I was promised sad gay hockey, and sad gay hockey was delivered.

Second chance romance with older MCs trying figure out what to do with their life after having used hockey as their focus and identity for decades. This was a solid standalone with really good representation for mental health struggles, and those in your life wanting to help (but not knowing how).

For a book that didn't have a lot of hockey game play, it was still incredibly hockey focused and detailed for life and items off the ice. You can tell Ari loves and knows their stuff about this sport.

I loved this one. he connection between Aiden and Matt was electric from the first chapter. I felt the author did an excellent job of portraying mental health issues in this book. I loved how the renewed connection plays out and the pacing. It wasn't just about their relaionship but Matt's journey into well being and navigating his coming out. It was an immersive story that sucked me right into their relationship and the tension between them. The navigating of their communication was beautifully done. This story portrayed a beautiful relationship. The emotions and angst were high and left me with the best book hangover. I ached for Matt and wanted to smack him at the same time- but he just really needed help. Aiden was so sweet in his support but also had a journey to go through. Definitely worth the read- and probably a second read!

4.5 stars and my thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

Depression can be a son of a bitch. Depression and a major life-changing decision to step away from a 2 decade long career is another monster altogether.

Aiden retires from a very prolific hockey career and happens to run into his ex, Matt, for the first time in a decade. Despite the horror of their first breakup, they can't not fall back into each other right away. Before he knows it, Aiden has left New York to live with Matt while also refusing to deal with his mental health and what it means to not play hockey anymore.

Truth be told, I read Home Ice Advantage without having a real desire to read the rest of the series. I liked HIA, but I was ambivalent. Then Goaltender Interference came across my Netgalley dashboard and thought it sounded interesting enough. What I didn't expect was to relate to Aiden so much. What I didn't expect was to read a touching novel about depression and how loving someone or being loved back doesn't "fix" you. Going to therapy doesn't "fix" you. You have to put in some work yourself.

Reading this while going through a pretty deep depressive episode was probably not a good idea, but here we are.

These characters y’all!!!! I can’t get Matt and Aiden out of my head. These two stubborn older hockey players just dug right in and won’t leave. Aiden is one of the saddest characters you’ll meet but at his core he’s just trying to be enough for the guy he loves. Then there’s Matt who just wants to finish his career and finally have the guy he loves at the same time. Both these characters are beautifully written and the entire time you’re hoping that this is the time it works. This is one of my favorite reads this year.

I have big mixed feelings on this one. I love the representation of neurodiverse characters, but at the end of the day Aiden was still deeply unlikable to me and Matt needed some self respect. Matt is the sweetest, biggest angel EVER and I want to hug him and tell him, this isn’t nice!! No more chances!!!

I stand with Miles and his opinions of his brother’s relationship.

2.5 stars rounded down.

I absolutely adore Ari’s hockey romances and this one was no different! The second chance romance between Aiden and Matt was angsty enough to make my teeth hurt (complimentary) and I loved how the story was equally about finding yourself and your purpose as it was about finding love. The kink aspects were especially well done and I really appreciated how the intimacy between the two MCs played out both in and out of the bedroom. The progression of their relationship felt both natural and believable and I loved how forgiveness and growth was something hard won by both the characters and the readers. If I hadn’t been already convinced that Ari is one of my favorite MM romance authors alongside Rachel Reid and Cat Sebastian, this book would’ve done it!

This was my first by the author and I didn’t feel lost without reading the first couple in the series. Aiden and Matt are exes and when they run into each other unexpectedly, it sets them on a course to reconnect. But they’re both flawed men and have to work through their own things to make it to forever. Aiden’s depression is handled is grace and dignity / which I appreciated.
I did struggle to connect to them as a romantic pair and the pacing is inconsistent throughout that it made some pieces hard to get through.

Thank you to Carina Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book was a mixed bag for me.

On the one hand, I read the whole thing in just two sittings. I loved both of the main characters. I definitely appreciated a slightly deeper, more emotional theme about mental health without it dragging me down with it. I also really love a sort-of-established relationship (~it’s complicated~). I’ve also ready more than my fair share of hockey romances, so a unique set-up is always appreciated.

On the other hand, there were a lot of elements introduced that I feel like were underutilized. There was also a plot beat late in the story that played out in a way that felt out-of-character for me, so I couldn’t stop thinking about it. And sometimes their characterizations seemed to blend together.

Overall though, I had a good time. It was exactly what I was looking for in tone and pacing, was well-written and engaging, and actually included hockey (unlike some other “hockey” romances I’ve read recently).

Recommended for someone looking for:
- older (late 30s) MCs
- second-chance romance
- mental health themes but not so much that you’re going to be crying

Goaltender Interference is another great addition to Ari Baran's Penalty Box series. Adrien, a newly retired NHL goalie, runs into Matt, the NHL player ex whom he hasn't seen in a decade. The two begrudgingly reconnect as Matt invites Adrien to come live with him in Montreal. Adrien is struggling to adjust to life without purpose or routine, and keeps self-sabotaging his relationships with everyone around him. Matt does his best to help him, but he is also juggling the grueling season with an old injury and his own future. I loved getting to know these two, and had fun seeing some cameos from previous books. I look forward to reading what Baran writes next. Thanks to Harlequin and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

ecently retired, Aiden is struggling with what comes next. Is it the right time to reconnect with Matt, an old lover?

Read if you like:
-Second Chance

I struggled to connect with this one. It didn't really reach out and grab me. The plot was slow, the emotions really muted. I so wanted to like it but it just wasn't for me.

I love Ari Baran’s characters—they’re always so realistically flawed but incredibly likable. Aiden was understandably afloat after retiring from hockey but Matt was such a steady and accommodating presence for him. Aiden’s aimless drifting went on a bit too long for my tastes, but I don’t regret powering through and experiencing their much deserved happy ending. For me, reading a book by Ari Baran is always time well spent.

Great edition to the series. Fast paced and characters are great. Enjoyed the romance as well. Not as good as some of the other books but still enjoyable.

Thank you Harlequin and Netgalley for the early copy of this book! Beyond excited to be on the list for early readers of Ari Baran’s works.

First things first, the cover. Cursed. No one can convince me this is a human man that exists. The head and the body don’t match at all.

Second, I loved this book so goddamn much!! I think it’s my favorite of this series so far. I love the way Aris Baran writes, it’s always so refreshing and their characters are so captivating!! I was tearing up 4% in, I don’t think I’ve ever gotten attached to a character as quickly as I did with Aiden. My boy 🥲
I relate to him so much that it made me want to scream. My stomach was in a knot the whole way through because it was hitting so close to home.

He was so scared of trying and failing that being miserable on purpose was the only option. I have no doubt that people who haven’t been through depressive episodes will be frustrated with this character, won’t be able to understand why he won’t just do something!! But damn if it ain’t how it is when you’re that lost and hopeless. This was a very accurate portrayal of depression and anxiety, with a little touch of undiagnosed ASD that will feel true to a lot of people.

As usual, I really liked the side characters. (And the cameos from the other books; Zach, Nate, Sully and Garcia were the ones I caught) I’m always glad to see side characters with lives of their own and not empty unidimensional plot elements.

Mein Leseerlebnis

Bevor man sich die m/m hockey romance zulegt, sollte man sich darüber im Klaren sein, dass die Stimmung im Buch phasenweise recht gedrückt ist und einer der beiden Helden an Depressionen leidet. Beides muss man als Leser:in mögen bzw. damit im Rahmen eines Liebesromans umgehen können / wollen.

Ich bin für beides in Maßen durchaus offen, nach dem Lesen von “Goaltender interference” muss ich trotzdem festhalten, dass mir ein paar unterhaltsamere, leichtere Szenen im Buch gefehlt haben. So hat das romance Buch meine eigene Stimmung etwas heruntergezogen und die Geschichte wirkte auf mich recht schwer. Beides ist für mich persönlich nicht ideal.

Glücklicherweise gibt es in dem Liebesroman auch Aspekte, die ich gut fand. Positiv möchte ich auf jeden Fall den einnehmenden Schreibstil der Autorin anmerken. Auch fand ich es schön, dass ich die Emotionen der beiden Helden gut spüren konnte und mich die intensive Geschichte packen konnte.

Auch der Epilog hat mir gefallen, denn er beantwortet ein paar offene Fragen und wirkte auf mich hoffnungsvoll.

Etwas schade fand ich allerdings, dass ein paar wichtige Entwicklungen im Leben der beiden Helden – vor allem in Aidans Leben – teils nur erwähnt und nicht gezeigt wurden. Ich hätte als Leserin gerne mehr miterlebt. Zudem gibt es im Mittelteil ein paar unnötige Längen, zumindest habe ich das so empfunden. .

Rückblickend hat mir das Buch mit leichten Abstrichen trotzdem, gut gefallen und ich lande bei einer Bewertung von 🖤🖤🖤 3/4 (mit leichter Tendenz zu 3,5).

PS: Blicke ich auf die vier bisher erschienen romance Bücher der Reihe zurück, so haben mir die beiden, die etwas lockerer und heiterer sind, am besten gefallen. Mein Höhepunkt der Buchreihe ist bisher “Home ice advantage”.

PPS: Wer Liebesromane mag, in denen die Grundstimmung etwas gedrückt ist und die ruhig erzählt werden, dem kann ich auch die m/m romance Bücher von K.D. Casey empfehlen. Im Buch “Diamond ring” geht es zufälligerweise auch um eine zweite Chance.

Für wen?

Wer ruhige, intensiv erzählte Liebesgeschichten zwischen zwei erwachsenen Männern mag und kein Problem damit hat, wenn ernstere Themen angesprochen werden und die Stimmung teils etwas gedrückt ist, für den könnte “Goaltender interference” eine schöne Sache sein.

This is book 4 in the Penalty Box Series, it started off with a bang and was I ever here for it! Matt was immediately my favorite, I fell in love with him in chapter one. His heart, his patience, his acceptance, his willingness to help others, how much personal work he’s done on himself. He’s Captain of the Royals, yeap if you’ve read previous books in this series that might ring a bell, and you may or may not see a familiar face. I love that his no trade agreement has kept him with the Royals for so long, because he’s made such a found family with the team and I’m a sucker for found family. Now Aiden,this boy is so broken, always been a little different, a little awkward (which give me all these boys I’ll protect them all 🥺) and his retirement from hockey is really kicking him in the butt. It’s really messing with his head and I loved the message of having supportive, understanding and accepting people in your life but also the importance of taking care of your mental health and putting in the work for it. I’ve had the pleasure of arc reading books 2-4 of this series, I'm not sure if this is the last book in this series or if Ari has more up their sleeve, either way I’m looking forward to what they come up with next!

This book. It left me feeling a bit wrecked with a massive book hangover. Aiden and Matt are well developed, complicated, MATURE characters who live messy lives that are devoted entirely to hockey. This explores moving on and loss of passion and figuring out what sustains them for the second half of life. This is beautifully written and just really well done.

<i>Goaltender Interference</i> was a journey in the best way. It's the best kind of second chance romance that leaves you breathing a sigh of relief after waiting on edge to see if their characters would figure things out for themselves. Not only is the story itself well developed, Ari Baran created a gripping story with really good representation of mental health conditions.

We meet Aiden who is new to retirement after an illustrious hockey career, and he is drowning now that he lacks a sense of purpose in his life. A chance run in with his ex Matt leaves him spinning, the two end up reconnecting and watching them grapple with their real life struggles all while both being hopelessly in love with one another was beautifully done. Without giving away spoliers, I particularly loved the last chapter and the view Aiden takes at the end of the story. It demonstrates hope for the future in a way that just left this feeling like a wonderful read.

If you love Hockey romance, LGBTQIA+ love stories, and truly complex characters this is going to be a must read. Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

An intense, well-written, angst-filled queer hockey romance. I highly recommend it to those readers interested in sports romance books. The hockey is convincing and well-portrayed, the mental health rep is extremely well-done, the hard-fought ending is inspiring. The author’s, Ari Baran’s, universal truths are even better than those of Marcus Aurelius, the book’s featured philosopher: Life will never be perfect, but it can be good. Keep at it and don’t give up. You deserve it.

This book is STUNNING. A gorgeous exploration of an experience of a hockey player retiring tied up with another who is managing an aging body in a sport that is not kind, and then on top of that the two are also having a second chance romance? *chefskiss* The way Ari balances real issues that hockey players face while also incorporating a love story in all of the Penalty Box books is absolutely gorgeous.

Aiden's battle with depression in the wake of the loss of hockey after he retires is heartbreaking but also depicts a very real mental health struggle in a way that feels true to life. I particularly thought it was well done that Matt's love did not "heal" Aiden.

I similarly loved Matt's concern with legacy, and having him on a team so steeped in history and legacy and listening to him pass these things on to the rookies was really sweet.

This book is a perfect addition to the Ari Baran catalogue and lovers of hockey romance, strong mental health representation, light kink, and second chance romances will absolutely love this!

Ari Baran does it AGAIN. A smart, thoughtful, relatable, sexy read about two men who you root for the whole damn book.