Is Love the Ultimate Power Play? 🏒💘
Enemies-to-lovers? ✔️
Laugh-out-loud banter? ✔️
A swoon-worthy, stubborn hockey captain? ✔️

If you love witty, steamy rom-coms with a side of sports drama, then Off Your Game by Susan Renee needs to be on your TBR ASAP! 📚✨

Plot That Scores Big 🏆
Nate, the Captain of the Chicago Red Tails, is used to getting what he wants—until a feisty woman named Carissa snatches the last box of his lucky charm cereal. (Yes, you read that right. Cereal. 🥣😂) A heated grocery store standoff turns into an unexpected rivalry when Carissa shows up the next day as the team’s new marketing rep.

Now, Nate is facing his biggest challenge yet: keeping his head in the game while this infuriatingly attractive woman shakes up his world. Will he hold his ground, or will Carissa be the one to make him lose control?

Characters You’ll Love (and Laugh At) 😍🤣
Nate: Cocky, confident, and all about winning—until Carissa throws him completely off his game. He’s got the charm, the talent, and just enough arrogance to make you want to smack him…and then kiss him.

Carissa: Strong, sassy, and totally unbothered by Nate’s fame. She’s not afraid to call him out, and their back-and-forth is chef’s kiss perfection. 👏

Their chemistry? Absolutely electric. ⚡🔥

Why You’ll Love It 💕
✔️ Witty Banter Galore – Their playful arguments are pure gold. If you love fast-paced, snarky dialogue, you’ll eat this up.
✔️ Tension & Swoony Moments – The push and pull between these two? Perfection. 🔥
✔️ Hockey + Romance = Winning Combo – Even if you don’t know icing from offside, you’ll still love this sports romance! 🏒💙
✔️ Perfect for Tessa Bailey Fans – If you adore her spicy, hilarious romances, you’re in for a treat!

Final Verdict: A Hat Trick of Humor, Heat, and Heart ❤️🔥😂
Off Your Game is an absolute blast from start to finish. Whether you’re a die-hard sports romance fan or just love a good enemies-to-lovers rom-com, this book will have you grinning, swooning, and maybe even craving some cereal. 🥣😂

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – A must-read for rom-com lovers!

You know the ice hockey romances go hard. I really enjoyed these characters and their trajectory. The plot is a bit standard and you know exactly whats gonna happen, but sometimes you just need that. Sometimes you just need to enjoy a lovely, cheesy, hella spicy romance that you know will suit your exact needs.

Thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review

2 ⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for the ARC

This was a cute sports romance which I’m always a sucker for. But it just fell flat for me. I had a hard time connecting with the characters. Also the plot kinda just jumped around and I had a hard time following along. I did however laugh a few times. Wasn’t the best also wasn’t the worst 😉

This was my first hockey romance read. Though I do consider this a reasonable read, I felt like it lacked depth to the main characters and had a weird ending. Parts of this book were funny and cute, while other parts just felt cringey. It is a very easy to read book and I appreciate the way the author wrote it. I really wanted to learn more about the characters past, so I could get to know them better. The setting fit the story, which I liked! it was cute, spicy, romantic and humorous at times.

This book is about a female main character and a male main character. The male character is a hockey player named Colby, who plays for the Chicago Red Tails. The female character, whose name is Carissa, is a marketing representative for the same hockey team that Colby plays in. Before she became the representative, she met Colby by accident at a store and they had a debacle over some cereal. She did not know he was a hockey player and he was in disbelief that she didn’t recognize him.The characters were somewhat interesting but not enough to have me continue the series. Like the whole thing starts because the dude is so stressed out about his Lucky Charms. I get the reasoning but maybe plan better? They don't magically disappear. And there are other stores ... you're in Chicago, I'm sure there's a 24/7 store open with you cereal. You shouldn't absolutely loathe someone because she wouldn't give you her box of cereal. Like how entitled can you be?

Not to mention the kind of cheating. Like you were so pissed at her about something (I can't even remember what) that you were ready to take two girls to your room WHEN SHE WAS IN THE HOTEL. That's a dick move even when she's not there but even more so when she is. And it's not like you weren't doing anything with them in the bar. You spent an hour with them and at least kissed one on the neck ... I'm betting there was even more done. Colby is lucky Carissa even looked at him after she caught him pulling that shit. I can't even with it.
The hockey romance in this book was such a thrill! The forbidden nature of their relationship added an intense level of tension that made every moment feel high-stakes. I loved watching the characters navigate the challenges that came with their secret connection. It kept me on edge, wondering how they would make it work despite everything standing in their way.

Off Your Game by Susan Renee is an enemies to lovers, hockey romance.

Carissa is the new social media manager for the Chicago Redtails, working hard to get out of debt. Colby is the captain of the team, attempting to work through childhood trauma. There were some great moments, but overall this book was just okay for me. It just did not make sense how the characters went from hate to love WAY too fast with no real transition period. There were definitely some funny and sweet moments, but the plot was just a miss.

Thank you to Netgalley, Victory Editing, and the author for this e-ARC.

It was an ok read.( I see no changes since the first release.) To much swearing though in the book (the word fuck is said 324 times)- kind of kill the mood when reading it so often.
The story between them was doing ok. The only thing that I really didn't like was when Colby liked her and wants to be with her (they kiss at some point and have some touches ). And then don't see each other and don't speak for some days and he just decide he wants a threesome with some random 2 girls(one resemble Carissa).
And the end, I think he nedded to do more so she can forgive him. It was rushed.

enjoyed this book! I liked the struggles both Colby and Carissa had in their personal lives. I liked the twist with carissa and what was happening. I would of loved to see more of Colby towards the end but I really enjoyed it. I liked the writing style, I liked the plot, and I enjoyed watching them grow, I'd of loved to see more of it in this book!

In the book “Off Your Game”, you follow along with Carissa Smallson and Colby Nelson. Their first encounter is at the grocery store and Colby goes to buy Lucky Charms but Carissa got there first and won’t sell them to him no matter how much he offers. He has a ritual before his games to eat lucky charms and the last game he didn’t eat them and they lost and he also played like crap in his opinion. As fate would have it, Carissa is hired to be the social media manager for the team and her job is to make them look good. On her first day on the job who does she run into? None other than Colby and he makes it quite clear that he will not be her friend now or ever. How long will that last? You’ll have to read to find out! Their energy and chemistry is great. I rate this book 4 stars. Looking forward to adding it to my bookshelves.

this book was super cute. the only complaint i have with it is mostly regarding the ending. it felt weird and rushed. i would have also enjoyed learning more about the characters themselves rather than just focusing on the romance.

A really nice hockey romance, with enemies to lovers trope and a spot of forbidden romance in this novel.

It was quite nice to read how Colby and Carissa started off, fighting over some cereals, to see how it developed.

A fast read that I can easily recommend if you're into the tropes listed above.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

This was your typical enemies to lovers hockey romance and sadly it just wasn’t remarkable in any way. The ending was very… odd… and there was no character depth or development. Sadly, there are much better hockey romances out there and I am not able to recommend this one to anyone. Thanks for the opportunity for this ARC. Due to the lower rating & potentially negative review, I did not review on Goodreads

Unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me. I didn't really find anything appealing about the MMC and couldn't relate to the FMC. There were too many characters introduced. The plot was sometimes confusing and lacked depth.

I hated the way most characters spoke about and treated women. It felt dehumanizing, as if they were nothing but body parts. It's frustrating to read a story marketed to women who enjoy hockey romance, only to see those very women referred to as "tramps" among other things... disapointing in 2025.

3.5 stars

Firstly the MMC is kind of a HUGE asshole? Like he’s so mean? Over a box of cereal he started sexually harassing her?? And he didn’t even apologize?? And not like hot asshole vibes, he gives off straight MEAN vibes AND THEN SHE APOLOGIZED TO HIM???? Doesn’t make sense.

AND THEN AFTER KISSING HER AND GHOSTING HER, HE GOES TO THE BAR IN THE HOTEL THAT THEY ARE BOTH STAYING IN AND PICKS UP 2 WOMEN???? SHE TELLS HIM TO TAKE HIS HANDS OFF HER AND HE IGNORES HER???? I would have slapped him as well. And then he has THE AUDACITY to say “you feel how hard I am for you” WHEN HE WAS LITERALLY ABOUT TO SLEEP WITH 2 OTHER WOMAN? Okay my guy. Sure thing. Fuck you very much.

And then he goes around and hurts her, literally SCREAMS at her, and then turns around and says “I know you’ll never hurt me” but he hurt her so many times???? No thank you. This is such a toxic relationship I can’t.

This book is making me so heated, the FMC deserves so much better and if I was her friend I would have really slapped some sense into her.

ALL THAT BEING SAID - there were some cute moments, I enjoyed the writing style and the side characters very entertaining though so I’ll probably continue the with the series.

The hockey romance in this book was such a thrill! The forbidden nature of their relationship added an intense level of tension that made every moment feel high-stakes. I loved watching the characters navigate the challenges that came with their secret connection. It kept me on edge, wondering how they would make it work despite everything standing in their way.

What really made this story stand out was how tender and sweet their relationship felt. Even with all the tension, there was this beautiful softness between them that made their bond feel real. The chemistry was undeniable, but it was their emotional connection that truly touched my heart. It was the perfect mix of passion and genuine care for each other.

This book offered a fantastic balance of intensity and warmth. It was exciting yet uplifting, leaving me with a smile as I turned the last page. A truly heartwarming read!

I really struggled with this sorry and the romance as I just couldn’t connect with the MMC, his introduction made him incredibly unlikeable and I find that many of his actions came off as immature, inappropriate and disrespectful with no real pushback until later. The relationship didn’t click with me for this reason as I thought the FMC deserved better.

I was very sceptical about this, because as much as I love hockey romances there are some which are somewhat lacking in plot! However, this was not one of those books and I absolutely loved following Colby and Carissa’s story! I loved how both characters developed and changed as the story went on, becoming more vulnerable with each other and how they ultimately worked through issues together. I was even more excited when I realised this was part of a series and there are several other Chicago Red Tails books for me to devour!

This book easily ranks up there with Becka Mack and Elsie Silver when it comes to the dynamic between the MMC and his friends. Their bond is full of playful banter, deep loyalty, and an unshakable brotherhood – men who give each other hell but would also do anything for one another. And since they’re each getting their own books, I’m already excited to see their stories unfold.

This one follows Colby, a brooding hockey captain with a dark past and a very specific game-day ritual – eating a bowl of Lucky Charms before every match. But when he heads to the store late at night, desperate to replenish his stash, the last box is snatched up right in front of him by a woman who refuses to hand it over. That woman? Carissa, our FMC, who has no idea who he is and is thoroughly unimpressed by his attitude. He hates that he loves the way she challenges him. And as it turns out, she’s the team’s new marketing director, setting up instant tension between them.

Colby is an absolute ass to her at first, and I honestly wasn’t sure how they were going to end up together. But after months of undeniable chemistry and slow-burning tension, they finally give in, and their relationship takes off. Carissa, with a dark past of her own – her parents stole her identity and left her drowning in debt – fits seamlessly into the team dynamic, holding her own among the players. Meanwhile, Colby is haunted by the loss of his older brother, who drowned when they were kids, leaving him carrying years of guilt. Their connection grows as they bond over board games, playful teasing, and some seriously steamy encounters (which, let’s be real, move at a much faster pace than real life but make for a great read).

Then comes the third-act conflict. At a charity event, a jealous ex-coworker of Carissa’s steals private photos from her phone and sells them to the media. Colby, believing she betrayed him and the team, reacts harshly – though, thankfully, he doesn’t cross the line into irredeemable territory. He tells her he never wants to see her again, and Carissa, heartbroken, resigns from her job and disappears from his life.

Of course, the truth comes out – Carissa was innocent all along. Right before a game, Colby learns the real culprit and has a full-blown panic attack, realising the gravity of his mistake. But by then, Carissa has stayed away, unwilling to reopen old wounds. Determined to win her back, Colby tracks her down – only to find her apartment flooded from burst pipes. Without hesitation, he takes her home, proving he’s all in, and they finally get their well-earned HEA.

Overall, this was a solid, engaging romance with great tension, lovable side characters, and plenty of heat. I can’t wait to see the rest of the team’s stories and how the friendships and relationships continue to evolve.

Pretty short book overall..nice hockey romance. There is a lot of cussing going on in this book. I got nothing against a good cuss word here and there but geez. At some point, it was kinda repetitive at the beginning just talking about Lucky Charms cereal. I’d have to give it a second go around in reading it to see if I would like it more in the future.

This book was short and sweet and a good way to get in a quick hockey romance fix. Big turning point scenes in this book seemed to be a bit rushed, there’s not a whole lot of buildup before you get to the good parts. Which is refreshing, but also takes away some of the tension buildup that we crave in romance novels. This also means that The forgiveness part after the climax of the book came fairly quickly, and was almost. “too easy.”

There were a couple cringe worthy parts of this book, but otherwise the writing was fairly smooth and easy to follow. The dialogue seemed pretty on par for the characters ages for the most part. After reading the excerpt for the next book, which is at the end of this book, I don’t think I will be finishing the series. There’s not much that set this book apart from other hockey romances that I’ve already seen.

This book felt very similar to other Hockey Romances I’ve read. The title and cover got my attention and I was so excited to read!

Overall, the book fell flat for me. Colby did not have any redeeming qualities in the beginning to be given any chances with Carissa. Carissa should have slapped him in the face one last time and never gave him the time of day.

The dialogue was cheesy, simple and felt too forced. I was looking for a deeper connection between Colby and Carissa, but all we got was a rushed relationship.

I saw the “third act breakup” coming from a mile away. I wish the author was more discrete with the phone and coworker situation. It was too obvious where it was going and made me lose interest real fast.