Pucking Strong by Emily Rath Review: A Spicy, Slow-Burn MM Hockey Romance You’ll Fall For
If there’s one series I can’t get enough of, it’s hands down the Jacksonville Rays series by Emily Rath. I just love the banter, the unconventional relationships, the zodiac references, and the strong found family theme that runs throughout the series. I actually love Emily Rath so much that I ended up subscribing to her Patreon—which is how I found myself reading the highly anticipated Pucking Strong before its release.
Now, my tier isn’t supposed to receive early releases of Emily’s books, but she accidentally included my tier in a post about eARCs. I wasn’t expecting to get Pucking Strong early, and Emily quickly clarified the mix-up and apologized, which I really appreciated. But just minutes later, I got an email from BookFunnel saying my eARC was ready. Shortly after, Emily posted to my tier saying she was going to send us the eARC anyway—and I will be forever grateful that she did.
In this Pucking Strong review, I’ll cover the basics and share my thoughts—spoiler-free—and let you know exactly why this book needs to be on your summer TBR.
Oh—and mark your calendars! Pucking Strong releases on July 24th in the UK and August 26th everywhere else.
As always, I highly recommend reading the trigger warnings. Emily Rath is incredibly conscientious when it comes to sensitive content, and there’s a dedicated section at the beginning of the book that outlines potential triggers. It’s a thoughtful touch that I really appreciate as a reader.
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Jacksonville Rays Series Reading Order
First things first: I highly recommend reading the Jacksonville Rays series in order. The main books are interconnected, each following the same timeline but told from different characters’ points of view. As you move through the series, you’ll encounter familiar scenes—but from new perspectives, which adds so much depth to the story and relationships.
In Pucking Strong, we finally get to see how the characters’ relationships have progressed after their books ended, and trust me—it’s worth the wait.
Here’s the correct reading order:
- That One Night (prequel novella)
- Pucking Around
- Pucking Ever After: Volume 1
- Pucking Wild
- Pucking Ever After: Volume 2
- Pucking Sweet (check out my review here)
- Pucking Strong
If purchasing all these books isn’t in your budget, don’t worry—they’re available on Kindle Unlimited! If you’re not already a member, you can start a 30-day free trial here. And the best part? You don’t even need a Kindle device— just download the Kindle app on your phone, tablet, or computer and start reading!
Pucking Strong by Emily Rath
Rating: 
Spice: 
Taylor Swift Songs That Vibes: “Down Bad” – this one is actually on Emily’s playlist at the beginning of the book!
Tropes: Hockey romance, workplace romance, only one bed, marriage of convenience, slow burn, pining, jealousy
Favorite Quote: “I just have this feeling that I’m about to get on this plane and my whole life is gonna change. Do you ever have those moments, Julio? Moments when you just know everything is going to be different?”
What Is Pucking Strong About?
In Pucking Strong, the newest installment in Emily Rath’s internationally bestselling Jacksonville Rays hockey romance series, things take a swoony, spicy, and very unexpected turn—with a fake marriage, a grieving niece, and a whole lot of unresolved feelings.
Teddy O’Connor never imagined he’d see Henrik Karlsson again—much less marry him. It’s been six years since Teddy interned for the Jacksonville Rays, wrapping knees and playing Mario Kart on flights. And it’s been six years since he first laid eyes on Henrik, the Rays’ star forward and, let’s be honest, the owner of his hopeless crush.
Now Teddy’s a doctor, respected in his field, and trying to move on. But when Henrik’s sister passes away and he’s suddenly the guardian of his injured, grieving niece, things spiral fast. He needs help—someone kind, capable, and available immediately. And that someone turns out to be Teddy.
The only way to keep custody? A legally binding marriage. Teddy and Henrik sign the papers in Sweden, move in together, and suddenly they’re playing house for real—with the Rays’ PR team watching their every move.
But here’s the catch: Teddy’s feelings aren’t fake. Not even close. And if he’s not careful, this fake marriage might break his heart for good.
Pucking Strong is a spicy, slow-burn MM hockey romance with workplace tension, emotional depth, and all the found family vibes fans of the Jacksonville Rays series love. For the full experience, start with the prequel novella That One Night —you won’t regret it.
Why You’ll Love This Slow Burn Romance:
- It’s emotional right from the start—Emily’s dedication alone had me tearing up before I even hit chapter one.
- If you’re a fellow water sign or an anxious girly like me, you’re going to feel Teddy in your soul. His overthinking, his big heart, and his desperate need to do right by the people he loves? 100% relatable.
- Henrik is the definition of the strong, silent type—and watching him slowly open up, soften, and find himself through the story is just chef’s kiss.
- The slow-burn tension is absolutely delicious. Teddy has been quietly pining after Henrik for six years, and you’ll feel every longing glance, every awkward moment, every heart-thudding almost kiss like it’s your own crush all over again.
- The fake marriage setup is so well done—high stakes, forced proximity, and all the emotional angst you could want.
- And of course, it wouldn’t be a Jacksonville Rays book without the found family vibes, team banter, and those soft moments that make you want to highlight the whole page.
Final Thoughts
Pucking Strong might just be my favorite installment in the Jacksonville Rays series yet. It’s emotional, spicy, and filled with so much heart. Teddy and Henrik’s story is the kind of slow burn that sneaks up on you and wraps you in a warm hug you didn’t know you needed. I laughed, I teared up, and I found myself highlighting entire pages just to hold onto the soft moments. If you love hockey romance, found family, and characters with big feelings, you’re going to fall hard for this one.
Before You Go…
If Pucking Strong isn’t already on your summer TBR, consider this your sign to add it right now. And if you haven’t started the Jacksonville Rays series yet—what are you waiting for?! It’s absolutely addictive, heart-melting, and full of spice, banter, and love in all its messy, magical forms.
Have you read Pucking Strong yet? Let’s scream about Teddy and Henrik together in the comments!
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