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A review by decklededgess
Icebreaker by Hannah Grace
emotional
funny
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
5.0
trigger warnings: sexual content, alcohol, physical injury, eating disorder, toxic friendship, gaslighting, body shaming, emotional abuse, infidelity mention, physical violence, pregnancy mention, vomit/emetophobia, hypothermia
Listen...I have always said hockey romances hit different. I have yet to be disappointed (although I'm incredibly picky about which ones I do read so maybe my discretion has let to biased results lol).
Stassie was an incredible lead to follow. Her backstory is set up so that it felt like I was still getting to know her at 80% of the book because of the layers that made her who she was. It felt like a friendship between me as the reader and Stassie. That really tied me in to the story the entire way through. Same goes for Nate. The slow reveal of both of their histories, childhoods, fears, traumas, and so on was done exquisitely. I was invested in the two of them the entire way through. In fact, I could say that the same goes for all the secondary characters because I want a book for every single one of these dweeby hockey players. I love them all.
The smut in this book is GOD TIER. It's almost one every 10% of the book unless there was an emotional high point to take up space. It was just CHEFS KISS. Horny in the best way, brat x pleasure dom, tender yet rough, and just fun to read.
I loved the way Stassie's eating disorder, toxic friendship with Aaron, and her adoption trauma were addressed throughout the book. It felt respectful, gentle, and authentic to the character. There was no trauma porn with intention to evoke tears. It felt like raw and realistic representation and I loved how well it was done.
The most stunning part is that this is a DEBUT so I have the highest hopes that the books are just going to get unbelievably better from here. Loved it!!
Listen...I have always said hockey romances hit different. I have yet to be disappointed (although I'm incredibly picky about which ones I do read so maybe my discretion has let to biased results lol).
Stassie was an incredible lead to follow. Her backstory is set up so that it felt like I was still getting to know her at 80% of the book because of the layers that made her who she was. It felt like a friendship between me as the reader and Stassie. That really tied me in to the story the entire way through. Same goes for Nate. The slow reveal of both of their histories, childhoods, fears, traumas, and so on was done exquisitely. I was invested in the two of them the entire way through. In fact, I could say that the same goes for all the secondary characters because I want a book for every single one of these dweeby hockey players. I love them all.
The smut in this book is GOD TIER. It's almost one every 10% of the book unless there was an emotional high point to take up space. It was just CHEFS KISS. Horny in the best way, brat x pleasure dom, tender yet rough, and just fun to read.
I loved the way Stassie's eating disorder, toxic friendship with Aaron, and her adoption trauma were addressed throughout the book. It felt respectful, gentle, and authentic to the character. There was no trauma porn with intention to evoke tears. It felt like raw and realistic representation and I loved how well it was done.
The most stunning part is that this is a DEBUT so I have the highest hopes that the books are just going to get unbelievably better from here. Loved it!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Sexual content, Alcohol, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Vomit, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual assault, Violence, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Medical content, Bullying, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, and Panic attacks/disorders