…the competition and rivalry element still scratches that same itch (Heated Rivalry) ~ Under the Covers

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If you want a spicy, swoony winter sports romance that feels like it was engineered for anyone currently spiraling into an Olympics binge-watch, Kiss and Cry by Keira Andrews is going to hit. It’s competitive tension, close-quarters training time, and that delicious “wait… why do I suddenly care what this man thinks of me?” energy. I read this right before the Winter Olympics in Milano, and I swear it made every practice scene feel 10x more intense. Like yes, I too am going for gold, except my sport is emotional avoidance.

What is Kiss and Cry about?

Two elite figure skaters prepping for the Olympics get stuck training at the same center: Henry, the icy perfectionist, and Theo, the sunshine champion. What starts as rivalry and assumptions turns into unexpected tenderness, and plenty of spice, all with gold medal pressure looming.

Kiss and Cry by Keira Andrews Book Review

This book is a fast read throwing two high-level competitors into the same training facility, crank up the pressure, then let attraction make things messy. It also does the figure skating setting right! There’s enough training detail and competition prep to make it feel real (practice schedules, rehearsals, the mental intensity), but it doesn’t get so technical that it slows the story down.

The characters are also built like catnip if you like opposites attract. Henry is rigid, controlled, and comes off so emotionally guarded that people literally read him as a robot. But under that? He’s a softy. He’s been through enough that he defaults to protect himself, assumes the worst is coming, and takes a long time to trust that someone might actually be safe for him. That’s why the slow progression of the romance worked for me, even when I wanted to shake him a little.

Theo is golden retriever energy, but not shallow. He’s charming and likable on the surface, but he’s also carrying real stuff, especially around his mom and how much control she had over his life and career. And I have to say, the author’s comparison of Theo’s public personality to Connor Storrie in interviews is weirdly spot-on. He’s warm and easy to root for.

One scene that I really enjoyed (besides the Theo and Henry scenes) is when their coach questions Theo about the relationship as a distraction before the Olympics, and points out that Henry cares deeply and that means he can get hurt. Theo starts to go for the breezy, “pretend it’s nothing” response… then chooses not to. He decides he’s not going to act like he doesn’t care. That moment made the relationship feel real to me because it’s a choice that gives us honesty. And Theo never shied away from his feelings.

There’s some miscommunication and a third act breakup that didn’t feel necessary to me. I still had a good time, but the conflict felt a little manufactured right when the story already had enough natural pressure from the Olympic stakes.

Also, Henry’s history with Anton read to me like it was being set up as something more serious than it ultimately felt, so his level of anger and defensiveness didn’t always match what I thought the reveal would justify. That’s subjective, but it did pull me out a bit.

Is Kiss and Cry by Keira Andrews worth it for Heated Rivalry fans?

Yes, with expectations set. Andrews even mentioned on social media that she wrote this before reading Heated Rivalry, but Henry and Shane have similar vibes, and I totally see it. Henry has that same guarded intensity, plus the trauma that shapes how he reacts to people. The sports context is different (figure skating instead of hockey), but the competition and rivalry element still scratches that same itch.

The big difference is tone: this is less angsty overall, more of a swoony, bingeable, quick ride.

Final Thoughts

If you want a spicy winter sports romance that feels perfectly timed for Olympic season, Kiss and Cry by Keira Andrews is absolutely worth the read, especially if you love a rigid, guarded hero slowly revealing he’s actually a complete softy. It’s not the most hardcore enemies-to-lovers, and I could have happily skipped the miscommunication-y third act breakup, but the chemistry is strong, the skating atmosphere is convincing, and the swoon factor is real. Basically: come for the competitive tension and the “gorgeous robot” energy, stay for Theo being honest and open, Henry letting himself be cared for, and the very satisfying reminder that sometimes the best win isn’t the medal.

You may also be interested in:

• Winter sports romances
• Gay hockey romance books

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