Cocky Mother Pucker: a fake dating college hockey romance

Nadene (Totally Addicted to Reading)

4🌟, 3🌶️

This one pulled me in pretty quickly and kept me entertained the whole way through.

Nick St. George is the confident captain of his college hockey team, but behind the swagger he is one failed class away from losing his spot and possibly his pro dreams. Poppy Wylder, his twin sister's best friend and the campus genius, ends up being the tutor he desperately needs. When Poppy wants to make her ex regret how he treated her, they strike a deal. Fake dating in exchange for tutoring. It sounds simple, but spending that much time together starts stirring up feelings neither of them planned for.

Nick ended up being my favorite part of the story. He comes across as cocky at first, but with Poppy he is surprisingly soft and supportive. The way he notices the small things about her and pushes her to believe in herself was really sweet. Poppy is driven and used to holding herself to impossible standards, so watching her slowly open up and rethink what she wants for her future added a nice emotional layer. Their banter, the fake dating tension, and those charged tutoring sessions kept the story fun and engaging.

Overall this was a really enjoyable hockey romance with great chemistry, playful spice, and a relationship that grows naturally over time. I especially appreciated that there was no dramatic third act breakup and that they actually communicated and supported each other.

It was sweet, entertaining, and exactly the kind of romance I like to unwind with.

~~~~

Special thanks to Sarah Smith & The Smuthood for providing this Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. ✨

arcs

Ashly

477 reviews37 followers

March 19, 2026

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5
📚 Book 1 in a Series
🏒 College Hockey Romance
🗣️ Dual POV
🖤 M/F

Okay so this book??? chaotic, cocky, and exactly what I was expecting.

We get a himbo hockey captain MMC who knows he’s hot, acts like it, and somehow still manages to be down bad in the best way. He’s failing classes, about to lose everything, and then enters fake dating with the one girl who absolutely does NOT want him [so he thinks]… and I was immediately sold.

The MMC has cocky on the outside / soft where it counts energy. Like yes, he talks a big game, but the second feelings get involved?? he is DONE for. Watching him go from confident chaos to “I would actually ruin my life for her” was top tier.

And the FMC?? she’s smart, no-nonsense, slightly fed up with his shit...but still affected anyway. She doesn’t just fold, which makes the tension so much better. The push and pull between them felt fun instead of frustrating.

The fake dating trope here?? executed exactly how I want it...forced proximity, building tension, and then that inevitable oh no this is real now moment that hits every time.

This is definitely more on the fun/steamy side vs heavy emotional depth, but there are still moments where you see vulnerability sneak in, especially with the pressure on the MMC’s future and everything riding on his performance.

Overall this was just a super fun, easy-to-binge, hockey romance that checked all the boxes

Tropes:
🏒 Hockey Captain
🖤 Fake Dating
🔥 Himbo / Cocky MMC
🖤 Nerdy / Tutor FMC
🔥 He Falls Hard
🖤 “She hates him but not really”
🔥 Forced Proximity
🖤 Good Girl x Cocky Boy Energy

arc

Michelle Lacson Robinson

7 reviews2 followers

February 17, 2026

ARC read
I’m so glad Sarah has a spin off from the Bashers series!

This series revolves around hockey players at Hollis U. Nick St George is the star player on the team. And Poppy is a tutor at the university and Nick’s sister’s best friend. They couldn’t be more opposite. But Nick needs a tutor and Poppy agrees to tutor him in exchange for acting like her fake boyfriend.

If you like fun, fast paced rom-coms with spice, this is a great book for you!

1,533 reviews219 followers

Cocky Mother Pucker delivers exactly what I look for in a college sports romance. The banter is quick and spicy, and the chemistry is sizzling. The fake-dating setup doesn’t feel forced; it slips into something real before either character sees it coming.

Nick is the cocky, charming captain of the college hockey team. He’s struggling academically, and if he doesn’t fix it fast, he’s off the ice. He needs help, and he knows it.

Enter Poppy, his brilliant high school crush and his twin sister’s best friend. She agrees to tutor him, but only if he’ll pretend to be her boyfriend to shake up her ex. What starts as a simple tradeoff slowly shifts into something deeper, with real feelings creeping in long before either one is ready.

Cocky Mother Pucker is a delightful, fast-paced romance that hits all the right notes. The banter is sharp, the chemistry is electric, and the fake-dating dynamic actually matters to the plot.

Nick gives you the classic cocky-hockey-captain energy, but what makes him stand out is how quickly the swagger drops when it comes to Poppy. He’s sincere, protective, and completely undone by her in the best way.

Poppy is steady and smart and is trying to move past an ex who never appreciated her. Using Nick to rile up said ex adds an extra layer of tension, especially when the pretend relationship starts feeling somewhat too real. Watching her realize she deserves more than crumbs gives the story unexpected emotional depth.

While no tropes were reinvented, the story embraces its setup with confidence and charm. Nick and Poppy’s moments together feel warm, natural, and funny. Their steady shift from “we’re just faking this” to “this might actually be something” is precisely the kind of payoff that makes fake-dating romances my catnip.

Overall, it’s a flirty, heartfelt read with memorable characters and a romance worth rooting for.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading

Kira Wall

79 reviews6 followers

Poppy and Nick are the best couple! I was already excited to read this book because I love reading anything Sarah puts out but this book surpassed my expectations! Nick is Poppy's best friend's twin brother, total hockey playboy and has always had feelings for Poppy since middle school. Poppy is the smart, rule following, tutor girl that has done everything to maintain excellence even since childhood but the one thing she couldn't keep neat and tidy were her feelings for Nick. After an incident in highschool she shoved her crush down and moved on from Nick until he walked into her tutoring room one day and those feelings surged back to the surface.

This book does such an amazing job of showing how they not only find their way back to each other but also learn to trust each other as well as support each other. I loved watching them find themselves not only in each other but personally as well. The character growth was excellent. I also loved how the story flowed without having any moments that stalled or felt rushed. Such a natural progression.

If you're looking for a hockey romance with second chances, a good girl that is hiding a bad girl inside, a hockey bad boy that's sweet and caring at his core, and some steamy scenes, then you're definitely going to want to read this one!

Thank you to Sarah Smith and The Smuthood for the absolute privilege of reading this incredible ARC! Can't wait to see what happens next! It's going to be so good!

Sammy

33 reviews

A fun start to a new series by a new-to-me author. Honestly the name of the book caught my eye so I think it got the job done!

Our girl Poppy is a genius on campus and eventually heading to law school, but in the meantime she spends her time tutoring fellow students and creating a huge following on YouTube with educational, study guide-like videos. The last thing she needs is for her best friend's twin, campus hockey boy, Nick St. George, to be bugging her to tutor him too. But when Poppy runs into her ex and wants to make him regret how he treated her, she fakes a relationship with Nick. Of course Nick agrees as long as Poppy will actually tutor him.

We learn a lot about the MCs once they get reacquainted: there is so much more to both of them than what they show the world. Nick may be a cocky playboy on campus but he's serious about Poppy and wants to see her succeed. And Poppy is struggling with the fact that maybe law school isn't what's right for her and coming to terms with what that means for her future. The two of them navigate these things together and it only makes them stronger as they turn their fake relationship into something more.

This had so many things I love in a rom-com - fake dating, bad boy x good girl, best friend's brother, he FELL first, no third act breakup(!!) - and it was all done really well. He also calls her honey which is sooo hot for some reason so there's also that :)

I'm excited to see what comes next for this series, especially how the set up for book two is looking! Happy release day and a huge thank you for the opportunity to be an ARC reader.

Alyssa W

138 reviews

This was such a cute, easy college hockey romance. If you like the classic fake dating trope with the popular hockey star and the nerdy, school-focused girl, this one definitely delivers.

Our MMC is your typical cocky, party-boy hockey player who suddenly needs a fake girlfriend, and our FMC is the quiet, studious type who would rather focus on classes than deal with hockey drama. Their dynamic is fun and pretty predictable in the best way — lots of banter, forced proximity, and the inevitable catching of real feelings.

The story itself is a light, quick read that’s perfect when you’re in the mood for something low angst and feel-good. My only real gripe was how often he called her “honey.” At first it was cute, but after the hundredth time it started to get a little repetitive and pulled me out of the story a bit.

Overall though, it was a fun fake dating hockey romance that didn’t take itself too seriously. Nothing groundbreaking, but still super enjoyable if you’re looking for something light and fluffy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — 4 stars. Cute, easy, and perfect for a quick romance read. 🏒📚

Adriana Luzia

64 reviews3 followers

March 10, 2026

I looooved this book, and I honestly can’t wait for the rest of the series! Nick and Poppy had me hooked from their very first banter. Nick's charm isn't just in his confidence, it was in the way he stands up for her, often when you least expect it, and he exceeded those expectations in every single chapter.

The writing is super fluid, and the world - along with the family ties and friendships - is so well done. The characters, both main and secondary, are absolutely phenomenal.

And yes… it checked every single box I was hoping for in a fake dating, college hockey romance. Just perfect.

𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗹𝘆.

Michelle

84 reviews2 followers

Poppy’s parents are both lawyers and expect nothing less from her as she continues to earn a perfect GPA while taking extracurriculars, but Poppy DOES have other dreams in mind: helping others and thriving with her YouTube Channel.

Nick, one of the best hockey players on the team, but can’t say that about his grades. He risks being kicked off the team if he doesn’t straighten up.

As fate would have it, Poppy asks Nick to be her fake boyfriend in hopes her ex will leave her alone in exchange for tutoring. Seems simple enough, right?

The slow-burn of fake dating was melt worthy. I enjoyed the character building of Poppy as she learned to stand up for herself, busted out of her shell (bathroom and door scene), and went after what she truly wanted.

Nick puts her first. He protects her. He builds her up. He supports her. He’s so incredibly proud of her. He gives her praise. He is a book boyfriend, 100%!

I love the two nicknames that Nick gives Poppy, especially the second one! You’ll have to read to find out 😉!

I absolutely loved this book. The book title drew me in and the story flowed so well that it kept me turning to the next page. Grab this book if you love these vibes: hockey, banter, spicy scenes (good girl), getting back at your ex, touch her and die, and characters that stay true to themselves.

Thank you so much for this ARC opportunity and to leave an honest review.

Emmy Wong

413 reviews13 followers

March 2, 2026

The second I saw the name of this book, I couldn’t resist signing up for the arc. I love a hockey boy and I don’t mind them a little cocky. But this book was better than I ever could have expected! It had a cute Romcom style plot, with the fake dating trope and the classic bad boy x good girl. But it was executed in the most brilliant way, and was even quite emotional at times. If you don’t believe in love, I’d say read this book because it will change your mind. Obviously I love a fake dating, and the best friend’s brother trope. But the funniest thing was how both of them had huge crushes on each other but were so oblivious. She sets “rules” for their fake relationship… but what happens when the “good girl” finally starts breaking the rules… One thing I loved about this book was how they portrayed Poppy, she’s very sweet and very smart but she also struggles. Many of us who had the “smart kid” label on us since we were young feel so much pressure to perform up to standards and be perfect. That part of Poppy really called to me, and I love how Nick helped her find herself and move away from academic validation and gaining her parent’s approval as her main goal. But Nick was also such a sophisticated character, he has this playboy complex but deep down he’s a softy and loyal to those he loves. And he’s definitely so down bad for Poppy. One of my favourite scenes is when he’s drunk and spends the night babbling and complimenting Poppy. It’s adorable and gosh I love their chemistry. This book was not just a cute hockey romcom but also connected with me on an emotional level. I give this masterpiece of a book a 5/5

1,049 reviews13 followers

Cute, fun, light-hearted college rom-com full of steam and swoon. I was all over the fake dating trope. It was so good, giving all the giggles and kick your feet feels. And while the reformed playboy trope isn't one of my favorites, Sarah Smith absolutely nailed it in an endearing way as opposed to cringy. Nick quickly grew on me with his carefree himbo/golden retriever personality. It balanced well with Poppy's no-nonsense attitude, giving excellent banter along with the mutual pining they had going.

Nicks dirty talk definitely makes you blush and heat up, then add the hand necklace, and I was a puddle of goo.

Even though they are college-aged young adults, I liked the maturity they had, and best of all, no pesky third act break-up.

Tropes:
Best friend's brother
Fake dating
Good girl + bad boy
Tutor + Hockey Captian
Hockey Himbo
Nerdy FMC
Slow-burn
One bed
Spicy list
Touch her and ☠️
Dual POV

This was Hollis U Book 1, and it was a great first in the series, I'm looking forward to more.

Thank you, Smuthood and Sarah Smith, for the opportunity to read this book.

Brieanna

259 reviews1 follower

This book was a good take on a classic fake-dating trope. In an effort to to get her ex to leave her alone, Poppy begins fake-dating Nick the hockey star. But Poppy has had a crush on Nick since middle school, so it's rough territory to navigate. What she doesn't know, is that Nick has had a crush on her the entire time, too.

Honestly, their internal battle of what's real versus what isn't made this book. Watching them fumble through every interaction was both frustrating and engaging. And once you add in all the external factors surrounding their "relationship," it was hard to drag myself away. Sarah did a great job of keeping me invested without dragging any one conflict out for too long.

**Special thank you to The Smuthood and Sarah Smith for gifting me an advanced copy of this title. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

arc-reads

Joanna Marzetti

151 reviews1 follower

March 5, 2026

ARC REVIEW: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️🌶️

I received this ARC and appreciate the opportunity to read and review it.

Cocky Mother Pucker by Sarah Smith is a fun start to the Hollis U series and my first time reading this author.

Nick and Poppy were honestly adorable. This story mixes fake dating with the best friend’s twin brother trope, and the fact that they’ve secretly liked each other since middle school made their dynamic even sweeter. Poppy comes from a very strict family, and watching Nick help her step out of her comfort zone and discover who she really wants to be was one of my favorite parts of the book.

The hockey team and Nick’s roommates already feel like a chaotic found family, which makes me really excited to see where the rest of the series goes.

This was a quick, fun read that had me smiling most of the time. Not super spicy, but the chemistry and character growth made it such an enjoyable story.

Read this if you're looking for:
🏒Fake dating
🏒Nerdy FMC x cocky hockey player
🏒Best friend’s twin brother
🏒Hockey team found family
🏒No third-act breakup

Alicia

174 reviews1 follower

April 1, 2026

Nick and Poppy were honestly so much fun to read. This story leans into that cocky MMC energy, but balances it really well with tension, banter, and some surprisingly sweet moments between them.

Nick definitely comes off strong at first, very confident, very cocky, but with Poppy you start to see a different side of him. He notices more than he lets on and shows up for her in ways that soften that edge, which made him way more likable for me.

Poppy holds her own really well. She doesn’t just fall into his orbit, she challenges him, keeps him grounded, and adds a nice balance to their dynamic. Watching them figure each other out (while also driving each other a little crazy) was one of my favorite parts.

Overall this was a really fun, spicy read with great chemistry, playful tension, and just enough emotional depth to keep it engaging. Definitely one to pick up if you’re in the mood for something bold, flirty, and a little chaotic in the best way.

Kristy

393 reviews39 followers

ARC review thanks to The Smithood and author. If you want a sweet and spicy fake dating hockey romance, this is the boom for you. Nick and Poppy have known each other since they were kids. Nick is a hockey player at Hollis U and Poppy is the smart ‘nerdy’ girl. They start fake dating but of course we know that never truly works out. I loved how supportive Nick was of Poppy and vice versa. No third act break up either!

Rebeccah Reads

53 reviews

3.75 Star read - I appreciate a book that doesn't have a 3rd act breakup! Both main characters work on communicating, which I greatly appreciated, and I'm always down for a hockey and jock/nerd trope. It was a little slow in some places, but had me in my feels in others. Overall it was a cute read. I enjoyed how FMC Poppy came in to her own and started standing up for her wants and needs, and MMC Nick was supporting her every step of the way.

Natacha Silva

345 reviews5 followers

Give me a hockey romance and I'm a happy girlie.

Este livro foi incrível para eu ler de rajada.

Temos irmão da melhor amiga, temos hockey, temos fake dating, e NÃO TEMOS THIRD ACT BREAKUP!!

Há um pouco de falha de comunicação entre a Poppy e o Nick sobre o passado, no entanto, no presente acabam por se resolver.

Foi lindo ver a relação deles se desenvolver, e o quanto eles ficam mais confiantes em si mesmos desde o início do livro.

Katie

29 reviews

Review of advance copy

March 6, 2026

This book was so cute!! Former f boy turned best boyfriend ever to his twin sisters best friend, sign me up! I ate this up. Their banter was so cute and the spicy scenes were chef's kiss!

Nicole Scarborough

1,043 reviews63 followers

Nick and Poppy were so good. Their history was tough but it helped. Best friends brother is one of my favorites! The chemistry was good and it was well written.

Julia

2 reviews

⭐️Nerdy, studious FMC (Poppy) and Cocky Hockey Captain MMC (Nick)
⭐️ Fake Dating
⭐️ Best Friends Twin Brother
⭐️ "Don't f*cking touch her"

Hollis University doesn’t tolerate bad grades from their athletes and Nick has a lot. His position on the team at risk enter Poppy, the super-smart best friend of his twin sister.
Smart and studious Poppy loves to help others while studying for law school herself. She just recently broke up with her cheating ex, Brody. So when he reaches out again to brag about his internship, she is… irritated. Enter Nick, the cocky twin of her bestie and someone her ex always disliked.
Agreeing to fake date for a couple of months to piss off her ex in exchange for tutoring sessions for Nick sounds completely normal lol. What could possibly happen?😝

It’s a really sweet love story with very likable characters and a supportive best friend. Their progressing relationship is full of sweet moments and support for each other. I also enjoyed the warm relationship Poppy had with Nicks parents and their interactions.

The pairing of the next book was also teased, which sounded really promising. I'm definitely looking forward to that as well.

* I got an ARC from The Smuthood Promo in exchange for an honest review*

autwenreads

541 reviews21 followers

I was intrigued by the fake dating + hockey romance trope, but unfortunately it just didn’t work for me. The writing was okay, but the storyline just didn’t do it for me and I couldn’t really connect with the characters or their dynamic.

Sadly, I found myself losing interest and not feeling motivated to keep reading, so I decided to stop at 35%. This one just wasn’t for me.

Thank you Love Notes PR & Sarah Smith for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

arc-s dnf

BaLeigh Deason-Hernandez

18 reviews

February 27, 2026

“She’s so sweet and cute and smart. But behind closed doors, she’s a demon.”
HOLY FREAKING HOTNESS!!!! Cocky Mother Pucker is Sarah Smith’s newest hockey romance book releasing March 9th. From the very beginning it had me hooked, laying down kicking my feet, and just giggling in the middle of the night.

Nick is a hotshot college hockey star needing help with grades, Poppy is in need of help making her cheating ex jealous. What could go wrong? Or go soooo right. 🥵

Will Pascoe

21 reviews

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for this book, and boy am I glad I did. For the story told this is the perfect level of humour and spice, with lots of yearning. It is a cross between an opposites attract and, not exactly childhood friends, but similar. There is a natural level of distrust between from the FMC to begin with due to past encounters with the MMC. There is no 3rd act breakup, and the story from fake dating to endgame is well paced and enjoyable

Marta Galdamez

13 reviews

March 7, 2026

ARC review 📖

Hockey romance? Immediately yes. 🏒

I really enjoyed this one! I loved that both Nick and Poppy had crushes on each other when they were younger — that was such a fun dynamic to read. I do wish we got a little more of their backstory though because it would’ve made those moments hit even harder.

Nick was definitely the highlight for me. He was so supportive of everything Poppy did and honestly just swoon-worthy. I loved how he always made her feel like she was the only woman in the room, and the way he kept saying he didn’t deserve her was so sweet.

One thing that did bother me a bit was how surprised Poppy always seemed when Nick did something nice. Just because he’s labeled the “bad boy hockey player” doesn’t mean he can’t also be a good person.

Poppy constantly stressing about her ex got a little annoying, but the fake dating storyline was still fun.

Overall though, it was a fun, easy read and exactly what I want when I pick up a hockey romance.

🌶️🌶️

This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.

Kacie

12 reviews

⭐⭐⭐⭐

ARC REVIEW

Thank you to Sarah Smith and Love Notes PR for the ARC.

If you like college hockey, low-stakes romances, and no third act break-ups, you will like this book. I found it to be fun and spicy without overdoing it, it was also so nice to go into knowing they weren’t going to have a miscommunication and break-up.

Nick was just so happy to be in Poppy’s presence and support her in any way he could and I found it to be so endearing, even though I didn’t love his nickname for her (I found it to be cringey) I thought he was such a well-rounded good character.

I also liked that it felt like all the plot points got wrapped up nicely and we weren’t left wondering what happened about certain things. I am super excited to read the next book of the series!

Milano Hart

17 reviews

Currently reading this ARC fake dating between two people who have secretly crushed on one another for years! So far it's sweet and the banter is fun too! love how protective Nick is of Poppy and just get all the squishy feels from it!!!
thanks to The Smuthood for the ARC! much appreciated!!!

Brea

377 reviews13 followers

Listen.
I picked up Cocky Mother Pucker expecting a cocky college hockey captain, some fake dating nonsense, and a few spicy scenes.
What I did not expect was to spend half the book laughing because the man who looks like a walking bad decision is actually the softest menace alive when it comes to one woman.
Nick St. George is the captain of the Hollis U hockey team and fully aware that he is hot. Like… painfully aware. This man has the confidence of someone who has never lost a staring contest with a mirror.
But the second Poppy enters the chat?
Game over.
Suddenly Captain Swagger is out here acting like:
“Did you eat?”
“Who hurt you?”
“Point them out.”
Sir. Relax. We just got here.
Poppy is basically Nick’s natural predator. She’s smart, organized, rule-following, and the type of person who has her life planned out in neat little boxes. Nick is the human embodiment of “we’ll figure it out later.”
Putting these two in the same room was already dangerous.
Making them fake date?
Absolutely reckless.
The banter between them is fantastic because Poppy refuses to be impressed by Nick’s charm, which only makes him try harder. And watching a cocky hockey captain realize the one girl he actually likes is completely immune to his nonsense is deeply satisfying.
The man spends half the book confused about why his usual tricks aren’t working.
Buddy… it’s because she has standards.
What I loved most about this story is that the relationship actually grows. They go from irritated → curious → suspiciously comfortable with each other → oh no this might be real.
And it happens naturally instead of feeling like a checklist of tropes.
Also… Nick falling first?
Delicious.
This man goes from confident hockey captain to emotionally invested golden retriever energy so fast it’s honestly impressive. Meanwhile Poppy is trying to keep her life organized while her fake boyfriend keeps being… annoyingly perfect.
Rude.
And the spice?
Let’s just say the good girl + cocky hockey captain combination works extremely well.
There are some very memorable moments where Poppy decides she is done being polite and Nick is like “excellent, I support this development.”
Another thing I appreciated: no ridiculous third-act breakup.
No dramatic misunderstanding that could be solved with a five minute conversation. No emotional tantrum. Just two people who actually talk to each other and handle their problems like adults.
A shocking concept in romance.
The side characters are also great, and the setup for the next book already feels like it’s going to be chaotic in the best possible way. The tension between certain characters had me side-eyeing the page like:
“Oh that is going to be a disaster. I can’t wait.”
Overall, Cocky Mother Pucker is funny, spicy, sweet, and ridiculously bingeable. The banter is sharp, the chemistry is excellent, and Nick St. George might be one of my favorite unexpectedly-soft hockey captains I’ve read in a while.
If you like: 🏒 Fake dating
🏒 Best friend’s brother
🏒 Hockey romance
🏒 Smart girl x cocky athlete
🏒 Banter that actually lands
🏒 Spice that shows up right on time
This one is absolutely worth the read.
Huge thank you to Sarah Smith and The Smuthood for the ARC!
Now excuse me while I impatiently wait for the next book because the tension brewing there is already giving “this will absolutely end in chaos.” 🏒📚🔥

Emma

667 reviews22 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

March 5, 2026

"You know it’s love when you’d rather do life on hard mode with them, than have an easy life with anyone else.”

✔️college hockey romance
✔️fake dating
✔️best friend’s brother
✔️bad boy x good girl
✔️reformed playboy
✔️tutor x athlete
✔️no 3rd act breakup

4.5⭐️

When I first met Nick (MMC) in his brother’s book (Desperate Pucker), I thought he was a stereotypical party boy college athlete and I wasn’t sure if I would like a book where he was the main character, but I love that this book proves that he is so much more than that. He and Poppy (FMC) are complete opposites, at least on the surface, and it was fun to see him shed his party boy persona and see her come out her shell. At first, Poppy doesn’t like Nick and wants nothing to do with him, but as time passes and they spend real quality time together (and a miscommunication from high school is cleared up), she realizes that her perception of him is very much removed from the reality of who he actually is on the inside.

Nick is a playboy at the start before he starts spending time with Poppy, and that isn’t a secret to anyone, it is extremely evident from the first page. That said, I love watching the playboy fall hard when the right person comes along, and that is the best way to sum up this book. He is actually the sweetest, most uplifting and attentive partner, and the moment he realizes that he might get a chance to be in Poppy’s life, there are no other women. He doesn’t *really* care about partying, it is just something to fill the time around hockey. Hockey is his one true love, until Poppy comes into his life in a more significant way and he realizes that there is room in his life for both the sport he loves and the woman he loves. The fake dating aspect of this story is fun, and their reasoning for fake dating in the first place makes sense. I like that the main drama is actually external to the relationship, and they work together and support each other to deal with that drama.

I really like how Ryker (Nick’s brother) and his wife show up in this story, though it’s brief, the scenes they are in are impactful and it’s sweet seeing more of their HEA. I am looking forward to the next book in the series and finding out how a *very* unlikely couple end up getting together.

*Thank you so much to the author (Sarah Smith) for the opportunity to ARC read this book! All opinions are my own*

2026-arc

Nazzealous

59 reviews