"Then let’s break that roomie rule so I can fuck you dirty.”

What a cute roommates, hockey-captain’s-little-sister romance!

She blinks. “Your sister’s dog? You have a framed photo of your sister’s dog?”
“He’s cute,” I say easily, but maybe defensively.
Shaking her head, Josie advances toward me. “Shut up. Nothing makes me want to lose my clothes faster than that.”

Lauren Blakely’s been on my radar for a while so I’m happy that this was my first since it was super fun.

“Can you bend me over the bed and fuck me hard?” He breathes out in a rush of air, full of arousal as his eyes flash, like he’s won the jackpot at the slot machines. Then, in a rasp of a voice, he says, “Josie, I can and I fucking will.”

This book was about trying new things, overcoming preconceived notions, and living life to the fullest.

"I’ll give you a ride.”
She grins ever so hopefully. “In your boxer briefs?”
“You wish.”
“Well, yeah.”

This book was about a journey after death and grief and how to move on while not forgetting—how to live your life and remember those who aren’t in it anymore.

"I don’t feel like a dirty secret,” she says, curling a fist around my shirt. “But you should keep fucking me dirty in secret.”

I looooved the chemistry between Josie and Wes. Even though they got together super fast in the beginning (which they needed to for the plot to work, lmao), it felt organic enough. Later, as they lived together as roomies, it just made their relationship even better.

But he’s no longer in the mood to indulge me, it seems, since he spins me around and bends me over the mattress. “Hands on the bed. Ass in the air,” he instructs.

I *absolutely* loved that Wes didn’t want to hide their relationship for too long, I always find that with the little sister trope they always hide it until it’s found out and then, you know, dRaMa.

“Meet me there at ten and we’ll grab food.”
Ten? What, are we still in college? I like to be in jammies at nine-thirty on the dot while enjoying a cheap merlot and debating the best book-to-film adaptations of all time in a Reddit group.

Anyway, I really liked Josie, mainly because she was a book lover and librarian! She was super focused on accessible reading which I love! There were tons of funny moments (I am a big fan of comedy in books) and sweet moments too.

“Because you have done so much for me. And I don’t want to feel like all I do is take.”
“Who told you you’re not good enough?”
That wasn’t what I expected. “What do you mean?”
“Who said that what you do for someone else isn’t worthwhile?”

Wes’s struggles with his, well, life, and what he would be without hockey, his dad basically forcing him to eat a super strict diet that gave *eating disorder* vibes, and his general insecurities made him a great MMC.

If you like:
🔥Hockey romance
🔥 Teammate's little sister
🔥One Night Stand
🔥Roommates to lovers
🔥Forbidden Romance
🔥Forced Proximity
🔥FMC who loves books
🔥Dyslexia rep
🔥Spicy spice
🔥“No regrets” bucket list

For a split second I gaze down at her gorgeous mouth, then give all the way in, “Fuck it.” I let go of her thigh, cover her throat with my palm, and yank her toward me.

Thank you Lauren for this eARC!