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Hockey Boys of Loft 3B #1
Rookie Season
He’s starting his rookie season in the NHL…
Noah Downsby has always had one goal: play professional hockey. Now that he’s finally made it, he’s determined to prove himself. And if he’s going to have the best rookie season in NHL history, he needs zero distractions.
But Noah didn’t plan for Allegra—Ally—Callahan moving in with him.
With her sassy smile, smart mouth, and bad habit of ‘borrowing’ his jerseys—nevermind her stupid cat who won’t stop sleeping in his bed—one thing’s for certain:
Ally is officially a distraction.
…She’s moving across the country to start over.
The rumors say she’s a bad girl, but they’re all lies. Lies that have ruined her reputation.
So when Ally’s offered a fresh start in San Francisco, she packs up her life and brings her baggage out west—emotional and otherwise.
Living in a swanky loft with three NHL players is a world away from college dorms, but at least two of her new roommates treat her like one of the guys.
And then there’s Noah. The grump whose broody glances turn her blood hot. Who makes her feel both safe and sexy…when he’s not icing her out.
As things between Noah and Ally heat up, their walls come down. And suddenly, there’s a whole lot more than his rookie season on the line…
This is a new adult hockey romance with moderate language and frequent innuendo and references to sex. Though the romance is fade to black, there are some heavier themes of a character emotionally healing from a sexual assault (past, off page) that are discussed at length throughout the book. If you are sensitive to these subjects, please use this content warning to make an informed decision before reading this book.
Noah Downsby has always had one goal: play professional hockey. Now that he’s finally made it, he’s determined to prove himself. And if he’s going to have the best rookie season in NHL history, he needs zero distractions.
But Noah didn’t plan for Allegra—Ally—Callahan moving in with him.
With her sassy smile, smart mouth, and bad habit of ‘borrowing’ his jerseys—nevermind her stupid cat who won’t stop sleeping in his bed—one thing’s for certain:
Ally is officially a distraction.
…She’s moving across the country to start over.
The rumors say she’s a bad girl, but they’re all lies. Lies that have ruined her reputation.
So when Ally’s offered a fresh start in San Francisco, she packs up her life and brings her baggage out west—emotional and otherwise.
Living in a swanky loft with three NHL players is a world away from college dorms, but at least two of her new roommates treat her like one of the guys.
And then there’s Noah. The grump whose broody glances turn her blood hot. Who makes her feel both safe and sexy…when he’s not icing her out.
As things between Noah and Ally heat up, their walls come down. And suddenly, there’s a whole lot more than his rookie season on the line…
This is a new adult hockey romance with moderate language and frequent innuendo and references to sex. Though the romance is fade to black, there are some heavier themes of a character emotionally healing from a sexual assault (past, off page) that are discussed at length throughout the book. If you are sensitive to these subjects, please use this content warning to make an informed decision before reading this book.
328 pages, Paperback
First published August 21, 2025
2312 people are currently reading
9923 people want to read
About the author
Katie Bailey
9 books2,633 followersKatie Bailey is an Amazon top 25 bestselling author of rom coms with relatable characters and tons of chemistry. Her aim with every new love story she writes is to give readers a good laugh, maybe even a bit of a cry, but definitely leave them with a new book boyfriend.
When she’s not busy writing, Katie spends her time chasing twin tornado littles, cursing the cold Canadian winters she endures each year, chugging coffee by the bucketload, and crushing on her husband, who’s the real life inspiration behind all of the fictional men she’s written.
You can connect with Katie on Instagram @authorkatiebailey
When she’s not busy writing, Katie spends her time chasing twin tornado littles, cursing the cold Canadian winters she endures each year, chugging coffee by the bucketload, and crushing on her husband, who’s the real life inspiration behind all of the fictional men she’s written.
You can connect with Katie on Instagram @authorkatiebailey
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,283 reviews
October 13, 2025
3.5 stars
Overall, impressed with what it claimed to be. This is a new adult, light spice, hockey romance that follows Allegra and Noah who are kids from these authors’ previous books. I have read both books these characters were in, which is why I was interested in this one.
It was super easy to read and the writing flowed like there wasn't two authors writing it.
Both Ally and Noah had distinct voices in their POVs.
I reeeeeally liked the two other roommates! Fisher and Penn. I bet their books will be coming next. Penn's romance was teased a bit.
There was good depth included for both Ally and Noah. They had trauma from their past that had to be dealt with. Therapy was normalized and described a bit on page, which I really liked.
The cameos of their parents from the respective books they are from was super fun!
Some considerations I would give to readers: there is mild language and many uses of "puck" to replace the F-word. It didn't bother me, but others have mentioned it.
The innuendo is pretty heavy. The dialogue gets heated and the kissing is steamy. If you don't like reading references to sex, this won't be for you. For what it was, it didn't fully bother me because I knew what I was getting into. I don't fault the book for that.
I'd read another book in this series as long as it doesn't go past the line this one set in terms of language and innuendo.
I liked her cat, Harry Styles the Third.
Tropes & Triggers: heated kissing, some language, no f-words, innuendo in almost every chapter, roommates, forced proximity, hockey romance, mention of sexual assault, protective and possessive guy, share a bed, a cat
Overall, impressed with what it claimed to be. This is a new adult, light spice, hockey romance that follows Allegra and Noah who are kids from these authors’ previous books. I have read both books these characters were in, which is why I was interested in this one.
It was super easy to read and the writing flowed like there wasn't two authors writing it.
Both Ally and Noah had distinct voices in their POVs.
I reeeeeally liked the two other roommates! Fisher and Penn. I bet their books will be coming next. Penn's romance was teased a bit.
There was good depth included for both Ally and Noah. They had trauma from their past that had to be dealt with. Therapy was normalized and described a bit on page, which I really liked.
The cameos of their parents from the respective books they are from was super fun!
Some considerations I would give to readers: there is mild language and many uses of "puck" to replace the F-word. It didn't bother me, but others have mentioned it.
The innuendo is pretty heavy. The dialogue gets heated and the kissing is steamy. If you don't like reading references to sex, this won't be for you. For what it was, it didn't fully bother me because I knew what I was getting into. I don't fault the book for that.
I'd read another book in this series as long as it doesn't go past the line this one set in terms of language and innuendo.
I liked her cat, Harry Styles the Third.
Tropes & Triggers: heated kissing, some language, no f-words, innuendo in almost every chapter, roommates, forced proximity, hockey romance, mention of sexual assault, protective and possessive guy, share a bed, a cat
August 9, 2025
✨ Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
🫧 Vibes: cozy sports romance
🎶 Song: fool for you - zayn
📖 Favourite Quote: "..but what I do know is that I’m content in my own skin again. That I can love myself and let myself be loved."
📚 Would I recommend? YES!!
💬 Final thoughts: I DEVOURED this book.
In the package:
📦 slow-burn
📦 grump x sunshine
📦 sweet and emotional moments
📦 found family
Plot: NHL player Noah is focused on making it big but his plans get derailed when Ally unexpectedly becomes his new roommate, along with his other teammates. What starts as a clash of personalities turns into a slow-burn romance, as they help each other heal.
Thoughts: A man named Noah never disappoints 🙂↕️ oh my gosh I loved every second of this book. I don’t think I’ve felt this way since reading The Deal 😭 Noah absolutely gave me Garrett Graham vibes in the best way. He was sweet, caring, understanding and very patient. Everything about this book was perfection!! I adored Ally’s friendship with the other roommates, Penn and Fisher. This book felt like a giant warm hug and I never wanted it to end. It was tender, sweet and fun with plenty of charm and emotional depth.
This is my first book from these authors and the 2nd gen series but I definitely plan on going back to read about their parents 🥹
📚Read if you enjoyed: Off Campus series and The Graham Effect by Elle Kennedy.
Thank you LBP LLC & Eleventh Avenue Publishing Inc. and NetGalley for the arc!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok ⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
🫧 Vibes: cozy sports romance
🎶 Song: fool for you - zayn
📖 Favourite Quote: "..but what I do know is that I’m content in my own skin again. That I can love myself and let myself be loved."
📚 Would I recommend? YES!!
💬 Final thoughts: I DEVOURED this book.
In the package:
📦 slow-burn
📦 grump x sunshine
📦 sweet and emotional moments
📦 found family
Plot: NHL player Noah is focused on making it big but his plans get derailed when Ally unexpectedly becomes his new roommate, along with his other teammates. What starts as a clash of personalities turns into a slow-burn romance, as they help each other heal.
Thoughts: A man named Noah never disappoints 🙂↕️ oh my gosh I loved every second of this book. I don’t think I’ve felt this way since reading The Deal 😭 Noah absolutely gave me Garrett Graham vibes in the best way. He was sweet, caring, understanding and very patient. Everything about this book was perfection!! I adored Ally’s friendship with the other roommates, Penn and Fisher. This book felt like a giant warm hug and I never wanted it to end. It was tender, sweet and fun with plenty of charm and emotional depth.
This is my first book from these authors and the 2nd gen series but I definitely plan on going back to read about their parents 🥹
📚Read if you enjoyed: Off Campus series and The Graham Effect by Elle Kennedy.
Thank you LBP LLC & Eleventh Avenue Publishing Inc. and NetGalley for the arc!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok ⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
August 21, 2025
My Quick Takes:
- 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Language 🤐 frequent mild/moderate
- Spice ❤️🔥 heating kissing/closed-door
- Content 🤔 past attempted sexual assault, past death of parents, innuendo
My favorite hockey romance to date. Binged this in two sittings! The vibes were there, the emotions were there. It hit all the right things for me.
If you like the show New Girl (one of my faves), you will love this book. It’s a great roommate/friendship/found family dynamic. I really enjoyed that juxtaposed with the added depth that comes from two different series coming together in the next “generation” of characters.
I’ve read books by both authors and this is the first of either of theirs I’ve rated a 5 star. I love this collaboration and storyline, both authors shined. I had equal parts tearing up and silly grinning throughout, just really loved all of it.
- 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Language 🤐 frequent mild/moderate
- Spice ❤️🔥 heating kissing/closed-door
- Content 🤔 past attempted sexual assault, past death of parents, innuendo
My favorite hockey romance to date. Binged this in two sittings! The vibes were there, the emotions were there. It hit all the right things for me.
If you like the show New Girl (one of my faves), you will love this book. It’s a great roommate/friendship/found family dynamic. I really enjoyed that juxtaposed with the added depth that comes from two different series coming together in the next “generation” of characters.
I’ve read books by both authors and this is the first of either of theirs I’ve rated a 5 star. I love this collaboration and storyline, both authors shined. I had equal parts tearing up and silly grinning throughout, just really loved all of it.
October 25, 2025
⸺3 stars. 🏒
˚₊ ⟢┊tropes❄️┊⊹࣪⋆
↠Enemies to Lovers
↠Roommates
↠Found family
↠Dancer x Hockey player
↠Healing from SA
↠Death of Parents (off page)
↠Cat parents 🐾
˚₊ ⟢┊thoughts⛸️┊⊹࣪⋆
I picked this one up because it was a collab between two YA authors that I've enjoyed in the past. Let me tell you, it met my expectations pretty well. It was nothing life changing or mind blowing, nothing too emotional or anything like that, but it was easy to read and very heart warming.
This book warmed my heart in every way but I wish the found family was a bit larger. It was just the four of them living in that apartment and I think there was an opportunity to expand the found family and make it even sweeter. I mean, there was an entire hockey team at the authors deposal to make family but they choose to keep it small and I wish they hadn't. But at the same time, I understand the choice. Allegra was almost SA'd and she doesn't feel the safest around men, so I get the authors choice to keep it small.
Can we take a moment just to appreciate the main character's name? Allegra. That's the name of the allergy medicine I take every morning. I snorted every time I read it and I just couldn't take it seriously.
it never fails to impress me how creative YA authors are at making swearing substitutes. I don't think I read a single swear word and that was pretty impressive. Also I kinda appreciated it. (a girl needs a break once in a while)
˚₊ ⟢┊closing thoughts🥅┊⊹࣪⋆
Overall, this was a just a cute book. It handled some heavier topics while remaining light and fun. I would recommend it!
"She has more passion inside of her pinky finger than most people have in their entire being…and she’s all mine.”
˚₊ ⟢┊tropes❄️┊⊹࣪⋆
↠Enemies to Lovers
↠Roommates
↠Found family
↠Dancer x Hockey player
↠Healing from SA
↠Death of Parents (off page)
↠Cat parents 🐾
˚₊ ⟢┊thoughts⛸️┊⊹࣪⋆
I picked this one up because it was a collab between two YA authors that I've enjoyed in the past. Let me tell you, it met my expectations pretty well. It was nothing life changing or mind blowing, nothing too emotional or anything like that, but it was easy to read and very heart warming.
This book warmed my heart in every way but I wish the found family was a bit larger. It was just the four of them living in that apartment and I think there was an opportunity to expand the found family and make it even sweeter. I mean, there was an entire hockey team at the authors deposal to make family but they choose to keep it small and I wish they hadn't. But at the same time, I understand the choice. Allegra was almost SA'd and she doesn't feel the safest around men, so I get the authors choice to keep it small.
Can we take a moment just to appreciate the main character's name? Allegra. That's the name of the allergy medicine I take every morning. I snorted every time I read it and I just couldn't take it seriously.
it never fails to impress me how creative YA authors are at making swearing substitutes. I don't think I read a single swear word and that was pretty impressive. Also I kinda appreciated it. (a girl needs a break once in a while)
˚₊ ⟢┊closing thoughts🥅┊⊹࣪⋆
Overall, this was a just a cute book. It handled some heavier topics while remaining light and fun. I would recommend it!
February 5, 2026
“I’m so happy you’re in my life, Ally,” he murmurs.── .✦ 3.5 stars ᝰ.ᐟ
“I can hardly remember what life was like without you,” is my honest response.”
⤿ this was such a cute and sweet read. there wasn’t really much of a plot here, as it was solely focused on the individual characters' journeys, but i didn't mind because i was here just for the vibes, and i got exactly what i wanted.
♯ ┆ tropes 💒 ୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ
꒰🧸꒱ he falls first, he falls harder
꒰🧸꒱ ice hockey player x dancer
꒰🧸꒱ dislike to friends to lovers
꒰🧸꒱ insta-attraction
꒰🧸꒱ grumpy x sunshine
꒰🧸꒱ forced proximity
꒰🧸꒱ found
content warnings: off-page SA of fmc (not by mmc), parental death off-page
♯ ┆ characters 💒 ୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ
꒰🌷꒱ allegra callahan ࣪ – my fav girl. she was so sweet, bubbly, sunshine-y and my heart truly hurt for the shit she went through at her college. her struggles and insecurities with her dance expression and sensuality was truly heartbreaking because she’s just such a ball of sunshine and deserves nothing bad to ever happen to her. i absolutely loved her quiet strength and enjoyed reading about her journey to reclaim herself and her dreams to become a dancer.
꒰🌷꒱ noah downsby – ‘green flag’ personified. while i was initially indifferent to him, i ended up loving his character development by the end as he went from a grumpy man who refused to let anyone in to someone who took initiative in opening up to his friends, falling in love and getting comfortable with the concept of being vulnerable. his fear of bad things happening to the people he loves was so real and something i related to a lot - which is why his struggles with that aspect of his life felt painfully familiar, but also soothing to find out that he somewhat healed by the end.
additionally, i enjoyed the fact that noah was a grump in a true sense and despite toeing the line of venturing into the asshole territory, he never quite crossed it and always remained respectful to allegra. in fact, if he ever got rude with her, he apologised immediately and never repeated the behaviour. (bare minimum, i know. but in this economy can you blame me?) also, his own ambitions
꒰🌷꒱ side characters – fisher and penn were my fav golden retriever babies. especially fisher. he was so cute, funny and an absolute fun to read about. and the way he was all brotherly and caring for allegra melted my heart even more. i’m so excited to read their own stories in the next books.
♯ ┆ noah & allegra 💒 ୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ
⤿ ꒰💌꒱ they were very cute and wholesome overall. i adored the way noah helped allegra regain her confidence in herself and her dreams, while aly also helped him to realize that it was okay to let people in and be vulnerable. every moment between them was so sweet that it gave me butterflies and teethache from always grinning so widely.
my only complain with them is the fact that they lacked any solid chemistry. i didn’t exactly feel excited about getting them together nor was i overjoyed when they did, infact, get together. i think this is mainly because there were no stakes in their relationship and thus there wasn’t any push-and-pull or angst.
nonetheless, i did enjoy them as a couple because they had a very healthy and mature relationship. they communicated, made each other better and complemented each other really well – thus making their love very believable.
♯ ┆ what i liked 💒 ୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ
꒰💐꒱ a man taking therapy and being mature. fin-fucking-ally.
꒰💐꒱ a sunshine fmc done right.
꒰💐꒱ the whole friend group and the character developments.
꒰💐꒱ noah's nieces.
꒰💐꒱ aly's friends.
♯ ┆ what i disliked 💒 ୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ
꒰💐꒱ the writing. there was a bit of info-dump and the prose was also pretty bland. some of the dialogues were also pretty juvenile.
꒰💐꒱ the pacing fell off towards the end of the book.
꒰💐꒱ the lack of any solid conflict. i love drama. what can i say? so the fact that there wasn't any solid conflict that stood between their relationship made everything feel a bit too easy and passive.
꒰💐꒱ fuck sandine
────୨ৎ────
February 1, 2026
━━━ઇଓㅤ⤸
꒰ 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 ꒱
𝟒.𝟕𝟓 ✩
🎧꒱ ‘Unstoppable’ | Sia
“𝓘’𝓶 𝓼𝓸 𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓹𝔂 𝔂𝓸𝓾’𝓻𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓶𝔂 𝓵𝓲𝓯𝓮, 𝓐𝓵𝓵𝔂.” 𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓾𝓻𝓶𝓾𝓻𝓼.
“𝐼 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒹𝓁𝓎 𝓇𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓂𝒷𝑒𝓇 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓁𝒾𝒻𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝓉
𝓎𝑜𝓊,” 𝒾𝓈 𝓂𝓎 𝒽𝑜𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓅𝑜𝓃𝓈𝑒.
꒰ 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: ꒱
This book felt like such a warm hug; that’s the only way I can describe it.
I’ve had this on my radar for a few months now, and I was super eager to read it until I realised there were other books–other series–I needed to read before. [ NOTE! I recommend reading I Think He Knows and Desire or Defense before picking this up. There are characters mentioned and their backstories that you might be confused about if you don’t. Although it may be a pain, it definitely increased my experience reading Rookie Season, making me feel so much more connected to the book and get a better understanding of their upbringing. ] Little Allegra and Noah stole my heart, and to have their own book, set ten years later where they got their happy ending, was so sweet. I just loved how Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner collabed, the worlds they’d created coming together in this heartwarming and hilarious book about self-love, growth, and discovery.
One of my favourite things about Rookie Season was the absolute treasure that was the found family. It’s a trope that has and always will hold a special place in my heart, and the friendship in this was just so adorable. Penn, Fisher, Noah, and Ally are all roommates in Loft 3B. They bake cookies together, play Extreme Jenga, and catch up on the new episodes of their favourite reality show. It’s not only shits and giggles, but sometimes serious conversations too. They’d fight for each other, protect one another, and always, always support and encourage. Fisher is like a brother to Ally, Penn, a goofy friend, and Noah, a man she can love and trust.
Just a teensy tiny spoiler ahead ⤸
The best thing was that I got to read about Carter and Lana Mae; even if it was only a few chapters. Seeing how their lives were going ten years later, happily married and with a son, had me almost bursting into tears. I love them with my entire soul, and that is no exaggeration. Every time Ally addressed Carter as her dad, I felt such warmth in every cell in my body. She gained the father she never had, and for that I will forever love him for stepping up and loving Ally like his own child. And even though I sadly dnf’ed Desire or Defense due to it being almost unbearably boring, It was still endearing to see Mitch and Andie with a family of their own.
The second I finished Rookie Season, I–like every other time when I get too connected to a book–cried. Noah and Ally and the friends they made along the way and everything in between was just cuteness overload. I am dying to see what other books will be in this series. If they're anything like Noah and Ally's book, I. Am. Here. For. It. Please, please, please read this book. It's adorable and emotional and all that I was hoping for and more.
꒰ 𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: ꒱
Being with Noah just makes me completely comfortable in my own skin. Something I didn’t realize would ever be possible again.
“Noah Downsby, you’re just a big softy, aren’t you?”
Only for beautiful dancers who bake delicious cookies.
Getting close to people is terrifying…because it means more people you can lose. It means more opportunities for your heart to shatter.
That’s my girl.
My Noah.
I just want to feel comfortable in my own skin again.
I want to know everything about her, I want to share her burdens, maybe help her carry them so they’re not so heavy.
“You make me feel so safe.”
I missed her. I missed everything about her.
“You’re so damn beautiful, Ally.”
“I promise I’ll never do anything to hurt you. No, I swear it. You’re safe with me, always.”
“I believe you."
“I won’t let you fall, Ally.”
“I see you, Noah.”
Because no matter what our pasts are scarred by, or our futures may or may not hold, today I am going to focus on being in the present. Being with her.
This man lights me up from the inside.
“You love him,” Mom says simply.
“I do.”
“And he loves you, too.”
“I think he does, but he hasn't said it yet.”
“Legs,” my mom chuckles softly, a glint in her eye. “That man loves you, trust me.”
Her words are like a hug to my soul. A soul that I didn’t realize was lonely until I met her.
“You come first, no matter what. I’m all in.”
Because of this girl, I have all these people around me right now. Because of Ally, I know how to love and be loved. She has changed my life…she’s changed me, more than she will ever know.
━━━
ᰔᩚ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝: ꒱
eek, you don’t know how excited i am to be reading this!! when i realised there were other books i needed to read before, i was really put off. but i’m here now and, 3 chapters in, i’m already in love. as always, just look at the cover. the characters are gorgeous, and that background? omg. i am such a sucker for pretty books, if you don’t know. from the few chapters i’ve read, allegra and noah are giving off bree and nathan from the cheat sheet (one of my literal favourite romances), so i have such high hopes that it’ll be a 4+ star read. found family, forced proximity, hockey and dance, grumpy x sunshine. THIS IS MY JAM YA'LL.
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝: 30/1/2026
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 31/1/2026
-𝓖
꒰ 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 ꒱
𝟒.𝟕𝟓 ✩
🎧꒱ ‘Unstoppable’ | Sia
“𝓘’𝓶 𝓼𝓸 𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓹𝔂 𝔂𝓸𝓾’𝓻𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓶𝔂 𝓵𝓲𝓯𝓮, 𝓐𝓵𝓵𝔂.” 𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓾𝓻𝓶𝓾𝓻𝓼.
“𝐼 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒹𝓁𝓎 𝓇𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓂𝒷𝑒𝓇 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓁𝒾𝒻𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝓉
𝓎𝑜𝓊,” 𝒾𝓈 𝓂𝓎 𝒽𝑜𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓅𝑜𝓃𝓈𝑒.
꒰ 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: ꒱
This book felt like such a warm hug; that’s the only way I can describe it.
I’ve had this on my radar for a few months now, and I was super eager to read it until I realised there were other books–other series–I needed to read before. [ NOTE! I recommend reading I Think He Knows and Desire or Defense before picking this up. There are characters mentioned and their backstories that you might be confused about if you don’t. Although it may be a pain, it definitely increased my experience reading Rookie Season, making me feel so much more connected to the book and get a better understanding of their upbringing. ] Little Allegra and Noah stole my heart, and to have their own book, set ten years later where they got their happy ending, was so sweet. I just loved how Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner collabed, the worlds they’d created coming together in this heartwarming and hilarious book about self-love, growth, and discovery.
One of my favourite things about Rookie Season was the absolute treasure that was the found family. It’s a trope that has and always will hold a special place in my heart, and the friendship in this was just so adorable. Penn, Fisher, Noah, and Ally are all roommates in Loft 3B. They bake cookies together, play Extreme Jenga, and catch up on the new episodes of their favourite reality show. It’s not only shits and giggles, but sometimes serious conversations too. They’d fight for each other, protect one another, and always, always support and encourage. Fisher is like a brother to Ally, Penn, a goofy friend, and Noah, a man she can love and trust.
[ After all of my college friends of almost three years turned their backs on me when the rumors started, these guys accepting me as part of their little family means everything. ]While I’m talking about them, I want to mention the romance between Noah and Ally. Oh, my goodness. Despite this book being clean, their interactions, however, made up for it. There was some juicy, sizzling tension that I swear I could practically feel through my kindle. I for one will always choose banter over actual spice, and this definitely delivered. ninety percent of the time, I was squealing and kicking my feet in utter delight at every exchange between them. Although they had an…awkward and very hilarious second-first interaction and a rocky start, Noah and Ally then managed to have the cutest flirty friendship, and eventually, the most precious relationship. My genuine favourite thing in romance books is when one of the main characters hypes up and encourages the other to follow their dreams. Noah supported Ally and helped her gain the confidence she lost, finding her love for dance again. That’s something I will always adore about book couples like them. You lift their spirits when they’re down, help them find belief, and cheer them on. I also wanted to say that Noah and Ally gave off such Nathan and Bree vibes from The Cheat Sheet. And if you know me, you know that that book is one of my favourites. If you like their personalities, Bree’s love for dance, Nathan’s protective demeanour, and the friendship, you will eat this book up.
Just a teensy tiny spoiler ahead ⤸
The best thing was that I got to read about Carter and Lana Mae; even if it was only a few chapters. Seeing how their lives were going ten years later, happily married and with a son, had me almost bursting into tears. I love them with my entire soul, and that is no exaggeration. Every time Ally addressed Carter as her dad, I felt such warmth in every cell in my body. She gained the father she never had, and for that I will forever love him for stepping up and loving Ally like his own child. And even though I sadly dnf’ed Desire or Defense due to it being almost unbearably boring, It was still endearing to see Mitch and Andie with a family of their own.
The second I finished Rookie Season, I–like every other time when I get too connected to a book–cried. Noah and Ally and the friends they made along the way and everything in between was just cuteness overload. I am dying to see what other books will be in this series. If they're anything like Noah and Ally's book, I. Am. Here. For. It. Please, please, please read this book. It's adorable and emotional and all that I was hoping for and more.
꒰ 𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: ꒱
Being with Noah just makes me completely comfortable in my own skin. Something I didn’t realize would ever be possible again.
“Noah Downsby, you’re just a big softy, aren’t you?”
Only for beautiful dancers who bake delicious cookies.
Getting close to people is terrifying…because it means more people you can lose. It means more opportunities for your heart to shatter.
That’s my girl.
My Noah.
I just want to feel comfortable in my own skin again.
I want to know everything about her, I want to share her burdens, maybe help her carry them so they’re not so heavy.
“You make me feel so safe.”
I missed her. I missed everything about her.
“You’re so damn beautiful, Ally.”
“I promise I’ll never do anything to hurt you. No, I swear it. You’re safe with me, always.”
“I believe you."
“I won’t let you fall, Ally.”
“I see you, Noah.”
Because no matter what our pasts are scarred by, or our futures may or may not hold, today I am going to focus on being in the present. Being with her.
This man lights me up from the inside.
“You love him,” Mom says simply.
“I do.”
“And he loves you, too.”
“I think he does, but he hasn't said it yet.”
“Legs,” my mom chuckles softly, a glint in her eye. “That man loves you, trust me.”
Her words are like a hug to my soul. A soul that I didn’t realize was lonely until I met her.
“You come first, no matter what. I’m all in.”
Because of this girl, I have all these people around me right now. Because of Ally, I know how to love and be loved. She has changed my life…she’s changed me, more than she will ever know.
━━━
ᰔᩚ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝: ꒱
eek, you don’t know how excited i am to be reading this!! when i realised there were other books i needed to read before, i was really put off. but i’m here now and, 3 chapters in, i’m already in love. as always, just look at the cover. the characters are gorgeous, and that background? omg. i am such a sucker for pretty books, if you don’t know. from the few chapters i’ve read, allegra and noah are giving off bree and nathan from the cheat sheet (one of my literal favourite romances), so i have such high hopes that it’ll be a 4+ star read. found family, forced proximity, hockey and dance, grumpy x sunshine. THIS IS MY JAM YA'LL.
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝: 30/1/2026
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 31/1/2026
-𝓖
August 23, 2025
꒰ “Tears prick my eyes at the overwhelming joy of watching her. The woman I love, doing what she loves. She has more passion inside of her pinky finger than most people have in their entire being...and she's all mine.” ꒱
★★★★’s (maybe even 5? i still don’t know how to rate this one)
OKAY LISTEN—yes, it took me two whole weeks to finish this BUT not because it was bad. Unfortunately, my reading slump has been SLUMPING lately and I’m oh so irritated.
This book was so wholesome I could cry.
SPOILERS AHEAD‼️
Allegra Callahan: When i tell you i wanted to hug her so badly. She’s so precious, oh my god. I mean, your father leaving even before you were born, you’re the child of a teen pregnancy, and a victim of sa. My poor baby, nobody ever deserves that. I could NOT be happier when she got the life she deserves. A loving family, a place in the company she’s always dreamt of, the perfect boyfriend, and awesome-as-hell roommates. (I’m stealing Penn & Fisher, btw.)
Noah Downsby: Oh, how badly I wanted to pull him into a bone-crushing embrace. His traumatic experience of losing his parents at the age of 12 really took its toll on him. He literally put people at arm’s length because he didn’t want to get attached because of the fear of losing them. His OWN BESTFRIEND didn’t even know him that well, for god’s sake. He’s just ))): Also—I think he just climbed up his way to my top boyfriends list, because THAT MAN?? Ugh. HE LITERALLY KEPT HER HAIRTIE ON HIS WRIST ALL THE TIME BECAUSE HE MISSES HER. I need a man like him.
Also, I loved the whole concept of writing a book of characters from two different worlds. Now I’m SUPER excited to read Lana and Carter’s & Andie and Mitch’s stories!
Thank you, NetGalley, The publisher, and authors for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
(All my socials are @readwithhayaa — you can also find them in my linktree in my bio!)
Pre-Read ｡𖦹°‧:
Guess what? i got the arc!!!!!!! *squeals*
★★★★’s (maybe even 5? i still don’t know how to rate this one)
OKAY LISTEN—yes, it took me two whole weeks to finish this BUT not because it was bad. Unfortunately, my reading slump has been SLUMPING lately and I’m oh so irritated.
This book was so wholesome I could cry.
SPOILERS AHEAD‼️
Allegra Callahan: When i tell you i wanted to hug her so badly. She’s so precious, oh my god. I mean, your father leaving even before you were born, you’re the child of a teen pregnancy, and a victim of sa. My poor baby, nobody ever deserves that. I could NOT be happier when she got the life she deserves. A loving family, a place in the company she’s always dreamt of, the perfect boyfriend, and awesome-as-hell roommates. (I’m stealing Penn & Fisher, btw.)
Noah Downsby: Oh, how badly I wanted to pull him into a bone-crushing embrace. His traumatic experience of losing his parents at the age of 12 really took its toll on him. He literally put people at arm’s length because he didn’t want to get attached because of the fear of losing them. His OWN BESTFRIEND didn’t even know him that well, for god’s sake. He’s just ))): Also—I think he just climbed up his way to my top boyfriends list, because THAT MAN?? Ugh. HE LITERALLY KEPT HER HAIRTIE ON HIS WRIST ALL THE TIME BECAUSE HE MISSES HER. I need a man like him.
Also, I loved the whole concept of writing a book of characters from two different worlds. Now I’m SUPER excited to read Lana and Carter’s & Andie and Mitch’s stories!
Thank you, NetGalley, The publisher, and authors for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
(All my socials are @readwithhayaa — you can also find them in my linktree in my bio!)
Pre-Read ｡𖦹°‧:
Guess what? i got the arc!!!!!!! *squeals*
August 31, 2025
3.5 ⭐
Ehhh, I've read this story one too many times before. It's your usual grumpy (Noah, 22) x sunshine (Ally, 20), roommates-to-lovers story: he liked her, so he acted like a jerk for a while, but then they found a truce, started opening up to each other, and eventually became a couple.
It's predictable, to say the least, but for an anxious girly like me, this story is a balm to my chaotic thoughts. It's very much smooth sailing, with low stakes and no angst. Just two people healing from their past, growing closer each day that passes, and developing feelings they've never felt before. Basically just your usual romance story.
But I liked it, and that's because I don't have to think too much about it. It didn't make my stomach twist by wondering if something would go amiss or ruin what they have.
This is a slow burn; it wasn't until the 60% mark before they had their first kiss. It's a fade-to-black romance laced with some innuendos and references to sex. Also, the story relies heavily on the characters and their growth as individuals and as a couple.
Overall, it was fine. A good palate cleanser if readers want something chill to read.
Book info:
- NHL Player x Dancer/Teacher
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Roommates to lovers
- Closed door / Fade to black
- SA (off page, in the past, and prevented from escalating when another character intervenes)
- Slowburn
- No cheating, OM/OW, separation
- No Vs
- HEA (3 yrs later, married)
Notes:
- No V. Both said it's been a while; I think months?? Noah wanted to focus on hockey, and Ally was doing her best to move on after her attack. As for safety, I got the impression that Noah is experienced but probably not much of a hoe, unlike his two friends. He said he kept his relationship at surface level, and whenever he slept with someone, there were no feelings involved. But we didn't get anything from Ally's dating life. Why is that, though? I'm just going to imagine she had experiences that were at least fulfilling or enjoyable.
- It did cross Noah's mind to hook up with someone else because of his conflicting feelings for Ally. It was more like a passing thought, but it still got me a tiny bit annoyed.
PS. I think this might be my first and only one in this series. Even though Penn and Fisher are great friends, I just can't imagine them as romantic partners. These two are the epitome of playboys, and having to read the reminders of their reputation and seeing them with multiple women here just ruined them in my eyes. They're totally unashamed of their lifestyle. Again, love them as friends, but it's a big nope to them becoming someone else's boyfriends. 🤧
Also, we already got a hint of who's going to be Penn's FMC, and yeah, good luck to her. She lives downstairs and knows about the parties going on at their condo.
Ehhh, I've read this story one too many times before. It's your usual grumpy (Noah, 22) x sunshine (Ally, 20), roommates-to-lovers story: he liked her, so he acted like a jerk for a while, but then they found a truce, started opening up to each other, and eventually became a couple.
It's predictable, to say the least, but for an anxious girly like me, this story is a balm to my chaotic thoughts. It's very much smooth sailing, with low stakes and no angst. Just two people healing from their past, growing closer each day that passes, and developing feelings they've never felt before. Basically just your usual romance story.
But I liked it, and that's because I don't have to think too much about it. It didn't make my stomach twist by wondering if something would go amiss or ruin what they have.
This is a slow burn; it wasn't until the 60% mark before they had their first kiss. It's a fade-to-black romance laced with some innuendos and references to sex. Also, the story relies heavily on the characters and their growth as individuals and as a couple.
Overall, it was fine. A good palate cleanser if readers want something chill to read.
Book info:
- NHL Player x Dancer/Teacher
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Roommates to lovers
- Closed door / Fade to black
- SA (off page, in the past, and prevented from escalating when another character intervenes)
- Slowburn
- No cheating, OM/OW, separation
- No Vs
- HEA (3 yrs later, married)
Notes:
- No V. Both said it's been a while; I think months?? Noah wanted to focus on hockey, and Ally was doing her best to move on after her attack. As for safety, I got the impression that Noah is experienced but probably not much of a hoe, unlike his two friends. He said he kept his relationship at surface level, and whenever he slept with someone, there were no feelings involved. But we didn't get anything from Ally's dating life. Why is that, though? I'm just going to imagine she had experiences that were at least fulfilling or enjoyable.
- It did cross Noah's mind to hook up with someone else because of his conflicting feelings for Ally. It was more like a passing thought, but it still got me a tiny bit annoyed.
PS. I think this might be my first and only one in this series. Even though Penn and Fisher are great friends, I just can't imagine them as romantic partners. These two are the epitome of playboys, and having to read the reminders of their reputation and seeing them with multiple women here just ruined them in my eyes. They're totally unashamed of their lifestyle. Again, love them as friends, but it's a big nope to them becoming someone else's boyfriends. 🤧
Also, we already got a hint of who's going to be Penn's FMC, and yeah, good luck to her. She lives downstairs and knows about the parties going on at their condo.
January 12, 2026
This is your regular cliché romance. It was quite bingeable and the audiobook made it even better.
I'll admit it was pretty cheesy and I genuinely wanted to strangle myself at times but regardless I had fun.
I went in hoping for something light-hearted and it served its purpose.
It could have done with just a little less of the hockey puns though.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
Pre-read:
↪ 2026 book #1!
diva and I are finally starting our 1st BR of 2026! Hope this turns out to be nothing like the one we picked last year. *touchwood*
I'll admit it was pretty cheesy and I genuinely wanted to strangle myself at times but regardless I had fun.
I went in hoping for something light-hearted and it served its purpose.
It could have done with just a little less of the hockey puns though.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
Pre-read:
↪ 2026 book #1!
diva and I are finally starting our 1st BR of 2026! Hope this turns out to be nothing like the one we picked last year. *touchwood*
August 21, 2025
•𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰•
{𝑹𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒆 𝑺𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏}
🏒 Release Date: August 21, 2025 🏒
.
.
.
After reading almost 50% of this book, I’ve decided to call it quits. I’m just not comfortable with the spice level/innuendo in this book, along with all of the language and everything else, and I know it’s only going to get worse the further I progress into the story. I really appreciated the warning at the beginning of the story, and I had decided to give it a try regardless of the warning, but I quickly realized that this book was just not for me.
As far as any thoughts I had on the actual plot of the story, well, I wasn’t loving it. The characters weren’t horrible or anything, but I just wasn’t vibing with the story and, therefore, it was starting to annoy me. I really loved the idea of Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner pairing up to write a story about two characters we’d previously read about in their respective books, but alas, this book wasn’t for me. I definitely wouldn’t say it’s a poorly written story or anything like that, though.
With all that being said, proceed with caution if you are also a reader looking to avoid language and spice in the books you read. Otherwise, have at it!
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.
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I received a complimentary arc from NetGalley. All opinions listed are purely my own.
{𝑹𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒆 𝑺𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏}
🏒 Release Date: August 21, 2025 🏒
.
.
.
After reading almost 50% of this book, I’ve decided to call it quits. I’m just not comfortable with the spice level/innuendo in this book, along with all of the language and everything else, and I know it’s only going to get worse the further I progress into the story. I really appreciated the warning at the beginning of the story, and I had decided to give it a try regardless of the warning, but I quickly realized that this book was just not for me.
As far as any thoughts I had on the actual plot of the story, well, I wasn’t loving it. The characters weren’t horrible or anything, but I just wasn’t vibing with the story and, therefore, it was starting to annoy me. I really loved the idea of Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner pairing up to write a story about two characters we’d previously read about in their respective books, but alas, this book wasn’t for me. I definitely wouldn’t say it’s a poorly written story or anything like that, though.
With all that being said, proceed with caution if you are also a reader looking to avoid language and spice in the books you read. Otherwise, have at it!
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.
.
I received a complimentary arc from NetGalley. All opinions listed are purely my own.
August 23, 2025
I was really looking forward to this book. I have read every book that they’ve both published. This seemed like they were trying to see how far they could push things and still be considered ‘closed door’. DNF due to swearing, lots of innuendo, spice level between unmarried couple, immaturity of adult characters.
S**t 16x
D**n 48x
B***h 4x
They also said puck in place of the F word so many times and got really annoying. I usually love both these author’s books, but this was a miss for me.
S**t 16x
D**n 48x
B***h 4x
They also said puck in place of the F word so many times and got really annoying. I usually love both these author’s books, but this was a miss for me.
maybe-check-safety
August 21, 2025Would love safety on this! If anyone has it please lmk
November 1, 2025
cute. soft. cozy.
oh, this is also a closed door hockey romance story. which I was fine with, made the story feel sweeter somehow.
oh, this is also a closed door hockey romance story. which I was fine with, made the story feel sweeter somehow.
August 28, 2025
Meeeeeh. I didn’t really like this.
They tried making Noah the nice grumpy guy, who’s a protecter at heart but he’s just a walking red flag!
I’m sorry but if a guy opens a drawer in the bathroom and gets weirded and grossed out by tampons…big no no! They had no chemistry, the plot was non existent and I was completely bored!
This is also a soft romance with intimacy behind closed doors.
______
And please tell me what’s going on in this review section? I feel like I took a dip into the christian book bubble because everyone is such a prude in the reviews 😭😂
Like I said there was a slight mention of Alkohol, swearing and sexual intimacy and they’re all soooo offended 😭
“They are unmarried….?” Ok and? Felt more emotions reading these shit as reviews than reading the book
They tried making Noah the nice grumpy guy, who’s a protecter at heart but he’s just a walking red flag!
I’m sorry but if a guy opens a drawer in the bathroom and gets weirded and grossed out by tampons…big no no! They had no chemistry, the plot was non existent and I was completely bored!
This is also a soft romance with intimacy behind closed doors.
______
And please tell me what’s going on in this review section? I feel like I took a dip into the christian book bubble because everyone is such a prude in the reviews 😭😂
Like I said there was a slight mention of Alkohol, swearing and sexual intimacy and they’re all soooo offended 😭
“They are unmarried….?” Ok and? Felt more emotions reading these shit as reviews than reading the book
August 22, 2025
Katie Bailey + Leah Brunner writing a book together?? Literally did NOT have that on my 2025 bingo card, but honestly… best surprise ever.
Rookie Season is everything! We’re talking fun banter, swoony romance, and a whole loft full of roomies who turned into their own little found family (protect the Loft 3B squad at all costs 🫶).
Allegra and Noah... Whew!! They are peak grumpy x sunshine. Their tension is off the charts. But it also grew into something deeper. Allegra’s journey of healing and reclaiming herself was heartbreaking but so empowering to watch. And Noah, our grumpy but secretly soft king, showed so much growth that I couldn’t help but swoon harder. Watching both of them face their pasts and grow together was so satisfying.
Also, can we talk about the cameos?? Seeing characters from both Katie and Leah’s previous books pop in felt like the best extended epilogue ever.
Thank you, Katie and Leah, for feeding us so well!! I laughed, I swooned, and now I’m counting down for the rest of the roomies to get their own stories.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
❤️🔥 Grumpy x Sunshine
❤️🔥 Found Family
❤️🔥 Protective MMC
❤️🔥 New Girl Vibes
🚨🚨 TW: Grief, Death of parents, Sexual assault
Rookie Season is everything! We’re talking fun banter, swoony romance, and a whole loft full of roomies who turned into their own little found family (protect the Loft 3B squad at all costs 🫶).
Allegra and Noah... Whew!! They are peak grumpy x sunshine. Their tension is off the charts. But it also grew into something deeper. Allegra’s journey of healing and reclaiming herself was heartbreaking but so empowering to watch. And Noah, our grumpy but secretly soft king, showed so much growth that I couldn’t help but swoon harder. Watching both of them face their pasts and grow together was so satisfying.
Also, can we talk about the cameos?? Seeing characters from both Katie and Leah’s previous books pop in felt like the best extended epilogue ever.
Thank you, Katie and Leah, for feeding us so well!! I laughed, I swooned, and now I’m counting down for the rest of the roomies to get their own stories.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
❤️🔥 Grumpy x Sunshine
❤️🔥 Found Family
❤️🔥 Protective MMC
❤️🔥 New Girl Vibes
🚨🚨 TW: Grief, Death of parents, Sexual assault
September 4, 2025
Guys. Where do I start?! I think Leah & Katie voice memoed each other one day and just say “let’s make history”. Because WHAT A 2nd Gen story!
I think every DC Eagle reader’s heart went out to Noah when we met him as a young boy. To see his drive continue as he got older made me feel like a proud auntie.
His struggles with anxiety were so real, and handled beautifully!
I am saddened to admit I have not yet caught up on my lovely Katie Bailey backlist so I have yet to meet Allegra as a youngster, but I have a feeling she’s a spitfire then too. I’m STOKED to go back and read the 1st Gen story so I can love Carter & Lana Mae more than I already do.
But I loved Ally’s adult character! Her strength and tenacity really showed through. And I loved how she was just…herself the entire time. Even with small pieces missing she worked to find herself whole again.
Ummmm Penn, Fisher, & Noah together had me SNORTING. Their bromance was EVERYTHING! And Penn & Fisher’s loyalty to Noah through everything was heartwarming.
The 4 of them together were sooo sweet! I loved watching them build their own family together.
Truly it was such a sweet story! And of cooouurrrsseee the romance was off the charts! Loved the way they just naturally fell into it and it just worked. It was sweet!
4/5 stars
*this book is fade to black with heavy innuendo and a bit more language than these author’s previous works*
*I received this book from the authors**All opinions are my own*
I think every DC Eagle reader’s heart went out to Noah when we met him as a young boy. To see his drive continue as he got older made me feel like a proud auntie.
His struggles with anxiety were so real, and handled beautifully!
I am saddened to admit I have not yet caught up on my lovely Katie Bailey backlist so I have yet to meet Allegra as a youngster, but I have a feeling she’s a spitfire then too. I’m STOKED to go back and read the 1st Gen story so I can love Carter & Lana Mae more than I already do.
But I loved Ally’s adult character! Her strength and tenacity really showed through. And I loved how she was just…herself the entire time. Even with small pieces missing she worked to find herself whole again.
Ummmm Penn, Fisher, & Noah together had me SNORTING. Their bromance was EVERYTHING! And Penn & Fisher’s loyalty to Noah through everything was heartwarming.
The 4 of them together were sooo sweet! I loved watching them build their own family together.
Truly it was such a sweet story! And of cooouurrrsseee the romance was off the charts! Loved the way they just naturally fell into it and it just worked. It was sweet!
4/5 stars
*this book is fade to black with heavy innuendo and a bit more language than these author’s previous works*
*I received this book from the authors**All opinions are my own*
June 1, 2025
I am a puddle of swoony feels! Full review to come.
August 22, 2025
#Review: *Rookie Mistake* - Katie Bailey & Leah Brunner - ARC [16+]
5/5✨
1/5🌶️
Sooo glad that I'm part of Katie Bailey's permanent ARC team, because I had the chance to read this amazing book in advance🥰. Thank youu so much to the authors and to Booked with the Emilys for this opportunity.
Allegra 'Ally' Callahan was a super talented ballerina, who had to run away from her life in Atlanta after an event which marked her. She was now trying to start over in San Francisco, where she had Fisher as a friend. He helped her a lot by letting her stay in the same loft as him and some of his hockey teammates, Noah and Penn.
Noah was determined to stay focused on his hockey career, no distractions allowed. But him and Ally had a pretty instant chemistry even if their first encounter wasn't that great😅. Not even the second one, which was super hilarious! But they slowly started to learn more about each other and that only increased the tension between them. Ally's cat, Harry Styles II, played a pretty big part into their cute love story and will definitely bring a smile on your face. Will Ally be able to get over her traumatic event? Will she be able to let Noah in and start something with him?
This story was so darn sweet and super swoony! I loooved Noah and Ally's cute relationship, as well as the amazing friendship between them and Fisher and Penn. They formed the most awesome gang, which was actually more like a family. I just loved everything about them and how they supported each other and had so much fun together. Ally's story might be triggering for some readers, so it's better to check out the trigger list before starting this book.
I'm so happy that I've finally got to read this book, craving to start reading it from the moment I've seen this cute cover, knowing that it will be exactly what I like. And it really didn't disappoint me at all! Is recommended to readers who like a pretty clean romance, with lots of swoony moments and lots of kisses🤭.
✨Tropes
#RoommatesToLovers
#StartingOver
#GoldenRetriever
#HeFallsHarder
#Protector
#SportsRomance
#Hockey
#Ballerina
5/5✨
1/5🌶️
Sooo glad that I'm part of Katie Bailey's permanent ARC team, because I had the chance to read this amazing book in advance🥰. Thank youu so much to the authors and to Booked with the Emilys for this opportunity.
Allegra 'Ally' Callahan was a super talented ballerina, who had to run away from her life in Atlanta after an event which marked her. She was now trying to start over in San Francisco, where she had Fisher as a friend. He helped her a lot by letting her stay in the same loft as him and some of his hockey teammates, Noah and Penn.
Noah was determined to stay focused on his hockey career, no distractions allowed. But him and Ally had a pretty instant chemistry even if their first encounter wasn't that great😅. Not even the second one, which was super hilarious! But they slowly started to learn more about each other and that only increased the tension between them. Ally's cat, Harry Styles II, played a pretty big part into their cute love story and will definitely bring a smile on your face. Will Ally be able to get over her traumatic event? Will she be able to let Noah in and start something with him?
This story was so darn sweet and super swoony! I loooved Noah and Ally's cute relationship, as well as the amazing friendship between them and Fisher and Penn. They formed the most awesome gang, which was actually more like a family. I just loved everything about them and how they supported each other and had so much fun together. Ally's story might be triggering for some readers, so it's better to check out the trigger list before starting this book.
I'm so happy that I've finally got to read this book, craving to start reading it from the moment I've seen this cute cover, knowing that it will be exactly what I like. And it really didn't disappoint me at all! Is recommended to readers who like a pretty clean romance, with lots of swoony moments and lots of kisses🤭.
✨Tropes
#RoommatesToLovers
#StartingOver
#GoldenRetriever
#HeFallsHarder
#Protector
#SportsRomance
#Hockey
#Ballerina
October 2, 2025
୨୧➛ post-read ── .✦
Finished this book in one sitting and I'm happy I was finally able to finish a book again, but this wasn't great lol. At least it was quick & easy..
A full review might come. Maybe, maybe not
Finished this book in one sitting and I'm happy I was finally able to finish a book again, but this wasn't great lol. At least it was quick & easy..
A full review might come. Maybe, maybe not
August 29, 2025
I honestly can’t figure out why, but I didn’t feel any chemistry between Ally and Noah. I found myself kind of cringing at parts that were supposed to be “swoony.” I think it had a lot to do with the fact that they didn’t have an emotional connection. It just felt like physical attraction and then suddenly they’re making sweeping statements about their big feelings and I’m thinking, “You know nothing about him/her.”
The moments meant to build connection or portray attraction felt forced. I cringed more than I squealed if you know what I mean…
For example:
Noah: “I already know my dreams tonight will feature her wearing the jersey clutched in my hand and not the bikini.” See, my face is literally going 😬 just typing it out. He had hardly had a full conversation with Ally at this point.
Or the part that said, “I want Noah Downsby. In the worst way” I thought, “You do? Really? Why? You literally do not know him.” I just did not feel any connection between these two. Honesty, I thought Ally and Fisher had more of a connection than Ally and Noah.
There were also several moments where I was like… micro trope, oh another micro trope… it felt like these moments were put in just because they’re popular with readers. The “she wears his jersey,” the “arms up” moment, Noah leaning on the doorframe… It was just one after another and they felt thrown in randomly just so they’d be there, but they didn’t add to the story or their connection.
I just didn’t connect with these characters or their relationship. I felt very “meh” about it.
The cover, however is very cute.
The moments meant to build connection or portray attraction felt forced. I cringed more than I squealed if you know what I mean…
For example:
Noah: “I already know my dreams tonight will feature her wearing the jersey clutched in my hand and not the bikini.” See, my face is literally going 😬 just typing it out. He had hardly had a full conversation with Ally at this point.
Or the part that said, “I want Noah Downsby. In the worst way” I thought, “You do? Really? Why? You literally do not know him.” I just did not feel any connection between these two. Honesty, I thought Ally and Fisher had more of a connection than Ally and Noah.
There were also several moments where I was like… micro trope, oh another micro trope… it felt like these moments were put in just because they’re popular with readers. The “she wears his jersey,” the “arms up” moment, Noah leaning on the doorframe… It was just one after another and they felt thrown in randomly just so they’d be there, but they didn’t add to the story or their connection.
I just didn’t connect with these characters or their relationship. I felt very “meh” about it.
The cover, however is very cute.
September 29, 2025
I liked this- how fun to catch back up with the kids we loved ten years later as they fell in love. Good hockey romance. Allegra moved in with 3 hockey players - lol and is a kids dance teacher. She and Noah fall in love and he helps her with a former sexual assault. It tackled a tough issue but in a respectful way. Can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
September 6, 2025
it was fine BUT WHY ARE THERE NO GOOD BOOKS and also just say fuck because the whole plot of this book is them not swearing and saying puck instead
August 20, 2025
Noah Downsby is determined to dominate his rookie NHL season with zero distractions—until Allegra “Ally” Callahan moves in. With her quick wit, stolen jerseys, and troublemaking cat, Ally challenges his focus and melts his defenses. She’s starting over, he’s chasing glory—and when sparks fly, more than hockey is on the line.
All I want to do now is rewatch New Girl while rereading about these hockey players in their own B3 loft. It’s just as playful and endearing as the quirky characters in the show—only this time they’re NHL players with determination. Determined in different ways, but determined nonetheless, with Noah perfectly set on hockey until he’s transfixed by their new ballerina roommate, Ally. I think this story has the perfect mix of:
Hijinks– mostly from Harry Styles *iykyk Heart– Ally’s pain will get you
& Heat– don’t even get me started on Noah’s jerseys
I’m telling ya- don’t skip out on this one if you’re looking for a fresh new adult feel with the best found family. You’ll be begging to move into B3 (and maybe hoping for one of the two other single roommates 👀)
Thank you @bookedwiththeemilys @Leah.brunner.writes @authorkatiebailey for the eARC- I can’t wait for the next stay in Loft B3 🫶🏻
Perfect for you if you like:
New Girl
Harry Styles
National Hockey League
Cats
Lofts
Healing
Steam
Similar to:
Desire or Defense by Leah Brunner
Holiday Hostilities by Katie Bailey
Spiral by Bal Khabra (open-door)
⛔️fade to black epilogue (married couple)
⚠️mild language, previous sexual assault
All I want to do now is rewatch New Girl while rereading about these hockey players in their own B3 loft. It’s just as playful and endearing as the quirky characters in the show—only this time they’re NHL players with determination. Determined in different ways, but determined nonetheless, with Noah perfectly set on hockey until he’s transfixed by their new ballerina roommate, Ally. I think this story has the perfect mix of:
Hijinks– mostly from Harry Styles *iykyk Heart– Ally’s pain will get you
& Heat– don’t even get me started on Noah’s jerseys
I’m telling ya- don’t skip out on this one if you’re looking for a fresh new adult feel with the best found family. You’ll be begging to move into B3 (and maybe hoping for one of the two other single roommates 👀)
Thank you @bookedwiththeemilys @Leah.brunner.writes @authorkatiebailey for the eARC- I can’t wait for the next stay in Loft B3 🫶🏻
Perfect for you if you like:
New Girl
Harry Styles
National Hockey League
Cats
Lofts
Healing
Steam
Similar to:
Desire or Defense by Leah Brunner
Holiday Hostilities by Katie Bailey
Spiral by Bal Khabra (open-door)
⛔️fade to black epilogue (married couple)
⚠️mild language, previous sexual assault
October 22, 2025
5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you Must Love Audio for my copy!
It’s been a little bit since I had a 5 star read and this one definitely deserves it!
The story had such amazing flow, characters, tension, and relatable moments that I devoured it so quickly while enjoying the entire reading process. This is a fade to black/closed door romance that was full of so many steamy moments that you don’t even notice the spice isn’t there.
I was hooked from the start until the finish. I loved the whole friend group and I’m really looking forward to the other roommates' stories, as they all deserve their own HEAS.
You get:
🏒Hockey Romance
🩰Closed Door Spice
🏒Roomates
🩰Forced Proximity
🏒Protective MMC
🩰Dancer FMC
🏒Past Trauma
I highly recommend this book and I am looking forward to the rest of the series coming out! Available on ebook, paperback, and audiobook.
Thank you Must Love Audio for my copy!
It’s been a little bit since I had a 5 star read and this one definitely deserves it!
The story had such amazing flow, characters, tension, and relatable moments that I devoured it so quickly while enjoying the entire reading process. This is a fade to black/closed door romance that was full of so many steamy moments that you don’t even notice the spice isn’t there.
I was hooked from the start until the finish. I loved the whole friend group and I’m really looking forward to the other roommates' stories, as they all deserve their own HEAS.
You get:
🏒Hockey Romance
🩰Closed Door Spice
🏒Roomates
🩰Forced Proximity
🏒Protective MMC
🩰Dancer FMC
🏒Past Trauma
I highly recommend this book and I am looking forward to the rest of the series coming out! Available on ebook, paperback, and audiobook.
Read
August 26, 2025I will not be rating this book because while I enjoyed this storyline; it was had a lot of innuendo and read like a spicy book. I do not want to give it a bad rating based on something that it is well known and marketed by the authors even though it wasn’t for me. I loved the roommate dynamic as well as Noah and Ally’s relationship. It was very fun and cute!
CW: SA
Spice: Jokes about sex, hooking up, touching yourself, being aroused, and definitely lust.
CW: SA
Spice: Jokes about sex, hooking up, touching yourself, being aroused, and definitely lust.
August 29, 2025
Literally cannot wait for this book to come out😭 5 stars cause I know this book is gonna wreck me🤠
Review after reading:
OH MY GOSH. THIS BOOK DID IN FACT WRECK ME AND IM NOT MAD AT ALL, I LITERALLY LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH! First of all, I can't even express how fun it was to see Allegra AND Noah grown up😭 I loved these characters from the previous series and was so happy I got to see more of these characters and world! Absolutely loved it!! Second of all, this book lowkey had me bawling between Allegras story and seeing how Noah, Fisher and Penn all dealt with it🥺 10/10 those three dudes are absolute kings among men and Allegra is an absolute queen, loved to see her healing journey! Also I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see how far Noah came from Desire or Defense, I was so proud of him and he's not even real😖 Besides that, it was lowkey bittersweet to see Mitch retired but also so freaking fun to see Andie again! Finding out they have THREE little girls was so freaking cute! Finally, I legit had a heart attack with the Bruce cameo, WHY DID NOBODY TELL ME THAT THE ICONIC BRUCE MCBRIDE WAS GONNA POP IN?! I ACTUALLY WAS SCREAMING! Ugh, it made me so happy😭 Anywho, I seriously hope we get more books in this series cause Leah Brunner and Katie Bailey did NOT miss with this one! 1000/10 suggest this superb book!!
Review after reading:
OH MY GOSH. THIS BOOK DID IN FACT WRECK ME AND IM NOT MAD AT ALL, I LITERALLY LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH! First of all, I can't even express how fun it was to see Allegra AND Noah grown up😭 I loved these characters from the previous series and was so happy I got to see more of these characters and world! Absolutely loved it!! Second of all, this book lowkey had me bawling between Allegras story and seeing how Noah, Fisher and Penn all dealt with it🥺 10/10 those three dudes are absolute kings among men and Allegra is an absolute queen, loved to see her healing journey! Also I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see how far Noah came from Desire or Defense, I was so proud of him and he's not even real😖 Besides that, it was lowkey bittersweet to see Mitch retired but also so freaking fun to see Andie again! Finding out they have THREE little girls was so freaking cute! Finally, I legit had a heart attack with the Bruce cameo, WHY DID NOBODY TELL ME THAT THE ICONIC BRUCE MCBRIDE WAS GONNA POP IN?! I ACTUALLY WAS SCREAMING! Ugh, it made me so happy😭 Anywho, I seriously hope we get more books in this series cause Leah Brunner and Katie Bailey did NOT miss with this one! 1000/10 suggest this superb book!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2025
4 Pucking Stars⭐️
Spicy Rating: 0/5 Closed door, but some cute kisses
Allegra Callahan is new to San Francisco. She’s just dropped out of college and moved across the country to start over. She’s renting the spare room of a college friend’s loft… except, surprise, her new roommates are all NHL rookies playing for the San Francisco Lions.
Noah Downsby has only ever had one goal: to play professional hockey. With his uncle as the team’s coach, the pressure to prove himself is sky-high. He has no time for distractions… especially not ones like Allegra, who’s toned, blonde, sexy as PUCK… and living under the same roof.
Oh, and she brought her cat.
𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
Rookie Season was a sweet, relatively low-stakes, cute little romance following second-generation characters we first met in Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner’s earlier books. And quite frankly, this duo is absolutely fantastic. From what I know, Katie wrote Ally’s POV and Lee wrote Noah’s POV, and together they unravelled this story so well.
Ally’s situation broke my heart. Something happened at her university that left her ostracised, so she chose to drop out and start fresh. She takes up her friend Fitz’s offer to move in with him and his hockey roommates. Soon Noah becomes her anchor as he is the one who saves her, gives her space to heal, and reminds her she could still find her spark for dance and joy again. She’s only twenty, so yes, at times she came across a little juvenile, but it felt authentic. Too many girls in her situation are unfairly blamed and made to carry guilt for things that weren’t their fault. The way Ally carried herself, worked through her insecurities, and slowly rebuilt her confidence felt raw and real.
Noah… my gosh, Noah. Every chapter from his POV was basically me developing a bigger crush. He’s the surly, grumpy boy we met back in Defence and Desire, but now grown into a man trying to balance his demons. He still carries grief from his past, and he struggles to let people in because loving someone means risking losing them. That insecurity made him feel so human. And under all that, he’s a gooey cinnamon roll.
This book is filled with moments that make you squeal, get giddy, and warm your heart... especially when Noah is so careful and considerate with Ally and everything she’s been through to learn how to trust again. I swear, every time I read his POV, my crush on Noah deepened. I WISH I was in Ally’s shoes… wearing his jersey… just so he’d make me take it off for him.
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Roommates to Lovers Romance
▶ Boy Obsessed
▶ Hockey Romance
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Found Family
▶ Animal Companion
▶ "Hockey Jersey Heat"
▶ Texting (a lot)
▶ GrumpyXSunshine
▶ She's a Dancer
▶ Closed Door Romance
Overall, their chemistry was sweet, their banter made me smile, and the mix of low-stakes comfort with swoony hockey romance vibes was exactly what I needed.
Thank you to Katie Bailey, Leah Brunner and Booked with the Emily's for the gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own
Spicy Rating: 0/5 Closed door, but some cute kisses
Because of Ally, I know how to love and be loved. She has changed my life…she’s changed me, more than she will ever know.𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Allegra Callahan is new to San Francisco. She’s just dropped out of college and moved across the country to start over. She’s renting the spare room of a college friend’s loft… except, surprise, her new roommates are all NHL rookies playing for the San Francisco Lions.
Noah Downsby has only ever had one goal: to play professional hockey. With his uncle as the team’s coach, the pressure to prove himself is sky-high. He has no time for distractions… especially not ones like Allegra, who’s toned, blonde, sexy as PUCK… and living under the same roof.
Oh, and she brought her cat.
𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
Rookie Season was a sweet, relatively low-stakes, cute little romance following second-generation characters we first met in Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner’s earlier books. And quite frankly, this duo is absolutely fantastic. From what I know, Katie wrote Ally’s POV and Lee wrote Noah’s POV, and together they unravelled this story so well.
Ally’s situation broke my heart. Something happened at her university that left her ostracised, so she chose to drop out and start fresh. She takes up her friend Fitz’s offer to move in with him and his hockey roommates. Soon Noah becomes her anchor as he is the one who saves her, gives her space to heal, and reminds her she could still find her spark for dance and joy again. She’s only twenty, so yes, at times she came across a little juvenile, but it felt authentic. Too many girls in her situation are unfairly blamed and made to carry guilt for things that weren’t their fault. The way Ally carried herself, worked through her insecurities, and slowly rebuilt her confidence felt raw and real.
Noah… my gosh, Noah. Every chapter from his POV was basically me developing a bigger crush. He’s the surly, grumpy boy we met back in Defence and Desire, but now grown into a man trying to balance his demons. He still carries grief from his past, and he struggles to let people in because loving someone means risking losing them. That insecurity made him feel so human. And under all that, he’s a gooey cinnamon roll.
This book is filled with moments that make you squeal, get giddy, and warm your heart... especially when Noah is so careful and considerate with Ally and everything she’s been through to learn how to trust again. I swear, every time I read his POV, my crush on Noah deepened. I WISH I was in Ally’s shoes… wearing his jersey… just so he’d make me take it off for him.
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Roommates to Lovers Romance
▶ Boy Obsessed
▶ Hockey Romance
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Found Family
▶ Animal Companion
▶ "Hockey Jersey Heat"
▶ Texting (a lot)
▶ GrumpyXSunshine
▶ She's a Dancer
▶ Closed Door Romance
Overall, their chemistry was sweet, their banter made me smile, and the mix of low-stakes comfort with swoony hockey romance vibes was exactly what I needed.
Thank you to Katie Bailey, Leah Brunner and Booked with the Emily's for the gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own
August 22, 2025
3.5⭐️ ARC Review: I wanted to love this one more than I did. It’s not a bad book by any means, and I’m not deterring others from reading it! Because I did like it. I just didn’t love it. Honestly I think I’m over sports romances at the moment, and wasn’t really in the mood for this one.
I think that Katie and Leah’s writing was very well matched. They have very similar writing styles, so I thought this collab was pretty perfect. Switching from both MC’s POVs didn’t feel like whiplash or anything. It flowed well, and at times I forgot who wrote which chapters.
Quite a bit of innuendo and language throughout. It is expected from both of these authors, but it was a lot even for them I think. They also use the word ‘puck’ instead of the f word, and oh my gosh it was EXCESSIVE. Like cringe level. I didn’t even think it was cute the first time. These author’s have obviously never been in a professional athletic setting. (I have credentials! My husband played D1 college basketball) Athletes just straight up say the f word without blinking an eye.
I did love the characters. They were very sweet. Allegra especially. I loved their texts back and forth. So wholesome and adorable. But maybe their romance was a bit cheesy and predictable? It was the perfect found family story though, so I am looking forward to the other books in this series.
Read if you enjoy:
- Hockey romance
- Dancer FMC
- Dual POV
- Roommates to lovers
- New Girl vibes
- Forced proximity
- Grumpy x sunshine
- Healing from past trauma
Content 💋:
- Heavy make-outs (fade to black in epilogue. Not explicit)
- Moderate frequent language (3 b***h, 16 s**t, 20+ a**, d* *n, and h* *1)
I think that Katie and Leah’s writing was very well matched. They have very similar writing styles, so I thought this collab was pretty perfect. Switching from both MC’s POVs didn’t feel like whiplash or anything. It flowed well, and at times I forgot who wrote which chapters.
Quite a bit of innuendo and language throughout. It is expected from both of these authors, but it was a lot even for them I think. They also use the word ‘puck’ instead of the f word, and oh my gosh it was EXCESSIVE. Like cringe level. I didn’t even think it was cute the first time. These author’s have obviously never been in a professional athletic setting. (I have credentials! My husband played D1 college basketball) Athletes just straight up say the f word without blinking an eye.
I did love the characters. They were very sweet. Allegra especially. I loved their texts back and forth. So wholesome and adorable. But maybe their romance was a bit cheesy and predictable? It was the perfect found family story though, so I am looking forward to the other books in this series.
Read if you enjoy:
- Hockey romance
- Dancer FMC
- Dual POV
- Roommates to lovers
- New Girl vibes
- Forced proximity
- Grumpy x sunshine
- Healing from past trauma
Content 💋:
- Heavy make-outs (fade to black in epilogue. Not explicit)
- Moderate frequent language (3 b***h, 16 s**t, 20+ a**, d* *n, and h* *1)
September 2, 2025
4.25 🌟
Me ha gustado mucho más de lo que pensaba!!! ha sido una lectura suuuupersweet que me ha tenido in awe for them. la saga de los DC Eagles fue una saga de media de 3 estrellas o así, entretenidos pero tampoco supermemorables, y creo que esta apunta maneras.
Me ha encantado el found family del loft, la amistad entre Noah y Penn, la de Fisher y Allegra... Es todo superdulce, y lo he disfrutado muchísimo. El slowburn me ha gustado mucho también y la relación entre ellos es preciosa.
Noah me ha gustado mucho como personaje, creo que tiene bastante evolución. Allegra también es un personaje bien construido y me ha gustado cómo se desarrolla el tema que las autoras tratan a través de ella (leed tw).
Estoy deseando leer los libros de Penn y Fisher porque han sido divertidísimos. En general me ha recordado todo muy al vibe de Off Campus / Briar U (en especial a Summer y Fitz), así que no es de extrañar que lo haya disfrutado tanto. Y lo mejor ha sido que NO TIENE SPICY!!! que es algo que me cuesta mucho encontrar en libros de este tipo y el cambio lo he agradecido muchísimo💕🌸🥹
Me ha gustado mucho más de lo que pensaba!!! ha sido una lectura suuuupersweet que me ha tenido in awe for them. la saga de los DC Eagles fue una saga de media de 3 estrellas o así, entretenidos pero tampoco supermemorables, y creo que esta apunta maneras.
Me ha encantado el found family del loft, la amistad entre Noah y Penn, la de Fisher y Allegra... Es todo superdulce, y lo he disfrutado muchísimo. El slowburn me ha gustado mucho también y la relación entre ellos es preciosa.
Noah me ha gustado mucho como personaje, creo que tiene bastante evolución. Allegra también es un personaje bien construido y me ha gustado cómo se desarrolla el tema que las autoras tratan a través de ella (leed tw).
Estoy deseando leer los libros de Penn y Fisher porque han sido divertidísimos. En general me ha recordado todo muy al vibe de Off Campus / Briar U (en especial a Summer y Fitz), así que no es de extrañar que lo haya disfrutado tanto. Y lo mejor ha sido que NO TIENE SPICY!!! que es algo que me cuesta mucho encontrar en libros de este tipo y el cambio lo he agradecido muchísimo💕🌸🥹
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