If You Claim Me by Helena Hunting - Complete Audiobook Review

By: Helena Hunting | Narrated by: Kat Auden, Jason Clarke
Length: 13 hrs 7 mins | Release Date: November 6, 2025
Rating: ⭐ 4.9/5
Series: Toronto Terror Series, Book 5
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance, Hockey Romance
Available on: Audible

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Complete Audiobook Review: If You Claim Me

If you're searching for the best new romance audiobooks of 2025, or looking for a marriage of convenience romance with emotional depth, Helena Hunting's "If You Claim Me" should be at the top of your list. This Toronto Terror series installment combines hockey romance, enemies-to-lovers dynamics, and a fake marriage trope into one compelling story that's perfect for audiobook listening.

Plot Summary and Story Overview

Connor Grace is hockey's most hated player—the league's bad boy and your best friend's worst enemy. He's also the fallen prince of a famous hotel chain dynasty. Mildred "Dred" Reformer? She's the foster kid who grew up to be a librarian. When Connor's grandmother needs to see him settled, these two opposites find themselves in a marriage of convenience neither of them actually wants.

This contemporary romance audiobook explores themes of found family, healing from trauma, and learning to trust again. The marriage of convenience trope is executed perfectly here, with both characters having believable reasons for entering the arrangement and realistic obstacles to overcome before they can admit their true feelings.

What starts as a fake arrangement to make grandma happy quickly becomes complicated. Dred has no plans to kiss her husband for any reason other than show, and definitely no plans to fall in love with the arrogant man in the custom suit hiding intricate tattoos. But when they're alone, Connor drops the mask he wears for the rest of the world. He holds her like he means it when he says she's his. And despite everything she's learned about fairytales not being real, she wants to believe him.

This standalone marriage of convenience hockey romance is the fifth book in Helena Hunting's Toronto Terror series, but you don't need to have read the others to enjoy it.

Listener Reviews and Audiobook Feedback

Early reviews are calling this one of Hunting's best works. Readers are praising the emotional depth and the way both characters deal with their past traumas. One reviewer noted that "they both had a crappy upbringing in different ways and they each felt like they were hard to love, but I love how they tore down each other's walls and built such a great relationship together."

The book balances humor, steamy moments, and heartfelt emotion in a way that feels authentic. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic works because there's real history between these characters—Connor is Dred's best friend's enemy, which adds layers to their initial animosity.

What makes this audiobook stand out:

• Emotional depth that goes beyond typical romance tropes
• Well-developed characters with realistic trauma and healing arcs
• Perfect balance of humor, steam, and heartfelt moments
• Duet narration that enhances the listening experience

Narration & Performance

Kat Auden and Jason Clarke deliver a duet narration that listeners are raving about. Duet narration means each narrator voices their character's dialogue throughout, rather than one narrator doing all voices. This style works particularly well for romance audiobooks because it creates a more immersive experience and better chemistry between the characters.

Listeners have noted that Auden and Clarke's performances "took an already fantastic read and made it unforgettable." Their chemistry is palpable, and they bring the emotional depth of Connor and Dred's relationship to life in a way that enhances the story.

At 13 hours and 7 minutes, this is a substantial listen that gives you plenty of time to get invested in these characters and their journey.

Key Details

• Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance
• Series: Toronto Terror Series, Book 5 (standalone)
• Tropes: Marriage of convenience, enemies-to-lovers, hockey romance, grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, found family
• Narration Style: Duet narration (male and female narrators)
• Content Warnings: Mentions of drug abuse, past physical abuse, neglect, self-harm behaviors, living in foster care, death of parents, financial insecurity, food insecurity, ailing family members, cheating (not involving main characters), and toxic family relationships
• Best For: Fans of emotional contemporary romance, hockey romance, and marriage of convenience tropes

Final Verdict: Is This Audiobook Worth It?

"If You Claim Me" is being called the best book in the Toronto Terror series by early readers. Helena Hunting has crafted a story that's equal parts tender, funny, and heartbreakingly beautiful. The marriage of convenience setup might feel a bit awkward initially, but the evolving relationship between Dred and Connor is compelling from start to finish.

What makes this book stand out is how it handles trauma and healing. Both characters have been through difficult experiences, and watching them learn to trust and love despite their pasts is genuinely moving. The romance is steamy without overshadowing the emotional growth, and the humor keeps things from getting too heavy.

The duet narration by Kat Auden and Jason Clarke elevates an already great story. If you're a fan of contemporary romance with depth, hockey romance audiobooks, or marriage of convenience stories, this is definitely worth your credit.

Perfect for listeners who enjoy:

• Hockey romance audiobooks
• Marriage of convenience tropes
• Enemies-to-lovers romance
• Emotional contemporary romance with depth
• Duet narration in audiobooks
• Found family themes

Stream this audiobook on Listenix - Once you have your audiobook file, you can stream it directly on Listenix for a seamless listening experience with chapter navigation, playback speed control, and automatic progress saving. Looking for more romance audiobook recommendations? Check out our weekly new releases roundup for the latest audiobooks hitting Audible.

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Review published on November 6, 2025