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 this book sparked a wide range of reactions among readers, with some praising its engaging characters and well-crafted plot, while others express strong concerns about its mature content, deeming it inappropriate for younger audiences. Many agree that while it contains some explicit scenes, it can still be an enjoyable read for older teens, especially those aged 12 and up, as long as parents are aware and involved in discussions about its themes.
- engaging characters
- mature themes
- age-appropriate for older teens
- explicit content warning
- parental involvement
- strong reactions
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 38 kid reviews
Kids say the book is highly controversial, with opinions sharply divided on its appropriateness for younger readers. While some find it an engaging and fun romance with relatable characters, many warn that it contains excessive explicit content that is unsuitable for kids, urging parental discretion for those considering it for younger audiences.
- explicit content
- mixed reviews
- age-appropriate concerns
- strong characters
- romance genre
- parental warnings
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
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