Common Sense Media Review
By Victoria Quistgaard
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
A fluffy teen hockey romance with fun, relatable characters.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In RIVAL DARLING, Violet Sinclair discovers that her jock boyfriend, Jeremy, the captain of the Sunshine Saints hockey team, is not the person she believed him to be, so she breaks up with him and vows never to date another jock again. But Jeremy doesn't let go of her so easily. When Violet's car breaks down, Reed Darling suddenly appears to save the day. Later, all three are at the same party together, so Violet takes desperate action to rid herself of Jeremy by starting a "fake" relationship with Reed, the hockey captain of the Ransom Devils and Jeremy's biggest rival. But Violet's "no jocks" rule and rumors about Reed and his brothers, known as the Darling Devils, complicate things. Reed actually likes Violet, and he does what he can to show her that he's not the stereotypical jock. Meanwhile, Violet grapples with the rumors about Reed versus what she actually sees, as her feelings for him grow. In the end, Violet has to decide if she's going to stick to her rules and believe the rumors or not, and Reed has to decide if hockey is still his number one focus or if there's room for love.
Is It Any Good?
This cute and fluffy teen hockey romance is perfect for readers who like easy, cozy love stories. Rival Darling, the first book in the Darling Devils series by Alexandra Moody, is a quick, fun read. The characters are dynamic, and there's plenty of drama and laughs to keep any reader hooked. While the story does touch on topics like rich versus poor and how stereotypes can be harmful, the point of the book is the romance, so it may not be for those who prefer their steamy reads with deeper themes.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the central conflicts in Rival Darling. Jeremy turns out to be manipulative and selfish. In what ways did Jeremy create conflict for Violet? How does Violet handle the conflict that Jeremy causes?
On more than one occasion, Reed is put in a supercharged situation with Jeremy, but he shows great self-control. In what other situations did Reed show self-control? What does this make you think about Reed as a character?
Rumors and stereotypes are a big part of the conflict in Rival Darling. How do the rumors impact Reed's reputation? How does the jock stereotype affect Reed's chances with Violet?
Which conflict(s) bothered you the most, and why? Would you have done anything different, and why?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Friendship , School ( High School ) , Sports ( Hockey ) , Transportation ( Cars & Trucks )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Self-control
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Avon a
- Publication date : April 5, 2025
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 13 - 18
- Number of pages : 416
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : February 27, 2026
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