A review by bookedinsideout
Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid
5.0
04/21/2022: Preparing for The Long Game’s release in a few days… the crafting of this with the prologue and the reveal and then getting to see the progression of their relationship is perfection, and I’m looking forward to seeing where they go next.
08/01/2021: I listened to the audiobook and giggled throughout the whole thing because their teasing is just perfection, along with some Canadian jabs thrown in (Regina, Ottawa, McGill). This is the perfect book. They're enemies because they're rivals, but there's a respect there and it never verges into meanness, which is why I think it works so well for me. Other than the outside factors keeping them publicly apart, there's very little angst, making it a thoroughly enjoyable comfort read.
09/29/2020:
Ilya kissed his dumb mouth and swallowed his stupid little sighs and felt his annoying fingers in his hair. He pulled back so he could look at his horrible face with its ridiculous freckles. Fuck.
I loved everything about this hockey romance: the way it spanned years, secret meet-ups, All-Star games, off-season at the cottage, two hockey-loving and supportive parents… and it was just so fun to watch Shane and Ilya navigate their true enemies-to-lovers story.
08/01/2021: I listened to the audiobook and giggled throughout the whole thing because their teasing is just perfection, along with some Canadian jabs thrown in (Regina, Ottawa, McGill). This is the perfect book. They're enemies because they're rivals, but there's a respect there and it never verges into meanness, which is why I think it works so well for me. Other than the outside factors keeping them publicly apart, there's very little angst, making it a thoroughly enjoyable comfort read.
09/29/2020:
Ilya kissed his dumb mouth and swallowed his stupid little sighs and felt his annoying fingers in his hair. He pulled back so he could look at his horrible face with its ridiculous freckles. Fuck.
I loved everything about this hockey romance: the way it spanned years, secret meet-ups, All-Star games, off-season at the cottage, two hockey-loving and supportive parents… and it was just so fun to watch Shane and Ilya navigate their true enemies-to-lovers story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Dementia
Minor: Suicide
CW: Homophobic slurs, suicide, Alzheimer’s disease, emotional/financial abuse, possible spinal cord injury and concussion