Collide by Bal Khabra Summary, Characters and Themes
Collide by Bal Khabra is a spicy, emotional college romance that dives deep into the lives of two opposites—Summer Preston, a serious honors student with plans for grad school, and Aiden Crawford, the confident, carefree captain of the hockey team. Despite their clashing personalities and Summer’s disdain for hockey, they’re unexpectedly thrown together for a research project that gradually softens their mutual irritation.
As they work together, their bickering turns into playful banter, blossoming into a fiery connection that neither can resist. Combining steamy encounters with themes of personal growth, Collide offers a heartfelt exploration of love, trust, and self-discovery.
Summary
Summer Preston, an ambitious honors student focused on becoming a sports psychologist, has a plan for her life that involves zero interest in hockey or hockey players. Her disdain for the sport runs deep, rooted in her estranged relationship with her father, a former hockey player.
Unfortunately, her carefully organized world collides with the very thing she avoids when her thesis advisor assigns her a research project with none other than Aiden Crawford, the captain of her college’s hockey team.
To her dismay, she has to study Aiden and his teammates, bringing her face-to-face with her worst assumptions about athletes like him.
Aiden is a classic jock who lives for hockey, enjoying the perks and camaraderie of being the team’s captain.
However, when his reckless behavior and a series of missteps by his team land him in hot water, his coach decides that working with Summer on her project will be his punishment.
While Summer is reluctant to spend time with someone who embodies what she despises, Aiden’s initial indifference shifts as he becomes intrigued by her. She’s far from the typical college student, driven and focused, while he is laid-back and unconcerned about the future.
The two clash from the start, with Summer’s guarded nature and Aiden’s playful arrogance fueling their friction.
Aiden finds it hard to understand why Summer has such a rigid, goal-oriented life plan, while Summer sees Aiden’s casual attitude as infuriating. Their frequent bickering, however, starts to mask an underlying attraction.
As they work together, they realize that neither fits the stereotypes they initially imposed on each other. Summer’s hostility gradually fades, and Aiden shows her he’s more than just the “player” she assumed him to be—he’s thoughtful, compassionate, and protective, qualities that slowly win her over.
Despite their budding attraction, obstacles arise.
Summer’s past, especially her resentment toward her father and a previous relationship with another hockey player, Donny, make her wary of trusting Aiden. Donny reappears, stirring drama as he tries to manipulate his way into a scholarship by cozying up to a professor.
Summer also wrestles with jealousy, especially when Aiden’s popularity brings other girls around. In turn, Aiden’s possessive side emerges, and their heated arguments lead to passionate encounters where emotions run high.
Each clash only intensifies their feelings, turning their enemies-to-lovers story into an emotional rollercoaster.
Over time, they both grow and soften, finding that their personalities, while contrasting, complement each other.
Aiden’s green-flag qualities—his patience, protectiveness, and willingness to put Summer first—balance her driven, focused nature, making her feel secure and valued.
In turn, Summer’s empathy and strength help Aiden mature, proving he’s ready to commit.
Collide ends with Summer and Aiden fully acknowledging their feelings and committing to their relationship.
Their journey from skepticism to deep affection highlights their growth and the sacrifices they make for each other, laying the groundwork for a potentially lasting romance.
With hints of a second book to explore other characters, Collide leaves readers eager for more heartfelt moments and complicated relationships in Khabra’s Off the Ice series.
Characters
Summer Preston
Summer Preston, the book’s primary female lead, is an ambitious, goal-oriented young woman pursuing a career in sports psychology. Her life revolves around achieving her academic and professional dreams, and she has a clear-cut, meticulously planned future.
Summer’s focused and disciplined nature often makes her come across as intense and, at times, a bit rigid. Her relationship with hockey is deeply conflicted, rooted in childhood trauma associated with her estranged father, a former hockey player.
This experience has left her with a strong distaste for both the sport and its players, whom she sees as irresponsible and shallow. This bias colors her interactions with Aiden and leads her to make hasty judgments about him early on, furthering her disdain for him and the hockey culture.
However, as the novel progresses, Summer’s arc reveals significant growth. Her journey involves recognizing and processing her unresolved issues with her father and learning to embrace vulnerability, which allows her to grow beyond her biases.
Through her evolving relationship with Aiden, she learns to balance her goals with her emotional needs, challenging her tendency to go it alone. Her character development is underscored by her growing ability to open up and rely on others, especially as she begins to integrate herself into Aiden’s circle and develops meaningful bonds with his friends.
Summer’s journey ultimately explores themes of healing, self-worth, and the courage to embrace love.
Aiden Crawford
Aiden, the male protagonist and captain of the college hockey team, is initially portrayed as a carefree, seemingly shallow athlete who, at first glance, embodies the stereotypical “jock” persona. But beneath this surface, Aiden is compassionate, kind-hearted, and has a surprising depth that challenges the clichés associated with his role.
As the novel unfolds, we see that Aiden is highly committed to his team and takes on a caretaker role, both on and off the ice. He values loyalty and responsibility, revealing a “golden retriever” type of warmth and loyalty that endears him to Summer and the reader.
His initial reluctance to be involved in Summer’s academic project stems from his distaste for being reduced to a research subject, but his feelings evolve as he spends more time with her. Aiden’s character arc is marked by his willingness to change and grow for the sake of his relationship with Summer.
He’s protective yet patient, letting her approach their relationship at her own pace while openly showing his affection. Despite his rough edges and occasional recklessness, Aiden demonstrates a profound dedication to Summer, making sacrifices to prioritize her happiness.
His personality remains humorous, grounded, and sincere throughout, providing balance to Summer’s high-strung nature. This contrast adds an appealing dynamic to their relationship, with Aiden’s steady support helping Summer to confront her own insecurities.
Tyler and Eli
Tyler and Eli, members of Aiden’s hockey team, serve as supportive secondary characters who bring levity and camaraderie to the narrative. Tyler, in particular, develops a close friendship with Summer that is both endearing and sibling-like, characterized by light teasing and genuine care.
His soft yet protective nature stands out, as he often provides emotional support to Summer, offering her a safe space within the chaotic world of hockey players. This friendship emphasizes Summer’s journey toward trust and acceptance of Aiden’s friends, revealing her ability to integrate into a social group that initially feels foreign to her.
Eli, another notable team member, plays a slightly different role, blending humor with a dependable presence in Aiden’s life. Both Tyler and Eli contribute to the “found family” aspect of the story, creating a close-knit, supportive environment that gradually makes Summer feel at home.
Their interactions and the ease with which they welcome Summer into their friend group highlight the warm, unpretentious qualities that define Aiden’s social circle, contrasting with Summer’s initial assumptions.
Donny
Donny, an antagonistic character and a figure from Summer’s past, embodies the negative traits Summer associates with hockey players. His selfishness and manipulative actions—including his affair with a professor to gain academic favor—intensify Summer’s distrust of men in sports and serve as a painful reminder of her father’s disappointing behavior.
Donny’s presence in the story is less about him as an individual and more about what he represents in Summer’s mind: betrayal, deceit, and the darker side of ambition. His actions underscore the toxic qualities Summer fears and has been conditioned to expect in men who live within a similar world to her father.
Donny’s character functions as a foil, contrasting with Aiden’s unwavering integrity and growth, thereby helping to reframe Summer’s understanding of love, loyalty, and maturity.
Amara
Amara, Summer’s roommate and confidante, is a steady source of emotional support and provides occasional comic relief in the story. She functions as Summer’s voice of reason, often reminding her friend of the importance of loosening up and having fun, especially when Summer’s intensity takes over.
Amara’s pragmatic approach to life helps to balance Summer’s more rigid perspectives, offering insights that allow her to reconsider her negative assumptions about Aiden and the hockey team. Amara’s character emphasizes the importance of friendship and the value of a grounded, honest support system during periods of personal growth.
Kian and the Team
Kian, another of Aiden’s teammates, is the jokester of the group, often providing humor and comic relief. His lighthearted personality is reminiscent of the carefree nature that Summer initially despises, yet he, along with the rest of the team, proves to be deeply loyal and compassionate.
Kian’s humorous demeanor softens the rough edges of the hockey culture for Summer, enabling her to see the inherent goodness in Aiden’s chosen family. He and the other teammates—each with their unique quirks and personalities—help to paint a fuller picture of the life that Aiden leads, one that is both fun-loving and deeply rooted in camaraderie and mutual respect.
Themes
The Dichotomy of Resentment and Attraction
At the heart of Collide lies a complicated web of resentment and attraction, a duality intricately tied to Summer Preston’s past experiences with hockey and her family history. Summer’s disdain for hockey players isn’t a mere preference but rather an emotional inheritance, rooted in her relationship with her father, a former hockey player whose neglect and personal flaws have shaped her worldview.
This aversion spills over to her perception of Aiden, reinforcing stereotypes she’s already internalized. However, as their relationship unfolds, Summer finds herself irresistibly drawn to Aiden’s warmth and authenticity, complicating her long-held disdain.
The tension between Summer’s initial contempt and her unexpected romantic attachment to Aiden encapsulates the theme of inherited trauma—how unresolved familial issues can affect romantic relationships. It’s not merely an enemies-to-lovers arc but rather a journey through prejudice, healing, and the dismantling of generational scars.
Redefining Strength Through Emotional Vulnerability
Aiden Crawford’s character breaks stereotypes associated with traditional masculinity, especially within the realm of competitive sports. While he initially projects a carefree, jock persona, his interactions with Summer reveal a gentler, more introspective side that diverges from the typical hyper-masculine archetype.
Rather than viewing strength solely through physical prowess or aggression, Aiden embodies emotional resilience, patience, and a willingness to confront his feelings. His “golden retriever” nature—a symbol of loyalty and warmth—counters the often rigid expectations of masculinity, showcasing that real strength lies in one’s ability to be vulnerable and nurturing.
The narrative uses Aiden to challenge how society constrains men within stoic, self-reliant roles, presenting an alternative where strength is measured not just in physical terms but through emotional openness and supportive partnership. This redefining of masculinity enriches the narrative, providing a model for healthy male emotional expression.
The Struggle for Identity and Balance in Young Adulthood
Summer’s academic aspirations and her evolving romance with Aiden present a nuanced exploration of identity and the challenges of balancing ambition with personal relationships. As a driven student aiming to enter graduate school, Summer’s meticulously planned life is disrupted when Aiden becomes a focal point.
This creates a tension between her individual goals and the pull of an unplanned romantic connection. The novel dives deep into how romantic relationships in young adulthood often force individuals to reassess their priorities, balancing self-realization against the desire for companionship.
Summer’s journey reflects the struggle many face in preserving personal ambitions within the framework of a serious relationship, emphasizing the importance of setting boundaries and making compromises. Through her character, Collide underscores the fear of losing oneself in another person—a common challenge for young adults—and the ongoing quest for a self-defined identity within the context of love.
Healing Through Love and Confrontation
In Collide, both protagonists bring significant emotional baggage into their relationship, which becomes both a point of conflict and a source of personal growth. Summer’s distrust of hockey players due to her father’s abandonment issues and Aiden’s struggles with his team’s expectations exemplify how unresolved trauma and insecurities influence present interactions.
Their budding relationship, marked by moments of jealousy, possessiveness, and misunderstandings, pushes each to confront past grievances that would otherwise go unexamined. Through Aiden’s protective yet patient approach, Summer gradually learns to reconcile her trust issues, allowing love to be a catalyst for healing.
The narrative doesn’t present their emotional baggage as a simple barrier but rather as a mechanism for character evolution, showing how relationships often act as mirrors, reflecting and forcing individuals to address their inner turmoil. Through this dynamic, Collide emphasizes that true intimacy necessitates vulnerability and that confronting one’s emotional history is essential to achieving a healthy, fulfilling partnership.
Letting Go of Preconceived Notions in Favor of Genuine Connection
Summer’s highly structured life plan—a twenty-five-year roadmap—initially serves as her method of control in an unpredictable world. Her ambition and meticulous planning are both a strength and a shield, designed to prevent emotional vulnerability.
However, her interactions with Aiden challenge this illusion of control, as his presence in her life disrupts her rigid boundaries and preconceived notions about romantic relationships. The novel uses this theme to explore the complexities of control within relationships, showing that true connection often requires an acceptance of spontaneity and the unknown.
Through her relationship with Aiden, Summer learns that while structure and control provide comfort, they can also inhibit genuine emotional experiences. Collide presents love as an inherently chaotic force, pushing Summer to relinquish her need for predictability in favor of a more fulfilling, albeit uncertain, journey with Aiden.
Duality of Public Persona vs. Inner Vulnerability
Both Summer and Aiden grapple with public personas that contrast starkly with their inner vulnerabilities. Aiden, as the hockey captain, embodies a public figure of confidence and carefreeness, yet privately, he bears the emotional weight of leading his team and constantly being perceived as the “golden retriever” friend.
Summer, in turn, projects a disciplined, no-nonsense personality, but her underlying insecurities and need for emotional connection reveal a softer, more uncertain side. This duality speaks to the theme of social masking—how individuals adopt certain personas in public spaces that may obscure their true selves.
As Summer and Aiden’s relationship deepens, these facades are gradually peeled back, allowing both characters to reveal their vulnerabilities. The novel thus delves into how romantic relationships provide a safe space to transcend these masks, promoting authenticity and understanding beyond societal expectations.
The Importance of Platonic Bonds as Emotional Anchors Beyond Romance
Though Collide centers on romance, it places significant emphasis on the value of friendships as emotional foundations. Summer’s relationship with her friend Tyler highlights the importance of platonic connections, especially during turbulent times of self-discovery.
Tyler’s supportive yet occasionally teasing dynamic with Summer demonstrates that friendships can be as transformative as romantic relationships, offering stability, understanding, and camaraderie. Additionally, Aiden’s role as a “dad” figure within his team reinforces the concept of found family and the comfort that comes from surrounding oneself with dependable people.
These friendships act as stabilizing forces for both characters, ensuring that their lives are not solely defined by romantic pursuits but by a broader web of support and loyalty. By depicting these platonic bonds as essential to personal growth, Collide enriches its narrative, portraying love in all its forms as a vital ingredient for a fulfilling life.