Nick and Sam are adorable! Nick is an NHL player who is currently out because of an injury, and he finds himself working in his grandmas bookshop. Sam is also working there, after leaving her corporate job. AND she wants to have a baby. AND Nick is hot. I love the slow burn and forced proximity!

Made me smile. 30 year old career orientated finds her biological clock ticking.
Losing a close friend and her job helps reassess priorities. At the same time recovering from an ACL injury, worlds collide.
Friendship in to more?
Enjoy the fun, dates and family interference.

I just could not finish this book. I made it about halfway through and had to abandon it.

The characters were so two dimensional and flat. I am an avid sports romance reader and this story just fell flat in all the wrong ways.

The FMC was awkward and whiny and the way she described her body - from her constant negative thoughts to her “cheeping eggs” and her obsession with doing everything on a schedule - just gave me such a cringey feeling.

For an NHL superstar and play boy, Nick did not at all fit the bill. There was a lack of charisma there and when, by halfway through the story, I saw no real character development, I just gave up.

There was potential with the storyline here but Andrew’s just didn’t deliver with this one.

This had a ton of potential. However, Sam just ruined it for me. She was to whiny when it can to her body. But I’m not shocked she’s written like this. I’ve seen this happened in almost very book I’ve read about a plus sized woman and it’s pretty sad. Why can’t she be confident and sexy and self loving of her body?! It would have landed me for me if she was a character that was just more body positive. She could still be somewhat clueless about sensual things but why can’t she be a proud bigger girl that gets the hot guy? Nick was fine. He’s a NHL reformed-ish ladies man that has Peter pan syndrome but has a heart of gold and is family oriented. Nothing wildly new about his character traits. He was a lot older then he comes off which I don’t know if it’s a good or bad thing here. It wasn’t the most entertaining story but was still readable.

This book was really made for women, and you can tell. It's a nice change to see the FMC struggle with body image on a day to day basis, and not jus all the time. it felt more realistic for me.

Nick wasn't that good of a book boyfriend for me, just because he never showed Sam anything that he was saying. I, too, would believe he was lying about liking curves if he was never going out with someone like that.

The only thing I don't understand is how Sam didn't know she was going to a gay bar.

Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

I think sports romance books are becoming one of my favourite subgenres!

I really liked Amy Andrews' 'Breaking the Ice.' It was really cute and fun and it was very hot! I loved the chemistry between Samantha and Nick.

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

The FMC’s obsession with her "cheeping eggs" and the constant reminder of her biological clock were more weird than charming, and the MMC's behavior was..... let’s just say, not winning any points for likability or body positivity.

The chemistry between them had potential, but their actions often felt forced, like they were just there to push the plot along. And despite being labelled as a sports romance, there was pretty much zero hockey—just a sidelined athlete who barely touched the ice! As for the spice? Let’s call it a mild fade-to-black situation—definitely not the steamy read it promised.

Overall, the story had its moments, but it just didn’t hit the mark for me. It felt more awkward than swoon-worthy. If you’re looking for a true sports romance with real character depth, this might not be your best pick.

Thank you Boldwood Books for providing an e-ARC!!
#BreakingtheIce #NetGalley.

This was a little too much trope and too little plot and development. While the book wasn’t unenjoyable, I have to admit that it felt like pandering. There was no real reason why Nick was a hockey player, other than that hockey sells right now. There was no reason or value to the couple working in a bookstore, other than people who read romance like romances set in bookstores. The MMC felt like a knock-off of one of Elle Kennedy’s hockey boys, but the issue is that this man isn’t in college and so the behavior and jokes just weren’t appealing. The FMC was fine, albeit a bit annoying. Overall, the book was fine. I didn’t hate my time reading it, but I don’t think I would recommend it to a friend either.

A lovely love story. The bookshop sounds amazing full of lots lovely second hand books. Bit saucy in parts . The egg parts made me laugh . A neat ending .

I'm sorry but one mention of cheeping eggs and I'm out. This one is not for me. DNF at the first chapter.

I really enjoyed reading this book, it uses the ice hockey element perfectly. I enjoyed the overall concept and how the romance aspect was perfect and worked with what I was expecting. I thought the characters were perfectly done and had that feel that I wanted. Amy Andrews has a strong writing style and that the concept worked overall.

Well that was a good book.

A cute bookstore romance between a sports star and a career driven geek.
I loved the setting of the bookstore. The chemistry between Nick and Sam was through the roof.

It was hilarious reading about Sam's eggs cheeping constantly and her bad dates!! And the spice? Lots of spice 🫣

I love a good hockey story and this was a thoroughly enjoyable one! Nick sets out to help Samantha find a "baby daddy" to help her get pregnant, but they end up realizing they are great together. A fluffy, fun read.

This is the perfect book for book needs that love sports romance! The story was so entertaining and funny!

Overall an enjoyable and cozy hockey romance. My only complaint was the repetitive references to "chirping eggs" which took me a bit out of the story at times, but other than that I had an enjoyable time reading this book

Overall this book was a good read but I didn’t find it as enjoyable as I wished I had. I love Amy’s work but this one just wasn’t one of my personal favorites

1/5, dnfed at 46%.

This was a failure.

I hated it so much. The female main character was so naive and STUPID and DESPERATE I hated it. Oh my god. Her EGGS CHIRPED?? ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? And that's the internal monologue of a 30 year old woman? It read like she was 15! Jesus CHrist, that was so cringe and horrible.

SHe was so DESPERATE to have a baby and I get it but she did not ONCE think of a sperm donor? To just go to the clinic? NOTHING? Seriously?

And THEN she acted like she was a naive virgin who doesn't know ANYTHING about sex. Seriously, she's supposed to be 30-year-old woman who already slept with men before and the author had her buy 200 condoms for a date because she couldn't choose? Are you serious? In what way is this funny or smart of well-written? It's not. And then she was so overwhelmed by vibrators as if she couldn't just order one online? No, Nick had to follow her into the store and make fun of her! Jesus, he too acts like he's 16 immature asshole when he's supposed to be 38. What the fuck.

And the fact that Sam asks her sister about EVERYTHING like she couldn't think for herself? Hell no! I hated it.

The book is written horribly, the characters are flat and immature despite being supposed to be in their 30s, the plot is just boring. I was disappointed.
This is the second book from the author I read this year and it's gonna be the last. It's not for me.

Interesting story of a misguided woman with "chirping eggs" and a hockey player recovering from an injury centered around the romance book store his grandmother ran until her death. I loved the book store and sure wish I could work at one! What a dream job!
Samantha, the FMC is certainly book smart, but lacks confidence around the opposite sex, this being due to how she was raised and also due to severe body image issues. She decides that she needs a baby (hence the chirping) and has a set of qualities she is looking for in the potential baby day.
Nick, the MMC is gorgeous, fit, and a player. Laying low, running his grandmother's book store, and doing physical therapy, he has plenty of time with Samantha.
Their interactions are funny, entertaining, and you can just watch as their attraction and care for each other grows. As Nick sets her up on terrible, after terrible blind dates, they finally let themselves be.
Steam wasn't overwhelming, it fit the story well and minimal conflict brought this to a happy ending.
Overall, an enjoyable read. Thank you

Sam, a newly 30-year old woman, finds herself contemplating her future, specifically regarding babies and where that would leave her with her career. She meets Nick Hawke, who is also considering his future: will he return to the NHL after his knee injury or will he stay managing his grandmother’s bookshop?

Sports romance + bookish woman was enough to hook me into downloading this book. Unfortunately, this book missed the mark for me for a couple reasons.
Representation for plus-size girls as the romance lead in books is so great, but not at the expense of other women. There was a lot of talk (from both Sam and Nick) about Sam not being like other women/being a “real” woman. Additionally, the story was lacking in the found family aspect of a sports romance. In fact, there was no sports in this at all apart from a blip at the end of the novel.
That being said, this book was a light, easy read, with great chemistry and sexy, realistic sex scenes.

Fans of Hannah Grace might enjoy this friends-to-lovers, forced proximity, sports-adjacent contemporary romance.