Thank you for the review copy! This is a cute read that would be a good option for sports romance enthusiasts.

I could not put this book down! Jenny Holiday is always on my MUST BUY list and this book is no different. She writes wonderful stories full of romance and real life. The stories are never rushed and everything just FITs in the end,

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever Romance for the opportunity to review this book. This is a book that is romantic, but also more often than not, there were a lot more life lessons learned and presented. For instance, there is a lot of grief discussion, parental verbal abuse, eating disorder discussion, and hot and cold discussion between the two leads. There is also a lot of therapeutic/therapy discussion, which is refreshing as someone who is also attending therapy. I also appreciated that there was no rush in the story, but not a lot of people would appreciate that.  I think, though, it's not one that I'm going to recommend for everyone because of how full of depth it is, but I am intrigued by other books by this author. Because of these points, I have to give this 4 out of 5 stars.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. This book was similar to every other hockey book that I have read in the past.

Canadian Boyfriend was a cute story, but there were a couple things that held me back from loving it. For one, I had the thought, “If I read “Mike Martin” one more time, I’m going to lose my mind,” at least two dozen times. For someone who didn’t care about his “famous” status, our FMC literally always used his full name. Second,—the much bigger issue—the primary conflict felt so overblown. These characters are adults, but they both acted like high schoolers regarding the main conflict. For a story with so much focus on personal growth, that major plot point felt very immature. And a minor thing: it feels like cheating to write a romance and skip over the couple’s first kiss; that’s a letdown. But I will say, this is one of the most unique proposals I’ve read, and the epilogue was a nice conclusion.

After I got through the first chapter with all of the very stereotypical Canadian references I snuggled into their romance novel. It is a sports romance with a single father hockey player and a dancer (who is the dance teacher of his daughter). Romance isn’t always my favourite genre but i liked this one because it wasn’t like all the rest - it had honest conversations, healthy adult feelings and of course love.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy! I just couldn't get in the mood for this one, but I do love this author!

This book had me at fake dating, ballet and hockey! I loved the idea that the two main characters had met at one time in their past and then reconnected, even if they didn't know it at first. Mike was a sweet character who is navigating life with his daughter after losing his wife. Aurora also tugged at my heartstrings while I read this story, I could feel some of her struggles so vividly. I loved watching their connection and friendship unfolding on the pages that rooting for them just seemed so natural. Jenny Holiday makes the characters and the story so relatable and realistic that I felt like I was walking alongside both Mike and Aurora. Thank you to Forever Pub for a copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

This was such a fun read! I thought the lead characters were really sweet together. You can never go wrong with a hockey romance! Thanks Forever Pub for the copy 💕

I loved this book so much I bought the paperback when it came out, thats incredibly reflective on how good a book is for me. Mike and Rory were SOOOO cute and even though the whole "Canadian boyfriend" plot was a small side story it didn't matter at all. I will eat up a rekindled romance and this one served! The connection between Mike and Rory was so deep and personal. you really found yourself rooting for them from the get go. I cant wait to read more from his author!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I was rooting for them every step of the way. I fell in love with the characters and hope to read more about them in the future!

Canadian Boyfriend was one of my favorite reads this year and it's an absolute travesty that the reviews for this book aren't higher. Jenny Holiday, you are a queen and deserve better.

Aurora Evans meets Canadian hockey player, Mike Martin, as a teenager while working at a coffee shop at the Mall of America (shout-out to Caribou Coffee - I love you... please send a Nitro Turtle Mocha my way). Side note: for those unfamiliar with the Mall of America, well... just google it. It's a giant, chaotic mall that is equal parts delightful and overwhelming. Back to Aurora and Mike... Aurora is absolutely enchanted by Mike and concocts a fake relationship with him to try and fit in better with her peers who don't necessarily get her. Being a ballerina has always been Aurora's focus, so making friends has been difficult, but her fake Canadian boyfriend seems to be a sort of solution. Writing letters to him (as a dear diary situation) brings her comfort and helps her through tough times. But what happens when Aurora becomes an adult and runs into the ACTUAL Mike Martin?

First off, this was the perfect setting for a hockey romance. Not that I'm biased or anything... but Minnesota IS the state of hockey. I got special enjoyment out of it being set in Minnesota. I loved reading about places that I've actually been to. What a delight. Then there are the characters. They are perfect in a perfectly unperfect way. Each comes with their own flaws, but you will root for them until the very last page. I found myself relating very much to Aurora. She has a complicated relationship with her mother and her ballet dreams were devastated by an injury. She has felt lost since losing the thing she had centered her life around. While teaching dance gives Aurora pleasure, she still feels a bit adrift. Enter widower, Mike Martin. He comes with his own baggage - a deceased wife who he cherished and a struggling relationship with his daughter. Together they start their own journeys towards healing and finding themselves again.

This book touches on many heavy topics: grief, eating disorders, mental health, and complicated family dynamics. Holiday does it in such a thoughtful way. This book will have you laughing one minute and crying the next. I loved every minute. She wrote an unrealistic plot in a really realistic way and made me believe it could all be real. I didn't want to put this one down. Did I also mention that Mike Martin is all green flags? A man in therapy!?!? We need more of this!

If you're an audiobook fan, Joshua Jackson (Pacey from Dawson's Creek... or as us Minnesotans know him - Charlie from The Mighty Ducks) is the male narrator for Mike and he is absolutely perfect.

I look forward to whatever Jenny Holiday writes next. (Forever, if you're reading this, please accept this as my formal request for every Jenny Holiday book that ever gets published.)

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.