I LOVE THIS BOOK!! It’s a literal dream! I loved Noah’s bloodiness and the only person he lets in is her. Their connection was beautiful. I loved seeing them connect with their differences and their understanding each other. And who doesn’t love a “who did this to you” kinda moment?

Hockey romance is my favourite genre. And this book made it on my a time favourite list 🤩 not surprising. But it was cute, sweet and fast paced. Highly recommend

I had a love and dislike relationship with this book. I liked the characters but thought that sometimes it was overly descriptive and it was a slowwww burn. Be prepared for that!!! All in all, it was a cute and easy hockey romance.

Short synopsis: Allegra moves cross country for a fresh start, moving in with a college friend and two other NHL Hockey players.

My thoughts: Obsessed is an understatement. The SWOON, the banter, the hilarious one liners, don’t forget the lucky jersey, and a cat named Harry Styles the Third that had a soft spot for hockey players.

I adored how each of the boys adored Ally, and her growth throughout the book. She had some past trauma, and I liked how she was able to work through that to be her best self. Noah was so sweet and tender, I love a man that adores his nieces (honestly one thing that made me fall for my man). He was bit grumpy generally speaking but so soft when it came to Ally.

I took my time with this because I didn’t want to rush it, but I’m dying to go back and read Desire or Defense (@leahbrunner) and I Think He Knows (@katiebailey) and see Ally and Noah as kids.

Read if you love:
* Roommates to lovers
* Hockey/Ballet romance
* Found Family
* Grumpy sunshine
* Personal growth

A cute, slow burn, quick read that will have you immediately rooting for the 2 main characters to get together and stop fighting the attraction they both feel!





Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy

3.5 ⭐️ .5 🌶️ (Closed door, kissing only really)

I wish I liked this more than I did! It was entertaining though! Noah and Ally/Allegra were pretty cute together. A dash of grumpy/sunshine, with a sprinkle of protective MMC, overall it was a pretty cute book! The one thing I felt was slightly undercooked was on-page chemistry between Noah and Ally. It felt like it went from attraction to infatuation to love fairly quickly. I’d have loved to see them working their feelings out considering how young they were (20/23).

As stated, this was pretty cute! If you like Forced proximity, roommates, hockey, grumpy/sunshine, this is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I absolutely fell in love with this book! I was lucky enough to listen and read it with my eyeballs, and these authors work so well together! I couldn’t stop!

Noah and Ally’s story had me hooked from the very beginning, and I couldn’t put it down. Noah is the ultimate grump—broody, stubborn, and laser-focused on hockey, but the way Ally cracks through those walls?? Perfection. Their banter, their tension, and the oh-so-swoony moments in between made me fall head over heels.

Ally was such a standout for me. She’s strong, resilient, and funny in all the right ways. The way her healing journey was written felt so real and so moving—I adored her even more for it. And let’s be honest, the cat might just be the sneaky MVP of the story 😂

The supporting cast totally added to the magic, too (give me all the hockey roommates, please). But at the heart of it, Noah and Ally’s slow-burn romance had the perfect mix of steam, heart, and healing.

Now I’m already counting down until we get more from this world because I am officially obsessed. 🥰

Thank you to NetGalley, Katie Bailey, and Leah Brunner for an advanced copy of this book.

I absolutely love this book. I thought It was an incredible hockey romance. While still closed door it also had to language, innuendo, and lust that one expects from a hockey romance so I do think it would be a great book for both those that love spice as well like a closed door book.

On my own I also got the audiobook and the narration was great. They really brought the characters to life and it felt like I was watching it play out in my head. I almost want to say to grab this book as an audio instead if you are debating between the two but either is a great option.

If you love the TV show “new girl” you will love this book!

Thank you to LBP LLC & Eleventh Avenue Publishing Inc. and NetGalley for the ARC of Rookie Season in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t typically read a lot of closed door romances, but I do have to say that Rookie Season is one of the best that I have read. The relationship build between Ally and Noah was executed perfectly and I loved the roommate to lovers trope even under the guise of Noah being displeased by Ally’s presence in the loft with his two other NHL teammates. All of the characters presented were so lovable and I cannot wait for their own spinoffs in the upcoming books.

I would also be remiss if I didn’t point out how well the authors handled the subject of sexual assault and gaslighting as such a sensitive but important subject as Ally continued to heal from her past throughout the book. Noah’s support for her was what I hope every person struggling through that event gets to experience while recovering and rebuilding. An actual master class of support, love, and protection were woven throughout and I adored it!

As I mentioned earlier, while this is a closed door romance, the connection between Noah and Ally literally smolders the pages. I almost wish this book was written in two forms: one closed door and one with the door thrown wide open! Hint hint to our wonderful authors ;) I will absolutely be on the lookout for the second book in this series as I’m on pins and needles wondering who will be featured next!

This new adult, lightly spicy hockey romance brings together Allegra and Noah—characters fans may remember as the kids from the authors’ previous books apparently (which I’ve not read). Despite being co-written, the novel reads seamlessly. The writing flows effortlessly, and you’d never guess it came from two different voices. Both Allegra and Noah have distinct, well-developed POVs, and I loved the strong character voices here.

There’s real emotional depth in this story despite the age level. Both Allegra and Noah are carrying heavy baggage from their pasts, and the narrative doesn't shy away from exploring it. Trauma, therapy, and healing are thoughtfully woven into the story, with therapy portrayed in a positive and normalized way, something I deeply appreciated represented in the way that it was.

Their dynamic is the epitome of grumpy x sunshine. The chemistry between them is electric, with slow-burn tension that builds into something much deeper. Allegra’s journey to reclaim her identity and heal was heartbreaking yet incredibly empowering. And Noah is a classic grump with a hidden soft side. His emotional growth throughout the book had me swooning more with every chapter. Watching these two navigate their pasts and grow together felt both satisfying and emotionally resonant.

The burn is slow (and lower spice), with the forced-proximity building tension. The witty banter, gradual vulnerability, and undeniable attraction made their romance really sweet and charming. That said, while the book touches on some heavy, important themes, it sometimes felt like these weren't explored as fully as they deserved. At times, the trauma seemed more like a backdrop to add drama rather than something truly processed on page. I wanted a bit more of that.

This is mostly a closed-door romance., though there is some implied spice and salty language still. (fine for me) Personally, I found myself wishing for a bit more heat on the page, even though I knew it was closed door going in, it’s just been a minute since I’ve read closed door and I was craving that for more connection and intimacy between them, I think.

The supporting cast is great, especially Fisher and Penn, the two other roommates. I absolutely loved them, their protectiveness, and what they added to the story. I wouldn’t be surprised if their stories are next in line.

Overall, this is an emotionally rich, character-driven romance with plenty of tension, heartfelt growth, and a stellar character cast. Looking forward to more from these authors.

All I needed to hear was that this gave New Girl Vibes and I was sold. Noah and Ally are absolutely adorable, even though he was a total grump to her in the beginning. But he couldn’t resist her and was an amazing support to her. I love the San Francisco setting! And all of the characters introduced, I’m excited to see where this series goes.

Ally deals with some heavy things and I liked the way it was handled and what it added to the story. Check those triggers before jumping in if you have any.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 ⇣
•New adult
•Hockey romance 
•Grumpy sunshine
•Roommates to lovers  
•He can’t resist her 
•Protective MMC
•Healing from past trauma
•Found family 
•New Girl vibes 
•Dual POV
•Fade to black

Thank you to the authors and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

I was so excited when I saw that Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner were going to be co-writing a book this year! I nearly fell off my chair when I saw the book was about Legs and Noah! Two characters that were so well done in their original series, I couldn’t wait to pick up the book and see where life had taken them.

I was nervous in the beginning about getting new views into these worlds after there was some closers to them. However, my nerves were unfounded as they combined and reopened these worlds seamlessly!

Seeing Noah grown up and hearing his thoughts was so eye opening. Getting the understanding of what is driving him to be the best hockey player was insightful. His seriousness for hockey in the previous series really connected for me. I actually laughed out loud when I saw that Ally had another cat named Harry Styles!

If you are a fan of New Girls you will love this! The roommates were comedy gold and the dynamic of their friendship together was so fun!

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

When I applied for this arc I didn’t realise it was a next gen series. I have read Andie/Mitch’s story so knew of Noah. Allegra was a new character. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and now am excited to read Penn and Fishers books. How they became to be roommates is a new one to me and a refreshing change to the well known brothers best friend/roommate trope. Whilst it was lighthearted and an easy read, it also treated Ally’s storyline with tact and sensitivity. I also liked that there wasn’t any spice. It’s not always needed to tell the story and was appropriate

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book to review.

This was a spicy romance novel, and I enjoyed it a lot. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

I loved this book! It had depth, it had steam but no spice, and it kept you engaged the whole way through! I have read Leah’s series that kind of feeds into this one so I knew those characters well and loved hearing about their lives and getting so see Noah all grown up! I loved that his character was so protective and sweet, but also a little closed off and grumpy! I loved Katie’s character Allegra and it made me want to go read her series! I liked how Allegra grew in her confidence throughout the book and how the boys helped her heal from the trauma she dealt with. All around this was a great book with great characters!

REVIEW:
Oh, Allegra how I have missed you!
This book was just what my heart needed. Reading Allegra's story was so relatable for so many women, reading it as a mom was heartbreaking, but also inspiring. Knowing life may not always be fair, but also knowing there is hope, it is such a powerful message.
Thank you for letting me in on this journey!

Book one in the Hockey Boys of Loft 3B series—and what a way to kick it off! When two of my favorite authors team up for a hockey romance, I knew I had to read it. And wow, it did not disappoint!

This new adult roommates-to-lovers romance had everything I love:
💙 Grumpy x Sunshine
💙 Hockey player + dancer
💙 Protective MMC (swoon-worthy Noah!)
💙 Found family + New Girl vibes
💙 Healing from past trauma
💙 A love story that makes your heart feel full

Noah and Allegra were just perfect together—he couldn’t resist her, and I couldn’t resist this book. I was hooked from page one and didn’t stop until I was finished. It was sweet, swoony, and absolutely unputdownable.

✨Fav Quote✨
“Her words are like a hug to my soul. A soul that I didn’t realize was lonely until I met her.”

📚 If you love hockey romance, found family, or a MMC who will melt your heart, this one is a must-read!

✨🎶Whose that girl... It's Ally🎶🤭

📖 Rookie Season by @authorkatiebailey & @leah.brunner.writes
Available now on KU | Audio | Paperback
🎧 Stephen Dexter and CJ Bloom

If you like -- new girl vibes, second gen, grief and healing, enemy energy to friends to more, BANTER🔥, sizzle without the spice-- you will love this one!

This story was SO GOOD friends. I was so emotional and giddy over these two. The banter and TENSION was delicious. 🤭 I think the authors did such an incredible job when dealing with Noah's grief and Ally's past. I absolutely love the roomies. They truly are such a family and have each other's back.

If you are an audiobook girlie-- I couldn't recommend the audio more. It was absolute perfection. Truly. The narrators did such an incredible job bringing this story to life. I couldn't imagine a better duo for these characters!

**This book touches on some very sensitive subjects. Highly recommend checking triggers before diving in.**

Noah Downsby is playing in his first season in the NHL. He didn't need any distractions. Hockey is his main focus. The last thing he was expecting was to fall for his cute new roommate and her cat!

Allegra Callahan dropped out of college after a traumatic experience and moves to San Francisco for a fresh start teaching dance and to make it in the ballet. She was not looking for a relationship but is very attracted to her grumpy new roommate and as much as she tried to she couldn't resist him!

Their banter was so cute! This book was equal parts funny and emotional! I loved them so much! I loved how patient he was with her too! The roommates group text was hilarious. This was such a wholesome and emotional story that tugged at my heartstrings.

I love how these two characters were brought together by these authors. We first met Noah in Book 1 of the DC Eagles series by Leah Brunner and Allegra Callahan is Lana Mae's daughter from the Donovan Family series Book 2 by Katie Bailey. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

Thank you to Leah Brunner, Katie Bailey , NetGalley and LBP LLC & Eleventh Avenue Publishing Inc. for an e-Arc copy of this book.

Tropes:
roommates to lovers
hockey player x Dancer
grumpy/sunshine
Hockey romance
protective MMC
He falls first
Found family