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Juniper Falls #3
On Thin Ice
Brooke Parker never expected to find herself in the tiny town of Juniper Falls, Minnesota. Of course, she also never expected to lose her dad. Or for her mom to lose herself. Brooke feels like she’s losing it…until she finds Juniper Falls hockey. Juniper Falls girls’ hockey, that is.
Jake Hammond, current prince of Juniper Falls, captain of the hockey team, and player with the best chance of scoring it big, is on top of the world. Until one hazing ritual gone wrong lands him injured, sitting on the sidelines, and―shocking even to him―finding himself enjoying his “punishment” as assistant coach for the girls’ team.
As Jake and Brooke grow closer, he finds the quiet new girl is hiding a persona full of life, ideas, and experiences bigger and broader than anything he’s ever known. But to Jake, hockey’s never just been a game. It’s his whole life. And leveraging the game for a shot at their future might be more than he can give.
Each book in the Juniper Falls series is STANDALONE:
* Off the Ice
* Breaking the Ice
* On Thin Ice
Jake Hammond, current prince of Juniper Falls, captain of the hockey team, and player with the best chance of scoring it big, is on top of the world. Until one hazing ritual gone wrong lands him injured, sitting on the sidelines, and―shocking even to him―finding himself enjoying his “punishment” as assistant coach for the girls’ team.
As Jake and Brooke grow closer, he finds the quiet new girl is hiding a persona full of life, ideas, and experiences bigger and broader than anything he’s ever known. But to Jake, hockey’s never just been a game. It’s his whole life. And leveraging the game for a shot at their future might be more than he can give.
Each book in the Juniper Falls series is STANDALONE:
* Off the Ice
* Breaking the Ice
* On Thin Ice
340 pages, Paperback
First published February 28, 2019
20 people are currently reading
664 people want to read
About the author
Julie Cross
24 books1,701 followersJulie Cross is a NYT and USA Today bestselling author of New Adult and Young Adult fiction, including the Tempest series, a young adult science fiction trilogy which includes Tempest, Vortex, Timestorm (St. Martin's Press). She's also the author of Letters to Nowhere series, Whatever Life Throws at You, Third Degree, Halfway Perfect, and many more!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
February 1, 2019
It’s no secret, I’m totally in love with Julie Cross’s books. Her characters always come with quirky personalities and I just can’t resist them.
Jake Hammond is the captain of Juniper falls hockey team and towns the crowned prince. He’s not what I expected and he’s very swoon-worthy. Jake is all about hockey. He keeps his head in the game and doesn’t get distracted. At the beginning of the season, something goes terribly wrong. A 100-year-old hockey hazing goes so badly Jake is left with more than a sore arm. As a punishment, he has to help coach the girl's hockey team.
Brooke is a broken version of herself. Her dad has gone to prison and her mum isn’t coping. They have moved back to Juniper falls to live with her grandmother but Brooke isn’t interested in adjustment. She is numb and only speaks when she wants to. Jake seems to be the only person she wants to share her words with.
On thin Ice put my heart in my throat a couple of times. It’s a gripping story and the suspense was making me want to read faster. This is a glimpse into a future where one choice changes everything. The truth doesn’t come out straight away and the characters have to live with the consequences of their words. It’s about doing what right.
Brooke needs a friend but the most popular boy in school isn’t the attention she wants to draw. You don’t always get to choose the person who is there for you. The pair finds a new found love for hockey. Neither was looking for love and the romance is more than sweet.
On Thin Ice is actually about hockey which doesn’t always happen in hockey romances. In fact, I learned more about the rules from this book than any other book I’ve read. I wouldn’t say I’m a pro but I really like the information. Brooke joins the girl's ice hockey team after Jake challenges her. It’s fun to see her learn what being part of the team means.
I’m a huge fan of Julie Cross’s books. This whole series is great. This can be read as a standalone, however, the characters from previous stories are part of the background in this book. I really like seeing how they are all doing.
This rating is easy for me. 5 out of 5. It’s great. It isn’t an easy story but it’s perfect. I loved the storyline and the characters came to life. High five!
Jake Hammond is the captain of Juniper falls hockey team and towns the crowned prince. He’s not what I expected and he’s very swoon-worthy. Jake is all about hockey. He keeps his head in the game and doesn’t get distracted. At the beginning of the season, something goes terribly wrong. A 100-year-old hockey hazing goes so badly Jake is left with more than a sore arm. As a punishment, he has to help coach the girl's hockey team.
Brooke is a broken version of herself. Her dad has gone to prison and her mum isn’t coping. They have moved back to Juniper falls to live with her grandmother but Brooke isn’t interested in adjustment. She is numb and only speaks when she wants to. Jake seems to be the only person she wants to share her words with.
On thin Ice put my heart in my throat a couple of times. It’s a gripping story and the suspense was making me want to read faster. This is a glimpse into a future where one choice changes everything. The truth doesn’t come out straight away and the characters have to live with the consequences of their words. It’s about doing what right.
Brooke needs a friend but the most popular boy in school isn’t the attention she wants to draw. You don’t always get to choose the person who is there for you. The pair finds a new found love for hockey. Neither was looking for love and the romance is more than sweet.
On Thin Ice is actually about hockey which doesn’t always happen in hockey romances. In fact, I learned more about the rules from this book than any other book I’ve read. I wouldn’t say I’m a pro but I really like the information. Brooke joins the girl's ice hockey team after Jake challenges her. It’s fun to see her learn what being part of the team means.
I’m a huge fan of Julie Cross’s books. This whole series is great. This can be read as a standalone, however, the characters from previous stories are part of the background in this book. I really like seeing how they are all doing.
This rating is easy for me. 5 out of 5. It’s great. It isn’t an easy story but it’s perfect. I loved the storyline and the characters came to life. High five!
May 10, 2019
3.5 Stars
Brooke, the new girl in town, moves there to her grandma’s after her dad is imprisoned and her mom spirals into depression. Jake, captain of the hockey team in a hockey town, suffers an injury after a hazing ritual gone wrong. They meet because of this incident and although first both wary of the other they soon develop a friendship that turns into more.
I think Brooke and Jake were great for each other. They both helped the other grow and gave them someone to talk to and lean on.
This book was more serious than I assumed it would be. It takes a look at the toxic environment some sports towns can posses and how they elevate stars above those of regular students and citizens. It doesn’t paint sports to be all bad though an for that I am grateful. There is a lot of good that can come from being on a team or playing a sport and I liked that that was still shown here.
I do wish we could have spent more time seeing Brooke’s family situation, as that seemed equally important, and wouldn’t have minded it being a little longer to squeeze that in.
While a part of a series and the previous main characters make appearances, this can be read as a stand-alone.
Brooke, the new girl in town, moves there to her grandma’s after her dad is imprisoned and her mom spirals into depression. Jake, captain of the hockey team in a hockey town, suffers an injury after a hazing ritual gone wrong. They meet because of this incident and although first both wary of the other they soon develop a friendship that turns into more.
I think Brooke and Jake were great for each other. They both helped the other grow and gave them someone to talk to and lean on.
This book was more serious than I assumed it would be. It takes a look at the toxic environment some sports towns can posses and how they elevate stars above those of regular students and citizens. It doesn’t paint sports to be all bad though an for that I am grateful. There is a lot of good that can come from being on a team or playing a sport and I liked that that was still shown here.
I do wish we could have spent more time seeing Brooke’s family situation, as that seemed equally important, and wouldn’t have minded it being a little longer to squeeze that in.
While a part of a series and the previous main characters make appearances, this can be read as a stand-alone.
February 11, 2019
I had read and enjoyed the other books in this series, so I was pretty much in from the beginning.
I liked Brooke and Jake. They both have a lot of things going on in their lives and with their quick connection, they find a person to support them. They each opened up with the other and I liked getting to know them. I especially liked seeing characters from the other books.
Plot wise, this was not the fluffy book the blurb leads you to believe. Being familiar with the other books in the series, I figured there was going to be a darker side and in this one it’s all about hazing. The conflict after the fact was quite a slow build up and that had me struggling a bit.
Overall, it was a story with characters I really liked. I would have preferred something more at the ending {as it was very abrupt}, but it was a good addition to the series.
**Huge thanks to Entangled Teen for providing the arc free of charge**
I liked Brooke and Jake. They both have a lot of things going on in their lives and with their quick connection, they find a person to support them. They each opened up with the other and I liked getting to know them. I especially liked seeing characters from the other books.
Plot wise, this was not the fluffy book the blurb leads you to believe. Being familiar with the other books in the series, I figured there was going to be a darker side and in this one it’s all about hazing. The conflict after the fact was quite a slow build up and that had me struggling a bit.
Overall, it was a story with characters I really liked. I would have preferred something more at the ending {as it was very abrupt}, but it was a good addition to the series.
**Huge thanks to Entangled Teen for providing the arc free of charge**
February 25, 2019
Rating: 4.5 Stars
After a near fatal accident, Jake begins to question some of the traditions surrounding Otter hockey, but is Jake willing to risk his future to challenge traditions that have endured for over 100 years?
• Pro: Cross impressed me by taking on this topic. It was a rather interesting look at how entrenched these traditions become, and how difficult it can be to abandon those which are toxic. The characters' reactions and struggle with the situation came across as very authentic, and I appreciated how she let us view the issue from multiple sides.
• Pro: Let's hear it for finally getting a women's team in Juniper Falls. It was rather exhilarating watching this team get their footing and finding some success in their debut season.
• Pro: This story can be read as a standalone, but Cross also incorporated a bunch of characters from the previous two books. I always love catching up with old friends, and I was so happy with the future she gave to one of the side characters. It was great getting to know this character a little better, and also seeing things starting to look up for him.
• Pro: Both Brooke and Jake are extremely likable. Brooke's backstory was sort of heartbreaking, but I couldn't help but be impressed with how she dealt with her situation, and came out stronger because of it. And, I admired Jake for taking a stand on a tough issue. He had the deck stacked against him, but he still chose the high road, and I was proud of him.
• Pro: The romance was so sweet, and I was absolutely on board with this ship. The circumstances bringing these two together were less than ideal, but something real and beautiful grew out of it all. Both Jake and Brooke were there for each other and offered support and comfort when they really needed it. Their romance growing from a sort of friendship made it just that much better.
• Pro: Although it was slightly abrupt, I still loved the ending to this book. Cross gave me closure as far as the fate of the team, the town, its inhabitants, and this couple. I was left feeling very satisfied and extremely happy with the way things turned out.
Overall: I fall more and more in love with this series with each book. Once again Cross delivered a story with substance that incorporated family, friendship, romance, and left me hungry for the next book.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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After a near fatal accident, Jake begins to question some of the traditions surrounding Otter hockey, but is Jake willing to risk his future to challenge traditions that have endured for over 100 years?
• Pro: Cross impressed me by taking on this topic. It was a rather interesting look at how entrenched these traditions become, and how difficult it can be to abandon those which are toxic. The characters' reactions and struggle with the situation came across as very authentic, and I appreciated how she let us view the issue from multiple sides.
• Pro: Let's hear it for finally getting a women's team in Juniper Falls. It was rather exhilarating watching this team get their footing and finding some success in their debut season.
• Pro: This story can be read as a standalone, but Cross also incorporated a bunch of characters from the previous two books. I always love catching up with old friends, and I was so happy with the future she gave to one of the side characters. It was great getting to know this character a little better, and also seeing things starting to look up for him.
• Pro: Both Brooke and Jake are extremely likable. Brooke's backstory was sort of heartbreaking, but I couldn't help but be impressed with how she dealt with her situation, and came out stronger because of it. And, I admired Jake for taking a stand on a tough issue. He had the deck stacked against him, but he still chose the high road, and I was proud of him.
• Pro: The romance was so sweet, and I was absolutely on board with this ship. The circumstances bringing these two together were less than ideal, but something real and beautiful grew out of it all. Both Jake and Brooke were there for each other and offered support and comfort when they really needed it. Their romance growing from a sort of friendship made it just that much better.
• Pro: Although it was slightly abrupt, I still loved the ending to this book. Cross gave me closure as far as the fate of the team, the town, its inhabitants, and this couple. I was left feeling very satisfied and extremely happy with the way things turned out.
Overall: I fall more and more in love with this series with each book. Once again Cross delivered a story with substance that incorporated family, friendship, romance, and left me hungry for the next book.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
February 11, 2019
Julie Cross continues her Juniper Falls series with On Thin Ice, a young adult, sports romance that perfectly blends first love angst, a dash suspense and a sprinkle of exciting hockey.
Jake Hammond had it all. The fame, the captain title and the best shot at continuing his hockey career. Until a century’s old initiation ritual goes terribly wrong and he ends up with broken bones and a position in the girls’ hockey team.
When Brooke Parker’s father was convicted she didn’t just lose him, she lost her mother, her friends and even a bit of herself until she moved to Juniper Falls and found the girls’ hockey team and its very attractive assistant coach.
As Jake and Brooke get to know each other, they find happiness, comfort and support, but will it be enough to overcome the considerable obstacles they face?
As far as the young adult romance, Julie Cross skillfully captures that wonderful sensation of first love the two experience while going through Brooke’s painful past and Jake’s complicated present. And yet, when either Jake or Brooke or both are engaged in anything hockey related Julie Cross does an excellent job of vividly bringing it to life. She also shows the impact of archaic harmful traditions and the importance of standing up for what is right.
With On Thin Ice, Cross creates a young adult romance which expertly calibrates the thrill of young love, strong friendship, exciting sports and family heartbreak. It is book #3 of the Juniper Falls series. A standalone story told from both points of view, with a happy ending.
Amazon -> https://amzn.to/2E2xGbn
* I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author via NetGalley. The excerpts are from that copy. I am voluntarily reviewing this title. *
Stalk me on FaceBook * Twitter * Instagram * More reviews
Jake Hammond had it all. The fame, the captain title and the best shot at continuing his hockey career. Until a century’s old initiation ritual goes terribly wrong and he ends up with broken bones and a position in the girls’ hockey team.
When Brooke Parker’s father was convicted she didn’t just lose him, she lost her mother, her friends and even a bit of herself until she moved to Juniper Falls and found the girls’ hockey team and its very attractive assistant coach.
As Jake and Brooke get to know each other, they find happiness, comfort and support, but will it be enough to overcome the considerable obstacles they face?
As far as the young adult romance, Julie Cross skillfully captures that wonderful sensation of first love the two experience while going through Brooke’s painful past and Jake’s complicated present. And yet, when either Jake or Brooke or both are engaged in anything hockey related Julie Cross does an excellent job of vividly bringing it to life. She also shows the impact of archaic harmful traditions and the importance of standing up for what is right.
With On Thin Ice, Cross creates a young adult romance which expertly calibrates the thrill of young love, strong friendship, exciting sports and family heartbreak. It is book #3 of the Juniper Falls series. A standalone story told from both points of view, with a happy ending.
Amazon -> https://amzn.to/2E2xGbn
* I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author via NetGalley. The excerpts are from that copy. I am voluntarily reviewing this title. *
Stalk me on FaceBook * Twitter * Instagram * More reviews
January 7, 2019
On Thin Ice is the romantic and sensational third book in the Juniper Falls series. Ice hockey, scintillating romance, heartbreaking family troubles, strong friendship and a soul searching story about standing up for what’s right, On Thin Ice has all the pieces to create a captivating story which I devoured.
When Brooke has to move to a new town to escape her father’s incarceration and her mother’s breakdown, she planned to stay invisible. The last thing she expects is to connect with the town’s most popular guy, hockey star Jake. But after saving Jake’s life in a hockey hazing incident gone wrong, she finds herself working with Jake. Neither could imagine the connection they find with each other, nor how it will change their lives.
The romance. Oh, the romance. Be still my beating heart. As soon as I finished reading On Thin Ice I had to go back and read all my favourite bits (some, okay, a lot were kissing bits) again. Brooke and Jake’s connection and chemistry is absolutely captivating.
Yet alongside this story of love, is a story of challenges and making big sacrifices to stand up against them. Brooke is dealing with a family breakdown that has thrown more challenges at her than she is sure she can bear. Her father is in prison, her mother a zombie, her own past decisions weigh on her, and moving to a new town away from her passions is daunting. Jake has waited all his life for his senior year, the year he can finally show what he has on the ice. But a hundred-year-old hazing ritual goes bad, leaving him doubting his place in the structure of the town’s history and love affair with hockey, one that is now costing him his future and almost cost another his life. But choosing to stand up against that hierarchy and history will have even further challenges and costs. Despite what Brooke and Jake face they are both there for each other. They make a fantastic team, supportive and understanding and this deeper layer makes them a fantastic couple, going so far beyond fantastic chemistry.
I really loved On Thin Ice. It is by far the best book in this series and I enjoyed the first two books, as well. While each book can be read as a standalone, following this group of characters and the Juniper Falls icy hockey team has been wonderful and so much fun. I highly recommend On Thin Ice to readers who love YA contemporary romance and sports books.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
When Brooke has to move to a new town to escape her father’s incarceration and her mother’s breakdown, she planned to stay invisible. The last thing she expects is to connect with the town’s most popular guy, hockey star Jake. But after saving Jake’s life in a hockey hazing incident gone wrong, she finds herself working with Jake. Neither could imagine the connection they find with each other, nor how it will change their lives.
The romance. Oh, the romance. Be still my beating heart. As soon as I finished reading On Thin Ice I had to go back and read all my favourite bits (some, okay, a lot were kissing bits) again. Brooke and Jake’s connection and chemistry is absolutely captivating.
Yet alongside this story of love, is a story of challenges and making big sacrifices to stand up against them. Brooke is dealing with a family breakdown that has thrown more challenges at her than she is sure she can bear. Her father is in prison, her mother a zombie, her own past decisions weigh on her, and moving to a new town away from her passions is daunting. Jake has waited all his life for his senior year, the year he can finally show what he has on the ice. But a hundred-year-old hazing ritual goes bad, leaving him doubting his place in the structure of the town’s history and love affair with hockey, one that is now costing him his future and almost cost another his life. But choosing to stand up against that hierarchy and history will have even further challenges and costs. Despite what Brooke and Jake face they are both there for each other. They make a fantastic team, supportive and understanding and this deeper layer makes them a fantastic couple, going so far beyond fantastic chemistry.
I really loved On Thin Ice. It is by far the best book in this series and I enjoyed the first two books, as well. While each book can be read as a standalone, following this group of characters and the Juniper Falls icy hockey team has been wonderful and so much fun. I highly recommend On Thin Ice to readers who love YA contemporary romance and sports books.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
January 29, 2019
I’ve not come back to Julie Cross’s Juniper Falls series in a while and to dive back into high school/college sports is still a change from what I’m used to.
Still, ‘On Thin Ice’ is more than what it reads from the blurb and the more I read, the more I realised that the romance is merely part of a larger storyline dealing with the culture of hazing and the coverup for fear of being called a tattle-tale.
I didn’t like Jake’s unwillingness to do the right thing, even after people got hurt (the point is, does an entire batch of freshmen have to die before something happens?) because of upholding stupid, supposed traditions that deem you either a ‘hero’ or a ‘loser’. But Cross does tackle this issue which does get resolved in the end, along with the slow-blossoming romance that gets tucked neatly into the bigger problems facing sports, making ‘On Thin Ice’ essentially, a story that quite warmly champions young adults as examples who finally choose the straight and narrow path.
I’m guessing this will probably appeal to the younger demographic more—in both characters and plot—and I’ll have to say that my rating really, is one given from my adult perspective that tends to get some eye-rolling in, along with the growing inability to connect with this genre of fiction that I so used to love. As a YA story though (more objectively speaking this time), it’s a pretty decent read.
*ARC by the publisher via Netgalley
Still, ‘On Thin Ice’ is more than what it reads from the blurb and the more I read, the more I realised that the romance is merely part of a larger storyline dealing with the culture of hazing and the coverup for fear of being called a tattle-tale.
I didn’t like Jake’s unwillingness to do the right thing, even after people got hurt (the point is, does an entire batch of freshmen have to die before something happens?) because of upholding stupid, supposed traditions that deem you either a ‘hero’ or a ‘loser’. But Cross does tackle this issue which does get resolved in the end, along with the slow-blossoming romance that gets tucked neatly into the bigger problems facing sports, making ‘On Thin Ice’ essentially, a story that quite warmly champions young adults as examples who finally choose the straight and narrow path.
I’m guessing this will probably appeal to the younger demographic more—in both characters and plot—and I’ll have to say that my rating really, is one given from my adult perspective that tends to get some eye-rolling in, along with the growing inability to connect with this genre of fiction that I so used to love. As a YA story though (more objectively speaking this time), it’s a pretty decent read.
*ARC by the publisher via Netgalley
February 4, 2019
I received a copy of this title via NetGalley. It does not impact my review.
I have liked the other books in the Juniper Falls series, but I really loved On Thin Ice. It completely surpassed my expectations and I enjoyed it so much that I already want to re-read it.
I found both Jake and Brooke really likable characters. They both have had rough things happen in their lives and I felt like their reactions made sense for their age and situations. I also really loved them together. Their relationship didn’t have the best start, but I loved how it developed. I also really enjoyed seeing characters from the previous books like Tate, Claire, Fletcher, and Stellers.
I thought the hockey hazing storyline was well done. Over the course of the series we’ve seen how toxic the environment can be and how hockey players are given a lot of slack in the town, but it all really comes to a head here. I was glad to see the behavior was finally addressed and that it was the players themselves that brought it forward. It was a refreshing take on such a serious topic. I do wish that the issues with Brooke’s family were given a little more attention, though. Topics like self-harm and a suicide attempt are brought up and pretty quickly dismissed.
Overall, I just really loved On Thin Ice. I enjoyed the characters, the friendships, the romance, and the addictive writing. I really never wanted to put this one down. I recommend this one to fans of YA Contemporaries.
Overall Rating (out of 5): 4 Stars
I have liked the other books in the Juniper Falls series, but I really loved On Thin Ice. It completely surpassed my expectations and I enjoyed it so much that I already want to re-read it.
I found both Jake and Brooke really likable characters. They both have had rough things happen in their lives and I felt like their reactions made sense for their age and situations. I also really loved them together. Their relationship didn’t have the best start, but I loved how it developed. I also really enjoyed seeing characters from the previous books like Tate, Claire, Fletcher, and Stellers.
I thought the hockey hazing storyline was well done. Over the course of the series we’ve seen how toxic the environment can be and how hockey players are given a lot of slack in the town, but it all really comes to a head here. I was glad to see the behavior was finally addressed and that it was the players themselves that brought it forward. It was a refreshing take on such a serious topic. I do wish that the issues with Brooke’s family were given a little more attention, though. Topics like self-harm and a suicide attempt are brought up and pretty quickly dismissed.
Overall, I just really loved On Thin Ice. I enjoyed the characters, the friendships, the romance, and the addictive writing. I really never wanted to put this one down. I recommend this one to fans of YA Contemporaries.
Overall Rating (out of 5): 4 Stars
January 12, 2019
This is the 3rd book in the Juniper Falls series. I haven’t read the other books in the series, but I still think this is a standalone. The other couples in the other books do show up in this one, and I liked them so much I will probably go back and read the other ones.
The book starts with a hockey hazing ritual, which goes seriously wrong. I thought Jake was a great character, with lots of dimension. Brooke was definitely harder to get to know. I was really trying to piece together her past throughout most of the book. I really liked the stuff about Brooke learning to play hockey. The story was paced really well, and writing was great throughout. There’s quite a bit about the hockey team and it’s influence on the community. I did feel like I was missing a lot more information about the hockey coach, and maybe that came up in previous books. The story ends more abruptly than I personally wanted, but I still thought it was a good ending.
Overall, I really enjoyed it, and I will definitely go back and read the previous books. If you enjoy hockey, you will probably love this one!
* ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
The book starts with a hockey hazing ritual, which goes seriously wrong. I thought Jake was a great character, with lots of dimension. Brooke was definitely harder to get to know. I was really trying to piece together her past throughout most of the book. I really liked the stuff about Brooke learning to play hockey. The story was paced really well, and writing was great throughout. There’s quite a bit about the hockey team and it’s influence on the community. I did feel like I was missing a lot more information about the hockey coach, and maybe that came up in previous books. The story ends more abruptly than I personally wanted, but I still thought it was a good ending.
Overall, I really enjoyed it, and I will definitely go back and read the previous books. If you enjoy hockey, you will probably love this one!
* ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
January 8, 2019
Full disclosure: I didn't realize that this was the third book in a series when I picked it up, but I'm happy to say that it reads like a true standalone. I had no problem connecting with Brooke and Jake's story, and didn't feel like I was missing any puzzle pieces. In fact, it wasn't until the very end when I put together which couples the previous books revolved around. So, if you, like me, are on the fence about it being the third book in a series you haven't read yet? I enthusiastically say, go for it!
Why? Because this is just a good story. It's a more mature YA and I went into it with a fair bit of skepticism (mostly because I knew I'd already missed out on two books of this series), but it managed to charm me and pull me right in anyway. It's a bit heavier than I was anticipating - there are definitely some timely and serious issues going on throughout the story and I think that it is far bigger than a YA romance. However, the YA romance is compelling in its own right and the chemistry between Brooke and Jake was on point and completely satisfying.
Those of you who read sports romance for the sports will be happy to know that there's actually a fair amount of hockey in this book! And yet those of you who may not be invested so much in the sport itself will be happy to know that it's not too much, you won't feel lost, and the role of hockey in the book serves as a catalyst for some of the deeper, more emotional storylines. It's a pretty complete package, and I'm so glad I took a chance on it!
In all, definitely worth the read! In fact, I'd like to circle back and read the books I missed because those couples seem like they might have had some pretty gripping storylines of their own. The writing is engaging and smart. The romance is sweet and sparky and tastefully heated. I really enjoyed my time with Brooke & Jake and will definitely be back for more from this author! ~ Shelly, 4 Stars
Why? Because this is just a good story. It's a more mature YA and I went into it with a fair bit of skepticism (mostly because I knew I'd already missed out on two books of this series), but it managed to charm me and pull me right in anyway. It's a bit heavier than I was anticipating - there are definitely some timely and serious issues going on throughout the story and I think that it is far bigger than a YA romance. However, the YA romance is compelling in its own right and the chemistry between Brooke and Jake was on point and completely satisfying.
Those of you who read sports romance for the sports will be happy to know that there's actually a fair amount of hockey in this book! And yet those of you who may not be invested so much in the sport itself will be happy to know that it's not too much, you won't feel lost, and the role of hockey in the book serves as a catalyst for some of the deeper, more emotional storylines. It's a pretty complete package, and I'm so glad I took a chance on it!
In all, definitely worth the read! In fact, I'd like to circle back and read the books I missed because those couples seem like they might have had some pretty gripping storylines of their own. The writing is engaging and smart. The romance is sweet and sparky and tastefully heated. I really enjoyed my time with Brooke & Jake and will definitely be back for more from this author! ~ Shelly, 4 Stars
February 23, 2019
Have I mentioned how much I love this series?? I was so excited when I heard the series would be continuing with On Thin Ice and the yummy Jake Hammond.
Brook is the new girl, the quiet girl with the messed up past and the screwed up parents, neither of which she wants to talk about. But that's okay, because she's really interested in listening lately. Meanwhile, Jake is finally a senior, top of the food chain in school and hockey. Captain is in his sights and he's hoping for a good scholarship. But with senior year comes a hockey team tradition Jake would rather forget about. When the tradition goes horribly wrong and Brooke witnesses the whole thing Jake and Brooke will form an unlikely truce that blooms into trading secrets and confiding in each other and eventually into love.
While they spend more and more time together Jake's life is imploding, his spot on the hockey team seems less important than before, and keeping quiet about things he thinks is wrong becomes increasingly harder while Brooke is just trying to start his life over again.
Overall, I loved this book so much and I was shipping Brooke and Jake from the beginning. The reader also gets to see the couples from the first two books but On Thin Ice is a standalone, you don't need to read the previous books to understand this one (even though I highly recommend Off the Ice and Breaking the Ice!). If you love Contemporary YA Sports Romance, this book is a must for you!
My Rating:
Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (I love the orange color of this cover and the couple depicting Brooke and Jake are perfect)
Summary/Tagline: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 ("Small town boy, meet city girl" is not a bad tagline but it doesn't tell much about the magnificent story inside or the struggles of the characters)
Characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (Brooke and Jake are both well-developed characters with real-life struggles that they must overcome. I like Jake's struggle to make his father, his coach, his teammates, and the town proud of him while wanting to tell the truth about what really happened and the guilt and responsibility he feels. Brooke is adjusting to life in a much smaller town, her mother's depression, life with her grandmother who seems all up in her business, and her father's arrest - each in their own would be a major thing but she handles all of it so well.)
Worldbuilding: 🌟🌟🌟 It's contemporary YA romance. There isn't much worldbuilding to develop other than telling the reader that it's a small, hockey obsessed town. Like, really hockey obsessed. Not that it isn't done well, because it is. It's relatable when you live in a small town like I do.
Story: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (This is not just a one-dimensional romance, or a sports romance. Yes, two characters fall in love, yes there is a sport that they both play, but it goes deeper than that. It talks about the weight of expectations, hopes, and dreams of the many being pinned on the few, how snap judgments in a small town can ostracize you whether the talk is true or not, generations of hazing within an organization (in this case a hockey team), and the influence of coaches and other adults on teenagers and how the pressure from them makes you question what is right or wrong.
Overall:
🌟🌟🌟🌟
4.4 of 5 Stars!
Brook is the new girl, the quiet girl with the messed up past and the screwed up parents, neither of which she wants to talk about. But that's okay, because she's really interested in listening lately. Meanwhile, Jake is finally a senior, top of the food chain in school and hockey. Captain is in his sights and he's hoping for a good scholarship. But with senior year comes a hockey team tradition Jake would rather forget about. When the tradition goes horribly wrong and Brooke witnesses the whole thing Jake and Brooke will form an unlikely truce that blooms into trading secrets and confiding in each other and eventually into love.
While they spend more and more time together Jake's life is imploding, his spot on the hockey team seems less important than before, and keeping quiet about things he thinks is wrong becomes increasingly harder while Brooke is just trying to start his life over again.
Overall, I loved this book so much and I was shipping Brooke and Jake from the beginning. The reader also gets to see the couples from the first two books but On Thin Ice is a standalone, you don't need to read the previous books to understand this one (even though I highly recommend Off the Ice and Breaking the Ice!). If you love Contemporary YA Sports Romance, this book is a must for you!
My Rating:
Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (I love the orange color of this cover and the couple depicting Brooke and Jake are perfect)
Summary/Tagline: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 ("Small town boy, meet city girl" is not a bad tagline but it doesn't tell much about the magnificent story inside or the struggles of the characters)
Characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (Brooke and Jake are both well-developed characters with real-life struggles that they must overcome. I like Jake's struggle to make his father, his coach, his teammates, and the town proud of him while wanting to tell the truth about what really happened and the guilt and responsibility he feels. Brooke is adjusting to life in a much smaller town, her mother's depression, life with her grandmother who seems all up in her business, and her father's arrest - each in their own would be a major thing but she handles all of it so well.)
Worldbuilding: 🌟🌟🌟 It's contemporary YA romance. There isn't much worldbuilding to develop other than telling the reader that it's a small, hockey obsessed town. Like, really hockey obsessed. Not that it isn't done well, because it is. It's relatable when you live in a small town like I do.
Story: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (This is not just a one-dimensional romance, or a sports romance. Yes, two characters fall in love, yes there is a sport that they both play, but it goes deeper than that. It talks about the weight of expectations, hopes, and dreams of the many being pinned on the few, how snap judgments in a small town can ostracize you whether the talk is true or not, generations of hazing within an organization (in this case a hockey team), and the influence of coaches and other adults on teenagers and how the pressure from them makes you question what is right or wrong.
Overall:
🌟🌟🌟🌟
4.4 of 5 Stars!
February 27, 2019
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. This is a voluntary review; all opinions are my own and not influenced by my source.**
This was the Juniper Falls story I was waiting for the most and it did not disappoint!
I love how all the themes from the last two novels accumulated into this one and got brought to the forefront. The whole hazing plotline was fascinating and realistically on point with things happening in society right now. Sports are great for many reasons but they can become toxic when priorities shift for those with authority and I love that this book explores that.
Jake has come a long way from the first time we met him and I loved his evolution in this story. He's the perfect vessel to highlight the dramatic plotline. He's a boy who has been taught and treated a certain way all his life and he starts to question it when his own morals and ethics start to bubble up.
Brooke is a great counterpart to that but she's also got her own solid character story. I would have liked her story to have been a little more elaborated on because it to had an important message but I was more than satisfied with what we go.
I'm sad to say goodbye to this series but this book was the game-winning goal to this fabulous hat trick of a YA sports series.
(But I totally wouldn't be upset if Rosie ever got her own book!)
Check out more spoiler-free book and series reviews on my blog SERIESousBookReviews.com as well as read book series recaps!
Full Review: https://wp.me/p7hLUw-2lB
Actual Rating: 5/5
January 7, 2019
Brooke and Jake share a terrible secret: Jake takes the fall for a near fatal drowning during a hazing incident for the freshman hockey players on their high school team. I was extremely proud of the way the young people in this story banded together to try to fight the corruption and unethical behavior of their coaching staff. Although the hazing incident was successfully covered up and scandal was averted, Jake decides that he cannot remain silent any longer and his teammates rally behind him. To quote Jake: "....the adults in charge of our program failed us. They don't have our best interests in mind when they make decisions......" So very, very true when the future of our young athletes can be ruined on the whim of the coaching staff.
This story also examines the difficulty that all-female sports teams face - in terms of funding, equpment and ice time - in this highly competitive sport. I read this story in one day - I just could not put it down. The romance between Brooke and Jake was sweet - they were so supportive of one another. This the third book in the Juniper Falls series, but it can be read on its own. Highly recommended. Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review.
This story also examines the difficulty that all-female sports teams face - in terms of funding, equpment and ice time - in this highly competitive sport. I read this story in one day - I just could not put it down. The romance between Brooke and Jake was sweet - they were so supportive of one another. This the third book in the Juniper Falls series, but it can be read on its own. Highly recommended. Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review.
January 22, 2019
3 1/2 stars. Pretty good YA book. I really liked Jake and how the whole incident and how it was covered up really bothered him. Brooke was such a strong character. The whole story was interesting and move along nicely. My issue was that I felt like I was missing some info. I didn't read the previous 2 books, but I feel like this book should have stood on its own. Also, the ending was a bit abrupt.
February 25, 2019
Brooke’s life has fallen apart and she’s been uprooted from Texas to her grandmother’s home in Juniper Falls. Her mother is a shell of the person she used to be and Brooke feels totally on her own in this hockey-obsessed town. When she witnesses a hazing ritual that goes too far, she has local hockey star Jake Hammond seeking her out asking for her silence. Joining the new girl’s hockey team means she’s seeing a lot more of Jake and her determination to keep her head down and just get by doesn’t seem to be working.
Jake’s life has always centered around hockey and now, as a senior and captain of the team, his future seems set and everything he’s worked for is just within reach. All of that is in jeopardy when a freshman teammate is hospitalized, and all fingers are pointing to Jake. With mounting pressure from his father and his coach, Jake starts to question the "win at all cost" mentality of those around him and must choose between doing what’s right or doing what’s expected of him.
I thoroughly enjoyed Cross’s previous two entries in the Juniper Falls series. Her characters are usually well-developed and dealing with real life issues that are relatable. Plus, there’s plenty of swoony romance. In On Thin Ice there is a heavy focus on school athletics and the toxic environment that can develop when those in charge lose sight of the individual players and winning is the only goal. This often meant Jake was the linchpin at the expense of the development of Brooke’s character. Her background remained largely a blank slate and issues with her mother were glossed over. Even so, I was invested in Jake’s situation found myself wanting to give him gentle nudges to do the right thing. And while it seemed most of the adults and authority figures in his life had questionable ethics, I loved that his uncle Oz, also the town sheriff, was a steady force and was unwavering in his determination to make things right.
While this is the third in a series of companion novels, readers won’t have a problem if this is their first visit to Juniper Falls. There’s enough exposition to fill in the blanks. Those who have enjoyed the previous books will appreciate revisiting characters they already know – Haley, Fletcher, Claire and Tate are all there (and here’s a big cheer for Mike Steller’s role!) – and catch up with the latest in this small town. My hope is that Cross continues this series because I’m still wanting more of this cast of characters I’ve come to know and love.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. This does not impact my opinion of the book or the content of this review. I received no compensation and my review is voluntary.
Jake’s life has always centered around hockey and now, as a senior and captain of the team, his future seems set and everything he’s worked for is just within reach. All of that is in jeopardy when a freshman teammate is hospitalized, and all fingers are pointing to Jake. With mounting pressure from his father and his coach, Jake starts to question the "win at all cost" mentality of those around him and must choose between doing what’s right or doing what’s expected of him.
I thoroughly enjoyed Cross’s previous two entries in the Juniper Falls series. Her characters are usually well-developed and dealing with real life issues that are relatable. Plus, there’s plenty of swoony romance. In On Thin Ice there is a heavy focus on school athletics and the toxic environment that can develop when those in charge lose sight of the individual players and winning is the only goal. This often meant Jake was the linchpin at the expense of the development of Brooke’s character. Her background remained largely a blank slate and issues with her mother were glossed over. Even so, I was invested in Jake’s situation found myself wanting to give him gentle nudges to do the right thing. And while it seemed most of the adults and authority figures in his life had questionable ethics, I loved that his uncle Oz, also the town sheriff, was a steady force and was unwavering in his determination to make things right.
While this is the third in a series of companion novels, readers won’t have a problem if this is their first visit to Juniper Falls. There’s enough exposition to fill in the blanks. Those who have enjoyed the previous books will appreciate revisiting characters they already know – Haley, Fletcher, Claire and Tate are all there (and here’s a big cheer for Mike Steller’s role!) – and catch up with the latest in this small town. My hope is that Cross continues this series because I’m still wanting more of this cast of characters I’ve come to know and love.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. This does not impact my opinion of the book or the content of this review. I received no compensation and my review is voluntary.
February 5, 2019
https://celebrityreaders.com/2019/02/...
I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
4.5 stars — Dude, if this is the end of the series, I’m going to be really sad. Each story has been a fascinating look at hockey in a small town, and this one just brought that all together in the most perfect way. You can totally read it as a standalone, but if you do read them as a series, you’ll see how all the little events from the previous two books have culminated in the conflict/climax/resolution of this book.
These YAs really do have a more mature feel to them, though this one was perhaps the tamest. There is a somewhat steamy scene, but it’s mostly cut away (and fits the maturity of the characters). But it tackles some difficult subjects, like hazing, bullying, mental health, and other subjects that are too specific to mention. I just loved the way the story played out. Ms. Cross really showcased how difficult it would be to take a stand against a toxic environment that has existed and been allowed to fester for decades. I could see this happening in a small town, and I truly felt for Jake and how torn he was over how he felt, and what he wanted for the future. If he’d just made the right decision all along, I don’t think it would have had the same impact…and I don’t think it would have had the same sense of realism. Anyways, I really don’t want to get into the plot too much, just know that I was gripped and that I was so happy with how it played out.
Now onto our characters! Brooke was kind of fascinating, but I feel like we kind of got shortchanged on her story. We got hints of things that happened in Austin, and with her Dad…and while some bits were fleshed out, others were left more vague. I was actually a bit let down by that. And not only that, but there was no real development with what was going on with her Mom, and how that played out. Which is okay in some respects, b/c there was enough else going on, but then why have those bits mentioned? I also get it in that when something so difficult is happening at home, it can make sense to just compartmentalize it and focus on other things to deal.
However, I LOVED the whole girl’s hockey team story!! While there was a part of me that was skeptical about the rate at which Brooke learned and excelled, in the end I’m not sure I really cared. I loved seeing the challenges they faced, and the support that Sheriff Hammond gave his team. I also loved seeing Brooke develop a friendship with Rosie.
Jake was so not what I was expecting. I’m not sure what I was expecting, it’s been a bit since I read the previous two books, so I didn’t have a good memory of him necessarily, but he was so much more earnest and…just endearing than I was expecting. I really ended up loving him. He was hardworking, and caring, but caught up in the craziness that is Otters hockey. But deep down he was a genuinely good guy.
And I really loved the two of them together. I felt the connection and the crushes on both sides, the fascination with one another. It felt real, and sweet, and just made me happy. They were good for one another.
About my only complaint is that this book, like the others, had odd time jumps. I guess I don’t mind that happening, but then maybe mention the time in between. It just always took me a minute to adjust and be like “oh wait, so it must be like weeks later now”.
Needless to say, I started this one late last night and stayed up way too late because I had a hard time putting it down (though I did eventually). There’s just something about the way Ms. Cross writes that sucks me in and has me compelled to read just one more chapter.
I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
4.5 stars — Dude, if this is the end of the series, I’m going to be really sad. Each story has been a fascinating look at hockey in a small town, and this one just brought that all together in the most perfect way. You can totally read it as a standalone, but if you do read them as a series, you’ll see how all the little events from the previous two books have culminated in the conflict/climax/resolution of this book.
These YAs really do have a more mature feel to them, though this one was perhaps the tamest. There is a somewhat steamy scene, but it’s mostly cut away (and fits the maturity of the characters). But it tackles some difficult subjects, like hazing, bullying, mental health, and other subjects that are too specific to mention. I just loved the way the story played out. Ms. Cross really showcased how difficult it would be to take a stand against a toxic environment that has existed and been allowed to fester for decades. I could see this happening in a small town, and I truly felt for Jake and how torn he was over how he felt, and what he wanted for the future. If he’d just made the right decision all along, I don’t think it would have had the same impact…and I don’t think it would have had the same sense of realism. Anyways, I really don’t want to get into the plot too much, just know that I was gripped and that I was so happy with how it played out.
Now onto our characters! Brooke was kind of fascinating, but I feel like we kind of got shortchanged on her story. We got hints of things that happened in Austin, and with her Dad…and while some bits were fleshed out, others were left more vague. I was actually a bit let down by that. And not only that, but there was no real development with what was going on with her Mom, and how that played out. Which is okay in some respects, b/c there was enough else going on, but then why have those bits mentioned? I also get it in that when something so difficult is happening at home, it can make sense to just compartmentalize it and focus on other things to deal.
However, I LOVED the whole girl’s hockey team story!! While there was a part of me that was skeptical about the rate at which Brooke learned and excelled, in the end I’m not sure I really cared. I loved seeing the challenges they faced, and the support that Sheriff Hammond gave his team. I also loved seeing Brooke develop a friendship with Rosie.
Jake was so not what I was expecting. I’m not sure what I was expecting, it’s been a bit since I read the previous two books, so I didn’t have a good memory of him necessarily, but he was so much more earnest and…just endearing than I was expecting. I really ended up loving him. He was hardworking, and caring, but caught up in the craziness that is Otters hockey. But deep down he was a genuinely good guy.
And I really loved the two of them together. I felt the connection and the crushes on both sides, the fascination with one another. It felt real, and sweet, and just made me happy. They were good for one another.
About my only complaint is that this book, like the others, had odd time jumps. I guess I don’t mind that happening, but then maybe mention the time in between. It just always took me a minute to adjust and be like “oh wait, so it must be like weeks later now”.
Needless to say, I started this one late last night and stayed up way too late because I had a hard time putting it down (though I did eventually). There’s just something about the way Ms. Cross writes that sucks me in and has me compelled to read just one more chapter.
March 12, 2019
On Thin Ice is a YA sports romance, the third book in the Juniper Falls trilogy, by Julie Cross. It’s also a novel that I’ve been highly anticipating ever since finishing Breaking the Ice last year. And the conclusion to the series didn’t disappoint.
That’s not to say I wasn’t surprised that the final instalment was quite a bit shorter than the earlier ones. I wanted to luxuriate in Juniper Falls one last time for as long as possible, and I thought that it’s shorter length (just under 300 pages) would mean I wouldn’t be as satisfied with the journey it would take me on. Boy was I wrong. I didn’t get to read much on the first day I picked it up as I had a prior engagement, but the more I read, the more I wanted to know what would happen between Brooke, the new girl with a gossip-worthy last, and Jake, the presumptive captain of the Otters hockey team.
From the very first chapter in Jake’s POV, it’s obvious that Brooke is intrigued by him. He’s playing a pickup game at the rink, and notices that she keeps her attention on him for 20+ minute stretches at a time, and there’s something intriguing about her to him as well. Part of it, obviously, is that she’s new in town. Everyone else is potentially someone his mom babysat and changed diapers for in the world of Juniper Falls, but Brooke has a type of novelty about her. But that’s not the only thing that compelled him to get to know her better. If you like a little bit of a slow burn in your romances, then the chemistry that builds between them should be more than a little intriguing. Similarly, the more Brooke learns about Jake, including how she reacts to / interprets what happened late at night at the lake during an initiation ritual, the more into him she seems to be. Of course, that doesn’t mean that they jump into something together. If anything, the barriers to them being together make the book all the more satisfying.
As always, Julie Cross writes with a sex positive bent that will appeal to many teens. Without being explicit, the chapters that outline the growing intimacy between Jake and Brooke are of the type that may have readers dog earring pages and/or whispering about what happens in specific chapters to one another.
Beyond the romance, I love that this series always deals with a slightly more serious aspect. In the first book, Tate Tanley dealt with physical abuse from his father in the past, which was now mostly focused on the emotional abuse of manipulation. In the second book, Fletcher Scott’s story details what it’s like to live with extreme, life-threatening allergies, including the bullying he faced as a result of them. In the final book in the series, the 100-year-old traditional initiation between senior and freshman hockey players in Juniper Falls goes wrong accidentally in a way that compromises Jake’s ability to play the hockey season during the all-important senior season and puts a young, deaf teen in the intensive care unit. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but the way it all plays out really touched me on an emotional level, and impacts all of the beloved characters from the earlier books.
If you’re looking for a swoony book with depth and a lot of heart, I can’t recommend On Thin Ice enough. Especially if you’ve already enjoyed the other books in the series. However, even if your new to the series and start here, you can’t go wrong.
That’s not to say I wasn’t surprised that the final instalment was quite a bit shorter than the earlier ones. I wanted to luxuriate in Juniper Falls one last time for as long as possible, and I thought that it’s shorter length (just under 300 pages) would mean I wouldn’t be as satisfied with the journey it would take me on. Boy was I wrong. I didn’t get to read much on the first day I picked it up as I had a prior engagement, but the more I read, the more I wanted to know what would happen between Brooke, the new girl with a gossip-worthy last, and Jake, the presumptive captain of the Otters hockey team.
From the very first chapter in Jake’s POV, it’s obvious that Brooke is intrigued by him. He’s playing a pickup game at the rink, and notices that she keeps her attention on him for 20+ minute stretches at a time, and there’s something intriguing about her to him as well. Part of it, obviously, is that she’s new in town. Everyone else is potentially someone his mom babysat and changed diapers for in the world of Juniper Falls, but Brooke has a type of novelty about her. But that’s not the only thing that compelled him to get to know her better. If you like a little bit of a slow burn in your romances, then the chemistry that builds between them should be more than a little intriguing. Similarly, the more Brooke learns about Jake, including how she reacts to / interprets what happened late at night at the lake during an initiation ritual, the more into him she seems to be. Of course, that doesn’t mean that they jump into something together. If anything, the barriers to them being together make the book all the more satisfying.
As always, Julie Cross writes with a sex positive bent that will appeal to many teens. Without being explicit, the chapters that outline the growing intimacy between Jake and Brooke are of the type that may have readers dog earring pages and/or whispering about what happens in specific chapters to one another.
Beyond the romance, I love that this series always deals with a slightly more serious aspect. In the first book, Tate Tanley dealt with physical abuse from his father in the past, which was now mostly focused on the emotional abuse of manipulation. In the second book, Fletcher Scott’s story details what it’s like to live with extreme, life-threatening allergies, including the bullying he faced as a result of them. In the final book in the series, the 100-year-old traditional initiation between senior and freshman hockey players in Juniper Falls goes wrong accidentally in a way that compromises Jake’s ability to play the hockey season during the all-important senior season and puts a young, deaf teen in the intensive care unit. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but the way it all plays out really touched me on an emotional level, and impacts all of the beloved characters from the earlier books.
If you’re looking for a swoony book with depth and a lot of heart, I can’t recommend On Thin Ice enough. Especially if you’ve already enjoyed the other books in the series. However, even if your new to the series and start here, you can’t go wrong.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2019
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I remember reading the previous book in this series and thinking it was cute read with a bit of emotional depth so I was curious to pick up another book in this series. Here we have Brooke who is new in town after her father went to jail and her and her mother had to move in with her grandma. Her mother is having some mental health issues and Brooke is also dealing with some of that herself. Being the new girl in town is not easy in the middle of all that. Trying out for the new girls hockey team is her way of challenging herself and maybe fitting in a bit.
Jake is the star of the hockey team and future captain this new season. High school hockey is the biggest thing in town and that comes with a lot of pressure and years-long tradition. Including a hazing ritual that he has to be a part of and goes terribly wrong.
There are things about this author's writing that I enjoy but there are also other things that I just can't connect with. I do like that the characters in this series usually have to deal with some issues that make them have to grow and mature. That's where our characters find themselves in this book, especially Jake. He's in a really tough spot and some of the decisions he has to make have the chance of impacting his plans for the future.
At the same time, ON THIN ICE was very slow moving. I'm not sure if it's because there are some scenes that go on and on about things I didn't find all that interesting or relevant to the plot. That could just be me. The plot, however, was something I enjoyed. I liked seeing these two characters help each other through some tough situations. But I can't say we dug deep enough for my liking into what made these two tick. Or even deep enough into some of the more serious subjects this book tackles. I wanted more character development. Yes, there are actions that show the characters are maturing and thinking for themselves but I think we could've had some better development in the internal struggle of how they got there.
This is still a cute read and if you're like me and don't usually read young adult contemporary, this author may be a good fit.
*ARC provided by publisher
Reviewed by Francesca❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤
January 23, 2019
On Thin Ice is the third book in the Juniper Falls series. You can easily read each book as a standalone, but I recommend reading them in order. The third book talked about stuff that happened in the other books and there are characters that appear in each one.
Jake is a local hockey star. It's his senior year and he's going to be captain. The senior boys take the freshmen boys out to a lake for their hazing. This has been done for 100 years (or so they have been told), so it's tradition. Jake is uncomfortable with it, but he participates in the last part of it, after having a bit to drink. He tells the boys to run out on the partially frozen ice. It's just a joke and he tells them to stop as they're running. But one boy doesn't hear him. Jake falls out of the tree and rushes to help him. Jake's collarbone is broken and the boy is rushed to a hospital. Jake won't turn in any of the other guys, so he gets community service helping his uncle coach the new girls hockey team.
Brooke recently moved into her grandma's house with her mom. They lived in Austin, Texas. Brooke's dad is in jail and her mom fell apart. Her depression is so bad that Brooke was taking care of herself. Brooke got into some trouble her freshmen year and wants to start over in Juniper Falls. She really doesn't talk to anyone, but she and Jake have run into each other a few times. Brooke decides to sign up for the hockey team even though she's never played before. Brooke runs at night to escape and she happened across the hazing incident. She is the one that pulled Jake out of the water and called 911.
Brooke and Jake start spending a lot of time together. She's dealing with her mom's depression and Jake is struggling with what happened. They find out that the hockey coaches over the years have covered up actual crimes. This needs to change and Jake decides to stand up to everyone, no matter what it costs.
And like the other Juniper Falls books, there is a heavy focus on the romance. Brooke and Jake are a cute couple that supports each other through everything while falling in love.
Warnings for hazing/bullying, attempted suicide, mental illness/depression, talk of past cutting, and there is some sexual content and swearing.
I gave this book 4 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Entangled Teen for my review copy. This was my 200th review for Netgalley!
Jake is a local hockey star. It's his senior year and he's going to be captain. The senior boys take the freshmen boys out to a lake for their hazing. This has been done for 100 years (or so they have been told), so it's tradition. Jake is uncomfortable with it, but he participates in the last part of it, after having a bit to drink. He tells the boys to run out on the partially frozen ice. It's just a joke and he tells them to stop as they're running. But one boy doesn't hear him. Jake falls out of the tree and rushes to help him. Jake's collarbone is broken and the boy is rushed to a hospital. Jake won't turn in any of the other guys, so he gets community service helping his uncle coach the new girls hockey team.
Brooke recently moved into her grandma's house with her mom. They lived in Austin, Texas. Brooke's dad is in jail and her mom fell apart. Her depression is so bad that Brooke was taking care of herself. Brooke got into some trouble her freshmen year and wants to start over in Juniper Falls. She really doesn't talk to anyone, but she and Jake have run into each other a few times. Brooke decides to sign up for the hockey team even though she's never played before. Brooke runs at night to escape and she happened across the hazing incident. She is the one that pulled Jake out of the water and called 911.
Brooke and Jake start spending a lot of time together. She's dealing with her mom's depression and Jake is struggling with what happened. They find out that the hockey coaches over the years have covered up actual crimes. This needs to change and Jake decides to stand up to everyone, no matter what it costs.
And like the other Juniper Falls books, there is a heavy focus on the romance. Brooke and Jake are a cute couple that supports each other through everything while falling in love.
Warnings for hazing/bullying, attempted suicide, mental illness/depression, talk of past cutting, and there is some sexual content and swearing.
I gave this book 4 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Entangled Teen for my review copy. This was my 200th review for Netgalley!
February 23, 2019
In the city of Juniper Falls hockey reigns supreme. When Brooke Parker’s father goes to jail, she and her mother return to her mom’s home town to live with her grandmother. With her mother’s downward spiral into depression Brooke turns to hockey to take her mind of her troubles and joins the brand new girls hockey team. Jake Hammond, captain of the Varsity boys hockey team, finds himself on the wrong side of the law when a 100 year old hockey tradition goes wrong. As punishment he has to be the assistant coach to the girls hockey team and finds himself drawn to Brooke, a girl who has obviously never played hockey but has some serious talent.
On Thin Ice explores a lot of tough subjects; bullying, depression, and suicide but the novel does a great job of putting a spotlight on these problems and allowing it’s characters to work their way to a solution in a very real, unforced way. Brooke’s family has gone through some really tough times and her life has been turned upside down, including moving to a small town. When she meets Jake after witnessing his teams traditional pre-season hazing she fights an attraction to him and who wouldn’t? Jake is also immediately curious about the “new” girl and when he finds himself her coach they take the time to explore a new friendship but also to help each other work their way through a land mine of adult responsibilities and feelings. Julie Cross did a great job of portraying these scenarios and as an adult myself I forgot I was reading a teen romance. The emotional impact was that good.
If you like sports novels/romances, this is a great one! There’s a good bit of hockey being played and those sports scenes were very well written. I could picture the action and feel the tension in those on the ice moments. Sports action scenes are not easy to portray and it really felt like Julie Cross had either played the game or was a huge fan. It was that good!
I highly recommend this novel if you are looking for a YA contemporary romance. It has some serious subject matter but an uplifting ending. Even though this is the third book in the series, you don’t need to read the first two. I didn’t, but I’m definitely going back to read them now. I’ve found a new author to love, yeah! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I received a free copy of this ARC for my honest review and it was honest
On Thin Ice explores a lot of tough subjects; bullying, depression, and suicide but the novel does a great job of putting a spotlight on these problems and allowing it’s characters to work their way to a solution in a very real, unforced way. Brooke’s family has gone through some really tough times and her life has been turned upside down, including moving to a small town. When she meets Jake after witnessing his teams traditional pre-season hazing she fights an attraction to him and who wouldn’t? Jake is also immediately curious about the “new” girl and when he finds himself her coach they take the time to explore a new friendship but also to help each other work their way through a land mine of adult responsibilities and feelings. Julie Cross did a great job of portraying these scenarios and as an adult myself I forgot I was reading a teen romance. The emotional impact was that good.
If you like sports novels/romances, this is a great one! There’s a good bit of hockey being played and those sports scenes were very well written. I could picture the action and feel the tension in those on the ice moments. Sports action scenes are not easy to portray and it really felt like Julie Cross had either played the game or was a huge fan. It was that good!
I highly recommend this novel if you are looking for a YA contemporary romance. It has some serious subject matter but an uplifting ending. Even though this is the third book in the series, you don’t need to read the first two. I didn’t, but I’m definitely going back to read them now. I’ve found a new author to love, yeah! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I received a free copy of this ARC for my honest review and it was honest
February 9, 2019
*4.25 Stars*
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
On Thin Ice is the third book set in Jupiter Falls, small town in Minnesota. In this book, we meet Brooke and Jake. Jake is a senior and the captain of the Hockey team, Brooke, a sophomore, just moved here from Austin and has barely ever set food on the ice. But as she tours the town with the guidance counselor, she stumbles into a training session and is mesmerized by how Jake Hammond, number 42 glides on the ice. She can't stop staring and doesn't hide it either. Soon, she decides to join the brand new JV women team and turns out that Jake is the assistant coach. See, while doing a hazing thing gone wrong (when do they ever go right though?), Jake broke his clavicule and cannot play anymore and he has to do community service and the coaching thing is what's been asked of him.
Ok. That summary was shit but you kind of see what I meant?
Anyway, I really liked this book, I read it way too fast, finished it at 3.30am because I simply couldn't stop reading. I don't know what it is about Julie Cross writing that always make me binge read her books but I like it. The characters were layered and really interesting and I just loved their relationship. I don't think there was any unnecessary drama and I just loved how the town is almost a character in the story. Anyway, I have read book 2 and 3 of this series and I really got to read #1. I really hope there are more after this one too.
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
On Thin Ice is the third book set in Jupiter Falls, small town in Minnesota. In this book, we meet Brooke and Jake. Jake is a senior and the captain of the Hockey team, Brooke, a sophomore, just moved here from Austin and has barely ever set food on the ice. But as she tours the town with the guidance counselor, she stumbles into a training session and is mesmerized by how Jake Hammond, number 42 glides on the ice. She can't stop staring and doesn't hide it either. Soon, she decides to join the brand new JV women team and turns out that Jake is the assistant coach. See, while doing a hazing thing gone wrong (when do they ever go right though?), Jake broke his clavicule and cannot play anymore and he has to do community service and the coaching thing is what's been asked of him.
Ok. That summary was shit but you kind of see what I meant?
Anyway, I really liked this book, I read it way too fast, finished it at 3.30am because I simply couldn't stop reading. I don't know what it is about Julie Cross writing that always make me binge read her books but I like it. The characters were layered and really interesting and I just loved their relationship. I don't think there was any unnecessary drama and I just loved how the town is almost a character in the story. Anyway, I have read book 2 and 3 of this series and I really got to read #1. I really hope there are more after this one too.
February 12, 2019
I want to say that I don’t expect YAs to be occasionally deep with beautifully poetic writing and lovably (or at least toleratedly) flawed. I want to say that I don’t secretly enjoy when a book I’m expecting to just act as a lighthearted life buffer turns out to be something m o r e to me.
In light of this, I guess this was my problem with On Thin Ice. I’m lowkey naturally drawn to books about ice and hockey and skating in any way shape or form, kind of like my music thing too, so I couldn’t not try to get a copy of this ARC of course.
The characters and their basicness turned me off very very quickly. Tropes can be good in moderation or when they’re executed with cool new twists and pulled together by the author’s creativity and ingenuity. I started off trying to look for depth within the MCs, and my determination and interest slowly faded from there.
I don’t think it really helps that there are so many recycled tidbits from page to page. I think I’ve been on too low of a w o w book streak that I just couldn’t bring myself to go on or really find myself interested in what was to happen with the various plot points and character relations.
I did enjoy some of the hockey aspects that I read through, which was definitely a plus, but otherwise I think this might just be the kind of book that I’ll have to retry some other time.
When that time comes, I’ll be sure to update my review.
My thanks to Entangled Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC!
In light of this, I guess this was my problem with On Thin Ice. I’m lowkey naturally drawn to books about ice and hockey and skating in any way shape or form, kind of like my music thing too, so I couldn’t not try to get a copy of this ARC of course.
The characters and their basicness turned me off very very quickly. Tropes can be good in moderation or when they’re executed with cool new twists and pulled together by the author’s creativity and ingenuity. I started off trying to look for depth within the MCs, and my determination and interest slowly faded from there.
I don’t think it really helps that there are so many recycled tidbits from page to page. I think I’ve been on too low of a w o w book streak that I just couldn’t bring myself to go on or really find myself interested in what was to happen with the various plot points and character relations.
I did enjoy some of the hockey aspects that I read through, which was definitely a plus, but otherwise I think this might just be the kind of book that I’ll have to retry some other time.
When that time comes, I’ll be sure to update my review.
My thanks to Entangled Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC!
February 20, 2019
I received a free copy of this title to read and review for Wicked Reads
5 Stars
Young Adult age-range: 14+ disclaimer on hazing rituals gone wrong.
On Thin Ice is the third installment of the Juniper Falls series. This is a standalone series, meaning the books can be read out of series order with no confusion felt by the reader.
I'm a big fan of Julie Cross's writing style and the way she creates young adult who are believable and lifelike, their quirkiness a breath of fresh air rather than over-done or OTT. At the same time, Cross always manages to have me clicking the pages at a rapid rate, needing to know what happens next.
Brooke's numbness resonated with me. Her father is in prison and her mother has checked out, leaving Brooke to move in with her grandmother. But she doesn't adjust well, closing herself off instead of experiencing the chaotic emotions that would tear her apart.
Brooke doesn't believe she needs anyone, but she received unlikely support and attention from the most popular boy in school, Jake. Their connection is strong and realistic. Believable. She opens up and learns to trust again.
After a hazing gone wrong, Jake is thrust into Brooke's path. This is obviously a hockey romance, but it isn't pushed to the wayside like many novels do. Hockey is a supportive character in the novel, having it's own voice. I actually didn't know anything about the sport, and I learned a bunch without it coming off as textbook or too much information. The delivery was perfect, an entertaining way to teach.
I highly recommend this novel, the series, and the author to fans of young adult, as Julie Cross is on my must-read list.
5 Stars
Young Adult age-range: 14+ disclaimer on hazing rituals gone wrong.
On Thin Ice is the third installment of the Juniper Falls series. This is a standalone series, meaning the books can be read out of series order with no confusion felt by the reader.
I'm a big fan of Julie Cross's writing style and the way she creates young adult who are believable and lifelike, their quirkiness a breath of fresh air rather than over-done or OTT. At the same time, Cross always manages to have me clicking the pages at a rapid rate, needing to know what happens next.
Brooke's numbness resonated with me. Her father is in prison and her mother has checked out, leaving Brooke to move in with her grandmother. But she doesn't adjust well, closing herself off instead of experiencing the chaotic emotions that would tear her apart.
Brooke doesn't believe she needs anyone, but she received unlikely support and attention from the most popular boy in school, Jake. Their connection is strong and realistic. Believable. She opens up and learns to trust again.
After a hazing gone wrong, Jake is thrust into Brooke's path. This is obviously a hockey romance, but it isn't pushed to the wayside like many novels do. Hockey is a supportive character in the novel, having it's own voice. I actually didn't know anything about the sport, and I learned a bunch without it coming off as textbook or too much information. The delivery was perfect, an entertaining way to teach.
I highly recommend this novel, the series, and the author to fans of young adult, as Julie Cross is on my must-read list.
January 10, 2019
<>Original review: A Novel Glimpse
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.
Can I just start by saying how disappointed I am in myself for not reading a book by Julie Cross until now? I have seen several rave reviews for her Juniper Falls series in the past. I always wanted to read one of those books, but never did. Shame on me! I absolutely adored On Thin Ice. On Thin Ice is one of those young adult novels that digs deep, but leaves you feeling all happy and bubbly inside. Or at least that is how it made me feel.
Brooke is a quiet sophomore new to Juniper Falls. She’s had a rough couple of years, and she longs to take back her life in a new town. On a calculated whim, she joins the new high school girls’ hockey team. Joining the team puts Brooke in direct contact with the boys’ teams hockey star, Jake. Being around the cute and charismatic senior is tough enough as it is, but the two share a secret. The more the two get to know each other, the harder it is to stay away from each other and the truths they have to deal with.
Brooke and Jake were characters I couldn’t help but love. Brooke was intense and sweet. She was also a mess. Jake was strong and had the best of intentions, but he was also a mess. Somehow their individuals messes faded when they were together. They were the support system the other needed to make the big, important changes in their lives. I loved them as a couple and as individuals.
I greatly respected where Julie Cross took this story when it came to the hazing incident. There have been so many gone wrong in the news in the past couple of years, and it’s never close to home until it is. On Thin Ice tackled it in a way that gave young readers options to look at if they ever encounter a similar situation. I liked that it wasn’t a quick and easy decision or fix for the characters.
I have a feeling Julie Cross is going to be joining my list of go-to YA authors like Kasie West, Katie McGarry, Emery Lord, and Morgan Matson (just to name a few). I am so excited to go back and read the rest of the Juniper Falls series.
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.
Can I just start by saying how disappointed I am in myself for not reading a book by Julie Cross until now? I have seen several rave reviews for her Juniper Falls series in the past. I always wanted to read one of those books, but never did. Shame on me! I absolutely adored On Thin Ice. On Thin Ice is one of those young adult novels that digs deep, but leaves you feeling all happy and bubbly inside. Or at least that is how it made me feel.
Brooke is a quiet sophomore new to Juniper Falls. She’s had a rough couple of years, and she longs to take back her life in a new town. On a calculated whim, she joins the new high school girls’ hockey team. Joining the team puts Brooke in direct contact with the boys’ teams hockey star, Jake. Being around the cute and charismatic senior is tough enough as it is, but the two share a secret. The more the two get to know each other, the harder it is to stay away from each other and the truths they have to deal with.
Brooke and Jake were characters I couldn’t help but love. Brooke was intense and sweet. She was also a mess. Jake was strong and had the best of intentions, but he was also a mess. Somehow their individuals messes faded when they were together. They were the support system the other needed to make the big, important changes in their lives. I loved them as a couple and as individuals.
I greatly respected where Julie Cross took this story when it came to the hazing incident. There have been so many gone wrong in the news in the past couple of years, and it’s never close to home until it is. On Thin Ice tackled it in a way that gave young readers options to look at if they ever encounter a similar situation. I liked that it wasn’t a quick and easy decision or fix for the characters.
I have a feeling Julie Cross is going to be joining my list of go-to YA authors like Kasie West, Katie McGarry, Emery Lord, and Morgan Matson (just to name a few). I am so excited to go back and read the rest of the Juniper Falls series.
April 3, 2019
Just to be clear, my rating has almost nothing to do with Jake and Brooke's romantic journey. They were inoffensive enough, I suppose, but didn't possess much by way of personalities, let alone swoonworthy romantic chemistry. They were, however, effective at pushing the plot toward a highly satisfying exposure of the town's toxic hockey culture.
This culture is in evidence in the rest of the series, but as it provided a convenient source of conflict in both those books, I was never quite sure if I was supposed to find it problematic and want it to stop or just let it exist in the world of the books as a Plot Thing. Like you do.
But this book...well. Clearly, I am supposed to find it problematic (yay!) and cheer loudly (in my head) as almost the entire hockey team exposes what their town's drive to win at any cost has actually cost them. (Jake's speech is particularly rousing.) That is what earns my enjoyment of this book, though it arrives a little late in the game (pun totally intended) to compensate for the less-than-engaging romance.
This culture is in evidence in the rest of the series, but as it provided a convenient source of conflict in both those books, I was never quite sure if I was supposed to find it problematic and want it to stop or just let it exist in the world of the books as a Plot Thing. Like you do.
But this book...well. Clearly, I am supposed to find it problematic (yay!) and cheer loudly (in my head) as almost the entire hockey team exposes what their town's drive to win at any cost has actually cost them. (Jake's speech is particularly rousing.) That is what earns my enjoyment of this book, though it arrives a little late in the game (pun totally intended) to compensate for the less-than-engaging romance.
January 6, 2019
I have read all of the companion books to this one in the Juniper Falls series by Julie Cross and this one far exceeded all the rest ( which I enjoyed quite a bit). What made this one even better was the depth of the story and the topics is touched on that I wasnt expecting. This wasnt just another YA romance where new girl meets handsome popular boy and they live happily ever after. This story involves pain and regret. It discusses loss and the struggle of mental health, the power of finding your voice and speaking up. It finds a way to move the romance along but in a way that the other morals and lessons go by the wayside. All of these are interwoven with hockey and a town where boys hockey takes center stage. Well done Julie Cross, this was a great read. Thank you netgalley for an arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 3, 2019
4 1/2
If you asked me to name you a YA author who is constantly churning out quality books, hands down I would put Julie Cross at the top of that list. Between her Juniper Falls series (read my reviews for Breaking the Ice and Off the Ice) and her Eleanor Ames series (read my review for both Chasing Truth and Hiding Lies, she’s crafted page-turning novels that make the reader think as well as provide a feel-good ending. On Thin Ice is definitely the best YA novel I’ve read so far this year.
Hockey is the most important thing in Juniper Falls. If you didn’t play hockey, it’s most likely you wouldn’t be remembered. As with everything that becomes an obsession, Juniper Falls hockey has a dark side, which is slowly revealed in On Thin Ice as Jake Hammond’s hockey career is put on ice (pun intended) and the aftermath of a hazing ritual, one that has gone on before the current players were even born comes to light.
read more: http://saschadarlington.me/2019/03/03...
If you asked me to name you a YA author who is constantly churning out quality books, hands down I would put Julie Cross at the top of that list. Between her Juniper Falls series (read my reviews for Breaking the Ice and Off the Ice) and her Eleanor Ames series (read my review for both Chasing Truth and Hiding Lies, she’s crafted page-turning novels that make the reader think as well as provide a feel-good ending. On Thin Ice is definitely the best YA novel I’ve read so far this year.
Hockey is the most important thing in Juniper Falls. If you didn’t play hockey, it’s most likely you wouldn’t be remembered. As with everything that becomes an obsession, Juniper Falls hockey has a dark side, which is slowly revealed in On Thin Ice as Jake Hammond’s hockey career is put on ice (pun intended) and the aftermath of a hazing ritual, one that has gone on before the current players were even born comes to light.
read more: http://saschadarlington.me/2019/03/03...
February 6, 2023
First off, I have to be honest here, I don't think the blurb was accurately written. I thought I was getting into a sweet, YA romance that would deal with some harder things (the blurb does mention a hazing thing gone wrong), but mostly skirt over the real issue and ultimately end up being a quick read. Boy was I wrong. Not a quick YA read, despite the quick nature of the plot. What normally would've taken me 3 -4 ish hours to finish - even with as many pages as this book has, took probably double that. Now, I'm not complaining about spending all day reading, I'm just saying I wasn't expecting it. It wasn't because it was a bad book, quite the opposite. It is a fantastically told story, but because it delves deeper than I antcipated, it took me longer to get though.
I know Entangled "thing" is the dual POV, but when I realized it would be written that way I sort of inwardly groaned. I know it's the in thing to do in literature these days, especially YA, but it just seems like a new pop song on the radio: catchy, fun, but very quickly over done. BUT, the dual POV in On Thin Ice was done pretty much to perfection. The scenes chosen for each, the destinct voice of each, even the balance between the inner voice and dialogue was done really, really well. Like, almost as well as I've read lately. So seriously, kudos to the author for that balance!
The story in and of itself was also pretty darn close to perfect, and that despite the fact that I'm not a huge fan of getting too "real" with a lot of topics in YA. I pick up a YA romance novel for just that: a short, sweet shot of teenage love. I don't generally have an interest in getting into their lives and problems much passed the romance I came for. However, the romance and the true plot line of a hockey team hazing ritual gone bad and the repercussions from it were woved together so seemlessly that I didn't even care (and hardly noticed!) that I was reading something more than surface level in YA. Even for the tough subject of teenage hazing, peer pressure, and fear of standing up for what you know is right (and those are just Jake's issues!), the author handled it really maturely and yet delicately. I was happy that while choosing to focus on those topics, that the author didn't focus too hard on Brooke's issues (father in prison - unsure of his guilt - mother depressed and having issues, and past partying, alcohol, and cutting issues for Brooke). She could have, but I think it would've taken the book a little darker. The issues are mentioned, and resolved, to a certain degree, but the author doesn't glorify anything and she doesn't make them a huge deal. It was more of a "this happened in Brooke's past to shape her now, but she's growing and that's what the story is about".
I loved being in the head of Jake, the senior star of the small town hockey team who ends up injured to begin his season. The struggles, internal and external, the insecurity, the uncertainty of what to do and who to follow - I felt it. I believed it. I love, love, loved Jake's insecurity towards Brooke. Something about reading about a male character, teen or not, who isn't 100% confident all the time about every aspect of his love life was so wonderfully refreshing. I feel like most YA heroines go through that, so I did love how Brooke was written, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't anything out of the ordinary.
The way that the author developed Jake and Brooke's relationship - from not knowing each other to eventual love - was simply one of the best character developments that I have had the pleasure of reading recently. No insta-love here. It was slow, but in the good way. In the realistic way. And in a way that made sense for the characters that were being set up.
This is a 5 star story in terms of story line, characters, character development, and overall writing. I thoroughly enjoyed spending my day getting lost in this story, HOWEVER... this is not a clean book. There are quite a few swear words of all type. There is underage drinking and alluding to it (though, thankfully for this teacher, done in a way that seems to be more of an "everyone else is doing it, but it's really making me feel pukey" way as opposed to a glorifying it way that I've read in other Entangled novels). There is some heavy hazing and other alludes to abuse. And, and this is really the stickler for me, there is a descriptive hook-up and sex scene. Hear me out: they were written really well. I loved the writing. I loved that they had a condom ready. I loved how the characters handled it. I even loved how it flowed into the story and wasn't forced or stuffy. I also loved how it wasn't rauchy because they are teenagers (and I've noticed that being a sad trend in YA lately). It was sweet, simple, and loving. Everything you'd dream up for a high school romance. But it is still Young Adult fiction. I can't recommend a book to my high school students of the same age when the characters are having sex that is more than implied. Especially not when Brooke is only a sophomore and it wasn't her first time. The other stuff was written about in an almost discouraging way, but not the sex (which, again, fit the story line perfectly). The sex was too much for a YA novel, plain and simple.
So do I love the book? Yes. Would I recommend it to a girlfriend? Yes. Do I think other lovers of YA literature will love it? Absolutely. Would I recommend it to my students? Only a very, very rare one and they'd get a warning about the swear words, alcohol, and sex, but I fully believe they'd come back to me raving about loving it too. I can't wait to read more from this author!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review!
I know Entangled "thing" is the dual POV, but when I realized it would be written that way I sort of inwardly groaned. I know it's the in thing to do in literature these days, especially YA, but it just seems like a new pop song on the radio: catchy, fun, but very quickly over done. BUT, the dual POV in On Thin Ice was done pretty much to perfection. The scenes chosen for each, the destinct voice of each, even the balance between the inner voice and dialogue was done really, really well. Like, almost as well as I've read lately. So seriously, kudos to the author for that balance!
The story in and of itself was also pretty darn close to perfect, and that despite the fact that I'm not a huge fan of getting too "real" with a lot of topics in YA. I pick up a YA romance novel for just that: a short, sweet shot of teenage love. I don't generally have an interest in getting into their lives and problems much passed the romance I came for. However, the romance and the true plot line of a hockey team hazing ritual gone bad and the repercussions from it were woved together so seemlessly that I didn't even care (and hardly noticed!) that I was reading something more than surface level in YA. Even for the tough subject of teenage hazing, peer pressure, and fear of standing up for what you know is right (and those are just Jake's issues!), the author handled it really maturely and yet delicately. I was happy that while choosing to focus on those topics, that the author didn't focus too hard on Brooke's issues (father in prison - unsure of his guilt - mother depressed and having issues, and past partying, alcohol, and cutting issues for Brooke). She could have, but I think it would've taken the book a little darker. The issues are mentioned, and resolved, to a certain degree, but the author doesn't glorify anything and she doesn't make them a huge deal. It was more of a "this happened in Brooke's past to shape her now, but she's growing and that's what the story is about".
I loved being in the head of Jake, the senior star of the small town hockey team who ends up injured to begin his season. The struggles, internal and external, the insecurity, the uncertainty of what to do and who to follow - I felt it. I believed it. I love, love, loved Jake's insecurity towards Brooke. Something about reading about a male character, teen or not, who isn't 100% confident all the time about every aspect of his love life was so wonderfully refreshing. I feel like most YA heroines go through that, so I did love how Brooke was written, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't anything out of the ordinary.
The way that the author developed Jake and Brooke's relationship - from not knowing each other to eventual love - was simply one of the best character developments that I have had the pleasure of reading recently. No insta-love here. It was slow, but in the good way. In the realistic way. And in a way that made sense for the characters that were being set up.
This is a 5 star story in terms of story line, characters, character development, and overall writing. I thoroughly enjoyed spending my day getting lost in this story, HOWEVER... this is not a clean book. There are quite a few swear words of all type. There is underage drinking and alluding to it (though, thankfully for this teacher, done in a way that seems to be more of an "everyone else is doing it, but it's really making me feel pukey" way as opposed to a glorifying it way that I've read in other Entangled novels). There is some heavy hazing and other alludes to abuse. And, and this is really the stickler for me, there is a descriptive hook-up and sex scene. Hear me out: they were written really well. I loved the writing. I loved that they had a condom ready. I loved how the characters handled it. I even loved how it flowed into the story and wasn't forced or stuffy. I also loved how it wasn't rauchy because they are teenagers (and I've noticed that being a sad trend in YA lately). It was sweet, simple, and loving. Everything you'd dream up for a high school romance. But it is still Young Adult fiction. I can't recommend a book to my high school students of the same age when the characters are having sex that is more than implied. Especially not when Brooke is only a sophomore and it wasn't her first time. The other stuff was written about in an almost discouraging way, but not the sex (which, again, fit the story line perfectly). The sex was too much for a YA novel, plain and simple.
So do I love the book? Yes. Would I recommend it to a girlfriend? Yes. Do I think other lovers of YA literature will love it? Absolutely. Would I recommend it to my students? Only a very, very rare one and they'd get a warning about the swear words, alcohol, and sex, but I fully believe they'd come back to me raving about loving it too. I can't wait to read more from this author!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review!
February 25, 2019
Julie Cross scores a hat trick with the third book in the Juniper Falls series, ON THIN ICE. Hockey captain, Jake Hammond, is tasked with helping coach the new girl’s hockey team after being injured during a hazing ritual. He discovers that there is more to life then hockey as he gets to know the new girl, Brooke Parker. This story is suitable for young adults. It takes place in Juniper Falls, Minnesota.
I liked Brooke. She has had to deal with a difficult home life situation that caused her to relocate from Austin, Texas to Juniper Falls to live with her grandma. She decides to try out for the new girl’s hockey team to fit in and make friends. I love Jake. He is brave and has great values. I appreciated that he owns up to his mistakes and takes a stand to do what is right. I like how Brooke and Jake get to know each other. They come into each other’s lives at a point where they really need each other to help them deal with their situations. To outsiders, they might seem like a strange couple, but they help save each other (literarily and figuratively).
Julie Cross does an amazing job with this novel. The name of the book is very clever. The plot was skillfully executed. The topic of hazing is relevant and important. ON THIN ICE is a story of courage and doing what is right. The novel had a perfect ending. I love how characters from the previous books (like Mike Steller) were tied to the outcome of this novel. This has become my favorite book in the series. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
I liked Brooke. She has had to deal with a difficult home life situation that caused her to relocate from Austin, Texas to Juniper Falls to live with her grandma. She decides to try out for the new girl’s hockey team to fit in and make friends. I love Jake. He is brave and has great values. I appreciated that he owns up to his mistakes and takes a stand to do what is right. I like how Brooke and Jake get to know each other. They come into each other’s lives at a point where they really need each other to help them deal with their situations. To outsiders, they might seem like a strange couple, but they help save each other (literarily and figuratively).
Julie Cross does an amazing job with this novel. The name of the book is very clever. The plot was skillfully executed. The topic of hazing is relevant and important. ON THIN ICE is a story of courage and doing what is right. The novel had a perfect ending. I love how characters from the previous books (like Mike Steller) were tied to the outcome of this novel. This has become my favorite book in the series. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
January 5, 2019
This was not what the blurb lead me to believe. Instead of a hockey romance this is about bullying, harrassment, and standing up for what is right. So just know that there is some darkness in here that isn't shown in the blurb.
If you enjoy a deep story with a side of romance then this might just be the book for you.
If you enjoy a deep story with a side of romance then this might just be the book for you.
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