Weak Side by S.J. Sylvis

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

He’s the hottest hockey player in the nation, and I just agreed to be his fake girlfriend.

Theo Brooks is hard not to notice. With his coy smirk, rock-hard abs, and skilled agility on the ice, he’s the cockiest of all the jocks and, unfortunately for me, my new roommate.

When Admissions mixes up my first and last name and I end up living in the male dorms, I feel my perfectly tied schedule loosening with every string Theo pulls. And he likes to pull every single one.

It isn’t until I find out that my long-time boyfriend is sampling other girls that things get interesting. Theo proposes a solution to my problem—he helps me make my ex jealous, and I help him fend off the relentless puck bunnies that are doing nothing but distracting him from sealing his future with the best NHL team there is.

So, we fake date. We kill two birds with one stone.
The puck bunnies think he’s taken.
My ex is regretting his poor choices.

But the more Theo Brooks shows up by my side and places his hand around my waist, the more I realize that the lines we drew are blurring.

This may have started out as a fake-dating scheme, but with each misleading kiss, we may both get more than we bargained for.

Weak Side is a spicy fake dating/forced proximity college sports romance. It is a complete stand-alone.

Accidentally Roommates, Obviously in Trouble

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 🩷💚❤️💙
Spice/Steam: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 😋🙂😁😛🥰
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Dual Narration

Character backgrounds and Plot Summary

In Weak Side, S.J. Sylvis builds a college sports romance around two very different personalities forced into close quarters.

Claire is starting fresh at Bexley University, hoping for a clean slate and a typical college experience. Instead, a housing mix-up lands her in a sports dorm room with Theo, the campus hockey star. Claire is relatable and grounded. She arrives with a boyfriend back home, only to quickly discover he has been cheating on her. That betrayal becomes a turning point, pushing her to reevaluate both her relationship and her own self-worth.

Theo is the opposite of Claire in almost every way. He is confident, disciplined, and hyper-focused on hockey. As one of the most popular guys on campus, he constantly deals with attention from “puck bunnies” who are more interested in his status than who he actually is. Beneath that exterior, Theo is more controlled and thoughtful than expected, especially when it comes to protecting his goals and reputation.

Their situation evolves into a classic fake dating setup. Theo proposes that he and Claire pretend to be in a relationship to keep other girls away from him, while also helping Claire make her cheating ex jealous. What begins as a convenient arrangement slowly shifts as they develop real chemistry, emotional vulnerability, and a deeper understanding of each other.

Highlights and Limitations

One of the strongest highlights is the forced proximity and fake dating trope combination. The shared dorm room creates natural tension, humor, and intimacy without feeling overly contrived. Watching Claire and Theo navigate boundaries while pretending to be a couple adds a steady build of romantic tension.

The character development is another strength. Claire’s arc from hurt and insecure to more self-assured feels satisfying. Theo’s growth is quieter but just as important, especially as he learns to let someone in without losing focus on his ambitions. Their dynamic balances emotional moments with lighter, playful interactions.

The college hockey setting also adds energy to the story. It gives Theo a clear identity beyond just being the love interest, and it grounds the plot in something structured and competitive.

As for limitations, the premise leans heavily on familiar romance tropes. Readers who are well-versed in sports romance will likely predict many of the story beats early on. The cheating ex storyline, while effective, does not offer much nuance and serves more as a catalyst than a fully developed subplot.

At times, the conflict resolution can feel a bit rushed, especially toward the end when emotional stakes are wrapped up quickly. Some readers may also wish for deeper exploration of side characters or the broader college environment.

Narration

Michael Gallagher and Sarah McEwan deliver a solid dual narration that enhances the listening experience.

Michael Gallagher captures Theo’s controlled confidence well, giving him a voice that feels both authoritative and subtly layered. He handles Theo’s quieter, more introspective moments effectively, which helps round out the character beyond the stereotypical athlete persona.

Sarah McEwan brings warmth and emotional authenticity to Claire. Her performance makes Claire’s vulnerability and growth feel genuine, particularly during moments of heartbreak and self-reflection. She also handles the lighter, more humorous scenes with good timing and tone.

Together, their performances create a believable chemistry that supports the fake dating dynamic and helps sell the transition into something real. The pacing is smooth, and both narrators maintain distinct character voices that are easy to follow. Neither of these are on my list of favorite narrators, so this definitely isn’t in my list of the best audiobooks, but they did a fine job either way.

Final Opinion

Weak Side is an engaging and easy-to-listen-to college sports romance that leans into familiar tropes while still delivering emotional payoff. The chemistry between Theo and Claire carries the story, supported by a fun premise and strong narration.

While it does not reinvent the genre, it executes its core elements well. If you enjoy fake dating, forced proximity, and hockey romance with a mix of angst and sweetness, this audiobook is a satisfying start to the Bexley U series.

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