Netflix has announced the adaptation of the bestselling book “Icebreaker” by English author Hannah Grace into a college romance drama series. The novel, published in 2022, follows the story of figure skater Anastasia Allen and hockey team captain Nate Hawkins as they fall in love at the fictional University of California, Maple Hills campus. With nearly five million copies sold and translated into 24 languages, “Icebreaker” became a No. 1 New York Times bestseller.
Described as a tale of ambition and romance, the series revolves around Anastasia and Nate, whose paths collide on the ice, leading to a compelling love story amidst their competitive pursuits. Netflix’s head of scripted series for the U.S. and Canada, Jinny Howe, unveiled the new series at the Banff World Media Festival, emphasizing Netflix’s success in adapting romance novels into global hits.
Following the popularity of Crave’s “Heated Rivalry,” based on novels by Canadian author Rachel Reid, the upcoming series aims to captivate audiences with a blend of intense sport rivalry and passionate relationships. Both “Icebreaker” and “Heated Rivalry” contribute to the rising trend of sports romance books, particularly within the realm of hockey-themed narratives.
“Icebreaker” marks the beginning of Grace’s Maple Hills series, including “Wildfire” and “Daydream,” set in the University of California campus. Showrunner Amanda Lasher, known for her work on popular series like “Riverdale” and “Gossip Girl,” expressed her enthusiasm for the steamy young adult genre, reflecting on her love for such storytelling since her school days.
