This book was one of my favorite reads of 2024! I read spiral and 40% through realized I loved Bals writing so much that I needed the next book and immediately requested it. I read spiral in one sitting. I’ve been in such a hockey romance slump but this renewed my love for sports romances. The fake dating tension? Phenomenal. I loved the added aspect that Eli’s trauma added to the equation. Bal did such an amazing job with his character and I loved him so so much. And Sage?? I felt so connected to here while reading this. She deserved the whole world and I just wanted to see her accomplish all of her dreams and be happy–and Eli’s love for her?? She deserved that so much. His taking care of her made my heart MELT. Their chemistry was so good and they were one of those book couples that I believe could’ve survived anything. Their ending was absolutely perfect as well! I thought the epilogue was done so so well and it was everything I could have hoped for for these characters. Bal Khabra is on my auto buy author list forever!!💜

A Ballerina and a Hockey Player, what a huge SLAY.
I really enjoyed this book- the SLOW burn was torturous at times, but absolutely iconic.
Sage and Eli were both such complicated characters that watching them learn to trust each other was heartfelt, I was rooting for them both from the first page.
If you love:
-Fake Dating
-Slow Burn
-Forced Proximity
You will LOVE this book. It had everything.
I have to say, I really loved Elias, but my heart was for Sage. I loved her character and her sense of humour- she felt really real and relatable as she navigated achieving her dreams.
In this era of sports romance that we are all currently living- I highly recommend Spiral.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️
First thank you to NetGalley for sending me this arc I was beyond excited and I am so thankful I had the opportunity to read this. 🩷
I seriously ateeeee this book up, it had me hooked from the first chapter. I was giggling and kicking my feet the entire time. Hockey books + Fake dating=Perfection. The slow burn was BURNINGGGG and the forced proximity made it even better. The banter and chemistry was there from the beginning, but the deeper connection they built is what really had me connecting to the characters. Elias was such a sweet, kind, caring and insanely hot man, everything you could ask for honesty. Sage was so selfless and hilarious I felt like we could really be best friends. Overall I really loved this book and can’t wait to get a physical copy when it comes out.

3.5 stars

It was hard not to compare this book to Collide. Mostly, the pacing felt off and it kept me from feeling the development of the characters and their relationship to one another. There were also moments that felt unnecessary, like the sabotage attempt during opening night. Also Owen’s character as a whole. He felt set up in the first third to play a bigger role than he did, but then he just fizzled out. And Elias’s dad passing out on stage also just felt too easy. I think some things needed more time and development.
All that being said, I absolutely loved seeing Aiden and Summer again. And I loved that Sage found a friend in Summer. Would have loved more moments between the two of them.
Regardless of my overall thoughts, this won’t deter me from recommending this book to others because it was a good time. And I look forward to Dylan andKian’s books!

I LOVED the first book in this series but this one fell short, I liked these characters when they were just side characters of the first one. Now that they are at the forefront I was a little disappointed with how their story was laid out.
This book was good but I feel I just didn't like that characters or their relationship, I wanted to love it and to connect with them but I couldn't. It just felt as though there was nothing to connect to. There was nothing wrong with the writing I love this authors books and writing. I hope that if there is a next book in this series I love it as much as the first, or more than this one.

P e r f e c t i o n 🥹

EVERYTHING I want in a sports romance with added twists & turns. It has SUBSTANCE.

The characters & their developments were amazing.

The slow burn + spice 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨 let’s just say they’ve got that 🎶BED CHEM🎶

I loved the communication.
The FOUND FAMILY.
Elias’ whole situation was a pleasant take on the hot shot rookie hockey player (when you know, you know)

I loved reading about ballet as well.

Just an overall beautiful story.
My new fave sports Romance 🏒🩰

listen….as a person who DNF collide, I was hesitant to read this BUT I freaking adore this book so much! It’s making me want to give collide another chance.

as soon as I started it, I literally couldn’t put it down.

Eli is literally the sweetest character ever. He deserves the world.
Sage is such a hardworking & caring person. I really liked her character.

Their chemistry was literally everything. I was here for their banter. Was it a slow burn? Yes but I ate every little crumb they left.

I wish I could say more but just know this book gave everything I wanted and more. Once this releases, you’ll find me at the bookstore.

Thank you Netgalley & Berkley Publishing Group for this arc.

Read this if you like :

- ballerina x hockey player
- fake dating
- forced proximity
- dual pov

3.5 ⭐️

I enjoyed this quite a bit, but I was hoping to like it more than I did. It's a super easy read, highly bingeable, full of tender moments, humor, emotions, and an acts of service MMC — which happen to be my favorite! (he also happens to be very Ryan Shay coded.)

I really liked both Sage and Elias! I connected so much to Sage and how she is a ballerina and has the weight of the world on her shoulders being an older sister. Also, I really enjoyed how she was a different kind of people pleaser. Elias was TOO DIE FORRR he is for sure the highlight of the book for me. I love how much of a constant he was for Sage and how he showed her what she deserved, even in the moments she felt like she didn't. <b> In a world of boys he's a gentleman </b>

I do feel that at some points the tropes just took over the story and it became a book around tropes instead of a plot situation. There were also moments that reminded me too much of The Right Move, which is, for me, both a good and a bad thing.

Overall I do recommend! It's easy to follow, likeable characters, forced proximity, and piercings. Do with that what you will!

tysm to Berkley & Netgalley for the ARC!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the Arc copy in exchange for honest review!

4 stars

When I tell you I devoured this book!!! BABY!!! This book was good!! Took me right out of my reading slump and I could not put it down! Despite being busy, You better believe I squeezed in a time to dive back into this book!

I am a sucker for fake dating so of course I love the story. Ms. Bal knows how to write a good sport romance without making it sound too much (I am not a sport girly, sorry!) so I tend to get bored if the story goes to much into sport, I need the dummy version. However with this story, I didn’t not feel lost or bored but happy to be along for the ride of Sage and Elias romance shenanigan!

This book delivers all the goods:

🤍 Fake dating that will hook you right away
🤍 A sports romance that strikes the perfect balance
🤍 A smart, driven female lead you’ll root for
🤍 Rich guy/poor girl dynamic with sizzling chemistry

If you’re a fan of any of these tropes, this book is a must-read!

Thank you again NetGalley and Berkley!

I enjoyed Spiral a lot better than Collide. In Spiral I really enjoyed the characters so much and the pacing of the story flowed really well. Overall it's a cute romcom.

It the first book hadn't convinced me, Spiral was a really great read. I started out reluctant, and ended up moved, so I'd say it was a successful gamble!
I was absolutely hooked on Sage from the very first chapters. She's a people pleaser. She puts the happiness of those closest to her, who are a very small circle, before her own happiness. Despite rejections and setbacks, she doesn't back down from her dream of being a ballerina; on the contrary, she's determined, and I found that very realistic.
She was used to not showing her emotions as a child so now she's unfiltered, if she has to cry she doesn't hide, if she flirts she goes all out. In short, she's great.
It took me longer to get attached to Elias. I found it hard to grasp his tears and reactions at first, but as he let Sage in, I let him in and then adored him. If I had to give his language of love, l'd say words of appreciation and act of services.
He did a wonderful job of soothing Sage, where she allowed him to let go.
It was a real good slow burn and their fake dating was written to pertection!
It comes out in early 2025, and I recommend it, whether you want to read the first book or not!

Just like Bal Khabra's first book, I absolutely loved Spiral. I love a good hockey romance and this one did not disappoint! I loved Sage and Eli and their relationship and chemistry. I was wishing them both the best throughout the whole book. They are both such strong characters, together and apart.

Hockey romances are all the rage these days, and I am fully here for it! Our two leads in this were strong, struggling characters in their own right which I can appreciate. Both Elias and Sage felt fully fleshed out and like their own people outside of their budding relationship, but then blossomed even further when they were together. As a chronic people pleaser, I really enjoyed watching Sage have someone step in and do things for her, and love her completely. I wish we had gotten more time to just spend around the two of them but overall I did enjoy this one!

spiral really is THAT girl. sage and eli are absolutely everything to me i want to give them both a hug. they’re such relatable characters who deserve everything and more. sage is also HILARIOUS.

thank you bal khabra & berkley for the arc! <3

i really really was liking this for like the first 70% of the book! sage and eli had such amazing chemistry and their story was genuinely so much fun! sage’s humor was perfect and her story as a whole felt so special to watch. truly loved seeing her grow and open up and find people to love (and let love her)! and elias elias elias!!! the thoughtful gentle baby boy that you are wow!!!!! i was rooting for him (with sage and also just in general) so so hard. truly adored them so much!

i unfortunately just felt like the last 30ish% of the book just really dragged. i was genuinely confused why they weren’t actually together when they so clearly both were very obvious about not wanting to fake it anymore?
the third act conflict was a little frustrating to watch, i do just hate! when a man thinks he knows best and tries to make decisions for the both of them (literally elias’ only flaw i’ll just pretend that didn’t happen i guess).
and the last 15% felt kinda pointless? i’m not sure? i really loved getting so see sage’s hard work pay off but all the drama that surrounded it felt unnecessary or just paced very weird.
(also the epilogue and everything that happened felt very sudden! i know everyone is on their own timelines but i think maybe 5 years instead of 3 might have been less jarring.)
(ok one more thing. i can’t stop thinking about that “i’m off to space on my little rocket ship” comment. and not in a good way. sorry. why????)

overall a super bingebale, fun, cutesy, hockey romance that i did genuinely enjoy! and would totally recommend!!!!

**thank you so much to Berkley and NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review!!**

4.7 ⭐️

A little note- ✧.*

I was lucky enough to receive this ARC of Spiral on NetGalley, I’m so thankful to Berkeley romance and NetGalley for the opportunity. This book was one of my most anticipated reads in 2025 and it truly lived up to my expectations. Bal Khabra delivers beautifully written stories for every reader to enjoy. I have always loved hockey romances and this one was so so special.💝

I can’t wait for people to fall in love with Eli & Sage, they were so sweet and I had a lovely time reading their story.

Review- ・❥・

This book felt like a warm hug to those whose love language is acts of service. I fell in love with the characters and how selfless both protagonists were to one another. The writing felt so effortless and it was beautiful written.

Elias Westbrook!!! the MAN that you are🥺 he was one of the sweetest mmc I’ve ever come across. The way he loves so deeply and just pours his heart out to every single person and thing he does made me feel so lucky to read his story. The way he cares for Sage is so beautiful and I just loved every scene they had together. One of my favorite lines he delivers is towards the end of Chapter 14 and it just shows you what kind of person he is. He has such a BIG heart!!! And him being hot and super tall and a hockey player is a big bonus as well…

Sage Beaumont was so lovely!!! She reminds me of the song mirrorball by Taylor Swift, she’s a character that does so much for others but doesn’t realize how deserving she is of having others love and take care of her. Sage has a very difficult life but she’s a fighter and a perfect example of overcoming difficulties to follow what you love. We see a selfless fmc, a great sister and an amazing niece. She is everything and more. I really loved that she was a ballerina and overcame so many fears and insecurities throughout the novel. She was SO deserving of being truly loved and taken care of, I’m so happy she got a happy ending!!

This story was truly filled with love, gratitude and found family. If you loved Collide by Bal, you should definitely read this book since we see so many past characters back and better than ever. Everyone got a cameo and my heart was SO happy!! The hockey was amazing, the spice was HOT, and most importantly the dedication “You are a light in this world, don’t waste it on those who can’t see it. Find the people who can” is the embodiment of this book. If you can’t tell I loved this book. Also the playlist was EVERYTHING. Ms. Bal Khabra you have impeccable music taste!! And of course I can’t forget the fake dating which was truly chefs kiss if I do say so myself, I don’t want to go too much into it since it’s the premise of the novel but I know every reader will LOVE IT!!

Spiral out January 28, 2025!! 💜

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If I could give this book more than 5⭐️s then I would. It might be a bit presumptuous, but I think I could my favorite book of the year and it doesn’t even officially come out until next year.
You really get to know Elias better in this book. I honestly couldn’t remember much about him from Collide. And after getting to know him I don’t know how she’ll write anything better. This man is so Ryan Shay coded… a top book boyfriend for sure.
This book had such a delicious slow burn. And I wasn’t bored for a single second. Every chapter had me wanting to dive right into the next.
And let’s have a moment for Sage. Because what an amazing FMC. Maybe it’s because I feel like I relate to her. I was obsessed with them from the very beginning. And even though this book was quite lengthy, I still didn’t feel like it was long enough.
Loved alllll the cameos from our favorite hockey boys. Tons of Aiden content.
I will be thinking of this book often and the way this man…
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this ARC (p.s. I won’t say no to a physical arc if you wanted to send one my way as well 🫶🏻)

I’m always a sucker for a hockey romance and this was no exception! I loved the chemistry between the two characters so much! Perfect winter read!

Sage Beaumont is a ballerina, and is used to rejection (but that doesn't make it hurt any less). When she misses out on a dream audition because her social media following isn't in the thousands, she's finally had enough. So when her NHL exec uncle calls for a last minute performance at an event, she agrees - bills to pay, and a teenage brother to support. Little does she know she'll be roped in to bidding on a date with hockey player Elias Westbrook, who later declares her his girlfriend to avoid the playboy rookie reputation the media claims he has. Turns out that having a fake NHL player boyfriend isn't so bad for Sage's follower count, and the two come up with rules and boundaries for their fake relationship. But when they unexpectedly become roommates, they find that rules might be meant to be broken.

💭 This was the perfect mix of sports, fine arts, emotional topics, banter, family first, and supportive friends. Sage and Elias had a lot to deal with. Elias, though brought on to the team for his scoring record, is yet to score any goals. Sage is raising her teenage brother, feels worthless and lonely, but continues to strive toward the principal ballerina role of her dreams. Their pasts, self doubt, and difficult family situations keep them from trusting each other fully and the slow burn was so perfect (and realistic). What I loved about their relationship was their ability to make each feel whole - worthy of staying, of being loved, of being trusted. I loved their self care nights, Dirty Dancing movie marathons, and Elias's cooking skills. He was an excellent boyfriend and cared about her dreams. Definitely recommend this one - releases in January!!

This was excellent! I love that it (although on a surface level) touched on the problems that stem from the current ballet atmosphere. I loved how emotional and vulnerable Elias was. I want more emotional and vulnerable male characters (in the way Elias was written, not that weird manipulative, toxic emotions that we often see from mcs). Anyway, I'm very pleased there wasn't a miscommunication trope. I'm not too fond of those.