Where to Start with A.L. Graziadei
For readers looking to dive into the works of A.L. Graziadei, the best starting point is their award-winning debut novel, Icebreaker (2022). While both of Graziadei's published novels are standalones that can be read in any order, beginning with their first release allows you to experience the author's signature blend of high-pressure sports, queer identity, and mental health struggles from the ground up.
Both novels are set at the fictional Hartland University, sharing a collegiate backdrop. However, they follow completely different sets of characters and sports teams, meaning there are no major spoilers or character crossovers that would ruin one book if you read the other first.
A.L. Graziadei Books in Order of Publication
Currently, A.L. Graziadei has published two young adult contemporary novels. They can be read in publication order or purely based on which sport or theme appeals to you more:
- Icebreaker (2022) – Set during a high-stakes freshman year, this novel follows a legacy college hockey player battling clinical depression and navigating a fierce rivalry that slowly melts into romance.
- In Repair (2024) – Centered around college freshman Nathaniel Conti, this book focuses on a lacrosse player coping with trauma, dissociation, and the challenge of building healthy, supportive relationships.
Detailed Guide to the Novels
1. Icebreaker (2022)
As A.L. Graziadei's debut, Icebreaker earned widespread critical acclaim, including being named a 2023 Michael L. Printz Honor book. The story centers on seventeen-year-old college freshman Mickey James III. As the son and grandson of NHL legends, Mickey's entire life has been pre-charted for him: play college hockey, get drafted number one overall, and carry on the family legacy.
However, Mickey is quietly struggling with severe depression and anxiety. His world gets more complicated when he is forced to share a locker room and compete for the top draft spot with Jaysen Caulfield, a talented rival who challenges Mickey both on and off the ice. What begins as a bitter, competitive rivalry transforms into a slow-burn romance, forcing Mickey to decide if the future laid out for him is the one he actually wants.
2. In Repair (2024)
Returning to the campus of Hartland University, In Repair shifts the spotlight from the hockey rink to the lacrosse field. The protagonist, Nathaniel Conti, is a freshman who struggles with dissociation and feeling "real" when he is alone. To cope with his internal numbness, Nathaniel builds a reputation as an attention-seeking troublemaker because being the center of attention is the only time he feels truly alive.
As Nathaniel tries to rebuild his life, join the college lacrosse circle, and find his footing, he begins modeling for an aspiring photographer who sees through his performative act. But when a former friend from his past reappears on campus, Nathaniel is forced to confront deep-seated trauma and unhealthy coping mechanisms he thought he had left behind. In Repair is an introspective, heavy, yet ultimately hopeful exploration of healing and the power of queerplatonic bonds.
Important: The Icebreaker Title Confusion
If you are looking for A.L. Graziadei's Icebreaker, it is highly likely you will run into search results for another book sharing the exact same title. In 2022, author Hannah Grace also published a massive romance hit named Icebreaker. To help you pick the right book, keep these differences in mind:
- A.L. Graziadei's Icebreaker: A Young Adult (YA) novel focusing heavily on queer identity, competitive hockey rivalry, clinical depression, and self-discovery. It is emotional, introspective, and suitable for YA readers.
- Hannah Grace's Icebreaker: A New Adult (NA) "spicy" contemporary romance featuring a figure skater and a hockey captain who share a rink. It is highly explicit, trope-heavy, and targeted toward older romance readers.
What to Know Before You Start
A.L. Graziadei's novels are not light, breezy sports romances. While sports like hockey and lacrosse provide a structured backdrop for the characters' daily lives, the core of these stories is character-driven mental health struggles. Both books address heavy topics, including depression, anxiety, childhood trauma, PTSD, and dissociation. Readers should check trigger warnings beforehand and ensure they are in a supportive headspace to engage with these raw and honest depictions of healing.