*4.5

This was so much fun, I would truly consider this a romcom. The two of them were so funny and stupid. She refused to fall in love with him and I loved it. It was cute the way he left her the diet cokes with a gift every day. The next book seems like it will be very interesting.

I received an arc from valentine pr.

First, I always have to thank ValentinePR and the author for gifting me an ARC of their book!🩷

Walk of Shame is a surprisingly funny, extra spicy and addictive romance between coworkers and unknowing neighbors, Astrid and Cal. I was eating this book up from the first page and could not put it down!! Right from the jump, things get going between Astrid and Cal, and I LOVE how Astrid goes for what she wants when she sees it🤣 I thought every interaction between these two was so well-written and had the perfect push-and-pull throughout the whole thing.

The spice in this book is OMG🥵 like I was out here constantly blushing at my kindle LOL. Every scene between Astrid and Cal showed how intertwined these two really were, even if they tried to convince themselves it was just temporary. I always appreciate a good friend group in books and both Astrid and Cal had that, I loved the support they had from each side. I will also say that the growth of these two characters was SO sweet to watch. Astrid being able to have closure with everything that went down and Cal realizing that his future can be whatever he wants was *chefs kiss*🤌🏻

This book is seriously obsessive, I finished it in basically a day and will be thinking about Astrid and Cal for a good while!! I definitely recommend this hot rom-com, neighbors-to-lovers, athlete romance to be your next read🫶🏻

Astrid's lived her life the way she wants since she was dumped at the altar by her first love. She's religiously stayed away from hockey since then, and has vowed no more hockey players, no more hockey, period. Considering the guy who dumped her was a hockey player, she's become allergic to it. So what does she do when she finds out her newest is now coaching her dad's hockey team? And is coaching her ex, the one who dumped her at the altar? Yikes!

A sports based rom-com with lots of delicious chemistry?! I'm there, definitely. Cal is a delight - a sweetheart who was just trying to hang onto what he had thought was his dream when he was bulldozed by a woman who lives life by her own rules. I really enjoyed this hockey romance, about the only thing I thought could have been better was the ending, it felt a bit rushed and incomplete. Aside from that, everything else is rom-com gold.

Honestly, I dnf this book after a few chapters, I had a hard time connecting with it and the characters. This one is just not for me.
Thank you to the author and publisher for this arc.

I really wanted to like this book however I didn’t vibe with this, I can see what people are loving about this book, but unfortunately it just wasn’t for me .

First of all, thank you NetGalley and Entangled Published for early access to this book!!

The cover over this book is fun!! I loved it. The book however was okay. It wasn’t bad by any means but it wasn’t anything amazing for me.

I love the sports theme in it and it was super fast paced. The spicy scenes were great and steamy and not over the top! I also liked the “chase”

What I didn’t love, her dad, even putting her back in a situation, how rushed the ending was, the epilogue (like where did that even come from) and totally not necessary!

I flew through the book though.

This is the Hockey romance I was looking for. The story is the perfect mixture of steamy romance, laugh out loud comedy,sweet moments and of course hockey. Astrid and Cal start off as a one night stand, turned to many nights, turns to forever. I loved that both characters had their own personal trauma to work through. Which we definitely see throughout the story and we eventually see that character growth they both have by the end of the book. Over all the book was super cute and funny and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good hockey romcom that is well balanced.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶🌶🌶/5


I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing and am offering my review freely.

Avery Flynn's Walk of Shametakes readers on a rollercoaster of emotions, blending humor, steamy romance, and a touch of vulnerability. The story follows Astrid O'Malley, a woman scarred by past heartbreak, and Cal, a hockey coach with a heart of gold. Despite their initial agreement of a one-night stand, their chemistry ignites a journey of self-discovery and unexpected love.

Flynn's writing style is addictive, pulling readers into a world where laughter and passion collide. The characters, although flawed, are relatable and endearing, making their journey from a casual encounter to something deeper both entertaining and heartwarming. The witty banter and sizzling attraction between Astrid and Cal create a magnetic pull that keeps the pages turning.

Overall, Walk of Shame is a fast-paced, humorous, and emotionally engaging read that captures the essence of a feel-good romance. Flynn's ability to balance humor with heartfelt moments makes this book a delightful escape into the world of hockey, love, and self-discovery. For fans of steamy romances with a dash of humor, this book is a must-read.

Normally for books, you’ll hear reviewers say “run, don’t walk for this one!”

Well, you can walk for Walk of Shame.

After adoring Anger Bang, and being utterly captivated by the sneak peek at the end of Anger Bang, I was super excited to read the follow up in Walk Of Shame. Unfortunately, what made Anger Bang sparkle was missing in the sequel.

With a premise of downsides to dating, I was hoping for strong character development where they grow and change for the better. All Astrid and Cal did was have sex (and don’t get me wrong, the sex scenes were 10/10), but I couldn’t really buy any chemistry between them outside of the bedroom. They didn’t have much development in their relationship, just a lot of sex and *boom* love? They also didn’t really develop as people; their circumstances changed but not their flaws or their reactions to them.

If you prefer smut to plot, you’ll love this one. Long time fans of Avery Flynn will also appreciate the references to past characters. But if you’re a newer fan, this won’t be the *one* for you. It’s not awful, but you don’t need to sprint to pick this one up.

Walk of Shame by Avery Flynn is a sweet and spice hockey and work place romance.

3.5 rounded up

Astrid and Cal's POV's were well written and it was fun to read how their stories unraveled. If you're in the mood for a sweet story with a good amount of open-door spice, funny moments, and a low-medium stakes for conflict, then is the book for you! Lots of hockey references, close knit girl gang, suspicious neighbor.

I haven't read the first book in this series, but it seems like this is an interconnected standalone, and I didn't feel like I missed out on anything without having read the first one.

Thank you for the e-arc and this has been my honest review.

Avery Flynn takes readers on the furthest thing from a "Walk of Shame" with the second in her Downside of Dating series.

I went into this read with a head full of pre-concieved opinions after doing exactly what we've all been lectured about as we grow up - I pre-judged a book by its cover/title. I was ready to instantly dislike everything about this book - from what I assumed was a FMC unlike anyone I could ever relate to, to the actions and justifications for those actions I was absolutely positive I would find within the pages. I couldn't have been happier then to find myself smiling and cheering Astrid on during her journey.

Where I expected to find a flightly, promiscuous airhead, I found a smart, loving woman who was fiercely guarding her heart the only ways she knew how. Before I get jumped on for it, I'm in no way shaming her for her choices ... Astrid is a woman wholly in charge of her body, her life and her future and I allowed prejudices I didn't even realize were still deep in my psyche to try to make me look at her not as a woman in charge of her own life, but as a broken doll/plaything ... (it's at this point, I see the correlation to the cover and I'm not sure if it was intentional, but kudos nonetheless).

Aside from the fact that it's incredibly fun to read contemporary romances that center around athletes, the fact that this is a romance set in the world of hockey has no bearing on the story - it could be a woman shunning the film industry because an actor broke her heart or the art museums because an artist or curator pulled the carpet from under her feet or any other sport or profession. What matters is that she is and was taking time away from a world that caused her pain in order to heal the only way she knew how - by distancing herself from the thing that caused that pain. Astrid being drawn back into the world she is so desperate to avoid and finding that being there is the keystone in her healing and rebuilding journey resonated so deeply with me - sometimes we have to face our pain to heal our pain.

Through Astrid's story, Flynn weaves a tale of heartbreak, finding oneself, truly knowing WHO you are in a world where people want you to be someone they choose, and even a bit of redemption for some lost souls.

I haven't read anything else by Avery Flynn before this, but I'm definitely planning to now. It takes a skilled hand to not only write romance, but to sell it to the reader as completely believeable.

I was so excited to read this! I absolutely loved Anger Bang, the first book in the series, and couldn’t wait for this one. And I was not disappointed! This was so much fun! I had to laugh every time Cal and Astrid’s competitiveness kicked in. The way they went at each other, in more ways than one 😉, was entertaining & fun. Their chemistry was sizzling. And his sweetness was off the chart. Loved loved loved this!! I cannot wait for the next one!

I was so excited to read this book. Avery Flynn is a favorite author of mine. I love hockey romance and this does not disappointed. This book was easy to read and I found myself chuckling throughout. Astrid and Cal are great and characters you will find yourself rooting for. This book also has great chemistry and lots of steam.

I always appreciate a book that is an easy read and makes me laugh and swoon all the way through. Plus bonus it is a great love story 🩷

What to Expect:
🏒Hockey Romance
🩷He Falls First
🏒Chemistry & Banter
🩷Lots of Spice

Thank you to @valentine_pr_ and Net Galley for this ARC. This is my honest and unbiased review. I highly recommend this book!

What a fun story. Walk of Shame is book 2 in the Downside of Dating series and I loved it. It was both hilarious and swoony and had me hooked from beginning to end.
After being left at the alter by her hockey goalie fiance, Astrid has sworn off relationships and hockey.
After a career ending injury, Cal would give anything to be involved in hockey again, even if it's coaching job.
When the hockey hater and the hokey lover came together, sparks flew. I loved Astrid and Cal. Their banter was witty and had me fully amused.
From the moment they met, these two were attracted to each other but after their steamy night together, Astrid had no intention of seeing him again.
However fate had other plans, These two both had walls up and rules in place and I loved seeing it all slowly crumble as they couldn't keep away from each other. Their steamy scenes were high and rather explosive and Cal really pulled out all the stops to find his way into her heart. His unusual way of courting her really did make me swoon and I loved seeing the change in both their mindset their character growth.
This was a fantastic tale and an excellent addition to the series. I loved it and would highly recommend it to lovers of workplace/sports romance.

I really enjoyed this story! The characters were lovable and I felt connected to them. Cal and Astrid have amazing chemistry, there's great spice, and their back and forth keeps the pages turning. A secret relationship? Yes! She's the coach's daughter and that coach? Oh, he's Cal's boss. The other characters were absolutely fantastic and I want to read about them all! I will absolutely be digging in to other books by this author.

I thoroughly enjoyed this steamy hilarious hockey rom-com. Avery Flynn has done it again, with the way she strings words together to bring wonderful characters to life and the situations they get themselves into!!!! I fell completely in love with both Astrid and Cal and every time they said this was the last time.

Cute and sexy sports romance. I like Astrid and Carl’s relationship and their inability to keep their pants on. There wasn’t quite enough tension in the story for me, and the angst didn’t quite translate. Nevertheless, it was a quick and easy read and generally enjoyable.

3.5/5 stars

After finishing "Anger Bang" I was so excited for this one and it did not disappoint. I loved it and read it in two days. The story is funny and steamy and most importantly, it keeps you entertained. The main male character has such a dirty mouth that it made me blush and giggle. The main female character is so well written, at some moments I kind of related to her. This is the type of book that gets you out of a reading slump. It's so easy read.  But I can't wait for the next one. This one can be read as a standalone.

There is a very good reason Avery Flynn is one of my favorite authors! She gets better and better the more she writes! Every rom com she writes has enough steam to make you blush, but enough desire to keep you reading and not put it down!

Astrid has sworn off dating, relationships, men and anything to do with hockey, after being left at the altar by her goalie fiancé. That is until her dad requests she come back to work with him in the hockey world. She's never been one that likes to be the center of attention, she'd rather take care of others, she realizes how much she's missed working with her dad, so she agrees. This comes with complications; her first assignment is to work with her ex to help solve the problems he's having in net. There's a catch to that too, she has to work with the new goalie whisperer, Cal. He's trying to do anything he can to get back into hockey after an injury left him unable to play again. Why is working with Cal a problem?? They had a chance hookup, didn't know who the other was and thought they'd never met again. They are insanely attracted to each other and trying to keep it a secret!! So many laughs as we watch this all play out and hopefully, work out for everyone involved! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving my review.