Pucking Wild by Emily Rath review

 

Pucking Wild by Emily Rath
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4 spice

I didn’t think I would like this book more than the first one, but here we are. I think book one was a bit overwhelming for me because I’m so used to fantasy being the main focus, and I don’t read much contemporary romance especially not sports romance. So book one was a totally new experience, but book two really surprised me in the best way. Even though this one doesn’t have the why-choose element that the first book did, I enjoyed it so much more because the storyline was clearer and easier to follow.

Tess was relatable, using her smile and bubbly personality almost like armor to hide the pain she carries. Her trauma runs deep, and even though she puts on a brave front, it’s clear she’s bleeding internally. It was portrayed so well that I really felt for her. Ryan, on the other hand, is a ray of sunshine who constantly made me smile. He’s sweet and caring, but not a doormat, which I appreciated. I do wish we’d gotten a little more of his backstory, but what we did get gave me a much better understanding of who he is.

Don’t get me wrong there’s still room for a deeper dive into both leads' pasts, and there were moments where certain events felt like they were implied instead of shown, which bugged me a bit. But the characters weren’t flat. The spice in this book was hot and well done, even if there was less of it compared to book one. Honestly, I liked that. It gave more space for the actual story to breathe. I also loved seeing characters from book one return in big ways, which gave it all a cozy, interconnected feeling.

And wow there is one character in this book that had me ready to throw hands. I was wide-eyed and screaming every time they appeared. But honestly, it made the story even more intense, and I was so here for it.

This book also focused less on the hockey side, which I think worked better for me overall.

💖 What I Liked:
The clear, emotional storyline
Tess’s slow growth and healing
The slightly reduced focus on hockey
The darker, more emotional themes

😕 What Didn’t Work for Me:
Certain characters didn’t get the consequences they deserved
Some big scenes happened off-page or were implied, which felt like missed opportunities
I wanted deeper dives into both leads’ histories

Would I recommend this book?
Yes! It was a fun and emotional at times

Would I reread it?
I think I would.

How would I sum it up?
A spicy, emotional hockey romance that hits harder than expected.

View all my reviews