Member Reviews
A regency-era (kind of) hockey romance that brought a smile to my face the entire time I was reading. This book was so silly but so perfect. No spoilers but there are definitely some P&P movie and book references that made me cackle. The two POVs were handled well, and I loved being able to see the story from both perspectives.
For those who think this would be a P&P retelling, it isn’t. For those thinking this is a hockey romance, it isn’t (well, mostly isn’t). And that’s why this is perfect. It’s a ridiculous romp through regency era confusion and a use of tropes that I’m not always a fan of, but it was handled in an enjoyable way (fake marriage and insta-like/love). There were moments where things felt too easy - with how out of place he was, to me being American just wasn’t enough of an excuse for people to be so easy to go along with the situation?
That said, I very much enjoyed reading this book and if there’s a second to follow, I will absolutely read it. Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity for this ARC read!
4 ⭐️
"it was as if she was the full Garden of Eden and he wanted knowledge."
Tucker Taylor knows hockey. When his stage 1 cancer diagnosis benches him for a season, he pushes hard to recover so he can get back on the ice. And by ice, he means skating rink, not the ice of a pond that serves as a portal to rocket him to the 1800s... and to Lizzy Wooddash. Fate, however, has other plans.
tropes:
time travel
athlete MMC
only one bed
steam:
several explicit scenes
content warnings:
sudden death of side character
cancer
car accident (non fatal)
what I liked:
I wanted to read this book so bad because the premise is so utterly unhinged--fully bonkers. the plot is fairly original and the book is reasonably well written. it is a light, fun, easy read, just as I hoped it would be.
what I didn't like:
another reviewer says Jane Austin's presence in the book reads a lil like self insert fan fiction. I agree, it does. I also found Tuck's utter ignorance about one of the most iconic writers in history to be not very believable. I can handle mystical time travel, but how does anyone not know what Pride and Prejudice is? especially when his sister studies this subject and is passionate about it. Does he just not listen when she talks??
This book needs another pass through by an editor. there are missing or misplaced quotation marks throughout, and a few grammatical errors. (such as “I want you to hear you promise.”)
I didn't mind that there was very little hockey in the actual book, but other people might mide if this ends up marketed as a sports romance.
Overall it was a fun read. 3.5 stars rounded up.
thank you to netgalley for providing me with an ARC copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review!
Outlander meets hockey romance with a stamp of approval from Austen 📚
If you don't mind spice, love hockey romance, and find yourself in your regency era (thanks Bridgerton) .... then this book is for you. 😍 (I fall into a fourth category of reading anything with a hint of Pride and Prejudice in it 🤣)
This book is a DELIGHTFUL mashup of everything we love about regency romance with everything we have grown to crave from modern romances. Both pair together perfectly.
When you drop a hottie with a body from now into the middle of a backwoods regency pond only to be discovered by an unmarried woman on a walk... chaos, humor, and romance naturally follow. I couldn't get enough of these two, Lizzy (FMC) and Tuck (MMC). The banter is on point and totally regency appropriate. The romance gets sizzly pretty fast and then once that marriage of convenience comes into play, BAM, they throw the door wide open. Granted I am NOT a spicy book reader, I still found this book wildly fun and entertaining!
I enjoyed this book and am excited for release day to be here.
3 stars✨⭐️.
This description of the book was very interesting. I liked that the characters were respectful of each other and their respective goals. However, I didn't feel a close connection to either because the pacing of the book was a bit off. It felt like some parts should've been faster while others needed more lengthening. Also, I felt like there should've been more attention on Tucker's return rather than the characters relationship because it breezes past the main story of how he got there. I thought that some conversations between the two main characters were engaging like the comparison between the times. This was a fairly quick read too.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an e-book ARC.
I would have liked this book more if it had leaned into the batshit premise. I was hoping for lots of ridiculousness. Instead, Tucker was an overly earnest himbo (he could have been a professional motivational speaker instead of a goalie), which should have been fun, but it wasn’t, it was cheesy. And Lizzy was kinda boring!
This book is fantasy in that there’s time travel from lodestones on ley lines, but also in that Austin has an NHL team. If only!
Wow wow wow, I haven’t read a real page turner in a while. I’ve been glued to this book since I started it. This story has a whacky premise but it delivers tenfold on every front. The characters are well crafted, I was laughing out loud, and swooning over the love story. Also thank you for not including a third act break up!! I wouldn’t change a single thing about this story!!!
Thank you NetGalley, Harper Collins, and the author for an advanced copy of this book!
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for an advance reader copy of Puck and Prejudice by Lia Riley.
I rarely read historical or regency era romances but when I saw time travel and marriage of convenience I was SOLD.
Tucker Taylor, hockey player for the Austin Regals, ends up accidentally traveling back in time to 1812 where he comes face to face with Lizzy Wooddash. Lizzy desires to maintain her freedom, so when the opportunity arises for Lizzy to gain and lose a husband, Tucker’s appearance back in time becomes a perfect set up for a marriage of convenience.
The premise of this story was so creative, especially building in sports romance vibes. The story overall was cute. I enjoyed the later half of the book more so than the first half, but I did appreciate the premise didn’t take very long to set up and get the story started. For myself, as someone who doesn’t read historical or regency romance much, I think this is a really good book for others like myself who are looking for a balance of historical and modern. It definitely kept me engaged and drawn in wanting to know how these two will get their HEA.
I cannot get over how much I enjoyed this book. The witty banter, the strong FMC, the great MMC, the great plot, and everything in between. The writing is so great and I so thoroughly enjoyed it. I really liked that there is a distinct difference between how Lizzy and Tuck speak and it is easy to follow along. I feel like I could actually hear the difference while reading.
The only "critique" that I have is that this was advertised as a spicy time piece. There was one scene about half way through the book, that wasn't *that* explicit. The following spicy scenes were after 80% way through the book. I enjoyed the scenes and thought they were well written but unfortunately I wouldn't label this as a spicy book.
Due to the rising in popularity of My Lady Jane (thank you Amazon Prime and Edward Blumel), and now Puck and Prejudice, I think we’re officially in our unserious historical romance era once more.
This is such a great balance of quote on quote, ‘grounded historical romance’ and ‘goofy contemporary’ and while I don’t think it does either particularly better than the other, I believe it’s one of those books you’d pick up and finish with a smile on your face as long as you suspend some disbelief.
Tuck’s arrival? Well the explanation of how the logistics work is given but it doesn’t tie up everything by the end. It’s not the primary focus of the story, so if you wanted a coherent and in depth analysis of how time travel works, pick up a sci fi book and let us have fun here!
The ending? Welllllll I am not sure what I wanted exactly, all I know is that I didn’t love how… casual it all seemed. Glazed over, maybe rushed? I could’ve used 20 more pages of at least some adult conversations between them, beyond “I don’t want to leave you” “but I must…” you know?
All in all, super fun time. Petition to bring back goofy historical romances in 2024 and beyond!
Thanks netgalley and the publisher for access to this book early!
3.5!
What a wild mash-up! I had a great time reading this. As a Jane Austen enthusiast, I really appreciated the change of incorporating her as a character into this novel, as opposed to the conventional Pride and Prejudice retellings that we often see. I hope to read more novels with Jane Austen appearances in the future!
I did unfortunately have a complaint, and that is the MMC's nickname for the FMC! Every time I read it, I had to put the book down. I also did not quite feel the chemistry between them; I wish there was more of a connection.
I was confused how this would end but Lia Riley did an excellent job concluding the novel in such a satisfying way. I would wholeheartedly recommend this read to anyone looking for a fun, goofy, and lighthearted premise.
Thank you, Avon and Harper Voyager, for the ARC!
When I see a book that has anything to do with P&P or Jane Austen I will be the first in line to read it. Like most of the readers I saw Puck and Prejudice and thought 1. How will this work? and 2. I’m intrigued. Somehow author made it work. The banter was funny. I felt the chemistry between the FMC and MMC. I enjoyed the ending. It’s not your typical HEA and I like that. I really liked how the author changed her writing from Regency to modern and vice versa. It was a nice touch.
What I didn’t like was I felt like the middle half of the book dragged on a bit and could have been cut shorter but then the end was rushed. Just wished it paced a little better. I also didn’t like his nickname for our FMC. Just seemed weirdly out of place.
Overall it was a cute and easy read. The boiled potatoes reference from 2005 P&P was a great touch. I laughed out loud.
3.5/5
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I've never read a hockey romance before so I was definitely scared but Puck and Prejudice is more of a lighthearted Regency Outlander that has very little hockey and is a lot of fun!
I appreciated the dual POV but the MMC's nickname for the FMC is a no for me. I think the ending was a little rushed in the last quarter but I appreciated the ending. As a Jane Austen fan, I loved the movie and book references and I think anyone who likes Pride and Prejudice will enjoy this book.
Thank you Avon/Harper Voyager for the arc!
I wanted to love this book. It combined two of my favorite things, a hockey romance and British literature. Honestly Pride and Prejudice is one of my all time favorite books. Unfortunately for me this one just misses the mark. There was a lot of dead air in the middle and it really just dragged on. It then started to incorporate some Outlander ideas and I just had to push through. Really no hockey in the story line at all.
Tucker Taylor, goalie for the Austin Regals, is benched due to health issues so he decides to visit his sister in England. An accidental plunge into an icy pond sends him back to 1812, where he meets Lizzy Wooddash, a woman with no interest in marriage.
Lizzy dreams of a life filled with books and conversation, free from the constraints of marriage. She is truly not made for her time.
Marrying a visitor from the future might be the perfect solution to becoming a widow and gaining her freedom.
This story started out crazy! Tucker's plunge into the ice was INTENSE and such a way to grab your attention!
Since Outlander, I've loved time travel, so this book was a blast.
Combining hockey, the Regency era, and Pride and Prejudice was such a unique mix! I definitely give it major props for its unique storyline.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
-marriage of convenience
-Time travel
-Regency era
Let me just say the first chapter of this book went from 0 to 100 like that! My mouth was hanging opening. What a way to start the story! I came across this book and once I read the description, I knew I wanted to read it.
Tucker "Tuck" Taylor is a hockey player currently out for the season in the present. Lizzy Wooddash in a woman in 1812. The two meet when Tuck somehow travels back in time after an accident. Tuck can solve Lizzy problem; she needs to get married but wants it to be someone who will die soon she can be a widow and win her freedom. Lizzy and Tuck will marry and once Tuck goes back to his time. Lizzy will tell people he passed and get her wish. Tuck needs help while he's stuck in the past.
My favorite thing about this book is it didn't take long to get into the story. Lizzy and Tuck met in the second chapter. I dislike books where you have to read chapters and chapters before the story really gets going. I've seen some people mentioned the lack of actually hockey in the book and that didn't bother me as I'm not huge in sports romance anyways. The time travel part could have used some work. Both Lizzy and Tuck don't take long before they both totally buy it and are just like cool, time travel, sure.
I was expecting a lot more hockey to be involved in this one, I kinda judged from puck in the title. All this felt like was a guy from the future getting dropped into Bridgerton with Jane Austin right there. The time travel also really reminded me of Age of Adeline. If you like regency romance you might enjoy this one, but as a hockey romance fan I was found really lacking.
3.5 rounded up for Goodreads.
I had a lot of fun with this. I can’t decide if I like the way they get their hea but they get one and I’ll take it! Even tho technically there’s a third act breakup, it worked.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this ebook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Time travel, marriage of convenience, one bed, soulmates - ENTERTAINING AND FUN!
Tucker is a NHL goalie on medical leave visiting his sister in England. One night coming home, he swerves to avoid hitting a kid & dog, hits black ice and goes through the ice on a local pond.
He wakes up in 1812 England, in the same location to be found by Lizzy, a local spinster. Lizzy is bookish, and friends with Jane Austen. All she wants in life is to become a widow so she can enjoy freedoms as a woman in that time cannot if married or a spinster.
After a crash course in Regency manners, Tucker goes along with a plan to marry Lizzy while they try to figure out how to get him back to his time period.
They end up actually falling for each other with some mishaps along the way AND find a way to a HEA.
4⭐️ for me! Contains spoilers in my review so DO NOT read until after you have finished it.
Ugh I’m a sucker for time traveling romances and regency is my favorite era. My slight cons with this book was I felt the ended was a little bit rushed, time travel mechanics felt off (how come Tuck trying to explain a car be an issue in the potential downfall of the future, loosing a cell phone in a river be nonchalant and lizzy going back and forth through time not disrupting something), and how little details like identity of Lizzy were explained away by news reports being in a flurry. I gave my kindle a little side eye because we’re talking 21st century, amateur online detectives exist and social media accounts dedicated to athlete spouses/significant others. I personally had a harder time with that explanation. Small potatoes I know.
I liked the little bits of Pride and Prejudice making their debuts but really loved that this book was NOT a pride and prejudice book, it was P&P adjacent.
I really wished Lizzy would have stayed instead of doing the back and forth because I just wanted them together all the time. Just a big swoon and stay kind of gesture I personally love. I get why Lizzy chose otherwise but for me…give me the huge gesture, proclamation of love and be here always.
This was a fun read, banter was great and the slow burn was worth it.
The goalie for the Austin Regals hockey team, Tuck Taylor, is accidentally transported to 1812 England and meets Lizzy Wooddash, an aspiring widow. Upon meeting, they realize they can both have their needs met in this strange partnership: for Lizzy to marry a man who will shortly be termed “dead” and gain freedom from social constructs, and for Tuck to get back to his own time. Along the way the fall in love, duh.
This was really cute but I have questions about the logistics of it all. Does he ever go back? How has nobody raised the question of “do you have a social security number” or “where is your family” or “why do you talk like you’re in a regency novel?” How is all of this not causing some sort of wild butterfly effect that’s more than just Lizzys book appearing in a shop one day? I need the to know