Spiral (Off the Ice #2) by Bal Khabra – entertaining fake dating hockey romance

Spiral is immersive, addictive, and thoroughly entertaining fake dating hockey romance with ambition, media chaos, slow burn romance

Previous Book in Series

Collide

Synopsis

AN INSTANT USA TODAY AND INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

He’s on edge while she’s en pointe in this fake-dating sports romance from the author of the smash hit Collide.

Elias Westbrook, a newly drafted hockey player for the Toronto Thunder, is facing the challenges of fame and media scrutiny. With a growing fan base and too many expectations on his shoulders, he’s struggling to make his first career goal. The tabloids are reporting on his every move, including which woman he was last seen with, but all he wants to do is escape the spotlight.

Enter from stage left Sage Beaumont, an aspiring ballerina with dreams of joining the Aurora Ballet Theatre, but her lack of popularity online leaves her at a major disadvantage for securing the lead role. When Sage finds herself with the perfect opportunity to make her dreams come true by fake dating Elias, she takes her shot.

Soon enough, the flimsy fake-dating rules they set in place fall away in the face of their sizzling connection. But before things spiral out of control, Sage and Elias will have to decide if they’re willing to take the leap together or if they’ll call it quits.

Review

Spiral picks up some time after Collide and it is easily the strongest sequel in the series. It follows the story of Eli Westbrook and Sage Beaumont, both trying to hold their dreams together while the world insists on pulling them apart.

Eli and Aiden have been drafted into the Toronto Thunder team. Ever since Eli’s video went viral, the media has been circling him and the pressure to finally score a goal is becoming unbearable. With every missed opportunity and every invasive headline, the threat of being transferred hangs over him like a storm he cannot outrun.

Sage dreams of being the lead ballerina in the Swan Lake production at Nova Ballet Theatre, but lately she has been collecting rejections like unwanted souvenirs. Her low social media following does nothing to help her chances and it feels like her dream is drifting farther away with each audition.

Everything changes when she attends a charity hockey event. She meets Eli, witnesses his mess with the media and a stalker, and steps in by winning the charity date. She then offers a solution that benefits them both. She suggests they fake date, believing it will ease the pressure on him and allow him to focus while also giving her visibility in a world that often pretends she does not exist.

Eli hesitates because of a past he refuses to talk about, but when he impulsively declares Sage as his girlfriend during an interview, the arrangement becomes real whether they like it or not. As they spend more time together, the line between pretend and genuine affection dissolves in the most satisfying way. I was especially curious about the secret Eli was holding on to and how it shaped his reluctance to let himself be happy. Watching them face their fears and insecurities together was one of the most rewarding parts of the book.

If it is not obvious yet, I loved this story. Collide captured the youth and chaos of college life, but Spiral takes these characters into their next phase and gives them the emotional depth they deserve. I also enjoyed seeing glimpses of the other characters and how their lives are moving forward. The writing is addictive and fast paced and I devoured the book in one sitting. The banter, the fun, and the heart–melting romance are all here, but the vulnerability shared by Eli and Sage makes this book shine even brighter than Collide.

Eli has always been the most responsible one on the Dalton team, even more so than Aiden. He does not drink, does not entertain every fan who knocks on his door, and he is determined to prove that his success has nothing to do with his wealthy parents. He rarely talks about his feelings and it takes time for him to open up to Sage. When the truth finally comes out, it hits hard.

I guessed the general direction but not the emotional weight behind it. My heart ached for him and I understood why Aiden wanted to guard him like some oversized protective bear. It takes Eli nearly the entire book to confront that painful part of his past. While it felt frustrating at times, it also felt realistic, and watching him finally take that long overdue step was incredibly satisfying. Sage plays a huge role in that shift and I loved how steady and supportive she remained.

Sage is caring, thoughtful, and hardworking. She tries hard to please people and normally that trait would annoy me in a character, but here it comes from a lifetime of carrying responsibilities she should not have had as a child. She stepped into a guardian role for her little brother far too early and that shaped everything about the way she moves through the world. Her determination impressed me and I admired how she refused to let rejection crush her dream.

It was heartbreaking to see how alone she felt, believing she had no one she could rely on except her brother and uncle. Her relationship with Eli breaks that belief slowly and gently, giving her a sense of family she never allowed herself to hope for. I also appreciated her patience with Eli as he fought his own internal rules. She gave him the time and space he needed without losing sight of her own goals.

The romance builds slowly, full of push and pull thanks to Eli’s self–imposed boundaries. Once they break through those walls, the chemistry becomes deliciously intense. They understand each other in ways that feel earned and they refuse to let their relationship erase their ambitions.

The book is filled with lovely moments. One of my favorites is Eli buying new flowers every week so he can figure out which ones Sage truly likes. His mother taught him that when a woman says she does not like flowers, it usually means she has never received any or she is allergic, and thankfully the second option was not the case. I also loved how he cooked for her every day. I would absolutely not complain if someone cooked for me daily and yes, that is only half a joke.

The climax unfolds in a way that feels both expected and surprising. Some parts played out exactly as I imagined while others caught me off guard in the best way. Everything comes together beautifully and the ending left me grinning. The epilogue is perfect.

Overall, Spiral is immersive, addictive, and thoroughly entertaining fake dating hockey romance with ambition, media chaos, slow burn romance, and the courage to choose happiness over fear. This series is making me crave more sports romances.

Book Links

Goodreads | Amazon.in | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk
(Note : This series is free with Audible Subscription)

What is your last favourite sports romance?
Do you prefer fake dating or friends to lovers?

Just in case you missed,,,

• Seven Deadly Thorns by Amber Hamilton – dark and immersive fantasy
• Romantasy vs Fantasy Book with Romance – A Reader Perspective
• Storybook Ending by Moira Macdonald – cozy and slow burn contemporary

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