niteskyi's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Violence, Alcohol, and Blood
Minor: Homophobia
ridesthesun's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Hockey boyfriends 🥺🥺🥺
This is such a fun rivals-to-lovers story. Even if you don't know much about hockey (I like to watch but I don't know all the rules/intricacies) it's really easy to follow all the ins and outs of it through the story. I wasn't expecting such a deep and genuine dive into mental illness, but I was really impressed by the accuracy of it. It wasn't like so many YA books that are just "depression=sad." The apathy, the exhaustion, the things that really take you out at the knees when you're depressed.Â
My only complaint was how quickly/abruptly everything wrapped up. I wanted to see them navigate a relationship as teammates, growing and healing together. It just felt like so little pay off for all the work they did.
This is such a fun rivals-to-lovers story. Even if you don't know much about hockey (I like to watch but I don't know all the rules/intricacies) it's really easy to follow all the ins and outs of it through the story. I wasn't expecting such a deep and genuine dive into mental illness, but I was really impressed by the accuracy of it. It wasn't like so many YA books that are just "depression=sad." The apathy, the exhaustion, the things that really take you out at the knees when you're depressed.Â
My only complaint was how quickly/abruptly everything wrapped up. I wanted to see them navigate a relationship as teammates, growing and healing together. It just felt like so little pay off for all the work they did.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Biphobia, Cursing, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Sexual content
Minor: Blood and Suicidal thoughts
anonymous_traveller's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Mental illness
Moderate: Blood, Classism, Homophobia, and Medical content
perpetualpages's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.5
CWs: Descriptions of violence, sports injury, and blood; brief mention of outing; some descriptions of depressive episodes, anxiety, disassociation, and mild suicide ideation; some underage drinking and drug use; fade-to-black sexual contentÂ
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Outing, Drug use, Blood, Sexual content, and Alcohol
matheo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Mental illness, Alcoholism, and Alcohol
Moderate: Blood, Homophobia, Medical content, Sexism, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Outing, Racism, Sexual content, Vomit, and Suicidal thoughts
paperbrownies's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
- lgbtqiap+, ya contemporary, sports gays, ice hockey, romance, rivals to lovers, mental health, sports rivalry, disaster bi, sibling and team shenanigansÂ
- m|m, f|f, f|m|mÂ
- white half italian bi mc with depression and anxiety, gay black li, white half italian lesbian sc, black lesbian sc, white half italian polyamorous bi sc, polyamorous bi sc(s), polyamory, latinx sc(s)Â
 wow!! i enjoyed this book so much!! 🤩Â
-mickey was such a fun protagonist to follow, his teammates and their shenanigans has to be one of my favourite things about the novel!! i am biased okay?? so yk i love dorian, barbie and zero!! 😌Â
-this is more of a rivals to lovers and not an enemies to lovers bookÂ
-the author does not shy away from addressing the lack of inclusivity, the sexism and the stigmatisation of mental health and queerness in professional sports!!Â
-i believe mickey is a character who is still figuring himself out. his feelings are all over the place, he has a hard time in class and also has trouble reaching out to people, not forgetting the pressure he is under in order to live up to his family’s legacy. a lot of it stems from his depression and anxiety and watching him get the help and support he needed was everything to me!! (honestly it's the coolest and downright most scariest thing when you start relating to a character so much!!)Â
-"it’s not even sadness. it’s nothingness."Â
i loved the mental health rep!! it was done extremely well so i deeply appreciate the time and effort the author put in to do the research and come up with such authentic representation!!Â
overall it was a solid 4☆ read for me and i would recommend it to anyone who's looking for a sports rivals to lovers romance book with beautiful representation, friendship and familial bonds that are sure to melt your hearts!!Â
cw: cursing, violence, sexism, brief mention of blood, alcohol, vomit, mental illness
- m|m, f|f, f|m|mÂ
- white half italian bi mc with depression and anxiety, gay black li, white half italian lesbian sc, black lesbian sc, white half italian polyamorous bi sc, polyamorous bi sc(s), polyamory, latinx sc(s)Â
 wow!! i enjoyed this book so much!! 🤩Â
-mickey was such a fun protagonist to follow, his teammates and their shenanigans has to be one of my favourite things about the novel!! i am biased okay?? so yk i love dorian, barbie and zero!! 😌Â
-this is more of a rivals to lovers and not an enemies to lovers bookÂ
-the author does not shy away from addressing the lack of inclusivity, the sexism and the stigmatisation of mental health and queerness in professional sports!!Â
-i believe mickey is a character who is still figuring himself out. his feelings are all over the place, he has a hard time in class and also has trouble reaching out to people, not forgetting the pressure he is under in order to live up to his family’s legacy. a lot of it stems from his depression and anxiety and watching him get the help and support he needed was everything to me!! (honestly it's the coolest and downright most scariest thing when you start relating to a character so much!!)Â
-"it’s not even sadness. it’s nothingness."Â
i loved the mental health rep!! it was done extremely well so i deeply appreciate the time and effort the author put in to do the research and come up with such authentic representation!!Â
overall it was a solid 4☆ read for me and i would recommend it to anyone who's looking for a sports rivals to lovers romance book with beautiful representation, friendship and familial bonds that are sure to melt your hearts!!Â
cw: cursing, violence, sexism, brief mention of blood, alcohol, vomit, mental illness
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Mental illness
Moderate: Cursing and Violence
Minor: Blood and Vomit
thedanielhurst's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this rivals-to-lovers romance! Thanks Netgalley and Recorded Books for the advance audiobook!
Mickey and Jaysen are the top two hockey players on the NHL draft list. Mickey, the son of a legendary hockey pro, is destined for the NHL, but all that pressure combined with his abandonment issues, his depression, and his closeted bisexual status have him wondering if professional hockey is what he really wants. Jaysen, on the other hand, doesn't have any of the inherited notoriety and has worked hard as a Black, queer player in a predominantly white, heterosexual sport to get where he is. But whatever rivalry and resentment exists between them, it doesn't stop them from catching feelings for each other when they end up playing for the same college team.
The story is well-written, and both the hockey world and the experience of depression are described so well, the author is clearly experienced and/or well-researched. They've found a perfect balance between depicting these experiences with clarity and detail without isolating a reader, such as myself, who isn't familiar. Mickey's relationships with his parents, sisters, friends, and fellow players all feel realistic and nicely developed. The central romance is also sweet, adorable, and full of angst that feels earned and authentic.
I also really appreciate the range of sexualities and relationships depicted on the page. We see various queer identities and relationships, including a polyamorous romantic relationship and a friendship between two straight guys who aren't afraid to show their affection. Toxic masculinity begone!
ICEBREAKER is a quality read for anyone, and I think hockey folks and those who live with depression will especially love it.
Mickey and Jaysen are the top two hockey players on the NHL draft list. Mickey, the son of a legendary hockey pro, is destined for the NHL, but all that pressure combined with his abandonment issues, his depression, and his closeted bisexual status have him wondering if professional hockey is what he really wants. Jaysen, on the other hand, doesn't have any of the inherited notoriety and has worked hard as a Black, queer player in a predominantly white, heterosexual sport to get where he is. But whatever rivalry and resentment exists between them, it doesn't stop them from catching feelings for each other when they end up playing for the same college team.
The story is well-written, and both the hockey world and the experience of depression are described so well, the author is clearly experienced and/or well-researched. They've found a perfect balance between depicting these experiences with clarity and detail without isolating a reader, such as myself, who isn't familiar. Mickey's relationships with his parents, sisters, friends, and fellow players all feel realistic and nicely developed. The central romance is also sweet, adorable, and full of angst that feels earned and authentic.
I also really appreciate the range of sexualities and relationships depicted on the page. We see various queer identities and relationships, including a polyamorous romantic relationship and a friendship between two straight guys who aren't afraid to show their affection. Toxic masculinity begone!
ICEBREAKER is a quality read for anyone, and I think hockey folks and those who live with depression will especially love it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Abandonment, Biphobia, Alcohol, Blood, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
pagesofbellerose's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Blood, Drug use, Medical content, and Pregnancy
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