It’s finally here. My journey with Ilya and Shane began in August 2020 when I first read Heated Rivalry and it instantly became one of my all time favorite books and one I returned to twice within a year of first reading it. Have have read all the other books in the Game Changers series, but kept coming back to Ilya and Shane’s story so I was thrilled to learn that Rachel was writing a direct sequel to their book. I was ecstatic to be given an ARC of The Long Game and devoured it over two days savoring each and every word. As it is a direct sequel to Heated Rivalry, I do highly recommend that anyone who wants to read this book read that one first. The heroes from the other books in the series do make appearances and this book does overlap with the events of Role Model, but reading those books before this one is less important than reading Heated Rivalry.

This book picks up about three years after Heated Rivalry ends and we find Ilya and Shane still playing for rival hockey teams and keeping their very committed relationship hidden from all but a handful of people. By this point in their relationship they are past the honeymoon phase and the reality of loving someone in secret is taking its toll. While both Heated Rivalry and The Long Game are dual POV, this one felt more like Ilya’s book where as Heated Rivalry felt more like Shane’s. The book presents an honest depiction of mental health and navigating an extremely complex relationship, while ultimately fulfilling the promise of a happy ending.

I loved the rawness of this book. Heated Rivalry is raw in terms of decadent heat, while this is raw in terms of breaking down exactly who Shane and Ilya are both individually and as a couple. This is still an extremely steamy read, but had an extra level of depth because it wasn’t as focused on just the physical component of their relationship. There were lots of moments where I just wanted to wrap Ilya and Shane in a warm hug. As someone who has struggled on and off with depression, I found Ilya’s mental health journey to be a very accurate and well written. This book, like Heated Rivalry, is one that will stick with me though for different reasons than the first book. It had me craving a reread of the entire series. I’m not sure if Rachel is planning on continuing in this world or if this will be the final Game Changes book, but either way I am excited to see what she writes next.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Carina Press, and Harlequin for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Netgalley ARC

I DEVOURED this book.
Shane and Ilya are BACK!!! And Back with a BANG (more like BANGS ;) )

I fell in love with these two all over again.
The Long Game is, as the title implies, Ilya and Shane's long game of their relationship.

If you've read Heated Rivalry, you know their journey. Their years of relationship, them hiding it, and then them trying to make it work keeping their relationship a secret. This story picks a few years from where the last book ends.

I absolutely loved how Ilya was more vulnerable and open than ever before. We see him crash and burn and grow and just become MORE. Shane was ever the perfectionist, hard-working, good guy. And he was totally and completely and whole-heartedly in love with Ilya. Shane took a while to change and grow and truly realize Ilya's love and dedication for him. But it happened. And I loved it.

I loved how the book concluded. I loved how their relationship issues were resolved. I absolutely wanted to hit Shane and hug Ilya at some instances but then, by the end, I wanted to hug Shane and hug Ilya and just swoon and bask in this book and this world.

I highly recommend. Go read it.!!!

Fantastic. Everything I could have wished for and more. I love Shane and Ilya, and I think was the perfect sequel to Heated Rivalry.All the stars.

I really enjoyed seeing Shane and Ilya again, but there was entirely too many children in this book. It's weird reading about characters blowing their load on each other, then jump directly to hanging out with precious kids. Barf. It's also time to stop with the community programs for underprivileged children trope. I don't read these books to spend time with underprivileged children.

I am one of those people who adored Heated Rivalry. I can wax poetic on its many positive points and will recommend it to anyone. When I found out there was a sequel, my mind went through quite a range of emotions. I was excited and so nervous that it would ruin Shane and Ilya’s love story for me. Would there be unnecessary drama? The dreaded miscommunication? God forbid, cheating?! I was truly worried about how this book could be interesting and good without throwing in elements that would take away from everything that I loved so much.

I shouldn’t have been worried. Rachel Reid is a fantastic author and this story was everything I could have hoped for and more. It was an exploration of the two characters I have grown to love and the realities of their romance in a world that might not accept it. It did have emotional elements, but it rang so true to how things might happen in a relationship like this with real people. The struggles they encountered in this book didn’t do a disservice to their love or what they went through. I really think that delving deeper into these characters and giving them real world problems only enhanced these two characters and everything that made them so memorable to begin with.

I feel I can share that Ilya struggles with mental health in this book because it doesn’t spoil the story at all and we’re well aware it runs in his family. The exploration of his mental health was so well done. It’s heartbreaking, sensitively tackled, and feels true to someone discovering such an emotional thing about themselves. I wanted to hug him so hard throughout this book. It’s tough to see him hold things in, to see Shane not understand, and to know that he’s afraid of history repeating. As hard as it is, it’s never overwhelming to the story and doesn’t leave an air of sadness over the plot. There’s still plenty of the Ilya snark that endeared me to him from the beginning. He’s still that blunt and hilarious character, but everything feels a bit more poignant with bigger glimpses behind his mask.

“Ilya shrugged easily. ‘She probably knows already.’
The panic alarm that lived inside Shane started boring. ‘Why would she?’
‘We are together at your cottage. You are gay. I am hot.’”

Ultimately, this is still a love story. It’s everything I needed from a sequel. The hiding and struggles keep the plot going, but we finally get moments of domesticity that were only teased in scenes from Shane’s cottage. It’s so refreshing to see real couple issues like differing schedules and eating preferences be a part of this story while still getting heart-stopping moments like this:

“He wasn’t sure, after years of being together, how he could still be surprised by the depths of what Ilya felt for him. By the plain, unguarded way Ilya would occasionally reveal what he held in his heart. Maybe English being Ilya’s second language made it harder to dress up his feelings with fancy words, but the raw honesty left Shane thunderstruck every time.”

Talking about domesticity, I absolutely melted at every scene where Ilya interacted with children. It was so precious and really made the challenging moments worth it. I loved seeing how easily and sweetly Ilya and Shane were able to come together and be perfect partners. They really are a beautiful team and they would both sacrifice everything for their future together.

“Shane, feeling brave, admitted, ‘There were moments today where I felt like I was looking into our future.’
Ilya pulled back to meet Shane’s gaze. ‘And it was okay?’
‘It was amazing.’”

This isn’t a perfect book by any means, but it’s a perfect romance sequel to a book that so many hold dear. Everything I wanted to happen happens. I didn’t think I would get this story, but I’m so glad to have it. Would it be too see to ask for more?! One can dream…

“‘I would give up more,’ Ilya said simply. ‘Anything for you.”

A beautiful, heartwarming story about two NHL star players fighting the enormity of their feelings for each other to keep their relationship a secret, The Long Game tests the limits of a reader’s capacity to contain so much love. Sequel to Heated Rivalry , it lives up to hard-core fans’ expectations and delivers so much more.

This book!! If I could give it 10 stars I would. I felt all the emotions reading this, and I definitely cried a few times.

I am so happy that we got this sequel with Shane and Ilya. I loved that we got to see them as an established couple and while they had a very bumpy road to get past, I loved the end of their story. It felt so real. I was cheering them on the whole way, and it was just such a satisfying ending.

I absolutely adore this series, so it was amazing to see so many of the other characters pop up or be mentioned here. I'm honestly gearing up to start reading this again from the beginning just because it was so amazing.

I desperately hope that this series will continue so we can keep seeing these wonderful characters!

It's been a long wait for this book. I suspect the pressure on Rachel Reid for writing this book was immense.

Their original decade long love story was told so beautifully in Heated Rivalry that, although it finished with them both still closeted, their own HEA felt very much a guarantee.

What I didn't want from this book was anything which messed with that solidity, that hard-fought for place they'd reached when all the world thought they were rivals. 

Ilya Rozanov is on my top ten list of favourite MM characters ever, he's the almost perfect depiction of what I'd hope to see in a Russian star Ice Hockey player.

He has attitude, he's a god on the ice, in perfect control of the puck, he's ambitious, arrogant.

But, he's also vulnerable, he hides great pain and hurt, he has a darkness inside him that he fears my take him down the same road as his mother Irina.

And he has Shane.

Shane Hollander, who is a character I alternate between loving almost as much as Ilya and, not quite hating, but finding it very difficult to be sympathetic towards.

He has always been the centre of Ilya's world, but sometimes the reverse hasn't always felt true and a lot of the tension points in this narrative come from his fears over what might happen if they're outed and his career was affected.

And I get it, I totally understood Shane's fears, they're not coming from nowhere, this book loosely overlaps with Troy and Harris' story in Role Model, so we've seen what the League can threaten to those it feels don't "fit in".

But, when push comes to shove, Shane shows not only Ilya, but the world, that he is a one-man guy and will never be anyone else's but his Russian's, and it's a moment that brought tears to my eyes.

I don't think there was an emotion I passed over while reading The Long Game. It took me from humour through happiness, into confusion, anger, despair, back into hopefulness. 

There is heat which scorches, intimacy which brings tears to the eyes, passion which could light a room, fear which would fell even the strongest army.

But it ultimately all folds together into a bone deep satisfaction for not only a story well told but for a pairing that is as solid as the Rock of Gibraltar.

Do what makes you happy. Live how you want, love who you want. People will judge you, hate you , criticize you, but plenty more will support you and love you. And, in the end, no one matters except the people you care about.

I care, I care about Ilya and Shane. I love that there was no dramady made up purely for plot tension, I loved that they had moments where their love was so palpable I could feel it surrounding me as I read.

I loved that Rachel took two men and the journey they'd already been on through 10 years of hiding their love and gave them an ending which will make your soul sing.

This Game Changers series has been immense, while Ilya and Shane might stand out as the couple most readers fell for, for me every book has brought something new to the sports romance MM sub-genre and I really hope there might still be more to come.

WHAT A WONDERFUL, EMOTIONAL, BEAUTIFUL BOOK. It made me laugh, cry, had me so happy and frustrated and giddy and I loved every moment. This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2022 and I’d been so excited to get more of my favourite hockey players ever since it was first announced, and it absolutely did not disappoint. The Long Game had everything I could ask for in a Shane and Ilya sequel. It was romantic, angsty, emotional, and I never wanted it to end. Ever since I read their first chapter at the end of Game Changers, I was hooked to the chemistry that only got better the more I read about them when Heated Rivalry finally came out. Shane and Ilya are just such special characters and there’s always been something about their relationship and dynamic that works perfectly. I also loved seeing the other main characters from the previous books in this series, and the overwhelming support they showed Shane and Ilya. There were so many heartwarming moments between teammates and friends and family.

I’m so sad that it’s over!!! I could read about Shane and Ilya and their friends forever. I already know that this will be joining Heated Rivalry in the books I need to read every few months category. It was perfect. I’m really hoping we get to see them again in Rachel’s future books, because even if it’s only a couple seconds, any kind of update just to know how they’re doing will make me so happy.

A Sequel a long time coming...
Heated Rivalry introduced the intense and complicated relationship between career-long NHL rivals Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov and while it introduced a satisfying happy for now ending, there’s no question that fans wanted to see a more open and honest finish for them. Reid delivers with The Long Game which overlaps significantly with the events of Role Model and finds Ilya ready to tell the world regardless of the consequences, while Shane fears for the careers they both love. As more of their colleagues are coming out and the strain of secrets and doubt are weighing on Ilya, they must find a way through to keep each other and their careers. Like several of the series this one explores issues of mental health and social isolation wonderfully, but it also delivers on the passion, humor, and heart-wrenching moments. Highly recommended (after reading Heated Rivalry).

“He wanted to tell Shane that the closest he felt to home was when he was with him. It didn’t matter if it was in a hotel room, or Ilya’s apartment, or here at Shane’s cottage; he was himself when he was with Shane…he had been reeled in by this annoying Canadian, and all that he knew was that he wanted to stay.”

Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov have been seeing each other, keeping their relationship a secret, for ten years. If Shane wants to stay at the top of his game, what he and Ilya share has to remain secret. Ilya is sick of secrets. Shane has gotten so good at hiding his feelings, sometimes Ilya questions if they even exist. The closeness, the intimacy, even the risk that would come with being open about their relationship. But Ilya wants it all. It’s time for them to make a call- they have to decide what’s most important—hockey or love.

I've been screaming about these hockey idiots in love for a while now, and Netgalley really saw how I was DEEP in the brainrot hell hole and decided to bury me in it.

I first read Heated Rivalry back in January 2020 (wow, that feels like it was 10 years ago), and while I loved it, I did want more from the ending because I felt like some things were left unresolved? So when this sequel was announced, I was so excited!!

Going into it, I was a little bit nervous, as I always am when I read a sequel of a book that wasn't supposed to have a sequel. But The Long Game ended up exceeding all of my expectations. I maybe love it more than Heated Rivalry even? I don't know yet!

I strongly believe that contemporary romance books (most of the time) shouldn't be over 400 pages, but this book is close to 500 pages, and it didn't feel that long at all. I read it in two days; the only reason I didn't read it in one sitting is that I kept procrastinating so that I didn't have to say goodbye to them.

Getting to see the growth of these characters over these books is so special. We see both Ilya and Shane change so much, like at the beginning of Heated Rivalry, they are 18, and by the end of The Long Game, they are 30.

In this book, there are so many soft/domestic moments between them, but there's also so much yearning and longing for each other; it all made my heart ACHE.

One thing that I love in Heated Rivalry, but it really stood out to me in The Long Game, is Ilya's journey with language. As a person whose first language isn't English, I really relate to how he doesn't always find the right words to describe what he's feeling. Also, love how Shane wants to learn Russian just so he can understand Ilya better 🥺

I loved how this book explored mental health. It hit so close to home for me. I wasn't expecting it, but it made so much sense to the character.

You definitely don't need to read the series in order, but I would recommend picking up the third and fifth books in the series before reading this one because those characters show up a lot!

Honestly, I don't think I can say much more without spoiling it? Maybe I will write a more in-depth/dramatic review when it comes out. But just know that it was PERFECT AND I LOVED IT!! I WILL REREAD IT PROBABLY IN A FEW WEEKS 🤧

(Also, being very vague: in the background of the cover, there are some string lights, and if you've read the arc, you KNOW which scene that is, and I think it's hilarious that they are shirtless in THAT situation. If you know you know 👀)

Mein Leseerlebnis

Die Wartezeit ist vorbei und ich weiß nun endlich, wie die Geschichte von Shane und Ilya, die in “Heated Rivalry” ihren Anfang nahm, weitergeht. Der Weg zu ihrem Happy End war emotionaler und steiniger als von mir erwartet.

Noch fühle ich mich von den Eindrücken des Romans fast etwas erschlagen, in ein paar Wochen plane ich das Buch noch einmal in Ruhe zu lesen, um noch mehr Details der Geschichte aufnehmen zu können. Vielleicht passe ich die Rezension danach noch etwas an, mal schauen.

Die Autorin hat vor kurzem gesagt, dass “Heated rivalry” sich mehr um Shane drehte und Ilya im Mittelpunkt von “The long game” steht. Das kann ich bestätigen. Man sieht Ilya von einer Seite, die der Welt verborgen bleibt und er ist der Fokus der Geschichte.

In Bezug auf Ilyas Leben werden ein paar ernstere Themen angesprochen, die feinfühlig und mit der nötigen Ernsthaftigkeit thematisiert werden. Sie übernehmen die Geschichte aber nicht, was mir gefallen hat. Denn ich persönlich mag meine Liebesromane nicht allzu ernst und bedrückend.

Die Liebesgeschichte kam mir im Vergleich zu “Heated Rivalry” noch einmal wesentlich intensiver vor, sie hat mich voll mitgerissen und emotional tief berührt. Das gleiche gilt auch für viele Soloszenen mit Ilya, ich habe es genossen ihn noch näher kennenzulernen und besser zu verstehen.

In der Geschichte gibt es viele intensive Szenen, auch viele sexy Szenen finden sich. Glücklicherweise gibt es auch so einige unterhaltsame, die einen zum Lachen oder Schmunzeln bringen. Von diesen hätten für meinen Geschmack gerne noch mehr in der Geschichte sein können. Am Ende hätte ich zudem gerne noch mehr über das neue Leben von Ilya und Shane gelesen.

Zwei Tage nach dem Lesen des Romans fällt es mir wirklich schwer, meine Gedanken in Worte zu fassen, das Buch hat mich definitiv tief bewegt. Shane und Ilyas Geschichte werde ich nie vergessen. 🖤🖤🖤🖤1/2

PS: Nach dem Lesen von “Role Model” hatte ich eine Idee für eine Szene in “The long game” und sie wurde tatsächlich genauso von Rachel Reid umgesetzt wie von mir vorgestellt. Das war eine wirklich schöne Überraschung.

Für wen?

Für Fans der Reihe ist das Buch ein absolutes Muss. Macht euch auf eine emotionale Achterbahnfahrt bereit!

Und wer die Reihe noch nicht kennt, aber intensive und zugleich unterhaltsame, sexy sports m/m romances mag, der sollte sich die Game Changers - Bücher unbedingt anschauen. Ich kann euch alle sechs bisher erschienenen Romane wärmstens empfehlen.

Wollt ihr primär die Geschichte von Shane und Ilya lesen, sind “Heated Rivalry” und “Role Model” als Grundlage ein Muss. Mehr Spaß macht “The Long Game” aber natürlich, wenn mal alle bisherigen Romane der Reihe bereits kennt, dann verpasst man keine Insiderszenen, von denen es in der Geschichte so einige gibt.

I can only imagine the pressure Reid faced when sitting down to tackle this “sequel”. Granted, I think I’ve said that about every post-HEATED RIVALRYrelease but this was the biggie because finally we weren’t just getting cameos sprinkled amongst other stories but we were getting more Shane and Ilya. Front and centre. Live in HD 4K — or whatever the cool kids say. It was finally time for them to get (maybe?) their true HEA. So, having said all that, I hope the readers find it not only worth the wait but just as satisfying as book two.

“<i>I hate this. My team was perfect. Now we have this asshole.</i>”
“<b>Your team is terrible</b>.”
“<i>Yes, but, you know. The <>vibes</b> are good.</i>“

And speaking of a wait, this was a romance eleven (thirteen?) years in the making. I loved a lot about their relationship, particularly what we got to see unfold in this instalment, but my favourite parts were the nostalgic reminiscing on where and how it all began; and how differently things may have gone.

“<i>I will kiss you during a face-off.</i>“
“<b>Pretty sure that would be a face-off violation.</b>“

For me, the highlight, as always, was Ilya. I think maybe we’re all a bit trash for him but honestly he’s just burrowed under my skin in all the ways. With his humour, his language fails, his chirping, his vulnerability; with everything. Shane, however, is a little less complicated and sometimes does come across a little oblivious and a little self-absorbed but never intentionally or maliciously. It’s just how he is.. until he’s made aware of something and then he totally course corrects. But it absolutely suits him not only because of his upbringing but also the way he took to his career. The way these two bounce off each other, how they also fit, is just lovely.

“<i>Why is it a secret? You wouldn’t be the only gay hockey players. Or queer. Sorry, I shouldn’t assume.”<i>
“<b>I am bisexual. Shane is super gay</b>.”
“<i><b>I’m <s>regular</s> gay.</i></i>”

There were moments about this that surprised me (certain topics and issues previously addressed that were repackaged so beautifully for this particular instalment; no I’m not spoiling), moments that moved me (yes, I teared up), and, of course, moments (Ilya!) that made me laugh. I couldn’t believe how quickly I chewed through this chonky book (almost five hundred pages!) and while at first I did think we were spinning our wheels a bit, it took me a moment to realize this story spanned the timeline of all books since HEATED RIVALRY. I knew that in theory but it took me a moment to realign myself with the events without external prompting via chapter headings. Obviously there are elements of this story that are a bit repetitive because the conflict that spans the book is the same and yet I also appreciated the way the beats of the story played out.

“<i>I fear not living up to the expectations of the Montreal Voyageurs organization and our fans.</i>”
“<b>Would be easier to cheat death than to meet Montreal’s hockey expectations</b>.“

Not wholly related to the book, however, it needs to be said : I have always loved how Reid has portrayed her hockey world — I always find it interesting to see how authors reinvent the teams and what they keep or discard from the real world — and seeing her more or less break up with Montreal in fiction as (I believe) she’s broken up with them in real life was bittersweet but, hopefully, satisfying as a creative to work through that ending. I hope, if we get to see these two again, we’ll have more Ottawa jokes to look forward to. I highlighted so many of those.

“<i>You should sign with Ottawa. Your contract is probably cheap, yes?</i>“
“<b>You’re a hard guy to like, Rozanov</b>.”
“<i>That is not what Shane thinks.</i>“

THE LONG GAME has plenty of steam, plenty of sweet, plenty of feels, plenty of fun, and, of course, plenty of hockey. All in all, I think fans of this couple, and this series, will be very pleased by this long-anticipated and long-awaited reunion — though maybe less pleased (though not surprised) about the cover.

One of the most anticipated romances of the year, “The Long Game” lives up to the hype. It’s the continuation Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov’s story, picking up a few years after their happy for now ending in “Heated Rivalry”.

Reid has said that this book focuses on Ilya’s character development, while “Heated Rivalry” was more about Shane’s, and I found this to be true. Overall, it has a more emotional tone, in keeping with Ilya’s personality and point of view. The sex scene count is high, like their first book, and they are undoubtably in love with each other but the pair also navigate some darker themes on their way to happily ever after.

While I believe this book is much longer than any of Reid’s previous books in the “Game Changers” series, it doesn’t feel like it. I flew through it and wanted more. We all know the feeling when you can’t stop reading a book and you’re sad when it’s over.

The one criticism I have is the ending felt a bit rushed, but maybe that says more about me not wanting Shane and Ilya’s story to end than anything else.

Reid has released short stories on her blog in the past, so hopefully this isn’t the last we see of Ilya and Shane.

Content warnings: depression and orthorexia

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: homophobia, toxic work environment, emergency plane landing, depression, death of a parent (past), grief

This is the sixth book in the series, all of the timelines overlap, but I would definitely read Heated Rivalry before diving into this one.

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/m sports romance
-forbidden romance
-freckles obsession
-sneaking around

I'm going to try to be vague to not be spoilery but the other reviews saying this book was perfect did not lie. I adored Shane and Ilya in Heated Rivalry, and they lost none of their spark. Heated Rivalry was these two realizing they were in love with each other, and this book was an amazing capture of what their relationship looks like still in hiding.

First I have to say that Rachel Reid is the queen of timelines and I"m not even sure how she kept track of it all but it was amazing and aligned so perfectly with all of the other books. Even seeing some of the same scenes from Ilya's POV it was fresh and blended so well in to this story. I love how soft Ilya is for Shane. All of their relationship tensions were so authentic. Him dealing with his mental health. Their romance wasn't perfect but they were so in love. All about being a partnership rather than love healing all. Both Shane and Ilya had their own vulnerabilities in a relationship they are hiding from everyone else. The way Ilya and Shane's teams were contrasted and their personal lives outside of the relationship. Honestly a masterpiece in showing a couple after the typical end of a romance novel and showing what comes next.

And the steam, there is something for new romance, learning what the other likes. But there is also something said for familiar, relationship sex when you know what the other person likes and you know how to draw it out, give them what they're looking for. Ilya and Shane seem like opposites but get each other. These two are just as into each other as before, but now free to show it to each other. Both at the top of their game, the competition and banter not letting up. The things they dealt with to earn their HEA. Things aren't tied up neatly in a bow but it's theirs and honestly I would just read more of them any day and all day. I hope this series never ends.

Steam: 4

Have I emotionally recovered from the 3 year wait or the actual wild ride that was "The Long Game" by Rachel Reid? Not even a tiny bit.

There are so many quotes I want to share, but it is way too soon and this book is so nuanced and filled with so much yearning that parts of it can't exist in a vacuum and hold the same weight and meaning.

I innocently stumbled onto "Heated Rivalry" in the summer of 2019 and thought to myself "great, another queer sports romance, that's right up my alley." I added it to my TBR, and figured that was that.

A month later, I read it in one sitting and then reread it the next two days while taking copious notes and unshufulling the back and forth timeline - for your entertainment, I've included the scribbles of a madwoman in the following slides. They obviously contain Heated Rivalry spoilers.

In the time since, these two have never been far from my mind. Always the both of them, as individuals and together, for very different and yet deeply personal reasons.

"The Long Game" delivered on every level. It is filled with the humor and banter we expect from these two, and so much love and deep emotion that I was overcome from the very first chapter.

My chest swelled with pride, my jaw clenched with rage, my heart shattered into a million tiny pieces and was then gently put back together.

This and HR are and will always be two of my favorite books of all time, with two of my favorite characters, and Shane and Ilya remain, proudly, one of my OTPs.

Tears, laughter, angst, happiness... I went through the ENTIRE range of emotions with The Long Game, the long-awaited sequel to one of my all-time favorite books, Heated Rivalry. And I loved every. single. moment.

For those super-fans of Ilya and Shane, you won't be disappointed. In fact, you'll be downright thrilled with The Long Game.

I can't tell you how badly I wanted this book to be amazing. Rachel Reid has written a lot of stellar books in the Game Changers series, but none have the humor, passion, intensity, and the emotional range of Heated Rivalry. It was painful to imagine this author not doing Shane and Ilya justice with their sequel, and I'm beyond pleased to report that she told the next part of their journey beautifully.

That being said, this book isn't without some heart-wrenching pain and more than a little frustration. (Trigger warning: depression) You will absolutely be near tears for Ilya at times, and I guarantee you will want to knock some sense into Shane on more than one occasion. However, for me, the book straddled all the lines perfectly, and though we feel some extreme highs and lows emotionally, ultimately, the book was a joyful reading experience.

My favorite part of the book is Ilya, because of course, ILYA. Reading his sections, I laughed, and I literally cried buckets of tears. Ilya is SO vulnerable in this story. He is unwavering in his love for Shane, and coming to terms with his own buried feelings and unacknowledged needs. I couldn't get enough of him. Shane might anger some readers at times, but I thought, though he was inexcusably self-absorbed, he loves Ilya with all of his heart and will always be team #ilyaandshane in his soul.

Truly, what a magnificent book. My buddy read partners and I all read the entire story in less than 24 hours, and it kept me up until nearly 4 am today. Though the books is angsty and incredibly emotional, there are no silly communication errors and dumb plot points to wade through (though there are a few loose ends and holes that I would have liked wrapped up more cleanly). Just pure, excellent writing, and an ending that had me clutching my Kindle in joy. Rachel Reid should be so proud of this story. Readers, get ready to be wowed.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

I loved Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid so I was super excited to see that Shane and Ilya were getting a second story. The Long Game picks up after Heated Rivalry and the magic that makes the first book so entertaining is still there: hot sex, Ilya being a hilarious and mushy hockey player, and Shane being a lovable idiot who is bashful. These two have insane chemistry and such a deep love for each other. One thing I truly enjoyed about this book is how clear it is that these two love each other throughout the books-- they say it and show it all of the time. Despite that, they have plenty of conflict, including battling mental illness and dealing with a secret long distance relationship in a largely homophobic world. They are just two normal guys trying to navigate the difficulties of being in love with someone forbidden. I loved being able to see the more emotional side of both Shane and Ilya and the way this book connects to the others in the series! I can’t wait for more Game Changers books in the future!

If you had to choose between the game you love, and the man you love, which would you choose?

"I want to have a life with you. I know it will be awkward, and will still involve a lot of sneaking around for a while, but I'm playing the long game here. So, yeah. Whatever it takes, I'm in."
- Shane Hollander, Heated Rivalry


When I tell you Rachel Reid is a genius, I mean that. Her entire Game Changers series speaks to me on a deep level, but The Long Game (hereby referred to as TLG going forward) was god tier perfection. And it was perfection in that it wasn't perfect. The characters aren't perfect, the situation they find themselves in is not perfect, and the reactions surrounding them and the love they have for one another is not perfect either. But it was real and powerful and heart-wrenching and I wouldn't change a thing about it.

Originally, when I read Heated Rivalry (HR), it wasn't my favorite of the series. I thought Ilya and Shane were surface level, enemies to lovers. I thought they were hot sex and didn't expect much from them together or individually - but I was proved wrong and I've never been so happy to admit that Ilya Rozanov is one of the best characters I've ever read. In HR, he comes across as a bisexual playboy. He is a hockey god and I thought Shane deserved better. But what I didn't realize, and what was playing out before our eyes throughout the series, was the no-holds-barred, epic love story of two men who love each other so much they would sacrifice anything - even the game they love - to be with each other.

Shane and Ilya's love story spans thirteen years from HR to the end of the TLG. I don't know how much Reid thought about Shane and Ilya and their 'endgame', but the way she weaved the story together throughout the series was expert. In TLG, Shane and Ilya are running their charity, playing hockey on their respective Canadian teams, and maintaining their private relationship. But being together for so long, hidden in the shadows, begins to take its toll and we really see the strain a secret like this can have on a couple. The concern over their careers is particularly hard on Shane, who doesn't realize how much Ilya has sacrificed for them. As a woman in a ten year relationship, it can be hard to see the sacrifices your partner has made for you. But Shane does come to realize how much Ilya actually cares for him and gives Ilya something that I think he was waiting for, and one hundred percent deserved from Shane.

And Ilya - god. I can't remember the last time a character has resonated with me so deeply that they've made me cry. There was nothing specifically sad in TLG, but the discussion about mental health, Ilya's need to get help, and his struggle that will be lifelong, hit me. I have my own struggles with depression and have utilized both therapy and medication to help and there is no shame in getting, finding, and maintaining help as long as you need it. There is still so much stigma regarding mental health - and I'm certain it's ten times worse in the sports world - but it was refreshing to see it being written down on the page.

The character growth of Shane and Ilya was done subtly throughout the series but it made TLG that much more enjoyable. We get to see them interact with a lot of characters we know and love already. Troy, Harris, Scott, Ryan, Fabian, Wyatt, Hayden - the list goes on and the involvement and interactions between the characters was so enjoyable! We also meet some new characters. Hayden's kids (that Moana doll scene in the Pike household was hilarious and swoon-worthy!), and Anya were some standouts for me. And then there are the characters we wish we could hit with a stick. I'm looking at you Roger Crowell and basically the entire Montreal hockey team. Despite the adversity Shane and Ilya face, they were stronger at the end of TLG because of it. They found people to support them and help them and the ending of the book was the best ending I could have wished for.

TLG still has snark, hilarious quips straight from the mouth of a bisexual Russian, and moments that were worth of a gasp and stifled laughter so I didn't wake my sleeping baby. Run, don't walk, to read this book. If you loved HR, you will love TLG. It's the ending we've been waiting for and the ending for Shane and Ilya that they so deserved.

The Long Game by Rachel Reid releases on April 26, 2022 on ebook, audiobook, and in paperback. I received an ARC from Netgalley and Harlequin (Carina Press) in exchange for an honest review.

I have been dying for this book, and it was worth the wait! Even if I cried more than a couple times. No one likes a sad Ilya, and he was breaking my heart. We already know the struggles him and Shane go through to keep their relationship secret, but now Ilya is having a harder time with everything than usual. Ugh, I just wanted to reach through the book and give him a hug!

I think their concerns about going public were more valid than I realized, but everyone reaches their breaking point. And this couple loves each other so fiercely, so SO strongly, it's amazing they were able to hide it at all. Not to mention their chemistry is still super hot. And I have to mention that there were a couple freaking hillarious moments in these pages. I definitely highlighted them to reread later!

We get to see other couples we fell in love with throughout the series, and super yay for that. Also, the timeline The Long Game starts I think a bit before Role Model, which was interesting to see. One final note- in case you couldn't tell, you should read Heated Rivalry before this. The other books in the series you could read on their own, but these two you should read in order.