This book is perfect for you if you want:
- Rivals to lovers romance
- All the banter
- Authentic bisexuality representation
- The best found family
- Female characters that slay on and off the ice
- Some heartbreakingly authentic depression representation
Graziadei really said “I’m going to give fans of MM indie hockey romances and All for the Game-devotees the content they desire,” which led to an irresistible YA debut that follows two hockey players who are fighting to be the best and end up having to play nice on the same team.
17-year-old Mickey James III is a college freshman, brother to five sisters and a hockey legacy. With a father and grandfather who paved the way by being immortalized in NHL history, Mickey is almost guaranteed to follow their lead and get the league’s top draft spot. Really, the only person standing in his way to fulfil his destiny is Jaysen Caulfield, a contender for the #1 spot and Mickey’s infuriating teammate. When their rivalry turns into something more during long practices, enforced ‘play-nice’ sessions by their team captain and pretend-twitter-feuds, Mickey will have to decide what he really wants and what he’s willing to sacrifice for it.
Icebreaker proves once again that the only way you’ll get me to care about any sports is if you add a queer cast to the story. Honestly, my knowledge of hockey is limited to the adult indie hockey romances I’ve read and the emotional turmoil that is Fredrick Backman’s Beartown but did that deter me from devouring Icebreaker as if my life depended on it? Nope. Because what this book has besides ice hockey, is impeccable vibes. All of them.
Mental health plays a vital role in this story and I loved how Graziadei approached Mickey’s depression. It’s so clearly present in the way he interacts with others but also in those moments where he’s alone and really turning inward, feeling the utter despair and hopelessness that comes with depression. From the outside, it might look like Mickey’s only way is up but to him it often doesn’t feel like it due to his mental illness. Mickey experiences depression in a way that makes him feel nothing at all—not apathetic, but very close to it and I think that was explored beautifully within the confines of the novel. It definitely spoke to my own experience and I could see myself in Mickey—and hopefully other readers will as well.
What I loved most about this book was how it wasn’t just about a romance or just about a family legacy you’re scared you’re not going to live up to (or maybe not even wanting to do that). It’s also about finding your people and making your new family while contemplating the bonds you have with your actual relatives.
Mickey’s been groomed his entire life to follow in his father and grandfather’s footsteps and while he’s one of the greats, it comes with many sacrifices, especially missing out on family time. The way Graziadei manages to show this vulnerability in Mickey as he wishes he could spend more time with his sisters and be closer to them while also feeling like his father won’t value him if he’d rather sit around a campfire with his sisters than perfecting his talent on the ice just hit me right in the feels. As soft and beautiful as this story was, those moments were absolutely heartbreaking. It really showed how much pressure to live up to your parents’ (perceived) wishes can take away from you and your quality of life and though there is a really satisfying conclusion to that story thread, I’m still reeling every time I think about Mickey going through that for the majority of his teens. There’s a lot of resentment there that’s bound to surface and when it does, hoo boy are you in for a ride.
The friendships Mickey also initially avoids and then builds with his teammates is also so amazing. Toxic masculinity is thrown out the window as Mickey’s teammates stand by him and help him realise that while hockey is kind of everything, it doesn’t have to be. Initially, the team captain tries to get Jaysen and Mickey to play nice because their rivalry could screw over the whole team if they don’t play nice on the ice, but there’s also an underlying theme of figuring out that even if you don’t do what everyone expects of you, you’re still valid and worth hanging out with. There’s space for friendship and banter and fun moments, even when it sometimes feels like there isn’t. And of course, there’s Jaysen. As a Black hockey player, Jaysen’s got all the more pressure riding on him to be the draft’s first pick and he’s certainly not here for Mickey’s privileged claim to that top draft spot. Beyond that Jaysen just wants to have fun playing the game that’s always been there for him. Obviously, there’s this rivalry between Jaysen and Mickey as they grapple for the top spot, but you wouldn’t know it from the way they approach their relationship. Yes, there’s banter and there’s some rough play on the ice, but the tenderness that suffuses their budding friendship and eventual romance is just lovely to witness. You really get a feel for what makes these two tick.
All in all, I couldn’t recommend this debut enough. While I would read an entire series of books about Mickey’s sisters alone (pretty, please), I think this perfect mix of queer and mental illness rep, of a diverse cast and a team that feels more like family than anything else, will stay with readers for a long time.
A story as tender and dynamic as its characters, Graziadei’s debut novel Icebreaker is the perfect read for fans of rivals to lover romances, found family tropes and authentic queer and mental health rep. Lovers of the Exy vibes in Sakavic’s All for the Game series and friendship dynamic in Red, White and Royal Blue will not want to miss out on this one!
Icebreaker is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of January 18th 2022.
Will you be picking up Icebreaker? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
A. L. Graziadei’s Icebreaker is an irresistible YA debut about two hockey players fighting to be the best—and the romance that catches them by surprise along the way.
Seventeen-year-old Mickey James III is a college freshman, a brother to five sisters, and a hockey legacy. With a father and a grandfather who have gone down in NHL history, Mickey is almost guaranteed the league’s top draft spot.
The only person standing in his way is Jaysen Caulfield, a contender for the #1 spot and Mickey’s infuriating (and infuriatingly attractive) teammate. When rivalry turns to something more, Mickey will have to decide what he really wants, and what he’s willing to risk for it.
This is a story about falling in love, finding your team (on and off the ice), and choosing your own path.
