We chat with debut author Lexi LaFleur Brown about Shoot Your Shot, which is a sexy rom-com and big-hearted love story, perfect for sports romance fans, especially those who loved Icebreaker and Pucking Wild.
Hi, Lexi! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I ran a marathon having only signed up for the race a week prior, I accidentally ended up in a national chocolate bar commercial, and I’ve gone viral online more times than I can count for making hilariously embarrassing jokes. I guess what I’m trying to say is, I’m not the type of person who’s afraid to go for it. I’m a former NHL hockey wife with a PhD and a debut novel coming out because just like my book’s title, I’ve never been scared to shoot my shot.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
In middle school, I interviewed a local heavy metal band, and the article was published in a local zine next to a how-to guide on turning everyday household objects into smoking paraphernalia—iconic behavior at eleven.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The literature masterpiece that is, The Adventures of Mary Kate and Ashley: Green Ghost.
- The one that made you want to become an author: I’ve had it in my mind that I wanted to write a book ever since I found out S.E. Hinton wrote The Outsiders when she was just sixteen.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Forever haunted by the miscommunication of Connell and Marianne from Normal People by my fav, Sally Rooney.
Your debut novel, Shoot Your Shot is out March 11th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Hockey, funny, tender, queer, and lucky.
What can readers expect?
An honest love story between two flawed characters doing their best, set in the exciting and sexy world of professional hockey. Oh, and the occasional unhinged hockey superstition.
Where did the inspiration for Shoot Your Shot come from?
A lot of it came from my time as an NHL hockey girlfriend and wife. I know a thing or two about falling for a professional hockey player and the ups and downs that come with that type of relationship. But also, my love for the game of hockey and my own history with the sport very much inspired my writing.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I had the most fun with my side character, Anna. I have a lot of friends who work in the NHL, and she is my tribute to them. In my book, Anna is the team’s marketing manager and while real NHL employees must always act with the utmost professionalism, she does and says whatever the hell she wants while still getting the job done.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
I worry people might think these characters are based on real people, and while some events, jokes, and personality traits are taken directly from my experience as a hockey WAG, the story and its characters are all fictional. People will interpret this book as they choose, and I’m cool with that.
This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
In 2015 I wrote down a list of hefty life goals for myself. At the bottom of that list, I started to write “write a book,” but only got halfway through the sentence before crossing it out. Luckily, I still wrote it down. So, it’s written just below a scratch of scribbles. Eventually, it was the last thing on my list to try. I wrote, I queried, I went on submission, and I sold my book. It’s been a whirlwind romance. I still have that list! It’s framed in my office.
What’s next for you?
Hockey romance book #2 is coming in 2026! If the theme of Shoot Your Shot is luck, then the theme of this next one is revenge (but make it sexy, obviously).
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?
Emily Henry’s Great Big Beautiful Life, Liann Zhang’s Julie Chan is Dead, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Dream Count. Oh, how I love women!
