"Walk of Shame" by Avery Flynn had me laughing out loud from start to finish! Astrid O'Malley is a fantastic, strong-willed character who navigates the awkwardness of her situation with humor and sass. The hockey backdrop is the chef's kiss to the story, and the chemistry between Astrid and Cal, the unexpected upstairs neighbor, is off the charts.

I received a copy of the audiobook from NetGalley and RB Media. I listened to this at 1.75x speed, which is my usual and comfortable speed based on my conversational speed. The audiobook narration by Robert Hatchet and Savannah Peachwood added an extra layer of enjoyment, with their comedic timing and expressive voices bringing the characters to life. If you're looking for a fun, sexy rom-com with plenty of hockey references and a strong female lead, this book is a must-read (or listen)!

This second book in the Downside of Dating series was so much fun! Astrid O’Malley suffered the ultimate humiliation when her fiancé left her at the alter, worried more about his hockey career and his coaches feelings, (who is her father) over her own. She is now living life on her own terms, while avoiding anything to do with hockey. She meets Cal Matsen, a rugged, sexy man at the bar where she was working, and they had an instant attraction. They have one night of fiery passion, never expecting to see each other again. When Astrid's father asks her to come to his office, she is confused to see Cal there. She is even more stunned to learn he has joined the coaching staff and she will be working with him, training her ex-fiancé! Astrid and Cal can't stay away from each other, but Astrid has her rules, and Cal does so may sweet and swoony things to blow right past them. But this is a stepping stone for Cal to get back on the ice after a terrible accident. But as he and Astrid cross all their lines, and their hearts become involved, will Cal be able to walk away from the only woman to claim his heart? I loved Astrid and Cal together and couldn't help but cheer hard for their HEA! These two headstrong people butt heads, challenge each other, and make each other stronger, and their chemistry was explosive! This is what Flynn does best, fun and quirky characters, snarky humor, and lots of steamy sexual tension in a heartwarming story.
Robert Hatchet and Savannah Peachwood did a great job bringing these characters and story to life. Their comedic timing was perfect, and I was totally lost in their performance as they delivered all the wit, emotion, and steam. I really enjoyed listening to this fun, emotional, and steamy romance!

This is a very spicy book about a jilted bride who swears off relationships for good. Well, until meeting Cam. He makes her break all the rules she had made for herself. This book has many flaming hot scenes, Astrid and Cam have incredible chemistry.

Thanks to Netgalley for this advanced audio copy for my review.

First thing’s first: thank you Netgalley for the ALC of this book!
Walk of Shame was exactly what I was expecting and hoping for when I read the synopsis. Girl gets dumped by her hockey goalie fiancé on wedding day, girl swears of hockey and hockey players, girl get guilted into coming back to hockey to assist her hockey coach dad, girl ends up with goalie coach. This was nothing life changing, but it was well done. The spice was spicing, the warm fuzzies were warm fuzzying, the story line was predictable in the best way, I enjoyed it.
3.75⭐️

When I saw the audio of Walk of Shame was available I knew I had to snag it. With two narrators alternating the POV, it was fantastic. I really enjoyed both narrators and the story as a whole. Cal and Astrid were fantastic and I thought their story was really fun and really proves that sometimes you find what you need in the last place you expect it. There were so many really fun and funny moments that I found myself laughing throughout the story and that made it so much more fun to listen to.

Thank you to the author and to Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to Walk of Shame.

I was given an audio copy of this book in return for my honest review! Thank you, NetGalley and Avery Flynn!
Avery Flynn is a new to me author. Walk of Shame is book two in the Downside of Dating series. I did not read/listen to book one, but I've already added it to my kindle. Walk of Shame is a fun, spicy, sport rom-com.
I would recommend this book to anyone that loves a spicy rom-coms!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me the audio Arc in exchange for an honest review.
Do you love hockey? Do you love spice? If you answered yes to both, then this book is for you!
Astrid has grown up in the hockey world, but one traumatic event has her swearing off everything hockey. She meets Cal, a handsome rugged man who unbeknownst to her, is everything she hates at moment. Astrid tries her hardest to not break any of her rules, yet their chemistry is undeniable.
Overall, Walk of Shame was such a good listen! The spice and banter that I always love was there! The narrators did an amazing job also!
#WalkofShame #NetGalley

Astrid gets stood up at the altar by her high school sweetheart. Her ex fiance the star hockey player and her dad the star hockey coach. After the wedding was called off, Astrid wanted nothing to do with hockey. She wanted a one night stand. Until she realized he lives in the apartment above her. And is a hockey player. And on her dad’s team. And will be working with her ex. So much for that no hockey life she wanted.

Classic romcom vibes with lots of spice! Quick read! Every time I read Astrid I thought of The Office. IYKYK haha. Thanks Net Galley, Avery Flynn, and Entangled publishing for the ARC! Pub date 3/18/24!

This was a really such a cute read! I really enjoyed it. What more could a girl ask for, a "forbidden" hockey romance, oh and they're neighbors... and co-workers. A lot of the specific details are failing me at the moment, but I recall flying through this and having a great time. Really enjoyed the narrators as well, they were perfect.

When it comes to sports romances, I am actually very picky. But I have to admit, the story captivated me, and I am so happy that I had the chance to read it.

When Astrid's boyfriend dumps her on their wedding day, her heart breaks. From that moment, she decides that she doesn't want to have anything to do with hockey. Five years later, she is helping a friend working in a pub, when the most handsome man she has ever seen arrives at the bar. Their attraction is instant, the sparks are flying, tension is sizzling... After the hurt she felt from her ex, she comes with her own set of rules. Those rules are immediately broken when she has the hottest one-night stand in her life. What happens when it turns out that the guy she slept with lives in her building? Most importantly, he is the new goalie whisperer on his father's team. What does a girl have to do except to keep breaking her own rules...

I was really surprised how much I loved Astrid and Cal's story. All the boundaries they put in place were total waste. Every single time they were in each other's presents they couldn't stop starting their night all over again. This was more than welcome for my romantic soul. I could see Astrid's walls crumbling bit by bit, because she was so madly attracted to Cal. He, on the other hand, couldn't stop thinking about her and continued seducing her. I had so much fun with them. Especially when we had Cal courting her differently with the diet coke, which was Astrid's favorite.

The love scenes... OMG... The love scenes. They were insanely hot and steamy. For me, it's never too much smut. Astrid and Cal being together was just the perfect steam 🥵🥵🥵.

🎧 I have to say that it's very rarely for me to listen to a book on audio. But this one, this one was 100% worth it. The narrator's voices were just so damn good. Savannah Peachwood's voice perfectly suited Astrid as the main heroine... Robert Hatchet's voice was so, so sexy. I couldn't stop listening to them. This is probably the reason I finished the book in 2 days.

One thing is certain... I loved Astrid and Cal's story and will definitely buy the paperback version.

***Special thanks to NetGalley and RB media for providing me with this audiocopy. My review is given voluntarily.***

Fun, angsty and tropey. I know like half my reviews have at least one of these words but that’s because it’s what I like to read.

Astrid is a relatable, privileged mess.
Cal is an emotional, soft hearted bear.

Their story was full of scenes straight out of my favourite Wattpad sports stories, except with polish and follow up you’d expect. The narrators, particularly for Astrid, were fantastic and sounded particularly good in immersive/surround mode on my headphones.

This was a fun read! Love that it was a bit different coming out quick with the steam!

Quickly steamy enjoyable romcom read!

I love sports romance and this is focused around hockey! Astrid has sworn off hooking up with the same guy more than once and to not not go after hockey boys or people she lives by. All of those rules were thrown out the window when she met Cal! She was burned once by her ex who was a hockey player, so meeting Cal and falling for him was an emotional battle. I loved the spice in this book and supporting characters including Astrid's cranky old neighbor! Definitely recommend this read! Thank you NetGalley for the copy in exchange for my honest review!

This is my first Avery Flynn book, but i did also purchased Anger Bang not too long ago to read as well!

The narrators were great! Loved their voices for the main MMC and FMC. Super cute rom com and it’s open door spiceeeeee!

I loved how Astrid is so strong because I dont know how I would’ve survived being ditched on her wedding day! Cal was a surprisingly sweet cinnamon roll. And THAT EPILOGUE! I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING! 😝

Have a listen! Cause it was a good one!

I received an advance listening copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Walk of Shame is loosely part of a series, but the characters are almost all new to the reader. Astrid has been through the wringer - she was working for her father's hockey team and was dumped by her fiancé, the star goalie. Cal has been through the wringer - he was a star goalie whose career was cut short by a freak accident that almost killed him. These two are brought together one night by fate and wind up having a steamy af hook-up. The next day, they meet again on the ice where the two are employed by her father.

This audiobook was a lot to listen to. The sex scenes were so cringey at points that I needed to fast forward through them, but the plot and romance was perfectly enjoyable.

💋More like Walk of No Shame, and their really shouldn't be 💋
Astrid has been in a "world-wide dick tour," for the last five years, so when her latest one night stand turns into her coworker she isn't sure what to do. Cal was hurt in a freak hockey accident and finally has his chance at a "comeback" but also has the hots for the coach's daughter. Can they both get over their pasts and find their future.

This was my first Avery Flynn book but it won't be my last. These characters were super sweet, fun, and real. They each had their own inner lives, but were also better together. I love the broader family and friend groups that made up the full cast of characters, everything felt very true to real life. Cal was such a sweetie and so head over heels for Astrid, just made me so warm reading it. Astrid, for good reason, had a lot of hangups but was also a solid character.

I listened to this on audiobook and the narration was fantastic from both narrators. They really brought the story to life with inflection and emotion. You truly felt these characters and what they were going through. Robert Hatchet and Savannah Peachwood were absolutely perfect by themselves and felt like they played off each other. The text message exchanges were really fun.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

3.75

y'all I loved this audiobook! it definitely has a spice-forward taste, but no complaints here!

I am slowly exploring indie-romance and I think this is where it's at. It's just like any category of anything, you have to find your fit, but I think I'm finding it!

I loved that our main girl is in therapy and we get a peak into those exchanges and how they impact her daily life.

He's a hot and scarred hockey player-turned coach.

There's a lot of backstory drama that's randomly complicated, but it's presented in such a way that you're just like "of course she was dumped via facetime at her wedding and her ex is now a professional hockey goalie on her dad's NFL team and now she accidentally had a one night stand with the man who will be working for her dad to coach the ex because he has the yipps and oh yeah she's breaking her years-long hockey ban to work in the organization again...." see? it sounds unnecessarily convoluted, but Avery Flynn writes the story with such flow that it's painless and exciting!

I laughed, I squeeled, and I kicked my legs!

It's a fun lil hockey romance if you're looking for a true smut book (spice = plot).

Thank you NetGalley & Valentine PR for an audiobook arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun read. I appreciated how the characters were, for the most part, pretty straight to the point. I can't stand when half the story is secret from one or the other. When there was secrets, they were uncovered pretty quickly which kept me going. I loved the narration, very well done and the voice fit the character. I look forward to listening to more from this author!

I loved this so much! The spice, the plot, the forbidden romance. It was so good. The narrators were also 10/10!

Funny, romantic, sexy and so much more. Avery and Carl’s love story is amazing. Neither one of them is looking for love or forever but the moment they met, their attraction is powerful and their connection so deep they can’t fight it. But will they face their fears and realise they are meant to be together or will they lose their chance at forever. The audiobook with Robert Hatchet and Savannah Peachwood. is great, their performances make the story even better.