Icebreaker
“I don’t like anything more than I like you. You’re my favorite.”
When an enemies-to-lovers book is pointed my way, who am I to turn it down? Especially if that book is Hannah Grace’s internet sensation Icebreaker. Several personal recommendations and viral videos later, I decided to give it a whirl.
Some context…
A day planner and a dream make five-foot-four figure skater Anastasia Allen a terrifying opponent to the University of Maple Hills brawny ice hockey players, who, after a stunt that went too far, find themselves sharing her rink. She refuses to let their boyish games get in her way, especially when she is just months away from a defining moment of her career—her life. With each passing day she spends dominating the college’s esteemed figure skating team, her longtime goal of competing at the Olympics becomes more of a reality. The hockey team’s headstrong captain, Nate Hawkins, however, is not one to back down. When more antics take Anastasia’s partner away from her, he is more than willing to step in.
In another win for forced proximity, what follows this icy pair’s not-so-meet-cute is a journey of discovering trust, partnership, and healing—all amidst undeniable attraction.
Some thoughts…
The prose is straightforward, and the plot is easy to follow, making this a perfect escape read. Anyone looking to increase their reading in the new year will likely be hooked from the very first pages. Despite its somewhat gimmicky cover art, I would recommend this book to college students+ rather than the typical young adult audience. The university setting provides a relatable backdrop for these readers, making the characters and their experiences all the more engaging.
In all my years of tropes, I have never seen enemies fold so fast. There was a clear connection between the protagonists before the book’s quarter mark, which made it less of an enemies-to-lovers than I had anticipated. That being said, I did enjoy their relationship and think many readers will be happy with the speed at which they bonded.
I was surprised by the portrayal of disordered eating in this text. Based on the book’s cover and social media buzz, I had wrongly assumed it was a lighthearted rom com with minimal heavy content. While I appreciated the novel's focus on such an important social issue, especially given its age demographic, I felt it could have delved deeper into the subject. Healing from an eating disorder is not a linear process, and I believe the book would have been more realistic and impactful had it better captured the true complexities of these conditions.
A BookTok phenomenon, this new adult romance quickly captures reluctant and seasoned readers alike with its swoon-worthy love story and charismatic characters.
RATING: ★★★★☆
