Rating: ★★★★.5
Audience: Upper YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 448 pages
Author: Lynn Painter
Publisher: Simon Teen
Release Date: September 30th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Childhood sweethearts reunite in a hockey-loving town where romance is about to heat up the ice. Icebreaker meets  Better Than the Movies.

From play dates on the playground to sneaking into movie theaters, Dani and Alec were inseparable as kids. Until Dani moved away. Years later, Dani is back in Minnesota, and exited to reconnect with the nerdy and comforting Alec. But teenage Alec is NOTHING like the boy she remembers. He’s the hockey STAR in a town where hockey players are worshipped as gods – and he loves it. 

When one thing leads to another and Dani and Alec find themselves thrown together and playing the role of boyfriend and girlfriend, “complicated” becomes an understatement. In this Minnesota town, hockey may rule, but romance is about to take its place.

Thank you Simon Teen for the gifted ARC and eARC.

WHAT A GEM.

I have read all of Lynn Painter’s books and honestly, not one has missed. I love knowing that I can pick up her books and I know that I will love the story and characters and have a boost of joy in my day.

It’s been a minute since I’ve read a hockey romance and this scratched that itch. I loved the teammates and games and the tense moments of not knowing what was going to happen next. I ADORED Alec and his snark and passion. He was aggressive (in a complimentary way) and the kissing scenes were light your kindle on fire worthy.

And I really loved Dani too. As a fellow child of divorce I recognized many of the same sentiments and thoughts. Alec and Dani had incredible chemistry and I could not get enough of them on page. Amidst the drama filled moments they kept finding ways to be together.

OH, And Grandpa Mick??? LOVE THAT MAN. And Dani’s Mom. And Alec’s family. And Alec and Dani’s friends. Honestly, I loved all of these characters. I love that the antagonists were kept to a small circle and that I got to read about good friends and families figuring life out with love and kindness.

The more I write this review the more I am realizing how much I loved this book. You must go read it!!

Overall audience notes:

• Upper YA Contemporary Romance
• Language: very strong (too strong for YA)
• Romance: heated kisses
• Violence: mild+
• Content warnings: divorced parents, physical altercations, underage drinking