2.5 ⭐️
This was by no means a bad book!! I just didn’t connect to the characters & I didnt care about the story at all.
I liked how hard working both of the mcs were, that they were there for each other through every thing and the friend group is also cute! I could see the ending from a mile away, that thing with Elis dad and Sage working so hard to get that specific role just for someone trying to take it from her. It was a bit much imo.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this arc. If you like fake dating, new friendships, a couple who supportive from the very beginning definitely give this one a try! Like I said this was not bad at all but it just didnt hit for me idk why. Im excited for the next book though cause I really enjoyed the male mc as a side character in this book.

4⭐️

This one was cute, but definitely not as good as Collide. I found the last half to drag a bit because the FMC & MMC fell for each other so early. That’s not to say the story wasn’t good because it was, but it did seem boring and “routine” at times

*4.5* Oh boy did I love this one! Khabra’s second installment in the Off the Ice series follows Eli and Sage as they navigate their fake relationship and achieving their goals. I was obsessed with this book from the beginning! I fell in love with Sage immediately, and the dialogue between her and Eli is top tier. These two characters felt so natural! They had chemistry, there was yearning, and absolutely no overly dramatic third act breakup! I also appreciate how much we get friend group interactions in this book. Khabra’s ability to write hilarious banter and heartwarming scenes within the friend group is unmatched. My only qualm with this book is that I actually want an entire book on the events mentioned in the epilogue! Eli and Sage will forever have my heart!

Thanks NetGalley and Berkley for the advanced copy!

Thank you to Berkley and PRH Audio for the complimentary physical and audio copies of 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐥! #prhaudiopartner #BerkleyPartner #berkleybookstagram

I think Bal Khabra is a fan of “Romance Tropes Bingo”, because 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐥 hits all of my favorites and then some! 🙌

Read if you 💖:
•💋 Fake Dating
• 💞 Opposites Attract
• 🏡 Found Family
• 🛏️ Forced Proximity

The narrators, Nia Serge and Aaron Shedlock, are experts when it comes to portraying a slow burn with tons of tension! 🔥 Elias and Sage’s chemistry is electric, and even though their fake relationship starts as a strategic move, it’s impossible to ignore the very real feelings growing between them.

While I wanted a little more of the PR chaos, the emotional depth and swoon-worthy moments made this story so satisfying. The many moments with Sage’s younger brother and her students were so sweet and emotional.

Also, for the fans of the first book, don’t worry: there are plenty of Summer and Aiden moments! 😍

If you’re in the mood for a heartfelt, slow-burn romance with just the right amount of spice, be sure to grab a copy of 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐥 from your favorite local bookstore or audiobook website! 💜

Sage and Eli are an awesome couple. Sage is a ballerina who has been trying to move beyond teaching for a space starring in Swan Lake. Elias is a lovable hockey rookie who is trying and trying to make his first goal on the ice before the team trades him. He's known as a playboy in the media, but it's largely a false narrative. Sage discovers that she needs to increase her social media following for the dance companies to consider looking at her. Followers equals sold seats. She devises a plan for them to help each other out. Fake dating never goes wrong, does it? She's wildly independent and reluctant to ask for anything beyond basic dating, but a fire pushes her to move into Eli's apartment. So we've got lovable characters in forced proximity, fake dating. Even the team members, Sage's brother and uncle are enjoyable. It's a steamy tale that you won't want to put down. I would definitely read this author again!

Sage is auditioning for a huge part in a local ballet production. Unfortunately the ballet company she's auditioning for takes into consideration your social media presence, and the more followers you have, the more likely you'll see selected for a part, and she's followed by very, very few. Tabloids are breathing down Elias’ neck, and not in a good way. They are hounding him on his constant rotation of hookups in his life and the fact that he has yet to score any goals in his first professional season. Elias is looking to get away from the spotlight and repair his image. Sage wins a date with Elias at a bachelor auction when his friend sends Sage a bunch of money to make sure that she is the winning bidder and not Elias' stalker. When Sage and Elias finally meet up, they decide fake dating is the way to go to benefit them both.

Elias and Sage are both great characters. The story holds your attention well, but honestly, this book was a little too YA for my liking and I didn't realize that going into it. I do love me a guy who knows his way around the kitchen like Elias does, so that was a plus. Oh, and Elias buys Sage all the flowers since she doesn't know what her favorite flower is. I also loved the relationship Sage has with her brother. She clearly wants to give him a better life than they had growing up. Overall, this was a good book and I wouldn't hesitate at picking up another from Bal as this was my first book by her.

A big thank you to Berkeley Romance for an advanced copy of this book. Opinions are my own.

THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU IF: You're looking to read something light but still interesting with fun characters and a somewhat deep background.

Spiral was a straightforward contemporary romance where the reader might be reminded about believing in the power of love and perseverance. Whether you're a fan of sports, dance, or romance, this book has something for everyone. I did think it read a bit young at times but that happens sometimes with NA. Great depiction of found family.

I am OBSESSED with Eli and Sage!! This fun hockey romance had me hooked from page one and was the PERFECT sequel to Collide. I loved seeing Eli come to life around Sage and how Sage was able to learn more about herself from Eli. They're adorable and I loved watching their fake dating turn into real dating!

Spiral is an entertaining story of a hockey player and a ballerina who improbably find love through a fake-dating agreement. There was enough strife and plenty of problems to be overcome to make the story interesting.

Unfortunately, I didn't love the characters as much as I wanted to. Sage is impressive and determined. She takes on the challenges in her life and works hard to overcome them including neglectful, drug addicted parents and manages to keep her dreams of being a ballerina afloat. Elias has reached the NHL and is playing but can't quite get that first professional goal that will keep him with the team. He's as hard a worker as Sage and though his circumstances are different his life has been challenging in its own ways. Elias was just too good to Sage. Some of it was so endearing and some was just too much for what he's getting in return. Sage is making her life harder than it has to be by preferring to live in squalor rather than let her uncle help her out. Then she resists Elias's kind efforts. I just thought all of it was a bit too much, reached too far to fill in the romance. The ending did bring their HEA in a satisfying way.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

i really loved the first half of this, but for some reason the last 15% kind of dragged for me. i still really enjoyed this one and i’m not huge into sports romances!

i enjoyed this one, i loved getting a ballerina FMC, i have read much of that. the auction in the beginning was the perfect way to kickstart their story, and i found the fake dating stakes to be cute. this man was sooo down bad and so sweet, i loved how he was there for her but didnt try to take over or anything. she was so level headed and driven and just a great character. some parts dragged a bit and others felt too rushed. but for the most part i stayed interested in the story. i don’t know that it’ll stand out in my memory after reading, but it was still a good time.

An aspiring professional ballerina agrees to fake date a rookie hockey player, hoping it will boost both of their careers… until real feelings come into play. Elias and Sage were such lovable characters, and their relationship unfolded in a way that felt authentic and heartfelt. The banter, forced proximity, and found family moments had me flying through the pages. Narrated by Nia Serge and Aaron Shedlock, the audiobook added an extra layer of charm, and I thoroughly enjoyed the parts I listened to!

Read if you like:
▪️Hockey player x ballerina
▪️Accidental roommates
▪️Fake dating
▪️Sister as guardian
▪️Found family

Spiral is my first book by this author but the hockey-ballet romance angle had me eager to dive in. I hadn't clued in to the fact that the main characters are early twenties until I started reading. I admit, I tend to lean more toward older couples so it took me a bit to settle into this story but once I did, it proved to be an enjoyable read that took me on a satisfying journey...and brought back a few memories of how it felt to be newly out of college and beginning my adult life.

Sage and Elias are good together. I really like the way they support one another, especially the way Elias supports and encourages Sage's professional dreams as well as her individual worth. Their banter sparkles and their chemistry is on pointe (pun intended). I enjoyed the caring friendship that develops between them during their fake dating that provides a solid foundation leading into their slow-burn romance. There are times when they seem very young but also others when they feel older than their years. Life has thrown some wrenches at them that have given them more depth than usually found at their age yet they also feel like they're still figuring things out. It makes them feel authentic and relatable.

I appreciated the epilogue that takes readers a few years into the future, giving us a look at the growth of the main characters as well as their relationship.

If you enjoy New Adult romance with snappy banter, complex family situations, friend groups, endearing romance, and an added bonus of hockey and ballet, you may want to give this one a try.
ARC received from publisher via NetGalley
Fair and unbiased review

let me tell you... 2025 is the year I continue to read books that have male characters end up in the top 10 of all time.

this is my first time reading bal khabra and let me say... I am forever thankful for their writing. a hockey player x ballerina? was sold immediately. after reading the book? yeah... I could absolutely not put this book down.

elias westbrook is tired of the media portraying him as the playboy. they're a rookie and feel like they can't escape this image and is afraid of what the ownership will do if it continues. it also doesn't help that they haven't been able to make their first goal yet.

sage beaumont is a struggling ballerina who can't seem to get their break yet. it turns out that it doesn't matter that she's a talented ballerina because it's social media followers that matter most.

so what happens when sage and elias start fake dating to help each other out? you get one of the most beautiful relationships.

elias westbrook never stood a chance. he became a man obsessed and the way I wanted to throw my phone at the wall everytime he did something so cute for sage.

this book was genuinely such an easy read. you couldn't help but smile at their relationship and how they both helped each other grow as people.

This one was too sweet! I really loved our male main characters growth and adoration for our female lead. I also liked the familial aspect of the book to add some depth to the characters where she was in charge of her younger brother and her Uncle took care of her. I loved that it didn’t fall into the dad as GM trope but the uncle was and that was sooo presh. Sadly once they officially got together I lost a bit of interest and wasn’t as engaged in the story anymore.

Thank you to Berkley Romance for an advanced copy of Spiral! I enjoyed this book so much.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book because I've not read anything by this author...but I was pleasantly surprised to find such a fun romance in this one! I enjoyed the characters and I felt like they were really easy to identify with. I was hooked from the first few chapters, and I could not put this one down. It was really a refreshing little romance for the winter months!

So, a few things.

I really don’t like when an MMC gives me whiplash, and he was very back and forth which made it feel like he was playing with her feelings - so I didn’t vibe with that. While I typically LOVE fake dating, I think the story just moved a little slower, so I wasn’t bought into the relationship really until they were. These are 1000% all me things and just because I didn’t vibe with them doesn’t mean someone else wouldn’t enjoy them.

If you’re a pathological people pleaser, this will probably smack you right in the feels.

Things I did enjoy: Elias is an acts of service king, and we love to see it. When the tension finally snapped, these two were on fire. Sage standing up for herself at the end was everything. The found family was probably my favorite dynamic.

Thank you so much to Berkley for the NetGalley ARC!

Cute, simple, & easy! Swoony & cheesy, but expected in a hockey-ice skater romance right? 😊 I didn’t read collide, first in the series, but I didn’t need to! It can be read as a stand alone, but now I think I’ll go back and read collide! Thank you Berkley romance for my digital ARC!

I loved this so much! It was such quick and fun read! The characters chemistry was so adorable and I loved their relationship. Sage was by far my favorite part of this book. I loooooved her character! 4/5 read for sure.

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️

So this book just warmed my heart in all the best ways! Broody Hockey players that are a little bit damaged are my absolute Kryptonite, and I enjoyed every bit of this book!

It flowed well, the fake dating trope hit just right and I loved both Elias and Sage. Plus, getting to see all the guys from the Hockey House again made me happy.

Bal’s writing is just so easy to get lost in. I really loved how Elias and Sage meet, and the reasons for them starting to fake date. That boy was head over heels long before he realized it, and I fell in love with him the minute he showed up at her dance performance.

This book is just a fun hockey read through and through with enough emotional depth to have you invented in the plot too. The burn is sloooow but the tension between them is delusions.

I also love found family so much and this book really pushed that aspect.

✨ Hockey Romance
✨ Fake Dating
✨ He Falls First
✨ Dancer FMC
✨ Slow Burn