⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 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 ❤️.

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💡 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 🌈

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🔬 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. ✅

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💬 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.

Cute hockey romance with an interesting premise.
the FMC is a cultural anthropologist who was hired (along with her academic partner and best friend) by her father to help study his struggling professional hockey team. Through their study to determine whether hockey players are modern day cavemen, Val meets and falls in love with the team’s captain Brock.

The book gives some interesting insights into men and women from a scientific point of view, but also has some great displays of familial and platonic love. It was an interesting read, and I couldn’t help but continue reading to know how everything worked out in the end. I did have some issues with the overall book, though.

Positives first though.. I enjoyed how the characters were more complex, and ! connecting through some of the similarities in their lives. I enjoyed how the chapters began with a question that related to how that character was feeling/going through, and the chapters flowed pretty well. I also enjoyed how both Brock and Val had some of the same questions regarding their feelings about one another. It was cute!

There were also things I did not enjoy, unfortunately. I felt that some of the comparisons of men and women throughout the book were slightly out of taste.. I can understand the ‘primal urge’ and the science, but I would also say not introducing a little bit of cultural commentary to go along with some of the facts took away from certain bits for me. I also found the writing style unique, and slightly difficult to follow at times. I also felt the book ended so abruptly! i wanted a little more, an epilogue, something. It felt like everything happened in a handful of pages and then i was left with nothing!

Overall—good cute romance! I’ve been in a bit of a slump, so it took me a little longer to get into. Once I did get started, though, i finished in two sittings lol.

Slow start, strong finish!

I struggled to get into this one and almost DNF'd in the first chapter, but I'm glad I had a friend to reach out to, who encouraged me to stick to my five-chapter rule. By chapter two, I fell hard for Brock with his POV. His love and dedication to his family pulled me in and kept me reading.

While the premise was intriguing, I found it tough to connect with Val, especially in how she thought and handled certain situations. That said, I really enjoyed her moments with her best friend and Brock's niece, who was struggling through a major life change.

In the end, I'm glad I stayed with the story. The resolution was satisfying, and the secondary characters added depth and support to the main arc.

I went into this book with high hopes. I am generally a fan of hockey romance, and I love STEM. I previously read a really fun romantic comedy by this author and enjoyed the writing. Unfortunately, that was not the case for this book. It was incredibly difficult for me to get into this story, and I did not connect with the characters at all. Stories written in third-person point of view are sometimes difficult for me, and I found it hard to follow the inner workings of Val's mind/thoughts. There was also a cringy skin color reference that I didn't vibe with. Saying someone's skin color is "light black" is not ok. I am assuming the character is black. If that is the case, the author could have just said she was black or described her skin in a more appropriate way.

DNF at 55%

This was a very sweet sports romcom. It focuses on Val and her best friend, Darla, who are asked to help Val’s father turn his hockey team’s losing streak around. Being anthropologists their plan is a bit different than most as they make comparisons between hockey players and cavemen. Their experiment takes an interesting turn when Val starts falling for the team captain, Brock. This story is told in dual POV, so you get to see both Brock and Val slowly get closer, while Val keeps who she is a secret. All secrets eventually come out and this one takes an interesting twist to solve. This book is the perfect addition to the hockey romance genre.

I will say I struggled to read this. I DNF'd it to be honest. I love a hockey romance and I though this unusual take on it would be for me, but I found that every time I picked it up to read, II just as quickly put it back down.
Granted I'm in a bit of a slump and I thought this would help get me out of it.

This is not your average romantic comedy. In fact, it's not your average book at all. This was about Val and Darla who are scientists studying the Alexandria Eagles but they don't know that. They think the two are part of the team hired by their coach as analysts. Dr. Valeria Hargrove is all business. She dresses in baggy clothes and wears thick glasses and so does Darla. The only issue is the doctor is feeling hot for one of the players and he just happens to be the captain with a sweet disposition. He even takes care of his sister and her kids. Val can not stop thinking about him. Then he asks her out. Should she go for research purposes or pleasure?
This is laugh out loud, crazy fun like you haven't read before. The chemistry between the characters was off the charts. I couldn't wait to see what happened next. Each chapter just got more and more outrageous but in a good way.

Overall I did end up enjoying this book. The romance between Val and Brock is very insta-love and cute.
When I began reading I was confused because of the writing style. It takes some time to get used to it. The book is written in the 3rd person and it feels like we are getting more than one persons POV when the book begins as well as jumping into the story without a definitive starting point. It took me a few chapters to realize Val is the FMC.
Brock and Val are great together tho! I love their dynamic. They do have their problems, and Brock is a bit over reactive, but the insta-love formula works here.

Another fun read by Ava Miles!

This one had a bit of a different take on hockey romances and it was really fun to experience. Val and Darla are cultural anthropologists asked to observe the team and help the coach come up with a plan to whip his team into shape to win the finals. Val has never let her emotions be shown openly until she meets Brock, the captain of the team. They have an instant connection and her studious brain can't make sense of it. She tries to resist but Brock is just too irresistible even for her!

This story as a whole was fun and quirky. Val is the awkward school girl and Brock is the hot athlete who is obsessed with her. They were such a fun couple together. I adored the secondary character's as well. Darla and Brock's family were so funny and I loved how supportive they were of these two as a couple. The found family aspect was so heartwarming here! Brock's niece was in dire need of some supportive role models and Darla and Val were just that. I will say the beginning was a little slower for me personally but once I got more into the story I was hooked. Ava made me fall in love so much with these characters I was near tears at the end, but thankfully we get the full HEA in the end.

Thank you so much GetRedPR Books, Netgalley, and Ava Miles for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

This was such a fun and unique take on a hockey romance! The idea of two anthropologists studying a team to see if hockey players are basically modern cavemen is hilarious and weirdly brilliant. Val was quirky, blunt, and so committed to her research that it made her accidental romance with Brock even more fun to watch unfold.

Brock was an absolute sweetheart- confident without being cocky, and the way he cared for his family totally won me over. Their interactions had just the right mix of awkward, sweet, and steamy. And I loved the little touches, like Val’s notes and the chapter questions which was super clever and kept everything playful.

The humor throughout the book was so offbeat that it made the more romantic moments stand out even more. The plot was fun and totally original, with just enough chaos to keep things interesting. From locker room antics to academic meltdowns, it had a great balance between romance and comedy. Definitely a light-hearted read that doesn’t take itself too seriously in the best way.

If you're looking for something a little different in the sports romance world that's smart, funny, and full of heart, The Hockey Experiment is a great pick. Add it to your TBR and get ready to smile.

Something hotly emotional pressed against the back of his throat. Her praise. That she liked him. That this was more than a simple weekend of sex. “There’s a lot I like about you too, Val, and God knows you take my breath away.”
-Brock “The Rock”

This was a very adorable book. If you are someone who likes Ali Hazelwoods stem aspects in her romance books you will like this. This focuses on Val, a cultural anthropologist brought in to study a hockey team to help them improve their game, and Brock, the captain of the team and a cinnamon roll of a man.

Val and Brock do an amazing job of building a trust and friendship before anything even happens. Brock is a family man and when his sisters life falls apart, she and her two kids move in with him. Brocks niece, Kinsley, is going through mass amounts of rejection, and Val, along with her best friend Darla, help bring Kinsley out of her slump.

Although Val’s and Darlas true identity must stay concealed, Val can’t help but fall for the sexy captain, and Brock sees more than Val’s baggy clothes and oversized glasses.

This takes love to a new level, and the science behind certain love aspects is fascinating.

Spice: 🌶️

Tropes:
✨ workplace romance
✨ hidden true identity
✨ hockey player MMC
✨ love at first sight
✨ he falls first and hard
✨ team owners daughter

Really enjoyed the plot of this book but found the way the main characters personality was written kind of cringey. It didn’t seem authentically placed, and I found it a struggle to get past certain points without being annoyed. She spoke to her research partner/friend so normally and then would have the oddest “intelligent” phrases around her love interest. Overall great writing and vivid descriptions. I could self at the pond or the rink by the descriptions.

I really liked the idea of this book, and usually love a sports romance. However, I found I just couldn't get into it unfortunately and dnf'd at 30% :(
I thought the male main character was sweet, but didn't like or relate to either of the fmcs. The plot just wasn't there for me either sadly.

Date a hockey player?? Dr. Valentina Hargrove says no thanks.⁣
Study one for science? Oh, she’s in.⁣
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But then comes Brock “The Rock” Thomson scarred, sexy, surprisingly smart and suddenly her whole “caveman” theory is on thin ice.⁣
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I loved this book. It’s smart, funny, and full of sizzling tension. Brock is the kind of gruff-but-sweet hero you fall for fast, and Valentina’s brainy sass made me root for her from page one.⁣
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If you’re into hockey heat, forbidden romance, and heroines who don’t take crap from anyone this one’s for you.

Oh my gosh. I loved this so much. I found myself laughing out loud so many times at the thought processes in Val's head. I had some reservations at first, trying to decided if I was going to like her and cheer for her, because she was so scientific in her thought processes, but I ended up really liking the chemistry between her and Brock. It wasn't necessarily insta-love, but he did like her from the beginning.

If you want to read a rom-com that equates men to cavemen, read this book. It is hilarious and sweet.

Super cute romance about a cultural anthropologist and hockey player who are thrown together in an unlikely way.

I really enjoyed the FMC's best friend Darla. She was often the "voice of reason" when a socially awkward Val was ready to throw in the towel, so to speak. There is excellent character dynamic in this book, between the FMC, MMC, and all side characters. Fun quirky dialogue and banter make it a really enjoyable read.

I did feel that somewhere in the middle, the author lost me. I was aware that the FMC was becoming close-ish with the MMC's family, but there are lacking details in exactly how they get to that point. I also wasn't a huge fan of the overly "nerdy" way that Val spoke and the over usage of My Sexy Librarian, it just felt very forced.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and the characters were fun. I think it is definitely a good, quick, easy read for someone who enjoys quirky sports romances.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the ARC and the chance to review this book.