I absolutely loved this book. It's fake dating turning into real dating. Sophie is the big pop star who wants revenge on her cheating ex and Axl needs better PR for himself and his team. They have an insta attraction towards each other and that develops in real feelings. For me it was a feelgood book that I couldn't put down and was quick to read.
No smut so it was a cozy romance book.
4.5 stars

Okay, hear me out…
Grumpy x Sunshine ✅
Fake Dating ✅
Small Town Romance ✅

BUT it gave serious Wattpad-core energy. Like, early 2010s Wattpad—think two scenes, a wink, and suddenly they’re soulmates 😅

This was a novella, so it moved fast. Too fast.
Like:
Scene 1: “Nice to meet you.”
Scene 2: “Let’s fake date.”
Scene 3: “OMG I think I love you.”
Me: 🧍‍♀️🧍‍♀️🧍‍♀️

I wanted to connect with the characters, but the pacing didn’t give them space to breathe.
It’s cute, fluffy, and definitely written for a younger audience—like, high school summer vibes. If you’re in the mood for something super quick and light with zero angst? You might vibe with it.

But if you’re looking for emotional depth or slow burn chemistry? This ain’t it. 😅

Arc Review !!

Tropes: hockey player x singer, revenge fake dating, forced proximity

This book was super cute for a little novella! I will say that there wasn't a lot of world building and it was very fast-paced but that is to be expected with these types of books! Honestly recommend for anyone who normally goes for hockey romances for a quick read!

Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC!!

(Further review posted on bookstagram in arc highlight)

Shoutout to Netgalley for this incredible read.

Axl and Sophie's love story definitely had some challenges. Both of them are trying to put on an act so that in hopes it'll help both their situations out in the end. (And boy were they putting on a show for the public). Both their emotions got the best of them and secrets were kept, but in the end out worked out.

Now as for Bill Baker......he sure was a pushy owner. Didn't seem to care about anyone's feelings, but that he was getting things done his way and was persistent on getting it done. He kind of irked my nerves in this story. Only because he was just so pushy and made me feel like he would be the type of person that couldn't ever just take NO as an answer.

The Pucker-Up Pact was such a fun read!
A sweet fake dating hockey romance that captivated me from the very beginning.,
Ahh I loved this book. It was a great story with well developed characters.
The cover drew me to the book, but the characters and setting made me stay engrossed in every page. I loved it.

This is a super sweet fake dating hockey romance, it's a quick read but hits the same as some of the greats. It's completely clean, wholesome and focuses on how friendship can quickly become love. There's a slight third act break up, but it's nothing too dramatic, it's quickly resolved and our lovely couple get their HEA.

Because it's a novella, we don't get a lot of detail, there's no real drama, very few side character interactions - I was left wanting more, but I guess that's how the author draws us into their other books! *proceeds down a J.P. Sterling rabbit hole*

Axl Erickson is a hockey player who has a temper and needs a public face lift.
Sophie Summers is a famous singer who is running home after a horrible breakup (he cheated).

This book was so fun and full of laughs.
No Swears, no alcohol, kissing only.

An unexpected opportunity for revenge against her cheating ex puts Sophie into contact with grumpy focused AHL player Axl. Agreeing to the publicity plan with rules in place, can one kiss change the future for both of them. The characters are fun and interesting and this is a very enjoyable read which moves along with seamless flow and draws you immediately into the story.

The Pucker-Up Pact is one of those books that makes you smile the entire time you’re reading it. I loved Axl’s grumpy, slightly clueless hockey player energy paired with Sophie’s confident, sunshine popstar vibe. Their fake dating pact felt like the perfect rom-com setup, but what made it better was how their playful teasing slowly turned into genuine affection. The water-gun fight scene was adorable, and their banter felt natural and fun without ever being cringey.

I also appreciated how the story remained clean yet swoony, proving you don’t need explicit scenes for tension to feel real. Sophie’s vulnerability about her past added depth, while Axl’s journey from hot-headed player to supportive partner felt satisfying. Some parts were predictable, but honestly, that’s what I want in a comfort read.

If you love grumpy-sunshine, hockey romances, and fake dating with a heartwarming payoff, this is such a cute and easy pick. It left me with a goofy smile and a warm, happy feeling.

This was a new author for me, but I was pleasantly surprised. I actually laughed out loud a few times. Their chemistry was perfect with no explicit scenes, but the perfect kisses. I'll definitely check out the rest of the series. Thank you NetGalley.