Playmaker or Heartbreaker

Content levels

Trigger warnings

Positive tags

Tropes

Themes

Synopsis

A fake date. One bed. Playoffs. Falling for him? Not on the spreadsheet. Playmaker or Heartbreaker is a sweet, dual-POV hockey romcom that keeps the door closed and the delicious sparks wide open. Perfect for fans of Emma St. Claire, Katie Bailey, and Leah Brunner. With no third-act breakup and mild language, expect slow-burn chemistry, emotional healing, and a second chance the whole team can’t wait to press the buzzer for. She needs a clean start. He needs zero distractions. Fake dating the grumpy, off-limits head coach? Not on either of their game plans. Mel Boyd’s new job with the Tahoe West Panthers is supposed to be her fresh start, a place where her sunshine can finally settle. Instead, one family meltdown later, she’s suddenly “dating” Sean Murphy. He’s the team’s grumpy, rule-focused head coach… who also happens to be the man she definitely shouldn’t have kissed. Yep. That happened. Once. Briefly. Disastrously well. Sean is one season away from the Cup, and nothing throws him off his game. Not drama. Not the kind of pull the optimistic new staffer sparks the second she walks into his orbit. She makes him want things he swore off. Not this season. But the league loves their “relationship,” the team won’t stop meddling, and with her constantly in his space, it’s getting harder to pretend the sparks are just for show. Fake dating should be easy. Winning the Cup is hard. Not falling for her? That’s starting to look impossible.