The Penalty Shot

I started listening to *The Penalty Shot* while folding laundry, expecting a light fling of a romance—something to keep my hands busy and my mind distracted. Instead, I found myself parked in my car for an extra 20 minutes after my errands, refusing to pause the audiobook until Emma finally let Cole get close enough to break her rules. Daniela Acitelli’s performance as Emma is a masterclass in restraint; she makes every hesitation feel like a physical weight, especially in the quieter moments when Emma’s past threatens to derail her future. Alex Kydd, meanwhile, nails Cole’s effortless confidence, but it’s when he dials it back—when he’s vulnerable, or when he’s just trying to learn the rules of Emma’s world—that his narration truly shines. The production is crisp, with zippy hockey game montages that immerse you in the action without overpowering the quieter domestic scenes. If I have one critique, it’s that a few side characters blur together (Emma’s ex, for instance, could’ve used more dimensionality to contrast Cole effectively), and the final act’s resolution leans a bit too neat—like a well-executed power play where the crowd still wants to see the next shift. But these are minor quibbles in an otherwise addictive listen. By the time Cole sweeps Emma off her feet mid-argument over chore charts, you’ll be checking your calendar to see when you can squeeze in a re-listen.