Netflix has exciting news for fans of steamy romances set in the world of sports. The popular streaming platform announced its upcoming adaptation of the bestselling book “Icebreaker” by English author Hannah Grace into a college romance drama series.
“Icebreaker,” a young adult romance novel published in 2022, tells the story of Anastasia Allen, an ambitious figure skater, and Nate Hawkins, a charismatic hockey team captain, who find love on the ice at the fictional University of California, Maple Hills campus.
With nearly five million copies sold and translations in 24 languages, “Icebreaker” became a No. 1 New York Times bestseller. Netflix described the plot as a collision between Anastasia and Nate, as they navigate their ambitions for Olympic gold and NHL stardom while developing a passionate obsession for each other.
Jinny Howe, Netflix’s head of scripted series for the U.S. and Canada, revealed the new series at the Banff World Media Festival. She emphasized Netflix’s success in transforming beloved romance novels into global hits and expressed excitement about bringing “Icebreaker” to viewers.
The upcoming series follows the triumph of Crave’s “Heated Rivalry,” based on novels by Canadian author Rachel Reid, which depicted the romance between two male hockey players on and off the ice. “Heated Rivalry” received critical acclaim, winning a Peabody Award and being hailed as a Canadian content success.
“Icebreaker” and “Heated Rivalry” contribute to the rising popularity of sports romance books, particularly within the hockey genre. This trend, including titles like “Canadian Boyfriend,” “Body Check,” and “Pucking Sweet,” has gained traction on platforms like BookTok, a TikTok community of book enthusiasts.
Amanda Lasher, the showrunner for “Icebreaker,” brings her experience from shows like “Riverdale,” “Gossip Girl,” and “Togetherness” to the production. Lasher expressed her passion for the steamy young adult genre, citing her love for it since her school days.
“Icebreaker” is the first installment in Grace’s Maple Hills series, followed by “Wildfire” (2023) and “Daydream” (2025), all set at the University of California campus.
The series’ release date on Netflix has not been announced yet, but fans can anticipate another captivating romance drama to add to their watchlist.