My Iced Out Book Review - No Spoilers
Plot Summary
I picked up Iced Out by C.E. Ricci because I was looking for an enemies-to-lovers M/M hockey romance with real fire and emotional depth. The story follows Oakley Reed and Quinton de Haas, two college seniors whose rivalry started way back in high school and has only grown sharper at Leighton University. Oakley is the golden boy with a supportive hockey legacy family, while Quinton is the black sheep, carrying the weight of unsupportive parents and a reputation for a hot temper.
At the start of the season, a surprise drug test and an injury upend the team’s power dynamic—Oakley loses his captain’s spot, and Quinton takes the helm. Their mutual loathing hits a new high until a heated fight at a party tips into an unexpected hook-up. Superstition and desperation for the team’s success push them into a secret arrangement: as long as hooking up means winning, they’ll keep going. But the more time they spend together, the more their walls tumble down. What begins as petty rivalry and forced proximity cracks open into something tender and dangerous, proving that hate and love are just a shot apart.
Why I Love This Book
I love the way this book takes classic tropes—enemies to lovers, forced proximity, sports rivalry—and makes them hit fresh and honest. The tension between Oakley and Quinton is electric, wild and sharp, but what really got me was how real their struggles felt. Oakley, who’s out and proud, brings genuine warmth and patience, especially when Quinton first confronts his sexuality. I found the progression from rivals to lovers believable, messy, and packed with both banter and vulnerability.
The emotional beats land because neither character is a stock type. Quinton’s loneliness and frustration, Oakley’s need to shed the “perfect” image, and all the misunderstandings in between made me ache for them. The spicy scenes are unapologetic and frequent, but it’s the quiet, unguarded moments—hugs, late-night talks, shy grins—that made me care. Even the third-act heartbreak felt earned without tipping into melodrama. As much as I wanted to shake them through their stubbornness, I believed every step of their journey to something deeper and lasting.
Who Will Like This Book
If you want an explicit M/M sports romance with high angst, rivals-to-lovers sparks, and plenty of snarky banter, this is for you. If you crave stories about queer awakening, found family, and complicated friendships, I think you’ll be hooked. The focus is on the romance and the characters—not detailed hockey play-by-plays—so if you’re here for emotional growth and steam, you’ll get your fill.
⚠️ Trigger warning: This book contains graphic sexual content, references to substance abuse (drug test tampering), strained family relationships, and a typical third-act conflict. There’s nothing dark or violent, but it’s written for adult readers only.
Tagged As
mm romance, sports romance, hockey, enemies to lovers, rivals to lovers, forced proximity, queer awakening, bisexual awakening, coming out, college romance, found family, bad boy, golden boy, open-door romance, explicit romance, snarky banter, angst, dual pov, contemporary, series, HEA, indie romance, kindle unlimited
Steam Level
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️Insanely Hot
