This book seemed like a story I was going to love! Hockey romance & fake boyfriend, totally my jam! Unfortunately, this didn’t pan out for me.

I loved the start of the story with Aurora as a young, stressed out girl who was more concerned with ballet than dating. Her creation of a fake boyfriend based off a boy she met in the mall once was totally relatable! We all can relate to wanting to just fit in and high school is brutal enough without having high expectations of themselves with a sport like ballet. Despite being a full blown adult, this woman doesn’t know how to have conversation? It blew my mind how awkward she continued to be after confirming that Mike Martin was the boy she met and made up a whole relationship with as a girl. Also, the name Mike Martin was repeated so many times in the first 30 pages it was absurd. I got it. We get it. We know his name is Mike Martin.

I loved that therapy was a positive topic in this book and praise the author for doing a great job on this front. I really wanted to love this one but it just dragged on and on and didn’t meet the prescribed synopsis expectations.

This was such an easy story to get into and finish. I read with while on my lunch breaks at work, and it was perfect.

A great balance between being a sport-y romance that crossed both my old dance self with being Canadian and enjoying hockey. It touched on each sport enough that I felt like I knew they knew what they were doing, but it wasn't overwhelming.

As for the romance part - it was easy, light and fast paced enough I didn't find myself bored at all. The book basically covers the better part of a year, hitting every major milestone in a year that you need to have a fully fleshed out romance that's more realistic. It was great.

<i>Thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Imagine making an imaginary boyfriend who lived abroad that served as your excuse for getting out of social events. 😂

“Can’t hangout today because I’m talking to my boyfriend in Canada after class” - genius 😂

Then fast forward to your adult years later where you meet said imaginary boyfriend in real life and he’s now a famous hockey player. That’s pretty much the main plot for this one.

To my single parent (widowed) and nanny trope loving friends out there, this one is definitely for you!

Other than hockey, there were also some insightful information about ballet. And that was very interesting to read. I need to put a trigger warning here though for eating disorders and body image issues.

The middle was a bit dragging for me, not a lot of story going on. But when they got to Canada, it got interesting. There was camping, family scenes, skating, and Northern Lights!

This is a bit spicy for me so be aware of this too if you are a closed door romance girl.

I appreciate the nod to importance of therapy in this book but I’m not sure what it is but I didn’t fully enjoy this story, unfortunately . Still check this out because it might work for you! The ending was pretty cute.

And ooh for the audiobook lovers, the dialogue exchanges were done by actual male and female narrators and not just one narrator doing two voices so definitely check that out too!

Thank you so much @readforeverpub for a copy of this book in exchange for a review!

Canadian Boyfriend
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Things to expect:
💗 single parent/ nanny
💗 sports celebrity romance
💗 friends with benefits
💗 hockey and ballet
💗 camping and Northern lights!
💗 Canada
💗 he falls first
💗 ball pits

💭 What’s your most recent almost DNF book? Did you push through and ended up loving it or you just stopped reading it completely?

Canadian Boyfriend is a book I requested on a whim to fulfill a readathon bingo prompt. If not for that, this book never would have been on my radar. And I would have missed out. The story was charming, cute and fun, and I haven’t felt this giddy about a reading in a long time!

Aurora Evans and Mike Martin are both down on their luck. Mike is struggling with the loss of his wife and caring for their daughter, and Aurora is stuck in an apartment she can’t afford after a break up. As Aurora is Mike’s daughter, Olivia’s, dance teacher, Mike sees an opportunity for them to help each other out. She can help with Olivia while he’s on the road for his job (as a HOCKEY PLAYER,) and he can provide her with a live-in apartment, helping her save up some money for a new place. This is one of those adorable stories where the characters are in a relationship from the get go, they just don’t realize it. It’s obvious pretty early on that Mike and Rory are made for each other. Just not to them.

There was so much to like about both of these characters. They each spent a lot of time self-reflecting, and while I appreciated it from both of their points of view, I really loved it from Mike’s. After the death of his wife, he finds out his marriage wasn’t going in the direction he thought. Instead of marinating in bitterness, he takes the time to think about it and realizes the contribution he made in the way things were going. Rory spent a lot of time dealing with the impact her childhood had on her - specifically her mother’s unrealistic expectations and lack of support. And even more to appreciate was that this wasn’t tied up in a nice little bow at the end of the book. Mike and Rory challenged each other in ways that made them better people. They didn’t just ask themselves the tough questions. They extended those to each other, as well. With the way Rory and Mike are brought together, his daughter plays a prominent part of this story. A lot of scenes did center around her, but it fit the narrative, and it never felt like it was overwhelming other aspects of the story.

A few things to take note of - this book was quite time-jumpy. You would be in December, and then the next chapter might start with ‘By the time April rolled around…” This didn’t bother me. If anything it made the timeline of their relationship more believable and highlighted the fact that real life sometimes brings things to a standstill. My only criticism of this book would be the third act. I found the conflict to be predictable, contrived and weak. It had no place in Rory and Mike’s relationship, and I couldn’t figure out why Rory was so torn up about it. That part didn’t feel authentic to me. Having said that - I loved the rest of the story so much that I think it was worth the read. If you enjoy a good sports romance where the characters take the time to get to know each other and fall in love, I think you’ll enjoy Canadian Boyfriend.

| Narration |

Canadian Boyfriend was narrated by Joshua Jackson and Emily Ellet. For those who don't know, Joshua Jackson starred in The Mighty Ducks movie franchise about a hockey team, so it was easy to picture this as an extension of his life as a grown man. He did a fantastic job narration this, and I hope he does a lot more narration in the future. Emily Ellet did a wonderful job as well. She reminded me a lot of Virginia Rose, so if you like Virginia's narration, I think you'll like Emily's. They both had great intonation and seemed to really get the characters. I think they elevated an already wonderful story. If you have the opportunity to listen, I recommend you go that route.

5 Stars Canadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday is absolutely one of my favorite books of the year! It is a romance, but it’s also a story about healing. Most romances take place in a short time span, but Canadian Boyfriend spanned over a year, which gave the characters plenty of time to grieve, face challenges, grow, and heal. Both characters learn not to lean on relationships in lieu of real healing and both actively seek out help with their mental health. The chemistry between Mike and Rory felt so real and genuine. Their relationship was built on a solid foundation of friendship and being real with one another. An absolutely beautiful book 💗

I really enjoyed this sweet and meaningful read. I’m not usually a fan of the single parent trope, but I liked it in this one. I enjoyed witnessing the characters’ growth and sweet happy ending.

“Like the aurora borealis, that truth was there, in the background, whether I chose to see it or not. It probably had been for a long time.
I was in love with Aurora Lake”
. . .

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
. . .

This book took me by surprise, and I know I say this a lot, but I was expecting a cute and fluffy single dad romance…. This? Was so much more than that.

Both the main characters are facing hard real life issues, grief and mental illness, when they find each other. And although that -obviously- doesn’t fix it, it shows them something to fight for, it gives them hope, it’s the bright light they needed.

This a story about love❤️, romantic love, family love, grieving love, self love, friendship love… in all its facets, and all its ups and downs! Can’t recommend it enough!

P.S: if you prefer closed door romances (close to or no smut) this is for you.

Single, hockey playing widow Mike falls for his daughter Olivia’s dance teacher Aurora in this charming, deeply-layed sports romance. Rory is pretty sure she and Mike met as teens when she worked at Mall of America, where he visited while his travel team toured–he was a cute blonde with a chipped tooth and she promptly made him her fake boyfriend, even writing letters never sent to him, and buying herself small gifts “from” him. When they meet as adults, she’s pretty sure the handsome defenseman is the one she flirted with ten years ago, only now he has a kid in her ballet class. When he proposes that Rory, who has a strong connection with Olivia, provide some childcare in the form of a ride home and babysitting when he, as a stay at home defenseman, has work (being a hockey star), Rory agrees. Pretty soon, Mike’s trying to solve Rory’s rent problem by inviting her to move into the lower level of his home. They consummate their relationship, but then Rory puts the brakes on and decides it complicates things. It turns out, you can’t compartmentalize love.

Will withholding a teenage crush be deceitful and detrimental to their burgeoning relationship? After all, Mike wants always to be valued for who he is, with the hockey part removed, and the one thing he requests of Rory is that she never lie to him… does omission count? Mike provides a sweet deal to his new friend turned nanny, with a car and credit card, and Rory and Olivia’s relationship expands to include binge-watching Little House on the Prairie and impromptu dance parties to 80’s dance tunes.

Told in dual points of view, the still-grieving Mike holds a lot of guilt from his wife’s death, but has emerged with a understanding of emotional labor and tween parenting skills that make for an attractive second-time-around partner. Rory is prone to panic attacks, but keeps them mostly under control with EFT therapy. She’s recovering from/struggling with a toxic relationship with her critical, demanding, mother–a relationship that led to disordered eating and thankfully, lots of therapy. Mental health is a strong theme throughout the novel.

The secondary characters (Rory’s protective best friend Gretchen, and precocious Olivia) leap off the page, and even the hockey characters have personalities drawn in just a few sentences, from bromancey got-your-back Ivan to annoying Badger ; only Rory’s mother is full on, one-dimensional Cruella de Vil. Holiday brings Midwestern sensibilities, customs and manners and sprinkles it with Canadian vocabulary, food and customs to enrich the setting. Love letters from teenage Rory, Wikipedia articles, and text messages flesh out the narrative to move the story along. Olivia was Sarah’s daughter with another man, but to Mike she’s always been his, and a custody battle with her biological grandparents adds another level of drama to the story. Therapy scenes can be juxtaposed against the sex: emotional and forthright, sometimes a little raw, insightful, asking for what they need, sharing their emotions, and communicating. All in all, this hockey romance is a cut above.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #CanadianBoyfriend via #NetGalley, courtesy of #Forever.

I'll be honest. I thought this would be a bit more like icebreaker and that hockey would play a more significant role on it. The truth is that, apart from the MMC's job as an hockey player, the sport is not really a point in this book, which can be a great point for some of you who want to read this book. But don't be fooled!
Apart from that the book was really good! I liked how some topics were discussed, like eating disorders and controlling paternal figures, and how the characters overcame those issues.
The only other aspect that bothers me was the fact that the FMC kept on calling her LI by his first and last name... Get over it, Rory.
The couple was really cute, and this was overall an enjoyable read.

(Review to be posted soon. The link will be updated then.)

this was such a good book, i loved the characters and i loved this story. from the beginning i was hooked!

The story was so cute. I figured out the third act conflict immediately and even though I found it silly, it didn’t ruin the book for me. Both characters and the daughter were so sweet and I loved it!

Canadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday was one of my most anticipated, contemporary romance reads for 2024- upon finishing it, I was surprised by the story, but very pleased as well!

This is one of the cases where a cover can be deceiving. The cutesy images of Mike Martin and Aurora Evans wearing hockey gear and ballet inspired outfit respectively don’t foretell the actual seriousness of the story. Also, from this imagery I would never have guessed that ballet would be such a major topic and trigger in Aurora’s life or that hockey would be so inconsequential to the story.

The long in the short of it, is that Aurora happens to meet Canadian hockey player. Mike when he’s in town when she’s in high school. I was a loner and appreciating the kindness in his interaction, she makes up the story of her Canadian boyfriend, Mike Martin, throughout high school, and even into college, she continues the rules as a way to negate her loneliness, and as a catharsis. Mother has placed her in a highly competitive stream of dance, and she lives a very isolated life with a lot of pressure and very little companionship.

As an adult Mike coincidentally now live in her town and Aurora is his daughter’s dance instructor.

Mike and Aurora hit it off and started up a relationship and she keeps her remembrance of their coincidentally high school meeting and her fake relationship with him secret… until she doesn’t.

I feel like the life lesson I got from this book about dealing with family expectations and pressure and finding your own joy and purpose. I had a lot of fun with the relationship between Aurora and Mike, they were so cute and good to each other. Both of them with different paths they needed to work out in order to truly come together.

I also have to mention that I had to buy the audiobook and listen to it because of the narration by Joshua Jackson and Emily Ellet- both did an excellent job with their characters and made it a truly immersive listening experience!

Jenny Holiday always gets me right in the feelings in this book did not miss its shot… or plié!

"Canadian Boyfriend" by Jenny Holiday is a delightful and heartfelt romance. The story is charming and engaging, with well-developed characters that feel relatable and authentic. The relationship between Aurora and Mike is beautifully portrayed, and the chemistry between them is palpable. If you love vanilla romance/love "Canadian Boyfriend" is a sweet and enjoyable read that will leave you with a smile on your face.

Joshua Jackson is the perfect voice for Mike Martin, Canadian pro hockey player and widowed dad who just wants his daughter to find joy again. Her happy place seems to be the dance studio where Aurora Evans teaches, so he shows up to meet this special dance instructor. A few friendly car rides later, Mike asks Aurora to step in as a part time nanny-of-sorts when he’s playing away games—but hockey travel can’t keep them apart forever, and despite trying to stay platonic and professional, Mike and Aurora can’t keep their hands off of each other. I found the core conflict weak, and I wish Holiday would have included more critique of The Little House on the Prairie, which plays a role in family bonding, but the audiobook is a must-listen regardless of my qualms.

Aurora is teaching dance classes and fighting a panic disorder. Enter pro hockey player, Mike Martin with his daughter. She is taking dance classes from Aurora. Could it be…could this be her pretend Canadian boyfriend!

Aurora and Mike have a unique relationship. She met Mike years ago, when she was very young. She started an imaginary boyfriend from this encounter. I found YOUNG Aurora, so adorable. I enjoyed this fantasy to real life trope. It is a very unique story line.

This is more of a 3.5 star read…you round up right?!?! I love the characters and their interactions. But there are places this story is a bit wishy washy, or however you would describe it. Like, for instance, Mike does not like to be lied to. It is very important to him. But yet, he himself, turns around and lies Aurora. Just a bit too human I guess 😂😂😂.

Need a story to get lost in…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Yes Rory is know as the failed ballerina, but what she didn’t fail was herself. Mike Martin is lost after the death of his wife. Mike has lived in his head and hockey his first love. Canadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday may have a had a cute fun cover but the story she delivers is heavy and emotional. We have all three main characters in therapy Olivia for the passing of her mom, Rory for retraining herself from everything her mom did to her, and Mike for learning to balance it all while struggling with secrets his wife kept. This is a slow burn that spans months, as Mike and Rory navigate their feelings. I loved Rory in the end she blossomed and grew underneath what happened and the decisions she made. I struggled a little with Mike, I would have liked a little more groveling from him but he is nothing but honest from the beginning.

CANADIAN BOYFRIEND

3.5⭐

Aurora Evans met a Canadian hockey player in her teens while working in a mall and decides to make him his fake boyfriend to get out of sticky situations and her social awkwardness. Now years later Aurora teaches dance to kids while battling her own issues and is teacher to her teenage fake boyfriend Mike Martins daughter. A secret she want to keep but becomes unlikely as they forge a friendship together.

MY THOUGHTS
I really like Mike as the single dad taking full responsibility for his step daughter.
The mental health representation which was pro therapy was done well.
I didn't like the 3rd party breakup which the reason for in grand scheme of things was quite silly...otherwise an enjoyable book

What an absolute delight of a read. It's only my second Jenny Holiday ever and won't' be my last.

I adored so much about this book. I felt really seen in the eating disorder discussion. I also really enjoyed how the relationship between Rory and Mike.

My biggest pet peeve was how we kept referring to Mike as his full name.

Overall an absolute blast of a book.

This is a cute story about Aurora who invents a “Canadian boyfriend” in her teens based off a guy she once met in the Mall of America and years later meets him again in real life when his daughter is in her dance class. Mike Martin’s wife died months earlier and is in need of someone to help him out with his daughter when the NHL season starts back up. He propositions the role of nanny to Rory and she has to decide whether or not to keep her “Canadian Boyfriend” secret to herself as she finds herself inserted in their lives. I thought this was such a cute story and I highly recommend 4/5 stars! Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review

5/5 ⭐

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book!
This was my first Jenny Holiday book, and I loved it! First and foremost, this is a HOCKEY sports romance, which is my favorite. The tropes in this book are INCREDIBLE, like a single dad, forced proximity, found family, etc. Beyond that, this story is sweet, emotional, and deeply healing. I fell in love with both Mike and Aurora, as they navigated their relationship.

I totally recommend it to anyone who needs a book to fall deeply in love with.