I hope this series never stops and the Collective just takes over the entire fictional version of the NHL.

I love the world that Finley & James have created, and it's always such a joy to hop back into it and visit all my favorites. 

As an (essentially) eldest daughter, I understood Connor's need to protect both of his little brothers, but it was really nice to see Easton find his footing and stand up for himself and what he wanted- even if he did it in typical hockey player fashion by throwing a few punches first. This may have been Easton and Knox's story, but I loved the glimpses of Connor figuring shit out that we got and I would LOVE to know more about him and Parker's past, so I sincerely hope we get something there. 

I also really enjoyed that the "forbidden" aspect of this story was mostly things that Knox and Easton put on themselves and had to work through. It wasn't too over the top angsty, but it was realistic and fun to watch them battle (and lose, haha) through. 

Having Knox be a ref was also a fun flip on these stories, and I was so so thrilled with the scene where his family showed up to support him for his first NHL game. When I knew he was a ref, I was HOPING that would me an appearance and I was not let down.

I just love this series and all these dumb hockey players a lot. 

A sweet, gorgeously illustrated modern re-telling of Emma. I hated the main character (but like, in the best way?) but still found myself rooting for him. The social media influencer angle just felt like a really smart angle for this story, and it definitely worked. Davi, though. Davi stole the show for me, 100%. A really fun read!

 I'm convinced Rachel Reid is a wizard that uses her powers to make me emotionally invested in sad fictional hockey players and their love lives. I hope she never stops.

I love a second chance romance, and one with this much of a time gap between the two protagonists? I ate it up. So much growth and grief happened while they were apart, and watching both Riley and Adam try to process that and grow together? God, it's so GOOD. 

Reid has such a way of weaving so many different emotions and important topics into her stories, it hooks you from the first page and THE SHOTS YOU TAKE is no different. I was rooting for these two idiots in their twenties just as much as in their forties.

Another aspect I super appreciated about this is the fact that both characters are older. They've lived a good deal of their lives apart, and using all that world experience to reconnect and fall in love (again) just made the story that much richer. 

Honestly, I will drop everything for a Rachel Reid book, and I'm so glad I scooped this one up as quickly as I did. Stick taps for days. 

How incredibly unfair I was not born into a world where holidays have their own royalty courts. I am so obsessed with this idea, and that holidays have "rival" holidays who compete for their joy. 

The family (found and real) aspect is one that always makes me fall in love with a book, and this group is so wonderful. The banter and one liners made me laugh out loud constantly, and I just think I should be allowed to live in a Christmas palace, too. 

Hex and Coal were so sweet and their romance was such a whirlwind that happened quickly but I still bought, 100%. Hex has never done a thing wrong in his life and should be protected at all costs. 

I'm thrilled this is going to be a series because I NEED to know what went down between Iris and Kris, and they both deserve their own happily ever afters, too. 

Exactly what a holiday romcom should be- charming, cozy and heartfelt, I really loved reading about Cole and Hex's romance. 

A fun return to Marsyas Island with the group of characters we knew at loved from the first. 

It didn't exactly have the same heart for me as the first go round, but I did enjoy my time with this family and I loved their happy ending. 

 I stalked Edelweiss for MONTHS waiting for this one to drop, and man, I was not disappointed. 

The hockey player/figure skater romance I didn't know I had been craving, this hits all the right notes. Fun banter, found family (and real family), a school rivalry, co-ed hockey, and a main couple that hit the perfect balance of snarky and sweet. I really enjoyed watching Charlie and Alexa's story play out. 

All the thrill of competitive figure skating and a sweet blossoming romance, this one had me smiling from start to finish! 

 This was so fun. I started and finished it in the same day and I enjoyed it so much.

I have never been to a summer camp, but this gave me all the feelings of longing for a place that I had never been to.

I love a (one sided) enemies to lovers and this is SUCH a great example of that. Juliette is a whole mess, but trying and I think that is such an important things. I come from a large family (though not QUITE as large as hers) and the struggle of finding something that's just yours resonated so, so much. Also the cake scene? HAH, felt that. 

This is a love letter to summer camp, but also to girls that were constantly told they were "intense" and they should try harder to be "likeable". Just a really, really lovely read! 

 Listen, this is weird in the best way. It hits that aimless feeling of being a teenager when everyone around you is getting their shit together and you're too terrified and heartbroken to imagine anything else than surviving head on. 

It's somehow hopeful and hopeless and I really really enjoyed it.