Evening the Score, Lexi LaFleur Brown (Review by Jackie Adair)

I was really excited to read this book based on the description. Evening the Score is set in Minnesota and centers on the dirty hit that ended Olivia Hinkley’s father’s career with the Minnesota Freeze. Meanwhile, the player responsible, Erik Parker, walked away with little more than a slap on the wrist. Driven by revenge, Olivia takes a job as the Freeze’s mascot and plans to get close to the Parker family by fake-dating Erik’s son, Brody. Brody is the “golden boy” of hockey—someone who genuinely loves the game but is constantly pressured by his father to perform better. While the premise had potential, it’s one that’s been used frequently lately, and this version lacked the emotional depth needed to fully pull me in. I would have appreciated more backstory between Olivia and her father—especially what her life looked like before and after the accident. I often found myself sympathizing with Brody and feeling frustrated during Olivia’s chapters. The story had strong foundations, but with more emotional grounding and character depth, I might have been more invested once the plot picked up and the characters began opening up to each other. The premise did stick with me, which is why I ultimately gave it five stars.