The Unforgetting Game

by Maudie Christin

On paper, Fletcher Armstrong could be considered hockey royalty. Born into a dynasty of star NHL centers on the Jacksonville Manatees, his name comes with high expectations he never asked for and a legacy he’s tired living in the shadow of. When an opportunity arises for him to jump ship and be traded, Fletcher hopes this will finally be his chance to make a name for himself. Seattle is supposed to be his fresh start. His chance to prove himself worthy of the Armstrong name.

Taylor Piers is the future of the NHL. The number one overall draft pick, he arrives in Seattle with the weight of the league on his shoulders and something to prove to everyone watching. He’s fast, talented, and determined to be the best and stay the best. No matter the cost.

Thrown together on the Seattle Seaporters, Fletcher and Taylor are expected to carry the franchise’s future on their backs. Chemistry on the ice is undeniable. Off the ice, it’s complicated. Curiosity turns to obsession. Drive turns to desire. And suddenly, the lines between teammates, friends, and something far more dangerous begin to blur.

In a league where reputations are everything and mistakes are unforgettable, Fletcher and Taylor must decide what they’re willing to risk. Their careers, their hearts, and the game that brought them together.

The Unforgetting Game is a gay adult hockey romance about legacy, ambition, and falling for the one person you’re not supposed to.

Genres: M M Romance, Hockey, Romance

438 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 7, 2026

Reviews

[Georgia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had really high hopes for this but I couldn’t get past the first few chapters. It was just one giant info dump at the beginning; instead of drip-feeding information to the reader throughout the book, it was just two whole chapters of background information without any of the story to actually draw you in. Maybe it gets better after that, but I was completely disengaged after the first chapter. I got bored before I could even start to care.

[emma ༊*·˚ · Rating 1 out of 5]

reading this book made me feel like a dog chasing its own tail for 438 pages straight

[Tim · Rating 1 out of 5]

Needs to go back to the editors desk. Pretty sloppy writing all round, full of genius prose like “Fletcher swirled his tongue over the pad of his thumb pad.”

Even more annoyingly, there is no sense of progression. The author just skips over any kind of character or relationship development. The characters meet, it hints at some potential tension, turn the page, oh they’re suddenly best friends now. Characters seem to have exactly the same internal dialogue chapter after chapter. Someone described it in another review as being like a dog chasing its own tail— I’d say that’s an apt description.

[Jine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
I really enjoyed getting to see the changes in Taylor and Fletchers relationship how it went through many different levels of intimacy! I loved their banter and how they interacted with each other but uh I need book 2 now because that ending hurt like a mofo! Oh my god I can’t handle the brokenness it’s too much! I need to see happy babies!

[Veisa Alina · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm so disappointed:( I had such great expectations from the book. here are me main reasons I DNFed it
1.Taylor is shown as a child w deep trauma,but then we see him so open and positive towards everyone?like his trauma is completely forgotten
2.it was so rushed,we didn't even see them become friends properly
3.what was up w Emogen?I did not like her and whatever was going on there

[Amanda Roye · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think I have to DNF this book after only 10%…
I’m having a hard time believing this book was proofread. Was it written using AI?! It flips between first and third person narrative in the same paragraph. Am I wrong?

[Maya · Rating 2 out of 5]

This should've worked but everything was off

[Bundae · Rating 1 out of 5]

I saw this book repeatedly on social media, and the premise seemed interesting and fell along the current vein of popular hockey romance, so I kept an eye out for the drop. Figured it would be something fun to fit between some of my heavier TBR books.

But unfortunately, I had to DNF at chapter 16. I just could not continue, not with the way it is written.

The author tells us things instead of showing them. All the emotions, all the actions; all broken down into choppy, beat by beat exhibition. It almost reads more as a screenplay sometimes with the amount of telling us what is happening? I really wanted to be immersed in these characters and their story, but it all came across as rather flat and directorial.

They could have been great characters - and they have potential to be great characters! - but so much of what would make them resonate and feel real is glossed over or handed out in empty snippets. We're just handed facts about them, not allowed to experience their potential depth.

The relationships - from friendships, or family, to romantic - in this story also feel flatter than a pane of glass for the most part. To start with there's an immediate, chapter one, jump from "I don't trust people with my life story" to "he gave me a beer and so I told him everything about why my grandfather raised me". And it just keeps spiraling downhill from there.

A bisexual girl who might actually be gay (based on her own description and actions), but makes an exception for one of the MMC's and it's treated like a joke between them? An across-the-hall neighbor and teammate, who barely makes an effort to extend an invite but claims to be a good friend? The stereotype of a clueless, oblivious mother who doesn't know, or doesn't care, about how her own husband is abusing and trying to control their son? And said father is about the only real character that seems to have a smidgen real motivation and depth - all to be the villain.

The attraction between the two MMC's feels rushed, fragmented and sparkless. Because all their feelings are spelled out, not shown to us. Not communicated in actions on the page. And their romantic/spicy scenes are a slog of: "Character A does this. Character B does that." Repeated over and over. First names used to dictate who is doing what in every other sentence. It lacks flow, emotion, and personality.

And then there are the large segments where contextually important past interactions and character/plot points are inserted in the middle of a chapter. In the middle of a scene. Which just further breaks any tiny amount of immersion you might be gaining.

The premise is good! I just wish the execution had been capable of giving what the premise promised.

[Noah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to begin this review by saying that I saw posts about the book on TikTok and was instantly interested. I saw enough that I was dedicated to reading and diving into the world of these characters.

I want to be clear and state that I judge romance differently from other genres. I care about character and plot. If those two are solid, I can look past any grammatical errors or mistakes, especially for a self-published book. I understand the grievances people have with it, but for me, they were not pervasive to the point of distraction. For a debut novel, I applaud the author for dedicating time to characters and a story that she loves, and having the confidence to publish her work.

With that, here is my review:

I enjoyed Fletcher and Taylor. I thought their romance was beautiful and more than just erotic. Christin made the effort to write sensual moments that built the tension between the two and developed the characters (mostly Fletcher). Fletcher has issues with his parents that are impacting his relationship with Taylor. Not in a negative sense, but in a way that Taylor is an outlet for Fletcher to heal from the trauma inflicted by his father and experience true love. Others have said that the book is repetitive; I argue that the trauma Fletcher has will do that. This is his obstacle to overcome, and Taylor is constantly reassuring him. The two of them play into tender and rough moments, a sort of punishment and reward. The relationship is slightly toxic, but trauma will do that to you. Fletcher doesn't really want to hurt the person he loves. He does it because he thinks he has to for any attention/love to come his way. It is beautiful to see this unfold and get addressed in the latter half of the book.

The big standout for me was the dialogue!! Christin has written some of the best banter I've read in a while. I can't explain it; you truly have to read it to understand. The back and forth is the best during the intimate scenes, really expanding on the characters and their relationship with one another. The comfort they have, the insecurities lurking within, and the love they have for one another.

Lastly, without giving too much of a spoiler, I enjoyed the ending. It was a happy but not happy ending that allows for a sequel (which I hope is coming soon!) I'm glad that Christin did not allow Fletcher to submit fully to Taylor, and the decision was made. I like that Fletcher's attitude is consistent throughout the book, even through the ending. It might not be an ideal ending for some, but I loved it.

I look forward to more content from Maudie Christin in the future!

[Aiden Schlageter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4 / 5 Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5

I received an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this book, so please note that some details in the final published version may vary slightly from what I read.

The Unforgetting Game is a debut that lingers with you because of its characters. Fletcher and Taylor felt deeply real to me, not just as individual archetypes, but in the way they slowly realized how much they genuinely needed one another. The strength of this book lies in that character growth; watching them shift from enemies to understanding the vital roles they played in each other’s lives felt earned rather than forced. The emotional tension throughout the story was compelling, and even when the pacing felt more deliberate in the earlier chapters, it successfully laid the groundwork for an emotional payoff that had me fully invested in their dynamic.

However, the pacing toward the end of the book was a bit of a struggle for me. For a story that takes its time building a complex world and relationship, the conclusion felt rushed, with the majority of the significant plot developments and emotional climaxes compressed into the very end of the book. I found myself wishing these pivotal moments had been given more space to breathe, as there was so much rich emotional ground left to cover regarding the fallout of the ending—specifically regarding the side characters who acted as parental figures, and the complex family dynamics that were hinted at but not fully unpacked.

My biggest hesitation came with the final tonal shift between the main characters. While the chemistry is undeniable, the dynamic in the final intimate scene leaned heavily into resentment and animosity at a moment where the narrative seemed to call for emotional safety. After watching them soften toward one another for hours, seeing that level of friction re-emerge was heartbreaking in a way that felt more painful than cathartic. It didn’t ruin the experience, but it did leave me aching for a different kind of closure.

Despite those critiques, I am genuinely intrigued by where this story goes next. Maudie Christin has created characters that you root for and worry about, and the setup for the sequel promises that Fletcher and Taylor’s story is far from over. This is a debut with a lot of heart and courage, and I am excited to see how the author handles the challenges these characters are about to face in the next installment.

[Marie MARIONETTE · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t want to write now a review. I am mad at the ending.
Because it is NOT a standalone 🤦🏽‍♀️

arghhhhhhhhhhh

Ok ok let’s breath
We have Fletcher who is from NHL Family royalty
And Taylor who is from a fucked up background who made a name for himself.

Fletcher is more than happy to finally get traded to Taylor’s team (they are both rookie & 19-20yo) & far from the team his father & grandfather played when they were still in the NHL.

So we see the two MMCs going from teammates to friends to best friends to confused to best friends with benefits to you are the love of my life.

The yearning was definitely there.
The controlling family was there too.

And I was so happy with the book, the vibe, the couple… until the end.
It is not a cliffhanger
There is no breakup
It’s kind of worse if we wanna be dramatic 🫠🫠🫠

I understand why Taylor did that but come on He also saw during the whole book who being close to the Armstrong’s family was a huge trigger to Fletcher 😭😭😭😭

Pleas tell me it will be a duet and not a trilogy or a saga
Bc I need Fletcher to finally be HAPPY!!!

[Dayana Espitia · Rating 3 out of 5]

La historia regular, siento que después que se convirtieron en Novios, era puro sexo,sexo, sexo, y la trama no avanzo, para ser tan largo NO es un libro autoconcluyente , si tienes que esperar el segundo libro😒, siento que tenia todo para acabar las problemáticas expuestas en ese solo tomo, tenia buenos personajes segundarios, el capitan ,el hermano , el equipo enterándose de su relación, pero no, decidieron tiran todo al traste, taylor aceptando asi de la nada del trato es como ??? , laz razones que dio el autor para hacerle entender a uno porque el personaje hizo lo que hizo, no fueron convincentes, ni hasta para el mismo personaje, la verdad el padre ni siquiera hizo el esfuerzo🤣, y taylor regalándose, el papá para ser el "villano" era como ñe. Por eso mismo nunca tome su problemática con seriedad. aunque me dieran mas de los personajes en otro libro es como, ya tuve sufienciente, no más.

[Dana Mollart · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is important to note I did not finish this book and this is entirely subjective

I was really looking forward to this book when I first saw the promo on TikTok last week; friends to lovers, mm and ice hockey are some of my favs. Unfortunately, I did find that the mc’s name was mentioned a few times too many and some he/him/his pronouns here and there would have been a better choice. On another note, there was a bit of an excess of information that was not entirely necessary; yes it’s good to know who the characters mentioned are, but explaining how and where she met her husband just makes the text drag and heavy to read. There’s only one way to learn though, and that’s to keep on writing even more, so keep going Maudie Christine, I’m sure your next book will be even better!

[☽❣≾KraFish≿❣☾ · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNFed at 24% Chapter 12
So far the characters have barely interacted on page but are already besties. Despite Taylor not really liking Fletcher at first (It wasn't hate just mild dislike.) because he didn't think he'd actually earned his spot. Fletcher was legacy and because of past interactions Taylor assumed he didn't work hard and was kind of a baby. He eventually changes his mind, but it's not at all earned because it not done on page. Fletcher somehow proves himself off page. I would have liked to see that. I would have liked to see Taylor's mind changing as his first impressions of Fletcher changed, but nope. None of their friendship milestones are earned because we didn't see how they got there.

[Lisbeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5

So lucky to have received an early ARC to read this!

Maudie Christin is an impressive debut author who clearly knows how to tell a compelling, emotionally rich story.

I can’t get over Taylor and Fletcher. Their relationship feels deeply authentic. You can truly believe they’re best friends first, who just happened to fall in love along the way. Their banter is unmatched and reads as effortless and natural, and never forced.

The slow build toward their relationship had my skin crawling with angst in the best way. The tension was so perfectly paced that I genuinely couldn’t put the book down.

(Spoiler!)

The cliffhanger left me on edge. I’m not usually a fan of cliffhangers, but this one worked painfully well. You don't even see it coming until the end, but somehow it all just makes perfect sense. It’s going to stay with me for a long time.

I look forward to reading more works by this author.

[Tru Newbold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful love story

This was such a fun, beautiful story to read! Both of these boys have both been through so much in different ways. And they fit together so well. There was so much hot and cold with them at the beginning which really kept me hooked cause I just needed to keep going to see them happy finally! This book ends on a cliffhanger which I’m gonna be honest, I wasn’t expecting lol. And now I’m over here not stop thinking about these two and them getting their happy ending.

[Shanice Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow....so I have a lot of feelings about this book. Taylor and Fletcher deserve the world. I will say I was worried at several different points in the book because I didn't know which direction it was going. I was pleasantly surprised every single time. It was nice to have a book where the characters could actually communicate,e and boy do they! The intimacy throughout the book was built on the friendship of the characters *chef's kiss*. I almost took off one star because of the ending, cliffhangers stress me out. Looking forward to this author's next work, fantastic break out book!

[Brandon Corby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This indie, self published little gem was a bit of a slow start the first few chapters, and the editing needs work, but once Maudie Christin gets warmed up, this book is a powerful little gem.
The absolute FILTH (I’m obsessed) that Fletcher and Taylor get up to made me blush and giggle like I’m not a 32 year old grown man.
I need Fletch to have his healing journey like… yesterday and I absolutely despise the ending overall (emotional trauma). I desperately need Maudie to write a follow up ASAP to appease how angry I am at the last 3-4 chapters of this book.
Don’t be scared. Read this book!

[Bibi · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first few chapters were really a struggle to get through. I think this could have worked better if it wasn’t self published and had another editor on it.

I was thinking of DNF’ing but honestly I don’t really do that that often, so I pushed through. But honestly the ending made it even worse. Like wth. I thought this was a standalone, so honestly I probably should have dnf’ed at an earlier point.

I don’t like leaving bad reviews but this was just not for me.

[Viv · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was an ARC reader and there might have been changes between versions, so keep that in mind.

I enjoyed the book a lot. The smut was good and there was a lot it once they got there. I liked the characters. They both had issues and they acknowledged them which was nice to see.

I'm looking forward to the next book and the continuation of their story, because the ending left me a bit conflicted.

[Penelope Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok this was a roller coaster I did not expect. WOW I did not expect this ended and am now dying to read the next book. Little heavy on the pet names that is my only complaint. Really surprised by this book actually it just kept getting better

[BookNerd · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf 61% I almost didn’t finish the 30% mark but was trying to power through until I saw a review saying it ended on a cliffhanger and knew I had to give up because there’s no way I was reading the second book

[Brooke Kessler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I expect to like this book as much as I did. It’s not my typical genre of read but I stumbled upon a TikTok about it and thought I would give it a chance. Definitely worth taking the chance on!