I thought this book was really cute!! I enjoyed the chemistry and dialogue between both of the characters, and I felt like Sage and Elias were both very relatable. I adore Sage and how determined she is about everything in life. And I love Elias for recognizing everything Sage needed. Personally, I just wish there was more of a smooth storyline. The chemistry was definitely there, but the story itself felt choppy. It didn't feel super organized. If the story had flowed better, I would have definitely given it a higher rating because I really liked the emotional depth.

Sadly missed the date to download before it was archived but loved the first book in the series!! Will hopefully either buy or borrow a copy!

This was pretty cute! Sage and Elias unfiltered was a cute way to put it!

Some parts made me pause and not care for how they were written. Two parts in particular felt a bit icky to me, but they’re pretty quick moments.

Thank you Berkeley for the ARC!

Spiral was a great second book in the Off the Ice series by Bal Khabra. I really enjoyed Sage and Eli's story and getting to see all the characters from the first book as well.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

As much as I adored Collide, Spiral somehow made me fall even more in love with these characters and Bal Khabra's writing. Watching strong female characters find love and be allowed to be themselves is so beautiful to watch.

I thought the pacing of this story was great, and nothing felt rushed or too drawn out. These two didn't fake it for a single second!

The chemistry between Bal Khabra's characters is always so believable, and it never feels like there's too much insta-love going on. The connections are authentic and make the stories so heartfelt.

Overall, an amazing read and I will be adding anything and everything this author writes to my TBR immediately!!

This was soo cute! I love how this series feels like a comfort. Seeing these two together are perfect and the tension is just soo delicious! I loved every minute.

ok this was a very complex fake dating trope AND I LOVED IT. starting it off with an auction that Sage saved him from being taken by a stalker fan was such a good way to have them introduced. plus the fact that her uncle was the GM and hated Eli was so funny. (also I love the name Sage, it's so earthy and unique) I like that they did have initial attraction, but then he was an idiot so there was tension built up for when they were "forced" to fake date. AND you add forced proximity on top of all that? I can't believe they held out for so long. I admire the patience and self-control. But I really loved how Eli and Sage helped balance each other. They both really needed someone to take of them, and I'm really happy they were able to do that for each other.

Sports romance has never steered me wrong and this book is no exception to that. Spiral was a pleasant read with two great characters and an equally great plot. I loved the dynamic between Elias and Sage. Grumpy/sunshine is always fun to read. What makes a book great is the development of the characters. Sage was a compelling character for me. She wasn’t just a sunshine character, there was more to her which I loved. Elias was also perfect. Portrayed as a playboy but the reality was shocking. Spiral was an enjoyable read and I can’t wait to read more by this author.

Fake dating but OH NO they have to live together?? 🔥🔥🔥I ate this one up. I listened to the audiobook and both narrators were incredible.

I don’t feel like I’ve been seeing a ton about this book, but I ADORED it. If you like a man with emotional intelligence, who wants to spoil his love interest, and who has an amazing friend group, I think you will love this!

Sage is struggling to make ends meet, and is frustrated that the ballet world keeps casting people with large social media followings. Elias needs a fake girlfriend so maybe his fans - and the press - will give him some space. They meet at a dating auction, where Elias’s best friend convinces Sage to bid for Elias to save him from a slightly stalkerish fan. Eventually, they come up with a mutually beneficial fake dating plan.

Pick this one up if you love:
💖 fake dating
💖 forced proximity
💖 hockey romance
💖 ballerina FMC
💖 good girl / player

I loved both Sage and Elias so much, and loved watching them fall in love!

My one complaint is that this book centered around Swan Lake, and during Sage’s audition it talked about her completing the “grande finale” of the black swan dance with a grande jete, but that choreography famously ends with a series of fouettes. She also said they were doing a version where the Swan Queen and Prince live so maybe the choreography is different for that one. If someone knows, please tell me. I absolutely adored the rest of the book, I just needed to nerd out for a minute.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Spiral by Bal Khabra!

I just finished *Spiral* by Bal Khabra, and wow, this book truly blew me away. The pacing was impeccable from the first page, and I found myself completely immersed in the twists and turns of the story. Khabra has a talent for blending suspense, mystery, and complex character development in a way that keeps you guessing until the very end.

What I loved most about *Spiral* was the depth of the characters. The psychological elements of the story were executed so well that it was hard not to get lost in their minds. Each character felt real, flawed, and unpredictable, which made every chapter feel like a fresh new ride.

The atmosphere Khabra builds is thick with tension, and the writing style is incredibly gripping. It’s one of those books that you just can’t put down, and when you finally do, you're left thinking about it long after the last page. The ending? Absolutely wild—no spoilers here, but I didn't see it coming!

A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the ARC of *Spiral*. It was an incredible read, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to dive into it early.

For more of my thoughts on this book, be sure to check out my review on my YouTube channel here: [Kiana Lashay](https://www.youtube.com/@KianaLashay1). Don't forget to subscribe for more bookish content and reviews!

Spiral follows Elias (Eli) Westbrook, a rookie hockey player for the Toronto Thunder. Eli is navigating the challenges of fame and media scrutiny and has already grown tired of the spotlight. especially since the tabloids are making it their mission to imply that Elias is more interested in women than he is in playing hockey.

Sage Beaumont is a ballerina who dreams of joining the Aurora Ballet Theatre and dancing the lead in Swan Lake. She is dismayed to learn that her lack of a social media following online is proving to be her biggest obstacle to making her dream come true. While attending a charity auction, she does a friend a favor and bids on handsome hockey player, Eli Westbrook. Sage and Eli hit it off and realize they can help each other out and decide to fake date. Dating a superstar hockey player will give Sage the publicity she needs, while dating Sage should help take the pressure off Eli so he can focus on scoring his first career goal.

Sage is such an easy character to root for. Not only is she trying to follow her dreams, but she is also a parental figure to her brother. She’s strong and independent, but also has a hint of vulnerability. I loved how Elias becomes so supportive of her, even as he’s dealing with his own issues, particularly getting stuck in his own head and overthinking every time he’s on the ice, and how Sage reciprocates that support to try to help him. I just loved how Khabra wrote this aspect of their growing relationship.

This is also a spicy romance, but it’s a slow burn with lots of sexual tension since these two are trying to keep to the terms of their agreement. Once the spice hits though, it’s everything I could have hoped for.

Spiral by Bal Khabra is an absolutely captivating, beautifully emotional & refreshing fake dating of a sports romance between a professional hockey player & a ballerina.

This is already going to be one of my favorite books of the year. I highly recommend giving this author a read!

This is book #2 in Off the Ice series. It is the first book I’ve read by this author & can easily be read as a standalone. However, I loved this so much that I want to go back & read the first one ASAP!

Spiral is great for those looking to read…
💜 Sports Romance
💜 Pro HockeyPlayer x Ballet Dancer
💜 Fake Dating

This has a really interesting & fresh take on the sports romance. I love the combination of incredibly talented professionals of very different athletic pursuits & points in their careers. They both had so much personal history, multi-faceted stories with difficulties to overcome. I love the connection of the heroine & her brother. I also appreciated the two main characters’ wonderful authentic selves, both separately & together & the chemistry they brought, which spiraled off the page.

This author is now going on my list of I cannot wait to read more & I really hope this series continues.

Massive thanks to NetGalley & Berkley for the gifted copy, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.

"There's nothing I wouldn't do to make you believe you're worth every bit of worry and care"

I loved how elias was the ultimate acts of service boyfriend which goes great with eldest daughter! I think there dynamic was really sweet and elias def won me over. I loved seeing sage go for her dreams and learn more about herself.

I really liked this hockey/ballet romance. Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes, and this was well done. I loved both Eli and Sage, and thought that both characters were well rounded. Both brought baggage to the relationship, and both dealt with it in a healthy way.

As someone who took ballet when I was younger, I especially loved Sage’s POV. When she was burning the tips of her pointe shoes, I felt that. But I also enjoyed Eli’s POV working through his issues as a rookie trying to score his first goal.

This was a cute romance that I enjoyed. And the epilogue made me cry happy tears. I definitely recommend this to fans of sports romance and fake dating.

I loved it! It was so well done, and OMG Eli has my heart. I love everything about this one. I can't wait for more from the series.

Bal Khabra was en pointe with this fun, lighthearted ballet-hockey romance. Sage was been spiraling trying to secure an audition for her dream company. The press is saying that Elias is checking out after being unable to score in his first few NHL games. When their paths collide there seems to be an agreement that benefits them both. By fake dating Sage will get the publicity she needs to secure her audition and a long-term girlfriend will get the press of Elias's back. However, they can't dance around their undeniable connections forever. Is their duet meant to last?

Khabra does it again! She is able to create such relatable, fully fleshed characters that are entertaining and love-able. I TORE through this book and just want more. This book is one of few that accurately portray fun tropes and a healthy relationship. It is so easy to go down the red flag rabbit hole, but not in "Spiral"!

This was so cute and a pretty quick read for me. Fake dating is probably one of my favorite tropes to read.

First of, Thank you to Kim over at Berkely, PRH for sending me an early copy of this book!

As someone who missed the release of Collide in both indie and tradpub I wasn't sure how I would like the off the ice series. However after after reading Spiral I can day that WHATEVER Bal Khabra writes, I will read!
The way thing book made me giggles, kick my feet, laugh and cry is like a breath of fresh air in the sports romance genre.

Spiral is a fake dating romance between an aspirating ballerina and a newly signed rookie in the NHL. Both have found themselves in a situation where they want the medias attention in different ways. Sage need a little limelight to get her name and face in front of those who have power in the ballet world and Elias wants to shift the perspective of his private life that the media has created however they cant help form a friendship and maybe more throughout their time together.

Tropes:
Fake dating
Roommates
Forced proximity
Found Family
interconnected standalone

As a lover of hockey and college romances, I was so excited to read this one! THIS MAN, you all! So sweet, kind, caring, and just a really big heart!! We love a shy guy! This story was such a cutesy, fun read!