elias needs the media off his back and the focus on his game. sage needs to increase her social media following so she can land a ballet audition for swan lake. after betting in an auction for a date with elias, the two of them hatch a plan to fake date to get what they want. but when she unexpectedly needs to move in with him and feelings start to develop, it’s starting to feel a whole lot less fake.

fake dating anddddd roommates with only one bed? delicious tension!! sage is unbelievably strong and so caring for not only elias but also her younger brother, sean. she literally faced so many hardships and always got back up and I loved her for that. and sweet, quiet, caring eli. I loved him so much!! seeing him and aiden’s friendship in this book was so special too (and summer!!)

Thank you berkley romance and netgalley for the gifted copies!

what to expect
⟢ fake dating
⟢ roommates
⟢ slow burn
⟢ hockey player x ballerina

This book had a fun 'subplot' to the overall hockey romance, with having two people from broken homes find their way to each other and figure out ways to trust and love without the barrier. I enjoyed how Sage and Eli worked together, though occasionally frustrating with them not remembering the 'rules' they set with fake dating. I do enjoy the fake dating trope, with a lot of fun side twists within this story. Overall, still a hockey romance that I enjoyed.

This book was extremely cute, I love the fake dating trope so much. I love that even though this was interconnected, I wasn't spoiled by anything. I love Elias.

hockey player x ballerina?

sign me right up.

I was hesitant going into this book because book 1 wasn't my cup of tea but I was pleasantly surprised by this one. the banter, the forced proximity and a mmc who is embarrassingly down bad for his girl... I ate it right up. these covers are absolutely gorgeous and I cannot wait to read more!

I’m such a sucker for fake dating turned friends turned lovers, so this was right up my alley. I enjoyed this one, but I think Collide still comes out on top for me!! Really enjoyed seeing more sides of Elias (doesn’t hurt that that’s one of my favorite names😍) and watching him grow throughout the book. I also appreciated the slow burn of it, though the spice didn’t capture me the way I was expecting it to. Some of Sage’s inner monologues were too close to home for me OOF, and I really appreciated the depth of her internal struggles with feeling worthy because she herself didn’t believe it (relatable😭).

Okay Collide was good but this was somehow even better!!! I was so hooked to this one. I really felt invested in the characters & loved the build up between the FMC & MMC. The tension was DELICIOUS. Like Collide, I also liked the balance between plot & romance in this book. It felt very realistic & believable while still being very engaging. I also ADORE the side characters & the found family in this book. I seriously loved this read so much & I already can’t wait for the next book!!!

Thank you so much to Penguin Canada for the ARC & Berkley for the eARC!!!

A spinoff in the same universe as her debut, Collide, sees aspiring pro ballerina, Sage agreeing to fake date the rookie pro hockey player, Elias 'Eil' in order to help both their career aspirations. This was a slow burn, dual POV, forced proximity interracial romance set in Toronto that has cameos from Summer and Aiden of book one but can be read as a standalone. I loved both MCs, they each carry emotional baggage (Eli was raised by a foster family and has an alcoholic father) and Sage's parents were drug dealing addicts who abandoned her to raise her younger diabetic brother all on her own. Steamy, swoony, good on audio narrated by Nia Serge and Aaron Shedlock and HIGHLY recommended for fans of authors like Elle Kennedy and Helena Hunting. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

How the mental game plays a big part in the hockey world. You can’t let the outside play with your head.

Don’t get involved with the family of the people that sign your pay check. That’s advice I would give to my child in this situation and I would hope he would listen, but where is the fun in that.

After reading and enjoying Collide at the end of 2023, I was excited to read this next installment in the Off the Ice series. Elias and Sage are two characters who, when they meet, are struggling in their professional lives while also being at the top of their careers. Elias is newly in the NHL and seeking his first goal while trying to stay out of the tabloids, and Sage is searching for a principle role within a ballet company and has been told she needs an online following in order to even get an audition for her dream role. Those struggles are what lead them to decide to fake date; having a girlfriend will get the media out of Eli's personal life, and dating an NHL player will increase Sage's reach online. The premise sounds like such a fun time, and while I did enjoy this book, it took me a while to be invested in the characters. Also, this series moving away from Dalton University while also trying to keep the side characters from the first book involved just made me want this book to be set at Dalton. Overall, this book was incredibly readable and I really like how Bal Khabra writes! After the first book I was hoping that Kian would get his own story, and want it even more after this one (but set back at Dalton - I missed the hockey house antics)!

3.5 — This one was very cute. Fake dating + forced proximity. What could go wrong. I really enjoyed the progression of the relationship between Eli and Sage. Seeing them interact and share their paste. How Eli takes care of Sage is just *chefs kiss*. I enjoyed the story but also felt like I wanted more? I think the way they dove into the harder parts of the characters’ pasts and their professional challenges just didn’t feel fully fleshed or just felt like they wrapped up too quickly. Perhaps because the characters were pretty young but not college age? But for me it just won’t be a favorite.

Thx PRH Audio for the advanced listening copy.

3.5
I really really loved Bal’s first in the series- and did end up liking this one quite a bit. I struggled a little with the pacing in this one- I felt it jumped around a bit in the emotional arcs. But overall I loved the characters and Bal’s writing style!

I love the fake dating trope, I love the hockey trope. I love a POC as one of the MC. I should have loved this book. I was a little off put my the POV of Sage. I wanted to like her but it felt more like I was reading a YA novel then an adult romance. I think this would have been a fun book for someone else. I encourage people to read it!

This was so cute!! 4.5/5 ✨⭐️ Thank you to @netgalley & @berkleypub for approving me to read this e-arc! I enjoyed every second of it 🫶🏼 This is the second book in the Off the Ice series that is releasing on January 28th 💜

I will have to say I think I liked this one better than Collide and I think that is just because I enjoyed Eli’s and Sage romance. I adored these two and their communication and just the romance vibes between these two was just perfect besides the complications they came across along the way. Eli is pretty much what you want out of a book boyfriend lol he shows acts of service even though be is a bit shy for a hockey player.

I also enjoyed Sage’s character and found her to be witty and funny and very flirtatious. This was a slow burn and I wish we had a bit more spice in this book but I feel the romance between the characters made up for that 💜

The plot was good I did like how it started off as fake dating trying to save Eli from the press. This was a good hockey romance book and I’m so glad I was able to read this in advanced and I would highly recommend picking this one up especially for my hockey romance girlies 😉

Spiral is a heartwarming, binge-worthy romance that beautifully blends the worlds of ballet and hockey. Sage and Elias have incredible chemistry, with a slow-burn connection that feels so natural. Elias isn’t like any other hockey boyfriend I’ve read—his discipline and emotional depth make him a standout. A man that in tune with his feelings is rare, and it’s exactly why I keep taking chances on sports romances.

The story balances humor, tenderness, and found family perfectly. If the characters' traumas had been shown more deeply rather than told, this easily would’ve been a five-star read. Still, it’s full of charm and heart, making it impossible to put down.


Thank you to Berkley Pub for the physical and digital arc <3

If you’re looking for a sports romance that’s a quick fun read, this is definitely something you should consider.

I love books where men simp hard and this is definitely where the mmc is a big simp and a gentlemen.

Things you’ll love:
-Forced proximity
-Fake dating
-Dual POVs
-He falls harder
-He bakes and cooks for her

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! Always love reading Bal’s work.

I am in LOVE with the relationship between Sage and Elias. What a sweet journey the two of them went on. This is my favourite Bal Khabra book to date, which is saying something because I LOVED Collide! I grew up dancing competitively, so I loved hearing about Sage's journey as a ballerina and I was cheering her on the whole way through, you can't help but cheer for both of these sweethearts!

If you love:
Fake dating
Sports romance (Hockey x Dance)
Forced proximity
Slow burn
Found family

Then this one is for you!

4.5⭐️

This book was so cute! I really enjoyed Collide but in my opinion, Spiral was even better. Sage and Elias’ relationship was so beautiful and they were honestly so perfect together. They both have experienced trauma but the way they were able to support and take care of each other was so special. I am a sucker for tension-filled mutual pining and this book definitely delivered. Bal Khabra creates adorable romances with so much emotional depth and I am so excited to get the next book in the series. If you enjoy sports romance, then you need to read this series.

What to expect:
💜 Sports Romance
💜 Pro Hockey Player x Ballerina
💜 Cinnamon Roll MMC
💜 Fake Dating
💜 Forced Proximity

Thank you to Bal Khabra, Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Soft and swoony with the sweetest cinnamon roll hero, this was such a lighthearted, feel good read. I was absolutely smitten with the vibes, and an unexpected surprise regarding the hero (he’s celibate!) created some delicious tension in this fake relationship romance. Our hero had no plans to break his vow with someone who would be a temporary part of his life, which makes for a sexy slow burn and a focus on the emotional connection. I could also see some serious growth in Khabra’s writing since the first book in this series of interconnected standalones, as this is her first traditionally published novel. The combination made for a fun, bingeable read that was even better on audio. I really enjoyed it!

The story follows Sage, a ballerina whose uncle works for the local hockey team. She attends a charity auction to support him and finds herself bidding on one of his players as a favor - it’s a long story. While Elias has a ton of talent, he’s been a disappointment to the team since getting called up to the league, and the reputation he has in the media certainly isn’t helping. When Sage discovers that her proximity to Elias helps garner the social media attention she needs to land a job, they decide to enter into a fake relationship that will benefit both of their careers. The two strangers quickly form a friendship with sparks of more, but Elias is resistant to taking things further. He swore off women entirely years ago, and he’s unwilling to let Sage into his heart when he knows her goal is to find a job that will keep her on the road. But the sparks that fly between them are impossible to ignore, and their connection gets deeper by the day.

Collide was a solid 4-star read for me, so I went into this with low expectations, simply hoping for a light and bingeable read. It quickly became clear to me that Khabra’s writing has grown quite a bit since Collide’s indie debut, and I also loved the combination of characters. Elias is this cinnamon roll sweetheart who is steady, loving and sometimes shy. He’s focused on his career and disappointed in himself, so he was kind of adorable. I also really liked Sage, who is bright and lively. She helps Elias get out of his head, and they both bring out the best in each other. I loved the unexpected roommates situation paired with the fake relationship, which allowed for so much emotional connection and true relationship development. The story is sexy too, with plenty of moments when the tension was ready to snap. I don’t often see a dynamic where the heroine is ready for intimacy and the hero is the one who resists, which added such an interesting vibe to the story. I had no trouble bingeing this one, and am eager to see more from the series - it was great!

I loved absolutely everything about this book!!!

I adored Elias and Sage! They were the cutest couple, even when they were just faking it. I literally could not have imagined a more perfect book. Spiral had every trope that I adore: fake dating, shy MMC and strong FMC, found family!!

Elias was such a sweet, caring guy, which was exactly what Sage needed!! After caring for every one around her for all her life, I was so happy to see someone care about her.

There were so many little, thoughtful moments that had me kicking my feet. The flowers? He cooks AND bakes for her?!! Please, this book was so cute.

All the stars for this book and for Elias and Sage!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Khabra continues to do a beautiful job at creating characters and individual narratives that perfectly complement one another. So cute and so sweet, overall a great story to turn your brain off to and relax into. 4 stars instead of 5 for my continued complaint of Off the Ice’s stories being overall too long and feeling like SOMETHING is missing (though I cannot quite put my finger on what).

Also… I need 2025 to be the year that we drop the tattoo trope in romance books 🫣