This book was a roller coaster of “will they won’t they” with the FMC giving strong black car energy to only be matched by the Labrador energy of the MMC. I laughed, I pined and I cursed Lexi LaFleur Brown for dangling the carrot only to YANK it away. I really enjoyed this debut novel and look forward to more from this author.

I was really excited to pick this one up because I love hockey romance, and this book offered a fresh take on the genre! The premise of the black cat artist meeting the golden retriever hockey player and unwittingly becoming his good luck charm (hockey players and their superstitions!) immediately intrigued me. I also really appreciated the representation throughout the story. The book did a great job incorporating LGBTQ+ themes, with Lucy (the FMC) and her friend group all being part of the community in a way that felt natural and authentic. I also loved the mental health representation portrayed through Jaylen (the MMC)—therapy and medication were handled in a way that was refreshing to see in this genre.

That being said, I had a bit of a hard time connecting with Lucy. She had that snarky, sarcastic "cool girl" energy, but it often felt forced rather than effortless, and at times, she just came across as rude. Her friend group was fun, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that at times, the portrayal of diversity just gave me a bit of a tokenism vibe.
Jaylen (the MMC), on the other hand, was a highlight for me! He felt real and relatable, and I loved how he and Lucy helped each other grow. Their romance was sweet, but it moved a little too fast for my taste, bordering on insta-love. The third-act breakup was predictable, but it was resolved quickly and in a satisfying way.
As for the hockey aspect, you could tell the author really knows the sport, which I appreciated. The team dynamics were a lot of fun, and I’d definitely be interested in reading more about the other players. That said, some of the hockey lingo went over my head, so I found myself a little lost at times.
Overall, while this one didn’t fully work for me, I think it’s a solid debut and I’ve grown a bit attached to the characters, so I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on what this author writes next!

Thank you to Canary Street Press for providing an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this one and it was such a unique and refreshing take on a hockey romance! Shoot Your Shot is a sports romcom and it has great banter and moments of dialogue that had me LOLing. I love that the MCs are not your “typical” leads in a hockey romance: we have a black NHL player MMC with golden retriever tendencies and an artsy, LGBTQ+, black cat FMC. Oh and cameos from a volatile cat named Sailor!

Something that I thought was really interesting while reading is that I actually didn’t immediately feel the sexual chemistry between them right away. I got more friends vibes/banter, but it grew to romantic chemistry and I really liked that about it because it felt like such a real and natural progression for them.

This book has everything you want in a fun hockey romcom and then some: banter, physical and verbal comedy, mental health rep, grounded characters, BIPOC rep, and LGBTQ+ rep! It would also be a great palette cleanser to read in between heavier books and give yourself some lightness.

Like many other readers, I was drawn to Shoot Your Shot because of Lexi LaFleur Brown's presence on TikTok. I love her quick wit and behind the scenes WAG info, so I was extremely excited to get my hands on her debut novel.

I initially had a hard time getting into the book because of the writing style. However, I didn't let that detract from my overall enjoyment of the story. It just took a little time to adjust, and once the stage was set and the groundwork was laid, I found it easier to engage with the narrative.

I loved the banter between the main characters; honestly, it kept me invested in the story. I'm a simple woman—I enjoy good banter and a bit of spice, and *Shoot Your Shot* delivered on both fronts. I started my hockey romance journey with little knowledge of the sport, but I've learned much since then. It was great to see that the author had real-world experience, which helped create a believable hockey world.

I think this was an impressive debut for Lexi, and I will definitely be on the lookout for her next title!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lexi LaFleur Brown and the publishers for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Overall I really enjoyed this. That being said, there was something kind of flat about it. I didn't feel depth in the characters, the friendships, the relationship.

What a debut! This was a cute book, I loved FMC Lucy and how she worked through her own struggles not only with her family but also her doubts and passions. And MMC Jaylen really showed our grief can take years to process.

LOVED the accuracy that went into the Hockey parts of the story, definitely a bonus!

Lucy is a former painter working a front desk at a tattoo parlor in hopes of the owner looking over her portfolio and offering her an apprenticeship. Jaylen is a professional hockey player, well former, who was hoping for his next big break. They have one night together and Jaylen is offered a deal with the local hockey team. He then determines Lucy is his good luck charm and asks for a good luck text before each game. Little by little they start to peel back layers of each other and start falling for each other. I enjoyed this book. It is always hard to put down a book when the two characters finally get together and then something tears them apart. I have to know how their story ends. I liked that both Lucy and Jaylen had struggles they have to overcome. Jaylen finally letting all of his guilt go and doing something amazing with Cam’s story was a perfect touch. I like the two points of view, it gives a great depth to the story and you don’t have to think of what the other person is thinking.

As a fan of Lexi's social media presence and a newer fan of hockey (I've just started getting into it in the last month or so), I was really looking forward to reading this book. Especially because I've read a decent number of hockey romances that just fell flat to me and the whole marketing strategy around this book was how it was different and better because it was written by someone with insider information. So imagine my surprise when I picked it up and read basically a rehashing of every single sports book cliche I've ever read.

This was honestly one of the most blatant self insert romance books I've ever read, which was a little uncomfortable to me, since she and her husband are public figures - during the sex scenes I felt like I was interrupting something. I also found the main character to be so incredibly pick-me it hurt. Like, we get it, you're covered in tattoos and so small but could also take out a full grown man if they wrong you. The LGBTQ+ characters also fell into the most rigid stereotypes I've seen in a while - promiscuous bisexual, moves-too-fast-in-relationships lesbian and flamboyant gay. It almost felt offensive.

There was a decent amount of hockey knowledge in the book, but I think what people forget when writing a book about a sport such as this is that you don't have to just be knowledgeable about the sport, you also have to be a good writer.

This book was so cute! I loved the characters and their growth throughout the story. The book definitely had some cute and light moments but also handled the mental health and character growth well.

2.5 stars

The banter/humor between the main characters was enjoyable. Other than that, I don't really get the deep connection between the two. I did really enjoy the actual hockey game play scenes, but those happened at the end of the book. The pacing didn't seem consistent throughout and things happen a bit randomly. The cat puking scene almost made me DNF because we got more descriptors of that scenario than we do in the spicy scenes. Actually, the spice was not good; it may have been better written as closed-door rather than the scenes just lacking. Overall, it felt just surface-level writing and somewhat boring unfortunately. There were good topics to dive into deeper like the anxiety and depression; even the charity work after losing a friend.

“Shoot Your Shot" by Lexi Lafleur Brown had all the ingredients for a great hockey romance: a handsome athlete, a feisty heroine, and the fast-paced world of professional hockey. Unfortunately, the execution fell short. The writing style was a major letdown. The prose was clunky, and the dialogue often felt forced and unnatural. I struggled to become invested in the story due to the lackluster writing. Another significant issue was the one-dimensional characters. Both the hero and heroine felt more like caricatures than fully fleshed-out people. I couldn't connect with them on an emotional level, which made it difficult to care about their romance. Overall, "Shoot Your Shot" was a disappointing read. While hockey fans might enjoy the sports aspect, the subpar writing and character development make it hard to recommend. 3/5 stars. Thank you Lexi LaFleur Brown, netgalley and Canary Street Press for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's hard to believe this is a debut! Quick read, light spice, perfect banter. Love the author and what she represents!

I don't read a ton of sport romances, but as an avid hockey fan I definitely had to check this one out! The thing that brings me out of stories the most is when the hockey is wrong, which thankfully isn't the case here, as Dr. Brown is a former hockey player herself and is very familiar with the NHL. The rest of the story felt pretty standard romance to me honestly, but pretty good for a debut!

3 ⭐ 3 🌶️ 4 🎧

This was so sweet and fun. I loved the representation, the banter and the tropes a ton. It felt a little too hockey smart sometimes as an occasional real life hockey fan, I'm not sure if it would be too much for a superfan or not, but it turned me off a bit.

I thought the brokenness of Lucy and Jaylen was really well done. Lucy had an absent and abusive father and Jaylen had a ton of anxiety and depression surrounding his tragic and guilt ridden past. I really enjoyed the journey with each of them leaning in each other and overcoming their hurdles.

The audio was great. I really loved Jamal Roque and Kristen DiMercurio, they did a wonderful job bringing these characters to life.

This book started off so strong and was really gearing up to be a five star read in the beginning. The characters were great, the meet cute was so adorable (love a relentless man), and they were both set up for some really solid character growth.
By the time l got to the halfway point, the story kind of lost the plot for me and I really struggled through the rest of the book.
The character arcs needed more time to develop and their relationship needed a little more oomph.
Overall it was cute and much be your thing if you like slower paced hockey romances.

Unfortunately, I was unable to finish this, as I struggled to connect with the writing style. While I was excited about the premise—a fictional hockey romance—I found that the storytelling lacked the immersive quality I was hoping for. Rather than feeling transported into the world of the characters, the prose read more like a series of facts, making it difficult for me to fully engage with the story.

That said, I know this is the author's debut novel, and I truly admire the effort that goes into bringing a story to life. I’m excited to see how her writing evolves and would love to read more from her in the future. I appreciate the opportunity to read an early copy and wish the author all the best!

This is a must-read for hockey fans! The story follows the FMC, an aspiring tattoo artist interning in the industry while also pursuing her passion for art. The MMC is a Black hockey player struggling with his performance on the ice. Desperate for a turnaround, he strikes a deal with the FMC—she’ll be his good luck charm since he plays better with her around.

As they spend more time together, their chemistry becomes undeniable, even as they try to resist dating. I really enjoyed the unique mix of the good luck charm trope and the FMC’s journey as a tattoo artist. The MMC completely stole the show—he fell first and was utterly obsessed with the FMC. Both characters grapple with personal trauma and challenges, making their connection feel deep and authentic.

The romance was both adorable and realistic, especially in how it portrayed arguments and real-life struggles. For smut lovers, there are multiple spicy scenes to enjoy. While some parts felt a bit slow, this was still a cute and engaging sports romance overall.

Shoot Your Shot is such a fun and unique take on a hockey romance! Jaylen is an anxious, superstitious golden retriever of a guy who believes Lucy—a prickly, tattooed black cat of a woman—is his lucky charm after a one-night stand turns his hockey career around. What starts as a simple “good luck” text deal quickly turns into something much more, and watching these two navigate their undeniable chemistry while battling their own insecurities was both heartwarming and entertaining.

I also really appreciated the mental health representation in this book, which felt thoughtful and well-executed. Plus, the hockey aspects were written so well! Jaylen and Lucy’s dynamic was the perfect mix of sweet and steamy, and their journey kept me hooked from start to finish. If you love a sports romance with a fresh twist, this one is definitely worth picking up!

First I want to thank the publishing house to give me this ARC. I don’t like giving low reviews, but sometimes I have to be honest.

First of all the two main characters, I feel, didn’t have chemistry. I almost couldn’t finish the book, but I pushed myself. I read a lot of hockey romances, since I really love the game. One other issue I had, was that Lucy said she was gay. Knowing this, why would Jaylen stick around and not worry that Lucy would leave him for a woman. This book I found slow and sometimes not exciting, which is what I’m used to. Lucy’s friends were a nice side story I enjoyed.

I’m sorry to Lexi LaFleur Brown. Publishing your work is not an easy task. I’m sure you worked hard on this book, and I don’t relish giving you a bad review. I’m sure there are readers out there that will like this book, I’m sorry that I was not one of them.

Like many people, I have been following the publishing of this book for a while on tiktok and couldn’t wait to get my hands on it to see how Lexi weaved in her amazing knowledge of hockey. Probably unlike a lot of people, my knowledge of hockey is very limited so I probably wouldn’t even be able to tell you if something was inaccurate. For a debut book? Not that bad!! There were times where I was laughing, and awwwwing at the sweetness from JJ. I really loved the focus on him in the book. It’s probably out of character for me to say but I think the majority of the book is told from his perspective and I liked that! It was a nice change of pace to really get in JJ’s head and see the story from his perspective. However…. With all of the backstory and development we get from JJ, I feel like we’re lacking in development with Lucy. Lucy is highly afraid of commitment and sabotages herself at almost every step of the book. I would have loved to see a little more investment in her and her growth journey to be the best match for JJ. Can you tell I absolutely adored him? I think what sets this book apart from other hockey romances is Lexi's knowledge and ability to tackle the hard issues athletes, particularly hockey players, face. I love that we get a deep dive on JJ’s mental health and him learning to take care of himself holistically. We see inclusion and diversity not as something to just be in the book but at the forefront of everything our characters do. So yeah, I had a few issues with the book, but all of the good definitely outweighs the bad here!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Canary Street Press, and the author for an ARC :) This book was just published!!