A fake showmance is all fun and games until you start falling for the person you’re supposed to be pretending to love.
ON THIN ICE by Olivia Belle: Luca Vasvault is a former child star trying to repair his reputation, while professional skater Matilda Stevens is desperate to win the prize money that will finally allow her to leave Stars on Ice behind. Paired together for the competition, the two agree to put aside their differences and give the audience the showmance they’re expecting. The problem is that spending sixteen weeks together makes it increasingly difficult to separate what’s real from what’s part of the performance.
ON THIN ICE was such a fun mix of romance, humor, and personal growth wrapped up in a figure skating competition that kept me entertained from beginning to end.
The behind-the-scenes competition setting, the skating performances, and the constant tension between what Luca and Matilda were pretending to feel and what they were actually feeling made it impossible not to keep turning the pages. I also loved getting a glimpse into the pressures both characters faced behind the scenes, especially when so much of their lives revolved around public perception.
Luca was exactly the kind of grumpy hero I love—sarcastic, frustrating, and far more vulnerable than he wanted anyone to know. Beneath his reputation and bad attitude was someone carrying a lot of hurt, and I loved watching him slowly let his guard down. Everyone sees Matilda as the perfect sweetheart of the show, yet she’s quietly struggling under the weight of expectations that were never truly hers. Watching her start prioritizing her own happiness and figure out what she wanted for her future made her journey just as satisfying as the romance.
The chemistry between Luca and Matilda was playful, frustrating, and full of tension from the start, but what made their relationship work so well was the way they challenged each other’s assumptions. As they spent more time together, they began seeing the person behind the public image, and that growing understanding added so much depth to their connection. Watching them move from reluctant partners to genuine teammates and eventually something more made it impossible not to root for them.
Tropes
⛸️ Figure skating romance
🎭 Fake showmance
☀️ Grumpy x sunshine
💕 Forced proximity
🎬 Celebrity romance
🔥 Opposites attract
💕 Taking a chance on love
ON THIN ICE was a fun, swoony romance that balanced humor, chemistry, and emotional growth. Between the skating competition, the fake showmance, and two characters learning how to stop living for everyone else’s expectations, this was such an entertaining read.
Perfect for readers who enjoy celebrity competition shows, behind-the-scenes drama, and romances where public personas hide much more complicated realities.
QOTD: Would you rather watch a figure skating competition or a dancing competition?
Book Info:
Publication: Published: April 7, 2026 | Dell |
Luca Vasvault thought he was finished with show business. A former child star now labeled the disgraced has-been of Hollywood, he moved to the UK to care for his dying mother. But an opportunity surfaces that Luca can’t resist—the leading role in a remake of his mother’s favorite film. The catch? He needs to straighten out his image first.
His agent has the perfect plan to win the public’s vote: sign Luca up for Stars on Ice, a figure skating competition in which celebrities are paired with professionals. To give him his best shot at redemption, Luca is partnered with the show’s sweetheart, Matilda Stevens, a woman known for her unwavering composure, whistle-clean record, and winning smile.
Competitive figure skating was always Matilda’s mother’s passion, not hers. Secretly, she hates the show, and the last thing she needs is to spend sixteen weeks with Hollywood’s most notorious bad boy. Especially when Luca seems determined to make her life miserable with his surly attitude and annoyingly handsome-even-when-scowling face. But victory comes with prize money that will let Matilda quit Stars on Ice once and for all.
With everything on the line, the two strike a deal: They will cast their differences aside and put on the showmance of a lifetime, both on and off the ice. After all, they’re both performers for a living. How hard can it be?
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