I read this on a plane and finished it during my 3.5 hour flight’ I thought this was such a cute book. It was a YA sports focusing on hockey and truly delivered. We had a few hockey scenes, cute romance scenes, conflict, and lots of life lessons wrapped together.

I really enjoyed the development between the FMC and MMC and supporting them throughout their blissing relationship. I also thought the ending was cute and now I totally want some bracelets! Haha. There were so many moments that I was just feeling so many emotions and wanting to cheer on the couple. Along with catching myself wanting to kick my feet and giggle.

I also thought the entrepreneur aspect was a cute touch and watching the business grow! It was a different take on sports romances with that route. I really enjoyed it and thought it wrapped up nicely throughout that story for a full circle cute moment that had me giggling and smiling.

I truly read this and couldn’t put it down and I had a great time reading it. I look forward to future works by this author and will be recommending this book!

Harper, a junior in high school and a jewelry entrepreneur, is under fire for allegedly getting the hockey coach fired. Unfortunately, her public enemy no. 1, Dawson, is a rising star on the hockey team and might have accidentally turned the sports-enthusiastic school against her. Harper's business, her ticket out of her town, is now flooded with bad reviews, so she, as a hockey hater, essentially blackmails Dawson into promising to leave her alone. But somehow, they just can't stay apart. Suddenly, hockey players don't seem so bad anymore, or maybe one in particular...
When I tell you I was kicking my feet while reading on the field, I'm not even kidding. This book had me grinning so hard. Harper and Dawson are so cute together and the cover tells you everything you need to know. I probably squealed every time they so much as hugged.
I also loved Dawson's character arc so much. It was so well done, from his encouragement to his teammates to his realization that he doesn't have to carry burdens alone. He is the sweetest character, I wish him all the best. And his teammates are so cute. Definitely the best hockey team.
At times, the communication (the directness/the lack thereof) felt somewhat unrealistic, but then I stepped back and realized that high school boys do fumble. Like, a lot. So while this book gave me a little scare for their relationship, I laughed at how closely their lives mirrored mine, from the texts convos to the confrontations.

4.5 stars. this was my first hockey romance and it was such an amazing introduction into them. dawson and harper had such good chemistry and their banter was EVERYTHING. heart check was such a fun and cute ya hockey romcom and i can’t wait to recommend it to everyone when it drops in november!!

This debut YA rom-com is a solid, feel-good read with just the right amount of friction, banter, and heart. Luke Dawson is your classic star athlete, all swagger and school pride, while Harper Braedon is his complete opposite. They’ve got each other pegged from day one, and neither is thrilled about being stuck together at their after-school diner job. But when Dawson’s future gets thrown into chaos after his coach is fired—and Harper gets blamed—their already icy dynamic gets even frostier.

The story leans into the enemies-to-something-more trope without overcomplicating it. There’s tension, but also growth, and the dual passions of hockey and jewelry-making add just enough depth to keep things fresh. What makes it work is the chemistry between the leads and how their forced proximity doesn’t just thaw their assumptions about each other—it challenges their ideas about themselves, too. It’s not a reinvention of the genre, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s charming, quick-paced, and full of that low-stakes drama that makes YA rom-coms so bingeable. If you’re into opposites-attract stories with a warm, satisfying payoff, this one delivers.

Heart Check delivered a charming enemies-to-something-more story full of banter, teen angst, and unexpected warmth. Harper and Dawson started off as polar opposites with years of simmering resentment—but being stuck working together forced them to confront their assumptions, and it was so satisfying to watch their dynamic shift.
The author captured the emotional rollercoaster of high school perfectly—rivalries, rumors, pressure, and dreams. Some of the drama was a little predictable, but the heartfelt moments and genuine chemistry between the leads more than made up for it. A fun, feel-good debut with just the right amount of edge.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

MANNNNNNN WELCOME TO MY NEW HOCKEY ROMANCE OBSESSION! ANOTHER ONE THANK UUUUUUU

This was DELIGHTFUL. Writing this review at 3am because I HAD to finish this entire thing in one sitting. I absolutely adored Harper, I thought she was so strong and brave and ambitious! Dawson took a teeeeny bit longer to grow on me but DANG did that boy turn it around, I’m in love with him. They were sooo cute and fun together; I highlighted so many things and was just having the time of my life with them.

I also really loved the friendships in this! Harper’s with Sabrina, Dawson’s sister, and even Marissa, later, plus Dawson’s with Ryan and Alex. Lots of laugh out loud moments that had me furiously flipping pages. I liked how the conflicts were handled and the ending was adorbs. I only wish there was an epilogue! Consider this my formal petition for more books in this series, please!!!

This read was everything I wanted and more! YA romance when done right is one of my favorite genres and everything about this book, the plot, the characters, the chemistry, the angst… was done so spectacularly well. I was captivated right from the beginning and the way the author crafted the progression of Harper and Dawson’s relationship throughout the book felt so seamless and paced really well. I was definitely giggling and kicking my feet reading this. This book is perfect for readers who love a enemies to lovers, hockey romances, and a fun read THIS ONE IS FOR YOU!!

this book made me so happy. heart check by @emilycharlottebooks is the kind of ya hockey romance that you pick up for something light and fun—and end up flying through in one sitting because it’s just that cute.

and listen… i usually don’t even like romance books that much. they’re just not my thing most of the time. but this one? i loved so much. it was sweet without being cheesy, fun without feeling shallow, and just had such a good vibe the whole way through.

dawson? literal golden retriever energy. he’s sweet, flirty, and i was obsessed with him the entire time. i love a good broody love interest, but dawson reminded me how much i adore the soft, sunshine-y ones too.

the romance is adorable, the vibes are perfect, and it gave me everything i wanted without trying to be too deep or heavy. sometimes you just want a book that feels like a warm hug—and this one totally delivered.

can’t wait for y’all to meet dawson and harper in november. he’s gonna steal so many hearts (like penguins🤭)

rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This was so cute! A well-rounded, fresh take on a hockey romance where both of the characters felt as though they were really living and breathing. Dawson and Harper's arc of falling in love was incredibly natural, and I finished this in one night solely based on wanting more of their banter! The only thing that caught me off guard slightly was the language. For this being a YA book, and every other part of the story feeling very YA, the crass language felt out of place.

Emily Charlotte has incredible talent, and I am excited to read her future books!

This YA hockey romance didn't stand out to me too much. My favorite part was when Catradora was mentioned. I did like that the guy redeemed/explained himself but neither character was very relatable or interesting to me.

Thank you to Simon Teen and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!

𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 is a heartwarming YA contemporary with a romance between a star hockey player and entrepreneur taking center ice in this quick, bingeable story.

I enjoyed Harper and Dawson as characters, but it was almost too fast and feeling slightly unresolved. They weren't overly compelling and act appropriately for high schoolers. It's nothing inventive for the genre, but it does deliver on its premise. I think teens will adore this book!

3.5 rounded to 4 stars.

This was just SO much fun!!!!! I love a hockey romance and this was my first YA one and I loved it so so much!!!! I read it in less than 24 hours I could not put it down!!! The enemies to lovers was so good, the hockey scenes were so good — since going to a couple hockey games I feel like I understand the game way more so it’s so fun to read! I was on the edge of my seat when they were playing!! The romance 🥲🥲🥲 it was so tender and sweet! so high school by Taylor Swift coded! There’s nothing like first love <3

this does not have spice but there is a good bit of language!

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon teen for the arc 🫶🏼