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Fated Skates
She’s chasing gold. He’s chasing forgiveness. The Winter Olympics heat up as two comeback stories collide.
Quinn Albright was America’s figure skating darling until a humiliating Olympic performance splashed her across every headline. Now she’s back, stronger than ever, ready to claim the gold medal on her own terms—no PR fluff, no perfect princess act, just the real, unapologetic Quinn.
But the one distraction she didn’t train for? Bennett Martino. Once the golden boy of speed skating, Bennett’s reputation took a hit he’s still paying for. The chance to host a sporty news magazine show is the perfect redemption arc, and nothing would boost his ratings more than an inside look at Quinn’s comeback. There’s just one issue—she’s the last person who wants him around.
As this year’s Olympic Games commence, past mistakes, shared secrets, and unrelenting chemistry collide. With cameras rolling and the ice melting under their skates, Quinn and Bennett must figure out if they can rewrite their stories—or crash and burn.
Quinn Albright was America’s figure skating darling until a humiliating Olympic performance splashed her across every headline. Now she’s back, stronger than ever, ready to claim the gold medal on her own terms—no PR fluff, no perfect princess act, just the real, unapologetic Quinn.
But the one distraction she didn’t train for? Bennett Martino. Once the golden boy of speed skating, Bennett’s reputation took a hit he’s still paying for. The chance to host a sporty news magazine show is the perfect redemption arc, and nothing would boost his ratings more than an inside look at Quinn’s comeback. There’s just one issue—she’s the last person who wants him around.
As this year’s Olympic Games commence, past mistakes, shared secrets, and unrelenting chemistry collide. With cameras rolling and the ice melting under their skates, Quinn and Bennett must figure out if they can rewrite their stories—or crash and burn.
352 pages, Paperback
Published January 13, 2026
126 people are currently reading
8775 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Schade
15 books427 followersVictoria Schade has been a dog trainer and writer for over seventeen years. During that time her dog duties have included working behind the scenes on Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl as the lead animal wrangler, appearing on two seasons of the Animal Planet show Faithful Friends, writing dog training content and appearing in educational videos for NBC/Universal, Pet360, PawCulture and petMD, and writing two dog training books, Bonding With Your Dog and Secrets of a Dog Trainer.
Victoria shares her 1850’s always-in- need-of- renovations home with Millie the Smooth Brussels Griffon (who wants you to know that she is not a skinny pug), Olive the mixed breed dog, the occasional foster pup, and her incredibly tolerant husband, Tom.
Victoria shares her 1850’s always-in- need-of- renovations home with Millie the Smooth Brussels Griffon (who wants you to know that she is not a skinny pug), Olive the mixed breed dog, the occasional foster pup, and her incredibly tolerant husband, Tom.
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
જ⁀➴ 3.25 stars
Thank you so much to Avon, Victoria Schade, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Fated Skates will be officially published on January 13th, 2026!
⋆𐙚❅🦌*°⋆❆.⛸️ ⋆𐙚❅🦌*°⋆❆.⛸️ ⋆𐙚❅🦌*°⋆❆.⛸️ ⋆𐙚❅🦌*°⋆❆.⛸️ ⋆𐙚❅🦌*°⋆❆.⛸️ ⋆𐙚❅🦌*°
If you’re an Olympics fan looking to get into the Olympic spirit before the games start next month AND you’re also a big figure skating fan like I am, this may be the book for you! After reading The Favorites by Layne Fargo last year and the book becoming one of my only five-star reads of 2025, I wanted to find another book that sort of had those same vibes (probably just not as drama-packed haha).
Quinn Albright is looking to make a comeback. After a disastrous performance at her first Olympics, resulting in a somewhat viral response from her, staring at the camera to millions of viewers with tears streaming down her face, she's coming back this year to Milan with revenge and her eyes set on one thing: the gold medal. When her mom signs her up to do a TV documentary about her skating career without her permission, she has no choice but to say yes....even if that means working with Bennett "Magic" Martino, the former speed skating Olympic athlete who broke her heart at the Games four years prior.
The figure skating world has always fascinated me. From the outfits and choreography to the amount of hours that get spent on training and even the amount of science and pure physics that goes into the sport in itself, I’ve been wanting to find more figure skating books in the sports romance genre. I also love a good comeback story, and Fated Skates has a wonderful comeback story featuring our Quinn, as she struggles to overcome her disastrous performance in her first Olympics and is trying to land a spot on the podium at this year’s Winter Olympics.
However, I felt like there were massive pieces of the puzzle missing from this story, and I finished the book feeling unsatisfied. It didn’t feel like the story was complete, and I feel like I didn’t get enough closure from the story when I finished. If the book had been only slightly longer, I probably would’ve felt differently, but there were lingering questions I had that never ended up getting answered.
The biggest issue I had with the story was the chemistry–or lack thereof—between Quinn and Ben. While most of the story revolves around Quinn, Ben, and their video crew gathering footage for the documentary, Quinn getting interviewed by Ben, and everyone traveling from place to place to get the footage they need to make the documentary a success, I felt that there wasn't an even balance between that and the tension that's needed to build between Quinn and Ben to make it feel like that angsty, slow-burn tension that's waiting to come to a boil before they admit their feelings for each other. The definition of a "slow burn" in this story was just Quinn and Ben giving each other "heated looks" when they're not filming for the documentary. I feel like if there was a better balance between the scenes where they're getting footage for the documentary and moments between Quinn and Ben, I would've been able to believe their chemistry a bit more. Even with their past history, I wasn't fully sold on their romance.
I know this part is me being a little petty, and I love a good revenge story, but I would've loved to see Quinn stand up to her parents during the story. For the number of times we hear about Quinn's parents, and how narcissistic her mother is, and how absent her father seems to be when it comes to her skating career, I wish that Quinn actually stood up to them for once and called them out.
Going to something I loved about this book, it was the mental health rep. I love how sports romances are bringing up the concept of athlete mental health and what they go through during the training process, especially in gymnastics and figure skating. I'm sure most of us know a lot about the rigorous training processes all sports, but especially figure skating, go through, and sometimes the coaches don't have their athletes' best interests in mind. I love that this book goes into this "darker" side of sports with Quinn and Ben's separate backstories.
I also love a great comeback story, which is what I loved the most about Quinn's character development and story. I love how so many people are expecting her to fail, and she just sits back and comes back with a vengeance. I loved her drive, her determination, and her resilience to come back stronger than before and ready to prove people wrong.
Overall, if you love figure skating, the Olympics, and/or mental health rep in your sports romances, PLEASE read this! Fated Skates has now set me down a course of reading more sports romances with figure skating involved so I can get ready for the Olympics next month!
⋆𐙚❅🦌*°⋆❆.⛸️ ⋆𐙚❅🦌*°⋆❆.⛸️ ⋆𐙚❅🦌*°⋆❆.⛸️ ⋆𐙚❅🦌*°⋆❆.⛸️ ⋆𐙚❅🦌*°⋆❆.⛸️ ⋆𐙚❅🦌*°
Trigger/content warnings: narcissistic parent, mentions of depression and depressive episodes
⋅˚₊‧ ୨ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: ୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ If you're seeing this on January 1st, happy New Year!🥳🪩🎊🎆 I figured I'd kick the year off with a Winter Olympics-inspired figure skating romance since the Olympics are next month.
Thank you so much to Avon, Victoria Schade, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Fated Skates will be officially published on January 13th, 2026!
Thank you so much to Avon, Victoria Schade, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Fated Skates will be officially published on January 13th, 2026!
"You can do hard things," Ben reassured me. "And when you feel like it's impossible, I'll help prove that it's not."
⋆𐙚❅🦌*°⋆❆.⛸️ ⋆𐙚❅🦌*°⋆❆.⛸️ ⋆𐙚❅🦌*°⋆❆.⛸️ ⋆𐙚❅🦌*°⋆❆.⛸️ ⋆𐙚❅🦌*°⋆❆.⛸️ ⋆𐙚❅🦌*°
If you’re an Olympics fan looking to get into the Olympic spirit before the games start next month AND you’re also a big figure skating fan like I am, this may be the book for you! After reading The Favorites by Layne Fargo last year and the book becoming one of my only five-star reads of 2025, I wanted to find another book that sort of had those same vibes (probably just not as drama-packed haha).
Quinn Albright is looking to make a comeback. After a disastrous performance at her first Olympics, resulting in a somewhat viral response from her, staring at the camera to millions of viewers with tears streaming down her face, she's coming back this year to Milan with revenge and her eyes set on one thing: the gold medal. When her mom signs her up to do a TV documentary about her skating career without her permission, she has no choice but to say yes....even if that means working with Bennett "Magic" Martino, the former speed skating Olympic athlete who broke her heart at the Games four years prior.
The figure skating world has always fascinated me. From the outfits and choreography to the amount of hours that get spent on training and even the amount of science and pure physics that goes into the sport in itself, I’ve been wanting to find more figure skating books in the sports romance genre. I also love a good comeback story, and Fated Skates has a wonderful comeback story featuring our Quinn, as she struggles to overcome her disastrous performance in her first Olympics and is trying to land a spot on the podium at this year’s Winter Olympics.
However, I felt like there were massive pieces of the puzzle missing from this story, and I finished the book feeling unsatisfied. It didn’t feel like the story was complete, and I feel like I didn’t get enough closure from the story when I finished. If the book had been only slightly longer, I probably would’ve felt differently, but there were lingering questions I had that never ended up getting answered.
The biggest issue I had with the story was the chemistry–or lack thereof—between Quinn and Ben. While most of the story revolves around Quinn, Ben, and their video crew gathering footage for the documentary, Quinn getting interviewed by Ben, and everyone traveling from place to place to get the footage they need to make the documentary a success, I felt that there wasn't an even balance between that and the tension that's needed to build between Quinn and Ben to make it feel like that angsty, slow-burn tension that's waiting to come to a boil before they admit their feelings for each other. The definition of a "slow burn" in this story was just Quinn and Ben giving each other "heated looks" when they're not filming for the documentary. I feel like if there was a better balance between the scenes where they're getting footage for the documentary and moments between Quinn and Ben, I would've been able to believe their chemistry a bit more. Even with their past history, I wasn't fully sold on their romance.
I know this part is me being a little petty, and I love a good revenge story, but I would've loved to see Quinn stand up to her parents during the story. For the number of times we hear about Quinn's parents, and how narcissistic her mother is, and how absent her father seems to be when it comes to her skating career, I wish that Quinn actually stood up to them for once and called them out.
Going to something I loved about this book, it was the mental health rep. I love how sports romances are bringing up the concept of athlete mental health and what they go through during the training process, especially in gymnastics and figure skating. I'm sure most of us know a lot about the rigorous training processes all sports, but especially figure skating, go through, and sometimes the coaches don't have their athletes' best interests in mind. I love that this book goes into this "darker" side of sports with Quinn and Ben's separate backstories.
I also love a great comeback story, which is what I loved the most about Quinn's character development and story. I love how so many people are expecting her to fail, and she just sits back and comes back with a vengeance. I loved her drive, her determination, and her resilience to come back stronger than before and ready to prove people wrong.
Overall, if you love figure skating, the Olympics, and/or mental health rep in your sports romances, PLEASE read this! Fated Skates has now set me down a course of reading more sports romances with figure skating involved so I can get ready for the Olympics next month!
⋆𐙚❅🦌*°⋆❆.⛸️ ⋆𐙚❅🦌*°⋆❆.⛸️ ⋆𐙚❅🦌*°⋆❆.⛸️ ⋆𐙚❅🦌*°⋆❆.⛸️ ⋆𐙚❅🦌*°⋆❆.⛸️ ⋆𐙚❅🦌*°
Trigger/content warnings: narcissistic parent, mentions of depression and depressive episodes
⋅˚₊‧ ୨ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: ୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ If you're seeing this on January 1st, happy New Year!🥳🪩🎊🎆 I figured I'd kick the year off with a Winter Olympics-inspired figure skating romance since the Olympics are next month.
Thank you so much to Avon, Victoria Schade, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Fated Skates will be officially published on January 13th, 2026!
February 9, 2026
☆☆☆☆
Fated Skates by Victoria Schade is perfect for the moment, reading it during the Winter Olympics 2026 made it feel extra immersive but it also works beautifully as a cozy sports romance any time of year. I absolutely loved the premise of competitive figure skating (we need more of this in romance!), and the story stayed refreshingly sport-focused throughout.
Quinn and Ben’s relationship was really sweet, and I’m always a sucker for a couple with a shared past (if it's not too toxic). Their history added emotional depth and made their reconnection feel earned rather than rushed. One of the standout aspects for me was the mental health representation, especially as it relates to extreme athletes and the pressures they face, this felt thoughtful and realistic without overwhelming the romance.
That said, the Olympic village scenes toward the end didn’t feel quite fleshed out enough for me, especially given how high-stakes that setting should be. I also really hated Quinn’s mother but in a she’s doing her job as a character way. She was a necessary trope to push the plot forward, enable meaningful flashbacks, and highlight Quinn’s growth over time.
Overall, Fated Skates was a cute, enjoyable, and sport-driven romance with heart, tension, and a great seasonal vibe. If you love ice skating, second-chance romance, or athlete stories with emotional depth, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Fated Skates by Victoria Schade is perfect for the moment, reading it during the Winter Olympics 2026 made it feel extra immersive but it also works beautifully as a cozy sports romance any time of year. I absolutely loved the premise of competitive figure skating (we need more of this in romance!), and the story stayed refreshingly sport-focused throughout.
Quinn and Ben’s relationship was really sweet, and I’m always a sucker for a couple with a shared past (if it's not too toxic). Their history added emotional depth and made their reconnection feel earned rather than rushed. One of the standout aspects for me was the mental health representation, especially as it relates to extreme athletes and the pressures they face, this felt thoughtful and realistic without overwhelming the romance.
That said, the Olympic village scenes toward the end didn’t feel quite fleshed out enough for me, especially given how high-stakes that setting should be. I also really hated Quinn’s mother but in a she’s doing her job as a character way. She was a necessary trope to push the plot forward, enable meaningful flashbacks, and highlight Quinn’s growth over time.
Overall, Fated Skates was a cute, enjoyable, and sport-driven romance with heart, tension, and a great seasonal vibe. If you love ice skating, second-chance romance, or athlete stories with emotional depth, this one is definitely worth picking up.
February 15, 2026
this took me a while to finish and that literally never happens. i usually inhale books in like 2 sittings but this one dragged so hard in the middle. i’d read a chapter and then suddenly be doing anything else instead. doom scrolling, staring at the wall, contemplating my existence.
it wasn’t bad, it just took way too long to actually get interesting. i kept waiting for that moment where i’d be obsessed and it just didn’t come until way later. once it finally picked up, i did care more and wanted to see how everything ended, but getting there felt like a chore.
overall i liked it enough, but it definitely wasn’t gripping the way i wanted it to be. it had so much potential and just didn’t fully deliver for me
thank you netgalley for the arc!💗
it wasn’t bad, it just took way too long to actually get interesting. i kept waiting for that moment where i’d be obsessed and it just didn’t come until way later. once it finally picked up, i did care more and wanted to see how everything ended, but getting there felt like a chore.
overall i liked it enough, but it definitely wasn’t gripping the way i wanted it to be. it had so much potential and just didn’t fully deliver for me
thank you netgalley for the arc!💗
January 17, 2026
After a humiliating Olympic performance years prior, Quinn Albright is going back to compete to prove to not only the world but herself and those who hurt her that she is stronger than ever and is ready to win gold. Distractions are the last thing she needs, but when a sports news magazine wants to get the inside scoop on Quinn’s comeback, she realizes that the one distraction she’s not ready for is the host, Bennett Martino, who has his own past that he needs to come back from. Although Quinn doesn’t want to be anywhere near Bennett due to shared secrets and a past that still pains her heart, the more time they spend together, the more she can’t deny the chemistry they have together or ignore the butterflies in her stomach every time she sees his handsome face.
I think it’s safe to say that I have found a new obsession: romances on ice. Whether it’s figure skating, regular skating, or hockey, I’m all here for it–take all my money, I don’t care, I love it. So I was excited for this book because it sounds good, and the cover is so cute. 🥰 However…it was kinda a letdown.
You know how it says that “she can’t deny the chemistry they have together” up there at the top? Yeah. Everyone else in the book saw it except for Quinn and me because, honey, that is what we call attraction, not chemistry. Let me be fair. There were times when Quinn and Ben were cute together. It was really sweet how he looked out for her and all that. But I didn’t swoon over their romance, and I’m not even going to blame the slow-burn because I actually think it was necessary with how much Quinn distrusts Ben. They just lacked the spark in their relationship that I’ve seen in other books. I honestly don’t know what it is, but whatever it was, I can tell that it was not there. That was a bit disappointing. Maybe it was because Quinn was too angry and Ben was too enthusiastic to make things right? I don’t know at this point. 😅
The other thing that was disappointing was the plot and the pacing of the story. It felt too long, imo, because even though it took me a day or so to finish this, it felt like it took me a week. Like, there were chapters that I didn’t think were needed, or certain scenes would span into another chapter, which felt kinda unnecessary. And what didn’t help was that the plot barely kept me interested. The only thing I was invested in was her competing in the Olympics. Everything else didn’t matter much to me, except Quinn and Ben’s well-being, which I will get to in a second. The story dragged, and I was also dragged along for the ride. I almost DNF’d it several times, but I’m glad I persevered.
Okay, now that I've got the negatives out of the way, I’m going to talk about the positives. I liked the characters, especially the side characters, like Quinn’s friends. None of them annoyed me (except for Quinn’s mom, but that’s a whole other can of worms I don’t want to get into), so that is always a plus. 😂
I also really liked the mental health rep in the book because athletes go through A LOT to get where they are. It made me so, so sad to hear about the mental and emotional struggles Quinn and Ben went through. 😭 It made me realize that, yeah, athletes are human, not gods. They go through struggles, too, just like the rest of us. ❤
And, of course, I loved the skating aspect of the story because it’s just so freaking cool! 😍 I could never, ever skate because, heck, I can barely walk without falling over, imagine me on slippery ice with only a sliver of metal holding me up! 😂 Yeah, I think I’d have to write my will first before I even think about trying to skate.
All in all, this book was okay. It wasn’t my favorite, but I still had a good time, and I recommend it if you are looking for a slow burn, age gap, second chance, and forced proximity romance! ☺
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
❗Content Warnings❗
Mentions misogyny, an eating disorder, and depression.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: Yes (🌶🌶🌶/5)
I think it’s safe to say that I have found a new obsession: romances on ice. Whether it’s figure skating, regular skating, or hockey, I’m all here for it–take all my money, I don’t care, I love it. So I was excited for this book because it sounds good, and the cover is so cute. 🥰 However…it was kinda a letdown.
You know how it says that “she can’t deny the chemistry they have together” up there at the top? Yeah. Everyone else in the book saw it except for Quinn and me because, honey, that is what we call attraction, not chemistry. Let me be fair. There were times when Quinn and Ben were cute together. It was really sweet how he looked out for her and all that. But I didn’t swoon over their romance, and I’m not even going to blame the slow-burn because I actually think it was necessary with how much Quinn distrusts Ben. They just lacked the spark in their relationship that I’ve seen in other books. I honestly don’t know what it is, but whatever it was, I can tell that it was not there. That was a bit disappointing. Maybe it was because Quinn was too angry and Ben was too enthusiastic to make things right? I don’t know at this point. 😅
The other thing that was disappointing was the plot and the pacing of the story. It felt too long, imo, because even though it took me a day or so to finish this, it felt like it took me a week. Like, there were chapters that I didn’t think were needed, or certain scenes would span into another chapter, which felt kinda unnecessary. And what didn’t help was that the plot barely kept me interested. The only thing I was invested in was her competing in the Olympics. Everything else didn’t matter much to me, except Quinn and Ben’s well-being, which I will get to in a second. The story dragged, and I was also dragged along for the ride. I almost DNF’d it several times, but I’m glad I persevered.
Okay, now that I've got the negatives out of the way, I’m going to talk about the positives. I liked the characters, especially the side characters, like Quinn’s friends. None of them annoyed me (except for Quinn’s mom, but that’s a whole other can of worms I don’t want to get into), so that is always a plus. 😂
I also really liked the mental health rep in the book because athletes go through A LOT to get where they are. It made me so, so sad to hear about the mental and emotional struggles Quinn and Ben went through. 😭 It made me realize that, yeah, athletes are human, not gods. They go through struggles, too, just like the rest of us. ❤
And, of course, I loved the skating aspect of the story because it’s just so freaking cool! 😍 I could never, ever skate because, heck, I can barely walk without falling over, imagine me on slippery ice with only a sliver of metal holding me up! 😂 Yeah, I think I’d have to write my will first before I even think about trying to skate.
All in all, this book was okay. It wasn’t my favorite, but I still had a good time, and I recommend it if you are looking for a slow burn, age gap, second chance, and forced proximity romance! ☺
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
❗Content Warnings❗
Mentions misogyny, an eating disorder, and depression.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: Yes (🌶🌶🌶/5)
March 8, 2026
3.25/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for providing me with ALC of this in return for an honest and voluntary review!
I will say, this book was super easy to digest and fun to read! I imagine it would be really fun for anyone who recently watched the winter olympics and was inspired by Alyssa Liu!!
In this book we follow our FMC Quinn who is returning to figure skating after going into retirement following a disastrous performance in the previous olympics as she competes again, now more in love with the sport than ever! Much like Alyussa Liu, Quinn returned to the sport to do things her way, safely and healthily!
We then meet Ben - a former olympic gold medalist and now in charge of running a documentary on Quinn's return to the spotlight and her journey to getting her own gold medal.
I ran into a few problems getting truly invested in the love between our MCs - I generally prefer there to be a bit of yearning and grovelling before I see a relationship begin as it makes me want to root for the characters more.. However, in this we're just kind of expected to accept that they're going to be together and to some degree the MCs know this too, pretty much from the get go of the book.
This book has decent rep for those who have struggled with depression and often may feel worried about its return - I really appreciate that this was discussed respectfully!
The narrator was amazing - there were a lot of times where Quinn is supposed to come off as very unsure and anxious for various different reasons and you could really hear this in their voice! Perfect intonation and she really held my attention!
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for providing me with ALC of this in return for an honest and voluntary review!
I will say, this book was super easy to digest and fun to read! I imagine it would be really fun for anyone who recently watched the winter olympics and was inspired by Alyssa Liu!!
In this book we follow our FMC Quinn who is returning to figure skating after going into retirement following a disastrous performance in the previous olympics as she competes again, now more in love with the sport than ever! Much like Alyussa Liu, Quinn returned to the sport to do things her way, safely and healthily!
We then meet Ben - a former olympic gold medalist and now in charge of running a documentary on Quinn's return to the spotlight and her journey to getting her own gold medal.
I ran into a few problems getting truly invested in the love between our MCs - I generally prefer there to be a bit of yearning and grovelling before I see a relationship begin as it makes me want to root for the characters more.. However, in this we're just kind of expected to accept that they're going to be together and to some degree the MCs know this too, pretty much from the get go of the book.
This book has decent rep for those who have struggled with depression and often may feel worried about its return - I really appreciate that this was discussed respectfully!
The narrator was amazing - there were a lot of times where Quinn is supposed to come off as very unsure and anxious for various different reasons and you could really hear this in their voice! Perfect intonation and she really held my attention!
January 26, 2026
a cute and cozy comeback story that touches on heavier topics of mental health and the pressure of being an olympic athlete.
4 years ago quinn messed up on her figure skating routine at the olympics. ben, a gold medalist speed skater, comforts quinn and she decides to take a break away from her controlling coach and mother.
quinn is back and ready to compete in the olympics again with a new outlook on skating, her health, and her relationship with her mom. ben ghosted her all those years ago and is now tv host assigned to do a story on her in order to get his dream job.
i really wish this book had been dual POV. you get quinn’s POV and her thoughts about ben and what she thinks he’s been up to for the past four years but i would’ve liked more background from him! i also would have liked him to be a little more apologetic or given a better explanation after all this time especially since quinn reached out to him multiple times with no response. the topic was totally forgotten after the initial reunion.
ben’s actions after they reunite are 10/10 though. he is so intuitive and protective of quinn!!
thank you netgalley for the arc!
4 years ago quinn messed up on her figure skating routine at the olympics. ben, a gold medalist speed skater, comforts quinn and she decides to take a break away from her controlling coach and mother.
quinn is back and ready to compete in the olympics again with a new outlook on skating, her health, and her relationship with her mom. ben ghosted her all those years ago and is now tv host assigned to do a story on her in order to get his dream job.
i really wish this book had been dual POV. you get quinn’s POV and her thoughts about ben and what she thinks he’s been up to for the past four years but i would’ve liked more background from him! i also would have liked him to be a little more apologetic or given a better explanation after all this time especially since quinn reached out to him multiple times with no response. the topic was totally forgotten after the initial reunion.
ben’s actions after they reunite are 10/10 though. he is so intuitive and protective of quinn!!
thank you netgalley for the arc!
Read
December 5, 2025DNF at 46 percent. Ya'll I tried. At almost halfway through, we were still dealing with heated glances. Absolutely zero forward motion for romance or even touches/kisses. You're killing me, smalls!!
I think of a lot of time was spent describing the skating/interview schedule at different times. Like what is valuable storytelling real estate being taken up by something so boring?
Not for me.
I think of a lot of time was spent describing the skating/interview schedule at different times. Like what is valuable storytelling real estate being taken up by something so boring?
Not for me.
January 16, 2026
#Review: *Fated Skates* - Victoria Schade - ARC [18+]
4.5/5✨
2.5/5🌶️
Quinn and Bennet had a sort of complicated history and when he has to be around her for an extended time because of an interview, things were about to get a bit more tensioned.
Quinn was a talented figure skater who aimed for the shiniest medal at the next Olympics. But a past event left her a bit broken and now she was trying to come back even stronger and with a slightly different attitude. Bennet was a former speed skater and now he was on a new path, trying to score a new gig as a host for a sports magazine and trying to leave his complicated past behind. Being in Quinn's presence might bring some more tension between them and the lines might get blurred. How will their story end?
I just loved this story! I liked that we got to see that vulnerable side of Quinn, who was only showing to other people the strong and unbreakable self. Behind all that she was struggling with herself, thinking that she might not be talented enough to be on top again. Bennett's presence might have been something good for her, because she had the chance to live a bit outside everything that meant skating and that just might be the right solution for her. I enjoyed so much those little moments between Quinn and Bennett, having a pretty slow burn here.
I'm such a huge sports romance lover and this story was even more captivating because of their secret romance. Quinn and Bennett were the cutest thing ever and I simply adored their connection.
Many thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for accepting me for this e-ARC!
✨Tropes
▫️Second Chance Romance
▫️Age Gap (24/33)
▫️Mental Health
▫️Forced Proximity
▫️Sports Romance
▫️Figure Skating
4.5/5✨
2.5/5🌶️
Quinn and Bennet had a sort of complicated history and when he has to be around her for an extended time because of an interview, things were about to get a bit more tensioned.
Quinn was a talented figure skater who aimed for the shiniest medal at the next Olympics. But a past event left her a bit broken and now she was trying to come back even stronger and with a slightly different attitude. Bennet was a former speed skater and now he was on a new path, trying to score a new gig as a host for a sports magazine and trying to leave his complicated past behind. Being in Quinn's presence might bring some more tension between them and the lines might get blurred. How will their story end?
I just loved this story! I liked that we got to see that vulnerable side of Quinn, who was only showing to other people the strong and unbreakable self. Behind all that she was struggling with herself, thinking that she might not be talented enough to be on top again. Bennett's presence might have been something good for her, because she had the chance to live a bit outside everything that meant skating and that just might be the right solution for her. I enjoyed so much those little moments between Quinn and Bennett, having a pretty slow burn here.
I'm such a huge sports romance lover and this story was even more captivating because of their secret romance. Quinn and Bennett were the cutest thing ever and I simply adored their connection.
Many thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for accepting me for this e-ARC!
✨Tropes
▫️Second Chance Romance
▫️Age Gap (24/33)
▫️Mental Health
▫️Forced Proximity
▫️Sports Romance
▫️Figure Skating
February 11, 2026
A huge thank you to Victoria Schade, NetGalley, and Avon and Harper Voyager for this eARC.
I enjoyed Fated Skates far more than I anticipated. I loved that Victoria Schade touched on topics of narcissism, depression, and eating disorders in a tasteful but honest way. I loved the connection between Ben & Quinn and the way they showed up for each other in their moments of need. I loved the display of healthy communication between our main characters. Their genuine friendship made the relationship and connection that much better. Their genuine audio book was also fantastic. I really enjoyed the narration.
I enjoyed Fated Skates far more than I anticipated. I loved that Victoria Schade touched on topics of narcissism, depression, and eating disorders in a tasteful but honest way. I loved the connection between Ben & Quinn and the way they showed up for each other in their moments of need. I loved the display of healthy communication between our main characters. Their genuine friendship made the relationship and connection that much better. Their genuine audio book was also fantastic. I really enjoyed the narration.
January 20, 2026
*** thank you NetGalley & Avon Books + Harper for this eARC ***
---
i strongly believe that you may have to have watched at least one figure skating routine/ competition to become as emotional as i became while reading this. watching FS and fangirling over skaters of all genders and countries has been a huge thing for me ever since i was a kid. i began watching in 1992 and also went over my head to go and see competitions like the worlds in 2010 live (turin).
aaanyway i am getting ahead of myself and it might seem that i am conditioning the read somehow. i am not. i am just stating that you might get very emotional if you were or are a fan. for me it was the perfect reason to persuade me to watch this year's olympics, as i lost touch with FS for a couple of years after not being able to keep up with the changes in the rating system.
i read that some people could not see the chemistry between the two main characters. i disagree. i think it was not only well-paced, but also reflecting the kind of person the fmc is. to be honest, i liked queen's voice 99% of the time. she is an athlete who has gone through rough times and is learning to cope with stuff that used to have a very different on her; she is also a poster person for mental recovery and working on self-empowerment and self-esteem. from this pov, i believe the book is very important in the current landscape, where sportspeople have only recently started to openly speak about the difficult aspects of their training & career.
i also appreciated the mmc, even if i have to confess i kept waiting for him not to be how he seemed to. shame on me. in the end i understood where he was coming from, and even if i do not follow speed skating i grasped a couple of interesting concepts of what is also important in that sports branch.
---
all in all, this was a 4-star read for me, and not offering 5 has nothing to do with the quality of the book, but with the fact that i felt it could have encompassed a tad more drama. not that it was not enough, mind you, and not that i don't appreciate a positive take, on the contrary. but i thought there will be a huge crack there, and for me it did not happen. thought some people might see it otherwise, and i am looking forward to their opinion.
---
i strongly believe that you may have to have watched at least one figure skating routine/ competition to become as emotional as i became while reading this. watching FS and fangirling over skaters of all genders and countries has been a huge thing for me ever since i was a kid. i began watching in 1992 and also went over my head to go and see competitions like the worlds in 2010 live (turin).
aaanyway i am getting ahead of myself and it might seem that i am conditioning the read somehow. i am not. i am just stating that you might get very emotional if you were or are a fan. for me it was the perfect reason to persuade me to watch this year's olympics, as i lost touch with FS for a couple of years after not being able to keep up with the changes in the rating system.
i read that some people could not see the chemistry between the two main characters. i disagree. i think it was not only well-paced, but also reflecting the kind of person the fmc is. to be honest, i liked queen's voice 99% of the time. she is an athlete who has gone through rough times and is learning to cope with stuff that used to have a very different on her; she is also a poster person for mental recovery and working on self-empowerment and self-esteem. from this pov, i believe the book is very important in the current landscape, where sportspeople have only recently started to openly speak about the difficult aspects of their training & career.
i also appreciated the mmc, even if i have to confess i kept waiting for him not to be how he seemed to. shame on me. in the end i understood where he was coming from, and even if i do not follow speed skating i grasped a couple of interesting concepts of what is also important in that sports branch.
---
all in all, this was a 4-star read for me, and not offering 5 has nothing to do with the quality of the book, but with the fact that i felt it could have encompassed a tad more drama. not that it was not enough, mind you, and not that i don't appreciate a positive take, on the contrary. but i thought there will be a huge crack there, and for me it did not happen. thought some people might see it otherwise, and i am looking forward to their opinion.
January 23, 2026
i have been eating up second chance romances so i knew i wanted to read this immediately. now can we discuss the banter!!!! my favorite part of a romance and these two had some great banter 🙂↕️
as characters, ben and quinn felt so real because they had their own demons they were fighting. quinn was dealing with the pressure of her performance from her mom and ex coach and ben’s being depression, which i can relate to. i really enjoyed their growth as individuals as well as their relationship. the way she was there for him during his rough patch no matter how much he pushed her away. i just wanted to hug them both 💗
quinn is back ready to claim the gold medal after a humiliating olympic performance. she cut off all distractions with returning to the ice, which includes ben. in hopes to have a redemption arc after his took a hit, he hopes to get the chance to host a sporty news magazine show (which his interest everyone?!?? quinn’s comeback🤭). annnnd does quinn want him around? nope 🙂↔️
tropes: second chance, age gap, forced proximity, slow burn, sports romance, only one sled, olympics, mental health rep
⛸️💞🎥🥇🌨️
as characters, ben and quinn felt so real because they had their own demons they were fighting. quinn was dealing with the pressure of her performance from her mom and ex coach and ben’s being depression, which i can relate to. i really enjoyed their growth as individuals as well as their relationship. the way she was there for him during his rough patch no matter how much he pushed her away. i just wanted to hug them both 💗
quinn is back ready to claim the gold medal after a humiliating olympic performance. she cut off all distractions with returning to the ice, which includes ben. in hopes to have a redemption arc after his took a hit, he hopes to get the chance to host a sporty news magazine show (which his interest everyone?!?? quinn’s comeback🤭). annnnd does quinn want him around? nope 🙂↔️
tropes: second chance, age gap, forced proximity, slow burn, sports romance, only one sled, olympics, mental health rep
⛸️💞🎥🥇🌨️
February 19, 2026
Thank you to HarperAudio and NetGalley for the ARC of Fated Skates! I really liked reading Quinn’s story especially with the Olympics happening right now. Having the perspective of someone in the Olympics as well as that of someone that is retired after competing in the Olympics was a really nice contrast.
Quinn and Ben met at the previous Olympics and semi hit it off but ultimately, Ben left and never looked back. Now, just before Quinn is set to go back to the Olympics, Ben is back as the person meant to interview her for a TV show.
Throughout that timeframe, the two reconnect but as the reader, the chemistry was difficult to see at times. I feel that hearing other characters talk about how Ben was flirting with Quinn more frequently or giving specific examples of it would’ve been helpful because Quinn was clueless and that in turn made us clueless as well, in my opinion.
3.5/5
Quinn and Ben met at the previous Olympics and semi hit it off but ultimately, Ben left and never looked back. Now, just before Quinn is set to go back to the Olympics, Ben is back as the person meant to interview her for a TV show.
Throughout that timeframe, the two reconnect but as the reader, the chemistry was difficult to see at times. I feel that hearing other characters talk about how Ben was flirting with Quinn more frequently or giving specific examples of it would’ve been helpful because Quinn was clueless and that in turn made us clueless as well, in my opinion.
3.5/5
January 27, 2026
Rating: 4.25⭐️
what’s not to love? slow burn, second chance, forced proximity and the stress of training for the olympics and a lot of mental health rep!
this was a great listen and I’m always impressed when one narrator can give all characters a distinct voice as sometimes I struggle with one narrator audios!
what’s not to love? slow burn, second chance, forced proximity and the stress of training for the olympics and a lot of mental health rep!
this was a great listen and I’m always impressed when one narrator can give all characters a distinct voice as sometimes I struggle with one narrator audios!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 ☆ | This was my first read by Victoria Schade and while I wasn't blown away by the story, I still did really enjoy it. I know that one of her other books called Pick Me is about pickleball, and while I know absolutely nothing about the sport, I'd still love to read it.
𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 :
▸ I do typically love age gaps in books. But a thing that just kind of put me off a little bit was the fact that Quinn was 20 and Ben was 29. While she is an adult, I just felt that it was a bit young. And when they got together at the end of the book, she was 24 and he 33 so that was definitely better imo. I enjoyed their romance and the slow burn, even though at times it felt like we were being told what happened and not showed. I also wish there was more of them together, more specifically near the end of the book.
▸ I also can't quite say for sure what I didn't love about the ending, but it felt a little..bland. Like I feel like so much more could've been done to end the book off and none of that happened. To me personally, it was just a bit unsatisfactory.
▸ I think this book did a great job showing the challenges athletes go through and I loved the mental health representation in this. And while I think Ben could've done better than ghost Quinn when he was struggling mentally, all turned out well in the end. I also loved that Quinn set boundaries with her mother and didn't let her dictate everything anymore.
▸ Also something that gave me a bit of an ick was that he kissed her feet right before a steamy scene. Like not in a fetish way or anything but like, still..just a bit weird to me.
I even took a screenshot of that part and sent it to my sister 😭
Like it really wasn't in a fetish-y or weird way at all, I think its just because I'm so used to seeing people talk about feet in a weird/obsessed way that makes it seem weird on page.
𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 :
I truly think it's a me problem for not loving the book and not the book itself as all the sporty romance books I've been reading recently just aren't really as good as I expect them to be. And while I didn't personally love this one, I'd still recommend it, especially to those who regularly read, and enjoy, sports/skating romances.
▪ Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to have an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 :
▸ I do typically love age gaps in books. But a thing that just kind of put me off a little bit was the fact that Quinn was 20 and Ben was 29. While she is an adult, I just felt that it was a bit young. And when they got together at the end of the book, she was 24 and he 33 so that was definitely better imo. I enjoyed their romance and the slow burn, even though at times it felt like we were being told what happened and not showed. I also wish there was more of them together, more specifically near the end of the book.
▸ I also can't quite say for sure what I didn't love about the ending, but it felt a little..bland. Like I feel like so much more could've been done to end the book off and none of that happened. To me personally, it was just a bit unsatisfactory.
▸ I think this book did a great job showing the challenges athletes go through and I loved the mental health representation in this. And while I think Ben could've done better than ghost Quinn when he was struggling mentally, all turned out well in the end. I also loved that Quinn set boundaries with her mother and didn't let her dictate everything anymore.
▸ Also something that gave me a bit of an ick was that he kissed her feet right before a steamy scene. Like not in a fetish way or anything but like, still..just a bit weird to me.
I even took a screenshot of that part and sent it to my sister 😭
Like it really wasn't in a fetish-y or weird way at all, I think its just because I'm so used to seeing people talk about feet in a weird/obsessed way that makes it seem weird on page.
𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 :
I truly think it's a me problem for not loving the book and not the book itself as all the sporty romance books I've been reading recently just aren't really as good as I expect them to be. And while I didn't personally love this one, I'd still recommend it, especially to those who regularly read, and enjoy, sports/skating romances.
▪ Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to have an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
February 18, 2026
Thank you to Avon and Harper Audio for the ALC of Fated Skates!
3.5 ⭐️ 2.5 🌶️
format: ALC
narrator: katie schorr
if you’re looking for a fun, festive romance to read in tandem while watching the Winter Olympics, then this is the book for you! Fated Skates follows Quinn, an olympic figure skater, and Ben, a retired olympic speed skater turned sports reporter.
what to expect:
-winter olympic games set in Milan
-second chance romance
-forced proximity
-she has trauma from the last olympic games
-mental health rep
-narcissistic parent rep
despite some of the heavier topics explored in this book (like depression, dealing with a narcissistic mom, talks of a previous eating disorder, etc), this still felt like a generally light hearted sports romance. i loved all the talk about the “behind the scenes” parts of an olympic athlete - even down to the cardboard beds we’ve all heard about 😂
i think the author did a great job navigating all of the heavier topics in a careful way while still doing them justice. the mental health rep in this one was really great - especially with the focus on professional athletes who have to perform in front of the whole world.
unfortunately, i felt like the chemistry between the MCs was lacking at times. i just didn’t believe in them the way i wanted to. Ben is a bit tortured from his struggles with depression but is a huge sweetheart and very supportive of Quinn, even when she rejects his attempts to help. and Quinn is still holding a grudge against Ben for the way he left her after the last olympic games. i don’t even know what exactly was missing between them - but i just didn’t feel that giddy, sparks flying sensation that i normally feel between the two main characters.
Narration specific:
this was solo narrated, which can be very hit or miss for me. overall, this was a solid narration. good, but not great. i would’ve loved a more distinct change between the narrators voice for the two main characters, because what we got was a man’s voice that sounded much too similar to the FMCs voice.
3.5 ⭐️ 2.5 🌶️
format: ALC
narrator: katie schorr
if you’re looking for a fun, festive romance to read in tandem while watching the Winter Olympics, then this is the book for you! Fated Skates follows Quinn, an olympic figure skater, and Ben, a retired olympic speed skater turned sports reporter.
what to expect:
-winter olympic games set in Milan
-second chance romance
-forced proximity
-she has trauma from the last olympic games
-mental health rep
-narcissistic parent rep
despite some of the heavier topics explored in this book (like depression, dealing with a narcissistic mom, talks of a previous eating disorder, etc), this still felt like a generally light hearted sports romance. i loved all the talk about the “behind the scenes” parts of an olympic athlete - even down to the cardboard beds we’ve all heard about 😂
i think the author did a great job navigating all of the heavier topics in a careful way while still doing them justice. the mental health rep in this one was really great - especially with the focus on professional athletes who have to perform in front of the whole world.
unfortunately, i felt like the chemistry between the MCs was lacking at times. i just didn’t believe in them the way i wanted to. Ben is a bit tortured from his struggles with depression but is a huge sweetheart and very supportive of Quinn, even when she rejects his attempts to help. and Quinn is still holding a grudge against Ben for the way he left her after the last olympic games. i don’t even know what exactly was missing between them - but i just didn’t feel that giddy, sparks flying sensation that i normally feel between the two main characters.
Narration specific:
this was solo narrated, which can be very hit or miss for me. overall, this was a solid narration. good, but not great. i would’ve loved a more distinct change between the narrators voice for the two main characters, because what we got was a man’s voice that sounded much too similar to the FMCs voice.
January 25, 2026
Overall, I'd give this book 3.5 stars. It was cute, made some really good points, but it lacked depth and Quinn and Ben lacked chemistry. I really liked Quinn's 180 from her first Olympic experience to her upcoming second chance at the Olympics. The topics this book covered about the trials and mindsets of Olympic level athletes were really well done. The chemistry between Quinn and Ben was lacking for me, I liked a lot of the things that Ben did to help showcase Quinn in the best light, but I felt like I knew very little about Ben.
*Second chance
*Olympic figure skater/Journalist
*Forced proximity
*Quinn's POV
Format: audiobook
Thank you NetGalley, Victoria Schade, and Harper Audio for the ALC!
*Second chance
*Olympic figure skater/Journalist
*Forced proximity
*Quinn's POV
Format: audiobook
Thank you NetGalley, Victoria Schade, and Harper Audio for the ALC!
November 22, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC
I loved this, it was a sweet and funny second chance, slow burn romance, and I stayed up way too late to finish. The relationship between Quinn and Ben was so well done, the support and trust that grows between them while they both are facing their own comebacks from past traumas felt incredibly relatable. And so much yearning. The author does an amazing job with the topics of depression, being mentally and physically healthy and how much pressure athletes face during and after their careers. Victoria Schade handles these topics with sensitivity and respect, and wove them into Quinn and Ben’s romance making their connection stronger. After previously reading Pick Me, Schade is quickly becoming an automatic read for me.
I loved this, it was a sweet and funny second chance, slow burn romance, and I stayed up way too late to finish. The relationship between Quinn and Ben was so well done, the support and trust that grows between them while they both are facing their own comebacks from past traumas felt incredibly relatable. And so much yearning. The author does an amazing job with the topics of depression, being mentally and physically healthy and how much pressure athletes face during and after their careers. Victoria Schade handles these topics with sensitivity and respect, and wove them into Quinn and Ben’s romance making their connection stronger. After previously reading Pick Me, Schade is quickly becoming an automatic read for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was… just okay. And when I say just okay, I mean honest, not lukewarm.
I started it genuinely excited. The vibes were right. The cover? Gorgeous. The synopsis? Totally my thing. From the beginning I was like, okay, let’s see how this unfolds. Slow burn? Fine. I like slow burns. I’m patient. No problem. But somewhere along the way, something just didn’t click.
I made it to around 55% and realized the story felt stuck in a loop. Not much was moving forward, the plot wasn’t really advancing, and I never fully connected with the characters. I tried. I really did. But there was no spark, no emotional grip—just that quiet reader fatigue that tells you, this one isn’t for you. And that’s the part that stings, because I wanted to love this book. Everything about it suggested I would. But sometimes the chemistry just isn’t there, even when all the ingredients are right. That said, I know there will be readers who do connect with this story, who find something special here that I couldn’t. I truly hope they enjoy it more than I did.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. It wasn’t my book, but I’m still grateful for the chance. 📖✨
I started it genuinely excited. The vibes were right. The cover? Gorgeous. The synopsis? Totally my thing. From the beginning I was like, okay, let’s see how this unfolds. Slow burn? Fine. I like slow burns. I’m patient. No problem. But somewhere along the way, something just didn’t click.
I made it to around 55% and realized the story felt stuck in a loop. Not much was moving forward, the plot wasn’t really advancing, and I never fully connected with the characters. I tried. I really did. But there was no spark, no emotional grip—just that quiet reader fatigue that tells you, this one isn’t for you. And that’s the part that stings, because I wanted to love this book. Everything about it suggested I would. But sometimes the chemistry just isn’t there, even when all the ingredients are right. That said, I know there will be readers who do connect with this story, who find something special here that I couldn’t. I truly hope they enjoy it more than I did.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. It wasn’t my book, but I’m still grateful for the chance. 📖✨
November 23, 2025
Olympic figure skater Quinn is making her comeback and preparing for the upcoming Games. She gets offered an incredible opportunity for exposure… with one complication: the interviewer is Ben, the man who left her high and dry after the last Olympics.
I read this right after Pick Me, so I went in excited — Victoria’s debut was absolute perfection. This one was great too, but I did hit a few bumps. The biggest issue for me was the age gap dynamic. Their first interactions happen when Quinn is 20 and Ben is 29, and as a 29-year-old myself, it’s hard to justify Ben’s choices. Men do often mature slower than women, but that feels like a poor excuse here, especially given the power imbalance and the position he was in. It added a layer of ick I couldn’t really shake.
Despite the ick from the early age-gap dynamic, I just couldn’t stop reading. The story is genuinely mesmerizing, and the burn is achingly slow in the best way. Victoria’s writing has some kind of gravitational pull — even when I was side-eyeing Ben, I was fully locked in. I actually ended up really enjoying the romance and Ben’s character despite my initial reaction. I do think that early dynamic could’ve been written a bit cleaner, but the story absolutely redeems itself by the end.
Quinn was my favorite part — she has depth, drive, and the kind of complicated relationship with a hypercritical mother that many of us recognize. As someone with a critical mother myself (nowhere near as intense as Quinn’s), I related to her early-twenties journey of learning to respond instead of react. Those moments felt especially grounded and real.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I read this right after Pick Me, so I went in excited — Victoria’s debut was absolute perfection. This one was great too, but I did hit a few bumps. The biggest issue for me was the age gap dynamic. Their first interactions happen when Quinn is 20 and Ben is 29, and as a 29-year-old myself, it’s hard to justify Ben’s choices. Men do often mature slower than women, but that feels like a poor excuse here, especially given the power imbalance and the position he was in. It added a layer of ick I couldn’t really shake.
Despite the ick from the early age-gap dynamic, I just couldn’t stop reading. The story is genuinely mesmerizing, and the burn is achingly slow in the best way. Victoria’s writing has some kind of gravitational pull — even when I was side-eyeing Ben, I was fully locked in. I actually ended up really enjoying the romance and Ben’s character despite my initial reaction. I do think that early dynamic could’ve been written a bit cleaner, but the story absolutely redeems itself by the end.
Quinn was my favorite part — she has depth, drive, and the kind of complicated relationship with a hypercritical mother that many of us recognize. As someone with a critical mother myself (nowhere near as intense as Quinn’s), I related to her early-twenties journey of learning to respond instead of react. Those moments felt especially grounded and real.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2025
After being blown away by Victoria Schade's novel Pick Me, I was incredibly excited when I heard she had a new age gap, Olympic athlete romance. Fated Skates was endearing on the surface, with journeys of resilience and self-love crafting deeper messages in the narrative. While it didn't completely and utterly capture me like Pick Me did, I still found Fated Skates to be a fun read that I was eager to get back to each time I put it down.
I really liked that we got to see so many of the small details (costumes, dance, choreography, etc.) leading up to Quinn's second Olympics. It added a layer of whimsy to the story and was a nice twist on the more tried and true college sports romances dominating the genre. Along with this, seeing her learn how to manage the pressure and expectations society, and herself, were placing on her was really inspiring. We all have aspirations in our life, and have experienced stress, self-doubt, and fear when what we want might not work out. There's something for everyone to take away from Quinn's journey, and I found this piece to be quite profound.
What didn't quite work for me was the love story between Quinn and Ben, and the time jumps throughout the narrative. I really wish we could have more details and/or scenes about their history and present romance. Unfortunately, to me, it seemed more like we were told they were in love instead of actually seeing that on the page. This made their relationship seem more surface level to me, and didn't craft an emotionally satisfying relationship that I could be invested in.
All in all, I did enjoy Fated Skates. It was fresh, fun, and I loved having such a strong, dynamic female main character who didn't need a man to save her, but found the joy in having a supportive teammate. Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC in exchange for an honest review! Expected publication is January 13, 2026.
I really liked that we got to see so many of the small details (costumes, dance, choreography, etc.) leading up to Quinn's second Olympics. It added a layer of whimsy to the story and was a nice twist on the more tried and true college sports romances dominating the genre. Along with this, seeing her learn how to manage the pressure and expectations society, and herself, were placing on her was really inspiring. We all have aspirations in our life, and have experienced stress, self-doubt, and fear when what we want might not work out. There's something for everyone to take away from Quinn's journey, and I found this piece to be quite profound.
What didn't quite work for me was the love story between Quinn and Ben, and the time jumps throughout the narrative. I really wish we could have more details and/or scenes about their history and present romance. Unfortunately, to me, it seemed more like we were told they were in love instead of actually seeing that on the page. This made their relationship seem more surface level to me, and didn't craft an emotionally satisfying relationship that I could be invested in.
All in all, I did enjoy Fated Skates. It was fresh, fun, and I loved having such a strong, dynamic female main character who didn't need a man to save her, but found the joy in having a supportive teammate. Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC in exchange for an honest review! Expected publication is January 13, 2026.
March 16, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and author for the ARC of Fated Skates by Victoria Schade.
This story follows Quinn Albright, a determined figure skater trying to reclaim her career after a very public Olympic mistake, and Bennett Martino, a former Olympic speed skating star who ends up hosting a documentary series about her comeback. The Olympic backdrop and behind-the-scenes look at elite athletics made this a really engaging read.
Quinn was easy to root for. Her determination, vulnerability, and willingness to keep putting herself out there—even after setbacks—felt very real.
Where I struggled was with the emotional balance of the romance. Quinn repeatedly makes herself vulnerable with Bennett, but it often felt like she wasn’t getting much in return. I also never fully felt closure after what happened in Switzerland. Bennett never really gives Quinn a clear explanation or a true apology for how things ended, and I kept waiting for that moment of accountability.
He does show up for her later during the filming and training portions of the story, but for me it didn’t fully make up for the earlier hurt.
Still, this was an engaging sports romance with strong themes around pressure, redemption, and second chances.
3.5 stars.
This story follows Quinn Albright, a determined figure skater trying to reclaim her career after a very public Olympic mistake, and Bennett Martino, a former Olympic speed skating star who ends up hosting a documentary series about her comeback. The Olympic backdrop and behind-the-scenes look at elite athletics made this a really engaging read.
Quinn was easy to root for. Her determination, vulnerability, and willingness to keep putting herself out there—even after setbacks—felt very real.
Where I struggled was with the emotional balance of the romance. Quinn repeatedly makes herself vulnerable with Bennett, but it often felt like she wasn’t getting much in return. I also never fully felt closure after what happened in Switzerland. Bennett never really gives Quinn a clear explanation or a true apology for how things ended, and I kept waiting for that moment of accountability.
He does show up for her later during the filming and training portions of the story, but for me it didn’t fully make up for the earlier hurt.
Still, this was an engaging sports romance with strong themes around pressure, redemption, and second chances.
3.5 stars.
February 14, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio for this advanced listening copy!!
3.5⭐️ I think this was a very timely book. I’ve been watching all the Olympic Game clips recently and it was fun to read a book that was set so closely to the events happening right now. For me, the beginning was slow and I had a hard time getting into it, but later on it grew on me. I liked hearing about the Olympic village and what it takes to become a competitor at this level. I took a few stars off because I wanted more about her past injury, and what exactly happened at the Olympic Games four years ago. I know we talked about it briefly, but I wish she had actually talked about it for her interview. I also had hoped that she would thank the Chen’s for all they did for her. Since her parents left her with them and they basically supported her early on skating days. I was waiting for that moment but it never happened. Overall, it was an enjoyable read. The romance was sweet. I wasn’t completely obsessed with it, but it was a good read for this time. Very timely.
3.5⭐️ I think this was a very timely book. I’ve been watching all the Olympic Game clips recently and it was fun to read a book that was set so closely to the events happening right now. For me, the beginning was slow and I had a hard time getting into it, but later on it grew on me. I liked hearing about the Olympic village and what it takes to become a competitor at this level. I took a few stars off because I wanted more about her past injury, and what exactly happened at the Olympic Games four years ago. I know we talked about it briefly, but I wish she had actually talked about it for her interview. I also had hoped that she would thank the Chen’s for all they did for her. Since her parents left her with them and they basically supported her early on skating days. I was waiting for that moment but it never happened. Overall, it was an enjoyable read. The romance was sweet. I wasn’t completely obsessed with it, but it was a good read for this time. Very timely.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2026
I read this in one sitting and loved every second of it. The perfect Olympic, skating romance. Could it be a case of reading the right book at the right time?? Maybe. But the pacing was flawless, both main characters were self aware and lovable, there were no annoying miscommunications, and the tension was sooooo good. My first 5 start of the year, thank you!!!
February 16, 2026
Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the arc!
DNF @50%
This felt like literally nothing was happening, even by the middle. The plot sounded promising and definitely could have been interesting, but the main characters have almost no tension or even chemistry, really, so I’m just very bored. Slow burn is my absolute favourite (and I mean slowwwwwww burn), but there has to be at least some vibes (?) to be enjoyable.
DNF @50%
This felt like literally nothing was happening, even by the middle. The plot sounded promising and definitely could have been interesting, but the main characters have almost no tension or even chemistry, really, so I’m just very bored. Slow burn is my absolute favourite (and I mean slowwwwwww burn), but there has to be at least some vibes (?) to be enjoyable.
December 8, 2025
Ok this was really cute. It didn’t quite hit me with the same punch as the author’s pickleball book, Pick Me, but was still charming. And I loved that it didn’t shy away from mental health struggles. Thanks to Avon for the ARC.
January 27, 2026
This is such a swoony romance! In the lead up to Quinn’s final Olympics she needs to prove to herself and the world that she is tougher and stronger than ever after years of dealing with an overly critical coaching team. She is finally in a good headspace and in the lead up to the games when she gets roped into doing a mini-documentary that could highlight all her past mistakes. Who is leading the videography team? None other than Bennet, the gold metalist speed skater who she kind of had a one night stand with 4 years ago before he ghosted her. He has to rebuild her trust while still dealing with his own past and insecurities. This book is for anyone who loves a sports romance, an age gap, and a protective MMC. Even with my laughably small knowledge of professional figure skating I was still able to follow along and truly enjoy this story!
Thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Victoria Schade for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
P.S. If you liked the movie “The Cutting Edge” you’ll probably enjoy this book!
Thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Victoria Schade for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
P.S. If you liked the movie “The Cutting Edge” you’ll probably enjoy this book!
January 19, 2026
DNFFFFF age gap ick!!
February 23, 2026
3.5 stars // actually a perfect book for my olympic hangover
January 31, 2026
I've never really paid any attention to the Olympics. With one exception.
My house was a Figure Skating house. We watched religiously, we had our favorites, we laughed, cheered, cried for Yamaguchi, Lapinski, Hamilton, Kwan, Boitano and others. We couldn't get enough of it.
So in a way, this book felt a bit like reclaiming my childhood, watching the games with my parents.
I can only commend Schade for her attention to detail and her commitment to taking us along on a skater's journey to the Olympics. The behind-the-scenes bits really made me feel like I was riding shotgun alongside Quinn. It's obvious Schade knows her stuff at an intimate level, or at the very least, has done an immense amount of research.
I also really get behind underdog/comeback stories. What's not to love about watching a character overcome a massive failure?
My biggest issue with this story is that I didn't really feel anything for Bennett. And I certainly didn't feel the chemistry between him and Quinn.
There were bright spots - the way he seems to know her triggers and has this uncanny ability to navigate around said triggers and boundaries with regards to the interviews and camera stuff for the upcoming documentary piece being done on her is fantastic. It shows us that not only is he personally aware of how the media can wear an athlete out, but that he's sensitive to her emotions and feelings.
But that's about where any personality for Bennett stopped for me.
Everything else was just - everybody in the world thinks this man is smoking hot. That got very old, very quickly as he was repeatedly treated like a piece of meat.
And when it came to the romance things were...lackluster is perhaps the nicest word I can find to use. Because I felt nothing.
There just wasn't enough time spent building the tension and relationship outside of the documentary scenes for me. MAYBE this could have been helped if we'd had his POV. Because we do spend a lot of time in Quinn's head where she bounces around from ogling Bennett to being leery of him for a solid 2/3s of the story.
It was actually so shocking at the end, when they confess their love for each other, that it jarred me out of the story altogether. Because it felt like it came out of nowhere.
Because let's face it - they had ONE semi-deep conversation that evolved into heavy petting the night of her disastrous performance several years before, and then only a few days/weeks in the present where the majority of their time is spent filming a documentary to develop these feelings. And it's just not enough to get me there.
There are a few other things that niggled - I would have given ANYTHING to see Quinn put her mother in her place. That woman got on my last nerve with her selfishness and the way she constantly put Quinn down. I was expecting part of Quinn's journey to include standing up to a woman who abused her own daughter for years.
But nope. Nada. That was disappointing.
Finally, while I adored the mental health representation in this story, I don't really feel like Schade took it far enough. Both Bennett and Quinn therapize each other on and off throughout the book (which could be argued isn't healthy), there are some darker thoughts and themes that don't really get resolved or addressed by the end of the story.
Particularly with Bennett - who describes his depressive episodes as a "black dog", all we're really left with is the two of them promising to help each other through those times. And that's great, but I think we all know it's never that simple. I would have loved to see one or both of them end up in therapy - because for various reasons, I think they both need it.
All in all an interesting, nostalgic read, but it just didn't 'wow' me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Audio Adult for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
My house was a Figure Skating house. We watched religiously, we had our favorites, we laughed, cheered, cried for Yamaguchi, Lapinski, Hamilton, Kwan, Boitano and others. We couldn't get enough of it.
So in a way, this book felt a bit like reclaiming my childhood, watching the games with my parents.
I can only commend Schade for her attention to detail and her commitment to taking us along on a skater's journey to the Olympics. The behind-the-scenes bits really made me feel like I was riding shotgun alongside Quinn. It's obvious Schade knows her stuff at an intimate level, or at the very least, has done an immense amount of research.
I also really get behind underdog/comeback stories. What's not to love about watching a character overcome a massive failure?
My biggest issue with this story is that I didn't really feel anything for Bennett. And I certainly didn't feel the chemistry between him and Quinn.
There were bright spots - the way he seems to know her triggers and has this uncanny ability to navigate around said triggers and boundaries with regards to the interviews and camera stuff for the upcoming documentary piece being done on her is fantastic. It shows us that not only is he personally aware of how the media can wear an athlete out, but that he's sensitive to her emotions and feelings.
But that's about where any personality for Bennett stopped for me.
Everything else was just - everybody in the world thinks this man is smoking hot. That got very old, very quickly as he was repeatedly treated like a piece of meat.
And when it came to the romance things were...lackluster is perhaps the nicest word I can find to use. Because I felt nothing.
There just wasn't enough time spent building the tension and relationship outside of the documentary scenes for me. MAYBE this could have been helped if we'd had his POV. Because we do spend a lot of time in Quinn's head where she bounces around from ogling Bennett to being leery of him for a solid 2/3s of the story.
It was actually so shocking at the end, when they confess their love for each other, that it jarred me out of the story altogether. Because it felt like it came out of nowhere.
Because let's face it - they had ONE semi-deep conversation that evolved into heavy petting the night of her disastrous performance several years before, and then only a few days/weeks in the present where the majority of their time is spent filming a documentary to develop these feelings. And it's just not enough to get me there.
There are a few other things that niggled - I would have given ANYTHING to see Quinn put her mother in her place. That woman got on my last nerve with her selfishness and the way she constantly put Quinn down. I was expecting part of Quinn's journey to include standing up to a woman who abused her own daughter for years.
But nope. Nada. That was disappointing.
Finally, while I adored the mental health representation in this story, I don't really feel like Schade took it far enough. Both Bennett and Quinn therapize each other on and off throughout the book (which could be argued isn't healthy), there are some darker thoughts and themes that don't really get resolved or addressed by the end of the story.
Particularly with Bennett - who describes his depressive episodes as a "black dog", all we're really left with is the two of them promising to help each other through those times. And that's great, but I think we all know it's never that simple. I would have loved to see one or both of them end up in therapy - because for various reasons, I think they both need it.
All in all an interesting, nostalgic read, but it just didn't 'wow' me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Audio Adult for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
January 19, 2026
Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
One thing about me, I love the Olympics. So when I saw “Olympic Athlete Romance” I immediately requested this book. It’s between a gold medal winning speed skater and figure skater who fell from grace at the last games. It’s a second chance for her at love and at gold.
I liked it, mainly for the setting and premise. The writing and structure didn’t really work for me sadly.
Synopsis:
“Quinn Albright was America’s figure skating darling until a humiliating Olympic performance splashed her across every headline. Now she’s back, stronger than ever, ready to claim the gold medal on her own terms—no PR fluff, no perfect princess act, just the real, unapologetic Quinn.But the one distraction she didn’t train for? Bennett Martino. Once the golden boy of speed skating, Bennett’s reputation took a hit he’s still paying for. The chance to host a sporty news magazine show is the perfect redemption arc, and nothing would boost his ratings more than an inside look at Quinn’s comeback. There’s just one issue—she’s the last person who wants him around.As this year’s Olympic Games commence, past mistakes, shared secrets, and unrelenting chemistry collide. With cameras rolling and the ice melting under their skates, Quinn and Bennett must figure out if they can rewrite their stories—or crash and burn.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Olympic Setting—I love the Olympics so I was really excited to read a book centered on Olympic athletes! I wish we spent more time in the actual games.
The Characters—I liked Quinn and Ben a lot. I like what they had to go through individually and together.
No 3rd Act Break Up—I am not anti-3rd act break, I actually think they’re really important! But the way this story unfolded, a non-3rd act break up structure made sense!
What Didn’t Work for Me:
The Pacing—How it all unfolded really didn’t work for my brain. I felt like things really dragged and made it hard for me to get into the story.
The Chemistry/How the Romance Came to Be—I didn’t feel it. It was a second chance trope but I didn’t feel the stakes as to why it didn’t work originally and why they couldn’t fight it anymore this time.
Character Authenticity: 3/5 Spice Rating: 1/5 Overall Rating: 3
Content Warnings:
eating disorder (in the past), strained parent/child relationship
One thing about me, I love the Olympics. So when I saw “Olympic Athlete Romance” I immediately requested this book. It’s between a gold medal winning speed skater and figure skater who fell from grace at the last games. It’s a second chance for her at love and at gold.
I liked it, mainly for the setting and premise. The writing and structure didn’t really work for me sadly.
Synopsis:
“Quinn Albright was America’s figure skating darling until a humiliating Olympic performance splashed her across every headline. Now she’s back, stronger than ever, ready to claim the gold medal on her own terms—no PR fluff, no perfect princess act, just the real, unapologetic Quinn.But the one distraction she didn’t train for? Bennett Martino. Once the golden boy of speed skating, Bennett’s reputation took a hit he’s still paying for. The chance to host a sporty news magazine show is the perfect redemption arc, and nothing would boost his ratings more than an inside look at Quinn’s comeback. There’s just one issue—she’s the last person who wants him around.As this year’s Olympic Games commence, past mistakes, shared secrets, and unrelenting chemistry collide. With cameras rolling and the ice melting under their skates, Quinn and Bennett must figure out if they can rewrite their stories—or crash and burn.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Olympic Setting—I love the Olympics so I was really excited to read a book centered on Olympic athletes! I wish we spent more time in the actual games.
The Characters—I liked Quinn and Ben a lot. I like what they had to go through individually and together.
No 3rd Act Break Up—I am not anti-3rd act break, I actually think they’re really important! But the way this story unfolded, a non-3rd act break up structure made sense!
What Didn’t Work for Me:
The Pacing—How it all unfolded really didn’t work for my brain. I felt like things really dragged and made it hard for me to get into the story.
The Chemistry/How the Romance Came to Be—I didn’t feel it. It was a second chance trope but I didn’t feel the stakes as to why it didn’t work originally and why they couldn’t fight it anymore this time.
Character Authenticity: 3/5 Spice Rating: 1/5 Overall Rating: 3
Content Warnings:
eating disorder (in the past), strained parent/child relationship
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