Rival Darling
My review of Rival Darling by Alexandra Moody — a YA hockey romance with fake dating, rivals, and a hero who will absolutely wreck you.
BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
8/29/20262 min read
Rival Darling by Alexandra Moody
5⭐️ | 0🌶️ (young adult)
After catching her hockey-star boyfriend making out with another girl, Violet swears off jocks for good. Luckily for her, the guy saving her from would could have been a very embarassing moment with her ex, and soon to be her fake boyfriend, is Reed Darling—the captain of her ex's rival team and notorious bad boy (a darling devil).
My thoughts
I absolutely loved this book 🩷🏒 Let me set the scene. Violet's boyfriend—captain of her school's hockey team, beloved by everyone—cheats on her. At a party. In front of people. And somehow, everyone still sees him as the golden boy (WTF!)
Enter Reed Darling.
He's the rival captain. The one with the reputation, the rumors, the intimidating presence on and off the ice. And he's the only person who sees Violet's ex for exactly what he is (him and me that is) 👀
That dynamic hooked me immediately. While everyone else is busy excusing her ex's behavior because he's the school's hockey star, Reed is the one who actually shows up for her. He makes her feel safe. He makes her feel seen. And he does it all while trying not to scare her away — because Violet has made it very clear she is never dating a jock again.
Which, of course, is exactly what makes this so good 😏
What I loved most was the way Reed handles his feelings for Violet. He wants her from day one (that much is obvious). But he has to find ways to show her who he really is without pushing too hard. The restraint? The slow moments of trust? Absolutely wrecked me 💔
And Violet isn't just sitting around waiting to be convinced. She's sharp, she's stubborn, and she keeps very high walls around her.
I also loved how naturally the hockey culture is woven into the story. It's not just a backdrop. It's part of the rivalry, part of the tension, part of why their relationship feels so impossible. The school rivalries, the town politics, the weight of reputation, it all adds layers.
This is a YA sports romance, so there's no spice, but honestly? It didn't need it. The tension and emotional stakes did all the heavy lifting, and the teenage angst hit in the best possible way 🥹
If you're looking for a hockey romance with fake dating, a swoony bad-boy-who-isn't-actually-bad hero, and the kind of slow burn that makes you want to scream into a pillow, Rival Darling is absolutely worth picking up 🏒✨
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