Review

Violet has one dating rule: no jocks. But when she was forced to move from California to icy Minnesota, she made an exception for sweet Jeremy, a boy she met over summer, captain of her new school’s ice hockey team. Unfortunately, once school returns, Jeremy turns out to be an A-grade, egotistical scumbag who can’t grasp the fact that he’s just been dumped for cause.

Reed Darling, captain of their rival school’s team, tall and handsome with a fearsome reputation on and off the ice, is interested in Violet and her car-abusing ways from their first meeting. He knows she won’t go out with him—she’s told him it’s no more jocks for her—but he talks her into a little fake dating to give Jeremy the message. Reed just needs some time to try to convince Violet that he’s not an arrogant, hockey obsessed jerk. How can he shows her he cares without scaring her off?

*

I enjoyed this sweet YA ice hockey romance. There was plenty of romantic tension and some lovely moments of humour. It was well constructed and it was nice to see some positive masculine representation in the main male character, Reed.

Romance fans will probably enjoy the (almost) alternating first person perspectives of Violet and Reed, and ice hockey romances (mostly new adult, e.g. Icebreaker, or adult) are very popular right now… so hurray for this school library friendly young adult example! This is the first novel in ‘Darling Devils’, a Bridgerton-style series which will focus on each of the four siblings in turn. It looks like there’s plenty more ice-related romance to come. I’m certainly going to be picking up more copies of this for the school library.

Age: 12+

361 pp.

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Workaholic absent mum and a completely absent dad who has no interest in knowing Violet at all; cheating (by which I mean kissing) boyfriend; unfounded gossip and rumours; some mild innuendo; Reed’s immature younger brother jokes, “Our brother is just trying to follow his heart. … Sorry, did I say heart? … I meant dick”; someone draws a threatening picture on Violet’s locker; hockey related injuries. Hardly any swearing: one d-word (see above) and one s-word. Other than that, it’s very wholesome, with two kisses, no risqué touching, shiningly pure intentions and heartwarming family scenes.

*

Moody, A. (2024). Rival darling.

(Yes! It’s self-published, which explains a few little typos. However, I notice that it’s been picked up by HarperCollins in Australia and will be traditionally published here with a release date of 1 April. Moody, despite the US setting of this book, is Aussie.)

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