Yes, I love hockey romance. No, I am not tired of it. And yes, I will continue reading it without shame.
Especially the Vancouver Storm series.
I didn’t expect to love this series as much as I have, but I’m not complaining. Between these books and my reread of the Off-Campus series, my love of reading has come back in full force, and honestly, that’s one of the best surprises of the year.
The latest book I picked up was The Wingman, which features one of my favorite tropes: friends-to-lovers.
I will defend this trope forever. A solid friendship creates a solid foundation, and relationships built on genuine friendship always hit harder because you understand why these people belong together before the romance even starts.
Darcy is fresh off a breakup and moves back to Vancouver looking for a fresh start. She wants to be closer to the people who have always supported her, including her best friend Hayden, a star player for the Vancouver Storm.
What Darcy doesn’t realize is that Hayden has been in love with her since high school.
The timing has just never been on his side.
Years ago, someone else got there first. Now she’s back, newly single, and suddenly Hayden has a chance he’s wanted for years.
Naturally, he offers her a place to stay while she gets settled. He’s thoughtful, dependable, and constantly looking out for her. Then Darcy announces that she’s ready to start dating again, and Hayden volunteers to become her dating coach.
Because apparently self-inflicted emotional torture is his hobby.
The entire time he’s helping her navigate dating, all he really wants is for her to notice that the guy she’s looking for has been standing right in front of her all along.
The chemistry between Darcy and Hayden is what makes this book work so well. They feel like real people with real history, which makes it impossible not to root for them. Reading their scenes feels less like watching two characters fall in love and more like watching two friends who are finally catching up to what everyone else already knows.
You want to shake them. You want to yell at them. You want to lock them in a room until they figure it out.
Darcy’s journey is especially compelling because she’s rebuilding her confidence after a relationship that left her doubting herself. She consistently underestimates her own abilities, despite being incredibly smart and talented. She works with statistics and analytics, and even uses those skills to help improve the team’s performance.
She’s innovative, capable, and far stronger than she gives herself credit for.
Hayden sees that from the beginning.
One of the things I loved most about him is that he never tries to change Darcy. Instead, he reminds her of who she already is. He celebrates every win, supports her through every setback, and believes in her even when she struggles to believe in herself.
And let’s be honest: Hayden is peak book boyfriend material.
He’s the guy who brags about her accomplishments to anyone who will listen. The guy who wants her by his side. The guy who shows up, follows through, and makes sure she never has to face life’s challenges alone.
The romance is great, but that’s what ultimately makes this story work. Hayden doesn’t just love Darcy—he actively roots for her. And sometimes that’s the most romantic thing a character can do.
The Wingman was a complete page-turner that let me escape reality for the four hours, or so it took me to read it. Once I started, I didn’t want to put it down.
I absolutely loved it.
At this point, the Vancouver Storm series is becoming a bit of a problem—in the best way possible. Every book leaves me wanting the next one immediately. It’s addictive, and honestly, I’m not mad about it.
