Irresponsible Puckboy

Puckboys, Book 2

By: Eden Finley, Saxon James

Narrated by: Iggy Toma, Alexander Cendese

TRIPP

The worst part of being in love with my straight best friend is the fact he’s too oblivious to see it.

Years of pining have left me exhausted, and I need a break from Dex. I need space to get over my feelings. But when his relationship falls apart and he turns to me for comfort, I cave immediately.

If there’s one thing I hate more than being hurt, it’s seeing Dex struggle. I can’t leave him in a time of need, even if my friends say it’s my biggest downfall.

They say Dexter Mitchale is my weakness, but if that’s true, I don’t want to be strong.

DEX

I’ve always been the dumb one. It’s what I’m known for, and usually I don’t let it get to me.

I have hockey, and I have my best friend, Tripp. What more do I need? To settle down? No thank you. Marriage? Hard pass. According to ex-girlfriends, that makes me “irresponsible”.

But the solution I come up with to get over my fear of commitment might be my dumbest idea yet. Not only does it have team management breathing down my neck, but it puts a strain on my friendship with Tripp.

This PR nightmare could lose me the only person I’ve ever loved. Losing girlfriends is nothing. Losing Tripp? It’s not an option.

I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him.

©2022 Eden Finley and Saxon James (P)2022 Eden Finley and Saxon James

Still can't get enough of this series

FINALLLLLLYYYYYY! I have been waiting for Dex and Tripp's book since they showed up midway through Egotistical Puckboy. Literally, the first thing I thought when they appeared on the page was "please tell me theirs is the next book" (and I am so pumped it is!!)

This is an incredible friends to lovers, my straight best friend, hockey romance. There are tropes upon tropes - some twists on fake relationship, marriage of convenience, forced proximity... *dreamy sigh* So much goodness all packed into one book.

My heart hurt so much for Tripp, who's been in love with his best friend Dex basically forever. Dex isn't always the brightest crayon in the box, but he's so dang HAPPY. He reminds me of a golden retriever - you know, the one who thinks it's still a puppy and doesn't realize it's fully grown and thus WAY too big to sit in your lap anymore, haha! The chemistry and tension between them is *delicious,* even when it seems like they're both in entirely different spaces in their heads. Irresponsible Puckboy is fun and flirty, and had me both laughing out loud and ugly crying.

Tripp and Dex's love for each other is fierce, and there are so many small, simple moments that just take your breath away. Take this excerpt, for example:

“I think … I think we need to start looking at us from the outside. If we’re ever going to make our relationships work, maybe we need to --” He takes a breath. “-- stop being so possessive of each other.”

“I’m not possessive!”

“Who do I belong to?”

“Me, but --”

He grins.

“Shut up.”

*dreamy sigh* That's right, Dex. Tripp belongs to you, and don't you let him forget it.

This is the second book in the Puckboys series, and while it can be read as a standalone the first book, Egotistical Puckboy is FANTASTIC and I highly recommend reading it (and reading it first as the leads of the first book are side characters in this one).

Dex and Tripp ❤️❤️

Seriously the best part of this book -
A Post was made on Dex Mitchell’s Twitter feed (unnamed poster) regarding a dare to kiss his best friend and now they are boyfriends.
I listened to this and immediately I thought - yes that’s Teddy - but Dex didn’t say who the poster was.
It was confirmed that the poster was in fact Teddy (TJ Beck from Face Offs and Cheap Shots) sending out his support to a fellow hockey player and a guy who was in love with his best friend.

Friends to lovers trope, what could be better. And these two guys are awesome.

So Pucking Cute!

This had me rolling! Loved the back and forth between Tripp and Dex. Kept me engaged throughout the whole thing finished it in one go. Dex….has a special place in my heart, he’s precious and absolutely hilarious.
A good amount of spice too! 🌶️🌶️🌶️ !

Can never go wrong

Can never go wrong with narration from Iggy Toma and Alexander Cendese. And, of course, a book from Eden Finley and Saxon James. Also, for whatever reason I love hockey romances - which is weird because I don’t care for hockey IRL.

Thought I'd hate this, was so wrong

Even over an hour in, I didnt think Id love this. It was driving me insane how "dumb" Dex was, the faked/forced marriage and had a couple other issues I thought would make me hate this, but I was, thankfully, wrong!

The more you get to know Dex, I started to think that he was like someone who's on the spectrum, NOT dumb. His inability to read facial cues or interpret undertones and high anxiety when asked questions, really had me looking at him more as just someone on the spectrum and not someone who's dumb, and while the author may not have written him that way on purpose, it made me stop being annoyed with him.

These guys are freaking adorable!! Just hang in there if you're questioning whether you're into it or not.

My only real issue with this story, was how long Tripp refused to address/discuss his feelings. It was completely understandable for most of it, but at a certain point Dex was being blatant enough that it started to annoy me Trip didnt even touch on any of his concerns or feelings. Then again, after convincing himself Dex could never love him like that, I got it.

Dex's ignorance of Trips feelings was far more understandable because he literally isnt capable of picking up on undertones. Everything is literal for him. So short of someone saying "I'm totally in love with you" he'd have no clue or way to distinguish his bff being in love with him v just loving him.

Still, it wasnt enough to seriously detract from this story. I really did adore it and both Hs.

Beautiful

I absolutely love this book. I’ve reread it multiple times, it’s my comfort read. Dex is such a beautiful soul and he deserves everything. He and Tripp are one of my favorite couples of all time, the narration on this book is perfection and I loved every second of it.

These books are like coming home

Every story in this series is so fun and sweet and just feel good. I love them all.

Dex and Tripp!!!!

Absolutely loved these two! Dex is super loving and like a puppy. Tripp loves Dex to the point of no return. So funny, cute, and sexy!

Alexander and Iggy

Great story, love this group of men. friends to loves. Hockey romance. The great team of Alexander Cendese and Iggy Toma. love when they narrate together. this book is well worth the credit and your time to listen.

Tripp & Dex

Sigh! I adored Tripp and Dex! In preparation of the third book in this series coming out I treated myself to a revisit of the series to date in audio. Iggy Toma and Alexander Cendese did such an amazing job bringing these two friend’s unlikely love story to voice. I loved how they conveyed the connection they had, and at the same time, their teasing and crazy shenanigans. I enjoyed this I much when I read it, and these two really pulled me back into their story with a fresh perspective. I had loved getting glimpse of these two when I read Anton and Ezra’s story, and I knew these two would get up to something crazy in their way to their HEA. Tripp is hopelessly in love with his best friend, Dex, and is a great sport about Dex’s overly affectionate ways. The Collective tell him he needs to distance himself from his straight bestie to protect his heart, but he’d rather have a hurt heart than miss out on spending time with Dex. Dex is adorably clueless about Tripp’s feelings and doesn’t give second thoughts to hopping into bed for cuddles with his gay bestie. The Collective try to run interference with Dex and Tripp in trying to protect Tripp’s feelings. They turn out to be pretty tone deaf to Dex’s, and I wanted to wrap him up in a big giant hug at points. I was ecstatic when Dex put his foot down to the Collective and told them he’d handle his heart himself. What ensues is these two getting themselves into a situation that neither one of them were prepared for…somehow. Cue PR disasters, old friends we love to visit with, and a DM message that changes Dex’s whole outlook on his bestie. I loved how their story went from friends to lovers as Dex discovered so many new feelings and moments with Tripp. I loved the witty banter, swoony moments and hot AF firsts with these two! They were wonderfully adorable and I so enjoyed their shenanigans and sexy times alike!