Helena Hunting returns to her beloved hockey romance universe with “I Could Be Yours,” a standalone novel that explores the treacherous waters between hate and love, past wounds and future possibilities. This grumpy-sunshine, second-chance romance brings together Essie Lovelock, a reformed fairytale fanatic turned makeup artist, and Nathan “Nate” Stiles, an emotionally guarded engineer carrying the weight of childhood abandonment.
The Heart of the Story
The premise is deliciously compelling: six years after ghosting Essie following an earth-shattering kiss, Nate finds himself forced to collaborate with her as best man and maid of honor for his brother Tristan’s wedding to Essie’s best friend, Rix. What unfolds is a carefully orchestrated dance of wedding planning, buried emotions, and the inevitable collision of two people who never properly dealt with their unfinished business.
Hunting demonstrates her mastery of the enemies-to-lovers trope by grounding the conflict in genuine emotional stakes rather than manufactured drama. The tension between Essie and Nate isn’t merely surface-level antagonism; it’s rooted in real hurt, miscommunication, and the fundamental question of whether someone can truly change their capacity for love.
Character Development That Shines
Essie Lovelock: More Than Meets the Eye
Essie emerges as one of Hunting’s most nuanced heroines. Initially perceived as the “hottest girl in school” with a penchant for pink and princess aesthetics, she systematically dismantles every stereotype placed upon her. Her mathematical prowess, organizational genius, and strategic wedding planning reveal a sharp intellect that even Nate, with his engineering background, finds impressive.
Hunting skillfully navigates Essie’s character arc from someone who’s “reformed” from love obsession to someone who’s learned to protect her heart while maintaining her fundamental belief in love’s power. Her journey isn’t about changing who she is but about finding someone worthy of her carefully guarded vulnerability.
Nate Stiles: The Grump with Depth
Nate’s characterization proves more complex than the typical grumpy hero. His “rain cloud personality” stems from genuine trauma—childhood abandonment by his mother and the resulting inability to trust in permanent love. Hunting excels at showing rather than telling his emotional journey, particularly through his interactions with his engineering projects and his meticulous need for order as coping mechanisms.
The author’s decision to put Nate in therapy mid-story adds authenticity to his growth arc. Rather than love magically fixing his issues, Hunting acknowledges that real change requires professional help and sustained effort. This approach elevates the romance beyond fantasy into something more grounded and believable.
Plot Structure and Pacing Analysis
The wedding planning framework provides excellent forced proximity while maintaining plot momentum. Each wedding-related activity serves dual purposes: advancing the romantic tension and deepening character development. The salsa dancing lessons, bridal shower planning, and stag-and-doe organization become vehicles for intimacy and conflict.
However, the pacing occasionally suffers from what might be called “wedding fatigue.” While the endless stream of pre-wedding events creates opportunities for interaction, some readers may find the constant celebration planning repetitive. The middle section, heavy with party logistics and group dynamics, sometimes overshadows the central romantic development.
Writing Style and Voice
Hunting’s prose maintains her signature warmth while incorporating sharper emotional insights. Her dual POV structure allows readers to experience both Essie’s guarded optimism and Nate’s internal struggle with equal depth. The author’s hockey world integration feels natural rather than forced, with the Toronto Terror team providing background texture without overwhelming the central romance.
The dialogue sparkles with authentic banter, particularly in the early antagonistic exchanges between Essie and Nate. Hunting captures the awkwardness of working with someone you’re trying not to want, the careful politeness that barely conceals simmering attraction.
Emotional Depth and Themes
The Power of Professional Help
One of the novel’s strongest elements is its realistic portrayal of therapy as a tool for growth. Nate’s sessions aren’t glossed over or presented as quick fixes. Instead, Hunting shows therapy as difficult, ongoing work that enables rather than replaces personal growth and relationship building.
Family Trauma and Healing
The exploration of how childhood abandonment affects adult relationships adds gravitas to what could have been a lighter wedding romance. Nate’s mother’s reappearance and his family’s collective response provide insight into generational patterns of emotional unavailability.
The Nature of Forgiveness
Essie’s journey toward forgiving Nate while maintaining her boundaries offers a mature take on second chances. The novel suggests that forgiveness doesn’t require immediate trust or the erasure of past hurts—a refreshing approach in a genre that sometimes promotes problematic relationship dynamics.
Critical Analysis
Strengths
The characterization stands as the novel’s greatest achievement. Both protagonists feel like real people with authentic flaws and growth patterns. The supporting cast, particularly the extended hockey family, provides rich background without overwhelming the central story.
Hunting’s handling of consent and communication deserves praise. The physical relationship develops with clear boundaries and ongoing conversation about expectations and feelings. The “friends with benefits” arrangement feels organic rather than contrived.
Areas for Improvement
The wedding planning subplot, while providing structure, occasionally feels overwhelming. Some readers may struggle with the extensive cast of secondary characters, particularly those unfamiliar with Hunting’s previous books in this universe.
The resolution, while satisfying, arrives somewhat quickly after the major conflict. A bit more time spent on rebuilding trust might have strengthened the emotional payoff.
Comparison to Helena Hunting’s Previous Works
“I Could Be Yours” represents an evolution in Hunting’s writing. While maintaining the humor and steam of her “Pucked” series, this novel demonstrates increased emotional sophistication. The trauma handling shows growth from her earlier works, with more nuanced exploration of mental health themes.
Fans of “If You Hate Me” (Tristan and Rix’s story) and Chase Lovett Wants Me will appreciate the seamless continuation of that universe, while newcomers can easily follow the standalone plot.
Heat Level and Romance Elements
The chemistry between Essie and Nate builds beautifully from antagonism to attraction to genuine emotional connection. The intimate scenes are well-integrated into the emotional arc rather than feeling gratuitous. Hunting balances steam with substance, ensuring the physical relationship serves the larger romantic development.
Final Verdict
“I Could Be Yours” succeeds as both a satisfying romance and a thoughtful exploration of healing and growth. While the wedding planning framework occasionally overwhelms the central relationship, the strong characterization and authentic emotional development carry the story.
Hunting delivers a grumpy-sunshine romance that feels fresh despite familiar tropes, largely due to her commitment to character authenticity and realistic relationship development. The novel rewards readers who appreciate emotional depth alongside their romantic escapism.
This book will particularly appeal to readers who enjoy seeing characters do the internal work necessary for healthy relationships, rather than relying solely on love to solve all problems.
Recommended for Readers Who Enjoyed
- “Beach Read” by Emily Henry – For the opposites-attract dynamic with emotional depth
- “The Hating Game” by Sally Thorne – For workplace/forced proximity enemies-to-lovers tension
- “Hook, Line, and Sinker” by Tessa Bailey – For the grumpy-sunshine pairing with family dynamics
- “Game Changer” by Rachel Reid – For hockey romance with mental health themes
- “The Proposal” by Jasmine Guillory – For wedding planning romance with authentic character growth
About the Author’s Hockey Universe
Helena Hunting has created an interconnected world of hockey romances centered around the Toronto Terror team and the broader hockey community. “I Could Be Yours” continues the stories begun in previous novels while standing completely alone for new readers.
Bottom Line
“I Could Be Yours” offers a mature, emotionally intelligent take on second-chance romance. Despite some pacing issues with the wedding planning subplot, Hunting delivers compelling characters, authentic growth arcs, and a satisfying happily ever after that feels genuinely earned. It’s a solid addition to the contemporary romance landscape and demonstrates Hunting’s continued evolution as a storyteller.
- Rating Recommendation: A strong choice for readers seeking character-driven romance with emotional depth and realistic relationship development.
