A review by enchantingreads_rosyreviews
Icebreaker by Hannah Grace

funny hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-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? It's complicated

4.0

"It's like being verbally abused by Tinkerbell."

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. 
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