This was such a fun read! I had a great time.
I'm usually very picky with my contemporary romances, but one with hockey and college-aged MCs seem to be my jam.

This was my first J.J. Mulder romance, and I admit I started this because I wanted to read book two (I loved the blurb of that one, and angsty contemporaries always seems to work for me better than the non-angsty variety!), but colour me surprised when not only did I inhale it, in just over 24 hours, but I also loved it to freaking bits? I feel like I need to do a deep dive into the author's blacklist.

I adored both protagonists soooo much, especially Carter. He was hilarious: snarky and grumpy and angry, but also surprisingly sweet and insecure and ughhhhh, my favourite type of character. Zeke was pretty great too, and I adored the demi rep! I'm in no way an expert, but I found it so freaking lovely.

I also LOVED their dynamic, and I adored their banter and the slow-burn build-up to their relationship (@slow-burn fans, you don't want to miss this!!!!). I also loved that their relationship was both light-hearted and sweet and romantic, but also very much grounded in friendship as well as a very solid emotional connection. You can take slow-burn as a trope out of my cold, dead hands: IT'S THE BEST, I DON'T MAKE THE RULES!

I loved the side characters, especially Vas and I'm already so damn curious about Max too. I can already tell he's going to break my heart. Tony and the Coach were pretty great as well: I'm guessing there's a story about them somewhere? I need to look them up.

This book is surprisingly chunky, but it didn't feel like it: it flowed like a dreaaaam. I admit the last part of the book wasn't my favourite (that dreaded urge to skim *grr), but all in all, I enjoyed the hell out of it.

TWs/CWs: parent death (past), child neglect, one instance of homophobia.