Disclaimer: Beware of spoilers.
#BookTok has become an influential literary critic. It’s not a particularly good influence all the time (see: Colleen Hoover), but it has done an excellent job getting kids who grew up with so much technology back to reading. The last time I checked the tag, I noticed that hockey romance books often pop up. Curious, I clicked through the tags, and lo and behold, it has become a trendy genre.
I love to read romance books. However, I tend to reach for regency romance novels when I need something mindless because contemporary romance doesn’t really do it for me - much less a sports romance. I have a hard time suspending belief because the dialogues always get me. Like, what do you mean by “he was so swaggy?” A couple of years ago, I paid SEVENTEEN AMERICAN DOLLARS for an ebook of a football romance that I’m still pissed about. If I’m in the mood to read a good sports romance, I’ll clickity, clackity my way over to AO3 and sort the Hockey RPF tag by Kudos. That, however, is an entirely different conversation, lol.
Since this is a hockey newsletter, and we can do what we want, I decided to live out my dream as a literary critic and review some. As always, I’ll be applying THWL’s Rigorous Academic Process to them and rating them out of 5.
The Newspaper Nanny by Maren Moore
The story is about a single dad who falls in love with the babysitter he hired from a newspaper ad, except dad is the hot, young new coach of the Chicago NHL team (and how did that work out for Jeremy Colliton, hmm?)
There’s a bit of an age gap between the two, which I find a little icky, but hey, they’re both consenting adults. The dialogue is fine, except for the fact that the two children in the book don’t have age-appropriate language. The smut is meh. Ma’am, why are you screaming at the top of your lungs with two kids in the house? They got to school the next day. Let them rest!
Honestly, the funniest thing about this book was that it’s based in Chicago, and the team is called the Chicago Avalanche. Illinois is the second flattest state in the country, so the closest we’ve ever gotten to an avalanche was when the Morton Salt factory wall collapsed. It also features a bit about paparazzi following hockey players around, which is generally uncommon in hockey, and even more so in Chicago. I’m gonna be honest with you, despite how much of my life revolves around hockey, I wouldn’t be able to tell most of those white guys apart IRL. It’s just not like that here.
2/5 - the research into the city and some of the characters aren’t great, but a quick, easy read if you’re looking for that.
The Deal - Elle Kennedy
TW// Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence.
Classic “nerd tutors the jock, pretend to date, and they fall in love” trope, except the author tries to make them complex by giving them Trauma™. Ugh. I read a bunch of books for this, and this one was my least favorite. For starters, there is nothing worse than the main character of a book having massive Pick Me energy. Hannah, our protagonist, is not ~ like other girls~, and oh boy, is she gonna let you know. Five chapters in, Hannah goes to a frat party and -with her whole chest says, “... I have to shout to be heard over the music, which, shockingly enough, is pretty different. I expected shitty dance beats or vulgar hip-hop, but whoever’s manning the stereo system seems to have an affinity for indie rock and Brit Punk.” Ah yes, 21st-century college kids will be at a frat party, shaking ass to The Sex Pistols. Be serious with me right now— an extra point off because house music (i.e. shitty dance beats) originated in Chicago.
Aside from all the weird internal monologues, the author gives our protagonists sad backstories to make them more three-dimensional. The main guy, Garrett, has a shitty abusive dad because no man in a romance book has ever had a good father. Hannah is also a victim of a sexual assault in a small town where she and her family are ostracized. It’s a significant narrative point for the book - as it triggers the sexual relationship between the two. However, I’m not really a fan. It’s not because I don’t think sexual assault shouldn’t be discussed in a romance book, but because the writing is not strong enough to do it well. I’m not expecting profound writing, but in the author’s effort to create depth in the characters, they both come off as mean girls and slut shamers. Perpetuating the same cycles of misogyny that lead to violence. Like, where is the solidarity?!? It’s unpleasant.
Separate, but at one point in the book, she mentions how she puts on her peacoat; in another, she’s wearing a striped shirt and knee-high boots to go out. It made me look at when the story was initially published because I can clock a millennial outfit from a mile away. I was right; the book was first published in 2015 and then republished in 2021. I was fascinated that this book already felt dated less than ten years after it was written.
1/5 - don’t make me read this ever again
Well, that’s that, lol. I actually ended up reading a whole bunch of other books, but Perrye said this was not, in fact, an Athletic Deep Dive (let me live!!).
Also, because if there’s one thing I don’t lack is Audacity, I’ve pretty much convinced myself that I could also write a good hockey romance. I could pull it off between the friends who write fanfic and the hockey players I know. We’re just gonna ignore the fact that I give Perrye a headache every time we outline an article.
There’s plenty to review, so let us know if there’s anything you want us to read and review.
Look at us, becoming Cultured Critics of Note.
With love,
Gaby
Rule #1 - never trust anything viral from booktok to be goood!
Maureen smith has the Denver rebels series (book 1 is meh but book 2+3 are great and book 4 will be my fave whenever it comes out)
Sunny disposition + team players- Deanna Grey
Goal - Alexandria House
(P.S. yes these are all bw authors, #yourewelcome)
If you're looking for GOOD hockey books may I recommend...
Beartown by Fredrik Backman (See content warnings)
Michigan vs the Boys by Carrie S. Allen (See content warnings; there are some violent scenes, sexism and misogyny)
and my personal favorite, Icebreaker by A.L. Graziaidei, it's an m/m rivals to lovers romance with a huge cast of queer characters & great conversations about mental health.