This is going to be the most personal five-star book review because this read felt like being home, if home is a hockey arena and loving a team that consistently breaks your heart. In LOVE WANTS US TO WIN, Georgie's home is Maple Leaf Gardens, and her team is the Toronto Maple Leafs. My home–don't judge me right away–was The Great Western Forum, and my team is the Los Angeles Kings. That's instantly going to mean something to other hockey history buffs picking up this book, especially considering this takes place during the 1992-93 hockey season.

Before I stray too far into my own nostalgia, let me tell you why you will love this book even if you're not a hockey fan. Georgie and Oliver are the absolute sweetest. Georgie's passion for hockey and her Maple Leafs is outmatched only by the loyalty she has to friends and family. She is a ride-or-die bestie, an empathetic educator, and a fierce advocate for equity. Oliver is a shy boy who carries old hurts, yet is still so giving and kind, with a big open heart. He is one of the greenest green flag book boyfriends you're going to meet. Together they make an adorable couple of seeming opposites, but as they fall in love you see how they make a perfectly balanced pair.

I highly recommend this also for readers wanting an immersive experience. The time and setting are made real by anchoring every chapter to a specific day and citing the actual progression of the Toronto Maple Leafs 1992-93 season. The level of detail too is beyond researched, its lived authenticity down to era specific tech, songs and movies, and local landmarks. It really felt like I was sitting in the greys with Georgie at the Gardens, in a booth at the pancake house with Oliver, and at the bar with the Leafs fans at McNally's. 

Now I am ready to be vulnerable. I discovered hockey in 1992, which means my first hockey everythings happened right alongside the exact timeline of LOVE WANTS US TO WIN. I was nine years old in Southern California watching Los Angeles Kings hockey on Prime Ticket from the living room of my family's tiny two bedroom rental home. I watched the Kings' historical playoff run, including the Campbell Conference Final match-up against the Toronto Maple Leafs with all the excitement of a freshly born fan, but without the critical knowing of the fortysomething veteran I am today. This shared "canon event" experience told from the opposite side of the blue line is exactly why I was so eager to read this book.

I have to proceed carefully from here on out though because I want to avoid all possible spoilers, but with my whole heart I want you to know how happy I am for Georgie's victories as a fan and in life. For her authentic self to be cherished, loved, and cared for. For her dreams to come true. And that word, that tiny beautiful hopeful word–dreams–hits so close to home. I want to share a portion of my journal entry from June 12, 2012 that captures what this book means to me.

"It seems like a lifetime since I was that little nine-year-old. I want to tell her and each kid today that watched their team not make it far enough that it’s worth the wait. That you’ll remember the kid you are now and relive all the heartache in an instant and be awash in the new victory. And you will scream, and laugh, and cry, and have no words. No words adequate enough to describe it. You can go to sleep tonight not having to dream anymore."

Today I'd like to add: To all the Georgies, keep your elbows up. Keep taking up space. Keep demanding accountability from the league, franchises, and players. Make your own community. Protect the most vulnerable among us. And dream and hope and be-Leaf because love wants you to win.

All my thanks to Jacquelyn Middleton. You wrote Georgie for me and every hockey fan that has ever felt othered. I'll cherish her story forever.

Thank you to Kirkwall Books, Love Notes PR, and the author for the advanced digital copy to read and review.

I had such a fun time with this one! Georgie and Oliver were such a sweet pairing, and I loved watching their relationship develop from an awkward first encounter into something deeper. The fact that they initially recognized each other by their voices was such a cute detail. Their forced proximity while working together on the museum exhibit gave them plenty of opportunities to get to know each other, and I loved seeing Georgie bring Oliver into her world, from her love of hockey to her close-knit group of friends.

One of my favourite things about this book was the early '90s Toronto setting. Between the landmarks, fashion, food, music, and all the little nostalgic details, it was so much fun to revisit that era. As someone who grew up in the GTA, I especially loved the hockey references and the very accurate enthusiasm surrounding the Leafs!

The romance itself was a lovely slow burn, with plenty of yearning and a couple I couldn't help but root for. Overall, this was such a heartwarming read with great characters, found family, and a wonderful sense of nostalgia. ]

I loved that this book was set in early 90's Toronto. I was a tween living there at the time and it brought back so many memories, from landmarks to food, fashion, technology, and music. It was so much fun to revisit. The author accurately captured how enthusiastic Leafs fans are, despite their decades long Stanley Cup drought. The relationship between Georgie and Oliver was perfect - a slow burn with lots of yearning. I wanted them to get together so bad!

If you grew up in the 90's, are Canadian, or a big hockey fan, I think you'll really enjoy this book. It was a quick, fun read with a wonderful couple at the heart of it that I was rooting for from the beginning.

Love Wants Us to Win is a heartwarming opposites attract romance featuring a force proximity and a Found Family,

Georgie is a history teacher that loves hockey and the Toronto Maple Leaf. She likes to approach history differently in order to have her students interact and pretend to historical events. Oliver is in town with a one year contract at the museum in the Egypt exhibit.

I love how their first encounter was more a meet nightmare, when Georgie has a migraine attack and can't really see. The fact that they recognize each other by their voices was really cute. Georgie is a really hands on project person and jumps right in to helping Oliver to create a better presentation for the exhibit he is responsible and keep his job at the museum. They are forced together, while they reformulate the presentation. Georgie not only helps him but also shows him around including her passion for Hockey and her close friends. I love how they have an even deeper connection and how they explore everything.

Thank you Kirkwall Books,, Jacquelyn Middeton for the advance copy.

This was such a perfectly Canadian hockey romance! 🏒🍁 You could really feel the love for Toronto and the Leafs throughout the story, but I also loved how much love there was for the era it was set in. It gave the whole book such a nostalgic feeling.

I also really appreciated the migraine representation. As someone who also gets migraines, it was so nice to see that experience represented in a way that made me feel understood 💗

Romantic, nostalgic, and genuinely so much fun!

Thank you so much to Kirkwall Books for my ARC! ✨