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It's a Setup
It's a Setup
“Don’t remember there being a rule that only women could bid,” Scratch says. “Maybe you’ll meet a nice boy.”
“Oh, fuck off, Scratch,” Joey says when he waggles his eyebrows.
Words: 72,532
“Oh, fuck off, Scratch,” Joey says when he waggles his eyebrows.
Words: 72,532
224 pages, ebook
Published January 12, 2022
3 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
September 5, 2025
4.5 stars ✨ This was the most unnecessarily and gratuitously fluffy shit I think I have ever read and it was SO STINKING CUTE. Taylor Fitzpatrick you are a gift to the MM Hockey World.
150k word Golden Retriever, best friends to lovers, slice of life, hockey romance. What more could you possibly want for a feel good time 🤌🏻. This was so charming and funny and had me ignoring my bedtime for the first time in ages. The way Fitzpatrick writes friendships is like an arrow directly to my heart. I just always adore the bonds of friendship between boys on the teams she writes.
Scratch (Nick) and Money (Joey) are those two codependent, attached-at-the-hips idiots, and it isn’t until Joey gets a crush on a guy that Scratch realises that he is maybe not as straight as he thought he was and also maybe is a little bit in love with his best friend.
This story was broken down into three arcs; the first being the lead up to them getting their shit together, the second is one year later and the third is 6 years into the future. While I appreciated getting to see so many glimpses throughout their lives together, there are a few scenes I would have paid money to witness that we don’t get and also this is very G-rated.
It’s worth noting that for about the first 10 chapters that Joey has an unrequited crush on another character, Owen. Nothing remotely romantic happens between them and Owen remains a close friend to both Joey and Scratch throughout the whole story, but honestly, my indignation on Joeys behalf meant that I never quite shook my slight resentment for the pain he caused Joey, and by default Scratch (cause not being remotely interested in Joey romantically NEVER made sense to me), although obviously everything very much worked out for the best, so I am not THAT mad.
As always, the fact that Fitzpatrick is generous enough to make these stories available for free on Ao3 is insane and I love her for that.
P.S: The scream I scrumpt at the cameos of precious baby JULIUS HALLA ON THE TEAM WITH THESE BOYS. BE STILL MY HEART.
150k word Golden Retriever, best friends to lovers, slice of life, hockey romance. What more could you possibly want for a feel good time 🤌🏻. This was so charming and funny and had me ignoring my bedtime for the first time in ages. The way Fitzpatrick writes friendships is like an arrow directly to my heart. I just always adore the bonds of friendship between boys on the teams she writes.
Scratch (Nick) and Money (Joey) are those two codependent, attached-at-the-hips idiots, and it isn’t until Joey gets a crush on a guy that Scratch realises that he is maybe not as straight as he thought he was and also maybe is a little bit in love with his best friend.
This story was broken down into three arcs; the first being the lead up to them getting their shit together, the second is one year later and the third is 6 years into the future. While I appreciated getting to see so many glimpses throughout their lives together, there are a few scenes I would have paid money to witness that we don’t get and also this is very G-rated.
It’s worth noting that for about the first 10 chapters that Joey has an unrequited crush on another character, Owen. Nothing remotely romantic happens between them and Owen remains a close friend to both Joey and Scratch throughout the whole story, but honestly, my indignation on Joeys behalf meant that I never quite shook my slight resentment for the pain he caused Joey, and by default Scratch (cause not being remotely interested in Joey romantically NEVER made sense to me), although obviously everything very much worked out for the best, so I am not THAT mad.
As always, the fact that Fitzpatrick is generous enough to make these stories available for free on Ao3 is insane and I love her for that.
P.S: The scream I scrumpt at the cameos of precious baby JULIUS HALLA ON THE TEAM WITH THESE BOYS. BE STILL MY HEART.
February 21, 2022
Kansas City Scouts forward Joey “Money” Munroe is not happy about being put up for auction as an eligible bachelor at his team’s annual charity ball. Partly because last year’s winner seemed to think she’d bought herself a real date with him, and proceeded to get handsy. But also because he has since been publicly and traumatically outed to the world at large, courtesy of a long-ago ex’s online release of explicit photos. So when this year’s winning bidder “buys” him for a date with her gay grandson, Joey is less than thrilled with the setup.
Turns out the grandson is less than thrilled too; grandma’s way too meddling. But over the course of a meal the two guys hit it off, and Joey leaves their “date” wishing he could get to know Owen better. But how? This was just a PR stunt, and it might be creepy-weird to seek further contact. Not to mention that Joey’s ex — that ex — left him with a legacy of insecurity and self-doubt. But damn, he sure liked Owen...
To the rescue comes Nick Angelopoulos, aka Scratch, Joey’s teammate and joined-at-the-hip best friend. Scratch hates how Joey’s self-esteem was pulverized by his ex, and the prospect of nudging his buddy into a relationship with someone who sounds like a genuinely nice guy, a guy who might appreciate him properly, is irresistible. So Joey and Owen are reunited by Scratch taking matters into his own hands…
…Like, literally into his own hands, with the assistance of the rest of the team, for whom the prospect of helping Joey *and* simultaneously mortifying him is truly the best of both worlds.
These guys. I swear. What a teamful of overgrown goons and himbos. All of them have been playing hockey since childhood, and most went directly from high school into a career as pro athletes. Sure, some players do take the college track before winding up in the NHL, but it’s enough of an anomaly that Joey’s one year of college before dropping out has earned him his secondary nickname, ‘Harvard.’ He knows exactly how ridiculous that is. He and Scratch have a long history of getting themselves — and sometimes the entire team — into outrageous situations that shine no flattering light upon anyone’s intellectual prowess.
Sad but true.
The Scouts are a huge part of the fun of this story. They’re the best team in the NHL — as evidenced by winning the President’s Cup. Two years in a row! But what *really* matters in hockey-land is winning the Stanley Cup. The Scouts lost in the Finals last year, and this year they’re back with a vengeance. They’re driven, focused, hardworking, almost unstoppable on the ice.
They're also a bunch of overgrown goons and himbos, did I mention that? And they’ve gone all-in with the nicknames. There’s even one guy nicknamed Shithead — to which my reaction was, “HOW? How did they narrow it down to just one? Why is there not Shithead #1 through Shithead #15?” But as I got to know them better, it became obvious that along with Money, Scratch, Trigger, Bilbo, Foxy, Hogger, Rosie, Dik-Dik, et al, there really was only One True Shithead. But hey, he’s their shithead, so they love him. Uh, sort of.
I’ve read enough by this author to be impressed with how distinctively she crafts each team. Each has its own subculture, like its own little social (or anti-social) ecosystem. I’ve seen one team toxic all the way down, from the General Manager through the front office to the locker room, where everyone dislikes and disparages their superstar top scorer. (Sorry, Bryce. 😢) Another team that’s not particularly close-knit, but good leadership from the captain and alternate help keep it a healthy working environment. (Yay, Gabe!) And a team that we know almost nothing about, thanks to a POV MC who barely registers the existence of his teammates once he’s off the ice, other than that one buddy he hangs with. (Jared, only you could remain oblivious to the presence of chaos demon Liam Fitzgerald in your locker room. 🙄)
But! Back to the romance! I laughed so much. So much. Owen would love to be friends with Joey! Wait, friends? Scratch discovers that maybe an idea that seemed great in theory isn’t actually so great in reality. We are served a slow-burn friends-to-lovers with a twist, including the funniest scene I’ve ever read. Like, so funny that afterwards, lying in bed trying to fall asleep, I remembered that scene and burst into laughter. So much for sleep! And by “afterwards,” I mean not only the day I read it, but again an entire week later.
This was written during the pandemic, with the author's expressed purpose of giving herself something to feel happy about. The joy and vibrancy of it shine through. Is it perfect?
Yes.
Oh wait, I’m supposed to say No. Oops! No book is perfect, yadda yadda yadda, right? And this isn’t even an actual book yet, just a series of chapters posted on AO3 (which through the magic of Calibre downloaded and compiled itself into an ebook for me in one fell swoop, thank you Tamara!). There are typos, mostly in the form of dropped or repeated words. When the author preps the text for publishing, she’ll polish it like she has with the handful of other works she’s released. So, of course it's not perfect…
…Except it is. Sometimes the right story comes to the right reader at the right time, and the result is…
Is this my favorite read of 2021? Well, as soon as I finished I went right back to the beginning for an immediate re-read, and nothing else this year prompted that reaction from me. (And do you know what I want to do now? Do you? I want to read it again.) After the absolutely shameless gushing I did over Impaired Judgment, by the same author, and then how gobsmacked I was by the first two books of the Between the Teeth series, *also* by the same author, I never imagined I’d have yet another amazing book by her in store for me before 2021 was over. But wow, I hit the jackpot.
Note: As of this review, It's A Setup is complete on AO3, and its sequel is in progress. What I read and reviewed here was the entirety of IAS plus the first 10 chapters of the sequel.
Turns out the grandson is less than thrilled too; grandma’s way too meddling. But over the course of a meal the two guys hit it off, and Joey leaves their “date” wishing he could get to know Owen better. But how? This was just a PR stunt, and it might be creepy-weird to seek further contact. Not to mention that Joey’s ex — that ex — left him with a legacy of insecurity and self-doubt. But damn, he sure liked Owen...
To the rescue comes Nick Angelopoulos, aka Scratch, Joey’s teammate and joined-at-the-hip best friend. Scratch hates how Joey’s self-esteem was pulverized by his ex, and the prospect of nudging his buddy into a relationship with someone who sounds like a genuinely nice guy, a guy who might appreciate him properly, is irresistible. So Joey and Owen are reunited by Scratch taking matters into his own hands…
Joey is an idiot. Joey is an idiot, because he thought a fingerprint lock on his phone would be safer than a PIN, and maybe it would be if he didn’t have a bunch of asshole teammates who were perfectly willing to sit on him and hold out his hand so Scratch could unlock his phone by literal force.
…Like, literally into his own hands, with the assistance of the rest of the team, for whom the prospect of helping Joey *and* simultaneously mortifying him is truly the best of both worlds.
One of the weird bonuses of being very publicly outed is that Joey didn’t have to tell the majority of teammates about his sexuality, do that ‘is he going to be cool? Is he not going to be cool? Is this going to go to shit?’ thing, and they all banded together in outrage on Joey’s behalf when it happened. If anyone was uncomfortable with the fact Joey was gay, well, they hid it pretty well under the collective ‘we’ve got your fucking back, bro, go Scouts.’ Was it worth the actual shitshow that is his dick being on the internet for all to see? No way, but it did mean Joey got to rip the band-aid off fast. Hurt like fuck at the time, but he knows his guys are his guys.
Problem is his guys are all assholes.
These guys. I swear. What a teamful of overgrown goons and himbos. All of them have been playing hockey since childhood, and most went directly from high school into a career as pro athletes. Sure, some players do take the college track before winding up in the NHL, but it’s enough of an anomaly that Joey’s one year of college before dropping out has earned him his secondary nickname, ‘Harvard.’ He knows exactly how ridiculous that is. He and Scratch have a long history of getting themselves — and sometimes the entire team — into outrageous situations that shine no flattering light upon anyone’s intellectual prowess.
“Just look me in the eyes.”
Joey looks him in the eyes. They’re beautiful eyes. Stupid Willy.
“You need to know that I’m saying what I’m about to say with love and affection,” Willy says.
Joey takes the chance to brace himself.
“You are the dumbest motherfucker in the entire world,” Willy says.
Sad but true.
The Scouts are a huge part of the fun of this story. They’re the best team in the NHL — as evidenced by winning the President’s Cup. Two years in a row! But what *really* matters in hockey-land is winning the Stanley Cup. The Scouts lost in the Finals last year, and this year they’re back with a vengeance. They’re driven, focused, hardworking, almost unstoppable on the ice.
They're also a bunch of overgrown goons and himbos, did I mention that? And they’ve gone all-in with the nicknames. There’s even one guy nicknamed Shithead — to which my reaction was, “HOW? How did they narrow it down to just one? Why is there not Shithead #1 through Shithead #15?” But as I got to know them better, it became obvious that along with Money, Scratch, Trigger, Bilbo, Foxy, Hogger, Rosie, Dik-Dik, et al, there really was only One True Shithead. But hey, he’s their shithead, so they love him. Uh, sort of.
I’ve read enough by this author to be impressed with how distinctively she crafts each team. Each has its own subculture, like its own little social (or anti-social) ecosystem. I’ve seen one team toxic all the way down, from the General Manager through the front office to the locker room, where everyone dislikes and disparages their superstar top scorer. (Sorry, Bryce. 😢) Another team that’s not particularly close-knit, but good leadership from the captain and alternate help keep it a healthy working environment. (Yay, Gabe!) And a team that we know almost nothing about, thanks to a POV MC who barely registers the existence of his teammates once he’s off the ice, other than that one buddy he hangs with. (Jared, only you could remain oblivious to the presence of chaos demon Liam Fitzgerald in your locker room. 🙄)
But! Back to the romance! I laughed so much. So much. Owen would love to be friends with Joey! Wait, friends? Scratch discovers that maybe an idea that seemed great in theory isn’t actually so great in reality. We are served a slow-burn friends-to-lovers with a twist, including the funniest scene I’ve ever read. Like, so funny that afterwards, lying in bed trying to fall asleep, I remembered that scene and burst into laughter. So much for sleep! And by “afterwards,” I mean not only the day I read it, but again an entire week later.
This was written during the pandemic, with the author's expressed purpose of giving herself something to feel happy about. The joy and vibrancy of it shine through. Is it perfect?
Yes.
Oh wait, I’m supposed to say No. Oops! No book is perfect, yadda yadda yadda, right? And this isn’t even an actual book yet, just a series of chapters posted on AO3 (which through the magic of Calibre downloaded and compiled itself into an ebook for me in one fell swoop, thank you Tamara!). There are typos, mostly in the form of dropped or repeated words. When the author preps the text for publishing, she’ll polish it like she has with the handful of other works she’s released. So, of course it's not perfect…
…Except it is. Sometimes the right story comes to the right reader at the right time, and the result is…
Is this my favorite read of 2021? Well, as soon as I finished I went right back to the beginning for an immediate re-read, and nothing else this year prompted that reaction from me. (And do you know what I want to do now? Do you? I want to read it again.) After the absolutely shameless gushing I did over Impaired Judgment, by the same author, and then how gobsmacked I was by the first two books of the Between the Teeth series, *also* by the same author, I never imagined I’d have yet another amazing book by her in store for me before 2021 was over. But wow, I hit the jackpot.
Note: As of this review, It's A Setup is complete on AO3, and its sequel is in progress. What I read and reviewed here was the entirety of IAS plus the first 10 chapters of the sequel.
February 22, 2023
Reread as book 2 was just recently completed and I needed a refresher. Still awesome.
~~~~~
Initial review:
My 6th read in Taylor Fitzpatrick's AU hockey league world. Joey is an adorable dumbass and this one worked well for me despite a minor issue or two. Definitely hits the would read again threshold and thereby earns a 5th star by my rating criteria.
One of the reasons Fitzpatrick's stuff is hitting my reread threshold more often than not is my incomprehension at her writing style. She does a lot of things that are outside genre fiction norms some of which would ruin books by other writers and yet somehow the whole package works really well for me. One example here, there are interactions in which we get the dialog of one character but the pov character's responses are all just narrative summary, which we can only infer was actually spoken in some form by the other party's response. Thus far I've only reread one of them with the intent to give it a more analytical eye, but that didn't last too long before my good intentions were swept away by the story.
My biggest quibble with this one is a slight issue with how the author handles a particular blindspot of the pov character, but it wasn't significant enough to derail my overall enjoyment of the story.
I think I've read all the YCMAL stories I currently have as ebooks, and with And Then delayed, I'm not really sure what will be up next for me in this series.
~~~~~
Initial review:
My 6th read in Taylor Fitzpatrick's AU hockey league world. Joey is an adorable dumbass and this one worked well for me despite a minor issue or two. Definitely hits the would read again threshold and thereby earns a 5th star by my rating criteria.
One of the reasons Fitzpatrick's stuff is hitting my reread threshold more often than not is my incomprehension at her writing style. She does a lot of things that are outside genre fiction norms some of which would ruin books by other writers and yet somehow the whole package works really well for me. One example here, there are interactions in which we get the dialog of one character but the pov character's responses are all just narrative summary, which we can only infer was actually spoken in some form by the other party's response. Thus far I've only reread one of them with the intent to give it a more analytical eye, but that didn't last too long before my good intentions were swept away by the story.
My biggest quibble with this one is a slight issue with how the author handles a particular blindspot of the pov character, but it wasn't significant enough to derail my overall enjoyment of the story.
I think I've read all the YCMAL stories I currently have as ebooks, and with And Then delayed, I'm not really sure what will be up next for me in this series.
January 12, 2022
My response was "oh, Joey. "sigh*" every time he opened his mouth. Kind of like "oh Vinny" when I read Vinny Gets a Life, just with a different meaning and expression. XDDD
Joey is hilarious.
Just as good as any other book I read from the author so far. This one is more on the funny side, rather than sad.
Really enjoying it.
Joey is hilarious.
Just as good as any other book I read from the author so far. This one is more on the funny side, rather than sad.
Really enjoying it.
March 9, 2023
me in early January: binging 420k of hockey boys fluff is a thing that happens sometimes!! January is a hard month for people, I'm just making it easier for myself! besides, it's not like I plan on making a habit of it!
*SpongeBob meme*: 4 weeks later...
look at least this one is a more manageable 150k?? I realize that's still very long for a piece of fiction with nothing resembling plot, structure, or proper pacing, but that's neither here nor there!
in my limited (though probably not for long with the rate I'm going) experience with Taylor Fitzpatrick's writing, the general...amorphousness of it all is kind of the point? as my fellow Fitzpatrick-mania sufferer Kathleen wrote in her review of another sports romance,
"I find good sports romances incredibly comforting. They are so insular, in the sense that the sporty MC's life is so dominated by the physical, logistical, and emotional demands of the sport, the team, and the rhythm of season and off-season, training and competing. Regardless of what else is going on in the story, there is such a sound, predictable framework for the action. It's so soothing."
and Taylor takes the mundanity of "practice-game-team events-media appearance-working out-eating-napping" and turns it into the backbone of her stories. of course, this is professional sports, so things *can* get exciting - career-ending injuries, media disasters, unexpected trades and Cup wins can all spice things up, but I've found that none of these events ever serve to give the story (or the characters) an arc? because that's not the point, basking in the mundanity is the point. having the characters just be their silly, fluffy selves is ultimately what we're all here for. it's like those "and then they got a house and a dog and 2.4 kids" epilogues in straight romance, only these ones are like, anna karenina length (I just googled this to check and IJ is *currently* 60k -a whole normal novel's worth!!- longer than anna karenina. good lord.)
anyway, I liked Joey's story even better than IJ! (is this a deliberate bait at Kathleen to have her join me down this particular rabbit hole? yes. BUT ALSO IT'S TRUE)
idk if it's the fact that Taylor started this series only a couple of years ago, so her skills are more honed in comparison to the beginning of IJ, or if it's the lack of the whole "Jared being a child bride" thing, or just that I'm a huge sucker for all the tropes in this one, but Joey just hit different.
one thing that is completely the same as in IJ though is Taylor's amazing cast of secondary characters. romances about team sports are obviously tailor-made(heh) for having a bunch of whacky idiosyncratic busybodies providing comic relief and/or moral support, but Ms. Fitzpatrick just has this incredible skill for making me absolutely feral for a random OOT secondary character (WILLY MY BELOVED). I think this in part has to do with how *all* her characters are kinda ridiculous and larger than life? like, there are some romances where I am deeply moved by how the author reflects real life issues and emotional struggles through their character work, and Taylor's books are... not that (at least the ones I've read so far, ofc!). the tone is instead very much "5k fluff fic but on crack and also make it 150-400k", and I never knew I'd be down for that, but I so am.
I wish I could say this was my last hockey boys rodeo, but I've already got all of Taylor's other series pulled up on my phone, so... stay tuned for futher clownery, I guess 🤡
*SpongeBob meme*: 4 weeks later...
look at least this one is a more manageable 150k?? I realize that's still very long for a piece of fiction with nothing resembling plot, structure, or proper pacing, but that's neither here nor there!
in my limited (though probably not for long with the rate I'm going) experience with Taylor Fitzpatrick's writing, the general...amorphousness of it all is kind of the point? as my fellow Fitzpatrick-mania sufferer Kathleen wrote in her review of another sports romance,
"I find good sports romances incredibly comforting. They are so insular, in the sense that the sporty MC's life is so dominated by the physical, logistical, and emotional demands of the sport, the team, and the rhythm of season and off-season, training and competing. Regardless of what else is going on in the story, there is such a sound, predictable framework for the action. It's so soothing."
and Taylor takes the mundanity of "practice-game-team events-media appearance-working out-eating-napping" and turns it into the backbone of her stories. of course, this is professional sports, so things *can* get exciting - career-ending injuries, media disasters, unexpected trades and Cup wins can all spice things up, but I've found that none of these events ever serve to give the story (or the characters) an arc? because that's not the point, basking in the mundanity is the point. having the characters just be their silly, fluffy selves is ultimately what we're all here for. it's like those "and then they got a house and a dog and 2.4 kids" epilogues in straight romance, only these ones are like, anna karenina length (I just googled this to check and IJ is *currently* 60k -a whole normal novel's worth!!- longer than anna karenina. good lord.)
anyway, I liked Joey's story even better than IJ! (is this a deliberate bait at Kathleen to have her join me down this particular rabbit hole? yes. BUT ALSO IT'S TRUE)
idk if it's the fact that Taylor started this series only a couple of years ago, so her skills are more honed in comparison to the beginning of IJ, or if it's the lack of the whole "Jared being a child bride" thing, or just that I'm a huge sucker for all the tropes in this one, but Joey just hit different.
one thing that is completely the same as in IJ though is Taylor's amazing cast of secondary characters. romances about team sports are obviously tailor-made(heh) for having a bunch of whacky idiosyncratic busybodies providing comic relief and/or moral support, but Ms. Fitzpatrick just has this incredible skill for making me absolutely feral for a random OOT secondary character (WILLY MY BELOVED). I think this in part has to do with how *all* her characters are kinda ridiculous and larger than life? like, there are some romances where I am deeply moved by how the author reflects real life issues and emotional struggles through their character work, and Taylor's books are... not that (at least the ones I've read so far, ofc!). the tone is instead very much "5k fluff fic but on crack and also make it 150-400k", and I never knew I'd be down for that, but I so am.
I wish I could say this was my last hockey boys rodeo, but I've already got all of Taylor's other series pulled up on my phone, so... stay tuned for futher clownery, I guess 🤡
March 19, 2023
Such endearing characters, funny rather than soppy, though there's plenty sweetness. Literal giggles through the second half.
Still find the 6yr jump confusing, noticed the story is split into two 'series' the issue might be that I saved them as one.
There's glimpses of family, a few good teammate friends, lots of chirping. And just a rightness about these two being together. How together they were before waking up to it. How you know there'll be plenty more ridiculous shenanigans and gleeful arguments to come.
-- -- -- --
Really liked this, Joey was endearingly clueless throughout.
Very thrown by sudden six year time jump where nothing seemed to have really changed.
Not certain it's complete.
Still find the 6yr jump confusing, noticed the story is split into two 'series' the issue might be that I saved them as one.
There's glimpses of family, a few good teammate friends, lots of chirping. And just a rightness about these two being together. How together they were before waking up to it. How you know there'll be plenty more ridiculous shenanigans and gleeful arguments to come.
-- -- -- --
Really liked this, Joey was endearingly clueless throughout.
Very thrown by sudden six year time jump where nothing seemed to have really changed.
Not certain it's complete.
March 9, 2023
OK, so I’m just gonna co-sign everything wasteland baby and Teal say in their reviews. And not just because wb was kind enough to quote me (although I do love a good mutual appreciation society #great minds), and not just because Teal is like the yoda to my padawan in all things ycmal. But because their reviews are both exactly spot-on. And I am lazy. And also thought-dead from all the smiling and squealing I’ve been doing the past 24 hours. All this happiness kills my brain! I must work on accepting it, just like my sweet, soft Money.
So instead of writing a proper review, here are just a few of the things that brought me joy, out of an extensive, nay exhaustive, list of joy-bringing things in this series.
The purple gobstoppers.
Wowen!!! My god. I seriously was a bit skeptical in the beginning (and by “beginning,” I mean before Scratch and Money got their shit together), like it was clear Owen was crushing on Willy from the first time they met, and Willy was also interested, and that’s great, but there’s gotta be a quarantine when you know your bro is seriously into this dude already, like not that you have to stay apart forever, obviously said bro got over his crush once he pulled his head out of his arse (i.e. was told REPEATEDLY TO HIS FACE BY MULTIPLE PEOPLE that his bff loved him), but at the very minimum there should not be overlap between the bro-crush and your own getting some. Needless to say, they respected that quarantine. They respected the shit out of that quarantine. That quarantine was begging to be disrespected. And now, it’s a thing! A thing! Scratch will hopefully never have to kill Willy! A THING!
(Am I spending the next few days of my life going down the tumblr rabbithole to suck up all the ScratchMoney and Wowen goodiness that lurks there? Yes. Yes I am.) (ETA -- update from the rabbithole: there is so much good Owen and Willy and ScratchMoney stuff here, and so much of it drives home just how unreliable a narrator Joey is. Like, once you see Money and especially ScratchMoney from Willy or Owen's perspective, you see how ridiculous and in denial these two hockeyhimbos are. And you also see how completely skewed Joey's self-perception is: we get that in the main text too, mostly through Scratch getting offended on Joey's behalf when he talks shit about himself, but seeing Money through Willy's less biased eyes is a revelation. And I am so freaking invested in Wowen. I want a Wowen wedding and I want it now.)
Willy’s speech at the wedding. So. Perfect. Damnit Willy, you about made me cry.
Trigger’s speech at the wedding. The Trigger-Money dynamic is a running gag that works every single time.
Another running gag that works every single time: Playoff Willy. I am in awe of Playoff Willy.
The proposal. THE PROPOSAL!! Holy shit, that could not have been more fitting. Loved.
The humor. This is so funny the whole way through, like genuinely cracking-up funny, but it’s humor that never kicks down. It’s not cheesy, it’s not farcical or ridiculous or over-the-top, it’s not hurtful, it’s not cruel. It’s just chirping and funniness based on mutual liking and respect (Owen, Willy, the team as a whole, Casey) and love (Scratch-n-Money, obviously). Although I am dying to know which scene Teal is referring to in the review. But the fact that the answer is not immediately obvious testifies to just how humorous this series is.
“The secret of time, money, and effort,” Joey says glumly. “I hate that secret.” JOEY IS ALL OF US.
The fact that hockey is both so central and so peripheral to the series. It’s a setup follows one season very closely – the season Scratch and Money get together – and we get very deeply into the highs and lows of that season. Whereas it’s a commitment is time jumping us forward (multiple time jumps, in fact – it’s a commitment starts a year from where it’s a setup ends, and then there is a six year – SIX YEAR!! – time jump in the middle of it), and along the way we get, like, contextual information about blahblah Cups and a whole new roster (except Willy!! Do not panic!!!). It’s a commitment is basically fan service, in the best possible sense: we are getting engagements and domestic stuff and a wedding and the hockey stuff is definitely there (they almost had the mascot at their wedding, people), but mostly it’s just in the background, chilling.
The sound I made when I realized that
The cherry on top of that absolutely perfect chain of events is the fact that that installment started with a team meeting called for the specific purpose of finding a non-offensive nickname for their new Australian teammate. HAHAHAHAHA!!!! Scouts in a nutshell. And so Willy to be like NO CROCODILE DUNDEE! NO KANGAROOS! and then turn around and just offhandedly shred Money with a Canadian-based insult. There is literally nothing that man can't do. (Except get on Owen within a reasonable time frame. C'mon, Willy! Owen is pining!)
The fact that approximately one-third of it’s a commitment was JUST the wedding and I enjoyed every single last second of it.
NITCH!!!!
And on a slightly serious note . . .
This is an incredibly joyful, happy work that is immersed in humor and love and camaraderie and friendship and kindness. And it’s a testimony to Taylor Fitzpatrick that this is the case, given Money’s backstory. Money was the victim of revenge porn and forced outing prior to when it’s a setup starts. (This is tangentially referenced in Impaired Judgement, and probably other series too.) This was obviously a hugely traumatic event. But Taylor doesn’t put us, the reader, through the wringer of witnessing it firsthand. Instead, we get the backstory as necessary context to understand Joey – his trauma and self-esteem issues connected both to the outing and the emotionally abusive relationship that preceded it – and his relationship with Scratch: the unquestioning devotion and loyalty and friendship and love that Scratch showed Joey when the outing happened, even before they were ever romantically involved. Joey’s painful backstory is important, but it doesn’t define him. And this is a shining example of how a character’s pain can be recognized and respected, but not dwelt upon or fetishized, in the context of a story that is ultimately about teamwork and friendship and support and love.
And on that note, Joey’s journey is just so damned beautiful. This is a guy who goes from being unable to accept the notion that he has worth, to a guy who – while still shying away from compliments and sentimentality and any kind of sincere declaration – accepts and embraces happiness, and acknowledges that he is no less deserving of it than anyone else. And of course, this is not a journey he made alone. (Tangent – yay for the normalization of therapy in sport romance! – Laurel and Not Laurel are awesome.) It’s a journey he made together with Scratch, always Scratch, but also with team and family and dog and cat. But he had to choose to make it. And – damn. Why are these dumb hockey fluffheads making me cry?
So much for my intention to not write a review. I am like Scratch with candy. But what can I say? –this is a work that deserves all the love, one that I know I will go back to whenever I want a bit of uncomplicated happiness and laughter and hockeyhimbos and lovelovelove in my reading. ScratchMoney, you delightful knuckleheads. I didn’t think anyone could get softer than Jared and Bryce, but these men. Soffffffffffffft.
“And they bickered happily ever after.”
ETA: My tumblr rabbithole just led me to discover the story behind Dik-Dik's nickname, and it killed me dead. DEAD. Willy, damn you, you brilliant shining perfect man.
(We found out why Rosie as well, but that's just sweet and adorable. Whereas Dik-Dik? Malevolent genius.)
So instead of writing a proper review, here are just a few of the things that brought me joy, out of an extensive, nay exhaustive, list of joy-bringing things in this series.
The purple gobstoppers.
Wowen!!! My god. I seriously was a bit skeptical in the beginning (and by “beginning,” I mean before Scratch and Money got their shit together), like it was clear Owen was crushing on Willy from the first time they met, and Willy was also interested, and that’s great, but there’s gotta be a quarantine when you know your bro is seriously into this dude already, like not that you have to stay apart forever, obviously said bro got over his crush once he pulled his head out of his arse (i.e. was told REPEATEDLY TO HIS FACE BY MULTIPLE PEOPLE that his bff loved him), but at the very minimum there should not be overlap between the bro-crush and your own getting some. Needless to say, they respected that quarantine. They respected the shit out of that quarantine. That quarantine was begging to be disrespected. And now, it’s a thing! A thing! Scratch will hopefully never have to kill Willy! A THING!
(Am I spending the next few days of my life going down the tumblr rabbithole to suck up all the ScratchMoney and Wowen goodiness that lurks there? Yes. Yes I am.) (ETA -- update from the rabbithole: there is so much good Owen and Willy and ScratchMoney stuff here, and so much of it drives home just how unreliable a narrator Joey is. Like, once you see Money and especially ScratchMoney from Willy or Owen's perspective, you see how ridiculous and in denial these two hockeyhimbos are. And you also see how completely skewed Joey's self-perception is: we get that in the main text too, mostly through Scratch getting offended on Joey's behalf when he talks shit about himself, but seeing Money through Willy's less biased eyes is a revelation. And I am so freaking invested in Wowen. I want a Wowen wedding and I want it now.)
Willy’s speech at the wedding. So. Perfect. Damnit Willy, you about made me cry.
Trigger’s speech at the wedding. The Trigger-Money dynamic is a running gag that works every single time.
Another running gag that works every single time: Playoff Willy. I am in awe of Playoff Willy.
The proposal. THE PROPOSAL!! Holy shit, that could not have been more fitting. Loved.
The humor. This is so funny the whole way through, like genuinely cracking-up funny, but it’s humor that never kicks down. It’s not cheesy, it’s not farcical or ridiculous or over-the-top, it’s not hurtful, it’s not cruel. It’s just chirping and funniness based on mutual liking and respect (Owen, Willy, the team as a whole, Casey) and love (Scratch-n-Money, obviously). Although I am dying to know which scene Teal is referring to in the review. But the fact that the answer is not immediately obvious testifies to just how humorous this series is.
“The secret of time, money, and effort,” Joey says glumly. “I hate that secret.” JOEY IS ALL OF US.
The fact that hockey is both so central and so peripheral to the series. It’s a setup follows one season very closely – the season Scratch and Money get together – and we get very deeply into the highs and lows of that season. Whereas it’s a commitment is time jumping us forward (multiple time jumps, in fact – it’s a commitment starts a year from where it’s a setup ends, and then there is a six year – SIX YEAR!! – time jump in the middle of it), and along the way we get, like, contextual information about blahblah Cups and a whole new roster (except Willy!! Do not panic!!!). It’s a commitment is basically fan service, in the best possible sense: we are getting engagements and domestic stuff and a wedding and the hockey stuff is definitely there (they almost had the mascot at their wedding, people), but mostly it’s just in the background, chilling.
The sound I made when I realized that
The cherry on top of that absolutely perfect chain of events is the fact that that installment started with a team meeting called for the specific purpose of finding a non-offensive nickname for their new Australian teammate. HAHAHAHAHA!!!! Scouts in a nutshell. And so Willy to be like NO CROCODILE DUNDEE! NO KANGAROOS! and then turn around and just offhandedly shred Money with a Canadian-based insult. There is literally nothing that man can't do. (Except get on Owen within a reasonable time frame. C'mon, Willy! Owen is pining!)
The fact that approximately one-third of it’s a commitment was JUST the wedding and I enjoyed every single last second of it.
NITCH!!!!
And on a slightly serious note . . .
This is an incredibly joyful, happy work that is immersed in humor and love and camaraderie and friendship and kindness. And it’s a testimony to Taylor Fitzpatrick that this is the case, given Money’s backstory. Money was the victim of revenge porn and forced outing prior to when it’s a setup starts. (This is tangentially referenced in Impaired Judgement, and probably other series too.) This was obviously a hugely traumatic event. But Taylor doesn’t put us, the reader, through the wringer of witnessing it firsthand. Instead, we get the backstory as necessary context to understand Joey – his trauma and self-esteem issues connected both to the outing and the emotionally abusive relationship that preceded it – and his relationship with Scratch: the unquestioning devotion and loyalty and friendship and love that Scratch showed Joey when the outing happened, even before they were ever romantically involved. Joey’s painful backstory is important, but it doesn’t define him. And this is a shining example of how a character’s pain can be recognized and respected, but not dwelt upon or fetishized, in the context of a story that is ultimately about teamwork and friendship and support and love.
And on that note, Joey’s journey is just so damned beautiful. This is a guy who goes from being unable to accept the notion that he has worth, to a guy who – while still shying away from compliments and sentimentality and any kind of sincere declaration – accepts and embraces happiness, and acknowledges that he is no less deserving of it than anyone else. And of course, this is not a journey he made alone. (Tangent – yay for the normalization of therapy in sport romance! – Laurel and Not Laurel are awesome.) It’s a journey he made together with Scratch, always Scratch, but also with team and family and dog and cat. But he had to choose to make it. And – damn. Why are these dumb hockey fluffheads making me cry?
So much for my intention to not write a review. I am like Scratch with candy. But what can I say? –this is a work that deserves all the love, one that I know I will go back to whenever I want a bit of uncomplicated happiness and laughter and hockeyhimbos and lovelovelove in my reading. ScratchMoney, you delightful knuckleheads. I didn’t think anyone could get softer than Jared and Bryce, but these men. Soffffffffffffft.
“And they bickered happily ever after.”
ETA: My tumblr rabbithole just led me to discover the story behind Dik-Dik's nickname, and it killed me dead. DEAD. Willy, damn you, you brilliant shining perfect man.
(We found out why Rosie as well, but that's just sweet and adorable. Whereas Dik-Dik? Malevolent genius.)
![Profile Image for annob [on hiatus].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1674812294i%2F68231680._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
June 3, 2024
I started this on the back of a re-read of much loved Impaired Judgment. I'm sorry to say I didn't feel as much, or care as deeply for the MCs in this story.
Still gonna read the second part, I can't give a pass on pieces of the YCMAL verse.
Still gonna read the second part, I can't give a pass on pieces of the YCMAL verse.
November 24, 2024
“Don’t derail the sex discussion by being soft,” Scratch says.
Mans was like I have been yearning for you for months and now that we're on the same page you want to discuss FEELINGS!? Nah. Fuck first, talk later💀
You know how usually you'll read about a couple getting a hard won HEA but they get together too close to the end of the book so you feel cheated out of really getting to experience them as a couple?
This is the opposite of that, in the best of ways. They get together for real at about 45% in and the rest of the book is basically them doing life together(and an almost ensemble cast of side characters)
For the record, the first 30% is about Joey genuinely being interested in another guy.
And wondering why his straight best friend hated everything about that other guy. You think you've seen oblivious, and maybe you have, but Joey is on a whole other plane of obliviousness.
To the point that multiple people tell him Scratch is in love with him and he JUST. DOESN'T. COMPUTE.
Cue some drama and miscommunication but he eventually opens his eyes to what's right in front of him.
And hits pause.
Yep. Literally tells his bestie I see now that you're in love with me but I need to hit pause on this and I'll give you a response when I'm sure.
Enter lots of awkwardness. You know how you're trying to ignore a very huge elephant but you both know it's there and can't pretend it's not? Pretty much that.
“I love you.”
“I am very lovable,” Joey says. “And like —”
Scratch patiently waits.
“You as well?” Joey says. “I am — very fond of you. And your face. And entire self. Extremely fond.”
Yikes💀
But this is romance so we EVENTUALLY get there.
I was worried that Joey was going to fuck it up because he went from zero to sure really quickly(relatively quickly - I mean it took a while but once he decided, he jumped in feet first).
After one kiss —
“A hundred,” Joey says. “For the record. A hundred percent sure.”
“I’m that good, huh?” Scratch asks.
“Yeah Nick,” Joey says. “You’re that good.”
From that point on it's just adorable comedy.
These two match each other's freak on every level.
“Fuck, sorry,” Scratch says. “Two minutes to get all the family talk out of our systems then dicks out?”
Joey snorts. “That is probably the weirdest question I’ve ever been asked,” he says.
“But you’re not saying no,” Scratch says.
“But I’m not saying no,” Joey says.
😂😂😂😂😂😂
It's kinda long but if I highly recommend if you're in the mood for shits and giggles.
@ancientreader you were so right about this one😊
Mans was like I have been yearning for you for months and now that we're on the same page you want to discuss FEELINGS!? Nah. Fuck first, talk later💀
You know how usually you'll read about a couple getting a hard won HEA but they get together too close to the end of the book so you feel cheated out of really getting to experience them as a couple?
This is the opposite of that, in the best of ways. They get together for real at about 45% in and the rest of the book is basically them doing life together(and an almost ensemble cast of side characters)
For the record, the first 30% is about Joey genuinely being interested in another guy.
And wondering why his straight best friend hated everything about that other guy. You think you've seen oblivious, and maybe you have, but Joey is on a whole other plane of obliviousness.
To the point that multiple people tell him Scratch is in love with him and he JUST. DOESN'T. COMPUTE.
Cue some drama and miscommunication but he eventually opens his eyes to what's right in front of him.
And hits pause.
Yep. Literally tells his bestie I see now that you're in love with me but I need to hit pause on this and I'll give you a response when I'm sure.
Enter lots of awkwardness. You know how you're trying to ignore a very huge elephant but you both know it's there and can't pretend it's not? Pretty much that.
“I love you.”
“I am very lovable,” Joey says. “And like —”
Scratch patiently waits.
“You as well?” Joey says. “I am — very fond of you. And your face. And entire self. Extremely fond.”
Yikes💀
But this is romance so we EVENTUALLY get there.
I was worried that Joey was going to fuck it up because he went from zero to sure really quickly(relatively quickly - I mean it took a while but once he decided, he jumped in feet first).
After one kiss —
“A hundred,” Joey says. “For the record. A hundred percent sure.”
“I’m that good, huh?” Scratch asks.
“Yeah Nick,” Joey says. “You’re that good.”
From that point on it's just adorable comedy.
These two match each other's freak on every level.
“Fuck, sorry,” Scratch says. “Two minutes to get all the family talk out of our systems then dicks out?”
Joey snorts. “That is probably the weirdest question I’ve ever been asked,” he says.
“But you’re not saying no,” Scratch says.
“But I’m not saying no,” Joey says.
😂😂😂😂😂😂
It's kinda long but if I highly recommend if you're in the mood for shits and giggles.
@ancientreader you were so right about this one😊
March 19, 2021
Joey “Money “ Monroe such a sweetheart - let’s see what happens next
September 16, 2024
Never have I laughed so hard,
Nor read as much love so true,
As YCMAL and
ScratchnMoney make me do.
Nor read as much love so true,
As YCMAL and
ScratchnMoney make me do.
October 12, 2024
3.5 stars
I waited way too long to rate this. I'm really glad it went where I thought it was going, but she didn't 100% stick the physical chemistry landing. It was so close, and I loved the rest of it. She's very good at the side characters and establishing team dynamics that vary from team to team, which I really love. And I laughed so hard I cried at the fountain incident!!
I waited way too long to rate this. I'm really glad it went where I thought it was going, but she didn't 100% stick the physical chemistry landing. It was so close, and I loved the rest of it. She's very good at the side characters and establishing team dynamics that vary from team to team, which I really love. And I laughed so hard I cried at the fountain incident!!
December 30, 2024
Very lacking in the romance department and it was quite loosey goosey in terms of plot and pacing, with the relationship being VERY bro-y. However, it was extremely funny and all the characters are fantastic, as usual.
March 31, 2021
I fell in love with these two idiots so hard ❤️
July 6, 2024
there aren’t enough words to explain how much i truly love ScratchnMoney
February 28, 2022
So I read this in one sitting and it was great.
September 21, 2024
how many times will I reread this? let me count the ways..
Read
December 28, 2023DNF like thirty-something chapters in - I just didn’t buy the shift from friends to dating. When you’re more invested in the maybe-romance going on in the background than in the actual romance the story is mainly about, it’s time to quit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2021
I found this story really good, even though I don't understand a thing about hockey.
December 23, 2022
This story is the epitome of Idiots In Love. These guys are so cute & ridiculously in love, and the cast of side characters are just as entertaining
June 21, 2025
These idiots have my whole heart
July 18, 2021
Love the way this author writes. However normally most of her plots are angsty AF, usually for no good reason beyond bros unable to use their words and she’s not always reliable about sticking the HEA. So it’s a relief that in this case we get an HFN.
The sexual tension is a meh - I think this is meant to be slow burn but the burn’s so low it’s not really there at all. (I don’t mean these characters are ace, which would be fine, but rather they’re not.) Their friendship and love is obvious though, along with a slew of silly jokes and quirky teammates that make this fun to read.
The sexual tension is a meh - I think this is meant to be slow burn but the burn’s so low it’s not really there at all. (I don’t mean these characters are ace, which would be fine, but rather they’re not.) Their friendship and love is obvious though, along with a slew of silly jokes and quirky teammates that make this fun to read.
April 18, 2025
This review is for both "books" in the duet--It's a Setup, and It's a Commitment. I'll repeat/copy it on the second half too.
The best type of best-friends-to-lovers! The kind for me. Many many thanks to @Evelyn Bella for the rec.
The story stars oblivious doofus point-of-view hero Joey/Money and his secretly pining bestie Nick/Scratch...everyone assumes they’re together long before Joey has any clue whatsoever...no OM action at all on page or even mentioned apart from key backstory of Joey’s utter asshole ex and Scratch only dating women in the past...this was perfect for me, and youcouldmakealife strikes again with two of the most adorable co-dependent heroes out there. I could read this author’s laundry list and smile all the way, they’re that great.
It's a hockey teammates romance, told from Joey’s perspective entirely. The hockey included is riveting, like you’re at the games, and for me it never gets old. Joey and Nick/Scratch (imma call him Scratch bc Nick is used infrequently) live in the same building but Scratch is at Joey’s place constantly; the two are in synch to the point of being one person. Where one goes, the other is never far behind. So what finally incites a different dynamic/realization for them?
Joey’s put on the team charity-bachelor-auction block and winds up on a date with a very cute guy, but doesn’t ask for his number at the end of the night. Idiot Scratch encourages him to get the guy’s number and see him again (why he did this is the ONE THING that’s never explained and I really wanted to know! Scratch, why the HELL did you do that???). And Joey forms a big crush and become friends with this guy, Owen, and winds up wanting to date him but knows Owen thinks they’re only friends...anyway, the pining thing is there for a bit, but, guess who points out to Joey that he’s obviously “with” Scratch?! A sentiment that is confirmed by pretty much everyone Joey knows, and Joey is left blinking and going ....but Scratch is straight...isn’t he???
Ha ha ha turns out someone had an epiphany a while ago and never filled in his bestie. And Joey wrapping his head around this and their entire dynamic changing...but really not changing...is SO much fun to read. Their relationship is warmhearted, kind, charmingly funny as they constantly rib each other, eventually a little steamy here and there (a scene or two but more closed door/you know it’s happened...though really, couldn’t we have learned a LITTLE more about their sex life? Do they have penetrative sex, either way? Hella nosy enquiring minds would really like to know...) and this is maybe my favorite friends to lovers out there.
It's actually a long duet (available on Ao3), but just like my sublime absolute favorite, Impaired Judgement, I just wanted it to be longer, longer, longer. Also, it was really fun to read about the Scouts—Joey and Scratch’s team—because I heard all about their winning streak second-hand in Impaired Judgement (those two heroes play for the Flames and the Oilers), so that was fun!
The secondary characters, both the quirky teammates and the heroes’ families, are fantastic and add so much love, joy, hilarity and depth to the story. Oh, and did I mention these two become adoptive pet dads...!
HEA, oblivious friends to lovers, hockey teammates, follows these two during the time they finally get together and then through a few years to marriage. No homophobia from their team, very accepting. Joey was outed online by his asshole ex years ago and still has trauma from that. Joey wants to date Owen for a while but once his eyes are opened, he’s ALL in for Scratch, the man he loves more than any other person in the world. He just never imagined Scratch could feel That Way about him. No others in the book’s timeline, very safe for me even with the initial Owen crush. Pure kind charming hockey player goodness, very immersive in the team dynamic. Well-developed secondary characters in family and teammates. This is a great read. Highly, highly recommended. I can’t even put into words how special it is.
The best type of best-friends-to-lovers! The kind for me. Many many thanks to @Evelyn Bella for the rec.
The story stars oblivious doofus point-of-view hero Joey/Money and his secretly pining bestie Nick/Scratch...everyone assumes they’re together long before Joey has any clue whatsoever...no OM action at all on page or even mentioned apart from key backstory of Joey’s utter asshole ex and Scratch only dating women in the past...this was perfect for me, and youcouldmakealife strikes again with two of the most adorable co-dependent heroes out there. I could read this author’s laundry list and smile all the way, they’re that great.
It's a hockey teammates romance, told from Joey’s perspective entirely. The hockey included is riveting, like you’re at the games, and for me it never gets old. Joey and Nick/Scratch (imma call him Scratch bc Nick is used infrequently) live in the same building but Scratch is at Joey’s place constantly; the two are in synch to the point of being one person. Where one goes, the other is never far behind. So what finally incites a different dynamic/realization for them?
Joey’s put on the team charity-bachelor-auction block and winds up on a date with a very cute guy, but doesn’t ask for his number at the end of the night. Idiot Scratch encourages him to get the guy’s number and see him again (why he did this is the ONE THING that’s never explained and I really wanted to know! Scratch, why the HELL did you do that???). And Joey forms a big crush and become friends with this guy, Owen, and winds up wanting to date him but knows Owen thinks they’re only friends...anyway, the pining thing is there for a bit, but, guess who points out to Joey that he’s obviously “with” Scratch?! A sentiment that is confirmed by pretty much everyone Joey knows, and Joey is left blinking and going ....but Scratch is straight...isn’t he???
Ha ha ha turns out someone had an epiphany a while ago and never filled in his bestie. And Joey wrapping his head around this and their entire dynamic changing...but really not changing...is SO much fun to read. Their relationship is warmhearted, kind, charmingly funny as they constantly rib each other, eventually a little steamy here and there (a scene or two but more closed door/you know it’s happened...though really, couldn’t we have learned a LITTLE more about their sex life? Do they have penetrative sex, either way? Hella nosy enquiring minds would really like to know...) and this is maybe my favorite friends to lovers out there.
It's actually a long duet (available on Ao3), but just like my sublime absolute favorite, Impaired Judgement, I just wanted it to be longer, longer, longer. Also, it was really fun to read about the Scouts—Joey and Scratch’s team—because I heard all about their winning streak second-hand in Impaired Judgement (those two heroes play for the Flames and the Oilers), so that was fun!
The secondary characters, both the quirky teammates and the heroes’ families, are fantastic and add so much love, joy, hilarity and depth to the story. Oh, and did I mention these two become adoptive pet dads...!
HEA, oblivious friends to lovers, hockey teammates, follows these two during the time they finally get together and then through a few years to marriage. No homophobia from their team, very accepting. Joey was outed online by his asshole ex years ago and still has trauma from that. Joey wants to date Owen for a while but once his eyes are opened, he’s ALL in for Scratch, the man he loves more than any other person in the world. He just never imagined Scratch could feel That Way about him. No others in the book’s timeline, very safe for me even with the initial Owen crush. Pure kind charming hockey player goodness, very immersive in the team dynamic. Well-developed secondary characters in family and teammates. This is a great read. Highly, highly recommended. I can’t even put into words how special it is.
August 16, 2024
Sad to say, probably like 2.5, 2.75 stars? Nowhere near OG YCMAL bad, but it wasn’t my favorite. The best part was the team dynamic, which I enjoyed a lot, and in theory I love that like Joey is pining over a guy and then turns out his best friend is in love with him. But I’m sad to say I did not feel the chemistry between Scratch and Joey at ALL. Like not one iota. It always just seemed like bros, not bros who are secretly pining for one another, which is the best.
The whole thing was very fluffy and normally I like Taylor Fitzpatrick’s fluffy just as much as her angsty, but this was just kind of boring. I liked Joey enough, but he was sort of faux deep. Like there was an emotionally manipulative relationship in his past and nothing really comes of that other than he was outed before the book starts, and he’s insecure. Supposedly the insecurity leads to him not believing Scratch could be in love with him but TF didn’t quite pull it off and he just comes off as too oblivious to be believable. Also, I always find it weird in hockey romances when they never stop calling each other by their nicknames. Like really, you’re gonna call each other Scratch and Money for the rest of your lives??
The whole thing was very fluffy and normally I like Taylor Fitzpatrick’s fluffy just as much as her angsty, but this was just kind of boring. I liked Joey enough, but he was sort of faux deep. Like there was an emotionally manipulative relationship in his past and nothing really comes of that other than he was outed before the book starts, and he’s insecure. Supposedly the insecurity leads to him not believing Scratch could be in love with him but TF didn’t quite pull it off and he just comes off as too oblivious to be believable. Also, I always find it weird in hockey romances when they never stop calling each other by their nicknames. Like really, you’re gonna call each other Scratch and Money for the rest of your lives??
Read
June 17, 2025You have heard of the unreliable narrator - now get ready for the oblivious narrator. Lmao. Way to go, Money, way to go 🤭
Okay honestly I've seen a tumblr post along those lines and I'm pretty sure Joey "Money" Munroe is exactly who they meant. Absolutely amazing.
Also. Omg the Scouts are such a mess. Such a mess. How does anyone even deal in that locker room. Like half a brain cell to pass around between all of them.
Okay honestly I've seen a tumblr post along those lines and I'm pretty sure Joey "Money" Munroe is exactly who they meant. Absolutely amazing.
Also. Omg the Scouts are such a mess. Such a mess. How does anyone even deal in that locker room. Like half a brain cell to pass around between all of them.
January 16, 2024
I like this more that it's a commitment. The whole Owen storyline really got me intrigued. In the beggining, and then when Joey discovers his feeling for Scratch, oh boy. That was a ride. Taylor perfectly tethered in the edge of oblivious MC and comic relief about the whole thing.They are so cute. And so do ridiculous.
February 25, 2025
This is a hilarious clueless hockey bro ramble with some brief but heartfelt moments that burst in your brain like pop rocks on your tongue.
Despite rolling your eyes in petrified horror at his sincere but total lack of situational awareness you are all in for the money the whole way thru.
Despite rolling your eyes in petrified horror at his sincere but total lack of situational awareness you are all in for the money the whole way thru.
July 11, 2021
Four pt five stars.
July 23, 2025
Very enjoyable to read, but lacks some staying power in my mind unfortunately.
March 24, 2025
I LOVE the author but this book just did not do it for me. For me, the story lacked the necessary tension to grip my attention and keep me invested. Both Joey ("Money") and Scratch were extremely lovable and believable characters, but after they got together, there was nothing in the story that made it interesting (for me.) I almost DNF'ed but felt like I needed to finish the story since I was 70% in.
I commend the author for exploring different stories. Her book Thrown Off the Ice broke me and still haunts me to this day. And It's a Setup is a direct opposite, where almost everything in this story is extremely sweet. This is perhaps why the story was not gripping for me. Better this, than following a familiar structure with third act breakup though...
I commend the author for exploring different stories. Her book Thrown Off the Ice broke me and still haunts me to this day. And It's a Setup is a direct opposite, where almost everything in this story is extremely sweet. This is perhaps why the story was not gripping for me. Better this, than following a familiar structure with third act breakup though...
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