Say the word Hockey Romance and I am there! Hockey player x ballerina with a fake dating trope—complete with a strict no-PDA rule and the ultimate promise that they absolutely cannot fall in love. What made this story truly shine for me was the slow burn and the intense tension that came with their forced proximity. Elias and Sage carried so much emotional depth, and watching them gradually open up to each other was adorable. Their vulnerability, their past struggles, and the way they found solace in one another made every moment between them feel raw and real.
I’ve read my fair share of fake dating tropes and that ever-present question—"Is this real, or is this still fake?"—was handled beautifully here. The transition was seamless; you could truly see the lines begin to blur. And Eli? The way he respected Sage’s boundaries from the very start, the way he really tried to follow the rules… but, of course, rules are meant to be broken.

A huge thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy!

I fear I am very conflicted. I wanted to read Spiral and give Bal Khabra another shot after I disliked her debut. However, there were so many details in this book that stuck out like a sore thumb.

First, we're told he's painted as a play boy by the media, but he has only been spotted once with one woman?? Who worked for the hockey team anyways?? Then later we're told the media thinks of him as a sweet guy with a heart of gold... So which one is it in the media? Playboy millionaire nepo baby? Or heart of gold?

Also... Does not scoring actually, like truly, pose as a reason to kick him off the team? Considering he is constantly playing well with assists? I wish I could ask a hockey person this. Does not scoring during a season, DESPITE playing well and gaining many assists truly pose as a real reason to remove a rookie from the team?

His piercing gave me the ick. I'm sorry 😭

Also - how did miss girl not get in trouble for burning her apartment to ash?? At one point she mentions not having insurance, and another mentions having renters insurance. Then, early in the story mentions having a broken stove that she won't ask her landlord to fix because they'd make her pay for it. But, then she didn't have to pay to have her apartment fixed and cleaned after it got super burnt?

I did like parts of it but these things stood out like a sore thumb and I couldn't get them out of my mind.

First, special thank you to Berkley Pub for the ARC. I literally was shocked since I always get denied by this publishing group.
As for Spiral- a fake dating/ friends turn to lovers trope with competitive and talented characters. Eli is a hockey player and Sage is a ballerina. Both are physically disciplined, mentally determined in each of their passion. I love the first part of their relationship. The interaction was fun, witty and entertaining. When it unfolded, it got predictable and rushed and a little bit boring. It was a fast read, feel good and easy liked book. There is apparently more in the series from this author but each can be read as a stand which is a plus!

This was such a fun, banter-filled, romantic new hockey romance! Love the dancer/athlete dynamic, the closeness this pair develops, and the evolution of their romance.

I'll be honest, this was not what I wanted out of this book. I got about halfway through before DNFing it. I did not like it. The romance felt very forced and not at all genuine and the characters fell really flat. I wanted more from this book. But I didn't get it, unfortunately.

I thought this book was really cute!! I enjoyed the chemistry and dialogue between both of the characters, and I felt like Sage and Elias were both very relatable. I adore Sage and how determined she is about everything in life. And I love Elias for recognizing everything Sage needed. Personally, I just wish there was more of a smooth storyline. The chemistry was definitely there, but the story itself felt choppy. It didn't feel super organized. If the story had flowed better, I would have definitely given it a higher rating because I really liked the emotional depth.

Sadly missed the date to download before it was archived but loved the first book in the series!! Will hopefully either buy or borrow a copy!

This was pretty cute! Sage and Elias unfiltered was a cute way to put it!

Some parts made me pause and not care for how they were written. Two parts in particular felt a bit icky to me, but they’re pretty quick moments.

Thank you Berkeley for the ARC!

Spiral was a great second book in the Off the Ice series by Bal Khabra. I really enjoyed Sage and Eli's story and getting to see all the characters from the first book as well.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

As much as I adored Collide, Spiral somehow made me fall even more in love with these characters and Bal Khabra's writing. Watching strong female characters find love and be allowed to be themselves is so beautiful to watch.

I thought the pacing of this story was great, and nothing felt rushed or too drawn out. These two didn't fake it for a single second!

The chemistry between Bal Khabra's characters is always so believable, and it never feels like there's too much insta-love going on. The connections are authentic and make the stories so heartfelt.

Overall, an amazing read and I will be adding anything and everything this author writes to my TBR immediately!!

This was soo cute! I love how this series feels like a comfort. Seeing these two together are perfect and the tension is just soo delicious! I loved every minute.

ok this was a very complex fake dating trope AND I LOVED IT. starting it off with an auction that Sage saved him from being taken by a stalker fan was such a good way to have them introduced. plus the fact that her uncle was the GM and hated Eli was so funny. (also I love the name Sage, it's so earthy and unique) I like that they did have initial attraction, but then he was an idiot so there was tension built up for when they were "forced" to fake date. AND you add forced proximity on top of all that? I can't believe they held out for so long. I admire the patience and self-control. But I really loved how Eli and Sage helped balance each other. They both really needed someone to take of them, and I'm really happy they were able to do that for each other.

Sports romance has never steered me wrong and this book is no exception to that. Spiral was a pleasant read with two great characters and an equally great plot. I loved the dynamic between Elias and Sage. Grumpy/sunshine is always fun to read. What makes a book great is the development of the characters. Sage was a compelling character for me. She wasn’t just a sunshine character, there was more to her which I loved. Elias was also perfect. Portrayed as a playboy but the reality was shocking. Spiral was an enjoyable read and I can’t wait to read more by this author.

Fake dating but OH NO they have to live together?? 🔥🔥🔥I ate this one up. I listened to the audiobook and both narrators were incredible.

I don’t feel like I’ve been seeing a ton about this book, but I ADORED it. If you like a man with emotional intelligence, who wants to spoil his love interest, and who has an amazing friend group, I think you will love this!

Sage is struggling to make ends meet, and is frustrated that the ballet world keeps casting people with large social media followings. Elias needs a fake girlfriend so maybe his fans - and the press - will give him some space. They meet at a dating auction, where Elias’s best friend convinces Sage to bid for Elias to save him from a slightly stalkerish fan. Eventually, they come up with a mutually beneficial fake dating plan.

Pick this one up if you love:
💖 fake dating
💖 forced proximity
💖 hockey romance
💖 ballerina FMC
💖 good girl / player

I loved both Sage and Elias so much, and loved watching them fall in love!

My one complaint is that this book centered around Swan Lake, and during Sage’s audition it talked about her completing the “grande finale” of the black swan dance with a grande jete, but that choreography famously ends with a series of fouettes. She also said they were doing a version where the Swan Queen and Prince live so maybe the choreography is different for that one. If someone knows, please tell me. I absolutely adored the rest of the book, I just needed to nerd out for a minute.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Spiral by Bal Khabra!

I just finished *Spiral* by Bal Khabra, and wow, this book truly blew me away. The pacing was impeccable from the first page, and I found myself completely immersed in the twists and turns of the story. Khabra has a talent for blending suspense, mystery, and complex character development in a way that keeps you guessing until the very end.

What I loved most about *Spiral* was the depth of the characters. The psychological elements of the story were executed so well that it was hard not to get lost in their minds. Each character felt real, flawed, and unpredictable, which made every chapter feel like a fresh new ride.

The atmosphere Khabra builds is thick with tension, and the writing style is incredibly gripping. It’s one of those books that you just can’t put down, and when you finally do, you're left thinking about it long after the last page. The ending? Absolutely wild—no spoilers here, but I didn't see it coming!

A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the ARC of *Spiral*. It was an incredible read, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to dive into it early.

For more of my thoughts on this book, be sure to check out my review on my YouTube channel here: [Kiana Lashay](https://www.youtube.com/@KianaLashay1). Don't forget to subscribe for more bookish content and reviews!

Spiral follows Elias (Eli) Westbrook, a rookie hockey player for the Toronto Thunder. Eli is navigating the challenges of fame and media scrutiny and has already grown tired of the spotlight. especially since the tabloids are making it their mission to imply that Elias is more interested in women than he is in playing hockey.

Sage Beaumont is a ballerina who dreams of joining the Aurora Ballet Theatre and dancing the lead in Swan Lake. She is dismayed to learn that her lack of a social media following online is proving to be her biggest obstacle to making her dream come true. While attending a charity auction, she does a friend a favor and bids on handsome hockey player, Eli Westbrook. Sage and Eli hit it off and realize they can help each other out and decide to fake date. Dating a superstar hockey player will give Sage the publicity she needs, while dating Sage should help take the pressure off Eli so he can focus on scoring his first career goal.

Sage is such an easy character to root for. Not only is she trying to follow her dreams, but she is also a parental figure to her brother. She’s strong and independent, but also has a hint of vulnerability. I loved how Elias becomes so supportive of her, even as he’s dealing with his own issues, particularly getting stuck in his own head and overthinking every time he’s on the ice, and how Sage reciprocates that support to try to help him. I just loved how Khabra wrote this aspect of their growing relationship.

This is also a spicy romance, but it’s a slow burn with lots of sexual tension since these two are trying to keep to the terms of their agreement. Once the spice hits though, it’s everything I could have hoped for.

Spiral by Bal Khabra is an absolutely captivating, beautifully emotional & refreshing fake dating of a sports romance between a professional hockey player & a ballerina.

This is already going to be one of my favorite books of the year. I highly recommend giving this author a read!

This is book #2 in Off the Ice series. It is the first book I’ve read by this author & can easily be read as a standalone. However, I loved this so much that I want to go back & read the first one ASAP!

Spiral is great for those looking to read…
💜 Sports Romance
💜 Pro HockeyPlayer x Ballet Dancer
💜 Fake Dating

This has a really interesting & fresh take on the sports romance. I love the combination of incredibly talented professionals of very different athletic pursuits & points in their careers. They both had so much personal history, multi-faceted stories with difficulties to overcome. I love the connection of the heroine & her brother. I also appreciated the two main characters’ wonderful authentic selves, both separately & together & the chemistry they brought, which spiraled off the page.

This author is now going on my list of I cannot wait to read more & I really hope this series continues.

Massive thanks to NetGalley & Berkley for the gifted copy, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.

"There's nothing I wouldn't do to make you believe you're worth every bit of worry and care"

I loved how elias was the ultimate acts of service boyfriend which goes great with eldest daughter! I think there dynamic was really sweet and elias def won me over. I loved seeing sage go for her dreams and learn more about herself.

I really liked this hockey/ballet romance. Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes, and this was well done. I loved both Eli and Sage, and thought that both characters were well rounded. Both brought baggage to the relationship, and both dealt with it in a healthy way.

As someone who took ballet when I was younger, I especially loved Sage’s POV. When she was burning the tips of her pointe shoes, I felt that. But I also enjoyed Eli’s POV working through his issues as a rookie trying to score his first goal.

This was a cute romance that I enjoyed. And the epilogue made me cry happy tears. I definitely recommend this to fans of sports romance and fake dating.