Briefly pushing aside the many frustrations and annoyance the beginning of the book put me through (to the point I was back to my old ways of using 'strong language' on Goodreads) - pushing past that to say: I believe this is the best book I've read this year.

Frustrations/annoyances? I was caught up in the beginning just trying to figure out age levels and trying to figure out if the author was playing that old trick of using 'fake names' for real things (NAHL for NHL); creating a rival league (again fake) for the NHL; or actually talking about the real life NAHL, which has been around 40+ years and is a junior minor league - and not even the top minor league). Well it down right frustrated me, it did. Eventually I learned that it is a high level pro league, top tier. Not sure if the NHL is supposed to exist in this universe, or not, but there were vibes that the NAHL was relatively new-ish (older than 15 years, at least, but didn't seem to have the real NAHL's 40+ years). ( )

The first in the series. Readers are introduced to Sophie Fournier. Sophie is both young, and new to the team she is joining - becoming the first woman professional hockey player at that level in that league (worded that way as there are comments here or there that indicate that leagues at a similar level, though in Europe, have had professional women hockey players play in them). Not certain if this is supposed to be the top league in North America, but I believe it is supposed to be.

She grew up playing hockey, and it's what she's always wanted to do. Though, she's quite aware of her position in the hockey, and especially in this league she is joining. That of being a woman, playing hockey. Sometimes the first woman people watch/play against. Constantly watched - eagle eyes trained on her to see her make a mistake. And, even when she plays well, she has people talking about how women shouldn't be playing hockey. Both rival fans in the stands, and rivals on the ice want to see her fail (with exceptions). Some of her own teammates want to see her fail. All of this attention on her, when she doesn't want to be known as a female hockey player but as a hockey player, plays a big part in how she interacts with people in public. In the public eye, I mean, when cameras are rolling, when audio recorders are in her face; even when she's just out and about and someone recognizes her.

I've read somewhere around 109 sports books. Vast majority are mysteries. A few are nonfictions. A small number are romances. The smallest category, though, genre? Would be straight up sports books. Ones without a mystery plot line, or a romance. Ones that just focus on sports. And people living their lives. It's interesting to read a straight up sports book, one without the distractions or complications of mysteries or romances.

A good solid hockey story. A good beginning to a series. ( )