Author: Hannah Grace
Genre: Enemies-to-lovers, sports romance
Pages: 435
Release Date: August 23, 2022
Blurb
Anastasia Allen is a pair, figure ice skater at the University of California – Maple Hill. She’s hopefully on track to be part of Team USA in the Olympics. Her life is organized down to the minute in her planner – what could possibly throw her off track?
Nate Hawkins is the captain of the hockey team at UCMH. When the ice hockey rink gets ruined in a prank gone wrong, the hockey team must share the other ice rink – the figure skating team’s rink. Anastasia hates the hockey team and the fact that they’re messing up her schedule. And Nate Hawkins is the reason, maybe.
Just when things couldn’t get worse, Stassie’s figure skating partner, Aaron, gets hurt and can’t skate until he’s healed. Connected to the incident, Nate can’t play hockey until Aaron can skate again. Why not skate together in the meantime… and definitely not fall for each other.
Of course, I know you really well, Anastasia. You’re my favorite subject.
Nathan Hawkins
My Thoughts on Icebreaker
This book has been incredibly hyped and loved on the online social book communities, but I thought it was just okay. It was an easy read and I liked it, but I wasn’t blown away. There were so many characters in this book – kind of information overload when it came to tossing in new characters. I did enjoy the inclusivity of the people in the book – from life backgrounds to bodies!
Nate was a truly stand-up guy in the book, which I really enjoyed. He cared about his team and friends, even taking the blame for something he didn’t do so no one else was punished. He also tried to help Stassie with her issues with her figure skating partner, Aaron, without being overbearing. He was great at nudging her to the truth of the situation.
Aaron was incredibly manipulative, and that part was hard to read. Stassie continually forgave him for things because she always saw the best in him and needed in him in a way. But it was clearly an abusive friendship and partnership.
Stassie was an incredibly complex character; she put so much pressure on herself to make her parents proud with her skating and being the best. It was interesting to see her relationship with her parents and her therapist. Her no strings attached dating life was a bit cliché, and I thought her continued friendship with Ryan (her hook-up) wasn’t super realistic but maybe that’s just me! Overall, I liked her a lot – to see what she went through and her growth to acceptance and happiness!
Farewell Thoughts
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