“Hearts on Thin Ice” by Katie Kennedy (5 stars)

An emotionally unstable hockey player and the interior designer he hires to fix his barren apartment? Seems like a strange pairing right? But it actually works extremely well in Katie Kennedy’s debut novel. This enemies-to-lovers hockey romance is one that everyone should try out. There’s amazing depictions of mental health struggles, character development, and (since this is a romance) lots of steamy scenes to keep readers engaged in this budding relationship. Plus some handsome hockey player side characters that you are going to want to keep for yourself. I know what you’re thinking though; another hockey romance!?

But, I think we’ve established by now that I am obsessed with hockey romances and this one was no different. I couldn’t stop reading about these two characters who come together through trauma and bond over their healing processes. It can be hard to write about mental health and trauma, but Kennedy does it in a caring, delicate way that made me happy to read.

I was pulled in from page one as Nick and Alyssa try to deny their feelings, grow within themselves, and decide if a relationship is something they can both handle. Kennedy does a great job of giving her characters enough background and trauma to make them feel like real people. Nick is grieving the loss of his teammates during a plane crash where he was the only survivor. Alyssa wants to ensure job security by showing her boss what she can do. But when Nick continually pushes back against all of her ideas it seems impossible. The two need to find a way to ensure Nick’s mental security and Alyssa’s job security. The best way to do that is clearly falling in love and mending each other’s hearts…right?

Here’s the downside: I will admit that at times, I found the writing style to be a bit young, but there’s nothing wrong with that necessarily. You just have to be in the right frame of mind going into it. It’s definitely not a young adult novel by any means, but the style can sometimes drift into a he said, she said type of writing that often makes me feel like I’m reading a high schooler’s essay instead of a novel. But Kennedy’s storytelling and sexy scenes more than make up for it the rest of the time.

However, giving her characters depth and an emotional plotline (besides just falling in love) made this one of the best sports romances I’ve read in a long time. It’s reminiscent of Cali Melle or Elle Kennedy (for those who like read-alike recommendations). As Nick and Alyssa struggle to find a happy compromise in their relationship, it becomes clear to readers that there is much more going on for each of them. Can Nick learn to trust his new teammates? Can Alyssa learn to trust her own talent and reach for what she really wants? Are Nick and Alyssa mature enough and ready to be in a new relationship? It’s not just the run-of-the-mill meet, fight, fall in love of most enemies-to-lovers plots. In fact, they aren’t even really enemies; they just take some time to understand each other. It’s a normal, dysfunctional, getting-to-know-you romance and it’s completely perfect in its own convoluted way.

The hockey romance genre is often seen as oversaturated (especially recently; hello Icebreaker), but this is one of the few I would suggest wholeheartedly to anyone looking to break into the spicy hockey romance scene. It’s well-written, not too provocative, and tells an endearing story of love, trust, and human nature.

Overall, I gave it five stars because I was engaged throughout, it was realistic and well-written, and because I am very easy to please…especially by emotionally damaged hockey players apparently.