Originally self-published in 2022, Becka Mack’s contemporary sports romance Consider Me became a viral sensation with TikTok’s BookTok community before being re-released in 2024. The novel is the first installment in Mack’s Playing for Keeps hockey romance series. The novel follows Carter Beckett, the arrogant playboy captain of the Vancouver Vipers hockey team. His world is turned upside down when he meets Olivia Parker, a schoolteacher who firmly rejects his advances. Determined to win her over, Carter is forced to confront his public persona and the complicated past that created it. The narrative explores themes including The Performance of Public Identity Versus Private Self, Vulnerability as the Foundation for Emotional Intimacy, and Navigating Trust in the Face of a Complicated Past.

This guide refers to the 2024 Slowburn/Zando paperback edition.

Content Warning: The source material and guide feature depictions of death, emotional abuse, graphic violence, cursing, sexual content, and substance use.

Plot Summary

Carter Beckett, the captain of the Vancouver Vipers hockey team, is in his condo with a model named Lacey. They have sex, and he quickly dismisses her afterward, reinforcing his strict “no sleepovers” rule. Later, his best friend and teammate, Emmett Brodie, teases him, predicting that one day a woman will enter his life and completely upend his world.

A few days later, Carter and his teammate Garrett Andersen arrive late to a surprise birthday party for Cara, Emmett’s girlfriend. Cara is best friends with Olivia Parker, and both Cara and Emmett warn Carter to stay away from Olivia, fearing he will break her heart. Despite their warnings, Carter is immediately captivated when he sees Olivia dancing. He approaches her at the bar, but his reputation and crude pick-up lines fail to impress her. Olivia, who reveals that she played hockey for 15 years, tells him she does not do one-night stands. This rejection is a new experience for Carter.

The next day, Olivia and Cara discuss Carter over coffee before heading to Cara and Emmett’s apartment. Olivia is surprised to find that Carter is also there. The dynamic between Carter and Olivia is tense but flirtatious. Before Olivia leaves, Carter offers her his personal phone number, a gesture he claims is exclusive to her. Olivia rejects him once more and slams the door in his face.

Undeterred, Carter continues his pursuit. When Olivia and Cara go to a Vipers game, Carter spots her in the stands. He gets her attention and tells her he will score a goal for her. He follows through on his promise, pointing directly at Olivia after scoring and mouthing “For you.” Her face is broadcast on the Jumbotron, much to her embarrassment. In a post-game interview, he publicly mentions her name. At a bar later, Carter challenges Olivia to dance with him, and she accepts.

Carter apologizes for embarrassing Olivia, and a genuine connection begins to form between them. He asks her to get food with him, making it clear that it is not an invitation back to his place. She agrees, but when she returns from the bathroom, she sees another woman with Carter and leaves without a word.

A few days later, at a team charity event, Carter confronts her about leaving. She confronts him about the other woman, but he explains that women frequently approach him and insists that he did nothing. He convinces her to stay at the event, where she meets his teammates, Adam Lockwood and Garrett Andersen. Olivia agrees to attend the team’s New Year’s Eve party, insisting it is not a date, though Carter playfully declares that it is.

When Olivia arrives at the party, she discovers it is at Carter’s house. When she asks him about the condo, a nearby Garrett accidentally reveals that Carter uses the condo for casual hookups. Carter explains that Olivia is the first woman who is not family or a friend’s girlfriend that he has ever invited to his actual home. During a game of beer pong, Carter bets a midnight kiss against Olivia agreeing to a movie date to see Frozen II. Olivia, an expert player, wins the game, and they make a plan to go to the movie. Carter grows jealous watching Garrett flirt with Olivia throughout the night.

Later, Carter corners Olivia to talk. He admits he has a crush on her, and she confronts him about his sex life. He tells her he has not slept with anyone since they met. She expresses her fear that he is not serious about a relationship, but he asks for a chance.

As midnight approaches, Carter asks to kiss Olivia. They share a passionate kiss, and he later overhears her telling Cara she is falling for him. She disappears from the party, and he finds her asleep on his balcony. She agrees to a sleepover, with Carter promising to sleep in a separate room. Back in his bedroom, Olivia reveals she has only had sex with two people and only sleeps with people she cares about. The tension escalates, and they have sex for the first time.

The next morning, Olivia’s insecurities are triggered when she sees a tabloid article about Carter’s “conquests.” Panicked, she tries to leave, claiming their night together was a drunken mistake. Carter realizes she saw the article and is running away out of fear. As she leaves, heartbroken, he gives her a Christmas present, a custom lanyard for her school ID.

During their subsequent separation, Carter is miserable on a team road trip. Olivia, encouraged by Cara, realizes she acted out of fear and decides to give Carter a chance. Emmett texts her that Carter is still going to their movie date alone. Olivia surprises him by showing up, and they talk afterward, agreeing to date and take things slow to build trust.

On their first official date, they are ambushed by paparazzi and later meet Carter’s elderly friend, Hank, with whom Olivia bonds. Carter takes Olivia skating and tells her the story of how Hank saved him from driving drunk on the night his father died. When Olivia’s furnace breaks, Carter has a new one installed as a gift. Afterward, he asks her to be his official girlfriend, and she says yes. On his birthday, which is also Valentine’s Day, Carter is on a road trip but showers her with gifts before flying home to surprise her.

During a game, an opposing player, Lucas Daley, makes crude remarks about Olivia, and Carter gets into a fight to defend her. After the game, Adam’s girlfriend, Courtney, propositions Carter, but he rejects her. Another woman, set up by Courtney, also propositions him, just as Olivia returns from the bathroom.

Upset, Carter takes Olivia to his downtown condo. Being in his former hookup spot triggers Olivia’s insecurities, and they fight. He refuses to let her leave while upset, insisting they go to his house to work through it together. They reconcile, and Carter admits that he is scared of his feelings. Later that night, while she sleeps, he whispers that he thinks he loves her.

Soon after, Carter tells Olivia he loves her, and she reciprocates. He meets her family, and Carter asks Olivia to move in with him. She agrees. They visit his father’s grave together for the first time since the funeral, and Carter reveals that he sold the downtown condo months ago. The Vipers win the Stanley Cup, and Carter brings Olivia onto the ice to celebrate.

After the celebration dinner, Carter’s phone goes missing. Courtney returns it to him and reveals that she has accessed a folder of intimate photos of Olivia. She threatens to release them. Paparazzi photos surface of Carter entering a hotel with Courtney and another woman. Olivia, who went home earlier, waits up anxiously for him.

The next morning, Carter comes home distraught. He admits he went to the hotel room but is unable to explain why, leading Olivia to believe he cheated. Heartbroken, she leaves. Carter, devastated, confides in Hank and his teammates, revealing Courtney’s extortion scheme. He tells Olivia that he was trying to protect her and asks for time to fix the situation. She agrees to wait while he files a police report. A few days later, he finds her crying on their porch. He explains the full story, and the police arrive to inform them that Courtney and her accomplice are in custody. Carter and Olivia fully reconcile.

At Cara and Emmett’s wedding, Carter gives a heartfelt best man speech about how Olivia taught him about true love. During the reception, instead of tossing the bouquet, Cara hands it directly to Olivia, who turns to find Carter on one knee. He proposes, and she says yes. The next day, he reveals he has already arranged venue appointments for their fall wedding.

Months later, Carter and Olivia are married. During the reception toast, Carter places a hand on Olivia’s stomach and accidentally reveals to all their guests that she is pregnant.