I’m so so grateful for this arc and oh my gosh was it good!! It’s so hard to find YA hockey romances so this was such a delight!! It was such a fun read and the plot was so captivating. The characters were fleshed out so well, I really felt like I knew them! Harper is this strong and independent girl, I loved seeing her drive and creativity, and Dawson seems like your typical “big man on campus” hockey player, but there’s more to him than that; he’s caring and loyal and seeing those two personalities interact and connect was just so so entertaining to read! Just reading about them as they really got to know each other further than just the surface stuff was so enjoyable. And the enemies to lovers plot line was ah! It was so fun and Oh. My. Gosh. THE BANTER?! I was giggling and smiling throughout this entire book! There were so many cute moments throughout this book and all I’m left asking is…who wants to teach me how to skate?

I’m such a sucker for a hockey romance, I don’t know what it is but I have a ridiculous need to read them all, so when I saw this one up on NetGalley I knew I had to request it. I had a really good time with this one. It was cute and I enjoyed watching the characters lose their defenses with one another as they realized they’d misjudged. I also liked the focus on Harper’s business, and the dinner setting. Over all this was cute and cozy and I’m glad I read it! Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

Welcome to the diner where the milkshakes are cold, but the teen angst is piping hot.
Emily Charlotte’s Heart Check is the kind of debut that makes you want to root for school spirit, scream into a pillow, and then cry a little when two high school enemies slowly start to see each other for real. This is YA gold: sharp banter, simmering tension, and characters who feel so authentically teen, you’ll swear you’ve met them before.
Meet the Leads:
🧊 Harper Braedon: Jewelry artist, anti-school-spirit queen, and quiet firecracker with a chip on her shoulder the size of the art department’s funding gap.
🔥 Luke Dawson: Star hockey player, golden boy with a crumbling dream, and the emotional depth of a pond—at least until you look a little closer.
They’ve worked opposite shifts at the same diner forever, and it’s been going great (read: silently hating each other and passive-aggressively restocking condiments). But when staffing changes force them to work together, the sparks fly—mostly from tension, occasionally from very confused feelings.
The twist? Luke thinks Harper tanked his coach’s job. Harper thinks Luke’s hockey dreams come at the expense of everything she loves. And yet... somewhere between fry baskets and shared frustrations, the ice starts to crack.
Why It Works:
💬 Banter that’s perfectly barbed and painfully real
👀 Slow-burn enemies-to-friends-to-something-more perfection
💔 Real stakes—dreams, reputations, and the struggle of being seen
✨ A quiet exploration of passion, pressure, and how easy it is to misunderstand someone when you only ever look from the outside in
🥤 Diner scenes that are straight out of a Netflix teen rom-com
This book never tries to make its characters perfect—just real. Harper’s got walls higher than the art room ceiling. Luke’s trying not to fall apart under the weight of college scouts and team loyalty. Together, they bring out the best and worst in each other in a way that feels beautifully human.
TL;DR:
Heart Check is an effortlessly charming YA rom-com with emotional depth, swoon-worthy tension, and a heart as big as its teen dreams. It’s about assumptions, second chances, and the quiet courage it takes to actually talk to someone you think you already know. Think Friday Night Lights meets To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before... with more fries and feelings.

This was a cute read. I liked both characters and loved seeing their growth throughout the story. Although it was a sweet read that I was easily able to get into I wish the characters had a bit more depth. I wish we saw more of Marissa and Noah’s motivations and I wish the ending took its time to show us the full picture. Still, it was a nice read that others should give a read. 3.75 stars rounded up

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

HEART CHECK by Emily Charlotte (Nov 18)

Thank you Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the earc

Luke Dawson and Harper Braedon are far from friends, but they could be (trading shifts, sharing classes, both driven). Dawson thinks Harper is stuck up and Harper thinks Dawson is a self-centered jock. When the hockey coach is fired, Dawson is worried about scouts and Harper is blamed for the firing. Soon though, things shift and there's no denying how they feel for one another as there brought together time and time again.
HEART CHECK is a YA romance that blends romance with every day struggles (think money, sports over other school activities, etc.) This book was really cute. It's dual point of view, so you get both sides of the story, and who doesn't love knowing what both parties are thinking? Especially in an rival/enemies to not-exactly-enemies to maybe-this-person-isn't-as-bad-as-I-thought to lovers book.  I don't read a lot of romantic things (except romantasy), but I love watching romcoms, and HEART CHECK is such a nice romcom.
HEART CHECK is a really fast-paced read. I flew through this in just a few days. I was smiling, loving the banter and bickering, and I thought these two main characters were very likeable. And they deserved everything.
Honestly, though, my favorite part was the setting. It took me to winter, the holidays, and I just loved it.

I really loved this YA romance! I thought that Harper and Luke were both great main characters, and I really enjoyed the opposites attract/light enemies to lovers relationship they had! I also really liked the side characters, and had a great time reading this book. It was very fast-paced, and I read it in two sittings; it was a very fun, easy read, and I would 100% recommend it to anyone looking for a cute YA sports romance. I'm excited to read whatever Emily Charlotte writes next! This was an excellent debut :)

Thank you so much for letting me review this book! It was so good I couldn’t put it down! I honestly think this was my first non spicy hockey romance which I loved!

In this feel-good young adult rom-com, star hockey player Luke Dawson and artistic jewelry-maker Harper Braedon are unlikely coworkers who clash over school priorities, he champions sports, she champions the arts. When Dawson’s hockey coach is fired over budget issues and a rumor blames Harper, tensions explode. Forced to work together at an after-school diner job, their rivalry deepens, until unexpected moments begin to chip away at their assumptions. As their walls come down, the two must decide if common ground and maybe even friendship, or more, is possible.

My favorite parts of the books were the interludes, I thought they provided a nice transition and gave us some sweet moments between Dawson and Harper.
I also loved that Harper is a strong woman and I believe her character is a great role model for girls reading this book! The romance scenes were a great mix of heightening tension while also having those sweet heartfelt moments. I also really like the first half of the book, I found it instantly captivating!

My least favorite aspects of this books was how back and forth Dawson and Harper were regarding their feelings for one another. It became kind of repetitive and frustrating, which led me having to put the book down for a break despite enjoying it! It also felt rushed, I feel like if it was told over the course of the school year, that way Harper and Dawson’s relationship becomes more natural, I would have enjoyed it a lot more!

Overall, I rate this book a 3.5 stars and I can never go wrong from a YA Hockey Romance. I would definitely recommend this to my friends and fellow BookTokers.

There is so much to love about Heart Check! The banter, the friendships (especially the bromances), the authenticity of teenagers with big dreams, and even the villain (he was so unlikeable it was fantastic) - I loved it all.

Heart check is funny, heartwarming, and a surprising tearjerker. I was definitely crying during the final locker room scene! I truly cannot wait to read more of Emily Charlotte's books and will definitely be recommending this to everyone.

I won’t pass up a hockey romance.I will never pass up the opportunity to ARC read a cute, YA, enemies to lovers one! Heart Check is Emily Charlotte’s debut novel and it gave me all the feels. Not only was the writing smart and well-paced, but the cover is SO CUTE. If you enjoy banter, likeable characters, and “So High School” coded books, I’m glad you found my review and found your next read!

Overall, this was a charming read! Harper and Dawson are caught in a constant feud because they both have very strong, but unnecessary opinions of each other. However, after taking the time to truly understand one another, they quickly realize they were both mistaken. Not gonna lie, I wasn’t sure I would like Harper at first, but she definitely grew on me. I think it was her strong disdain for the hockey team and everyone connected to them, as well as how snooty she could be about her jewelry, that made her initially hard to like. I genuinely liked Dawson and how he was willing to admit his faults and work to show Harper that he and the team were not all bad or responsible for the money spent on them, and that her anger was misguided. Overall, they ended up making a cute couple, and I enjoyed watching them grow together.

3.5⭐️

“The only thing that matters is the look on Harper’s face as she searches my expression for 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. If I knew what it was, I’d give it to her in an instant.”

🧊I found the first 50 or so pages hard to get into, but after that I absolutely devoured this book! I’m not going to lie and say it wow’d me, there were definitely some lulls and conflicts that got resolved a little too quickly\didn’t even need to happen— but, it was just a solid, fun read. My biggest complaint is that I actually would have liked one more chapter in Dawson’s pov at the end. Which is crazy, because usually my biggest fault with romance books is that I feel like the endings get dragged out.

🧊 As for the characters, I thought they were really cute and had nice development. Dawson was giving boy-obsessed, which is always a hit in my eyes, and I liked how resilient and confrontational Harper was. Love a strong female character who can also admit when she’s at fault without it feeling out of character!

🧊Overall, I think Heart Check is a solid debut novel. I also think there is definitely some room for improvement in certain areas, but I believe that those improvements will be made and am excited to follow along on this author’s journey! :)

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC!

This is a very sweet story. The athletics vs. the arts tug of war was reminiscent of my time in high school. I appreciate the discussion of the characters being worn thin as that is a challenge faced by many teens. I struggled a little because I would have enjoyed if the author would have introduced more nuance into the “battle” between our main characters, and I wish there was more period of friendship between the protagonists before they became romantically interested in each other.

Rating: 3.5 rounded up.

the tension. the hate to love. omg this was such a cute little YA rom com.

dawson and harper both have so much pressure they put on each other, and while they both have their issues and opinions about one another. they come to find out maybe they’re more alike then they realize.

take a dive into this cute romance book and experience finding yourself, spreading your wings, trying new things, and experiencing love for the first time.

Heart Check has been the most anticipated YA novel on my TBR list since I read the premise several months ago. As a major fan of hockey, any novel involving the sport is one I feel compelled to read. Thus, from the outset, my expectations for Emily Charlotte’s writing were high. Upon reflection, while I don’t think they were met with respect to every element, Heart Check was still an incredible read and definitely a novel I would be willing to not only re-read, but actively recommend to everyone in my life.

Within the first several pages, I was concerned about how strong of a connection and attraction Dawson and Harper would have, for Harper was rather unlikable as a female protagonist. Sure, her disdain for the hockey team and subsequently, the players, was warranted, given the disparate amount of attention and money it took away from other school organizations and activities. However, the amount of times she ‘harped’ (pun intended) on the evident inequality present throughout the school, scoffed at the inane comments and the overzealous fangirl behavior of her classmates, and discussed her and Marissa’s social isolation from the rest of their peers resulted in establishing Harper as someone just as conceited as the people at whom she snubbed her nose. Indeed, she even admitted to feeling powerful once her classmates took notice of her bracelets and perhaps revealed a bit of narcissism with respect to her opinion of her jewelry style.

(On that side note: Given the amount of similar items people on Etsy and other entrepreneurs are selling at this point in time, it was difficult for me not to roll my eyes when Harper described her new line of necklaces as ‘abstract’ and then, proceeded to explain that the designs featured symbols of goals and energy, along with lightning bolts, fluffy clouds, and four-leaf clovers. Perhaps I am too critical of what constitutes as abstract and unique nowadays. However, if Heart Check takes place in 2025, Harper’s claim seems out of touch. As she prides herself on her business savvy, I loathe to think what would happen once she realized how commonplace those designs have been for 20+ years.)

All in all, there was a disconnect with respect to Harper’s characterization for the first few chapters. Charlotte aimed to make Harper seem passionate about the social and fiscal mistreatment of the lesser-recognized extracurricular activities at the school and driven by her goals. However, ultimately (at least in my opinion), all she succeeded in doing was make Harper’s inner monologue difficult to read (particularly in Chapter 4) and make me question if the journey to overcome her prejudice would be realistic. Moreover, I agreed when Dawson pondered whether or not Harper’s warmth and friendliness with her customers were sincere. Luckily, by the end of the novel, Harper redeemed herself.

Dawson, however, was a different story with respect to his affable personality. While he was incredibly in the wrong for rallying to get Harper fired and for automatically assuming she spilled the beans on Coach Red, his obvious latent attraction to her (even before Red’s firing) hinted at the fact that he subconsciously didn’t believe she was at fault. When he asked Harper to go to the party and spent the evening being as attentive as he possibly could, it was clear that his transgressions were a result of his pride and not because he genuinely had nefarious intentions. Said pride also led Dawson to realize how disconnected the members of the team were and how instrumental Coach Dan’s approach and attitude were for the team’s overall wellbeing and success. I am not sure if Charlotte intended for Heart Check to honor the themes of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, as Dawson’s pride wasn’t as directed towards Harper as it was towards hockey. Regardless, it worked.

It was during Dawson and Harper’s late-night chat after the hockey team’s party that I finally felt the respect that was necessary to drive the two characters’ development and foster their eventual relationship. That said, the storyline seemed rushed and it would have been more beneficial had Harper been given more time to recognize her faults before she attended the party, as her epiphany re: the hockey team and therefore, Dawson, seemed abrupt.

I was particularly tickled by how much Dawson cared about making amends for his wrongdoings in order to prove to Harper because it was the right thing to do. I also was surprised how clearly he recognized the toxicity of Lindsey’s relationship with her girlfriend Sara. Had Charlotte provided more anecdotes about his kindness towards other people (not just Harper), especially at the beginning of the novel, Dawson could have fully realized the golden retriever personality she purported him to have.

Though their moments of tension were well written, I honestly wish Charlotte had established Dawson’s and Harper’s acquaintance-ship and co-worker relationship a bit more— that is, I wish she had deepened their history and prior connection. In fact, I was wondering if Charlotte was going to establish that they were once friends. Or, that Dawson had been in love with Harper for years, especially whenever Dawson waxed poetic about Harper’s green eyes and her hair, how many times he remembered details about her, or just outright blatantly stared at her. I digress though, as that may be a byproduct of my own fondness for those tropes.

Heart Check easily could have been longer—more chapters throughout the novel would have given Charlotte the opportunity to provide additional hints about Coach Red’s whistleblower. A few chapters after the Northview win also could have been when Harper revealed that information to Dawson. An epilogue detailing if Harper won the grant and if Dawson was recruited to a USHL team during his senior year would have completed the story, as those questions were left unanswered.

Despite the criticism of the characters I included above, I believe Charlotte succeeded in creating a convincing narrative. As an aforementioned fan of hockey, I also appreciate the level of detail she put into the description of the games, as other hockey novels sometimes gloss over them.

Thank you so much to Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing, Margaret K. McElderry Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC! Fingers crossed Emily Charlotte will write another book or two in this universe!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I unfortunately do not think I am the target audience for this book. I think preteens and young adults will really like it! As someone who is older I think that’s why I couldn’t connect to either of our main characters. I will say that it was refreshing to learn about hockey! Sometimes I think hockey don’t primarily focus on the sport but I was pleasantly surprised to see how detailed the games were.
Once again, the enemies to lovers were not true enemies and I wish books could stop being marketed this way. Especially when the FMC right off the bat talks about how “hot” the MMC is. The romance felt a bit fast paced for me
Overall this wasn’t for me but I think others might enjoy!!

4 ☆

Thank you Simon and Schuster for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am newer to the YA romance genre, I typically read adult romance novels, but I’ve wanted to expand my reading horizons a bit and honestly Emily Charlotte is the place to start because WOW this is such a heartwarming, cozy, and engaging debut.

I absolutely LOVED everything these two characters put out. The enemies to lovers was full force and it had me enthralled from start to finish. He is the star hockey player, and she’s the entrepreneur with her own jewelry business. Going to a school where most of the funding, and all of the attention, goes into sports leaves Harper feeling bitter about the lack of opportunities her, and other students, have due to the clear priority of sports. Her resentment trickles into her and Luke’s dynamic not only as schoolmates, but coworkers (FORCED PROXIMITY🤌!)

From the opening page of Heart Check, I knew we were in for a treat. Harper is the perfect example of a determined, willful, and dedicated individual. She leads with fierce heart but a thorough sense of her known purpose which I adored. She loves hard, but is so very protective of who she shows that too.

Luke is the golden boy who everyone knows and loves (except Harper🤭). He is a passionate, observant, and driven person. A natural born leader, who needs just a bit of reassurance to showcase those qualities. He deep down knows what he aspires, but is learning to trust his instincts a bit more.

When I tell you these two are the sweetest thing!! Watching their trust for each other grow, the protectiveness kick in, and the pre conceived ideas they had about each other disappear was a whirlwind in the best way. Luke and Harper had such soft moments that made you feel so fuzzy and warm. The small town feel made this book turn into a nice snug hug…perfect for the late fall time when this debut book enters the world.

Prepare yourselves for Heart Check because you will need this book in your hands imminently!

Heart Check was everything and much more.
Emily did a remarkable job with the writing, I was lost in the world of Luke Dawson and Harper Braedon and there was no tomorrow. Her words reached out for me and wrapped me in a warm everlasting hug full of warmth and love. The emotions I felt reading this book were unconceivable. It was IMPECCABLE! Her expressions knocked the wind out of me. Really!

I just love how she captured those everyday feelings, you just cant explain and sealed them in a jar for better understanding. She gave words to them. The plotline was quite predictable, but Emily's way of narrating it was so satisfying! And I can only admire the way she truly understood how each of her characters would interpret a certain situation, most writers, even NYT bestselling ones, don't have that in them. She balanced it all: romance, comedy, sports. Just the perfect pinch of it all. Viola!

The characters were beautifully written! Luke Dawson was utter perfection, all smirks and dark curls, I can assure you there was giggling and kicking my feet in the air reading his POV's. He's so unbearably charming. And Harper Braedon was such a relatable character, you don't find one of them these days. I love her whole "no nonsense" personality! Especially her unwavering commitment.

Oh what a delight! Heart Check is the perfect romcom for unwinding on a weekend. I believe it has the potential to very soon become a New York Times Bestseller. Emily Charlotte sure does know how to write a perfect romcom! Emily, I aspire to be as cool as you one day.

Until then...
GO HAWKS! GO!

This was such a cutesy YA romance, and I’m always a sucker for a good bicker-to-love story (especially when the banter really delivers). This book had all of that, and it made the relationship feel fun and playful.

One of my favorite elements was the Interludes. The sections written entirely in text messages between the main characters added a unique touch and broke up the story in a way that felt fresh. I can’t wait to see how those look in the physical book—hopefully in actual text bubble format, because that would make it even more fun.

The setting felt believable and grounded, and I enjoyed following each character as they worked toward their individual goals. That said, there were times the story felt a little rushed. Some moments of higher emotional impact wrapped up quickly, which kept the pacing light and fast but also left me wanting more tension and depth.

The romance itself was sweet and well-paced at first, with small, meaningful moments that made the build-up satisfying. But as things moved along, the connection between the main characters started to feel a bit surface level since those deeper moments weren’t fully explored.

I will say, the assumption I had (trying to be a little detective and whatnot) was wrong. I like that!! 🤣

Even with the minor disappointments I mentioned, this was still a very cute and enjoyable read overall—perfect if you’re looking for a light, fun YA romance with great banter.

If you know me, you know I absolutely EAT UP a hockey romance. This was no different. Heart Check is a YA hockey romance (which is oddly rare in my experience) with MCs that aren’t absolutely toxic and only miscommunicate like normal people (instead of two people who pretend they never talked to another person before). Harper is a badass businesswoman who overcomes (what is essentially) bullying to not only get a man that is obsessed with her, but is successful in her business! I love a girlboss moment and Harper brought that. Luke is a green little flag if I’ve ever seen one. He miscommunicates, but is also a teenage boy so it would be non-believable if he didn’t, so I actually don’t hate the miscommunication this time around. He defends Harper when it matters most and uplifts his friends when he could just try to take the glory for the scout.

Luke and Harper are such a cute couple and I am dyingggg to see how their relationship fares in Juniors, college, and (obviously) the NHL! I *will* be preordering once I post this review! I also just want to say, kudos to the artist as well this is one of my favorite covers of the year!