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Quick answer: If you loved Icebreaker by Hannah Grace, try Wildfire by Hannah Grace, The Deal by Elle Kennedy, Collide by Bal Khabra, Behind the Net by Stephanie Archer, The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams and Fake Skating by Lynn Painter.
Icebreaker pairs Anastasia Allen, a driven figure skater, with Nate Hawkins, the captain of the college hockey team, when their teams are forced to share a rink. The rivalry, banter and steamy slow burn made it one of BookTok’s favorite sports romances. If you’re looking for another athlete to swoon over, the books below feature hockey players, rival teams, college campuses and sports-world drama. Most are adult romances with explicit scenes, so we’ve listed the heat level for each.
Table of Contents
Why Readers Love Icebreaker
Readers love Icebreaker because Nate is kind, confident and completely devoted. Hannah Grace pairs him with a heroine who works incredibly hard and struggles with perfectionism, and the forced-proximity setup puts them on the ice together. The friend group, the house parties and the team dynamics make it fun, and the book also touches on body image and pressure in competitive sport. Wildfire and Daydream continue the Maple Hills series with other characters from the group.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick below shares at least one thing readers loved about Icebreaker: its characters, its mood, its setting or the questions it raises. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious choices, and we noted the genre and who each book suits best in the table, so you can scan for the right fit before you read the blurbs.
We kept every description spoiler-free and flagged mature content where it matters, since some of these books are written for adults and others suit teens. If you’re not sure where to start, the tips near the end of this list match each pick to what you loved most. The FAQ at the bottom answers the questions readers ask most often.
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Heat Level | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Hannah Grace | Steamy | Continuing Maple Hills |
| Daydream | Hannah Grace | Steamy | More Maple Hills |
| The Deal | Elle Kennedy | Steamy | College hockey |
| Collide | Bal Khabra | Steamy | Hockey and research |
| Behind the Net | Stephanie Archer | Steamy | Pro hockey |
| Heated Rivalry | Rachel Reid | Very explicit | Rival players |
| The Cheat Sheet | Sarah Adams | Clean | Friends to lovers |
| Fake Skating | Lynn Painter | YA | Teen readers |
| Him | Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy | Very explicit | Male-male hockey romance |
| The Mistake | Elle Kennedy | Steamy | More Off-Campus |
| Pucking Around | Emily Rath | Very explicit | Readers who want more spice |
| Kiss Her Once for Me | Alison Cochrun | Moderate | Holiday romance |
| Things We Never Got Over | Lucy Score | Steamy | Grumpy heroes |
| Better Than the Movies | Lynn Painter | YA | Rom-com lovers |
| Twisted Love | Ana Huang | Steamy | Brooding heroes |
1. Wildfire by Hannah Grace
Russ and Aurora meet at a summer camp where they both work. It’s sweet and steamy, and features familiar faces.
2. Daydream by Hannah Grace
Henry, Nate’s teammate, helps a classmate with her studies while she helps him lead. It completes the trilogy.
3. The Deal by Elle Kennedy
A hockey star makes a deal with a music student: he’ll tutor her, she’ll help him pass. It started the Off-Campus series.
4. Collide by Bal Khabra
A psychology student needs a hockey captain for her research project. It’s sweet and full of banter.
5. Behind the Net by Stephanie Archer
A sports physiotherapist and a hockey player fake-date. It’s funny and steamy.
6. Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid
Two rival hockey stars hide a secret relationship for years. It’s intense and became a TV series.
7. The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams
A pro football player and his best friend finally admit their feelings. It’s sweet with no explicit scenes.
8. Fake Skating by Lynn Painter
Two former friends pretend to date at a hockey-crazy school. It’s a fun, clean YA option.
9. Him by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy
Two former best friends meet again at a hockey camp. It’s emotional and steamy.
10. The Mistake by Elle Kennedy
Logan, a hockey player, falls for a freshman who isn’t impressed by him.
11. Pucking Around by Emily Rath
A woman finds herself dating several hockey players at once. It’s very explicit and for adults only.
12. Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun
A woman agrees to a fake engagement and falls for the wrong sibling. It’s cozy and funny.
13. Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score
A runaway bride clashes with a grumpy small-town barber. It’s warm and funny.
14. Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter
A rom-com fan teams up with her annoying neighbor to win her crush. It’s fun and clean.
15. Twisted Love by Ana Huang
A photographer falls for her brother’s cold best friend. It’s darker and more dramatic.
How to Pick Your Next Sports Romance
- Want more Maple Hills? Wildfire and Daydream.
- Want college hockey? The Deal, The Mistake and Collide.
- Want pro sports? Behind the Net and The Cheat Sheet.
- Want clean or YA? Fake Skating and Better Than the Movies.
- Want queer sports romance? Heated Rivalry and Him.
- Check heat levels. Pucking Around and Heated Rivalry are very explicit.
Maple Hills Reading Order
The Maple Hills series is Icebreaker (Anastasia and Nate), Wildfire (Aurora and Russ) and Daydream (Henry and Halle). Each book follows a different couple from the same college friend group, so you can read them in any order, but going in order lets you watch the friendships grow. Hannah Grace’s books are adult romances with explicit scenes. If you’re buying for a teen who loves sports romance, Lynn Painter’s YA books are a better fit.
Related: books like Twisted Love and best romance books for book clubs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What book is most like Icebreaker?
The Deal by Elle Kennedy is the closest match, followed by Collide and Behind the Net.
Is Icebreaker appropriate for teens?
No. It has explicit sexual content and is written for adults. Fake Skating is a good YA alternative.
What order are the Maple Hills books?
Icebreaker, Wildfire and Daydream.