Canadian Boyfriend
Jenny Holiday's "Canadian Boyfriend" takes the beloved childhood fib we all recognize and transforms it into a deliciously complicated adult romance that had me laughing, tearing up, and staying up way too late.
The premise here is both familiar and fresh: Aurora Evans once claimed a random Canadian hockey player she met at the Mall of America was her boyfriend to escape some teenage social pressures. Years later, widower and pro hockey player Mike Martin walks into her dance studio with his daughter—and he's the very same "Canadian boyfriend" from her youth.
Mike Martin isn't just a hot hockey player—he's a grieving widower grappling with uncomfortable revelations about his late wife while trying to be present for his angry, heartbroken daughter. Holiday writes his grief with such nuance, never using it as merely a plot device but as an essential part of who this man is. His gradual opening up to Aurora feels earned.
Aurora won me over with her combination of warmth, insecurity about her teenage lie, and authentic connection with Mike's daughter. Her evolution from dance teacher to unexpected family figure creates genuine emotional stakes that transcend the romantic tension. Aurora becomes a pseudo-nanny for Mike's daughter, creating this tension where we know the revelation is coming but get to enjoy the authentic relationship-building beforehand.
The father-daughter dynamics particularly shine here—Holiday captures the complicated nature of parenting through grief with remarkable sensitivity. The scenes where Aurora helps bridge their communication gap brought unexpected tears to my eyes (fair warning: keep tissues handy!).
If you enjoy romances featuring single parents, characters with genuine emotional baggage, and the delicious tension of hidden histories, "Canadian Boyfriend" should absolutely be your next read. Just be prepared—you might develop a sudden interest in hockey players with Canadian accents! Be warned: this book is a slow burn, but once it catches fire, you'll be scorched in the best way.
Rating: 4/5 Hockey Pucks✨
