This was an ARC that I requested through NetGalley based on its description, not having any prior experience with this author. Overall, this was an enjoyable book, it’s a dual POV romance that actually tackles some pretty big issues such as grief due to the death of a spouse, panic disorder, and eating disorders, and on those issues this book deserves 4 stars. What brought my rating of the book down was the conflict between the two main characters, and my feeling that if these two characters could handle such large issues as previously mentioned in such a rational manner, that they (and especially Mike) could have handled the conflict much better.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.

Jenny Holiday scores deep with this single dad hockey player and daughter's dance teacher romance. Weaving grief and mental health together, creating a story of healing yourself and each other. Rory and Mike are so so sweet and I truly loved every word of this book. Mike is the ultimate Canadian Boyfriend.

Rating ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ .5 (rounded up to 5 ⭐️ because my issues were minor)
Spice 🌶 🌶 🌶

This book was so much more of an emotional ride than I expected! The grief, the anxiety rep and the normalization of going to therapy were all handled so beautifully. I loved how the relationship developed between Mike and Rory. It felty really organic and the two just couldn't escape the pull between them. I really appreciated the care and respect that Mike's ex was given as he came to terms with his grief and the fallout after her death.

Olivia, Mike's daughter, was absolutely perfect. I loved how delicately her own struggles after her mothers death were portrayed. I loved the relationship she developed with Rory. Honestly all the main characters in this book were just beautiful. This book really brought me through the full range of emotions and treated all the different issues the characters had with such care. I did find a major plot point to be quite predictable but otherwise this was a wonderful story and I'm so glad I was given the opportunity to read it.

Thank you to Forever Publishing for providing me with an arc.

I was really excited for this and I did start and enjoy it but I am temporarily DNFing as I'm not in the place to read ED in a book right now. I am excited to come back to this whenever I can though.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

DNF - 21%

Unfortunately I just could not get into this book. Fade to black on a first kiss? Absolutely not. This is not a YA romance, this is supposed to be an adult romance book. Fading to black is perfectly fine but for a kiss?!

Nope.

Wanted to like this so badly. Couldn’t do it.

Cute, fast romantic story without too much drama. I appreciate that the disordered eating component was handled with compassion and I loved the letters. I have a soft spot for epistolary stories and those little notes really sealed the deal for me on this story. It reminded me of so many things I loved before and was an enjoyable read. Thank you for providing a copy for me to read and review.

Publication date: January 30, 2024

Canadian Boyfriend is a second chance romance book by Jenny Holiday. This is my first book by the author and I really enjoyed the writing so will be looking to add more of her books to my tbr.

Rory Evans is a former professional ballet dancer having quit after too much pressure from her mom. Working through panic attacks and an eating disorder brought on from the high expectations of her mom, Rory finds herself teaching dance to little girls at her best friends studio. Not quite the life she dreamed about or really, her mom dreamed about.

Mike Martin is a professional hockey player who lost his wife to an accident several months ago. As he navigates life without his wife and his eleven year old daughter, he starts to engage in all the things his wife used to do, like being her to dance.

Rory meets Mike for the first time but realizes, maybe it’s not the first time they met. Years ago after a chance encounter with a cute Canadian hockey player, Rory made him into her imaginary “Canadian” boyfriend. A coping mechanism for the social anxiety she experienced.

As Mike and Rory’s relationship heats up, Rory misses the opportunity to come clean to Mike. It’s not a big deal though, they both agreed their relationship would stay casual so no one would get hurt right?

I enjoyed Mike and Rory’s story for the most part. I really liked how the author represented the different perspectives of mental health and struggles both of the main characters were dealing with. Grief was well represented as well as the disorders and anxiety Rory was going through.

This is 3.5 star for me. While I enjoyed Mike and Rory’s story and the writing, I found the big “misunderstanding” and Mike’s reaction to be way over the top. I actually think this would have been a wonderful story on its own without the “Canadian Boyfriend” piece.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #jennyholiday #canadianboyfriend

3 ⭐️

- hockey player & ballerina
- single dad
- forced proximity
- age gap
- nanny romance (?)
- second chance (?)
- letters
- 🌶🌶

tw/cw: disordered eating, eating disorder, food issues (discussed on page), toxic parent, panic attacks, anxiety, widow, spouse passing (does not occur on page, but what happened is discussed), grief

This book was such a unique and interesting idea that I enjoyed! This is an emotional and hopeful romance story. I loved the mental health representation! It was also refreshing to see a book with a widower mmc and how this topic was discussed throughout the book (I haven't seen many books with that, but maybe that's my fault). I also enjoyed the inclusion of his daughter and her struggles with grief as well.

Although I enjoyed the majority of this book, there were a few things that bothered me:
- Our mmc gave off very stereotypical Canadian vibes
- Our fmc references to the mmc as his first and last name FOR THE WHOLE BOOK (I was waiting for it to change, but it never did)
- I felt that his daughter was very included in the story, yet seemed to disappear at the end
- The mmc reaction to the third act conflict annoyed me
- The ending seemed a tad rushed and was unsatisfying to me

Overall, it was a heartfelt, emotional, powerful, heavy, but hopeful read!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC 💓

"Canadian Boyfriend" by Jenny Holiday is a heartwarming journey with a dash of Canadian charm!

Aurora's teenage charade with a Canadian boyfriend comes back to haunt her thanks to an unexpected reunion with pro hockey player Mike Martin years later. As they navigate friendship and personal struggles, their journey unfolds into a romance brighter than a northern lights display.

The story's like a warm double-double on a winter day – comforting and just what you need! The fake boyfriend angle had me laughing (we’ve all heard someone make up this lie before, eh?) and the subtle hockey vibes make this read perfect for someone interested in this trending trope.

Rory's post-ballet struggles felt genuine, making her journey relatable, and her slow-burn romance with Mike was a much more realistic timeline than other stories revolving around a grieving single parent that I’ve read. While the third act has a bit of turbulence, introducing necessary drama, it doesn't overshadow the overall enjoyment.

If you’re looking for a romance with a touch of humor, appreciate authentic characters navigating personal growth, and love a sprinkle of hockey in the mix, be sure to pick up “Canadian Boyfriend” from your favorite local bookstore beginning on January 30th!

I wanted to like this book, but I struggled with it from the beginning. I'll start with what I like which was the mental health conversations and how vulnerable both Aurora and Mike were with each other. I also really appreciated their friendship in the beginning and how they leaned on each other while each of them were going through their own hard times.

It is a surprise I even finished it if I'm being honest. The thing that almost had be closing the book forever was the fade to black first kiss. That was so diabolical and evil to me. I don't think I am asking for a lot when I request that we actually get to read the first kiss. That leads me into the fact that I didn't like the way the author approached intimacy. These characters severely lacked romantic chemistry and it shows. Anyways, I also felt that the 3rd act break was silly and Mike acted so childish. That truly ruined the book for me.

An incredibly charming and all around adorable romance, Canadian Boyfriend will truly steal the hearts of all the hopeless romantics out there. With the sports romances taking the book world by storm, Holiday has managed to find the perfect balance between cute romance and a hot hockey star. This book is not drowning in sports references that will require you to look up 100 terms which is great. The book really allows the reader to sink into its plushy language and warm ambience so you can sit and enjoy Aurora and Mike’s story.

This book is coming out at the end of January which is perfect because it truly is the best book to curl up with a blanket and a hot drink during the colder months of the year. Set in Minnesota, it will really bring you into the cold, hockey filled atmosphere of the story and have you falling in love with the beautiful story that unfolds in its pages.

I absolutely loved every character, Earl 9 being my favorite, and can’t wait to read the next book in this world. A hug in book form is just what I needed on this cold snowy day.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this ARC🥰

This book was such a wholesome read. This is my first Jenny Holiday book and I am now a fan forever. This book did such a great job of creating an easy and understandable timeline that spans years and I really appreciated that given the content of the book. I also loved the banter in this book, I was giggling like a kid constantly. The journey of both of these characters spoke volumes and it was so nice to go along on this journey with both of them. I can’t wait for the 2nd book bc Gretchen is, to put it lightly, me.

4/5⭐️

I think this book will speak to a generation of teenage girls because this is such a likely scenario! I didn't find it likely that anyone would be able to keep up such an elaborate lie for such a long time. Ballet and Hockey seem to be a good match - I know a lot of professional athletes who take ballet, so having such a good looking man walking in - with his daughter or not - would make my pulse quicken.

I just wasn't a huge fan of the plot. I loved the characters though!

I loved Canadian Boyfriend! I really enjoyed the two main characters and their jobs, but found the actual "Canadian boyfriend" aspect of it a bit hard to believe and often forgot about that part of it. Mike's reaction felt overblown, but it didn't take away from the ending.

When a teenager meets (very briefly) a hockey player at the mall, and it’s love at first sight, she begins writing letters to him as her “Canadian boyfriend,” an excuse to get out of various social situations and a defense mechanism against the other kids at school who don’t understand her demanding bakery schedules and overbearing (abusive) mom. She never expected to meet him again as an adult, and for an actual romance to begin!

This comes across as a light and fluffy romance, but it is much deeper than that, exploring themes of grief, abuse, eating disorders, and complicated families with sensitivity. The relationship between Rory and Mike, as well as Mike’s daughter Olivia, is so sweet (a little spicy) and felt just right.

This one broke my heart a bit but thanks to its setting of Minnetonka and other suburbs of Minneapolis, I enjoyed it very much. These two take it slow with the dance teacher to helper on away games to a little more, grief plays a large role in this one but we do get some great moments. Aurora - Rory is a dance teacher now but was once a top ballet dancer before panic attacks and eating disorders took over her life, she also has a super toxic toxic toxic mom you will want to slap. I would say not only a lot of dancers/athletes but well anyone that lived in the 90s is going to see some bits of this even if you had a wonderful mom.
This one has a lot of self healing and development through the storyline. Because of that this one is a slow burn and then we get some steam. I really also enjoyed Olivia the 11 daughter. Overall, this was one of those “real” romances!
4 stars
⅗ spicy
⅕ lol
⅗ badass FMC

Absolutely love this book! Love the Midwest feature and the love between Olivia and Rory, seeing Olivia work through her grief and Rory through childhood trauma.

Surprisingly my first Jenny Holiday read, but was not disappointed. I liked that it didn't shy away from heavier topics and handled them well. The characters felt fully fleshed out and the humor definitely lands. I find dual POVs a bit tricky to get into, but enjoyed it very much anyway.

3.75 🌟 (rounded up to 4)

Characters: 4
Connection to the book/Enjoyment: 3
Setting: 4
Plot/Overall Story: 2
Writing: 2

Every point= 0.25 stars, max per category 4 points

This is my first book by this author and I really liked the emotional depth that the characters had and how this wasn’t your stereotypical romance. It felt creative but also handles hard topics like grief, eating disorders, anxiety, toxic parents, and self image/identity. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it. My biggest issue was some of the plot points towards the end didn’t sit well and felt overly dramatic for what was happening and then the pacing and writing style wasn’t my favorite. I did appreciate that there was way more emotional connection over spice, even though there were two open door scenes. I prefer no spice in my books but I appreciated that there was only 6 pages total of spice but the dialogue and moments within it made it hard to skip, however I did notice she restate important moments from those scenes for those who want to skip spice. I would read more from this author.

Content notes: heavy themes of grief due to loss of spouse, heavy teenage/past eating disorder that still impacts the character, moderate sexual content, milder use of language but is present, toxic parent, moderate anxiety/panic attacks

Thank you to Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I tried. I really really tried.

Everything about this book should be something I really loved. The hockey. The awkwardness. The single dad.

Unfortunately I just was completely unable to settle into this story. It moved a little slow for me, and seemed a little...unbalanced. I also didn't love the conflict - it seemed like a much bigger deal was made of it than should have been. I wasn't able to buy into the angst - and in the end, this was a DNF for me.

I have loved Jenny Holiday in the past, but it does seem like the last few books of hers that i've picked up haven't worked for me. It is possible that my reader needs have changed and it's taking my heart a longer time to catch up with my brain.

I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to read and review.