The premise of this book is great, forced proximity and sports romance - yes please!

However, it doesn't quite live up to expectations, the writing style is quite casual and uses abbreviations which is unexpected outside of a text conversation between characters.

The lifestyle choices of Fern are unusual, she's survived cancer - big respect to her - but she's not looking after herself and that's tough to read, especially as she's a nurse herself and would know the impact of her choices.

Overall a quick read, a great filler book in between something heavier.

Thanks, @netgalley, the author & publisher for the ARC for my honest review.

I started this book a few weeks ago, and it took me until last night to finish it. I don't like to DNF, especially an ARC, as I like to give it a fair chance
I had high-ish hopes for this book, as I love a good sports romance, but sadly, this was lacking. None of the usual tropes were there that you'd expect apart from "brothers best friend." There was way too much "telling" rather than "showing," and the writing felt quite immature in parts. Lots of repetition & describing, and in my opinion, a tad far-fetched (first 10% of book).
The FMC was quite simply a pain! I'm sorry, but for a (travelling surgical- repeated many times) nurse who survived oesophageal cancer, going around eating the mega monkey bar burger stack, drinking the volumes of (top shelf) booze and smoking cigars, is not the done thing.
All in all, I gave it a go, but sadly, I feel disappointed with what could've been so much more!

It was a cute quick read. I am a giant sucker for best friend's brother/ brothers' best friend romances. I loved fern and Gabe separately and even better together. I do feel like the ending was rushed and I would have liked it better if there was a chapter or two with them falling in love more.all in all a cute country hockey romance.

📚 Title: Wild in Minnesota
✍️ Author: Mary Lee Painter
🗓️ Release Date: June 23, 2025
📘 Format: Ebook (ARC) – Provided by NetGalley and the author in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 5 Glorious Stars

An emotional rollercoaster with rom-com chaos, heart-melting chemistry, and more llamas than one might expect from a hockey romance.

⸻

💬 Review:

From the first punch to the last page, Wild in Minnesota is a rom-com that grabs your attention and doesn’t let go. Mary Lee Painter delivers a brilliant blend of humor, heart, and healing in a romance that’s as unexpectedly wild as the title suggests.

Set in a remote Minnesota cabin, the story kicks off when Fern—an emotionally guarded, delightfully sarcastic maid of honor—is startled by an unexpected housemate. Enter Gabe: NHL superstar, best friend to Fern’s brother, and the unintentional recipient of her well-aimed punch to the face. What follows is an unforgettable “weekend pass” arrangement that quickly turns into something deeper… and a whole lot messier.

Despite the absurdity (yes, there are llamas), this novel never feels overdone. It thrives on contrast: slapstick moments paired with emotional honesty, witty banter tempered by gut-wrenching revelations, and romance that simmers in quiet, closed-door intimacy.

⸻

🔥 Tropes You’ll Love:
• Brother’s Best Friend
• Forced Proximity
• Dual POV
• Touch Her and Die
• Forbidden Love
• Breakup & Makeup
• Revenge Plot
• Healing Through Connection

⸻

📈 Plot & Pacing:

This story moves. Painter paces it masterfully, balancing high-octane drama with heartfelt moments. From pizza dates and taco nights to high-speed chases and a missing bride, every twist feels earned and engaging. What begins as a rom-com quickly evolves into a deeply layered narrative of loss, addiction, and redemption—without ever losing its sharp sense of humor.

The cabin scenes are cozy and electric; the wedding weekend is total chaos in the best way; and the final act? Let’s just say I need a sequel yesterday because that CANNOT be how it ends!!!!!

⸻

👥 Characters & Chemistry:

Fern and Gabe are lightning in a bottle. Their chemistry is palpable from the moment they collide (literally), but what really sets them apart is the emotional depth Painter gives them. Fern’s hesitation, Gabe’s trauma, patience and vulnerability—it’s a slow burn that builds on trust, laughter, and one unforgettable weekend.

Gabe is a true standout. He’s the kind of leading man who doesn’t just bring the swoon—he brings substance. Equal parts fierce protector and golden retriever energy, his devotion to Fern is felt in every small gesture. Their emotional intimacy is far more powerful than any explicit scene.

And Fern? She’s a beautifully flawed heroine—tough, funny, and heartbreakingly real.

⸻

💬 Favorite Quote:

“You did this so I could have pizza?”
– Fern
“I’d swim across shark-infested waters to bring you a slice.”
– Gabe

(And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the bar now.)

⸻

🎯 Themes & Depth:

This isn’t just a love story—it’s a story about second chances-third chances-more chances. Painter deftly explores themes of grief, addiction, and identity without ever bogging the story down.Gabe’s past mistakes don’t define him, and Fern’s little BFF fiasco is truthfully forgivable. Together, they create a safe space to heal and rediscover joy, one moment (and llama) at a time.

⸻

✅ Would I Recommend It?

Absolutely. Wild in Minnesota is for fans of The Hating Game, Icebreaker, and The Unhoneymooners—but with more emotional depth and a storyline that dares to go beyond the typical rom-com beats. If you’re into:
• Banter so sharp it could cut glass
• Closed-door romance with emotional intimacy
• Hockey players with hearts of gold
• Strong heroines learning to trust again
This one’s for you.

⸻

📝 Final Thoughts:

Wild in Minnesota took me by surprise in the best possible way. It’s chaotic, heartfelt, hilarious, and deeply romantic. Mary Lee Painter doesn’t just write a love story—she writes the story you’ll want to revisit again and again. I’m already hoping for a full Minnesota Wild Hockey Team series because these characters (and their antics) deserve so much more page time.

Let this be your official invitation: jump into the wild!!!


📣 Disclaimer: ARC provided for free in exchange for an honest review.

DNF at 25% unfortunately.

Wild in Minnesota by Mary Lee Painter is a forbidden love, brothers best friend romance. Fern is a travel nurse and Gabe is a pro hockey player. I was so excited to read this book after reading the description, but unfortunately I could not finish. It felt very forced, with the author just continuously dumping information and not letting the story develop. Additionally, the writing style felt juvenile, with abbreviations like WTF and the use of the word pussy to demean men.

I want to thank the author and NetGalley for providing this free ARC. All opinions are my own.

First Person, Dual POV DNF'd at 46% 0/5 stars

I feel like this started off with great potential to be a rom-com however it fell a bit flat. By the second chapter I felt like I was reading a YA romance out of the realms of Wattpad.

To start with the writing felt very immature considering the characters are supposed to be adults and this was marketed as an adult romance. The FMC behaves and speaks in a childish manner. The writing also included lots of repeated text abbreviations like 'WTF' 'BTW' etc despite no text conversations actually occurring.

We follow our FMC Fern, a travelling nurse, and Gabe, a hockey player for the Minnesota Wild. Although hockey has little relevance to the book from what I can tell other than simply being his profession.

In the first 25% of the book we met only the two main characters who fell into an insta-love type of vibe. The plot also felt very chaotic at this point. So far the main characters have met in advance of a bachelor/bachelorette weekend where the FMC mistakes the MMC for an intruder within the first few pages. What then follows (in what I estimate to be 2 or 3 days) is the catching of feelings, a very random car chase/shoot out by drug dealers(?) and then a minor car accident.

I found it very difficult to connect with the book when the plot moved around so much with such a short timeline. There was hardly any chemistry portrayed between the MCs.

Overall I could see the potential, however I couldn't finish the book.

First off, I received Wild in Minnesota by Mary Lee Painter as an ARC, so thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity.

The story follows Fern, a traveling nurse who returns to Minnesota for her cousin’s wedding. She’s supposed to stay at her brother’s friend’s cabin, but it turns out her brother never actually asked his friend Gabe. So Fern and Gabe end up unexpectedly sharing the cabin.

Unfortunately, I have to say I really didn’t enjoy this book—and I’m usually pretty easy to please. It starts off with heavy info-dumping and unrealistic situations. The writing didn’t work for me at all. You know the classic advice that good writing “shows, not tells”? This felt like the opposite. It read more like a list of events strung together than an immersive narrative. The dialogue was juvenile, and I didn’t buy the chemistry between Fern and Gabe.

And the plot? I just couldn’t suspend my disbelief. Within the first 15% of the book, Fern assaults Gabe thinking he’s an intruder (and accidentally maces herself), they get caught in a car chase and shot at by drug dealers, she performs minor surgery on someone, and later ends up in a car accident where she’s trapped inside the vehicle. With so much happening so quickly, you’d think it would be exciting—but I honestly felt nothing. It was chaos without connection.

The number of times Fern calls someone a “pussy” because they (understandably) don’t want to be … i don’t know… SHOT AT is wild. It was clearly meant to be humorous, but for me it landed as cringey and immature.

Both Fern and Gabe were not only unlikeable, but also felt completely unbelievable as characters.

To be fair, the core idea had potential. But this book, in my opinion, needs extensive editing—if not a full rewrite.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was too much for me. Felt fake and forced, and the characters were unlikable.

Wild in Minnesota is a fun romance about Fern, who comes home to be Maid of Honor at her cousin’s wedding. While getting ready at a cabin, she meets Gabe, a hockey player and her brother’s teammate. They start off clashing but feel a strong attraction. They agree to keep things casual—no strings attached.

After a wild wedding weekend, things get complicated when Fern overhears something that makes her rethink everything.

If you like lighthearted romance with strong characters and some drama, this is a great read. It’s about unexpected connections, personal growth, and figuring out what really matters.

Wild in Minnesota is a whirlwind romance that packs in humor, chaos, and heat all at once. Fern’s reluctant return home quickly spirals into a weekend full of unexpected chemistry, reckless fun, and a mystery that takes a surprisingly serious turn. The dynamic between her and Gabe is magnetic, especially as their fake fling collides with real feelings and family drama. I enjoyed the fast pace, the spicy tension, and the way Fern's vulnerability gave real depth to the fun. It was the kind of read that kept me smiling and flipping pages late into the night.

DNF at 11%. It was too "wild" and cringy for my taste. It read in an immature way. Too much of an unbelievable plot was thrown at the reader within the first couple chapters.

I really tried to like this book but I really could not. I read 11% of the book and I really just couldn’t continue. There was poor word choice, immature writing style and an odd plot line. It speaks about how the MMC’s wife died and he's so heart broken but then he's lusting over the FMC literally a few paragraphs later. It’s very misogynistic in tone and was quite odd. The beginning was quite rushed as were their feelings for one another. Another weird thing I noticed when reading the few chapters I could get through was that shes talking about this wedding shes the maid of honour for and then it talks about how the MMC was feeling about it but it never mentioned he was invited?? It was really very abrupt. Plus he's overprotective over her but they met literally the day before and she literally beat him up?? I just couldn’t. Also there were misspellings in the first few chapters.

This checked off everything I look for in a book. Was not disappointed. Really enjoyed this book. I will read more from this author. Must read

I liked this book overall! My honestly biggest issue with the book is the fact that the MC POVs are not separated into different chapters or at least showing their name to show it switched POVs. I found this a bit confusing!

I received this book complimentary from NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

This was cute. I liked the setting, but didn’t really jive with the characters. I couldn’t get into the story much. I think the plot was interesting enough but it just took me a lot to get into it and I didn’t entirely settle in. I did notice some spelling annoyances (twirk vs twerk) as well as one or two spelling errors. This needed some proofing.

I really tried with this book. At one point I thought it was maybe a book making fun of romance books. The wording was really cringy. dnf at 30%

A cabin, a secret… and some serious spice 🔥

I really enjoyed everything about this book—the atmosphere was so cozy and immersive. There’s something special about a story set in a secluded cabin in the middle of nowhere. It gave the characters space to connect, to really focus on each other. And I loved that.

The “brother’s best friend” trope? Always a win. That hint of forbidden, the tension of something no one can know about… it gets me every time. And this one? Delivered perfectly.

It was my first time reading something by this author, and I’m definitely planning to pick up more of her books in the future. Getting to read this advanced copy gave me a great intro to her writing style, the way she builds her world and develops her characters. I loved how she balanced emotional depth with chemistry.

Oh—and the spice? It was there. VERY much there.

Thanks again for the chance to read this ARC. I’m officially hooked!

Cabin punches, hockey hunk, and wedding drama? Yes please!

Okay, Wild in Minnesota had me grinning, gasping, and googling "how to punch hot intruders" all in one sitting. I mean, Fern and Gabe's kitchen brawl meet-cute?? Iconic. This book is equal parts steamy, hilarious, and wild (pun intended), and if you’ve ever had a messy weekend turn into an unexpected heart-throb love story—with a side of missing bride mystery—then you already know you need to read this. 10/10 would fake-date again. 💋🥶🏒

As a Minnesota girly, I was so excited to find a new book set in Minnesota. I loved getting to meet Fern and Gabe and their group of friends. This story was a wild ride from the moment it started. At some points I began to feel like the Mary Lee Painter included dramatic moments for the sake of avoiding actually having more heartfelt conversations. There were so many dramatic moments throughout the story that happened and then just fell by the wayside. While it kept things interesting, it also felt incredibly extreme. I wish that Fern and Gabe would have actually had conversations about what was happening rather than sweeping things under the rug every time they found their way back to each other. It felt like much of the verbiage was repetitive and overall feels like this book could do with another edit to help flush out characters and bring the story to a little more believable level.

⭐️ 0/5 - DNF’d at 35% (Chapter 7)
Pub Date: June 23, 2025
First person POV, dual narrative
Linear timeline
FMC: Fern MMC: Gabe

This was….. really bad. It should maybe be labeled as Young Adult. The writing is very, very amateur and the dialogue is very immature, and misogynistic; Very dense, shallow, ditsy characters.

I was excited to read a rom-com set in Minnesota since I am a Minnesotan, and there were mostly accurate references. But there were too many things going on and no emotional depth or character development. Gabe is a hockey player with the Minnesota Wild but that’s hardly a subplot.
Fern is super immature, as is her brother. And if I read about someone “being a pussy” or “WTF, bro?!” one more time, I was going to throw my kindle at a wall.
Also the town is spelled Eagan, not Egan.

Overused and annoying words/phrases used in both the narrative and dialogue:
WTF, WTH, BTW, OMG
Puss, pussy, wimp, girly (“that’s so not girly”)
“They’re just yucky”
Dude - used way too much
Bro
The bomb
Giggle - used way too much

Hopefully a lot of changes are made before this is published and if not, hopefully the author (who is sister to Lynn Painter) will learn from this and polish up on her writing skills.

I received an early copy of this book for review consideration from BookBuzz.net via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.