Unfortunately, this book was a DNF for me at this time.

I’m so bummed as I really wanted to love it, but, unfortunately, it just isn’t for me.

The writing style just isn’t one I’m connecting with, and there’s some word choices and terminology used throughout that I don’t feel are the best choices. I don’t think the author meant anything by them specifically, but, they feel jarring to me and totally took me out of the story.

I do hope other readers will decide for themselves whether to pick up this book or not.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Ava Miles Inc., and Get Red PR for the e-ARC of this book, and to Get Red PR and Ava Miles Inc. for the physical copy as well. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Hockey Experiment
by Ava Miles

Rating Factors
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Romance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Storyline: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing/Pacing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Final Rating: 3.60 ⭐️ (Rounded down to 3.5 ⭐️)
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Review

Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For our MCs we have Dr. Valentina Hargrove and Brock Thomson. Val is a cultural anthropologist who’s been hired by her father to study his hockey team and to help figure out a winning strategy. She’s never been one to put consideration into romantic interests until she meets Brock.

Brock “The Rock” Thomson is the captain of the “Eagles” hockey team. He’s also doing his best to help his sister with her kids in the middle of a divorce. He’s always put hockey above all in the past, resulting in a failed marriage, but he vows to change that if another chance and a relationship presents itself.

Our side characters consist of:
* Dr. Darla James, Val’s best friend and another cultural anthropologist.
* Ted Bass, Val’s father and “Eagles” hockey team owner.
* Susan, Brock’s sister and mother to Zeke and Kinsley.
* Zeke, Brock’s nephew who wants to follow in his footsteps.
* Kinsley, Brock’s niece who’s struggling since her parents divorce.
* Chuck Collins, “Eagles” hockey coach.
* Finn Landry, Brock’s best friend and teammate.
* Mason “The Marvel”, “Eagles” player with too much ego and arrogance.

I thought this was a solid group of characters. They all fit together well and added something to the story. I didn’t really become attached to any of them, but they were overall good characters.

Romance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
The romance wasn’t bad by any means, but it just didn’t live up to my expectations. Things felt a little fast moving at times and I just didn’t fall in love with their love story.

Spice: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I feel pretty much the same about the romance and spice. It wasn’t bad, but I wasn’t in love with the scenes either.

Storyline: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I thought the storyline was very promising. The execution was fine, I just wanted more.

Writing/Pacing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was not a huge fan of the writing style and the pacing felt a little too slow sometimes and a little rushed other times. I don’t think it was bad, I think it’s more a matter of personal writing style preferences.

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Overall, it was a fine read, it just wasn’t my favorite. I think a lot of my dislikes are more personal preferences as opposed to me thinking the book wasn’t good, so don’t let my review dissuade you if you’re interested in reading this.

Thank you to Ava Miles and NetGalley for allowing me to receive an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Val and her best friend, Darla, were anthropologists. And they end up studying the hockey team Val’s father owns. When Brock sees them, he was instantly drawn to Val.

I struggled to get into this. It’s told in third person dual POV, and third person for romance is not my preference. It also seemed like their relationship was very insta-love but also slow-building at the same time.

Brock was sweet and caring, and he had such a huge heart. He had more going for him than just hockey.

Val was quirky and intelligent. And she was a little awkward, but Brock never judged her.

This was cute, funny, and a low-angst read.

This book scratched an itch in my soul I didn't know I had, having a brilliant PhD holding woman question her entire outlook on life because she's found the love of her life and him still loving her even when she's talking like everything is one massive experiment and she just can't stop.. fabulous I loved it and the only reason it's not 5 whole stars is because I'm disappointed there's not more.. if you don't like science this book might not be for you.. but it happens that I do like science..

🏒 Book Review 🏒

3⭐ 3🌶️

I really wanted to like this one because the premise was hilarious. Unfortunately, I feel like this one fell a little flat. While the plot fit the premise quite well, I felt like it was not well executed. I didn't really believe that these two extremely opposite characters could fall in love.
It all felt too surreal, which I found very disappointing because what nerdy girl doesn't want the love of a jock?! The side characters were the absolute highlights of this book, however, there were too many and it left me wanting to know more about them. I would need a compelling reason to read another book by this author.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Ava Miles for a copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

The story of Valentina and Brock. She is undercover to try and help his hockey team when, but when he finds out will he be able to forgive her? I liked how it was told from both points of view.

Brock is team captain of the The Eagles hockey team. He wants to win the Stanley Cup and retire at the end of the season. He has no idea why the team hired the two women who now follow the team around but if it will help the team to win, he is willing to go along with it. Val is a cultural anthropologist. She and her partner are hired to study the team dynamics to help the team win. She doesn’t tell anyone but the owner and coach what she is doing or why. She is at a turning point in her career. She really wants this project to work so that she can pivot and do this type of work going forward. He’s her test subject and she’s the boss's daughter. Can they navigate the challenges and figure out a way to be together?

Brock is a good guy. He has worked hard to have a successful career in hockey. He has plans for his post hockey life. I understood his drive to win the championship before retiring. I like that the author had Brock butting heads with people as he tried to motivate the team. Val is funny and quirky. She is very smart and works hard studying the team. I understood why she was attracted to Brock and was willing to pursue a relationship with him. The way that they navigated their relationship was fun and it made me smile. And the big reveal about Val’s job was well done. In the end, I believe that Val’s team dynamics study helped the team to succeed and that Brock was the kind of man that could understand the work she was doing.

This is a sweet love story with hockey as the backdrop. This story takes place in Minneapolis. I enjoyed the journey and I will definitely read more from this author in the future.

As always, thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.
This story follows two anthropologists conducting an experiment over the behaviour of a group of hockey players. One of the girls soon starts to have feelings for th captain… and if you keep reading, you’ll see all the drama and secrets that unfold.
I have some thoughts on the generalization of hockey players as uneducated and dumb; as a Leafs fan, I know players like Joseph Woll (musician!) and others pursuing degrees while playing professionally, which shows that not all players lack intelligence, and if this was meant to reflect the FMC’s bias it didn’t land—especially given that the FMC has a PhD in anthropology and should understand social interactions this basic. Moving through chapters 2–6, we do love an obsessed man, yet women aren’t that confusing—calm down; the “stupid man” act persists. Lines like “I wish I could cut off one of Darren’s balls and use it for pick practice while he watches, bleeding and crying from the stands” leave me asking what in the world that is—these are grown men. The narration is third person yet feels like stream of consciousness?? Additionally, there were some basic terms in both hockey and figure skating that were told wrong. I caught quite a few. (As someone who used to be a figure skater and is a huge hockey fan, I can reasonably speak on this.) Salchow isn’t the hardest jump—it’s a simple waltz jump—and using a toe pick for a 180-degree spin would almost guarantee a face-plant. Bag skates are rare in today’s NHL and only a last resort. And oh my days… “Ms. Sexy Librarian” as a nickname gives me the ick, they’re smashing constantly, and the main conflict seems to start 240 pages in; honestly, who let this idea become a book? In the end, I finished it and I’m leaning toward 1 star.
Please note: while I am a “lots of spice”-free reader and reviewer, I was not aware that this book had spice when I received it. I’m not going to comment on any of the smut for that reason. To be honest, I didn’t read most of it.
Overall, while I wouldn’t recommend this book, it still was interesting at times. (insert me blushing during the entire hot tub scene). That’s it!

Ava Miles delivers another fun, feel-good romance with The Hockey Experiment. The story blends opposites-attract tension with a sports backdrop that adds just the right amount of excitement. The chemistry between the leads is engaging, and the dialogue has that trademark warmth and humor Miles fans will recognize.

While the hockey setting might not be groundbreaking, it provides a strong foundation for character growth and emotional beats. If you're looking for a light, romantic read with a sporty twist, this one fits the bill.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

I have read a lot of Ava Miles’ books and enjoyed them.
There was something quite cute about the scientific response of Val to Brock. I thought her nerdiness was shown well and made her an endearing character.
But I found the language and the way the book was written in some parts was a bit clinical so I struggled to feel the emotions were genuine.
This was an easy to read romantic story which I liked but didn’t love.
3 stars

I really enjoyed the premise of this novel and how Val and Darla were sort of undercover to do their experiment. It wasn’t really clear until closer to the end how comparing hockey players to cavemen was going to help the team. I liked Val and her quirky personality. She talked in a more analytical way and it was nice to see her open up when talking to Brock. I absolutely loved Brock’s family and how they bonded with both Val and Darla. The romance was sweet and I loved the small bits of humor in it.

Thank you @avamiles @getredprbooks for the gifted copy.

I’ve been into nerdy romances lately, and I gotta say—this one did not disappoint. The premise felt pretty unique, especially since it was so different from the hockey romances I usually read.

In an effort to win the Stanley Cup, Darla and Valentina were hired by Valentina’s father to study how modern hockey players correlate with cavemen. They hoped to use their research and findings to motivate the team to win the next championship. The primary subject of their study happened to be the team captain, Brock. He is said to be the most ruthless offensive player in the NHL.

I absolutely loved Brock. He was hilarious, sweet, and definitely gave off golden retriever energy. Val, on the other hand, was more reserved and determined to keep things strictly professional—especially since her father owns the team and is funding the research. But all professionalism went out the window once Brock entered her orbit. They were total opposites, yet somehow they just worked. I loved their dymanic.

There were also some great side characters, like the Val’s bestfriend/partner, Darla and Brock’s family members, who really contributed to the growth of the main characters. I loved Brock’s relationship with his family and how close Val got with them.

What To Expect:
• Hockey Romance
• Rom Com
• Forced Proximity
• Work Place Romance
• Hidden Identity
• Slow Burn
• He Falls First

Thank you to the author and GetRedPR for an ARC of this title. All opinions are my own.

The Hockey Experiment is a good read, what you would expect from Ava Miles. She is a consistent author and this book isn't an exception. It isn't as good as Country Heaven, which is my favorite of hers, but it is very good. 4 stars. Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy.

Thank you to Get Red PR and the author for the free book. These opinions are my own.

This book blends two of my favorite things to read about in romances: hockey and academic research. I quite liked the main characters. Val is the team owner's daughter and a former figure skating champion. She goes incognito to observe and analyze the hockey team. Brock doesn't fit her mental image of hockey skaters. While she is wondering whether hockey teams are made up of cavemen, his college degree is from Harvard, and off the ice, he is a business leader.

In terms of the writing, I appreciated the mirroring of chapters from his and her perspective, with each chapter starting with a question. I found the academic research and results less believable than the characters and their other interactions. I suppose that the two female leads not being affiliated with a university helps to explain their unorthodox approach to research.

The secondary characters add a great deal. I love his family, especially his niece, Kinsley. And her best friend and co-researcher is fabulous, too.

3.5 stars rounded up

This is a cute hockey romance with a unique premise. The FMC Val is an anthropologist who was tapped to look into a study to correlate hockey players to cavemen. She also happens to be the team owner's daughter. The MMC Brock is the captain of said team who was the subject of this study. The connection and feelings between Val and Brock is instant. We see both of them struggle to explain that connection. I like the way Brock cares about his niece and nephew and how Val and kids got attached to each other instantly too. I like the science aspect and the findings were interesting. The way each chapter starts with a question was a fun way to have instead of chapter titles. The spice was just enough and there was a good balance of romance and spice.

Now onto to the things I didnt like. I think the pacing was off. It went from that instant connection to I love yous to marry me?! The first 50% of the book dragged on a bit and then the last 50% went by so fast. The "conflict" towards the end was a bit crazy. I dont know how the study of them being "cavemen" can cause that ripple effect on Brock. I dont get the Mason character (maybe he'll have his own book or something but I dont know why there was so much focus on him). SomeVal's dialogues and her narrating or explaining the science between what they were doing were cringe. Like for me, it wasnt necessary to be blurted out. It takes the sexy out of it and would probably turn me off if I'm Brock.

Despite all these, I still think this is a good read. It's interesting, unique, sweet and spicy all rolled into 1 book. Perfect in between any heavy reads as well!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | A unique twist on sports romance with a smart and heartfelt core

I’ve read my fair share of hockey romances, but The Hockey Experiment felt refreshingly different. The premise itself is delightfully quirky — 🧬 Val, an anthropologist, and her best friend Darla 👯‍♀️ are hired by Val’s wealthy father 💼 to study his underperforming hockey team 🏒 through a behavioral science lens. What begins as a structured research project quickly gets complicated when Val meets Brock — the charming, emotionally grounded team captain 💘 who immediately throws off her carefully constructed boundaries.

I’ll admit, it took me a little time to settle into the story. The first chapter felt a bit slow 🐢, and I initially found it hard to connect with Val or the narrative style. But by chapter two, everything shifted — Brock’s point of view 👀 completely won me over. His love for his family 👨‍👧‍👦, quiet depth 🧠, and golden-retriever energy 🐶 pulled me in and gave the story so much heart ❤️.

⸻

💡 What stood out to me:
• The banter — witty, smart, and genuinely fun 😏💬
• Brock — not just the classic swoony athlete 🏒💪, but also thoughtful, loyal, and refreshingly grounded 🧸
• Val — intelligent, sarcastic, and torn between staying objective 🧠 and following her heart 💓
• Darla — the emotionally intuitive best friend every girl deserves 👯‍♀️✨
• Susan — Brock’s sister and the emotional anchor of the found family 🫶
• Kinsley & Zeke — Brock’s niece and nephew 👧👦 who bring tenderness and depth to the story 🌈

⸻

🔬 Overall Vibe:

If you enjoy…
💘 Opposites attract
🧠 Nerdy-meets-jock energy
🏠 Forced proximity & workplace tension
🔥 Slow-burn romance with emotional payoff
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Found family dynamics
…then this book will absolutely hit the spot. ✅

⸻

💬 Final Thoughts:

Once I got into the rhythm of the story, I couldn’t stop smiling 😊. It’s funny 😂, romantic 💞, and full of unexpectedly heartfelt moments 💖. The Hockey Experiment isn’t just about falling in love — it’s about growth, connection, and the messy (but beautiful) intersection of intellect and emotion. A charming, offbeat gem 💎 that stands out in the best way.

This one was a fun cute read for me. I got lost in it… If you love yourself a slow burn and want to laugh, you need to read this one. Val and Brock are just a awesome couple in my opinion. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did!

After reading a couple of heavier, darker books, this light sports romcom was like a breath of fresh air. The Hockey Experiment by Ava Miles was fun, and a little crazy in the best ways.
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Would you compare professional hockey players to cavemen? Cultural anthropologists, Val and Darla, are hired to study a pro team in hopes of discovering what is and isn’t working with the team so they can make it to the play-offs. Val is a professional and plans to keep it that way, but the team’s captain is making her feel downright primitive.
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Val’s dialogue is awkward and that was my only real negative about the book, however the author made it that way intentionally so it might have just been a “me” thing. Smart women don’t have to speak like an encyclopedia. Brock, the hockey player, loves how she speaks.
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Speaking of Brock, I loved having a good guy athlete as opposed to the bad boy in so many books. Brock is great, helping his sister out with his niece and nephew. Those kids were excellent additions to the story! He is a great book boyfriend.
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Darla, Val’s best friend and partner, deserves her own book- I’d read it!

This book has an interesting premise but wasn’t executed in such a way that was easily readable. Val is an interesting and very educated woman who speaks oddly/awkwardly.

Brock is a great book boyfriend and uncle but he fell into insta love with Val waaaaaayyy too fast. He barely knew her or even her last name.

I love Kinsley and Zeke, Brock’s niece and nephew, and their relationship with Val and her best friend, Darla.

Also, this is a dual POV, but in third person, which has gotten really difficult for me. Just a preference.

Thank you to NetGalley, Get Red PR and the author for an advanced readers copy and a gifted physical copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am a HUGE fan of hockey romances. I thought the premise of an anthropologist studying the caveman-like behaviors of hockey players was quite interesting compared to the plots of most hockey romance books so I was excited to read it. But, as much as I wanted to like this, "The Hockey Experiment" was not my jam.

Here's what I liked: I enjoyed Brock's character. Who doesn't love a cocky hockey player dedicated to his family? The descriptions were also vivid and I could see the scenes clearly unfolding in my mind. I also believe the forced proximity and workplace romance tropes were executed well.

And here's what I didn't vibe with: I had a hard time relating to Val, the FMC (and most of the characters in general). She gave me major "not like other girls" energy. I found her speech and internal monologue to be very clinical and cold. I guess that's how she's supposed to be, but I had a hard time liking her because I couldn't really understand her.

In the same vein, the writing style made it difficult for me to follow along and sometimes comprehend. I am fine with books written in third person, but I had issues figuring out who was doing or saying what because some scenes contained multiple POVs from multiple characters. Another thing other reviewers pointed out that I agreed with was the odd and perhaps inappropriate description of a character's skin color. I think that should have been worded differently.

Ultimately, the concept for "The Hockey Experiment" is so unique, but fell flat for me. Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and Ava Miles for providing me with an electronic ARC in exchange for my honest review.