Review - 'Icebreaker' by Hannah Grace


I really hate FOMO sometimes, but every once in a while it works out. And Icebreaker sure did. For a book that is seemingly all fluff and fun, this turned out to be a bit more than that too.

Anastasia has worked hard all her life to achieve her figure skating dreams. And she's almost there, competing for a coveted spot on Team USA while attending college. But when vandalism forces her to share a rink with the hockey team, she's thrown for a loop. And when her partner is injured, she has no choice but to practice with Nathan, captain of the hockey team. But will their off-the-ice friction/chemistry help or hinder her dreams?

You know how sometimes you can tell right from the start whether a book will mesh with you or not? That's what happened here. I opened to the first page, and bam, I'm already smiling and giggling to myself. And it just kept going from there.

I love it when a romcom does the comedy part right. There were so many moments in here when the banter and the situations tickled my funny bone and lifted my spirits. Along with all the loveable characters, and this was just one big ball of cheer. Having it take place in the figure skating world just added that extra zing to an already unputdownable story.

I have to give a shoutout to the way mental health was portrayed in here. We get so much lip service everywhere about how important mental health is, yet it's hardly ever touched upon in a meaningful way in books. So the fact that this story shines a light on it and also on the power of therapy is so worthwhile. And I loved the way this couple talks out their conflicts, with so much honesty and insight into their feelings, while also remaining respectful of each other. It really is #relationshipgoals.

However, at 400 pages, it started to feel a bit on the long side, with each issue being quite drawn out. There were definitely moments when I wasn't sure where the story was going because it felt like it had nowhere else to go. But it kept going.

Also, when I pick up a romcom nowadays, I'm no longer fooled by the cartoony cover. I know it means there are spicy scenes in there. But this book really went to town on them. Not only is every single character sexed up, but there were so many explicit scenes, it felt like it was every other one. And the spiciness starts right from the beginning, so there was no reprieve from it. You have been warned.

Bottom line: pick this up if you're looking for a spicy romcom with equal parts fluff and substance. Definitely skip if spicy isn't your thing.

Readaroo Rating: 4 stars

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