Stories

Book Review: Icebreaker by Hannah Grace

By LoganReed 4 min read

This title did intrigue me, but still, I didn’t want to pick it up. I had serious doubts over whether or not it was going to be anything for me. I’ve read so many new adult romances thus far, and let’s face it, sports romances are the most frequent in this age category. While I don’t mind that, I did read a lot in the past, and maybe I am stuffed with what I have read. However, that was translated into Dutch, so my unending curiosity had to be appeased. So I caved in, bought the book, and read it. Was it exactly what I hoped to get?

Who wrote Icebreaker?

Icebreaker is a novel by Hannah Grace, a British romantic author. It is the story of figure skater Anastasia Allen and hockey captain Nathan Hawkins, who are made to share a rink and end up having unexpected chemistry. In a college sports setting, the novel combines humor, emotional development, and hot romance and has become very popular on platforms such as TikTok. It’s the start of the Maple Hills series and has been received by sports romance readers. Engaging writing of Hannah Grace, along with her approachable characters, helped make Icebreaker a breakout read among new adult romance novels.

Icebreakers Book Summary

Anastasia Allen has dedicated her life to becoming an Olympic figure skater since the age of five. The force she worked so hard for a full scholarship to the University of California, Maple Hills, where she is a committed member of the competitive skating team. Study, sleep, eat, skate, repeat, allowing no distractions in between in her aspirations of securing a position on Team USA. Nathan Hawkins, charming captain of the Maple Hills Titans hockey team-is known for his ability to lead and for his skills in problem-solving. But when a prank destroys the hockey rink, figure skaters and hockey players are forced to share the ice, and that leads the two to a showdown, Anastasia vs. Nathan. At first, Anastasia treats all hockey players with disdain, yet as circumstances draw them closer to each other, they become involved in an awkward but entertaining situation.

Icebreaker Novel Screenplay

Shared Ice
Forced Teamwork
Romantic Connection
Sports Victory

Icebreaker Hannah Grace Review

As Aaron, Anastasia’s skating partner, suffers an injury, Nathan steps in unexpectedly to assist her training. This moment signifies a pivotal change in their relationship. Initially fraught with tension, they gradually cultivate feelings for one another while confronting the difficulties associated with their sports and personal journeys. Anastasia grapples with the expectations stemming from her strict upbringing alongside the pressure to excel competitively. Concurrently, Nathan battles personal challenges anchored in a strained rapport with his father. Their shared experiences allow them to provide support for each other both in and out of the rink.
The novel delves into themes such as love, sacrifice, and individual development within the context of collegiate life and competitive athletics. As Anastasia and Nathan explore their burgeoning romance, they must also face the rigorous demands of their sports careers and untangle complex emotional landscapes.

Honestly speaking, I found this book somewhat contradictory. While I enjoyed certain aspects of my reading experience, there were times when it left me feeling frustrated. The narrative flows smoothly and is easy to follow; however, I often felt compelled to set it aside for periods of time. Perhaps this reaction stems from my own stage in life—student atmospheres can feel overwhelming at times—and during my college years, I personally steered clear of that environment whenever possible.

One of the most amazing things is, probably, the best thing about the book is the characters and their growth. Each is decidedly passionate about his sport, though Stasi is rather an extreme case- there is a touch of toxicity and unhealthiness about it. All that mattered to her was figure skating, forgetting that there is a lot more to life than that. We slowly learned what made her feel that way. Nathan struggles with some things of his own, but he prefers to conceal them. There was a lot of growth, though, especially when they were together. Together, they learned how to find a balance in their individual lives, including sports.

Sadly, the plot itself was quite challenging for me. This one is surely nothing new for all the new adult romance readers. It has gotten so usual and predictable with end-first books that I can’t fathom why I’m bored. Thankfully, Grace included some serious issues in it, for example, toxic relationships. And yes, this could be taken both literally and figuratively. Without these themes, this book would be simple smut. Because, oh, so much smut, guys! I have a feeling there’s almost more than in any of the books I’ve read in this subgenre. And it starts so early, which made me furious about it; they do it about a quarter into the book. I think I am done and too old now to find that cute LOL. But the plot, and its serious themes and development, did well for the character growth.