Looking for a steamy enemies-to-lovers hockey romance with plenty of tension on and off the ice? The Poetry on Ice by Jesse H. Reign promises a mix of rivalry, passion, and forbidden attraction. With tropes like forced proximity and grumpy/sunshine dynamics, this book has been hyped across social media as a must-read for hockey romance lovers. But does it truly live up to the hype?
Poetry On Ice by Jesse H. Reign Series: Totally Pucked #1
Genres: Contemporary, MM Romance
Buy Links:Buy on Amazon
I can’t tell if we’re fighting…or flirting?
Being traded to the Seattle Vipers has left me with mixed feelings. On the one hand, they’re my team, the team I’ve loved and supported since I was a kid, but on the other hand, he’s here. Him. Ant Decker. Infamous NHL bad boy. Right wing to my left. A man who’s made it his sole purpose in life to be better than me.
Well, the joke’s on him because I’m faster and my stats are better than his.
Not that I’m competing with him. Of course not. I wouldn’t stoop to his level.
He’s the most infuriating person I’ve ever met. A dark, chaotic presence that distracts me.
When we’re not coming to blows on the ice, he tries to provoke me by calling me Princess. And Pretty Boy...and Babygirl.
I hate it. Obviously, I do. It makes me so angry I can hardly see straight.
So why does my body react as if I like it?
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When Robbie McGuire is traded to the Seattle Vipers, he is overwhelmed with conflicting emotions. On one hand, this is his childhood dream team. On the other, it is also home to Ant Decker, the infamous NHL bad boy who seems to despise Robbie for no clear reason.
The story kicks off with a classic enemies-to-lovers vibe, with Ant going out of his way to provoke Robbie, calling him “Princess,” “Pretty Boy,” and “Babygirl.” Initially, the tension between them works well, but the hostility feels forced and poorly explained. When the reason behind Ant’s attitude is finally revealed, it’s anticlimactic and fails to justify the earlier conflict.
Despite a strong premise, the book struggles with pacing. The first half drags with too much internal monologue, making it hard to stay engaged. At around 40%, I almost gave up, but the second half picks up slightly with some fun interactions and a few genuinely sweet moments.
As a hockey romance, it also falls short. The hockey setting is barely explored, feeling more like a backdrop than an integral part of the story. When the rivalry dissolves, the narrative shifts abruptly into excessive sex scenes, with cringeworthy dialogue that undermines the emotional development of the relationship. The forced feminization of Robbie also feels unnatural for me.
Ultimately, there is little emotional depth to justify how quickly Robbie and Ant fall in love. Their connection seems to exist simply because the plot demands it, not because it’s convincingly built.
That being said, there were moments that made me smile, and the banter between them occasionally hit the right note. However, this book didn’t become a new favorite for me.
Final Rating: 2.5 stars
Have you read The Poetry on Ice? Did it live up to the hype for you, or did you feel the same frustrations I did? Share your thoughts in the comments below—I’d love to hear your take!
About Jesse H. Reign
I’m Jesse, and I write contemporary and paranormal MM romance.
Whether my characters are born magical, or whether magic is something they make between the sheets, I strive to take the reader into the mind of the narrator. My ultimate goal is to leave the reader feeling like they’ve made a new friend or have spent a few hours flirting with a brand-new book boyfriend.
I love coffee, chocolate and daydreaming, in no particular order. I love conflicted characters, lust at first sight and angst – no seriously, ALL the angst. Give it to me!
