a pucking fun olympics rom com
It is the 2026 Winter Olympics, and the Great Britain women’s hockey team has made it to the show. Ari Shumba had been playing hockey for ten years when she not only made it to the Olympics, but got tapped to be the team captain. Their captain and star player got injured, so now it’s on Ari’s shoulders to lead the team through what could possibly be the biggest games of their lives.
Ari found out about her team member’s injury and her promotion to captain right before New Year’s, so going out with her teammates for one last big night out before getting serious is a big deal. No one else knows yet, not about her being captain or about their team’s star being injured, so Ari is carrying a lot of her shoulders for a fun night out. But she heads out to the brand party with her friends to enjoy the night.
Instead of enjoying the party, however, Ari finds herself on the roof, enjoying some quiet. That’s where she meets photographer Drew Dlamini, who had been hired last minute to take candid shots at the party. Drew is experiencing anxiety of his own. He has dropped out of college to help his family as his grandmother deals with a degenerative illness. And then he meets Ari on the roof.
The two talk for a while, each being transparently honest about the challenges they are facing, sharing far more than strangers usually do. Drew talks about his family and school, and Ari talks about being captain and her toxic ex. They share a kiss at midnight and go their separate ways.
But Drew’s photos from the party draw attention, so he is sent to the Olympics Village to get more of those candid shots he excels at. And Ari is there with her hockey team, trying to avoid her snowboarding ex. But when that feels impossible to her, Ari asks Drew to be her fake boyfriend in exchange for extra access to the hockey team for his photos. Drew agrees, and in between their duties, Drew and Ari pretend to be dating.
And it works. For a few days. But then life’s challenges bubble up, and the chemistry between Ari and Drew heat up. There are secrets, there are betrayals, there is dinner with grandparents, and questions about the future. As their fake feelings turn into real feelings, will Drew and Ari be able to make it a real relationship, or will it end with the winter games?
Skate It Till You Make It is a sweet Olympics rom com about two characters who are trying to figure out where they fit in their teams, their families, and their own lives. They have instant chemistry, which is charming to read, but they also have very real challenges that they face personally and professionally. Since Ari is a female athlete, there is some talk about how they fare in the world of athletics compared to their male counterparts, and it was nice to see her stick up for her team. But it was even better to see her stick up for herself when she felt like no one was watching out for her. I am a big Ari fan.
I listened to Skate It Till You Make It on audio, narrated by Lillie-Pearl Wildman. I thought Wildman did a lovely job with the story, although I did feel like her American accent was just a tiny bit uneven in parts. She has a beautiful voice, and Ari’s parts were strong and confident, and I thought she really drove Rufaro Faith Mazarura’s story. But I had a great time listening to this book. I think anyone wanting to extend their time with the Winter Olympics will enjoy this chance to see behind the scenes and cheer on their favorite women’s hockey team.
A copy of the audio book for Skate It Till You Make It was provided by Macmillan Audio through NetGalley, with many thanks, but the opinions are mine.
