Things I should never, under any circumstances ever do: ask my secret crush, aka. the most notorious (reformed) playboy in pro hockey, to take my virginity.
Too bad, I did.
After a string of terrible dates, I did the unthinkable. I propositioned Flip Madden.
Of course, he said no.
It isn’t that he’s almost a decade older than me, or that I’m still in university. It’s because I’m his coach’s oldest daughter. Not to mention my dad would bludgeon him with his hockey stick if he found out. Which he won’t, because it will never happen. And now things are awkward because there’s no going back.
Except Flip is more protective than ever, and his eyes follow me around every room we’re in together. He brings flowers to my recitals and reads all the books I recommend.
Things I should never, under any circumstances ever do: hope Flip Madden might actually want me too.
(ARC Read)
If You Keep Me was everything I wanted for Flip Madden… and somehow even more.
I’ve been impatiently waiting for Flip’s book since the beginning of this series. We’ve watched him play the role of the charming, reformed playboy for years, never fully knowing what was beneath the surface. And wow…this story finally gives us the real Flip. Soft. Vulnerable. Thoughtful. A little emotionally wrecked. Afraid to love because he’s convinced he’s the problem. Watching him stop chasing empty hookups and start believing he deserves something real was beyond every expectation I had.
Tally Vander Zee is the perfect match for him. She’s strong, graceful, funny, and quietly hurting in ways that felt very real. As the coach’s daughter and still in college, she’s completely off limits…but also completely inevitable. Her deciding, after one too many bad dates, to just straight-up ask Flip to take her virginity is awkward, hilarious, and kind of iconic. And his immediate “absolutely not” isn’t rejection—it’s proof that he cares way more than he wants to admit.
“Tallulah Vander Zee is the dream I’ve never dared to let myself have.”
Despite the age gap and forbidden elements, their relationship never feels wrong. It feels intentional and respectful. He hesitates not because he doesn’t want her, but because he wants her too much to risk hurting her. Instead, he shows up. He pays attention. He reads her books. Goes to her recitals. Rents her a dance studio. Protects her heart like it’s the most important thing in the world. Simply, he’s showing her what she deserves.
“The world knows me as Flip Madden, hockey’s bad boy. Only she gets to know my heart.”
The slow burn in this book is unreal. The longing. The looks. The tension. The emotional intimacy before anything physical happens. It all builds so naturally, and when they finally cross that line? Worth. Every. Second. It’s hot, yes—but it’s also tender and emotional.
“I want intimacy with you, Tally. I forgot how good it could feel to share this part of myself with someone.”
I can barely breathe. He’s so earnest, so honest. “I want to guard all your secrets, Phillip. I want to be safe for you, too.”
And can we talk about the communication? Flip actually chooses honesty. He talks to her dad. He doesn’t sneak around. He doesn’t create unnecessary drama. He grows. He learns. He shows up like a changed man. He’s a man who wants for something more than himself, a lifelong partnership with Tally.
Tally is such a great heroine, too. She’s not immature—she’s learning who she is and what she deserves. She learns to ask for what she needs. She learns she deserves to be chosen openly, proudly, and without hesitation. Watching her grow into that confidence was so satisfying. She never feels like a passive heroine; she’s layered, funny, and deeply relatable (the Flip body pillow still makes me laugh).
“I’ve spent years fantasizing about the man in front of me, but nothing I dreamed up comes close to the reality.”
The found family adds so much more to the dynamic of this story. The Toronto Terror crew, Tilton U, the Babe Brigade—it feels like coming home. Connor and Flip’s friendship is pure gold, the sandwich incident will never not be funny, and the constant support from their circle added so much warmth and heart.
But what really got me was the emotional growth. This book doesn’t shy away from fear, self-doubt, media pressure, or the vulnerability of loving someone when you’ve been hurt before. Flip’s past and the truth behind his reputation add so much depth to his character. When he silently begs, “please don’t leave me… please keep me,” I was completely undone.
Flip isn’t just reformed. He’s transformed.
He becomes this incredibly soft, affectionate, devoted boyfriend who just wants real love, real partnership, and real intimacy. And with Tally, he finally lets himself have it.
“If you weren’t already aware, I’m unapologetically obsessed with you.”
As a series finale? It’s everything I could ever want. It’s emotional. It’s funny. It’s swoony. It’s healing. It made me sit there after finishing and just…stare at the wall for a minute because I wasn’t ready to leave these characters. Saying goodbye to this world is so bittersweet, but Helena Hunting gave these characters the send-off they deserved.
If You Keep Me is a must-read, age-gap, coach’s-daughter, friends-to-lovers, slow-burn hockey romance that absolutely delivers.
Flip Madden, the man that you are.
Release Date: March 5th, 2026
Thank you to Helena Hunting for the ARC read!