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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
Melanie Harlow’s Slap Shot Surprise delivers a delightful mix of humor, romance, and steamy moments, making it an enjoyable read for fans of sports romance. The chemistry between the characters crackles, and the witty banter had me grinning more than once. Harlow’s knack for crafting lovable, swoon-worthy heroes shines through here.
That said, the story felt somewhat rushed at times, leaving certain emotional beats unexplored. While the lighthearted tone was fun, I found myself wanting a bit more depth in the characters’ development and their conflicts. I wish there was more groveling on Joe’s end of sorts. My opinion of him went back and forth, but I do think he could have done a better job to be there other than the monthly payments and one apology.
That said, the story felt somewhat rushed at times, leaving certain emotional beats unexplored. While the lighthearted tone was fun, I found myself wanting a bit more depth in the characters’ development and their conflicts. I wish there was more groveling on Joe’s end of sorts. My opinion of him went back and forth, but I do think he could have done a better job to be there other than the monthly payments and one apology.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Slap Shot Surprise is stunning. Harlow illicits all the feels. Joe and Mabel are endearingly, frustrating, yet heartbreakingly, irresistible. From the surprise twists to the ironic humor and the unforgettable romance, I couldn't help but fall in love.
This book was so stinking cute! I loved everything about the book and more!
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Who knew one plane ride could change everything…
I will always love the Buckley family and I love that we got to see the family grow. I’m so happy we got to see Mabel’s life and get to see her fall in love. Also, I love that we got to see the Lupo family. I definitely loved how Mabel and Joe meet, it was a wonderful meet cute. I was really loving all the hockey puns throughout this book. I really think Joe and Mabel meeting was fate. She really helped him realize his priorities in life. I loved that they were truly getting to know each other, like Mabel watching Joe’s games and learning all about it. Joe and Mabel have such great chemistry, and I think that they’re soulmates. And I can’t get over how he remembered everything she told him about herself, that’s love. I’m sad this series is over, but I can’t wait to see what comes next from Melanie.
I will always love the Buckley family and I love that we got to see the family grow. I’m so happy we got to see Mabel’s life and get to see her fall in love. Also, I love that we got to see the Lupo family. I definitely loved how Mabel and Joe meet, it was a wonderful meet cute. I was really loving all the hockey puns throughout this book. I really think Joe and Mabel meeting was fate. She really helped him realize his priorities in life. I loved that they were truly getting to know each other, like Mabel watching Joe’s games and learning all about it. Joe and Mabel have such great chemistry, and I think that they’re soulmates. And I can’t get over how he remembered everything she told him about herself, that’s love. I’m sad this series is over, but I can’t wait to see what comes next from Melanie.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Slap Shot Surprise is stunning. Harlow illicits all the feels. Joe and Mabel are endearingly, frustrating, yet heartbreakingly, irresistible. From the surprise twists to the ironic humor and the unforgettable romance, I couldn't help but fall in love.
Thank you Melanie for giving me everything I didn’t know I needed with this book. We get to see our last Buckley sibling fall hard for Joe Lupo, yes we get more second gen characters. I really loved seeing these two worlds collide. They might be complete opposites but they meshed so well together. Of course, if you haven’t read any of those books, you will still be able to read this book with no problem.
Mabel and Joe’s story starts off on a flight, and while I was a little bit surprised on how that all went down, they really did have the cutest meet cute. They are both surprised and excited when they see each other again at a wedding. They have a steamy one night together that is equal parts passion and fireworks. You can feel the sparks fly between these two.
Then we see Mabel finding out she is pregnant and having to track down Joe in order to be able to give him the news. Joe was a little unsure but I think he really stepped up and was all about his impending fatherhood. It was an interesting journey for these two because they easily had the chemistry and the emotional bond, but they were frequently separated due to hockey season. They needed to not only navigate the pregnancy, but also manage developing a relationship while being apart. I think it was written really well how it took time to figure things out and they didn’t just fall into place and live happily ever after. Together they were a really sweet couple who also felt like they could do anything. I am really going to miss the Buckley family but I enjoyed getting caught up on all the other family members.
Connor & Kirsten completely nailed the heart and soul of this story, bringing every character and emotion to life in the most captivating way. The way they captured the characters' personalities so perfectly! Whether it was the tension in the dramatic moments or the swoon-worthy romance, the narrators brought depth and intensity to each scene, making the entire story feel so alive.
Mabel and Joe’s story starts off on a flight, and while I was a little bit surprised on how that all went down, they really did have the cutest meet cute. They are both surprised and excited when they see each other again at a wedding. They have a steamy one night together that is equal parts passion and fireworks. You can feel the sparks fly between these two.
Then we see Mabel finding out she is pregnant and having to track down Joe in order to be able to give him the news. Joe was a little unsure but I think he really stepped up and was all about his impending fatherhood. It was an interesting journey for these two because they easily had the chemistry and the emotional bond, but they were frequently separated due to hockey season. They needed to not only navigate the pregnancy, but also manage developing a relationship while being apart. I think it was written really well how it took time to figure things out and they didn’t just fall into place and live happily ever after. Together they were a really sweet couple who also felt like they could do anything. I am really going to miss the Buckley family but I enjoyed getting caught up on all the other family members.
Connor & Kirsten completely nailed the heart and soul of this story, bringing every character and emotion to life in the most captivating way. The way they captured the characters' personalities so perfectly! Whether it was the tension in the dramatic moments or the swoon-worthy romance, the narrators brought depth and intensity to each scene, making the entire story feel so alive.
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Don’t love surprise pregnancy trope