Take a photo of a barcode or cover
itsmemiana 's review for:
Icebreaker
by Hannah Grace
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
okay so I have VERY complicated feelings about this book. I wanted to love it (like with every book I read tbh) but unfortunately I didn't but I'm really happy for the people who do!
now onto my feelings about it!
let's start with the good:
my favourite characters were side characters, Russ and Henry (especially Henry, that man is DEFINITELY written by a woman, and not just in the literal sense). and I'm really happy that the next books in this series are about them, I really hope I like them more than this one ESPECIALLY Daydream because the female main character literally sounds like a version of me. special mentions about my favourite characters being Lola and JJ who are also side characters.
I also liked the last third of the book even tho that still wasn't perfect (but I'll talk about it down this review).
there's also a very unrealistic thing that I liked LMAO, the fact that all of the hockey guys seemed to all be good guys??? because hear me out... I haven't met many hockey players, (besides this Canadian guy I met when I was studying abroad and he was okay... I guess... he was from Alberta tho... so... you know... 💀) but I think it would be highly unlikely that an entire team of men would be good LMAO. but that's obviously a good thing so I liked it (and Aaron had enough toxicity and misogyny to spare so 💀).
now to the "ehh" parts:
I honestly don't know where to put Nathan and Stassie because I didn't hate them but I also didn't love them... they're just eh... you know? I was not really interested in them most of the time and sometimes I was even annoyed by them (separately or together) but they also had some cute scenes (I high-key squealed when Nathan said he loves a girl who reads LMAO) and Stassie was relatable to me about some things.
now onto what I didn't like:
I'm not a hater at heart so this might not be as detailed as what I liked, spare with me...
obviously what I hated the most was Aaron. FUCK THAT BITCH. he's obviously meant to be disliked but I'm still gonna talk about it. he reminded me SO much of my ex best friend that I actually had a nightmare involving her last night. I literally woke up shaking, I'm not joking. and Stassie.... I hated how much I related to her... when it comes to him and something else that I'm not gonna talk about. but the way she wanted to see the good in him even when he's so clearly a horrible person... oh girl, I've been there ðŸ˜
and then there was the smut... I'm not a prude or a judgmental person. I don't mind smut in books but there is such a thing as too much smut for me and this book crossed it. I actually found myself skimming over the last few smut scenes 💀
I didn't like the first part of the book at all. I was actually sad because I was feeling it was going to get 2 stars but it definitely got better towards the end. but even the last third of the book wasn't perfect.
okay, I think I covered everything... I hope I like the rest of the series more than I did this one... honestly if I didn't like Henry and Russ so much, I would've probably not pick them up but I love them.
now onto my feelings about it!
let's start with the good:
my favourite characters were side characters, Russ and Henry (especially Henry, that man is DEFINITELY written by a woman, and not just in the literal sense). and I'm really happy that the next books in this series are about them, I really hope I like them more than this one ESPECIALLY Daydream because the female main character literally sounds like a version of me. special mentions about my favourite characters being Lola and JJ who are also side characters.
I also liked the last third of the book even tho that still wasn't perfect (but I'll talk about it down this review).
there's also a very unrealistic thing that I liked LMAO, the fact that all of the hockey guys seemed to all be good guys??? because hear me out... I haven't met many hockey players, (besides this Canadian guy I met when I was studying abroad and he was okay... I guess... he was from Alberta tho... so... you know... 💀) but I think it would be highly unlikely that an entire team of men would be good LMAO. but that's obviously a good thing so I liked it (and Aaron had enough toxicity and misogyny to spare so 💀).
now to the "ehh" parts:
I honestly don't know where to put Nathan and Stassie because I didn't hate them but I also didn't love them... they're just eh... you know? I was not really interested in them most of the time and sometimes I was even annoyed by them (separately or together) but they also had some cute scenes (I high-key squealed when Nathan said he loves a girl who reads LMAO) and Stassie was relatable to me about some things.
now onto what I didn't like:
I'm not a hater at heart so this might not be as detailed as what I liked, spare with me...
obviously what I hated the most was Aaron. FUCK THAT BITCH. he's obviously meant to be disliked but I'm still gonna talk about it. he reminded me SO much of my ex best friend that I actually had a nightmare involving her last night. I literally woke up shaking, I'm not joking. and Stassie.... I hated how much I related to her... when it comes to him and something else that I'm not gonna talk about. but the way she wanted to see the good in him even when he's so clearly a horrible person... oh girl, I've been there ðŸ˜
and then there was the smut... I'm not a prude or a judgmental person. I don't mind smut in books but there is such a thing as too much smut for me and this book crossed it. I actually found myself skimming over the last few smut scenes 💀
I didn't like the first part of the book at all. I was actually sad because I was feeling it was going to get 2 stars but it definitely got better towards the end. but even the last third of the book wasn't perfect.
okay, I think I covered everything... I hope I like the rest of the series more than I did this one... honestly if I didn't like Henry and Russ so much, I would've probably not pick them up but I love them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual assault, Vomit, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment