Book Review: Season's Change by Cait Nary

Season's Change is the first book in a new series by Cait Nary. Olly Järvinen has a long way to go. He’s got a fresh start playing for a new team, but getting his hockey career back on track is going to take more than a change of scenery. He’s got to shut his past out and focus. On the game, not on his rookie roommate and his annoyingly sunny disposition—and annoyingly distracting good looks. All Benji Bryzinski ever wanted was to play in the big leagues, and he’s not going to waste one single second of his rookie season. Yoga, kale smoothies and guided meditation help keep his head in the game. But his roommate keeps knocking him off track. Maybe it’s just that Olly is a grumpy bastard. Or maybe it’s something else, something Benji doesn’t have a name for yet. Olly and Benji spend all their time together—on the ice, in the locker room, in their apartment—and ignoring their unspoken feelings isn’t making them go away. Acting on attraction is one thing, but turning a season’s fling into forever would mean facing the past—and redefining the future.

Season's Change is a sports romance that talks about and handles mental health with honesty and care. I loved the extreme slow burn of Olly and Benji getting to know each other, and the support they offer each other. I also enjoyed seeing that both of them had issues to face, and the straight forward way those feelings were talked about, along with the symptoms they had to deal with and the tools they harnessed to deal with them. The development of friendship, trust, and more really played out perfectly in the book. The other team mates and bonds there were just as important and well written as the relationship growth between Olly and Benji. I really like that the book takes the time to sort out that some of the trauma Olly caries is from a loving parent that just did things wrong, even though they had good intent. I think that could help readers take a look at their own relationship to see where they could do better in that regard themselves and hopefully spark some needed conversations.  This was a very enjoyable read and I look forward to continuing the series. 

Season's Change is a emotionally satisfying romance with plenty of character growth.