An absolutely adorable hockey romcom from Marion! i love her books so much! the friends to lovers trope will NEVER get old! I couldn’t stop reading this one! Aaron is so down bad for her and Marisa is so relatable. i loved the mentions of closed door bookstagram as well! loved it!

Stick to Me is a charming friends-to-lovers romance. Aaron may be a star NHL player to everyone, but to Marissa, he is the sweet best friend she secretly loves. Aaron and Marissa are a wonderful pair to root for and I did the entire book!

Marissa had a crush on Aaron since the moment they met in the sixth grade. They quickly became fast friends and were always by each other's side. Aaron always wanted to be a professional hockey player and she cheered him on the most, knowing he could make his dreams a reality. They never crossed a line because she feared that if her feelings were unrequited a beautiful friendship would be lost. And Aaron never gave her a reason to think that he could feel the same way.

Aaron too has secret feelings for Marissa. He never wanted to lose their friendship and when he turned pro she became off-limits since her dad is his coach. Would Marissa's father ever approve of them dating? That's already causing him too much anxiety to think about. But when they are in their late 20s and Marissa appears to putting herself out there in the dating world, it makes him jealous. Should he declare his feelings before it's too late or just let the girl of his dreams move on?

I loved reading this romance because it had so many of my favorite tropes; friends to lovers, sports romance, slow-burn. This is a closed-door romance but it did not take away from the story because the feelings they have for each other are palpable. Aaron is the perfect book boyfriend...he cooks, he reads, and he is super attractive. Marissa, I would have fallen for him too. I cannot wait to read more from Marion De Re because his book blew me away!

“Stick to Me” by Marion De Re is a charming slow-burn hockey romance with a lighthearted vibe. This book delivers a sweet story filled with emotional intimacy rather than open door spice, making it an excellent choice for fans of new adult or YA romance.

The story follows an NHL player and his best friend/roomie who are clearly meant to be together, but various obstacles and inner thoughts keep them apart. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and tension is built through subtle moments and heartfelt conversations.

The atmosphere of “Stick to Me” is inviting and comforting, and the characters themselves are endearing and relatable, with personalities that make you want to cheer them on as they navigate the complexities of friendship and love.

As an ARC reader, I enjoyed “Stick to Me” and would recommend it to anyone looking for a charming, cozy read with just the right amount of emotional depth. The book is set to release on April 1, 2025, and it’s definitely worth adding to your TBR if you’re in the mood for a comforting friends-to-lovers story that will leave you smiling. Thank you to NetGalley and Marion De Re for the review opportunity.

Stick to Me is such a really sweet friends to lovers story with some hockey thrown in! Marissa and Aaron have know each other since they were children and Marissa and her (coach) father are the only family Aaron knows. Aaron has secretly been in love with Marissa forever, but doesn't want to jeopardize the family he has with her and her father, so he rejected her prom proposal back in high school. Marissa has been in love with Aaron forever, but thinks he doesn't know he feels the same since he rejected her in high school. There is so much to love with this closed door romance and I highly recommend it. Looking forward to the next book in the series. Thank you Marion De Re and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

Sports romance fans! This is a book for you! Marissa & Aaron’s story is the sweetest “friends to lovers” story I’ve read in a while. Not only that, it was a nice break from the hot and heavy world of the typical hockey romances I read. This book had well developed characters and I enjoyed learning their history and how it lead them to the current plot. Tropes: friends-to-lovers, Coach’s Daughter, Roommates, somewhat Forced Proximity, and Best Friends. Written in first person and dual POV! Lighthearted and sweet! Enjoy! I want to see what happens with the rest of the characters.

This was such a cute, funny with banter, easy read!

Aaron and Marissa are best friends living together. Aaron is a hockey player and Marissa owns a cafe. Aaron believes that Marissa is off limits because his coach (aka Marissa’s dad) basically took him in and “gave him a purpose”. They both have secret feelings for each other and it was such a fun and cute story to read and find out how it all unfolded. There’s no spice so I’d say this story is great for teens!

CUTE BOOK ALERT!

OMGOMGOMG I absolutely adored this book! Thank you so much to NetGalley and Marion De Ré for allowing me to read this eARC!

The chemistry in this book is just everything I could ask for and more. The casual nature of two friends who are so clearly more than that to everyone but them. SWOON! And of course I love the mentions of books and the "hockey romance mentions hockey romances."

Aaron feels like the perfect book boyfriend. Hat backwards, jersey with jeans, kind to fans, boy next door type and I am so here for it. Plus he can cook? Yup. done. Say less.

And Marissa felt so relatable! Loving herself while still comparing herself to the women that hang on the players (Aaron really) and I can picture the block that has quite literally everything I could dream of on it, a coffee shop, romance only bookstore, and a sports bar? Ideal. I would love to own my own coffee shop! Too fun!

I want to and will be reading every one of these books because I am so invested in the entire team. I love the found family aspect, and all of the tropes are just perfect. This closed-door romance is just so sweet without being cheesy really at all. It doesn't feel childish or overly chaste. It was still so steamy without all the spice. I also really enjoyed that there was no third act breakup scene. The slow burn just built so perfectly I didn't need there to be extra issues with it.

I can't wait to go binge the rest of the New York Raptors books!

I don’t usually pick friends-to-lovers books often, but ohhh wow—this one was absolutely adorable! 🥹💕 The story felt so real, like it was about the girl next door, making it super relatable, funny, and just... calming. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment! Both Aaron and Marissa were so lovely, and it was heart-melting to see them struggle to hide their feelings for each other. Their journey had me smiling the whole time! 🫶✨ 4.75 🌟

Marion De Ré’s Stick to Me is a heartwarming, slow-burn friends-to-lovers romance that proves you don’t need spice for a story to be swoon-worthy. With a mix of humor, longing, and just the right amount of tension, this book delivers a cozy and romantic read perfect for fans of hockey romance and wholesome love stories.
The story follows Aaron Miles, an NHL superstar with a golden heart, and the coach’s daughter—his longtime best friend and current roommate. The dynamic between them is filled with unspoken feelings, inside jokes, and the kind of deep bond that makes their inevitable romance all the more rewarding. The tension is palpable, yet the emotional stakes are high, especially since Aaron already turned her down once. The heroine’s internal struggle is relatable, and her doubts about whether she’s misreading the signs add depth to the romance.
Aaron himself is the definition of a perfect book boyfriend—supportive, thoughtful, and, of course, completely irresistible. His effortless charm and unwavering loyalty make it impossible not to root for him. Plus, the fact that he casually walks around shirtless in their shared apartment? That’s just a bonus.
While Stick to Me is undeniably a slow burn, the journey is worth it. The found family aspect, witty banter, and undeniable chemistry between the leads create an engaging story. Readers who prefer closed-door romance will appreciate how De Ré keeps the tension high without relying on explicit scenes.
Perfect for fans of:
✔️ Slow-burn romance
✔️ Friends-to-lovers
✔️ Roommate tension
✔️ Sports romance (without the usual playboy trope)
✔️ Closed-door, heartfelt love stories
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I love hockey romances so much, and this was no exception. I had so much fun with this! The book was fast paced but didn't feel rushed at all. The story sucks you in with the perfect balance of hockey and romance. The characters were super likeable and I loved the banter between them. I also loved that the MCs were book lovers! This was such a good book, highly recommend!

This was such a great hockey romance. I’ve really been enjoying sports romances as of late and this one really stood out to me. I loved the character of Alex. I thought he was well written believable and swoon worthy. The leads had good chemistry and I enjoyed watching them get together over the course of the novel.

This book is adorable! It’s a fun, fast paced book about Aaron, who is a hockey player and Marissa, who is the daughter of the hockey team coach. They have been friends for 15 years. She falls in love with him but they are roommates as well. He has previously rejected her feelings but at some point, things start changing.
This is a closed door romance so there are no spicy scenes here. Perfect for those who are big fans of the friends to lovers trope.

Set in New York City, Marissa and Aaron are best friends and roommates. Everyone can see their connection. But they always say they are just friends. As they navigate his second hockey season with the Raptors, Marissa feels stuck. She's worried she'll never get past her more than friends feelings for Aaron, all while Aaron is secretly pining for her. A slow burn full of sweet moments!

Friends to Lovers can be a challenging trope for me. I think framing it around the hockey season and featuring great supporting characters really helped. Plus there was minimal miscommunication, with any misunderstandings feeling real for the characters and resolved quickly.

I really liked the commentary on dating. Marissa sees a dark side to modern dating (whether at a club or online) and stands up for herself. She also navigates being supportive of her business partner Beth as Beth's boyfriend Lucas is the worst. I'm very excited to see Beth with Aaron's teammate Adler up next in the series!

I'm new to this author and can't wait to go back to read The Tenacious Act as well as the rest of the One More Chapter series while I wait for more of the New York Raptors!

☕ Best Friends to Lovers
🏒 Hockey romance
☕ Coffee shop owner and coach's daughter FMC
🏒 They met in middle school
☕ Slow burn
🏒 Forbidden relationship (her dad says she can't date a Raptors player)
☕ Surprise bookstore trip
🏒 No third act breakup (yay!)
☕ Extended epilogue!
🏒 Dual POV

4.5 / 5 stars

Closed door / sizzling kisses

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for this eARC!

Marion De Re is known for her fun and cute closed door romances and when she added hockey to the mix I was sold.

An NHL player who is secretly in love with his best friend? Best friend who is secretly in love with him?
What could go wrong? Only the fact that she’s the coaches daughter and he rejected her for prom many years ago.

This was such a light hearted bingeable read that I finished in a day. I loved the two characters, their banter and of course all of the hockey! While screaming at them to confess their true feelings; I also laughed with them, felt hardships with them and overall really enjoyed their journey.

It’s not one that I will remember forever but it did give me smiles and butterflies when I needed them most.
Highly recommend

Stick to Me is such a sweet hockey romance. This is a beautiful friends to lovers story. Marissa and Aaron are absolutely amazing together and their chemistry is unmatched. Their mutual found family is incredible with their connections with coffee, books and hockey as well as the family Marissa, Aaron and her Father have created from the very beginning. This book is so heart warming and a great one for a cozy afternoon of reading on the couch it had me smiling all throughout.

Stick to Me by Marion De Ré is a fun, heartwarming story following Marissa and her best friend, and NHL star, Aaron. The two have known each other for years and are both harboring secret feelings for one another, with neither wanting to ruin their friendship or Aaron’s relationship with Marissa’s Dad, his coach. This novel was really enjoyable, with fun banter, an accurate representation of the current dating experience, and lots of heart warming moments. While it can be read stand alone there are a lot of side characters who I assume have featured in the authors previous novels, so if you’ve read them as well I think you would get the ultimate experience. The story was well written and a fairly quick and easy read. This was the first of Marion’s books I’ve read and I plan to go back and read the stories of the side characters that have popped up in this novel! I’m also looking forward to Beth and Adler’s story. Overall, highly recommend! Thank you to @marionderewrites , Victory Editing, and NetGalley for the ARC!