🏒 ARC Review: Pucking Enemies by Katie Strong

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🌟 4.5/5 – Enemies-to-Lovers, Ice Rinks, and Way Too Much Tension 🌟

Tropes: Enemies to lovers 😤 • Forced proximity 🛏 • Hockey romance 🏒 • Grumpy/sunshine ☀️🌧 • Found family

Spice Level: Hot enough to fog up the Zamboni 🔥🔥

💭 My Thoughts:

Okay bestie… this book? Had me kicking my feet, cackling, and screaming “JUST KISS ALREADY” every other chapter.

Ava is fierce, witty, and not here for any man’s nonsense—especially not the walking temptation that is Logan Holland. He’s the brooding, annoyingly hot hockey player who also happens to be her ex’s best friend. Whew. The tension? Immediate. And when they end up as roommates? BABY. The walls are thin and the emotional damage is thicker.

But beneath all the insults and snark is real connection. Real trauma. Real growth. And when that guard finally drops? Chef’s kiss.

“You’re infuriating,” I whisper.

“You’re impossible,” he breathes.

Our lips crash together like we’re trying to win a game neither of us signed up to play.

Logan is that perfect balance of tough guy with a soft center. He’s been through it, and Ava—despite her sass—sees right through to his soul. The way they both slowly open up, learn to trust, and fall in actual love? Whew. It’s giving emotional payoff AND spicy reward.

⚠️ Trigger Warnings:

  1. Death of a parent (off-page, referenced multiple times)
  2. Alcohol abuse / toxic parental relationships
  3. Emotional neglect (family-based)
  4. Verbal arguments / emotional vulnerability
  5. Grief, loss, and emotional trauma

“I don’t let people in because the ones I did let in? They left. They all left.”

—Ava, and my heart shattered just a little

📚 Final Thoughts:

Pucking Enemies is funny, flirty, and filled with moments that will make your chest ache in the best way. Katie Strong nails the enemies-to-lovers tension without sacrificing depth. You’ll root for Ava and Logan like they’re your messy but loveable besties who clearly just need one good kiss and a therapy session.

Perfect for readers who love:

  1. Banter with bite
  2. Trauma-informed spice
  3. Sports romance that’s more than just the game
  4. Characters that make mistakes and own them

💅 Would I Recommend It?

Absolutely. Grab your headphones, put on this playlist, and block off a day—you’re gonna binge this one. Ava and Logan’s story is messy, magnetic, and everything I love in a spicy hockey romance.

🎧 Playlist – 

Enemies to Lovers, but Make It a Vibe

Modern Pop/Rock + R&B Bops

  1. “Greedy” – Tate McRae
  2. “Unholy” – Sam Smith & Kim Petras
  3. “Good Girls” – 5 Seconds of Summer
  4. “Nonsense” – Sabrina Carpenter
  5. “Boys Don’t Cry” – Anitta
  6. “She’s All I Wanna Be” – Tate McRae

Throwbacks That Match the Energy

7. “Clumsy” – Fergie

8. “Cry Me a River” – Justin Timberlake

9. “Complicated” – Avril Lavigne

10. “Say My Name” – Destiny’s Child

11. “Caught Up” – Usher

12. “Don’t Speak” – No Doubt

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