Netflix has announced the upcoming adaptation of the popular book “Icebreaker” by author Hannah Grace into a college romance drama series. The bestselling young adult novel, released in 2022, tells the story of figure skater Anastasia Allen and hockey team captain Nate Hawkins who find love while sharing the ice at the University of California, Maple Hills campus.
The book “Icebreaker” has achieved great success, becoming a New York Times bestseller with nearly five million copies sold and translations in 24 languages. Netflix described the storyline as a collision between Anastasia and Nate, two ambitious athletes whose competitive drive turns into a passionate obsession as they come together on the rink.
Jinny Howe, Netflix’s head of scripted series for the U.S. and Canada, unveiled the new series at the Banff World Media Festival, expressing confidence in the global appeal of romance novels adapted into hit shows. The exact release date for the series was not disclosed.
Following the triumph of Crave’s “Heated Rivalry,” based on novels by Rachel Reid, the new series aims to continue the trend of successful sports romance adaptations. “Heated Rivalry,” depicting the love story between two male hockey players, received critical acclaim, winning a Peabody Award and garnering praise as a Canadian content success.
“Icebreaker” and “Heated Rivalry” contribute to the growing popularity of sports romance books, particularly in the hockey genre, alongside titles like “Canadian Boyfriend,” “Body Check,” and “Pucking Sweet.” The surge in interest is partly attributed to BookTok, a community on TikTok dedicated to sharing book recommendations.
Amanda Lasher, the showrunner for “Icebreaker,” brings her experience from working on popular series like “Riverdale,” “Gossip Girl,” and “Togetherness” to the production. The Maple Hills series by Hannah Grace includes “Icebreaker,” “Wildfire” (2023), and “Daydream” (2025), all set at the fictional University of California campus.