If You Keep Me by Helena Hunting

Helena Hunting stuck the landing with If You Keep Me, giving Flip Madden the heartfelt, emotionally layered ending this Toronto Terrors series deserved.

Ever since book one, Flip has been the resident reformed playboy of the group, so finally getting inside his head was such a treat. I’ll admit, age-gap romance isn’t usually my favorite, and the nearly decade-wide difference between Flip and Tally gave me pause a few times. Tally’s age and final-year university life occasionally made the gap feel especially noticeable, particularly when she was surrounded by an older, established friend group. But because we’ve known and loved these characters for so long, seeing them find their HEA still felt incredibly rewarding.

What I really loved was how Helena subverted the setup. Tally asking her longtime crush to help her lose her virginity could have easily turned into a predictable “lessons” romance, but instead it became something much sweeter and more emotionally grounded. Tally isn’t written as naive or sheltered, which I appreciated. Thanks to the Badass Babe Brigade and the women around the team, she knows herself well. She’s simply been waiting for the right person, and she’s always quietly hoped that person might be Flip.

And Flip? He was unexpectedly tender here. Once Tally’s proposition forces him to really see her, everything shifts. Rather than rushing into anything physical, he becomes intentional, patient, and genuinely determined to be worthy of her. Watching the former playboy turn into the sweetest, most attentive boyfriend was honestly the best part of the book. The restaurant bathroom scene, where he helps her after she starts her period and messes up her dress, was one of the most caring and intimate moments in the story. It perfectly captured the kind of partner Flip becomes.

This story also had more emotional depth than I expected. Between Flip’s past wounds and the secret he struggles to share, plus Tally navigating her parents’ divorce, final-year college pressure, and fears about whether lasting love is even real, there’s a lot happening beneath the romance. I appreciated that the conflict stayed grounded and realistic rather than spiraling into unnecessary drama. Even when the relationship hits a pause, it felt healthy and true to who they are.

I was a tiny bit bored in a few middle sections, mostly because the story chooses emotional realism over chaos, but honestly that’s also part of what made it work. No forced drama, no wild misunderstandings, just two people figuring out how to build something real on their own timeline.

The audiobook was also a really enjoyable listening experience. I’m not always the biggest fan of duet narration, but CJ Bloom and Lee Samuels blended their performances beautifully. Their voices complemented each other so well that the transitions felt seamless, which made Flip and Tally’s chemistry and emotional beats land even stronger in audio.

And yes, I still did not love the nickname “kitten.” That one never quite worked for me.

Still, this was a sweet, emotional, and satisfying finale that gave longtime readers exactly what they wanted: Flip and Tally’s well-earned happily ever after, plus plenty of exciting breadcrumbs for future books. A wonderful way to close out the Toronto Terrors era. 🏒🎧💙

Rating: 4/5

Tropes:

• Slow burn
• Friends to lovers
• Age gap
• Coach’s daughter
• Reformed playboy hero
• Secret longtime crush
• He falls harder
• Protective hero
• Virgin heroine
• Hockey romance
• Found family / team family vibes
• Emotional healing
• Series finale / longtime fan payoff
• College heroine + older pro athlete
• “I’ll take care of you” moments