Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid (March 25, 2019) With this one premiering as a limited series on HBO Max on 11/28/2025, I decided it was time to get it off the TBR! Thanks to @sarahtdubbwrites for talking about it on her account and reminding me to read it. I grabbed the audio through @everand_us and the digital book on @hoopladigital
Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov have been rivals for almost a decade, since before they were drafted to rival NHL teams, since before awards and championships and becoming team captains and celebrity athletes. For most of that time, they’ve also been hooking up every time they are in the same city. What started as a carnal affair, over time and without their conscious consent, begins to develop into much more – although neither is willing to admit it. They know the league isn’t ready.
Well, this book is a reminder to read your backlist TBR…there’s magic there. This book is spice forward, beginning to end and also a tender study in queer awakening, learning to be vulnerable, and tender hearts in tough-guy disguises. I love that it is told over time as Shane and Illya evolve from before their professional careers, to rookies, to the pinnacle of their careers – and along the way they accidentally fall in love. From Illya’s Russian language confessions because Shane doesn’t understand to being mentally knocked over by the sight of Shane in glasses, you’ll love our grumpy Russian. Shane’s fear of discovery manifests in wild grand gestures to continue their hookups. And they’ve got years of text history masquerading under random female hookups in their contacts. It is joyful, tender, filled with passion, and a critique of the inability of professional athletes to feel they can come out and still be welcome in their sport.
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts: (9h 32 min) Tor Thom is absolutely perfect with both the Canadian and Russian sides of this performance and I totally ate it up.
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🎧 Audio performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🔥 Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Book Smart Kate 