The book was great! I like how it was about 2 people who were in 2 completely different sports but still found ways the be together. I like how the author used real world examples such as loosing parents or not having a lot of money to get by.

I haven’t read book 1 in the series, but I really enjoyed Spiral regardless. The characters were not perfect (a compliment) the dialogue felt natural, and the pace was quick enough for me to stay hooked without feeling rushed. In addition, it’s always refreshing to see POC in hockey romance books (especially since the hockey romance world is reflective of the real world in that it is quite white).

Oh my god what magic did I just read?! Seriously this book was so good to the point where I’m mad I finished it so fast. Bal Khabra certainly has a hook on writing the most caring and sweet men ever. Sage and Summer are two lucky women, and count me shocked at how I didn’t think I could love anyone more than Aiden but then here comes Elias in this book. Wow just wow!

The slow burn, the tension, the sweet acts of service that both Sage and Elias did for each other. Everything was so heartfelt and perfect, and I couldn’t get enough. I loved the fake dating to actual feelings trope, and this book pulled it off flawlessly. If you want a great read filled with amazing build up between two beautiful characters you have to pick this one up. Make sure you read book one first, but this book two may just be 6 out of 5 stars in my opinion. I’m sad the story is over, but I’m so glad it happened!

"Collide" was one of my favorite sports romances that I had the pleasure of reading last year, so getting approved for this arc was a dream come true. unfortunately, I was left feeling unsatisfied. I felt that the characters were very underdeveloped and just fell flat for me. The pacing was so odd, it could have been 50 pages shorter and done a better job of showing their relationship progress. This was marketed as a fake dating romance, but there was no reason for them to keep it fake to add tension, which is the entire point of the trope. I completely forgot that's what it was supposed to be a couple times until the characters would bring it up as a reason they couldn't be together even though... it wasn't a reason they couldn't be together?
However, I really enjoyed Sages character. I'm always down for an eldest daughter finally getting taken care of the way she takes care of everyone else. A golden retriever boy who's always in control and loves to cook is always sweet as well.

*Thank you to Netgalley & the author for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest review*

This was probably one of the softest, most heartfelt books I’ve had the pleasure of reading in a while. There was so much goodness packed into these characters and all I wanted was for Sage and Elias to have their dreams come true and be able to find and keep their happiness.

Being able to see them come together and rely on the other for not only help but actual solid support was worthwhile. Getting glimpses into their future, their past and seeing how all of that played a heavy hand on the character development was extraordinary. The banter between Elias and Sage was incredible. I loved how their vulnerability shined through with so much heart. They’re just so steady and solid, I loved them so much.

The slow burn and tension between Elias and Sage was TORTURE but so delicious! My expectations were raised and exceeded 💖

Spiral was the perfect fake dating read! Eli Westbrook is newly drafted and is having a rough time with the start of his hockey season—that, and the media won’t leave him alone. But after aspiring ballerina Sage Beaumont wins a date with him, both of their luck changes—the media thinks he has a girlfriend and Sage’s social media has gotten more attention, meaning more auditions are opening for her. But the longer they spend time together, the more the fake lines begin to blur. Oh Eli, he is so sweet and sensitive and kind. And Sage, who takes care of her brother and herself, is so strong and brave. I liked Collide, but I could not put down Spiral. The banter was spot on. It was funny, it was emotional, it was heartwarming. The fake dating and forced proximity was so well done, and all of the characters worked so well together. It’s a really beautiful and romantic story, and I just really loved it.

4.75 ⭐️ | 1.5 🌶 | 📚

I will be honest, I was NOT expecting this book to be as good as it was but WOW did it knock my socks off. Both Sage and Elias were incredible leads. Their emotional backstories and vulnerability with each other throughout the book was soooo good. I loved that, for a hockey romance, we actually got a decent amount of hockey backstory and same with Sage and her dancing. Both characters had great and well developed storylines outside of the romance.

The tension and the banter that these two had was palpable. I truly could not put this book down and I am officially a Bal Khabra stan after this book. I cannot wait for the world to be introduced to this book.

Also, for fans of Ryan Shay from The Right Move and Henry Turner from Daydream, I think you should be preparing yourselves to fall in love with your newest obsession, Elias Westbrook.

Thank you SO much to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy of this book! I truly cannot wait to share it with everyone I know.

This book is technically a sequel, but as someone who did not read the first in advance, I felt it wasn't needed and could stand on its own. This is a fun, spicy and vulnerable fake dating, sports romance between a hockey star and a ballet dancer. It's told in dual points of view and written with a compelling tone of voice and language. Thanks to an intriguing story and relatable characters, I just wanted to know what would happen next. In short, it was very easy to get sucked into this one.

I don’t even know where to start this review, because it was EVERYTHING. I was full-on blushing, giggling, wheezing, and kicking my feet for days while reading this—and honestly, even after finishing, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Bal didn’t just write a book; she wrote a whole experience. She knows exactly how to grab your heart, rip it out, and then lovingly put it back together in the best way possible.

Eli and Sage are just magic. Their relationship is this stunning mix of slow-burn tension, emotional vulnerability, and so much heart. Watching them grow—not just closer, but individually—was pure gold. They learn to trust, lean on each other, and show up in ways that felt so real and relatable. And let’s talk about Sage for a second. She’s bold, unapologetic, and fiercely independent. But underneath that strength, there’s a vulnerability that makes her so human. As an eldest daughter (with a younger brother, of course), her struggles hit me so hard. The way she balances her own needs with taking care of those around her was so relatable, it honestly felt like Bal wrote her just for me.

And then there’s Eli. Sigh. This man is everything. He’s thoughtful, steady, and knows exactly when to step up and be what Sage needs without ever taking away her independence. AND HE COOKS FOR HER. Like, hello?? Dream man alert. But it’s not just about the romance—he’s dealing with his own emotional baggage, and watching him work through it while also showing up for Sage was incredible. And let’s not forget the way he looks out for Sean. My heart? Shattered in the best way.

The sibling bond between Sage and Sean? So raw and real, it made me tear up more than once. The found family dynamic? It hit so hard I’m still recovering. And that slow burn? TORTURE in the most delicious, can’t-put-it-down way. Every glance, every moment, every step they took closer to each other had me screaming internally (and maybe externally too).

Tropes to tempt you: fake dating, hockey player x ballerina, SLOW BURN, found family, emotional healing, and sibling bonds that will absolutely destroy you in the best way. Seriously, January 28 can’t come fast enough. Pre-order it, mark your calendars, and get ready to have your heart stolen because this book is IT.

I'm a sucker for ballet books, and hockey romances are always fun, so this should have been a huge pick for me. It wasn't bad. The characters were interesting, the writing was good... but there were a few things that didn't totally work for me. First, I'm notsure the author actually knows much about ballet. It's not a huge part of the story, so it's not a huge deal. The FMC is very self sufficiant. So much so that she won't accept help from anyone ever. Especially not the uncle who has been trying to support her since she was a parentless teenager. The uncle who show up to every dance recital, loves her unconditionally, and also (!?) hates her boyfriend and is a complete dick about it. The MMC is a hockey player who is in a slump, who takes a vow of celebacy after getting blackmaled after his first sexual experiance as a teen. He's also really good at flirting and is a sex god.

If you want a quick read romance and don't mind suspending some disbelief, you'll probably enjoy this one.

I read collide earlier this year and liked it but I really loved Spiral!
Something that always makes a romance book stand out to me is the tension and whew this was a slow burn filled with so. much. tension.
I also really enjoyed Sage and Elias and the ways that they grew throughout the book.
Their issues felt relatable and realistic and their love was just so precious.
I had a really good time reading this one and can't wait for the next book!

Personally, this wasn't my favorite novel. I do like Bal's work but this one fell flat for me. Nothing stood out or made me want to keep reading but it was sweet. I would love to hear Kian's story!

4.5 stars ★
⟶ collide was nothingg compared to this cutesy perfection of a book <33

🫶🏼 “Let’s go home,” she whispers into the crook of my neck. I nod, but she doesn’t know that im already there.” 🫶🏼

when I started this book, with low expectations bc unfortunately collide disappointed, i did not expect to see the most thoughtful man in the world with the purest kindest heart on the planet. they truly exceeded all my expectations and raised all my standards.

💌 plot 💌

elias westbrook has been having a rough time adjusting to the fame at the nhl, being a rookie. anytime he’s captured in the press with a woman, the tabloids go crazy. calling him a playboy, harassing him with unwanted attention— and even sending death threats and hate towards any woman he’s seen with. to make matters worse, he still hasn’t scored his first career goal, which only earns him even worse press. fans begin to doubt his capabilities, calling him unworthy of a role in the NHL.

sage beaumont, niece of NHL coach marcus beaumont, is also having a dilemma in her career. as a ballerina, her biggest dream is to have a role in the production of swan lake. but when she goes to audition they turn her down— not due to her lack of dance capabilities but rather her low following on social media. as it turns out, the studio focuses on people that can advertise their production well through socials, more than their ability to dance and perform.

so when sage and elias cross paths, they strike a deal to fake date— this will allow the media to stop commenting on his relationship status and respect his privacy, and also gives sage the attention she needs to gain a following on social media. it’s a foolproof plan. until real feelings get involved..

🫂 general thoughts 🫂

sorry, that was a longer plot description than I was going for but let’s get into my thoughts!!

🩰🏒 characters. i found elias and sage to be some of the most lovable characters i’ve encountered. sage was witty, flirty, funny and incredibly confident which i adore seeing in an fmc. elias was shy, reserved, gentle. for a hockey player it was quite refreshing to see portrayal of someone who’s not all cocky and arrogant and full of ego. they matched perfectly and i found myself highlighting basically every page bc it was so funny and sweet. love them <3 soooo much better than book 1.

💞💐 tropes. this book has it allllll. all my fav tropes crammed into one: fake dating, shy mmc x confident fmc, nightmare trope, forced proximity, slowburn-ish, found family. everything one can ask for, in a SINGLE BOOK. that’s just amazing.

🧸 conclusion 🧸

i wouldn’t wanna bore anyone, so i’ll stop here though i really could go on and on about this book. pls read it when it comes out— and if you do, spam me ALL your thoughts. it’s all i wish for <3

thank you to netgalley and berkley publishing group for this arc in exchange for an honest review!!

i reallllly liked this but I spent a decent chunk of it laughing bc of all the Toronto references and this is no fault of the author and laughing at how they were actual Stanley Cup contenders

anyway - the dynamic between Elias and Sage was really sweet, I loved that he supported her goals the same way. Also LOVED the family dynamics. I think my only gripe with this is that the third act felt a little rushed.

thanks NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

He was a top draft pick and is currently playing for Toronto. As far as everyone can tell he’s living the dream. The media isn’t a big fan of his performance and the pressure is getting to him. One day he runs into Sage, an aspiring ballerina but her lack of popularity puts her at a major disadvantage. Fake dating is the perfect solution to both of their problems. Before things spiral out of control they have to decide if they’re willing to take the leap together.

This is one of if not my favorite hockey romances novel and that’s saying something because I’ve read quite a few. The characters have a lot of depth and relatable struggles. Watching them being vulnerable and opening up to one another made me emotional. Elias is the most caring, sensitive and giving man ever. One of my new favorite book boyfriends.

The forced proximity and Elias vow of celibacy makes for an incredible slow burn romance. The tension between them is ridiculous. Couple goals!!

It’s an incredible novel however it could’ve been a bit shorter but that’s just me being nitpicky.

This is the perfect book for hockey romance girlies. If you’re not the biggest fan of slow burn this will change your mind. Keep an eye out for this one, it’ll be out early 2025.

Read this is you like
❄️Hockey romance
🔥Slow burn
💜Opposites attract
💫Fake dating

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me access to an ARC of Off the Ice #2: Spiral.

Here we follow Eli (hockey player who has many assists but no goal of his own yet and also has been spun as a "bad boy" by the media) and Sage (ballerina who is losing out on dream roles despite being talented because she doesn't have a large social media following). They decide to fake date to solve each other's problems: if Eli is in a relationship, the media will leave him alone and if Sage is seen in a famous athlete's SM posts, her following will grow opening doors for her.

STRENGTHS
- I appreciate that Sage has struggled with ED thoughts in the past, but isn't currently struggling with her body/weight on page
- I enjoyed the chemistry between Eli and Sage; I thought it was fun and really enjoyed the slow burn of them realizing they actually work well together
- the fake dating trope is a favourite of mine and the logic behind this fake relationship worked well for me; I find sometimes you push on the logic of a fake dating set up and it crumples like wet cardboard; this fake relationship to shift public appearance and advance their careers is something I can not only suspend my disbelief for, but actually buy that someone might do in our increasingly online world

WEAKNESSES
- I am deeply curious about the choice to have Sage -- a woman with (probably) Moroccan parents (at least we're told her brother looks Moroccan like her mother), who is referenced to have brown curly hair, brown skin and depicted on the cover of the book in a way to indicate she is a WOC -- have drug addict parents who abandoned her and her sibling because they are wanted criminals, being "saved" from her shitty life by a rich white athlete who just starts solving all of her financial problems (paying for her brother's medication, giving her a place to live when her apartment catches fire, etc) without once ever really addressing how race might be coming into play in terms of her auditions (or rejections for roles in ballets)
- it feels like a weird set up for a family situation with little to no nuance; the parents don't show up again once she's famous looking for money, so why not make them dead instead of wanted felon drug addicts?
- there is no critique (critique might be too much to expect of a romance)/insights offered on the intersections of race, class, education, immigrant status and the opioid epidemic and how this might lead someone to commit a crime
- I'm not sure how Khabra self identifies, but I would love to know how POC reviewers receive Sage's family set up
- also I'm just realizing now, we only really get descriptions of Sage's brother as looking Moroccan like their mother, having light brown skin and curly brown hair and I assumed that Sage looks similar to her brother Sean? (In searching the e-book for descriptions of Sage I found a few references to Eli admiring her long brown legs and noticing a blush on her brown skin)
- anyhoo, there is some racial messiness here: like race-based character nuance was attempted, but only in a very superficial way; like we could ctrl +f "brown" as a descriptor for Sage and delete it and I don't think it would impact Sage's story as it currently exists; at no point is the ballet world ever deemed racist, rather she's not getting opportunities because her social following is too small

- the ballet drama in the last few chapters with the jealous backup Swan getting her boyfriend to deliberately drop/sabotage Sage's performance was too much; that whole thing could have been edited out
- if the ending felt like it needed more drama, bring back the drug addict parents who Sage states early on she'd never be able to say "no" to letting back into her life if they happened to show up (I was fully expecting them to show up in then end, not a jealous alternate dancer)

- Elias felt tonally inconsistent: like sometimes he felt really golden retrievery and shy, others uber cocky and overstepping (like when he "surprise" started paying for Sean's meds)
- his vow of celibacy felt silly and like a somewhat weak excuse for prolonging them actually having sex; it also only applied to penetrative sex for him? Like he was fine doing things for Sage, but not allowing anything for himself, which engaging in any sexy times with another human feels like it should break the vow of celibacy? He's doing some conservative Christian level mental gymnastics of "what counts as sex?" kind of celibacy

OPPORTUNITIES
- obviously with a whole hockey team, we are set up nicely for several more books set in this space (and I'm happy to check out another book from Khabra)
- if having women of colour represented on page is important to Khabra, I'd love for there to be more nuance in their stories

THREATS
- It's been less than 48 hours since I read this book before writing this review and it's already getting hard to keep details straight; there is not much to distinguish this from any other spicy hockey romance on the market right now

Overall, I'm glad to have read Spiral. It was a fun way to spend my day off. I see potential in Khabra's writing -- I feel confident that her character development will improve over time as she continues to write. I love that she's Canadian. As a fellow Canadian it's always fun to see places I know in TO on page.

A PERFECT book. I loved Collide and I knew I was going to love this one! Elias and Sage were soft and sweet and two people working for hard to be good enough and not too much that happened to find each other and finally be able to have a person that is just for them!!! A lot of fake dating, a little slow burn with LOTS of tension!! Just two people who want to take care of the other but don’t want to need anything from anyone!! And this felt a little softer than the first because Sage and Elias were SO SOFT!!

I loved them so much. Their instant connection was so clear, but they so quickly made the rules for their fake dating but then were slowly but surely breaking all of them!! I love watching them fall in love. It was so EASY, they fit so seamlessly into each other’s lives?? And they were SO GOOD at the little things?? The flowers? The self care nights? The sugar-free cupcakes? Both of them finally be able to get good sleep together?? The tension?? Sage’s SASS!

This little found family makes my heart so happy. I loved seeing Aiden and Summer and even the hockey guys again! And Sage brought her own family into chaos. I can’t wait to see everyone again!!

The ending was SO perfect. I love a good epilogue and this was so good 😭

Thanks so much to Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A little too basic of plot and characterization for my taste. They were solid, middle of the road people with simple tropes and issues. This book was not bad by any means, but it was just nothing special. A good pick up for someone who motivates themselves and is feeling at the end of their rope - self-inspiration is something this book does very well. I also wish there was more of an element to the hockey, but the ballet inclusion was captivating and different so kudos to that.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for my advanced reader copy!

Sage and Elias were everything to me. Sage, the ballerina and guardian to her little brother who refused to accept help from anyone after her parents left them. And Elias, the hockey rookie who the media absolutely will not leave alone, searching for his first goal and a sense of privacy in his personal life so he can get his professional life back on track.

Everything about these two was perfection. The way they each became safe spaces for the other. Honestly, the fake dating never once felt fake, but I loved how it gave them a reason to come together in a way they wouldn’t have otherwise. The found family was amazing.

I adored the glimpses of Aiden and Summer again, and I’m ready for whoever is next! Highly recommend.

3 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A rookie hockey player and an aspiring ballerina team up in a fake-dating scheme to navigate fame and ambition. Elias Westbrook, under pressure to prove himself on the ice, needs a distraction from the relentless spotlight. Sage Beaumont, aiming for her big break in ballet, hopes their arrangement will boost her visibility. But as their chemistry ignites, the lines between fake and real blur, forcing them to decide if they’re ready to risk it all for love.

This was sweet. Eli and Sage are both endearing characters, and it was refreshing to see a ballerina take center stage. (<< lol that was an accident.) The celibacy subplot felt a bit... dramatic at times—can we talk about what actually constitutes celibacy? Because I’m not sure this was it. That said, I can’t complain too much because the tension it created was super sexy, even if it wasn’t entirely convincing.