Pucking Wild by Emily Rath Summary

Pucking Wild by Emily Rath is a reverse age-gap hockey romance following 33-year-old Tess Owens, a corporate attorney escaping an abusive marriage, and 22-year-old NHL star Ryan Langley. When Tess flees to Jacksonville and unexpectedly becomes Ryan's roommate after his injury, their undeniable chemistry evolves into a tender, healing love story that defies public scrutiny and personal trauma while exploring themes of second chances and chosen family.

Pucking Wild is perfect for readers who love emotionally charged sports romances with mature themes, age-gap dynamics, and found family elements. This book appeals to fans of spicy hockey romances, stories featuring plus-sized heroines, and narratives centered on healing from emotional abuse. Readers seeking slow-burn relationships with depth, vulnerability, and empowering character growth will find this installment particularly compelling.

Pucking Wild is worth reading for its authentic portrayal of trauma recovery and emotional connection between lead characters. The novel balances spicy romance scenes with meaningful explorations of healing, self-empowerment, and unconditional support. Many readers consider it the strongest entry in the Jacksonville Rays series, praising the genuine emotional depth between Tess and Ryan and how their relationship develops through vulnerability rather than superficial attraction.

Emily Rath is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author known for her Jacksonville Rays hockey romance series and fantasy novels. Raised in Northern Kentucky, she holds PhDs in Political Science and Peace Studies from the University of Notre Dame and is a former university professor specializing in African politics. Her spicy, queer-inclusive romances gained massive popularity on BookTok, with the Jacksonville Rays series selling over 150,000 copies in 2023.

Pucking Wild features an 11-year reverse age gap, with 33-year-old Tess Owens and 22-year-old Ryan Langley as the romantic leads. This unconventional dynamic challenges traditional romance tropes by positioning the woman as older and more experienced. The novel explores how their relationship defies societal expectations and external judgment, emphasizing that genuine connection transcends conventional age norms and that emotional maturity matters more than chronological age.

Pucking Wild explores emotional healing from abuse, with Tess reclaiming her autonomy after escaping a toxic marriage. The novel examines redefining love beyond societal norms through the age-gap relationship, the transformative power of chosen family through the Rays hockey team, and navigating public scrutiny while protecting private authenticity. Additional themes include:

• Personal reinvention
• Self-empowerment
• Vulnerability as strength
• Second chances at love and life

Tess Owens is a 33-year-old confident, plus-sized corporate attorney rebuilding her life after surviving emotional abuse from her estranged husband Troy. Ryan Langley is a 22-year-old NHL forward for the Jacksonville Rays navigating recovery from injury, fame, and his own emotional scars. Their characters represent contrasting life stages united by shared vulnerability, with Tess learning to trust again while Ryan demonstrates unwavering support and emotional maturity beyond his years.

Pucking Wild can be read as a standalone, though reading Pucking Around first enhances the experience. The first book follows Rachel, Tess's best friend, establishing the Jacksonville Rays world and supporting characters. While Pucking Wild focuses entirely on Tess and Ryan's relationship with its own complete arc, familiarity with the team dynamics and Rachel's story provides richer context for Tess's journey and her existing friendships within the series.

Pucking Wild authentically portrays trauma recovery by showing Tess's non-linear healing journey from her abusive marriage to Troy. The narrative depicts her struggles with fear, guilt, and self-doubt alongside empowering milestones of reclaiming autonomy and self-worth. Rather than quick fixes, the book emphasizes how vulnerability, self-forgiveness, and supportive relationships facilitate organic recovery, ultimately transforming Tess from viewing herself as a victim to embracing her identity as a survivor.

The chosen family theme in Pucking Wild centers on how the Jacksonville Rays hockey team becomes Tess's surrogate family, providing unconditional love and support. Initially isolated and emotionally scarred, Tess gradually builds a supportive network with Rachel and Ryan's teammates who create a safe haven where she can be vulnerable without judgment. This theme emphasizes that transformative relationships are defined by shared experience, mutual respect, and understanding rather than biological ties.

Troy, Tess's abusive ex-husband, serves as the primary antagonist who continues manipulating and gaslighting Tess throughout their difficult separation. He hires someone to spy on Tess and Ryan because he refuses to let her move on with another man. The conflict escalates when Troy stalks them at a public event and threatens both to force them to end their relationship, highlighting the ongoing struggle abuse survivors face even after leaving toxic relationships.

Pucking Wild examines the tension between public personas and private lives through Ryan's NHL celebrity status and Tess's public scandal from her abusive marriage. Both characters face intense media scrutiny and judgment—Ryan for his every move as a professional athlete, and Tess for her past and association with a younger, famous partner. The novel explores how they learn to prioritize their authentic relationship over external expectations while navigating the challenges of maintaining intimacy under constant public observation.