Loved this book! It was a fun quick read. I’ve never read hockey romance before but so happy I did!! Astrid and Cal had great chemistry from the beginning! Looking forward to reading more from this author!!

Walk of Shame by Avery Flynn is a steamy contemporary romance that skillfully blends humor, heart, and heat. Astrid O'Malley's past humiliation at the hands of her ex-fiancé, a professional hockey goalie, has left her wary of anything related to the sport. Yet, when she can't resist a no-strings-attached encounter with a rugged stranger, she never expects to discover he's not only her neighbor but also the new goalie coach for her ex's team. The resulting chaos and undeniable chemistry make for a compelling and entertaining read.

The writing sparkles with wit and charm, drawing readers into Astrid's world of hockey hell and unexpected desire. The characters are vibrant and multi-dimensional, particularly Astrid, whose determination to live shamelessly contrasts beautifully with her vulnerabilities. Astrid and Cal's relationship dynamic is electric, igniting the pages with passion and tension that keeps readers eagerly turning the pages.

Walk of Shame is a delightful story that combines sizzling romance with laugh-out-loud moments and a touch of sports drama. Fans of contemporary romance will find themselves thoroughly enchanted by this tale of love, lust, and the courage to embrace one's true desires, regardless of the consequences.

I did not read the first book in the Downside of Dating series, but I was excited by the description of this book. Astrid’s dad is a hockey coach, so she grew up in hockey arenas, but after she was left at the alter by her hockey-playing fiancé Tig, she banned hockey from her life. Five years later, she has a one-night stand with Cal, a man she meets while bartending. She never expects to see him again but he turns out to be her new neighbour and a coach on her dad’s hockey team. Cal is hoping to have his second chance at a career in hockey and has been asked to coach Tig, who is no longer playing well. Astrid and Cal end up having to work together to help Tig play better, while also trying to avoid their intense attraction.

I loved the premise of the story, but I did not love this book. I felt like the middle of the book dragged on a little bit and then the ending felt rushed. I would be interested to try other books by Avery Flynn because I loved the her writing style.

Tropes:
▫️Romantic comedy
▫️One night stand
▫️Office romance
▫️Neighbours-to-lovers
▫️Ex-fiancé’s coach
▫️Forbidden romance
▫️Forced proximity

Thank you to Valentine PR and Avery Flynn for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a lot of fun to experience. I have always enjoyed Avery Flynn's style and she did not disappoint in her latest release. Astrid and Cal were the best couple. I love a strong FMC and a grumpy MMC, who secretly is a great guy.

Astrid is an amazing FMC. She is strong, independent, and knows what she wants and deserves. Yes, she has issues with love, but who can blame her? As her character develops throughout the book, we see walls begin to crack, and eventually, crumble. Allowing herself to trust someone else again is a big deal. Avery writes Astrid beautifully. A woman who doesn't need a man to complete her, but a partner to compliment who she already is.

Cal is definitely a grumpy, rough around the edges MMC. But he is so easy to love. Avery writes a man who doesn't push, but slowly builds trust up, to stretch the women he is fascinated with. Getting to know her likes, dislikes, quarks, the good and bad, her whole potential.

The chemistry between these two oozes off the pages. Avery is so good at describing not only the actions of the characters, but also the emotions stirring on the inside, it is hard to not feel what is actually happening. Knowing they are suppose to have chemistry is good. Being able to feel the chemistry, both sexually and as a couple, is great! This book is more than just how many times these two hook up. It is about breaking walls and trusting in others.

Avery also doesn’t lack drama in this book. Not only does Astrid agree to help her father during his last season as coach, her dad is the coach of the man who left her at the altar, via a FaceTime call…So now she is not only trying to avoid the man she is having feelings for, but also avoid the looks her ex-fiancé is now giving her. The amount of drama is perfect and doesn’t outshine the romance in this book at all.

If you are looking for a fun, spicy, romance book, with a dash of comedy and drama, you have found it. If you have never read Avery Flynn before you are in for a treat. If you have, you know how good she is and this book will not disappoint.

Ok I really loved this. Such a different take on hockey romance because we get coach (assistant) x coach’s daughter, FMC who swears off relationships, and an MMC trying to get back into the game.

This dirty talk🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵

My ONLY problem with this book was the epilogue… like… 😕😬

I received an ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest review :)

Steamy sports romance between ex-hockey player and the coach’s daughter, who hates hockey players after being left at the altar.

Overall I really enjoyed this one, but there was something about a supporting character in the ending that I just didn’t personally like. I loved the humor and the heat in this one, but I felt like there were some missed opportunities to truly flesh out the love story…as for me it just felt a little flat. I did however really love the characters. I rated this 4 stars because I did enjoy Anger Bang a tad more.

Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled for a digital copy of this. My opinions are entirely my own.

“When it comes to being with you, I’ll take every second you’ll give me… And I’ll still want more.”

I was hooked from the beginning, and I found Astrid to be so relatable! I loved her character and the ease with which her thoughts were expressed on the page. Cal and Astrid had amazing chemistry throughout the book and all of their different “meet-cutes” were so fun. This was a quick read, with amazing characters, a dash of hockey, and a fun romance.

Great read. After what happened on what was supposed to be her wedding day, Astrid walker away from relationships and hockey. Will her new neighbor change her opinion on both? I liked both characters and wanted everything to work out for them.

Thank you to Entangled Publishing for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this one. I found it to be a very fast and entertaining read. It was lighthearted and quite funny, and I read it pretty quickly. It’s told in 3rd person POV switching between Astrid and Cal, and I thought Astrid was hilarious. Her thoughts were witty, silly, and relatable, but her actions weren’t always well thought out. How she didn’t realize that everyone around her and Cal could see something was going on between them escapes me. Cal was a sweetheart who didn’t really have much direction in his life, but the little things he did for Astrid were so cute.
I wish that there had been more overall. More of their relationship, more of their texting banter, more of Astrid and her father working together. I just felt like the book was very surface level and never really dug deep into anything it touched upon.
The instalust was written pretty well, but the spice got a bit boring after they had done the same things for the third or fourth time. Their spicy interactions all seemed to start and finish the same way.
I did also find quite a few typos. These were usually easy to decipher what was actually meant, but I was finding one every couple of pages which annoyed me.
Overall this was a lighthearted and funny read with some decent (and repetitive) spice and good characters. Am I going to remember it all in a week? Probably not. Did I enjoy the time I spent reading it? Absolutely.

This was such a great read. Cal and Astrid are wonderful characters that have a raw genuineness to them that makes them irresistible. Trust me when I say that these two give your heart and emotions a workout and not just from their blossoming romance but from the struggles and challenges that they endured along the way. A very fun read that has just enough poignancy to it to make you swoon and have your heart melting.

An all around fun read! Avery packs in humor and steam with an engaging storyline. It will have you laughing and swooning! Read if you love hockey romances and a romcom that will keep you entertained!

Avery Flynn never disappoints. I love all of her novels. We have a heart breaking first scene and the MC making her own self discoveries throughout the book. Astrid has a lot of character growth, especially for a woman rejected in the worst way. Cal is amazing in every way. I loved their story and couldn’t stop reading!

I was rooting for Astrid from the moment I met her on page. From the event that led her to tour the world (and people) on I knew I would like this character. We don't get to see much of the touring, but I am glad of the time jump because then we get to the funny, playful, serious banter when the tall, built guy in the pink sweater walks into the pub she's working at faster. This was a fast paced story with heart, characters of gold, some understated romantic gestures (my favorite kind), and oh so much steam. I loved getting to know Cal and Astrid and seeing them get to the point where they could finally admit to themselves that they were so much more to each other than they originally wanted to let themselves be. The texts between the two of them were also top notch. This was a fun (we'll call it reluctant) romance with a little hockey thrown in and really worked well. Can't wait to read more of Avery Flynn's books!

I absolutely loved this cute hockey romance. The characters had such great chemistry.
Astrid swore off all hockey players after her ex-fiance left her the day of their wedding. But when her dad asks to come back to help him and her ex to coach she accepts. When she arrives she meets the other coach aka a goalie aka her one night stand of the week before. And to make things even worse Cal lives in her building. So even if she wants to avoid him she can't.
I loved the fact she tried so hard not to fall for him as she said to never fall for someone in hockey again but eventually she can't deny the connection they have. Cal respects her decisions but intrigues her still. Their banter as so cute to read.
If you are in the mood for a steamy hockey romance this one is for you.

Flynn just became an auto uh for me with this!!! Goodness I love her writing style!

Astrid was fantastic! And her love interest was so so so good! Thanks Entangled for this steam, humor, and binge worthy masterpiece.

I absolutely loved this book. It was funny, had great banter and was spicy. The way Astrid and Cal turned everything into a competition which always turned steamy was fun. The little things Cal starting doing for Astrid and was heartwarming and it made it even better for the lengths she went sometimes to avoid him. I loved getting both of their perspectives and the text chains between them. The supporting characters of both Astrid and Cal were great as well. The way Astrid’s friend group got information from her and just their conversations made me laugh. I read it in one sitting I couldn’t get enough of this couple and the vibes this book gave me.

No hockey. No more. Not again.
Astrid's father is a pro hockey coach so she has been raised in a hockey rink. Hockey was life until a jerk goalie jilted her at the altar. Now, NO HOCKEY! Don't even think about talking about it. It's out of Astrid's life as much as she possibly can get it.
Along comes Cal and things begin to get complicated. Very complicated. He is hired by her dad to be the goalie whisperer to none other than the jilter.
A one nighter and a walk of shame later semi-regret sets in. But not enough to try out a second night and walk.
Personal relationship rules are out the window everywhere - especially for Astrid who has sworn off repeats and overnights and a ton of other rules she's set for herself and her heart.
Complications galore!

Fun and funny comedy of relationship errors of sorts.
Get out a Diet Coke and a Reeses, kick back, and enjoy the ride!

It’s always a good time to return to Harbor City. I’ve only missed one in these interconnected series but it’s now at the top of my TBR.

Cal and Astrid are basically the same person which made the story all that much funnier. These two cracked me up but they also had some really sweet moments. I loved the cameos from some favorite characters from other books.

I can’t wait to go back to read Anger Bang.

I freaking love this author and series. Avery Flynn knows how to balance humor and a great cast of characters that keep you turning page after page so you can get to the end of the incredible story. I loved Cal and Astrid, their chemistry was off the charts, couple that with their banter and steamy encounters, and you've got one heck of a book. Definitely we'll written, and definitely worth the read!

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.

Astrid, after being dumped by a hockey goalie, totally swore off the game. Like do not discuss it while she’s bartending. Don’t even utter a mumble about it.

Except when she has a one night stand with a man who happens to coach goalies. Which her dad wants him to return for one more year to help. But when one night stand ends up with the man living in her building, how is she supposed to avoid him?

This amusing and engaging novel had me laughing all over and enjoying the complete absurdity of a few scenes. Flynn’s writing is a joy and pleasure to read, and I love that her characters are simply… real. They’re down to earth and relatable. Her character building skills are masterclass as we watch Astrid and Cal build up their hot, sizzling relationship.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book and was a refreshing read for somebody who normally dabbles in the darker themes. A good rom-com is always a need to break yourself out of a rut and this did just that.


Thank you to Avery Flynn, Netgalley and Entangled Publishing for the eARC.