Definitely enjoyable! Sully was adorable. SO excited and positive. He takes his new attraction to men in stride and enthusiasm like everything else. Eric is the grumpy to Sully's sunshine. He's a harder nut to crack. I love how neither realizes they're in a relationship. I thought the progression was organic and engaging. Sully's family was terrible- I loved how Eric helped him find the fortitude to stand up to them. I also thought the world building of the team was great and it made me go read others in the series. Definitely worth the read!!

Ari Baran is becoming a favorite queer author and this series is one I'm going to recommend to everyone. Home Ice Advantage was so good and another solid book to this series. I loved both MCs and their sorta hate/enemies to lovers. My only sorta complaint was that there wasn't enough cameos from other characters. Can't wait for the fourth book!

Home Ice Advantage is the third book in the Penalty Box Series by Ari Baran. In this story, we meet Ryan Sullivan on his 40th birthday where he finds himself divorced, homeless, and wandering. When he gets a call from the Boston Beacons, his childhood hometown NHL team, with a Head Coach job offer. Unfortunately, for Eric Aronson, the Beacons’ assistant coach of a couple years, the head coaching job going to Ryan Sullivan means he was passed over for it. Thus ensues one-sided enemies to lovers romance.
I am a big fan of series where you continue to see characters from previous novels in some way throughout the series. I was a bit disappointed that we only got a short glimpse of just one of the other characters from the first two books. Despite that, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am always impressed with the amount of true hockey Ari has in their books. It’s abundantly clear they have a very good understanding of the sport. Older MCs offer such a different and refreshing storyline with different complications and issues than the typical younger characters. For example, both characters struggle to navigate relationships with their parents which are more complex as they are now well into adulthood themselves. Two things I loved were the emphasis on Eric’s Jewish culture and Ryan’s height (or lack there of). I appreciated learning through Eric’s point of view about Jewish traditions and appreciated that at least one of the MCs wasn’t the stereotypical form of a man, especially in a hockey novel.
This whole series is a must read for not only hockey romance fans but all romance readers! Baran’s writing is so well paced and intentional I always find myself at the end of their books wanting more. Here’s to hoping we continue to get wonderful books in the Penalty Box series!

I liked this. The second half of the book was more my jam than the first half, but I think it's more of a personal preference thing. If you love enemies while lovers this may be your jam. The enemy thing is somewhat one-sided and I tend to prefer enemies while lovers with a sort of humorous tone, this is more just two people not getting along, mostly because one of them is being a jerk.

My biggest issue with the romance was how completely lacking chemistry it was at the start, at least for me. I was genuinely so confused when one MC out of the blue aggressively kisses the other MC during an argument. I hadn't felt any chemistry between them or any hint that it was coming. And even though the other MC does respond by kissing back and is definitely into it, it still pinged my consent ick because if anyone did that to me I'd be so horrified. So again, probably a me thing, I can see other people being into it. I just wanted more chemistry growing between them in the beginning. And then it takes a long time for things to get kind of soft and that's the stuff I live for. So I think I was just not the target audience here. Eventually I did quite enjoy the romance.

There were some delightful sex scenes with role playing. I really love when these kinds of scenes are playful and fun and you can tell the MCs are comfortable with one another. Great stuff.

I loved a couple of the side characters (one MC's mom and the other's complicated best friendship). Toxic family stuff stresses me out but it was very well done here. The emotional aspects of this book were written very well and gave me a lot of feels. I think this author is a great writer, even if not all the elements of their romances have worked for me.

There was too much hockey for me. I think because there's a lot of hockey strategy type stuff since the MCs are coaches, and not a lot of actual playing hockey, and anyway I don't know a damn thing about hockey. So if you like hockey you'll probably be way more into that aspect than I was.

I loved this so much! The whole series is wonderful, but this is easily my favourite of the three so far. I really loved the connection between Ryan and Eric. Rivals to lovers can be tricky to pitch right, but this was done excellently and the way they slowly fell for each other, learned to trust and rely on each other was beautiful.

Ari has created a progressive version of the NHL which is making the forward leaps and bounds that we'd love to see in real life. I really love how wide the scope of these books feels and the depth there is to the characters and the teams. This book is largely a standalone, but favourite characters from the previous books get fun mentions which make them feel so real.

It's great to see this kind of love story between two slightly older characters too. They're both in their forties and only just figuring themselves out and realising what kind of shape they want their lives to have. There's no timeline to coming out or coming of age and the book is a really reaffirming take on that. I really loved it and if you like rivals to lovers ice hockey romances you will too!

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

Every now and then I find a new favourite queer hockey romance that consumes me, body and soul (not to be dramatic or anything 😌😂)! Last year one of them was Delay of Game and now I've read the third book in the Penalty Box series by Ari Baran, Home Ice Advantage, and I can confidently say I found a fave new hockey series I will recommend till I'm hoarse.

What to expect from Homce Ice Advantage?! A big and lanky grumpy Jewish MC to a small, fierce and super kind MC; two coaches who don't like each other very much but need to learn to work together, and a lust to love story that will punch you in your feels so hard!

You need to pick up Home Ice Advantage if you love queer love stories with MCs falling in love in their forties, oblivious main characters you can't help but root for, and so, so many feels! (Something extra? A side character that shows up only a few times - only once physically - but will ruin your happiness haha I am fine. What an addition to an already emotional story, I will need between 5-25 business days to recover).

I knew I was gonna love Home Ice Advantage, because I adored the author's previous two books, but I was still blown away by the slowly evolving love story that made all the sense in the world, the softness that permeated every page, these two heros that are both guarded in their own way but that fight for each other in the end.
I truly can't recommend this one enough!

Home Ice Advantage is a low-angst mlm hockey romance that is so good! The characters are so interesting and fun, their banter and romance is top tier. The plot is also engaging and I really appreciated that there wasn’t a third act breakup. Definitely recommend to anyone who likes hockey romance!

Oh my goodness!

I can’t even explain to you how much I love these two very grown idiots! I am a sucker for hockey romances and this one was right up my alley. I even teared up a little bit during both of the coming out scenes because they were both brief and beautiful and held so much importance all at the same time. This story had so many ups and downs, but I think that’s what makes me love it so much. Because life isn’t perfect and this story portrays that perfectly. I also like how the characters handle the challenges that life throws at them like adults because they are and not like immature teenagers even though this is an enemies to lovers book. Another note I would like to add is that the spice in this book was chefs kiss, none of it made my cringe or feel second hand embarrassment it felt natural and the chemistry between the characters was so intense I could feel it all the way through the book and I could even feel it hanging off the last word. I definitely won’t be able to get over this book anytime soon!

I really liked these old hockey men. They were so sweet and good for each other. Also, again, truly quality hockey content.

Thank you to Carina Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

Some highlights:
I adored this. This was a fantastic low-stakes (but not no-stakes!) romance with a nice twist on the hockey trope—they’re both coaches! That made for a new and interesting approach to a familiar and beloved genre, and though I’m no hockey expert, it read very intelligently and very hockey-forward to me.

The book also had a couple unexpected plot points! I was anticipating a number of moments that never ended up happening because Baran was more focused (as they should be, really) on our main characters and not a wider plot. That really added to that low-stakes vibe.

They’re also both older which, oh my god, is appreciated. They can communicate like adults and are emotionally intelligent and (usually) emotionally regulated. They each process things at their own speed and in their own way, but they’re consistent written and behave like fully-grown and functional humans, which is a delight to read.

Despite the high-for-a-romance word count, this didn’t read like a long book. I finished it in two days and at no point did it feel like it was dragging or that any scenes were not meaningful and forward-moving.

Detractions:
My only nitpick with the book came early in the plot—a few instigating scenes in the first 25% were a bit overeager, I didn’t quite buy the build-up or the in-scene tensions. But I’m reading a romance, not a critical think piece about a historical moment—I can buy into it. And it obviously didn’t detract from my overall joy of reading this.

Overall: Perfect beach read for the summer!

Recommended for:
- the hockey romance reader who hasn’t seen anything new in a while
- the slow, private, steady romance fan
- the doesn’t-want-to-cry-at-the-beach reader
- the my-family-is-messy-but-we’re-in-it-together reader
- the grumpy-sunshine fan who wants nuance to the classic personalities
- the miscommunications hater

Yet another beautiful, unique hockey romance from Ari Baran. The main characters - coaches who are thrown together on a team - each bring their own baggage, but work things out together. They've been in the NHL for decades already, and have fully mature backstories that come to bear on the complicated way they work out what their relationship will be.

This story is told in three parts and is one of my favorite hockey reads so far this year!

Hockey is everything for Ryan Sullivan and most likely contributed to his recent divorce. What will happen when he gets a second chance to do the one thing he loves, coach hockey.?

Eric Aronson has worked his entire life in hopes of landing his dream job so when the latest promotion slips through his fingers the tension with the new guy is palpable.

A steamy story of love, friendship, hope, and new beginnings.

I can't wait to read more from Ari Baron!

What a great addition to Ari Baran’s excellent hockey romance series. This time, we get two over-40 MCs and a solid enemies-to-lovers story arc. Home Ice Advantage is about Ryan — golden boy Stanley Cup winner with an emotionally abusive family — who gets recruited to be the new head coach for the Boston Beacons, and Eric — solid hockey pro with a bad reputation and no Stanley Cup who has a loving family — who is Boston’s assistant coach and is pissed that Ryan stole his promotion.

Lemme tell ya, tensions are high at the beginning of the season! And the way that tension gets broken is by… a super hot office make out session.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the older-than-typically-seen-in-romance MCs and the way they learn to be in relationship with one another. I liked the hockey scenes, which were particularly fun because we get them from the coaches’ pov on the bench rather than in the middle of the ice. Ari Baran, per usual, nails it with the sex scenes. I loved Eric’s mom and the trip to Montreal. It’s great! Go read it!

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Oh these are two silly grown men.

I requested this ARC based on Nellie Wilson’s recommendation, not realizing it was the third in a series. References to the previous books almost certainly went over my head, but I enjoyed Home Ice Advantage quite a bit anyway.

While the men are quite silly - with first contact being rage-induced and both of them pretending there are no feelings for far too long - the story behind these two goofs is very sweet. Sully and Aronson meet when Sully gets a head coaching job Aronson was gunning for. The plot and “the plot 😏” get about equal page time, but both Sully and Aronson are navigating family dynamics, the reality of being queer in the world of professional hockey, and coming to terms with their professional differences. I wanted to hate Aronson, but by the end of the book I loved both men and their relationship.

I’d recommend Home Ice Advantage for fans of sports romances (of course), enemies to lovers, and grumpy/sunshine!

Home Ice Advantage is a lovely hockey romance between two seemingly different men: the eternally optimistic Ryan “Sully” Sullivan and the sarcastic (to the point of abrasive) Eric Aronson. The book opens with Ryan returning to Boston, his hometown, as the head coach of the Boston Beacons (a job Eric believes should have been his), fresh on the heels of a divorce from his longtime wife. He and Eric, who was notorious during his playing days for his penalty minutes (and several biting incidents) immediately tangle together, drawn towards one another even as they find themselves constantly arguing. This results in a heated make out session that sees Ryan exploring his sexuality and Eric his gentler side.

It's refreshing to have main characters in their forties, and even more refreshing not to have a third-act breakup. The plot tensions are both external (job offers with other teams, Ryan’s horrid family, recalcitrant players) and internal (Ryan learning to stand his ground, Eric working to open up), and it’s such a delight to read about two main characters who manage to evolve without manufactured misunderstandings.

There’s a heartbreaking moment with a side character (and a confession that I hope leads to another book or shorty story), great Jewish representation (including Eric’s lovely and accepting mother), and some excellent banter in Home Ice Advantage. Baran’s writing is engaging and their talent for creating flawed, compelling characters remains front and center here.

An excellent addition to the Penalty Box series.

Thank you to Carina Adores, Netgalley, and Ari Baran for the ARC!

4.5 Stars, rounded down just because I wanted a longer epilogue (absolutely personal preference).

Ari Baran delivers another amazing book. I enjoyed it very much, while I was a bit unsure at the beginning I ended up loving it.

Two older MCs (at least when compared to the typical hockey romance), both flawed individuals in different ways. I loved how Ari Baran makes imperfect characters. They are so very human. And while these two were superficially very different, and could be described as an opposites attract they also shared a lot of experiences and characteristics. It made their romance development very believable and just so fun to see those two dingdongs fall in love without trying or realizing it.

This is my third book by this author and they are now an auto buy. Very recommended.

I absolutely loved this book. Usually my gripe with romance novels is that they're simply too unrealistic to be real. And by that I mean, one of the main plot points is intentional miscommunication that leads to a slew of problems that could have been avoided from the beginning if the two love interests just TALKED to one another. That didn't really happen in this novel and for that I am so thankful. It was equally heartwarming, fun, and exciting to see Ryan and Eric develop their relationship with one another. I greatly enjoyed and will be reading the other novels in this universe.

Sully and Eric's story was full of emotion. They start rocky and find their way to a beautiful love navigating work, family, and new relationships all set in a hockey world. It was a little difficult to get into, but once I did, it was a pleasure to read.

Goodbye hockey players, HELLO hockey COACHES! Okay, I'm partially joking, but seriously, if you have any more books with coaches falling in love, send them my way!

I requested this ARC from NetGalley because @julietfoxreads couldn't put it down, and she has NEVER steered me wrong. I couldn't get enough of this book, so much so that I was sending her some pretty unhinged DMs. That's how you know it's beyond good. Cue my insane thoughts:

First, this Eric and Ryan's story is enemies-to-lovers gold, but like, only Eric really thinks they're enemies. Ryan's just like, "what's this guy's deal?"... which leads to a lot of laugh-out-loud moments to begin with. And don't we love a slightly clueless MC? We do. That was a rhetorical question. All this animosity leads to a rage-induced first kiss, which we also desperately love. Passion is passion. I don't know if I can effectively articulate how satisfying it is to watch the hate turn to not-hate. You know what I mean? At first, they're basically using each other. But then, little tidbits and habits start to come through. They start getting to know each other, intentional or not. And then slowly and all at once, the hate is somehow gone. It never, ever gets old. Little, happy feet stamps.

Without spoilers -- my absolutely favorite part has to be a certain role-playing scene with a certain very spicy k!nk that I maybe should have been expecting, but it still seemed too good to be true! This is where I DM'd Jordan because I was losing my shit in the best way! I want to read it over and over again. Screaming, crying, more happy feet stamps!

This is just a fantastic book. The character development, the conflict, the emotion, the rise, the fall, the wrap-up, all of it. Read it, read it, read it. And meanwhile, I'll be reading Ari Baran's other work.

Ari this was everything, I'm gnawing at the bars of my enclosure. This series is hands down the pinnacle of hockey romance. Ari just has this wonderful understanding of hockey culture and the issues that players and coaches currently struggle with. As a reader I'm constantly impressed how they weave in discussions of antisemitism, racism, homophobia, and sexism into their work without making the book feel maudlin. Though I love Rachel Reid's Heated Rivalry that book is so steeped in internalized homophobia that it can be hard to read. Ari's characters may struggle with their identity but it's never their core emotional struggle. Having spent a lot of time with junior hockey players Sully's conflict with his father felt very real. Overall, I'm just impressed that Ari keeps their books feeling tender and romantic while tackling such emotional topics.

I loved these two old men and the way that their relationship developed. Ari does a great job of making the development of a relationship feel organic. Now I just want a short story where these two hang with Danny and Mike from book one. The grumpy energy would be delectable.

If you hate the third act break up I think that you'll really love this series because Ari doesn't really do that. Instead the major third act beat is often about the moment of commitment to the relationship. So many romance novels feel repetitive so it's nice to have an author that changes up the classic story structure.

The only thing that I was missing in this book was the way that Ari writes the dynamic between teammates. I just love their quirky little side characters and the way that everyone interacts. However, I think that choosing to not to expand a ton on the team or develop super close knit relationships with the other coaches made sense. The hang up that these two have is that they lack a nearby support system, as a result you need them to be lonely so that they can come together. From vibes alone I feel like Goalie Interference will be able to give me all the silly teammate moments that I crave.

As the daughter of a junior hockey assistant coach I give this book my expert seal of approval. If you're gonna pick up any hockey romance series let it be this one because it both understands the sport and has some of the best romance execution out there.

CW: mentions of sexual assault, racism, and antisemitism

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.