Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.

This was pretty good! I finished the book quickly, which is a good sign considering how long it is. It was a relief reading a hockey romance where you can tell the author actually knows what they’re talking about, even if it was light on the sports.

I really enjoyed both MCs. Charlie especially was a lovely, complex character that felt super genuine. I think it’s the first time I’ve read something with a character trying to avoid casual sex because they’ve previously engaged in it for the wrong reasons/it being harmful for their mental health. It was very lovely to see him eventually have a better relationship with sex and, well, relationships.

Although I sometimes enjoy arranged marriage/woke up married/fake relationship books, sometimes it annoys me? I think the parts that those who love the trope enjoy most, is the parts I ‘dislike’. I just get impatient and annoyed when people are in a fake relationship and there is very obviously real feelings on both sides, yet they spend half the book worrying about just that and not saying anything. To be fair it wasn’t super bad in this one, but still, lol. I just wanna yell ‘JUST TELL HIM ALREADY, DUMBASS’. Anyway tho, their relationship was adorable and the growing love was sweet and realistic.

I do think it’s longer than necessary, literally no romance book without external plot needs to be nearly 600 pages, but it was still enjoyable. There was a fair amount of telling and not showing which really pulled me out of the story sometimes because it suddenly felt so impersonal. Sort of recaps of things that have happened or telling what *just* happened instead of using two sentences to show it happening just really grinds my gears after a while.

Anyway. I obviously still enjoyed, and I thought Charlie’s anorexia was handled well. I’m not sure if I’m excited about the next book or if I’m gonna run in the other direction.

⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️

⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Woke up married
Hockey player
Retired figure skater
Eating disorder rep
Lace and lingerie
Femme MC
Fake marriage
Makeup and high heels
Age gap
Multiple orgasms
Flip-fucking

⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Alcohol consumption
Disordered eating
Explicit sexual content
Details of anorexia and excessive exercise
SC driving drunk off page
SC with drinking problem
Neglect and abuse by parent (encouraging disordered eating, etc.)
Mentions of past hospitalization because of ED
Parent commenting on MC’s body and weight (on page)
Brief mention of past stalking and sexual harassment

⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, dual
Genre: Contemporary romance
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Versatile
Main characters’ age: Not specified
Series: Interconnected standalone
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 575
Happy ending: Yes


“Ehh, a piece of paper and some jewelry isn’t what makes a relationship a marriage. It’s … it’s looking at someone like your heart is walking around outside your body. […]”

“Let me love you, Charlie.” Dustin leaned in and whispered against his temple. “Stay with me after this year is up and build a future with me. Please. Let me love you the way you deserve to be loved.”

“You didn’t fuck me last night,” he said with a pout. “I’m feeling needy.” “I don’t have sex with people who are on the verge of passing out. Even if I am married to them.” “Did I ever tell you your thoughtfulness makes me horny?”