You Had Me at Hockey

December 1, 2020

Sara is a spontaneous social media influencer who tries to show the world her unfiltered self through her various platforms. Her latest podcast interview leads her to Josh, a professional hockey player who was recently traded to the New York Bears. Josh does not embrace change and relies heavily on maintaining a strict schedule. Sara and Josh strike up a friendship during the interview, which sets into motion the possibility of being more than friends. However, Sara is open about her struggles with depression, while Josh is content to stay in the past without confronting the trauma from his teenage years. This leads to complications in their new relationship as Josh becomes upset after Sara tries to help him by arranging an opportunity for him to work out past hurts with a current teammate. The conflict forces Josh and Sara to understand what is most important in life and whether they can move forward. VERDICT Jamieson's enjoyable second entry in the "Bears Hockey" series (Must Love Dogs) handles sensitive topics of mental health and trauma with care, making the story relatable and empowering. Fans of Sarina Bowen's "Brooklyn Bruisers" series will adore.--Ashli Wells, Vanderbilt Univ. Law Lib., Nashville

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