Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Hello Friends! I just finished the latest hockey romance and I HAVE to share it with you. I got this audiobook from NetGalley and Hachette Audio in exchange for my honest review. This story, Thrown for a Loop by Sarina Bowen, with narrators Brooke Bloomingdale and Ryan Hudson, features one of my favorite storylines- a figure skater and a hockey player. Growing up with rom-coms like The Cutting Edge, I’m always a fan of this trope.

Zoe Carson, our 28-year-old silver medalist in figure skating, is hired as a skating coach for the Legends hockey team. Turns out, the team includes her teenage love, Chase Merritt, who now plays for the Legends. It’s been ages since they were nineteen, and Zoe is pretty sure Chase won’t remember her.

Chase, of course, hasn’t forgotten Zoe. She changed his life and broke his heart. Back then, he had one rule at camp: Do not touch his coach’s niece. Of course, that rule was bound to be broken.

Now in the present, Zoe is stepping into her new coaching role, helping the team improve their speed and agility. She’s divorced, has just moved to New York for the job, and finds herself as one of the only female coaches and staff members. She’s running into trouble with team members not showing up to practices and getting anonymous notes trying to scare her out of town. Fortunately, Zoe grew up in the competitive skating world, so she’s not rattled easily. She manages to win over a few players by improving their skating and hopes she can convince the rest. She even helps Chase after noticing something that sends him to the chiropractor. With threats escalating, her drive to earn her spot, and Chase now on Team Zoe, can she get everything she wants?

I loved how this book blended sports, romance, and suspense without losing that signature Sarina Bowen warmth. Zoe is such a relatable heroine. She is tough, talented, and a little wary after having to rebuild her life. Chase makes a great match for her, steady and kind but still dealing with his own regrets. The scenes on the ice and behind the scenes of professional hockey were fun and realistic, and I especially liked how Zoe earned the team’s respect through her skills and knowledge. The reveal of the person behind the hazing was a real surprise for me, which I loved, and the backstory between Chase and Zoe gave the romance some extra emotional weight.

Now for what kept it from being a full five stars: Zoe and Chase forgave each other a little too quickly for my liking. I get that years apart can soften old hurts, but everything seemed to fall into place just a bit too fast, and Zoe’s instant friendship with Darcy, one of the only other women in the Legends organization, deserved more buildup. That’s why I settled on 4 stars instead of the full 5.

The narrators were good. Brooke Bloomingdale is a standout! She’s voiced several past reads and nails Zoe’s strength and vulnerability as expected. Ryan Hudson, who was new to me, did a nice job bringing Chase to life with emotional range. I’ll be watching for more of his work in the future.

If you, like me, can’t get enough of hockey romances or love the figure skater-meets-hockey player trope, I recommend picking up this audiobook or grabbing a copy from your favorite bookshop. This is the perfect read for cozy fall days—settle in with a hot tea, your favorite blanket, and let Thrown for a Loop warm your heart.

Happy reading or listening!