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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