After an amazing one night stand, one that happened the night before her friend's wedding, Tess finds out she is pregnant. When she tells the baby daddy, Cole, he is on board 100% with helping her out, and the first stage of helping out is when he is pretty much coerced by his teammate to let Tess stay with him while her apartment is being worked on. Cole had always had a plan, and knew for sure his future would include his on and off girlfriend, but it isn't until he spends more time with Tess that he realizes maybe the person that he thought was his forever, isn't really. But for someone like Tess, trust isn't earned easily. Ready to run at any moment, knowing that at any time Cole's true love may come back and Tess will be on the sidelines once again, makes her not want anything more than temporary. Can Cole get Tess to realize that she is the one that he wants and get her to stop running?

This was a good story and I enjoyed it. Really good drama, ok naughty moments, and a bit of hockey make up this story. I give this 4 stars.

Awk-Weird is the second book in Avery Flynn's Ice Knights series, and such a fun book to read. I really enjoyed this book, and flew through it so quickly. I've mentioned before (many times), that I've been so stressed out recently with how busy life is, but reading this book was such a breath of fresh air and definitely helped me relax.

I loved both of these characters. They were so fleshed out, and I loved seeing them grow throughout the story. I really enjoyed seeing both characters learn to challenge and change what they think about themselves because of their childhood experiences, and what they have to learn about themselves in order to be together.

The romance in this novel was so slow burn, and I couldn't put the book down because I needed to see Tess and Cole finally be together. Not only was the romance and the slow burn great, but there was a fantastic found family aspect that was so sweet to read. I love seeing characters with a nontraditional family, because I know that found family can be just as important if not more than biological family.

I've read so much Avery Flynn this year, and I'm so glad that Awk-Weird is added to the list. Flynn's books are always so much fun to read and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series!

Awk-Weird is the perfect rom-com. I loved every thing about this book from the story to all the characters. You can’t help but swoon and smile the entire time!
Tess is probably one of my favorite heroines. Who doesn’t love a nerdy, trivia loving, fact spewing woman?! I felt like I was learning things while I was reading this story. She is a free spirit. She runs a flower shop, she has a great group of friends and a crazy cat. Cole is a neat freak, he likes things to run a certain way, he is set in his routines. It’s the same thing day in and day out. He doesn’t like change, but he is about to experience the biggest change in his life.
I couldn’t get enough of this book. I loved the characters and I loved the story. It’s so easy to fall in love with Tess, Cole and their relationship. They are truly opposites of each other in every form, yet somehow they are perfect for each other. They had so much chemistry and it was super sweet. I loved the little things they did, like the voicemails. They had to work on a relationship and I loved the build they had.
This was the perfect mix of a hockey romance, laugh out loud banter, sweet characters, steam and romance. I truly didn’t want the story to end, because I love Tess and Cole that much. I do hope there are little sneak peaks into their life in the next book of Ice Knights series.

Due to her childhood all Tess wants is to not attract attention or be an inconvenience to others in her life. While attending her friend’s wedding reception she is counting down the minutes until she can escape until a game of trivia between members of the Ice Knights brings her and Cole together.

Cole’s childhood was much different than Tess’s but unconventional in its own way. Due to that he requires routine and control in his life and anything outside of the normal throws causes him turmoil and anxiety.
He and Tess combust on a physical level but they both know it is only for one night and go their separate ways. Thirty days later both their worlds are about to turn upside down when not only is two about to become three, but they find themselves sharing a living space as well.

These two couldn’t be more different or more perfect together as they adapt to a new way of living that is more fulfilling and fun.

I am in love with this book. Tess is just such a unique and funny character with all her fun facts. Cole and his somewhat OCD tendencies were something you don’t see a ton in romantic comedies but it gave him another dimension . Such a great read.

Awk-Weird by Avery Flynn
4.5*

This book was hilariously awkward and delightfully weird with characters you cannot help but fall in love with.

Tess is fact-spouting florist who has not had the most fantastic of relationships with her family. She’s made her own family with a close knit group of friends but even then, she’s waiting for the other shoe to drop, for them to leave. After all, in Tess’s world, no one ever sticks around and everything and everyone are temporary.

Cole is not a fan of change. And when I say not a fan, I mean he resists it at every opportunity. Everything in his life and his home has a place and a space and that’s how they will stay, dammit! Every aspect of his life is ruled by routine and a strict regimen and it works for him until colorful Tess enters his life and stirs things up a wee bit.

With Tess and her issues and Cole still believing he’s in love with his ex, there’s a lot of confusion and frankly, hot sex, to be had as they work out the dynamics of their relationship. There’s really not much I didn’t like about this book apart from a few instances where I could have cheerfully throttled both Tess and Cole. Otherwise I read much of the book with a smile and great enjoyment - I have a feeling Tess and Cole’s is a story I’ll return to in the future. And after that little snippet of Loud Mouth, I’m more eager than I thought possible to get my hands on Petrov!

*I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

**Reviewed by Melinda for Joandisalovebooks Blog.

*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
When I read the blurb for this book, I expected to pick up a certain kind of book. An athlete and an awkward girl, an accidental pregnancy, and an ex that might not really be an ex.
And it had those elements but it was a lot more. I loved that you get this hot athlete who is a neat/ control freak. He needs to control everything in his world.
I also loved that you get an awkward woman who only believes in the temporary and spouts random nonsense when she’s nervous.
I really enjoyed Cole and Tess. Each had things from the past that were throwing off their futures. They both need to protect themselves. Their voicemails and stress baking were adorable.
I loved their friends and the connection ruin they had.

Awk-weird is how Tess describes herself, always sharing random bits of trivia when she gets nervous. She meets Cole at her friend's wedding rehearsal. Tess gets pregnant, and they find themselves spending more time together. Lots of funny moments, hockey, baking, and sweetness. This book made me laugh along with making me hope for a happy ending. Great characters.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What do you get when you put together a nerdy heroine, a hot hockey god and a surprise pregnancy? An amazing, funny and sweet friends to lovers romance story! Awk-Weird (Ice Knights #2) really was the cutest book ever and a fantastic follow up to Parental Guidance. .
Watching these complete opposites try to navigate the result of a one-night stand while both adamantly declaring they won’t fall for the other was funny, sweet and swoony. Tess is crazy smart but a little lost in life. Cole is a successful hockey player who has every detail of his life figured out. These two people shouldn’t work together but somehow they do. However, in the long run, will Cole be willing to change his ways or his plans for his life? Will Tess be willing to open her heart to love and a relationship? Is a baby the only thing tethering these two people together?
Trust me, you want to read this story to find out. .
This book can be a read as a stand-alone; although why you would skip Parental Guidance makes no sense to me. These books are just really fun, light and enjoyable reads with a good amount of steam. I can’t wait for the next book in the series. Awk-Weird releases October 14.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Awk-Weird is everything you want in a romantic comedy, it’s funny, it’s sweet and it has characters that are adorable. Let’s be honest what’s not to love when you have a hot Thor ice hockey player as the hero and a nerdy sweet awkward girl as the heroine. This author always finds characters you can identify with maybe it’s you always manage to see a little bit of yourself in each and everyone she creates or maybe she just weaves a tale we would like to be a part of and Awk-Weird is no different it’s a story that will draw you in and keep you hooked through to the last line.
Cole has moved around most of his childhood never spending much time in one place and that has made him an independent control freak who has a place for everything and it’s never out of place including his feelings, well that was until Tess dropped into his life, she is the complete opposite a nerdy messy funny girl who takes life as it comes so what happens when the nerd hooks up with the hot Thor look alike I guess you need to read the book to find that out....
This is a book that ticked all my boxes, I laughed, I sighed and I loved watching these two characters evolve as I joined their beautifully written love story, this was everything I expected from the queen of rom- com and I can’t wait for the next installation of the Ice Knights. Entertaining funny read.

I did not expect to love this book as much as I did. I smiled, I laughed and I even nearly cried while reading this book.

I felt like I connected with Tess on a very strong level. I’m quite weird myself and extremely awkward at times so everything she did or said just made me love her even more. She’s been let down quite a lot and in turn that leads her to feel like everything in her life is temporary and that honestly broke my heart. Tess is a sweet, smart and loving woman who I was rooting for the whole time.

When I first read the synopsis for this book I was concerned that their was going to be a large amount of the whole ‘jock falls in love with the nerd’ cliche but there was none of that. Cole, while being a pro hockey player, is just as smart as Tess and has his own issues. He has a routine and cannot step outside of it. He lives in a black and white world while Tess lives in a world of colour and honestly, watching the two worlds collide was absolutely perfect.

I loved this book from beginning to end and simply could not put it down. While not for a younger audience, this book is perfect for anyone looked for a light, quick, heartfelt romance which will tug at your heart strings. I cannot wait to dive into Avery Flynn’s other books, especially Parental Guidance which is set in the same universe!

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The title of the book, Awk-weird was spot on in describing Tess, the heroine. She was awkward and weird in the most adorable way when she was throwing random factoid out as her freak-out defense mechanism. Even though the trope of the book was nothing new, this funny and heartfelt surprise baby rom-com was uniquely enjoyable. There was no insta-love between Cole and Tess. They both had some demons in the past that ruled out each other on their long-term relationship radar. The outcome of their one-night stand was unexpected and they never knew that they would find what they always needed in the most unlikely place. The side characters were interesting and help built the incredible Ice Knight family and I’m looking forward to meeting more of the hockey hotties. I absolutely enjoyed this funny and swoony rom-com and would highly recommend it.

Ahh this book was the perfect quick read! A cute lil romcom, I absolutely adored it.


I saw so much of myself in Tess. I know a ton of random factoids (though not near as many as her), and I also have serious peopleing issues. As a matter of fact, I refer to my times when I want to be alone as being “peopled out”.

Now Cole. Hellllooooo hot stuff! I’m not usually one for blond Norse gods but umm...I think I may need to rewatch Thor...for research purposes.
But honestly, this was such a cute, fun book!

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Please visit curlybookowl.com on or after October 15th for a full, spoiler-included review!

*Thank you Entangled Publishing for this free ebook in exchange for an honest review*

Quirky is the word I would use to describe Tess and Cole. Two creatures of habit and routine. Funny thing is in their case routine was a root of the evil. A mirage in which they hid behind respectively. Tess also had the added bonus of nervous fun facts. I think those are what made the story for me. An education of sorts. Fearing the unknown but having it be your solace at the same time.

One of my favorite stories by Avery. More so because many are blind to what is right in front of them because they fear change and the unknown variables.

Love Tess (the Heroine.) She is socially awkward but hilarious. She's had a emotionally rough childhood, but grew past that to have a successful adult life... only thing missing is that forever guy in her life. Cole (the Hero) is an NHL star who likes routine and consistency and is having difficulties adjusting to life with Tess in it. Neither are admitting to each other or to themselves their feelings. This lack of communication causes some trouble in paradise. There are lots of laughs throughout the book, but there are also some emotionally gut wrenching scenes. Don't worry, it's not an ugly cry kind of read though. If you've read the Hartigans series, you will recognize some of the side characters, as this series is a spin off of that series, but each can be read as a stand alone. I love the banter between Cole and his teammates. (That's where we get much of the comic relief.) This is an easy to read, hard to put down book. It alternates between POVs. The sexual content is limited and not graphic. This book is not only entertaining, but also educational.... get ready to learn some random facts! ;)

*I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley.

I had such a chuckle reading this. I’ve read the previous book in this series, “Parental Guidance”, so I looking forward to see who was in this one. (These don’t need to be read in order)
We first met Tess is a different series “The Hartigans”
Tess looks at herself as ordinary, a nerd. But I liked the character, her awk-weird (ness) was endearing. She has no social skills, she has no idea how to interact with a guy. She does try bless her, she just doesn’t have a clue. She knows it’s going to happen soon, her friends have found someone, a d soon they will be moving on. She’s had it all her life, no one has every really wanted her, being passed around from relative to relative, a d getting the feeling you weren’t really wanted has certainly done a number on Tess.
And being at another wedding (her three best friends have all found love) just sucks. She doesn’t begrudge them, but she’s going to be on her own pretty soon. Again!!!!

As Cole watches his ex leave with her date, its pretty obvious they were properly over, they were and on/off couple, he’d given her his love, she’d left, so he was going to get drunk, and then move on .....

Tess and Cole meet at a pre-wedding dinner. A game is being played, and although Tess isn’t invited, she can’t help whisper the answers. She doesn’t think anyone is listening, until a challenge is dished out, and Tess is partnered with a Thor look alike 😉 drinks are flowing and soon the questions are flying around. Tess can’t remember when she’d had this much fun.

Together they make their escape through an open door, Cole really doesn’t do cute, but she does have something about her .....

Oh dear!!!! We wake the next morning, and a few regrets raise its ugly head, yes they’d had a great night, but in the come light of day, would Cole really want to be seen with her?

One month later ....

Tess is pregnant!!! Ok she knows how it happens, but how did it happen? They’d had protected sex (three times) so it should have been ok. What’s a girl to do? Does she tell the father? It does she keep it quiet?

Cole is shocked!! How the hell did Tess become pregnant?

But as the pair struggle to come to terms with the pregnancy, they spend more and more time together. Her quirks intrigue him, just being with her makes more sense than being with his ex ever did.

So will they end up together? Or will Tess’s past keep them apart?

It’s another laugh a minute book. It’s good a few deep moments (both Cole and Tess have issues, and it’s good to watch them work through them together)

Awk-weird has that unique brand of witty fun and sweet romance that is speciality of Avery Flynn. My face was hurting from grinning and smiling like a lunatic. My heart was hurting in the best way with the insane chemistry and beautiful passionate moments. Nothing is comparable to this carefree, happy and content feelings after reading the feel good yet intense romance from Avery Flynn.

Cole and Tess are as opposite in personality as possible. Tess is the shy and reservd florist who throws out absolutely random trivia in nervous ans awkward situations. And that happens a lot. Cole is the star player of Ice Knights who is charming, gorgeous, confident and has his life mapped to every tiny details. Just like each corner of his home. So when a drunken wedding hook up , an accidental pregnancy and a plumbing disaster force them to co habit together , it is complete chaos.

I love everything about this couple. This is a slow burn extraordinaire romance. Where they give in to their bone deep pull one step and then take ten steps back by denying their feelings. Tess makes Cole feel that change is necessary and not always evil. And Cole makes Tess at home that has been missing from her life since childhood. But heart is a stupid and stubborn organ. So they have this very exciting, mesmerizing and intoxicating dance where they kind of do everything except admitting their love. The journey was hilarious and full of so many laugh out loud moments. Think about every kind of humor and you will have it. Including healthy dose of sarcasm. The journey had gut wrenching and soul wrecking moments where I wanted to hit someone. The whole bittersweet, heartbreaking and glorious process of falling in love was portrayed so beautifully. And I loved getting reunited with some of my old favorites from the Hartigan family and Ice Knight family! Friends make everything better and easy.


Avery Flynn's writing is so free flowing and flawless that it will get right to your heart. If romance is an escape, Awk-weird is an all expense paid trip to Hawaii.

Received ARC for Honest review via Netgalley

This rom com was so perfectly titled! It was wonderfully Awk-Weird. This was my first Avery Flynn but will not be my last. I absolutely fell in love with the Ice Knights.

Cole and Tess have nothing had a difficult childhood which has lead to them both dealing with some of their own issues while not even recognizing they are falling in love which when you find out you are unexpectedly pregnant definitely causes some chaos.

I loved the random facts that came out of Tess mouth and a special shoutout to Khan.

Love this quirky couple! He's a hockey god with unique ways to release stress, he bakes! She releases anxiety with factoids, I learned a ton of cool info. What was a fun night at a wedding became a happy accident with a long future. Tess is my new favorite heroine, there isn't anything she doesn't know. Cole is too organized and structured for any normal human being. But, they click and eventually work it all out. Fun, loving, hockey, a cat - all for an entertaining romantic comedy. I received an early copy, review was written unbiased and voluntarily.

So glad Avery continued the Ice Knights series! After her traumatic and distant childhood, Tess has guarded herself as an adult by being awkward and as invisible as possible. The last to be single out of her group of friends, she is starting to feel lonely and a seventh wheel to the group. At the wedding of one of her friends, she meets Cole and while she’s extremely attracted to him, she focuses on putting no attention on herself. But as fate would have it, they end up competing together against the rest of the crew in trivia, which is her specialty, and they have an epic one-night stand. And as one-night stands go, Tess ends up pregnant. With Cole thinking he’s getting back together with his ex since they have been on and off for years and his reluctance to change, he resigns himself to being involved with Tess for the baby, but still plans to get his life back on track and to normal. But after Tess has some bad luck with her living situation and the pair are somewhat forced together at his home, she inserts herself into his way of life and changes him for the better. But with both of them being resistant to change and being vulnerable, it’s a question on if they will end up happily together. I continue to love Avery’s rom-com storylines and also love that being it’s part of a series we get to see our other favorites from books past and updates on them as well. Can’t wait for the next installment in this series!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.