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levilore_'s review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.5
I loved this book! I thought Shane and Ilya were great characters plus the exploration of being queer in Russia vs Canada was very interesting. I really enjoyed the fact that there was very explicit consent during all the sex scenes and that their aggressiveness towards each other was never even close to being abusive.
In particular, the exploration of sexuality really stuck out to me, because many books have a confident gay character and another character who realizes he is bi due to the gay character. This was reversed and I thought that was awesome.
I do wish there was a bit more of an ending after all that build up which is the only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars.
In particular, the exploration of sexuality really stuck out to me, because many books have a confident gay character and another character who realizes he is bi due to the gay character. This was reversed and I thought that was awesome.
I do wish there was a bit more of an ending after all that build up which is the only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Dementia, Grief, Alcohol, Blood, Suicide, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
Minor: Biphobia, Deportation, Outing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy
crystalmackey's review
emotional
funny
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: Sexual content and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide, Dementia, and Homophobia
kiris's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Minor: Dementia, Suicide, and Biphobia
lauraelovesbooks's review against another edition
emotional
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
This book has been on my TBR forever and I’m so glad I finally read it. It was everything I wanted it to be and more
I was a little hesitant when the prologue jumped right into the spice (I need a much slower burn) but was thrilled to see how it backtracked and everything played out. All the longing and pining (even though their physical relationship isn’t slow to begin, it still has everything I look for in a slow burn romance). Fellow slow burn lovers, if you’re reading this and wondering whether this book will work for you, I’m betting it will!
Otherwise I really have no notes. This was such a captivating story and I can’t wait to jump right into the Long Game (I’m afraid I’ll be skipping the rest of the series for now because I just can’t wait!)
I was a little hesitant when the prologue jumped right into the spice (I need a much slower burn) but was thrilled to see how it backtracked and everything played out. All the longing and pining (even though their physical relationship isn’t slow to begin, it still has everything I look for in a slow burn romance). Fellow slow burn lovers, if you’re reading this and wondering whether this book will work for you, I’m betting it will!
Otherwise I really have no notes. This was such a captivating story and I can’t wait to jump right into the Long Game (I’m afraid I’ll be skipping the rest of the series for now because I just can’t wait!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Sexual content
Minor: Suicide, Dementia, and Death of parent
ellenkennedy's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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
4.5
And to think I once DNFed this book after just one chapter!
I adored this story and the characters of Shane and Ilya. The narrative was light but surprisingly mature given the nature of their relationship and the rivalry. I half-expected one or both of them to freak out and bolt afterthey realised their feelings for each other or when they finally admitted them out loud, or when Shane's father walked in on them. I'm happy that it didn't happen, and that there was no drama (well, other than the expected kind) and no third-act breakup. The fact that they kept it up for ten (!) years, only to slowly begin realising that they were "it" for each other, and then fought for it instead of running away... It punched me right in the feels!
I loved:
- Ilya's humour and his entire personality, I laughed out loud at least a few times;
- Shane's anxiety and need for control; the fact that he bought an entire building for their hookups was honestly both sad and hilarious;
- Shane's relationship with Rose, she sounded so sweet and understanding (I wish we got more of her, it would be nice if she could have a more active role in this story);
- The fact that Shane encouraged Ilya to share his feelings in Russian instead of English (and that it actually helped. And that Ilya ended up confessing his love at that moment, even though Shane didn't know it);
- The fact that they talked, like REALLY talked to one another instead of bottling up their feelings (even though it scared them);
- The fact that Ilya was willing to sacrifice SO MUCH just to be with Shane, wow, I was not expecting that;
- Shane beginning to slowly realise and accept his sexuality;
- Shane's parents' reaction to Shane and Ilya;
- Shane's thought that it would make him happy to see Ilya holding the Stanley Cup despite them playing for rivaling teams;
- The fact that their chemistry was there from the moment they met, but the love came much later and was unrelenting.
At first, it was only hookups (and they were great), it wasn't that deep for either of them. Ilya kept seeing other people and Shane kept TRYING to see other people, but the moment it turned more personal, they both just went with it (even though they both tried to let this thing go, fearing their forbidden love would destroy them). They communicate, they care for each other, and they actively strive for their happy ending.
Why did I DNF it last year? I have no idea. Suffice it to say, never have I been happier to get something wrong.
I adored this story and the characters of Shane and Ilya. The narrative was light but surprisingly mature given the nature of their relationship and the rivalry. I half-expected one or both of them to freak out and bolt after
I loved:
- Ilya's humour and his entire personality, I laughed out loud at least a few times;
- Shane's anxiety and need for control; the fact that he bought an entire building for their hookups was honestly both sad and hilarious;
- Shane's relationship with Rose, she sounded so sweet and understanding (I wish we got more of her, it would be nice if she could have a more active role in this story);
- The fact that Shane encouraged Ilya to share his feelings in Russian instead of English (and that it actually helped. And that Ilya ended up confessing his love at that moment, even though Shane didn't know it);
- The fact that they talked, like REALLY talked to one another instead of bottling up their feelings (even though it scared them);
- The fact that Ilya was willing to sacrifice SO MUCH just to be with Shane, wow, I was not expecting that;
- Shane beginning to slowly realise and accept his sexuality;
- Shane's parents' reaction to Shane and Ilya;
- Shane's thought that it would make him happy to see Ilya holding the Stanley Cup despite them playing for rivaling teams;
- The fact that their chemistry was there from the moment they met, but the love came much later and was unrelenting.
At first, it was only hookups (and they were great), it wasn't that deep for either of them. Ilya kept seeing other people and Shane kept TRYING to see other people, but the moment it turned more personal, they both just went with it (even though they both tried to let this thing go, fearing their forbidden love would destroy them). They communicate, they care for each other, and they actively strive for their happy ending.
Why did I DNF it last year? I have no idea. Suffice it to say, never have I been happier to get something wrong.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, Dementia, and Homophobia
madscientistcat's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book has no right being so good! I’m actually mad that it’s set the bar so high for any future sports romances I want to read. 😂 It has the most level 5 spice but also the sweetest story and absolutely adorable characters with top tier banter. It’s so well written, engrossing and emotional.
Final note: I love Ilya with my whole heart, he’s hilarious and precious and I just need to know that this fictional character is happy forever 🥹
Final note: I love Ilya with my whole heart, he’s hilarious and precious and I just need to know that this fictional character is happy forever 🥹
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Cursing, Sexual content, and Dementia
Moderate: Suicide and Death of parent
Minor: Toxic relationship
insanelyfruity's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
slow-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? No
3.5
Ilya couldn't believe what he had been reduced to. He was...infatuated. It was disgusting.
fun, easy read but the amount of smut was kinda jarring. the rest of it was pretty sweet tho so it was cool lol
Shane looked up at him, still laughing. His whole face was crinkled up: eyes, nose, freckles. Ilya wanted to grab embers from the fire and smash them into his own eyes because he could not bear to look at this adorable, crinkled, happy face.
Content Warnings
Minor: Dementia and Suicide
plsnotanotherdamselindistress's review
lighthearted
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? No
3.25
A solid sports romance, not lifechanging but the characters really grew on me.
Dual POV...yay
Flashbacks/time jumps...nay(but were necessary)
Spice quantity 4/5 (for a romance story that ratio was a little bit off for me, but that was not a great deal breaker)
- outing to parents involuntary, but they were not homophobic
Dual POV...yay
Flashbacks/time jumps...nay(but were necessary)
Spice quantity 4/5 (for a romance story that ratio was a little bit off for me, but that was not a great deal breaker)
- outing to parents involuntary, but they were not homophobic
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Minor: Dementia, Biphobia, Death of parent, Suicide, and Sexism
bookishval's review against another edition
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
REREAD ON APRIL 18TH, 2024
Omggg I just had the best fucking time of my life AGAIN. So I read this as an ebook last year and it became my favorite sports romance, maybe even my fav mm romance tbh. I've always wanted to have a physical copy of it. A trophy for my collection, so that I could tab it and annotate it like crazy. I finally could a few weeks ago and I read it in just four days:) It took longer than before because I was in the middle of tests, but y'all omg, Heated Rivalry is still a five-star read for me. I don't usually reread books, not even my favorites, because I just feel like it's a waste of time. After all there are still so many book out there I haven't read.
However, nothing about this reread felt like a waste of time. Shane and Ilya are so precious to me. Against all odds (the odds being some of my most hated tropes), they still hold a place in my heart and in my top books of all time. I didn't lie when I said it ruined other books for me. I haven't read a single hockey romance that could get not even close to this one.
And I will never shut up about Ilya's development. He went from being so closed off emotionally, to being so open and affectionate with Shane once they could feel their love was a possibility.
It's something I particularly love about the dynamics of this book. Because you have Shane, who has never been with a guy and is experiencing attraction to one for the first time in his life. And he's always scared everytime he meets up with Ilya. He's always second guessing himself and also he doesn't really know what Ilya thinks, because Ilya is never open about what's going through his mind. However, because Ilya is experienced and starts this thing with Shane as a fun thing to do, he's always taking the first step. So meet up, to send a message, to push Shane.
Ilya is not open about his true feelings for a great part of the book, but he's made abundantly clear his interest in Shane. But then, things get more serious and real. And who's the one who stars stepping up now? Shane! He knows as much as Ilya them together is nearly impossible, but he tries to be open about his feelings first so that Ilya can feel confident to do it too. And he also invites Ilya to his cabin, which I feel was the turning point for their relationship. Something changed in Ilya when he saw Scott kissing his boyfriend in national tv, and Shane grab that chance. I'm so in love with their dynamics and how their roles switch througout the book. I'm so excited to reread The Long Game once I get my hands in a paperback <3
This is hands down the best sports romance I've read. Let's elaborate.
So, I had high expectations about this book but at the same time I was a bit skeptical. I've read so many praise to this book, and how it is the standard for sports enemies to lovers romances. But then I realized there's was a second book, and I don't like when romance books have sequels, so after reading the synopsis of the second book and spoiling myself, I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy the first one as much as I thought. But boy was I wrong.
I don't even know where to begin. This book had me hooked from the very first page. This is what I call a well executed enemies to lovers, it is all I've ever asked for and more. Shane and Ilya can't be more different. Their appearances, personalities and public image, every single thing is the opposite. They were declared rivals since the moment the media set eyes on them. And they've been attracted to each other even before.
I was so intrigued to know how their situationship developed. And the way the book is written, giving us glimpses of their encounters over the years, is incredibly well done.
I loved every single part of this book. EVERY SINGLE ONE. From their undeniable attraction to each other, to their conflicted feelings, to the start of something more, Shane and Ilya had me on a grip every single page. The spicy scenes were great, Shane and Ilya had amazing banter in and out of the rink, and they way the story was told, chef kiss!!
I said before I was wary of this book, because I hate it when authors make several books about the same couple, but I finished this book in less than 2 days and I'm craving to read more about them! I think I'll never get sick of reading about these two.
Ilya Rozanov specifically, was such a surprise!! I did not expect to fall in love with this man, really. At first I wanted him to express his feelings more, because Shane couldn't stop feeling guilty about their interactions, and a little bit insecure, but then Ilya fell in love and oh boy, that man gives his 100%. I can't begin to explain how I feel abot Ilya, about both of them, actually. They love each other so passionately and I was rooting for them in every step of the way.
Did I mention how much I loved the way Rachel developed the story? Well let me tell you again, that woman is a genius! I don't wanna give any spoilers, but I swear to god, I've never read such a well planned sports romance. Everything made sense. Both Shane and Ilya had their struggles admiting their feelings, in their own ways, and reading how they came to terms with the reality of their passionate, earth moving and burning love was such a pleasure.
They are soulmates who spent 10 years loving each other without realizing it. And even when they admited their feelings, that first spark of banter didn't go away, because Shane and Ilya love to hate and challenge each other.
I don't know what else to say, how to put into words how I feel for this two hockey players that in less than two days rocked my world and made me asked myself If I really was reading good sports romances before. Heated Rivalry is the standard, the blueprint on how sports romance should be written. And I cannot wait to read them again. This is where the real struggle begins, but I'm willing to read it if it means a happy ending for this two men who just want to love each other freely.
Omggg I just had the best fucking time of my life AGAIN. So I read this as an ebook last year and it became my favorite sports romance, maybe even my fav mm romance tbh. I've always wanted to have a physical copy of it. A trophy for my collection, so that I could tab it and annotate it like crazy. I finally could a few weeks ago and I read it in just four days:) It took longer than before because I was in the middle of tests, but y'all omg, Heated Rivalry is still a five-star read for me. I don't usually reread books, not even my favorites, because I just feel like it's a waste of time. After all there are still so many book out there I haven't read.
However, nothing about this reread felt like a waste of time. Shane and Ilya are so precious to me. Against all odds (the odds being some of my most hated tropes), they still hold a place in my heart and in my top books of all time. I didn't lie when I said it ruined other books for me. I haven't read a single hockey romance that could get not even close to this one.
And I will never shut up about Ilya's development. He went from being so closed off emotionally, to being so open and affectionate with Shane once they could feel their love was a possibility.
It's something I particularly love about the dynamics of this book. Because you have Shane, who has never been with a guy and is experiencing attraction to one for the first time in his life. And he's always scared everytime he meets up with Ilya. He's always second guessing himself and also he doesn't really know what Ilya thinks, because Ilya is never open about what's going through his mind. However, because Ilya is experienced and starts this thing with Shane as a fun thing to do, he's always taking the first step. So meet up, to send a message, to push Shane.
Ilya is not open about his true feelings for a great part of the book, but he's made abundantly clear his interest in Shane. But then, things get more serious and real. And who's the one who stars stepping up now? Shane! He knows as much as Ilya them together is nearly impossible, but he tries to be open about his feelings first so that Ilya can feel confident to do it too. And he also invites Ilya to his cabin, which I feel was the turning point for their relationship. Something changed in Ilya when he saw Scott kissing his boyfriend in national tv, and Shane grab that chance. I'm so in love with their dynamics and how their roles switch througout the book. I'm so excited to reread The Long Game once I get my hands in a paperback <3
This is hands down the best sports romance I've read. Let's elaborate.
So, I had high expectations about this book but at the same time I was a bit skeptical. I've read so many praise to this book, and how it is the standard for sports enemies to lovers romances. But then I realized there's was a second book, and I don't like when romance books have sequels, so after reading the synopsis of the second book and spoiling myself, I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy the first one as much as I thought. But boy was I wrong.
I don't even know where to begin. This book had me hooked from the very first page. This is what I call a well executed enemies to lovers, it is all I've ever asked for and more. Shane and Ilya can't be more different. Their appearances, personalities and public image, every single thing is the opposite. They were declared rivals since the moment the media set eyes on them. And they've been attracted to each other even before.
I was so intrigued to know how their situationship developed. And the way the book is written, giving us glimpses of their encounters over the years, is incredibly well done.
I loved every single part of this book. EVERY SINGLE ONE. From their undeniable attraction to each other, to their conflicted feelings, to the start of something more, Shane and Ilya had me on a grip every single page. The spicy scenes were great, Shane and Ilya had amazing banter in and out of the rink, and they way the story was told, chef kiss!!
I said before I was wary of this book, because I hate it when authors make several books about the same couple, but I finished this book in less than 2 days and I'm craving to read more about them! I think I'll never get sick of reading about these two.
Ilya Rozanov specifically, was such a surprise!! I did not expect to fall in love with this man, really. At first I wanted him to express his feelings more, because Shane couldn't stop feeling guilty about their interactions, and a little bit insecure, but then Ilya fell in love and oh boy, that man gives his 100%. I can't begin to explain how I feel abot Ilya, about both of them, actually. They love each other so passionately and I was rooting for them in every step of the way.
Did I mention how much I loved the way Rachel developed the story? Well let me tell you again, that woman is a genius! I don't wanna give any spoilers, but I swear to god, I've never read such a well planned sports romance. Everything made sense. Both Shane and Ilya had their struggles admiting their feelings, in their own ways, and reading how they came to terms with the reality of their passionate, earth moving and burning love was such a pleasure.
They are soulmates who spent 10 years loving each other without realizing it. And even when they admited their feelings, that first spark of banter didn't go away, because Shane and Ilya love to hate and challenge each other.
I don't know what else to say, how to put into words how I feel for this two hockey players that in less than two days rocked my world and made me asked myself If I really was reading good sports romances before. Heated Rivalry is the standard, the blueprint on how sports romance should be written. And I cannot wait to read them again. This is where the real struggle begins, but I'm willing to read it if it means a happy ending for this two men who just want to love each other freely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Sexual content
Moderate: Dementia and Death of parent
hazelgirl21's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide and Dementia