Netflix has exciting news for fans of romance on the ice. The popular streaming service is set to adapt the bestselling book “Icebreaker” by author Hannah Grace into a college romance drama series. The novel, which was published in 2022, tells the story of Anastasia Allen, a determined figure skater, and Nate Hawkins, a charismatic hockey team captain, who find love while sharing the ice at the fictional University of California, Maple Hills campus.
“Icebreaker” has achieved phenomenal success, becoming a No. 1 New York Times bestseller with almost five million copies sold worldwide and translations in 24 languages. Netflix described the plot as a collision of ambition and desire when the two protagonists are forced to share the same rink, leading to a captivating story of obsession and romance.
The announcement of the adaptation was made by Jinny Howe, Netflix’s head of scripted series for the U.S. and Canada, at the Banff World Media Festival. Howe expressed Netflix’s commitment to bringing beloved romance novels to global audiences and emphasized the anticipation surrounding “Icebreaker.”
This new series follows the triumph of Crave’s “Heated Rivalry,” based on novels by Rachel Reid, depicting the passionate relationship between two male hockey players. “Heated Rivalry” received critical acclaim, winning a Peabody Award and being celebrated as a significant achievement in Canadian content.
“Icebreaker” and “Heated Rivalry” contribute to the rising popularity of sports romance books, particularly in hockey-themed stories, such as “Canadian Boyfriend,” “Body Check,” and “Pucking Sweet.” The genre has gained traction, partly due to exposure on BookTok, a TikTok community dedicated to literary discussions.
Amanda Lasher, the showrunner for “Icebreaker,” brings a wealth of experience from working on popular shows like “Riverdale,” “Gossip Girl,” and “Togetherness.” Expressing her enthusiasm for the genre, Lasher highlighted her long-standing appreciation for young adult romance novels.
“Icebreaker” is the initial installment in Grace’s Maple Hills series, with upcoming books “Wildfire” (2023) and “Daydream” (2025) set in the same university setting. The adaptation of the book is highly anticipated, although the release date for the series on Netflix has not been disclosed yet.