4.5 stars

This was such a fun and swoon worthy romance read! I wouldn't say it necessarily is targeted at any specific season but I would say that I considered it the perfect read for the winter months. Maybe because of the association with hockey? I don't know if this book would have hit the same if I had read it in the summer for some reason.

Either way, seasonal debate aside, I really enjoyed this read. Both in audio and physical format. I started this book by listening to the audiobook which includes the lovely Joshua Jackson (Pacey anyone?) but then found I also wanted to read it physically. You know it's a good book when you can't choose which format to read because you are enjoying the experience of both!

I'm biased here but I LOVED all the Canadian stereotypes and tidbits (or Timbits?) thrown in. From the acknowledgment of our constant apologizing to igloos and our holy grail Tim Hortons. I felt like I was experiencing a story in a setting that I know and live in and I LOVED that. It's not often that I get to feel that way. In that vein, if you have any contemporary/romance novels set in Canada that you recommend, please let me know.

I really loved everything about this book from the characters to the writing. The one and only thing that I had issue with is the revelation nearing the end but in all honesty, I don't know how or if it could have been handled any differently. It's something though that distinguishably made this book evident that it was fiction. I just had to look past the reality of that circumstance.

I'm really looking forward to Gretchen's story and all that Jenny Holiday has to offer in the future!

I overall typically enjoy Jenny Holiday books, but this one just felt "off". I could tell how it was going to unravel, but just not overall a fan.

Such a fun and silly story, full of grief and longing right alongside a forbidden romance, sneaking around. Single Dad/Nanny is always a hit because you get so much caregiving from the MMC, and an FMC who drops in and helps everyone feel "complete" again. Classic and lovable for all the right reasons. The aurora borealis scene is not to be missed!!

This was a sweet story about two people forming a friendship, helping each other heal, and learning what love can be.

This was a first time read for me by this author and it was a pleasant experience. It's a delightful and charming rom-com that offers a hilarious and heartfelt variation on the fake boyfriend trope and delivers a delightful mix, of sweet moments, undeniable chemistry, and laugh-out-loud moments.
When Rory was a teenager working in a coffeeshop, she met Mike, a teenage Canadian hockey player, who she really clicked with. She never expected to see him again, but she made the decision to cast him as her fake boyfriend whenever anyone at school asked. It helped her get through those tough years as she navigated through high school. Now, teaching her own dance class, the last person she expects to walk through the door is pro hockey player and widower Mike, the same boy she met all those years ago. Circumstances are such that she agrees to help him with his daughter, Olivia, while she adjusts to her life without her mom. Rory really connects with Olivia, and her an Mike grow closer as well. As they navigate the blurred lines between their professional arrangement and growing personal feelings, ra slow-burn romance develops that's filled with tension, vulnerability, and moments of genuine connection. But will that connection still be there when Mike finds out Rory 's secret from all those years ago?
Themes of trust, healing, and self-discovery are woven seamlessly into the story, making it more than just a romance. With a lovely cast of characters and heartwarming moments, this was delightful and satisfying read.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

liked this book and it was a quick read. Widowed hockey dad and “failed” ballerina who becomes his nanny and has been crushing on him forever. The chemistry between Aurora and Mike was great and there was a respectful focus on mental health and their journeys. And who doesn’t love a rescued wheelchair dog named Earl?!

Jenny Holiday has such a fun writing style -- it's so easy to get into her books and finish them in a single sitting! CANADIAN BOYFRIEND was one of her best rom-coms yet!

First of all, please get Joshua Jackson to narrate more romances. I really liked his voice. I also LOVED that they each spoke for themselves and didn't have him impersonating a woman's voice.

The story itself was super sweet. I love that they both cared about each other and wanted to do the right thing for his daughter enough to screw up their relationship. They were great together and I really loved it.

Somehow both too serious and not serious enough. Or maybe it’s more mature themes but the lens (characters) in which we view them are immature. Either way, it was an unfortunate miss for me.

The cover doesn’t do this book justice. There’s some real depth to this one.

Mike Martin is an NHL defenseman and a widower raising a tween stepdaughter. Aurora is his daughter’s dance teacher. BUT years ago when Aurora was a teenager she met Mike at the mall where she worked. Painfully shy, with a life consumed by ballet, she fictionalized Mike as her Canadian Boyfriend to get out of socially awkward situations. Meeting years later, does she tell him? Or not?

Loved the way grief was handled, and the pressure of success was explored. Also, the Canadian references were spot on. 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

The only annoying bit? During her internal thoughts Aurora calls him by his full name throughout the whole book. I mean, it’s not a dealbreaker and I got over it but yeah. Kinda weird.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Forever Publishing for the advanced copy of this book!
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I read this book over the course of single day, staying up until the wee hours to finish it. It is light and fluffy read, that moves really quickly and doesn't require a lot of thought to follow the plot. As a teenager, Aurora makes up a boyfriend that lives in Canada and plays hockey so that she doesn't seem like such a loner to her classmates, basing him on some guy she met in passing at the mall. Flash forward to present day, and she comes face to face with the very same man, who now has made a name for himself in the professional hockey world, and who's daughter takes dance with Aurora.
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The characters were sweet and the romance was cute; you want these two to end up together. My only gripe is that Aurora insists on referring to him at "Mike Martin" every time. Even once they start dating she always includes his last name, which just felt odd and frankly took me out of the story a bit. Other than that, I did really like the relationships that Aurora built with secondary characters, and will continue to read more from Jenny Holiday.

Gosh this was something. But I had some big hang ups! One: Why did she have to say his full name all the time ??? Like is was beyond repetitive!!! AND annoying!! Two: He was really ready to throw all of this away for diaries of a teenage gril! Three: Why MISCOMMUNICATION?? WHY Couldn't she say anything about it!! It was a dark secret !!! Also AGAIN with the third act break up.... just really getting old of that trope!!

I was able to read an ebook arc of this thanks to NetGalley. A fun romance. Great read. Would read more by this author.

Jenny Holiday is the author for you if you are looking for a sweet and Hallmark-y love story with a touch more chemistry. Canadian Boyfriend was such a delightful novel to easily fall into with a charming setting, lovely characters, and a relationship driven story. This single dad, hockey star romance is like a warm hug that is perfect for the cooler seasons. Holiday's writing is conversational and easy to engage with, her story is well paced and keeps the reader turning the pages, and her character's romance is soft and beautiful. Overall I really enjoyed reading this novel, the third act breakup season was not particularly my favorite as it felt out of character for the hero we had learned to love from the beginning, but ultimately a fun and enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend this novel is you are looking for a cozy read, light on the spice and will leave you with a smile on your face.

A cute hockey romance read. Characters were likable, the romance was strong, and the book was well written. A very cute book for winter’

Who HASN'T made up a fake boyfriend to some degree as a teenage girl... I know I did! I loved this story, start to finish, the tropes were TROPING... Sports romance- Ballerina + Hockey player was a void that was missing in my sports romance life, Single dad, forced proximity, nanny. Aurora was such a relatable character, and I think that is why I instantly fell in love with her and this story. There was so much healing throughout this book for both the FMC and MMC, they had so much depth, the grief was real, and the Therapy rep was spot on.

This was so much more than a smutty hockey romance!!

No matter what Jenny Holiday writes, I always pick it up! This is cute read that you can burn through in a day, that definitely delivers on light vibes and cute moments. I think it shows some honesty in relationships as well: some that will makes sense and others that make sense because they don't make sense (basically the mountain is us people, our limitations are defined by us) and the authors explored that here. Overall, super easy to get into and a good weekend book to pick up!

3.75/5

This is my first sports romance and I am here for it. Canadian Boyfriend was a quick, fun read that was a "palette cleanser" for me after a heavier read.

I would recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a hockey romance, Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) | Forever
for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love me some Canadian boyfriends! When I first heard about this book, I knew I was going to have to read it. I have loved everything from Jenny in the past, and this novel is no exception. I loved everything about the relationship between Aurora and Mike. They had the perfect amount of "fake" and real to their relationship. Jenny knows how to write characters that you will swoon over, and stories that will stay with you long after you've finished reading them. This is one of those novels.

This romance novel is a beautifully crafted tale that explores the complexities of love and relationships. The characters are well-developed, each with their own struggles and growth arcs, making them relatable and endearing. The chemistry between the protagonists is palpable, filled with moments of tension, humor, and tenderness that keep readers engaged.