This is sweet feel good book with a HEA. MMC, Jaylen is sweet and lovable. The FMC, Lucy is fun and spunky. The side characters are also fun and add to the story. The challenges these characters were realistic and believable in how they were handled. I am not a fan of 3rd act breakups, I especially did not like it in this book since she basically ghosted him. Besides the breakup I enjoyed the book.

Shoot Your Shot was a such cute hockey romance. I adore how accurate it was at depicting hockey and life behind the scenes.

I also loved the main characters and their chemistry. Lucy and Jaylen are complete opposites but they’re so good together. I loved reading about them and getting to know them more as the story went on.

I was also so happy to see all of the representation in this book. There’s lgbt rep (bi FMC) and anxiety and depression rep. I feel like the mental health issues were handled really well.

Big thanks to Lexi LaFleur Brown, Canary Street Press, and NetGalley for the ARC of Shoot Your Shot! As a longtime fan of Lexi on TikTok, I was so excited to dive into her hockey romance debut—and it did not disappoint! 🏒✨

This is a hockey romance written by someone who really knows the game, and it shows. Lexi’s experience as a former player and wife to a retired pro brings so much authenticity to the hockey scenes. It’s perfect for diehard hockey fans, but even if you know nothing about the sport, you’ll still enjoy learning and immersing yourself in the world.

The story follows Jaylen “JJ” Jones, a former hockey star who thinks his career is over—until a last-minute opportunity with the Seattle Rainiers changes everything. After a one-night stand with Lucy Ross, a tough-as-nails aspiring tattoo artist 🎨, Jaylen becomes convinced she’s his lucky charm. Desperate to hold onto his second chance, he offers to trade favors: Lucy texts him good luck before games, and he gives her the stability she needs to pursue her dreams. But their sizzling chemistry 🔥 complicates things—and they both have walls that make love feel out of reach.

Jaylen is such a sweetheart of an MMC—he’s kind, loyal, and it’s so refreshing to see a Black man as the lead in a hockey romance 🖤. He’s also superstitious in the most endearing way, and it’s fun to watch him connect the dots between his luck on the ice and Lucy. Lucy, meanwhile, is messy, bold, and unapologetically herself. She’s navigating her own career struggles after a traumatic incident sidelined her artistic dreams, and her harsh exterior hides so much heart.

What really stood out to me was the mental health representation throughout the book. Both Jaylen and Lucy are shown going to therapy and taking antidepressants as part of their self-care. 💊 It was refreshing to see such honest and thoughtful portrayals of characters working through their struggles, and it added so much depth to their individual journeys.

Their opposites-attract dynamic is fun to watch, and the spicy scenes 🌶️ are well-written. That said, I didn’t feel as much romantic tension or longing between them as I hoped for, and their eventual romantic connection felt more like two friends coming together than a grand love story.

What truly shines is Lexi’s sharp humor 😂 and the vibrant cast of side characters. Lucy’s best friends, Cooper and Maya, are a highlight, bringing excellent LGBTQIA+ representation 🌈, and Lucy herself is bisexual, adding another layer of inclusivity to the story.

If you love hockey romances with real authenticity, sharp humor, heartfelt journeys, and excellent mental health representation, Shoot Your Shot is definitely worth the read. 🏒 It’s a fun, well-written debut that showcases Lexi’s incredible insight into hockey and the people who live and breathe it.

A delightfully little hockey romance that is sure to please! A fun quick read that absolutely did not feel like a debut so I'm excited for whatever Brown writes next!

3/75 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for a copy of the ARC!

I was so excited when I learned Lexi LaFleur Brown was writing a hockey romance; c'mon a former WAG?! I have read a lot of hockey romances in the last few months, and this was probably the most accurately depicted book of them all.

The pacing was a little slow in the beginning, but I loved Lucy's IDGAF attitude and the golden retriever energy Jaylen gave off. They are so different, yet they compliment each other so well. I also loved how vulnerable JJ was with his mental health struggles and accepting himself; especially in the sports world.

This was a really great debut novel and if you enjoy hockey romance, definitely put this on your TBR!

hoot Your Shot is an absolute delight for hockey romance fans! Jaylen and Lucy’s story is the perfect mix of sizzling chemistry, witty banter, and heartwarming moments. Jaylen’s superstitions and Lucy’s tough but vulnerable personality make for a dynamic and engaging pairing that’s impossible not to root for.

The hockey backdrop adds an exciting layer, while Lucy’s journey as an aspiring tattoo artist brings a fresh and creative twist to the story. Their unique “lucky charm” arrangement quickly turns into something deeper, exploring themes of trust, self-worth, and taking chances in love and life.

If you love sports romances with strong characters, a touch of humor, and a whole lot of heat, Shoot Your Shot is an absolute must-read. It’s a love story that will leave you cheering long after the final page!

Jaylen has hit a wall in his career with the NHL. He isn't playing well and is being let out of his contract with the Seattle Rainiers. On his last night in town, he has a fling with Lucy, an artist/aspiring tattoo artist. The next day, he's offered the opportunity to stay and continue playing in the NHL. Jaylen begins to see Lucy as his good luck charm and has to convince her to stick around and be more than a fling so she can continue to help him keep his spot in the NHL and recover his career.

This was a cute hockey rom-com. I liked how Jaylen had to fight for Lucy's affection a bit, that she wasn't a pushover. I enjoyed watching Lucy grow from being someone who was notorious for playing the field to someone willing to give a relationship a try. A few flaws- I thought it seemed unrealistic for Jaylen to be offered Assistant Captain after barely being on the team. Also near the end of the novel, the Rainiers are suddenly in the playoffs but it seemed abrupt with no explanation. Another cute read, however, for my fellow hockey rom-com readers.

*** I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ***

~ ARC Review ~

*Shoot Your Shot* by Lexie LaFleur Brown

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

Release date: March 11, 2025

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Genre: Adult Romance

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

*When Lucy, a young woman working desperately to earn a tattoo apprenticeship, runs into Jaylen Jones, NHL player, the attraction is immediate…but their friendship is not. But: when Jaylen begins to realize that good things happen for his formerly plummeting career after each time he sees Lucy, he proposes a deal: he'll do her a few favors if she agrees to be his good luck charm. As their relationship develops, so do both of their careers, pushing them both to consider what they truly want.

This hockey romance is a quick, funny read- I'm definitely grateful to have read an ARC! My only reason for a 3.75 is that I wish we'd seen a bit more of Lucy and Jaylen's relationship growing closer- but the author does a lovely job in discussing difficult topics, conveying the emotions of both MCs, and adding in *just* enough banter and comedic relief from Lucy's and Jaylen's friends to keep the majority of the book lighthearted. There's LGBTQ+ representation, witty dialogue, and an opposites-attract dynamic throughout this book- hockey romance fans, give this one a shot!

Read if you like:

~ hockey romance

~ books that delve into deeper topics

~ creative FMCs

~ opposites attract

Thanks to Netgalley and Canary Street Press for providing a review copy of this book!

*Check content warnings before reading.

3.5 Stars!

Thank you to Canary Street Press & NetGalley for this ARC!

This was a really cute debut novel! It is the latest addition to the hockey romance sub-genre, and I can never get enough hockey romances.

I enjoyed reading this book, but it did not wow me. I can't put my finger on why. JJ and Lucy are not your traditional hockey romance characters, and this was a big plus for me. JJ is a sweet golden retriever type hockey player. Lucy is a sassy, tattooed baddie who is pursuing a career as a tattoo artist. I liked the anxiety and depression representation as well as the queer representation in the main and side characters. I never see bi-FMCs, and it was nice to see.

You can tell that LaFleur Brown really knows her hockey, which is a welcome addition to the sports romance genre.

This read like a debut novel, but I look forward to seeing what Lexi LaFleur Brown writes next! I will definitely pick up her next novel.

Shoot Your Shot is an impressive debut hockey romcom. I typically don't find much humor in romcoms, but that was not the case here. Several times I found myself actually laughing out loud at various jokes, and it really elevated the story. Jaylen and Lucy have great chemistry and are fully fleshed out in ways you don't always find in the romance genre. It was also fun to read about hockey from someone who has lived that life. I look forward to reading Brown's future works. Thanks to Harlequin and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I ended up DNFing this book unfortunately. For me, the characters were a bit one-dimensional and the FMC specifically came across as very ‘not like other girls’ and cringey. I was intrigued by the night-and-day differences between the two main characters but I just wasn’t able to find a way to relate to either of them or be gripped enough to continue reading.

CUUUTTTEEE! I ran for this ARC after seeing it and the author all over social media, which was a great choice! I loved these characters from the meet cute, the MMC falling hard for her form the jump and their banter. This is a great read for sports romance readers, those who love a he falls first and hard trope and realistic characters with their own struggles- while seeing their relationship develop in a relatable way that is true to many of our experiences! This was a fun, swoony and easy read that hits all the markers for a contemporary romance.

I've been waiting for this since I heard it was announced!

Lucy is a main character like no other. She's trying to get a tattoo apprenticeship while working at a tattoo parlor. While at a bar with her friends, she runs into Jaylen, literally. After Jaylen leaves the next morning, he discovers through events that Lucy must be his Good Luck Charm.

This hockey romance stars a prickly trainee at a tattoo parlor desperate for an apprenticeship and a pro hockey player. Their complete opposites, but when the hockey player thinks this girl has made him lucky their lives become intertwined. Like many other readers, I found this book through the authors very popular Instagram. Lexi LaFleur Brown is a real life hockey wife and has ample knowledge of the sport and it definitely shows. This is her first book and at times you can tell, though as the story progressed the writing got tighter. I didn't expect to laugh as much as I did, but I should have considering Lexi is hilarious on her Instagram. I overall enjoyed the book and would recommend it to others, especially those who like a sports romance. (Thank You to Netgalley and Harlequin for the ARC)

Y’know they say you’ll always remember where you were when you receive big important news, and I can say, finding out Lexi LaFleur Brown got her own hockey romance published was one of those moments for sure!

As you could expect, this book has a level of realism in Hockey that only someone who has lived through it all and loves hockey can provide, which is to say most of the descriptions of all things hockey went way over my head. But it was honestly kind of fun seeing as how the main female character, Lucy is in the same boat. Jaylen’s character felt so real and I loved watching his mental health journey throughout it all. Honestly, the world could really do with more MMC's like Jaylen: equal parts absolute sucker for his girl and also fully fledged person with problems and struggles. Watching these two characters meet in the middle felt like watching two friends find one another. Their development into a couple felt both very realistic and yet exactly what I wanted from a romance.

There were times when the transitions between scenes were a little bit choppy or sudden, however that might have as much to do with it being an advanced copy as anything else. As her debut novel it’s everything a girl could hope for and I really look forward to her next story and watching her continue to grow as an author!

4/5 ⭐ This was a fantastic debut from Lexi LaFleur Brown! I am a big fan of hers on TikTok so I was thrilled to received this arc.

Jaylen and Lucy are such an unlikely couple but it's what makes them work! Another highlight is just how much representation is included in this book. I also love the prominence of the superstitions as I know first hand just how important they are in sports. This book is a perfect read for someone getting into hockey/sports romances but wants something light and quick.

As someone who loves the sport of hockey, I tend to get disappointed when reading hockey romances as many times there are glaring errors due to lack knowledge of the sport. However, with Lexi's first hand experience of being a WAG and still living in the NHL world, this story feels so much more accurate to real life. I hope to see more books in her future - whether it be connected to this book or a different team!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Lexi LaFleur Brown for the opportunity to read this eARC for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

I’m been a Lexi fan since the day she absolutely destroyed this horrid misogynist online. I already knew she was smart and funny so it was no surprise that her debut novel would follow suit. Jaylen is hot, sweet, and I’m obsessed with his persistence in pursuing Lucy. Lucy is everything, a bi-queen, a tattooed, secret softy with daddy issues so many of us can resonate with (unfortunate but true). The chemistry between these two😍 the hockey accuracies🥰 Heart eyes all over the place. Safe to say I hope you keep writing Lexi! Also as a former Seattle girly, this book had me missing the city deeply. #ShootYourShot

I have been a long time follower of Lexi's and because of that, I really wanted to love this book. unfortunately,I just didn't. First, it's written in first person, which isn't always bad, but in this case was kind of annoying. Second, the writing felt like she was trying too hard to be creative, and instead came out cliché. The idea was cute and think if this went through a few more beta reads or revisions it could be really good!

This was so good! I like the authors TikToks so I was hoping to enjoy her debut, and I’m happy to say I had a great time reading this book. My first impression was that it felt a little too wordy at first, but the writing quickly grew on me. I loved the depth characters and I found the voice to be fun and fresh. I’m looking forward to seeing what she writes next!

Thank you to the publisher, author & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book! I voluntarily read this book, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Shoot Your Shot by Lexi LaFleur Brown was so much fun! I laughed out loud throughout the book. It also had many sweet moments and touched on some heavy subjects. I enjoyed the FmC and MMC’s banter. I was really rooting for them as a couple and individually.
At times the story and/or backstory seemed rushed or lacking in detail. Overall, a fun read especially if you enjoy sport romance.