From the moment this book was announced I battled my love for her and the fear I'd hate this book, but this one was such a good debut novel.

I know going in I was going to get real hockey experiences, which not always get portrayed fairly, but I didn't expect I'd be giggling on page one.

I have a guilty pleasure, and that is hockey romances with hockey boys, which means I read a lot of them so thank you Lexi because I am here for male athletes not being afraid of showing vulnerability, and being outspoken about their mental health.
LETS.MOVE.ON.FROM.THE.FRAGILE.MASCULINITY.BS

I also love a blunt woman, someone who knows who she is and what she likes, someone who doesn't change herself just to please other. If you do too, Lucy is your woman. She really is the bitch (non derogatory)!

If you are still not convinced, let me give you the first sentence of the book and that will do the trick.

"I don't need an online personality test to tell me I'm a bitch when there are plenty pf men who do that for me without the hassle of entering my email address."

Thank you Lexi Lafleur Brown for celebrating queerness, I really wish you all the success in the world.

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Publishing for an e·arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Shoot Your Shot by Lexi LaFleur Brown is a breath of fresh air when it comes to the genre of hockey romance, sports romance, and just romance in general. It was spicy, it was raw, and it is just the book that you need to read this spring.

We follow the story of Jaylen and Lucy after a one night stand proves to be the best luck Jaylen has had in a while. Since hockey is superstitious he finds Lucy and convinces her to be his good luck charm. When I read this description I was anticipating a cheesy, quick, fun book. What I got was emotional intimacy, two main characters perfectly crafted for each other despite their differences, and a whole new understanding of what the inside of an NHLer's mind looks like.

Let's do a character breakdown! Right from the first sentence Lucy could do no wrong in my eyes. She is authentic, bitchy, and sooooo messy. She is never afraid to say what is on her mind, which is so refreshing these days. I also love the all queer friend group. One of my favorite quotes, "she called you a lesbian....That's not an insult" PERIOD LUCY!!!! Thank you for being the outspoken lady we all need in our lives!

Jaylen, or should I say my new favorite book boyfriend, I wish you were real. He is so clever and down to Earth and painfully proud of coming from, and returning to, the Midwest (midwest gang rise up!!!) A non-toxic hockey man who just wants the best for his loud and proud queer girlfriend? Give this man all the awards because he is perfect.

Shoot Your Shot is one of those books that I will be screaming from the rooftops about because I want everyone to read it. You would be doing it an insane injustice by calling it 'just a hockey romance' because it is SO much bigger than that. The emotional maturity and intimacy was even better than the spicy scenes. This book was written with so much care and thoughtfulness is makes my heart want to burst.

This book is the definition of 5 stars. Thank you Netgalley, Harlequin Publishing, and Lexi LaFleur Brown for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is one that will have a home on my shelf and in my kindle library :)

wait this was so good. this was funny with laugh out loud moments. both main characters are refreshing and very human meaning they are flawed but that’s okay and sassy and witty and vulnerable. i’d recommend this one.