Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5

I thought I couldn't love this book more than Collide but boy was I wrong. I absolutely fell in love with this book. The characters were so cute and the sweetest thing ever! The tropes were some of my favorites. You get a shy MMC and a yappy, extroverted FMC. I will forever be a found family girlie and this book just healed a part of me.

🩰🏒--characters--🏒🩰
I'm always a sucker for a straightforward and yapper FMC. Sage was the cutest and sweetest FMC ever! I absolutely loved her jokes and any time she was talking. She just brought so much light to this book and into Elias's life. Sage and Elias worked so well together and that just made the book way better. I loved learning about their backstories throughout the story and truly understanding the different parts of their personalities because they were both so fun to read about!

I simply need a whole book about their life, especially after reading the epilogue. I loved the characters and story so much! It was an amazing read. I could yap all day (like Sage) but I do hope you get to read it once it comes out because it was just so good!

✨tropes✨
🩰 ballerina x professional hockey player
💗 faking dating
🩰 shy mmc x confident fmc
💗 forced proximity

Thank you so much Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

THIS WAS SO DANG CUTE ARE U SERIOUS!!!

Fake dating super swoony sports romance baby!!!

Sage is a struggling ballerina who’s been told she needs to up her social media in order to be booked for roles.

Meanwhile, Eli’s playboy rep has been getting out of hand and needs PR damage before he’s traded to another NHL team!

I’m OBSESSED with how cute and sweet this romance was I was smiling ear to freakin ear the whole time!!!!

Having read Collide, I was very excited for Bal Khabra's second book. I absolutely love the slow burn romance, and this really delivers. Eli and Sage were an amazing couple that had such great tension. The fake dating of a hockey player and ballerina was unique, and their relationship was just fun to watch grow. I can't wait for Khabra's next book!

Spiral was released less than a year after Collide, but honestly, this is one book where I forgot how connected things are. Going into Spiral, we're getting Eli's story who plays on the same professional hockey team as Aiden who is the love interest in Book 1. Moving away from hockey for a second, this is mostly about Sage. Sage is an aspiring ballet dancer who is trying to balance her dance career, taking care of her brother, and not asking for help. She ends up getting roped into bidding on a date with Eli who acts like an absolute jerk to her at first. Eventually, the two go on a date but it doesn't seem like things are going to work out for them.

Sage suggests fake dating to help his playboy reputation and help her online presence as a dancer yet Elijah declines. Eventually, Elijah ends up talking about her to the media, and from there, the fake dating games begin. If you're looking for steam, this book does have its fair share but mostly the book is focused on the two of them working on themselves and coming to terms with their feelings. Bal Khabra does bring the spice rest assured, but what I loved most about this book was how much we learned about Sage and Eli. Sage ended up basically parenting her brother from a very young age and she still feels very protective over him. Eli's family history isn't that much better and we watch as the two slowly start to unlearn previous bad habits and learn to be better for the other person.

We also see Sage and Eli reach some incredible career milestones as well. Spiral truly came out of nowhere for me as I adored this book so much. I'm truly excited for this world Bal Khabra has built within her Off the Ice series and I can't wait for what's to come.

This was a slow burn!! I related to Sage when it came to independence and I loved seeing her walls break down for Eli. They are perfect for each other! What cute read and loved seeing Aiden and Summer again.

A brown girl who is a ballerina and also happens to land a hot, respectful hockey player? Yeah, obviously, I was going to read it. This was so cute and fast-paced - ate it up in a day. The story is very character-driven, but I enjoyed that because we got to see a lot of personal and relationship growth between the two main characters.

Elias is ao different from the typical sports guy main romance lead. I was expecting some douchey bro behaviour, and instead, we got a kind man that just needed someone to talk to. Shocking! Sage and Elias are so 'opposites attract' in the best way. They genuinely brought out the best in each other. They're supposed to be fake dating but was the fake dating ever in the room with us?

They're down so bad for each other. Elias was really redefining the concept of "i have your back." Bro would pop up ready to fight for her. He was learning ballet moves so he could reassure her that she was killing it during her performances?

My guy wiped her makeup off and helped her do her skincare cause she was too drunk and tired. The bar may be in hell, but he was still notches up - I'll give him that.

I would have appreciated some more exploration of Elias's struggles because they fall a little flat in comparison to Sage. The pacing and plotting also takes hits at a few points, but it wasn't much of an issue in the long run cause I wasn't really looking for a heavy plot-driven story.

I'm successfully convinced that the main couple is actually good for each other. That's often a rarity when it comes to contemporary romances.

Thanks so much to Berkley Pub & Berkley Romance for the free book!

I loved Collide so I was excited when I saw book 2 was coming out. Fake dating? Hockey? Forced proximity? What wasn’t to love?

These two were hot and cold. While there were moments I really loved this book. I really struggled connecting with either of the main characters. Eli was very standoffish throughout the book and that had to do with something that happened to him as a teenager that carried into adulthood. Sage had a terrible childhood, was her brothers primary caregiver, and is a struggling ballerina.

This maybe could’ve been 5 chapters shorter as I started skimming towards the end

✔️ Fake Dating
✔️ Roommates
✔️ Class Differences

I love a hockey romance and I'm thrilled to have another author to be obsessed with like I am with Elle Kennedy.

Spiral book two of the Off the Ice series by Bal Khabra. It's an interconnected standalone but very easy to read on its own (though don't get me wrong, Collide is worth reading - you just don't have to go in order!)

This is about Elias, a rookie hockey player who is on edge because he hasn't yet scored his first goal with a pro team. Adding to his stress is the intense media pressure as they dissect his personal life and pontificate on his playboy ways. His solution to get them off his back? To say he has a girlfriend, Sage. She's a ballerina that also can't catch a break and needs a bigger social media following to book a leading role. They work out an agreement but what could possibly get in the way... aside from intense chemistry with each other.

I loved the build of their relationship but my absolute favorite scenes were of the two of them in the apartment taking care of each other (Elias cooks and makes sure Sage is fed which I loooove - acts of service all the way). Their backstories were unique and I adored each of their character journeys and how supportive they were of each other's career goals. Super swoony, I'd say 5 ⭐️!!

Steam 🔥🔥🔥
Banter 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️
Swoon 💕💕💕💕💕

This was a mess and I honestly couldn't even finish it. Sage was so weird, trying too hard to be the quirky fmc but failed horribly. This isn't realy a college romance but it felt like it.

Oh I really like Elias, Kian, Dyan, Aidan, Sean, Summer, and Sage. So basically everyone.

A hockey star wanting to go pro after college with an orphaned ballerina risking it all for her dream and provide for her little brother. Doesn't sound like they would mesh, but boy did they. Once Elias got over being a grumpy ass, and Sage stopped being so insecure, the sparks fly. Both have their reasons, and when you discover what they are, your heart hurts for them.

Ugh. It was just a good read. I approve.

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spiral
Author: Bal Khabra
Off The Ice #2

Thank you so much Netgalley and Berkeley Romance for this ARC! A hockey and figure skating romance was an automatic must read for me. Elias is a newly drafted hockey player that is unfortunately the current product of intense media scrutiny. Meanwhile, Sage is trying to secure the lead role at a ballet theater. When the media ends up capturing her by chance run in with Elias, they both come to the conclusion that a fake relationship could work in both of their favors. As their fake relationship grows, their real feelings do as well. Also, to make matters more interesting, Sage is Elias’s coaches neice. This book was hockey romance perfection and I ate this up. It had everything you could possibly want in a sports romance, and the characters were adorable. I loved Elias so much. Also this was about 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 on the spicy scale. So grateful for this ARC and can’t wait for more in this series! ⛸️

Ahhhh what is it about fake romances that make me want to live one myself? I love when characters are reluctantly in a fake relationship to save their image.
Rules : yes, especially one that says "no falling in love"
The characters in this story felt very real, with complex back stories and their own issues to work through, together. I got sucked in this story and could not drop it. I DEVOURED this book.
I enjoyed Collide but I think I liked this one even more.
I recommend if you like : sports/hockey romance, fake dating, found family.

Loved this so much!! Fake dating, mmc falls first and harder, banter, hockey player x ballerina, I ate it all up!!! I was hooked from the beginning and couldn’t help but binge it in 2 sittings. The chemistry between Eli and Sage was THERE!! Eli was a man truly in love and the things he did for Sage had me swooooning I can’t help it. He was such a sweetheart and I loved seeing him come out of his shell for Sage. Sage was such a great fmc with sass but also a softer side. I loved that she was a people pleasing eldest daughter bc same 🥲 The slow burn was so good and the tension!! So so good. Eli and Sage both have rocky pasts and watching them work through that together was so sweet. Fast paced, entertaining, swoony, had everything I love in a romance and I just had the best time. Such a sweet book!! Loved these 2 so much.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for my complimentary eARC of Spiral. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is only my second hockey romance.
I enjoyed the hockey aspects of this book.
I enjoyed the ballet aspects of this book.
I thought this was going to be a light hearted fake dating romance. It was not. There are many heavy themes.

I think I need to stay away from books that focus on young adults trying to find their way in the world. It is so frustrating. I totally understand everyone needs to live their own life and experience the ups and downs. I just wish I didn’t want to bang my head against the wall when miscommunication and pride stand in the way of asking for and accepting help.

rated 3.5

📣 fake dating goes right in this NA sports romance

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

📖 what’s a one-word title that could describe your day so far? Mine could be Relaxed. That’s always a nice weekend day!

Eli and Sage both face intense challenges as they try to make their marks on professional hockey & dance, so when the opportunity comes, it only makes sense for them to embark on a fake dating sitch.

Of course, *we* know their fake dating will end in true luv.

Although I couldn’t feel the full chemistry between these two at the beginning of their relationship, by the end, they were easy to root for. They’ve both got lots of stressors thrown their way, from a stalker to a single parent situation to the big pressures associated with their professions, & those help them support the other the way they need to be supported.

Spiral by Bal Khabra skews a bit too young for my personal taste, but it’s a sweet & hot story about chasing dreams, working hard, & being passionate about things & other people that I think a lot of people will really enjoy.

4 ⭐️, out 01/28.

CWs: drug addicted parent, blackmail by parent, parental loss, stalker.

[ID: Jess holds the ebook in front of a purple, yellow, green, & pink brick wall.]

This was everything and MORE. Elias and Sage are absolute PERFECTION.

Their story had yearning, slow-burn, steamy romance, thick tension, hilarious banter, and found family.

Elias is hands down now one of my favorite MMC’s of all time. The way he treats Sage with such respect and admiration is so heartwarming it’s criminal, but he is also a FREAK and the way he speaks in the sheets is TOO GOOD.

Sage is such a STRONG FMC and is constantly putting herself before others. She challenges Eli in a way I don’t think anyone else can or does.

Elias and Sage are absolutely SWOON WORTHY and I was SO excited to get my babies down to bed every night so I could read this bad boy. There was the PERFECT amount of slow burn with JUST the right amount of banter and sexual tension between the two of them. It hit the spot. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

Spiral by Bal Khabra

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pub Date: January 28, 2025

Spiral is my first 5 star read of 2025 and I’m not mad about it! Seriously, this book was THAT good. I haven’t read Collide yet, but it is definitely on my list.

Synopsis: Sage Beaumont is struggling to break through as a ballerina and Elias Westbrook is the target of the infamous tabloids. After a chance encounter, fake dating might be the answer to all of their problems.

Elias and Sage are great characters that complement each other really well and were also strong individually. Elias was gentle and reserved for a hockey player which made him more endearing to me. Sage was confident, flirty, and funny, but also fiercely independent. She does not like asking people for help even when she really needs it. Sage kind of reminded me of myself…If I was super confident😂

Something about this book gave me Vancouver Agitators and Meghan Quinn vibes. Maybe it’s the group chat with the guys, the bonding between the girls, and the overall feeling.

Spiral is a cozy, sweet, romantic, and hilarious read that deserves all of the stars! It’s even in the running for my favorite book of January (let’s be real…it’s my favorite so far).

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this arc!

IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ONE!!! such a cute stinking book!!! I am so glad to have gotten a copy because all of my friends have been raving about this series. I am hooked and this one was SO cute! I’m in awe of how well their chemistry was and how this gave me butterflies inside while reading it. Eli and Sage were the perfect couple and I just wanna be friends with them asap! I loved that they ended up being roommates and it just added to the tension and chemistry. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to try someone new and is itching for their next 5 star read!

Everything about this romance felt too rushed, and at times it was a bit contradictory. The main characters would say one thing and then do another but the emotion or reasoning behind those actions didn’t make sense. They went from not knowing each other to being overly intimate—and I mean that in a platonic way—very quickly. Like, in basically one week they went from strangers to her living with him. It just didn’t feel realistic.

Also, at various points in the story information was revealed almost as a second thought to the reader. For example, we find out they’re married in the epilogue as an off-handed comment that isn’t addressed for a few more pages. It was distracting.

——
Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn't able to finish this book, but I did love the first in the series and hope to thoroughly enjoy this one as well.