In Jennifer Iacopelli’s novel Finding Her Edge , the main character Adriana Russo ends up with her first love and former skating partner, Freddie O’Connell; she doesn’t choose the new, convenient partner Brayden in the end.

The Love Triangle

Adriana is caught between two very different guys:

  • Freddie O’Connell , her longtime skating partner and first love, who’s sweet, loyal, and shares a deep history with her.
  • Brayden Elliott , a talented but flashy new partner that she pretends to date to attract sponsors and save her family’s rink.

Throughout the book, Adriana struggles with guilt over leaving Freddie before and with the pressure from her family and career; she also starts to develop real feelings for Brayden, even though their relationship began as a fake romance for publicity.

How the Book Ends

Adriana and Brayden succeed together on the ice, winning Junior Worlds, but off the ice, things fall apart when Freddie confronts her about her feelings.

  • She ends the fake relationship with Brayden, hurting him because he’d genuinely fallen for her.
  • She then chooses Freddie and gets back together with him, acknowledging that he’s still the person she truly loves.

In the finale, Adriana and Freddie also decide to team up again as skating partners, picking up where they left off professionally and romantically.

Difference from the Netflix Series

The 2026 Netflix series Finding Her Edge follows the same basic story but changes some details, especially the ending’s visuals:

  • Adriana and Brayden pretend to date, then win World Championships together.
  • Right after winning, Adriana publicly kisses Freddie, showing she wants him back; this breaks Brayden’s heart and ends their partnership.
  • In the final scene (about a month later), Adriana and Freddie are skating together again, while Brayden has paired up with Adriana’s friend Riley — setting up a new competitive rivalry.

But in Jennifer Iacopelli’s original novel, the emotional resolution is simpler: Adriana picks Freddie, lets go of the fake relationship with Brayden, and rebuilds her life with the person she always loved.

❤️ Quick Answer:
She ends up with Freddie O’Connell , her first love and former skating partner.