As Luck Would Have It

by Sonya Lalli

Amrit Kaur (The Sex Lives of College Girls) delivers a stellar performance in a brand-new enemies-to-lovers hockey romance by Sonya Lalli, the acclaimed author of The Matchmaker’s List and A Holly Jolly Diwali.

Hockey coach Ashley Jaswal doesn't take nonsense from anyone … except her overbearing and superstitious family. They believe she's a good luck charm for her brother Jas, the newest Vancouver Canucks draft pick, forcing Ash to attend all his games as he rises up the NHL ranks, sacrificing her personal life (not that she has one—who decided hockey season needed to be 10 months long anyway?).

Ash also clashes with Jas’s teammate, Canucks captain Devin Snyder. Devin is yet another arrogant hockey bro—and admitted total babe—who is fresh off a scandalous break-up with a global pop-star. But she soon finds the ice melts between them, and they share an unexpected chemistry. As Ash wrestles with her family’s demands, her brother’s career and her feelings for Devin, will she find a way to take a risk and make her own luck? Or will she puck this up?

This captivating Audible Original is an essential listen for fans of sports romance, strong heroines, sizzling chemistry and the diversity within the hockey community.

Please note: This project is a work of fiction. Names, characters, companies and events are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, companies or events is entirely coincidental.

Genres: Audiobook, Romance, Sports, Sports Romance, Hockey, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary

Audible Audio

Published October 10, 2024

About the author

Sonya Lalli is a Canadian writer of Indian heritage. She studied law in her hometown of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and at Columbia University in New York City. She completed an MA in Creative Writing and Publishing at City University London in 2015, and currently works as a journalist at a legal magazine in London. She has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and loves travel, yoga, piano, reading and cocktail bartending.

Reviews

[Becki D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE THIS BOOK! It's not just some sports romance; it's a story of a woman discovering her self-worth, breaking toxic family systems and taking charge of her life and side of romance. It's an empowering story. The romance is secondary. It takes, at times, a brute look at toxic families and sexism. It explores how change takes time. Ash can see that her family is toxic, but it's not so easy to change it. As Ash goes through the journey, you feel her frustration, pain, and joy; in the end, it feels EARNED. I think the ending was a little rushed. I think the brother would need a lot more time to change, but I appreciate the happy ending. The father didn't change at all, but it was nice he was forced to acknowledge his daughter at least once, even if it was for the wrong reason. If the book had ended without the main couple together, I would have been okay with it cause I cared more about Ash's journey to accepting love, and I feel like if it wasn't Davin, it would be someone else; now she finally values herself and believes in love The Narration was five stars by Amrit Kaur. Really pulled me into the emotions of the story.

[Alyssa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m really bad at DNFing books so I stuck through to the end. The story was tolerable but the narrator was awful. Her voicing for the males was just cringy and it sounded like she was clenching her teeth whenever men would talk. The story was too “woe is me” and less romances than I had expected. I just wasn’t rooting for anyone it was just blah. I would not recommend it at all

[Miranda Hohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was offered as a free audiobook and I thought, “eh, why not?” I see there are mixed reviews, but I actually enjoyed it. I felt like the FMC being a daughter to an immigrant family really played into the gender differences and the expectations really well, and was written in a way that made her relatable. There was actual chemistry and growth between the characters, and of course a little bit of miscommunication, but overall I found this book enjoyable. It is a closed door romance just so no one goes in expecting more.

[Sidnie Wall · Rating 1 out of 5]

Free on Audible. I immediately stopped listening when she was changing in her car, thought it smart to put her naked butt against the window to get into her leggings and be mad that someone saw her naked butt??? like what do you expect getting naked in a public parking lot??? also when chapter three ended and chapter four picked up with a quote that could’ve stayed in chapter three. Like i dont know why she abruptly ended chapter three the way she did, but if that’s how the rest of the book was going to go, not a fan.

[cobalt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't a big fan of this. There was a lot of overexplaining, to the point that for one of the scenes with an actual hockey game, it felt like I was listening to a sports commentator. Don't get me wrong I appreciate the index detailing of the sport, but I think there is a limit to that kind of writing. *IN – DEPTH or at least a more creative way to go about it. My apologies for the spelling errors, I am blind, and only using the dictation function on the keyboard.

But the overexplaining didn't just happen to the sports scenes. It also happened with the characterization, which meant that I didn't even get the chance to really get to know the characters. Also, I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator was great in my opinion, but there was also something about her delivery that kind of made me feel awkward.

I'm still giving this two stars though because I love stories set in Vancouver, though I do wish that there wasn't so much overexplaining about being set in Vancouver as well. Like I get it, you love the city and want people to see it how you see it but I really couldn't help but make a comparison because the series I read this before. This was also set in Vancouver and it wasn't pushy about being in Vancouver. I know that other authors do this for other cities like New York and to be fair, I also don't like those stories that are always so"New York! New York! New York! "But there really is just a more artful way to go about it, and I couldn't find that in this story, no matter how much I love the city itself. and no matter how much I appreciate a setting outside of the United States, especially a place that I have previously lived in. But there was just so much unnecessary information that didn't feel important to the plot.

Mostly, I am giving this two stars because of the family dynamics. I'm not Indian, but I am Asian enough to relate to the family issues in the story. It actually even made me cry and I hurt for Ash each time. Her experience is not my experience, it's more my older sister's and not even the exact experience either, but the eldest sisters of Asian families or brown families in general really do end up sacrificing a lot, and I recognize and appreciate that.

*The series I read before this…

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an unusual Liz opinion but this book would have been much better without the romance. I loved ash’s journey of realizing her self worth and setting boundaries and taking action to be the woman she wants to be. I’d get annoyed when we’d move away from that and focus on her “relationship” with the rando her brother works with.

[Dinika · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank goodness this was free. Then again, now I know why it was free.

[Amrutha Prasad · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounding up because it’s an INDIAN-AMERICAN (well, Canadian but same difference) HOCKEY ROMANCE!!!

The half star loss is bc Devin is like, unbelievably too perfect and Ashley flipping out over a pop song is just silly.

[Claire Burley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was so repetitive, like babes I get that you're treated like a second class citizen by your family and you're worried about your bf's ex but have a conversation about it rather than fuming about it 100 times.
Probably would have DNF'ed if I wasn't using it as background noise for work

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was cute. The characters were fine. The hockey was beyond me… not that it got all that technical. Ash is the main character who has given up her life and dreams to follow her brother around as his lucky charm. He’s a jerk. Her dad is a jerk. Her mom is absent because the men are jerks. Ash teaches and coaches girl’s hockey and wants to focus on her own life but can’t really because her brother needs her to come to every scrimmage and game as his lucky charm. When she falls for his famous teammate, she begins to see that she can’t be there forever. So, she pulls away from her family for a time in order to figure out her life while they figure out theirs.

[Lauren Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hockey romance! Gives Hallmark movie vibes. First impressions don’t always stick. Infidelity drama. Dealing with the patriarchy within culture & industry. Famous MMC & brilliant FMC. Love books like this for pallet cleansers! All the faith in fate.

[Jessica Thibault · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasantly surprised by this one. Obviously predictable.

[Nise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t get why being a lucky charm for someone else is such a big secret.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read and enjoyable! I was not a big fan of the insta love and her reasons for breaking up with him were bullshit

[Sharon :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love me a diverse romance 🤗🤗🤗

[Nikki Waligorski · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars mostly because this book just isn’t my kind of read - I love you little romancers but it’s just not my vibe … if you know me …. You know 😂

I love that the main character is such a badass within sports and I also love that she’s brown skinned and fighting racial injustices AND social standards both within her family and cultural standards but also society. Her strength 🤌🏼🤌🏼🤌🏼 The coaching part of this book is what really gave me life, and it made me really miss that part of my life. Overall, cute and sweet ending.

[Jen She · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfect for a lazy, snow day listen although nothing spectacular.

[Emilie mmvato · Rating 3 out of 5]

je pense que définitivement la romance c'est pas pour moi!
trop prévisible, toujours le même schéma

[Isabella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ya know it was free and Amrit did it so was intrigued. Not really that interesting of a story. Love a hockey romance but there’s definitely better out there.

[Sara Leeann Ortiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first hockey romance and I really loved this! The banter, the chemistry, and the relationship development was amazing! I was fully invested the whole time!

[Katy Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a bit of a flashback to my ice hockey following days in deepest, darkest Saskatchewan while listening to this (although found it hard to believe Devin wasn't playing in the SJHL or similar before he made it big) Anywho, it was good to see Ash's progress through the book and standing up for herself at the end.

[Katelyn Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. I just was looking for a quick little romance, but this book ended up being oddly therapeutic about valuing your own happiness and standing up for what you deserve.

[Lisa (Remarkablylisa) · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. the topics got a bit too... Heavy. Women and men power struggle and respect in the south Asian culture I'm all up for it but I don't like how she never really stood up for herself or how her parents are assholes.

[Mak Hodges · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn’t love it.

[Bethany Heinzman · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was free

[Kristin Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, not my usual read. However it was a fun story with a strong fmc and an interesting POV as a POC

[Lauren O’Keefe · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I think without the romance, this would've worked a lot better for me. Ash had so much other stuff going on with her life- her traditional and strict Punjabi parents, her complicated relationship with her brother, her best friends marriage falling apart, plus having a full time career and coaching women's hockey. She had the opportunity to be a really interesting character and have a ton of growth on her own, but Devin was used as the plot device and driving force behind Ash wanting to make any changes. I know that sometimes that can happen in the real world, but it felt like it took away her agency as a character. As a hockey fan, I knew all the references and technical terms used in the story, but if you had no knowledge of the sport I think it could be a huge distraction. Generally, I feel as though maybe the author was trying to cover too many character development things and ended up flopping with the execution.

[Daphne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was expecting an easy plate-cleanser romance but it was actually very touching.

The main character trying to reconcile the traditional views of her family and how to navigate her life in the way she wants without shutting them out was very nice to read. I really love the main character’s strength but also her flaws and seeing her grew throughout the (short) story was very heart warming. It was also nice reading about a woman who is well into adulthood.

This story was well balanced with not too many things pushed in the short time it took to play out but also had enough layers to be interesting. I liked the ice hockey element very much and this makes me want to read more sports romances.

Also very refreshing to read a relatively light story that does tackle things like toxic masculinity in a way that feels gentle yet firm at the same time. Very nice read overall.

[Angelic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book??? Wow, I never thought I’d feel the emotions of a hockey so deeply like I did and wow. I’m in aweeeee. I related so much to the FMC and this was the reminder I needed to put myself first.

Oh man, I never thought a sports romance would get me like this but this one did. I absolutely loved it and wish I could hear it again for the first time. I wish I could have a physical copy of this one! 🥹

This book was about putting yourself and realizing your worth!! Also surrounding yourself with people who support you unconditionally. 💙

[Britney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall rating: 3.5

Ashley's home life is crazy! All the sacrifices she made for her family especially her brother was wild to me, but obviously this was normal for her household. Never getting recognition from all she does and has accomplished in her life from her parents is wild! No wonder she has problems with relationships.

I at first didn't like Devin's character but he grew on me especially just by being there for Ashley through her family's stubbornness.

I did enjoy this hockey romance especially since the female wasn't just some puck bunny and was career driven herself.