I absolutely loved this book; it's been awhile since a book hit me in all the right feels, but this managed to do just that.

Not only does it have great LGBTQ+ representation; it also deals with mental health and other issues in a relatable, authentic way.

What I loved the most though is the characters themselves and the story being told. I was invested in the boys' enemies-to-lovers, slow burn romance from the start, and of course I loved the great family and friend dynamics as well.

Overall this book was just a pleasure to read and I highly recommend it.

It was so well written especially the NHL and hockey lingo u can tell the author is a hockey fan and also i liked the portrayal of depression and the relationship between mickey and jason i loved how soft and cute they were

I loved Jason so much. Sweetheart!! I really also enjoyed the portarayal of depression and the stuff that comes with trying to become an NHL recruit. Also it was so sweet and unapologetically gay. That bit with the Zendaya and Tom Holland bisexual crisis was funny lol

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!

If I have one critique, it's that the pacing could've been a hair faster. This might only be true of the audiobook, as the word count for this book is fairly low. I did enjoy the narration generally, though.

ICEBREAKER is a quality read for anyone, and I think hockey folks and those who live with depression will especially love it.

I'm not really (or even not at all) interested by sports, and I don't know anything about hockey. So maybe someone who knows more about the topic would be even happier to find this book.
But anyway, this is a great take on the "rivals to lovers" trope!! And the MC (as well as other characters) deals with depression and anxiety.

Thank you netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for a review

Story: ★ ★ ★ ★
Audiobook: ★ ★ ½

Tropes: enemies to lovers, forced proximity
Content Warnings: underage drinking, alcohol abuse, graphic depictions of depression.
** Please heed this depression warning! My depression is well managed, but the pressure, the spiraling, the anxiety was so realistic that had to take breaks and that’s completely ok. Take care of yourself! ♡

When I first started reading (listening to) Icebreaker, I wondered if I would ever come to truly sympathize with our successful, rich, white, cis main character. It’s funny how often that comes up- Mickey, our main character, is in full acknowledgement of his own privilege to the point where he dismisses his own depression because he has nothing to be sad about. It’s actually such a great opportunity to prove how much you brain and your depression give less than one entire shit about how good your life technically is. Your brain says you’re miserable now because it can’t do its job right and has decided to make that your problem.

So did I ever sympathize with Mickey? No, not really. He’s completely unrelatable outside of his depression and anxiety. But empathize? I most certainly did. And here’s why.

Detail and realism is where the story shines most brightly. The way the author writes about dissociation, anxiety, depression- that’s handled in such a genuine and graphic way. You can feel their personal experience in their writing and that’s what makes it so good. Depression freaking sucks and the fact that it can even take down a rich white boy with a killer support system AND is in the running for the top NHL pick is really important. So yeah, it’s an angst fest and I love it.

Beyond that Icebreaker does a commendable job of balancing the romance and the sport. Hockey is a huge part of our main characters’ lives, and the author made that intrinsically believable with their well-researched (or personally experienced)game detail.

If you’re into YA straddling the line into New Adult territory, this is it. If you want realistic mental illness rep that isn’t magically cured by love, but is instead something that’s tackled in a pragmatic and accessible way, here it is. You want character driven queer romance with character development and love interests whose path to where they met couldn’t be any different, pick the book up dang it!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy of this audiobook ARC for me to review.

All the love for Icebreaker by A.L. Graziadei!! This has been everything I have been craving to read lately. The enemies to lovers story was a little fast-paced but I was so caught up in everything going on that I listened to the audio almost in one sitting. What I loved most was that this book is bursting with so much representation and it is done so well (you know, none of that super cringe stereotypical slang writers tend to use to let you know that their characters are diverse, yuck)

Icebreaker is very much YA, fade to black and so perfectly tells the story of someone who is struggling with literally who he was breed to be and someone who he wants to be desperately.

Is this a sports story, yes...do you need to like sports stories to enjoy this book? Absolutely not

Triggers covering topics of mental health, family trauma, and alcohol as a copying mechanism

"Icebreaker" is a queer college hockey enemies to lovers book. Fans of Ngozi's "Check Please!" web comic should definitely check this debut out.

The two main characters have great development and blur the line from the beginning of hate and love. Graziadei has a talent of capturing the passion of love/hate enemy/lover dynamic me and many others love. I was surprised this was considered YA instead of NA.

The depiction of depression, anxiety and how those can spiral via the main characters lens felt extremely authentic. I love the focus on portraying being not okay but still trying to handle everything yourself. Even the side characters had very full personalities and things to deal with.

I also loved the diversity in this book with numerous queer people, a Black love interest as well as diverse teammates and even a polyamorous relationship. The handling of all of these identities was well done and accepted as well as not being made a big deal but also acknowledging the disadvantages faced. The main character also often acknowledges some of his privileges of being a white man.

I like how the ending was done, I had guessed it would be different that what readers were expecting. I expect this book to be extremely well received due to the writing and lovable characters. A stunning debut.

First off, I want say thank you to NetGalley for giving me access to this book to review it. This book follows Mickey James as he enters college and tries to live up to the hockey legacy that follows his name. Jaysen Caulfield is the biggest competition that Mickey has for the #1 spot in the NHL draft. And then, obviously, things happen between the two. I thought this book was really cute and was so intrigued when I found it! I think that the story and the concept were really fun and I had a really nice time reading this book. Overall, I was a little underwhelmed by the book, but still really enjoyed it. I kept finding myself expecting more from different scenes and interactions between the characters. The ending also left me feeling unsatisfied and it seemed like. it ended a little abruptly. I would still recommend this book because of how cute it was. One thing that I really loved about this book was the way that the author talked about mental health, specifically depression. I have never read in which the author so accurately describes what depression can feel like. It was really encouraging to read about a character that was going through the same things that I have gone through and understanding that we are not alone and that others are dealing with their struggles in similar way. As with any book, there were things that I loved and things that I wasn’t as big of a fan of, but I think that overall the book was really fun and a perfect read to life spirits.

When two top NHL draft prospects play for the same team, it’s cause for some interesting dynamics. They battle for that number one spot while having to work together, but the most interesting development is the heat radiating between them off the ice.

I love hockey, so fiction about hockey is amazing. Top it off with a romance between players, depression rep and you get a masterpiece! I loved watching Jaysen and Mickey fall for each other, and Mickey finding himself belonging on a team, not just because he is a third generation NHL prospect. There was also a really great family aspect to this novel, and discussion of how to be yourself when you’re standing in the shadow of what people want you to become.

The mental health rep felt realistic, in that it’s hard to reach out for help when you feel like you don’t know who you are anymore. Depression always feels insurmountable until you start to climb out of the darkness.

I want to see more of these characters as they navigate the NHL, but I think it was still the perfect ending. My heart is so full.

I really enjoyed the narrator, and would definitely recommend the audiobook!

This book was heartwarmingly sweet! I listened to the audiobook while doing chores and I ended up organizing my closet because I didn't want to put it down.

I know absolutely nothing about ice hockey but the book was easily readable. Mikey was a wonderful character, and my favorite part of the book is basically every single time he talked about his friends or sisters. There were so many characters that it took a while to remember them all, but at the of the book, I loved every single one. None of them felt one-dimensional plot devices and I loved that they formed strong bonds with each other even outside of Mikey. The mental health rep was also a very big part of the plot, and I think the author handled it well.

Huge props to the author for acknowledging the discrimination BIPOC face in the sports field (ha) with the main character, on page, and Mikey being conscious of it more than a single conversation.

I wish we had more scenes with just Jaysen and Mikey, instead of just being told they were getting closer, but the only thing I really disliked about this book was the ending. I have no problems with NFL decision thing, because I get what the point was supposed to be, and I'd already guessed it a quarter of the way in. My issue was with Mikey's decision. It felt uncharacteristic and underdeveloped for him to abandon all his friends and the team when we spent the whole book watching him make and learn to depend on his support circle, only to leave to change most things he likes about his life. I'm hoping the authors will change it, and I'll be keeping a lookout for this book when it comes out.

I've enjoyed sports romance for a long time and now I'm seeing more queer sports romance and I love it. This was a well written book, that delved into mental health, addiction, and family. I thought it was well paced, with likeable characters and a cute enemies to lovers romance. The ending was lacking, with no real conclusion and felt too abrupt for me.

Mickey is a hockey prodigy, expected to go number one in the NHL draft. Along with the pressure from his father and fans, he suffers from untreated depression and copes by binge drinking. On his college team is Jaysen, the one guy who may steal the top spot from Mickey. Though Jaysen and Mickey fight constantly, they also push each other to be better and toe the line between love and hate.

I didn't expect the book to be so emotional and a couple of parts really broke my heart. I was glad to see Mickey get help and be surrounded by people who cared about his wellbeing. I'm hoping for a sequel, so we get answers to the questions left open.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all opinions are my own. Thank you to RB Media and NetGalley for the copy

Add this book to your TBR now! If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would.
This is one of my favorite enemies to lovers books I have ever read so if that is your thing you are sure to love Icebreaker! I would rank this book up with Red, White, and Royal Blue and The Extraordinaries (my top 2 favorite reads) in terms of how much I enjoyed it and I did go and buy the January rainbow crate box so that I could have a physical copy of this book with a signed bookplate.

I went into this book knowing nothing about Hockey, but I am a big fan of sports animes so this was right up my alley and everything I love about a sports anime. The rivalry, the tension, but make it romance!

Also important to note, I read this book by listening to the audiobook and I am kind of picky when it comes to audiobooks but the narrator did a wonderful job!

I enjoyed the plot, the hockey, the romance, the characters, complicated family dynamics, and most importantly the depictions of depression so much. I personally related to a lot of Mickey's explanation and guilt he felt about his depression so it was very nice to see my struggles represented in a book like this.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Recorded Books for the audiobook ARC!

Ah! I really liked this book. I listened to the audiobook in one day as I walked around New York City and it was the perfect soundtrack. The narrator was really great!

The queer representation was so great to see in this! It was refreshing to read about individuals who were comfortable with their sexuality. I also love reading about sports and romance, so this was right up my alley.

The mental health representation was also really great. The main character, Mickey, has grown up with the weight of his family's legacy of being first pick for the NHL draft. When he ends up on a college team with his number one rival, Jaysen, his anxiety about being the best takes over. It was really interesting to see his ups and downs. I just wish that the book didn't end on such a major cliffhanger!! While I understand that whomever the draft picks first was never really what the book was about, I still wanted to know who got picked and how Mickey and Jaysen dealt with it.

I also would have liked to see them interact more together, moments where they were just having fun. The build up was great but I feel like their romance began to plateau a bit. If it was 100 pages longer, I think the ending would have also been more developed. Nonetheless, this was a really fun book. The side characters were so lovable and I even teared up at some moments. I really enjoyed listening to this!

Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for the audiobook arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

3.75 stars
There were a lot of things I liked about this book. I loved how authentic it was, the way it mentioned things like depression and also the romance between the protagonists. Still, it kind of felt like there was something missing for me.

There was no real character development, although it felt like the whole book was working towards exactly that- but I also understand; the protagonist is a teenager. It bothered me that certain topics were mentioned again and again, to the point where it did get pretty repetitive. I feel like certain themes never got resolved, especially at the end. But, again, that's how depression is; it is nothing to be "solved" easily. The repetition might have been good, especially the reader's feelings that came with it- because the protagonist was also (obviously) annoyed by these recurring problems of his.

The side characters, as well as the protagonists, felt a bit flat sometimes. The protagonist told us how much he loved his friends and family a lot, but neither did I actually feel it nor did he show it.

Overall, this book was a very fun read and even though I'm happy I read (listened to) it and would do it again, I do have mixed feelings about some parts.

What do you do when you don't really know who you are anymore?

This was an unexpectedly deep book about a young hockey star trying to balance who he wants to be with the expectations he feels everyone else has for him

Mickey and Jaysen are enemies. There's no doubt about that. Their interactions from the very first chapter are bitter and volatile, and it's difficult to imagine how they'll ever resolve it. I felt as though their rivalry was portrayed very well; the author didn't hold back, but equally it wasn't overly dramatic. I can see how this could actually happen between two people. At first, I wondered how this book would stand out from other romances, where the couple start as enemies. But soon it proved to me that it was a stand out book in so many ways.

The representation of coming out, and the fear people have of coming out even when they know their family will be supportive felt so raw and real. Even when you know people love you, it's hard to tell them. Because you know there is hostility in the world. Mickey struggles with this, unsure how to come out to his family even though one of his sisters is gay and another is in a polyamorous relationship. He's scared of what might happen, even though logically he knows his parents will support him. I really felt that. Coming out was, and continues to be, one of the hardest things I've ever done. It isn't suddenly easy because you know your family support gay rights or because you have other LGBTQ people in your family.

I also strongly identified with the portrayal of mental health struggles. Mickey has depression, and his flat disinterest in the world felt so familiar to me. Depression can be cyclical. You go through patches of feeling like things are getting better and then suddenly the world falls out from under you, and you're drowning and you don't know how to make it stop. I too have failed to submit assignments in university, or struggled to even get out the door to spend time with friends. Sometimes you become destructive and ruin your relationships, even though it's the last thing you want to do. It felt so real, and I'm sure many people who read this book will see a reflection of themselves in Mickey.

The guys in this book talk. They joke around with each other, but they also have real friendships. They care about each other. They begin to open up about mental health. Seeing this kind of representation in a book is so important and I hope it will encourage more guys to be open about their mental health. There's this idea that men don't talk or have real friendships. But that's not true at all, and I was glad to find a book that showed this.

There is a romance in this book, to a certain extent. Mickey and Jaysen move from being enemies, to tolerating each other, to beginning to open up. This isn't a book where there will be grand declarations of love. They recognise that they're young, that they don't really know each other and that things might change for them at any moment. And I liked it. It worked because of where these characters had come from and the journey they were on.

I can't cover everything that this book deals with in detail. For a book of its length, it managed to cover many things without me ever feeling like they were thrown in for no reason. Everything that was raised was handled with care and attention. It was so good, whether you like sports or not, and I hope many people will read it. It really helped that I'm a hockey fan, so I could enjoy that side of it too.

This stands out as my best read of the year so far.

I'm a big fan of hockey and YA/NA books so I was looking forward to reading this one. I did enjoy the parts about hockey, the diversity of the characters and how close Mickey was with his sisters. This book did bring me back to my uni days and I empathized with the pressure that the boys felt. There is some steaminess like the laundry room scene. I found this ok overall but the story just fell a bit flat for me.

I love a good sport-centered MM read, but did I love this one? I'm not sure. The characters were complex, starting with Mickey but I don't feel like he really grew as a person at all. The people around him just kinda fitted into him while he stayed the same.

During the middle, I started to lose a little bit of interest but I would say that it really picked up paced during the last half.

Overall, it was a fun read and a quick one.

thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I'm having a hard time finding the words to accurately describe how much I love this book! I absolutely blew through it with a grin on my face the whole time and even preordered it before I finished. So yes, I will likely be screaming about this book for the rest of the year.

Mickey and Jaysen felt so realistic and I loved their rivals to lovers arc and their banter. I also loved each and every one of the side characters, like their teammates were all so wholesome and Mickey's sisters and best friend were fantastic.

Some aspects of this story required quite a bit of suspension of belief. In particular, as someone who grew up in the hockey world, I had a hard time believing the amount of diversity on Mickey and Jaysen's hockey team. That being said, I appreciated the commentary on how abysmal the representation is in the real world. For example, very early on Jaysen makes a comment about the percentage of Black hockey players at the collegiate and NHL levels (around 2% and 1% respectively) and Mickey brings up several times both out loud and internally that his sister, Delilah, is a better hockey player than him but no one cares because she's a girl.

I also really loved the mental health representation. Mickey's journey to diagnosis and acceptance of his depression and how that related to his thoughts/concerns about his dad and his future in hockey were so well done.

I do feel like the ending was a little rushed. It is one of those situations where I liked where we ended up but I wanted to see more of how we got there.

And as for the audiobook, I enjoyed the narrator quite a bit. There is a scene early on where Mickey's roommate is talking about this major (astronomy) and the inflection the narrator used had me laughing out loud. My only minor complaint is that Jaysen is meant to be from Boston but the only time the narrator gave him a Boston accent was on the word Boston once in the last 15% of the book and that was kind of jarring, especially because I'm pretty sure he didn't use the accent when Jaysen was talking about the Boston Bruins earlier in the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Recorded Books for a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

5 stars for the book but 3 stars for the audio

I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did because I know next to nothing about hockey, but these characters! These characters were so beautifully written. Their chemistry and struggles felt real and meaningful. I felt all the feels between Mickey and Jaysen and I couldn't get enough of their interactions. I also loved that Mickey's depression and mental health were a big part of the story. I thought that the author did a great job tackling that topic. I think that because the hockey aspect felt in the background to all the characters and their interactions, I was able to get past the fact that I didn't understand anything going on there. There were moments where the author focuses on the gameplay, but in the moment, Mickey was thinking about other characters and his mental health so it didn't matter that I didn't understand.
The one thing that I didn't like was that Mickey and Jaysen had to keep their relationship a secret, but that is apparently how it is in the NHL so the author was being true to that. I didn't like it but I get what they were doing.

Audiobook specific: I was not a huge fan of the narrator. For a while, I was worried that I wouldn't like the story because the narration wasn't working for me and that was really frustrating for me. I finally got a little more used to narration by the final 3rd of the book, but that's too long to get used to a narrator.

I recommend checking this book out, but I'd suggest reading it instead of listening to it.

content warning: mental health, depression, alcohol abuse, homophobia, abandonment, suicidal thoughts, mentions of self-harm