My rating: 3 of 5 stars
On the whole., Season’s Change is a decent mm sports drama. I wouldn’t call it a romance because the romance between Olly and Benji seems very much secondary to everything else going on. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, just not what I expected. The blurb conveyed more of a romance aspect to me, but that could be my interpretation.
What we get with Cait Nary’s novel is all the hockey. So much hockey. Hockey games, hockey training, hockey positions. Hockey line-ups. Hockey team structure. How hockey relates to everything in these characters’ lives. If you’re a big hockey fan with a good handle of hockey terminology and the rules of the game, you’ll have no problem getting immersed in the story. I have no hockey knowledge and had to stop reading to do some internet research in order to figure out what was happening.
I found both Olly and Benji to be very well developed characters with interesting backstories. Some of the backstories didn’t work for me, such as Olly’s legal issues and Benji’s sister. I did very much enjoy the other characters, especially the other team members. These side characters rounded out the story.
One thing that did bother me was the constant use of “buddy” and “bud” by the hockey players, including Olly and Benji, to refer to one another. Maybe that’s how those guys talk to each other? I dunno.
As this is a series, I’m hoping the next book follows Olly and Benji as they navigate their relationship. The book ends just as they are getting together and I feel like I need more of them as a couple. If the next book follows a different couple, I’m not sure I’ll continue the series.
If you’re looking for a total hockey immersive experience featuring gay/bi characters and a rich supporting cast, I recommend Season’s Change. But, take heed; this is a hockey story secondary to romance.
***Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.***