Rating: 4 out of 5.

This is a sweet and spicy contemporary rom com between Essie and her best friend’s brother Nate. They had a brief encounter and Nate ghosted her afterwards because he was leaving to go to college. Now they are forced to work together as the best man/maid of honor to help plan the happy couple’s destination wedding. Essie is beautiful, sweet, and thoughtful. People are drawn to her, but it seems only because of her looks without getting to know the real her. This makes her sad and fearful that she’ll never find her HEA. Nate was burned by a past relationship and that, coupled with his mother abandoning the family when he was a kid, turns him off love. He doesn’t think it’s real or that he’s capable of a lasting relationship.

When they reach the beach destination Essie and Nate can’t fight their attraction and end up hooking up. Initially it was just a fun hook up situation, but of course, feelings get felt and that’s where the trouble begins. The chemistry between the duo was off the charts and Essie was so supportive of Nate when she sees him struggling. I love the found family aspect of the book and the supporting characters add a lot of fun and humor to the book. Their support of Essie and Nate as they struggle with their own separate issues was heartwarming.

The book sends a great message of the need for therapy and leaning on friends for help and support. In fact, there was so much talk about it that I felt like I was in therapy just reading it. It was pretty unrealistic that the big, strong men of the story were so open and sharing about their struggles and feelings. I mean, it’d be nice if guys did that, but in my experience, that rarely happens.

Overall I enjoyed this hockey-adjacent book and will definitely read more books by this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from The Author Agency. All opinions are my own.