Ok so.
Firstly i did enioy the book. I thought it had some real good potential. However, i thought the book was far to long (imo). I did go through every emotion going but i just felt it got a little repetative at times.

I also couldn't gel with the mmc. I didn't really like him and the miscommunication trope throws me everytime. I wanted to shout at the book.

I did however, enjoy the book on an overall scale. There was just certian tropes i don't like (in my opinion)

This book was a hot mess and I loved it.

Every character was engaging, even the side characters. The plot was a bit of wild and the hockey was minimal, which isn’t the greatest for a sports romance. But I loved every moment of it and couldn’t put it down.

I want a Bear in my life too! He was so supportive of June throughout everything that she was going through. Loved that hockey was not the main focus of the book as well. We didn’t see any games played or go to practice with them. We just read about an amazing found family, supportive love, and a kick ass woman ☺️

there is a reason these books are becoming popular. they HAVE to be done well though. i've see some not done well and then they are icky, feel wrong. you know when you go into a book like that whether the delicate balance has been secured. this one secured allll the goods.
welcome to June and Bear's story. and are we here for it, yes yes we are.
these two have a somewhat shaky beginning to put it lightly. but how they develop, how they come together for such a gentle and tender connection was top tier hit your heart story. how we watched them live their own story and grow through it, but also how we got to watch the one together was gorgeous. and we got to see it, we got to know it with them. the parts Bree included of their story made us truly get and feel involved. so we were rooting for them both as their individuals but then oh so very much together. so much was i caring about these too that i genuinely worried for how they would both fair. i mean i need their happy ending by this point. no other ending could do if my heart wasn't to shatter. Bree really builds a world for us. the balance between our pairs story and the upside down antics within the system and team is done so well. its like we get up and go to sleep with this characters. we know them now. how Bear and June became each others supporters was so heartwarming. they both needed that so much! and then as a whole how the team show up for each other, that found family dynamic was just golden. the way they show up and protect their own gave my heart swooping moments.
Bear is adorable. hes thoughtful, hes supportive and i loved how he showed up for June in her struggles.
its worth mentioning June and the illness she faced might be a trigger for some. ed's don't need to be in depth horror stories or "mentions" to trigger those who have struggled. Bree handles it well. But for those that KNOW, please be brave enough not to read this and know that is THE BRAVEST thing to sometimes do. it made me all the more protective of June throughout this book. i was willing to stand up and fight for or with her. anyone who braves this illness is an absolute warrior, hero, inspiration right off the bat.
this book was heart warming, messy,sweet, witty, banter filled, and deep and meaningful heart beating moment filled too.
i love it. i had the best time reading this book and cant wait to see more from them. although my only issue now is my angst over whether id be lucky enough to read the others!

After losing her campus housing, June is desprate for a solution. She'll do anything. Even be the social media manager for the college hockey team (that none of the campus knows exists) and room with her toxic ex's stepbrother.

Read if you like:
-Ex's Stepbrother
-Soap Operas
-Chaos
-Miscommunication
-Found Family
-Wet Cat MMC

Call the Shots was a little bit of a hot mess. I almost DNFed after reading the dedication about trimming the word count and axing subplots because I started to worry that this book would be too much. But I stuck it out. And I was right. The book is too long and was really repetitive. It went: problem, threaten the problem with lawyers, everything is fine...for now. The continued miscommunication trope was also difficult to get through. And the book did so much telling rather than showing. Some of the 'big reveals' had zero foreshadowing and came completely out of left field.

Does Call the Shots have potential? Yes. If the word count was trimmed, repetitive parts removed, and some foreshadowing was sprinkled in, I'd have no issues recommending this book. I loved Bear's wet cat aesthetic and some parts were really emotional, but all that was overwhelmed by the issues I had with the rest of the book.

4.5⭐️
Okay first of all… this book did not need to be almost 500 pages 😅 BUT because it was that long, I swear I went through every single emotion. One minute I’m laughing, the next I’m actually crying my eyes out.

Let’s talk about Bear. 🐻
He’s the ultimate grumpy hockey player — hates everyone, only has eyes for June, and is just so lovable. Like, obsessed.

And June… her struggle with body image was written in such a real way, and seeing Bear support her through everything?? 🥹 my heart could not handle it.

Now let’s be real, this is not your cozy, wholesome romance. The drama was literally on every page — messy, chaotic, TV-series-level drama. And honestly? I was HERE for it. 🍿

I won’t lie, at first it was a little confusing with how many characters there were (my brain was scrambling to keep up 😂), but once I did, the drama was DRAMA-ERING.

Also, Bear’s family? Hated them. His found family with the hockey boys? LOVED. That part made my heart so full. 🥰

Overall: Not a light read, but if you love messy drama, swoony hockey boys, and emotional rollercoasters, this one’s for you.

Reading Call the Shots was a bit like getting thrown into a hockey rink and expected to pick up the game while people whizzed by me and pucks flew around, instead of someone sitting me down, explaining the rules, and giving me the chance to familiarize myself with the game before throwing me straight into it.

That is to say, I was dropped into a spin-off for what is (at the moment) a 4-book series without any type of warning or disclaimer. It was not a smooth introduction. The setup felt like it was being done at light speed and with only, like, 25% of the necessary explanations. Sort of like I was getting a recap of something I was supposed to already be familiar with, when in reality this was the first time any of these facts were being presented to me. Made me feel a bit like Elle Woods during her first class at law school (I wasn't aware there'd been assigned reading before class!).

I also didn't much like the third-act quasi-breakup. It felt very forced, given the fact that this was a dual POV book, and information had been purposely hidden just to add drama at the finish line. When you spend half a book inside a character's head, it makes no sense to spring some new MAJOR detail on a topic the two main characters had already discussed when there are only a few chapters left. Secrets like that only work when you don't have a direct line to the character's mind.

That aside, it was a good book. Had two likable main characters with a somewhat puzzling but ultimately satisfying relationship development. It touched on heavy topics, like eating disorders and neglect, without getting too dark or depressing. The writing was solid and flowed well, and the chaos brought about by the crazy teammates kept things fun and lighthearted. Plus, it was quick and easy to read, perfect for when you need something that's not too deep or serious.

If this had been a true standalone (or the beginning of a disconnected new series), I think I would have enjoyed it quite a bit more, but the inescapable confusion due to my general lack of knowledge really took away from my reading experience. If you're planning on reading Call the Shots, be sure to read Bree's other series, Even the Score, first.

There were definitely things I enjoyed in Call the Shots—the chemistry between the main couple was believable and easily one of the strongest elements of the story. Their connection felt natural and gave me hope for how the romance would develop.

That said, I did struggle with several aspects. The FMC was frustrating at the start, and it took me quite a while to warm up to her. There were also a lot of side characters introduced early on, and I often found myself confused trying to keep track of everyone, which made it harder to stay fully immersed in the story.

The pacing was another challenge. Some chapters dragged, and while I appreciated the overall shorter chapter format, a few transitions felt choppy. There were also a few spice scenes that didn’t feel entirely necessary and slowed the momentum rather than adding to the plot.

Overall, there were some bright spots—especially the central romance—but this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me in terms of flow and character development.

Ohhhh my geeeeez absolutely loveddddd this book I’m not normally a sport romance fan but this book is soooo good

I'm torn on what to put in this review because I am an enneagram 9 and hate conflict or potentially hurting people's feelings. However, this wasn't one of my favorites overall, even though I liked the characters.

My main issue with the book is that it felt like there were 25 subplots going on all at once. I truly couldn't keep up. It felt like none of the plot points were fully fleshed out because there was so much going on. There were times where I was genuinely confused as to what was going on and how the characters got to the point they were at. I just had so many questions that kind of eventually got answered but left me puzzled throughout most of the book.

While I loved Bear and June, there were so many supporting characters that sometimes I felt like they got lost in the shuffle. I also wish some of their individual backstories and traumas were delved into a little more.

I hate giving anything less than a glowing review, truly. While I enjoyed the book, it was a lot to get through with how much was going on in the story.

Bear and June… have issues. We’re going to start with strong dislike and a few misunderstandings, to Bear being all in while wanting to smack June from time to time. But June has legit issues and it’s hard to keep that in mind, yes, this issue messes with her self worth. Both are fiercely loyal and once June finally snaps, you will be rooting for her. Bear is a total marshmallow for June and doesn’t care who knows or sees. For the ones who absolutely need to know: the book is more plot driven than spicy, but there Is spice.

Over all: I’d recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

This book was an absolute roller coaster oh my gosh! Every chapter had something happening! there was drama, tension, humour with a sprinkle of unhinged moments. Both June and Bear were fun characters to read along with the rest of the team. I will say (which is the case with most hockey books) when you start a book series, trying to become familiar with all the characters and their names can be a little overwhelming but by half way I was pretty confident on who was who.

If you want a book that’s all about standing up for yourself and pushing outside the boundaries, then this is the book for you!

590 pages of pure engagement. Bree Hayden has definitely hooked me this time. Bear and June were so dreamy. They were the perfect combination of dislike and yearning. The dialogue and banter definitely got an upgrade in this first installment to the For the Arena series. It wasn't disjointed or hard to follow at all, which made it that much easier to become addicted to the characters. All of them, even Elijah. I didn't expect to feel so emotional during my read but Call the Shots really drug the tears right out of me. The way that both of the MC's struggles are highlighted, the positive representation of emotional support across not just the MC's but all of the characters. It was all so enduring that I found myself blurry eyed several times.

I did still see some reoccurrence of my previous criticisms regarding plot points/number of crisis's that needed to be addressed. I think they all were valid, but we would have been just fine with less so that it could leave room for the others to be explored.

Overall, amazing time. I can't wait to see what else comes from this series.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review. :)

3.5 ⭐️. 3🌶️

This book was quite a journey. I would say the first 40% was very slow for me and a little hard to get in to. Once I pushed through I loved the story of Bear and June.

This book follows are two main characters as they navigate their way as enemies to friends to lovers. Bear is our grumpy hockey playing MMC who wants a relationship with his brother but builds a relationship with June instead. June is our fearless, bubbly FMC who just got out of a bad relationship with no one other than Bear’s brother. This relationship was toxic for her and she didn’t trust easily.

June looses her house and ends being the PR intern for the college hockey team. She ends up being roommates with Bear. This starts the awesome banter and tension that Bear and June have.

This book had some really cute moments once both main characters opened up to each other. It also had some turns that I didn’t necessarily see coming that just added to their story line.

This was my first Bree Hayden book and I will definitely be reading more.

2.5 🌟

Thank you Netgalley and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. 

Things I enjoyed:
• I love a good found family moment and this book had it. Bear had no one at the beginning of the book and by the end was surrounded by his friends turned family. 
• Montoya! I love a boy with golden retriever energy and he was just adorable. 🐶
• I love how sensitive Bear was with June's medical diagnosis. He was prompt when it arose and continued to assist her without making her feel bad.
• I love how down bad Bear was for June! 🔥 

Things I didn't like: 
• I didn't like the way June and Bear got together the first time. The bet gave me major ick.
• The non-stop fighting. I felt like the writing was trying too hard to show that Bear was a rough hockey player who would fight anyone. Just relax.
• There was a lot of character growth from Bear only for that to be ripped away when he went and beat up his stepbrother. That felt unnecessary.

Overall this book wasn't bad, just not for me.

If you like hate to lovers, bickering and banter, forced promixety and hockey-romance, this might be something for you! Oh and spice, of course.
This was a very enjoyabel romance story with deep emotions, funny moments and lot's of tension. The chemistry between June and Bear was great and the spice was very spicy!
Are we done with the hockey-romance-era? I think not! This was my first Bree Hayden book, but definitely not my last ;)

Okay so this book was kind of a hot mess but also weirdly enjoyable? Like I don’t know how a book can feel too long while also feeling like entire chunks were missing, but here we are. The pacing and flow were super disjointed and the characters’ ages/maturity were all over the place - Montoya in particular read like a literal child even though he was supposed to be almost an adult.

Plot-wise? Couldn’t tell you who the villain was. The coach? Xavier? The universe in general?? It was giving ✨confusion✨ And the spice… listen, I love spice. I live for spice. But it felt randomly shoved in at times like, “oh right, this is supposed to be a hockey romance, quick, add sex!” Instead of actually adding to the story.

BUT - and it’s a big but - I did enjoy Bear and June together when the story slowed down enough to focus on them. Bear was lowkey adorable, his obsession with June was kind of everything, and I especially loved how thoughtfully he handled her eating disorder. That whole dynamic was what kept me going through the chaos.

So yeah. A hot mess, confusing, and kind of uneven, but the romance had its moments and I did end up rooting for them.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The trope selections were spot-on: forced proximity, slow burn, friends with benefits, and a grumpy-sunshine dynamic that delivered. I especially loved Bear and June having to share an apartment; it created the perfect tension and intimacy. The spicy scenes were amazing, and the one where June overpowered Bear to win the bet? Iconic. I haven’t read anything like that before, and I’m always excited to read smutty scenes where women have their moment of taking control. So often in this genre, female characters are written into submissive roles, so this felt fresh and empowering. Her constantly bagging him and calling him 40 was also hilarious.

Bear was the perfect amount of asshole at the start, just enough edge to make his growth satisfying. His character development was well-paced, and I appreciated the deeper reasoning behind his trust issues and emotional distance. It made his eventual vulnerability feel earned. One of my favorite moments was when he didn’t know June and King were fake dating, his stress was palpable and hilarious. The scene where he threw King’s hoodie in the dishwasher just so June would wear his? I was cackling. (See attached TikTok I made with this scene, it was too good not to share.)

That said, I gave it 4 stars because the beginning felt a bit slow. The introduction of all the hockey characters at once was a bit overwhelming, and I found it hard to keep track of who was who. It took me a little minute to settle into the rhythm of the story, and I think a more gradual introduction or clearer distinctions between the side characters could help future readers connect faster.

WHEW. That was a ride.

This was SO fun! This was a wild and crazy sequence of events wrapped up in a neat little hockey romance bow starring our two main protagonists June and Bear. June, Miss Go-Getter and Super Star Student and Bear, Mr... 6'4 grizzly, grumpy Bear. See where this is going?

The energy and atmosphere felt almost chaotic (in a good way!) with characters both new and returning (from other series) popping in consistently. The chapters are mostly short, swapping between point of views between either June or Bear. Normally I don't care for the short chapter switch-a-roo but Bree was able to take advantage of some of its comedic effects that had me laughing out loud. So you know what? It works. It totally works here.

Speaking of comedy. I want to highlight just how much I loved some of the characters here. You have Bear, the grumpy, moody, and near anti-social hulk of a man. Then put Bear in the middle of some of the most unserious, will-do-dumb-things-for-the-laughs teammates. SO funny. Even Bear had his moments. To me, the romance was cute, and had great build up but the strength of this story was by far its comedic writing.

And like I mentioned, the romance was cute and represented the enemies-to-lovers trope well. Both characters are young 21 year old students with zero interest in the other in the beginning but you could feel the natural gravitation as the story went on. Their banter was fun and though June could be a little much in the beginning, she did grow on me. Oh and the spice? Yes, the spice was very nice. Mhm. Probably some of the most natural I have read in a while too. No closed door romancing here!

My only real criticism was that I felt the pacing was a bit too slow at times with too many side-plots shoved in there that made the story unnecessarily long. However, the writing style was mostly dialogue heavy which made it easy to pick up and read so it did have some balance there.

I definitely would recommend this to anyone who loves hockey romance and wants to read something lighthearted and full of laughs. (There are some serious topics in here, so make sure to check all the triggers first!)

4.25/5

This is an entertaining, fun, wild ride of a read. There is a lot going on in this book that will keep your attention from start to finish. I enjoyed Bear and June and their romance. It isn’t an easy path to their HEA but one worth the read. The secondary characters added to the fabric of the story and my enjoyment. At times it felt like there was to much going on as I wish the story had focused on certain subplots more. The story is easy to read and get into.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.