Cold Day in the Sun, by Sara Biren
Goodreads ¦ Amazon
Series?: No
Publisher: Amulet Books
Release Date: March 12, 2019
Length: 320 pages
Source: ARC
Format: Paperback
Times Read: Once
Rating: 1 billion/5
Holland Delviss wants to be known for her talent as a hockey player, not a hockey player who happens to be a girl. But when her school team is selected to be featured and televised as part of HockeyFest, her status as the only girl on the boys’ team makes her the lead story. Not everyone is thrilled with Holland’s new fame, but there’s one person who fiercely supports her, and it’s the last person she expects (and definitely the last person she should be falling for): her bossy team captain, Wes.
What I Liked: I ADORED Sara’s debut The Last Thing You Said, so when I got a chance to read this one, I was like–
Is this more or less funny if you’re familiar with the Legally Blonde musical?
♥ Holland (“Dutch”) is a super strong character who plays hockey with the boys even though there’s a girls’ team. Her coach and her teammates respect her and stand up for her. There is a lot of girl power going on here.
But of course, where there’s girl power, there’s also still sexism and harassment. Holland’s older brothers have always been team captains, so does Holland think she deserves that honor as well, even though she’s a girl? And there is a girls’ team at her school–is she saying she’s too good for them? Most of all, Holland is under immense pressure to not “let everyone down” and “not be a distraction,” because as we all know…
And we must protect their precious male egos at all costs
♥ The developing romance between Holland and Wes (“Hot Sauce”). Holland has had a long-standing rule for herself about not dating teammates (see aforementioned “do not be a distraction”), but there are major sparks between them, and Wes really understands her and gives her space and respect.
“Damn damn damn for breaking my own rule. But then again, fuck that.”
♥ The broken-down car/snowed-in sleepover. Growing up on the east coast, the best part of winter was having sleepovers at friend’s houses and getting snowed in. Slightly different scenario here, since Holland’s brothers are also sleeping at Hot Sauce’s house, but you know.
♥ All the blog love–it was so cool reading about both Holland and her mom’s blogs, and seeing the blogging community in a book!
♥ Holland’s relationship with her brothers. They’re not overprotective, but also don’t treat her like one of the guys. It’s a tricky balance, but they manage it and it’s so nice to see a supportive family dynamic.
What I Didn’t: Literally nothing this was so good.
⊗ More kissing?
Favorite Quotes: ” I want to capture this moment and the way he says my name and bottle it, wear it around my neck, against my skin, close to my heart.”
“Haters gonna hate.”
(So simple, but as the husband will tell you, I say this all the time. Not everyone is going to like you or everything you say, and it’s really none of your business. Haters gonna hate. Has nothing to do with you.)
Pages and Pugs 
I have nothing but love for Biren and this book owned my heart. It had me singing a lot of old hair band songs too.
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I didn’t even get into the music, but it was SO good!!
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