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wow wow wow! This is my first Bree Hayden book, HOW IS THIS MY FIRST ONE?! Now all of her books are being added to my tbr immediately.

This was such a good hockey romance. I loved the plot & the subplots and felt the chapter pacing made the story go by so quickly. Like this was truly a satisfying hockey romance to read and I absolutely fell in love with Bear & June. SO IN LOVE.

You will truly get attached to so many characters in this story (Montoya and Fridge are personally my faves outside of our FMC & MMC lolol).

I felt the spice was perfectly paced & it was actually sweet and not cringey as it sometimes can be. When the spice hits you’re like yesss babyyy we were rooting for you!!

Bree is wildly talented at plotting and clearly underrated in the booksta world!! Will absolutely be adding her to the list of recommendations for hockey romances!

Thank you NetGalley & Bree Hayden for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC 🫶
We all love a hockey romance don't we....
I enjoyed this one, its the first book I have read from this author so a good solid start.
I found it quite hard to keep up at times with so much rammed into the story which was also far too long in my opinion at nearly 500 pages.
The growth from the main characters despite a difficult past was enjoyable to read.
I loved Bear as a character and seeing his development throughout the story. I didn't care as much for June's character but still overall liked the book - 4 stars.

This is so hard…because did I enjoy this book? Yes. Was it fast paced? Also yes. I enjoyed the characters and the story but it also felt so chaotic and disjointed at times. There was a lot crammed into a book that was too long. This could have been two stories. I get that it was setting up for the rest of the series but it was just too much and too long. The chapters were quick but I kept looking to see how much longer I had until the book was over. However, I will say, loved Bear..June kind of annoyed me at times.

Thank you to Bree Hayden, Ink and Inc Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC

Call the Shots by Bree Hayden is a college hockey novel that’s rich in plot, with an outstanding mix of main characters and a memorable supporting cast. This deeply layered story is full of twists and turns that kept me turning page after page.

June is a fiery heroine with plenty of baggage—family, boyfriend, and otherwise. Bear carries his own burdens too. While he comes across as grumpy, beneath that tough exterior lies someone kind, caring, and protective. Both characters have reputations that don’t reflect who they truly are, and it’s compelling to watch them defy expectations. Despite their differences, June and Bear are drawn together, forming an unstoppable team determined not only to save their failing hockey program but also to uncover why their coach has gone missing and the team’s funding has dried up.

I was completely engrossed in this book. Since I read the e-book, I can’t say how thick the print edition is compared to other books, but it felt satisfyingly lengthy—in the best way. Bree Hayden takes her time, carefully developing both the characters and the storyline, leaving nothing rushed or unfinished.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and will happily read more from her in the future.

Thank you to Bree Hayden, Ink and Inc Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Ah such a sucker for hockey romance books! I ATE THIS up like it was my job! So good! I couldn’t put it down!

I just got this ARC from NetGalley this morning and already finished it. What an amazing read for today. It was so much fun from start to finish, and I really loved all the characters. The title For The Arena felt so fitting for all the battles they went through. I do wish it had shown whether they managed to win before graduation, but even without that, the ending was perfection. Fast-paced, intense, and such a satisfying conclusion. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Bree Hayden delivers an unforgettable story in Call the Shots—a book that grabbed me from the first chapter and didn’t let go until the very last page.

The plot itself was a joy to read. The tension builds in such a natural way that I found myself turning pages long after I meant to stop. Hayden balances humor, heartache, and heat seamlessly.

One of the standout qualities of this book is how authentic the central relationship feels. There’s no rush, no forced moments—it grows organically. Each interaction feels earned, making the romance not just believable but deeply satisfying. Watching two characters move from enemies to sparks to something solid and lasting was pure joy.

I loved Bear’s quiet, steadfast support of June. Those moments—where he’s simply there for her without needing to fix or control anything—absolutely broke me in the best way. It was tender, raw, and enough to bring me to tears.

Beyond the central romance, Hayden masterfully creates a sense of community and belonging. The “found family” element shines, reminding us that love and home aren’t always about blood ties but about the people who choose to stand beside you. This layer of warmth gives the book incredible depth and makes it resonate even more.

Having said all of that… I am also convinced that this is what improv in a book would look like. It felt like she just kept saying Yes, and? The first antagonist is dealt with about 60% into the book roughly? I found myself at that point going how do I have so much book left. There were also paragraphs where I felt like whole sentences were missing. Either that or on a couple of them the joke flew over my head.

Also, nowhere that I could find mentioned that this ties into the authors other series. Overall I would still recommend it and I had a lovely time reading it.