Crossing the Line by Kelly Jamieson

💖💖💖💖/5

 

Crossing the Line by Kelly Jamieson is about a shy hockey player and his roommate/teammate’s sister. After receiving an ultimatum about attending a faculty dinner instead of supporting her BFF at a difficult time, Mabel Smits has had enough and finally gets the nerve to leave him. Ending the relationship means she has to leave her librarian job, which she loves, and move in with her twin brother Smitty; unaware that Smitty has offered his spare room to his best friend and ice hockey team mate Ben Antonov while Ben is waiting for his own apartment to become free.

Ben is a leader on the ice, but shy, , socially awkward, and not comfortable speaking up. As one of the players in contention to become the captain next year, but as a introvert he hates speaking to the press, doesn’t know how to handle small talk, and nor feel comfortable speaking up in the locker room. Being his complete opposite Mabel offers to coach him, allowing these two to become closer; awakening feelings from their crushes when they were kids. Mabel agrees to coach Ben with how to talk to others, while Ben noticed that Mabel was no longer her fun, confident, outgoing self. Little by little he gets the story from her, how her ex was controlling and abusive, changing her into the person he believed she should be. While helping each other finding ways to be who they needed to be, their attraction grow. Mabel and Ben support each other, emphasizing their values, and accepting their flaws without judgment. A story that reminds us: you don’t need to change to be accepted, and that imperfection is part of what makes each of us unique.

#NetGalley #Boldwood #CrossingTheLine