🏒✨ BOOK REVIEW ✨🏒

Call the Shots by Bree Hayden
📅 Releases September 2, 2025

Bree Hayden kicking off a college hockey romance series?? Sign me UP. And let me tell you, Call the Shots delivered everything I love in sports romance and then some.

June + Bear = the ultimate slow burn. From grumpy/icy defenseman vs sunshiney ex–homecoming queen to full-on “we’re each other’s safe place” soulmates… I devoured their journey. They start as enemies, forced into close quarters, but what unfolds is growth, healing, and one of the most tender, supportive romances I’ve read in a while. The banter? Sharp. The chemistry? 🔥🔥. The payoff? Worth every page.

This book is LONG (nearly 600 pages) but honestly? I didn’t want it to end. Bree gives us time not just to fall in love with June and Bear, but also with the Gladiators hockey team it's a chaotic, loyal, found family who had me grinning nonstop. Their antics, their heart, and how quickly they claim June as one of their own… chef’s kiss.

This series is going to own me. If you’re a fan of Elle Kennedy, Grace Reilly, or Hannah Grace—you’re going to want this on your shelf.

📖 What to expect:
🏒 Enemies-to-lovers
🏒 Forced proximity + thin dorm walls
🏒 Grumpy/sunshine
🏒 Found family team dynamics
🏒 Slow burn with BIG payoff
🏒 A hero on a celibacy streak who breaks every rule for her 👀

Bear + June made me laugh, swoon, and melt and I already know I’ll be rereading before book 2.

#CallTheShots #BreeHayden #HockeyRomance #CollegeRomance #SportsRomance #EnemiesToLovers #SlowBurnRomance #FoundFamily #GrumpySunshine #ForTheArenaSeries #Bookstagram #InkandIncPublishing

I really enjoyed this book, but it’s so long, I just expected a quick read (the cover is cartoony for crying out loud). I feel like it should have been a series, there were so many story arcs that happened then concluded I kept thinking by to myself, what else is going to happen in this book?

That said, Bear and June’s love story sort of starts out as enemies to lovers, but really only enemies for like 10% of the book. Bear is the step-brother of June’s horrible, abusive ex. In a twist of karma, they end up having to share a dorm suite during the summer session and grow into love. I think June’s emotional journey was well written, her dealing with an absuive ex and an eating disorder. I felt Bear’s story could have delved a little deeper.

Overall, a good book and well worth the read!

I’m a huge fan of hockey romances, so I’d like to think I know a good one when I read it, but this, this book is something spectacular, it absolutely blew me away.

I devoured Bear and June’s story, it was unlike any other sports romance I’ve read.

When I opened the file and saw almost 100 chapters, I felt daunted, was this going to be filled with miscommunication and break ups but my first impression couldn’t be further from the truth.

Our first impression of June is hilarious - she’s one of those characters that has so much depth, she grows throughout the book into a true inspiration.

This is one of those love story’s where he falls first and boy did Bear fall hard, it was a deep spiralling, all consuming love where Bear grew into a beautiful human because of June’s love.

The subjects covered in this book were delivered so respectfully and tactfully, there’s a list of trigger warnings to observe before diving into this complex, layered and emotional read.

Bree Hayden is an author to favourite and I’ll be immediately reading any books in the Gladiator series - I’m hoping Elijah’s book is next!

Our story starts with June being kicked out of her campus apartment. June finds new campus housing but is stuck living with her ex's stepbrother. Even though June and her ex dated for many years, she never met his stepbrother Bear. Bear is a new transfer to the college and is a hockey player for the college. In exchange for free campus housing, June has to work with the college's hockey team. When June and Bear meet, they immeditaley clash. Both of the characters have secrets from the outside world. As time goes on, Bear and June form a special bond that develops into so much more. I really enjoyed seeing the realtioship form between these two very different characters. I hope there will be more in this series in the future.

This book had me sat from just the tropes, I wasn’t expecting to by laughing by the end of chapter 1. June and bear hate each other, he’s a grumpy hockey player that never shows up for family events, she’s his step brother’s “crazy stalker ex” - or are they? 👀

Tropes:
♡ ex boyfriend’s brother
♡ forced proximity
♡ grumpy sunshine
♡ he falls first
♡ golden retriever mmc
♡ slow burn
♡ found family with an entire hockey team

Found family is one of my absolute favourite tropes and I adored June’s relationship with all of the boys in this book! This was also really whitty & funny and I found myself laughing multiple times. If you’re looking for a palette cleanser, I highly recommend this! Ps. his nickname is forty because that’s how many seconds he lasts during hate 🌶️.

“It makes me feel like I’m the prize”
“You ARE the prize”

Swoooooon. This man was so obsessed with her 🥵
I would loooooove a Montoya book! Kid’s toy was definitely my favourite side character in this book!

The only thing that stopped this being a 5 star for me, was that I felt it was slightly longer than it needed to be! I also got slightly confused at first being introduced to so many different hockey players at once, but I picked it up pretty quickly! I also got super confused trying to keep track of who was fake dating who, but I figured that was in place to set up the next books in the series!

Overall I loved this! The plot was fresh & new and flowed well. The relationship between June & Bear unfolded super well!

Read this book for:
🏒 Ex boyfriends stepbrother
🌺 Yearning
🏒 Enemies to roommates to friends with benefits to lovers
🌺 Eating disorder Rep
🏒 College hockey
🌺 Found Family

Synopsis
Summer housing wasn’t supposed to come with a side of her ex’s grumpy, brooding brother. But when the only way to stay on campus is to work for the hockey team as a PR Intern and share a dorm in Roman Villa with Bear Moreau, she reluctantly agrees. He’s surly, she’s sassy, and the paper-thin walls can’t contain the rising tension between them. Then Bear drops a shocking confession—he needs her in a way neither of them expected—and suddenly she sees the perfect chance for payback… and maybe something more.

My Thoughts
Call the Shots marks the start of the For the Arena series, and while it can be read as a standalone, I strongly recommend reading the Even the Score series first. Those books—particularly Against the Rules and Change Your Play—offer deeper insight into June’s past and her ties to King, Elijah, Cleo, and Miles, adding an extra layer of richness to this story.

I went into Call the Shots with zero expectations—especially since Against the Rules wasn’t my favourite from the previous series—and ended up completely blown away. From the very first chapter, this book feels like the ultimate underdog victory, much like the Gladiators themselves. It’s heartfelt, funny, and emotionally raw in all the right ways.

The banter between the leads is sharp and filled with just the right amount of tension, but what truly shines is their vulnerability. Bree Hayden doesn’t shy away from showing the cracks in their armour—the fears, doubts, and emotional scars they’ve both carried for so long. The raw honesty of their struggles makes their connection feel that much more real, and by the time they finally come together, it’s not just romantic—it’s healing.

And can we talk about Bear? By the end of the book, he’s the ultimate green flag. Every thoughtful gesture, especially during June’s emotional “relapse,” proves just how deeply he cares. Those scenes were tender, supportive, and genuinely moving—I had to stop and take it all in.
Watching these two find each other—and, in many ways, themselves—made for a deeply satisfying and heartwarming ending that stuck with me long after I closed the book.

The supporting cast adds so much depth to the world, with familiar faces like Elijah, Fridge, Denali, Montoya, Nick, and Charlie bringing charm and camaraderie to the team dynamic. I already can’t wait to see who gets their own story next.
And that proposal scene? Sweet, personal, and just plain perfect.

Bree Hayden’s writing is emotional, immersive, and deeply relatable. Even if readers haven’t faced the same hardships, she conveys the characters’ feelings with such clarity that you experience every high and low alongside them.

Call the Shots is a beautifully written, heartfelt story that keeps you hooked from start to finish. Bree Hayden has once again delivered an unforgettable trip back to Marrs University—and I’m already counting the days until the next book.

Thank you so much to Bree Hayden for this ARC.

I absolutely cannot wait for the next book and find out who is next to fall in love and find their HEA.

I really enjoyed reading this book, it had that sports element that I was looking for and was engaged from start to finish. I was invested in what was going on and thought the use of sport was wonderfully done. It had that element that I was hoping for and enjoyed the overall feel of the world and characters. Bree Hayden wrote this well and was engaged from start to finish, they used the hockey elements in a fun way that worked overall and was glad I got to read this.

I really the FMC and MC quite a bit, but I felt like there was just so much detail left out in terms of actually understanding the story and issues with other characters. I kept feeling I had to infer what was going on and the book was not really coherent until around 60-70% of the way though. There were too many side plots that were happening that it was just hard to focus on the main story which I think is understanding Bear's relationship with his family. The premise is there but I think the book was trying to fit too much at once.

This was so beautifully written. I felt so much love for this book and as an ARC reader I can't say much but the way the main male character loves his girl brought me to tears because of how touching it is and how loving he is. I've never read a book where I felt so much love to the point of tears. I loved it with my entire heart. Bree, you’ve done an amazing job. The way Bear has been portrayed is my idea of a dream man. He has been by June's side every step of the way and didn't try to disappear once or stay away from her. He was, in other words, perfect. I loved it so much and cannot wait to see what else you have in store for us.

So thankful to be approved for this ARC ebook @netgalley @breehaydenauthor “Call the Shots is a slowburn college hockey romance with high tension, plenty of spice, and a found family like no other!” ❤️‍🔥🔥🏒 absolutely loved Bear and June’s sorry and watching it all come together and be there for each other slow burn! Can’t wait for more! Release date: September 2, 2025

If you enjoy romance novels, and you haven’t read Hayden’s Call the Shots, please add it to your TBR immediately! 4.5/5 stars!

Yes. It is longer than most romance novels by a couple of hundred pages, but the story of June and Bear is worth it. The powerful PR intern, June, and the star hockey player (at a school that doesn't really revere hockey players) make a formidable combination.

This is the first book in a new series, but from what I can gather, there are books prior to this one that you might want to read as well. (I will definitely be doing this soon)

What I loved about this one is a different spin on the "he falls 1st" trope. Does Bear fall first? Oh yes, he does. But he also falls harder than any other MMC I’ve ever read. He falls from the Eiffel Tower. He falls from the Empire State Building. He falls from Mt. Everest!! I’ve read hundreds and hundreds of romance novels, and I don’t think I've read any other MMC who has fallen this hard. The best part of the book is his inner thoughts and him trying to adjust to the feelings that he has for June. Some of those thoughts had me laughing and giggling, while others had me tearing up.

I don’t know how realistic all of the stuff is with the hockey team in the condition the hockey team was in, but it’s fiction, so who cares? The found family among the hockey team and June was the highlight of the book, so that conflict with the team was needed.

Another reviewer mentioned loving that readers get to see them together in more than just the last 50 pages. That is definitely unique to romance books. Hayden has also done an excellent job getting me to care for so many players who will hopefully have a book too. (I'm looking at you Montoya and Elijah)

It’s just a wonderful book, and if you enjoy the "he falls first," you’re going to love this one.

If you enjoy, well, I wouldn’t say enemies to lovers but kind of dislike to lovers, you’re going to love this one.

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC.

I'm not gonna lie, this book was far far better than I expected it would be.

it's fun, it's cute, it's detailed. The author is obviously put a lot of thought into the potlines and character development. It's an action-packed book (possibly a little bit too action-packed at times?). I really enjoyed watching the character developments over the course of the plot.

My one slight issue was it at times felt slightly like we were expected to know information that we didn't have? I don't know how the US college housing system works, and I can. life of me couldn't work out what Xavier's role was on campus, despite it being pivotal to the plot. However, this didn't actually bother me that much, you could still follow the story along without it.

I absolutely loved Bear and June’s story. Their growth as a couple was amazing to watch. Majority of the book was them already as an established couple which normally isn’t my favorite but i really loved it in this book. one of the main tropes was found family. and that is one of my favorite tropes. i love found family. I found June’s problems and how she dealt with her problems was very relatable and a good representation. Call the Shots was a great start for the For the Arena series and i can’t wait to see what comes next because i will be reading it. thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛ...
🏒 ᴇx ʙᴏʏғʀɪᴇɴᴅ sᴛᴇᴘ-ʙʀᴏᴛʜᴇʀ
🌺 ʏᴇᴀʀɴɪɴɢ
🏒 ᴇɴᴇᴍɪᴇs ᴛᴏ ʀᴏᴏᴍᴍᴀᴛᴇs ᴛᴏ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅs ᴡɪᴛʜ ʙᴇɴᴇғɪᴛs ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇʀs
🌺 ᴇᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴅɪsᴏʀᴅᴇʀ ʀᴇᴘ
🏒 ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ

After a devastating breakup, June finds herself starting over from scratch. While her ex continues on without consequence, she’s the one left dealing with the fallout—losing her home, her job, and even having to resit courses. Just when things seem like they couldn’t get worse, a loophole gives her somewhere new to live… though there’s one catch: her roommate is Bear, her ex’s estranged stepbrother. With all the stories they’ve heard about one another, their first encounter is far from friendly.

Before diving into the story, I need to mention the cover—because wow. I didn’t think an animated man could be that attractive, but this one had me intrigued before I even turned the first page.

The book itself did not disappoint. In fact, it might be one of my new favorite hockey romances. June and Bear are incredibly well-drawn characters, both of them flawed, vulnerable, and easy to root for. I connected with June right away, but Bear’s development was the standout for me. The way his growth was written felt authentic and gradual—he became a character I genuinely cared about, which made their romance even more impactful.

The supporting characters added so much heart to the story. I loved the friendships that developed and the group dynamic that built naturally as the book went on. The interactions between the wider cast felt warm and believable, adding a sense of community to the story. There were also a few small nods to other characters’ stories, which makes me even more eager to dive into the rest of the series.

The romance itself felt both realistic and refreshing. June and Bear didn’t have instant, flawless chemistry—there were awkward, funny moments at the start (Bear even earned a less-than-flattering nickname after their first time together), but this made their relationship feel so much more genuine. Watching them grow closer, learn each other’s rhythms, and gradually build a deeper connection made their eventual spark feel earned.

What really set this book apart for me was the balance between romance and real life. This wasn’t just a straightforward hockey love story. Alongside the romance, there were family conflicts, personal challenges, and the struggles of starting over, all woven seamlessly into the plot. The pacing was strong throughout, and while a lot happened, it never felt overwhelming or cluttered. Instead, it gave the story real depth and kept me hooked from start to finish.

Overall, this isn’t your typical hockey romance—and that’s exactly why I loved it so much. It’s layered, heartfelt, and full of characters you can’t help but root for. I’m already excited for the next installment (and I’m really hoping Nick’s story is next!).

Tropes:

Enemies to friends to lovers

Forced proximity

Ex’s brother

Grumpy x Sunshine

Hockey

Trigger Warnings:

Eating disorder

Violence

Mental health struggles

Child neglect

i really enjoyed the plot for this book and some of the characters, however i didn’t find all of it to be that great. there was a lot of stuff i was confused about up until the second half of the book and maybe that’s because i haven’t read any of the other books by this author, but i find romance books that have interconnected characters that MUST be read in a specific order to be annoying. I felt there was a lot of miscommunication between the writer and the story to be honest. There was just so much I didn't understand.

i liked bear for the most part until he got extremely clingy there towards the end. don’t get me wrong i love me an obsessed man, but there is such a thing as too much. based off the length i feel like some of my confusion and other issues i felt were not being resolved could have been real easy. this book was well over 400+ pages and for a romance book, that is quite long.

overall, i liked this book and highly recommend and something fun to read when you need to dive into a world with fun characters and whitty banter

I'm loving all the sports romance novels that are around at the moment and Call The Shots certainly didn't disappoint. This was such a cute and fun read. It's the perfect cleanser after any heavy reads. I loved the main characters chemistry and wanted them to have their happy ending. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest.

I’m on the fence on this one. I enjoyed Call the Shots, don’t get me wrong, but it’s was so incredibly long and drawn out.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC. 

This was a very sweet romance with a lot of growth for both of the MCs. 

I loved all the side characters, but it did feel like there were a bit too many of them for this to be read as a standalone. I think I would have enjoyed the book even more if I'd read the author's other books first that introduced us to many of these characters. 

I really look forward to reading the other books in this series, there were so many fun hints dropped! 

I read this whole thing in one day despite the almost 500 page length, so I would certainly recommend it! I would recommend reading Bree's other series first though so that you'll enjoy this one even more. I would also recommend checking the content warnings.

I truly enjoyed this book. It made me laugh and also gave me all the good feelings! I loved the dynamic between June and Bear. Seeing them grow in all aspects of there journey made me not want to put the book down! I loved being on the ride with them. Perfect amount of spice and plot which is my favorite kind of book!! I cant wait to see whats next with the Gladiators!

I stayed up way too late with my first ARC and regret nothing.📖☕️

Sports romance? Count me in! 🏒❤️
This was actually my first ever ARC and I was so excited that I devoured it in less than 24 hours 🤭✨ I loved the banter between Bear and June—the chemistry was undeniable, and I adored how the entire team seemed to know what was happening between them before they did. 😂 The whole hockey crew has stolen my heart in their own unique ways, and now I’m just crossing my fingers that each one gets their own story.

✨Tropes : jealous moments, grumpy x sunshine, ex’s brother, roommates 👏
This was an easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me!