Iced Out by C.E. Ricci Summary

Iced Out by C.E. Ricci is a college sports romance novel set at Leighton University in Chicago. It's the first book in the Leighton U series and follows a rivalry-fueled hate-to-love story between characters navigating intense emotions, athletic competition, and undeniable chemistry. The novel features themes of enemies-to-lovers tension, college life, and hockey romance with C.E. Ricci's signature raw and emotional writing style.

Iced Out is perfect for readers who love college romance, sports romance (particularly hockey), and enemies-to-lovers dynamics. Fans of authors like Penelope Douglas, KV Rose, and Liza James will appreciate C.E. Ricci's intense, emotional storytelling. This book appeals to new adult romance readers who enjoy high-stakes tension, banter-filled relationships, and emotionally raw narratives set in competitive sports environments.

Iced Out is worth reading for fans of spicy college sports romance with emotional depth. As a USA Today bestselling book, it has garnered strong reader reviews and launched C.E. Ricci's popular Leighton U series. The novel delivers on enemies-to-lovers tension, memorable characters, and the addictive storytelling C.E. Ricci is known for, making it a standout in the college romance genre.

The Leighton U series reading order begins with Iced Out (Book 1, 2022), followed by Caught Stealing (Book 2, 2023), Fair Catch (Book 3, 2024), and Playing Dirty (Book 4, 2025). The series is described as standalone college sports romances featuring rivalry-fueled stepbrothers, competitive games, and intense sexual tension at Leighton University in Chicago.

Iced Out features the enemies-to-lovers trope as its central romance dynamic, evidenced by the iconic line "A little hard when I'm already in hate with you". The novel incorporates college romance, hockey romance, forced proximity, and intense rivalry elements. C.E. Ricci weaves emotional tension, banter, and slow-burn chemistry throughout, creating the trademark raw and real romance she's known for.

Yes, Iced Out contains spicy scenes and is considered a steamy new adult romance. C.E. Ricci is known for writing "real, raw romance" with high heat levels. The Leighton U series, which Iced Out launches, features significant sexual tension and explicit content, making it appropriate for mature readers who enjoy emotionally charged, adult romance with detailed intimate scenes.

Iced Out is both the first book in the Leighton U series and can be read as a standalone romance. While it launches a five-book series set at Leighton University, each book features different couples with complete story arcs. Characters may appear across books since C.E. Ricci creates connected universes with "easter eggs," but readers can enjoy Iced Out independently without reading subsequent books.

Iced Out is set at Leighton University, a fictional college in Chicago, Illinois. The story takes place within the competitive world of college hockey and campus life. C.E. Ricci chose this urban university setting to create a backdrop for rivalry, athletic competition, and intense romance, distinguishing it from her other series set at Foltyn College in Portland, Oregon.

One of the most memorable quotes from Iced Out captures the enemies-to-lovers tension: "Just make sure you don't go falling in love with me." I scoff. "A little hard when I'm already in hate with you." This quote exemplifies the banter and rivalry at the heart of the romance, showing how the characters' initial animosity masks deeper feelings and sets up their emotional journey.

While both novels showcase C.E. Ricci's signature emotional romance style, Iced Out is set at Leighton University in Chicago and focuses on hockey romance, while Don't You Dare takes place at Foltyn College in Portland. Both books exist in the same fictional universe with potential character crossovers. Iced Out launched the Leighton U series, while Don't You Dare is part of the Reckless Games series.

C.E. Ricci is a USA Today and international bestselling romance author who has achieved bestseller status in five different countries. Beyond Iced Out, she has written multiple series including the Leighton U books, the Reckless Games series (Don't You Dare, Never Will I Ever), and the River of Rain duology (Follow the River, After Rain Falls). She's influenced by authors like Penelope Douglas and K Webster.

C.E. Ricci's writing in Iced Out is characterized by raw emotional intensity, realistic dialogue, and deeply flawed characters. She specializes in "real, raw romance" that doesn't shy away from difficult emotions or complex relationship dynamics. Her style blends addictive pacing with heartstring-tugging moments, creating stories that readers describe as gripping and emotionally resonant, particularly in enemies-to-lovers narratives like Iced Out.