Their fierce on-ice rivalry is mirrored by undeniable off-ice chemistry, as the pair struggles to balance a secret relationship with the intense demands of their professional lives. It’s high-stakes sport meets high-stakes romance, and viewers have been hooked.
What some viewers may not realise, however, is that Heated Rivalry is adapted from a hugely popular book series. The show is based on Heated Rivalry, the second novel in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series, which centres on different gay couples navigating love, ambition and life in the world of professional ice hockey.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Heated Rivalry novels — also known as the Game Changers series. Happy reading.
When is the next Heated Rivalry book out?
The Heated Rivalry duo are easily the most beloved characters in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series — a fact made clear by one very important detail: Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov are the only couple to receive not just a sequel novel, but now a third book as well.
The official synopsis reads: "For the first time in their professional hockey careers, Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander have nothing to hide. After more than a decade of keeping their love secret, they’re out, married, and even playing on the same team. The support has been incredible. Most of the time."
And who knows, if season 2 of the TV adaptation proves just as successful as the first, this third novel could well provide the perfect blueprint for a potential season 3.
Game Changers (2018)Heated Rivalry (2019)Tough Guy (2020)Common Goal (2020)Role Model (2021)The Long Game (2022)Unrivaled (2026)
Before long, Scott becomes a regular, with Kip’s smoothies (and unmistakable flirting) helping to pull him out of his rut. What starts as a chance encounter quickly turns into something far more meaningful.
2. Heated Rivalry (2019)
This is the book that had everyone frantically Googling the rules of ice hockey — especially those of us in the UK. Heated Rivalry follows Canadian golden boy Shane Hollander and Russian rebel Ilya Rozanov, who first meet as teenage prodigies on the road to the MLH (Major League Hockey) draft.
Behind closed doors, Shane and Ilya find themselves unable to resist one another, blurring the line between rivalry and desire, and setting the stage for one of the most addictive, slow burn romances in contemporary sports fiction.
This instalment follows Ryan Price, an enforcer: a 6’7” giant whose role on the ice is to protect his team’s star players. Beneath the intimidating exterior, however, Ryan struggles with anxiety and deep-rooted self-esteem issues. When he’s transferred to Toronto, he’s determined to put down roots and finally connect with the city’s LGBTQ+ community.
But with their worlds colliding once again, the question remains: can a relationship survive when hockey threatens to come between them?
4. Common Goal (2020)
Eric Bennett, the 41-year-old goalkeeper for the New York Admirals, has decided this will be his final season. He’s ready to retire, but is also facing an uncertain future after ending his 16-year marriage. Always aware of his bisexuality, Eric is now stepping into the dating world with men for the very first time... and has no idea where to start.
It’s time for some classic grumpy-meets-sunshine energy — think black cat meets golden retriever.
Sunny, outgoing Harris is determined to lift Troy’s spirits, even as he starts developing what he assumes is a one-sided crush. Slowly, Troy begins to see Ottawa not just as a fresh start on the ice, but as a chance to make amends for past toxic behaviour and embrace his full self.
6. The Long Game (2022)
They’re back! The Long Game is the long-awaited sequel to Ilya and Shane’s story.
Now it’s time to decide what truly matters: each other, or hockey?
For fans of the television show, The Long Game will likely provide the foundation for season 2 of Heated Rivalry, promising even more drama, passion, and on-ice tension.
How is the show different to the books?
The TV series speeds up the timeline, condenses events, and trims much of the internal monologue that gives readers insight into Shane and Ilya’s thoughts. These adjustments make sense given the show’s six-episode run and budget constraints.
Surprisingly, the show also downplays the hockey itself. The intensity of their on-ice rivalry and the stakes that drive their competitive spirit are less prominent than in the book.
One change fans particularly lamented is the omission of the book’s prologue, as well as a different, shortened ending that cuts the original epilogue, one of the most beloved parts of the novel.
For all the latest RT Book Club news, interviews, Q&As with the authors, reviews of previous books and more, visit The Radio Times Book Club.
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