4.5⭐️/ 3-4🌶️

I just love hockey romances and this was one I had both heard so much about, and had been wanting to read for quite some time. This story followed, Summer Preston and Aiden Crawford as the two of them were paired up for Summer’s research project, and Aiden needing to get back in the good graces of his coach after getting in trouble. A sassy, intelligent female lead, and a charming yet talented hockey captain were pushed together, and omg it was the start of an intriguing partnership! This book had tropes such as, college hockey, found family, humor, romance, no third act breakup, research partners, opposites attract, and more! 

One of my all time favorite books are sports romances, namely them being hockey romances, and this book quickly became a favorite for me just by reading the first couple of chapters. I had always wanted to read this book, and with Summer and Aiden at the helm, they didn’t disappoint. Between Summer and Aiden, I got reverse grumpy/sunshine vibes especially how Summer was kind of grumpy towards Aiden, and Aiden was flirtatious and fun. Set in a University called, Dalton, Summer and Aiden were both students there, but were obviously focused on different things. For Summer, she was determined to land the coveted spot that would lead her to higher levels for her future, and for her masters later on. For Aiden, he was captain of the hockey team, and was already signed to an NHL team following his graduation. In a way, Aiden and Summer were both motivated by their future prospects, but there was still a matter of working through their unexpected partnership for Summer’s project. Hockey was the last thing Summer wanted to be around, but Aiden slowly but surely couldn’t help liking the snarky girl who held his attention at all times.

Summer Preston was an intelligent, goal oriented, and some might even say didn’t have much of a social life due to her demanding studies. Regardless, Summer stuck me as the type of young woman who didn’t let anything deter her from completing her plans, her hopes to get to the point she had always dreamed of which was a sports psychologist. Summer was also a bit of a grump when it came to Aiden and as much as he pushed her buttons, she  also saw how he wasn’t the typical hockey player that she initially thought. Over the course of the book, Summer started to really open up not only with Aiden but also extending her friend group to people like Kian (*Aiden’s best friend). Summer was always someone who kept herself guarded and I’d even say she was kind of “icy” at times, but seeing her have a bit of fun, explore new friendships as well as a steamy romance with Aiden showed she started to widen her horizons, and more importantly let down her guard. 

Aiden Crawford was a machine on the ice and had a bright future in the NHL, but for the meantime at Dalton, he had some work to do in order to get back into the good graces of his coach and his overall life. As much as Aiden prioritized hockey, his studies, and social life, I could also see that all the work he was putting into everything could have turned out differently in terms of burning out. When it came to his social life, Aiden was popular, captain of the hockey team, and all around liked by everyone except for Summer. With Aiden having to work with Summer for her research project, it was kind of forced proximity and honestly Aiden enjoyed being around Summer. The way Aiden fell hard for Summer was entertaining and so satisfying to see and read all the ways he was head over heels gone for Summer. 

Hockey romance books are always so entertaining and by far one of my top books I love to read! Summer and Aiden were forced to work together, and naturally the two of them fell in love with each other. Summer was initially so guarded and a bit icy towards Aiden, but she slowly opened up to Aiden, and even worked on her relationship with her dad. Aiden was a charming guy who I wasn’t couldn’t help adoring and loving how obsessed he was with Summer. Give me, “he falls first and hard” trope and every time I’m going to eat that up! Aiden and Summer’s romance was sweet, thoughtful, steamy, and flirtatious. Aside from the romance, I also enjoyed the found family in this book from Kian, Dylan, Sampson, Amara, Eli, and the others who were introduced. You honestly can’t go wrong with a hockey romance, and this book was fun to read. I liked the way the story ended and with the epilogue and bonus chapter, I’m fully content and happy with Summer and Aiden getting their happy ending together. I’m looking forward for the next book and the future books in this series, it’s a good series so far so I would definitely recommend this book.