This book had me melting all the way through! I cried in the prologue. It got me right in the heart. I related so hard to the authors descriptions of chronic illness. I felt every symptom- she depicted it so well that I think readers without chronic illness will feel deeply connected to the character and be able to empathise with her. The NHL star is down bad for his college girlfriend- his dream girl! The fact that she is chronically ill only makes him love her more for how strong she is. But he also sees her weak moments and knows when to step in and help her or just hold her. He sees her for who she is not as her illness- which is something she sometimes struggles to do for herself.

This is a second chance hockey romance with a surprised pregnancy thrown in and honestly, save your time and find another sports romance to read. This one is not it. The overall plot is fine and enjoy all the tropes used, but the downfall was the writing. I found the pacing and style almost impossible to read. It was full of telling not showing and not enough action. I essentially skimmed this book because I wanted to know what happened without actually having to read the words on the page.

3.5 stars!

If I had a nickel for every time I read a hockey romance where the mmc calls the fmc ‘sunshine’, I’d have two nickels but it’s weird it happened twice right?

Jokes aside I loved this book. Liam and El were so cute. I don’t usually like one night stand/accidental pregnancy trope but this was done so well.

I don’t know anyone with fibromyalgia and I also haven’t heard of it much in general so it was interesting to me to learn about that as the book went on. I love how Liam adapted and helped El with this despite the issues they had in the past.

I loved the dynamic between Liam and Jack and how much Liam stepped up to be in Jack’s life without needing to be asked.

This is the cute and quick read much needed after feeling a slump coming.

If there is one thing I have a soft spot for, it is a good hockey romance, and Melting For You delivers just that. Tegan Phillips combines second chance romance, unexpected parenthood and the chaos of professional sport to create a warm, emotional and utterly entertaining story.

When Ellis bumps into her ex, Liam Ruinsky, ten years after their break up, sparks fly straight away. He is still the charming, larger than life ice hockey player she remembers, and although their lives are wildly different now, their chemistry is impossible to ignore. What begins as a one off reunion quickly turns into something far more permanent when Ellis discovers she is pregnant.

What sets this book apart is the honest portrayal of Ellis’s struggles with chronic illness. It adds real depth to her character and makes her journey all the more compelling. She is strong, determined and navigating a complicated life with grace, even as everything is turned upside down. Liam, while still very much the goofy, charming hockey player type, shows surprising growth as he learns how to support Ellis and face up to impending fatherhood.

Their connection is undeniable, and watching them attempt to navigate coparenting while clearly still carrying unresolved feelings was both heart warming and occasionally heart wrenching. The story does not shy away from the messiness of real life, with family pressures, media intrusion and professional demands all playing their part.

Even if you know nothing about hockey, this book is easy to fall into. The sport provides a fun, fast-paced backdrop without ever overwhelming the more emotional moments. Plus, who can resist a cast of big, silly hockey lads being supportive and sweet behind the scenes?

Melting For You is a heartfelt, character driven romance that blends humour, love and vulnerability beautifully. Perfect for fans of sports romance with emotional depth and second chances that feel genuinely earned.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

There were a few things I liked about this book. I really enjoyed the MMC for this book, Liam was a complete sweetheart and I really felt his love come through on the page.
I also liked the author representing chronicles illness in the way she did.
For me though I ended up having to DNF this book at about the 50% mark.
The miscommunication between the two characters was just too much and I quite honestly didn’t like the FMC Ellis at all.
I feel like she could have grown a lot in the first half of the story and the prior 10 years before the book takes place and she just didn’t.

Thank you to the publisher for an ARC copy of this book.

Ellis and Liam are soulmates. This was a very sweet and easy read. The accidental pregnancy trope can be upsetting for some but this was written in a great manner that only added to the story.

Melting for You is a second chance romance between a florist with chronic pain and a hot as heck hockey player. They were together in college but she gave him up so he could be drafted in another state. 10 years later they run into each other and that’s where this story starts.


I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE REPRESENTED IN A BOOK BEFORE THIS. I honestly did not understand how important representation is in literature and media until I read this book. I’m married, mother of 4 and on disability due to a severe neck injury and lupus. I related to absolutely everything the FMC went through. From questioning her worth to her loved ones as a person to trying to figure out how to parent and wait for pain killers to kick in. It was eerily similar. I’m really lucky to have met my Prince Charming before I got sick, but I can assume that it’s really hard to put yourself out there like that when you’re also dealing with chronic illness. Ellis frustrated me a few times because I wanted her to so bad just let go and allow herself to be loved. More than once I was frustrated with Liam because he was being too passive. It all worked out in the end, so that’s what matters.

i really want to discuss this book because the storyline had so much potential but the storytelling wasn’t as powerful and professional.

i really enjoyed the story because it was heartwarming and beautiful, but i just can’t give a higher ranking because of some moments:

➷ he used nickname “sunshine” too many times. at some point during the “together scenes” i thought he forget her name. i think it’s an adorable nickname but i also believe there is a balance when calling someone like this, especially in books. every second page is a lot

➷ basically, ellis (fmc) has a 5-year-old son, jacks, from an older ex boyfriend, who does not participate in the boy’s life. liam (who was also an ex of the mom in college) enters her life as she gets accidentally pregnant by him. at some point, a couple of month after meeting the boy, jacks mentions being sad that he doesn’t have a dad. liam offers to be his dad without talking to the mom. important that liam was not romantically involved with the ellis and they never talked about being a family at that point.
- i really don’t like this moment, because this dialogue was never mentioned to the ellis. moments like this should be discussed with the parent, especially if you’re not engaging with the mom

➷ liam reacted so lightly to pregnancy. how? he has not seen ellis 10 years, and after a one night stand he learns that he’s going to be a father. it was incredibly nice to see his patience and care for every member of ellis’ family but this moment felt unnatural.

finally, the writing felt jumpy, which was very new? i couldn’t understand where the feelings were coming from. one page she fells neutral, next page she’s all over him. same goes to the plot and friends, liam and everyone else.

overall, i’m glad that i picked up this book because it was such an interesting experience. while i enjoyed plot, writing has so much development 🙌

I had the pleasure of reading this as an ARC from NetGalley, and it’s one of those stories that blooms beautifully as it unfolds. A heartfelt blend of found family, second chance romance, and surprise pregnancy, it gently pulls you in and wraps you up in its warmth.

When Ellis runs into her ex, Liam—a charming, golden retriever-type NHL star—after a decade apart, it sets off a chain of emotional and life-changing events neither of them expected. What follows is a tender, realistic look at co-parenting, rekindled chemistry, and navigating life's curveballs with courage.

What truly stood out to me was the thoughtful and authentic representation of a single mum living with chronic pain. It was handled with care, and added emotional depth to Ellis’s journey. The banter between Ellis and Liam is another highlight—sweet, funny, and full of that second-chance spark that makes your heart ache in the best way.

Add in a wise and lovable five-year-old, meaningful friendships, and a cozy atmosphere that feels like a warm hug, and you’ve got a story full of heart, healing, and hope. An uplifting, feel-good read I truly enjoyed.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

I like the representation of chronic pain and especially chronic pain and pregnancy/motherhood.

On the other hand, for most of the book it felt like the romance took a backseat to all of that. I think it's an important think to talk about and ro represent, but the cover and the description of the book implied a more light-hearted romcom.

The relationship between Jack and Liam was great and I also loved all of the side characters.

Overall I enjoyed the book even if I wanted a bit more focus on the romance.

🌶️: 2/5

he plot line for this story is super cute! It is just a little too angsty for me. I understand the main character suffers from a chronic illness but sometimes it’s too much. I, also, suffer from a chronic illness and know how hard it can be to deal with. I shouldn’t judge how people handle their own but it was just a little too much for me with the way she did sometimes.

This was a great book! It is a wonderful romance but it also covers some hard topics really well. I would highly recommend this book.

Liam and Ellis were college sweethearts. Liam was a star ice hockey player and Ellis was a young woman struggling to get through the day with her chronic illness when they break up. 10 years later they meet at a club and their lives are very different. Liam is playing professional hockey in the NHL and Ellis is a single mum to her son Jack. They decide to have a one night stand and leave it at that but when Ellis discovers she’s pregnant a few weeks later, she realises Liam will not just be a one night stand.

Liam was such a sweetheart when he found out that Ellis was pregnant. So supportive and kind compared to her ex. Ellis has been through a lot in her life and she needed someone like Liam to just love and take care of her and that’s exactly what he did.

It was really great to see representation for people like Ellis who struggle everyday with chronic illnesses and how they have to fight so much harder than other people to do simple tasks and enjoy a normal life.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½

"Melting for You" by Tegan Phillips is a delightful contemporary romance that beautifully captures the complexities of love and personal growth. The story revolves around two relatable characters who find themselves navigating the ups and downs of their relationship amidst life's challenges. Phillips has a knack for creating vivid, emotional scenes that draw you in and make you feel every moment.

The chemistry between the protagonists is palpable, and their journey is filled with heartfelt moments that resonate deeply. The author skillfully balances humor and tenderness, making it a joy to read. The supporting characters add depth to the narrative, enriching the overall experience.

What I appreciated most about this book is its exploration of vulnerability and the importance of communication in relationships. Phillips delivers a compelling message about the power of love to heal and transform, all while keeping the reader engaged with witty dialogue and relatable situations.

Overall, "Melting for You" is a charming read that will leave you with a warm heart and a smile. Perfect for fans of contemporary romance, this book is a must-read for anyone looking for a story that celebrates love in all its forms. Highly recommended!

With thanks to Netgalley UK, Hera Books and the author for the copy of the eARC to read ahead of publication.

4.5/5

There are many parts of this book that I love.

The very clear Own Voice of the FMC, Ellis, as someone living and parenting with chronic illness (fibromyalgia). The devoted second chance MMC, Liam *10 stars* He’s a keeper! Do Not Let Him Get Away!
I loved Liam naturally assuming the father role to Jack without realising what he was doing. Both as a partner and parent his protectiveness and lovesick puppy moments were delightful to read.

Props to Jack for being portrayed as a 5 year-old only child. His behaviours and some language reflected his circumstances. He had the dialogue that undid me when he had his man to man chat with Liam. I love the ice hockey team, and the ‘men for others’ attitude from Edge, Anders and Rook. Hey, I love that the ice hockey is so much of a background that I almost didn’t mention it!

Most of all, I loved the central message that you can be loved, you can be a fantastic parent, partner and business person and to accept support is not to be less.

What I was disappointed by was that the story lost its fluidity in the final third of the book as Ellis continued to be bogged in her own head. I appreciate this may have been a solid reflection of not only the physical but the mental health ups and downs of living with a chronic illness. I would love the author to trust their own writing to have established the extent chronic illness impacts the FMC and trust the audience to have engaged their empathy without the need to repeat dialogue or scenes.

Tegan Phillips is certainly an author I will keep an eye out for. I can see we have Lynsey and Anders or, even Edge and Cassie with stories waiting in the wings and I will be waiting eagerly to read their books.

This book goes so indepths on illness, not understanding even if you think you do and fears for so many different types of people. Tegan wrote a compelling story and made me excited for the next in the series. I maybe found myself a bit bored with some chapters but I appreciated them as being chapters for the people who need to hear it.
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read and review.

P.s. I do think it could be a better cover as this looks young but there are some serious topics and I think it could be a bit better done.

A quick and easy read.
I do love that the author put her own health experience in this book as I had no idea what Fibromyalgia was until I read this.

There were a lot of parts of this book that I really loved. It was clear from the start the author was British and I enjoyed hearing the contrasting ideas between the two main characters in terms of their lives experiences and ways that they talked. The romance itself was a solid foundation that met the typical tropes in an unsurprising way. I could classify this as a typical romance book nothing that stood out but also nothing to cringey or poorly written. I did have trouble continuing the book around the 75% mark. As much as I appreciated that this book was a well thought out ode to chronic illness and pain some of the parts of the story came across as more educational than scenes that would have actually fitted into the story. I also got really frustrated with the way that the main character was refusing to communicate and the complete lack of understanding of the situation she. Was in. It also felt like all of these made up problems the main character concocted never truly were resolved so much as discussed once and then forgotten. All that being said I would be interested in continuing this series as I thought the character and world building was very well thought out and I would love to hear about the other characters within this universe and their stories.

I adored a hockey romance and this one hit! I really enjoyed seeing how the second chance romance developed and I’m a sucker for the accidental pregnancy trope when done right.

The mmc Liam is a complete softy for the fmc Ellis… she was the one that got away when they were in college and now he has a chance to make her fall for him again.

I thought the author did an amazing job at portraying the difficulties that can arise when a person has a chronic illness and it was done in such a tasteful way while still being realistic! Would definitely recommend!

I loved this debut novel! It does have the pregnancy trope, but that isn’t the only focus of the relationship between the two characters and it was nice to see the history between them. I liked the flashbacks to different times in their relationship, and I loved Liam’s relationship with Jack and how they grew their bond. Overall I enjoyed the pacing and the fact that the book didn’t end right away after the baby was born. The ending was adorable and I loved the setup for a possible future books with some of the side characters.