This was such a cute, classic and reliable hockey romance with a slowwwww burn. I knew I would enjoy this because hockey romances always scratch an itch, but this surprised me! I will definitely be reading the next book in this series and this is coming from someone who never read the first book. What they say about the quiet guys always holds up because why was I blushing at some of the things Eli was saying. It’s a testament to the writing, the way Khabra was able to cultivate tension. You guys are going to LOVE chapter 28 - it's full of jealousy, angst and sexual chemistry!!! Also, his nickname for her is “baby” and that’s my kryptonite. Mark your calendars for Jan 28 2025, you're not going to want to miss this gem!

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

OKAY THAT’S WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT!!!

Went into this book with no expectations because I tried to avoid any hints online as to what this book is about. And I am SO GLAD that I did. I felt so immersed in this story & these characters. Found little pieces of myself in them and was giddy watching them fall in love.

I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy & annotate it when it releases next year!!!

Thank you Berkeley for this arc,

I love this book with all my heart! Elias is a pro hockey player whose been getting a lot of attention from the media and the ladies. He actually doesn’t like it and Sage is ballerina struggling to land a principal role. The two meet and decide to fake date, Sage is hoping with her social media account taking off she will get some attention from Ballet company’s and Eli is hoping the media will leave him alone especially when it comes to his love life and he’s hoping to prove he belongs on the Toronto thunder team. As long as they don’t fall in love everything should work out…

Spiral is one of the best slow burn romances I’ve ever read it’s filled with tons of tension, banter, and so angsty. Both Elias and Sage have gone through so much in their lives, my favorite parts were when they were vuberable and so open with eachother. One thing about Elias is that he’s a acts of service king whether he is cooking for Sage, picking her up from ballet classes, checking in on her and just simply being there for her. This man is perfect will be booktoks newest hockey boyfriend. Reading about Sage I felt like it was me she is a people pleaser and always putting others first and the most caring person ever. Also really love that we got a POC FMC we don’t see that a lot in hockey romances!

I ate this book up and so will you

Tropes:
Fake dating
Forced proximity
Hockey romance
Ballerina FMC
Slow burn

Second one and i loved it just as much if not even more than Collide. Bal, I love this world so much. I think this book focused on some heavier topics than Collide, but remained so sweet and caring the whole time. I loved it and Elias and Sage are so sweet and lovely. I would do anything for them. CanNOT WAIT for the next one.

ah i wanted to like this more than i did. while there were aspects i loved, like the tension, writing style, and yearning, there was just many times i found myself a bit board and searching for more depth???? i would still recommend to others because i feel like many will love this!

This was around a 4 star for me, I thought the first was better. Now this one had some slow parts for me around the middle but my interest definitely picked up towards the end. I thought the hockey x ballet was an interesting touch and more unique. Two worlds I’m familiar with in person and I thought they were represented well here.
There were definitely moments I was kicking my feet from banter but then some I was rolling my eyes or feeling awkward (the whole her shooting like a rocket ship was a bit weird for me as a metaphor).
Overall a cute read and I’ll be recommending it closer to the publishing date.

That was so cute! I definitely felt like book 1 was better, but I really enjoy the author’s writing style. I struggled to get into the story at first because their chemistry and banter felt forced, but once they started getting to know each other it got better. I’m a sucker for a hockey romance mixed with fake dating, mutual pining, and forced proximity! Absolutely love those tropes. I also loved the emotional growth they both had and felt this brought a great balance of vulnerable and bright to the story.

This is for the readers whose love language is acts of service, and the girls who put themselves before everyone but want so badly to be taken care of deep down.

This is also for any romance lover EVER because this book was easily one of my top romances of 2024! it was an absolute 5 star read.

Elias is the ultimate book boyfriend. He is a cinnamon roll who has his guards up, but he has a special soft spot in his heart for Sage. He absolutely fell first and he fell HARD. He is obsessed, that girl has him wrapped around her finger without even trying! He loves her quietly, but in a way that is so so loud. The things that man did for her! His love language was clearly acts of service, and he did absolutely everything he could to take care of Sage and show her love she’s never had. Helping her with her brother’s medication, bringing her extra gems for her outfit, memorizing her dance moves to support her, etc. He had my heart MELTING.

Sage was so relatable. She is someone who struggles with constantly putting other people first & disregarding her feelings. She also has never had someone take care of her, and she has an extremely hard time asking for help. She has trouble letting Elias in, but their connection and chemistry is undeniable. Also the spicy parts were sooo good and steamy.

I loved watching them blossom and grow together, and help each other with their struggles. I was so proud of the both of them! This was the fake-dating trope done right, and watching them go from fake dating to being soulmates was so sweet. The found family in this book was amazing.

I can’t wait to get a physical copy when this comes out in January 2025!

Thank you to NetGalley & Berkley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review <3

Welp.

This book must be laced with something because I devoured in 24 hour. Collide was okay but this was *chefs kiss*

Elias…. Making me swoon every chance he got. Had me feeling pterodactyls instead of butterflies 😂 Sage was just beautiful chaos and loved her growth in the book.

Fake dating, slow burn, tension, so much angst and that proximity had me flustered each time. Phew. 😮‍💨 I loved how vulnerable Elias was with Sage and vice versa. They both came from some heavy hardships but that didn’t stop them from working through their shit to find each other.

Elias definitely gave me some “ Right Move” Ryan Shay vibes, but don’t worry Ryan Shay, you aren’t going anywhere on my list, Elias is just right after you 😂

Thank you Berkley Romance & NetGalley for the eARC

I received this arc through Netgalley.
Tropes:
Forced proximity
Fake dating

Spice: generous 3/5

Spiral is book 2 in the Off the Ice series, after Collide. The story takes place about a year after Collide ends.

Since being drafted, hockey player Elias is having a hard time dealing with the fame and expectations of a professional hockey player. Typically a homebody and reserved man, the media has reported him as a womanizer and the constant scrutiny has caused enough stress that Elias is struggling to make his first career goal.

Sage is an aspiring ballerina with big dreams, but her hyper-independent personality makes it extremely hard to ask for help. It’s her against the world and only she can save herself.

This book gave me everything: Not corny banter, giggling and kicking my feet, blushing and overall falling in love with Sage and Eli. This was the cutest love story and I really enjoyed reading it.

If I had any criticism, it would be that towards the middle end of the book it dragged a little and I wish Sage wore a bonnet to bed. I know that is random, but as a black girl with curly hair part of my bedtime routine is preparing my hair for bed which includes a silk/satin bonnet. This girl takes care of herself so I was surprised when her hair care didn’t match with her hair type.

5 ⭐️
LOVED LOVED LOVED!! 🥹🩷 probably one of my fav reads this year! I saw so much of myself in Sage (the one that always puts others before herself) and she was such a relatable FMC! 🤧 and Elias?! Literally the definition of “you tell me what you need and I’ll do it for you” 😍 their banter was my favorite and the slow burn BURNED!! 😭😍
Another thing I really enjoyed was the fact that they listened to each other about the deep issues they talked about and respected their space on it. But just being there for each other was enough 🩷🥹 lastly, the found family in this book was the sweetest!! 🩷

Thank you so much NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC! 😍 I can’t wait to get a physical copy when it releases 🥹

I wasn't a fan of this book. I had a few issues with it starting with the pacing because it was too slow for me. I felt like nothing was happening until the last 15% of the book and the main characters were constantly having the same
Issue with no resolve. I can see why other might enjoy this but it sadly didn't worked for me as much as o was hoping.

If you read Collide then you are going to love Spiral. This was such a sweet story. I hope Khabra continues this series with a book three.
I will be recommending this book to adult resonance readers.

An adorable read where both characters show a lot of intimate moments for each other. A hockey player and ballerina coded book??? Sold. You can read this book pretty quick and flyyyy through those pages. I find the fake dating trope a little unrealistic sometimes, especially with a lot of what was also thrown in. I may have gone in with a bit of high expectations so I think that's why I wasn't as in LOVE with this story as I thought I would be. But the forced proximity and the piercings...just you wait.

I did love the representation in this book and thought Elias was such a gentleman. The cover is also 💓 In a world full of boys, he's a gentleman!

Listen you can pry the fake-dating trope out of my cold dead hands!!!! Also the fake dating trope where both of them are firmly in denial??? Sign me up I love to see the yearning and suffering side by side.

Eli was so tender with Sage, and it was so obvious and intentional that she opened up for him immediately. Even when she guarded her heart, she was still vulnerable with him in a way that was in direct response to his softness. He also is a little chaos gremlin in the best way possible. This boy is down bad and has absolutely no idea what to do with himself at any point. No notes.

Everyone is mildly terrible at communicating with each other, but alas if everyone was good at sharing their feelings what would we do with our plots? But pls talk to your parents Elias. Sage has an excuse.

Also, the fact that he immediately takes on a supportive role for her little brother? That’s fine I didn’t need my heart anyway.

ELIAS 👏🏽 DOES 👏🏽 NOT 👏🏽 DISAPPOINT!

He’s so quiet and introverted, shoved into an auction date with a boisterous and affirming woman with her own dreams. So as he’s working through his rookie year with the NHL she’s killing it to get noticed by a ballet company.

I loved how proud they were of each other and their work - always understanding and motivating each other to do their best! Sage was a pleasure and I was so happy to see a female character be so self assure and talk about the journey to loving yourself.

I loved Aiden and Summer and now I’ve got Elias and Sage too!

🏒🩰

Read if you love:
• sports romance
• found family
• fake dating
• forced proximity
• slow burn

Elias and sage better be end game. This book was done so diligently and it was a joy to read. The trope of this book is fake dating which i loved. Shortly later, their feelings become so real that you can feel it through the pages.

i have never read a book that has resonated with me as much as this one. for starters, Sage is ME. 1000%. a young black ballerina with walls built so high she can’t accept the help she needs from those willing to give. and on a lighter note, my bf is also white so hello?? it’s me lmao.

Elias and Sage were written to perfection. Sage was determined, in all aspects of life except her own. Elias was so in control, except with his own emotions. they complemented each other so well. the fake dating trope couldn’t have crumpled faster with them, it was real from the beginning, idk why they even tried to fight it.

i absolutely adored the found family aspect for both Sage & Sean and little Nina. it was so full circle to see Sage care so much and be cared for simultaneously. and dont get me started on the spice bc ELIAS. SIR. IM SAT.

extra bonus points for incorporating Summer & Aiden so well into book 2 without overshadowing Elias & Sage. if there’s a book 3, i need it yesterday. Bal Khabra is a literary genius.

where do i even begin!!!! i loved collide, and i loved the snippets of eli’s character we got in it so i was so excited for spiral, and MAN did it blow my expectations out of the water. this is one of my favorite romances ive read. eli is a hockey player for the toronto thunder, who’s name is being slandered by the media and sage is a ballerina who is struggling to land any roles, due to her lack of social media content. eli and sage come up with a plan to help each other with what they need, create rules they need to abide by to fake date eachother, and man those go flying out the window. the vulnerability that eli and sage share with eachother was so beautiful to read. them slowly opening up to eachother!!!! and eli!!’ the man that you are!! and sweet spunky sage!!! fake dating is probably my all time favorite trope, and this book does it PERFECTLY!!!!!! this book is filled with vulnerability, slow burn, tension and so much fun! i love this one so so much.

thank you so much to netgalley and to berkeley publishing for giving me the honor of reading the arc of spiral!

Sage is a working ballerina who is trying desperately to land a principal role. Elias is a golden boy hockey player who has just signed with a pro team, and although he was a superstar in college, he has not found his rhythm as a rookie. These two meet at a charity hockey auction and begin a fake relationship to quell the rising pressure from Elias’ social media attention and develop an easy intimacy and support system for each other.

I loved Bal Khabra’s “Collide,” and jumped at the chance to read another of her books. I think that the writing is good and I enjoyed that it exists in the same world as her previous novel. I feel like the the relationship between the main characters is solid and has chemistry, but it is the sloooooowest of burns. I also feel like there is a lot of subplots going on - there’s an ex-boyfriend who shows up, both characters have estranged relationships with their parents, her uncle isn’t a fan of Elias, and both are trying to better themselves in their sport. It’s a bit much when looking at it all together. Even saying this, I still like Khabra’s writing style and characters and will immediately read anything she writes. I feel like her books add diversity to the hockey romance genre and it feels genuine and well-done. I adored that Sage was a ballerina! I am excited for future installments. (Can we say Kian?)

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.