“We’re still individuals, but we’re individuals together, and I never knew relationships could be like this.”
An international bestseller and viral TikTok sensation, Icebreaker is a 2022 sports romance book and the first entry in the Maple Hills series by Hannah Grace. Having been a competitive figure skater since the age of five, Anastasia Allen has worked her whole life for a shot at Team USA. She has earned a scholarship on the Maple Hills skating team, where she encounters Nathan Hawkins, the captain of the ice hockey team. Through a series of misunderstandings and accidents, Nathan finds himself swapping sticks for tights and one demanding coach for one even scarier. The pair are stuck together. But, it’s fine, because Anatasia doesn’t even like hockey players, right? If you love swoon-worthy sports and college romance stories, join us at What We Reading for the best books like Icebreaker!
Wildfire (Maple Hills #2) – Hannah Grace
If you loved Icebreaker, where better to begin a list of read-alikes like it than its follow-up in the Maple Hills series, Wildfire? Maple Hills students Russ Callaghan and Aurora Roberts cross paths at a local end-of-term party where a drinking game leads to a passionate one-night-stand. Never one to overstay her welcome, Aurora then slips away before Russ even has a chance of getting her full name.
Fast forward to the summer, and the pair unexpectedly run into each other again. Both are working as counsellors, hoping to escape their hectic home lives by working for the season. Russ knows that breaking the camp’s strict ‘no staff fraternizing’ rule will lead to him being expelled back to Maple Hills before summer is over, but Aurora has never been one for following the rules. Will the pair be able to peacefully co-exist? Or has their one night together ignited a flame that they can’t put out?
Collide (Off The Ice #1) – Bal Khabra
An ultimatum from her professor throws Summer Preston into an unexpected collision with Aiden Crawford, the college’s hockey captain. Suddenly, she is caught on the fine line between fulfilling her dream of becoming a sports psychologist and steering clear of the god-awful sport.
For Aiden, being a captain has plenty of perks. That is until a reckless mistake from his team threatens to jeopardize their whole season. As a result, he is nominated by his coach to be the subject of a research paper. It’s the last thing in the world he wants to do, especially when he sees the girl leading the project looking primed to use his skates as a weapon. Bal Khabra’s Collide is one of the best books like Icebreaker for readers looking for another sports-themed enemies-to-lovers story. Summer and Aiden can’t stand each other’s approach to life, but defeat is something neither of them is prepared to accept.
The Deal (Off-Campus #1) – Elle Kennedy
Similar to Icebreaker, Elle Kennedy’s Off-Campus series has made a real splash across TikTok since its release. Its first entry, The Deal, introduces readers to Hannah Wells. She is a girl confident in every aspect of her life, apart from when it comes to the art of seduction. To get the attention of her crush, she will have to step out of her comfort zone and force him to take notice. However, to do this, she is forced to make a deal with the college bad boy. In exchange for privately tutoring the brash, childish and cocky captain of the hockey team, she will get a pretend date.
All Garrett Graham has ever wanted is to play professional hockey. So, if helping a sarcastic brunette make another guy jealous is all he needs to do to fix his falling GPA, he’s all in. But, after one expected kiss leads to a steamy night together, he quickly realises that pretend isn’t going to cut it.
Behind The Net (Vancouver Storm #1) – Stephanie Archer
Stephanie Archer’s Behind The Net is one of the best grumpy-sunshine romance books like Icebreaker. The story follows professional hockey goalkeeper Jamie who inadvertently hires his old high school crush, Pippa, as his live-in assistant. Jamie is intimidatingly hot with a massive ego, so keeping things strictly professional should be no problem for Pippa.
Yet, underneath his brash exterior, Jamie is revealed to be surprisingly sweet and protective. When he learns how bad Pippa’s ex was in bed, his competitive nature begins to flare. Tension between the pair leads to unspoken feelings, cute dogs and rowdy parties that lead to Pippa concluding that she is falling for the NHL pro. But, is he capable of reciprocating the same feelings for her? With its sports romance and forced proximity themes, Behind the Net needs to be on your TBR list if you’re a fan of Hannah Grace!
Always Only You (Berman Brothers #2) – Chloe Liese
Ren has known Frankie Zeferino was a woman worth waiting to see from the moment they met. From her deadpan delivery to her one-dimpled smile, she makes his knees go weak. But, for as long as she is the team’s social media manager, she’s completely off-limits.
Frankie is self-admittedly grumpy and occasionally too blunt for her good, but even she isn’t immune to Ren’s cheery charm. The fact that he’s a six-foot-three hockey hunk also helps. But, having been burned too many times in the past by guys who have been turned off by her diagnoses, she’s wised up. After he learns she is planning on leaving the team in search of a new career, Ren knows it is time for him to make his move. What he didn’t expect, however, was how much it would take for Frankie to allow him a shot at her heart. One of the best books like Icebreaker for readers looking for their next cutesy reverse grumpy/sunshine read, Always Only You is a 2020 sports romance story by Chloe Liese.
Blind Side (Red Zone Rivals #2) – Kandi Steiner
Clay Johnson has the abs of Adonis and an award-winning smile to die for. For Gianna, it’s clear why not a day goes by where he isn’t headline material or the target of every girl’s attention on campus. He used to be the easiest player to wrangle as a Public Relations Coordinator but, ever since his breakup with his high school sweetheart, he’s become a mess.
However, when he sees how Gianna falls apart in front of her own crush, he concotes a brilliant plan to help her get noticed, whilst getting back at his ex in the process. But, what starts as a simple fake relationship soon turns into something far more complicated as the pair’s connection grows. Soon, it becomes hard for either of them to tell apart the fake from the real between them. Blind Side is a 2022 sports romance story by Kandi Steiner; similar to Icebreaker, it features a sweet opposites-attract tale and plenty of slow-burning tension that Hannah Grace fans are sure to love.
Check & Mate – Ali Hazelwood
Mallory Greenleaf is finished with chess. After the sport led to the disintegration of her family, her sole focus is on her mum, her sisters and the dead-end job that just about keeps the lights on. That is until she begrudgingly agrees to one final charity match where she unexpectedly wipes the board with the infamous Nolan ‘Kingkiller’ Sawyer, current world champion and resident bad boy of the chess world.
Nolan’s loss shocks everyone. But the real surprise is how keen he is to cross pawns with Mallory again. The smart move would be to walk away and move on, but more wins equals more cash prizes for her. And, despite everything, there’s a lure around the enigmatic chess prodigy that Mallory cannot deny. Check & Mate is the debut YA book by Ali Hazelwood, author of The Love Hypothesis. Like Icebreaker, it features a sports romance theme and plenty of smart-talking slow-burning flirting to keep any reader tantalised!
Offside (Rules Of The Game #1) – Avery Keelan
After her boyfriend dumps her on her twenty-first birthday, Bailey’s friends drag her to a trendy nightclub to drown her sorrows away. Several drinks later, she spies the perfect rebound opportunity: Chase Carter, her ex’s biggest enemy. Chase is arrogant, smart-mouthed, and undeniably hot. Unfortunately, her attempt to rebound ends up with her throwing up on his shoes and an evening of him taking care of her.
But when their schools next face-off, Chase seeks out Bailey and, after a fake kiss in front of her ex, sparks soon start to fly between the two of them. After they begin sharing ‘study dates’ and a do-over birthday party, Bailey realises that there is more to Chase than meets the eye. The only problem? Her friends don’t approve and her brother hates him. Avery Keelan’s Offside is the perfect book similar to Icebreaker for readers looking for another hockey romance filled with spice, swoon and a heartwarming happily ever after.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
