Netflix is set to bring another steamy romance to the screen following the success of “Heated Rivalry.” The streaming service will adapt the best-selling book “Icebreaker” by Hannah Grace into a college romance drama series.
“Icebreaker,” a young adult romance novel published in 2022, tells the story of figure skater Anastasia Allen and hockey team captain Nate Hawkins, who find love while sharing the ice at the fictional University of California, Maple Hills campus. The book became a New York Times bestseller, selling nearly five million copies and translated into 24 languages.
Netflix announced the upcoming series at the Banff World Media Festival. Jinny Howe, Netflix’s head of scripted series for the U.S. and Canada, expressed excitement about bringing beloved romance novels to global audiences, citing the overwhelming demand for such stories among members.
The new series follows the success of Crave’s “Heated Rivalry,” based on novels by Canadian author Rachel Reid. Both narratives revolve around male hockey players navigating a complex relationship on and off the ice. “Heated Rivalry” received critical acclaim, winning a Peabody Award and being praised as a Canadian content success.
“Icebreaker” and “Heated Rivalry” contribute to the growing popularity of sports romance books, particularly in the hockey genre. This trend has been fueled by BookTok, a community of literary enthusiasts on TikTok. Amanda Lasher, the showrunner for “Icebreaker,” brings her experience from hit shows like “Riverdale,” “Gossip Girl,” and “Togetherness” to the project.
“Icebreaker” is the first installment in Grace’s Maple Hills series, which includes “Wildfire” (2023) and “Daydream” (2025), all set at the University of California campus. Netflix has not announced the release date for the series yet.
[Source](https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/netflix-hockey-romance-icebreaker-9.7237421)