I love a good hockey romance and Reid wrote such a fun and cute romance between these two. I really enjoyed it and I found their rekindled relationship and memories of first love to be so beautiful. This was a book that really balanced a lot of feelings well and became a well rounded romance read.

Thank you NetGalley and Carina Adores for early access to this book. I enjoy Reid's books immensely and was very excited to jump into another story of hers. While I enjoyed this book, it did seem like the time spent with the characters actually being together was a bit quick and the ending wasn't as satisfying as some of her previous works. Overall this was a more tame Rachel Reid hockey romance, but cozy and filled with loving characters. I appreciate the older characters and hope she writes more soon!

this book made me feel alllll the warm fuzzies. it’s such a gentle story about grief, and regret, and repairing relationships, and also about hockey but really not that much. our main couple has a long history, and you can see all the ways they’ve protected and hurt each other over the years. their romance and struggle to repair it is believable, compelling, and sweet.

the setting is cute, and refreshingly unhomophobic, especially for a prototypical small town. we get other queer characters, supportive family, and multiple cute local haunts with signature food.

overall, this book is just gently heartbreaking and then heart-repairing, with small-town hijinks and flashbacks that are worked on in a way that didn’t make me hate them. a great read!

Wow I really liked this. For a "hockey romance" this was waaaay more focused on the romance than the hockey. I loved that the main characters were older and had gone through some stuff and had their struggles and how front and center those struggles were, at least on Riley's end. Lots of discussions around mental health and therapy. Love that that's being normalized!

If Rachel Reid writes it, I am reading it. Her latest offering, The Shots You Take, is one of my favorite MM romance reads this year.

The hurt/comfort, the yearning/pining, the second chance story arc of these two men kept me turning page after page. Riley and Adam's hard conversations, their sweet moments, and their intimate encounters all bear the hallmark of a Rachel Reid romance.

Glimpses into small town life in Nova Scotia, family dynamics of both the MCs, the treatment of grief and loss and forgiveness and redemption all perfectly served the story and made the HEA that much more poignant and satisfying.

I also very much appreciate the mental health rep, as well as the frank discussion of the way that professional sports organizations often fail to support and affirm their players in the areas of mental health and gender identity and sexual orientation. Reid has routinely included these topics in her books and they have been eye-opening and thought-provoking.

The Shots You Take is a must read. Thanks to Harlequin Carina and NetGalley for the advanced review copy. This is my honest review.

This would be a great book for someone looking for something heavy and sweet and slow and emotionally complicated. There are a lot of layers, a lot of history and baggage, and thoughtful attention to these two men's second chance romance. The story feels very mature and emotional, but I think branding it as Reid’s typical “hockey romance” is doing it a disservice from finding it’s best audience.

For one thing, readers should be prepared for the first 50% to be almost exclusively about grief.

Despite this book not ultimately being for me, I did enjoy:
- Reid’s writing is, as always, immaculate, poignant, and perfectly paced
- Two very compelling main characters that truly feel like they suit each other
- Long denouement where we get to see their happily ever after play out

Not my vibe, but done well:
- Small town romance with a cute cast of secondary characters
- Second-chance romance with older (40s) characters

Not sure if it’s done well, but also present:
- Divorced dad with teenage children
- Children
- Mental health (depression and emotional dysregulation), including breakdowns (past) and shutdowns (on page)
- Homophobia from a character in denial (past)
- Grief, recent death of a parent

I'm not sure if I had the wrong expectations, but I was looking for (and didn't get):
- Hockey
- Light, fun summer romance
- Not crying
- More groveling and/or understanding by the love interest for what he did in the past

On the whole, this wasn’t the book I was expecting. I liked it and read it in just two sittings, but the emotional experience of reading it wasn’t what I was looking for, unfortunately. It hasn’t turned me off Reid’s future works, but this wasn’t a favorite either.

I personally don’t like crying in my romance books, especially for nearly 50% of the book.

Oh, I liked this one more than Time to Shine (I liked that one too, but this one just a bit more!). It just hit all the right notes, a slow burn second chance romance (okay, the story itself only takes place in a week or so), two men in their forties (we need more older MCs!), and the first pages grief-stricken (and we know I’m a sucker for sadder stories).

Riley’s grief was so palpable in the first part of the story. His love for his father shone through the pages, and I loved all those small family dynamics. They were all so relatable. I immediately wanted to hug him.

Even though I hated the way Adam had treated Riley in the past, he was the one I had a soft spot for. Without many words, Adam was so quietly caring. All those tender moments, bringing coffee and breakfast in the morning, just lying in bed and comforting Riley because he needed it.

I think the tenderness in this story stood out for me the most. Two grown-up men who’d already lived a part of their lives and finally felt they were coming home. And that epilogue was chef’s kiss.

Wow.

Wow, wow, wow.

This book broke my heart more than once but put it back together in new and beautifully better ways! Rachel Reid is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors of this genre!

The Shots You Take is a heartfelt, second-chance hockey romance that dives deep into the emotional complexities of former best friends and teammates Riley Tuck and Adam Sheppard. Set against the backdrop of a small Nova Scotia town, this story follows Adam’s return to Riley’s life after an unexpected tragedy, forcing them to confront the unresolved feelings and history that have lingered between them for over a decade.

What truly shines in this book is the depth of the characters and the emotional groundwork laid out through brief yet poignant flashbacks. I loved how Reid sprinkled moments of Adam and Riley’s past throughout the story, giving us a glimpse into their tight-knit bond and the friendship-turned-benefits that left them both broken in different ways. These flashbacks don’t overwhelm the present but rather enrich it, showing just how much emotional history there is while emphasizing the importance of building new foundations in the here and now.

The fact that the main characters are two men in their 40s made this story all the more refreshing. Seeing them navigate not just their rekindled chemistry, but also their grief, growth, and the baggage of their unresolved past, added layers of maturity and authenticity to the romance. The angst, tension, and raw emotions were palpable, and Reid handled the groveling, forgiving, and healing with finesse, making the payoff all the more satisfying.

One of the standout elements of The Shots You Take is how the bulk of the emotional and relationship development happens in the present, a rarity for second-chance romances. Instead of relying solely on their history, Reid gives Riley and Adam the space to grow into who they are now, which makes their reunion feel more organic and hard-earned. I found this balance of past and present incredibly well done, and it gave their love story more weight and depth.

If you enjoy second-chance romances packed with emotional intensity, relatable characters, and a heartwarming journey of healing, The Shots You Take is an absolute must-read. Five glowing stars from me!

The Shots You Take
Oh dear. Once again, I feel incapable of writing an objective and coherent review of a Rachel Reid book.
Yet another pleasant surprise of a fave author making two of my least favourite tropes work: friend to lovers and second chances.

After reading the blurb, it basically took all of 1.5 pages before I was emotionally hooked. And then it was not long before I was all in and could not put it down. It's been a while since read a book that I devoured in a day. I need to re-read at a slower pace in the next couple of weeks. And I'll be listening to the audio on pub day for sure!

Compared to Rachel Reid's other books, tonally, this book is like a combo of Tough Guy and Time to Shine. There is no shortage of the author's trademark humour, but the humour is there to balance some ever-present grief - both of the fresh and unearthed variety - and mental health stuff. Oh and there is so much pining and romance. It had me swooning. This book is relatively less steamy than her others but the tension is excellent and it's still very hot.

What made this book stand out from the authors other books are the more mature characters (in their 40s!) and while there is some hockey on page, it feels more distant. I am inclined to say that this felt heavier than her other books but it might be more that the stakes feel higher.

If, like me, you have read and re-read all of Rachel Reid's books, you might notice a lot of familiar beats and micro core stories all rolled into this latest book. I'm never quite sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing but it's definitely there. (If you've read The Long Game, you can't help but think that this could be an alternate telling of Coach Wiebe's story . . .) And there were a few spots that felt like they could use some tighter editing (but I was reading the ARC so that could be cleared up before publication.)

Anyway, all that to say, I loved this book and look forward to adding it to my comfort re-read list.

Content notes include: very recent loss of a parent, so much grief, mental health issues and breakdown, alcoholism, infidelity, internalized homophobia, homophobia

When Riley Tuck's dad dies, the last person he expects to see is his former best friend/teammate Adam Sheppard. Riley and Adam played hockey together but now both are retired and in their 40s...and haven't spoken in 12 years. Because in addition to being best friends and teammates, Riley and Adam also used to hook up. But when Riley confesses that he's in love with Adam, things change forever for them. And eventually Riley walks away from the relationship before Adam can continue to break his heart.

THIS BOOK - it did exactly what I expected it to do. Absolutely broke me down and then stitched me back up as only Rachel Reid can. I felt so much pain but it was so worth it. The grief representation is absolutely on point. And Adam's groveling and wanting to be better for Riley is just so heartwarming. Adam hurt Riley so many times by not being honest with either Riley or himself about what their relationship was. He has a lot to make up for and really shows his love through action. He just keeps showing up for Riley in the ways that he knows Riley needs.

At a glance:
- Older MMCs (in their 40s)
- Retired Hockey Players
- Groveling
- SOUP as a love language
- Grief
- Mental Health and therapy
- Small town Nova Scotia
- Second Chance

This book is absolute perfection and I will hear nothing against it!!! Rachel Reid can do no wrong in my book. My thoughts here aren't even close to as coherent as I wish they'd be but honestly guys just read this book please!

Thank you to Carina Press for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I held off reading this for a while because I was so excited to have it - I didn't want it to be over!

I love all of Rachel Reid's other books, and this one does not let you down --- but it is a quieter story. The grief is well portrayed, and
I really love that the two main characters are in their 40s; I love the small town Nova Scotia setting, and I love Riley, his family and the beautiful home and life he's built for himself after climbing out of a really dark place.

Adam - I did feel like we needed to hear him do a little more talking things through with Riley, before Riley admitted him back into his good graces; but I did also really enjoy his finally facing his truth and I suppose not so much through talking, but more through his actions, showing Riley he was really here this time. So I wanted a little more of that, as well as to see more of Adam getting to know Riley's friends (the dinner party scene was great!), and a little more of his coming out & going into the world as gay (I loved the scene where he was texting with Riley while at the playoff game, so Riley could see him on TV as they were texting; and the mention of Adam talking Riley up during all of his press interviews -- I just wanted a little more of this. Because I'm greedy.) So I think the balance could have been shifted slightly more to the current-day story, with a little more detail there - but overall, it's Rachel Reid - I loved it. I love these guys & I just hope she keeps on writing!

Lucky - one of the absolute highlights of this book is the dog - and how Adam and Riley each individually talk to Lucky. This is just the best.

This story taught me that it’s never too late to mend broken relationships. You only need to make the effort.

Switching between the past and present, we follow Riley Tuck who left his major league hockey career and a broken heart to move back to his hometown in Avery River, Nova Scotia. However, as life would have it, his former best friend with benefits, Adam Sheppard shows up at his father’s funeral. Adam’s back to mend their broken relationship and as they navigate these new emotions their long lost feelings begin to resurface.

Firstly I have to point out that this is a story that takes place in Canada. I am so glad to have found a Canadian based story because there don’t seem to be many, especially in the boy’s love sphere. I enjoyed reading about the Canadian references!

This story is priceless. I enjoyed every moment devouring this story of two middle aged men finding their way back to each other. I loved how Adam was invading Riley’s space respectfully while also giving him space. I also loved how Riley didn’t cave immediately but grew to be honest with Adam over time. The time they both spent relearning and understanding each other was critical to this story and I felt like it was well executed.

That said, I would have loved to read more about Riley’s mental health as it’s quite a gray space with respect to hockey players. I liked how it was part of this story and part of Riley.

I loved everyone in Avery River. The characters were supportive and kind which is what both Riley and Adam needed. I loved how they provided a sense of belonging and comfort in their words and actions. That said, I’m not very fond of Adam’s family but that’s probably because we didn’t get to understand them well. But hey, that’s a realistic part of life.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. It made me experience a lot of emotions. I cried, I cheered, I smiled, I blushed and I got mad. In the end, I felt bad that both Riley and Adam lost so much time with each other but at least fate brought them back together and they’re happy now. This is definitely a great read and one I recommend!

This book was absolutely amazing. I can't, it was so beautifully written. It may even rival Ilya and Shane for me. Watching Riley and Adam come together in this story was so artfully done. This was a second chance romance done to perfection.

I can't say enough great things about this story. The exploration of grief was so well written and explored. I loved how deep this story was while also having plenty of light, well earned moments. I didn't want it to end or to put it down. Watching Adam and Riley reconnect and watching Adam truly embrace his true self.

Pick this book up! It is very much worth the read. I already want to re-read it. Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

*4.5 stars*

Heartbreak and grovel porn redemption... can we even ask for more?

The question I was asking myself before starting The Shots You Take is where does Rachel Reid go from Heated Rivalry? I mean, when you write nearly the perfect duology, it's so hard to keep innovating and finding new couples to enthrall readers. But enthrall me she did with The Shots You Take.

I think the older I get, the more I want older MCs in my romance. The fact that we get two men in their 40s finding each other and love again is just *chef's kiss*. Give me men starting to grow gray with smile lines any day of the week. As I got to know the characters, I wanted a HEA for them SO BADLY, especially Riley (more on him as the review goes on).

Now, I'm not a fan (usually) of second chance romances. My issue is that the relationship development happens mostly BEFORE the beginning of the story, so it's very hard to capture the nuance and all of the deep feelings of the couple. I rate these stories much more harshly, and I am often left without that emotional connection. However, we get emotions in SPADES here.

The angst and emotion hits you from the FIRST PAGE. Whew! Take head of the *pain and loss* trigger warnings, because I was honestly crying in the first quarter of this book. Riley is HURTING. He is going through one of the hardest times in his life, and Adam returning is anything but joyful. I wanted to hold Riley so close to me, and I wanted to punch Adam in his face at the same time. You will NOT want to forgive Adam. I didn't. I wanted Riley to make Adam suffffffeeeeerrrrr, and though we get lots of lots of groveling, I don't think I would have been as generous with Adam, in the end.

Adam is a complicated character because, though I understood him and what he was going through, the fact that he was so willfully ignorant and negligent with Riley's emotions for all of those years was a hard pill to swallow. Riley has to dig deep to come to terms with all of that and put the past behind them, and I think Adam really matures through the course of this book. But Adam was on very thin ice with me.

When it comes down to it, this angsty book with emotionally battered former professional hockey players in their 40s was just what I needed from Rachel Reid. Any book that makes me feel things as deeply as I did and makes me feel ALL the big emotions is a winner. I love you, Rachel Reid. Please never stop writing your complicated hockey players.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

I was so excited to get my hands on an early copy of The Shots You Take and from page one, it had me in my feels. I adore a second chance romance and this story has a hurt-comfort plot that will make you want to hug both characters. Both characters were NFL hockey players whose lives went in dramatically different directions, but they never forgot each other. Now, twelve years later, Adam has realized everything he lost and Riley has rebuilt his life after everything fell apart. This small town, second chance, friends-to-strangers-to-lovers, sports, slow burn romance will take you on an emotional journey and make you fall in love with both characters and the possibilities of their future.

When Riley’s life fell apart, he returned to his hometown and started over. He left his NHL career and his broken heart, and thought he’d never hear from his best friend again. A decade later, when his father passes away, Adam comes and is determined to make amends, and possibly rekindle the lost flame between them. Despite their history and the hurt between them, Riley finds it impossible to tell Adam off entirely. As the days pass and truths come out, their future might just be within their reach.

I love sports romances and I adored that this was between two older characters who are both retired from the game. Their shared past is filled with hurt and fear, but also so many sweet and steamy memories that are interwoven into their story as flashbacks. I liked this so much more than having the story broken into two parts - then and now. Riley made Adam work hard for a second chance and Adam was all to happy to do the work. Despite that Adam was the character that messed up their past, he was so easy to love. He’s a true himbo and a total golden retriever and I think that was why it was easier for readers and Riley to forgive him. This story pulled at my heart and I simply had to cozy up with these boys and fall in love too.

This was a different take on a hockey romance- and it really worked. A second chance romance were we wade through layered emotions that pull us into the story. Riley has come to support Adam in the death of his father- he wasn't actually invited. They have a painful history that we are taken through in flashback. I loved how persistent Riley was and how he supported Adam wholly. The progression of their relationship rekindling was beautiful. It truly felt like a second chance. I felt that Reid took us on a journey of heartbreak and redemption with these two. Definitely recommend!

This was HEAVY. And might be my favorite Rachel Reid. Two retired hockey players who were best friends, hook up buddies, unrequited love turned no communication again, and now walking through everything that happened in the midst of unimaginable grief for Riley. Adam desperate to atone for the behaviors of his youth and also get to know Riley again.

There's grief on grief on grief here. There's so much that makes my heart ache. And while it's 5 stars on vibes and heartache l, I wish there was more fleshed out with Adam and his kids. I wish we saw Adam's growth in learning who he was as a gay man. But in the end love always wins and I think that's the beautiful part of this book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this!

4⭐️
"I loved that summer here so much- the one with the bonfire. I sometimes wished, after, that I could stay in that summer forever."

A VERY cute second chance romance from Rachel Reid. We have Riley and Adam, who used to be friends/roommates/teammates and occasionally lovers, 12 years later.

My issue with second-chance romances is the time that sometimes so much time was wasted, where our characters could have been together. There has been SO MUCH time lost here between Adam and Riley, and yes obviously they get together in the end but it still made me sad while reading. Adam for his part had two children in those years and Riley built a happy life for himself in Nova Scotia, so I don't think either one of them regrets it, but still. It made reading the flash back scenes in this book a little bitter sweet

As always with Rachel Reid novels there is a solid theme here of accepting yourself and being comfortable with your loved ones and the world, and it's always done so beautifully. That journey here was mostly made by Adam, but Riley was supportive of him the whole way.

I really enjoyed the domestic moments- just getting a casual dinner together, watching hockey, going to the farmers market. The small-town atmosphere of a Nova Scotia town was done so well. And of course, the banter. You can just tell that underneath the years and complicated feelings that Adam and Riley truly know each other, and are genuinely friends.

Also this just made me want to reread Heated Rivalry- Ilya and Shane forever

Thank you to Netgalley and publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this novel!

“Riley had been so hopelessly in love with Adam, he’d have done anything for him. And he’d been stupid enough to think Adam had felt the same way.”

“Kissing Riley for the first time had simultaneously been the most terrifying and easiest thing Adam had ever done. He’d been just drunk enough to not overthink kissing his male best friend, but not drunk enough to forget how fast his heart had raced, or how sweet Riley’s surprised gasp had been before he’d kissed Adam back.”

The quotes above accurately describe and show how I feel about this book. Adam and Riley embody one of my favorite tropes friends-enemies-lovers. While they weren’t “enemies” they did hate each other so I count it. The shots you take surprised me with how genuine and real it was. If you ever been in love with someone who you were friends with you know that’s a very unique feeling. And it can go either way. But sometimes there is light at the end of the tunnel. Adam and Riley had an extremely slow burn which usually id hate but Miss Rachel has a way of writing them that I yearn for! If you are a fan of spice, Friends to enemies to lovers and finding yourself and love this book is for you!

Rachel Reid does not miss. The way in which I screamed when I got this ARC.

The Shots You Take is what happens when you start the book off with the third act breakup, let it simmer for over a decade and then bring it to a boil. The result? DELICIOUSNESS. This is a love story between two people who truly hurt each other and are given proper time to come to the terms with both the hurt they've felt and the hurt they've caused. There is nothing easy about the resolution. They are forced to build back trust, friendship and eventually love out of the ashes of the dumpster fire that was their first attempt. They both make selfish and hurtful decisions, but neither of them are bad people. It's messy, it's hard, but the end result is all the more beautiful for how real everything felt.

If you're someone who gets frustrated by quick and easy resolutions to third act breakups this is the book you've been dreaming of. Yes, it's very heavy at times, but there is also banter, playfulness and true romance.

This is not a novel about perfect book boyfriends. This is a novel about two men perfect (after a lot of work and self-reflection) for each other.

Pros:
Love in your 40s!
Mental health rep!
Coming out later in life rep!
A cute dog!

Cons:
None. Read it.
Okay, fine. There is a (past) cheating storyline so heads up.

CW: parental death

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Romance for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!