What happens when hockey has been the bane of your existence since childhood so you've sworn off all things hockey including players, but find your neighbor across the hall is a sexy, smart, well read, classical musical listening hockey player? You avoid, avoid, avoid until you can't anymore! A wonderful friends to lovers love story that will have you swooning in delight as well as hoping for a change of heart in our jaded heroine. This story also delves into the damages that you can experience at the hands of well-meaning, but inept parents when they have a child that is nothing like them. Can our two broken main characters overcome their broken upbringing to find the love they so desperately crave? You'll have to read to find out, but I'll tell you that you love a good, clean romance with a happily ever after, then you have found the right book. This is the last book in a wonderful series all set around the same town with many of the same characters, but each book has been written by a different author. I dearly hope they decide to expand on the series as there are many other characters that each book introduced that could use their own book as well! Hint, hint, hint to the powers that be to encourage another set of books for this town and cast of characters!!! FYI: You don't technically have to read the series in order, but you will see characters and locations introduced in other books so reading in order gives you a better grasp of the town and the people that live there!

Would you believe it if I told you I’d never read a hockey romance before “Absolutely Not in Love?” I know they have been all the rage, but none have ever really caught my attention before. However, I knew I loved the Sweater Weather collection — a collaborative series of autumn-themed sweet romantic comedies by different authors and set in the same town. I adored “Can’t Help Falling” by Courtney Walsh from this series, so I thought this book was worth a try, hockey or not.

As it turns out, a book where the main female character doesn’t like hockey players is exactly the right book to read to first dip your toes into hockey romances. I ADORED this romance.

Things I loved:

1. Only one apartment. Squeal!!
2. Felix was so into Gracie FROM THE BEGINNING.
3. A clean romance, but still had me blushing and swooning with the kisses.
4. They couldn’t keep their hands off each other, but they still communicated their boundaries in the best way.
5. Felix being so open with Gracie and himself about his social anxiety.
6. So much classical music. With two scoops of hockey.
7. Lots of food and cooking.
8. A dash of meddling relatives.

Final Thoughts:

This was a such a delightful rom-com, but it actually got really deep and touching at moments. I highly recommend it to readers who love clean or closed door romances and even those who love traditional steamy romances. Sometimes our perfect person is where we keep refusing to look and sometimes they are right across the hall. ❤

Rating: 5/5 stars.
** review submitted on Amazon as well, but not yet approved.

Ahhh!! This one was amazing yall!!!

Let me start by saying that as a girl who has played hockey her entire life, it was very interesting to read about a girl who absolutely despises the sport. It was quite the experience for me and I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT. You can tell Jenny did her hockey homework because the house references and lifestyle are spot on.

Gracie and Felix are two complex characters with more than meets the eye. My first impression of Felix… ahhh total SWOON! He is such a sweetheart and he made me melt multiple times throughout this book. Also, THANK YOU Jenny for not only portraying social anxiety in a totally relatable way, but also making sure to mention that Felix has made so many strides due to his hours in therapy.

Jenny always make me smile when she includes references from her other books, so I obviously loved the Flint Hawthorne reference. But what I loved even more was how she made sure to include the characters from the previous Sweater Weather books.

This was the last book in the Sweater Weather series and it was absolute perfection.

Don’t sleep on closed door romances guys. There’s something so REAL and intimate about building a relationship on a personal level instead of a physical level. And believe me.. there is still tension and the first kiss moments are to die for!

I could read this book over and over again. I just loved it.
This story brings Gracie and Felix together. If you have read the sweater weather series, Felix has been mentioned in another story, So it was nice to read his story. Felix is a hockey player, he is the goalie for the Appies. Gracie is a music teacher and plays the cello. She absolutely hates hockey and will never date a hockey player. Gracie and Felix are neighbors. Felix is a lover of classical musical but Gracie doesn't know that. She just knows he plays hockey so she rules him off limits. When a pipe burst in Gracie's apartment, she is forced to temporary stay with Felix. This is where Gracie finally gets to see the real Felix.
Felix is such a great guy. You will fall in love with him. Gracie is pretty wonderful as well.
I read this story in just a couple hours, as I couldn't put it down!
A must read!

Felix is a dream.

I really enjoyed the nuanced characters, Felix and Gracie. They are are a perfect match. Gracie has issues with hockey (her childhood) and is a musician. Felix has social anxiety, loves music and books (hello, Ivy) and lives comfortably in a building he owns, with Gracie as his neighbor. He's not crazy rich, just comfortable. Gracie is a teacher and a musician. A sweet romance with interesting, well develped characters, with a side of hockey.
Recommend.

Absolutely Not in Love is the last closed-door romantic comedy in Sweater Weather, a connected series by various authors. Although most of the books can be read as a stand-alone, I highly recommend that Just Don’t Fall (first book) is read prior to Absolutely Not in Love. Otherwise the books can be read in any order.

28-year-old Gracie Mitchell is a middle school orchestra teacher in Harvest Hollow, North Carolina. She gives private lessons, plays cello in the local orchestra, and performs at local events to supplement her meager salary. She spent most of her childhood at the local hockey rink while her older brother, Josh, practiced and played. When she was a junior in high school, her boyfriend, Gavin, stood her up for the prom because he was having sex with a hockey groupie. Ever since then, Gracie has hated both hockey and hockey players.

Josh was a gifted wingman until he got his girlfriend pregnant and dropped out of college at age 19. Now he’s happily married and the father to 10-year-old Maddox, who is a big hockey fan. Meanwhile Gracie dated a violinist, Anton, who aspired to become a conductor until his moodiness overcame her affection for him. Since then Gracie hasn’t found another man that she would like to date, although she receives many offers.

Gracie is attracted to her hunky neighbor, six-foot-four Felix Jamison, who is a goaltender for the town’s minor league hockey team. Felix let NHL star Logan Barnes live with him for a few weeks after groupies bothered him at the hotel where he was staying. Logan was the hero of Just Don’t Fall, and readers met both Felix and his neighbor, Gracie.

Felix is the introvert of the Appies hockey team and suffers from social anxiety, although it has improved since he has been in therapy. Felix prefers reading in his library (named Ivy) to going out with his teammates after a game. They believe he has a girlfriend named Ivy when he’s really attracted to his neighbor. Unfortunately when he tries to talk to Gracie, he winds up saying nonsense due to his anxiety. Felix has been a disappointment to his businessman father since choosing a career as a professional hockey player, and he also has that to deal with.

Felix owns the building where he and Gracie live, but he keeps that a secret. All business is handled through a property agent. When there are plumbing issues that require immediate repair, they are forced to live in closer proximity. Gracie learns that she and Felix aren’t as “opposite” as she thought. Her best friend tries to convince her that her bias against hockey players isn’t fair, and that Felix is a wonderful man.

Absolutely Not in Love is the wonderful conclusion to the Sweater Weather series. It’s so rare to read a clean hockey romance, and the author knocked this one across the ice! Felix and Gracie are both wonderful characters and the chemistry between them is magnificent! Absolutely Not in Love is the kind of closed-door romance that readers want: a great story with engaging main characters but no profanity or sex. The cameos from characters in other Sweater Weather books and the author’s Hawthorne Brothers series made the story even better. I was afraid that I was going to have to wait months to read Felix’s story, and I’m so glad that he got his happy ending in this Sweater Weather series.

After I ordered a paperback copy of the book from Amazon, I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) e-book from NetGalley and JPC Publishing for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Absolutely loved this book! Felix was just perfect, absolutely perfect! he was the sweetest man ever, he cared about Gracie and his friends so much! his pov made me love him from the beginning! This was such a sweet and fun book. I have loved this series, but this book was hands down my favorite! Even though it was closed door the tension was great and honestly i didn't mind that it didn't have any spice, it was such a good book! I loved the healthy communication and their chemistry was amazing! This book had me hooked from the start! The texting was so cute and her grand gesture at the end was just perfection! Highly Recommend!!!

This is the second book I’ve read in the Sweater Weather series, and wow was it good! Can someone find me a Felix and send him my way? He was such a swoon-worthy character, and I’m so happy he found his dream girl in Gracie. If you’re looking for a light-hearted romance to read this fall, you should ABSOLUTELY pick this one up.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

This book is sweet hockey romance perfection! Literally couldn’t have ended the sweater weather series any better!

Gracie was so genuine and I loved how she wrestled with her past and grew even more confident in who she was through the story!

And Mr Darcy, who? You just don’t get more perfect than Felix Jamison. Strong, silent, sexy type. He’s so gentle, with everything he did. I loved the way he respected Gracie so well!

Loved the quirky parts to each of their personalities, but they fit so well together!

Their romance 🫠just wipe me up from the puddle on the floor. While this was a clean romance there was some serious heat as their romance built and I am HERE FOR IT!
The tattoo
The letter
The pastries
The hockey game
Geez Louise!

Honestly-perfection! There aren’t enough stars.

My first Hockey Romance book and first by Jenny Proctor and in both respects they will not be my last!

I absolutely loved this swoon worthy romance and as a huge hockey fan I could not get enough of Felix and Gracie’s love story!

Will definitely be checking out the rest of the series and can’t wait to see what’s next from this author!

A fun quick read!
I throughly enjoyed this, the characters were brilliant and likeable
The plot line needed a couple of tweeks but the writing was amazing which made up for it
Thankyou for the ARC, can't wait to read more

Absolutely Not in Love is the seventh and final book in the Sweater Weather series. This is a multi-author series all set in the same small town of Harvest Hollow, with each book able to be read as standalones or in any order. That said we do see some familiar characters from both this series and Jenny's previous Hawthorne Brothers series, though you absolutely do not have to have read any of those to enjoy this one.

If ever you thought that the ultimately perfect book boyfriend did not exist... let me just present to you: Felix! Even from his introduction in Just Don't Fall (book one in the series, by Emma St. Clair), I was curious about Felix's story... and it absolutely did not disappoint. Hockey player? Check. Quiet and thoughtful? Check. Loves books and has a library? Check and check. And a social anxiety rep on top of all that!? Yes, please! I really just enjoyed his character so much! And Gracie was such the perfect match for him! The chemistry between them was great from the start... the only problem? She was strictly against dating hockey players. Of course, as any romance reader knows, that's a rule that's made to be broken. Still, I loved how respectful Felix was of her decision. While he wanted her to get to know him as more than a hockey player, he also never pushed her. (I did mention he was perfect, right!?)

Honestly there was just so much to love about this book, and I loved every single minute of it. With every book in the series that I have read, I couldn't help but think all of the authors have brought their very best to it... and this is the same! I have loved every single Jenny Proctor book I've ever read... but this is definitely a new favorite for me. This book is absolutely one not to be missed!

Absolutely Not in Love is a closed-door romance. The kisses are fairly detailed but go no further than that. There was a handful of very minor language.

**I received a complimentary ARC for consideration. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this sports romance! I found the characters lovely and relatable. Enjoyable read thank you for allowing me to read this.

Absolutely Not in Love by Jenny Proctor
Book 7 - Sweater Weather Series (can be read as a standalone)
༘Spoiler free ༘
⭐️5/5
🌶️ closed door, but definitely brings the heat
RomCom, Hockey, romance
Dual POV
➳ hockey
➳ romcom
➳ autumn aesthetic
➳ forced proximity
➳ mental-health (anxiety) representation

✨ “she isn’t really into hockey.” Mom turns and heads across the living room. “Then it’s a good thing you’re more than a hockey player.“ ✨
The best cosy romance of autumn, released just in time for the start of hockey season. I devoured this book in one sitting.

📚📚📚
Detailed Review:
Gracie is a cellist and she’s got a strict "no dating hockey players" policy, and Felix isn't your typical goalie.

This book, is a perfect mix of love, witty banter, humour, all the hockey vibes, and some serious emotional depth.

From the start, I connected with Gracie's dilemma about choosing between girl dinner and being hungry enough for a proper meal. We’ve all been there before.
And Felix? He had me at "spending the night reading and chilling solo" over spending the night out partying with his teammates.

What makes this book stand out, is how relatable the characters are. Their chemistry? It's not forced or cliche; it's as genuine as a warm hug on a chilly autumn night. If you're craving authentic connections and love stories that feel real and organic, "Absolutely Not in Love" is a must-read for autumn! 📚🍁🏒

💖
LIKES:
⋆ This book had the perfect amount of spice in it, Jenny Proctor has mastered the art of keeping things tasteful and retaining romantic & emotional tension.
⋆ Felix Jamison is not your stereotypical hockey player, and it was nice to see some representation for quieter introverted athletes.
⋆Harvest Hollow creates a picturesque setting that complements the warm and cozy ambiance of the story. The vivid descriptions evoke the essence of an Appalachian autumn, making it a perfect read for the season.
⋆ The story's unexpected strength, lies in its representation of mental health, addressing anxiety and self growth in a thoughtful and realistic way. It's a refreshing inclusion, shedding light on important topics such as past relationship trauma, people-pleasing, and social anxiety.

💔
DISLIKES:
⋆ As for dislikes, it seems there's only one: a wish for the story to be longer! I will definitely be reading the rest of Jenny’s writing.

Thank you to the Author, Publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to provide my honest opinion on the ARC of this book.

Absolutely Not In Love by Jenny Proctor is the perfect book to close out the Sweater Weather series. Emma St. Clair first introduced Felix and Gracie in the first book in the Sweater Weather Series, Just Don’t Fall, and Felix was already tugging at me at that point.

Felix is a talented goaltender who was offered a position in the NHL but has chosen instead to play for the Harvest Hollow hockey team, the Appies. But he is so much more than a hockey player. Felix is a prolific reader of all genres and would choose to stay in to read a book in his library (he even named his library!) over going out with his teammates. He also loves classical music and the way it calms him. That is a big part of what first draws him to Gracie after she moves in next door.

Gracie hates hockey and almost hates hockey players just as much. After a childhood of feeling neglected and misunderstood by her family for always choosing to support her brother for playing hockey and never showing up for her cello playing, not to mention a hockey-playing boyfriend who betrayed her, she wants nothing to do with the sport. So when she starts to recognize an attraction to her hockey-playing neighbor, her defensive wall goes way up, and she fights her feelings down.

When circumstances force Gracie and Felix to be in the same space, she realizes he is more than just a hockey player. He has depth and character and a truly good heart. Having Gracie in his space fills Felix with a desire to break through her barriers and win her heart. He wants to care for her and show her how valuable she is. Watching them fall for one another and, even more, respect one another, forgive one another, and show up for one another was such a beautiful journey!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

Of note, hopefully, this was just for the advanced reader copy-starting at chapter 20, the type is set to the right and in italics.

So many requests for a good romantic hockey read. I really liked this one! Romance was nice and not too overly spicy. Just a good feel good romance that was easy to read and very enjoyable. We get a lot of requests for books of this genre and some meet the mark and some don’t, but this one was really a good goal! I also loved the aspect of what it’s like to be a sibling that sort of doesn’t have the praise of the other siblings: I’m an only child but I hear this a lot from friends ect and it’s nice to have that dynamic

A classical cellist and a bookish hockey goalie falls in love. Gracie can't help herself even though she hates the sport. Felix is such a sweetheart. He had me at the book library!

This is a real sweet book. Very swoony at times. Totally enjoyed it.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

“Mr. Darcy? Nah. Give me Felix Jamison.” I LOVE hockey and I LOVE this book. The classical music, the book loving, the forced proximity, neighbors to lovers. Everything was so perfect. The anxiety rep with Felix felt spot on. The open and honest relationship between Felix and Gracie was beautiful. The complicated family dynamics were done very well. Nothing about this book disappointed me. Give me more from Proctor any day and I’ll read it.

LOVED THIS!! I literally read this in one sitting! Very fun and lovable characters. I’m also a sucker for hockey romances. Loved that the entire book wasn’t just hockey games and was Gracie and Felix! This is definitely my new favorite hockey romance!! Would recommend to this who like the Off Campus Series.

I have a new book boyfriend and his name is Felix Jamison. I'll even forgive him for having the same last name as one of my exes because not only is he a book reader, the man named his library!

We finish off the sweater weather series with a wonderful little neighbors to lovers, forced proximity, swoon filled romance. It's funny, it's sweet, it's oh so swoony, and it's an absolutely perfect adorable rom-com.