I enjoyed this quick read. The story kept my attention and it was clear by the details shared about the supporting characters that several of them will be getting follow up books as this series continues.

This was a cute wholesome read of Teddy and Harlow expanding their relationship from best friends to lovers. The books has some funny moments that the characters have to go through during a lovers getaway that had me laughing out loud. There is no spice in this series, but they are a nice read when you need something to make you feel good.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 🌶️

Tropes:
Forced Proximity
Small Town
Best Friends to Lovers
Hockey Romance
Grumpy/Sunshine

Loved Teddy and Harlow's journey.
Teddy and Harlow have been best friends since they were young. They know all about each other.
Harlow only dates men for short times and just feels single life is best.
Teddy is on the injury list for the Knights hockey team. He agrees to play on a charity hockey tra. To prove he is ready to return.
Harlow just quit her lawyer job, which she hated. Harlow ends up winning a clues trip to Maple Falls. She follows Teddy and they decide to do the couples' weekend, because they are best friends and think it will be fun.
It is a weekend of mishaps, but a time Teddy and Harlow acknowledge, there could be more than best friends.
Teddy challenges Harlow and Harlow is strong enough to take risks..
These two are so cute and what a story!

Teddy and Harrlow's story was just amazing.

I loved the push and pull between them and how the build up between best friends to lovers happened.

It was a story I felt like I could relate to and it's made me quite interested to read the other books in this series.

Love at First Skate offers a cozy, small-town setting that many readers will appreciate, but ultimately falls short in delivering the emotional depth expected from a friends-to-lovers romance. While the premise of the story is charming, it’s bogged down by an overemphasis on the characters’ backstories, which often takes up more space than the present-day romance itself.

The chemistry between the two main characters feels somewhat lacking, especially when compared to other books with this trope. There are moments that should sparkle with tension and affection, but they feel underdeveloped, making it hard to root for the couple. The back-and-forth dynamic between them, which could have built anticipation, instead becomes frustrating and repetitive.

Character depth is another area where Love at First Skate stumbles. I found it difficult to connect with the leads, and they didn’t stand out as individuals with distinct personalities. Despite the charming small-town atmosphere, which provided a nice backdrop, the characters themselves lacked the depth that would make their love story truly compelling.

Overall, while there are some cozy elements to enjoy, Love at First Skate doesn't quite hit the mark for readers looking for a deeper connection with the characters or a more compelling friends-to-lovers romance.


thank you Netgalley for the ARC!!

I really tried but I could not get through this one. I have enjoyed this series so far but maybe I’ve spent too much time in Maple Falls with other cute couples getting together that this one pales in comparison. I get that they’re friends but they seem so awkward and ill-suited to each other. They hem and haw about their feelings incessantly and because it’s told through a dual POV, all I get is weird longing for each other with no real chemistry, just we could be holding hands but we aren’t. Maybe if there was less establishing back story and other things going on in their lives, their romance could have been more fleshed out but there was so much going on that it seemed like they were just getting together for the sake of not being alone.

So this book is part of a series and I didn't realize that when I went into reading it and it was no big deal. Def a book of a series (Love on Thin Ice #6) that can be read as a stand-alone book.
This book was very well written, had great characters and an interesting plot. I really like this book a lot and now might need to go back and read the rest of the books in the series. I love that but hate it at the same time bc my tbr list is already sooooo long. lol
I love the part of the blurb for this book that says 'They say love is messy. Turns out friendship is too' because yes it is especially when you are in love with your best friend but also don't want to ruin the relationship bc you can't lose them.
So let's start with the main characters; Harlow and Teddy. They are so adorable and have such an amazing relationship that are best friends but kinda border-lines a bit more and they are having a hard time knowing where that line is. Which can definitely happen in a very strong relationship. But they do both have a lot going on in their lives and also a lot going on in their heads which makes things harder. So many emotions, feelings and decisions to deal with.
This was a fun book to read and it's a quick read. if you like the friends-to-lovers theme then I think you should give this book a chance and read it.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book was a quick, sweet read. This friends-to-relationship read by Ellie Hall was a great story about Teddy and Harlow being best friends, and then finally, they both admit they have feelings for each other. Teddy came to Maple Falls to play for the charity team, the icebreakers, while he heals from an injury. Harlow just quit her job as a lawyer and is trying to figure out what is next for her. They are best friends, and it was great to read about them taking the next steps in their relationship. I loved the mentions of Oklahoma as well being from Oklahoma, it is always fun to read a book with characters from your home state.

Thank you to the publisher and Netalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately this is my least favourite in this series even though it features one of my favourite tropes - friends to lovers. There was a lot of potential in the story, however, trauma wasn't fully explored which disconnected the emotional aspect, and there were too many miscommunications for being such a short story. The ending also lost me.

Fans of this series should still check it out though to find out how Harlow and Teddy finally come together!

Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book. The chemistry felt forced and there was so much telling instead of showing. I also really didn’t enjoy Harlows personality and it just felt like a constant rambling of thoughts.

This was a very cute, short read if you’re looking for friends-to-lovers! LOVE how fast paced it was because it kept me interested, but it also was missing a little of the emotional elements. I didn’t feel as drawn to the characters but was still a good read.

I have been loving the Love on Thin ice series but unfortunately this one was extremely dull and lacklustre.

They say love is messy. Turns out friendship is too, especially when you’re stranded in a cabin with your best friend and hearts are on thin ice.

I’m struggling to write this review as I can’t put a finger on to why I didn’t enjoy this. Partly I don’t think friends to lovers is for me. It was frustrating me to no end that they wouldn’t just grow a pair and tell the other their true feelings. As someone who’s read the whole series; nothing new was brought to the town and it all read as extremely repetitive. Overall, it was cute but very boring

Arc Review
Overall Rating: 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cover Rating: 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes:
- Friends To Lovers
- He Falls First
- Covert Pining (Of The Best Kind)
- Forced Proximity
- Hockey Romance
- Small Town
- Fall Vibes
- Dual POV
- Closed Door/Clean Romcom, Kisses Only

Welcome to the ‘Love on Thin Ice’ series, seven authors, seven short novels, and one charming town, welcome to Maple Falls where heartwarming love stories live. Our sixth book of the ‘Love on Thin Ice’ series is ‘Love at First Skate’ written by. Ellie Hall.

Ted and Harlow have been best friends since high school moving into college and then into their everyday lives. Ted is an NHL hockey player who has been benched due to an injury and is desperate to get back on the ice. Harlow is a lawyer who has just quit her job because she’s tired of being treated poorly and she never really liked the job but family pressure made her stay as-long as she did, but just as Harlow is walking out of this conference room after quitting she hears her named being called apparently she’s won a weekend getaway in a raffle when she gets home she calls Ted to tell him all about it. Coincidentally it’s in the same area as a charity hockey game that Ted is playing in to prove to his coaches he’s ready to be put back on the ice. They take it as a sign to go and they go together. Will this getaway change the whole dynamic of their friendship? Read ‘Love at First Skate’ now to find out.

This is my sixth book of the series I can’t believe theirs only one more to go after this.
I have to say that the chemistry between Ted and Harlow is unmatched you can just tell that they’ve been best friends for so long and I love how the author included them having their own inside jokes it made it way more realistic. I love how Ted was only a big old Teddy Bear for Harlow just one big softie for her to every one else he was Ted the Bear not to be messed with just obsessed with that.

I liked to wrap this up by giving a huge thank you to the author Ellie Hall along with NetGalley and the publishers for sending me an advanced readers copy of this book, I had a good time reading it.

Have I found my almost perfect October read? YES!

Love at First Skate is just so cute and loveable that you can't stop reading it. I love the friends to lovers arrangement, the small town vibes, the tension and most of all the hockey. Seriously Love at First Skate is one of the most heartworming stories I've read but it's a little rushed. Or should I say not rushed enough? The problem here is that the plot other than the romantic is barely existing. We don't get any family drama in the background (ok, almost don't mentioned because there's a brother of MMC), we don't have many hockey nights (I get it's the off season) but mostly the characters just wonder do the other loves them too. And then they forget to act on it. But if we just focus on the loving part it's kind of accurate. Ellie Hall captured the real fear of losing one's best friend and gaining a whole new future. I would defenitely reread this book some time later.

A friends to lovers romance, the story of Teddy and Harlowe. I liked how it was told from both points of view,and look forward to the next books in this series.

Teddy and Harlow have been best friends for years. Teddy is ready to take their friendship out of the friend zone, but Harlow is worried about losing the one constant in her life. Can these two best friends become more? You'll have to read the book to find out how they get to their HEA, but I will say this is a cute romcom book that I very much enjoyed and a great addition to this series. Well done and a strong 4 stars. Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy.

Can best friends become more if they are willing to take the leap? Cute little contemporary romance, no spice. This was a quick read with it being the 6th in the Love on Thin Ice series (series with various authors). This was my first introduction into the series and I didn't think I was missing to much by not reading the previous stories but it would have added to the story with the secondary characters. I enjoyed the story of Harlow and Teddy and how Teddy was more of the one to step up first into the relationship. 3.5 stars rounded to 4.

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

This was a fast and light read and Harlow and Teddy realize they love each other more than just the best friend type. The setting is excellent in this series and the Hockey storyline is right on point.

Pick this one up if you are looking for a lovely romance.

Ted and Harlow are childhood best friends, who have feelings for each other but are scared to rock the boat. And for most part they have been successful in hiding their feelings, till they get stranded in a cozy cabin together.
This is a part of multi authors Love on thin ice series, and features many of the characters from other books. It’s a cute friends to lovers read.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Xpresso book tours for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Cute and enjoyable. Can’t wait for the next book.