Game Changers 1 & 2 – A Hockey Romance Series with Depth – A Book Review

Confession time. I got both of these books by Rachel Reid at the same time and (lol) promptly forgot which one was the first, so I accidentally started with what turned out to be the second book of the series: Heated Rivalry (Game Changers 2).

As a result, there was a plot point that was mentioned toward the end of Headed Rivalry that turns out to happen at the end of Game Changer (Book 1), sort of a mini spoiler if you’re reading them out of order, like I was. Doh! This did not, however, deter me from reading Game Changer right after. If anything, it only made me want to read it more.

Heated Rivalry – Book 2

Heated Rivalry was an excellent read. If I had to choose between the two books in the series so far (because Book 3 is coming in Jan of 2020!) Book 2 is my favorite. It is hard to capture the intricacies of an LGBT relationship for two athletes, especially because sports culture is historically not an inclusive environment, very macho, and stereotypically male-dominated. Sports-themed books about football, baseball, hockey, basketball, etc, are going to have the undertones of rampant anti-LBGT sentiment thanks to the locker room.

I was not sure how Rachel Reid was going to tackle this relationship, how it was going to play out realistically between the two main characters, Shane & Ilya, but after reading the prologue and the first chapter, I was hooked. It was touching, it was deep, and the discovery arc of each character as they come to terms with their feelings about their low-down relationship felt true to their reality as high-profile players on rival hockey teams. The ending was also gratifying because not everyone will have a coming-out story that involves a public coming-out ending.

So the event that catalyses the happy ending for Shane & Ilya is a televised incident that takes place in Game Changer (Book 1). I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but I was like, am I really going to be able to get into this book knowing what I know about how it ends? The answer is: Yes.

Game Changer – Book 1

Game Changer was a completely different, but just as dynamic story about Scott & Kip. In this case, only one character, Scott, is an athlete, which means the stakes and circumstances of their relationship are very different. Kip is a civilian, working at a smoothie restaurant, struggling with how he chooses to identify himself despite working a seemingly dead-end job, living at home, and with zero romantic prospects. So Scott’s struggle has a lot to do with the pressure and preconceived notions he has about what people/society expect from him, which has been keeping him from living a full life. Especially since this perception of himself has also defined his public image.

It’s interesting to have read this book second, because Book 1 takes place mostly in the latter part of the timeline of Book 2. Heated Rivalry (Game Changers 2) spans the main characters’ hockey career. It is so poignant. Game Changer (Book 1) takes place in one hockey season. The pace is a bit faster, and thereby the resolution between Kip and Scott’s relationship is also a bit more dramatic.

Game Changer is good, but in my opinion, Heated Rivalry is better. Can’t wait for Tough Guys (Book 3).

Read the Game Changers Series by Rachel Reid.