Hands down good book. I really enjoyed this. It was funny, quirky and an all around good time. My one wish would be to see the story line more thorough in some spots. For example, a little more background into the aftermath of the original breakup would have been nice, but it didn’t take away from the overall plot. Natalie was somewhat high drama for my tastes too, but meh. I guess that’s how people are in real life so who am I to judge.

Wake Up, Nat & Darcy is an enjoyable read with witty dialogue and a compelling premise. The American/Canadian rivalry between two ex-pro hockey players adds an intriguing layer to their romance. The TV segment framework provides a unique and entertaining backdrop, resulting in many funny situations that had me giggling.

However, the novel could have benefited from a tighter edit. There was some repetition, and the over-reliance on miscommunication as a plot device felt frustrating at times. The final conflict seemed forced and juvenile, detracting from my overall enjoyment of this novel.

Despite these flaws, the book's strengths in character dynamics and humour make it a worthwhile read. With a bit more focus and refinement, it could have been even better. Fans of light-hearted romance with a touch of drama will find it an entertaining addition to their reading list.

Many thanks to Harlequin - Romance | Carina Adores and Netgalley for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

first half was really solid but the second was underwhelming. BUT PLS PUBLISHERS GIVE ME MORE ADULT SAPPHIC SPORTS ROMANCE

I LOVE sapphic books and sports romance so I was super excited to read this. However, I wasn’t a huge fan of the romance between these two. I loved the writing though and will definitely pick up books by this author in the future!!

I love sports romance and this book was sapphic so we love that. I couldn’t get enough of the characters. I’ll recommend this to anyone and can’t wait to read more from the author in the future.

I love women and I love women's sports so I reallyyyyy wanted to enjoy this one, but unfortunately the novel fell flat for me. I found both characters to be quite annoying and Nat was truly acting like a child for most of the book. I started to wish that they would not get back together, which is never a good sign for a romance.

3.5 stars rounded up

This was fun! I loved the unique take on a sports romance by centering two rival players on their journey in broadcasting at the Olympics after hanging up their skates. The plot was fun, the writing was solid, and the characters both had their own insecurities to work through that helped move the relationship along.

I will say the 3rd act re: the fighting/breakup did feel a bit too drawn out (I think it was the whole last 30% of the story), but other than that, I enjoyed this one.

pride month book #1!

i mean... it was a sports romance. it was about what i expected from a sports romance. i thought the fact that they were a freshman and senior in college when they originally were together was a little weird but considering the actual romance took place in their thirties that wasn't too bad.

i spent over half of this book convinced that Darcy LaCroix's dad was famous because he invented the sparkling water. im not kidding. apparently mr lacroix was actually famous because he was a hockey player. in that case why was he named lacroix i seriously couldnt get over that why was that the best canadian last name they could come up with WHY WAS HE SPARKLING WATER.

the third act breakup was annoying & nat was immature about it however it was about 20 pages total that they were mad at each other so it wasn't too bad lmfao

overall it was fun! they were cute at the end and they were cute in the middle and there was just a little 20 page chunk in between those two things where they really could not figure out how to communicate. thank you kit and grace for saving the story i wish you both got more screentime.

also get cox a goalie girlfriend like right now

I enjoyed this book whilst at the same time thinking both Darcy and Natalie were giant dumbasses. 😁😇

I literally had to keep reminding myself that without communication issues most of my favorite books would be boring as heck.

Loved the premise, the Olympic segments were written so playfully and enjoyably.

I am grateful to have received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

This book was amazing and I devoured this book in just a few sittings! I loved the character development and how the story progressed.

I was looking forward to a Sapphic hockey romance, but unfortunately this fell short. As this is my first book by this author, I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt.

Darcy retired from professional hockey at the top of her game, with multiple medals with the Canadian team and has been working for Wake up USA for the last three years. When she gets the opportunity to finally be front and center and learning other winter sports, she jumps at the chance even if it means working with her rival.

Natalie had success on the US team and even won a gold medal, but she ends up being cut from the national team. She debates going home, but a call to be a cohost has her interest piqued and she goes. Low and behold it's with Darcy, with whom she has a lot of history with. Their chemistry is off the charts and they bicker like an old married couple throughout their segments which of course people love to see.

I didn't enjoy the way they finally got together, but I did enjoy them trying to learn other sports, that was entertaining.

Overall, not a bad book, but I had high expectations and this fell flat. I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A nice and easy read with interesting dynamics. One character was tough to like but it fit the story.

Thanks for the opportunity to read.

I’d recommend if you love:
-Rivals to Lovers
-Second Chance Romance
-Sports Romance 🏒
-Sapphic Romance

Overall the plot was fun and an easy read. I enjoyed the TV show aspect and the games/sports that Darcy and Natalie did. I found Natalie’s character a little hard to like with her cockiness and the way she reacted to situations. It was frustrating seeing the conflict be able to be solved easily by conversation but it continued to drag on for years and years. Having Natalie be hard to like made it harder for me to want to root for the couple being together.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have personal beef with the second-chance-romance trope so I probably shouldn’t have requested this arc. I was hoping this was yet another example of sapphics doing something better (and it was, this one was one of the better ones I’ve read) but I still didn’t enjoy it. That’s on me though. If you like second chance romance, this one was well written and fun with a unique premise. I just HATE second chance romances.

3.5
Darcy, an ex Canadian hockey player star, is finally getting her dream job after three years working with the network: to be on TV and get her own show. Unfortunately, the network is only offering her this opportunity if she partners up with Natalie, an American player who just got cut from the Olympics. This would be the dream opportunity if Natalie wasn't her old rival and ex-something in college. But Darcy can't refuse and Natalie, fresh out of a job needs the work. Besides, their bickering relationship makes for good television and engagement.

Wake Up Nate & Darcy is a hockey romance where they don't play hockey or have matches or competitions. Instead, it's about what happens after the flashlights and the lack of recognition of female athletes. It is a dual timeline romance where we flash back to their college days and burgeoning romance contrasting to their current bickering rivalry but the focus is barely on the sports they try to play during the show.

Natalie is jealous of Darcy and feels like she can never catch up to her. Back in college, Darcy was already hockey royalty, daughter of a great player, older than her and already drafted. In present day, Darcy got two more gold medals than her and each of her victories cost Natalie her own. On Darcy's side, we feel like she has been hurt by Natalie and dislikes her lack of seriousness regarding this job that can be her big break. She's tired of living in her father's shadow and only existing through him when she was a three times hockey gold medalist.

Despite giving me the impression that it would, the book never comes back on their old rivalry that is alluded to. Oh they fought after the last olympic? It's mentioned once or twice in a way that suggests you'll get more about it but it's not brought up again. Even the college arc ends without us realising why Darcy felt hurt. Same there is a Darcy wanted to be publicly closeted in college smoking gun that is mentioned once? Lots of threads that are never resolved and you only realise were frustrating after the book ended with no resolution.

Nevertheless, the romance was engaging and their rivalry and dynamic didn't feel forced, their past fling makes it believable that they would push each other's buttons all the time, sometimes without realising it. I believe that I had turned off some parts of my brain when reading because it took me until the last third to realise the lackluster writing (although it is characteristic of most romances those days).

There's the issue of Darcy being the daughter of a famous player and this position getting her opportunities that was only ever explored as something bad for Darcy because it diminished her accomplishement as a player and is just frankly sexism. But Darcy never acknowledges it as an advantage always giving a good old "i worked hard to get there" speech. At the same time, Natalie is never framed as an underdog who crawled her way out of a terrible situation to get there so I get that the novel wanted to focus on the sexism aspect instead of the nepotism but I can see why it's grating.

I don't know how I feel about the final conflict because it showcases a weakness of the relationship that can never be solved. Natalie has an inferiority complex regarding Darcy: Darcy was always the royalty, the older more experienced player, she got more medals, retired on her own term instead of being cut. And I felt like the story never gave her the chance to reverse it fully? Yeah she's described as a natural on camera but she does end not getting the job. It's an inherent problem that will gnaw at her that I don't think was resolved in a love triumphs ending.

Kate Cochrane’s *Wake Up, Nat and Darcy* offers a compelling premise: ex-Olympic champions Natalie Carpenter and Darcy LaCroix, now broadcasters, reunite to commentate on their sport while dealing with unresolved feelings and professional rivalry. The setup of former lovers flirting on national TV is irresistible and promises a mix of sports drama and romance.

The story kicks off with Natalie, freshly cut from the US women’s hockey team, taking a guest-hosting gig on *Wake Up, USA*. Her co-host is Darcy, her ex-girlfriend and rival. Social media buzzes with #PuckingHotties as viewers root for their on-screen chemistry.

The winter games setting and sports broadcasting backdrop add an engaging layer. Moments of genuine connection hint at deeper potential. While the book doesn’t fully capitalize on its intriguing premise, it remains an enjoyable read for fans of sports romance and second-chance love stories.

I’ve been on a huge hockey romance kick lately and was THRILLED when I finally found a sapphic hockey romance. Wake Up, Nat & Darcy as a title is cute and packs a double meaning. I want to come straight out of the gates to say that some of the reviews I’ve seen for this book took things WAY too seriously. I really enjoyed it and stayed up until 2 am to finish it. We have two former hockey stars, Canadian Darcy LaCroix and American Natalie Carpenter both former Olympians with a rich history and rivalry. Both women are struggling to find their way after being professional athletes and in doing so find each other. The banter between Nat & Darcy was fun and filled with chemistry that I really enjoyed. I hope this is a start of a women’s hockey romance revolution.

Both Nat and Darcy fell flat as characters for me, to the point I just simply didn't care enough about either of them to buy into their romance. The college breakup was also just the most nothing kind of reason to not be able to stand each other years later. There's an audience for this book I'm sure but it's just not me.

Darcy and Natalie used to be college teammates and then became rivals (ice hockey). Darcy is working on building her name in television. Natalie retired from hockey, but not on her own terms. This was a funny, sweet romance. I enjoyed the banter/conflict between Darcy and Natalie. They’re both very competitive and want to win.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Romance for the ARC.

Darcy is the daughter of a famous Canadian ice hockey player, now retired (think Wayne Gretzky type) and is herself a multiple gold metal ice hockey player. Having left the sport, she's been working for a morning show in the US, trying to get an on-camera role. With the upcoming winter Olympics, her producer offers her a spot with Natalie, Darcy's college gf and former US hockey team player who'd just been cut from team. The problem is that in college Darcy broke Natalie's heart and two have had on an-ice rivalry in the intervening years.

This long-ish book felt too long to me. For most of it, I couldn't start to care about these characters or their second chance of being together. Both were repeatedly petulant and angry and the arc of change didn't happen until really late. The character portrayals, which included most of the book after the initial set-up, didn't engage me. It wasn't until the plotting took over in the last 25%, that the book took off a bit. And then, the changes these MCs had to go through were explained by Darcy's sister and Natalie's best friend in lengthy speeches.

I was provided an ARC by the publisher through NetGalley.