If your social media feeds are anything like mine, they’ve been filled with videos, memes and more about “Heated Rivalry,” the hit show based on the second book of the same name in Rachel Reid’s hockey romance series “Game Changers.” “Heated Rivalry” follows star hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, who go on a yearslong journey from rivals to lovers.
I know I’m not alone, because Kate Sellers, technical and collections services manager for The Seattle Public Library, says “Heated Rivalry” has undergone a sharp uptick in hold requests since the show premiered on Nov. 28.
When we spoke, the e-book version had 1,183 holds on 163 copies. The audiobook is in the library’s Always Available collection, meaning patrons can get it at any time. There were also 134 holds on the paper book, but Sellers says they’ve been waiting on additional copies to be shipped from a vendor to help meet demand.
But never fear, if you’re looking to delve further into the world of hockey romance, there are plenty of books beyond the “Game Changers” series to explore. Read on to find seven books that will help further fuel any burgeoning hockey romance obsession. (P.S. If you just can’t get enough of Shane and Ilya, the show was renewed for a second season, and Reid announced a third installment featuring those characters, titled “Unrivaled,” due this fall.)
For readers who love a TV adaptation
“The Deal”by Elle Kennedy. First published in 2015, Kennedy’s “The Deal” is in production with a (still-to-be-announced) 2026 release date on Prime Video. The book is the first in Kennedy’s “Off-Campus” series and centers on college hockey captain Garrett Graham and music major Hannah Wells at the fictional Briar University.
The “deal” comes in when Garrett seeks tutoring help from Hannah. In exchange, he’ll help her snag the attention of her crush. This is a cute friends-to-lovers story with great character development. Garrett is no one-note dumb jock, and there’s more to Hannah than her prim exterior. While both characters are battling past demons, the way they come together in support of one another is swoon-worthy.
This book has a few explicit open-door scenes, ranking it between a three and four out of five on the chili pepper scale, but “The Deal” is fairly tame in the world of Kennedy’s level of spice.
For readers glued to the Winter Olympics
“Skate It Till You Make It” by Rufaro Faith Mazarura. On New Year’s Eve, Ari Shumba — the newly appointed women’s ice hockey captain for Team Great Britain — meets aspiring photographer Drew Dlamini at a party just minutes before the ball drops. Thinking they’ll never see each other again, the two spill all their red flags, being more honest with a stranger than they’ve been with friends or family, and sharing a passionate kiss at midnight.
Months later, Ari is on the ice at the Winter Olympics while Drew is there taking photos, and fate throws them together again. Even though they had already agreed a romance between them wouldn’t work when they first met on New Year’s Eve, this sweet, closed-door (0 on the chili pepper scale) romance takes readers on a journey that shows good things can happen when you lay your cards on the table and let people in.
For readers who like hockey as a vehicle for storytelling, but not as a main plot point
“The Wild Card” by Stephanie Archer. “Wild Card” is Archer’s fifth book in her “Vancouver Storm” series. Each installment centers on a player from the fictional Vancouver, B.C., pro hockey team and their love interest. Book five pairs head coach Tate Ward with Jordan Hathaway, a fiery bartender who also happens to be the estranged daughter of the Storm’s owner. When Jordan’s dad threatens to sell the team, Tate recruits Jordan — who, despite her rocky relationship with her dad, still loves the team — as the team’s general manager in an effort to stop the sale.
Both characters are intensely private, and they’ve both made huge (incorrect) assumptions about each other. Watching them have to work together while unraveling those assumptions proves to be downright delightful. This slow-burn book rates between a two and a three on the spice scale.
For readers looking for a queer sports romance
“Wake Up, Nat & Darcy” by Kate Cochrane. It’s too simple to say “Wake Up, Nat & Darcy” is merely the sapphic version of “Heated Rivalry.” Yes, we’re dealing with former hockey teammates turned adversaries in Darcy LaCroix and Natalie Carpenter — but other than hockey and the Olympics as a backdrop, the only other thing these two books share is a spotlight on how miscommunication and assumptions can change everything.
Darcy is a three-time Olympic gold-winning Canadian women’s hockey player turned broadcast journalist, while Natalie was just cut from the U.S. women’s hockey team, leaving her dreams of another Olympic medal in the dust. When a guest hosting gig at Darcy’s network comes up, the duo is paired in a series of athletic stunts with Olympic athletes, and sparks fly. However, it’s not immediately apparent if those sparks will end up burning down everything Darcy has worked for or if the flames will turn into something more romantic.
Fans of miscommunication will love the heated banter between Darcy and Natalie. This book rates a high two on the chili pepper scale with mild open-door scenes.
For readers who appreciate mental illness representation
“Unbound” by Peyton Corinne. Set for an April 7 release, “Unbound” is the third book in “The Undone” series. Like the first two in the series (“Unsteady,” “Unloved”), “Unbound” follows a college hockey phenom at the fictional East Coast college Waterfell.
Meet Bennett Reiner, the team’s neurodivergent goalie struggling to maintain control over his OCD, anxiety and autism. His love interest, the guarded Paloma Blake, is also hiding some deep trauma behind her party girl exterior. Corinne uses flashbacks to take readers on a trip through Paloma and Bennett’s three-year relationship, showing us where they started and how they arrived at a messy present.
This is an emotionally turbulent story with hockey at its periphery and steamy, open-door scenes sprinkled throughout (3.5 on the chili pepper scale). There are also a fair amount of trigger warnings in the book to pay attention to for readers sensitive to compulsive behaviors, panic attacks and childhood trauma.
For readers who want a heavier dose of hockey
“Thrown for a Loop” by Sarina Bowen. Zoe Carson and Chase Merritt have history. Now, Zoe is a recent divorcee and recovering Olympic figure skater looking for a new start as a skating coach for the fictional NHL New York Legends team. Chase is a player who has lost his mojo on the ice. But 10 years ago? They were skating camp counselors deeply in love for one fleeting summer.
Zoe is on the hunt not only to get a full-time contract with the Legends, but to mend fences with the boy who broke her heart all those years ago. This book drills down on skating technique and mechanics while still being fun and fresh. It ranks as a three on the chili pepper scale with a few open-door love scenes and some moderately spicy language.
“Evening the Score” by Lexi LaFleur Brown. Scheduled for a May 26 release, “Evening the Score” will have you laughing out loud at the banter and shenanigans between star NHL player Brody Parker and (temporary) team mascot/former college hockey player Olivia Hinckley.
Olivia’s former NHL player dad, Kevin, lost his contract in the league because of a CTE-causing concussion from a dirty hit. Brody’s dad, Erik Parker, was the cocky player who delivered the blow. Now, seven years after Kevin’s death, Brody signs a contract with Kevin’s former team, the Minnesota Freeze, and Olivia decides to launch a plan for revenge.
This hilarious secret identity, fake dating, enemies-to-lovers romance has plenty of hockey stats and hockey-related banter alongside good queer and Indigenous representation, chef’s kiss character growth and a couple open-door steamy scenes that place it at a solid three on the chili pepper scale.
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