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ashhearddwrites's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts
heydebigale's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Ilya is one of my favorite romance MCs of all time. He’s hilarious and constantly being an asshole to everyone but really he’s just a pile of goo on the inside. For Shane, for his teammates, and for puppies!!
Shane is an uptight guy who honestly upset me a bit in this book because he did not recognize everything Ilya had sacrificed for him. But, Shane realized his errors and I was happy with the resolution.
I liked that Ilya actually went to therapy in this book and it showed it on the page. I thought the portrayal of depression was very realistic in this book. There was no magic cure just consistent effort.
Overall the Game Changer series is fantastic. Highly recommend to anyone who is looking for sports romance!!
Notes: takes place primarily in Ottowa & Montreal Canada. Shane & Ilya are both gay men. Shane is of Japanese decent. Ilya is struggling with depression in this book.
Shane is an uptight guy who honestly upset me a bit in this book because he did not recognize everything Ilya had sacrificed for him. But, Shane realized his errors and I was happy with the resolution.
I liked that Ilya actually went to therapy in this book and it showed it on the page. I thought the portrayal of depression was very realistic in this book. There was no magic cure just consistent effort.
Overall the Game Changer series is fantastic. Highly recommend to anyone who is looking for sports romance!!
Notes: takes place primarily in Ottowa & Montreal Canada. Shane & Ilya are both gay men. Shane is of Japanese decent. Ilya is struggling with depression in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
marysbookinit's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Death of parent
reclusivebookslug's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Even though I'm not gay and have no interest in hockey, I love this series. I hope Rachel Reid continues writing because she's one of my favorite romance authors. (I've read the whole of this series before I started using this app, and I refuse to start marking books I've read in the past because it would never end and drive me insane, so until I reread the others it will appear as though I have only read this one.)
Although I love the other books in this series (Ryan and Fabian's story especially), this has quickly become my new favorite. The closure on Shane and Ilya's story, discussion of mental health, the inclusion of women's hockey, acknowledging the need for trans inclusivity in sports, and the hope of more substantial change in hockey culture and industry (at least in this fictional NHL), are all great additions.
One point that I prefer other couples in this series to this one is the connection I feel to each of the main characters. I just don't relate or connect to Shane very much. I don't think this is simply due to me being personally very different from him, for the same is true of Ilya, who I love. I can't quite put my finger on why this disconnect exists for me, but it's worth mentioning as something that slightly dampened the enjoyability of reading. I always prefer when I am equally invested in each love interest, as opposed to being predominantly interested in just one.
Although I love the other books in this series (Ryan and Fabian's story especially), this has quickly become my new favorite. The closure on Shane and Ilya's story, discussion of mental health, the inclusion of women's hockey, acknowledging the need for trans inclusivity in sports, and the hope of more substantial change in hockey culture and industry (at least in this fictional NHL), are all great additions.
One point that I prefer other couples in this series to this one is the connection I feel to each of the main characters. I just don't relate or connect to Shane very much. I don't think this is simply due to me being personally very different from him, for the same is true of Ilya, who I love. I can't quite put my finger on why this disconnect exists for me, but it's worth mentioning as something that slightly dampened the enjoyability of reading. I always prefer when I am equally invested in each love interest, as opposed to being predominantly interested in just one.
Content Warnings
Minor: Mental illness and Suicidal thoughts
As discussed in Heated Rivalry (Game Changers #2), Ilya's mother committed suicide when he was young, which is mentioned again here. Now Ilya is struggling with his own mental health, exacerbated by worries of becoming like his mother.prarthana_praveen's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, and Outing
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Death of parent
mspecht's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I just think they’re neat 😭😭😭😭
I cried, I laughed until I cried, I pterodactyl screeched, I threw the book across the couch many times.
There’s a line in HR where Ilya wants to smash burning campfire embers into his eyes bc he just feels too much when he looks at Shane and that’s how I felt reading this, which is my favorite kind of story.
I would fight the entire NHL with my bare hands for the Centaurs and Shane and especially precious angel baby Ilya 😤
Also the trophy room scene will be living in my head rent-free until the day I die BYYYEEEE
I cried, I laughed until I cried, I pterodactyl screeched, I threw the book across the couch many times.
There’s a line in HR where Ilya wants to smash burning campfire embers into his eyes bc he just feels too much when he looks at Shane and that’s how I felt reading this, which is my favorite kind of story.
I would fight the entire NHL with my bare hands for the Centaurs and Shane and especially precious angel baby Ilya 😤
Also the trophy room scene will be living in my head rent-free until the day I die BYYYEEEE
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Outing
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Death of parent
Minor: Eating disorder
calcifowl's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, and Outing
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Death of parent
tabear's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Bullying, Cursing, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Grief, and Outing
Moderate: Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Death of parent, and Alcohol
reesa16's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, and Outing
Moderate: Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
readingtotravel's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
One of my favorite series, a favorite couples! I love Shane and Ilya so much and am so happy Rachel Reid gave us more of their story. Honestly, I hope she circles back to them again and maybe gives them and the other couples some short stories. Reid truly knows who to create loveable characters and delivers HEAs that make all the tension and turmoil worth it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Outing
Moderate: Mental illness and Death of parent
Minor: Suicidal thoughts