Title: Heated Rivalry
Series/World (Book #): Game Changers Universe
Couple/Pairing: Shane Hollander x Ilya Rozanov (M/M)
Star Rating: ★★★★★ 5.0/5 (and honestly, a 6-star read in my heart)
Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 (high heat, on-page and frequent)
Some books don’t just entertain you—they stick. The kind you finish, stare at the wall for a second, and then immediately want to reread because you’re not ready to let the characters go. Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid is that book for me. It’s the ultimate rivals-to-lovers setup with years of tension, laugh-out-loud banter, and a relationship that grows in a way that feels messy, real, and completely addictive. I’ve read it three times, and somehow it still hits like the first.
If you’re ready for high-heat hockey romance with emotional depth (and a couple you’ll think about at random times during the day), you can grab Heated Rivalry here: Amazon Link — or support indie bookstores with Bookshop here: Bookshop.
The Main Characters
Shane Hollander is sweet, talented, quietly intense—and his internal struggle with identity feels painfully real without turning the story into misery. He’s the kind of character you want to protect… while also wanting to shake him (gently) when shame tries to steal his joy.
Ilya Rozanov is all swagger and sharp edges on the outside, but Heated Rivalry peels him open in a way that hits you right in the chest. He’s cheeky, funny, flirtatious, and infuriating in the best way—and watching him soften (without ever losing his bite) is half the fun.
Together, they’re explosive: enemies in public, something far more complex in private.
Loved the Shane + Ilya intensity? Here are more top-rated, high-heat M/M romances to read next.
About the Author
Rachel Reid writes M/M romance with a balance that’s harder to pull off than people may think: real emotion, real character growth, and spice that actually feels connected to the relationship—not just dropped in for shock value. Her style can be a little straightforward at times, but in this book, it works very well—because the feelings do all the heavy lifting.
My Thoughts About the Book
I’ve read this book three times, and I’m not exaggerating when I say it still hooks me like the first time. It’s the perfect rivals-to-lovers setup with a realistic narrative that stretches acrossmultiple years, so you don’t just see the attraction—you feel the slow, messy, inevitable development of something more profound.
What makes it so addictive is the contrast:
- The spice hits fast (and often). 🔥
- But the romance? That’s a slow-burn emotional build that sneaks up on you and then wrecks you—in a good way.
The banter is the best. Their flirtation has that I hate you / I want you / why do you understand me energy, and it’s genuinely funny in a way that feels natural, not scripted. And when the emotional moments hit? They hit like an emotional roller coaster you willingly line up for again.
Shane’s arc—especially the way he processes his attraction and wrestles with internalized shame—feels heartbreakingly authentic. It’s handled with care, and it never feels like the story is exploiting his pain. Meanwhile, Ilya’s layers surprised me the most. If you met him elsewhere first and thought “jerk,” this book makes you go, “Oh. Oh no. I love him.” He is actually my favorite character in the series.
Certain scenes live rent-free in my head (yes, that turning-point moment where things shift into something undeniable), and the way their feelings evolve makes the payoff feel earned.
And the epilogue? Perfect. The kind that gives you a warm little glimpse of “this is going to last.”
Also—there’s a TV series adaptation, and I’m going to binge it hard. I’ve heard so much about it. If the chemistry between them is the way everyone says it is, I’m done for.
Ready for the high heat, sharp banter, and years-long tension everyone talks about? Get Heated Rivalry on Amazon: Amazon link.
Want to start at the beginning of the Game Changers world? Pick up Game Changer (Book 1) by Rachel Reid on Amazon here: Amazon link.
If you’d rather support independent bookstores, you can grab Game Changer by Rachel Reid on Bookshop.org right here: Bookshop.
Almost Perfect… Except
If I’m being picky: the writing style can feel a bit spare at times—almost too clean and direct—so if you love super lyrical prose, it might not be your exact preference.
But for me? The simplicity actually makes the emotions punch harder. It keeps the focus on their connection, their tension, and the slow shift from rivalry to something soul-deep.
Favorite Quote
This line still stops me every time—because it’s not flashy or dramatic. It’s just the truth, spoken out loud after so much tension, denial, and years of trying to keep everything contained.
“I have been with lots of women. That was not…fake. But…” He looked at Shane, and Shane held his breath. “I have only been in love with one person.”
It’s the pause that gets me—the hesitation, the weight behind the “but,” the way Shane is literally holding his breath because he already feels what’s coming. And then that last sentence lands like a confession and a promise at the same time.
After everything they’ve been through—the rivalry, the secrecy, the back-and-forth—this is one of those moments where the story quietly becomes undeniable.
Final Thoughts
Was it worth the hype? Yes. Absofreakinglutely.
This book is funny, emotional, high-heat, and surprisingly tender. It’s one of those romances that doesn’t just entertain you—it lingers. The relationship growth feels real because it takes time, and the tension never fades; it just changes shape as the story goes on.
If you want rivals-to-lovers, secret love, years-long tension, and a romance that builds into something steady and consuming (with plenty of spice along the way)… Heated Rivalry absolutely delivers.
And now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a TV series to binge.
