Netflix is set to bring another steamy romance to the screen following the success of “Heated Rivalry.” The streaming service announced its plans to adapt the bestseller “Icebreaker” by Hannah Grace into a college romance drama series. The novel, which tells the story of figure skater Anastasia Allen and hockey team captain Nate Hawkins falling in love at the University of California’s Maple Hills campus, has already become a New York Times bestseller, selling nearly five million copies worldwide and translated into 24 languages.
Describing the plot, Netflix shared that the story revolves around Allen and Hawkins, who are initially focused on their respective athletic pursuits but find themselves drawn to each other after an accident forces them to share the same rink. The press release highlighted the tension between their ambitions and their growing attraction, stating that the desire for victory may be less perilous than their growing feelings for each other.
Jinny Howe, Netflix’s head of scripted series for the U.S. and Canada, revealed the upcoming series at the Banff World Media Festival, expressing confidence in the audience’s appetite for romance adaptations. The announcement comes on the heels of the success of Crave’s “Heated Rivalry,” which explored a similar theme of passion on and off the ice between two male hockey players. The show received critical acclaim, winning a Peabody Award and being praised as a triumph for Canadian content.
“Icebreaker” is part of the rising trend of sports romance books, particularly in the hockey genre, alongside titles like “Canadian Boyfriend,” “Body Check,” and “Pucking Sweet.” This subgenre has gained popularity, partly fueled by BookTok, a TikTok community dedicated to sharing literary content. Amanda Lasher, the showrunner for “Icebreaker,” brings her experience from working on popular shows like “Riverdale,” “Gossip Girl,” and “Togetherness” to the series.
The series is the first installment in Grace’s Maple Hills series, which includes “Wildfire” and “Daydream,” all set at the University of California campus. Netflix has not disclosed the premiere date for the adaptation, but with the success of previous romance projects, the anticipation for “Icebreaker” is undoubtedly high.
