Loved loved loved! Katie and Leah are two auto read authors for me and i was so excited to see them teaming up for this series. I really enjoyed getting to read Ally and Noah’s love story. I thought everything was really well thought out and had a sweet redemption plot for what Ally had faced in college. Can’t wait for the rest of boys of 3b stories!

I Feel a bit sad I didn’t like this one more.
The premises for this book is good, I love myself a good roommate love story, and the characters are super sweet and cute. But I couldn’t connect to the characters, and I didn’t feel the build up or tension between our MC’s. When it’s a closed door romance, for me, the tension needs to be top tier, it need to be an Oscar worthy performance from start to finish, and sadly for me, I wasn’t there.

I don’t think it was a bad story, there were definitely some good moments. I just think this one wasn’t for me sadly.

E-ARC Book Review—Rookie Season by Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner—Spoiler Free

Noah Downsby has dreamed of playing for the NHL since he could skate and now he’s in his rookie season playing in San Francisco for the Lions. He doesn’t want anything outside of hockey getting in the way. He’s just happy playing hockey and living with his two teammates also in their rookie year.

Allegra Callahan was in college studying dance and doing really well, but when something happened and rumors fly around school about her. She drops out and takes a dance teacher job in San Francisco. Her college friend lives there and has an extra room in his apartment he’s sharing with friends.

Noah and Ally meet when he has to pick up his niece from dance class one night. He was late and Ally gave him a bit of sass about it. Later that night when she gets to her new apartment, Noah and Ally realize they’re going to be roommates. They definitely have an attraction to each other, but both of them have reasons to not get into a relationship. They’ll have to decide what’s important and what they’re willing to risk.

I was kicking my feet reading this it’s so cute. While there’s no on page spice, the heat was still strong between the main characters. These characters are the second generation from Katey Bailey and Leah Brunner’s other books and it was so fun to see them grown up and I loved the cameos from familiar characters. That being said, this could totally be read on its own without reading any of their previous books. Their backstories are fully explained.

Both main characters are dealing with some pretty serious past issues and I loved seeing how they both dealt with those difficulties and how their characters grew from them. I think all the issues were handled with care.

I’m hoping to see more from the boys in this apartment…it seemed like they were setting up some potential with the other two characters and I would 100% read it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️ (fade to black on anything more than kissing and some innuendos)

I was given an e-arc to review by Netgalley, but all thoughts are my own.

*♡Thank you to Katie Bailey, Leah Brunner, LBP LLC and Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion♡*
4.5⭐
Wow. I devoured this book in 24 hours! Ice hockey player × dancer romance + a New Girl dynamic = an amazing read!! Ally and Noah's story captivated me from the start, both have had harrowing experiences in their lives and the way they open up to each other and fall in love is just so heartwarming to read. Katie and Leah have done an amazing job at tackling the sensitive subject of Ally's assault and her mindset following the incident. Reading about her overcoming this and finding her emotional spark in her dancing thanks to Noah was so beautifully written, the girls should be extremely proud 🥰🫶🏼

I have read it twice because I loved it so much. It is the crossover I never knew I needed. The vibes were there, the emotions were there. It hit all the right things for me. The langiage and spice were mild but the chemistry was great. Loved it

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This book caught me off guard in the best way and I am very grateful to have been able to read this!

This is a lovely, slow burn but homely feel kind of book, where you adore all the characters and the little quirks it had. Each character bought something to the story and you found yourself wanting to get to know all of them and adoring their stories. Aly and Noah have my heart though, their chemistry was just beautiful and it was really interesting reading their dynamics. I adored this book!

My Rating: 4.75 stars

Thank you Katie Bailey, Leah Brunner, NetGalley and Victory Editing for approving my request to review this advanced copy of ‘Rookie Season’.

This was my first book of Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner – I loved it so much and read it in less than a day as I could not put it down! I will definitely be going back to read their previous books!

I very quickly fell in love with the characters of Ally and Noah. It is a moving and swoony story bringing together two individuals with past traumas. Katie and Leah did an amazing job of navigating these heavy topics and dealing with them in a healthy way. They found the perfect balance between addressing the heavy topics but also the healing journey these characters went on together. The way the characters fell in love felt so true and natural to their healing journey, it wasn’t rushed and happened exactly in their own time when they both felt comfortable enough.

My favourite part of the story was the found family and roommate dynamic of 3B! The dynamic of Ally and the three boys really was a lovely read, to see how safe she felt around them after her past experience. I really loved the friendship to found family of Ally, Noah, Penn and Fisher – I can’t wait to read more of these characters!

Review can be found on Goodreads and Fable as of July 30th, and a TikTok Review will be posted July 31st.

Publication Date: August 21st 2025

Did I just find a new favourite hockey romance?! Noah is in his rookie season of the NHL and is focusing solely on that (no girls!) but things are about to change when Aly becomes his new roommate and he cant stop thinking about her. Aly is starting over - moving across the country and in with 3 pro hockey players but Noah... has caught her eye too.

This book delves into some serious issues like past sexual assault and the loss of both parents. They are heavily discuss and influence this story. Both main characters are impacted heavily by these past events and make them hesitant to enter into a new relationship - but there walls come down as the connection slowly builds between them. I loved these characters and the patience and kindness they showed eachother. This can be read as a stand alone but it is part of both authors worlds - which is neat - to see the 2 worlds come together.

Hes grumpy, she's sunshine
Dual POV
Hockey player / dancer
Fade to black
Forced proximity
Found family
Mental health rep
Hilarious, loving roommates
A cat named Harry Styles.. the third

I absolutely adored the Roommates of Loft 3B. Fisher and Penn are both great characters and I am very excited to read more from them. Meanwhile the story of Ally and Noah was so good! I loved their chemistry and connection and how they slowly fell in love. The support of the roommates but also the families was very wholesome and despite deeper topics it was an absolute feel good read which I can highly recommend!

Great vibes, funny characters. New Girl meets hockey meets dancing. There are mental health aspects here that get dealt with in a healthy way. I'll definitely be continuing this series!

I wish it was possible to give a book all the stars, infinity stars, because this book earned it!

I was immensely pleased I had read the two books that are set before his book (I think he knows by Katie and Desire or Defense by Leah) so when I realised who Noah and Allegra were I was even more excited to dive into this story.

This is a top tier sports romance! It has all of the best parts, but without the over the top spice, it’s a slow burn, lots of angst and longing looks, think “who did this to you” but with a light cozy romantic vibe - it’s just delicious! The back story, side characters, pace, everything was just perfection. I’m so sad to have finished!

I’m hoping, praying, for Penn’s book with miss grouchy neighbour please?!

What a wonderful crossover story! I was so happy to see Allegra all grown up and living her adult life. Although my heart also aches for her and what she been through. But everything happens for the reason and all the events in her past lead her to more happy and safe environment in form of three hockey players. One of which end up being for her more than just roommate. For Noah I also felt bad with all his own struggles and feelings. Eventually he opened up to his loved ones and close friends and that helped him heal. Both him and Allegra are such hardworking, passionate and loving people so it’s was matter of time when they fall in love with each other. And the did! It was so natural and calm, with the right place. Friend group and build up of found family in this one is so nice and wonderful. I absolutely loved all the domestic moments between Noah, Legs, Fisher and Penn.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Rookie Season is the first in a New Adult hockey romance series, a collaboration between authors Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner. You don't have to have read the respective books in the authors' back catalogues that serve as the two MCs origin stories, but it's fun to see Legs and Noah grown up and taking on the world (and each other) in this next-generation tale. Both characters are at something of a tipping point in their lives: Allegra has dropped out of college after a nasty experience, and Noah is starting his rookie season in the NHL, living alongside his bestie Penn and new teammate Fisher. Their original fourth roommate no longer needs the room, so when Allegra calls former fellow GSU student Fisher to say she's looking for a new situation, he offers it to her as a safe place to land. Much to the chagrin of Noah, who is just hoping to avoid any and all distractions and make his NHL debut a success...

This is a fun and charming read. There's nothing too dark, although both MCs have experienced trauma in the past, which is referenced on-page. The other roommates, Penn and Fisher, are fun, and it's nice to get a hint of where their stories might go. With both Allegra and Noah & co. effectively newbies, it's a great way to introduce the settings of the team, the loft, the dance studio and their respective denizens without it feeling too expositiony; we're discovering it all along with the characters. The romance is sweet, and you can't help but root for the characters.

Perfect for a cosy weekend's reading when you don't want anything too overwrought, and definitly a series I'll be following up on in the future!

Rookie Season By Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner

When I heard this author duo start new (hockey) series, I was in right away! I read this in three days, couldn’t put down! I was hooked.
This is my first second generation romance book I’ve read and it is perfect! Also its nice to see cameos from other characters :D As second generation book, it was great start and even you can read it as stand alone, it helps if you read authors previews books to get to know characters.
There’s heavier topic as lost of parents and sexual assaulting but I’d say, there are part of there story not too overwhelming way.
Its definitely worth of anticipations!
Pub date: August 21st, 2025

5/5

Thank you for this arc!

I always love a good old college sports romance! Especially with a little grumpy x sunshine. I found the plot of Rookie Season enjoyable but also a little but of a wirlwind of emotions, I giggled at times and blinked a small tear away at times. The main and side characters are written Ron a way that makes them very likable. I think Noah and Allegra both had great development in their own characters but also in terms of their relationship. I definitely enjoyed this read and recommend it!

I am so gone for hockey romances! This book takes young characters from each of the authors' previous books and gives them their own story, connecting two separate series. It can definitely be read as a standalone, but it's fun for readers who know the background. I love the grumpy-sunshine, forced proximity/roommate tropes which Ally and Noah breathed new life into. Their chemistry is strong and their banter is entertaining, and when he warms up to her (and her cat) they become even more adorable. I appreciated that Noah wasn't a player like his two roommates (who were hilarious), and that he and Ally both recognized they found something special in each other. The issues they deal with bring a level of depth to the story, but I didn't necessarily agree with how the sexual assault was handled- it had rom-com movie vibes rather than demonstrating a more healthy and less entertaining method of resolution, which I think does a disservice to readers who may very well deal with the same issue as Ally. I have a hard time when characters or people in real life don't report assault, leaving the perpetrator with no consequences to the action, and enabled to continue the predatory behavior. I'm very aware that there are psychological influences involved in these tough situations, but women need to be empowered rather than modeling the path of least resistance. Even with a first hand witness and physical evidence, Ally doesn't fight back and the resolution in the end celebrates a show of violence as a temporary victory rather than any real penalty since the misdeeds are left in the dark.

I'm glad the authors included a content warning in the description and beginning of the book, as the profanity was much more frequent than their previous books. It made the characters seem immature, overcompensating, or trying too hard to be edgy. I don't mind a smattering, but it was overkill. The F-word was used in a humorous way by the hockey players subbing the word puck, which was cheesy and also way overused. I'm happy to report that the only fade-to-black intimacy was between a married couple.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

Rookie Season is a super cute romance that had me giggling and kicking my feet. Leah and Katie bridged their worlds and it is wonderful! Noah is in his rookie year in the NHL and Ally is he new roommate who teaches his niece in dance. After a misunderstood meet cute they fight their attraction for each other until they couldnt take it anymore. They both help and support the other with past tramas. Seeing cameos of characters from both Leah and Katie's books was fun and this book was a wonderful sports romance. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

I knew that this would be a fabulous read when I saw the collaboration between Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner, but honestly I was not prepared for how much I was going to hit me in the heart. This book was the hockey romance that I didn’t know I needed until it was 2am, and I was still reading it because I HAD to finish it, or I wouldn’t be able to sleep. There are some significant content warnings – past attempted sexual assault, grief from death of parents, and a dash more language and sexual innuendo than you usually get from these authors’ series – but processing that trauma in a healthy way was integral to the storyline, so I found the overarching story to be incredibly redemptive and empowering.

Allegra and Noah’s relationship, which progresses from roommate enemies to so much more, develops in a way that is endearingly sweet. They start out with a lot of misunderstanding, but as they begin to understand each other, they realize how wrongly they’ve judged each other. The relationship dynamic among all of the 4 roommates in this apartment is HILARIOUS…I’ll never look at the game Jenga the same way again. I’m so excited for the other books to come out, because I want more of “Fishy” and Penn, now that I’ve gotten to know and love them.

This is one of the best books I’ve read this year, and I cannot recommend it highly enough!!

Loved this book, absolutely fantastic.
The chemistry and tension between Ally and Noah was instant and real and I loved how their relationship progressed throughout the whole book, especially with both of the characters healing from past trauma and helping each other through it.

It was so romantic and swoon worthy, and Noah’s protectiveness over Ally had me falling in love.

This book put me through a whirl wind of emotions, there were definitely a few moments where I shed some tears, but also was full of lighthearted and funny moments especially with Fisher and Penn. The dynamic between all of them as roommates was hilarious and was giving found family and new girl vibes, amazing.

This was my first book by both authors but I will definitely be reading the other series and books by the authors

ps. I’m giving this book five stars because it was amazing but it did lose a point in my books for small slam of Winnipeg. We have a great hockey team by the way and Fisher should be happy if he got drafted to a team like that but enjoy San Francisco I guess.

Thank you Netgalley and Victory Editing for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Review can be found on Goodreads as of July 28th and TikTok review to be posted by August 7th

OH MY GOSH! This book is so amazing! I love Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner, but them coming together was next level!! I am so thankful to them and Netgalley for this ARC! I was highly anticipating this read, and wow it did not disappoint. This was my favorite read this year so far! I was kicking my feet and enjoying every minute. Do yourself a favor and read this! You do not want to miss out! Especially for fans of their other books because the cameos are top notch!