Review: Grace’s debut novel brings the heat! 

“Icebreaker” alternates between the perspectives of Anastasia (Stassie) Allen and Nathan Hawkins, who are both very competitive when it comes to their respective sports on the ice (figure skating and hockey). Reading from the viewpoints of both characters allowed me to occupy their minds and truly discover when they stopped seeing each other as enemies and instead as lovers. 

Receiving such intimate access to their thoughts also allows the reader to fully realize the extent of the struggles that the characters grapple with. For instance, Stassie struggles with an eating disorder stemming from a diet imposed upon her by her toxic pairs skating partner. Her partner’s behavior negatively impacts her mental health, but she does not suffer in silence. Instead, she raises awareness for readers and becomes a mental health advocate by actively attending therapy sessions, being vocal about how she is feeling, and asking for help when she needs it. I appreciate Grace for handling such sensitive subject matters with care and providing accurate representation for readers. 

Another aspect of the novel I enjoyed is how Stassie’s stubborn and determined nature perfectly compliments Nathan fun-loving spirit, making them the ultimate comfort couple! They support each other, want each other to succeed, and would do anything to make each other happy. I could practically feel their chemistry radiating off the page, which made it all the harder to recover from their absence after reading the final page. 

My only word of caution to those reading this review is to not be deceived by the discreet cover… its contents are steamy. The mature scenes were a bit too numerous for my tastes, but that did not stop Stassie and Nathan from getting my heart in a chokehold!