Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - Icebreaker

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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bookscatcoffee's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful slow-paced

3.5

There were parts about this book I loved, but it took a long time for it to get started. And I feel like there was a more concise way to tell the overall story. That being said, there were some relationship gems:

“She’s taught me communicating doesn’t mean everything is perfect, it doesn’t mean we won’t disagree. It means we work through the imperfect bit together, and if we don’t agree, we at least know why the other feels that way, even if it’s not going to change our minds. We’re still individuals, but we’re individuals together, and I never knew relationships could be like this.”

Interesting and I really like the community the author created. 3.5 stars

Contemporary romance with diverse and lgbtqia+ side characters

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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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catsteaandabook's review

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1.75

This felt like it was written by someone who would’ve bullied me in high school

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mossywossy's review

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective 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

3.75

It was really cute and had such a good showing on how to have a healthy relationship! Not just romantically either. I liked all the characters developments…the ones that had any anyway lol. But it was so nice to have a story along with the sexy parts, and a good story at that.

Spoiler for towards end of book!!!
<Personally, I’m really conflicted on the whole frozen lake scene. I’m glad it got her to admit first, which is something I was hoping for, but also…why?? It felt so rushed and passed on compared to other parts of the book. >

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meghanshafer's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.0

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helenaps99's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted slow-paced

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

2.25

I had a good time with this book for the first like…250 pages, and that was mostly because of the smut.

But I have a lot of gripes.

The timeline and movement of the relationship between Nate and Stassie was a damn rollercoaster and I wish the sexual tension/friendship had been built more before they started fucking, it felt like it moved VERY quickly in the beginning and then hit a stagnation for like…the rest of the book.

We love a girl in therapy and no one likes a miscommunication trope but like…no two 21 year olds are talking about their feelings THIS much, especially at first in an undefined situationship. Like, leave a little to the imagination for better characters, and you’ll ones who actually have flaws and don’t narrate the exact personality and character traits of each other. Some things are better implied and the dual POV already gives us insight into both of them so not everything needs to be repeated.

I think so much of the narrative was just over explaining things whether it was feelings or family situations or friend situations or eating plans or whatever - the book could’ve been shortened by 200 pages if there was significantly less telling and more showing.

What was with the like motif of pregnancy?? It popped up several times for various characters and was kind of weird.

There were so many side characters of hockey players and other friends and coaches and directors I totally lost track of who was who.

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