A review by casey_sunshine
The Shots You Take by Rachel Reid

emotional funny reflective sad tense 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

5.0

I know that there is a wide world of Hockey Romance Novels, for every pairing and every trope and every spice rating you could ask for. Very few of them are poignant portraits of grief and regret.

This book is about two former NHL teammates finding their way back to each other after the devastating implosion of their friendship more than a decade before. Riley was in love with Adam; Adam was afraid to be in love with Riley. Everybody got hurt.

On page 13(!) I texted a friend that I was already crying. I immediately cared so much about these fractured men and how they were going to do the hard work of reassembling themselves and each other. I typically do not choose second-chance romances because they are flimsy and unearned. Riley and Adam *worked* their way back to each other. It was painful, and I cringed, and I read the next sentences with great trepidation, as unsure as Adam as to how Riley would react. I tell you, Rachel Reid does not miss.

You know they live happily ever after because that’s a requirement of the genre; you will be so delighted to watch them get there. They deserve it. And it’s not all sad and angsty! I laughed so hard!

In addition to grief, there are a lot of factors in Riley and Adam’s lives that might hit close to home for you. Always check the content warnings.

I was hashtag blessed to get an advance copy of this ebook via NetGalley, so many thanks to whoever decided to accept my request. 🤣 By the time this book is released on March 3, 2025, how many times do you think I’ll have re-read it? (So far, three times since receiving it two weeks ago. 🤷‍♀️) I’ll buddy read it with you next spring, regardless.
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