10/16/2026
Happy Staff Pick Friday! Today's pick is Ari Baran's () Game Misconduct and comes from Gen Dietzel and Lisa Hoffman.
It is no secret that many of our staff members like hockey romances, and when we like an author, we really like them. Ari Baran is one of those authors.
Game Misconduct sets the tone for a gritty, intense series that explores beauty and pain on and off the ice, and Baran depicts how hockey culture affects how these players relate to each other, their masculinity, and their ability to be vulnerable.
This is, by no means, a fluffy romance or a light read. Baran’s hockey romances are great for hockey fans who know how brutal the culture can be. If you are unfamiliar with hockey culture and want a deeper connection to and understanding of these books, we recommend reading Game Misconduct and the other books in the Penalty Box series alongside Rick Westhead’s We Breed Lions.
This title is available on Libby and (finally!) in paperback at our library!