The Jacksonville Rays series have been my favorite hockey romance books by a long shot. Each one has made me kick my feet and giggle more than the last. The audio books have also all been really great too so before you even get to my review for this book do yourself a favor and pick up Pucking Around, you will not be disappointed.
This particular book in the series really struck a chord with me and that’s due to the topic of Demisexuality. I will get into this more in my review below but just know Emily Rath can do no wrong in my eyes with her books.
I have somehow missed all the reviews for the previous books in this series so that’s my bad… Maybe upon a re read I will write my official thoughts.
“Lord knows he’s done enough for me already. Whatever my husband wants, he gets.”
Emily Rath, Pucking Strong
About The Book
Author: Emily Rath
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Published Date: August 26th, 2025
Page Count: 544 Pages
Main Genre: Sports Romance
GoodReads Rating: 4.28
Format: Physical Book
Synopsis
The Jacksonville Rays go international when their Swedish star forward and the team’s physical therapist have to stage a very real fake marriage in this delicious slow burn, spicy MM, workplace hockey romance from viral sensation Emily Rath!
My name is Teddy O’Connor, and I just made a terrible mistake. It’s been six years since I was an intern for the Jacksonville Rays NHL team. Six years since I wrapped ice packs on knees and played Mario Kart on chartered planes. And six long years since I first met him. Henrik Karlsson, star forward of the Rays . . . and king of my heart.
Oh god, I’ve got to get over this crush! I’m a doctor now, a respected professional. And Henrik doesn’t even know I exist. So you tell me why I’m risking everything to follow this man halfway around the world!
After receiving news of his sister’s tragic death, Henrik must fly to Sweden to retrieve his injured, grieving young niece. But with a new hockey season about to start, Henrik can’t possibly care for her alone. In fact, the Swedish government won’t let him. He needs me. They both do. I’d be heartless not to help—right?
Well, that’s what I told myself last week as I signed our Swedish marriage license. It’s what I told myself yesterday as I moved into his apartment. And it’s what I’m telling myself now as the Rays PR Director stares us down. They want this marriage to look real. The team’s public image, our jobs, and Henrik’s custody agreement all depend on it.
But my problem isn’t that I don’t love my fake husband. God help me, my problem is that I do.
Synopsis From GoodReads
“My emotions come from the deepest part of me”
Emily Rath, Pucking Strong
Rating
Review
This series has meant a lot to me over the years. It was one of the first hockey romances that I ever picked up. I loved Pucking Around so much that it led to my current obsession with hockey. I am so glad this series came into my life. Each and every character will stick with me for a long time to come.
I have had this book sitting on my shelves since it’s release date last year just begging for me to pick it up. I hate that it took so long to finally dive into but I think I read it at the perfect time.
This may not have been my most favorite book in this series but I think its the one that meant the most to me personally. Karlsson learns a lot about himself and his sexuality throughout the book and it was really refreshing to see, what I feel was, an accurate description to what it felt like being Demisexual before even knowing what that term meant. You see Karlsson feeling like he is broken for not finding people sexually attractive or not craving a sexual relationship like all of his Hockey teammates. Teddy making him aware of the term and Karlsson doing his own research of Demisexuallity really helped him discover himself and feel comfortable with who he has been his whole life. I really loved the representation this book had as I don’t read about many characters who I can relate to on this topic.
The only part that I struggled with during my reading was that I occasionally found Teddy to be a tad bit annoying. The reason why I didn’t let this drag my rating too low was because it was a good representation to how someone with anxiety might be reacting to the strange situation that he found himself in. If it was up to me there wouldn’t be any conflict that felt unnesesary but then we wouldn’t have a book now would we? I just felt like he would spiral at the drop of a hat and sometimes it felt excessive.
With that being said, I still really loved Teddy’s character. The way he loves everyone so fiercely just made me swoon! He didn’t think twice before he offered to throw his whole self into the unknown for a little girl he has never met before. I adored his tender soul with all my heart.
Henrik Karlsson will have my whole heart for years to come. The “touch him and die” vibes were everything I needed from his character. He may have been reserved and quiet for most of the book but his quiet love was so enduring next to Teddy’s Fierce love. They really made a great pair and you could see it come to life on the page from the moment you first met them.
These characters becoming full time live in uncles over night was such a fun plot. They both showed little Karo love and support in their own way. Teddy became the fun uncle who knew how to bring the laughs out of Karo and Karlsson was the uncle she could turn to when she need a shoulder to cry on. They gave this little girl the most supportive family she could have asked for with the circumstances given.
Fake Marriage has yet to let me down as a trope. I am actively looking for book recommendations so if you have any please send them my way!
“You just be you, and I’ll be me, and we’ll just be weird and awkward together.”
Emily Rath, Pucking Strong
QOTD: What was your first Sports Romance?
World of Bai 