When I heard that Dr. Lexi LaFleur Brown was writing a Hockey Romance novel I remember saying "this isn't just going to be a hockey romance, it's going to be THE Hockey Romance!"

I'm so happy to say that I was completely correct, but it is also so much more.

This book has incredibly well developed characters that break the mold for typical hockey romance personalities. Lucy's black cat energy mixed so well with Jaylen's sweet golden retriever energy. The two were a perfect definition of opposites attract and their chemistry and tension felt real and not forced. The issues each character faced outside of their relationship felt very true to life and helped me live in the moment even more so than normal. The mental health representation was done with so much thought and intention that I really appreciated.

As a long time lover of real life hockey, I was most excited to see how the wife of a former NHL player approached the topic, and it's safe to say that this is EASILY the most accurate hockey depicted in a sports romance book that I have ever read. Nothing takes me out of reading a book faster than when something incredibly unrealistic to a hockey season/game/practice/mindset. That never happened in this book and I am so eternally grateful because that meant I got to sit within the world more completely.

All that being said, you definitely don't need to be a "fan" of hockey to enjoy this book! The main character Lucy doesn't know anything about hockey at the start of the book so you can feel comfortable jumping in regardless of your knowledge level with the sport.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for a copy of the ARC! I greatly enjoyed it!

Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy of Shoot Your Shot

Overall: 3.5/5 out of 5 stars rounded to 4

Very sweet debut novel from the author. Any hockey romance lover would enjoy this. It has great diversity and sweet characters. Would read another by Lexi.

Lucy is on a quest for her dream tattoo apprenticeship and has decided to take a break from dating. Jaylen is hyper focused on trying to get his hockey career back on track and has no space for a relationship. After what was supposed to be a one night stand, their paths keep crossing and Jaylen starts to believe Lucy is his good luck charm and essential to his path to success. Can what starts out as simple favors to help each other out turn into something more?

I was worried this book would be just like every other hockey romance, but the author did well at making this book stand out. She wrote a diverse cast of characters with different backgrounds and struggles than are often seen in sports romances. It’s got plenty of spice, but the spice doesn’t overpower the plot. She made an increasingly saturated trope feel new again.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Being a longtime fan of hockey, I have been following Lexi for years. So to say that I was beyond excited to read this book is a massive understatement!

After years of failed relationships, Lucy has decided to give up on love and focus on her career. Meanwhile, NHL “draft bust” Jaylen is trying to find a way to stay in the sport he loves. When a one night stand with Lucy results in his signing a new contract with an NHL team the next day, Jaylen decides Lucy is the difference-maker and convinces her to be his good luck charm. However, Lucy feels like her luck is running out. She’s stuck at a job where she’s taken advantage of with no prospects of something better on the horizon.

As the two start spending more and more time together, they find an unlikely connection and learn to open up their hearts and find a future that they never could have imagined for themselves.

This book is advertised as a rom-com, and it DELIVERS on the com! I can’t remember the last time I laughed so much while reading a book! While Lucy and Jaylen were enjoyable characters, I think I might have enjoyed the supporting characters and the humor they brought to the page even more. Despite the use of humor to lighten things up in the book, there are also some deeply emotional and vulnerable moments that I believe were treated with delicate care.

Knowing who the author is and what she is known to represent, I shouldn’t be surprised that Shoot Your Shot was full of non-toxic masculinity, discussions of mental health, and praise for the LGBTQIA+ community. And although hockey isn’t know for being overly friendly or supportive of the queer community, this book made me believe that it could be one day.

Overall, a very enjoyable read that will make you laugh, cry, and cheer for the main characters to fall in love.

Tropes & Stuff:
Black Cat x Golden Retriever
He Falls First (and Harder)
One Night Stand
LGBTQIA+ Rep
Mental Health Rep
Professional Sports

3.5/5

This was pretty good for a debut novel, but I definitely think there is some room for improvement. The story flowed nicely, but I wished in some parts there was more description and showing not telling. The spicy scenes definitely left something to be desired for me.

I really enjoyed the character development and their struggles felt very relatable. Both Jaylen and Lucy felt like real people I could meet in the real world. I liked their opposites attract vibes.

Overall I enjoyed this one, but I wasn't blown away. I would definitely still read more from Lexi, I think she has the potential to really blow us away in the future.

Thank you Net Galley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion!

When their meet-ugly (they literally swap their most humiliating, ugliest truths about themselves over drinks) ends in a one-night stand, Lucy (an aspiring tattoo artist) and Jaylen (a professional hockey player) have no reason to believe their paths will cross again. But then Lucy ends up working on a mural for the Seattle Rainiers, the professional hockey team that's just signed Jaylen for a single-year contract. Lucy's not interested in a relationship or even friendship with Jaylen--she just wants to get this mural assignment out of the way so she can impress her boss and score a long-awaited tattoo apprenticeship. But Jaylen is convinced Lucy is his good luck charm, the reason he's been able to overcome a years-long on-ice slump and reignite his once-promising hockey career. Their one-night stand soon becomes something that means more to both of them.

I read a lot of contemporary romance, sports-related and otherwise, and this is by far one of the best I've read this year. LaFleur Brown's wit shines in this format, and her hockey and pop culture knowledge comes off as authentic rather than forced. There were moments that had me laughing out loud (my favorite: when Lucy compares Jaylen's green suit to something the Riddler would wear), but those moments were tempered by scenes that made me cry actual tears. Jaylen's struggles with anxiety and depression are sensitively depicted, while Lucy's anger at her long-absent father also rings true. It's only after they begin to confront the things holding them back that they're able to find the professional successes that have eluded them, as well as commit to one another.

A note on the hockey: many sports romances either gloss over the actual gameplay or get too deep in the weeds for casual or non-fans to follow. LaFleur Brown is a clear fan of the game and her insider knowledge is well-utilized, providing a nice balance for hockey fans and non-fans alike.

Another thing that sets Shoot Your Shot apart from many books in the hockey romance category is its representation. Though in a straight-presenting relationship with Jaylen, Lucy's identity as a bisexual woman is not glossed over. (Nor is the fact that Jaylen is Black.) In my experience, it's unusual to read a hockey romance with a male/female pairing in which one of the characters is demonstrably queer, and that queerness plays a prominent role in the narrative.

Shoot Your Shot is a delightful read, perfect for fans of Chloe Liese, Talia Hibbert, and Meryl Wilsner. I can't wait to see what LaFleur Brown writes next.

3.5 rounded up!!

i was very intrigued by this book as soon as i found out Lexi was writing it, i figured that you couldnt go wrong with a literal nhl wag and ex hockey player herself. i knew she had a lot of controversial opinions to some about booktok and hockey romances so i was excited to be able to get my hands on this early!!

i think that lexi did a phenomenal job with writing any of the hockey aspects (not that i had any doubt it wouldnt be anything but as accurate as possible), the mental health representation was handled with utmost care and the lgbtqia+ representation was SO good!!! i absolutely adored jaylens excitement during one of the scenes, he was so cute 😂

the literal only reason i am giving this a 3.5 is because i would have loved more out of quite a few different aspects of the book, for example - more details, more background, just a bit more depth in general for certain things. this was a really good debut & i honestly cant wait to see what lexi does next

I was ECSTATIC that NetGalley gave me the opportunity to read this ARC! 🥹🥳 thank you for the opportunity!

I love Dr. Lexi and all of her content, so I’ve been very excited since she announced this book! She did not disappoint!

Lucy is a total black cat, badass FMC while Jaylen is a total cinnamon roll, golden retriever MMC. I love how they are such contrasts but make so much sense as a couple. They compliment each other in the best way, and push each other to be the best version of themselves and are happy to be a part of each other’s journey.

I gave this read 4 stars, because at times the dialogue fell a little short or felt slightly incomplete, but otherwise this was such a fast, fun read and can’t wait to read her next one! 🤩

This romance novel beautifully captures the unpredictable journey of love, drawing readers into a heartwarming and authentic relationship that blossoms over time. With well-crafted characters and charming dialogue, the story balances sweet moments and emotional depth, making it easy to get lost in the unfolding connection.

3.5 rounded up to 4 because it was super cute.

I follow the author on tiktok and have seen all her videos on her husband and when i saw that she had a book coming out I ran to NetGalley to apply for the arc and I was so happy I got it!

Sports romances can be iffy for me, but I was in the mood for something cute and low angst and this hit the spot.

Jaylen and Lucy were great! I LOVED Lucy’s take no shit attitude. She was a bitch in the best way and honestly a great heroine. She was snarky and slutty and mean and she was the perfect opposite of Jaylen’s sweetness.

I loved their meet cute and how he was obsessed with her from first sight and she wanted nothing to do with him and she made him work for the right to call her his lucky charm

Safety wise….1000% safe.
Lucy had just gotten out of a 6 month relationship because she found out her girlfriend had a boyfriend and it was mentioned in the beginning (before she met Jaylen) that she basically hooked up with every male and female at the club they were at and i love that for her.
Jaylen has been in a downward spiral with his career and has been focusing on nothing but hockey for two years so while its never explicitly stated that it’s been two years for him, it’s been longer for him than for Lucy. He said that picking up women wasn’t a foreign concept to him, but not something he made a habit.

The one thing that I didn’t love was the writing. It wasn’t bad! but i felt like a lot was explained but nothing made sense to me. I found myself skipping paragraphs to get to the dialogue. I also wish there was an explanation for what happened with her boss…..unless there was and i missed it

As a hockey fan, I was really excited to read this book! I really appreciated the hockey accuracy in Shoot Your Shot, and would be interested in reading more from Lexi!

This is a book about finding the strength within one’s self when being vulnerable and it’s about chasing your dreams. This was such a refreshing hockey romance and the fact that the author is so versed in hockey culture shows.

Jaylen is the type of MMC that I wish more authors explored. His struggle with his mental health and the way he put the work in to overcome it was inspiring. Lucy was all kinds of chaotic and endearing. I desperately wish I was as funny as her.

This book had me laughing out loud. I can’t wait to reread this once it’s published so I can highlight and post all of the truly hilarious quotes from this book. Lexi writes some of the best banter that I’ve ever read. This book is a page turner that kept me wanting more.

I really enjoyed this book. Loved the bitchy black cat main character and a love at first sight moment where the man definitely loves the woman more. I wish it was a little longer to go more into detail about Lucy and Jaylen’s relationship (and Seattle). Loved all the mental health talk!!

This looks like a hockey rom-com but there is so much more here! Jaylen was a star hockey player, but once things started not going his way, it was a downward spiral. He literally runs into a girl in a club after the end of a tryout for a new team. He's down and just wants to forget and this girl lets herself be sucked into his orbit. What was supposed to be a one-night stand turns into her being his good luck charm for the season. It seems like whenever she wishes him luck in some way, good things happen for him. The story is sweet, but you also sense that these are two people with a lot going on under the surface. The mental health aspects of this story were so well-handled (even though the therapist was "interesting") and I loved seeing how even people who seem to have it all can also have mental health issues.

-BIPOC MMC
-Queer FMC and Friends
-Mental Health
-Hockey
-Tattoos and Art

A fun and light romance with accurate hockey information and depictions??? Sign me up! I appreciated the bi-rep, mental health discussions and the BIPOC representation - especially with how white the NHL is as a league. Lucy really gave that black cat energy and at times it was a little much for me, but I loved Jaylen with my whole heart - he was a great hero.

I've been following Lexi LaFleur Brown for years, and I was so excited when she announced she's written a hockey romance - and it delivered!

I was definitely in shock when I got approved since i’ve been dying for this book after Lexi first announced the deal on tiktok.

That being said, it definitely fell a little flat compared to my expectations. This definitely had a slower start in my opinion, so it took some time for me to really want to continue reading. I think this was a great debut for sure, but I definitely wanted a bit more of it and the characters. I thought Jaylen and Lucy were super fun and had a great dynamic, I loved that they pushed each other to get better rather than the stereotypical want to fix you kind of trope. I think there was just a bit of telling rather than showing when it came to their own problems and pasts which left me wanting more in their overall development. Not that the resolutions were too easy, but just I wish we got more out of them. I do really appreciate the accurate portrayal of hockey in this though, sometimes when reading sport romances some of the stuff included is so unbelievable it takes you out of the story. This was definitely not an issue in this book which I really loved.

I’ll definitely read Lexi LaFleur Browns next book since I believe she signed a two book deal. Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this early!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin/Canary Street Press for the opportunity to read & review one of my most anticipated debut novels of 2025! Hockey romances are my absolute favorite genre, and when I came across Lexi LaFleur Brown on TikTok, I was SO excited to read this book. Shoot Your Shot follows the story of Jaylen - an underperforming NHL superstar who is on a one-year, last chance contract - and former painter turned aspiring tattoo artist Lucy, who I lovingly refer to as “a bad bitch with a backstory.” Both characters experience serious growth over the course of the story, but who they are fundamentally as people never changes, which I feel is so important. Their arc isn’t focused around trying to “fix” each other, but how to grow into the best teammates for each other that they can be. If you love stories with phenomenal queer representation, golden retriever/black cat dynamics, quippy and clever banter, mental health awareness, a realistic hockey plot, and just the right amount of spice - this is the book for you!

I was nervous going into this book because I’ve followed Lexi for a long time and have loved her wit and humor. I wasn’t sure if that would translate on page. Turns out, it did! This was a hockey romance that fed my nostalgia for the hockey romances I read when I first started my reading journey in 2021. The best thing was that Lexi knows the ins and outs of hockey- both player life and wag life. I do feel like the book started out slow and it took a bit for it to grab my attention (this is probably a me problem), but story picked up in the middle and suddenly I couldn’t put it down. It was the perfect mix of cute and sexy. Jaylen’s maturity was a breath of fresh air. I’m so happy for Lexi and am looking forward to more from her!

Thank you Lexi and Canary Street Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Publishing for an e·arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I ate this book up and cannot wait to get a physical copy! It had me laughing out loud multiple times, cheering on both main characters from the moment I met them and hoping that the more I read the longer the book would get. The hockey knowledge in this was amazing and the avatar reference has my heart warm. I loved the discussions about mental health and the male athletes not being afraid to be vulnerable and show their emotions. Jaylen and Lucy had amazing banter and a sweet love story. I’m hoping to see more from this author in the future.

A solid, if predictable, sports romance with several open door spice scenes. Jaylen is at a low point, his tanking hockey career after the loss of a friend several years ago has culminated in his NHL contract being dropped. Enter Lucy, bisexual black cat, aspiring tattoo artist, and apparent lucky charm for a certain one night stand hockey player. Between meet-cute mishaps and forced proximity turned business contract, the pair helps break down one another's walls despite the obstacles in their way.

This was a fast and enjoyable read, with some surprising heart. I appreciated the mental health representation and fun side characters. I would have liked to see those characters develop a bit more, as much of this book felt surface-level, perhaps given its abbreviated length. But all in all, I had a good time reading it!

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Shoot Your Shot.