I was so excited about this book and it did not disappoint! These two characters are so much fun and I really loved the story between them. I want to read so much more of them! The epilogue also had me wanting to cry over sweetness!

This is a lovely hockey romance snack! I listened to the audiobook and followed along on the ebook at the same time and had so much fun. Very opposites attract - golden retriever/black cat vibes.

I was a little worried seeing another white woman writing a Black mmc after some of the poor choices and representation we have seen lately but Lexi does it so well. I looked her up and this is actually kind of inspired by her own life and relationship with her husband who played in the NHL and is now a commentator.

This is also a super queer-normative world where the FMC and her two best friends are all part of the LGBTQIA community. It also tackles depression, anxiety, tough family relationships, and grief. I was surprised at how lighthearted it was but also felt real.

My only complaints were the male audiobook narrator's girl voice and the reason for the third act breakup. I won't complain that there was one, just that I hate when characters don't communicate when it would be so easy.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Shoot Your Shot is a cute romance following Jaylen, a hockey player who couldn't secure an NHL contract at the end of training camp, and Lucy, an aspiring tattoo artist stuck working in an unfavorable apprenticeship. After their semi-anonymous one-night stand leads to Jaylen securing a contract, they enter a friends-with-benefits arrangement.

Lexi LaFleur Brown knows her hockey! The hockey world she replicated, including the small locker room moments, and interactions between players and staff shows her depth of knowledge and experience. I liked Jaylen and Lucy's banter since it made their relationship more realistic. Lexi's writing is very digestible and easy to follow, and I loved Lucy's bisexual representation and her career, which was different from most FMCs.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Shoot Your Shot is a charming hockey romance. The story between Lucy and JJ is lighthearted and fun, filled with all the excitement of the sports romance world. While the book wasn't quite for me, I can appreciate the playful banter and chemistry between the main characters. I also love that the MFC is queer - something you don't often see in heteronormative romances! Lexi LaFleur Brown brings an insider’s perspective to the world of hockey, adding an authentic touch that fans of the sport will love.

A big thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 bumped up to 3 stars.

many thanks to htp books, htp hive, Lexi Lafleur Brown, and canary street press for this arc

as an avid fan of Lexi Lafleur Brown, this was one of my most anticipated debuts of the year (i nearly screamed when i found out being a hive influencer meant i'd be approved for this arc) and it did not disappoint. i loved everything about Lucy and the banter between her and her friends reminded me so much of me and mine (also Lamber and Soko felt so much like Smith and Celebrini that i loved it even more). there was banter and spice but it was also incredibly emotional. so many heavy topics were covered with such grace that made each of the characters feel like fleshed out people.

i wanted to wrap Jaylen and Lucy in the biggest hug but i loved how they were able to find themselves both together and apart. i also loved the bi rep and inclusion of a pride night game!! if you want a hockey romance that really dives into the intricacies of the sport and touches on mental health (as well as their slightly silly superstitions), i can't recommend it enough. i'd love nothing more than more books in this world but regardless of what Lafleur Brown writes next, i will be picking it up

I want to thank Lexi LaFleur Brown, NetGalley, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read this novel.

Unfortunately, I ended up DNFing this story around 55%. I could not get into the characters and I found them boring and lacked substance. Their romance did not seem genuine, I didn't feel their connection after their one night stand, and I sure didn't see it when they were finally together.

I love hockey romances, ESPECIALLY the black cat FMC trope, but for some reason this book just wasn't doing it for me.

There will be others that will love this book, but fortunately I was not one of them.

So much to like in this book. Even though it was a hockey romance, it actually wasn’t. I loved Lucy’s journey to finding acceptance within herself and with JJ. And I loved JJ’s journey to overcome his trauma. Enjoyed the superstition plot and the lighthearted fun they have together while they deal with their hard things.

This was a fun, hockey romance.

Lucy is an aspiring tattoo artist/painter that meets Jaylen, a hockey player on his way out of town after not securing a position. They have an awesome one night together. Jaylen's sure that Lucy is his good luck charm and they make plans to stay together longer. It's a cute story and they're fun characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

DNF at 32%. The dialogue was way too cringey for me. I'm sure this book will find its target audience though!

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin romance for this ARC!

I really wanted to love this but I ended up DNFing it. The writing was subpar and after doing some research on the author, it seems they have a big platform which makes me believe that was the reason this got published. The dialogue was meh, the characters fell flat, and it didn’t keep my attention.

I started with the ebook and switched to the audio. I definitely think the audio makes it better - the narrators themselves are great! It’s told in dual narration, and would’ve been even better in duet.

Overall, the amount that I read was a 2 star read for me and based on other reviews, it doesn’t seem like it would be worth finishing.

Lexi LaFleur Brown's debut novel "Shoot Your Shot" scores big as a charming hockey romance that perfectly balances steamy encounters with genuine emotional depth. As both an NHL insider and BookTok influencer, Brown brings authentic hockey culture to life while delivering a romance that will warm even the coldest of hearts.
The story centers on Jaylen "JJ" Jones, a hockey player whose career seems destined to end before it truly begins. After a passionate one-night stand and an unexpected roster opening with the Seattle Rainiers, Jaylen's superstitious nature kicks into high gear. Convinced his mystery woman is his lucky charm, he tracks her down and makes a proposition.
Lucy Ross, an aspiring tattoo artist struggling to break into her field, isn't used to being anyone's good luck charm. Their arrangement starts simply enough—she sends pre-game texts, he lets her practice tattooing on him—but their chemistry quickly proves impossible to ignore. Brown excels at creating this sizzling tension between her leads, crafting scenes that are both sensual and emotionally resonant.
What elevates this romance beyond just another sports-themed fling is how Brown tackles themes of superstition, self-belief, and finding your path. Both characters face professional uncertainty, and their journey toward mutual support feels earned rather than contrived. The supporting characters—particularly within the hockey team—add color and depth to the world Brown creates.
While some plot points follow familiar romance conventions, Brown's insider knowledge of hockey culture and her sharp dialogue keep the story fresh and engaging throughout. "Shoot Your Shot" is a delightful debut that signals Brown as a promising new voice in romance. Hockey fans will appreciate the authentic details, while romance readers will fall for this story about finding luck in the most unexpected places.

I really liked the synopsis of Shoot Your Shot and in general I’m a big fan of hockey romances. This one had a lot of humor and witty conversation between characters. It was definitely a fun read. The author is herself a hockey wife and so I found a lot of her background of the hockey industry, super interesting and informative. Congratulations on her debut!

Thank you #netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I know hockey romances are having their moment right now, and I’ve read A LOT of them. By comparison, this was just okay. It definitely read like it was a debut novel, a lot of the dialogue was clunky and all the spicy scenes were just dropped in and then it was over before you even had a second to process it. It was a quick and easy read but there are a lot of better hockey romances out there to be read.

Shoot Your Shot finds Lucy and Jaylen, two complete opposites, both down on their luck. After a one night stand brings some luck back into Jaylen’s life, he does whatever he can to keep his new good luck charm Lucy interested. Starting out as a mutually beneficial exchange, the two eventually grow to realize it is more.

Shoot Your Shot is full of humor and hockey, while not shying away from discussions of mental health. I appreciated that Lucy was bi and had queer friends who had active roles in the story. The biggest selling point for me is the accurate hockey portrayal. Lexi LaFleur Brown’s background as a hockey player and hockey wife gave her the perfect basis to write a hockey romance.

Overall, Shoot Your Shot was a fun read, but it fell a little flat for me. I admit I don’t read romance extensively, so some of my reaction may be due to being less familiar with the genre, but I just didn’t care about the romance as much as I thought I would. I would still recommend this to readers looking for a fun hockey romance.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

i enjoyed this book since it had everything a romance usually does. tension, black cat female artist and golden hockey player, spice and plot.

however, here are some things that i didn’t enjoy as much. i didn’t find any chemistry between main characters. the story starts with them having a one night stand, so i kind of assumed it would be build later on but i didn’t feel it even at the end. they didn’t have any in depth feelings. (it’s pretty much can be a personal thing🤷‍♀️ other people could definitely see it differently)

there is a bisexual representation which was nice to see, even though, it was mentioned once throughout the book… which is sad because i believe there could be a great moments for the main character

SHOOT YOUR SHOT – Lexi LaFleur Brown
Canary Street Press
ISBN: 978-1-335-01656-0
March 11, 2025
Romantic Comedy

Seattle, Washington – Present Day

Aspiring tattoo artist Lucy Ross is out for a night on the town with her besties when she runs into a wall…of hard male body. He’s big and polite and attracts her attention. The man, Jaylen “JJ” Jones is feeling down and wants a night to forget everything that is wrong with his life. They end up having a one-night stand, and Lucy never expects to see JJ again because he’s leaving town tomorrow. She is trying to land a tattoo apprentice position at her job, so she will do just about anything for her boss. She is assigned the task of painting a mural on the wall at the local pro hockey arena. Lucy has barely arrived when she spots JJ on the ice. He’s a hockey player? Didn’t he say that he was leaving town the day after they had sex? Then JJ spots her and accidentally hits a puck right into her forehead.

JJ was down on his luck, a once promising hockey star who was in Seattle for what he thought was a failed tryout. He was in the Seattle airport waiting to board his flight and head back to Chicago when he got the call that the Seattle Rainers wanted to sign him after all. He is surprised to see Lucy and tries to make up for the fact that he smacked her in the head with a puck. After getting over their surprise of running into each other again, she turns out to be a good friend, and she offers him good luck for his first game, which turns out to be very successful. Lucy is JJ’s lucky rabbit? Friendship and more are soon born.

Lucy and JJ are both going through a tough time as SHOOT YOUR SHOT opens. Her boss keeps giving her crappy assignments while promising to look at Lucy’s portfolio and decide if she will take her on as a tattoo apprentice. JJ was once a top hockey draft pick but after failing, he’s hit rock bottom. A chance in Seattle ended but then was resurrected after an injury left the Rainers short. JJ is more than willing to try and prove himself. With Lucy’s unwitting help, he is finding success. Meanwhile, the two begin to hang out. After all, JJ can’t say goodbye to his lucky rabbit. They’ve already had one night of sex, why not another? They started out their new arrangement to be friends, but it is soon changing…

SHOOT YOUR SHOT is a fun and intriguing tale about a couple who are polar opposites. Lucy is bisexual while JJ has pretty much kept his life free of romantic entanglements despite the fact that some of the female puck bunnies are more than willing to bed him. Lucy and JJ click and become a couple of sorts. Just don’t call them boyfriend and girlfriend—yet. Readers will soon learn what makes the two the way they are. For Lucy, it’s all about her dead-beat father, while JJ lost a beloved friend, and he feels guilty. Can they open up to each other and go beyond friendship? Readers will be hoping the answer is yes.

An entertaining tale right from the beginning, you won’t want to miss picking up SHOOT YOUR SHOT.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

I have loved following Lexi on social media for the past few years so I was excited to be able to read her debut novel early! One of the reasons Lexi wrote this book was because of the misinformation and lack of knowledge in other hockey romance books. With that in mind, I think the book does a great job of realistically portraying the hockey world. That said, I think it is pretty obvious that this was a debut. The writing was a bit too heavy on telling me what's happening and the emotions going on vs. letting me as the reader really feel the emotional moments. I didn't feel like I was easily able to connect with or relate to the characters, so I wasn't that invested in what was happening. Overall, this was a fun, easy read and I look forward to seeing Lexi improve as she continues to write!

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for the ARC!

A contemporary sports romance that exemplifies that people come into our lives at the right time…Lucy, an aspiring tattoo artist, is a black cat FMC and Jaylen, a professional hockey player on the verge of being cut from his team, is a golden retriever MMC. After a one night stand, they find that they could mutually benefit each other’s careers, help each other work through past trauma and enjoy exploring their growing romantic feelings. The two are relatable: having a few arguments, plenty of spice, and reluctance to open up completely. Overall an enjoyable debut, but I felt that the characters lacked a bit of depth and some backstories could have been developed a bit more.

I found this to be a really cute love story. It was a quick read that keeps you interested, and the opposites attract chemistry is definitely felt. I would recommend it to anyone looking for an easy read, especially during a book hangover.

I really enjoyed this! Lots of very funny moments and some great banter. Loved how hockey accurate it was, which is what I'd expect from the author and was no disappointed. I also loved all of the representation in it, and it felt very grounded and authentic rather than fantasy wish casting where hockey isn't a very white, very conservative sport, because the author has that cachet behind her of it being real. The characters were definitely very reflective of her and her husband, but there were also traits that distinguished them, so they morphed into their own characters.

My biggest complaint would be in the middle of the book, it felt like the jump to Lucy going with Jaylen to the psychiatrist was huge from where we'd left off before that. I think an additional scene before that moment to bridge into the psychiatrist office, establishing her going with him as an appropriate level for their relationship at the time, would have been nice. It just felt like a huge step for them and a bit out of the blue.

Overall, I really enjoyed this. I'm excited to receive the physical copy that I preordered.