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Delay of Game #1
Drive the Net
Jackson Harper had barely gotten his feet wet in the NHL before he was traded from LA to The Minnesota Northern Lights. It’s hard not to take it personally, but he is going to make the most of being the only out gay hockey player in Minnesota. He’s going to play so well that everyone is forced to talk about his hockey instead of his sexuality. Plus, if he focuses all of his effort on his game, he can ignore his freshly broken heart.
Ryan Cosgrove is thirty-two, which means he’s practically a geriatric hockey player. He won a cup a long time ago, and now all that’s left is his empty house, his golden retriever, Lola, the tail end of his hockey career, and the weight of loneliness as everyone in his life pairs off to start families. It’s hard to put effort into a personal life when you’re closeted, but since he’s the only vet on the team without a partner or kids, it’s obvious for Ryan to give Jackson his guest room for the season.
Their friendship is fast and easy, budding into a legendary bromance, if The Northern Lights’ social media is to be believed. Ryan is calm and steady, an anchor when Jackson needs one. Jackson’s magnetic personality pulls Ryan out of his shell. But despite the best of their intentions to keep “their relationship friendly and professional, their feelings keep slipping into romantic territory.
Ryan has been down this road before. He can’t make the mistake of falling for a teammate again. Plus, Jackson is ten years younger than him. Jackson needs to focus on hockey, healing his recently broken heart, and doing even one thing his parents will be proud of him for. Getting into a relationship in the middle of the season with his liney and roommate is a recipe for disaster.
But despite all the best intentions, Jackson keeps finding himself in Ryan’s arms. Will their feelings blow up in their faces, or can they figure out a way to have a real relationship?
Drive the Net is a low-angst, age-gap, MM hockey romance.
Ryan Cosgrove is thirty-two, which means he’s practically a geriatric hockey player. He won a cup a long time ago, and now all that’s left is his empty house, his golden retriever, Lola, the tail end of his hockey career, and the weight of loneliness as everyone in his life pairs off to start families. It’s hard to put effort into a personal life when you’re closeted, but since he’s the only vet on the team without a partner or kids, it’s obvious for Ryan to give Jackson his guest room for the season.
Their friendship is fast and easy, budding into a legendary bromance, if The Northern Lights’ social media is to be believed. Ryan is calm and steady, an anchor when Jackson needs one. Jackson’s magnetic personality pulls Ryan out of his shell. But despite the best of their intentions to keep “their relationship friendly and professional, their feelings keep slipping into romantic territory.
Ryan has been down this road before. He can’t make the mistake of falling for a teammate again. Plus, Jackson is ten years younger than him. Jackson needs to focus on hockey, healing his recently broken heart, and doing even one thing his parents will be proud of him for. Getting into a relationship in the middle of the season with his liney and roommate is a recipe for disaster.
But despite all the best intentions, Jackson keeps finding himself in Ryan’s arms. Will their feelings blow up in their faces, or can they figure out a way to have a real relationship?
Drive the Net is a low-angst, age-gap, MM hockey romance.
197 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 29, 2022
203 people are currently reading
752 people want to read
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August 20, 2023
this was something i wasn’t supposed to enjoy, and i say that with the most utmost respect. i’m saying that because the characters are two idiots who don’t communicate for like, 80% of the book, so you would think i would absolutely LOATHE this. but fuck that! i literally indulged myself in this. the first quarter was not looking promising at all and i was certain i’d be giving this a measly 2-stars because while i wasn’t hating it or anything, i was bored and not feeling anything for the characters. but once that second quarter kicked in, i was in for the whole ride, and let me tell you that i enjoyed every second after that.
to put it simply, and without offense, this isn’t anything special, per se, but man was it entertaining. i understand the criticism for this book, because believe me when i say that i am a hater through and through for miscommunication. i hate nothing more than two characters not talking to each other when they know they damn well can. they just choose not to and use the excuse of not knowing how even though their inner thoughts are literally about how they CAN talk. it brings in conflicts, drama, and sometimes unnecessary break ups that don’t last long at all and leaves the rest of the 15% of the story putting the characters back together one way or another. there have been very few books i’ve enjoyed where the miscommunication made sense. they’re all human (although fictional, but still) after all, so not having the capacity to understand everything and be able to communicate well all the time is completely understandable. what isn’t understandable and realistic is how jackson and ryan didn’t communicate when opportunity after opportunity came left and right and front and back and were simply ignored.
but did i give a shit? absolutely the fuck NOT.
Ryan gave him a little smile when he realized Jackson was following him, and he held his hotel room door open for him. When it shut behind both of them, Ryan pulled him into a hug.
It wasn’t sexual. It didn’t feel charged the way some of their more recent interactions had felt. The hug just felt comforting. They’d edited out so many moments like these over the past handful of days, and Jackson let himself sink against Ryan’s chest, the roughness of his suit under his cheek, the click of the air conditioner turning on a reminder that they were in a hotel room in a different country. But Jackson felt more at home than he had in days.
i found pure thrill in seeing these two dumb idiots dance around each other. they don’t have as much of a push and pull relationship as i expected but it is still there, which i do tend to like but it always depends on the reasoning for it. they dance around each other the whole time and secretly pine for each other. they have a small friends with benefits situation going on, but it also doesn’t make their entire relationship. me being someone who isn’t the most fond of that trope, it also took me by surprise how that didn’t affect my enjoyment at all. i think it added to the enjoyment instead, because these two would engage sexually and then run away from each other, which, as i said, normally would aggravate me but instead my frustration was turned into pure enjoyment. people around the two mc’s can see something brewing between them except them. they’re two idiots in love.
they were strangers first, and then roommates, and then platonically sexual friends. they developed feelings and didn’t know how to tell each other. they both wanted each other but thought the other didn’t. ryan’s excuse was always that he was too old, and jackson’s was that ryan was like a mentor to him. they both bullshit each other and they know it but won’t defend what they feel. they simply let their dicks make decisions for themselves and then their hearts face the consequences.
it was absolutely delightful.
i liked seeing them get to know each other before. i liked how natural their platonic bonding became. i liked how touchy they were with each other, how regular it became for them to become domestic without acknowledging it. there’s absolutely no logical and smart reason for the two to not talk about how they were feeling, but they simply made assumptions about what would happen instead of testing the waters. 80% of the book is spent with them pining over each other and then accepting the fact that they can’t be together for no acceptable reasons. their jealousy and mutual pining was delightful. it was filled with want and need that made no sense considering they weren’t together but i obviously loved it. considering the book is also pretty short (exactly 200 pages according to the kindle), you’d think there would need more relationship development, but i never felt that way. i thought their relationship progressed pretty well. i could feel their emotional connection, and it’s only because it wasn’t all sexual. there were emotional bonding moments where they unconsciously connected emotionally but didn’t really acknowledge it as such. their feelings grew pretty early on but i still accepted their chemistry. their age gap is only a ten year age difference, with jackson being 22 and ryan being 32, so it wasn’t bad at all even if ryan tried to make it worse than it never was.
i truly get the criticism this has faced. most reviews talk about how frustrating their miscommunication is, and how unnecessary it also was, and i definitely agree. it’s just funny to me how that is literally why i enjoyed this. all the dancing around each other, rejecting their feelings, coming up with excuses, running away, mutual pining and longing, and jealous moments is what made this a winner for me. add to that their domestic moments that they found normal.
i also wanna mention that i personally appreciate how jackson was kind of a crier, but not in a weird or annoying way. men crying isn’t normalized enough, let alone hockey men, so i’ll be honest and say i appreciated how jackson let himself feel with deep honesty and would cry when his body felt that need. i grew up in an environment and household where men have always been looked down upon for crying, constantly hearing men are weak for crying or showing emotion, or that “men don’t cry because only women do that” or similar bullshit statements. hockey is such a masculine sport that feelings and emotions aren’t as normalized. i think too often men in sports (specifically) are expected to not feel emotions due to their strong character, like them playing sports makes them emotionally stronger and able to express less. i never saw jackson as a cry baby. he was neglected by his family, even if it’s never really acknowledged that way. his mother, especially, is toxic, and jackson, being a young twenty two year old, only wants to make his parents proud. but his parents aren’t as supportive as they should be, and they choose to bring jackson down instead of lifting him up. even though jackson is in his early 20s, he still wants his parents reassurance and support, so when he doesn’t get that, of course he’s gonna feel weak and pathetic. hell, when i was working at my retail job i cried because i didn’t scan the customers products correctly and she called me out that i had to call my manager for help. basically, what i’m trying to say is, why is it that a woman crying for a simple think like that would be considered normal and even appropriate, but if it was a man he would be seen as weak and a loser? that’s why i’m saying jackson’s necessity to cry felt realistic. crying is natural and normal. i wish people didn’t think they need to hold their emotions in.
anyway, i’m off to read the second book now, which i’m a little weary about because that one actually is a friends with benefits/no strings attached type of relationship, which doesn’t work well for me most of the time. but, considering i didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as i did, with it having one of my biggest book pet peeves, i can’t say there isn’t some hope in me.
**also, despite this review not being how i usually write them (unorganized and messy), i’m kinda digging them. they help me really put in my thoughts without thinking much about what i’m gonna say. i’ve been losing motivation and interest in writing reviews so this helps.
to put it simply, and without offense, this isn’t anything special, per se, but man was it entertaining. i understand the criticism for this book, because believe me when i say that i am a hater through and through for miscommunication. i hate nothing more than two characters not talking to each other when they know they damn well can. they just choose not to and use the excuse of not knowing how even though their inner thoughts are literally about how they CAN talk. it brings in conflicts, drama, and sometimes unnecessary break ups that don’t last long at all and leaves the rest of the 15% of the story putting the characters back together one way or another. there have been very few books i’ve enjoyed where the miscommunication made sense. they’re all human (although fictional, but still) after all, so not having the capacity to understand everything and be able to communicate well all the time is completely understandable. what isn’t understandable and realistic is how jackson and ryan didn’t communicate when opportunity after opportunity came left and right and front and back and were simply ignored.
but did i give a shit? absolutely the fuck NOT.
Ryan gave him a little smile when he realized Jackson was following him, and he held his hotel room door open for him. When it shut behind both of them, Ryan pulled him into a hug.
It wasn’t sexual. It didn’t feel charged the way some of their more recent interactions had felt. The hug just felt comforting. They’d edited out so many moments like these over the past handful of days, and Jackson let himself sink against Ryan’s chest, the roughness of his suit under his cheek, the click of the air conditioner turning on a reminder that they were in a hotel room in a different country. But Jackson felt more at home than he had in days.
i found pure thrill in seeing these two dumb idiots dance around each other. they don’t have as much of a push and pull relationship as i expected but it is still there, which i do tend to like but it always depends on the reasoning for it. they dance around each other the whole time and secretly pine for each other. they have a small friends with benefits situation going on, but it also doesn’t make their entire relationship. me being someone who isn’t the most fond of that trope, it also took me by surprise how that didn’t affect my enjoyment at all. i think it added to the enjoyment instead, because these two would engage sexually and then run away from each other, which, as i said, normally would aggravate me but instead my frustration was turned into pure enjoyment. people around the two mc’s can see something brewing between them except them. they’re two idiots in love.
they were strangers first, and then roommates, and then platonically sexual friends. they developed feelings and didn’t know how to tell each other. they both wanted each other but thought the other didn’t. ryan’s excuse was always that he was too old, and jackson’s was that ryan was like a mentor to him. they both bullshit each other and they know it but won’t defend what they feel. they simply let their dicks make decisions for themselves and then their hearts face the consequences.
it was absolutely delightful.
i liked seeing them get to know each other before. i liked how natural their platonic bonding became. i liked how touchy they were with each other, how regular it became for them to become domestic without acknowledging it. there’s absolutely no logical and smart reason for the two to not talk about how they were feeling, but they simply made assumptions about what would happen instead of testing the waters. 80% of the book is spent with them pining over each other and then accepting the fact that they can’t be together for no acceptable reasons. their jealousy and mutual pining was delightful. it was filled with want and need that made no sense considering they weren’t together but i obviously loved it. considering the book is also pretty short (exactly 200 pages according to the kindle), you’d think there would need more relationship development, but i never felt that way. i thought their relationship progressed pretty well. i could feel their emotional connection, and it’s only because it wasn’t all sexual. there were emotional bonding moments where they unconsciously connected emotionally but didn’t really acknowledge it as such. their feelings grew pretty early on but i still accepted their chemistry. their age gap is only a ten year age difference, with jackson being 22 and ryan being 32, so it wasn’t bad at all even if ryan tried to make it worse than it never was.
i truly get the criticism this has faced. most reviews talk about how frustrating their miscommunication is, and how unnecessary it also was, and i definitely agree. it’s just funny to me how that is literally why i enjoyed this. all the dancing around each other, rejecting their feelings, coming up with excuses, running away, mutual pining and longing, and jealous moments is what made this a winner for me. add to that their domestic moments that they found normal.
i also wanna mention that i personally appreciate how jackson was kind of a crier, but not in a weird or annoying way. men crying isn’t normalized enough, let alone hockey men, so i’ll be honest and say i appreciated how jackson let himself feel with deep honesty and would cry when his body felt that need. i grew up in an environment and household where men have always been looked down upon for crying, constantly hearing men are weak for crying or showing emotion, or that “men don’t cry because only women do that” or similar bullshit statements. hockey is such a masculine sport that feelings and emotions aren’t as normalized. i think too often men in sports (specifically) are expected to not feel emotions due to their strong character, like them playing sports makes them emotionally stronger and able to express less. i never saw jackson as a cry baby. he was neglected by his family, even if it’s never really acknowledged that way. his mother, especially, is toxic, and jackson, being a young twenty two year old, only wants to make his parents proud. but his parents aren’t as supportive as they should be, and they choose to bring jackson down instead of lifting him up. even though jackson is in his early 20s, he still wants his parents reassurance and support, so when he doesn’t get that, of course he’s gonna feel weak and pathetic. hell, when i was working at my retail job i cried because i didn’t scan the customers products correctly and she called me out that i had to call my manager for help. basically, what i’m trying to say is, why is it that a woman crying for a simple think like that would be considered normal and even appropriate, but if it was a man he would be seen as weak and a loser? that’s why i’m saying jackson’s necessity to cry felt realistic. crying is natural and normal. i wish people didn’t think they need to hold their emotions in.
anyway, i’m off to read the second book now, which i’m a little weary about because that one actually is a friends with benefits/no strings attached type of relationship, which doesn’t work well for me most of the time. but, considering i didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as i did, with it having one of my biggest book pet peeves, i can’t say there isn’t some hope in me.
**also, despite this review not being how i usually write them (unorganized and messy), i’m kinda digging them. they help me really put in my thoughts without thinking much about what i’m gonna say. i’ve been losing motivation and interest in writing reviews so this helps.
November 29, 2022
God, this book was FRUSTRATING!!! I heard it’s a debut novel and if so it wasn’t half bad,honestly. I enjoyed it even though those guys annoyed the crap out of me. There was literally nothing keeping them apart and the miscommunication almost killed me. I needed more of them together during the book instead of them hooking up a couple of times, assume the other one regrets it and then staying away from each other for weeks, rinse and repeat. Sometimes I welcome angst in my readings but angst for the sake of angst buggs me. They get together at the end of the book and let me tell you, that wasn’t enough because I liked them together so much. The sports part was ok and not too overwhelming but I must say that THAT was the most softy and touchy feely hockey team I saw/read about in my life and I enjoyed it..it was kind of cute if not a bit unrealistic. I loved Ryan and I loved Jackson and I wish we’d seen more of them bonding on page without the gloomy tension and angst that always existed between them, the unrequited love they thought they were living and made you scream “Just talk to each other, you dummies !!!”
I was tempted to rate it 3 stars but it’s a debut and it’s quite promising so I’ll go with 4 stars because I really rooted for the guys and finished it in one sitting. I’m actually curious about the next book in the series. It will have a “faking to be gay to piss off my family trope” that I find a bit disrespectful but I love sexuality discoveries / bi-awakenings so I’ll probably read it. Fingers crossed to have a better communication and less gratuitous angst.
Later edit:
Just read the free bonus chapter and I need to rant a bit. Why?? Why authors insist in forcing the MCs to get along with their families when their families are assholes? Who says that because they’re your parents you have to swallow your hurt and pain and spend time (sacred time like Christmas,that it’s supposed to be merry and loving and joyful ) with a pair of toxic vicious rude people who don’t give a shit about you? Jackson’s parents were despicable and toxic and just because they didn’t throw him out for being gay that’s not a reason to make yourself and your bf miserable at Christmas for their sake. Just saying..
I was tempted to rate it 3 stars but it’s a debut and it’s quite promising so I’ll go with 4 stars because I really rooted for the guys and finished it in one sitting. I’m actually curious about the next book in the series. It will have a “faking to be gay to piss off my family trope” that I find a bit disrespectful but I love sexuality discoveries / bi-awakenings so I’ll probably read it. Fingers crossed to have a better communication and less gratuitous angst.
Later edit:
Just read the free bonus chapter and I need to rant a bit. Why?? Why authors insist in forcing the MCs to get along with their families when their families are assholes? Who says that because they’re your parents you have to swallow your hurt and pain and spend time (sacred time like Christmas,that it’s supposed to be merry and loving and joyful ) with a pair of toxic vicious rude people who don’t give a shit about you? Jackson’s parents were despicable and toxic and just because they didn’t throw him out for being gay that’s not a reason to make yourself and your bf miserable at Christmas for their sake. Just saying..
October 3, 2023
This was really good for being an author's debut-
I overall liked the story, the miscommunication was a bit annoying at times, but I am looking forward to reading more from this series
I overall liked the story, the miscommunication was a bit annoying at times, but I am looking forward to reading more from this series
August 25, 2023
4 stars.
This was a sweet short mm romance, with two MCs who had lots of chemistry, were caring and obviously more than friends, but for months didn't think the other felt the same.
I liked their closeness, liked how both felt so comfortable around each other from the beginning, and I really loved that Jackson wasn't afraid to cry when he was sad, and how Ryan instinctively comforted him.
I loved how their relationship progressed and didn't mind their not talking about their feelings for some time. It never aggravated me, maybe because I knew beforehand that this was a central part of the story. And since the book was on the shorter side, I never had the feeling that the author wanted to drag things out.
Thanks elena for recommending this!
This was a sweet short mm romance, with two MCs who had lots of chemistry, were caring and obviously more than friends, but for months didn't think the other felt the same.
I liked their closeness, liked how both felt so comfortable around each other from the beginning, and I really loved that Jackson wasn't afraid to cry when he was sad, and how Ryan instinctively comforted him.
I loved how their relationship progressed and didn't mind their not talking about their feelings for some time. It never aggravated me, maybe because I knew beforehand that this was a central part of the story. And since the book was on the shorter side, I never had the feeling that the author wanted to drag things out.
Thanks elena for recommending this!
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March 4, 2023
Drive the Net is the first book in the Delay of Game series and the debut novel by Hannah Henry. It was a cute hockey romance between a young out and proud gay hockey player with an older, still mostly closeted senior teammate.
Ryan and Jackson complimented one another well, and their romance was cute despite the bit of back and forth and miscommunications or lack of communication. Overall it was a pretty quick and cute hockey romance read. I wouldn’t say it is my top favourite within the genre but an okay read, especially for a debut novel!
Ryan and Jackson complimented one another well, and their romance was cute despite the bit of back and forth and miscommunications or lack of communication. Overall it was a pretty quick and cute hockey romance read. I wouldn’t say it is my top favourite within the genre but an okay read, especially for a debut novel!
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January 31, 2023🟡NO RATING🟡
Sooo... let me get this straight.
Two young, gay hockey players living together, liking each other and then deciding to avoid each other at all costs, just because?
Yeah, that sounds about right.
Jackson and Ryan were complete jackasses. I couldn't even believe these two.
Ryan was a 32-year old not-openly-gay hockey player with his own house, a solid income and unhappy love life.
Jackson was a 22-year old newbie who's openly gay, had a bit of a heartbreak in the past, doesn't date, doesn't hook-up, so he's very interested in having a serious relationship.
When he's traded to Ryan's team, Jackson lives in his guest house. They really hit it off with Ryan being this solid, stable, attentive man that's grounding Jackson and taking care of him, it doesn't take long for Jackson to fall for him, both developing deep feelings for one another.
But here's the catch.
They were dancing around each other and acting like a bunch of 13-year olds , not communicating, not hashing things out, both literally resisting each other with everything they've got...and for what??
Why were they backing out all the time?? With them being single and available, there was no logical explanation for that.
Both living together, they're supposed to have this amazing bromance going on and I'm wondering if I missed it somewhere in the story, because it didn't sound like it. We were just told it was a thing, there was no experiencing it.
And that's the thing that really bothered me . The story wasn't well developed and I couldn't feel there was any kind of depth to their connection. They were making stupid choices and by the second half of the book they were both annoying as hell because of it.
The writing was off and even though in general I liked Jackson and Ryan and I get what the author had in mind, I felt what their story was supposed to sound like, I didn't like it.
I mean, can I even say I didn't like it? The more accurate description would be that i'm confused and I have no feelings whatsoever about their story .
I hope Nate's story is better.
Sooo... let me get this straight.
Two young, gay hockey players living together, liking each other and then deciding to avoid each other at all costs, just because?
Yeah, that sounds about right.
Jackson and Ryan were complete jackasses. I couldn't even believe these two.
Ryan was a 32-year old not-openly-gay hockey player with his own house, a solid income and unhappy love life.
Jackson was a 22-year old newbie who's openly gay, had a bit of a heartbreak in the past, doesn't date, doesn't hook-up, so he's very interested in having a serious relationship.
When he's traded to Ryan's team, Jackson lives in his guest house. They really hit it off with Ryan being this solid, stable, attentive man that's grounding Jackson and taking care of him, it doesn't take long for Jackson to fall for him, both developing deep feelings for one another.
But here's the catch.
They were dancing around each other and acting like a bunch of 13-year olds , not communicating, not hashing things out, both literally resisting each other with everything they've got...and for what??
Why were they backing out all the time?? With them being single and available, there was no logical explanation for that.
Both living together, they're supposed to have this amazing bromance going on and I'm wondering if I missed it somewhere in the story, because it didn't sound like it. We were just told it was a thing, there was no experiencing it.
And that's the thing that really bothered me . The story wasn't well developed and I couldn't feel there was any kind of depth to their connection. They were making stupid choices and by the second half of the book they were both annoying as hell because of it.
The writing was off and even though in general I liked Jackson and Ryan and I get what the author had in mind, I felt what their story was supposed to sound like, I didn't like it.
I mean, can I even say I didn't like it? The more accurate description would be that i'm confused and I have no feelings whatsoever about their story .
I hope Nate's story is better.
October 25, 2023
A very cute palate cleanser of a book about two idiots sharing one brain cell and the most adorable golden retriever. The two mains don’t have much chemistry but there was something about them that kept me going.
I also enjoyed the writing style enough - it was simple and easy to devour and I read this quickly. I’ll definitely carry on with the series but I’ll never remember anything about this book.
I also enjoyed the writing style enough - it was simple and easy to devour and I read this quickly. I’ll definitely carry on with the series but I’ll never remember anything about this book.
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July 11, 2023DNF @ 44% - just kind of boring
November 28, 2022
Star Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
POV: Dual
HEA: Yes
Spice Rating: 3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review
Overall Opinion
Wow what a wonderful debut novel from this great author! I had been craving a good hockey romance and when this came across my radar I jumped so hard for it! It was a deliciously slow burning strangers-to-roommates-to-lovers and the world-building was done superbly. One aspect I really loved was that the author focused on the friendship between Ryan and Jackson before their relationship takes a turn, it really helped develop them into individuals and made it so much easier to love them. Normally I am not a massive fan of age-gap books, but this one was done so well I only felt love for it. The chemistry between the MCs was smoking hot and not overdone, and the overall dynamics between the MCs and also the side characters was written so well I cannot wait for the second book!
Read if you like:
❣️ M/M Romance
❣️ Hockey
❣️ Age Gap
❣️ Strangers-to-Roommates-to-Lovers
❣️ Slow Burn
❣️ HEA
POV: Dual
HEA: Yes
Spice Rating: 3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review
Overall Opinion
Wow what a wonderful debut novel from this great author! I had been craving a good hockey romance and when this came across my radar I jumped so hard for it! It was a deliciously slow burning strangers-to-roommates-to-lovers and the world-building was done superbly. One aspect I really loved was that the author focused on the friendship between Ryan and Jackson before their relationship takes a turn, it really helped develop them into individuals and made it so much easier to love them. Normally I am not a massive fan of age-gap books, but this one was done so well I only felt love for it. The chemistry between the MCs was smoking hot and not overdone, and the overall dynamics between the MCs and also the side characters was written so well I cannot wait for the second book!
Read if you like:
❣️ M/M Romance
❣️ Hockey
❣️ Age Gap
❣️ Strangers-to-Roommates-to-Lovers
❣️ Slow Burn
❣️ HEA
May 9, 2024
There is not much plot in this book and nothing much happens either, but what this book does have is excessive pinning on both sides, friends to lovers and low angst with a very small side of hockey.
May 30, 2023
DRIVE THE NET was a pretty good debut though it does have some continuity issues (did the team know Ryan was gay or not? It seems to go back and forth) and the simplistic writing style was occasionally awkward.
On a positive note I did really like both Jackson and Ryan as characters and the first half of the book I was really enjoying watching them become friends and then lovers. However, the miscommunications and assumptions about what the other person wanted dragged on for way too long and just really bogged down the second half of the book. These two were really bad at communicating their feelings.
On a positive note I did really like both Jackson and Ryan as characters and the first half of the book I was really enjoying watching them become friends and then lovers. However, the miscommunications and assumptions about what the other person wanted dragged on for way too long and just really bogged down the second half of the book. These two were really bad at communicating their feelings.
September 15, 2023
I guess this is the author’s debut novel. It is my 1st time reading them. New authors can either be great or terrible. Let’s see where this is ends up.
Writing this review as I read… already with the gay clichés and stereotypes. The over critical mother, the fancy wardrobe and knowing show tunes 🙄🙄this is just in the first 7% of the book too. Will I make it until the end?? 🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
51% in and the book hadn’t gotten any better. I’ll be one and done with this author. Ryan is supposed to be the mature one but is really a child when it comes to relationships AND Jackson isn’t much better. These types of characters annoy me. Plus their chemistry isn’t that great. Milquetoast characters in a mediocre hockey romance is very depressing. Ugh.
80% in and they still haven’t had an adult conversation. This book is depressingly sad. TALK TO EACH OTHER 😳🙄🙄
Plus, no full on sex yet. Ugh 😑
Jackson’s mom is a HORRIBLE person. Just because they are your parents doesn’t mean you can’t cut their toxic behavior from your life. It’s better if you do! This book is just sad and I’m falling further down the depression spiral.
87% they finally do it and the chemistry was just off. I was bored. This book isn’t going to get better magically because of the mediocre sex. Ugh. And that’s the only scene you get even the epilogue is meh.
This was not for me.
Writing this review as I read… already with the gay clichés and stereotypes. The over critical mother, the fancy wardrobe and knowing show tunes 🙄🙄this is just in the first 7% of the book too. Will I make it until the end?? 🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
51% in and the book hadn’t gotten any better. I’ll be one and done with this author. Ryan is supposed to be the mature one but is really a child when it comes to relationships AND Jackson isn’t much better. These types of characters annoy me. Plus their chemistry isn’t that great. Milquetoast characters in a mediocre hockey romance is very depressing. Ugh.
80% in and they still haven’t had an adult conversation. This book is depressingly sad. TALK TO EACH OTHER 😳🙄🙄
Plus, no full on sex yet. Ugh 😑
Jackson’s mom is a HORRIBLE person. Just because they are your parents doesn’t mean you can’t cut their toxic behavior from your life. It’s better if you do! This book is just sad and I’m falling further down the depression spiral.
87% they finally do it and the chemistry was just off. I was bored. This book isn’t going to get better magically because of the mediocre sex. Ugh. And that’s the only scene you get even the epilogue is meh.
This was not for me.
January 11, 2023
Idiots😭🥰
April 6, 2024
This was fine. The lack of communication bothered me and I got a bit bored by all the sex but for a debut it’s not bad and I know I loved the second book. I’m curious how I’ll find it after my reread but I’m glad to have properly started the series even if this particular book was just mid.
All that said I really, really appreciated that they weren’t superstar hockey players - just average. That’s pretty refreshing for this genre.
All that said I really, really appreciated that they weren’t superstar hockey players - just average. That’s pretty refreshing for this genre.
January 7, 2023
Very cute and wholesome. Wish Jackson and Ryan had more on page time as an established couple but I enjoyed this a lot nonetheless! Jackson was such a cutie and Ryan was so good to him <3 Also special shoutout to Lola the puppy omg the true main character of this book
March 23, 2024
Sweet & low angst
3.5 -
3.5 -
August 22, 2023
Simple but cute. A little angsty tho but I like the pacing more than I thought I would. I love Ryan and Jackson. They are in it for forever. They just co-exist together and I am rooting for them.
October 18, 2023
The story is really cute but the writing style just isn't my favorite.
We love beautiful gay hockey stories though💜🤌🌈
We love beautiful gay hockey stories though💜🤌🌈
December 19, 2022
As a Canadian, it’s my duty to read any book about Hockey, so this book had that going for it. Honestly, I really liked the premise of this book but sadly, I never really got into the book. I badly wish that this book worked for me, but it just didn’t. It was a lovely idea for a book, but it just didn’t work for me.
I received an arc of this book and this is my honest opinion
I received an arc of this book and this is my honest opinion
Read
September 15, 2024DNF ~5%
Awful writing.
Awful writing.
November 30, 2022
Drive the Net was a delicious slow burn romance, and I adored the development between Jackson and Ryan - even if it was frustrating at times. These guys had a ton of chemistry and there was so much push and pull between them during the story! Them being on the same team complicated things, and Ryan especially was hesitant to act on anything between them.
I liked that the focus was on the relationship between the guys, there are a few scenes with games and practice, but hockey wasn't the main thing in the story. I adored the team though - the guys were hilarious and I certainly enjoyed spending time with them! I also appreciated the use of superstition in hockey and how that brought on some of the steamier scenes...
I felt like the lack of communication, combined with all the back and forth got a bit much at times, towards the end I kind of wanted to lock the characters in a tiny room until they worked things out. It never felt particularly angsty though, it definitely stayed more on the sweeter side.
Despite the frustration, it was a well written story and I enjoyed it a lot - if you're into hockey romances you should keep an eye on this series!
I liked that the focus was on the relationship between the guys, there are a few scenes with games and practice, but hockey wasn't the main thing in the story. I adored the team though - the guys were hilarious and I certainly enjoyed spending time with them! I also appreciated the use of superstition in hockey and how that brought on some of the steamier scenes...
I felt like the lack of communication, combined with all the back and forth got a bit much at times, towards the end I kind of wanted to lock the characters in a tiny room until they worked things out. It never felt particularly angsty though, it definitely stayed more on the sweeter side.
Despite the frustration, it was a well written story and I enjoyed it a lot - if you're into hockey romances you should keep an eye on this series!
December 9, 2024
I'm so glad this popped up on 'books you might like' when I was having a book slump! I've never heard of this author before but I really enjoyed their writing style, the character development and the plot.
The whole relationship was really cute, there was a great balance between the romance and the hockey, and I loved how both characters were so adorable and sweet with each other. They were so convinced the other didn't like them that way 😂 I also loved that there was a dog!
This book definitely got me out of my slump and now I have a new hockey romance author that I really enjoy too.
The whole relationship was really cute, there was a great balance between the romance and the hockey, and I loved how both characters were so adorable and sweet with each other. They were so convinced the other didn't like them that way 😂 I also loved that there was a dog!
This book definitely got me out of my slump and now I have a new hockey romance author that I really enjoy too.
August 25, 2024
Ryan and Jackson
Hockey romance between linemates, age gap, some heat, and an HEA.
I wanted to like it, but I just didn't. It dragged in too many places to me, the third act miscommunication was maddening, and every single character was so forgettable I had to just go look up the main character's names again.
Maybe it's a me thing, but it just didn't work for me. YMMV.
Hockey romance between linemates, age gap, some heat, and an HEA.
I wanted to like it, but I just didn't. It dragged in too many places to me, the third act miscommunication was maddening, and every single character was so forgettable I had to just go look up the main character's names again.
Maybe it's a me thing, but it just didn't work for me. YMMV.
November 30, 2022
Jackson and Ryan resisted one another for as long as they could but the chemistry both on and off the ice pushed them together time and time again. The natural sweetness of both men gave a different view of the typical tough hockey player.
May 24, 2023
As the summary promises, very low angst. I don't normally like books with low stakes but this one was a great break from my previous two reads. The miscommunication wasn't too overdone, and Jackson and Ryan are just so freaking cute together. Lola is also the bestest of girls.
March 21, 2025
Mostly a slow burn. Ended really abruptly but the characters were adorable. I also really like the authors writing. I get so bored when authors detail every second of every day. This author really only tells you what you need to know and I appreciate that 😂
January 21, 2023
Sweet sexy times & low angst. Plus hockey fellas.
April 17, 2023
Angst and pining and hockey - perfect combination
July 14, 2023
2.5 stars
Jackson and Ryn were cute but the plot as a whole was incredibly repetitive.
Jackson and Ryn were cute but the plot as a whole was incredibly repetitive.
April 20, 2024
This was a bit more angsty than I am up for right now, hence the 3 stars, but I liked it enough to proceed to the next in the series.
Comments on the series:
This author knows her hockey. I really appreciated that.
Many of these books are literally snuggly, cozy and interior. ie Inside. The. Home.
There is the frequent trope of shithouse family/parents/authority figures. I'm down! Also found family, which is an aspect of the m/m genre that I appreciate.
Comments on the series:
This author knows her hockey. I really appreciated that.
Many of these books are literally snuggly, cozy and interior. ie Inside. The. Home.
There is the frequent trope of shithouse family/parents/authority figures. I'm down! Also found family, which is an aspect of the m/m genre that I appreciate.
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