I know, I know - I always say I hate second chance romance and then I read them anyway. Now that that’s out of the way: this book does second chance romance really well. The main characters, Chase and Zoe, come into their forced proximity with a lot of the same resentments and heartbreak that they parted with ten years earlier. However! The ten years difference in maturity really shows in the way they’re better able to empathize with each other in the present, and I really enjoyed reading it. Not to say they didn’t still have some irritating miscommunication moments (they absolutely did), but it did make the gap make sense. Plus they both went on to live their lives in the interim, which seems necessary for a ten year split, but doesn’t always happen in second chance stories.

I will say I struggled with the pacing in the first half. I think the placement of flashback chapters were much too frequent, and resulted in what felt like kneecapping the forward momentum of the present chapters. I found myself a little frustrated and not as invested in Zoe and Chase’s stories as a result. In the second half, the flashback chapters were much more spaced out, and I felt like I could enjoy the book much more. I also felt like the whole mystery about who was threatening and harassing Zoe could have been fleshed out more.

I liked the friendship which Darcy, the dynamic with the other hockey players, and the way Zoe’s (retired) elite athleticism translated to her work with the hockey players. I found it hilarious and weirdly relatable that she felt like a failure with a silver Olympic medal, and seeing her learn her own boundaries was pretty satisfying.

I’d recommend to fans of Chelsea Curto’s hockey romances, Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir, and melodramatic male yearning.

Huge thank you to Sabrina Bowen and Forever Publishing at Grand Central Publishing for the advanced review copy. All opinions are my own. Thrown for a Loop releases November 4, 2025.

What happened a decade ago between Chase and Zoe, and how can they move past it to do their jobs? Present day mixed with scenes from the past help tell the story of Chase and Zoe, with a little mystery thrown in. Minimal spice, and a sweet love story spanning a decade.

Thrown for a Loop is a great second chance hockey romance. With a huge dose of figure skating, along with an amazing new hockey team to obsess over, Sarina Bowen again proves she’s the queen of hockey romance.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Figure skater Zoe Carson and hockey player Chase Merritt met at a skating camp ten years ago, where their relationship crashed and burned, and they never spoke again. Until Zoe is hired as a new skating coach for professional hockey’s Legends, which happens to be Chase’s current team. With Chase struggling with his skating, and Zoe trying to make a professional name for herself, and can they put their romantic past aside? But once an old video of the two of them skating together goes viral, and the team’s PR guru calls for them to reenact the routine for charity, it becomes impossible for them to avoid each other.

I love Zoe as the team’s first woman coach, and the challenges she faces. Usually second chance romance is a hard sell for me, but in this case the dynamic between Chase and Zoe is realistic and well done. This story is told through Zoe’s POV in the present and Chase’s in the past. It makes sense for this story, but I would have loved Chase’s present POV too.

Subtly set in Bowen’s hockey universe, the Legends are a brand new team with great characters and a wonderful found family vibe. While there are a few welcome cameos, including my all time favorite player agent, this is clearly a new series and a great place to start if you’re a new Sarina Bowen reader.

As a longtime Sarina Bowen fan, I always think a new book from her is a treat. Thrown for a Loop is wonderful second chance hockey romance, and I can’t wait to see what’s up next for this new Legends hockey team.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I've only read the Him series by this author, but I saw this arc available and it looked really good so I thought "why not?". Well guys, I really love hockey romance.
Thrown for a Loop is told in a dual timeline, first person with our main character, Zoe, in the present and past in second person. Not gonna lie, that threw me off at first, but I soon got used to it and it didn't bother me much. We follow a hockey player and a skating coach that in the past skated together in a skating camp. The dual timeline made the story addictive, I couldn't put it down because I just needed to know what happened. This was the perfect length, the right amount of angst and spice too.
Is it a little cheesy? Yes. A bit too cliche? Definitely. But sometimes that's all you want.
I'm looking forward to the second book in the series, I'll miss these characters in the meantime.

Thank you Netgalley and Forever for the ARC!

ARC Read - Releasing November 2025. Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy!

Hockey - Figure skater second chance romance.

Zoe is starting a new job as a skating coach for the Legends hockey team. A previous professional figure skate herself, she has spent most of her life on the ice, being the quintessential "ice princess". The only time she really let loose and fell in love was almost a decade ago, one summer fling at a skating camp with a charming hockey player named Chase. Only to have them be torn apart and broken hearted. But coming back to present - this new job happens to be coaching for Chase's hockey team. And he is none too pleased to see her. As both of them remember the circumstances around their heartbreak differently, they continue to butt heads and fight their natural chemistry.
But are they too broken and out of sync to ever rekindle their love? And will outside forces continue to tear them apart?

Thrown for a Loop was a cute sports romance between a hockey player and a competitive figure skater. Chase and Zoe met at figure skating camp 10 years ago. They became quick friends over the summer, but everything blows up at the end of the summer and they lose contact. Except, now Zoe is back as a skating coach for Chase's hockey team. Will they find a way to get past their old hurts as they're constantly orbiting one another?

This story is told between alternating flashbacks and present day. The flashbacks are from Chase's perspective and the current day is told in Zoe's point of view. While I enjoyed the flashbacks and they set the scene for how Chase and Zoe fell in love, I fell a disconnect from the current day. I didn't feel the longing and angst that I want from a second chance romance.

Overall 3 stars for Thrown for a Loop.

This book was absolutely adorable and exactly what I needed to get out of a reading slump. Sweet, charming, and full of heart. I’m a sucker for second-chance romance, and since figure skating is one of my favorite sports, this felt like the perfect match for me!

Zoe Carson deja atrás su pasado como patinadora artística olímpica y se muda a Nueva York para comenzar de nuevo como entrenadora de patinaje en un equipo profesional de hockey. Sabe que en su nuevo trabajo tendrá que enfrentarse a Chase Merritt, el hombre con quien compartió un intenso romance durante un verano, hasta que un error los separó abruptamente. Diez años después, Zoe espera que el reencuentro sea una oportunidad para cerrar heridas, pero la frialdad con la que Chase la recibe deja claro que él aún no ha perdonado ni olvidado. Mientras intentan trabajar juntos por el bien del equipo, los recuerdos, las tensiones no resueltas y la cercanía forzada los obligan a enfrentar su pasado… y quizá a replantearse su futuro.

__


La historia tiene potencial, pero no terminó de convencerme. Los protagonistas eran inmaduros; no me creía que estaban a punto de cumplir los 30. La manera en que ambos actuaron en el presente no tenía sentido, considerando que lo que los separó fue algo ajeno a ambos y ninguno tuvo la culpa. No entendí por qué Chase seguía tan enojado con Zoe ni por qué ella sentía la necesidad de pedirle disculpas. También hizo falta que él tuviera capítulos desde su punto de vista en el presente, lo cual habría ayudado a entender mejor su actitud y emociones.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest.

Thrown for a Loop surprised me in the best way. It’s a smart mix of coming-of-age and messy relationship drama, with sharp dialogue that kept me hooked. The main character is chaotic and relatable, even when she makes awful choices.

The middle dragged a bit, but the ending made up for it. If you like character-driven stories with humor and tension, this is worth picking up. I also finished this in a day, so I would recommend

This book was sweet, with just a little bit of spice! I truly enjoyed reading this story and thought that the characters were both complex and cliche (in a good way). Very classic rom-com book, and I loved it as a former ice skating kid!
Thanks to netgalley and the author/publisher for the ARC

This was so good!! For the sports romance girlies who also love an angsty and swoon worthy second chance romance.

Zoe and Chase have history that unfortunately left them both burned. After having not spoken in years they are forced to work together, bringing on both good and bad memories.

I think Bowen handled the flashback scenes well. They provided enough backstory without lingering in the past. The flashbacks were timed well too. I also liked that the reader can clearly see the feelings from the flashbacks are still present. The reader gets to see their young love but also their romance as adults. The tension between Zoe and Chase was so good! This made their stolen glances, quips and spice that much better.

The characters are well-rounded and I did enjoy the sports in this one. I did like that Zoe was a female coach.

This Cutting Edge inspired romance was fun, swoony and had great second chance romance.

A figure skating/hockey romance that’s a light and engaging read, even for people like me who aren’t huge hockey romance fans. I finished it in one summer day by the pool, and the book fit the bill.

I liked Zoe and Chase, and the story set up some great tropes, with their romance in the past being forbidden, and their reunion 10 years later being forced proximity. There was angst and longing. You get Chase’s POV in the past, and Zoe’s in the present, but Chase’s POV in the present would have really improved the book. Without it, it was hard to see the depth of Chase’s love for Zoe.

Tropes:
-Second chance romance
-Forbidden romance
-Workplace romance
-Forced proximity

Spice: 🌶🌶

Thank you to NetGalley and to Forever for the ARC of Thrown for a Loop by Sarina Bowen.

A new Bowen hockey series? Yes, please!

Thrown for a Loop is the first in a new series with the NY Legends (the same city as her Brooklyn Bruisers series, but it looks like Bess (!) in her agent role serves as the connector between the two series). It follows Olympic silver medalist Zoe Carson as she pivots to a career as a hockey skating coach, only the only team to make her an offer (and as their third choice!) are the NY Legends, the team where her first love, Chase Merritt, plays. Zoe needs to prove herself and gain a non-contract role, but can she convince Chase and all the other players to work with her? And can she and Chase finally forgive each other, especially as their past leaks out to their present?

This is a dual timeline story, recounting Zoe and Chase's past at her uncle's skating camp, and their present at the Legends. It's told solely through Zoe's POV.

This is a Bowen romance, so of course it has great character development, angst, humor, spiciness, etc. It's a great start to a new series for her, and I will definitely be tuning in for Darcy and Tremaine's story next.

I removed a star because I don't care for dual timeline, and there is a dual timeline through the first 70% of the book. I felt like having dual POV instead of past and present would have been a way to strengthen the story and to move toward having our main characters interact more in the present. As it is written, the two don't even really spend time alone together until what feels like the last quarter of the book, which makes it feel lopsided. It's nice we can see their past, but I always like to see how characters react recalling it themselves when older and with a different lens of time vs being told it separately.

*arc review*

If you are looking for second chance love and hockey all wrapped up into one story this is the book for you. Zoe and Chase met at summer camp a few years ago had a little fling and then went completely no contact only to pick up a few years later with her as one of the new coaches! This was a fun read and I really enjoyed the banter between everyone and would love love LOVE a book on mr sharp and his wife because hes just so grumpy but so loveable at the same time. The only thing I feel was a little random was how quickly you find out whos been messing with her since she started there but otherwise it definitely one of my favorites so far. Thanks so much for the Arc!

Ten years ago, the characters spent a summer at figure skating camp, quickly fell in love, but one mistake on Zoe’s part tore them apart. Chase is now the MVP of the New York Legends hockey team, while Zoe is their new skating coach. It seems he is still holding a grudge, and she realizes the attraction between them hasn’t gone anywhere.

The moment I got the ARC, I dove right in—this is a brand-new hockey romance from Sarina Bowen! The book follows a dual timeline—we get to see how their love first blossomed, how fiercely Zoe’s mother protected her, and how vulnerable but hopelessly in love Chase was back then. In the present day, things are different—Zoe is a confident woman who can stand her ground, while Chase is a grumpy, closed-off guy. It was so satisfying to watch his walls slowly come down as he let her back into his life.

I also really appreciated how much actual hockey and figure skating are in this book—you can tell the author truly knows what she’s talking about!

The past chapters were written in third person, which made switching between timelines a bit tricky. I would’ve preferred those scenes to also be in the characters’ POVs to keep the emotional flow more consistent.

I finished the book in a day and genuinely enjoyed it! I’m super intrigued by Darcy and Tremaine and can’t wait to read their story next!

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓hockey romance
✓second chance
✓dual timeline
✓forced proximity

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I was very excited to read this title from Sarina Bowen! She did a fantastic job creating an entertaining story. I enjoyed the banter and thought the characters were well developed. The entire book held my attention. I give it five stars for being able to do that when there is a saturation of this hockey romcom genre. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thrown for a Loop" is such a fun read. Zoe and Chase have instant chemistry, and the hockey + figure skating combo totally gave me *The Cutting Edge* feels—Toe Pick moments and all. I also loved the bit of mystery woven in; it actually kept me guessing, which almost never happens. Sarina Bowen nailed it with this one—flirty, fresh, and just the right amount of drama.

4.5. This was such a cute read! In this book, Zoe and Chase reunite 10 years after their teenage summer fling. Once promising skaters (Zoe as a figure skater, Chase as a hockey player), they are now in new phases of their life -- Chase is a star hockey player on an NHL team while Zoe has retired after going to the Olympics and is now a skating coach for Chase's team. They didn't end their summer of love on a good note, so there's immediate tension when they meet again. The story is told through alternating POV and alternates between present day and flashbacks, adding a nice variety to the read and tension to the plot as you slowly find out what happened in their past.

I will be the first to admit that second chance romance is perhaps my least favorite trope, and author Bowen did an incredible job in making the trope feel fresh and--most importantly for me--not frustrating. Yes, the breakup was based on a miscommunication at the time, but there are nuances to the miscommunication and as adults, the miscommunication is not a belabored plot point (if you can't tell, this is what most bothers me about second chance romances). Instead, I found their teenage romance to be adorably precious and their adult selves to be interesting, well-rounded, and mature as they approached each other again.

I do think there were a few heavier topics that the book introduced that could have been addressed more completely and instead felt a little rushed in the wrap-up (mainly, the issues surrounding Zoe's mom and Chase's dad).

Still, I was glued to this book until I got to the end. I really enjoyed this and I'm already chomping at the bit for the second book in the series (no spoilers, but I can't wait for those characters to get together!)

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the advanced digital copy!

My fave hockey series is Sarina Bowen’s Brooklyn Bruisers and this new one, featuring a different team, New York Legends didn’t disappoint. I breezed right through this Cutting Edge vibes second chance romance.

Zoe and Chase were perfect for each other and it was so refreshing to see that Zoe was also an accomplished athlete in her own right. She was sharp, driven and dedicated to her job. Yet she’s also recovering from a controlling coach/mother who sheltered her and her ex-husband/agent. There’s so many sports romances out there but it’s still rare to see female athletes or coaches, so this book put it a cut above the plethora hockey romances that are all becoming indistinguishable and disposable. It was also lovely to see Bess Beringer and a few little nods to the Bruisers. Also enjoyable was the burgeoning found family happening with the team.

However, I think there was too many flashback chapters. As sweet as it was to see Zoe and Chase as teenagers, and I liked that we hear from Chase’s point of view, I started skipping them. For me, I need a second chance romance to show me in present day the characters confront their past, talk it out and demonstrate how it would work this time around. Especially as I felt like it needed more fleshing out with Zoe coming to realisations about how much her mother and ex controlled her. The pay off felt a bit anti-climactic.

With its well-rounded characters and fresh storyline, Thrown for a Loop cements Sarina Bowen as one of the best hockey romance writers. I’m looking forward to the next one!

Thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the ARC.

Zoe and Chase had undeniable chemistry right from the start, making this an instant page-turner. Sarina Bowen’s seamless blend of hockey and figure skating instantly gave The Cutting Edge vibes—in the best way possible—and yes, the Toe Pick references were perfection!

What really stood out, though, was the suspense element. The subtle mystery surrounding who was harassing Zoe added just the right amount of tension. In a genre where it's often easy to spot the villain early on, Sarina kept me genuinely guessing until the reveal—something I rarely experience in romance-suspense reads.

Overall, Thrown for a Loop is a fresh, flirty, and thrilling addition to the hockey romance world. Bowen scored big with this one.