Book: Knocked Sideways by C.A. Gardner
Reviewed by Maggie Hayes
Rating: 3.75/5
Knocked Sideways by C.A. Gardner
⭐⭐⭐¾ (3.75/5)
I enjoyed Remy and Jed's quiet, pining love story. It's a relatively low-angst, age-gap hockey romance between rookie defenseman Remy and goalie Jed, who becomes his mentor and roommate when Remy is traded to Jed's team.
Remy is adorable and SO tongue-tied around Jed, his teenage (and adult) crush. He gets ridiculously flustered, with lots of cute blushing and stammering. I loved every time someone called out his obvious heart eyes. He's such a golden retriever, bringing joy into Jed's life. He's also incredibly close with his younger sister, Lily, and feels a strong responsibility to take care of her.
Jed quickly falls for Remy and all his adorableness. I love how deeply he cares for Remy, almost in awe that someone like Remy could have feelings for someone like him—a little grumpy, kind of a loner, older, and settled in his ways. He's a natural caretaker, focused on protecting Remy and making him happy. But he doesn't want to rush him into a serious relationship before he's ready, determined to take his time and make sure they have something real before putting a label on it.
Their romance is a slow burn full of tender moments, with more passionate kissing and reverence than outright spiciness (though we get that, too). I especially appreciate that they have mismatched sex drives, something we don't see nearly enough in romance, and it isn't treated as an obstacle. Despite some third-act challenges, it's clear to everyone that Remy and Jed genuinely love each other.
The side characters were ALL STARS here. Remy and Lily have excellent sibling banter, and I love how she encourages him to put his own dreams first. Teammates Hal, Petey, and Jake were also standouts. Hal, the team captain, low-key orchestrates Remy and Jed's romance, encouraging Jed to spend time with Remy and offering sage advice to both of them.
And Petey and Jake? Those two were giving me VIBES. Maybe it's just me, but their dynamic didn't feel entirely like a best friend/roommate situation. I'm especially excited that Jake's book is next because I need more of him.
Thank you to the author and The Author Agency for providing an ARC!