCs had been young adults. 18-23 maybe.
But 30 year old Brady playing ping-pong with Nick's feelings for months? Sorry, no.
And I had no issues with him when he seemed to sense Nick's feelings but hadn't acknowledged them in either direction. I could lie to myself that nobody had said or done anything therefore nobody was at fault for the fuckery.
Everything after Pittsburgh, I firmly hold Brady accountable. Because there's no point in starting things, tensing everytime it's referenced, ghosting at will(multiple times, FYI)
Could have left that poor guy alone. Nobody ever died of unrequited feelings. It feels like you might but nobody ever does. That I know of, anyway.
“I’m not the guy you think I am. I’m not… I’m not easy to date."
91% in when we've already seen this. Yeah, dude, no SHIT?!
Also, not a huge fan of Brady basically saying yeah, I know we've had our issues but at least no one was angry and no one got kicked off the team and no one was injured. Because, yeah, no. It might not have been a broken ankle but Nick WAS injured. Do emotional injuries not count? I know Nick has never met the phrase self - respect or interfaced with it in any way, whatsoever, but isn't it hurtful to text the guy you've been seeing for months and not get a response for weeks? And it's happened more than once?
Fuck all the way off, Brady.
Gag is, if they'd had the discussion they had 92% in at LITERALLY any point before Pittsburgh, I'd have felt very different about everything Brady.
It's way different to tell someone 'Look, I have these hang ups but I really like you and if you think you'd like to try regardless, I'd really like the opportunity to see where things go' vs the avoidance shit he did that STILL ended up with them having this conversation except he'd hurt Nick a lot by then.
Meanwhile, I'd fully given up on Nick as being an MC I could respect because Brady gives him some sob story and he's instantly jumping over himself to offer absolution and THEN Brady made some inane comment about Nick needing to get a new job and Nick immediately thought, “Not all of us run from our problems.”💀💀💀💀
Thought it and didn't say it because duh, but still. So there was a little spice in Nick. Who'd have thought. Which brings me to my next soapbox.
If you don't feel comfortable expressing your discontent to your partner even after they've hurt you, that's not a healthy relationship dynamic.
Because here he is, with a man he was scared of asking if they were dating, and he couldn't even take the opportunity to tell him off after the ghosting and masqueraded behind 'you'll need to make it up to me in the bedroom' and is now surprised the resentment festered.
And this is how we get scenes like what happened 97% in. Where in most books, we'd be at the ghastly too-happy stage..
Which usually bores me, so I'm glad this happened. But also-what do you expect when you try to have a relationship where you can't talk?
So maybe I'm overthinking it but it felt like Nick saw Brady as this paragon of hockey and hotness and just COULDN'T believe he got to be with him, in any capacity, undefined though it was, and he was so scared of losing it that he kept brushing things under the rug even when he had every right to cause a stink.
Also, yeah. Doesn't help that when you CAN'T talk about something, you can't apologize for it, either.
So Nick was just going around excited to be involved while his heart kept a mental tally of all the Brady Fuck Ups.
Whoever said love keeps no record of wrongs clearly lied.
And Brady STILL thinks Nick wasn't upset about PA. LOL. But to be fair, that's what Nick gets.
Again Brady still didn't apologize. He explained. Giving an explanation then ending it with, "You forgive me?" IS NOT AN APOLOGY.
Good Lord. I really don't like this guy.
Nick is, and I mean this with utmost DISrespect, a very convenient boyfriend. You tell him you're kinda scared of being out but you'd like to try(for him) and he's basically all, nah, babes, we can make the closet comfortable. 😂
He JUST said he wanted to try. What is WRONG with Nick?
So easy to please. Great news for Brady.
March 20, 2022
I read this book one (1) year ago and am finally writing the review because better late than never. Even after a year every time a new reader tells me they read and loved it I am taken back to the overwhelming feeling of wanting to hug the book. Or hug my Kindle holding the ebook, as it were. It has all my favorite things: domesticity, slowest of slow burns, hockey (a LOT of hockey), realistic and fully fleshed out characters, and more hockey. As I saw in another review, the book is 80% hockey but still makes you care about all the hockey even if you don't give one crap about hockey. Hockey hockey hockey. And of course the slowly building relationship between Brady and Nick! Perfection.
There is one (1) flaw in the book which is how Brady's mental health was handled at the end but I still thought it was realistic if a bit out of nowhere which, to be fair, we are completely in Nick's POV in the book. The author has a book of bonus scenes available from Brady's POV which help contextualize the ending.
Overall still a 5/5 read even with multiple re-reads, discussions, and a full year of hindsight.
There is one (1) flaw in the book which is how Brady's mental health was handled at the end but I still thought it was realistic if a bit out of nowhere which, to be fair, we are completely in Nick's POV in the book. The author has a book of bonus scenes available from Brady's POV which help contextualize the ending.
Overall still a 5/5 read even with multiple re-reads, discussions, and a full year of hindsight.
June 2, 2021
2.5 stars
I can’t believe I committed that much time and patience to a sexless romance novel. Not even fade to black! We barely got on page kissing! The lack of any scenes even remotely close to showing tension resulted in a couple with little chemistry, no intimacy, and no bonding.
The characters were very likable, Nick especially. Brady’s issues were irritating in a romance novel and not well handled by the character himself. Many issues were unresolved by the end. Nick did deserve better in the end.
The lack of communication between the two characters was mind numbing.
This is a way too long, bloated, SLOWWWWWWWWW burn story with lovely characters (including side characters) and many entertaining scenes, but honestly when I got to 75% and realised there would be no on page sex I wanted to DNF. Do with that what you will.
The cover though, it’s so good!
I can’t believe I committed that much time and patience to a sexless romance novel. Not even fade to black! We barely got on page kissing! The lack of any scenes even remotely close to showing tension resulted in a couple with little chemistry, no intimacy, and no bonding.
The characters were very likable, Nick especially. Brady’s issues were irritating in a romance novel and not well handled by the character himself. Many issues were unresolved by the end. Nick did deserve better in the end.
The lack of communication between the two characters was mind numbing.
This is a way too long, bloated, SLOWWWWWWWWW burn story with lovely characters (including side characters) and many entertaining scenes, but honestly when I got to 75% and realised there would be no on page sex I wanted to DNF. Do with that what you will.
The cover though, it’s so good!
November 3, 2025
Okay so this is an incredibly sweet, adorable, EXTREME slow burn romance. I really enjoyed it. The story plays out over the course of a year and four months following Nick Porter as he joins an adult beer league hockey team, meets Brady Jensen, and spends pages and pages and pages pining over the unbelievably hot grump.
Brady warms up and things get kinda adorable when you realize both guys are into it but are too in their own heads about it.
The book is a little bit of a slog in the middle because you're exhausted and just need these two adorable idiots to kiss but I still managed to finish this in literally one day.
Edit: Okay so a day later I'm still thinking about these adorable dummies and have upped this to just straight 5/5 rather than 4.5/5.
Brady warms up and things get kinda adorable when you realize both guys are into it but are too in their own heads about it.
The book is a little bit of a slog in the middle because you're exhausted and just need these two adorable idiots to kiss but I still managed to finish this in literally one day.
Edit: Okay so a day later I'm still thinking about these adorable dummies and have upped this to just straight 5/5 rather than 4.5/5.
September 17, 2023
Great, soothing read. Great MC characterizations. It’s hard to write normal people doing normal boring stuff in a way that’s detailed enough to feel accurate but focused enough to stay interesting - and this author does that well! Love the DC/East Coast setting too.
However, this book should have been cut off at 95% because suddenly deciding to introduce multiple new conflicts into the story (untreated depression, trust issues) was a wild way to end things, especially when multiple other conflicts weren’t resolved at all (like Nick’s job stuff).
Idk I read this in one sitting, I felt like it went on for about a million years (in an enjoyable way, I swear haha), and when that stuff started getting introduced…. save it for the sequel, you know?
However, this book should have been cut off at 95% because suddenly deciding to introduce multiple new conflicts into the story (untreated depression, trust issues) was a wild way to end things, especially when multiple other conflicts weren’t resolved at all (like Nick’s job stuff).
Idk I read this in one sitting, I felt like it went on for about a million years (in an enjoyable way, I swear haha), and when that stuff started getting introduced…. save it for the sequel, you know?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2021
An adult league hockey romance, that is very hockey-centered. Also thought the commitment issues were well-done here overall.
it's a bit longish, but a decent and engaging read.
it's a bit longish, but a decent and engaging read.
May 5, 2024
Adorable!
I think many negative reviews mention the glacial pacing but as a slow-burn lover, I loved it! Nick's developing crush and social-media stalking were super relatable and felt very realistic.
I also think it was super interesting to read about hockey being played in a less professional setting (no NHL superstars, just a beer league) which was fun and refreshing.
For those interested, the author uploaded additional (smut) chapters on her AO3, and I wish some of them had been included in the actual book because imo there were important character moments that happened there, and might alleviate the feeling of the LI's quick turnaround/backstory dump at the end. Not sure why the author removed them, but I would highly recommend checking them out if you enjoyed the book.
I think many negative reviews mention the glacial pacing but as a slow-burn lover, I loved it! Nick's developing crush and social-media stalking were super relatable and felt very realistic.
I also think it was super interesting to read about hockey being played in a less professional setting (no NHL superstars, just a beer league) which was fun and refreshing.
For those interested, the author uploaded additional (smut) chapters on her AO3, and I wish some of them had been included in the actual book because imo there were important character moments that happened there, and might alleviate the feeling of the LI's quick turnaround/backstory dump at the end. Not sure why the author removed them, but I would highly recommend checking them out if you enjoyed the book.
November 24, 2021
3.25 stars
I really, really liked this -- it's almost solely about the beer league (so much fun!) and the excellent, slooooow-burn friends to lovers with excellent UST -- but it's way too long and the pacing really suffers for it. I mean, I loved them enough to read as many words as she wanted to give me, but objectively, she didn't pace the relationship development quite right for 400 words.
Still highly recommended if you like this type of thing, and I bet I'll do a re-read at some point since the rec league aspect helps it stand out from the crowd
I really, really liked this -- it's almost solely about the beer league (so much fun!) and the excellent, slooooow-burn friends to lovers with excellent UST -- but it's way too long and the pacing really suffers for it. I mean, I loved them enough to read as many words as she wanted to give me, but objectively, she didn't pace the relationship development quite right for 400 words.
Still highly recommended if you like this type of thing, and I bet I'll do a re-read at some point since the rec league aspect helps it stand out from the crowd
October 10, 2021
3.5 stars
The fan fiction origins of the story are clear. The length of the story tells me it was a long serial. The middle stretches on too long, but it might not have been noticeable as a serial. I liked the recreational hockey league setting and the side characters were quite enjoyable.
The fan fiction origins of the story are clear. The length of the story tells me it was a long serial. The middle stretches on too long, but it might not have been noticeable as a serial. I liked the recreational hockey league setting and the side characters were quite enjoyable.
April 10, 2024
Mix Catherine Cloud’s hockey books and Ashlyn Kane’s hockey books and you have this one. If you love those (I do), then you will love this.
November 4, 2025
Zaczęło się dobrze - no bo hokej, ale nie taki, do jakiego przyzwyczaiła nas większość autorek/autorów. To nie NHL, czy AHL... to liga amatorska, najniższa z możliwych - niżej już nic nie ma. 8 zespołów w lidze, zero trenera, zero treningów, w drużynie jest zarówno 19-latek, 57-latek, jak i kobieta. Nasz główny bohater, który ma bodajże 28 lat, jeździ na łyżwach dopiero od kilku miesięcy, ale dołącza do drużyny... Brzmi interesująco... ale potem zaczynają się schody, i to cholerne...
Jest tylko jeden POV - ale to jeszcze jest do wzięcia na klatę, choć tego drugiego naprawdę brakuje.
Jest sporo SMS-ów i wiadomości na messengerze - a tego zdecydowanie nie lubię 🫤
Ale jest jedna rzecz, która jest NAPRAWDĘ zła i która wywołuje jeszcze inne złe... brak komunikacji 🤦♀️
Brak komunikacji, który jest NAPRAWDĘ wręcz fizycznie bolesny... Od samego początku.
TA ROZMOWA odbywa się dopiero gdzieś w ok. 95% historii 👀 A książka do najkrótszych nie należy...
Zatem, w związku z brakiem TEJ ROZMOWY między naszymi bohaterami, NIC się nie dzieje... Jedynym bezpiecznym gruntem do właściwie każdej innej rozmowy niż ta właściwa (której nie ma prawie do samego końca - przypominam tylko 😜), jest hokej, zatem mamy naprawdę od cholery hokeja - zarówno w dialogach, jak i w akcji. Naprawdę uwielbiam hokejowe romanse, ale wszystko ma swoje granice, a tutaj zostały one przekroczone i to baaaardzo... A to wywołuje po prostu nudę 🤷♀️ To slow burn (znowu muszę dodać na wszelki wypadek, że te też uwielbiam), zatem wiadomo - nie ma co oczekiwać fajerwerków co kilka stron czy choćby rozdziałów, ale w tej historii naprawdę po prostu NIC SIĘ NIE DZIEJE...
Wynudziłam się okrutnie, w sumie to trochę nawet zdenerwowałam (bo chłopaki, naprawdę? tak długo wam zajęło wyjaśnienie sobie pewnych spraw?) i rozczarowana daję dwie gwiazdki 🫤
Jest tylko jeden POV - ale to jeszcze jest do wzięcia na klatę, choć tego drugiego naprawdę brakuje.
Jest sporo SMS-ów i wiadomości na messengerze - a tego zdecydowanie nie lubię 🫤
Ale jest jedna rzecz, która jest NAPRAWDĘ zła i która wywołuje jeszcze inne złe... brak komunikacji 🤦♀️
Brak komunikacji, który jest NAPRAWDĘ wręcz fizycznie bolesny... Od samego początku.
TA ROZMOWA odbywa się dopiero gdzieś w ok. 95% historii 👀 A książka do najkrótszych nie należy...
Zatem, w związku z brakiem TEJ ROZMOWY między naszymi bohaterami, NIC się nie dzieje... Jedynym bezpiecznym gruntem do właściwie każdej innej rozmowy niż ta właściwa (której nie ma prawie do samego końca - przypominam tylko 😜), jest hokej, zatem mamy naprawdę od cholery hokeja - zarówno w dialogach, jak i w akcji. Naprawdę uwielbiam hokejowe romanse, ale wszystko ma swoje granice, a tutaj zostały one przekroczone i to baaaardzo... A to wywołuje po prostu nudę 🤷♀️ To slow burn (znowu muszę dodać na wszelki wypadek, że te też uwielbiam), zatem wiadomo - nie ma co oczekiwać fajerwerków co kilka stron czy choćby rozdziałów, ale w tej historii naprawdę po prostu NIC SIĘ NIE DZIEJE...
Wynudziłam się okrutnie, w sumie to trochę nawet zdenerwowałam (bo chłopaki, naprawdę? tak długo wam zajęło wyjaśnienie sobie pewnych spraw?) i rozczarowana daję dwie gwiazdki 🫤
November 27, 2023
Super slow burn (amateur) hockey romance. LOTS of hockey in this one. Loved the side characters and team, the group texts were great. The developing romance was well done. I would have liked more real conversations between the two main characters.
February 26, 2021
I am a complete sucker for hockey romance; I am also a complete sucker for slow burns featuring smart, thoughtful people that get to fall in love with their best friends. This book is both. I put it on my 'want-to-read' list because of the sweet cover, and it actually surpassed all of my hopes in terms of sheer cuteness. I LOVED IT. I am so insanely invested in Nick and Brady, I want to read other novels where they get to spend their life together, watch and play A LOT of hockey, and just... be.
Did I already say that this book is sweet? It bears repeating: it is sweet, achingly so. The slow burn is perfect for these two characters who have a lot of growing up to do (don't we all?): any faster and it would have felt forced. I loved that it is one of those stories where love supposedly is the solution to any problem: yes, they are in love, but also yes, they have got some baggage - admittedly, Brady more than Nick. Learning to deal with the past to live an honest, happy life is one of the themes of this story (the other is universal appreciation for Jaromir Jagr, you love to see it). This is undoubtedly a romance novel, but it kind of crosses into a coming-of-age story, and it is so, so good.
From what I gather from the author's profile, this is her debut. And what a debut. Lovely, lovely, lovely. A hug, a hot chocolate in front of the fire, your favourite person bringing you ice cream. So pure.
Also: points for originality because I had never read another hockey romance involving beer league players. So lovely. I am completely enchanted.
(Also, I am insanely invested in Young Greg's fate? I would love to read the adventures of this goofball)
Did I already say that this book is sweet? It bears repeating: it is sweet, achingly so. The slow burn is perfect for these two characters who have a lot of growing up to do (don't we all?): any faster and it would have felt forced. I loved that it is one of those stories where love supposedly is the solution to any problem: yes, they are in love, but also yes, they have got some baggage - admittedly, Brady more than Nick. Learning to deal with the past to live an honest, happy life is one of the themes of this story (the other is universal appreciation for Jaromir Jagr, you love to see it). This is undoubtedly a romance novel, but it kind of crosses into a coming-of-age story, and it is so, so good.
From what I gather from the author's profile, this is her debut. And what a debut. Lovely, lovely, lovely. A hug, a hot chocolate in front of the fire, your favourite person bringing you ice cream. So pure.
Also: points for originality because I had never read another hockey romance involving beer league players. So lovely. I am completely enchanted.
(Also, I am insanely invested in Young Greg's fate? I would love to read the adventures of this goofball)
September 7, 2024
4/15/2023 reread: rounded up to 5 this time. I really wish A.L. Heard would publish something new. (Yes I am ignoring the fact that she posts on AO3. I did my time on the FictionPress and ff.net back in the day. I try to stick with published works now.)
11/19/2021 read: 4.5 rounded down, although I think it could be rounded up, and it's definitely one of my favorite books of the year.
This is an extraordinarily slow burn with all naked activities off page. Some other reviewers argue that this is more of a hockey book than a romance, but I'd argue that it's a slice-of-life novel with a slight leaning towards romance and humor. The side characters are all amazing: they're funny and vibrant and so real. The conceit of showing texted conversations is incredibly well done. Also, Nick is a very realistic character: a man who picks up a new hobby as an adult and meets new people and does new things as a result. His insecurities are understandable; his "just accept what happens" attitude towards life is, well, something I identify with on a personal level.
My only issue with this book is something that is clearly by design: we learn little about Brady, the love interest, until extremely late in the story. I understand why this was done, but I think the author could have done a more gradual reveal to greater effect. (Oh, and the title is really dumb. What's with the misspelling of "boys"?)
I'd be shocked if most romance readers liked this book, but if you accept that it's more about life than romance and are okay with a very, very slow burn, I'd absolutely give this a read. It's a fantastic book.
11/19/2021 read: 4.5 rounded down, although I think it could be rounded up, and it's definitely one of my favorite books of the year.
This is an extraordinarily slow burn with all naked activities off page. Some other reviewers argue that this is more of a hockey book than a romance, but I'd argue that it's a slice-of-life novel with a slight leaning towards romance and humor. The side characters are all amazing: they're funny and vibrant and so real. The conceit of showing texted conversations is incredibly well done. Also, Nick is a very realistic character: a man who picks up a new hobby as an adult and meets new people and does new things as a result. His insecurities are understandable; his "just accept what happens" attitude towards life is, well, something I identify with on a personal level.
My only issue with this book is something that is clearly by design: we learn little about Brady, the love interest, until extremely late in the story. I understand why this was done, but I think the author could have done a more gradual reveal to greater effect. (Oh, and the title is really dumb. What's with the misspelling of "boys"?)
I'd be shocked if most romance readers liked this book, but if you accept that it's more about life than romance and are okay with a very, very slow burn, I'd absolutely give this a read. It's a fantastic book.
October 24, 2024
3.5 ⭐️. the sweetest, slowest slow burn.
January 12, 2025
I am not happy with this book. I was expecting slow burn, but slow burn only works if you see a building of characters and emotions. All I got was Brady who I don't really know anything about. And Nick, who worships Brady because he's good at hockey and a nice guy but Nick is so afraid of losing any whispers of Brady that he doesn't want to scare him off by asking for what he (Nick) wants/for more
This whole book caters to Brady and even has a character in the book being like "yoi need to fix this Nick" and putting all of the responsibilities on Nick to do something to fix Brady/make Brady happy because Brady is too fragile or some sh!t
I gave it 2 stars cause I read it. I was hoping for more the whole time
This whole book caters to Brady and even has a character in the book being like "yoi need to fix this Nick" and putting all of the responsibilities on Nick to do something to fix Brady/make Brady happy because Brady is too fragile or some sh!t
I gave it 2 stars cause I read it. I was hoping for more the whole time
February 3, 2022
DNF 73% That's crazy. Who abandons at book at that point?
Well, I had cause. I was loving this and then... Heard skips right over the MC's getting together. Huh? Months and months of yearning and pining and lusting and then Nothing?
That right there is a violation of the Romance Reader's Bill of Rights. Game over.
Well, I had cause. I was loving this and then... Heard skips right over the MC's getting together. Huh? Months and months of yearning and pining and lusting and then Nothing?
That right there is a violation of the Romance Reader's Bill of Rights. Game over.
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