If you love enemies-to-lovers tropes, scorching chemistry, forced proximity, and banter that could melt the ice, Rachel Reid’s Heated Rivalry series (part of her broader Game Changers universe) is basically catnip for romance readers and a standout among popular Rachel Reid books. The series follows rival hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov as their intense on-ice hatred slowly (and deliciously) turns into something neither of them can resist.
Whether you’re new to the series or coming back for a re-read, here’s the perfect reading order—plus quick spoiler-free vibes for each book so you know exactly what you’re in for.
List Of Heated Rivalry Books In Order by Year
Here’s a clean, complete, and updated table of all Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series books in recommended reading order, with special highlights for the Heated Rivalry duo that everyone is obsessed with.
| Order | Title | Year | Couple / Main Characters | Part of Heated Rivalry Arc? | Notes / Spice Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Game Changer | 2018 | Kip & Scott | No | Great intro to the universe |
| 2 | Heated Rivalry | 2019 | Shane Hollander & Ilya Rozanov | Book 1 of the Heated Rivalry duology | ★ The one that broke the internet ★ Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 |
| 3 | Tough Guy | 2020 | Ryan & Fabian | No | Grumpy/sunshine |
| 4 | Common Goal | 2020 | Eric & Kyle | Strongly tied – Ilya is a major character | Read this between the two HR books for maximum feels |
| 5 | Role Model | 2021 | Harris & Troy | Minor cameos of Shane & Ilya | Friends-to-lovers |
| 6 | The Long Game | 2022 | Shane Hollander & Ilya Rozanov | Book 2 of the Heated Rivalry duology | The epic conclusion – tears guaranteed Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 |
| 7 | Time to Shine | 2023 | Landon & Casey (holiday novella) | Very light cameo of the boys | Christmas hockey romance |
Quick Reading Paths
| Your Mood | Recommended Order |
|---|---|
| Only care about Shane & Ilya | Heated Rivalry → Common Goal (optional but amazing) → The Long Game |
| Want the full emotional experience | Game Changer → Heated Rivalry → Tough Guy → Common Goal → Role Model → The Long Game → Time to Shine |
| Just here for the spice & banter | Jump straight into Heated Rivalry – you won’t regret it |
Heated Rivalry Series in Publication & Recommended Reading Order
- Heated Rivalry (Game Changers #2) – 2019 ★★★★★ The one that started it all. Shane Hollander (the golden boy of Montreal) and Ilya Rozanov (Boston’s cocky Russian superstar) have been secretly hooking up for years—while publicly acting like they want to murder each other. This is pure enemies-with-benefits perfection, spanning almost a decade of stolen hotel nights, trash talk, and feelings neither wants to admit. Tropes: Enemies-to-lovers, secret relationship, forced proximity, banter for days Spice level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 (very explicit)
- The Long Game (Game Changers #6) – 2022 ★★★★★ The sequel we begged for—and it delivered. Nine years after Heated Rivalry ends, Shane and Ilya are still together… but still in the deepest closet in professional sports. Now one of them is ready to come out and the other is terrified. Angst, marriage proposals, found family, and even more intense spice. Tropes: Established couple, secret relationship, coming out, hurt/comfort Spice level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Bonus: Where Does “Common Goal” Fit In?
While not officially part of the “Heated Rivalry” duology, many fans consider Common Goal (Game Changers #4) essential because:
- Ilya plays a major supporting role
- We see Shane & Ilya’s relationship from the outside for the first time
- It bridges the gap between books 1 and 2 beautifully
If you want the full emotional experience, read it between Heated Rivalry and The Long Game.
Quick Game Changers Reading Order (Optional but Recommended)
If you fall in love with Shane and Ilya (99.9% of readers do), you’ll want to devour the rest of the series. Here’s the full order:
- Game Changer
- Heated Rivalry ← Start here if you only care about Shane & Ilya
- Tough Guy
- Common Goal ← Highly recommended between the two HR books
- Role Model
- The Long Game ← Shane & Ilya book 2
- Time to Shine (holiday novella)
Why Readers Are Obsessed with Heated Rivalry
- The banter is elite. Ilya’s sarcastic one-liners alone deserve an award.
- The slow-burn that somehow feels explosive from page one
- Realistic portrayal of being queer in professional men’s sports
- Incredible character growth (especially in The Long Game)
- Some of the hottest scenes in sports romance—full stop
New to the Series? Start Here
You can technically jump straight into Heated Rivalry without reading Game Changer first (book 1). Thousands of readers do—and then immediately go back to read the rest of the series anyway.
Final Verdict
If you only ever read one M/M sports romance series, make it this one. Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov are legendary for a reason.
Ready to fall in love (and maybe cry in a closet at 3 a.m.)?
Grab Heated Rivalry now → available on Kindle Unlimited!
Have you read the series yet? Who’s your favorite—perfect Shane or chaotic Ilya? Drop your vote in the comments! 👇
