This was a very okay read. It was super quick and easy to read, and if you enjoyed the first book in this series, I think it's absolutely worth continuing. I had an okay time with the first book earlier this year, and I definitely preferred that one to this one. I think I'm learning sports romances just aren't my thing (I'm sure there'll be some exceptions but I am yet to find any), and this series won't be one I continue.

The couple was cute enough and the characters were alright to me. I really did not like the MMC trying to act all tough-guy/possessive. That was a major ick. And I really hated the contrived relationship problems that having sex solved somehow. I'm feeling like if it was as simple as that in a spicy romance book, it probably didn't need to be a thing to begin with and just made it weird to me.

2.75 stars rounded up.

Thank you very much to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 💜

5/5⭐️

arc review!

“Because I know no matter where I am, I’ll always be home as long as I have her..”

this book follows eli, a new rookie for the hockey team, Toronto Thunder, who is facing some challenges with fame and the media, as well as struggling to make his first career goal, and all he wants to do is escape the spotlight. after one night at a organization event, he meets sage, an aspiring ballerina with dreams of joining the Nova Ballet Theatre, but due to her lack of popularity and social media presence, she’s at a disadvantage at securing a lead role. soon enough, eli and sage strike a deal to fake date, but the rules they made may be easier to break…

wow. this book was truly so amazing. i was so excited when i received the arc for this because i really loved the first book collide, and when i saw this book come out and saw that one of my favourite tropes, faking dating was in it, i knew i HAD to read, and it did not disappoint. i really loved every aspect of this book, and every moment was intriguing to read. i loved how much not only sage and eli’s relationship had grown throughout this book, but also how much they grew individually because of each other. i really loved seeing the found family throughout this book be even stronger than the first one. AND ELI, SORRY ELIAS?? he is that MAN. because the way he treated sage, i’m sorry i need him in my life rn please, where can i find him?!? to all the girls who love acts of service men, this book is FOR YOU. overall, an amazing read and definitely recommend!!

I loved everything about this book! Hockey and fake dating? Check—count me in.

When fake dating a ballerina turns into real feelings, you know you’re in for a great ride. Elias and Sage are both stuck in tough situations and need a way out. Sage helps Elias deal with an obsessed puck bunny, while Elias helps Sage build her social media platform. What better way to do that than by fake dating the newest pro hockey star?

The connection between these two is undeniable right from the start. It wasn’t forced—it felt so genuine. This was an emotional read that had me laughing, crying, and completely immersed in the story. I couldn’t put it down!

this took me a minute to get into but once i did, i was eating it up. was this a particularly life-changing book but i had fun. and me having fun is really one of the most important parts for me okay

Hockey player x ballerina with fake dating... SIGN ME UP!!! It’s actually a crime that this is one of my top romance reads this year and it doesn’t even release until Jan 2025!! I don’t even know where to begin on what I loved the most!!! There was so much vulnerability between Elias and Sage, the pair of them having gone through so much and opening up to one another had me in my feelings

I LOVE THEM YOUR HONOUR!

Sage was amazing but that was it for me. Elias wasn’t my fav and i couldn’t see their chemistry. Sage is that girl tho!

Oh I loved Elias and Sage so much. I was swooning over every interaction and I absolutely loved how they brought the best out of each other. The tension was everything and seeing Sage being taken care of after everything she’s been through was such a treat.

I was not the biggest fan of collided but I LOVED spiral!
I will say the last maybe 20% felt a little boring because it felt like filler but I still really enjoyed it!
I love the fake dating trope, and this was pretty spicy!!

Ugh!! I immediately fell in love with Sage and Elias in story which I have never done this quickly before! Sage’s story of her life of struggle and strength was beautiful and paired with her being a ballerina was perfection! Elias’ superstar hockey life paired with his personal issues was a match made in heaven as well. I always love a fake dating story, but this one was much more to me than that! I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but I will say it’s adorable, heart wrenching, beautiful, spicy and a 5 star read all in one! I am now obsessed with Bal Khabra’s words!

Spiral is a delightful fake-dating sports romance that twirls its way into your heart with charm, chemistry, and just the right amount of drama. The pairing of a rookie hockey player and an aspiring ballerina may sound unlikely, but this opposites-attract duo makes for an irresistible love story that hits all the right beats—on and off the ice.
Elias Westbrook, the newly drafted hockey star, is dealing with the pressures of fame, an unforgiving media spotlight, and the mounting stress of scoring his first big goal. Meanwhile, Sage Beaumont is on pointe, quite literally, as she chases her dream of becoming the lead ballerina at the prestigious Aurora Ballet Theatre. The catch? She’s struggling with the rise of social media popularity that seems to determine who gets the spotlight.
Enter the fake dating scheme. It’s the perfect solution for both Elias and Sage: Elias gets to keep the tabloids off his back, and Sage gets the public attention she needs to land her big break. But as their fake relationship starts to blur into something real, the chemistry between them becomes impossible to deny. The author masterfully builds the tension between these two, and their sizzling connection jumps off the page. Watching their walls come down and their relationship spiral (pun intended) from staged encounters to genuine affection is both heartwarming and addictive.
Sage and Elias are refreshingly layered characters. Sage is ambitious and determined, using every ounce of her strength and grace to chase her dreams in a world that’s all about optics. Elias, on the other hand, is struggling with his newfound fame, and his vulnerability adds depth to his character beyond the typical jock persona. Together, they balance each other perfectly—Sage’s grounded yet passionate outlook complements Elias’s quieter, more reserved nature. Their banter is fun, their chemistry is undeniable, and their individual journeys are as compelling as their romantic one.
While the fake-dating trope is familiar, Spiral spins it in a fresh way by blending two very different worlds—sports and ballet—seamlessly. The author's attention to both the physicality of hockey and the artistry of ballet makes the setting feel vivid and real, and you’ll find yourself rooting for both characters to succeed not just in love but in their careers, too.
The only reason this isn’t a five-star read? Some of the secondary characters and plotlines could have used a bit more depth. There were moments where I wished the narrative spent more time on Elias’s internal struggles or Sage’s rivalry within the ballet company. However, these are small critiques in what is otherwise a thoroughly entertaining, feel-good romance.
Overall, Spiral delivers a perfect pirouette of passion, personal growth, and swoon-worthy romance. Whether you’re a fan of hockey, ballet, or just love a good fake-dating trope, this book has something for everyone. Prepare to fall in love with Elias and Sage as they navigate the spotlight, their careers, and—most importantly—their feelings for each other.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Hockey Player x Ballerina sign me up immediately. It was great to see the relationship develop and how much they opened up to each other. I love a good forced proximity and tis book delivered on the angst.

I liked this one enough to immediately buy book one in this series of standalones. A ballerina struggling to make ends meet as she faces constant professional rejection and a hockey player with an unearned bad boy reputation team up to fake date. The ballerina hopes to boost her social media presence enough to impact her professional career while the hockey player just wants to clean up his image. Of course they fall in love. Overall, cute read.

4.5/5 ✨

There’s something about an eldest daughter book that is always going to hit for me 🥹 I love a FMC that constantly takes care of everyone around her and finally gets to have someone who takes care of her. (And someone who also knows when to give her space to process 🥲)

Sage and Elias had such a genuine connection and friendship between them that you could feel it in every interaction. I loved getting to watch them fall in love and learn how to communicate / be in a relationship together. The encouragement of their dreams GAH. This is such a feel good read. I mean don’t get me wrong, there are definitely some emotional moments that lowkey wrecked me. BUT overall, you just feel so happy by the end of this book

ALSO I am a sucker for a fake dating trope, and let me tell you, this one felt so genuine. There are so many moving parts surrounding both characters that deciding to be together (for real) was so much more than just a simple ask. there are hard conversations and things they have to work through that make them being in a real relationship that much sweeter 🥲

There are just so many moments from this book that I highlighted and loved, and I can’t wait for everyone to read this book 🥹 (I also feel like this is a review that I will probably have to come back and update as I continue to process this book because that’s how much I love it.)

Thank you Bal and Berkley for this advanced review copy of Spiral 🤍

That’s it, I’m officially a Bal Khabra super fan. I loved Collide and was so excited to get my hands on Spiral - there was certainly no sophomore slump here! I am a sucker for hockey romance and while some are a dime a dozen, Khabra’s truly are a standout for me - real, raw and emotional while still being swoony. I hope this series has many more books forthcoming!

Absolutely loved this book! Sage is so sweet, relatable, and works so hard to make it in her industry. She’s funny and so confident in who she is. Elias!! 🥹 He’s so caring, strong, and is a character that was written with such depth that didn’t make his entire personality about hockey. I related to him a little more given his fear of change and being unwilling to disappoint others.

Their relationship from the start was so wonderful. He did whatever he had to do for her. He was willing to drive to her immediately not even knowing what was going on 💞💞 Imagine!! The found family in this book was also so comforting and sweet 🥹 The storyline, the romance, the charm 🤌🏼 One of my favorite reads this year!

This was cute! I haven't read anything from Bal before but I enjoyed this. The hockey x ballerina trope was well done without being too sports heavy. I thought it was a perfect blend of romance while highlighting on both sports. Sage & Eli were great together and I loved their chemistry. The fake-dating trope was done really well here and I loved seeing their relationship bloom. I think a lot of people will really like this one.

My favorite aspect of this book was most definitely the characterization; both Elias and Sage are so open and vulnerable with each other, making their slow-burn relationship that much more realistic and heartwarming.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Loves this. Fake dating. Deep character development. Estranged family drama. Hockey romance
The sex scenes were very lack luster. I would say 1/5 chili peppers. But fans of Icebreaker will definitely love

I liked this one more than Collide, which I didn't expect to. I have never read about a celibate character before, but I found myself connecting deeper with the romance because of this, maybe because I am demisexual. It was very nice to read this relationship forming without the aspect of sex even if the attraction is clearly there. I also think this will appeal to the slow burn lovers. There is also fake dating trope

I loved Bal Khabras first book but I just knew this one was going to be ABSOLUTELY everything and I was right. This had me in my feels. It was emotional, funny, and sooooo cute. I’m literally obsessed and need more right now .