A review by meredith_williams_
Icebreaker by Hannah Grace

emotional funny lighthearted 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

3.25

This was my first foray into hockey romances and it was…fine? This book was wildly hyped up online, so naturally it was underwhelming. (I need to start lowering my expectations for TikTok famous books!) 

I liked: 
- the university setting and college athlete rivals-to-lovers bit 
- the friend group dynamics 
- the banter between the main characters
(especially the bit where Nate becomes Anastasia’s stand-in skating partner! That was very sweet and fun!)

- the modeling of a healthy communication style and mutually supportive romantic relationship 

I disliked:
-the general flow of the plot. It felt like everything and nothing happened at the same time.  
- the excessive amounts of spicy scenes and the cringey dialogue that came along with them. I’m not opposed to a smutty romance, but it felt like every other chapter and, to me, lessened the romantic tension that was being built between the two main characters because there was no slow burn whatsoever.
I have a special complaint about the Uber scene because what do you mean you did that in front of all your friends???? But I will say the Uber slut joke was funny!

- THE EPILOUGE!!!! WHY???
I hate an accidental pregnancy trope and I hate that the author only did a two year time jump. I also feel like Freud would have a lot to say about the paragraph Anastasia narrated on how her unborn baby responds to Nate’s touch. 🤢


Overall, this book is sweet and sporty and fun, but it could have been about half the length and nothing would have been lost. 
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