Spill the Spine
Two work besties. One book at a time.
This bi-weekly podcast is all about reading together and talking it out—from favorite characters and hot takes to themes that hit a little too close to home. Grab a coffee and get ready to Spill the Spine.
Spill the Spine
Icebreaker by Hannah Grace
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This week on Spill the Spine, we're lacing up our skates and heading to Maple Hills to talk all things Icebreaker by Hannah Grace.
From forced proximity and shared ice time to hockey captain Nate Hawkins setting the standard for fictional book boyfriends, we're breaking down everything we loved (and maybe a few things we didn't). We chat about the chemistry, the friendships, the swoony moments, the drama, and whether this BookTok sensation lives up to the hype.
As always, expect plenty of off-topic tangents, questionable opinions, laughs, and a healthy amount of chaos because staying on topic has never really been our thing.
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Welcome back to yet another episode of Spill the Spine Pod. I'm Morgan. And I'm Brie. And we're back with a very exciting episode on Icebreaker by Hannah Grace. Yes. Yes. Oh wait, before we didn't Icebreakers. Oh, of course. We're not talking about straight in.
SPEAKER_01The book news that has come out since the last episode. So that'd be Rebecca Yaris's new book about thrashing.
SPEAKER_02Thrashing day.
SPEAKER_01Thrashing, whatever they call it.
SPEAKER_0213th story. Now she said Zaydens is gonna be up on her website. It's all yeah, I think it's already been there. Is it? I don't know. I'll have to I meant to check the other day and I didn't go. But regardless, Zaydens is supposed to be on there. And everybody else's, we don't have any knowledge of who is going to be there. It could be if Liam's in there, I'll cry.
SPEAKER_01I was about to say, we know who's probably gonna be in there.
SPEAKER_02We know who's probably gonna be in there. We have ideas, but very exciting, very big news. So September 29th, get your pre-orders in.
SPEAKER_01Yes?
SPEAKER_02Yes.
SPEAKER_01We have not pre-ordered ours yet.
SPEAKER_02We have not. Uh I will probably wait closer to time.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Because there's nothing like spending $11.99 and then just waiting.
SPEAKER_01I don't know. I spent like $20 on the new Heated Rivalry book, and that should have $600.
SPEAKER_00It's not like a year and a half.
SPEAKER_01Uh speaking of speaking of pushbacks. Uh-huh. Didn't one of your books got pushed back?
SPEAKER_02One of my books got pushed back. Oh, yes. Was it Al Kennedy? Yes. Unfortunately, I am now depressed because Al Kennedy pushed her next release back uh to what March of next year? So if anybody wonders why I'm not on the pod anymore, this was my 13th reason and that's it. Uh I was severely upset when I saw that. Understandably so, I get people need more time to write. Totally understandable. However, I've been looking forward to November 3rd, 2026 for months.
SPEAKER_01Since the last book came out.
SPEAKER_02Since the last book came out, I said, oh my god. November 3rd. I feel like came out super early. February? No. March. February or March? Because it was like towards I want to say it was like March 22nd or 23rd. Because it was close to my sister's birthday. But yes, I guess I'll just sit here and reread them until she gives me more content. I guess. And I think that's it. Hannah Grace does have an F1 romance coming out next year. Depressing. Uh, our other F1 romance by S.J. Sylvis, April of next year.
SPEAKER_01Depressing.
SPEAKER_02Depressing. Lots of depressing bush bush book pushbacks. Yes.
SPEAKER_01You know what's also coming out. I know you're not excited about it, and I'm a little bit as the Haunting Adeline movie got announced.
SPEAKER_02You know, I think that'll be dead before it even makes it out.
SPEAKER_01I think so too. I think it's gonna be a very it's a very dark book.
SPEAKER_02I don't I want everybody to get to see what they want to see. Totally understandable. Yeah. Um, I think that we need to be a little more uh what's the word I'm looking for?
SPEAKER_01I feel like not everything needs to be made into a movie.
SPEAKER_02Not everything needs to be made into a movie, first of all. Second of all, that type of content really doesn't need to be. I have enough of a slight issue. I love Butcher and Blackbird, don't get me wrong. I think the only reason it works being made into a movie is because at the heart of it, they are serial killers. It's not like they're just like out here, it's very Dexter-esque while also set in a romance. This is not. This is some and I I have listened to people on both sides, people being like, oh, I read that book and I've been affected by the content of this book in my real life, and I feel like I'm taking my power back. That's great, and I want you to. I want everybody to find something that they love so much. People love this book, I get it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's I personally like kind of like it.
SPEAKER_02There's going to be people that take it too far, and that's can be said for everything. Yeah, it can be said for a lot of different things, not just books. This type of content is going to be taken too far. And I'm just not here for that. It gets taken too far enough. Like you're just asking for people to get the wrong idea and go, well, if she's into that, then I'm just gonna, and that's a conversation you have to have with somebody.
SPEAKER_01Oh, absolutely.
SPEAKER_02And I just think it's gonna get taken out of context and it's gonna get taken too far, and I just don't know, it's not for me. Thank you so much.
SPEAKER_01I'll be watching it. Just to see.
SPEAKER_02If it even makes it into it, even if it's if it makes it.
SPEAKER_01It's gonna be very hard, it's gonna be so hard to make it into it.
SPEAKER_02Like Butcher and Blackbird, I am interested to see it. But I again, that type of content, you can get away with it because they are serial killers. Like, yeah, it's serial killers with the side of romance. It's very like Dexter-esque.
SPEAKER_01I do love Butcher and Blackbird, though. I love the whole series.
SPEAKER_02And then you have what else is being like you couldn't make the Lord series. The Lord series into movies. First of all, they're not great, and I stand on what I said.
SPEAKER_01Yes. I read one of the books and I just, ugh.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I've read at least up to four.
SPEAKER_01Maybe three or four. I read it because, like, on TikTok, all of these people are like, this is the spiciest book, like five out of five, chili vegetables. It's just kind of gross. It was mid, first of all, not spicy. There's better spicings and icebreakers than there are in chilies. I'm sure people wouldn't be up in arms about it. But I didn't like it. I read the first one. Not my favorite. Not for everybody.
SPEAKER_02No. That's okay. But you know, it's just it's one of those things that shouldn't be made into a movie, I don't think. Are they trying to? No, not to my knowledge. There's a lot of different things that are getting adapted. It's hard to keep up with.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Like all of my cowboy romances are about to be. All I'm saying is Prime, you better count your days.
SPEAKER_01It better be good.
SPEAKER_02It better be good. I think Netflix has a hold of one series and Prime has a hold of the other, I think. So we'll see. Now Netflix has a hold of this series. So Icebreaker will be made into a show.
SPEAKER_01Oh, yeah, that's actually the other thing. Yes, this is the first one. Icebreaker is a show.
SPEAKER_02Icebreaker will be made into a show. Um, you know, Brian Altimus, I'm still, I'm still rooting for you to get casted in one of my adaptations. I'm trying, honey. Okay, I'm trying. He posted on his Instagram story the other day. He's like, keep fantasting me. It hasn't happened yet, but it will. I was like, dang! And then I thought, and then I thought, what if this was for icebreaker and you didn't get it because you didn't get off campus, and I wanted him to be an off-campus so bad.
SPEAKER_01Who is this?
SPEAKER_02Uh Brian Altimus. He's been in Brilliant Minds. He was in Harlan Coben's uh shelter, which is where I knew him from. That came out around like COVID, after COVID times, I think. And that was a pretty good show. It was like a mystery kind of YA kind of thing, and he played kind of like the douchebag, like typical high school bully. But you know, he had a heart. He cried. I love a man who can shed a tear. But yeah, people put people wanted him to be. That was my Garrett Graham. Still my Garrett Graham. Yeah, that would have been him, he would have been. He would have been such a good Garrett Graham. No offense, Belmont.
SPEAKER_01No.
SPEAKER_02As a person, Belmont, I like him. I think he's hysterical. He's just not my. He's not Garrett Graham. But that's okay because next season is all about Dean. All roads lead back to Dean. But yes, I think he, you know, maybe he'll get casted in the icebreaker adaptation. I could be into that. I could get with it. Shall we talk about our book, yes? Our book. What would you what would you rate it? It's like a four out of five. I like it. I loved it. I haven't read it in so long.
SPEAKER_01I think I read it like close to 2019. I read we had this conversation because we brought it up and I was like, I can't remember if I read it, but it was in my um Audible. I blacked it out. I think I blacked it out.
SPEAKER_02I knew that I read it. I just couldn't remember.
SPEAKER_01I couldn't remember a single detail until I couldn't remember the Uber scene.
SPEAKER_02I could tell you all too long about the Uber scene. I did not realize how fast that happened.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_02There was a lot of stuff just happening early on in this book, and I was like, ooh, ooh. She a little a little saucy, a little spicy. I like I loved it.
SPEAKER_01I like her a lot.
SPEAKER_02I'd give it a you know what? I'm gonna give it. I'm gonna give it a five-star read because I love things that make me kick my feet and giggle and uh-uh. And she did. Hannah Grace is so great. I do still need to read Henry's book. I love him so much. I love Henry.
SPEAKER_01So his little optimal.
SPEAKER_02Jaden Joe Hall, you will always be famous in my house. He is a menace. He is my favorite. Him and Henry together are just so ridiculous. I love them so much. I like Stasi and Lola's friendship. I think they have a very good friendship. Hate Aaron. Can't stand Aaron. Like, you're huffing and puffing when you're lifting her in figure two.
SPEAKER_01And now, mind you, Nate never has a problem. Um, what's the other one? Ryan, is that his name? Uh yes, Ryan. Ryan doesn't have a problem with him.
SPEAKER_02My favorite himbo.
SPEAKER_01I like him too.
SPEAKER_02I love a good himbo character, side character. He just seems so genuine and sweet.
SPEAKER_01I'd like you to know my second little note on my app is Aaron such a little bitch. A thousand percent he is. He is. Like that's been my sentiment this time. Well, what are some of your notes? Let's go over some of your notes. Um, we already talked about it. How Aaron is like telling her she's putting on weight, but all of the other guys are just like, what? No. You weigh nothing.
SPEAKER_02Right, tossing her around like it's nothing.
SPEAKER_01You know what I really liked? Was the speed dating to get to know each other?
SPEAKER_02Yes. By the time she gets to Henry, he's like, I can't. And that's don't talk to me.
SPEAKER_01Don't talk to me.
SPEAKER_02And I was like, you know what? Real.
SPEAKER_01I said I love Henry, the sweet autistic boy. I totally understand needing five minutes to not talk to anyone.
SPEAKER_02Because me too. Like sometimes I just need to sit with my friends and do nothing.
SPEAKER_01Not talk. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02And just be. JJ is so funny. And then Robbie's sitting down. I need you to I need to use this five minutes to talk about your friend.
SPEAKER_01Yes. I'm gonna talk about your friend. I want their book. I don't care that they don't have it.
SPEAKER_02Like a little novella or something about them. I think that's a good idea.
SPEAKER_01They don't have to have something catastrophic happen. Just I just want their love story, like everything we didn't get to see.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Is that too much to ask for? Maybe. Maybe they'll fuck it up and um it'll be a lot more played out in the show.
SPEAKER_02Maybe. Actually, I hope not. Let's not make drama for drama's sake.
SPEAKER_01I'm not saying drama. I'm just saying like we need to see more of them.
SPEAKER_02Like building there. Maybe. That's fair. That would be fair. I do like Nate off the bat. I think he's a really good main character. I like Ryan too, right off the bat. I like Ryan. I'd love to see more Ryan. I'd love to get a Ryan book. I would too. I think that'd be good. I really just like their group dynamics. Like, I think as a hockey house, they're very like, they're not all like douchebaggy, like typical, like college. They're well-rounded. They cook in the kitchen. They Henry has stuff for girls who stay over. Like they're all just very game.
SPEAKER_01And they're just like over there watching him pull these girls.
SPEAKER_02Henry's got such game. And they just try and fuck it up for him, which I'm like, leave my child alone. He is trying. And he's all like, if you leave her alone, I'm gonna take her. And Nate's like, you know what? I bet you could. Yeah. I bet you could.
SPEAKER_01I liked when they were planning the surprise party for Robbie. Robbie. With his Judge Judy drink.
SPEAKER_02I love him. Is he the one in the wheelchair?
SPEAKER_01Yes. Okay.
SPEAKER_02Yes, Robbie is the one in the wheelchair.
SPEAKER_01And that's a lowless person, right?
SPEAKER_02Yes, that's a lowless person. They're very sweet. I do like them. I do I like how you kind of see Stasi like soften too over time. Like she's less like type A, not so much so like less type A, but she's very like in tune with her emotions. She's like actually letting herself be a person. Yeah. And not just a figure skater who's focused solely on her career.
SPEAKER_01Right, which I would like to blame Aaron for that.
SPEAKER_02Erin makes me sick. That in her goddamn journal.
SPEAKER_01My god.
SPEAKER_02Aaron makes me ill, actually. For him to kiss her, like towards the That made me so ill. You didn't blame Nate for breaking his arm or hurting his wrist when he did it playing football. What a bitch. Yeah, I and Lola's immediately like she shows up to the apartment and Lola's bossing them all around, like, put your back into the name. She's like, what's happening? She's like, we're moving out. What did you think was happening, my darling? We're leaving. We're done. That was just so funny to me. They're hysterical.
SPEAKER_01We talked about the Uber scene already.
SPEAKER_02The Uber scene was crazy.
SPEAKER_01I like how Lila clocked it. Immediately gets out of it.
SPEAKER_02Hey, were you doing something in there? No.
SPEAKER_01Do we smell like sex? You would obviously smell like sex. What do you mean? Like, what do you mean? Ugh.
SPEAKER_02It did. I mean, not gonna lie, made me want to be like in the back of an Uber, like fooling around. Like, sounded like a fun 10 out of 10 time. A little embarrassing in theory. Like, I think if it happened, I'd be so embarrassed.
SPEAKER_01I feel like I just have to be so drunk, like they were.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I'd have to be so drunk. Or be like, you know what?
SPEAKER_01Let me do this in front of all my friends.
SPEAKER_02Because I would never, ever, ever, ever. Never, ever, ever.
SPEAKER_01Oh, and then the next time when they actually do it. That was crazy. That is, and so I was watching TikToks, like when they dropped the announcement that this was coming to a show. And this girl was like, you know, I don't understand. Like, how are you gonna do the car scene? And like, what do you mean you're gonna make him dress up as Drew? And all the minions. And all the minions. It does. And then she was bringing up the scene where they first do it, and like she's on top, and then she just does a split. And like that is my question, too. Like, what do you mean? Like you said, the legs on each side. Crazy. I that just doesn't maybe I can't do a split.
SPEAKER_02I can't do it.
SPEAKER_01I need a demonstration. I need to see how that would look. And like, what are you doing? Are you just sitting on it with your legs like this? I feel like you can't really. I think they'll give us a demonstration in the show.
SPEAKER_02I can't wait that long. I'm hopeful. I need visuals. I need visuals. Yes. I'm a I'm a visual learner, so I need you to show me step by step.
SPEAKER_01Yes. And then the first time they play house.
SPEAKER_02I love when they play house. I think it's so cute.
SPEAKER_01But my this is like when I really loved, like figured out I loved Henry. Is JJ says everybody wants him and Henry mumbles, no, I don't.
SPEAKER_02No, I don't. I love them. When JJ's like, I wish a hot guy would buy me flowers, it's always, oh, the sex is so good. It's never buy me flowers and take me to dinner. And Nate's like, can I get two bouquets of flowers?
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_02And JJ's just so pleased with himself.
SPEAKER_01He's like, and that is on No Toxic Masculinity. I love JJ.
SPEAKER_02I take a JJ book in a heartbeat. I love him so much.
SPEAKER_01I take a book of all any of them.
SPEAKER_02All of them. Love them. Because the next one in the series is about Russ, and then the last one is JJ. Or not JJ's Henry's.
SPEAKER_01Russ?
unknownMm-hmm.
SPEAKER_01Muffin. Muffin. He's the one that caused the ring to be destroyed.
SPEAKER_02Yes, it is. It's a very Hunter Davenport-esque situation. We'll get there eventually. We'll read about my friend Hunter Davenport. Eventually. If you're like, right now, you want to read about Hunter Davenport? Dean's sister? No, my best friend Dean. I want to re- I want to read Fitzy's book so bad again because it is my favorite.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that was the thing that like sold me on the book. I didn't read any other book beforehand, but I read that one just off of that line on from TikTok.
SPEAKER_02It's hysterical. They're so funny. But yes, I think I think they kind of like they're pretty up there for me too in terms of like found family like books. Like I think they're so great. Like the dynamics are just good. Hannah Grace wrote brilliant characters.
SPEAKER_01She killed it. Right. Well, and also like Nate's dad's such a piece of shit. I forgot. I forgot, right?
SPEAKER_02How terrible his dad is.
SPEAKER_01Like Robbie got hurt at his ski resort and he wouldn't use his insurance money to help him. And then felt so guilty that they bought he bought them the accessible house.
SPEAKER_02Like that's just nuts to me.
SPEAKER_01And then can we talk about how she fell through the ice?
SPEAKER_02Oh, terrifying. Oh my god. And he's like, hey, where are you? And she's like, oh, I'm outside. And he's like, oh my god! No. There, I think that was a very sweet, like, when they're in the hospital, and he's just like, you don't get to move. You just get to stay here. And she's like, I just want to go home. And he's like, nope, you have to stay here.
SPEAKER_01They're sweet. I love it.
SPEAKER_02He's always very sweet with her. I love him.
SPEAKER_01I think that's why I blacked this book out.
SPEAKER_02Traumatizing. I was traumatized. I do hate traumatizing moments. Because you're not expecting them. You're just like, oh, everything's so wholesome and good, and he's a few.
SPEAKER_01I do think I remember when it was like, oh, he's out, and I'm gonna go through the water.
SPEAKER_02And I was like, no, you're falling through the ice.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Nothing good's about to happen.
SPEAKER_02Nothing good can happen from this moment right here. Yeah. Ten out of ten times had.
SPEAKER_01Ten out of ten times.
SPEAKER_02What are we reading next?
SPEAKER_01That's the question. I know we have some sad books lined up.
SPEAKER_02I don't know if I want to.
SPEAKER_01I'm not emotionally available.
SPEAKER_02I'm un I'm unemotionally available, actually. I'm sad right now. What's in my library? I have to read an F1 romance for Book Club.
SPEAKER_01I don't even know what's in my Kindle library.
SPEAKER_02I kind of want to do, like, I'm kind of feeling like a mystery. That would be good. I'm kind of feeling, yeah, I'm kind of feeling like a mystery.
SPEAKER_01Maybe our coworker will listen to it now. Now that we're not reading this, yeah, now that we're gonna write, what did she call it?
SPEAKER_02Nasty books.
SPEAKER_01Nasty books. Um, your F1's upgraded, isn't it?
SPEAKER_02Yes, F1 is upgraded.
SPEAKER_01When do you have to have read that by?
SPEAKER_02By the 2nd of August. That's coming up. It's coming up real fast. Don't tell me twice. I thought about it. I was like, ooh, dang. It's definitely coming up. I'll probably try and read that this week. Yeah, I think I would love to read a mystery book.
SPEAKER_01And we still have Phantasmia.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, we'll read that one eventually.
SPEAKER_01Eventually, it's just gonna stay in my Kindle. What is that doll doing? Digging her way to China.
SPEAKER_02Probably. She's doing something. I'm about to get her ass for it.
SPEAKER_01The list of things? What is that?
SPEAKER_02What is the list of things?
SPEAKER_01Uh every golden retriever needs their black cat despite being in a hate hate relationship with the thought of romance in her own life. Cameron Hart adores Oh, okay, sorry. Could not. She adores it in her fictional sense. Rom coms, TVs. TV shows, you name it. This does not stop her from living her life without connections and serious relationships. When the year is coming to an end, Cameron is helping the university's heartthrob football player with a last uh one last study session. And she's presented with an opportunity that is too good to turn Jesus Christ. Too good to turn down. But always too good to be true.
SPEAKER_02I think I don't want to do a freedom McFadden.
SPEAKER_01I don't know where I know. I don't know if I can I guess it sounded good, so I was like, let me get it.
SPEAKER_02Trying to think. There was a book I thought I wanted to read. So there is an author that I do like because I have seen her on TikTok and she's always like running into targets and books of millions and stuff to sign her own books, and she's like secretly doing it. Like it's not a scheduled thing. She's just going in to sign them. Um, Geneva Rose. Yeah. She's got one. So she's got one that's you shouldn't have come here, or she's got home is where the bodies are. You like to see Homo's Naked. Hmm.
SPEAKER_00That's the quote from Jim Dirt. Home is where you make it. You like to see Homo's naked, where the bodies are.
SPEAKER_01Daniel's gonna do a good old kick out of that one.
SPEAKER_02So the synopsis of that one is after their mother passes, three estranged siblings reunite to sort out her estate. Beth, the oldest, never left home. She stayed with her mom caring for her until the very end. Nicole, the middle child, has been kept at arm's length due to her ongoing battle with a serious drug addiction. Michael, the youngest, lives out of state and hasn't been back to their small Wisconsin town since their father ran out on them seven years before. While going through their parents' belongings, the siblings stumble upon a collection of home videos and decide to revisit those happier memories. However, the nostalgia is cut short when one of the VHS tapes reveals a night back in 1999 that none of them have any recollection of. On screen, their father appears covered in blood. What follows is a dead body and a pact between their parents to get rid of it before the video abruptly ends. Beth, Nicole, and Michael must now decide whether to leave the past in the past or uncover the dark secret their mother took to her grave. Not gonna lie, sounds pretty sounds pretty good. Twist you won't see coming. Fun, easy read, kept me guessing. Should we Home is Where the Bodies Are.
SPEAKER_01Hamelia, Brother Rose.
SPEAKER_02Alright, Home is Where the Bodies Are by Geneva Rose is our next read.
SPEAKER_01Actually, I would love to hear from you guys.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, leave us a comment. Leave us uh a note. Let me send us a message, a DM. Let us know what you guys want us to read next. What are your recommendations?
SPEAKER_01It's 295 pages.
SPEAKER_02That's not bad. We can turn that around.
SPEAKER_01Probably be the most on time we've been in a moment.
SPEAKER_02Probably be the most on time we've been in a minute. And we'll still wait until the day before to read it. Yeah, but yeah, drop us a like, drop us a DM, let us know what you want us to read next, and we will see you next time.
SPEAKER_01Yes, don't forget to like and subscribe.
SPEAKER_02Like and subscribe, smash that like button. I feel so stupid saying that. I do too. Um yeah, we will see you guys next time with our Geneva Rose pick. Yes.