I heard this was written by someone with hockey knowledge, so I was interested to see how much it differed from other hockey romances.

The blurb sounded interesting, but I struggled to finish this. I didn’t feel like the characters truly had any chemistry, and there were a lot of cringey moments. The story was also too much — things were over explained and it just didn’t flow.

And Lucy was dubbed a “tough girl” but she was always giggling, which I found an odd word choice.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love hockey (my son was a hockey goalie) and I love contemporary romance, but I did not love this book.

The MCs had no real personalities, they just felt like tropes: an edgy "Not Like Other Girls" starving artist who is small, adorable, irresponsible and constantly late and an absolutely perfect gorgeous professional NHL player who deals with mental illness appropriately, is a total gentleman, and is all about volunteering and giving back to his community. The tragedies in their back stories felt like the author was trying to make up something so the reader would feel bad for them, but I couldn't care less.

As for the romance, their relationship did not feel like it grew organically and there was no chemistry or pining or anything. They start with a one-night stand, then work most of the book to NOT be in a relationship, then dude says I love you then all of a sudden they're in a relationship, which neither of them wanted. And there's a lame third act break up that was patched up in a way that tried to be a huge romantic overture but didn't really make any sense. And the epilogue wasn't any better.

The spice was not good. Like it was vague but also not specific enough, it's hard to explain but it was not romantic or hot. Listen, I like spicy books, but I found myself skipping over those scenes in this book, and they were so cringe I would have preferred fade-to-black.

The flow of the writing was choppy and not engaging. We were told a lot of information, rather than allowed to infer meaning and/or shown through action.

The characters were described, but I don't feel like I know them, other than from their stereotypes: the flamboyant gay best friend who owns a coffee shop & the serious lesbian best friend who hates men. And I'm confused about the relationship of the two friends on the team Soko and Lamber: are they supposed to be comic relief? They weren't funny at all and were just weird. There was no depth to anyone and the dialogue was so unrealistic, like no one talks like the way these people did.

The hockey part was accurate, but even then the in-depth descriptions of the plays in the game didn't really add to the story and honestly could have just been omitted.

Overall, this was tough to get through because I didn't care for or about any of the characters, the writing didn't flow, there wasn't really a plot, and the romance was not romantic. Ugh.

A fun hockey romance to add to the list of other hockey romances out there. It's tough competition but this one is one I would recommend as a palette cleanser. I think Lexi was a breath of fresh air in her style of writing and her characters were something totally new to me. I enjoyed her pacing a lot.

This book was a struggle for me to start and get into. While I appreciate actual hockey knowledge, it wasn’t necessary in this book. It was extremely slow and I couldn’t really connect with Lucy. I also felt like the characters were very “stereotypical”, including the gay best friend with a Lady Gaga themed cafe? Idk just felt weird to me.

Honestly, I needed to re-read this just to be sure before leaving my review. I generally really liked Lexi's writing and I knew I didn't have to worry about the hockey representation in this book given her history. The romance was cute but I struggle to say that it was something special, in that sometimes it felt a little too one note and I wanted a little bit more from it, BUT this is also her first book, so I am hopeful that things will be fleshed out more as she works on her second book. There is some queer representation which is fantastic, but I do agree with other reviewers that at times, it felt a bit too stereotypical.

I rcvd an ARC of this book from Netgalley, all thoughts are my own.

I wanted to love this book. After all, the author is legit in the hockey business as her husband is a former player. This is one of the most technically correct hockey romance I've ever read. She really knows the game. But that's where it kind of ended for me. I wasn't convinced of the chemistry between the MCs, and I never felt like they clicked.

I went into this book with pretty high expectations, knowing who Lexi LaFleur Brown is. I hoped her knowledge of the hockey world would elevate a subgenre of romance I already loved. Instead, the added realism of the sport, and the behind the scenes action, also felt like info dumping, like the author was trying to prove she knew more than other hockey romance authors.

The main female character's humour was funny, but it got old fast. It felt like we couldn't go two sentences without something being a joke.

I also felt like the connection between the couple wasn't as strong as I had hoped it would be.

Overall, it was an okay read and I would rate it 2.5 stars out of 5.

I enjoyed the plot and the supporting cast of a characters but unfortunately I really struggled with both Lucy’s and Jaylen’s personalities. It made it difficult to root for them.

NHL insider Lexi LaFleur Brown delivered a steamy, superstitious hockey rom-com where luck and lust collide. After a one-night stand, struggling hockey player Jaylen Jones believes aspiring tattoo artist Lucy is his good luck charm, leading to a deal: texts for wins, favors for fame. What started as transactional sizzled into spicy tension, but their chemistry felt underdeveloped; their connection lacked depth, making their ending hard to believe. While I loved the "black cat x golden retriever" dynamic, Jaylen's bi rep was barely explored, and Lucy's career struggles deserved more focus. The slow-burn flirtation and obsessive MMC tropes worked, but pacing dragged. Still, smut lovers would enjoy the heat, and hockey romance fans would adore the superstition-fueled plot. 3.5/5 stars for a fun but flawed debut. Perfect for fans of sports romances, grumpy/sunshine, and spicy situationships.

This had all the ingredients for a fun hockey rom-com—superstitions, steamy tension, and a quirky opposites-attract dynamic—but it didn’t quite score a hat trick for me. The premise is cute: JJ, a superstitious hockey player, believes Lucy is his good-luck charm after a one-night stand, and she agrees to keep texting him for luck in exchange for tattoo practice. There’s definitely chemistry between them, and some of their banter is fun, but I found myself wishing for more depth in their connection. Lucy’s "not like other girls" vibe got a little tiresome, and JJ’s golden-retriever energy was sweet but sometimes felt one-note.

The hockey details were well-researched (no surprise, given the author’s background), and I appreciated the bi rep and mental health themes. That said, some of the side characters leaned into stereotypes, and the pacing dragged in spots—especially when the miscommunication trope kicked in hard toward the end.

It’s a decent debut with some charming moments, but I wanted more emotional weight and less reliance on rom-com clichés. If you’re a die-hard hockey romance fan, it might be worth a shot, but it didn’t fully win me over.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

After following Lexi on TikTok for so long, I knew she was not going to let me down with her book. I love not only a good hockey romance (with actual hockey terms and properly used- thank goodness!) but I love the representation of multiple sexualities and it not being turned into such a stereotype. The banter between Lucy and JJ was fantastic and I flew flew flew through this book. Can't wait to see what she writes next!

With the amount of hockey romance out there, I’m not sure what compelled me to pick this one, but I’m glad I did! It was a cute story.

JJ’s hockey career is almost over when he has a one night thing with Lucy. He failed to secure a new contract with the Seattle Rainiers. But after his night with Lucy, things seems to turn around. He gets a call from his agent that someone on the team is hurt and they actually do want JJ. He plays that night and has one of his best games of his life. In fact every time he talks to Lucy, he plays amazing. Is Lucy his good luck charm?

Lucy is an aspiring tattoo artist who is looking for an apprenticeship. She agrees to keep in contact with JJ in exchange for some tattooing practice for her portfolio. They are kind of an opposites attract- he’s athletic and sport, she’s tatted and artsy. But they have a great connection. Lucy also turns her art career into painting murals at the Rainiers stadium.

There’s great representation in this book- JJ is a Black hockey player who went first in the NHL draft and has struggled with his mental health after his childhood friend turned to drugs and passes away. Lucy is bisexual and also has some issues with her alcoholic father, who ruined her art showcase in college and has caused her to turn away from her passion.

I liked JJ a lot- he’s open and honest and seems to really like Lucy, despite his lucky charm start. Lucy is very in her own head and picks fights with JJ that are one sided. This book has just the right amount of steam for me.

The author is a hockey player herself turned into a hockey influencer personality. This is her debut novel.

Really challenging to read and made it through only a half dozen chapters as the repetition of major plot motivations was so frequent that it felt either really poorly edited or that the author assumed readers to have no memory whatsoever. Incredibly tiresome heroine as well, pick me energy top to bottom, and not someone I could ever see myself enjoying reading about.

Lexi LaFleur Brown’s debut novel, Shoot Your Shot, delivers an irresistible mix of hockey, humor, and steamy romance that will have readers hooked from the first page. This enemies-to-lovers, superstitious romance is equal parts heartwarming and sizzling, with a cast of characters that feel instantly relatable and engaging.

Jaylen “JJ” Jones’s career is on the line, and in his desperation to turn his luck around, he strikes an unlikely deal with Lucy Ross, a talented but struggling tattoo artist. After a steamy one-night stand, JJ believes that Lucy is his good-luck charm, and he convinces her to send him good luck texts before each game in exchange for tattooing practice to help boost her portfolio. It’s a quirky, fun setup that quickly becomes the perfect backdrop for a steamy slow-burn romance.

Brown does an excellent job balancing the playful banter between the two leads with deeper emotional layers. Jaylen, superstitious and desperate to salvage his hockey career, and Lucy, determined to prove herself in a competitive and male-dominated field, both bring personal baggage and insecurities to the table. What starts as a mutually beneficial agreement blossoms into an undeniable connection—one that both are reluctant to acknowledge, especially given their past experiences with love and relationships.

The chemistry between JJ and Lucy is palpable, and their relationship unfolds in a way that feels both natural and steamy. The tension is built expertly, and their emotional growth is intertwined with their physical attraction, making for a deeply satisfying journey.

While the premise might seem like standard sports romance fare, Brown injects enough humor, wit, and emotional depth to make it stand out. The book leans into its steamy moments without ever losing sight of the vulnerability and real-life complications that often come with romance. Lucy’s journey toward self-acceptance and Jaylen’s growth as a person beyond his career make for a compelling read that is more than just a traditional sports romance.

In addition to the romance, the secondary characters are also well-drawn, adding humor and emotional resonance to the story. Lucy’s relationships with her friends and her aspirations as a tattoo artist create a layered narrative that will resonate with anyone who has struggled with finding balance between ambition and personal life.

Shoot Your Shot is a fun, steamy, and heartfelt debut that offers both romance fans and sports enthusiasts a story that’s impossible to put down. Lexi LaFleur Brown has set a high bar with this one, and readers will be eagerly awaiting her next book.

This was an okay debut, but I think I went into it with my expectations too high. I felt like it was trying so hard to be self aware that it fell off the deep end into near satire. Every gay character felt like a caricature of harmful stereotypes, and not in a tongue-in-cheek way. The writing style was frustrating in that Lexi would start showing us something about her characters only to go off on an internal monologue that bordered on a lecture about whatever she wanted readers to understand, rather than trusting us to extrapolate that information for ourselves. I wanted more from this.

This was a really cute and fun quick read. The main characters were entertaining and loved the way they would lean on each other. I can actually picture this in my mind as a cute rom com movie with the main girl being more grungy then I feel was pictured in the book. they met at an off chance and then their relationship grew. I loved it.

I believe this was an excellent debut novel. The luck charm element of the plot was unexpected, which was well-executed (credit to the author). I appreciate that, despite Jaylen and Lucy being complete opposites when viewed from the outside, they are actually very similar once you look beyond the physical characteristics. This is what is most significant. She may not conform to the stereotypical image of a WAG, and he may appear to have everything, but what matters is what lies within.
The author has a clear understanding of the sport and integrates it seamlessly into the story. It is not merely a love story with hockey as a background; it is an integral part of the narrative.
Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for an eARC of this book!

🏒My rating: 3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

It did take a while to get into this one because there was the slow burn into their friendship, and then eventually a relationship which was achingly built up. Jaylen and Lucy were very complex characters, so in that way they were very realistic and had quite a few bumps in the road to get over before we started seeing the sparks of love in them. The love we got in this story was not only for each other, but the importance of self love and reflection, which really is a driving point in the story that actually got me.

It was that last 40% of the book where it hooks you, and it feels more like a rom com with the will they won’t they feel to it. I just adored Jaylen at the end of the book because he really healed himself with the help of Lucy, and he did the same for her. The relationship was not as deep as I was expecting to get, but I’m happy to say that the end of the book really changed my love for them as a couple once they gave into their feelings for the other. This was not an easy and fluffy read to get through, but it was rough and emotional rollercoaster that I ended up happy to be on. The ending was sweet, refreshing, and perfect for who Jaylen and Lucy really were at their core. Quirky and finally content with their lives

I tried reading this a few times, but it just wasn’t for me. I don’t know what it was but I didn’t like it at all. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Super late giving this but it took me some time to read. I did not like this. Within the first few pages the character was immediately not like other girls and it rubbed me the wrong way. The amount of self insert was just icky and tbh the characters had no chemistry. My other issue was the queer rep. It felt forced and awkward. I don’t recommend this book at all