How does Curto’s use of alternating first-person narration create dramatic irony and influence Emmy and Maverick’s characterization?

How does the found family of the D.C. Stars establish its own internal hierarchies and codes of masculine conduct? In what ways do these codes challenge the toxic hypermasculinity often associated with professional athletes?

After researching the 2024 launch of the Professional Women’s Hockey League, how does Face Off function as both a celebration and critique of this cultural moment?

To what extent is Maverick’s violent defense of Emmy against Cole an act of allyship versus a demonstration of masculine possessiveness?

How does Curto use dialogue, from on-ice banter to private confessions, to pace the romantic plot and develop the theme of Vulnerability as the Foundation of Intimacy?

What distinct role do the platonic male friendships, such as those with Grady and Hudson, play in Emmy’s personal and professional development?

If you have read Elle Kennedy’s The Deal (2015), how do both novels use the “friends with benefits” trope to explore vulnerability in elite athlete protagonists?

How does Face Off compare and contrast to Curto’s other novels, such as In Stormy Weather (2026)? What patterns can you identify in her choice of themes and romantic conventions across her work?