Heart Check
Heart Check by Emily Charlotte, published by Margaret K. McElderry Books on November 18, 2025, is a young adult contemporary novel that explores the dynamics between a star hockey player and his biggest critic. Set against the backdrop of their after-school job at a diner, the story delves into their contrasting passions—hockey for Luke Dawson and jewelry-making for Harper Braedon. As they navigate their shared environment, their preconceived notions about each other are challenged, leading to unexpected developments.
In this engaging narrative, readers will find themes of coming of age and romance intertwined with the pressures of sports and artistic expression. The story unfolds as Dawson grapples with the fallout from his hockey coach’s firing, while Harper faces the repercussions of being wrongly accused. As they are forced to work together, the tension between them escalates, prompting a reevaluation of their assumptions. With 304 pages of relatable experiences and character growth, Heart Check offers a thoughtful look at how misunderstandings can evolve into understanding.
Official synopsis Publisher
A star hockey player and his biggest critic must reexamine their assumptions about each other when forced to work together at an after-school job in this feel-good young adult rom-com debut about breaking the ice.
Luke Dawson and Harper Braedon could have been friends. They trade shifts at the same diner, share classes at school, and are driven by their greatest passions: hockey for Dawson and jewelry-making for Harper. But some things aren’t meant to be. Dawson thinks Harper is stuck-up, too good for anything resembling school spirit. Harper thinks Dawson is a self-centered jock, a perfect fit for a hockey team that seems to absorb all the budget away from the arts departments.
When his beloved hockey coach gets fired for misallocation of funds, Dawson is terrified that all his plans for impressing scouts are vanishing before his eyes. A rumor goes around that Harper was the one who got him fired, and suddenly she’s public enemy number one.
But even with their mutual dislike at an all-time high, Harper and Dawson can’t escape splitting shifts forever. Can forced proximity help them find some common ground, or will long-held grudges finally succeed in bringing them both down?
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