This is not by any means a perfectly written book but it IS a fun ride and what it misses in flow and structure it makes up for in charm and likability. Jaylen is an absolute delight, and it was really excellent to have so much casual queerness in this. It was also huge to have a hockey romance without inundating the book with misogyny so big shout out to Lexi for that! All in all, if you like the genre, you’ll like this book. I hope she writes more!

This book was absolutely adorable. It was a slower start for me but once I got to around 20% in, I was hooked. Jaylen was the ultimate book boyfriend. He cared for Lucy in the best ways. He let her pursue her dreams and didn’t hold her back. I loved that about him. The chemistry between these two main characters was everything. This was my first book by Lexi but definitely not my last. Highly recommend. Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced reader copy.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved Lucy and Jaylen’s story, and how they both grew throughout the story both individually and together. There were also so many great side characters in this story that I loved and would happily read their full stories if the author decided to go that route! I haven’t watched a lot of hockey, but I still enjoyed that aspect of the story as well. Overall, it was a fun rom-com that I’d recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book. I love myself a hockey romance but this book fell flat for me. I really wanted more from the main characters Lucy and Jaylen. I felt like their dialogue was very monotone and very choppy at times. The story line wasn’t anything new either. I felt like I’ve read the book before but with a dialogue I didn’t enjoy. As a queer person I loved the inclusion, but it didn’t feel genuine to me. A lot of queer stereotypes all put together made me roll my eyes. It was a decent book but I wouldn’t be interested in reading a second book if it’s going to be made into a series.

Lexi LaFleur Brown’s Shoot Your Shot is an enjoyable and light-hearted exploration of relationships, ambition, and self-discovery. The book has a conversational tone that makes it easy to dive into, and the author’s humor and honesty shine through in many moments.

The protagonist’s journey feels relatable—navigating love, career goals, and personal insecurities is something most readers will connect with. Brown does a great job of capturing those everyday struggles in a way that feels real and, at times, quite funny.

That said, while the book delivers a solid dose of entertainment and inspiration, I found myself wishing for a bit more depth in certain areas. Some characters felt underdeveloped, and a few plot points wrapped up too quickly, leaving me wanting a more thorough exploration of the themes.

Overall, Shoot Your Shot is a good pick if you’re looking for something light, fun, and motivating. It’s a breezy read that may leave you reflecting on your own ambitions—but don’t expect it to dig too deep.

3.5/5 Stars - Rounded up!

A hockey wife writing a hockey romance....say less! I cannot tell you how fast I ran to get a copy of this book. I stumbled onto Lexi LaFleur Brown on TikTok, where she sets the record straight about hockey wives.

Her first novel Shoot your Shot follows Lucy and Jaylen as they navigate their relationship. Lucy is an aspiring tattoo artist, hoping to score an apprentice job by working hard as an assistant. After a hard day she runs into Jaylen at a bar and try as she might to get him to leave her alone, he persists. They end up having a one-night stand and he is gone before she wakes up the next morning.

Jaylen started out his hockey career at the highest of highs but has been unable to keep it there. He is now without a contract and leaving to return to his hometown. He decides a one-night stand with the girl he cannot keep his eyes off of will not hurt anything. The next day he gets an offer of a one-year contract to stay and play for the Rainiers and Lucy is forced by her boss to paint a mural in their facilities. What follows is a journey from enemies to friends to lovers.

The first couple of chapters were slow for me and I wondered if I had made a huge mistake. Boy was I wrong. After those first chapters the book picked up and grabbed me by the throat and never let go. There was a lot of depth to both of these characters. They both had past trauma that they needed to overcome. The banter between these two was great! They had such chemistry from the start. Don't forget about the hockey!! So much hockey, we finally got a hockey romance that talked about the game. Such a breath of fresh air.

I thought this was a great debut novel. I would not be mad if I had to read books about some of the other characters here.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. This is my very honest review.

I know Lexi LaFleur Brown from TikTok so I was super excited when I learned she was writing her own hockey romance. This was a good first novel. It’s was cute and funny and I liked both main characters. I found the story was paced well, amd kept me entertained. I did feel like the books could’ve benefitted from fleshing out the characters a bit more because the reader could’ve connected more. Overall I thought this book was cute and a fun take on a hockey romance with a unique FMC and an adorable MMC.

Many thanks to Halequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to get this ARC.

Overall, I thought this was a fun hockey romance, with a nice balance of humor (Lucy and Jaylen's first night together) and serious (Jaylen's mental health issues and Lucy's daddy issues). I can tell that in the real world, I would not be friends with Lucy, but she is still a likeable character. Jaylen is very earnest and determined, and I adore him. I really liked that he fell hard, instantly, and not just because she knocked him to the ground when they collided in a bar.

I know part of this book's shtick is that the author wanted to write an hockey romance, since she *knows* the NHL very well because her husband played in it. However, there were some things that made me go "hmmm...." One thing in particular that really took me out of the story was.... how do I word this to avoid spoiling? The charity work that Lucy encouraged Jaylen to do? Seemed like way too much distraction for a player at the end of the season and going into playoffs.

As for the relationship: I liked the two of them together a lot, especially at the beginning when Jaylen was trying to win Lucy over. They were both very supportive of each other in their career goals, mental health, and family issues. I do think the thing that Lucy hid was kinda shitty, but I'm ok with how it was resolved.

This is a cute hockey romance that was cliché in all of the best ways! I love the characters and seeing how much they changed throughout the story. Their interactions are so quirky and the cultural references throughout the book are spot on. Overall, I really enjoyed this book And hope to see more from this author soon!

Thank you NetGalley for this digital ARC!

3.5 ⭐️ This was a fun and cute debut novel! As a hockey fan I truly enjoyed the more realistic side of being a hockey player and the small glimpses of that world. With that said, you could tell this was the author’s first book and something’s needed to be a bit more polished. However, I’m always going to hype up a former MN Wild wife.

Learning this book was written by a former hockey WAG, I immediately wanted to read. Shoot Your Shot has a different feel than most hockey romances. I liked how Jaylen and Lucy's relationship develops from their lucky charm dynamic into something real and seeing this transition throughout the book made the storyline exciting. However, I felt the characters were a bit one-dimensional. I wish they could have been developed more outside of the romantic elements. Overall, I think this was a cute, quick hockey romance that will appeal to those who enjoy witty banter and sports romance stories.

This is sweet feel good book with a HEA. MMC, Jaylen is sweet and lovable. The FMC, Lucy is fun and spunky. The side characters are also fun and add to the story. The challenges these characters were realistic and believable in how they were handled. I am not a fan of 3rd act breakups, I especially did not like it in this book since she basically ghosted him. Besides the breakup I enjoyed the book.

Shoot Your Shot was a such cute hockey romance. I adore how accurate it was at depicting hockey and life behind the scenes.

I also loved the main characters and their chemistry. Lucy and Jaylen are complete opposites but they’re so good together. I loved reading about them and getting to know them more as the story went on.

I was also so happy to see all of the representation in this book. There’s lgbt rep (bi FMC) and anxiety and depression rep. I feel like the mental health issues were handled really well.

Big thanks to Lexi LaFleur Brown, Canary Street Press, and NetGalley for the ARC of Shoot Your Shot! As a longtime fan of Lexi on TikTok, I was so excited to dive into her hockey romance debut—and it did not disappoint! 🏒✨

This is a hockey romance written by someone who really knows the game, and it shows. Lexi’s experience as a former player and wife to a retired pro brings so much authenticity to the hockey scenes. It’s perfect for diehard hockey fans, but even if you know nothing about the sport, you’ll still enjoy learning and immersing yourself in the world.

The story follows Jaylen “JJ” Jones, a former hockey star who thinks his career is over—until a last-minute opportunity with the Seattle Rainiers changes everything. After a one-night stand with Lucy Ross, a tough-as-nails aspiring tattoo artist 🎨, Jaylen becomes convinced she’s his lucky charm. Desperate to hold onto his second chance, he offers to trade favors: Lucy texts him good luck before games, and he gives her the stability she needs to pursue her dreams. But their sizzling chemistry 🔥 complicates things—and they both have walls that make love feel out of reach.

Jaylen is such a sweetheart of an MMC—he’s kind, loyal, and it’s so refreshing to see a Black man as the lead in a hockey romance 🖤. He’s also superstitious in the most endearing way, and it’s fun to watch him connect the dots between his luck on the ice and Lucy. Lucy, meanwhile, is messy, bold, and unapologetically herself. She’s navigating her own career struggles after a traumatic incident sidelined her artistic dreams, and her harsh exterior hides so much heart.

What really stood out to me was the mental health representation throughout the book. Both Jaylen and Lucy are shown going to therapy and taking antidepressants as part of their self-care. 💊 It was refreshing to see such honest and thoughtful portrayals of characters working through their struggles, and it added so much depth to their individual journeys.

Their opposites-attract dynamic is fun to watch, and the spicy scenes 🌶️ are well-written. That said, I didn’t feel as much romantic tension or longing between them as I hoped for, and their eventual romantic connection felt more like two friends coming together than a grand love story.

What truly shines is Lexi’s sharp humor 😂 and the vibrant cast of side characters. Lucy’s best friends, Cooper and Maya, are a highlight, bringing excellent LGBTQIA+ representation 🌈, and Lucy herself is bisexual, adding another layer of inclusivity to the story.

If you love hockey romances with real authenticity, sharp humor, heartfelt journeys, and excellent mental health representation, Shoot Your Shot is definitely worth the read. 🏒 It’s a fun, well-written debut that showcases Lexi’s incredible insight into hockey and the people who live and breathe it.

A delightfully little hockey romance that is sure to please! A fun quick read that absolutely did not feel like a debut so I'm excited for whatever Brown writes next!

3/75 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for a copy of the ARC!

I was so excited when I learned Lexi LaFleur Brown was writing a hockey romance; c'mon a former WAG?! I have read a lot of hockey romances in the last few months, and this was probably the most accurately depicted book of them all.

The pacing was a little slow in the beginning, but I loved Lucy's IDGAF attitude and the golden retriever energy Jaylen gave off. They are so different, yet they compliment each other so well. I also loved how vulnerable JJ was with his mental health struggles and accepting himself; especially in the sports world.

This was a really great debut novel and if you enjoy hockey romance, definitely put this on your TBR!

hoot Your Shot is an absolute delight for hockey romance fans! Jaylen and Lucy’s story is the perfect mix of sizzling chemistry, witty banter, and heartwarming moments. Jaylen’s superstitions and Lucy’s tough but vulnerable personality make for a dynamic and engaging pairing that’s impossible not to root for.

The hockey backdrop adds an exciting layer, while Lucy’s journey as an aspiring tattoo artist brings a fresh and creative twist to the story. Their unique “lucky charm” arrangement quickly turns into something deeper, exploring themes of trust, self-worth, and taking chances in love and life.

If you love sports romances with strong characters, a touch of humor, and a whole lot of heat, Shoot Your Shot is an absolute must-read. It’s a love story that will leave you cheering long after the final page!

Jaylen has hit a wall in his career with the NHL. He isn't playing well and is being let out of his contract with the Seattle Rainiers. On his last night in town, he has a fling with Lucy, an artist/aspiring tattoo artist. The next day, he's offered the opportunity to stay and continue playing in the NHL. Jaylen begins to see Lucy as his good luck charm and has to convince her to stick around and be more than a fling so she can continue to help him keep his spot in the NHL and recover his career.

This was a cute hockey rom-com. I liked how Jaylen had to fight for Lucy's affection a bit, that she wasn't a pushover. I enjoyed watching Lucy grow from being someone who was notorious for playing the field to someone willing to give a relationship a try. A few flaws- I thought it seemed unrealistic for Jaylen to be offered Assistant Captain after barely being on the team. Also near the end of the novel, the Rainiers are suddenly in the playoffs but it seemed abrupt with no explanation. Another cute read, however, for my fellow hockey rom-com readers.

*** I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ***

~ ARC Review ~

*Shoot Your Shot* by Lexie LaFleur Brown

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

Release date: March 11, 2025

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Genre: Adult Romance

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

*When Lucy, a young woman working desperately to earn a tattoo apprenticeship, runs into Jaylen Jones, NHL player, the attraction is immediate…but their friendship is not. But: when Jaylen begins to realize that good things happen for his formerly plummeting career after each time he sees Lucy, he proposes a deal: he'll do her a few favors if she agrees to be his good luck charm. As their relationship develops, so do both of their careers, pushing them both to consider what they truly want.

This hockey romance is a quick, funny read- I'm definitely grateful to have read an ARC! My only reason for a 3.75 is that I wish we'd seen a bit more of Lucy and Jaylen's relationship growing closer- but the author does a lovely job in discussing difficult topics, conveying the emotions of both MCs, and adding in *just* enough banter and comedic relief from Lucy's and Jaylen's friends to keep the majority of the book lighthearted. There's LGBTQ+ representation, witty dialogue, and an opposites-attract dynamic throughout this book- hockey romance fans, give this one a shot!

Read if you like:

~ hockey romance

~ books that delve into deeper topics

~ creative FMCs

~ opposites attract

Thanks to Netgalley and Canary Street Press for providing a review copy of this book!

*Check content warnings before reading.

3.5 Stars!

Thank you to Canary Street Press & NetGalley for this ARC!

This was a really cute debut novel! It is the latest addition to the hockey romance sub-genre, and I can never get enough hockey romances.

I enjoyed reading this book, but it did not wow me. I can't put my finger on why. JJ and Lucy are not your traditional hockey romance characters, and this was a big plus for me. JJ is a sweet golden retriever type hockey player. Lucy is a sassy, tattooed baddie who is pursuing a career as a tattoo artist. I liked the anxiety and depression representation as well as the queer representation in the main and side characters. I never see bi-FMCs, and it was nice to see.

You can tell that LaFleur Brown really knows her hockey, which is a welcome addition to the sports romance genre.

This read like a debut novel, but I look forward to seeing what Lexi LaFleur Brown writes next! I will definitely pick up her next novel.