Between the Pages and the Rink

by Meadow Thompson

Genres: Why Choose, Hockey

553 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 31, 2026

Reviews

[Magically Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine if you knew nothing about hockey and then walking into the rink to see them doing their warm ups…. This still has me cackling. Fawn you sweet innocent soul, she didn’t know what she signed up for.

This book made me laugh, blush, call my partner over for assistance and then made cry, so truly a well rounded book. And the part about the ADHD meds making Dylan be not at full volume was the best way I’ve ever seen it described.

I was not prepared for how spicy the scenes got… a masterpiece. I won’t spoil anything but… be ready! There’s no slow burn to be found. Dylan also threw me for a loop, he has such golden retriever energy! So when he just dominates… it’s so good.

And then, for the gut wrenching parts you have Fawns Grandad and Dylan’s mom with dementia. And Toren’s past, that broke me. No spoilers because his story line is very important in the moment of reading.

Favorite line: “We want all of you, princess. The girl who blushes, the goddess who screams, the woman in between. We want the mornings and the nights, every filthy, perfect moment.”

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Length: 553 Pages

Why Choose
MFM
Small Town
Hockey MMCs x Author FMC
Instant Attraction
ADHD Rep
PTSD Rep
PCOS Rep

Thank you to Joffe Books, and author Meadow Thompson, for providing me with the eARC of “Between the Pages and the Rink”.

[Hanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a lot of potential and was an okay read for me, but the relationships between the characters moved far too quickly to feel realistic.

Fawn, who knows nothing about hockey, decides to write a book about it because hockey romance is so popular. To do research, she goes to a rink where she meets hockey players Dylan and Torin. She’s immediately attracted to both of them, and they’re just as quickly drawn to her.

After hanging out once and getting drunk together, they end up back at the guys’ place. Dylan and Torin take care of a very drunk Fawn, and during that time they realize they’re both attracted to her. Not long after, the three of them go on a date together and suddenly they’re all in a relationship. The guys basically just ask each other, “Are you okay with it?” - “Yeah” - and that’s it.

For me, everything just happened too fast. After only two weeks they’re already talking about being together forever. I would have loved more of a slow-burn development. It would have felt more believable if the guys had some doubts or if the relationship had taken more time to build, instead of everyone immediately being completely fine with it.

Overall, it was still an enjoyable read, but I think the story would have benefited from a slower, more developed relationship between the characters.

[Rainbowlovesbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing debut novel from Meadow Thompson, I was hooked from the start and I didn't want to put it down as I needed to know what was going to happen.

The characters are relatable, you can't help but feel their joy and pain.
Fawn is the perfect FMC - she has flaws, she has insecurities, she has doubts and because of this you can see yourself in her and that makes you want to root for her right from the start.

Dylan is a golden retriever, with a dominant edge and wow am I here for that. He's the comedic relief in the friendship pairing of him and Torin and his heart is as pure as they come and needs to be protected at all costs.

Torin is a harder nut to crack, the silent brooding type who'd rather work through his feelings using his fists than talking. But underneath all of the armour he's got a soft spot for his best friend and Fawn.

The chemistry between the three of them is off the charts, and I'm so glad Meadow made this a why choose because the thought of one of them being left out just isn't an option. And yes while the burn is a little slow, when it hits it hits hard and is just wow.
The chemistry isn't only physical but emotional as well, Dylan, Torin and Fawn bring out the best version of each other. Supporting one another through the good times and the bad.

The storyline is engaging, and I'm not going to spoil much about it but the twist towards the end was unexpected and made me really hate a side character so much (if you know, you know).


What you will find inside this book:
❤️ Why Choose
❤️ Character POV
❤️ Ice Hockey Players x Writer
❤️ Nicknames
❤️ Small Town
❤️ Slow Burn, but when it hits - IT Hits! 🥵
❤️ Protective MMCs
❤️ An FMC Learning To Accept Her Body
❤️ PCOS Rep
❤️ Friends to Lovers
❤️ Golden Retriever x Grumpy Mysterious MMCs
❤️ Aftercare Kings
❤️ Banter
❤️ Tender Moments
❤️ Sweet & Pure Love
❤️ Great Side Characters (I'm hoping we get more Cal & Delilah)
❤️ 5 Star Read
❤️ HEAs

If you're looking for a read that will have you gripped from the start, the look no further. Meadow has you covered and trust me you will not be disappointed.

[Emilie Fernstrom · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)

Thank you to Meadow Thompson for the ARC of Between the Pages and the Rink.

Overall, this was an okay read for me. The concept had a lot of potential, and there were definitely moments I enjoyed, but there were quite a few things that just didn’t fully line up.

The biggest issue for me was how fast the romance moved. There was zero slow burn not even a hint of it. The feelings escalated almost instantly, and it felt rushed rather than earned. I had a hard time buying into such deep emotions when the characters had just met. On top of that, the two MMCs were suddenly completely fine being in a relationship with Fawn with little to no real discussion. That felt like a major leap that deserved more depth and communication.

I was also thrown off by the club hockey aspect. They’re 26 and 30 years old playing on a club team, yet somehow have enough financial stability to help Fawn with her grandfather’s nursing home expenses — despite being a rink manager and a mechanic, not pro hockey players. Speaking of that, it was never clearly explained how Fawn figured out she was going to pay for her grandpa’s care in the first place. Those loose ends made the timeline and financial logistics feel unrealistic.

Cal also surprised me. At the beginning, I thought he was going to play a much bigger role in the story, but he ended up not really having much importance beyond quickly hooking up with Fawn’s friend. That felt like a missed opportunity.

And the ax-throwing date… I’m still not sure what that was. It just added to the overall feeling that everything was happening fast and without much grounding.

Then Fawn moves in after only 3–4 months? Again, it just felt rushed. The pacing overall made it hard for me to fully connect with the romance.

That said, the twist with the coach being the bad guy was genuinely interesting and probably my favorite part of the book. I didn’t fully see that coming, and it added some much-needed tension.

In the end, this wasn’t a bad read it just felt like it needed more development, stronger pacing, and tighter explanations to really land for me. A solid 3 stars.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Between the Pages and the Rink is a slow burn, why choose hockey romance. The beginning of the book started off with Fawn doing research for her upcoming novel. To do this, she reached out the local hockey team coach to sit in on practices and interview some of the players. The first day she went to practice, two players, Dylan Crawley and Torin Anderson caught her eye. After some brief interaction with them, she's invited out to the bar where things get tense for Fawn as her ex boyfriend shows up. Both Dylan and Torin help defend her. After that night, the friendship between them seems to move pretty quickly and I felt that the romantic relationship that did eventually form between Fawn, Dylan, and Torin was genuine. The communication between Dylan and Torin regarding their feelings for Fawn was awesome and I felt that both proved to be attentive to Fawn equally.

While I did enjoy the romance in it, one part that I found I wanted more information on was Dylan and Torin's own attraction to one another. It's touched on briefly, but all I know is that I wanted more details while reading. While I get that the book is "why choose", I was wondering if the moments between just the two of them was a "bi-awakening" moment for them. Either way, I felt that this added more meaning to how important Torin and Dylan were to each other. I also felt that them having each other was good for when the relationship became complicated with Fawn.

The part that made me sad was Fawn's grandfather being in the nursing home as my grandfather is currently in a nursing home due to dementia This part definitely added a personal aspect to it.

Overall, this book was a 4/5 for me, 2/5 for spice. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy reading why choose romance, love triangle, mm intimacy (there's very little besides kissing and some grinding), hockey romances, and romantic suspense. There is also PCOS representation for readers who experience that on a daily basis.

Thank you Joffe Books & Meadow Thompson for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fawn is a romance author trying to write a hockey romance… despite knowing absolutely nothing about hockey. So naturally she heads to the local ice rink for “research,” where she meets Dylan and Torin! Two players who end up turning her world completely upside down!

I adored Fawn! She’s guarded, hurting, and trying to rebuild her life piece by piece. She’s also deeply insecure and struggles to see her own worth after everything she’s been through which a lot of us can relate too! You can feel how hard she’s trying to protect her heart and stay in control. Watching her slowly start to trust again, open up, & begin to see herself the way the boys see her was honestly so beautiful.

Dylan and Torin were everythinggg! Polar opposites but somehow works! Dyl is the charming, cocky captain who makes Fawn laugh, teases her mercilessly and keeps her safe! While grumpy Tor shows his care in the quietest, most intense ways, always there when she needs him. I was swooning, melting and yelling at the pages the entire time!

When they decide they’re not competing… but sharing? I was SCREAMING! The spice?? I was sweating, blushing, and clutching my imaginary pearls every other chapter!! Dylan and Torin together is actually unfair because the tension, the possessiveness, and the way they both want her had me fanning myself. 🔥

This sucked me right in and I loved being in Ivywood with these 3! It was SO EASY to fall in love with all of them! This book had me smiling and grinning almost the entire time and then crying by the end!! This touches on a lot of heavier topics, PCOS, dementia, PTSD, depression to name a few! It made these characters so layered and relatable. The love, the protection, the growth? it was all done so wonderfully! Meadow absolutely killed this, I would never believe this was a debut book! I will definitely be reading more of whatever she writes!! This book is all about healing, love,l and finding the people who refuse to let you break. I loved this story so much and I’m honestly still recovering from the emotional damage 😅

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

A hockey romance with a bookish heroine? I was immediately sold on the premise. Mixing books, hockey, and romance is such a fun idea, and there were definitely elements of this story that I enjoyed.

For me though, the biggest struggle came down to pacing. The relationship between Fawn, Dylan, and Torin develops really quickly, and I kept waiting for the story to slow down and give those feelings more time to build. Because everything moves so fast, it was harder for me to fully buy into the emotional connection between them.

I did like the dynamic between Dylan and Torin when it came to Fawn. The communication between them about their feelings was actually one of the stronger aspects of the relationship, and it was clear they both genuinely cared about her.

A few other things pulled me out of the story a bit. Early on it almost felt like the book might be building toward something between Fawn and Cal, which had some natural tension at the start, but that storyline ends up going in a different direction and Cal doesn’t play as big of a role as I expected.

The club hockey element also felt a little unrealistic at times. These characters are in their mid-to-late twenties playing club hockey while working fairly normal jobs, yet they somehow have the financial ability to help with major nursing home expenses for Fawn’s grandfather. I kept waiting for that situation to be explained a bit more clearly.

I did appreciate the emotional layer involving Fawn’s grandfather though. That storyline added some heart to the book and gave her character more depth beyond the romance.

That said, the twist involving the coach being the villain was genuinely interesting and probably my favorite part of the story. It added some tension and unpredictability that the book really needed.

[Becsbooks21x · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5☆
Firstly, congratulations Meadow on your debut book!
It is a hockey why choose romance. From someone who hasn't read loads of them I really enjoyed it. You definitely go on an emotional rollercoaster and I found that I related to Fawn a lot in so many ways.

Fawn is an author trying to get inspiration and research for her upcoming book- a hockey romance. It made me laugh at how little knowledge she had about the sport to begin with. She ends up going to a local Rink to interview some of the players which is where she meets Dylan and Torin. I adored both of these MMCs and agree with Fawn at why choose one when you can have them both? 😏

The PCOS representation was really nice to see as a fellow girlie who suffers, it's nice to see it highlighted and the struggles you can go through. Fawn has been hurt and holds some emotional scares from her douche bag ex (seriously hes a prick) and I love how these two men come in and help her see that she is beautiful.

You can't mention the book without mentioning the beautiful relationship Fawn has with her Grandpa. Losing my Grandad was one of the hardest things I have ever dealt with and seeing Fawn love him so much and willing to do anything to help him was so heartwarming as it reminded me so much of my relationship with mine. The dementia representation was also lovely to see as it runs through my family as well and my nan is currently going through it.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and it was such a nice heart warming read. I have loved being apart of Meadows street team and seeing this book become what it has and trad published I am very proud of her. 🫶🏼💜

Thank you Meadow, @lunarliteraryagency and @choclituk
for the ARC on this book for an honest review.

[Ella bookishgymgirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

STOP because Fawn, Dylan and Torin have actually altered my brain chemistry 😭⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Between the Pages and the Rink by Meadow Thompson is a FIVE STAR read and I will not be accepting counter-arguments!!

Fawn??? I adored her. She’s soft but not weak, thoughtful but not passive, and watching her navigate her feelings while staying true to herself felt so real. I just wanted to wrap her up and also shake her (with love) a few times.

And then we have the two very different but equally down-bad men:

Dylan, our ADHD golden retriever energy personified. He’s chaotic in the most endearing way, says what he feels, loves loudly, and brings this warmth and light into every scene he’s in. The way he shows up for Fawn? My heart. He’s sunshine, he’s softness, he’s “I would absolutely send you 14 random voice notes a day.”

And Torin??? GRUMPY. Strong. Quiet intensity. The slow-burn tension with him was insane. Every look felt loaded. Every small protective gesture meant something. He doesn’t say much but when he does? It hits. The emotional depth beneath that hard exterior absolutely wrecked me.

The dynamic between the three of them was what made this book so addictive. It wasn’t just “who will she choose?” (Spoiler alert: BOTH!) it was layered, emotional, complicated. You feel the pull in different ways. The contrast between Dylan’s golden retriever chaos and Torin’s controlled strength created such a delicious tension that I genuinely couldn’t put it down.

Thank you for this amazing opportunity to beta read this book Meadow! Can’t wait for everyone to love the characters as much as I do! 🤍

[Read with J · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review Between the pages and the rink

Releasing: March 31

Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐

""

Tropes:
MFM
Ice hockey players x writer
Small town
Friends to lovers
Golden retriever and mysterious mmc's

I really did not know what I was expecting this book to be like, but WOW I was blown away!. This book is the author's debut and let me just say what an amazing debut this will be. Meadow outdid her self, for a first book this was excellent. The writing, the story and character were well tought out and just really entertaining. Haven't really read any other ice hockey romance like this book!.

In the book we start with Fawn who is a writer needing to submerse herself into the ice hockey world to write her new book. Let me just say, I LOVEDDD Fawn so much!. Her character has been and is still going trough some tough battles. She is one strong woman, that is for sure.

Then there's Dylan and Torin, they are completely opposites, but that is exactly what makes this work. Dylan with his golden retriever energy and Torin with his brooding moody energy, and then together with Fawn the sweet and strong woman, they are a perfect match!.

And they spice, damnn. And the chapters together....... woww. These man are just everything Fawn deserves in a man and relationship. I had an amzing time reading this book, I cannot wait what more Meadow will come out with, but one thing's for sure, she knocked this one out of the park!!. :)

Thank you so much to Meadow for letting me be a part of her street team and getting to read this book in advance!. I had an amazing time. And if you are looking for a good ice hockey romance with not one but TWO amazing MMC's than between the pages and the rink should definitely be added to your tbr!. Bewteen the pages and the rink comes out March 31.

[Sophie L | TeaLeavesAndChapters · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fact that we begin with Fawn, an author who knows nothing about hockey, who goes to watch hockey players and the first thing she pays attention to / notices is them warming up and stretching had me cackling.

We meet Fawn, a romance author who moved to Ivywood to help look after her granddad and to write her new novel. She felt so grounding. She has flaws, insecurities and lived with PCOS. She has stretch marks and honestly I resonated with a lot of her insecurities about herself and I think it a great way to help spread some awareness of issues people are going through or may hide.

In her research, (and small town) Fawn meets Dylan - An arrogant hockey captain with ADHD and a lot of golden retriever energy. Alongside Torin - a hockey player, ex military who loved his truck and gives mysterious brooding male energy.

But they are all so layered and the more we read the more we learn and fall in love with the trio 🫶🏻 especially their backstories and what makes each of them so unique and what brings them all together.

If you want a new hockey themed why choose, with some spice, golden retriever energy and mysterious grumpy MMCs, this is for you!

The book made me ultimately laugh, blush and get real sad - the topics discussed (trigger warnings warnings - past trauma, PTSD, depression, Dementia and loss to name a few) did pull on my heart strings and i really felt for the characters and the situations they go through.

Thank you so much to Meadow Thompson and Luna Literary for this ARC!!! 🫶🏻

[Tishelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝑩𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒌 - 𝑴𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒘 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒔𝒐𝒏 ✍️🏑

OUT MARCH 31st

🏑 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲
📖𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
🏑𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
📖𝗛𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘅 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿

As soon as I saw ice hockey romcance and two men at once, sign me up!! 🤭 i enjoyed this to the point I couldn’t put it down.

Fawn was the sweetest fmc with a little feistiness to her, also an author who has pcos. I could definitely tell she’s on the shy side and always second guessing herself and I was wait for her to break that shell, and realise she’s worth it and she did. She’s protective of those she loves

Dylan the cocky, outgoing hockey captain. It did take me a while to warm up to him and can’t pinpoint why. That being said he brought the fun to the trio, his banter, dancing and his love of shakira songs , but he loved fawn so fiercely and that showed.

Torin!!! Yeah I’m a torin girlie now, I was instantly drawn to him he’s quiet, mysterious, full of trauma. He appears grumpy but he’s such a teddy bear once you read but he’s friendly protective of those he loves . ( who hurt you type of guy 😏)

Now while I really enjoyed , the book and couldn’t put it down, some spicy scenes was a bit too much and kind of slowly became the main focus and also things happened a little bit fast on the instant romance/ connection side of the things. I also wanted to see some more hockey aspect and I little more about fawn and her being an author.

Thank you lunaliteary and choc.lit for letting me ready this early. 🩵

[Abby Greenwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

One romance author. Two hockey players. Endless heat ✍🏼⛸️🥵

Hockey romance and why choose? I was immediately interested in reading Between the Pages and the Rink when I first heard about it! This was such a cute read, but with two hot hockey players in the mix, I knew this book would bring the heat – and it did! 😮‍💨🔥

Dylan gives playful golden retriever energy, while Torin comes across quieter and more reserved. But the one thing they share is the love and devotion they have for their girl, Fawn. If I had to choose, I would say I am a Torin girlie… but luckily for Fawn, she doesn’t have to pick, which is the dream – am I right? 😜

I really appreciated how the story balanced real-life struggles with the developing romance. Watching Fawn grow from shy and self-conscious into someone confident and empowered once she learns what it feels like to be truly valued and adored was such a satisfying character arc.

Let me tell you, the spice was spicy!🌶️🌶️
It was steamy, well-written, and perfectly woven into the story. Yes, the romance heats up quickly, but I loved reading about how the characters’ feelings developed and how the three of them navigated their relationship together.

Thank you to Meadow Thompson and Luna Literary Management for the ARC 🫶🏼 I thoroughly enjoyed this read!

[Lauren Curley · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶🌶🌶 - Spice Level

This story is an MFM set in a small town that has a great nursing home program and a minor hockey team. The FMC is a plus sized romance writer onto her second book and paying for grandpa's care from book 1 royalties. The two MMCs are a part of the local, minor hockey team, but have side jobs as rink manager and a mobile mechanic. One MMC has a trust fund, the other was in the military right out of high school for a 5-6 year contract and is now a veteran, so he's an older athlete. I mention all of this due to the unbelievable parts of this story line.

The book was a bit slow and I wasn't connecting with the characters and it had do to all the unbelievable pieces above. This story felt like it was written for conflicts sake; a small town that wouldn't accept polyamory or a throuple, a plus size gal, and a great, but an expensive nursing home.

If this had been set in a larger city, minus the military service for one of the guys, and small town closed minded town folk; this may have been more of a hit for me. The spice was good, but it can't be the only thing to keep this storyline floating especially for over 500 pages.

Thank you author and Joffee Books.
Release Date: 3-31-26

[Amber Hess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Meadow Thompson and Luna Literary for the advanced reader copy of this great debut novel! This hit all of my favorite tropes and pulled me in from the start. Our three main characters - Fawn, Torin, and Dylan - balanced each other very well.

Fawn is an author who is fresh out of a breakup from a mentally abusive boyfriend. She is the monetary supporter of her grandpa who requires nursing home services. Fawn is in the process of writing her next book which is a hockey romance when she meets our two MCs - Dylan and Torin.

Dylan is the confident extroverted hockey team captain who sets his sights on Fawn when she stumbles into the rink. Torin is ex military and is romantically reserved after a devastating breakup following his overseas return. From the moment he sets his dark smoldering gaze on Fawn from across the rink, he’s a goner.

These three find that they can’t stay apart, but will it save them or destroy them? Or perhaps outside forces will pull them apart? Watching them grow together and individually is very engaging. The book was well paced and easy to follow. The only thing I struggled with was the name Fawn because it’s indicative of a meek FMC to me. By the end of the book, the name Fawn didn’t suit her personality or character strength. Overall, this was a great first novel.

[Beany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly felt like this book had so much potential, but the execution didn’t really work for me. The pacing felt rushed, especially when it came to the romance. There wasn’t much chemistry or development, and suddenly Fawn was just… into Dylan and Torin out of nowhere.

At first I thought the story was building towards Fawn and Cal, which honestly would have made more sense to me. Their dynamic had more potential, so when the story suddenly shifted directions, it just felt confusing.

Fawn’s character also didn’t really work for me. She came across as a bit of an attention seeker and I found her pretty annoying at times, which made it harder to root for her. The romance felt forced rather than natural.

Another thing that stood out was the weird pacing of the chapters. Some chapters were normal, but then chapter 24 and chapter 42 were ridiculously long, which made the reading experience feel uneven.

✨ Overall Thoughts
I could see what the author was trying to do, and the concept of mixing books, hockey, and romance actually sounded really fun. Unfortunately, the relationships lacked development and the story felt messy and rushed. There’s definitely an interesting idea here, but the execution didn’t fully land for me.

[Ariel Leee · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC !

Thanks to Meadow Thompson I was selected for an early release of BETWEEN THE PAGES AND THE RINK!

This is a slow burn hockey romance with a surprise throuple !

Fawn is the WMC who’s is an author trying to write her second book, the book is a hockey romance, but she knows nothing about hockey, she ends up emailing the coach of the local hockey rink to find out if she can interview the players and learn more about hockey so she can write her book! When she arrives at the rink, she meets the two male main characters Torn and Dylan.


I did enjoy reading this book after my first initial shock was over, this book took a couple of times I wasn’t prepared for although this is not the first time, I have read a three person relationship I just wasn’t prepared for it when I started reading the book so for me that was a shock, I did say it was a slow burn, though I feel like it didn’t have much of a slow burn maybe a chapter or two but then you get right into the spice! Which i absolutely love in a book! I don’t like waiting to long. The book definitely touched on some topics that might be hard for some readers! It mentions PTSD, depression, body shaming, bullying, dementia, loss and self harm. Overall, I gave this book 4 stars. It really was a good & easy read

[Kendall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Between The Pages and The Rink follows Fawn, a romance author struggling to write her second book. She goes to her local small town ice rink to learn about the game where she meets rink manager/team captain Dylan and mechanic/hockey player Torin. Fawn is desperately trying to get her book going to help pay for her grandfather's dementia nursing home and is also getting over a terrible break up... She's sworn off hooking up with anyone else for an entire year. Predictably that doesn't last long.

**Possible spoilers**

I liked the sound of this book, but it just didn't quite get there for me. The romance moved WAY too fast. The MM aspect felt performative and while I liked all of the main characters they were a bit under-developed.

Torin had this whole dark background and was meant to be broody and closed off but he shared everything with Fawn practically as soon as he met her.

The pacing felt wrong and there were quite a few parts of the book that really made me cringe. The dancing, the Shakira obsession, the instalove, it just want for me.

I did love the ADHD and PCOS rep though and there were some moments that made me chuckle. It had definite potenial though.

⭐⭐⭐.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️

[CO Ajumma Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Between the Pages and the Rink by Meadow Thompson has an interesting premise, combining a bookish heroine with the high energy world of hockey and a why choose dynamic. While the concept is appealing, the pacing felt a bit slow, especially in the first half of the story. The buildup to the relationship took quite a while, which made parts of the plot drag.

The emotional elements add depth to the book as well. The characters are not just navigating attraction, they’re dealing with personal baggage, fears about relationships, and the vulnerability that comes with letting someone truly see them. These moments of emotional openness make the romance feel more meaningful rather than just relying on the spice.

While it’s an enjoyable read for fans of the trope, it didn’t feel particularly unique within the genre. Overall, this is a decent why choose hockey romance with solid spice, but the slow pacing and familiar plot kept it from standing out more.

The chemistry between the characters comes through, and readers who enjoy steamy hockey romance will likely appreciate those moments. However, the overall storyline felt very predictable, and many of the plot points were easy to see coming.

[Paige]

A gorgeous why choose read! What's better than one down bad man, if not two? When the two mmcs fell, they fell HARD. Sweet and shy writer Fawn finds herself doing research at her local rink shadowing the ice hockey team when she catches the eyes of one golden retriever, ADHD having, Shakira loving Dylan who brings all the charm to woo her ANDDD our grumpy ex military man Torin brings a passion and protectiveness... she gets the best of both worlds. I adored the dynamic with how passionate and protective they all were for one another. This book has strong found family and delicious spicy scenes. The representation of PCOS and ADHD were both beautifully written.
"When robins appear, loved ones are near," 💕
I can't wait to see if we get to see more of Cal in the future 🤭

Tropes:
✨ small town charm
​​​​​​​✨ MFM why choose
​​​​​​​✨ ice hockey players x writer
​​​​​​​✨ spicy scenes
​​​​​​​✨ friends to lovers
​​​​​​​✨ protective MMCs
​​​​​​​✨ past trauma
​​​​​​​✨ golden retriever x grumpy mysterious MMCs
​​​​​​​✨ PCOS representation
​​​​​​​✨ ADHD representation

Thank you so much to Meadow Thompson and Luna Literary for this gorgeous arc 💜

[Mirela W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Choc Lit

Between the Pages and the Rink
A beautiful and interesting story about insecurities, hard work, loss, fear, love, and family ties.
Fawn- an author with an incredible best friend, has also lots insecurities and doubts, yet she’s determined to push forward and work hard, both in life and in writing her hockey romance.
What starts as research for her book becomes a journey that leads to far more than expected.
Dylan and Torin- two great and handsome hockey players with completely different personalities, each with their own struggles, losses, and a soft spot.
The book captures what insecurities can do to a person as well as how someone can change that into something beautiful through love.
The FMC not only finds best information for her books, but she also finds love when she least expects it.
The book is full of twisted moments and a deep love between 3 people. An interesting read with lots of actions in a relatively short period of time.
If you enjoy hockey romance, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
Thank you to Meadow Thompson and Choc Lit for the opportunity to be part of the ARC team.

[Yazmin Stone 🤍 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ BETA REVIEW: I was lucky enough to work with Meadow and beta read this beauty from chapter 1 🥹 so when i tell you this story means everything to me i mean it!! This story is so beautifully written and captures some deeper topics, sizzling hot spice & the most wholesome romance perfectly. I related to Fawn so much in this and i think thats why i love her so much, don’t get me wrong i adore Dylan & Torin but no-one beats my girl Fawn. Dylans story was extremely heartbreaking but Meadow captured it in the most perfect way to the point where you could physically feel the emotions they felt. Torin is just a dream let’s be real, whilst Dylan is the fun sunshine joker with a sensitive heart Torin is the panty melting, husky, brooding one that you can’t help but fall for. This book will forever hold a special place in my heart because there characters are my literal babies and the fact that its over breaks my heart every single day. Please please please pick this up on release day because i promise you that you will never have read a why choose like it this is truly one of a kind!

[Jennifer Squillante · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was honored that I had the chance to BETA read Meadow’s debut novel. And let me tell you, the emotional ride that she takes you on is one of heartbreak and healing.

I love a good hockey romance, and I also love a "why choose," because I make enough decisions, so when this beauty was offered up to me on a silver platter, I jumped at the chance. The difference with this hockey romance, and I think the most unique thing about it, is that we are not talking about NHL players. Dylan and Torin are "normal" guys who have regular 9-5 jobs who just happened to play amateur/beer league hockey in their free time.

Dylan is the trio's "golden retriever." The man is a walking green flag who has a dominant side in a certain room in the house. He provides the lightness when needed. He can't cook but does it anyway. He loves with his whole heart.

Torin the trio's "cinnamon roll." Torin is the protector. not just of Fawn but over Dylan too. His preferred method of communication is with his fists. He will go to bat for the people that he loves, consequences be damned.

Fawn, she is the glue that holds them together. She is fresh out of a really crappy relationship and living with PCOS. She is working on her second romance novel with the hopes that she can earn enough to continue to keep her grandfather in the memory care facility he is currently living in.

While there are a lot of sweet and spicy moments, and trust me, the spice is very nice. This novel also does cover a lot of heavy topics: loss of a parent(s), caring for someone with Alzheimer's, suicide attempts, living with PCOS, and abusive relationships. I think that the way the Meadow handles these topics is done authentically and with the utmost care for those of us who may have/have had to deal with any of these topics in our own personal lives.

IMO this was a great debut nove and I look forward to seeing what comes next out of Ivywood.

Thank You Meadow Thompson for the ARC

[Alison turton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book certainly ticked off a lot of boxes when it comes to hockey romance,

I mean you’ve got one MMC who is full to the brim of all that sweet, exuberance and gives off major golden retriever vibes. You’ve got another MMC who is all about the stoic, grumpy selectively mute vibes where he’s only soft for her and then you’ve got the sweeter than sugar FMC who is more than a little awkward and has no idea how she suddenly lay has the attention of not one, but two hockey gods. I mean what’s a girl to do? The relationship between the 3 MCs is super sweet and full of steamy, spicy scenes that are sure to make you a little hot under the collar. They each bring something different to the relationship supporting each other in sweet and surprising ways, and the end result is a relationship that truly works.

This book was a really great read, there’s plenty of love and lust and more than a little drama and a plot twist or two so if you love hockey romance, or you just fancy something easy going to read then this is the book for you.

[Laura (booksandbunnyhugs) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so enjoyable. From the romance to the boys’ friendship and the PCOS representation, I kept wanting to turn page after page.

Getting to have both a German Shepherd and a Golden Retriever love interest gives Fawn and the reader the best of both worlds. Torin and Dylan show up for Fawn in every way they can (emotionally and physically). Whether it is defending her honour against an awful ex or buying everything in the pharmacy to try to help her feel better, they consistently talk the talk and walk the walk.

In terms of the plot, the book really picks up steam 30% in. Fawn believes that she should wait a year before pursuing romance but it finds her in the stands of the hockey rink. I appreciated that she was pragmatic. Even when doubts creep in, she is able to remind herself that the boys’ feelings for her are true because they’ve shown it through their actions.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Lra]

Fawn es una escritora que apenas está aprendiendo a creer en sí misma después de una relación abusiva. Su primer libro funcionó y ahora tiene que demostrar que no fue suerte. Para eso decide meterse en un mundo que no conoce: hockey sobre hielo.

Lo que no esperaba era que ese hielo frío la hiciera sentir tantas cosas. Un capitán encantador que sonríe como si el mundo le perteneciera. Un jugador callado con mirada oscura que parece cargar con mucho dolor.

Fawn solo quiere observar, tomar notas y marcharse a casa. Pero la pista no es solo un lugar para practicar deporte, es un campo minado de emociones, deseo y recuerdos que ella juró no volver a tener. Y mientras intenta cumplir la promesa de mantenerse alejada de los hombres, su corazón parece no haber firmado ese acuerdo.

Gracias NetGalley por el ARC.

[Beth Greene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This hockey why choose romance book was more than I expected and met all of my expectations! I found myself laughing, crying and blushing. I loved that the book included representation of depression, ADHD, PCOS and dementia highlighting that everyone has their differences and struggles.

This book follows Fawn Higgins, our sarcastic and shy queen who is needing inspiration for her next hockey romance novel. Knowing nothing about hockey she ends up at the local ice rink to observe and interview players. This is where she meets Dylan and Torin.

Dylan who is the arrogant, cocky, life of the party golden retriever and Torin who is broody, silent closed off but caring only for them. I adored all 3 of these characters and I mean with 2 men falling at your feet who could say no?

I loved this book and definitely recommend that you buy it when it’s released on March 31st!

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Between the Pages and the Rink follows Fawn, a writer needing research for book two... which is where two very sexy hockey players come in. They meet at the rink, followed by a bar crawl, and become inseparable.

Fawn is a relatable FMC with real flaws and anxieties, thanks in part to her awful ex (seriously, why do we all have a crappy ex called Jason?). Dylan is a golden retriever MMC, funny, sweet, dances to Shakira daily, and loves so big! Torin is grumpy, mysterious, only really talks to people he likes, and has a sad past, so obviously he's my favorite.

The story was great, the spice was mouthwatering (that office scene), and I can't wait to see what Meadow Thompson writes next, hopefully Delilah and Cal.

[Jamie Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why Choose
Ice Hockey Players x Writer
Small Town
Slow Burn, but when it hits - IT HITS!
Protective MMCs
PCOS Rep
Friends to Lovers
Golden Retriever × Grumpy Mysterious MMCs
Aftercare Kings

These men brought her back to life and she became their everything. Such an amazing story of how one person can break you and another fixed all the broken pieces into an unbreakable piece of art. These men would do anything for her. Anything!!! They all teach each other how to be emotionally strong and yet vulnerable. It’s a sexy yet heartful romance. Don’t get me wrong the spice is all there. It may start out slow but when it starts it starts with a BANG!!! Also her ex is an ass!!!

I highly reccomend if you love hockey, why choose, bi awakening, touch her and die vibes.

[Vannesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

WOW is what I can say right now. 5⭐️ hands down. This book hit so close to home that I saw myself in Fawn a lot with all her flaws and insecurities to having a grandparent with dementia. I’ve cried and laughed while reading this book and I enjoyed every minute of it. Dylan our golden retriever with ADHD had my heart from the beginning and I felt for him as well especially with someone his loves dearly with dementia as well. And Torin our grumpy broken king who’s been through hell and back and I’m so damn happy the he had Dylan in the beginning to help him through all of it, and now they all have each other to heal together and to put all the pieces back together. Wow such a beautiful story with such beautiful characters I highly recommend you pick this book up and read it.