Warning: Riley Mitchell Will Raise Your Standards | Hat Trick by Chelsea Curto

Let’s get one thing straight—I’m obsessed. Riley? Lexi? Separately, they’re adorable. Together? Absolute perfection. Chef’s kiss, no crumbs left.

From the get-go, Riley pulling a knight-in-shining-hockey-gear move and rescuing Lexi from that bar creep? Iconic behavior. And when the board tried to play games with her career and Riley stood up for her? Whew. That was hot. Even Lexi said so, and honestly, I wanted to stand up and applaud. 👏

Can we talk about how Lexi is so soft with Riley post-accident? The way she motivates him, the way he hits her with a “yes ma’am”—I died. Resuscitate me with Riley Mitchell, please.

The female friendships in this series? Wholesome, chaotic, and the kind of supportive girl gang energy I crave but only ever find in fiction. Sigh.

And Riley’s crush on Lexi? Peak adorableness. Like, where is my emotionally available, lime-carrying man?! Because yes, he actually carried a lime in his pocket just because Lexi once said she liked it in her drink. Sir, I am not okay.

Oh, and the jealousy? Inject it directly into my veins. Riley gets all calm and composed when he admits he’s jealous, and I’m over here screaming, “YES, THIS IS HOW YOU COMMUNICATE!”

Lexi, queen that she is, chooses to go check on Riley when he’s hurting. We love a proactive heroine who doesn’t leave her man hanging in emotional purgatory.

Riley Mitchell is, without question, a fictional unicorn. Extinct in real life. Chelsea, what lab did you cook him up in, and can I get a subscription?

Now, the spice? Girl. G-I-R-L. I am still recovering. Like, I need a cold shower and a moment with the Lord. 🥵

Major props to Lexi for researching Riley’s injury and finding ways to help with his physiotherapy. The care! The love! The effort!

Also, the group dynamics in this series? Pure, unfiltered chaos. Those group chats? I’d read a whole book just of those.

The parallels? Maverick and Emmy’s olives, Riley and Lexi’s lime? It’s giving intentional. It’s giving soulmates. It’s giving “Chelsea, you’re a genius.”

Then there’s Riley showing up at Lexi’s apartment worried sick, literally offering to take care of her because he won’t sleep otherwise. And the line?

“Do it yourself? I know you can. But here’s the thing, Lexi. I’m not going to be able to sleep. I’m not going to be able to eat. I’m not going to be able to do anything except wonder if you’re okay and taken care of. Put me out of my misery and let me do it for you.”

I MELTED.

And THEN he hits us with “If you gave me your heart, I’d promise to protect it for as long as you wanted”?? Excuse me while I ugly cry and whisper me when?

Lexi renting out an entire amusement park?? Ma’am. Proposal, no proposal—this was everything. And those confessions? Literal tears.

And let’s not gloss over Riley being READY with her favorite flowers. Green flag? Try a whole forest.

Oh, and that “not a proposal” proposal? Adorable. I’m already mentally RSVP’ing to their wedding.

Now, bring on Ethan’s story—because if this man ends up in an accidental pregnancy situation, I am SO here for the drama.

Thank you Love Notes PR and Chelsea Curto for the ARC!

Rating: 4.5/5

Spice: 3.75/5

Riley Mitchell: 100/10, husband material, no notes.