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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Okay so — didn’t hate it, didn’t love it. This one was super character-focused and honestly could’ve used a trim. Fun in places, repetitive in others.
📖 The Storyline
Nothing groundbreaking here: Carter is the hockey captain with a playboy rep; Olivia is a high school PE teacher who’s not impressed with him (at least not right away 👀). He pursues, she resists, they banter, they melt, repeat.
🍪 Carter Beckett
He starts as the stereotypical player, but becomes this huge softie once he’s into Ollie. Goofy, loud, zero filter — and I actually liked his soft moments the most (when he’s anxious and babbles nonstop — adorable). I disliked his playboy act at the beginning, but once his softer side showed up, he was sweet and persistent in the best way. (Obsessed with Oreos and his girl = very peak golden-retriever energy.)
📚 Olivia
The book leaned hard on her being “small” and insecure. Like… the 5’1” jokes became her whole personality at times. (As someone who thinks in cm, 155cm doesn’t sound that tiny??).
Her trust issues with Carter made sense in theory, but the constant “push him away because he used to be a playboy” dragged on way too long. I just wanted more to her than insecurities and short-girl commentary.
💘 The Romance
Cute in parts! Their communication was actually refreshing (for most of the book). But the third-act breakup? Felt kind of out of character considering they had been communicating pretty well until that moment (especially Carter). Completely unnecessary. It could’ve been solved with literally one conversation (like — just tell her what happened, Carter. Please).
👯♀️ Side Characters
The found-family vibes and the hockey-team dynamics are the highlight. Loved Carter’s teammates, his family, Hank + Dublin, and Ollie’s bestie Cara. They brought humor and warmth that made the book more enjoyable. And okay… Adam’s story? I might actually want to read that one 👀
🌟 Final Thoughts
A cute read full of golden-retriever energy, but way too long for what it delivered. If hockey romances, reformed playboys, and golden-retriever MMCs are your thing, you’ll probably enjoy this more than I did 🏒. For me? Just okay — mildly fun, mildly frustrating.
That said, the audiobook was really good — the narrators (especially Alex Kydd) carried the story and made it way more fun ✨
Tropes
🏒 Hockey romance
🔁 Dual POV
❤️ He fell first (and harder)
🐶 Golden retriever MMC
🧾 Reformed playboy
🏒 Hockey captain x PE teacher
💔 Third-act breakup
🇨🇦 Setting: Vancouver, CA
📖 The Storyline
Nothing groundbreaking here: Carter is the hockey captain with a playboy rep; Olivia is a high school PE teacher who’s not impressed with him (at least not right away 👀). He pursues, she resists, they banter, they melt, repeat.
🍪 Carter Beckett
He starts as the stereotypical player, but becomes this huge softie once he’s into Ollie. Goofy, loud, zero filter — and I actually liked his soft moments the most (when he’s anxious and babbles nonstop — adorable). I disliked his playboy act at the beginning, but once his softer side showed up, he was sweet and persistent in the best way. (Obsessed with Oreos and his girl = very peak golden-retriever energy.)
📚 Olivia
The book leaned hard on her being “small” and insecure. Like… the 5’1” jokes became her whole personality at times. (As someone who thinks in cm, 155cm doesn’t sound that tiny??).
Her trust issues with Carter made sense in theory, but the constant “push him away because he used to be a playboy” dragged on way too long. I just wanted more to her than insecurities and short-girl commentary.
💘 The Romance
Cute in parts! Their communication was actually refreshing (for most of the book). But the third-act breakup? Felt kind of out of character considering they had been communicating pretty well until that moment (especially Carter). Completely unnecessary. It could’ve been solved with literally one conversation (like — just tell her what happened, Carter. Please).
👯♀️ Side Characters
The found-family vibes and the hockey-team dynamics are the highlight. Loved Carter’s teammates, his family, Hank + Dublin, and Ollie’s bestie Cara. They brought humor and warmth that made the book more enjoyable. And okay… Adam’s story? I might actually want to read that one 👀
🌟 Final Thoughts
A cute read full of golden-retriever energy, but way too long for what it delivered. If hockey romances, reformed playboys, and golden-retriever MMCs are your thing, you’ll probably enjoy this more than I did 🏒. For me? Just okay — mildly fun, mildly frustrating.
That said, the audiobook was really good — the narrators (especially Alex Kydd) carried the story and made it way more fun ✨
Tropes
🏒 Hockey romance
🔁 Dual POV
❤️ He fell first (and harder)
🐶 Golden retriever MMC
🧾 Reformed playboy
🏒 Hockey captain x PE teacher
💔 Third-act breakup
🇨🇦 Setting: Vancouver, CA
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
too much miscommunication too early on and was again bored
Olivia and Carter. Carter is a hockey player AND a "player", and Olivia initially rejects him but he keeps pursuing her. They're super cute!
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Lots of spice and I, literally, kicked my feet at the cuteness at times
I cringed at their conversations and it just came off wayy to strong for my liking.
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes