Reviews with content warning for Car accident - Behind the Net

4 Songbird Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

I should REALLY write reviews when I finish the book because if I go on to read another Hockey Romance I have the VERY DIFFICULT PROBLEM of separating the two…

Jamie has just traded back to his home team to focus on hockey and his mother who is having a bout of panic attacks and he intends to focus on those things only - no exceptions. He unexpectedly ends up adopting a stray dog he finds on the street and realises he needs to accept the offer from his new team to hire an assistant. Pippa is broke and has just been dumped by her rockstar boyfriend who was only using her for her songwriting ability anyway. Her parents are insistent that she gets a stable job so her sister mentions a marketing job opening soon at the hockey team she works for, she just needs an “in job” since they will be hiring internally. Pippa takes a PA position and soon realises her employer is non other than Jamie. The same Jamie she had a secret crush on ALL THROUGH HIGHSCHOOL. But surely he doesn’t remember her, Right? She was 2 years below him… The thing is Jamie definitely remembers Pippa as she was the girl he had a secret crush on in High School. So he fires her after day one because he can’t be near her. Pippa refuses to be let go and demands her job back and ends up living in his apartment… what could go wrong with that?

Pippa was by far my favourite character in this. The epitome of sunshine, she is optimistic and caring and so self-sacrificing. She’s had her heart stomped on by her ex who neglected her and used her for her songwriting skills and completely destroyed her self-confidence telling her that her songs are rubbish.

Jamie is a grumpy sweetheart, who almost has the feel of “I hate everyone but her”. His compassion shows in everything he does, from adopting Daisy to giving Pippa a place to stay to even trading down teams so that he can be close to his mom who is battling with her mental illness.

I loved that even though their relationship was founded on instalust (since they have both been secretly pining for each other for years) they both bring out the best in each other. Jamie’s support makes Pippa slowly pick up her guitar again and gain back the confidence she had ripped away. Through him, she is able to find her love in music again and find the love of herself and her self-worth. Likewise, Pippa makes Jamie better, her presence is the catalyst for him opening up and participating in the team's social aspects and forming a bond with them (something he was avidly trying to avoid before her).

I also loved how caring and supportive Pippa was of Jamie’s mother and how she helped her, and while she was not fully healed her coming into Jamie’s life was the catalyst for him to push her to get actual help and now blow it off.

Trope Summary:
▶ Hockey Romance
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ GrumpyXSunshine
▶ Workplace Romance
▶ Roommates to Lovers
▶ Highschool Crush
▶ Animal Companion
▶ “Mine”
▶ He helps her put on shoes

Overall this is a cute little romance that is PRETTY SPICY and if you want your hockey romance fix and see two characters bring out the best in each other, this is for you!!!

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clairew97's review

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3.5

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paperbacksandsnacks's review against another edition

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funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A book full of some of your favourite tropes can never go too wrong. This has:

Grumpy x Sunshine
Forced Proximity
He falls first/pines

Also full of microtropes like inexperienced fmc, touch her and die/get hurt vibes, childhood crushes, he gives her a nickname, he splashes the cash and gets her dreamy gifts, etc etc, and tbh all that together makes a pretty swoon worthy package.

I loved the dual POV, especially because they differed so much in terms of perspective (particularly at first) because Pippa believes Jamie’s attitude towards her to be because he hates her when that couldn’t be further from the truth.

The pining in this was delicious, as was Jamie. I’m telling you the way that man is in bed? Dreamy. Speaking of, the spice in this was excellent. Not over the top, and not just constant sex, it felt like more than that. It was a gradual build up and was really well done considering Pippas past, and I just thoroughly enjoyed 😏.

Also this book handled some really tricky topics like depression and anxiety/panic attacks very well. And I think was really positive in terms of normalising those feelings/illnesses. The family relationships in this story too added a nice bit of depth and interest.

I just adored the way Pippa and Jamie’s characters developed. The way they encouraged each other and showed each other the world and their lives could be exactly what they wanted it to be. The support they gave each other was super beautiful and seeing them come out of their shells was great. The singer/songwriter meets hockey player storyline was brill. And I just flew through this book in one sitting.

Plus, this book wins many a bonus point for not having a 3rd act breakup. I’m so excited to read the next one!!

Content Warnings

megnut's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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rebakesl's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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lauraelovesbooks's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This was a lovely read with a very sweet romance. Pippa and Jamie were so great together and their relationship was free of miscommunication (except maybe before they get together but that’s more them making their own assumptions rather than specific miscommunication) and unnecessary drama (no third act break-ups here). It was really great to see them overcome some past trauma and heal together. I also loved their dog Daisy

I will admit, though, I was hoping for something a little angstier and with a slower burn. This is fully on me and my reading mood, but this book is marketed as a slow burn and I personally didn’t find it was (but, like spice, this is a very individual threshold so don’t take my word for it). I also didn’t love ‘songbird’ and just generally prefer more traditional terms of endearment (these days I feel that authors are always striving for these unique nicknames and the effectiveness is very hit or miss).

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