UPDATED REVIEW - I am so so pleased that the publishers and NetGalley reached out and asked me to re-read and re-review this updated manuscript! My biggest issue the first time around was that the 3rd person narrative caused the story to be confusing and overly convoluted.

HOWEVER - I am so pleased to report that the revised manuscript in 1st person narrative was exactly what I was hoping for from this story! It was much easier to connect with each character and value their addition to the overall story. This is a great story and much easier to navigate now! Wonderful Job

"I Don't Date Hockey Players" is a fast-paced (you guessed it) hockey romance read. We all like those, right? It was written in an engaging way and the main couple was entertaining to follow at first but... the relationship seemed really rushed and over the top. The love triangle felt non-existent and I honestly think the story would be better without it. This book had a lot of potential but unfortunately it wasn't my favorite.

I Don’t Date Hockey Players by Lolu Sinclair took some unexpected turns—and I’m still a little on the fence about how I feel. What begins as a familiar sports romance setup quickly shifts into darker, wilder territory. This isn’t your typical love triangle. Usually, I’m torn between the two love interests. But here? There was no contest. One of them was likable. The other was… psychotic.

That said, of the hockey romances I’ve read, I genuinely appreciated how much attention this one gave to the actual sport—not just the hot athletes. That added a sense of realism I don’t often see in the genre, and it was a refreshing change.

This one wasn’t quite the perfect fit for me, but readers who enjoy a bit of chaos, some unexpected twists, and a stronger dose of actual hockey might find exactly what they’re looking for here.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lolu Sinclair, and Lost Lust for the privilege of receiving this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

1.5 stars

What did I just read? This was…not good.

I found Blake to be extremely unlikeable. Assuming that Charlie was using Anna to get at him, just felt so icky to me. And it was even ickier when he said it to her face.

The thing that turned me away from this book the most was her saying “goal” after sex. I couldn’t take the embarrassment that filled my body.

And what was that random Kyle POV?

The love triangle felt non-existent. One man had feelings for her, while Anna and the other were basically in a relationship the whole time (or at least it seemed that way to me).

This book would have been so much better without the triangle. But I will say that I am happy with who Anna chose.

The writing is enjoyable and easy to get into, and the main couple’s story has a lot of potential. I was really entertained at first.

The problem is, the relationships felt over the top and rushed. The romance escalates too quickly, without enough buildup, which makes it hard to fully believe in or connect with the characters’ feelings. One minute one character seems to have feelings for someone, the next one they suddenly forget all about them and fall for another person. Like turning off a switch.

I also struggled with the characters’ motivations. Some of their decisions felt out of nowhere or inconsistent, so it was tough to get a good sense of who they were and why they acted the way they did. One character in particular plays a big role but behaves in an obsessive way, only to suddenly change direction entirely and everyone around them acts like it’s no big deal?

Honestly, I think the story would’ve been stronger without the love triangle. The main couple had enough tension and forbidden-romance vibes to carry the book on their own, and if that relationship had been the focus and had a gradual development, it could’ve had a much bigger emotional impact.

The ending also felt rushed. There weren’t really any consequences, and the characters barely had time to process everything before the story wrapped up.

I really wanted to like this more than I did. There’s definitely potential here, it just needed more time and development to fully land.