ARC Book Review: Rival Season (Hockey Boys of Loft 3B #2) by Leah Brunner and Katie Bailey

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: NA Sports Romance
Length: 309 pages
Author: Leah Brunner and Katie Bailey
Publisher: Eleventh Avenue
Release Date: May 14th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

He’s trying to outrun his past…

Penn Matthews is living beyond his wildest dreams. He’s made it to the NHL, shares a swanky loft with his teammates, and best of all, he’s able to support his little sister. Life is good, and his rocky past is finally behind him.

Until Hazel Palmer shows up at his door.

His downstairs neighbor is as feisty as she is gorgeous, and the type of woman he’d be very interested in–if he hadn’t sworn off falling in love years ago. But when Penn finds out Hazel just got her heart broken by his longtime rival, he steps in to help.

…She wants revenge on her cheating ex

Hazel should be writing her dissertation, but it’s difficult to focus while dealing with betrayal, a breakup, and the constant distractions from her rowdy upstairs neighbor.

At first, she’s convinced the tattooed hockey player in 3B is just another idiot playboy, but when Penn comes to her defense one night, the feuding neighbors realize they share a common enemy–and decide to get payback.

The plan is simple: fake date to make her ex jealous, and get the jerk out of both their lives for good.

But when fake kisses turn into real connection and Penn’s past threatens to catch up to him, what started out as sweet revenge soon escalates to risking everything…

Thank you to the authors for a gifted eARC.

THAT’S HOT.

Am I still thinking about what was possibly the hottest kiss I’ve ever read? YOUBETCHA. That should convince you to pick up this book without even reading the rest of the review. BUT FINE, I’ll give you more.

I am obsessed with Penn and Hazel. They had the perfect blend of chemistry and undeniable attraction and for someone who hasn’t been loving fake dating lately I could NOT GET ENOUGHHHH of these two pretending they weren’t already madly in love. My favorite romance books are ones where each scene feels like it serves the plot of the romance and RIVAL SEASON DOES JUST THAT. I loved how every moment, big and small, created this beautiful relationship. Penn is a walking green flag. Hazel is my favorite kind of feisty and genuinely kind FMC.

Not to even mention all of the hockey content, and seeing Noah and Ally??? AND FISHER???? Let me tell y’all. I love this crew so much!! It really does provide the New Girl vibes that I love. I don’t often stay up late for books anymore and this one had me reading past my bed time and I REGRET NOTHING.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Sports Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: hot kisses
  • Violence: mild
  • Content warnings: cheating (not b/t the mains obvs), strained parent relationships

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Book Review: All We Lost Was Everything by Sloan Harlow

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: New Adult Romantic Suspense
Length: 352 pages
Author: Sloan Harlow
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s
Release Date: May 6th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A sexy, dark romantic thriller—with a shocking twist—by the author of Everything We Never Said.

River Santos is stuck—in her job at the diner, in her dead-end town, in her grief. Her father died in a house fire just a few months ago, her mother has been MIA for nearly a year, and the only people she can count on are the aunt she lives with and her best friend Tawny. 

Things feel like they’re turning around when Logan—the hot guy at the diner who’s always ignored her—seems interested. It’s complicated by her ex-boyfriend Noah, who she really needs closure with, and the fact that Tawny doesn’t think either of them is good enough for River… but the tension between River and Logan can’t be denied.

But love takes a backseat when new information surfaces about the fire. After all these months trying to move forward, River is forced to rethink everything… including the idea that maybe it wasn’t an accident after all. But who would commit this deadly act? And why?

River isn’t sure who to trust or who to turn to, but she needs to figure it out, fast. Because someone has more than love on their mind. They want revenge.

GOOD TWIST.

That was probably the saving grace for this book for me. I thought the twist was good and I felt like I should have seen it coming but the redirection throughout kept my mind going in different directions and I love that because mysteries and I historically don’t get along.

This book brings the DRAMA and suspense. Every time I turned there was new information, characters coming out of the wood work and some romance too. Though I will say the romance felt out of place? Or at least the spice did. I was rooting for them as a couple, but thought some of the scenes (there were 3-4) were unnecessary for the plot.

And while I River a lot and felt she was truly trying to do her best I was also wanted to shake her a few times. Things wrap up well in a twisted sort of way. I do think I got the answers I needed to close the book with satisfaction at least. It’s got a pretty decent pace and the audiobook is solid.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Romantic suspense
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3-4ish open door; vague/low explicit
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: murder, loss of life, near death experiences, alcoholism

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ARC Book Review: The Last Page by Katie Holt

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Rating: ★★★★.25
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Katie Holt
Publisher: Alcove Press
Release Date: May 12th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A bookseller with a dream of running her beloved bookstore vs. the owner’s out-of-touch grandson who inherits everything. Game on.

From the author of Not in My Book comes another irresistible, bookish contemporary romance.

Ella has grown up at The Last Page, a charming local bookstore in New York City where she now works. Her first kiss was in the women’s health section. A boyfriend dumped her in comedy. The owner is like a second father to her and has begun training her to take over the store. So when he unexpectedly dies and his estranged grandson is left everything in the will, Ella is devastated.

Henry doesn’t know the first thing about running a bookstore. With his aging mom back in Tennessee, he plans to stay in New York just long enough to ensure things are running smoothly and then head back home. What he never could have counted on was the beautiful, funny bookseller who loves The Last Page more than any place in the world—and who sees him as the villain who’s come to ruin her life.

But when it becomes evident that the store is in deep financial trouble and Henry and Ella are both at risk of losing everything, they have no choice but to put their differences aside and team up—despite the inconvenient chemistry blossoming between them.

Fans of Christina Lauren and Ali Hazelwood will adore this rivals-to-friends-to-lovers bookish romance!

Thank you Alcove Press & Crooked Lane Books for the gifted ARC.

VERY SWEET.

Katie Holt does it again! I really enjoy the way she crafts romance. There’s such a level of joy I have reading her books that makes it easy to settle and take every word in. This was on the softer side, low angst in all the best ways. Ella and Henry go from rivals to friends to lovers in a beautiful slow burn. I loved seeing the walls come down and how both characters acknowledged wrong doing and a willingness to see different perspectives to work together and save The Last Page.

It also felt like an ode to books. Regardless of what genre you love this made me want to read all the genres honestly. The power and potential that opening each new book brings can be tangibly felt in this bookstore. With a quirky cast of booksellers the humor and found family senses are strong. I loved the stable family Ella and Henry both had in their corners. There’s something about reading a book with those kind of support systems that make my heart swell and I appreciated having that showcased too.

My small tidbit was that it was slow on the uptake for me. I was missing the *romance* throughout the first half and am very grateful that was ramped in the second half. I felt the swoon and the soft touches, the spice was not overdone and third act was genuinely reasonable. I loved that Henry discussed depression and how it effects him (relatable) and Ella with her very strong eldest daughter tendencies (relatable). This was all around a wonderful romance I can’t wait to recommend.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: two open door
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: loss of a loved one (theme throughout)

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ARC Book Review: Stars, Stripes & Summer Nights by Celeste Dador

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Celeste Dador
Publisher: Delacorte Romance
Release Date: May 12th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Named one of Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Reads of 2026, Stars, Stripes & Summer Nights is a swoony debut YA romance about First Daughter Abby Cary-Alzona’s summer of self-discovery, small-town charm, and unexpected love.

All Abby wants is one normal summer before college. No headlines. No drama. Just a chance to breathe.

But when a run-in at the White House with Gabriel Calabrese—a maddeningly carefree small-town photographer—spirals into a pizza delivery scandal that makes front-page news, Abby’s plans disappear overnight. To escape the fallout, she’s sent to a charming country inn run by Gabriel’s family.

Now she’s stuck with the last person she wants to see.

As Abby and Gabriel team up to save his family’s Fourth of July festival—and tackle Abby’s secret summer bucket list—sparks begin to fly. Especially when he helps her experience all the “real” teen moments she’s missed: parties, picnics… and maybe even a first kiss.

Perfect for readers who love:
• Forced proximity
• Opposites attract
• Reluctant royalty
• Small-town charm reminiscent of Gilmore Girls

A cozy, heartfelt story that explores familial expectations and what it means to choose a life—and love—on your own terms.

Thank you Get Underlined for the gifted copy.

THIS WAS SWEET!

What a lovely debut. I really enjoyed this story. And it’s a fourth of July romance?? I’ve never read one of those and it was utterly charming. The small town charm was highlighted just right and the atmosphere was full of everything summer. This had the first love summer romance quality I had a breeze flying through.

I liked the eldest daughter FMC, Abby. She slowly works through letting things go and taking advantage of the opportunities to feel more like a teenager than the FDOTUS. It’s not heavy on political things and focused much more on the coming of age story for Abby. I loved the relationship she had with her sister.

The romance too was incredibly sweet. It’s appropriate for teens with kisses only and low (if any) language. I can easily keep this on my shelves for when my littles are older. I liked the banter between Gabriel and Abby and the communication they worked towards. There is some miscommunication but it wasn’t dragged out and felt right for the age range.

All in all, it’s filled with fireworks (literally), good parent relationships, new friendships, and summer love. Easy recommend!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: none
  • Content warnings: loss of a parent (recounted)

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