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_isabel_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
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
Hello, second worst book hangover of the year. We meet again. (And, weirdly, another hockey romance is to blame)
(FYI, the first one was an ARC of "Rookie Mistake" and no, I will NOT stop taking nor recommending that UTTER GEM of a book, sorry not sorry.)
Anyway.
5 stars is definitely not enough to describe how much, how damn much, I adored this book, how much it made me feel. Start to finish, I loved every single page and every single word. I never wanted it to end, but the ending was SO perfect, so now I'm both devasted and unbelievably happy for Ilya and Shane's well-deserved, long-fought-for, HEA.
I loved "Heated Rivalry" with my whole heart, but "The Long Game"? It was everything I love and long for in a romance novel, and then more.
I've always thought that, regardless of HR very romantic, endgame-y and sweet conclusion, Ilya and Shane's story never felt 100% satisfying. So now, I'm really, REALLY glad I was kind of late to the "Game Changers" party when I started reading these books: waiting years would have been absolute torture.
Anyway, this was gorgeous. An utterly romantic, wonderfully I-am-sobbing-my-eyes-out, gut-wrenching, just *chef's kiss*, novel. It has steam and intimacy and friendship and banter and angst and heartache and the most epic conclusion you could ever wish for. PLUS, two MCs and a cast of wonderfully complex and lovable side characters that absolutely SHINE.
I mean, Shane does eventually shine and I was so proud of him by the end I wanted to scream, but he DID frustrate me a bit in the beginning. He's still endearingly grumpy and awkward and easily flustered and just, really sweet, but I wanted to kick him a bit (or a lot), aswell. But you can see and feel how much he just adores Ilya, so I was pretty much ready to forgive him as soon as he started acting better.
But speaking of Ilya.
Ilya Rozanov. God, I think he might have replaced someone in my "Top Ten Characters I Would Absolutely and Cheerfully Die For" list. He's something special. An utter snark king and so hilarious I literally cackled for hours after some bits, so sexy I melted MANY, many times, so lovable and caring and affectionate, and so heartbreakingly soft and sweet I wanted to hurl myself off a mountain.
Also, the way he was with the dogs? I SOBBED. This is such a tough book for Ilya, but I felt like Rachel Reid dealt with some of the most serious issues he has to go through with tact and care. Needless to say I wanted to hug him to death a couple of times, or twenty, throughout the entire book. I still want to do it now. I am so damn proud of him, and Shane, and how far they've both come.
The story flows like a dream, as RR's flawless storytelling, and the side characters? The whole Ottawa team deserve a medal. They are literally the best and if RR decides to write another book in this series, I sincerely hope it will be about one of them. Troy and Hazy and Bood and Shane's parents deserve a special mention for being awesome, whereas Shane's team can go and suck a lemon. Yuck, those idiots. Yes, even J.J. and Hayden.
We get to see some really, really familiar and welcome faces and I'm pretty convinced I would kill for a whole story, short or otherwise, of the queer hockey-adjacent couples interacting with each other and just being happy and maybe kicking some bigoted ass.
Anyway, I was very, very satisfied with everything that happened in this book and with Ilya and Shane fantastic love story. Those last few chapters made my heart explode.
I think I might have underlined the whole thing and I kinda want to do a re-read now? God, somebody save me from the agony that this book hangover will be. "The Long Game" was absolutely everything, romance and found family and banter at its best, a whack-over-the-head-with-a-shovel-loaded-with-feels in book form. I loved it to bits.
(FYI, the first one was an ARC of "Rookie Mistake" and no, I will NOT stop taking nor recommending that UTTER GEM of a book, sorry not sorry.)
Anyway.
5 stars is definitely not enough to describe how much, how damn much, I adored this book, how much it made me feel. Start to finish, I loved every single page and every single word. I never wanted it to end, but the ending was SO perfect, so now I'm both devasted and unbelievably happy for Ilya and Shane's well-deserved, long-fought-for, HEA.
I loved "Heated Rivalry" with my whole heart, but "The Long Game"? It was everything I love and long for in a romance novel, and then more.
I've always thought that, regardless of HR very romantic, endgame-y and sweet conclusion, Ilya and Shane's story never felt 100% satisfying. So now, I'm really, REALLY glad I was kind of late to the "Game Changers" party when I started reading these books: waiting years would have been absolute torture.
Anyway, this was gorgeous. An utterly romantic, wonderfully I-am-sobbing-my-eyes-out, gut-wrenching, just *chef's kiss*, novel. It has steam and intimacy and friendship and banter and angst and heartache and the most epic conclusion you could ever wish for. PLUS, two MCs and a cast of wonderfully complex and lovable side characters that absolutely SHINE.
I mean, Shane does eventually shine and I was so proud of him by the end I wanted to scream, but he DID frustrate me a bit in the beginning. He's still endearingly grumpy and awkward and easily flustered and just, really sweet, but I wanted to kick him a bit (or a lot), aswell. But you can see and feel how much he just adores Ilya, so I was pretty much ready to forgive him as soon as he started acting better.
But speaking of Ilya.
Ilya Rozanov. God, I think he might have replaced someone in my "Top Ten Characters I Would Absolutely and Cheerfully Die For" list. He's something special. An utter snark king and so hilarious I literally cackled for hours after some bits, so sexy I melted MANY, many times, so lovable and caring and affectionate, and so heartbreakingly soft and sweet I wanted to hurl myself off a mountain.
Also, the way he was with the dogs? I SOBBED. This is such a tough book for Ilya, but I felt like Rachel Reid dealt with some of the most serious issues he has to go through with tact and care. Needless to say I wanted to hug him to death a couple of times, or twenty, throughout the entire book. I still want to do it now. I am so damn proud of him, and Shane, and how far they've both come.
The story flows like a dream, as RR's flawless storytelling, and the side characters? The whole Ottawa team deserve a medal. They are literally the best and if RR decides to write another book in this series, I sincerely hope it will be about one of them. Troy and Hazy and Bood and Shane's parents deserve a special mention for being awesome, whereas Shane's team can go and suck a lemon. Yuck, those idiots. Yes, even J.J. and Hayden.
We get to see some really, really familiar and welcome faces and I'm pretty convinced I would kill for a whole story, short or otherwise, of the queer hockey-adjacent couples interacting with each other and just being happy and maybe kicking some bigoted ass.
Anyway, I was very, very satisfied with everything that happened in this book and with Ilya and Shane fantastic love story. Those last few chapters made my heart explode.
I think I might have underlined the whole thing and I kinda want to do a re-read now? God, somebody save me from the agony that this book hangover will be. "The Long Game" was absolutely everything, romance and found family and banter at its best, a whack-over-the-head-with-a-shovel-loaded-with-feels in book form. I loved it to bits.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Suicide
bookedinsideout's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
1.5
“I’ve been mad at the game for a while, and I needed this.”
That’s how I felt after reading the last book, Role Model, but pretty much the opposite after reading this. I’m really upsetfor Ilya and Shane that they were publicly outed, and that the commissioner was so awful as well as Shane’s teammates. Hayden, who inadvertently outed them, was apologetic and it was an accident, but I didn’t think the way he told them was very comforting, that he really gave them as much support as he could have, and Shane’s friend JJ was awful to him — not to mention his teammates. It just left an extremely bad taste in my mouth. Role Model was a comfort book, but this felt like one big downer.
I think if I had been more aware of content warnings it might have helped, or if I hadn’t read it at a particularly low period, but there was just so much heavy in this book. The disordered eating and shaming of other people (with no real resolution or countering of it); the homomisia; the depression that was being treated by a therapist but then kind of left off; theforced outing and treatment of that . There were a lot of cute and funny moments in the book, but the heavy lines and moments made it feel heavier for me than it was probably meant to. I don’t even think it’s that I had high expectations for the book, it’s just how it was. And a little anger too that now that we know what’s going on concurrently with the events of Role Model, I’m not sure I’ll be able to take comfort in it in the same way anymore.
I didn’t mind the pacing in the beginning, but everything happened really quickly at the end and I’m sure a few of the many (many) sex scenes could have been cut to make room for a more rounded and satisfying conclusion. (I’m not usually one to complain about that, but there were a lot, especially noticeable when they’re not doing a lot of communicating outside of that and developing their relationships in other ways.) I can definitely see how there were parts of the book that others will focus on and love, but unfortunately I could only focus on the parts that dragged me down.
That’s how I felt after reading the last book, Role Model, but pretty much the opposite after reading this. I’m really upset
I think if I had been more aware of content warnings it might have helped, or if I hadn’t read it at a particularly low period, but there was just so much heavy in this book. The disordered eating and shaming of other people (with no real resolution or countering of it); the homomisia; the depression that was being treated by a therapist but then kind of left off; the
I didn’t mind the pacing in the beginning, but everything happened really quickly at the end and I’m sure a few of the many (many) sex scenes could have been cut to make room for a more rounded and satisfying conclusion. (I’m not usually one to complain about that, but there were a lot, especially noticeable when they’re not doing a lot of communicating outside of that and developing their relationships in other ways.) I can definitely see how there were parts of the book that others will focus on and love, but unfortunately I could only focus on the parts that dragged me down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Death of parent and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Suicide
fsoderberg's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I have been counting down the MINUTES til this release since reading Heated Rivalry this February. Shane and Ilya are so delightful, their banter and their love truly made me squeal out loud multiple times while reading. An incredible follow up to one of my favorite romances of all time. Cannot recommend this book enough.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
natureofreading's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
This sequel is seriously so wonderful and worth every second of waiting.
Shane and Ilya are just so damn loveable and as a reader you just want to watch all the good things happen for them. The first book is so angsty and follows their start and the first 10ish years of their rivalry and relationship. This second book has less angst, but oh so many emotions. Their love is so open, despite their relationship being so hidden.
I love this series, especially this particular storyline, but there is a lot of sex. Maybe a bit too much? Some of the scenes enhanced the storyline, but a few did not. The book isn't too long and honestly I could keep reading about their lives, but I did think 'another sex scene?' more than once.
The mental health issues addressed in this book (and in several others in the series as well) were done well. It is woven into the story and adds to the plot.
I highly recommend this book and it's precursor (book 2 in the series) AND the whole series. It's not just a hockey romance. I don't like hockey and I absolutely adored these books.
Shane and Ilya are just so damn loveable and as a reader you just want to watch all the good things happen for them. The first book is so angsty and follows their start and the first 10ish years of their rivalry and relationship. This second book has less angst, but oh so many emotions. Their love is so open, despite their relationship being so hidden.
I love this series, especially this particular storyline, but there is a lot of sex. Maybe a bit too much? Some of the scenes enhanced the storyline, but a few did not. The book isn't too long and honestly I could keep reading about their lives, but I did think 'another sex scene?' more than once.
The mental health issues addressed in this book (and in several others in the series as well) were done well. It is woven into the story and adds to the plot.
I highly recommend this book and it's precursor (book 2 in the series) AND the whole series. It's not just a hockey romance. I don't like hockey and I absolutely adored these books.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Suicide
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