A good friends to lovers, coach’s daughter, closed door romance with a relatable FMC, lots of tension between the love interests without the angst and a good mix of hockey and romance. Miscommunication and fear keep Marissa and Aaron firmly in the best friends category for ten years but this hilarious dual POV has them finally giving in to their undeniable chemistry and provides a satisfying HEA.

3.75⭐

A Heartwarming Hockey Romance with All the Feels!

This book was an absolute delight! Marion De Ré seamlessly expands the universe she’s built, drawing us right back into a world filled with deep friendships, simmering tension, and swoon-worthy romance.

At the heart of the story are Marissa and Aaron—two characters whose bond is both heartwarming and electric. As the coach’s daughter, Marissa is strictly off-limits, but that hasn’t stopped Aaron from harboring feelings for her for years. To make things even more complicated, Marissa and her father are the only real family Aaron has ever known. The stakes are high, the tension is palpable, and the slow burn is oh-so-satisfying. Best of all? Their feelings are mutual, making every stolen glance and charged moment even more fun to read.

Cue the applause for no third-act breakup! Seriously, that alone earned this book an extra star from me. Instead of unnecessary drama, we get to enjoy Aaron and Marissa’s sweet, playful, and utterly magical romance when they finally get together.

While I adored the love story, I will say that some moments felt a bit juvenile, especially given that the main characters are in their late 20s. I think I would’ve connected even more if I had read this as an early 20-something. That said, it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment.

And let’s talk about Beth and James! They were such great side characters, and I cannot wait to see how their story unfolds. If you love a hockey romance with a well-earned happily ever after, this book is definitely one to add to your TBR!

All the tropes of a sweet hockey romance. Marissa who has always stayed clear of the hockey team romances because her dad is the coach. Aaron secretly pining after her, Friends to lovers. I really enjoyed this book I couldn’t put it down. Marion knows how to write a book to keep you reading. I can’t wait for the rest of the series and to read more about the raptors. This book is well paced and not rushed a great sports romance.

Stick To Me is a sweet and cozy romance featuring the main female character, Marissa, and her best friend and ice hockey star, Aaron. Throughout this short novel, we follow these best friends as they both try to fight their growing romantic feelings for each other. Determined not to ruin their friendship or lose the only family Aaron has ever known, much of the book focuses on the characters going back and forth privately, convincing themselves that a relationship between them wouldn’t work. I found this part of the plot to be repetitive and, honestly, a bit boring after a while. However, I do appreciate that this struggle is often a key element in books with the "friends to lovers" trope.

In terms of writing style, I was somewhat disappointed. The author's style seemed to lack depth and was more suited to a younger audience. This book is closed-door, low-stress, and only features mild cursing, making it suitable for a young adult audience. I also felt the pacing was quite fast, with many short scenes. As a reader, I prefer longer, more descriptive scenes that allow for deeper character development. Unfortunately, this book lacked that, opting instead for a series of smaller, scattered scenes.

Regarding the main characters, Marissa and Aaron, the author did a great job creating likeable characters. Aaron was perfect—kind, caring, passionate, and treated Marissa incredibly well. Marissa was also really relatable, with insecurities that many women can identify with, and she was at her best when she was around Aaron. The book also features several supporting characters, such as Marissa’s best friends and Aaron’s teammates. I believe there are more books in this series that explore these characters’ personal stories.

Readers who enjoy the "friends to lovers," "coach’s daughter," and "roommates" tropes will likely enjoy this book. I would recommend it to a young adult audience looking for a cute, cozy, and sweet romance between two best friends.

Thank you to Netgallery and the author for gifting me a copy of this book. My review will be posted on my Goodreads and Instagram account. You can find me here @brydzandherbooks.

It's absolutely one of the cutest reads. Friends to lover troupe. Aaron plays for the Raptors, his best friend (which is a girl), and her dad owns the team. They have been in love with each other since high school... can they make a goal at true love?

Got free from netgalley.

Thank you Netgalley, Marion De Ré and Victory Editing for the ARC!

This book was such a cute one! The right amount of hockey and romance for me to enjoy it. Aaron and Marissa are childhood friends and secretly in love with each other but too chicken to tell the other. Marissa’s father is the hockey coach who took Aaron under his wing and became his mentor. The friends to lovers is a slow and natural transition with lots of banter and remarks from both of their friends. The whole miscommunication was a bit annoying, but that is to be expected considering the reader knows both sides while the characters don't. The main female character owned a coffee shop and was best friends with bookstore owners, which sounds like the perfect life! Her best friend Aaron is a golden retriever even before they get together and that is so adorable! Everyone should have a friend like that that they can count on “to hide a body in the middle of the night” - yes, she did describe him like that in the book! I cannot wait to read more of the New York Raptors and look forward to the other characters who I already fell in love with in this romance story. Recommending this one to anyone that loves a good closed door friends to lovers sports romance.

Goodreads Review posted April 1 2025
Instagram Review will be posted in Calendar Week 14

🖤Hockey Romance
🖤Friends to Lovers
🖤Roommates
🖤Coach’s Daughter
🖤Closed Door

This is my first book that I read by Marion De Re and I am so glad to have come across this story. This story is so sweet, fun and full of swoon worthy moments.

Marissa and Aaron have been best friends for 15+ years and have been in love with each other ever since but they are scared to tell each other and ruin their friendship. They try to deny their feelings but even their friends know they are a slow-burn, friends to lovers trope.

It's a cute story. A sweet lil closed door hockey romance book and perfect for my daughter to read since she now knows I am obsessed with Hockey romance books.

Thank you to the Author Marion De Ré, Netgalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and @marionderewrites for the ARC.


#marionderewrites #sticktomebook #netgalley #arcreader #hockeyromance #friendstolovers #ClosedDoorRomance

Unfortunately, I had to DNF this book at 44%.

This book would be good for someone who likes friends to lovers and the miscommunication trope. It was full of it and I personally do not like to read both of these tropes and I didn't enjoy it. I gave it a go but couldn't continue.

I would still like to thank netgalley and the author for allowing to me read this story for free.

3.5 ⭐️ thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced readers copy. This was such a cute and wholesome hockey romance. I love the friends to lovers trope, and watching their relationship as friends then grow to be a couple, was really cute.

I didn’t know this was a closed door romance until I started reading it. That isn’t my usual favorite trope, but I still think if you are someone who likes a clean romance, this is a great sports romance for you!

Stick To Me was such a fun and cute read. This was my first read by Marion De Re' and I'm officially a fan. All my favorite tropes, and an authentically real, sweet, and absolutely perfect for each other couple made this a must read.

The coaches daughter is always fun to see play out for the love interest, but Aaron being like a son to his coach, and Marissa'a best friend since childhood makes their friends to lovers story all the more entertaining. Their banter had me laughing out loud so many times.

If you're looking for all the swooning and an adorable couple that you will absolutely love getting to know I highly recommend Stick To Me. I'm already looking forward to getting to know more of the New York Raptors!

Thank you to NetGally and Marion De Re' for the ARC opportunity.

Very sweet closed-door hockey romance. I love when books laugh at the romance tropes they are falling into; it just makes it so much more fun!

Omg the slow burn was real!! The main characters have been friends for 15 years but they were both too scared to change their relationship into something more.

The way that they were both pining for each other without the other knowing was insane. They had stolen glances and even their friends knew they loved each other but that didn’t.

It is such a sweet friendship to lovers with a slow burn. It is also a hockey romance. Would definitely recommend!

If you love a good friends to lovers, roommates romance, Stick to Me is your next read. Aaron and Marissa have been best friends forever, well, since sixth grade. He’s now a professional hockey player for the New York Raptors, and she’s the coach’s daughter, gasp!

Marissa has spent years trying to get over her feelings for Aaron. When Aaron already turned her down once, she gives up on their HEA. And yet, resisting him gets harder every day when he’s doing things like planning sweet birthday surprises, supporting her in ways no one else does, and simply existing.

Marion De Ré delivers a heartfelt, slow-burn, closed door romance packed with all the best things. A 'hotshot' hockey player with a soft side, found family moments, supportive best friends, tension sweet tension. Their chemistry is off the charts and there’s no dreaded third-act breakup! The hockey details blend into the story nicely making this a great sports romance that has balance.

As the first book in the New York Raptors series, Stick to Me stands strong on its own, but this author loves to cameo charters from other books and worlds and bring them together, so it is fun to see where other stories continue to go while reading new ones!

Thank you netgalley for an ARC!!

This book was so cute😭 it’s such a short and fun read!!! I will always be a friends to lovers girl FOR LIFE!!! This book also had one of my new favourite love confession scenes!!! NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP 👏🏼

I can’t wait for this book to receive all its success after it gets published:)

SO SO EXCITED FOR THE REST OF THE SERIES!!!! I AM READY FOR A BETH AND JAMES BOOK!!!!

Rating: 4.5⭐

Stick to Me by Marion De Ré is going to stick with me—LOL, but seriously, this book was adorable! I loved it so much. The fact that the two main characters have been secretly in love with each other for 15 years?! That’s next-level pining. I don’t know if I’d have the patience to wait that long… or maybe I would. Who knows?

Without spoiling too much, here’s what I loved: the sheer amount of cuteness and longing between the MCs. Automatic food-sharing, surprise birthdays, movie traditions—it all gave me major heart eyes. And I really appreciated that this book didn’t lean on the usual “everyone around them knows they’re in love” trope. It made their journey feel even more personal and unique.

Now, things I didn’t love? Honestly, I’m struggling to come up with anything! If I had to nitpick, I’d say I wish I had read the One More Chapter series beforehand, just to be more familiar with the established relationships in the book. But that’s a me problem, not a book problem—oops!

Overall, I adored this story, and I cannot wait for book two! In the meantime, I’ll be catching up on One More Chapter to hold me over.

Thank you Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, Marion De Ré , and NetGalley for the eARC!

📚 BookTok Review: Stick to Me by Marion De Ré 🏒💖​

Stick to Me by Marion De Ré is a delightful friends-to-lovers hockey romcom that will melt your heart. The story follows Aaron Miles, the NHL's top player, and Marissa, his lifelong friend and the coach's daughter. Their deep-rooted friendship faces new challenges as Marissa grapples with unspoken feelings for Aaron, who has previously rejected her. Complicating matters, they become roommates, intensifying Marissa's internal struggle as she attempts to suppress her growing attraction. The novel masterfully blends humor, heartfelt moments, and the exhilarating world of professional hockey. ​

What to Expect:
-Friends-to-Lovers Trope: Experience the emotional rollercoaster as Aaron and Marissa navigate the delicate transition from friendship to romance.​
Instagram
-Roommate Dynamics: The close quarters lead to amusing and tender interactions, heightening the romantic tension.​
-Hockey Romance: Dive into the thrilling world of the NHL with authentic depictions of the sport and its culture.​
-Closed-Door Romance: Enjoy a sweet, "kisses-only" narrative that focuses on emotional connections without explicit content. ​

If you're a fan of slow-burn romances set against the backdrop of professional sports, Stick to Me is a must-read that delivers both charm and depth.​
#StickToMe #MarionDeRé #HockeyRomance #FriendsToLovers #RoommatesToLovers #ClosedDoorRomance #BookTokRecs

Stick to Me is the perfect mix of sports romance, humor, and heartfelt emotions, making it a fantastic start to the New York Raptors series. rom the very first page, I was drawn in by the engaging storyline, the natural chemistry between the characters, and the perfect balance of hockey, friendships, and romance. The slow burn had me on edge in the best way possible—frustratingly good and totally worth the wait.

Marissa and Aaron’s relationship was the heart of this story. Their friendship felt so genuine—wholesome, funny, and full of inside jokes that made me laugh out loud. Their chemistry was undeniable, even if they were the last to realize it. And when that spark finally ignited? Butterflies. Everywhere. It was chef’s kiss perfection.

Now, let’s take a moment to appreciate the fact that there was no third-act breakup 🙌🏻🙌🏻. The ending was everything I could have hoped for—satisfying, heartfelt, and tied up beautifully.

Overall, this was an incredible start to the series. The hockey aspect felt well-researched, the romance was sweet yet passionate, and the characters were simply unforgettable. I'm looking forward for the next book :)


thanks to netgallery and the author, Marion De Ré for the arc.

This was an adorable best friends to lovers romance. I usually prefer more spice, but this had all the things I enjoy about a romance novel. The secret pining between the characters was top notch. I loved the dual POV because seeing what Aaron was thinking made this book so amazing. I’m excited to read more books from this author!

ᴡᴀꜱ ɪᴛ ᴜᴘᴛᴏ ᴍʏ ᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴꜱ? ʏᴇꜱ
ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ɪ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ? ʏᴇꜱ

♥️➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶♥️

ᴍᴀʀɪꜱꜱᴀ ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
ᴍᴀʀɪꜱꜱᴀ “ᴍᴀʀᴛɪɴ” ᴡᴀꜱ ꜱᴏ ᴀᴅᴏʀᴀʙʟᴇ, ꜱʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴍɪᴛ ᴀ ᴄʀɪᴍᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪ’ᴅ ᴘʀᴏʙᴀʙʟʏ ʜᴇʟᴘ ʜᴇʀ ᴄᴏᴠᴇʀ ɪᴛ ᴜᴘ. ʟɪᴋᴇ, “ᴏʜ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴀᴄᴄɪᴅᴇɴᴛᴀʟʟʏ ꜱᴇᴛ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ꜰɪʀᴇ? ᴛʜᴀᴛ’ꜱ ᴏᴋᴀʏ, ꜱᴡᴇᴇᴛɪᴇ, ᴡᴇ’ʟʟ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴄᴀʟʟ ɪᴛ ᴀɴ ᴀᴇꜱᴛʜᴇᴛɪᴄ ᴄʜᴏɪᴄᴇ.” ᴍᴀʀᴛɪɴ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴍɪɢʜᴛ ᴀᴄᴛᴜᴀʟʟʏ ʙᴇ ᴄʟᴏɴᴇꜱ. ʙᴏᴏᴋꜱ ᴀʀᴇ ᴍʏ ꜱᴀꜰᴇ ʜᴀᴠᴇɴ, ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴏʟʟᴇʀ ᴄᴏᴀꜱᴛᴇʀꜱ? ᴛʜᴇʏ’ʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛ ꜱᴄᴀʀʏ, ᴛʜᴇʏ’ʀᴇ ʜɪʟᴀʀɪᴏᴜꜱ—ᴇꜱᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪ ɢᴇᴛ ᴛᴏ ʟᴀᴜɢʜ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ʜʏᴇɴᴀ ᴀᴛ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ ᴇʟꜱᴇ ʟᴏꜱɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴍɪɴᴅꜱ. ᴀɴᴅ ᴍʏ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴀᴛᴛᴀᴄʜᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ꜰɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀꜱ? ʟᴇᴛ’ꜱ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ꜱᴀʏ ɪ’ᴠᴇ ɢʀɪᴇᴠᴇᴅ ʟᴏɴɢᴇʀ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴛʜᴀɴ ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ꜱᴛᴀʏᴇᴅ ɪɴ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴꜱʜɪᴘꜱ.

ᴀᴀʀᴏɴ ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
ᴀᴀʀᴏɴ ᴡᴀꜱɴ’ᴛ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴀ ɢʀᴇᴇɴ ꜰʟᴀɢ—ʜᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡʜᴏʟᴇ ᴅᴀᴍɴ ᴛʀᴀꜰꜰɪᴄ ʟɪɢʜᴛ ꜱʏꜱᴛᴇᴍ ᴘᴇʀᴍᴀɴᴇɴᴛʟʏ ꜱᴛᴜᴄᴋ ᴏɴ ɢᴏ. ꜱᴡᴇᴇᴛ, ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜰᴜʟ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴀ ᴍᴇᴀʟ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴍᴇ ʀᴇᴛʜɪɴᴋɪɴɢ ᴍʏ ᴇɴᴛɪʀᴇ ᴇxɪꜱᴛᴇɴᴄᴇ? ɪ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴍᴀɴ ᴘʀɪɴᴛᴇᴅ, ʟᴀᴍɪɴᴀᴛᴇᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ʙʀᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴛᴏ ʟɪꜰᴇ ɪᴍᴍᴇᴅɪᴀᴛᴇʟʏ. ᴀᴀʀᴏɴ ᴡᴀꜱ ꜱᴏ ᴘᴇʀꜰᴇᴄᴛ, ɪ’ᴍ ꜱᴛᴀʀᴛɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴡʀɪᴛᴛᴇɴ ᴀꜱ ᴀɴ ᴀᴘᴏʟᴏɢʏ ꜰᴏʀ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴅ ꜰʟᴀɢꜱ ᴡᴇ’ᴠᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴇɴᴅᴜʀᴇ.

♥️➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶♥️

ᴀᴀʀᴏɴ x ᴍᴀʀɪ ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
ᴀ Qᴜᴀʀᴛᴇʀ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ꜱᴄʀᴇᴀᴍɪɴɢ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴛᴏ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ɢᴇᴛ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ. ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ʀᴇꜰᴜꜱᴀʟ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ᴍᴇ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠᴇʀɢᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴘᴜʟʟɪɴɢ ᴍʏ ʜᴀɪʀ ᴏᴜᴛ—ꜱᴇʀɪᴏᴜꜱʟʏ, ᴛʜᴇ ꜰʀᴜꜱᴛʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴡᴀꜱ ʀᴇᴀʟ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ꜱᴏ ʀɪᴅɪᴄᴜʟᴏᴜꜱʟʏ ᴘᴇʀꜰᴇᴄᴛ ꜰᴏʀ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ, ꜱᴏ ᴜɴʙᴇᴀʀᴀʙʟʏ ᴄᴜᴛᴇ, ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴄᴏɴᴠɪɴᴄᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴀ ᴅᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴘʜᴀꜱᴇ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴄᴏɴꜰᴇꜱꜱᴇᴅ, ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ’ᴠᴇ ꜱᴋɪᴘᴘᴇᴅ ꜱᴛʀᴀɪɢʜᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴀʀʀɪᴀɢᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅɴ’ᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ Qᴜᴇꜱᴛɪᴏɴᴇᴅ ᴀ ᴛʜɪɴɢ.

♥️➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶♥️

ᴏᴠᴇʀᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴡᴀꜱ ꜱᴏ ᴄᴜᴛᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ ʜᴏɴᴇꜱᴛʟʏ ᴡɪꜱʜ ɪ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴇʀᴀꜱᴇ ɪᴛ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴍʏ ᴍᴇᴍᴏʀʏ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴇxᴘᴇʀɪᴇɴᴄᴇ ɪᴛ ᴀʟʟ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ. ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴋɴᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ʀᴇʟᴜᴄᴛᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ ɴᴇᴀʀʟʏ ᴅʀᴏᴠᴇ ᴍᴇ ᴜᴘ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʟʟ, ɪ’ᴅ ꜱᴛɪʟʟ ɢʟᴀᴅʟʏ ɢᴏ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰʀᴜꜱᴛʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇʟɪᴠᴇ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴅᴏʀᴀʙʟᴇ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛꜱ.

♥️➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶♥️

Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and @marionderewrites for the ARC.

This book was good, it was okay!

I love hockey romance, and I really enjoyed Aaron’s character….but i’m not sure I was target audience for this one, Miscommunication and Friends to lovers are not my favorite tropes.

While I thought this love story was cute, it almost felt juvenile in writing to me. Some of the phrases used in this books made them seem like teenagers, not adults living successful lives.

The side characters almost seemed to pop off the page to me, and I feel like i’d really enjoy their stories.