Would you believe it if I told you I’d never read a hockey romance before “Absolutely Not in Love?” I know they have been all the rage, but none have ever really caught my attention before. However, I knew I loved the Sweater Weather collection — a collaborative series of autumn-themed sweet romantic comedies by different authors and set in the same town. I adored “Can’t Help Falling” by Courtney Walsh from this series, so I thought this book was worth a try, hockey or not.

The Blurb:

“My requirements for a man are simple. Must love books. Must NOT love hockey.

Which is why I will never be interested in my neighbor, the aloof and mysterious Felix Jamison, no matter how many books I see him hauling into his apartment. Unless he loses his pro hockey skates, I’m out.

But then he shows up at my symphony concert. And I catch the sweet strains of Bach floating across the hall. Have I mentioned how incredible he looks in his game day suit?

Still, my history with hockey is complicated. My older brother played, and let’s just say he stole enough limelight to land a plane at midnight. I was forced to be a part of that world for so long, now that I have a choice, it’s the last thing I want.

But something tells me Felix is about to change my mind…

Absolutely Not in Love is a closed-door hockey romcom with forced proximity, a bookish hockey goalie, a classical musician, and all the swoony chemistry you want.”

The Review:

As it turns out, a book where the main female character doesn’t like hockey players is exactly the right book to read to first dip your toes into hockey romances. I ADORED this romance.

Things I loved:

1. Only one apartment. Squeal!!
2. Felix was so into Gracie FROM THE BEGINNING.
3. A clean romance, but still had me blushing and swooning with the kisses.
4. They couldn’t keep their hands off each other, but they still communicated their boundaries in the best way.
5. Felix being so open with Gracie and himself about his social anxiety.
6. So much classical music. With two scoops of hockey.
7. Lots of food and cooking.
8. A dash of meddling relatives.

Final Thoughts:

This was a such a delightful rom-com, but it actually got really deep and touching at moments. I highly recommend it to readers who love clean or closed door romances and even those who love traditional steamy romances. Sometimes our perfect person is where we keep refusing to look and sometimes they are right across the hall. <3

Rating: 5/5 stars.

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Thanks to Netgalley and the author for an early review copy of the book!