Book Review of "Collide by Bal Khabra

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Charming and brilliant, “Collide” by Bal Khabra is equal parts spicy and sweet while shining above the rest. Khabra seamlessly weaves whip-smart banter, a captivating cast of characters, and laugh-out-loud humour into an endearing, timeless love story. Readers will cheer for the main characters from the first page, and think of them long after the end.

Meet Summer Preston: an honours student with ambitious graduate school plans. Meet Aiden Crawford: the captain of the college hockey team. Their worlds collide when an ultimatum from Summer’s professor thrusts her into an unexpected collision with Aiden. She’s caught between conflicting desires: fulfilling her lifelong dream of becoming a sport psychologist and staying as far away as possible from the god-awful sport of hockey. For Aiden, being the hockey team’s captain has its perks, but a reckless mistake by his team threatens their entire season. His coach nominates him as the subject of a research paper, and the last thing he wants is to work with Summer, who looks like she could wield his skates as a weapon.

Summer can’t stand Aiden’s blasé approach to life, and Aiden doesn’t understand her uptight, scheduled one. They’re off to a rocky start, provoking each other at every turn. Yet, defeat isn’t something either of them is willing to accept. As their connection deepens, their chemistry becomes hot enough to melt an ice rink. Khabra masterfully captures the tension between Summer and Aiden, making their journey from enemies to lovers utterly captivating.

The novel is light on plot, chronicling how these two slowly go from adversaries to soulmates without much friction. However, it’s the characters that steal the show. Summer’s flaws and Aiden’s charm make them endearing and relatable. Their banter is witty, and their emotional connection feels genuine. Khabra’s writing is easy to read, engaging, and sprinkled with humour. You’ll find yourself laughing out loud and rooting for this unlikely pair.

“Collide” is a welcome addition to the booming sub-genre of hockey romance. Whether you’re a sports fan or simply love a good love story, this book delivers. Prepare to be swept away by Aiden and Summer’s journey. It’s a collision that leaves a lasting impact.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Genre: Multicultural Interest, New Adult, Romance

Published: 14 May 2024