Contract Season

About This Audiobook

Cait Nary’s *Contract Season* isn’t just another fake-dating romance—it’s a razor-sharp, emotionally layered duel between ambition and vulnerability, set against the high-stakes worlds of pro hockey and country music. Brody Kellerman, a defenseman nursing a broken heart and a bruised ego, and Luke “Wild” Wilder, a rising star with a reputation to clean up, strike a deal that’s equal parts PR stunt and personal reckoning. What elevates this beyond trope is Nary’s knack for writing characters who feel like real people: flawed, competitive, and achingly self-aware, even when they’re lying to themselves.

The dual narration by Jon Waters and Javi Wilder is a masterclass in contrast—Waters delivers Brody’s gruff, guarded intensity with a hint of dry humor, while Wilder’s Luke oozes charm but cracks under pressure, his Southern drawl tightening when the facade slips. The audiobook thrives on their chemistry, turning even throwaway lines (like Brody’s muttered *‘Christ, you’re exhausting’* or Luke’s smug *‘Darlin’, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet’*) into electric moments. It’s the rare romance where the fake relationship feels more *real* than the real ones around it—until, of course, it isn’t."

"review": "I’ll admit: I rolled my eyes at the ‘hockey player + country singer’ premise. But *Contract Season* won me over in the first chapter—not with grand gestures, but with the way Brody’s defensive posture (both on the ice and in his love life) clashes with Luke’s performative swagger. Nary writes banter that *snaps*, and the audiobook’s dual narration sells it perfectly. Jon Waters’ Brody is all gravel and repressed sighs, the kind of guy who’d rather take a slap shot to the face than admit he’s lonely. Javi Wilder, meanwhile, makes Luke’s charm feel effortless *and* calculated—you can hear the exact moment his voice drops from ‘stage persona’ to ‘oh shit, I actually like this guy.’

The pacing is where this shines: no drawn-out angst, just a tight, 10-hour sprint of witty text chains, steamy tension (the *‘accidental’* shared hotel room scene is *chef’s kiss*), and a slow-burn emotional unraveling. My only gripe? The secondary characters sometimes feel like caricatures—Brody’s ex is a one-note villain, and Luke’s manager’s Southern-fried scheming borders on cartoonish. And while the hockey scenes are vivid, the country music backdrop occasionally fades into wallpaper. But the core relationship? Flawless. The narration makes even silent beats land—like the pause before Brody says *‘I don’t do relationships’* for the third time, or Luke’s laugh turning hollow when he realizes he’s in over his head. If you love enemies-to-lovers with bite, narration that *performs* the subtext, and a fake relationship that’ll have you yelling *‘JUST KISS ALREADY’*—this is your audiobook."

"tags": [
"fake-dating romance with bite