Kennedy’s life has never been the same since her mother passed away. When her professional hockey player boyfriend unceremoniously dumps her when he gets traded, she seizes an opportunity to hurt him back in the form of fake dating his longest rival, Alexei. Alexei is still nursing a broken heart himself so a no feelings arrangement works perfectly for him too. No feelings never lasts long in fake dating, though, and before long Kennedy and Alexei are in way deeper than planned.

This was a fun and fast open door hockey romance! I had a fun time reading it and I absolutely loved Alexei. Kennedy’s journey back to herself was lovely to witness as well.

Recommended if you love: 🏒hockey romance 💘 fake dating ❤️‍🔥 barely contained mutual attraction 🎽 she wears his jersey 👷‍♂️ he falls first (hard)

Kennedy Cole has had a hell of a day! Her hockey player boyfriend has been traded from the team her father owns and he wasn’t even going to tell her. She only finds out after showing up at his house and finding the movers packing up his belongings. Devastated and angry, Kennedy heads to her father’s beginning of the hockey season celebration where she promptly gets drunk and has a run in with newly signed hockey player Alexei Volkov. Kennedy detests Alexei because of his and her douche bag ex’s long-standing rivalry. After Alexei and Kennedy get into an argument, a photo of them is released to the media making it seem like they are a lot more friendly then they actually are. In order to salvage Alexei’s bad reputation and get back at Kennedy’s dirtbag ex, the two agree to fake date for three months. Kennedy starts to see how great of a guy the grumpy Alexei really is and realizes she has been wrong about him, Alexei sees the real Kennedy underneath her anger and sadness over her mother’s death. What happens when a series of fake dates leads to very real feelings?

I love a good hockey romance and Kathryn Kincaid has delivered a great one! The spicy, sassy, sarcastic banter between Alexei and Kennedy was fantastic. Their chemistry was hot, even though they didn’t like each other. They just kept getting drawn together, a perfect enemies to lovers spark. As they start to become friends, you can see them becoming each other’s safe space, the person they can be real around. Kincaid has written characters with great progression and growth. Kennedy starts to push beyond her grief and Alexei realizes he’s worthy of love and a real relationship. The side characters are well written and fun. Gemma and Zach are particularly hilarious. A sweet, zippy romance with a side of sports!

This book is a great hockey romance to read. Kennedy and Alexei have fantastic banter between each other. It also follows Kennedy’s story of growth and self-discovery while dealing with the passing of her mother. Some of the tropes include, fake dating, enemies to lovers, and he falls first!!

Synopsis: fake dating- Hockey edition

If you're looking for a hockey romance with fake dating, drama and one bed this book is for you! Man, I couldn't put this book down! Alexei and Kennedy are just amazing together with their banter, chemistry and the realistic-ness of their modern day relationship ❤️ I wish this book was longer! It didn't feel like their story was over... or maybe I just didn't WANT to to be over 😭 I fell in love with Zach as a character too as he was the comedic relief at times. His commentary and man child-ness was done to perfection.
My only gripe about this book is the errors (not enough to hinder the amazing less of this book) and how the texting was done. I felt like I missed quotations or texting bubbles.
🌶️

I've become addicted to hockey romances, so when I saw Play Your Part by Kathryn Kincaid on NetGalley, I had to request it! Fake dating with an enemies to lovers dynamic was icing on the hockey cake!

Both Alexei and Kennedy have reasons for not trusting each other, but when a compromising photo of the two of them at the season opening party is taken out of context, the illusion of a relationship could help build the waning interest in the team, improve Alexei's reputation with the fans, and get back at Kennedy's ex, who also happens to be Alexei's nemesis.

There are so many layers to Alexei and it quickly becomes clear that he isn't the off-ice bad boy that the media portrays him as. His empathy, generosity, and leadership make him an unforgettable book boyfriend. I do wish that he had been more forthright about his growing feelings for Kennedy.

Kennedy has so much growth in her character as she deals with her lingering grief and makes decisions about her future. She has a fabulous bff at her back and a second close friend she is working to repair a relationship with; I loved how they both pushed Kennedy when she needed it. The slow burn attraction between Kennedy and Alexei is electric, but at times frustratingly so.

Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable and quick read, so if you are also a hockey romance fan, give this one a try!

Thank you to GetGalley and the author for the digital advance copy. All opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️.5/5

Play Your Part was a cute and easy read! Alexei and Kennedy started out as rivals that were forced into a fake relationship. As time went on, rivals turned to friends which turned to lovers. I loved reading about how both Alexei and Kennedy brought out the best in each other while also still challenging each other. Zach was by far my favourite character and I love the found family aspect of the book.

Cute hockey romance to add to your TBR!

An amazing hockey romance. There was so many of my favorite tropes done so perfectly. There was fake dating, one bed and forced proximity. The witty banter was fantastic and they knew exactly when to push each other's buttons and knew how to read each other so well. I really enjoyed seeing the main characters interact with the rest of the hockey team as well. I can't wait to read what Kathryn Kincaid releases next!
Thank you Netgalley and Kathryn Kincaid for the ARC!

This book had everything I could ever want in a book. So many tropes, so much witty banter and chemistry between main characters.This is fantastic for a debut novel and I can’t wait to read what releases next!

Alexi and Kennedy have put themselves in a predicament they can’t get out of. Unless they want to make matters worse. Alexi is signed by the team that Kennedy’s father owns. He’s known around the league as a tough player with an attitude. He also is a huge rival of Kennedy’s ex, who had just been traded off the team. But at a team function, Alexi helps Kennedy from falling, and a picture is taken out of context. Now they have to put together a PR stunt theg they are dating.

They try so hard not to like each other. She doesn’t want to be loyal to her ex, but has only been told bad things about Alexi. She is grieving the loss of her mother and doesn’t need the drama. Alexi doesn’t want a relationship, but wants to prove the team made the right decision with signing him. The rules for the fake relationship is easy. But the more time they spend together, their banter, and their trust in each other, lines blur. Something changes between them but was it all to look good for the camera and get fans in the seats or was every touch, glance and secret becoming more than they thought?

I loved these two, and their friend group. The trust that they built with each other was heartwarming. It showed them what it was like to be heard and eventually loved. They both deserved better than their ex’s and they got it. I can’t wait to see where this series goes!

Fake dating never disappoints.
Hockey romance never disappoints.
Enemies to lovers never disappoints.
And apparently neither does Kathryn Kincaid. This was my first book of hers but she’s now firmly in my autobuy list 👏🏼

Thanks to Kathryn Kincaid and NetGalley for the arc.

🏒 ARC REVIEW 🏒
Review: 4.5/5 ⭐️
Steam: 1/5 🔥

#playyourpart is an all new hockey romance being released by @authorkathrynkincaid

This was my first book by this author, and let me tell you, it won’t be my last!

Alexi and Kennedy have put themselves in a predicament they can’t get out of. Unless they want to make matters worse. Alexi is signed by the team that Kennedy’s father owns. He’s known around the league as a tough player with an attitude. He also is a huge rival of Kennedy’s ex, who had just been traded off the team. But at a team function, Alexi helps Kennedy from falling, and a picture is taken out of context. Now they have to put together a PR stunt theg they are dating.

They try so hard not to like each other. She doesn’t want to be loyal to her ex, but has only been told bad things about Alexi. She is grieving the loss of her mother and doesn’t need the drama. Alexi doesn’t want a relationship, but wants to prove the team made the right decision with signing him. The rules for the fake relationship is easy. But the more time they spend together, their banter, and their trust in each other, lines blur. Something changes between them but was it all to look good for the camera and get fans in the seats or was every touch, glance and secret becoming more than they thought?

I loved these two, and their friend group. The trust that they built with each other was heartwarming. It showed them what it was like to be heard and eventually loved. They both deserved better than their ex’s and they got it. I can’t wait to see where this series goes!

Thank you @netgalley for this ARC.

“You are what I’m thankful for this year.”
- Kathryn Kincaid, Play Your Part

ARC review 📝 Oh they did. They played their part so well that I stood no chance. This book immediately commanded my attention. Demanded my time. Called for me in every way I could give. And was met with no resistance at all. My heart was already Kennedy & Alexei’s for the taking.

He met her at her messiest. Not at her worst but definitely in the middle of a giant mess. She met him with a baggage of pre-existence notions that were based on anything but the truth. Things got messier and then blurry then… more.

Fake dating never disappoints.
Hockey romance never disappoints.
Enemies to lovers never disappoints.
And apparently neither does Kathryn Kincaid. This was my first book of hers but she’s now firmly in my autobuy list 👏🏼

What’s inside:
🖤sports romance 🏒
🖤h*te to love
🖤fake dating
🖤boss’s daughter
🖤nemesis’ ex-girlfriend
🖤one bed

You can. You must. You will read this one.
You will laugh. You will feel. You will love it.

Adult. 5 stars ⭐️

This book had everything I could ever want in a book. So many tropes, so much witty banter and chemistry between main characters.This is fantastic for a debut novel and I can’t wait to read what releases next!

Fake dating and hockey.. say less. I couldn't pass this book up just for those two things alone. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. This is my first book from Kathryn so I wasn't sure what to expect but i'm glad that I read it. Kennedy tragically lost her mother and then things just started falling apart. Enter Alexei, a grumpy hockey player who is in need of some good press following his stint with another team. Fake dating ensues to help out both parties. Of course someone is going to fall for the other.. but who falls first? You will just have to read to find out. Thank you to Netgalley and Kathryn Kincaid for being able to read and review this book.

*4.5

I loved this so much. They clearly had chemistry from their first meeting and it was so much fun. I really liked seeing her go over to his house and just hang out. Domestic moments are always some of my favorites. I'm going to need a book about zack just because I know it would be funny.

I received an arc through netgalley.

This book was SUCH a great read! If it’s not in your TBR list, go ahead and add it!

I loved every character, the setting, the story, the banter, the spice.. ALL. OF. IT.

Alexei will sooo add another book boyfriend to your list!

There are a lot of important life lessons in this book and the characters and theirs feelings/struggles are so relatable.

Absolutely loved every second, cannot wait to read more from this author!

Cute hockey romance that actually talks about hockey.
Fake dating
Crappy last relationships
Slow burn ish

My only negatives....
The texting conversations.... They really need to be formatted differently than the regular monologue. I had to go back and read many paragraphs over trying to figure out what the text was. There's no quotation marks, no different font, nothing to differentiate the conversations.
And I would have loved to see these two happier sooner. They were happy then boom we are done.

Fake dating with a hockey player? Say less.

I saw this book and knew immediately I had to read it. I love finding new authors and the fact that it’s hockey is a bonus. I loved the banter between Kennedy and Alexei. Kennedy was a little bit of a ball buster. I loved getting to see the two of them together and their chemistry, I wish there was a little more of that. I liked the side characters and would definitely read Zach’s book. I really enjoyed this one and am impressed that’s it’s the authors debut novel.

Read if you like:
Fake dating
Dual pov
He falls first
Hockey
A little slow burn
Enemies to lovers


Thanks to Kathryn Kincaid and NetGalley for the arc.

FIRST OF ALL, always get yourself a man who wants to hear you talk about true crime shows !! Being a Russian hockey player is also a bonus !

This is Kathryn’s first published book. You can’t see it at all while reading, it is so beautifully written and everything just makes sense.

I didn’t like Kennedy that much for a while because I feel very protective of my hockey players but as the story progress we can see character development and she grew on me! Alexei was absolutely perfect, a mix of everything you want in a man in a good romance book but Zach kinda stole the show for me! let’s hope we get to read more about him too!

Tropes:
- Hockey Romance
- Fake dating
- Forced proximity
- Enemies to lovers

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ well done Kathryn and thanks to netgalley for letting me get an arc !

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️.5/5

You know I love a good hockey romance and this was really good.

Kennedys dad owns the hockey team. Her hot shot hockey boyfriend just got traded from that team to another team without telling her and told her to hand in her keys. Alexei just got traded to the team and he has a reputation of being a hot head because of his rivalry with Kennedy’s ex. After some photos were taking out of context the best thing is to fake date to save the Alexei and the team some bad PR and a great way to get back at Kennedys ex but what happens when they can’t tell what’s fake anymore.

I loved the banter between the characters it was a really good enemies to lovers. At first Kennedy wasn’t my favorite but as the book went she grew on me and I really liked her. Alexei was just perfect to me. He wasn’t like the typical hockey mmc you see. I loved all the side characters. Zach was my favorite please tell me he gets a book!

I ate this up 👏🏼 yet another hockey romance I devoured. the banter between Alexei and Kennedy is top notch and the slow burn in this book was so hot and fun to read. I adored all the secondary characters as well, they really make an impact on the story and aren't just there for decoration.

I blew through this within 24 hours because I couldn't wait to see what would happen in their relationship. I found the ending to be a little less exciting mainly because the lead up and the slow burn are sooooo tense and charged that I was expecting something a little extra in the end, but it still didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of the book.

tropes and vibes:

⛸ enemies to lovers (the ultimate supreme trope)
⛸ forced proximity
⛸ miscommunication
⛸ slow burn
⛸ ex's rival
⛸ coach's daughter
⛸ fake dating
⛸ one bed


thanks so much Kathryn Kincaid and NetGalley for the ARC of this book - will definitely be looking out for more books by this author!

I really enjoyed this book! I enjoy sports romances very much but am pretty picky about them. I felt that this one met all of my standards. I loved Alexei - I thought he was so sweet. I also loved Kennedy!! I tend to not like FMCs in romances, but I really did like her a lot! She was easy to root for. I also loved the friend group dynamic!!!! All of the characters in this book were just so lovable (aside from Justin obvi). I loved it!!!

I also really appreciated the fact that the drama was not dragged out. Anytime something dramatic happened, it was resolved fairly quickly. I loved it and really appreciated that the author did that.

Overall, this book was fun and fluffy, with cute relationship/friendship dynamics and lovable characters. I would recommend to anyone that loves sports/hockey romances :)

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!! I really enjoyed it!!