Book: Big Stick Energy by Sarina Bowen
Reviewed by Maggie Hayes
Rating: 4.5/5
ARC REVIEW
Big Stick Energy by Sarina Bowen
⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5)
Such a fun and flirty fake-dating workplace romance. The premise alone had me hooked: Darcy, assistant to the GM of the New York Legend hockey team, accidentally sends an extremely thirsty, very NSFW DM to team captain Eric. The best part? They've both secretly been crushing on each other for ages. To save face—and because they're both attending the same wedding—they agree to fake date for the multi-day event.
As they spend more time together, they quickly realize that neither of them is quite who the other thought they were. Darcy is juggling growing feelings for Eric while worrying that a relationship with a player could damage her reputation—or even cost her the job she loves. It gave the romance real stakes without taking away from all the fun.
I absolutely loved Darcy. She keeps the entire hockey team organized, refuses to take crap from anyone (including her demanding boss), and is basically the definition of competency porn. Her obsession with miniature foods had me laughing out loud, and I adored her friendship with Zoe. I'd happily hang out with both of them.
And Eric? Swoon. He comes across as the straight-laced, dependable captain, but underneath is a man with a deliciously dirty streak that I absolutely ate up. More importantly, he's thoughtful, patient, and constantly shows up for Darcy. He never tries to bulldoze his way into her life—he simply keeps proving, through his actions, that she's worth showing up for.
Together, they have fantastic chemistry, effortless banter, and enough emotional depth to balance all the flirting and steam. Watching them go from secret crushes to fake dating to something real was an absolute joy.
Another fantastic Sarina Bowen romance full of humor, heart, and heat.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Forever Publishing for providing an ARC!