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siobhankeira's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Now, the first thing I’ll say is, no I can’t answer if it lives up to the hype. I think overhyped anything holds it to higher than normal standards, which isn’t honest to me.
That being said, I was surprised by this book. It was deeper than I thought it would be, and made me smile at some of the things characters said and did. Other times my chest ached for them, because the vulnerability the characters were able to show in different ways really impressed me.
To be honest, the way I can tell if I really like a book is if I put off reading it, because I don’t want it to end…and I did that with Icebreaker.
Things weren’t easy and perfect, there was growth needed between all characters, some did grow and some did not.
However, one of my greatest appreciations in reading people’s stories is when the characters feel real enough. To where I can relate, understand how they came to that conclusion or mindset. They have “good” traits as well as “bad” traits.
They are complex, not simply just bad or just good. Those are the characters in stories I crave the most and I definitely saw two sides to each character, they had depth to me.
End of spoiler free review tldr; I was surprised by how much I liked this book, the characters, and the complex issues the characters dealt with, the different kinds of relationships, etc. The characters are unique in their own ways, for worse or for better, but they are believable, and honestly the humour got me too. Maybe roll your eyes with a smile on your face, but I loved it.
I would recommend this to readers who like enemies to lovers, sports romances, each main character (and side characters) that have their good and bad moments, and
If you are able to quiet the high expectations placed on any popular source of media, I think most will like this book, and I, for one am excited to read the next in the series. :)
SPOILERS AHEAD:
I’m not saying at all that that having a family is lackluster, I just wish if it was included into the epilogue, it wasn’t overshadowing the facts that like Anastasia was an Olympic medalist? It was like mentioned once and seemed odd considering the entire book was about her figure skating.
It would be more believable to me if it was 5-7yrs later. But again, just my personal preferences.
I would’ve liked to see more of the girls friendship throughout the book, and not just brief appearances when they literally were living in the same apartment, then home. They had conversations, but most of them happened offscreen.
I haven’t read the next two books, so hopefully we will get some answers or hints there.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book, and definitely need a Nate in my life for my inner Anastasia <3
Graphic: Eating disorder, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual assault, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
lucia2's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Body shaming, Sexual content, Violence, Vomit, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Minor: Bullying
idrilcelebrindal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Sexual assault and Pregnancy
alicesbookcorner's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pregnancy
hayleythegoose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Cursing, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Vomit, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy and Sexual harassment
littlemissmommy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I will give full credit for the eating disorder rep, and anxiety rep. The story definitely juggled a lot of elements and I appreciate that Nate didn’t miraculously become a figure skater, as that was a huge reason I didn’t want to read this. So yay for realistic plot points.
All in all a very fun, don’t think too hard spicy book, I would say spicy level on this is 4. (Multiple spicy scenes, and some kinks)
Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
beautyinherbooks's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
mels_reading_log's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Grief and Death of parent
idk_indigo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I found myself perplexed with Aaron a lot of the time; on one hand, any character who is, like, that bad (ie., continuously tries to fuck shit up for the FMC at all times) is a bit of a writing red flag for me. Nobody is going that out of their way just to be a menace, like at some point the victim-always mentality is just silly. But also, Aaron is a man so, like, it makes sense to me.
The therapy aspect of the book was weird/interesting/kinda just felt thrown on, but obviously love me a self-actualized FMC queen! The eating disorder component was also... eh to me, but I love that it's a component of the book because mental health in romance is so slay!!!
Oh and side note but where the fuck is this taking place? Like, obviously it's in LA, but... where? They talk about driving to Malibu which like yeah could be anywhere; no mention of 405 traffic, plus they talk about being pretty close to the 5, but also they regularly go out to WeHo for parties/dancing... it for sure has to be North of the 2 (because rich kids), but also can't be too far away from UCLA, but also doesn't seem to be lots of hills & absolutely no mention of parking being difficult, so I'm just like... where does this take place? Geographically it just doesn't make sense to me. It is okay, though, because it's a work of fiction.
I have seen people complain about the lack of accuracy regarding figure skating. I know nothing about figure skating (except that it's pretty) so like honestly it didn't feel off to me at all. The trick with this is to just not know anything, it works pretty well methinks. What did feel off is why a school in LA would be known for ice sports? And also called Maple Hills, like? But like whatever. Also, call me jealous (green is my color, anyway), but I could not watch my partner figure skate with another man like that shit is sooo intimate.
Overall loved the vibes. Hated Aaron but also I think I would've at one point talked shit about people with Aaron. But then I'd feel guilty about it when he said some shit about his best friend/teammate/skating partner was
Moderate: Eating disorder
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, and Toxic friendship
margaretwaltemath09's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Cursing, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Physical abuse, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Vomit, and Pregnancy