She writes love stories for a living. He doesn’t believe in love.
When a terrible case of writer’s block has her career on the line, bestselling romance author Jade Wilson needs inspiration—and fast. If she can’t find a new muse soon, the publishing deal she’s about to secure is off the table. With her deadline approaching, Jade thinks she’s out of options, until she runs into him.
The only thing Matteo “Matty” Ford commits to is being the best player on the ice. He’s the type of guy to visit your bedroom, but never your family. He dates, but not for love, and with his team on a losing streak, he knows he can’t afford any distractions.
Until his teammates suggest that maybe he’s the reason behind their dry spell. Since he’s sworn off romance, he hasn’t scored a single goal.
And now, he’ll do anything to turn that around.
Enter The Plot Pact. Matty offers to help Jade with research for her new book while she becomes his carefully controlled distraction. It’s temporary, strategic, and it comes with one ironclad rule: no falling in love.
But as the season unfolds, the lines between research and reality blur. She’s writing the best story of her career, his team is on fire, and the chemistry between them becomes impossible to ignore.
What began as a calculated decision becomes dangerously real. Now they have to decide: was it all just for the plot or are they ready to risk everything for a chance at something real?
“Oh my God, it’s a plot, pact.”
There’s something about The Plot Pact that just clicks from the very beginning, and a huge part of that is Matteo and how fully, unapologetically invested he is in Jade and her writing. The fact that this man not only respects her career but actively hypes it up (getting his hockey teammates to read her books??) was already enough to win me over. But then he becomes her muse and absolutely thrives in that role? Yeah, I was done for.
“Because you’re like the sun. You shine brighter than everyone else around you. I know if I get too close, I’m bound to be burned.”
What starts as a mutually beneficial arrangement—her needing inspiration, him needing a distraction—very quickly turns into something neither of them planned for. And even though they really try to keep things controlled, you can feel the shift happening in all those small, quiet moments. The late-night conversations, the way they start opening up without realizing it, how they begin to know each other better than anyone else… it never feels rushed or forced. It just builds.
“Matteo Ford is under my skin and I think that’s exactly where I want him to be.”
And when they finally give in? Worth it. Completely. The chemistry between Jade and Matty is unreal. It’s playful, sharp, and just the right amount of tension. Jade’s sass is top-tier, and Matteo’s flirting? Dangerous. The kind that makes you grin like an idiot while reading. Their relationship progression felt natural, grounded in honesty and communication, which made everything hit that much harder.
“I lied when I said one taste. One taste was never going to be enough.”
I also really loved how their fears were handled, especially Jade’s hesitation around his past. It felt real, not overdramatized, and Matteo stepping up to reassure her (and being the one to say “I love you” first) was such a satisfying moment. He might have started off as the “no feelings” guy, but watching him fall, and fall hard, was easily one of the best parts of the book.
And let’s talk about the intimacy for a second, because it wasn’t just there for heat—it added depth. The fact that their “firsts” with each other carried so much trust and vulnerability gave their connection an extra layer that made everything feel more meaningful. He’s soft for her in a way that feels genuine, but still fiercely protective when it matters.
“I know her blue eyes and those freckles scattered like constellations are going to haunt me.”
Beyond the romance, this book just feels fun. The banter is quick and genuinely funny, the found family vibes are strong (the hockey team book club, talk about obsessed), and the structure, like the quotes at the start of each chapter tying back to Jade’s writing, adds such a clever, immersive touch.
At its core, this is a story about vulnerability, about letting someone see you fully, and about taking a risk on something real even when it terrifies you. It’s lighthearted, addictive, a little spicy, and packed with heart, the kind of book you pick up for fun and end up getting way more emotionally invested in than you expected.