Reviews with content warning for Injury/Injury detail - Icebreaker

In a world with many hockey romances, this one felt like it took a unique angle on a popular story. Yes, they are both athletes who skate, but there are conversations about emotional intelligence, toxic relationships, difficult relationships with food, working through challenging communication & therapy! But really, some of my favorite scenes involved the other teammates & friends… I loved the cast of characters Hannah’s created. And this book was funny! A true romcom which had me laughing out loud in many chapters. Overall, this was an easy, comfortable read with a bit of heart & a bit of laughs.

"… every time he looks at me, and the corner of his mouth tugs up, I forget every thought.
I’ve been totally and utterly unhinged by a man. I’m disgusted with myself, for being distracted, for knowingly letting every sliver of feminism shrivel up and die over dimples and thick thighs."

I honestly really liked this book & I know people seem to have strong feelings about it. If books are meant to be entertaining, then this is definitely that (with a side of heart & unique story elements). However, there was a character/storyline in this book that wasn't vital to the storyline, in my opinion, which contributed to the book feeling slightly longer than what I thought necessary. And the spice felt like it was on a level inconsistent with the rest of the story: here we were strolling along one path, humming a song & enjoying this entertaining romance, until BAM! ultra spicy scene coming atcha! While that may be some reader's cup of tea, it felt a little abrupt for me.

"… it’s cemented for me that breaking up is not a reality I ever want to live. I know it’s rare to meet someone who makes you feel like your whole life is brighter. I know I’m lucky that I have someone by my side who would go to war for the people she loves, and it’s made me realize, right now, she’s going to war for herself.
And I need to be by her side, not attacking her from a different spot on the field."

That being said, I'm not on the clock app & don't really know the conversations that happen over there. I do know people seem to love or hate this book. And that's simply not the boat I'm in. I really liked it. It isn't perfect, it isn't something I'm obsessed with & some parts of it gave me "the ick," so it's not a 5-star read. But with quotes like the ones I've shared here, it's easy for me to find this a likeable, entertaining story.

Content Warnings

jeanne_burge20's review against another edition

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funny hopeful fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

thought this would be inappropriate to read during the summer, turns out it’s inappropriate to read in public

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notnaomie's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This book is definitely character driven. I read this last year, but the story is still somewhat in my memory. Any of my reviews should be taken with a grain of salt as I am not that analytical when it comes to any books. Overall, I did enjoy it. The spicy scenes were really intense so if that's not your thing I do not recommend this book! It was nice to see the characters progress and it got me wanting to read the other stories! I have the two other books in the series and have yet to start the newest one that came out this summer.

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siobhankeira's review against another edition

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emotional funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I was hesitant to read Icebreaker because of the hype around it.

So I went into this book with low expectations and kind of expecting it to be not as good as people on social media have said.

Now, the first thing I’ll say is, no I can’t answer if it lives up to the hype. I think overhyped anything holds it to higher than normal standards, which isn’t honest to me.

That being said, I was surprised by this book. It was deeper than I thought it would be, and made me smile at some of the things characters said and did. Other times my chest ached for them, because the vulnerability the characters were able to show in different ways really impressed me.

To be honest, the way I can tell if I really like a book is if I put off reading it, because I don’t want it to end…and I did that with Icebreaker.
Things weren’t easy and perfect, there was growth needed between all characters, some did grow and some did not.

However, one of my greatest appreciations in reading people’s stories is when the characters feel real enough. To where I can relate, understand how they came to that conclusion or mindset. They have “good” traits as well as “bad” traits.
They are complex, not simply just bad or just good. Those are the characters in stories I crave the most and I definitely saw two sides to each character, they had depth to me.

End of spoiler free review tldr; I was surprised by how much I liked this book, the characters, and the complex issues the characters dealt with, the different kinds of relationships, etc. The characters are unique in their own ways, for worse or for better, but they are believable, and honestly the humour got me too. Maybe roll your eyes with a smile on your face, but I loved it.

I would recommend this to readers who like enemies to lovers, sports romances, each main character (and side characters) that have their good and bad moments, and
If you are able to quiet the high expectations placed on any popular source of media, I think most will like this book, and I, for one am excited to read the next in the series. :)

SPOILERS AHEAD:

One thing that made me really like this book is the FMC of this story, Anastasia/Stessie. I saw myself in her in a lot of ways, and I also try to see the best in people, even if it hurts. I give others the benefit of the doubt, my understanding, even after being burned over and over again. Having Stessie open up was like looking in a mirror for me a bit. Having to be strong and assertive all the time, placing high expectations of yourself, puts a person in high stress without all the additional things.

Her character showed how much a toxic person can poison your life overtime, even if you also have had good memories of them too. I admired her for seeing that there was more to Aaron than just the cruelty, but like her therapist pointed out, she needs to be able to be safe mentally too.

Seeing her open up and allowing others to care for her, love her, and appreciate her for just existing, was beautiful to see and I think most of us crave that, need that.

Nate by no means was a perfect book boyfriend, he had his faults and I’m sure things we all got irritated by, but it honestly made me like him more. I don’t like perfect characters, because I don’t connect to them.

I loved how much the hockey team embraced and loved Stassie, I always love that kind of big brother dynamic. It warms my heart.

As for the things I want too much a fan of, one I’ll start off with which is minor and completely up to preference - and it’s taking the epilogues, 2-3yrs later, and it focuses more on pregnancy or children than what the characters had been working towards the entire book.
I’m not saying at all that that having a family is lackluster, I just wish if it was included into the epilogue, it wasn’t overshadowing the facts that like Anastasia was an Olympic medalist? It was like mentioned once and seemed odd considering the entire book was about her figure skating.
It would be more believable to me if it was 5-7yrs later. But again, just my personal preferences.

The other thing that did bother me in the book was that despite Stessie having her best friend Lola, whom she’s lived with before all of the story happens, it doesn’t feel like she is much of the story even as she is present in the scenes.

I feel like JJ, Henry and even Russ had more conversations than Lola. Maybe I’m misremembering a part in the book, I’m not sure. I just feel like she was more in the background than most, and I mean, they didn’t really even discuss Nate? No little gossip sesh or anything really, which was disappointing imo.
I would’ve liked to see more of the girls friendship throughout the book, and not just brief appearances when they literally were living in the same apartment, then home. They had conversations, but most of them happened offscreen.

Plus, what the hell happened to Ryan? He was present for a good quarter of the first half of the book at the very least - encourages Stessie & Nate to be together in whatever capacity, we don’t hear from him until he shows up near the last bit of the book? And now he’s being handsy with Stessie? No conclusion to him and Olivia? Not saying that couldn’t happen, but it felt very unfinished to me and it’s like he just poofed from existence for a good chunk of the book.

I know this is the authors first book, (I think) and by no means am I wishing to be harsh. These things are only disappointments because I am interested in these characters and wish we got to learn about them more.
I haven’t read the next two books, so hopefully we will get some answers or hints there.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book, and definitely need a Nate in my life for my inner Anastasia <3

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tyras_bookshelf's review against another edition

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emotional funny inspiring tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

I liked it for a figure skater/hockey romance. It was a little long and drawn out in places but not overbearing about it. I'm also new to Hannah Grace's style and felt pretty critical of the writing at times.

Anastasia was in pretty deep when it came to Aaron. She trusted him and was a little naive but also manipulated into letting her goals and anxieties drive her rather than her own common sense.

I hate that she only breaks away from one man with the help of another but her and Nate were very cute. Nate was in his toxic man bag a time or two but finally gets his head out his butt to realize that Anastasia grown and can think for herself.

Decent book but some of the chapters felt so random.

Like sister literally almost drowned at one point and like nothing happened with that. It forced a love confession (realization of her love) so there’s that but just seemed random to me.

Also kinda random was Nate’s immediate interest in Ana to begin with. So it’s forced proximity because of plot/conflict but while he is the hockey captain (vested interest in peace) she’s not the only figure skater nor the perceived leader of the skaters. It didn’t make sense why he singled her out other than I guess she seemed the most of upset and he wanted to be helpful. Really its because she’s hot and the main character but that’s too easy.

It was actually very upsetting to read about Aaron — he’s a narcissistic, manipulative, leech of a man. Sure, hurt people hurt people and he definitely needed therapy or (another) punch to the face but I think he was super aware of his actions and doing it all on purpose because he lacks power in his family life and could exercise power over Ana.

I’ve got mixed feelings on how the conflict was resolved and that bothers me.

I feel like Ana “won” —no longer on his grasp and fully in control of what she wants— but it also felt like she got that closure/victory at the expense of her dreams.

Idk she wins gold in the Olympics in the epilogue so what do I know I guess?

Cute HEA at the end and I feel like most of the important threads were tried up along the way so I’m good with it.

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chainsawheartbooks's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

I’m not one for romance novels, and although this is a fucking spicy-ass book, the romance is the sweetest thing! I squealed more times than I can count, and like it’s not the best written, think YA, but that doesn’t detract from how wonderful the romance is.

It’s cheesy enough, very 00s romcom, that it’s a nice change of pace from how heavy and dark some of what I’ve read this year has been, and the two main characters are so adorable together.

It feels like the warming tipsy feeling you get after a couple of glasses of wine.

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saretta02's review

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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