Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Lots of graphic, erotic sex in fluffy college romance.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 16 parent reviews
Parents say the book received mixed reviews regarding its suitability for young readers, with some praising its engaging characters and plot while others expressed concern over its mature themes, particularly graphic sexual content. Many parents noted that while the book includes some explicit scenes, they are manageable for older teens, but several reviewers firmly believe it should not be recommended for preteens due to its content.
- mature themes
- explicit content
- engaging characters
- mixed reviews
- age-appropriate concerns
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 38 kid reviews
Kids say this book is a mixed bag, heavily criticized for its explicit content, making it inappropriate for younger readers, while some older teens find it enjoyable and resonant, particularly in its portrayal of romance and personal struggles. Many reviews urge caution due to the graphic scenes that dominate the narrative, pointing out that the book's misleading cover and placement in children's sections could expose younger audiences to mature themes.
- explicit content
- mixed reviews
- maturity level
- misleading marketing
- romance elements
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
ICEBREAKER is the story of University of California college students Anastasia (Stas) and Nate. Stas is on track to make the Olympic team in pairs figure skating, and Nate is the captain of the hockey team with a slot in the NHL waiting for him when he graduates. When a malicious act of vandalism damages the hockey team's ice, Stas and Nate are thrown together -- the hockey team has to share a rink with the figure skaters. Stas has no room in her life for distractions, but as she gets to know Nate she can't deny her feelings of attraction to him. As circumstances bring them together on and off the ice, their feelings for each other deepen, and they each begin to wonder, is this love?
Is It Any Good?
This is a fairly predictable, lightweight college sports-themed romance that fans of the genre are likely to enjoy, but there's little else to offer other readers, except the sex, of course. ICEBREAKER isn't marketed to teens, but there's a lot of teen appeal in the many steamy, explicit sex scenes. Teens who are looking for a fun, breezy romance may actually find that all the sex starts to get in the way of the romance as it becomes more and more gratuitous. College life is pretty glamorized too. Aside from all the sex here, teens can look forward to independence, fun friends, lots of parties, and lots of drinking. And to everything turning out all right in the end.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the graphic sex in Icebreaker. Is it over the top? Realistic? Is reading about it different from seeing it in movies, videos, and other media?
What are some concerns about reading or watching explicit sex? Do you compare yourself or your body to the characters? Does it make you afraid, creepy, or unsure about what sex is like for real people?
What about all the strong language? Is it realistic? Is it a big deal? Why, or why not?
For part of this story, Anastasia struggles being comfortable with her body and eating normally. Is this a struggle for anyone you know? Why is this an issue for some people? What can be done?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Atria
- Publication date : February 7, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 18 - 18
- Number of pages : 448
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : December 11, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate