Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for this ARC ◡̈

I really wanted to love this one after I discovered the author on TikTok a while ago. As a former NHL WAG I was excited to get a true hockey romance. The book starts off with a one night stand. The FMC is an aspiring tattoo artist and has no idea that the MMC is a professional hockey player. Eventually they bump into each other and he wants her to be his “lucky charm”. The book was kind of all over the place. The beginning was so fast and clustered and randomly talking about post sex UTIs? The FMC doesn’t have a single thought she keeps to herself. The sex scenes were also just off. I did love the bi representation and the actual accurate hockey and hockey player portrayal. This book just wasn’t for me. I’m excited to see where this goes for Lexi! 1.5/5 ⭐️

Shoot Your Shot by Lexi Brown was such a fun mix of both hockey and romance. Admittedly, I may be a little bit biased, because even before I read the novel, I thoroughly enjoy Lexi’s social media presence, and had a feeling that whatever she put out I was going to absolutely gobble up. And I was right. Lexi absolutely knocked her debut novel out of the park. Her humor translated seemlesly, and without getting into spoiler territory, I loved how real Lucy and Jaylen felt. Lucy enjoyed an alt lifestyle without falling into the all too familiar i’m-not-like-other-girls narrative, and Jaylen’s struggles with his mental health made the hockey star feel like a real person instead of just an aggro heartthrob. Though there was plenty of heat-throbbery to go around by both Jaylen AND Lucy. Overall, I rate it 4.5/5 stars and big fat recommend!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an ARC copy of this book.

I love a good hockey romance. Unfortunately, this wasn’t it. This story follows Jaylen, a washed up hockey star trying to get a second chance in his career, and Lucy, an aspiring tattoo artist who abandoned her love of painting years ago. Lucy quickly becomes Jaylen’s good luck charm after a drunken hook up, causing a budding romance.

I struggled with the characters in this book. I did not find either of them compelling or lovable. I struggled to picture Jaylen as an elite athlete - he gave off quirky, supporting character vibes from the very beginning of the book. And Lucy was annoyingly angsty and one dimensional. I did not see these two as being a believable couple - romantic or otherwise.

Additionally, while I truly appreciated the diversity amongst the characters, I did not find any of the incredibly important issues presented to be fully developed. For example, racism is alluded to early on for Jaylen, but never to be fully explored outside of a quick mention. For a character who doubts his abilities as an athlete and explores mental health issues, this could have been a great plot point to explore. Similarly, the LGBTQ themes are mentioned often, but never discussed in a meaningful way.

This was also seen in the mental health themes that were clearly meant to be a big arc for Jaylen’s character, but only grazed upon. He was seemingly “fine” and able to cope after one or two sessions and medication.

The writing was the biggest issue for me. It was detailed at times, but overwhelmingly vague. Hockey terms and abbreviations were thrown around without explanation that I only knew from watching hockey my whole life - a casual fan would certainly struggle. It read as a YA book masking as an adult romance at best.

In sum, the plot structure and ideas are there in this book, but the execution was lacking. I pushed through hoping it would pick up, but was met with a slow plot, often skimming in an effort to finish it. Overall, a disappointing read.

I have been following Lexi LaFleur Brown on TikTok and Instagram for so long, and I have been so anxiously awaiting this book! I love reading hockey romances but I always struggle with the accuracy aspect. She promised a more accurate depiction and I feel like she delivered here- from the athlete contracts to schedules, to superstitions. None of it felt overly dramatized.

This storyline feels unique while staying true to many beloved tropes (one night stand, he falls first, black cat/ golden retriever). It was fun, but sometimes felt a little too surface. There were moments when I felt disconnected from the characters because something was missing. I needed just a little bit more to understand them.

Overall, It was such a joy to read this debut and I can't wait to read her next book in this deal!

I really appreciated that this was so different than most other hockey books I’ve read. I think it had a really nice balance of sports and real life that is sometimes missed in sports romance. The insight into Seattle was also a really nice touch.

I really liked Jaylen. I think his journey (or the quick insight we get) with mental health was really honest and felt very realistic to what most of us have experienced.

I found a lot of the characters tough to connect to. As the book went on it all tapered out but early on everyone was kind of unlikable and it definitely made it hard to connect. I am glad I stuck with it to get to the end.

Hockey romance will enjoy this debut novel. This book features Lucy a painter striving to become a tattoo artist and Jaylen a hockey player aiming for a comeback season. I loved the whole good luck charm aspect of their meet up and relationship setup, especially since hockey players are notoriously superstitious. Lucy is very guarded but sweet Jaylen helps her open up and along the way finds himself becoming equally vulnerable. They both find ways to be supportive of the other and their needs. The mental health aspects of this story were well portrayed- both realistic and suited the character development. I will say at times Lucy was giving off a little too much “I’m not like other girls” energy but I understood it since she had been so alone. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to fans of the black cat x golden retriever trope.

I was so excited for this book, as I'm a big fan of hockey romance and I follow the author online. Unfortunately, while there were some funny moments and things to appreciate, it felt overall pretty flat for me.
Positives: Fun easter eggs for those of us readers who are Seattle Kraken fans (the fans chanting GRUUUU comes to mind), as well as the Seattle setting. Good representation of the MMC's mental health issues. Additionally, the FMC's friends were a lot of fun to read (I want a book about Cooper!).
Negatives: The main issue I have with it is simply the pacing. So many things happen in such a short amount of time that it was inevitable that details got glossed over or felt like plot points came out of nowhere. There was also a lot of "telling instead of showing" going on, where the author would say how the character felt or what they were thinking, but not show that in the story itself. This made the romance element feel like it wasn't a big part of the story...despite it being a romance. Lastly, while the MMC was likeable enough, the FMC fell sort of flat for me.

This was such a fun book! I loved the storyline and seeing the lives written. The world was creative and exciting. I cannot wait for more books from Lexi!

This book was good. During the middle it was a little slow, but is alright. I know it was an arc, but I do hope they fix the typos in this book. There were so many and it would through me out of the store ever time they came up, but other then that I liked the over all story.

This one was not for me. I liked it but it was a bit slow. It had fantastic representation and the main characters were lovely and real in their personal traumas. I just had a hard time I think with getting attached to either of them. It may have just been when I was reading it. It took me a long time to finish.

huge thank you to NetGalley for the ARC ❣️

Dr. Lexi Lafleur Brown promised NHL accuracy in her debut novel & absolutely delivered on it. hockey romance has truly bloomed these last few years and it was great to get a take on life in the NHL in a more realistic way. the schedule, the routines, the superstitions all felt real and not overly amplified or dramatized.

the diversity and inclusion in this book were fantastic without shying away from the fact that a lot of “hockey people” wouldn’t agree — “No, it’s not okay. I’m pretty sure Mallory called you a lesbian too.” … “That’s not an insult…” & mentions of JJ’s past experiences with racism. PLUS!! a straight presenting couple where it’s always confirmed that she’s still gay is always music to my ears. love to see real LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC characters represented with complexities. great mental health rep as well, shoutout fluoxetine babes!!

Shoot Your Shot has good bones and I enjoyed the read, though it does lack thoroughness. i think the concept could’ve been flushed out so much more given it takes place over the course of an entire hockey season + playoffs. found myself wanting More a lot — more showing instead of telling, more real time chemistry between the characters. it feels a little disjointed, which led to me feeling a bit disconnected from the characters at points. they would be shocked over a relationship stage and i too was wondering how we got there.

all in all, this is a fun debut novel and a good starting point for Lexi as an author. this was sold as a two book deal and i will definitely pick up the next one as well!

This was cute! I enjoyed the story and banter - but felt like there wasn’t enough banter. Overall I thought this was predictable. I enjoyed the book overall but it wasn’t a favorite.

I’d like to preface before I start rambling that this book is not perfect by any means. Howeverrrrr, I had such a good time with it because of its originality. This book has a lot of representation that is not included in many sports romances, let alone a hockey romance. Also I adored how both the characters worked through their own issues and accepted that they made mistakes. It was one of the more realistic hockey books. A huge thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

I am a big Lexi LeFleur Brown fan — I’ve followed her on socials for years, and I knew I needed to get my hands on her book!

I am a huge hockey fan, but rarely read hockey romances because most authors don’t understand the dynamics of the sport or the team. But, Lexi as both a hockey player and the wife of a (retired) hockey player has a better idea then me of those nuances.

i really enjoyed the book and the growth/challenges both the main characters. I also enjoyed the hockey related content and JJ’s character arc especially.

It was a cute book that I very much enjoyed. I laughed, I cried, and I had a lot of fun!

Shoot Your Shot had me hooked from the puck drop! Jaylen’s superstitious charm and Lucy’s scrappy determination made for a sizzling, sweet, and slightly chaotic romance. Their "lucky charm" arrangement was as fun as it was ridiculous, and the chemistry between them? Absolute hat trick!
Lucy’s journey to finding her confidence as a tattoo artist added depth, and Jaylen’s struggle to prove himself in hockey brought heart to the story. Sure, the “situationship-turned-love” trope felt a bit predictable, but the banter and tension totally scored.
If you’re into hockey heat, tattoo dreams, and a romance that’s equal parts fun and fiery, this one’s a solid win!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Shoot Your Shot is the debut novel from #BookTok influencer Lexi LaFleur Brown and is a fun, flirty, and spicy hockey rom-com. I really enjoyed this book. There was a lot of positive representation here. From queer characters, BIPOC representation, and a character who is diagnosed with anxiety and depression.

I liked that there was actually hockey featured in the book. So often the MMC is a hockey player, but he’s never featured on the ice, at practice, a game, etc. This felt very authentic and made the book more relatable.

Set in Seattle, we meet Jaylen and Lucy. Jaylen was once the golden boy of the hockey world. The first overall draft pick in the NHL draft, with the world at his fingertips. Until a personal tragedy occurred causing his game to suffer. Now, 6 years later, he has found himself released from his team and without a contract.

Enter, Lucy. Lucy is a former painter and current aspiring tattoo artist. She is a bit of a serial dater and admits to using relationships as a distraction from her life. Jaylen and Lucy meet at a club and have a fun night together going to a dive bar, stealing a sign from a tattoo shop, and end up having a hot one night stand. Neither is looking for a relationship and Jaylen is leaving Seattle the next day.

When Jaylen gets a last minute roster spot in Seattle, and continues to bump into Lucy, he begins to look at her as his good luck charm. The two of them strike a deal for the season. Lucy sends Jaylen some good luck texts before games, and Lucy gets some free tickets for her friends and an appearance from him at her friend’s charity event. They begin to develop a true friendship, which turns into a friends with benefits situation, and then turns into more.

Shoot Your Shot was a fun ride. The pacing was steady and kept me engaged from the first page.

I hope Lexi continues to write more!

I thought Shoot Your Shot by Lexi LaFleur Brown would be a lighthearted, enjoyable hockey romance, but it was so much more. Both hockey enthusiasts and romance lovers will enjoy this book's flawless fusion of comedy, smoldering chemistry, and genuine emotional depth.

One character you can't help but support is Jaylen "JJ" Jones. He is struggling after his hockey career seems to be over, but a one-night stand with Lucy Ross provides the spark he needs to actually get back into the game. Jaylen, who is extremely superstitious, would stop at nothing to keep Lucy around because he considers her to be his lucky charm. However, Lucy? She will not simply allow herself to be used as a lucky rabbit's foot. She is a budding tattoo artist with her own goals and challenges, and it was fascinating to watch her work through these while deciding how to handle Jaylen.

There is an electrifying dynamic between these two. Their chemistry is incredible, their banter is razor-sharp, and their emotional bond develops so naturally. I adored how their mutually beneficial arrangement grew into something more meaningful - a text message of good luck for Jaylen in return for tattoo practice for Lucy. It seemed authentic, untidy, and natural.

In each scene, Lexi LaFleur Brown's hockey expertise is evident. As a hockey enthusiast, I was ecstatic to see such an authentic portrayal of the sport and its way of life. The story was made much more authentic by the small touches, such as the pre-game customs, the locker room banter, and even the inclusion of Pride Night.

Thank you so much to Lexi and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC through NetGalley.

I am a fan of Lexi’s through her TikTok page. I’ve always enjoyed listening to her talk about what it is actually like being a wag to a NHL player. She has so much knowledge into the sport that I was excited to read this book since I am a huge hockey romance fan. Unfortunately this book was not for me. The biggest issue I had with this book is the writing style. It doesn’t work for me and needs some improvement. Throughout the book there would be one or two sentences or dialogue and then paragraphs of narrative. By the time you get back to the dialogue you forget what the characters were even talking about. Now the main characters did not work for me. They might work for other readers but the main girl did not come off edgy and uncaring but came off rude, ungrateful, and no work ethic to me. The main guy was nothing special, besides being obsessed with her, he didn’t bring anything else to the table. I will say that her knowledge of the sport did show throughout the book. But that didn’t make up for everything else for me.

I love hockey romance, I usually gobble them up within a day or two but something about this one made it feel drawn out. There was nothing particularly wrong with the story, I think I just didn't click with the FMC. Overall, I loved the plot and how each character had unique friends and aspirations. I also always love when hockey novels actually get the lingo and logistics correct. Some authors you can tell never step food in an arena and its super hard to look past, but this author knew great details and made it easy to picture things. I cannot wait to see if there will be more within this hockey world. I know the author will definitely only improve from this debut!

Thank you @netgalley, Lexi LaFleur Brown, and the publisher for a eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jaylen has had a string of bad luck but all that changes when Lucy runs into him at a bar. Literally. The two have an instant connection and spend one night together before he leaves town. Only he doesn't end up leaving town. The team that had cut him now wants him back. Eager to hold onto his luck for as long as he can, Jaylen asks Lucy for her help. Soon they are trading favors back and forth and growing closer as friends. Maybe luck isn't what happens to you, but instead is what you make out of life.

Read if you like:
-Opposites Attract
-Reverse Grumpy Sunshine
-Luck/Fate
-Meet Cutes
-Emotional Journey

This was such a fun hockey rom-com! I was constantly smiling as I read it. I loved Jaylen's character, but I felt like I connected with Lucy just a little bit more. Like her, there were times in my life that I felt a little bit lost. Her emotional journey was so satisfying. I would definitely read more from Lexi LaFleur Brown!