Overall the book was decent. I managed to read the entire thing, and I would recommend it to people I think it might be a good fit for. Unfortunately, that person wasn't me. I had two main issues while reading this book.
The first was the pacing. The story takes place over the span of I believe six months, not including the epilogue which has a full six month skip on it's own. No, the main story takes place over the span of six months, and it accomplishes that with a lot of chunky time skips. For me, this made it difficult to follow the story at times and stay immersed in it. We would be experiencing one event then told it's suddenly two months later, the previous events glossed over and moved past already. And a lot of things that should have been given proper time to simmer felt like they were rushed, especially regarding character relationships. The shift from Alexa dating one character to another especially felt rushed.
The second thing was that I typically let my suspension of disbelief stretch pretty far while consuming media but this book asked too much of me. I don't know anything about private schools, so maybe it's possible for a student to get a six month suspension in general, let alone for something that occurred outside of school grounds and after a school-sanctioned event (not even technically during it), but that seems unrealistic to me. A six month suspension, so you have to enroll at a different school for half the year? I don't understand how that could be reasonable, but again, I'm not familiar with private school policies and maybe that's a real thing. The same goes for the event in the epilogue; an entire formal event thrown for a singular student? Possible, I guess, but seems farfetched. Those particular things I'm considering with a grain of salt because it might be my own lack of knowledge that makes them seem so odd.
However, they aren't the only things making me wary. The big focus of this story is sports, which is another thing I don't know a lot about, but even I know that it's unlikely for someone to take up a sport and become Olympic-worthy within one year, no matter what their background was going into it. I appreciate the inclusion of how hard Charlie worked and how much practice she put into learning this new sport, but that still doesn't feel like enough when most people at that skill level would have been training for years. She wins first place in Nationals by perfectly executing moves she, in practice, only got correct approximately one out of five times, and that's after having not practiced figure skating at all for around two months (if I recall correctly). She doesn't even warm up beforehand, just goes right out there and absolutely kills it. I understand wanting to have a happy ending wrapped up in a bow, but this all felt like a stretch.
Also, I wish we'd gotten more of Frankie and Mason. I'm really hoping there's a sequel or spin-off revolving around them because the author only gave us the tiniest hints of them and it felt like it may have been leading into something else.
All of that said, this was still a pretty good book. I had a really hard time getting through it, but it wasn't *bad*. Queer romance in and of itself is always a plus. It was nice to see Charlie put into figure skating, a sport in which women are typically expected to be dainty and graceful and feminine, and embrace it in a way that felt authentic to her. The open, honest communication between Charlie and her closest friends was great to see! There are a lot of good things about this book which is why I would still absolutely recommend it to the right person.

Such a sweet and charismatic read! Charlie Porter was such a real character and I loved hearing her thought process throughout the book. Her and Alexa's dynamic grew soo much throughout the novel, who knew Charlie could be such a romantic! While it's definitely a playful sports romance, I think the heart of the story is Charlie figuring out her complex feelings. Spurred from a neglectful mother and abandonment issues, Charlie sometimes doesn't make the best decisions, but she always finds her way. It's a Love/Skate Relationship is perfect for young adult readers. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 4.5 ✨

I can't even express how much of a fast and enjoyable read it was for me. The writing was so easy to get into. I loved the banter between Charlie and Alexa. It felt real and it helped their friendship evolve, into a healthy relationship. I, for one can eat up any sports romance book but this one was so well done. Plus the cover is just the icing on top.

I received a free e-arc in exchange for a honest review.
When I first heard about this book, I was SO excited. As a queer person and huge hockey fan, seeing more sapphic hockey romances is a dream come true. Unfortunately this one doesn’t live up to the hype for me and I ended up not finishing at the 70% point/end of chapter 21 for several reasons.
Originally my biggest problem was pacing. It just felt so slow. I had been reading for ages but it felt like nothing had happened? I also wanted more on page descriptions of the ice skating or explanations of the moves as Charlie learned them, since we got a pretty detailed hockey game in the first chapter, but that never happened either.
I also found the… abundant mentions of wicked just exhausting to read. I know it’s because the movie just came out - the movie is mentioned on page - but I think I would have minded less if I hadn’t been overloaded with wicked promo for the past year. Despite these issues I was willing to keep reading, however chapter 21, when they go to Alexa’s cousin’s wedding, I had to stop.
Alexa is a Jewish character, and the wedding is Jewish. Love it as a Jewish reader! What I hated was that out of nowhere Alexa’s bubbe is a holocaust survivor?? Which makes no sense for Alexa or her mom’s ages. She was also tattooed, which was actually extremely rare during the holocaust as only certain camps did it. It felt like that was only included so Charlie could go, hey I learned about that in school! In the most awkward way possible. And then our two characters have their first kiss 2 pages later. It just felt so jarring and completely unnecessary. I think the book could have really benefited from a Jewish sensitivity reader, as well as another round of editing.
I would consider reading this authors next book, but I wouldn’t recommend this one to any friends.
2 stars

This was just what I wanted from a sapphic sports romance. Lately I’ve been bored with the typical hockey and sports romance in general, and I’ve been looking for some Queer/Sapphic ones. I had either missed or forgotten the fact that it’s YA and not New Adult, but i enjoyed all the same, if not more for that reason. The main character, Charlie, while flawed in many ways, was very likable. At times both her and Alexa had their “not like other girls” moments, but considering they’re high schoolers it didn’t bother me as much. I do wish we had gotten to know Alexa a bit more. While her relationship with her mom seems quite healthy I wish that had been explored more, or even with her old friend turned enemy. There wasn’t enough exploration of her upbringing and her character evolution as I would have liked, maybe the Single POV has that effect. I’m glad the boys/bullies thing was not dragged all the way to the end of the book, although realistically,I doubt they would have just let them alone so easily, and I wish there had been consequences for the things they said and did to both Charlie and Alexa. I like that Charlie’s relationship with her friends was addressed but kept simple and without unnecessary drama. The third act and ending were very satisfying and deserving to me. Overall a really strong debut

If you, like me, have ever watched the 2005 film Ice Princess and thought to yourself "this would be better if the girls kissed" then you should absolutely pick up this enemies to lovers, hockey + figure skater romance novel. Perfect for fans of Dahlia Adler and Kelly Quindlen.

This book seemed like a typical enemies to lovers story with the title which got me intrigued and I’m glad I did because it was great. You should read this book!!! It gives you a little plot twist of course.

I don't care that some of the elements of this LGBTQIAP+ sports romance are super far fetched. I came for the realization of a long held wish for a sapphic The Cutting Edge and I got it. Immensely impressed by author Carli J. Corson's ability to make me care about such true in behavior teens. The HEA was worth all the suspension of disbelief. But even more pleasurable was the character growth. Overwhelmingly enjoyed!

Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books | Storytide and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

Overall I enjoyed this and I would likely read more from this author in the future.

I read a different review that basically said this was like a DCOM and I fully agree. In no world would everything have worked out as perfectly as this did. But that being said, it was fun and I did like that none of the drama revolved around the characters being queer.

I did drop my rating a little because I thought some of the pacing was off, and a few things felt unresolved. Also, I really think seeing Alexa’s POV would’ve helped build her connection with Charlie.

3.5 rounded up because this is trope catnip for me. Enjoyable and fun, as long as you are prepared going in for a cheesy YA sports romance and the suspension of disbelief that you would expect. There’s a lot of familiar tropes, from the enemies to lovers to being forced to work together to the hockey and ice skater trope to high school parties and many more. In that sense, it’s fun and light, with a lot of heart. Charlie gets a lot of development as she works through being uprooted from her school and her sport, with Alexa quite a bit less, but such is a single-PoV romance.

The biggest suspension of disbelief comes at the very end - absolutely NO way are they doing both the short and long programs on the same day, even for juniors, much less all the travel nonsense, but at that point, you’re pretty invested and close enough to the end that it gets a pass. It still had me stopping and shouting NO under my breath a lot.

Fans of Rachael Lippincott, as well as sports fans, should check this out. It is definitely a book for teen/YA audiences with its high school drama and sports rivalry, but it is ultimately a cute enemies-to-lovers story. There is an engaging cast of characters and a charming brother/sister kinship portrayal and theatrics with almost everyone. I'm not an athlete, but even I had trouble believing someone could turn into an Olympic-bound figure skater in a few months. That aside, this should be a "gong-show" for readers looking for a sports-centered high school romance.
#NetGalley

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!


This book follows Charlie as she deals with being suspended from school and unable to play hockey. Due to a fight that she accidentally started, Alexa's skate partner is injured. Charlie takes a deal that requires her to become Alexa's partner in exchange she will meet the scouts. I thought this book was so cute. I really enjoyed Charlie and her journey. I also enjoyed the moments when Charlie and Alexa grew to like each other. I wish there was more development to Alexa's character. This was a solid debut and I hope to read more from this author!

Thank you NetGalley & HarperTeen for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's a Love/Skate Relationship is your quintessential enemies to lovers sapphic sports romance between a hotheaded hockey player and the ice princess at the figure skating rink next door. It's incredibly cute, at times cringe in the only (good) way a YA romance can be, and very fun.

I do wish some things at the end had been wrapped up a tiny bit better as I was left with a few questions toward the end, but overall I love this addition to the romance genre, and had a great time reading it.

Charlie and Alexa, my loves!

Sometimes, you just need a great little Sapphic romance about two skating girls who kick butt on and off the ice. And this, this is that. I have recently become a fan of women's hockey, and I was overjoyed at receiving a copy of this book because it further cemented my love. When Charlie, a majorly talented high school hockey player starts a fight that leaves Alexa's figure skating pairs partner injured, a deal is struck to help both girls. Charlie will train with Alexa and perform with her at their qualifying rounds, and is promised attention from college scouts in return. A bit of belief suspension might be required, but I'm willing to let it slide because the romance is the important part here, and I don't actually know how difficult it would be to translate hockey skills to figure skating skills. Regardless, I thought this was a sweet story. I did feel that some common tropes were leaned on, and other than the sporting quality, the plot was pretty predictable. For a debut novel though, great, and I'll definitely be reading anything else that Corson writes, especially if there's more Gelphie mentioned! 💚💗

3.5 but rounded up because stealing your hockey rival’s girl is so based. Thats the power of a true butch.

This was a very cheesy lighthearted sports romance. It has all the markings of an underdog story. Starting a brawl after missing the game winning shot, Charlie is suspended from school and her hockey team. Missing her junior year is an incredible loss as the upcoming season would’ve been her chance at catching the eye of college scouts. In comes Alexa, a pairs skater who is in need of a partner after hers suffered an injury in the brawl. The problem? Alexa is the girlfriend of the team captain Charlie lost it all to, and she isn’t too fond of Charlie either. But when Alexa’s Olympic mother promises to put in a good word for Charlie with some scouts, she agrees to transform into a pairs ice skater. When the frostiness between Charlie and Alexa begins to melt, they start to wonder if their partnership might extend outside the rink.

There is a LOT of suspension of belief needed for the plot to work. In the span of a year Charlie essentially becomes an Olympic level ice skater. Despite being familiar on skates due to her years as a hockey player, the quickness which she learned hard jumps was so unrealistic. The ending was also absurd as Charlie jumps in a plane and arrives at the national championships with seconds to spare before immediately competing. No warm ups, no stretching, no preparations at all after getting off a flight. And then she goes on to compete a new skill she hasn’t even mastered yet.

If you can ignore the overly exaggerated plot, the story is very cute and fun. I really liked all our side characters, I felt like they could stand on their own. They each had their own talents and goals, and they were really great friends. Charlie was a great main character. Even though she often lets her anger get the best of her, she comes across as very earnest. She is just trying to do her best. I do wish Alexa was a little more fleshed out. She did have the best setup for character development, but I felt like there wasn’t enough attention given to that development. I would have liked to hear her POV.

There were some darker topics broached, such as homophobia, sexual assault, sports injuries, mental health, and absent parents. However, I would say that most were glossed over and don’t really change the tone of the overall story. I do wish there had been more serious conversations addressing these topics throughout the book.

Overall, this is a very cute lighthearted story that is simple and fun if you take it for what it is. You’ll fly right through it!

“my mom always says when someone shows you who they are, believe them. I don’t want to be associated with someone that cruel”

It’s a Love/Skate Relationship by Carli J. Corson
Pub Date: January 28, 2025
Rating: 🌟🌟 🌟 🌟(4/5)
Spice: 🫑(0/5)

Review:
Charlie Porter is a hyper competitive hockey player. Alexa Goldstein is an ice princess. After a tough loss against her teams biggest rivals Charlie starts a fight in the lobby of the ice rink in their small Vermont town. A casualty of the fight is Frankie, Alexa’s doubles partner. He breaks his ankle and can no longer compete. Charlie is sentenced to work in the ice rink as punishment for the fight. While working off her debt to the Blizzard, Charlie overhears Alexa’s need for a strong practice partner while Frankie heals and she is up for the challenge.

I absolutely adored this story. It’s the perfect YA romance that’s totally age appropriate. It’s the type of story I wish existed when I was younger. Carli J. Corson knocked it out of the park. If this is her debut I can’t wait to see what else she writes. I really appreciate how she sprinkles casual Judaism into this story. It was totally unexpected but greatly appreciated. I would love Carli to write Geri Goldstein her own adult romance also maybe papa Porter.

If you like:
- Young Love
- Queer Love
- Enemies to Lovers
- Jewish Representation

QOTD: What is your favorite winter sport?

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Collins for proving me with an eARC of this novel.

I received a complimentary copy from HarperCollins Children’s Books in exchange for my honest review. This doesn’t affect my thoughts about the book in any way.

I LOVE LESBIANS! Perfect for fans of How To Excavate a Heart, It’s A Love/Skate Relationship is a cozy, smalltown sapphic romcom between a figure skater and a hockey player sharing a rink after an incident that tied their lives together. Alexa and Mac’s love story is a novel that you’d come back to on rainy, cold days for comfort. This book has the aesthetic of those early 2000s romcom movies, with readers eating up the sweet cliché of every single moment they have shared together. The vibes gave off She’s The Man x Icebreaker (make it gay). The supporting characters were also quirky and cute whose dynamic with the MCs complimented the beauty of the tasteful slowburn the author went for.

I am encouraging everyone to read more sapphic novels in 2025 because you are definitely missing out on women falling in love <3 wuhluhwuh is so fun to read about!

“Alexa’s always been pretty, but this is the most beautiful she’s ever looked, and I forget I’m supposed to be breathing.”

Ok first, I love the cover! It's so cute, and it's what caught my attention in the first place. This was a such a cute high school romance. I love a good hockey player x figure skater romance, and it's sapphic?!? I love the tension and banter between Charlie and Alexa. Their relationship had a natural progression, and it was based in a pretty queer normative society. There is a bit of homophobia, but it's not the focus, and neither is coming out, which I love in queer romance. I like the balance between sports and romance. Plus, the friendship between Charlie, Jade and Emily and the friendship formed with Frankie was so cute! I really hope there is another book because I would love to see more of Frankie and his boyfriend. There were a bit of unrealistic sport elements, especially with how Charlie managed to turn into a figure skater that quickly. Also, I think the whole situation with Charlie's mother was brushed over wayyy too much. It definitely could've been written a bit better because I felt like there wasn't a resolution. However, Charlie and Alexa were so cute together and I loved their day in NYC and the panic date. I think Carli J. Corson has a lot of potential, and I'm excited to read her next book!

Thank you Netgalley and Carli J. Corson for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Very fun but with terminology issues for anyone who actual played hockey that often took me out of the story

Would still recommend but I wish the folks involved in writing and editing knew a few more things about hockey.

It's a Love/Skate Relationship grabbed my attention immediately with the art style on the cover, the fun title, and the fact that it's not only a sapphic romance but sapphic SPORTS romance. I don't primarily read YA, but I requested this immediately because it's a book my younger self would have loved to read!

All of that said, I did enjoy this read more than I anticipated! There's actual thoughtful character flaws and growth on both sides of this enemies to lovers arc - I am a harsh critic of enemies to lovers in contemporary romance, often the "enemy" part is either too weak or too harsh to get past in any realistic way. I loved that Charlie's incident at the start of the book set them up as enemies, BUT she was immediately remorseful - and not just because there were consequences in her hockey career, but also because it impacted others.

Something I love about ice skating and sports romances generally, is the angle of trust - the enemies can't stay enemies AND be successful at the sport. Ice skating in particular with dangerous lifts and stunts becomes such a great tool for developing the relationship from enemies to friends to more, and I love it every time. It also helps you look past the fact that there's no way a hockey player could actually step in for an olympics-bound and championship-level skating partner, but it's all in good fun!

I do wish there was a bit more sensitivity around Alexa's relationship at the start of the book - the guys on the hockey team being awful people is one thing, but the framing of Alexa as straight feels silly. In this day and age (and even in MY day and age) teens know well enough to know that there's more to queerness than straight or gay - and that comphet is a thing -so the "don't fall for a straight girl" thing feels a bit outdated.

A small thing that I really loved - I loved the PWHL shoutout!! I hope this book brings much needed attention to the league, and I hope someone gets this book in front the Boston Fleet team. It's such an exciting time in womens hockey.

Overall I rated It's a Love/Skate Relationship 4 stars, it's a fun read and I can't wait to see more like it on the market!