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A review by cozycritiques
Egotistical Puckboy by Saxon James, Eden Finley
lighthearted
fast-paced
5.0
”Apparently, the cure to toxic masculinity is to show them how it feels to be talked about like a piece of meat. You’re welcome, ladies.”
- Egotistical Puckboy
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Teammates, Friends with Benefits, Reformed Playboy
Representation: LGBTQ+ (Gay)
Spice Scale: 🌶🌶🌶🌶
CW: Parental Abandonment, Toxic Relationship
I was on the fence about whether I would enjoy Egotistical Puckboy after meeting Ezra in the CU Hockey series, but I shouldn’t be surprised that Eden and Saxon made me absolutely fall in love with his story.
Ezra was a total mess, but getting to read his POV showed a different side of him than the one we got to see in his appearance in the CU Hockey series. Yeah, he was a fuckboy—a puckboy, if you will—but it was understandable given his messed-up family dynamic. He also cared deeply about his friend, even if he didn’t always show it the best way in the case of West. I loved his bond with the whole Queer Collective. He took it very seriously, and that more than redeemed his fuckboy ways.
Anton was his total opposite—uptight, desperate to prove himself a serious hockey player that was more than just his sexual identity. It was great watching him loosen up and grow into someone who didn’t see everything so black and white.
They balanced each other out, and I loved it, especially given their start as “enemies.” Enemies to lovers usually works best for me when the characters can meet each other in the middle, which Ezra and Anton definitely did. Their rivalry at the beginning was so well done—full of banter and instigation. Also, I’m not sure if it can be considered a microtrope if I’ve only seen it in two books, but if it can be, then a karaoke scene featuring Don’t Stop Me Now in a queer enemies to lovers novel is a new favorite.
I shouldn’t be surprised based on how quickly I read Eden and Saxon’s first series, but I’m hooked. Egotistical Puckboy set up the series so well, and I can’t wait to binge-read this one as well.
- Egotistical Puckboy
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Teammates, Friends with Benefits, Reformed Playboy
Representation: LGBTQ+ (Gay)
Spice Scale: 🌶🌶🌶🌶
CW: Parental Abandonment, Toxic Relationship
I was on the fence about whether I would enjoy Egotistical Puckboy after meeting Ezra in the CU Hockey series, but I shouldn’t be surprised that Eden and Saxon made me absolutely fall in love with his story.
Ezra was a total mess, but getting to read his POV showed a different side of him than the one we got to see in his appearance in the CU Hockey series. Yeah, he was a fuckboy—a puckboy, if you will—but it was understandable given his messed-up family dynamic. He also cared deeply about his friend, even if he didn’t always show it the best way in the case of West. I loved his bond with the whole Queer Collective. He took it very seriously, and that more than redeemed his fuckboy ways.
Anton was his total opposite—uptight, desperate to prove himself a serious hockey player that was more than just his sexual identity. It was great watching him loosen up and grow into someone who didn’t see everything so black and white.
They balanced each other out, and I loved it, especially given their start as “enemies.” Enemies to lovers usually works best for me when the characters can meet each other in the middle, which Ezra and Anton definitely did. Their rivalry at the beginning was so well done—full of banter and instigation. Also, I’m not sure if it can be considered a microtrope if I’ve only seen it in two books, but if it can be, then a karaoke scene featuring Don’t Stop Me Now in a queer enemies to lovers novel is a new favorite.
I shouldn’t be surprised based on how quickly I read Eden and Saxon’s first series, but I’m hooked. Egotistical Puckboy set up the series so well, and I can’t wait to binge-read this one as well.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Toxic relationship