Review of Foolish Puckboy: A Standout in the Puckboys Series
Foolish Puckboy is the fourth installment in the popular Puckboys series, co-authored by Eden Finley and Saxon James. Released on April 13, 2023, this M/M sports romance quickly became a favorite for fans of the "opposites attract" and "found family" tropes. The story centers on Aleksander Emerson, a professional hockey player navigating life after a public divorce and coming out as pansexual, and Gabe Crosby, a grounded firefighter who doesn't even like hockey. Book Summary and Core Tropes
The narrative follows Aleks as he transfers to a new team in Seattle, hoping for a fresh start. After a decade-long marriage, he is inexperienced with the modern dating scene, especially when it comes to men. His life takes an unexpected turn when he meets Gabe during an emergency call-out. While Gabe is looking to settle down and start a family, Aleks is theoretically in his "casual era," though his naturally monogamous nature makes that difficult. Key tropes explored in Foolish Puckboy include:
Opposites Attract: The high-profile life of a pro athlete vs. the service-oriented life of a firefighter.
"Teach Me" / First Times: Gabe guides Aleks through his first experiences with another man.
Found Family: The return of the "Queer Collective"—a group of out hockey players—and Gabe's close-knit firehouse crew.
Fake Dating (with a twist): While not a primary trope, PR-driven "staged dates" create tension in the main relationship. Key Characters Foolish Puckboy -PUCKBOYS 4- by Eden Finley EPUB PDF
Aleksander Emerson: A charming yet insecure Seattle hockey player struggling with public scrutiny and his newly embraced identity.
Gabe Crosby: A compassionate, practical firefighter with a history of family rejection who dreams of fostering teens.
The Queer Collective: Featuring recurring characters like Oskar, Ezra, and Anton, this group acts as a chaotic support system for Aleks. Critical Reception and Reader Opinions
Reviews for Foolish Puckboy have been generally positive, with an average rating of approximately 4 out of 5 stars across platforms like Goodreads.
Praise: Many readers highlight the high levels of chemistry and witty banter. Several reviewers on The StoryGraph noted the "kiss cam" scene as a standout emotional high point.
Criticism: Some readers found the relationship progression slightly rushed or felt the ending involved unnecessary drama. A few reviewers also noted that the plot could feel a bit "low stakes" compared to earlier books in the series. Availability and Formats Review of Foolish Puckboy : A Standout in
The book is approximately 268 pages long and is available through several major retailers:
The story follows Dmitri, a professional hockey player who has a reputation for being a bit of a ladies' man—until he realizes he might actually be looking for a man. Specifically, he’s looking for him.
Enter Cam, a librarian who is strictly anti-sports. He doesn't care about hockey, and he certainly doesn't care about the muscular player who keeps showing up at his library. But Dmitri is persistent. What starts as a quirky crush turns into a secret arrangement. Dmitri needs to keep his bisexuality under wraps for PR reasons, and Cam just wants a quiet life. But as their "no-strings" arrangement heats up, both men realize they are playing a dangerous game with their hearts.
Foolish Puckboy is the fourth book in the Puckboys series by the dynamic writing duo Eden Finley (known for Fake Boyfriend and Mike Bravo Ops) and Saxon James (known for CU Hockey and Never Just Friends). Together, they have created a seamless blend of romantic comedy, forced proximity, and "gay awakening" tropes set against the gritty backdrop of professional hockey.
The Premise: By book four, we have seen the team's superstars fall like dominoes. But this time, the focus shifts to a character fans have been begging for: Gabe "The Rocket" Ricci.
Gabe is the wild card. The flirt. The guy who uses humor to hide his loneliness. He has watched his best friends—Miller, Harley, and Tripp—all pair off. He claims he is happy being the team's resident "puckboy" (a term for a young, attractive hockey groupie, but now reclaimed by the team as a badge of honor). Book Summary and Core Tropes The narrative follows
Enter Alexander "Lex" Bradford. Lex is a retired hockey legend turned sports agent. He is older, grumpy, and completely immune to Gabe’s charm. He is also Gabe's new agent.
What happens when the ultimate party boy decides he wants to settle down with the one man who won't give him the time of day? Chaos. Late-night texts. A relentless chase that forces Gabe to confront his deepest insecurities.
Fans rave that Foolish Puckboy delivers the highest "emotional damage" of the series, mixing Eden Finley’s signature witty banter with gut-wrenching vulnerability.
The Grumpy/Sunshine Dynamic Cam is the ultimate grump. He is perfectly content with his books and his quiet existence. Dmitri, on the other hand, is a golden retriever of a human being—energetic, persistent, and openly affectionate. The clash of personalities creates some of the best banter in the series. Watching Dmitri try to win over the surly librarian is pure entertainment.
The "Secret Relationship" Tension Eden Finley excels at writing "forced proximity" and "secret dating" tropes. The tension of them sneaking around adds stakes to the relationship without making the book feel overly heavy or angsty. The spice level is high, but it’s balanced perfectly with genuine emotional intimacy.
Bisexual Representation One of the strongest elements of this book is how Dmitri’s sexuality is handled. It isn’t a tragedy; it’s a journey. His realization that he likes men—and specifically Cam—is written with care and authenticity. It’s refreshing to see a bisexual character in a sports romance who isn't defined by confusion, but rather by acceptance.