What a fun read! I’m a sucker for romcoms and all things sports so when Parental Guidance by Avery Flynn was chosen as our April #COYER Book Club read I knew I had to read it. This is the first book in her series Ice Knights which is a spinoff of two series Harbor City and The Hartigans. I have not read those, but plan to now that I’ve read this one. Parental Guidance is an unconventional romance featuring two opposites that have more in common than they realize.

The book opens with Caleb Stuckey, a defenseman for Harbor City’s Ice Knights, and he’s been called to the coach’s office, somewhere you don’t want to be. An unfortunate incident with some rookie players caught on camera has caused a PR nightmare for the team, and the coach places the responsibility squarely on Caleb’s shoulders. To fix it, the coach, their PR rep, and Caleb’s mom have come up with a solution. Caleb is going to join Bramble, a new dating app that gives the parents control, and do PR videos with the date his mom chooses after each of their first five dates.

Poor Caleb! I adore him. He is genuinely an all-around good guy. He worked hard for the position he has on the team, and this has thrown him. He isn’t a relationship kind of guy. The last thing Caleb wants going into preseason is dating a woman he didn’t choose. However he’ll do what is necessary for his fellow teammates. Caleb wants to fit in after enduring years of teasing while in school. He has dyslexia, which made him a target when he was young. This anxiety still follows him as an adult which made me want to reach through the pages and hug him.

Zara Ambrose is a miniatures artisan and conned into joining Bramble by her best friend and dad. She’s a workaholic who doesn’t trust easily. She has no time for men or dating, especially when growing up she couldn’t rely on her own father. With her own issues to work out and a big auction to work on, Zara has zero time for a real relationship. At first, I was a little concerned that I wouldn’t like Zara. She comes across harsh at first, but I quickly fell in love with her snark.

Zara and Caleb strike a deal during their first date and set up boundaries for their Bramble dating. Caleb needs her to help the public forget the viral video, and Zara needs her cobwebs cleared if you catch my meaning