This was amazing! The fake dating trope as well as the grumpy vs sunshine was so good! I absolutely loved the main characters and you just route for them through the whole book. Parts really made me laugh too!

In the beginning I had my doubts about the romance between Sage and Elias because I didn't quite see the chemistry between our couple, but, I'm happy to report that around the 70 page mark things came together and I was absolutely hooked and devoured it in a matter of days.

This is definitely for readers who enjoy a good college romance. It will give you those same feelings and the reason why I'm hesitant to give it a higher rating is because I personally feel that it would have worked better in that setting. I sometimes forgot that Elias & Sage are actually newly out of college and trying to figure life out.

It is an emotional read as our couple is dealing with some serious childhood trauma relating to poor treatment by their parents. Even with that heavy theme the story was easy to fall into, I loved seeing their growth and watching them overcome their issues so they could be together.

It is a fake dating story and that element was handled really well and added a fun layer. The banter was excellent and the sex scenes had just the right amount of steam.There is a reveal with the hero that I wish was something that was talked about more with men but was refreshing to see. It definitely added to my enjoyment.

I highly recommend this if you want a good time with some light hockey in between. If you want to try some hockey romance to see if it's your thing, this is a good place to start. For my seasoned hockey romance readers I'd still say to give it a try just be aware that there isn't that much action on the ice.

CW: parental abandonment, mention of body image issues.

This is one of those books I would happily re read for the romance storyline. I read the first book and loved Aiden and Summer but in all honesty, Elias and Sage topped it for me. Ice hockey player struggling to fit in in the big leagues and a ballerina aiming for the big leagues, what could ever go wrong with a fake dating trope?

This was just so cute. How he realises she is a people pleaser and he wants to support her and please her. How he wants to help her with things she struggles with. How he looks after her (and her family) as much as he can. Pure kicking your legs smiling romance vibes. It has to be said.

Undercurrents and frequent visits to different family types, found family and touches on topics like dr*gs and alc*hol ab*se and blackmailing.

So, a lot of peple wanted Elias' story to be with Amara but I was excited to read a new character created by Bal Khabra.

Elias is, if you've read Collide, our wonderful mother goose of Dalton University's hockey team. He has made it to the NHL and is, shall we say, underperforming on the ice. Pair this with multiple tabloids painting him as a womaniser and playboy, he's not having a great time. Enter Sage. Aspiring ballerina and niece of the general manager of the very NHL team that Elias is now playing for.

I enjoyed seeing so much of the character's from Collide and one of the main things I enjoy about Bal Khabra's writing is that there is always a strong element of friendship present throughout each book.

My notes on this book consist of a lot of exclamation marks (pierced for her pleasure!) and I also wrote "ice hockey!" no fewer than 6 times, so clearly I was not thinking stragith whilst reading this.

I read this book in one sitting and I absolutely loved it. The book is so well paced and the writing is amazing. I love seeing character's grow on the page and the chemistry between Elias and Sage was evident from the very beginning.

Elias is up there with the top book boyfriends and Sage is an absolute (people pleasing) BAMF. One of my favourite things about this author is that no one ever gives up their dreams for anyone else and the couples will ALWAYS lift each other up.

I'm always a lover of an epilogue too, so that's a bonus!!

I absolutely want more of this series and am excited to read any future books in this universe.

TROPES:
- Ice hockey MMC
- Ballerina FMC
- Fake dating
- Friends to lovers

Book review 📚
Spiral by Bal Khabra
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

I thoroughly enjoyed Collide by Bal Khabra and I knew I wanted to read Spiral. So I was a kid at Christmas when I got the ARC gifted to me.

Now best way to describe this book is – Icebreaker. She’s an ballerina and he plays ice hockey. So obviously you question whether this will ever work between them? Ice hockey is a brutal sport, and being a ballerina is calm and majestic. But they say opposites attract, right?

Both the FMC (Sage) and MMC (Eli) are absolutely perfect. She’s calm, collected, and a bit of a perfectionist and he’s the a-typical jock, BUT only on the outside, he’s actually sweet, caring and loving. From the get-go I felt these two were perfect for each other. They didn’t work but they also did. The romance between them was just so heartfelt and wholesome. It’s the perfect slow burn, WITH SPICE!! Perfect, it was just perfect.

I absolutely loved Khabra’s writing style in collide and the way she sets the scene with such imagery. Her details, from small to big, make such a huge difference to readers. It feels as though she goes above and beyond just for the readers. This is the perfect cute and cosy romance you need for those rainy autumn nights.

Practically perfect. I had a ball reading this book with the beautiful dancing the bloodthirsty hockey and the way life had made things difficult for Sage and Elias. Both Sage and Elias have had things tough., and they both wrap themselves up with a protective outer shell. Small things chip away at their shell and they slowly start to let each other in. The book looks at the realities and the hardship of being in the public eye as a hockey player as well as life for an excellent ballerina., trying to make it in the commercial world. The book really digs into emotions of the couple and how they try and make their fake relationship work. Ten Out of 10.

I adored this book so much!

I loved the initial meet cute, it felt really creative and Aiden made such a seamless cameo which was really well done. I found sometimes characters from previous books are forced into the narrative but I honestly couldn't fault it one bit. The number exchange was also really cute and authentic, once again something that is usually ignored in romance novels but they made it a cute moment!

Now lets talk about Sage! Her character felt really realistic and I loved how her identity of being a ballerina is woven into her character. There is so much care and attention to detail taken with her character and all the ups and downs felt so true to being a creative. Also her being a ballerina was so refreshing and interesting to read and really adds colour to her character. It was so nice to read a FMC who is passionate about something other than the MMC. As well as her profession, the rest of Sage's character was painted really well. I particularly enjoyed the references to Sage's vanilla scent as this built on her description outside of the classic physical description. She was also undeniably hilarious ('if it helps, it's just me and one very reliable battery-powered friend').

The narrative was written really cleverly and the MMC/FMC entered the scenes in usually an unpredictable but still realistic and exciting way. Khabra is such a good storyteller and I really think this might be her best work yet.

Eli is an absolute dream boat. I loved how ferociously caring his character was and the scene where he cooked food then brought it to Sage's house for her was beyond adorable. He is also such an honest guy who wears his heart on his sleeve 24/7 which was so lovely as I read a lot of bad boy MMCs which can be fun but usually miscommunicate a lot. He's also really thoughtful - everything from keeping spare face gems on him for Sage's ballet performance to grabbing her a bottle of water out of the fridge when she comes home from work. Both characters also have an equally interesting backstory that is both devastating and pulls at every heart string which gave the characters so much depth.

The romance itself was so wholesome and starts off so cute and innocent (then becomes very spicy, don't worry hehe!) It's such a gorgeously slow burn. There were surprisingly spicy moments sprinkled in throughout (cue Sage licking Maple Syrup off Eli's thumb), Another aspect of this book that is done superbly is the emphasis on friendship and the this book had many scenes where Sage and Eli hung out together with friends which made this such a well rounded book.

There were also a couple of life lessons which I really didn't expect. These characters are very wise! 'Good things need to be celebrated, because bad things will find a way to be acknowledged regardless' - *mic drop*. Another life lesson, 'note to self: when one door closes, smash the window.'

There was only a couple little points that I feel like didn't make sense - but they are very minor. Sage peels off her face mask and places the used mask in a basket with nail polish...why? This kind of grossed me out and felt super unhygienic. Sage also took a selfie at one point and managed to fit her entire body in the selfie which felt unrealistic - in the scene you can literally see her toes and her whole face/body. Also it felt a bit random when the plot jumped from a scene to all of a sudden Sean is staying with Eli and Sage.

This book has such an undeniable personality and specific lore and blueprint. When I think of vanilla, immediately Sage comes to mind and similarly Eli represents small kind gestures (buying flowers etc) and alcohol free beer. Both characters are hilarious 'I'm beginning to think Elias Westbrook could tell me to bark and I would' and so well rounded!

This adorable story about phoney dates in high-stakes dance and hockey is Spiral. Sage Beaumont, an aspiring dancer who wants to make more money online, and Elias Westbrook, a junior NHL player under media scrutiny, form a fictitious relationship that works out well for both of them. The notion creates a thrilling slow-burn connection as their chemistry makes their phoney dating genuine.

Bal Khabra creates complex personalities. Elias is charming and sensitive, highlighting Sage's strength and ambition. Electric chemistry, witty banter, and heartfelt moments keep you engaged. The story's romance, personal growth, and job love make it engaging.

Though the ending is too neat, the tale flows effectively and the characters develop. Khabra's debut novel, Collide, has familiar characters, and the idea that this world is still happening makes it even more fascinating.

Spiral is a wonderful sports story with strong characters, sizzling passion, and emotional depth. This comfortable and pleasant retreat will make you adore Elias and Sage.

Spiral is a fake dating ice hockey romance between rookie NHL player Elias and Ballerina Sage. They agree to fake date when Elias wants to shed the medias false perceptions of him a playboy and Sage learns that ballerinas are hired on social media following more than talent. They promise now to fall in love but the lines begin to blur.
I enjoyed their strong chemistry and level of spice. Elias and Sage gad a great banter together and you believed their romance as it developed. Having Aiden and Summer around from Collide was nice and I hope to read more in this world.
The only part I wasn't a massive fan of was the epilogue as it just felt too perfect and wrapped up in a bow and I would have liked either a longer time gap or not as much to have happened to them in the 3 years. This just made the ending feel rushed whereas the beginning and middle felt so well paced. Otherwise I enjoyed the characters and plot of the book and will be reading whatever Bal Khabra writes next.

Bal Khabra is an incredible author!

Collide was wonderful, but Spiral, wow, it has a special hold over me. Easily a 5-star read.

Elias is the swoonworthy lead we all need, patient, passionate, and dedicated to himself in a way that’s inspirational.
Sage is strong, loyal, and the role model we’d all hope for.
I loved the way characters from Collide were woven into Spiral, the chemistry continued to build and I can’t wait to see Dylan and Kian’s stories (pretty please!?)

The romance builds like a wildfire between Elias and Sage, and when they come together it’s spicy and sweet, the perfect combination.

Sage’s growth throughout the book is *chefs kiss* she starts out hard and tough, determined to face the world alone, providing support for everyone else. But when she starts to let Elias into her heart, and opens herself up to support, and friendship, and realises that she is worthy of love, worthy of having someone take care of her, it’s perfection.

I’ve never fallen for two characters so quickly, and I think they’ll stay with me for a long, long time.

I went into this blind having not read collide, well that needs to change! I loved this book and it's characters. The pacing was perfect I'm not usually one for slow burn but this kept my interest until the characters admitted their feelings for each other. I loved the romance and the fact that the spice added to the story and wasn't just thrown in to make it good as I have seen that before. Final thoughts? Everyone should have an elias.

Absolutely love this romance.

It's an interconnected standalone with Collide (which I haven't eead but will now be reading), and followed a hockey player and ballerina as they fake date.

The main character is an absolute cinnamon roll, and he can probably bake you one as well.

Such a cosy read and I just devoured it ❤️

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The way I screamed when I was approved for this is slightly concerning but it was the most appropriate way to handle the situation. I absolutely loved this book! A hockey player and a ballerina fake dating with rules that include no PDA and not falling in love? Spectacular, give me 14 of them right now!

I don't even know where to start with what I loved about this but I will have to say as a someone who doesn't like slow burn this hit differently! The tension was thick and agonisingly good. Elias Westbrook is perfection in every form with a love for cooking and I love how chaotic Sage is. Together they are a brilliant balance. This is shown in the occasions where either of them are spiralling a little bit. They ground each other and managed to bring each other back from the brink. I also enjoyed that when either one of them were dealing with something they talked it out when they were ready. Healthy communication in relationships is something I appreciated seeing.

The one thing I would say I was looking for but didn't get is a big fall out. I would have loved the drama of the fake dating coming to light or a bit more from Eli's dad. I wanted to see how the two would have navigated through that. Especially when about 70% through the book it felt like it was just going through the motions little bit. It was nice but I wanted a big drama!

Overall I really enjoyed this and I'm so excited for people to read it next January!

3.5 stars

I had really high hopes for this book because the first book collide was amazing. This book however just didn’t do it for me.
Don’t get me wrong the book was still a cute romance but it just felt so different from the other book that I couldn’t connect fully.

Well I ate this up I absolutely loved it . Hockey romances it turns out are my thing throw in an extra sprinkle of a beautiful ballet dancer and I’m all yours. Loved this even more then i loved Collide!!

Just an absolute delight to read! It didn't use any of my brain power, and it certainly didn't change my life, but it was delightful and it made an afternoon pass by easily.

ballerina x hockey player!??? shut up!!!
i loved how vulnerable elias was and how he made sage open up slowly but surely!! they were so so soft and cute together that i really couldn’t put it down once i picked it up.


eli is the softest sweetest man ever, think ryan shay & west belmont that’s who he is giving!
sage is so strong and wanting to keep her distance in the beginning as she’s been burnt in the past, but he knocks her walls down with a sledgehammer and slides into her heart (and mine tbh)

loved this book & will definitely be reading more of bals work

i absolutely loved this !! i loved this a million times more than collide. this was so fun, emotional and beautiful all at once. this was so cute and wholesome i was smiling, laughing and crying the whole way through. i can’t wait to get the physical book and annotate it !!

“Like a ray of sunlight, Sage cuts through the dark clouds distorting my vision.”

“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to make you believe you’re worth every bit of worry and care.”

ice hockey player x ballerina / fake dating / found family / SLOW burn

Bad Khabra knows how to do it!

She knows exactly what her reads want and hands it to them on a silver platter. I finished Spiral so quickly and will always go absolutely feral for a sports romance book.

Elias was such a lovable protagonist and I loved how he and Sage continued to build each other up throughout the story! The story was very singable and the humour and banter really made it for me. I loved the tender moments and found family elements, but also appreciated the hardship for both of the main characters. The slow burn was perfection and really built up the tension.

Towards the end, I did feel that the story was a little too long and found myself getting a little bored, but the primary plot of the story was really interesting.

Overall, I really enjoyed this and will definitely continue to read Bal’s books as they’re released

4.5 stars, rounded up! Bal Khabra truly redeemed herself with Spiral. While I didn’t enjoy Collide, I loved this one! Eli and Sage were perfection from start to finish.

The only reason for the half-star deduction is that around the 70% mark, it felt like the book dragged a bit and could have been shorter. The final 30% felt rushed in resolving some plot points, though Sage’s ballet arc was perfectly paced.

The tension and slow burn were incredible—so many near moments of explosion that left me craving more. Eli is the perfect man, and Sage is chaotic yet graceful. Overall, a fantastic read!

Thank you NetGalley for the E-Arc