Book Review: “Icebreaker” By Hannah Grace

Icebreaker was honestly a book I wasn’t all that interested in reading. I haven’t been in a romance mood lately let alone a spicy read. I also am not a sports romance girly in general so this book was flying under my radar for multiple reasons. However, I was sent this off of my wish list a few months ago and it was just screaming at me saying “I will give you all the winter vibes!” So I plucked it off of my shelf and gave it a try, here are all my thoughts, the good and the bad.

“You’re my favorite,” I whisper, leaning in to kiss her flushed cheek.  “Even if I had crab hands?”  “Even if you had crab hands, Anastasia.”

Hannah Grace, Icebreaker

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“Of course, I know you really well, Anastasia. You’re my favorite subject.”

Hannah Grace, Icebreaker

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Synopsis

Anastasia Allen has worked her entire life for a shot at Team USA. It looks like everything is going according to plan when she gets a full scholarship to the University of California, Maple Hills and lands a place on their competitive figure skating team.

Nothing will stand in her way, not even the captain of the hockey team, Nate Hawkins.

Nate’s focus as team captain is on keeping his team on the ice. Which is tricky when a facilities mishap means they are forced to share a rink with the figure skating team—including Anastasia, who clearly can’t stand him.

But when Anastasia’s skating partner faces an uncertain future, she may have to look to Nate to take her shot.

Sparks fly, but Anastasia isn’t worried…because she could never like a hockey player, right?

Synopsis from GoodReads

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Rating

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Review

I would say the main reason I kept reading was because I knew a romance was going to be a quick read, especially one that had as much smut in it as this book. Secondly, I liked almost all of the side characters so they made up for it. i really liked that we got Nathans POV every other chapter, that was what really interested me and kept me going. I just really wanted Nathan to be happy even if it was with Stass.

Reading the back of this book you expect a lot of skating and playing hockey, well that was one part of the book I actually missed! There was way more sex scenes than skating scenes! The back of the book makes it sound like Nathan and Stass would be skating together for the whole book but that only lasted maybe 50 pages…100 if we are lucky but again it is barely mentioned, to the point where I forgot what this book was really about.

One thing That I want to really Highlight is the mental health rep in this book. There is one chapter in this book where Stass is having a therapy session and to be honest I almost Cried! This made her character feel more real and I really connected with that. Then we have Nathan who is constantly reminding her to take care of her wellbeing and pushing ever so slightly on her habits to help her create healthier ones and he does it in such a gentle way, my heart was swooning for this man!

Before reading this book I highly recommend looking up trigger warnings. Some of the ones I want to specifically point out because they have a huge presence is Eating Disorders, Body image, Controlling Friendships and Time OCD. Please make sure you take care of yourself when reading any book!

“Don’t give me that shit. I’ve seen what you have on your smutty bookshelf.”

Hannah Grace, Icebreaker

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QOTD: Is there a trigger warning in a book that you refuse to read?

AOTD: Animals dying or any animal cruelty for me. I am known to DNF a book even 80% of the way done if I feel like an animal will die.