“Puck & Prejudice” is a delightful surprise that blends Regency England with a touch of magical realism and just enough hockey to keep things interesting. I’ll admit, I was a little skeptical about the plot at first—a modern-day hockey goalie gets transported back to 1812? But honestly, I ended up loving it! This book was so much fun and way more than just a hockey romance. It’s really about Tucker navigating the social norms of Regency England while falling for Lizzy Wooddash, a woman who just wants to be left alone with her books.

The story is full of laugh-out-loud moments, like Tucker’s bafflement over 19th-century toothbrushes—something I never thought I’d find hilarious, but here we are! The writing is delightfully campy, and the author does a great job of balancing the absurdity of the situation with genuine, heartfelt moments between Tucker and Lizzy. Their chemistry is undeniable, and the way their relationship develops despite the centuries between them is both sweet and believable.

Of course, you have to suspend some disbelief with the whole time travel aspect, but that’s part of what makes “Puck & Prejudice” so charming. It’s an insane premise, but in the best possible way. If you’re in the mood for something fun, whimsical, and just a little bit crazy, this book is definitely worth a read.

3.5 *’s
Chosen for the premise, finished for the story- it was sweet, sexy, and felt true to the science. A little twee at times but don’t let that stop you.

3 stars

Historical romances are known for their epic, swoonworthy love stories while contemporary romances have a reputation for delicious smut. Lia Riley attempts to capitalize on both aspects in Puck and Prejudice, a time travel romance featuring a modern-day hockey player and one of Jane Austen's best friends,

If you are looking for something unserious and fun, I would not hesitate to recommend this! It's chock-full of beloved tropes from both historical and contemporary romances that will definitely tickle many a reader. Did I personally think that the trope mashups always succeeded? No. Were there definitely some moments that completely took me out? Absolutely! (I understand that an adult man may not know much about Jane Austen, but not even know that Pride and Prejudice is a book? Heinous!) That being said, I still had a good time and this book definitely broke me out of my start of the school year slump.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

I was REALLY looking forward to this book and was so excited to get an early copy. But unfortunately for me, this was not my jam.

First, and this might be overly picky. But the MMC is a hockey goalie. The guy on the cover of the book is not wearing REMOTELY the correct gear to be a hockey goalie. And that just felt un-researched and/or lazy.

The plot and characters felt underdeveloped. I wanted more. Certain things that weren't that important felt drawn out, while more important plot points or details about the characters felt rushed over. It just felt like it wasn't a fully fleshed out book. I wanted more details and more things expanded on. It felt like half a story.

The spicy was weirdly descriptive in some aspects, and then would fade to black. It felt jumbled and like I was missing paragraphs.

The ending was anticlimactic. The idea of it was cool, but we got no real details or got to see glimpses of it happening. I was left wanting.

I hate being harsh. But this just wasn't it for me. Maybe I went in with too high of expectations.

*Puck and Prejudice* by Lia Riley is a delightful and imaginative mashup of modern sports romance and classic Regency charm. The story kicks off when Tucker Taylor, a goalie for the Austin Regals, finds himself inexplicably transported back to 1812 after an unfortunate fall into an icy pond. There, he meets the spirited and independent Lizzy Wooddash, who dreams of a life free from the constraints of marriage and full of literary adventures.

Tucker’s sudden appearance is as bewildering to Lizzy as it is to him, but his arrival presents a unique opportunity. Lizzy, who longs for the freedom of widowhood without the inconvenience of an actual marriage, hatches a plan: marry the mysterious visitor from the future, help him return to his own time, and voila—widowhood achieved! But as Lizzy and Tucker navigate their unusual circumstances, sparks fly, and they begin to realize that love and life rarely go according to plan.

Lia Riley has crafted a story that’s both funny and heartfelt, with plenty of witty banter and chemistry between the leads. Lizzy’s determination to avoid the shackles of marriage is endearing, and her interactions with Tucker, a thoroughly modern man in a very different time, are both amusing and touching. The cultural clash between a 21st-century hockey player and a Regency-era bookworm adds a fun twist to the classic romance trope.

The time travel element is handled with a light touch, allowing the focus to remain on the developing relationship between Lizzy and Tucker. The story moves at a brisk pace, with plenty of romantic tension and humorous moments to keep readers engaged. The secondary characters, including Lizzy’s cousin Georgie, add depth and charm to the story, making the Regency world feel lively and full.

*Puck and Prejudice* is a perfect read for fans of time travel romances, Regency settings, and anyone who enjoys a love story with a twist. It’s a playful, feel-good novel that combines the best of both worlds—modern and historical—into a sweet and satisfying romance.

#PuckandPrejudice #NetGalley

This was so cute. I’m a big fan of historical romances and I am an avid hockey fan/hockey romance reader so this was a fun pairing for me. I went into this with knowing it was going to be sweet and kind of silly but it delivered with banter and easy to follow plot. It’s less sports romance and more modern man with a niche job lands in the 1800s and has no idea how his big body is going to fit in the clothes. We love a marriage of convenience trope!
.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy of the book. I loved it. I'm a sucker for anything that has to do with Pride and Prejudice, and this book was no exception. I found the concept super silly but fun. It was wasn't a heavy read and I felt that there was a clear narrative arc and the characters were fun. I really liked that Jane Austen was a character and was a part of the plot. The reason this wasn't a five star read for me was the ending felt a little lackluster compared to the rest of the book. Overall it was great and I would love to read another book by this author.

Absolutely loved this one! The premise was a bit hit or miss for me, but the execution was great. This was a super fun, spicy romance, and I'm hoping for more in this series!

This one's for the old souls at heart!
Tucker, our pro hockey player, gets into a car crash that transports him into the year 1812 coming face to face with Lizzy, who is doing everything possible to avoid societal norms. Together they make an agreement; get Tucker back home safe to present time, and to have Lizzy reach her goals of independence. Fake marriage, special appearances from Jane Austen herself, and women empowerment all wrapped into one!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
The premise of this book was so fun! I was literally reading all of Lizzy's words in my head with a British accent ‹ I mean who doesn't want to witness a hockey player being dropped into the 1800 completely clueless? The ending was wrapped up perfectly and the story was pretty well paced! I feel pretty neutral towards the book. I personally didn't feel too big of a connection with myself and the characters, and felt that the FMC & MMC had a heavily lustful relationship. Overall I do recommend if your looking for a fun, light hearted romance, but also has that Bridgerton feel!

I was so excited by the premise of this book - a romance featuring a hockey player set in the regency period. While overall I really enjoyed the book, it felt flat at some points to me.

Tuck Taylor is an NHL goalie who wakes up from an accident in 1812 and meets Lizzy Wooddash, an aspiring writer who longs for her freedom. While I did see sparks fly between them instantly, I didn’t like how the time travel happens so quickly and they both believed it right away.

Told from both POV, we see how they both use each other to meet their goals and ultimately fall in love with each other. I think the concept was very cool, but it story dragged a bit too much for me. In the end, the decision Lizzy made would have made for a much more fascinating story in my opinion.

Tuck Taylor is one of my favorite MMC in the way he took to understand Lizzy and communicate what both their needs. I did like Lizzy as a FMC too as she was firm what, and who, she wanted.

It is a interesting take on two of my favorite romance genres and would recommend it as an easy read!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Avon and Harper Collins for sending me an advanced copy of this book for review. These are my honest thoughts!!


Puck and Prejudice is hilariously campy. It’s absolutely a satirical read, but with enough real heart and emotions that it felt genuine. I was LIVING for the little Jane Austen jokes and references. (Are they references if she’s literally in the story??) I was truly cackling as most of this book.

If you’re looking for a super quick, fun, sweet read this book is for you. While I definitely think the lore of this book needed some strengthening, I also think that it’s not the point. Yes, it doesn’t really make sense in terms of lore and world building, but I don’t think it needs to.

Lizzy is truly the star of this show. I loved Tucker too, but Lizzy really shines. She had ambitions and goals, and she worked for them. She did what she needed to secure her future. She and her friends were great, and I wish we had more interactions between them!

Overall, this book is a wild time, and I want more unserious campy romance books PLZ AND THANK YOU!!

Puck in Prejudice by Lia Riley was such a fun read. Tuck is professional hockey player in America. He has just finished dealing with some health issues. He goes to visit his sister while he is unable to play hockey. He gets into a car accident and ends up in 1812 Regency Era England. He meets Lizzy after being hit in the head with an apple. She is taken aback by his appearance/clothing but is quick to help him. They decide to enter into an agreement in which Lizzy will help Tuck return to the future and Tuck will make Lizzy a widow so she can live her life as she has always dreamed. I did not expect the ending to the book. This book as a whole was not predicable for me and it was refreshing to read.

This was such a nice palate cleanser. I did not expect the story to go in the direction it went but I was surprised in a good way.

We have our hockey player MMC Tucker Taylor, who due to some unfortunate circumstances ends up in 1812 England in his jeans, hockey jersey, his cellphone, and a very confused mind. Lizzy, our feisty FMC is done with her family and the society and is frustrated beyond words. She throws a half eaten apple in the bushes and out comes a male voice in pain along with a very “handsome” yet inappropriately dressed man.

Tucker needs Lizzy’s help to return back to his time and Lizzy needs to become a widow in order to gain freedom and focus on her writing career. Here comes our quick marriage of convenience where Tucker throws in a lot of “my wife” sentences and Lizzy tries to convince everyone that has she met her very American husband during her vacation at her cousin’s estate and fell so deeply in love that she HAD to elope.

The story contains equal elements of humour, plot, and romance. But what really is worth mentioning is the emphasis on Lizzy’s desire for her independence. Tucker is such a golden retriever cinnamon roll, that he is not only LIVID to find that his wife is treated poorly by her family due to her gender BUT he also apologises to Lizzy that he has not made any efforts to understand female struggles in modern times.

NOT ONLY DOES THIS MAN SEE DOUBLE STANDARDS IN 1812 BUT HE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES THAT NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED IN 2024 AND HOW HE FAILED TO MAKE ANY SIGNIFICANT EFFORT TO MAKE AMENDS!!!!

I also really appreciate how Lizzy was the type of FMC that always wanted more! She is not your average girl who will throw away every dream of hers in the name of love. She knows she wants her love and her independence and she will fight for both. Tucker on the other hand is a total Ken in the best way possible. It’s like Lizzy has an eventful day everyday but Tucker only has a good day if Lizzy is having a good day. He lets her take the lead, encourages her to voice her opinions, and when she needs a break he provides it in so many different ways. Forget knight in shining armour, it’s more of a “my woman can handle herself but I am here if she ever needs to lean on me for support.”

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. There were moments that were slow but the plot itself was fast paced. The other downside for me was the insta-love/attraction. I really wanted more tension and slow burn. More subtle touches, more stealing glances. It was an easy love for both which was intensified due to forced proximity and marriage of convenience.

The ending was satisfying and it did justice to both the characters in the best way possible. I would have appreciated more background and character development for our MCs, but I still really enjoyed seeing how their story ended.

Review posted on Goodreads on August 19,2024.

ARC provided by NetGalley. My opinions are based solely on my reading experience.

Yay! A time-travel romance by @liarileyauthor! Picture Bridgerton; the balls, the engagements, the decorum and high society,.... and then put a NHL professional hockey player directly in the middle of it all. That is this book in a nutshell.

Tucker Taylor is a lymphoma cancer survivor making a comeback in hockey, he time travels to the `800's and runs directly into the female lead, Lizzy. She is a "spinster" at 27, dreams of being a widow so she can have "Freedom." They hatch a plan to marry and work on finding out how to get Tucker home, at which point she can pretend he drowned.

And then the sparks fly! I enjoyed this sweet, easy to read romance. If you enjoy "fish out of water" stories, "friends to lovers" and "pseudo-marriage/engagement" tropes, 19th century high society England, add this one to your "to-read" pile. I liked the chemistry between Lizzy and Taylor and how they tried to understand each other's worlds.
"Do people not walk in your time?" "People still walk, but for exercise." "I don't know what that means."

Funny enough, a book "Pride and Prejudice and Pittsburgh" is ALSO a time travel romance that is inspired by the Jane Austen book, a sapphic-YA romance.

Thanks to @netgalley and @avonbooks for the ARC. Book to be published Nov 12, 2024.

Puck and Prejudice was surprisingly fun. It is about a hockey player that is transported back to 1812 and meets a friend of Jane Austen (the FMC is also a writer). The story glosses over a lot of sci-fi time traveling logistics, which is probably for the best. There is a fake marriage and one bed trope. Tuck is an amazing feminist and Lizzy is an ode to Elizabeth Bennett, I think she does her justice. The book is not destined to be a literary masterpiece, but it has two sassy characters that you are glad are falling in love. I read an ARC.

First and foremost, thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, a romance book about a hockey goalie who travels in time to the regency era? SIGN ME UP! I absolutely devoured this book. The pace was amazing, the characters engaging and the romance, oh my, swoon! Tuck and Lizzy’s chemistry was off the charts, and their relationship progressed in a manner that was not rushed, it really felt natural and it was wholesome to see them growing to like each other and being more vulnerable with one another. As a huge Jane Austen fan, this book felt like a love letter to the author, and I adored it! There are many nods to her work, such as phrases and book plots, and it was really sweet. The only thing that felt a little bit off for me was the ending, though. Overall, a great read!

England - Present Day and 1812

Professional hockey player Tucker Taylor has had a rough year. Diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in the spring, he's been sidelined from playing while undergoing successful treatment. But he still needs time to recover, so Tucker has flown to England where his sister is studying British literature at the University of Bath. As he, his sister, and her friend hang out at a local pub, he must listen to the two women discuss someone named Jane Austen and how she compares to other female authors of her era. Finally tired of the talk, he tells his sister that he's going to drive back to the B & B. But on the way, on icy roads, he swerves to avoid a dog and child and ends up in a pond.

In 1812 -
Lizzie Bennet has retreated to her cousin Georgie's country estate, trying to avoid her mother, brother, and stepfather from forcing her into a marriage she is not at all interested in. All Lizzie would like to do is write. She wished that, like Georgie, she was a widow and had control of her own life. But unless she can find a husband on the verge of departing this life, Lizzie feels she is doomed to be forced into a loveless marriage where a man controls her life forever.

While walking near her cousin's estate, Lizzie mulls over her dubious future, and, frustrated, tosses her apple core into the bushes near a pond. She hears a strange sound and goes to investigate, finding a rather large, soaking wet man wearing odd clothing. He is angry about being hit by the fruit, and when he catches sight of Lizzie, he asks her why she is wearing such a dress?

Tucker soon comes to the realization after talking to the young lady, that he has somehow been transported to 1812 England! At Lizzie's insistence, they manage to get to her cousin's estate where the whole story gets even more crazy. One of the guests who happens to be there is none other than Jane Austen! The three women begin to plan how to a) get Tucker back to the future, and b) while doing so he should marry Lizzie so that when he does return, she will be a widow! Simple! What could possibly go wrong?

PUCK AND PREJUDICE is a truly delightful time travel story filled with fun as well as poignant events. Georgie and Jane convince the couple that their plan will work, and that both will benefit. Tucker isn't so sure, but what has he got to lose? He "temporarily" marries a beautiful young woman, and then, hopefully, will get back to the twenty-first century and play hockey. What neither will plan on is that they could come to care for one another.

Will Tucker return home, or...? Be prepared for anything in this sweet story.

This was a really cute premise!! Combining my two current fixations - historical fiction (hellllllooo Bridgerton) and hockey romance

Puck and Prejudice tells the story of a pro-hockey player, Tucker Taylor, who falls into a lake and ends up in Regency England. He immediately meets Lizzy Wooddash, and they decide to do a marriage of convenience sort of thing so that she can become a “widow” once he returns to his timeline, and she can have more freedom in a society that is very restrictive to unmarried women.

I think from the premise I thought this story would have been a bit sillier, but it took was a kind of insane premise and tried to play it straight and that didn't work for me at all. My first red flag was when Tucker falls into Regency England and sees Lizzy, they both immediately accept that 1) he’s a time traveler and 2) time travel exists?? Which is a wild thing for anyone to believe so casually but especially for a sheltered woman from Regency England. Like she barely takes a moment to freak out before she calmly goes to steal the man some clothes so he doesn’t stick out.

I’m willing to forgive some more nitpicky things (Lizzy switching between using corset and stays to refer to her undergarments, when corsets weren’t even worn in that era, other historical inaccuracies) because this a fantasy/time travel story, but there were so many things in this book that had me scratching my head. Tucker seemed way too comfortable for someone who was not only in an unfamiliar time but also country?? And don’t even get me started on the Jane Austen thing.

Ultimately, I think this book was just not for me. If you are willing to suspend your disbelief a bit more you might enjoy this.

"Puck and Prejudice" is an absolute joyride that captures the best of both worlds— the hilarity of time travel and the timeless romance that Jane Austen fans crave. Lia Riley’s wit and clever writing had me chuckling throughout, especially with Tucker's bewildered reactions to Regency customs. The concept of a hockey player navigating the rigid societal norms of the early 19th century was both outrageous and refreshing.

Lizzy is an endearing and relatable character, fiercely independent yet open to the madness of her situation. Together, she and Tucker create an engaging dynamic filled with witty banter and genuine chemistry that draws you into their whirlwind romance. I loved how their relationship developed from an initially practical arrangement into something deeper and more meaningful as they confronted their own vulnerabilities.

The author’s playful twists on classic tropes added an exciting layer to the narrative, making it feel both familiar and novel. "Puck and Prejudice" combines humor, heart, and a sprinkling of literary nods that will enchant fans of romantic comedies and historical fiction alike.

I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a lighthearted escape and a playful take on unexpected love. Lia Riley has masterfully crafted a story that reminds us that while we may try to define our futures carefully, the heart often has a mind of its own. I can't wait to see what other creative escapades she has in store!