Absolutely Not in Love by Jenny Proctor is the perfect finale to the Sweater Weather series, and a delightful addition to the spin-off hockey romance series centered around the Appies hockey team. As the last book in the series, it beautifully ties up all the heartwarming connections and provides an unforgettable, swoon-worthy love story.



Gracie, the female main character, is a musician and teacher with strong convictions—especially when it comes to hockey players. She’s determined not to fall for one, and yet her next-door neighbor, Felix, the Appies’ goalie, might just change her mind. Their chemistry is undeniable, and watching Gracie struggle with her attraction while holding firm to her beliefs is both heartwarming and relatable.



Felix is the perfect swoon-worthy hero: kind, patient, and truly an ideal match for Gracie. The tension between them as they grow closer is filled with sweet, funny, and at times, deeply heartfelt moments. There’s an effortless charm to their interactions, and the way Felix slowly breaks down Gracie’s defenses is simply beautiful.



What makes this book even more enjoyable is the way Jenny Proctor incorporates familiar characters from previous books in the series. While Absolutely Not in Love can absolutely be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the rest of the Sweater Weather books to get the full experience of this close-knit small-town world.



With its mix of sweet romance, witty banter, and genuine emotion, this book is the perfect conclusion to a charming series. If you love small-town romance, hockey, and characters you can’t help but root for, you’ll adore Absolutely Not in Love. Jenny Proctor does not disappoint!


This was a 5 star read I have been given as an advanced review copy and offer my honest opinion voluntarily.

This was such a cute romance story - it had me kicking my feet and I finished it in one sitting!

Thank you for the review copy.

I’m not normally into sports romances but this one was quite enjoyable. It was light and cute and just plain adorable.

Unfortunately this book missed the mark for me but that doesnt mean I won't read anything else from this author. Thank you so much for the opportunity and cannot wait to see whats coming next from Jenny :)

The first Appies book I read, and still my favorite. Felix may even be a better book boyfriend than Mr. Darcy. He cooks. He reads. He loves classical music. He is…the goalie. Seriously. So opposite of how you’d expect a hockey goalie to be. He definitely falls first, and has a big challenge in overcoming Gracie’s prejudice against hockey.

The first two books of this series were part of another multi-author series, Sweater Weather, but have since been moved over to make the complete Appies series. The Appies, a minor-league hockey team in North Carolina, are patterned after the Savannah Bananas baseball team in that they do all kinds of fun social media posts, with team members singing, dancing, and doing other stunts. This has brought them a degree of fame, success, and high-dollar contracts that most minor-league teams and players can’t boast. It also keeps the players more dedicated to the team, some even declining to move up to the NHL. For us, as readers, that keeps characters consistently showing up throughout the six-book series. While each of these books can stand alone, if you’re going to read the set (and you should), I think you’ll get a richer experience if you read them in publication order.

In general, the series is wonderfully consistent in its treatment of its recurring characters. With two authors publishing six books over 18 months, continuity errors are definitely possible. I’ve got a really good sense for continuity, and I really didn’t find any problems in that department.
All of the female main characters exist beyond their potential as romantic partners. They have actual lives and interesting careers—public relations, violinist, veterinary student, lawyer, aspiring writer, and an apprentice luthier. They all have opinions about the world and opinions about hockey.

The male main characters have various reasons for their singleness at the beginning of the series. Several have (mostly undeserved) reputations as serial daters. All are dedicated to hockey.

The situations that get the various couples together are varied and interesting. Of course, there is an element of predictability: when there are two POV characters, you know they’ll end up together. The question is: what will happen to them before they get there? Will there be a third-act breakup, or will there be something else that tests the relationship?

All six books have some really beautiful description and great figurative language. In all of them, most of the minor characters have dimension, rather than being cardboard cutouts. I’d say the most stereotypical minor characters are the puck bunnies, particularly in Nathan’s case (Romancing the Grump.)

Possible objectionable material:
Very mild cursing. Various issues such as parental divorce or neglect, alcoholism, death of a parent, chronic illness, infidelity. This is hockey, so there are injuries and the occasional fight. People drink. A minor character gets a tattoo; it’s misspelled and played for humor. This is closed door romance, so we don’t see more than passionate kisses. There is a hint that sex happens.

Who might like these books:
Romance fans, hockey fans, hockey romance fans. Anyone who likes well-written books where characters grow and develop over the course of the story.

This book is also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2025/01/meet-appies.html

Felix is such a cinnamon roll, perfect book boyfriend. Felix and gracie are perfect for eachother. When he smashed down them walls of hers. she stood no chance! Such a cute couple.

Absolutely Not in Love is an interesting hockey romance. Gracie has sworn off hockey players until Felix Jamison becomes her neighbor. He loves to read and shows up at Gracie's symphony concert. Will she soften and change her mind for Felix? This was a sweet, closed-door hockey romance.

Absolutely Not in Love is a cute hockey romantic comedy which follows Gracie and Felix who are neighbours, and despite Gracie's best efforts at avoiding Felix (as she will NOT have anything to do with any hockey player!) end up living together after a burst pipe leads Gracie to move in with Felix (YES forced proximity trope!).
I loved this book, its a nice slow burn and I enjoyed seeing the vulnerabilities come out once living together and seeing the feelings for each other develop and take my heart off to Felix for his continued efforts!

I really loved their love story!! I was very emotional when Gracie cried when she was telling Felix that he disappointed her. It's like I totally felt what he just said to Felix. I also liked the flow of their story, especially in the part where Gracie said that they need to be slow in their relationship, that they don't need to take it easy, and that Felix also understands that. That's one of the things I like in men too, they know how to wait, and their relationship doesn't grow that way. And I just realized that you don't have to follow everything you don't want especially in people because when it comes into your life you won't notice what else you don't want according to what comes to you. Just accept it fully and love it truly.

Rating: 4.5 ⭐
Spice: closed door

This was such a cute read about Gracie, who draws a strict line between dating hockey players. When the water pipe bursts in her bedroom, she panics and calls on her neighbour, Felix. Felix harbours a crush on Gracie, but thinks nothing will mount from it as he's clearly not her type. Without a place to live, Felix offers her his guestroom and before you know it, sparks start to fly and Gracie isn't so sure about her rule after all.

Felix was such a cinnamon roll, perfect bf in this. He was absolutely perfect for Gracie and how he smashed down them walls of hers 🤭🤭 she stood no chance! They seriously made the cutest couple ever 💗

Highly recommend this book if your a fan of hockey, with plenty of sweet romantic gestures!

This book was so cutesy and the perfect fall read, you’re telling me that the MMC is a book lover?! AND OMG HE FLIPPING ANNOTATES A COPY OF PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND GIVES TO HER AS AN APOLOGY FOR MESSING UP?! please omg, she’s a violinist and so when she plays, he can here it so HE MOVES HIS FAVOURITE CHAIR TO BEST POSITION FOR HIM TK BE ABLE TO HEAR HER PLAYING. please, if my man isn’t like Felix, i don’t want him

ARC Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (I would rate it higher if I could)

Felix Jamison isn’t your typical professional hockey player. While his career keeps him the spotlight, he prefers to be in the comfort of his own home, reading. But when his tenet’s apartment floods, he opens his heart and home to her.

Jenny Proctor’s Absolutely Not in Love is pure perfection!!!

It has been weeks since I finished reading this beautiful love story and I can’t help but think about how much I loved this book. Not only has it been added to my Mt. Rushmore of romances, it is in the running for my favorite book of all times.

While I am a huge fan of the entire Appies Series, Felix is by far my favorite. He is the perfect MMC. He caught me by surprise with his many wonderful layers. I enjoyed getting to uncover each one as the book unfolded. Case in point the Darcy apology (iykyk)!!!

This book features:
-small town romance
-neighbors to more
-he falls first
-mental health representation
-complex family dynamics
-sports
-music
-dual POVs

* Absolutely Not in Love is apart of two series, Sweater Weather and The Appies. While I highly encourage reading all of the books in the multi-author interconnected series this book can be read as a standalone.

** I committed the cardinal sin of reading this book out of order. While I knew some aspects of Felix’s love story, it didn’t prevent me from loving it.

Special thanks to Netgalley, JCP Publishing, and Jenny Proctor for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

Absolutely Not In Love by Jenny Proctor is a book that hooks you from the first page. I love Felix in all his quiet, reserved, social anxiety, music-loving, hockey-playing greatness. He and Gracie are a perfect match. I love the way they clicked. This book is a cute romance with all the fall vibes. I highly recommend this read!

This was my first Jenny Proctor book and I thoroughly enjoyed it!! The Appies hockey team was so much fun and I’m excited to read more of this series!! I absolutely adored Felix and how much he adored Gracie! The chemistry and connection was great! I don’t read much closed door romance, but because of Jenny’s writing I think I am going to be checking into them more. No explicit on page scenes but all of the tension! I also appreciated the mental health rep as Felix’s anxiety and therapy was done very well!

Absolutely Not in Love is a sweet hockey rom-com. It was fun and left a smile on my face. A light and cute read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.
This was a wonderful book and I'll be purchasing it for the library!
Proctor is one of my favorite authors and her series are amazing. I've bought everything so far for the library!

Absolutely IN LOVE with this book! How can you not love Felix?? A hockey player and a cellist. Who knew they could be so perfect together! And the ending was perfect with Gracie not only flying across the country for Felix’s hockey game but for her to go to his hockey game in the first place?! So well done. Another five stars for Jenny Proctor!

Two words, kids.

Closed. Door.

You can't bait me into watching two characters fall in love with fantastic chemistry and then kick me out like the dog that isn't welcome in the room. I wanted to see their relationship bloom, especially with an aggressive sport like hockey! Come on now. Character development was great, and I loved the relationship!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley.

I absolutely loved this book! Err audio! The perfect romcom!

The narrators did a fabulous job to the point I completely forgot I was reading! It felt more like I was watching the newest romcom on Netflix! Maybe this should come to Netflix!

I can’t wait to read more from this series and more from Jenny! Yes yes yes!

This was endearing. I loved the genuine slow burn of it - it was a gradual and well paced relationship with two loveable characters truly getting to know each other. So well written. It’s totally closed door and yet their chemistry is off the charts. I loved the poignance of Gracie’s grand gesture at the end, such a swoony moment