On Thin Ice by Avery Kane

January Jackson and Jake Jeffries have been connected by a single letter their entire lives.

J. Everywhere they turn, there’s a J.

The alphabet forced them together as children. A great dislike for one another forced them apart as teenagers.

Then, in college, they had one drunken night neither of them can explain. They most certainly don’t want to dwell on it.

Ten years later, January is an up-and-comer at Sylvan Slopes, the resort Jake’s father owns. She’s been put in a prime position for the incoming Winter Extreme Games, and she’s getting exactly what she’s always wanted.

Enter Jake. Thanks to his father’s money, he’s spent a decade galivanting about and basically doing nothing to ease himself into adulthood. Why should he when he doesn’t have to? Responsibility is not part of Jake’s world.
Things are about to change.

Jake’s father has given him an ultimatum. He takes a job at the resort or he’s on his own. With no marketable job skills, Jake knows what he has to do. There’s just one problem: January is his boss.

January and Jake have hated each other for a long time. In order to keep a sponsor happy, however, they have to pretend they not only like each other but are married to boot.

The snow and insults are going to fly. Along the way, however, they just might find that they have more in common than they ever dreamed of.
Well, if they don’t kill each other first.

My Review

I was immediately drawn to the cover of this book. It gives off all the cozy winter vibes I love. Snowy settings, soft romance energy, and that promise of cold weather magic. The blurb definitely intrigued me, even if it was a bit wordy, and I especially loved that the story is set in Michigan. Winter romances set somewhere that actually feels cold always hit a little differently for me.

The story begins in the past, in January. Yes, the FMC’s name is January, and I honestly adore how unique that is. From the start, we get a glimpse into her history with Jake, which dates all the way back to elementary school. Their dynamic begins as true enemies, the kind where irritation runs deep and memories linger longer than expected. Those early moments really help set the tone for their complicated relationship and make their later interactions even more satisfying.

Fast forward to the present, and January finds herself working at Sylvan Ski Resort in Michigan as the activities director and event coordinator. She’s organized, driven, and clearly good at her job. Enter karma, because of course the one person she doesn’t want to see again is suddenly right there. Jake is back in her life, and to make things even more awkward, his father owns the ski resort. The setup alone made me smile because you just know chaos is coming. The banter between January and Jake is absolutely fabulous, sharp, funny, and filled with that underlying tension that never really went away.

January is not only a boss in her career, but she’s also confident and capable, even when the universe keeps throwing obstacles in her way. Being forced to work closely with her longtime enemy is bad enough, but then the story ups the stakes. They end up having to share living quarters in a lodge for several weeks, and this is where I was fully kicking my feet in glee. Forced proximity is one of my favorite tropes, and this book leans into it in the best way.

As if that weren’t enough, the story adds even more layers. An employee adjacent boss dynamic, unresolved history, and then the cherry on top, a fake relationship. Honestly, at this point I was all in. The tropes stack beautifully without feeling overwhelming, and each one adds to the emotional tension rather than distracting from it.

Even though they are true enemies at heart, the lines between irritation and attraction start to blur. Their journey from enemies to lovers feels like a downhill ski run, fast, messy, and a little out of control, but in the best way. What really surprised me was how maturely both characters handle the situation despite their past. There’s growth, communication, and self reflection woven into the romance, which made their connection feel earned.

Jake turns out to be more than just a spoiled rich guy with charm. As the story progresses, he really shows up, not just for January, but for himself. His character development was one of my favorite parts of the book. January, on the other hand, may be a perfectionist, but watching her slowly learn to relax, let go, and actually enjoy life was incredibly satisfying. The protector energy, the quiet support, and the “not happy unless you’re safe” vibes were strong and well done.

This is a genuinely cute and cozy winter romance, and even with some last minute complications, it wraps up in a happy and satisfying way. I loved their journey, the emotional payoff, and Jake’s transition into becoming a more responsible adult.

The winter atmosphere in this book is fantastic. Between the ski resort setting, snowy storms, hot tubs, fireplaces, and that constant cold weather coziness, it truly feels like a winter escape. If you’re looking for a romance that blends enemies to lovers tension with forced proximity, fake dating, and strong winter vibes, this one is definitely worth adding to your cold weather reading list.

If you would like to read this On Thin Ice by Avery Kane you can find this book on Amazon. As an Amazon Assocaite I earn on qualifying purchases.

If you like this book you may also enjoy books with these tags and categories: Snowed in, Forced Proximity, and Second Chance.