I’m a sucker for a good hockey romance. My guilty pleasure 😅 This is basically an enemies to lovers story but also a “brothers best friend” story. I appreciated that there’s a lot of legit hockey scenes as a true hockey fan myself. The audiobook and narrators were wonderful!!

Thank you to the publishers, NetGalley and author for the early access of this audiobook!

While I enjoyed this romantic comedy, there was no real conflict that made it stand out. There was some decent witty banter.

This is a sweet, slow burn romance. Quickly into the book we find out Shaw has been in love with his best friend’s sister since they were in their youth. But Sutton didn’t get that memo, She has resented Shaw for many years because he and her brother interfered with her relationships. When Sutton gets a job as a physical therapist for the hockey team that Shaw plays on, they’re basically thrown together and many ways. It was sweet to watch the relationship grow between them. As I said, it is a slow burn romance . It was well toward the end of the book before the romance really began. Storyline is ok but I think it could’ve had a little more drama to give it a little more life. I thought the ending was a little rushed. I listened to the audiobook version and thought the narrators did a pretty good job. I would read it between a three and 3 1/2 star but I definitely upped my rating because I appreciate closed door romance. There is a second book in the works that I will probably give a try. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Sutton and Shaw know each other since childhood. He is her big brother best friend and they have been fighting since forever. But Sutton is now working as a physical therapist in his hockey team. Can he convince Sutton that dating a hockey player is the next best thing and that they are meant to be together? The audiobook with Kim Churchill and Oliver Clarke is great.

4.25⭐
Genre ~ sports romance
Series ~ More Than a Game #1
Setting ~ Alabama
Publication date ~ book ~ January 4, 2024, audio ~ July 30, 2024
Publisher ~ Dreamscape Media
Est Page Count ~ 257 (31 chapters +e, + a bonus e)
Audio length ~ 7 hours 19 minutes
Narrator ~ Kim Churchill & Oliver Clarke
POV ~ dual 1st
Featuring ~ hockey player, physical therapist, childhood rivals to lovers, brother’s best friend, best friend’s sister, slow burn, he falls first, no steamage

Sutton (23) & Shaw (2o's) (cute names) have been rivals since they were children. Now they’re going to be seeing a lot of each since she’ll be working for the hockey team he plays for.

I’m so happy this was a clean romance just because of their age, which is my personal preference at this point in my life. There’s definitely a new adult vibe with some of their possessions, interactions and thoughts being OTT and immature, but the banter was good since they’ve known each other for a very long time, so there’s a sort of ease to it.

The burn is super slooooowwww, almost too slow, so I wish their declaration of feelings happened a bit sooner. I’m thrilled this was dual POV because Shaw really brought his A game with his feelings. The brother's best friend/best friend's sister trope was well done.

Overall, this was really caaauuutttte and sweet! The bonus epilogue gives us a sneak peek of what’s to come in the next book and I’d totally be interested in reading or listening to it.

Narration notes:
They both did a perfectly fine job. She sounded age appropriate.

The Golden Goal by Annah Conwell - 4 Stars
(More Than a Game Book #1)

How CUTE was this ya'll!? I really enjoyed this audiobook! If you love a good dual narration rom-com, this is one to pick up! Annah's writing is great and I loved the ending so much! Seeing our main guy take care of her when she was sick - *chef's kiss!*

This follows Shaw and Sutton - they are basically enemies to lovers in this book. He is her brother's best friend and she becomes the physical therapist for his hockey team. Let the rivals begin!

There was so much tension, banter and laughs in this one I really enjoyed. We do see a bit of Sutton holding on to a grudge probably a little longer than I usually like, but overall I really enjoyed the book. I also love that Shaw loved her first -- so great to see his POV.

As far as the narration, I loved both narrators. I felt like the guy really sounded like a Hockey player voice and did a great job. Dual narration is always great. No third act breakup!

If you love sports romance, pick this up! We had a lot of good hockey scenes too! Excited to continue the series :)

Content: Clean rom-com, kisses with some make outs, but I was generally ok with it. No language.

A really sweet clean romance which would be a great starter romance read for new to romance readers. I found the plot to be easy and light while also entertaining. I did find some of the workplace dynamics a bit confusing on boundaries physically speaking. However overall it was a cute read with lots of room for growth in any continued spin off type books that might stem from this. Overall it was a quick and easy read that would be perfect for closed door hockey romance readers who love workplace romances.

The narration was good, and I enjoyed the female narrators cheeky tone that really added to the overall playfulness of the story.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

"The Golden Goal" by Annah Conwell is a cute, one-sitting read. It's a hockey romance that follows hockey player Shaw and Sutton, a physical therapist. Shawn and Sutton have known each other since childhood, with him being her brother's best friend and her mortal enemy.

Shawn is adorably attentive and sweet with Sutton, making him definite book-boyfriend material. This novel is a fun, heartwarming read with plenty of enjoyable banter between the two main characters.

Thank you to Annah Conwell, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for allowing me to enjoy an advance copy of The Golden Goal, which is scheduled for publication on July 30th, 2024.

It was good. I love enemies to lovers and brother's best friend. I love a hockey romance. It just fell a little flat for me. Maybe it was because it was a clean romance. That doesn't usually bother me though.

Great hockey romcom. Loved the brothers best friend, enemies to Lovers tropes. The audio is fabulous.

So well done! The narrators bring the beautiful love story to life! I just love a hockey romance and Annah Conwell nailed it! Shaw and Sutton are just everything. Their story is a lot of fun and has great banter! This is my second time reading the story, this time by audio and it was magic!

Honestly, this book is just fine. It’s very predictable, clean romance that doesn’t go beyond passionate kissing. All of that is fine, but the characters had no real personalities and the romance was just so so so cheesy. Sutton is a woman who comes from a very rich background, but tries to make it on her own, with a ton of family support emotionally. Doesn’t seem to recognize that even if she pays for her own things that she’s still spoiled. She likes the finer things in life, which again is fine, but I just got really sick of the attempt at being humble for her. Shaw is just completely head over heels for her and is willing to spoil her and do whatever she wants. Honestly, that’s just about all there is this book. Sutton also has some moments that are supposed to make her endearing, but they’re just really cheesy. Growing up English teacher always told us to “show not tell” when we wrote and unfortunately this book tells, and then shows, and then tell some more. it’s just very plain and very predictable so it can be a quick read and might be enjoyable for some people. 2.5⭐️, 1🌶

* hockey romance
* brother's best friend
* childhood rivals to lovers
* He falls first!
* dual POV
* slow burn
* closed door (kisses-only)

This was just really sweet! Shaw and Sutton grew up together and have been rivals for as along as they can remember. That being said, Shaw has always liked Sutton and now that she works as a physical therapist for his professional hockey team, he knows now is the time to show Sutton he wants more than just being friendly rivals! Low angst and no 3rd act break-up, this was a sweet romance that you will fly through.

Rating: 3.5 ⭐️

This was actually really sweet in the end. Very "he falls first".

I liked the enemies to lovers vibes between the two main characters. Them having a history helped a lot and made it feel almost second-chance romancy. Fairly cute and good quotes.

While the main characters were sweet, I have 2 pretty big complaints:
The first is that the universe and the background characters didn't feel fully developed for some reason. Sure they mentioned the players and other staff but I didn't really feel immersed into the world. Sutton kind of felt like she was in a bubble even though she moved to a whole new place, the only "new" thing she did was go to the pub. I wanted more feelings and adjusting of her in the new place - there was a little bit of telling in that realm but no showing and I didn't necessarily feel it. I also basically know nothing about her best friend except that she's single, no personality was established. I feel this way about all the side characters.

My other complaint is that it took them way too long to get together. I get that this was a closed door romance but their getting together felt very rushed at the end of the book. It was a little weird too because they finally get together and then suddenly they're hanging out with other characters I'm pretty sure I don't even remember. It was just a bit awkward.

Also specifically for the audiobook (because I listened to the audio ARC through Netgalley), the male narrator sounded like Bill & Ted and it made me cringe

Overall the book wasn't my favorite but I do still think parts of the book were cute, maybe skip the audio if you're picky about voices. There are some really good quotes to highlight if you do a physical or ebook :)

Book Review - The Golden Goal
By Annah Conwell

I was lucky enough to be approved to listen an audiobook ARC of this book and I really enjoyed it !

Was it anything new or ground breaking? No
Did I adore it regardless? You betcha

If you’re looking for a fun and easy read this is the one for you - think Hockey Romance + Forced Proximity + Brothers Best Friend

If you’re in a reading slump and need something to drag you out this book will do the trick! I would recommend mixing this in between heavier fantasy reads if you are in need of something easy to follow that doesn’t require too much focus (no need for world building here)

Overall for me a 3.75 ⭐️ read

(Remembering for me
3⭐️ = I enjoyed but wouldn’t insist you read immediately
Above 3⭐️ = you should pop straight on to your TBR!)

*4.5 // Sutton and Shaw are now one of my favorite contemporary rom-com couples! I loved that Shaw LOVED her since they were kids and how Sutton, despite her insistence that she can't like him, cares for him deeply because of their history. The pacing was perfection, the side characters were great (excited to dwelve more into Shaw's other friend's stories next!), and I felt that all the storylines were tied up well. And the ending was VERY satisfying!!

Audiobook review: So glad we had dual narration for dual POV ! Although some of the guy's attempts at Sutton's voice made me laugh sometimes, they both got into character well and it enhanced the story for me.

This was a cute, quick read. The plot moved too slow for me, especially since it was obvious how it would end. I wish the FMC and MMC would’ve acted more their age, instead of being so immature & unable to express their feelings adequately. I believe the story would have been richer this way & they would’ve gotten together sooner. The ending felt rushed after waiting so long for the inevitable. Overall cute, but really more suited for YA.

This was such a cute book! I love a good swoony worthy hockey romance and this is just that. This is a clean, closed door romance...so all of the feels with none of the spice. I loved the chemistry and relationship between Sutton and Shaw. I loved that he was secretly in love with her and only her for so long, but always kept up their rivalry. The narrators did a terrific job. I read this in one day, I didn't want to stop!

Read if you like:
Hockey Romance
Closed Door Romance
Brother's Best Friend
Rivals/Enemies to Lovers
Cinnamon Roll
He Falls First

Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio Arc in exchange for my honest review

this was one of my first hockey romances + my first alc experience, and i really enjoyed it !! the constant banter and teasing between the main characters was really entertaining, although i found sutton (fmc) a bit annoying at first.

this story has brother (twin)’s best friend, childhood rivals to enemies to lovers, ‘he’s in love with her and she doesn’t even know’, and close door romance tropes !!

i haven’t read any close door romance books yet, but this one was a fun time !! i consider shaw’s friends really supportive towards him, and i hope they get to have their own books someday ☺️

overall, i quite enjoyed this audiobook and recommend it to anyone looking for a quick, quirky, entertaining time 🫶🏻

i will be posting my review and content throughout the day on both my bookstsgram and booktok account: @dearbookloverr

The Golden Goal is a mix of a few different romance tropes that are put together into a well-written but predictable story. Sutton and Shaw have known each other their whole lives since Shaw is her brother's best friend. They were always terrible to each other but always had hidden feelings for each other.

Shaw is a professional hockey player and Sutton gets a job as the team's physical therapist forcing her into close proximity with Shaw. Even though this was an enemy-to-lovers story, they were not ever truly enemies. They always looked out for each other especially Shaw looking out for Sutton.

This book felt like how many tropes can be mashed together at once making it feel a little forced. There were enemies to lovers, brothers best friend, workplace romance, sports romance, fake dating, taking care of someone who is sick, and I’m sure there were a couple others I forgot about.

With so many tropes put together nothing had a chance to shine until close to the end when we get more details during a rival hockey game. Shaw plays a game against Sutton’s ex and this was definitely the shining star of this story. It was so well done and intense that I would gladly read a book of just that.

If you like books filled with tropes or sports romances then check this one out.