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On Thin Ice #1
The Kennedy Rule (edizione italiana) (On thin ice Vol. 1)
Twenty more minutes. That’s all I have left to prove that Connor Kennedy is no better than me. Again.
Captain of his team, the privileged son of a hockey legend, Connor Kennedy is the league’s golden boy. And the one player who can always get under my skin. Our rivalry has been building for years, and when we’re forced to room together as Olympic teammates, I can feel the tension between us reach boiling point.
The world might see me as hockey’s most feared enforcer, Alaska’s angriest export, but in our room each night after practice, I can’t maintain my facade.
Now, I can’t get Connor out of my mind for another reason, and this obsession could ruin us both.
But one thing I know for some rules are made to be broken.
A steamy rivals-to-lovers MM romance featuring Olympic pressure, locker room loyalty, and the kind of love that conquers all, even when the whole world is watching. Perfect for fans of Rachel Reid, Sarina Bowen, and Tal Bauer.
Captain of his team, the privileged son of a hockey legend, Connor Kennedy is the league’s golden boy. And the one player who can always get under my skin. Our rivalry has been building for years, and when we’re forced to room together as Olympic teammates, I can feel the tension between us reach boiling point.
The world might see me as hockey’s most feared enforcer, Alaska’s angriest export, but in our room each night after practice, I can’t maintain my facade.
Now, I can’t get Connor out of my mind for another reason, and this obsession could ruin us both.
But one thing I know for some rules are made to be broken.
A steamy rivals-to-lovers MM romance featuring Olympic pressure, locker room loyalty, and the kind of love that conquers all, even when the whole world is watching. Perfect for fans of Rachel Reid, Sarina Bowen, and Tal Bauer.
279 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 5, 2025
1053 people are currently reading
3436 people want to read
About the author
K.C. Carmichael
4 books79 followersK. C. Carmichael is an American author who writes romantic comedies. She is an ex hairstylist who spent her time behind the chair not only styling her clients' hair but also listening to their stories and sharing her own observations about the beauty and hilarity of life and love. She lives in Chicago where she holds two controversial opinions about her beloved city; that winter is the superior season, and the actual Chicago style pizza is pan pizza cut into squares for easy sharing. When not writing, she can be found enjoying some ice time at her local rink.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 656 reviews
October 12, 2025
"Is he worth risking your career over?"
"Yes. He is."
To the actual press😩
Shane Hollander, you will begin to cough in three days.
Me after reading romance for 18 years: I hate clichés.
Also me when they kiss at center ice even though it's going to fuck up their lives:🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Objectively dumb decisions make for great romance. Forever a fan of two MCs burning it all to the ground to fight for their love when deep down I'm thinking... It's almost 8am. Daylight awaits. What now?
Like —these two absolutely rushed into things. Theoretically, they've known each other for seven years, give or take, and that's if we're counting one MC religiously checking the other into the boards every time they share the ice.
Realistically, they've only known each other for three weeks.
But they're making major life changing decisions at the rate of two decisions per erection and I don't hate it😂
They can have a little delusion. As a treat.
I ALMOST had a problem with the way their problems resolve themselves. The villain is too ridiculous and seems to have more power and reach than I imagine he would irl, but the problems he causes fix themselves too quickly and too neatly. It's almost comical.
But will I complain that two queer kids caught a few breaks? Nope. Seemed obvious to me that the villain couldn't really get away with it, but the stakes seemed real enough to the MCs so that was sufficient angst for me.
I'd still say this is pretty fluffy, and I'm surprised that I don't mean that in a bad way.
They make a good effort at bringing the heat, though.
Eye fucking each other (as straight team co-captains do, nothing to see here, folks) so thoroughly that a friend has to walk up to one of them and basically say, 'Please can you just fuck him already and put an end to the yearning? Like, at this point I can tell you're not straight, just fuck him, okay? For all our sanity. 💀?Check.
Terrorizing Team USA with aggressively loud sex noises when pretty much everyone thought they'd fight like cats, given their history? Check.
Real boost for team cohesion. Had everyone thinking 'well, if these two can get along THAT well, then maybe we do have a shot at working as a team, after all.'
So I guess there's a case to be made for coming out to your team, but using sex sounds and not words.
Oh, the cocks in this one kept 'growing'.
"You know I'm not fragile. I can handle you. I WANT to handle you."
Anyway.
Yes, things got handled. The dicks. The villain. The reckless spur of the moment decisions.
"Yes. He is."
To the actual press😩
Shane Hollander, you will begin to cough in three days.
Me after reading romance for 18 years: I hate clichés.
Also me when they kiss at center ice even though it's going to fuck up their lives:🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Objectively dumb decisions make for great romance. Forever a fan of two MCs burning it all to the ground to fight for their love when deep down I'm thinking... It's almost 8am. Daylight awaits. What now?
Like —these two absolutely rushed into things. Theoretically, they've known each other for seven years, give or take, and that's if we're counting one MC religiously checking the other into the boards every time they share the ice.
Realistically, they've only known each other for three weeks.
But they're making major life changing decisions at the rate of two decisions per erection and I don't hate it😂
They can have a little delusion. As a treat.
I ALMOST had a problem with the way their problems resolve themselves. The villain is too ridiculous and seems to have more power and reach than I imagine he would irl, but the problems he causes fix themselves too quickly and too neatly. It's almost comical.
But will I complain that two queer kids caught a few breaks? Nope. Seemed obvious to me that the villain couldn't really get away with it, but the stakes seemed real enough to the MCs so that was sufficient angst for me.
I'd still say this is pretty fluffy, and I'm surprised that I don't mean that in a bad way.
They make a good effort at bringing the heat, though.
Eye fucking each other (as straight team co-captains do, nothing to see here, folks) so thoroughly that a friend has to walk up to one of them and basically say, 'Please can you just fuck him already and put an end to the yearning? Like, at this point I can tell you're not straight, just fuck him, okay? For all our sanity. 💀?Check.
Terrorizing Team USA with aggressively loud sex noises when pretty much everyone thought they'd fight like cats, given their history? Check.
Real boost for team cohesion. Had everyone thinking 'well, if these two can get along THAT well, then maybe we do have a shot at working as a team, after all.'
So I guess there's a case to be made for coming out to your team, but using sex sounds and not words.
Oh, the cocks in this one kept 'growing'.
"You know I'm not fragile. I can handle you. I WANT to handle you."
Anyway.
Yes, things got handled. The dicks. The villain. The reckless spur of the moment decisions.
November 5, 2025
5 Stars
In The Kennedy Rule, sparks fly between rival NHL players Gavin and Connor, after they’re both chosen to compete on the US Olympic ice hockey team, where forced proximity as roommates results in a whirlwind romance that has both men facing some big hurdles in their personal and professional lives.
This story was right up my alley, not going to lie. Already a pretty huge fangirl of a good M/M hockey trope and a rivals-to-lovers couple dynamic, something in the telling of Gavin’s and Connor’s fast-moving romance had me hooked from the start, speeding through the pages like woman possessed.
It’s only light on the rivals element, to be fair, and their transition from opposition players, to teammates, to friends, to lovers all happened over the span of a few short weeks, but I found the whole thing ridiculously charming and hot and addictive, in the most enjoyable of ways.
There’s some melodrama here, in the form of a narcissistic and controlling father (Connor’s) that had my hackles rising and my annoyance at the recently overused “evil parent” trope, but I was able to take it all in stride because of how I loved ALL the other characters and the impressively unwavering connection between Gavin and Connor.
Basically, a romance like this, that has all the conflict pretty largely occurring EXTERNAL to the relationship at hand, is exactly my reading vibe in recent years. Gavin and Connor’s new-but-solid bond was refreshing to see, focusing less on internal relationship issues and more on strong communication, loyalty, and “you’re it for me” levels of love and commitment.
This is only the second book I’ve read by K.C. Carmichael, but I’m officially a fan after this offering, now eager to see what she delivers next in her growing M/M romance book catalogue.
***A special thanks to the author and the publishers (via Netgalley) for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In The Kennedy Rule, sparks fly between rival NHL players Gavin and Connor, after they’re both chosen to compete on the US Olympic ice hockey team, where forced proximity as roommates results in a whirlwind romance that has both men facing some big hurdles in their personal and professional lives.
This story was right up my alley, not going to lie. Already a pretty huge fangirl of a good M/M hockey trope and a rivals-to-lovers couple dynamic, something in the telling of Gavin’s and Connor’s fast-moving romance had me hooked from the start, speeding through the pages like woman possessed.
It’s only light on the rivals element, to be fair, and their transition from opposition players, to teammates, to friends, to lovers all happened over the span of a few short weeks, but I found the whole thing ridiculously charming and hot and addictive, in the most enjoyable of ways.
There’s some melodrama here, in the form of a narcissistic and controlling father (Connor’s) that had my hackles rising and my annoyance at the recently overused “evil parent” trope, but I was able to take it all in stride because of how I loved ALL the other characters and the impressively unwavering connection between Gavin and Connor.
Basically, a romance like this, that has all the conflict pretty largely occurring EXTERNAL to the relationship at hand, is exactly my reading vibe in recent years. Gavin and Connor’s new-but-solid bond was refreshing to see, focusing less on internal relationship issues and more on strong communication, loyalty, and “you’re it for me” levels of love and commitment.
This is only the second book I’ve read by K.C. Carmichael, but I’m officially a fan after this offering, now eager to see what she delivers next in her growing M/M romance book catalogue.
***A special thanks to the author and the publishers (via Netgalley) for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 28, 2025
3 ˖⁺‧✮
as much as i liked the hockey part of this book, everything else seemed pretty blunt. the relationship started abruptly and was developing mostly outside of the book. we didn’t get to read about their challenges, feelings or anything inside the bond. sure they seemed sweet and suitable for each other, but i wish we’d get more scenes with them talking and getting to understand their feelings.
i don’t understand the marketing behind enemies to lovers. i hoped that further into the book they’d become enemies but they never did. they were always lovers😭 why saying enemies to lovers? because of the first 3 chapters? they weren’t friends but also definitely not enemies.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an arc.
as much as i liked the hockey part of this book, everything else seemed pretty blunt. the relationship started abruptly and was developing mostly outside of the book. we didn’t get to read about their challenges, feelings or anything inside the bond. sure they seemed sweet and suitable for each other, but i wish we’d get more scenes with them talking and getting to understand their feelings.
i don’t understand the marketing behind enemies to lovers. i hoped that further into the book they’d become enemies but they never did. they were always lovers😭 why saying enemies to lovers? because of the first 3 chapters? they weren’t friends but also definitely not enemies.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an arc.
December 8, 2025
This was correctly categorized as rivals to lovers; sometimes, all these books say enemies when they are barely rivals. In this case, Connor and Gavin are rivals *just because* they play on opposite teams, and they have to play against each other, but there is no real animosity between them.
I've read my fair share of Hockey romances, and I do have to point out that this one follows some of the same patterns, but what this book has different from the majority is that it is set up during the Winter Olympics, so that created a sort of different dynamic instead of them just wanting to win the Stanley Cup.
Connor and Gavin are both secretly gay, because again, homophobia in sports is no joke. Because of plot reasons, they end up becoming roommates on their way to the Olympics, and feelings ensue. Gavin was adorably grumpy but soft with Connor, and Connor just wanted Gavin to take care of him.
As with all good hockey romances, there was a villain here too, Connor's dad was even worse than the evil Commissioner in The Long Game, and somehow, also had more power it was a bit over the top but still dramatic enough. The team dynamics were amazing, and I would definitely read more from this author in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
I've read my fair share of Hockey romances, and I do have to point out that this one follows some of the same patterns, but what this book has different from the majority is that it is set up during the Winter Olympics, so that created a sort of different dynamic instead of them just wanting to win the Stanley Cup.
Connor and Gavin are both secretly gay, because again, homophobia in sports is no joke. Because of plot reasons, they end up becoming roommates on their way to the Olympics, and feelings ensue. Gavin was adorably grumpy but soft with Connor, and Connor just wanted Gavin to take care of him.
As with all good hockey romances, there was a villain here too, Connor's dad was even worse than the evil Commissioner in The Long Game, and somehow, also had more power it was a bit over the top but still dramatic enough. The team dynamics were amazing, and I would definitely read more from this author in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
November 11, 2025
"Now that the water’s been shut off in our hotel room’s shower the unmistakable sound of him whistling a tune is no longer drowned out. There’s probably woodland creatures in there with him, knotting a towel around his waist."
The Kennedy Rule: An addictive rivals-to-lovers MM hockey romance was my first K.C. Carmichael book and I absolutely loved it! I am a sucker for a good MM hockey romance and this book had all my favourite tropes rolled into one gorgeous read! The inner monologues and snarky banter was divine.
I'm hoping this will become a series around the Buffalo Blizzards players and their love interests, but for now this is Gavin and Connor's standalone little piece of ice hockey heaven.
What To Expect:
🏒MM sports romance
🏒Ice hockey goodness
🏒Rivals to lovers
🏒Forced proximity
🏒Room mates
🏒Grumpy/sunshine
🏒Found family
🏒Steamy times
🏒Low angst
🏒HEA
Loved it!
4.25 stars 🌟
The Kennedy Rule: An addictive rivals-to-lovers MM hockey romance was my first K.C. Carmichael book and I absolutely loved it! I am a sucker for a good MM hockey romance and this book had all my favourite tropes rolled into one gorgeous read! The inner monologues and snarky banter was divine.
I'm hoping this will become a series around the Buffalo Blizzards players and their love interests, but for now this is Gavin and Connor's standalone little piece of ice hockey heaven.
What To Expect:
🏒MM sports romance
🏒Ice hockey goodness
🏒Rivals to lovers
🏒Forced proximity
🏒Room mates
🏒Grumpy/sunshine
🏒Found family
🏒Steamy times
🏒Low angst
🏒HEA
Loved it!
4.25 stars 🌟
January 11, 2026
As a Heated Rivalry enthusiast, I was really excited to see another rivals-to-lovers hockey romance make its way into the world, but The Kennedy Rule fell flat. Truthfully, its only saving grace was its generous helping of hockey, which is a shame considering that, in theory, it had all of the ingredients to be great.
First and foremost, where was the rivalry? Before playing together on the men's national hockey team during the Olympics, Gavin and Connor played on opposing NHL teams, and, sure, they weren't exactly best friends. Gavin was the enforcer for the Buffalo Blizzard, known for his ample time spent in the penalty box as a result of his willingness to rough up anyone who messed with his teammates. Connor was the NHL's golden boy and the son of a former-player-turned-GM. They bickered a little on the ice, as many players do, but there was never a truly meaningful established rivalry between them. And, as soon as they become teammates and roommates, whatever inkling of a "rivalry" existed immediately disappeared, only to be replaced by an insta-love relationship that had them both ready and willing to throw away their professional hockey careers after a few weeks together. There was no chemistry between them, especially emotionally, and it made their speedrun of a relationship really unsatisfying.
I had similar issues with Connor's father as the antagonist of this story; he was so cartoonishly evil that I found it hard to take him or anything he brought to the story seriously. The fallout from him and later just felt too easily and quickly resolved. The stakes and the tension were never high enough to reel me in or warrant any emotional investment.
Outside of the story elements, I also struggled with the writing and formatting of the book. I am, admittedly, not a big fan of anything written in the first person, but I probably could have looked past that a little more if there hadn't been multiple POV shifts in each chapter. Gavin and Connor's narrative voices were simply too alike to keep track of whose perspective I was in most of the time. There was also a lot of telling and a lack of showing, which was further emphasized by the way both characters' narrative voices were written as if they were just relaying facts to the reader rather than actually experiencing the story themselves. I never found myself caring about either character because the writing style caused them to feel very emotionally disconnected from the reader.
I'm really bummed to have found this one so disappointing. I do appreciate that K.C. Carmichael seems to know hockey well and included a good amount of it throughout the book, but overall, it just felt like a very outsider take on a queer romance that failed to encapsulate the breadth of the queer experience (while also perpetuating some unfortunate stereotypes) partnered with a lackluster story and subpar writing.
If you're reading this because you're looking for something to fill the Shane and Ilya void, I'd encourage you to look somewhere else.
First and foremost, where was the rivalry? Before playing together on the men's national hockey team during the Olympics, Gavin and Connor played on opposing NHL teams, and, sure, they weren't exactly best friends. Gavin was the enforcer for the Buffalo Blizzard, known for his ample time spent in the penalty box as a result of his willingness to rough up anyone who messed with his teammates. Connor was the NHL's golden boy and the son of a former-player-turned-GM. They bickered a little on the ice, as many players do, but there was never a truly meaningful established rivalry between them. And, as soon as they become teammates and roommates, whatever inkling of a "rivalry" existed immediately disappeared, only to be replaced by an insta-love relationship that had them both ready and willing to throw away their professional hockey careers after a few weeks together. There was no chemistry between them, especially emotionally, and it made their speedrun of a relationship really unsatisfying.
I had similar issues with Connor's father as the antagonist of this story; he was so cartoonishly evil that I found it hard to take him or anything he brought to the story seriously. The fallout from him and later just felt too easily and quickly resolved. The stakes and the tension were never high enough to reel me in or warrant any emotional investment.
Outside of the story elements, I also struggled with the writing and formatting of the book. I am, admittedly, not a big fan of anything written in the first person, but I probably could have looked past that a little more if there hadn't been multiple POV shifts in each chapter. Gavin and Connor's narrative voices were simply too alike to keep track of whose perspective I was in most of the time. There was also a lot of telling and a lack of showing, which was further emphasized by the way both characters' narrative voices were written as if they were just relaying facts to the reader rather than actually experiencing the story themselves. I never found myself caring about either character because the writing style caused them to feel very emotionally disconnected from the reader.
I'm really bummed to have found this one so disappointing. I do appreciate that K.C. Carmichael seems to know hockey well and included a good amount of it throughout the book, but overall, it just felt like a very outsider take on a queer romance that failed to encapsulate the breadth of the queer experience (while also perpetuating some unfortunate stereotypes) partnered with a lackluster story and subpar writing.
If you're reading this because you're looking for something to fill the Shane and Ilya void, I'd encourage you to look somewhere else.
October 19, 2025
I fear I requested too many arcs expecting them to all be declined.. yeah surprise they were not.
October 21, 2025
OTT hockey drama! This had everything but the kitchen sink plotwise, and at times it definitely veered towards being too ridiculous and unbelievable, but I was entertained.
The emotional impact was missing for me though. There were plenty of times where getting to experience how both MCs were feeling would have really added to the story, but the pace was so fast and the external conflicts were so dominating that the emotional connection to the MCs just never happened.
I'd definitely be interested in reading future books in this hockey world though.
*****
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley, and this is my honest review
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HRCYED2: New Releases
The emotional impact was missing for me though. There were plenty of times where getting to experience how both MCs were feeling would have really added to the story, but the pace was so fast and the external conflicts were so dominating that the emotional connection to the MCs just never happened.
I'd definitely be interested in reading future books in this hockey world though.
*****
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley, and this is my honest review
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HRCYED2: New Releases
December 24, 2025
They were no Shane & Ilya but it filled the hole I suppose (pun fully intended)
December 24, 2025
The first half of this book was so much fun. The getting to know each other, Connor coming out of his shell, Gavin being a great team leader, the shy flirting, the first kisses. SO CUTE.
But the holyfuckingdrama. The asshole father trope was pushed way beyond any realistic level. I can’t think of anyone, let alone a hockey guy, having that kid of power. The whole sequence of events after the gold medal game made absolutely no sense.
Also? Is anyone really rooting for Team USA? I just wanted them to lose 😭😭😭
But the holyfuckingdrama. The asshole father trope was pushed way beyond any realistic level. I can’t think of anyone, let alone a hockey guy, having that kid of power. The whole sequence of events after the gold medal game made absolutely no sense.
Also? Is anyone really rooting for Team USA? I just wanted them to lose 😭😭😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2025
oh no I had so many expectations and all of them have been fucked 🥲🥲
I mean, I am right in the target audience for this, yet it fell really flat. Flat characters, especially Connor, whose only traits are a) his daddy b) his daddy issues c) the fact he's blond and blue eyes d) good at hockey. I mean I need a little more thanks. Gavin was better, but his personality was not delved into as it should have been, especially for someone with a traumatic upbringing. Their relationship made no sense at all from the start, aka it was way too sudden, and since it develops mostly off page, we don't get any kind of development after. I was immensely bored even before these two got to fuck for the first time. Anyway, there's also an unhealthy dose of misogyny sprinkled all over the book, which annoyed me to no end, so... nope.
nopety nope. adios book ✨️✨️
I mean, I am right in the target audience for this, yet it fell really flat. Flat characters, especially Connor, whose only traits are a) his daddy b) his daddy issues c) the fact he's blond and blue eyes d) good at hockey. I mean I need a little more thanks. Gavin was better, but his personality was not delved into as it should have been, especially for someone with a traumatic upbringing. Their relationship made no sense at all from the start, aka it was way too sudden, and since it develops mostly off page, we don't get any kind of development after. I was immensely bored even before these two got to fuck for the first time. Anyway, there's also an unhealthy dose of misogyny sprinkled all over the book, which annoyed me to no end, so... nope.
nopety nope. adios book ✨️✨️
February 16, 2026
Tropes: forced proximity, Rivals to lovers
Feels: 3/5
Steam*: 2/5
Kinks: n/a
Angst: low
HEA: HEA
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings/representation: past death of mother due to alcoholism, childhood trauma, growing up poor, domineering father from hell, forcible outing, homophobia, blackmail
Cheating between MCs: No
Any cheating: Connor's mom is cheating on his dad
Other person drama: No. Connor had only ever been with one other person, a one-time hookup who videotaped them and blackmailed him. He's been hiding in the closet because of his dad. Gavin only does anonymous hookups. Once they spend time together at the olympics, neither is interested in anyone else.
3.75 stars This was an enjoyable read
Connor is 24, Gavin is 25. Connor is the golden boy, son of a past NHL star. His father Connor Senior is in charge of the broad wings, the team he plays for, and he micromanages the s*** out of Connor. To the point where all the players that play with Connor hate / resent Connor Jr because of what the father does. Gavin is former self-declared white trash of Alaska, he grew up poor and hockey was his way out. He was raised by a single father after his mom died, and he's really close to his father. They first met at 16 at a hockey camp that Gavin managed to get funding to go to. They were almost friends but Connor senior looked down on Gavin and kept them apart.
Now, they are both successful hockey players. Gavin is a brutal grumpy enforcer who protects his teammates. Connor a star forward. They are named to the USA olympic team and they room together. They quickly develop feelings for each other and work really well together as captains of their team. But Connor Senior has a particular image he wants his son to live up to, and falling in love with Gavin is something he won't allow, so he interferes like crazy.
I really liked the dynamic between Connor and Gavin. I liked how protective Gavin was of him and how enamored he was. I loved how Gavin was obsessed with Connor's blushes. I liked how they made each other better players on the ice and created a cohesive team and mended the interpersonal issues the team was having. I thought that was smart. Them falling in love was fast, but they were such a good match for each other and worked so well together that it was natural and sweet. I loved the supportive teammates, especially Bouchard and Tavish.
Some things were resolved a little quickly and conveniently or skipped over fast, and I wasn't a fan of that. I wasn't a fan of the fact that Connor let himself be abused, manipulated, and run roughshod over all his life by his dad. I would have peaced out so much earlier and stood up for myself. Connor wasn't all that admirable as a result. Also, Connor Senior enraged me. I'm disappointed we didn't get to see Connor Senior be recognized by the public for the asshat that he is. He made me so angry throughout this book, the Injustice of it all! I wanted to see his fall from grace, I wanted it to be epic. And while Connor and Gavin got their way, Connor Senior didn't face consequences other than losing his son from his team. He forcibly outed Gavin, he had Gavin abducted, and he was so horrible to Connor his whole life. I needed justice and vengeance!
Some notable moments:
"“Did he get in the car?” “He better have,” I grumble. Leave it to my dad to be the one man on the planet to try to turn down a free ride from the airport in a luxury car that takes him straight to his son’s Olympic hockey game. “He’ll make it,” Connor says, as he puts on his shoulder pads. “I know.” And I do know. I left the driver that I hired to pick him up with explicit instructions to get him into the car and to the stadium, even if he has to zip tie him, then black bag him to do it."
"“Is this my opportunity to punch your boyfriend’s father?” my dad asks me. “Maybe,” I say. “But only if I don’t do it first.” He places his hand on my shoulder. “Leave this one to me, son. I have a lot less to lose.” I smirk at him. “Don’t be so sure about that. This isn’t Alaska. I know nothing about bailing someone out of a European jail.” “It’s Italy. They’ll probably serve me pasta then offer me a job.”"
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
Feels: 3/5
Steam*: 2/5
Kinks: n/a
Angst: low
HEA: HEA
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings/representation: past death of mother due to alcoholism, childhood trauma, growing up poor, domineering father from hell, forcible outing, homophobia, blackmail
Cheating between MCs: No
Any cheating: Connor's mom is cheating on his dad
Other person drama: No. Connor had only ever been with one other person, a one-time hookup who videotaped them and blackmailed him. He's been hiding in the closet because of his dad. Gavin only does anonymous hookups. Once they spend time together at the olympics, neither is interested in anyone else.
3.75 stars This was an enjoyable read
Connor is 24, Gavin is 25. Connor is the golden boy, son of a past NHL star. His father Connor Senior is in charge of the broad wings, the team he plays for, and he micromanages the s*** out of Connor. To the point where all the players that play with Connor hate / resent Connor Jr because of what the father does. Gavin is former self-declared white trash of Alaska, he grew up poor and hockey was his way out. He was raised by a single father after his mom died, and he's really close to his father. They first met at 16 at a hockey camp that Gavin managed to get funding to go to. They were almost friends but Connor senior looked down on Gavin and kept them apart.
Now, they are both successful hockey players. Gavin is a brutal grumpy enforcer who protects his teammates. Connor a star forward. They are named to the USA olympic team and they room together. They quickly develop feelings for each other and work really well together as captains of their team. But Connor Senior has a particular image he wants his son to live up to, and falling in love with Gavin is something he won't allow, so he interferes like crazy.
I really liked the dynamic between Connor and Gavin. I liked how protective Gavin was of him and how enamored he was. I loved how Gavin was obsessed with Connor's blushes. I liked how they made each other better players on the ice and created a cohesive team and mended the interpersonal issues the team was having. I thought that was smart. Them falling in love was fast, but they were such a good match for each other and worked so well together that it was natural and sweet. I loved the supportive teammates, especially Bouchard and Tavish.
Some things were resolved a little quickly and conveniently or skipped over fast, and I wasn't a fan of that. I wasn't a fan of the fact that Connor let himself be abused, manipulated, and run roughshod over all his life by his dad. I would have peaced out so much earlier and stood up for myself. Connor wasn't all that admirable as a result. Also, Connor Senior enraged me. I'm disappointed we didn't get to see Connor Senior be recognized by the public for the asshat that he is. He made me so angry throughout this book, the Injustice of it all! I wanted to see his fall from grace, I wanted it to be epic. And while Connor and Gavin got their way, Connor Senior didn't face consequences other than losing his son from his team. He forcibly outed Gavin, he had Gavin abducted, and he was so horrible to Connor his whole life. I needed justice and vengeance!
Some notable moments:
"“Did he get in the car?” “He better have,” I grumble. Leave it to my dad to be the one man on the planet to try to turn down a free ride from the airport in a luxury car that takes him straight to his son’s Olympic hockey game. “He’ll make it,” Connor says, as he puts on his shoulder pads. “I know.” And I do know. I left the driver that I hired to pick him up with explicit instructions to get him into the car and to the stadium, even if he has to zip tie him, then black bag him to do it."
"“Is this my opportunity to punch your boyfriend’s father?” my dad asks me. “Maybe,” I say. “But only if I don’t do it first.” He places his hand on my shoulder. “Leave this one to me, son. I have a lot less to lose.” I smirk at him. “Don’t be so sure about that. This isn’t Alaska. I know nothing about bailing someone out of a European jail.” “It’s Italy. They’ll probably serve me pasta then offer me a job.”"
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
January 5, 2026
Usual drill. Cozy; predictable; relaxing.
❄️ MM sports romance
♥️ gay hockey players
❄️ enemies-to-lovers
♥️ grumpy x sunshine
❄️ family traumas (so many)
♥️ found family
❄️ dual POV
♥️ steam: 🧖♂️🧖♂️🧖♂️ (open door)
❄️ MM sports romance
♥️ gay hockey players
❄️ enemies-to-lovers
♥️ grumpy x sunshine
❄️ family traumas (so many)
♥️ found family
❄️ dual POV
♥️ steam: 🧖♂️🧖♂️🧖♂️ (open door)
February 8, 2026
There’s nothing new in this, everything moves insanely fast, it’s full of cliches, the villain has zero nuance, but I still had such a good time and I read this so fast!! It was actually pretty fluffy overall and I really needed that.
This author also knows the proper use of you & I vs. you & me and that was such a nice change from what I’ve been reading lately.
Women are not well-represented in this though, and it got a bit annoying. The mothers are bad, and all the horrible questions came from female reporters, and the rest of the women on page were framed as gold digging puck bunnies. There were definitely a couple misogynistic lines. There is one supportive woman in the entire book - coach’s wife is a lawyer who honestly saves the day.
This author also knows the proper use of you & I vs. you & me and that was such a nice change from what I’ve been reading lately.
Women are not well-represented in this though, and it got a bit annoying. The mothers are bad, and all the horrible questions came from female reporters, and the rest of the women on page were framed as gold digging puck bunnies. There were definitely a couple misogynistic lines. There is one supportive woman in the entire book - coach’s wife is a lawyer who honestly saves the day.
December 8, 2025
I've read this same hockey storyline countless times, yet it somehow never gets old. The banter was great, and I appreciated that the characters didn’t get bogged down in unnecessary drama. I’m already excited for the next book in the series!
![Profile Image for Andrea ☾ [is inconsistently consistant].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1642113904i%2F116166019._UY200_CR2%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
November 22, 2025
4 ⭐️ When you fall for THE one you've always hated...
To me, the whole enemies-to-lovers trope has always been a bittersweet highlight in an already strong plot. This book, however, focuses mostly on showing- and occasionally telling us about- their fights on the ice to let us know just how much they hate each other. Most of the story builds toward the lovers aspect. I know some readers like to see overt hatred on the page, but for me, this was more than enough.
At the beginning of the book, once they step off the ice, they almost stop existing for each other-until forced proximity arises when both join the Olympic National Team. As they begin to meet and truly get to know one another, the sparks start flying.
I adored the way they respected each other, even when they didn't understand the other's perspective, or even when they played for opposing teams and their main goal seemed to be to defeat the other.
A major trigger warning: One of the male main characters has an exceedingly homophobic family, who would rather see him crushed -physically or emotionally- than have him come out and fall in love with another man. I appreciated that there was never any attempt to redeem them. Most of what this person does is for personal gain, trying to force everyone into his worldview. So, yeah... not a fan.
The other MMC's parent is extremely supportive, but it's also painful and surprising to read about when someone who has never received support finally does. Being respected and loved not despite, but because of who you are, was both beautiful and gut-wrenching.
This book is mostly fluffy and sweet, but there are some hard-hitting moments!
🌶🌶🌶/5 - The spice is gooooorgeous! There's a lot of intimacy and rapport built in those scenes, which I thought was handled so well.
To me, the whole enemies-to-lovers trope has always been a bittersweet highlight in an already strong plot. This book, however, focuses mostly on showing- and occasionally telling us about- their fights on the ice to let us know just how much they hate each other. Most of the story builds toward the lovers aspect. I know some readers like to see overt hatred on the page, but for me, this was more than enough.
At the beginning of the book, once they step off the ice, they almost stop existing for each other-until forced proximity arises when both join the Olympic National Team. As they begin to meet and truly get to know one another, the sparks start flying.
I adored the way they respected each other, even when they didn't understand the other's perspective, or even when they played for opposing teams and their main goal seemed to be to defeat the other.
A major trigger warning: One of the male main characters has an exceedingly homophobic family, who would rather see him crushed -physically or emotionally- than have him come out and fall in love with another man. I appreciated that there was never any attempt to redeem them. Most of what this person does is for personal gain, trying to force everyone into his worldview. So, yeah... not a fan.
The other MMC's parent is extremely supportive, but it's also painful and surprising to read about when someone who has never received support finally does. Being respected and loved not despite, but because of who you are, was both beautiful and gut-wrenching.
This book is mostly fluffy and sweet, but there are some hard-hitting moments!
🌶🌶🌶/5 - The spice is gooooorgeous! There's a lot of intimacy and rapport built in those scenes, which I thought was handled so well.
January 17, 2026
3.5 stars, rounded down
This was a mixed bag for me.
On the positive side: I was genuinely engaged. The pacing was good, the story kept moving, and I never felt bored. I’m not a huge slow-burn person but I actually appreciated how this book handled it—the MCs were emotionally aligned and clearly into each other relatively early, even if everything else took time. The yearning worked for me.
The writing, though, was uneven. In places it was perfectly fine, but in other spots it veered into overly simplistic territory, the kind of language that makes you feel vaguely insulted for reading it. It didn’t ruin the book, but it was noticeable.
What ultimately pushed me from a likely 4-star read down to 3 stars were two bigger issues:
First, Connor’s dad. He’s a one-dimensional cartoon villain with an absurd amount of power, not just over his adult son, but apparently over the league and… the Olympics? Please. It strained credibility hard. And the reason he hated Gavin never fully made sense to me. Yes, hockey skews wealthy, but I don’t buy that a retired pro athlete would shun a talented white kid purely for not coming from money, especially one who plays a different position than his son. If this were about race or something else systemic, that would track. This just didn’t.
Second, and more egregiously, holy misogyny. With the exception of about five seconds at the very end involving a woman named Maria, every single woman in this book is awful. The puck bunnies at the Vegas gym. The two drunk moms. Every terrible reporter. It was exhausting. At some point it stops feeling like characterization and starts feeling like an authorial issue. This author really needs to stop hating women.
A couple of additional quibbles:
– Not making the Olympic medal ceremony is a huge deal, and it genuinely annoyed me how quickly that was brushed off.
– We also just… never really address who won the Cup that season? That felt weirdly incomplete.
– As a warm-weather person, Buffalo all winter followed by Alaska in the summer sounds like my personal hell, but hey, if it works for them, who am I to judge? (Answer: I’m me and I judge. Quel nightmare.)
Heat-wise: if you’re not into spicy books, this will probably be right up your alley. There are a couple of explicit scenes, but for someone like me who loves spice, I could’ve easily used one or two more, especially since they had good chemistry and were right there with the heteronormative bullshit I can’t help but love - size difference, strict roles. Give me more of that! Still, it’s probably the sweet spot for most readers.
Final note: give Bouchard a bi-awakening book. He was my favorite character, including the MCs.
This was a mixed bag for me.
On the positive side: I was genuinely engaged. The pacing was good, the story kept moving, and I never felt bored. I’m not a huge slow-burn person but I actually appreciated how this book handled it—the MCs were emotionally aligned and clearly into each other relatively early, even if everything else took time. The yearning worked for me.
The writing, though, was uneven. In places it was perfectly fine, but in other spots it veered into overly simplistic territory, the kind of language that makes you feel vaguely insulted for reading it. It didn’t ruin the book, but it was noticeable.
What ultimately pushed me from a likely 4-star read down to 3 stars were two bigger issues:
First, Connor’s dad. He’s a one-dimensional cartoon villain with an absurd amount of power, not just over his adult son, but apparently over the league and… the Olympics? Please. It strained credibility hard. And the reason he hated Gavin never fully made sense to me. Yes, hockey skews wealthy, but I don’t buy that a retired pro athlete would shun a talented white kid purely for not coming from money, especially one who plays a different position than his son. If this were about race or something else systemic, that would track. This just didn’t.
Second, and more egregiously, holy misogyny. With the exception of about five seconds at the very end involving a woman named Maria, every single woman in this book is awful. The puck bunnies at the Vegas gym. The two drunk moms. Every terrible reporter. It was exhausting. At some point it stops feeling like characterization and starts feeling like an authorial issue. This author really needs to stop hating women.
A couple of additional quibbles:
– Not making the Olympic medal ceremony is a huge deal, and it genuinely annoyed me how quickly that was brushed off.
– We also just… never really address who won the Cup that season? That felt weirdly incomplete.
– As a warm-weather person, Buffalo all winter followed by Alaska in the summer sounds like my personal hell, but hey, if it works for them, who am I to judge? (Answer: I’m me and I judge. Quel nightmare.)
Heat-wise: if you’re not into spicy books, this will probably be right up your alley. There are a couple of explicit scenes, but for someone like me who loves spice, I could’ve easily used one or two more, especially since they had good chemistry and were right there with the heteronormative bullshit I can’t help but love - size difference, strict roles. Give me more of that! Still, it’s probably the sweet spot for most readers.
Final note: give Bouchard a bi-awakening book. He was my favorite character, including the MCs.
January 27, 2026
3,75 ⭐️
Była trochę za krótka, ale podobała mi się.
Była trochę za krótka, ale podobała mi się.
January 29, 2026
This book was recommended on TikTok by a creator who was making an "If you loved Heated Rivalry, try..." video. And, since most of those videos recommend the same 5-10 books by Sarina Bowen, Eden Findley, Elle Kennedy, Tal Bauer, etc., I was excited to finally find someone recommending something fresh by a new-to-me author. I wanted to love it. I mean, what's not to love about a hockey bruiser falling for the sport's golden boy and watching them get to achieve their dream together on the world stage? Sounds amazing! Sign me up!
But what I ended up getting was a pretty mid story where the relationship development between the characters didn't feel as deep and lasting as the author was trying to make it out to be, and so I remained emotionally detached from them and the story the whole way through.
Side bar: Did I love when Gavin got protective on the ice and flattened anyone who even thought about touching his man? Of course. I'm only human and that metaphorically growly "mine" shit is like crack to me.
However, I think my biggest issue with the book was that the author kept setting up these very real obstacles for the characters or their happiness, and then taking the easy way out to resolve it (or worse, sweeping it aside entirely and never really bothering to resolve it at all). For instance,
All that said, I did enjoy the more technical hockey machinations that had to happen in a very short time frame to give these boys their HEA (even if that HEA took place at a knock off version of Shane and Ilya's cottage). I don't know the first thing about hockey, so I have no idea if any of that was believable or not, but I appreciated that it was a new way to end a genre story with an otherwise predictable arc.
One specific quote from the book that I take issue with:
"I'm not the first gay athlete to ever step onto Olympic ice by a long shot. It's like everyone in the world has forgotten men's figure skating exists."
This quote was an INSTANT ick for me. Though it was the character saying it, it felt like the author's own bias when it comes to queer athletes was making its way to the forefront. Why single out male figure skaters? Why not speed skaters or sledge hockey players or curlers? I mean, hasn't that been the EXACT accusation that people have hurled at male figure skaters (both straight and not) since the dawn of time - that they MUST be gay if they enjoy such an artistic sport?
I feel like one of the main points for the MM hockey romance sub-genre even existing is the acknowledgment from both authors and readers that queer men exist in EVERY sport - including hyper masculine sports like hockey. So why couldn't Carmichael use this opportunity to have her MC acknowledge that it's 2026 and hockey has been Olympic sport for nearly 100 years - of COURSE there have been other gay male hockey players on Olympic ice before.
I know it feels like a small thing to nitpick, but I think it's the job of MM authors - who profit off writing about the queer community - to be better than to perpetuate this stereotypical bullshit.
All in all, I think this book is deeply forgettable. Case in point, I finished the book this morning and I had to look up Gavin's name while writing this review.
But what I ended up getting was a pretty mid story where the relationship development between the characters didn't feel as deep and lasting as the author was trying to make it out to be, and so I remained emotionally detached from them and the story the whole way through.
Side bar: Did I love when Gavin got protective on the ice and flattened anyone who even thought about touching his man? Of course. I'm only human and that metaphorically growly "mine" shit is like crack to me.
However, I think my biggest issue with the book was that the author kept setting up these very real obstacles for the characters or their happiness, and then taking the easy way out to resolve it (or worse, sweeping it aside entirely and never really bothering to resolve it at all). For instance,
All that said, I did enjoy the more technical hockey machinations that had to happen in a very short time frame to give these boys their HEA (even if that HEA took place at a knock off version of Shane and Ilya's cottage). I don't know the first thing about hockey, so I have no idea if any of that was believable or not, but I appreciated that it was a new way to end a genre story with an otherwise predictable arc.
One specific quote from the book that I take issue with:
"I'm not the first gay athlete to ever step onto Olympic ice by a long shot. It's like everyone in the world has forgotten men's figure skating exists."
This quote was an INSTANT ick for me. Though it was the character saying it, it felt like the author's own bias when it comes to queer athletes was making its way to the forefront. Why single out male figure skaters? Why not speed skaters or sledge hockey players or curlers? I mean, hasn't that been the EXACT accusation that people have hurled at male figure skaters (both straight and not) since the dawn of time - that they MUST be gay if they enjoy such an artistic sport?
I feel like one of the main points for the MM hockey romance sub-genre even existing is the acknowledgment from both authors and readers that queer men exist in EVERY sport - including hyper masculine sports like hockey. So why couldn't Carmichael use this opportunity to have her MC acknowledge that it's 2026 and hockey has been Olympic sport for nearly 100 years - of COURSE there have been other gay male hockey players on Olympic ice before.
I know it feels like a small thing to nitpick, but I think it's the job of MM authors - who profit off writing about the queer community - to be better than to perpetuate this stereotypical bullshit.
All in all, I think this book is deeply forgettable. Case in point, I finished the book this morning and I had to look up Gavin's name while writing this review.
January 7, 2026
is this..... Tom Wilson fanfiction? probably not, but the timing of me reading this book a week after the infamous enforcer turned beloved assistant Captain is finally getting some recognition by being named to team Canada (alongside the goalie, just like in this book I might add (I love you Logan Thompson)) really made this book hit for me. (in this scenario where Gavin is Tom Wilson, I'm trying to figure out who Connor Kennedy would be... Connor McDavid? ugh kind of a bummer actually, I've never really been on the mcjesus hype train)
anyway this book was really fun and despite some kind of heavy content, really didn't take itself too seriously. Was Connor's dad a cartoon super villain? Yes, but it fit the vibe. Did these characters kind of take themselves too seriously? Yes but the author didn't, and the fun writing style saved it for me.
also, this book had really fantastic use of dual POV. I really appreciated that the author seemed super intentional about whose perspective was narrating during different scenes, and would frequently switch POV mid-scene to capture how each character was perceiving what was happening (especially a wonderful mid-sex scene POV change that actually made me laugh out loud)
anyway this book was really fun and despite some kind of heavy content, really didn't take itself too seriously. Was Connor's dad a cartoon super villain? Yes, but it fit the vibe. Did these characters kind of take themselves too seriously? Yes but the author didn't, and the fun writing style saved it for me.
also, this book had really fantastic use of dual POV. I really appreciated that the author seemed super intentional about whose perspective was narrating during different scenes, and would frequently switch POV mid-scene to capture how each character was perceiving what was happening (especially a wonderful mid-sex scene POV change that actually made me laugh out loud)
December 10, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
Siento que la escritura y el libro no son taaan malos pero no soy para nada amante del fast burn e instalove, lo desteto. Encima que en 20 días pasen de ser “rivales” a decirse te amo no me lo creí para NADA, te lo creo en meses pero 20 DÍAS!!!! Encima la química se queda muy corta para los personajes, tampoco la sentí, como que dijeron que se aman, harían todo por ellos pero me pareció todo muy superficial.
Otra cosa que no me gustó fue que hay MUCHAS referencias a Heated Rivalry, cosas que la gente odió de HR y TLG que la autora leyó aquí las utilizó para su bien cambiándolas y haciendo un “mejor libro”.
Siento que la escritura y el libro no son taaan malos pero no soy para nada amante del fast burn e instalove, lo desteto. Encima que en 20 días pasen de ser “rivales” a decirse te amo no me lo creí para NADA, te lo creo en meses pero 20 DÍAS!!!! Encima la química se queda muy corta para los personajes, tampoco la sentí, como que dijeron que se aman, harían todo por ellos pero me pareció todo muy superficial.
Otra cosa que no me gustó fue que hay MUCHAS referencias a Heated Rivalry, cosas que la gente odió de HR y TLG que la autora leyó aquí las utilizó para su bien cambiándolas y haciendo un “mejor libro”.
February 6, 2026
3.5 stars 💫
this was pitched to me as Heated Rivalry 2.0, but there was no heat or rivalry 🫠 they literally start liking each other 3 chapters in. to be honest, this just made me miss shane and ilya 😭
that said, if you like romances that are sweet and soft, i think you may like this one. there wasn't anything wrong with it per say, but i like angst and this wasn't that at all. however, they were cute together and i couldn't help but root for them in the end.
this was pitched to me as Heated Rivalry 2.0, but there was no heat or rivalry 🫠 they literally start liking each other 3 chapters in. to be honest, this just made me miss shane and ilya 😭
that said, if you like romances that are sweet and soft, i think you may like this one. there wasn't anything wrong with it per say, but i like angst and this wasn't that at all. however, they were cute together and i couldn't help but root for them in the end.
November 27, 2025
Special thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was not anything special. The mm hockey genre is already over saturated, and this book failed to do anything new.
We have the supposed enemies to lovers which was more of mild rivals, we have the big strong enforcer and the smaller, blushy, and hairless love interest, and lastly we have *instalove*.
The pov changes were sudden and choppy happening multiple times in a chapter and cutting off what could have been further character insight.
Connors father was a clear cartoonish plot device there to solely drive a plot and make the reader sympathetic to Connor.
I would not recommend.
This was not anything special. The mm hockey genre is already over saturated, and this book failed to do anything new.
We have the supposed enemies to lovers which was more of mild rivals, we have the big strong enforcer and the smaller, blushy, and hairless love interest, and lastly we have *instalove*.
The pov changes were sudden and choppy happening multiple times in a chapter and cutting off what could have been further character insight.
Connors father was a clear cartoonish plot device there to solely drive a plot and make the reader sympathetic to Connor.
I would not recommend.
September 28, 2025
Connor and Gavin I knew I loved you 🥹🥹🥹🩷🩷🩷
Thank you so much @stormbooks_co for the advanced copy to review!
Having previously read @kccarmichael_’s work, I just *knew* I would love this book and what do you know… I was absolutely correct.
Connor and Gavin my little rivals to lovers baby angels … the golden boy and the enforcer. The sweetheart and the man who hides his soft heart under a fierce protective streak. The cutest cuties to ever be cute.
Couple of things - I absolutely ADORED the banter in this book, not only between our main characters but all of our side characters too. Tavish and Bouchard especially, those two were hilarious (please say one of them is next for the next book in the series!!!!). Second, Gavin’s dad had me in love with him from the jump. He was a fierce protector as well, who immediately welcomed Connor and praised him for seeing Gavin’s heart. Third, the friendships in this book were incredible. Fourth, the strength and unity of the team when one person is outed was amazing. Fifth, I friggen LOVED the coach.
Honestly I could go on for hours about my love of this book but I’m gonna insist you read it for yourself and want to punch Connor Sr with me. The ending tore at my heartstrings and made me so incredibly hopeful for a future of queer people in sports. I am just so grateful for books like this.
Thank you so much @stormbooks_co for the advanced copy to review!
Having previously read @kccarmichael_’s work, I just *knew* I would love this book and what do you know… I was absolutely correct.
Connor and Gavin my little rivals to lovers baby angels … the golden boy and the enforcer. The sweetheart and the man who hides his soft heart under a fierce protective streak. The cutest cuties to ever be cute.
Couple of things - I absolutely ADORED the banter in this book, not only between our main characters but all of our side characters too. Tavish and Bouchard especially, those two were hilarious (please say one of them is next for the next book in the series!!!!). Second, Gavin’s dad had me in love with him from the jump. He was a fierce protector as well, who immediately welcomed Connor and praised him for seeing Gavin’s heart. Third, the friendships in this book were incredible. Fourth, the strength and unity of the team when one person is outed was amazing. Fifth, I friggen LOVED the coach.
Honestly I could go on for hours about my love of this book but I’m gonna insist you read it for yourself and want to punch Connor Sr with me. The ending tore at my heartstrings and made me so incredibly hopeful for a future of queer people in sports. I am just so grateful for books like this.
October 10, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. This book was pretty good but it was also pretty basic. Definitely a good palette cleanser book but not necessarily something that holds up super well on its own. I would recommend this to anyone who likes hockey romance but this isn’t a book that stood out super strong to me.
November 9, 2025
Last time I’m taking recommendations from Twitter
February 17, 2026
Love the players, hate the book?
Connor and Gavin are genuinely great MMCs. They’ve got a solid grumpy/sunshine dynamic that never feels overdone, and I honestly would have been happy to spend another 250 pages with them—maybe if the story had been handled differently.
Unfortunately, the writing itself leaves a lot to be desired.
There’s a strong sense that this was written to capitalize on the popularity of certain MM hockey favorites. And I’m not just saying that because it’s gay hockey rivals—I read a lot of MM hockey, and the parallels here feel very intentional. Anyone dreaming of a getaway cabin (among other things). It’s hard not to notice.
There are also some accuracy issues that pulled me out of the story. At one point the players are on the ice for several minutes straight, when the average NHL shift is closer to 45 seconds. Small details like that (among other things) make it feel like the author doesn’t really know the sport.
And while the author uses gender-neutral initials, the writing style reads very clearly as written by a woman—if you read a lot of MM, you know what I mean. There’s also a strange, unnecessary jab at fan fiction that feels out of place and oddly dismissive.
On top of that, the overall plot leans into extremes: the NHL is portrayed as almost cartoonishly evil, complete with an over-the-top villainous parent. Instead of adding tension, it ends up feeling a bit ridiculous.
The frustrating part is that Connor and Gavin deserved better. The characters are strong, but the book doesn’t do them justice.
Connor and Gavin are genuinely great MMCs. They’ve got a solid grumpy/sunshine dynamic that never feels overdone, and I honestly would have been happy to spend another 250 pages with them—maybe if the story had been handled differently.
Unfortunately, the writing itself leaves a lot to be desired.
There’s a strong sense that this was written to capitalize on the popularity of certain MM hockey favorites. And I’m not just saying that because it’s gay hockey rivals—I read a lot of MM hockey, and the parallels here feel very intentional. Anyone dreaming of a getaway cabin (among other things). It’s hard not to notice.
There are also some accuracy issues that pulled me out of the story. At one point the players are on the ice for several minutes straight, when the average NHL shift is closer to 45 seconds. Small details like that (among other things) make it feel like the author doesn’t really know the sport.
And while the author uses gender-neutral initials, the writing style reads very clearly as written by a woman—if you read a lot of MM, you know what I mean. There’s also a strange, unnecessary jab at fan fiction that feels out of place and oddly dismissive.
On top of that, the overall plot leans into extremes: the NHL is portrayed as almost cartoonishly evil, complete with an over-the-top villainous parent. Instead of adding tension, it ends up feeling a bit ridiculous.
The frustrating part is that Connor and Gavin deserved better. The characters are strong, but the book doesn’t do them justice.
October 23, 2025
Note: I was granted access to an e-ARC of the book by the publisher through NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.
This is my first book of K.C. Charmichael’s, and what an intro it makes! Definitely up there as one of my favorite sport romances or queer romances I’ve read in recent years.
I am above all a character-centric-narrative reader, and romance is in my opinion where this is especially important — if the characters don’t have a strong-enough presence, the romance falls flat.
The Kennedy Rule had me hooked on the MCs and ready to face off with anyone who threatened them within just a few pages, which is something that hardly ever happens to me. But Connor and Gavin and their dynamic just jumped off the page and had me hurtling head first into this story and not reemerging until it was done.
And what a journey it was! Not only were all the characters (including the side characters and main antagonist) written so realistically I could almost believe they are inspired by very specific real people, but the story has a verisimilitude that just reels you in and makes you even more staunchly supportive of the MCs in their challenges, overall journey, and relationships development.
I have very minor qualms, such as a small continuity issue at the beginning and a couple of the descriptions of their trip to Italy (I’m Italian born and bred, so I’m prone to nitpick when my country is portrayed!) but I really, really enjoyed this so I’m giving it 4.5 STARS and really recommend it for those who want a sport romance with rivals to lovers and a heartwarming story with some tension.
Looking forward to seeing who the next book focuses on!
This is my first book of K.C. Charmichael’s, and what an intro it makes! Definitely up there as one of my favorite sport romances or queer romances I’ve read in recent years.
I am above all a character-centric-narrative reader, and romance is in my opinion where this is especially important — if the characters don’t have a strong-enough presence, the romance falls flat.
The Kennedy Rule had me hooked on the MCs and ready to face off with anyone who threatened them within just a few pages, which is something that hardly ever happens to me. But Connor and Gavin and their dynamic just jumped off the page and had me hurtling head first into this story and not reemerging until it was done.
And what a journey it was! Not only were all the characters (including the side characters and main antagonist) written so realistically I could almost believe they are inspired by very specific real people, but the story has a verisimilitude that just reels you in and makes you even more staunchly supportive of the MCs in their challenges, overall journey, and relationships development.
I have very minor qualms, such as a small continuity issue at the beginning and a couple of the descriptions of their trip to Italy (I’m Italian born and bred, so I’m prone to nitpick when my country is portrayed!) but I really, really enjoyed this so I’m giving it 4.5 STARS and really recommend it for those who want a sport romance with rivals to lovers and a heartwarming story with some tension.
Looking forward to seeing who the next book focuses on!
January 8, 2026
I wanted to love this so much, and in the beginning I did! I feel like it had a good setup with a lot of potential, but sadly that was all thrown out the window the second the characters get thrown into close proximity with each other… one kiss and we are boyfriends ready to upend our lives for each other without the history to back up this change in the dynamic.
That said, I didn’t hate it and I did find the characters endearing in their own way, but it could’ve benefitted from another 100-150 pages of yearning and exploring their relationship rather than just jumping straight into insta love…
That said, I didn’t hate it and I did find the characters endearing in their own way, but it could’ve benefitted from another 100-150 pages of yearning and exploring their relationship rather than just jumping straight into insta love…
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