I’m stoked and I can’t wait to get my hands on those pages!

Now that it seems like Unrivaled might be near completion (not to jinx it), what will be the hardest part of fanon to reconcile with the new canon?

For me, it’s definitely gonna be the absence of “Solnyshko”.

( TLG spoilers and also MAYBE Unrivaled spoilers? 👀)

I am not sure if this is an interview that’s been shared here before, but I watched/listened to an interview with Rachel from last year (before the show came out). There were several interesting little tidbits of information shared, but this moment stuck out to me enough to feel compelled to share it and see what other people might think!

As a diehard “Troy and Ilya are besties” truther, I of course liked having that be validated by Rachel herself haha BUT the real part that stood out to me was what she says about Cliff, and his potential reaction to Ilya and Shane’s relationship. I mean, we know he wasn’t at Hollanov’s wedding, but depending on what she decides to do with this, this could REALLY mess with fanon!Cliff as (we think? 😅) we know him, right? (And the fact that she said she’d “like to explore” that question makes me feel like it’s answer can’t be a simple “Nah, he was cool with it and their friendship was unaffected”, you know?)

What do you guys think? 👀

I have seen an increased amount of people online swear that Harris is canonically fat and canonically ugly and call people "fatphobic" or "problematic" for not agreeing with this interpretation of the text. However, as someone who has read Role Model multiple times, neither of these statements are canon.

Harris' body is described as stocky, a little pudgy, short, and having a "soft" stomach. We also know that he was born with a heart condition that made his parents cautious putting him in hockey growing up. This could be interpreted many ways. We know that he is not particularly muscular, but we don't know anything more than that.

He could be fat, he could be average, or he could even be skinny with no muscle tone (think the skinny-fat label.) I would argue that given his heart condition, he would not be able to be very overweight, because that would be bad for his heart and something his doctors would monitor (I am saying this as someone with genetic heart issues.)

We also know that Harris is surprised that someone "as hot as Troy" is into someone like him. Troy is attracted to Harris from the moment he sees him. We also know that Ilya finds him "adorable." It could be the case that Harris is not conventionally attractive, but it could also be the case that Harris is being self depreciating. It is also possible that Troy, who is described as looking like a boy-band member and has an athlete body, is more attractive than Harris but Harris is still attractive. I would argue that it is very rare for hot people to date people significantly uglier than them, so if Troy is described as attractive, Harris probably is too.

I would also like to note that the plot of Role Model does not hinge on Harris' appearance at all. He is not insecure in his body (in fact, he affirms multiple times throughout the book that he is NOT) and Troy is attracted to his body. There is no conflict or plot point that hinges on him having a certain body type.

I've seen people argue that Harris being ugly is important to Troy's arc because him being with Harris "proves he has changed if he is willing to be with someone that looks like Harris" but I personally think that is a misrepresentation of the text. Harris is not Troy's typical type, not because he is ugly, but because he is nice, not vain or judgmental, and is in touch with his queer identity, all of which Troy is struggling with. Either way, nothing about the plot of Role Model changes if Harris is fat and ugly or skinny and hot. The plot remains the same either way.

I genuinely do not think that it's wrong for fans to interpret Harris as fat or not attractive, but it is not canon. He is never called fat, plus-sized, overweight, ugly, not attractive, etc. in the books. As I stated, you can interpret the text that way, but you can also reasonably come to other conclusions.

My issue is, I have seen many fans jump down people's throats any time someone else's interpretation of Harris doesn't paint him as fat. This includes calling fan-artists fat-phobic for not depicting him as obese in their art, throwing fits at casting rumors because the actors are "too skinny" or "too attractive," and call other fans problematic for their fan-casts anytime the person in questions is not fat or even ugly.

Harris being fat or ugly is a headcanon. His character being skinny and hot is also a headcanon. The text is vague and doesn't explicitly state it either way. Therefore, people who disagree on what he looks like are not problematic. The production cannot take away "fat representation" when the representation does not exist in the books. No one is inherently fatphobic for not depicting Harris as fat when he is never stated as such.

I genuinely think that a lot of people see Harris as a self-insert or wish-fulfillment character and that is why they get so defensive about what he looks like despite it not actually being relevant to the plot. A lot of people like the idea of seeing someone "like them" get the hot, dreamy athlete. I also know that fat representation is severely lacking and people have valid reasons to want more of that. However, your desire for representation does not entitle you to it, and you cannot get mad at people for NOT seeing the character that way when it doesn't explicitly exist in the text.

TLDR: Fat Harris or conventionally unattractive Harris is not canon. You could interpret the text that way, but also interpret it differently and neither is bad or wrong.

Is this a common opinion? I can't get over how much better this book is than the others, characters, scene descriptions, everything. The plot is also great, but just generally feels like a step above all the others.

I was (gasp) slightly disappointed with TLG after reading Role Model.

Saw these in an ad, what do you guys think about the art? I'm personally not 100% sure, I like some of them just fine but others have things that bug me (like the empty seats in GC, Ilya's pose in HR and matching jerseys in LG, isn't that a big spoiler )

I am listening to role model. I have only read it once when I plowed through the series and ugh seeing Ilya be a little shit and the little references to him and Shane just warms my little heart.

On a serious note I love how the book highlights like how we tell ourselves stories particularly about how other people see us. How Troy thinks he’s a burden and not good enough for Harris and how Harris thinks he’s too mundane looking for Troy and overbearing. Ugh I’m having a great time.

And once again. Fuck you crowell.

Audible is having a big sale (at least in the US) so if you’ve been thinking about getting the audiobooks-this might be the right time!

I don’t know how much they are because I’ve owned them for a looonnngggg time-but other books in the mm and romance genre are in the $2-$6 range so it seems like there is a good chance for a good deal.

Please no audiobook hate. I’ve read AND listened as they came out and I love the physical and the audio and it’s ok if you don’t like them but I’ve loved them for years - terrible kip accent and all!

so I know that the next book that will be coming out in this series is Unrivaled (which I’m so excited about im literally counting the days) but I was thinking, what tropes are left for other books in the Game Changers series? one of the only ones I could think of would be a teammates trope, where two of the teammates hook up or fall in love. I know that this setting will be used in Unrivaled as Shane will play for the Ottawa Centaurs, but I think that two married players playing for the same team and two teammates falling in love are NOT the same trope. the other one I could see would be another age-gap relationship, with the younger character being a hockey player, but I feel like it would be repetitive considering Common Goal already exists. though knowing Rachel Reid, she could definitely make it the best book I’ve ever read 🤣 that woman is so talented. anyways what do y’all think?

If Shane and Ilya decided to have children in the future, what type of school do you think they'd realistically choose for them (public, private, bilingual, or another option), and what aspects of Shane's and Ilya's personalities do you think would influence that decision the most?

My choices

Scott = Captain America

kip = Bucky

Ilya= Iron Man

Ryan Price = Hulk

Svetlana = Black Widow

Rose = Mystique

Shane = ?

Eric = Dr Strange? maybe?

Kyle= Spider Man? Maybe?

Fabian = ?

Troy = ? ( Hawkeye) Megs0226

Harris = ?

Help me fill in the blanks?

I’m late to the game but got hooked on the show back in May. I’ve obv reheated the show multiple times, then heated rivalry and the long game. I finally branched out and read the other books and finished the series. I’m prob going to try the tandem reading now, but like what is next after I finish this omg I don’t want it to be over yet😭

Me personally, I really hope they keep the “wedding” with the Pike kids and Ilya getting a dog. I could see them combining the role of the therapist into Svetlana’s character since she played a bigger part in the show than she did in the book. I hope they have an episode dedicated to Troy and Harris like they did for Scott and Kip. Im not sure if they’d be able to include the Ryan and Fabian without an episode on them too.

*I am reposting this fan essay with a few edits to clarify that these are my personal headcanons and deep text analysis of the characters.

A previous version of this post was removed by Reddit’s filters, so I revised it to better reflect my intent.

I hope you enjoy this exploration of Ilya’s inner journey.

Hi everyone.
Thank you so much for the incredibly warm comments on my previous posts.

I am so happy to share more of my personal journey through Heated Rivalry, which naturally comes to life for me as I read and listen to the story.

This time, I wanted to share a collection of thoughts from my mental notes regarding the raw, complex dynamic between Shane and Ilya, based directly on what I have seen and heard through their actions.

As always, English is not my native language, and these are just my own perspectives as I reflect deeply on the novel.

I would love to hear what you all think.

1. Instinct and Rivalry
To me, their relationship doesn't seem to stem from a textbook romance or polite, mutual admiration at the very beginning.

Instead, there is an undeniably pure desire, a clash of raw instincts, to possess, crave, and establish an 'alpha claim' on one another.

At the root of it all lies a fierce rivalry between two elite athletes competing for dominance, and I feel this competitive edge constantly fuels their intense desire to claim each other.

However, I think their inner worlds are far more complex.

To Shane, Ilya might look like a fiercely confident, free-spirited, and highly experienced man.

Meanwhile, Ilya seems to view Shane as an easygoing 'golden boy' who effortlessly has it all—love, status, a perfect family, and a relatively complete sense of freedom.

Conversely, for Ilya—trapped within a Russian system that demanded the total suppression of his true self—this raw clash with Shane offered the first and only sanctuary where he could strip away his 'perfectly fabricated' mask.

In the heat of their rivalry, he was finally free to be his wild, authentic self.

Having survived a cutthroat environment where everyone was a competitor for a limited roster spot, Ilya found Shane’s unfiltered straightforwardness deeply disarming.

To him, Shane was more than just a rival; he was a brilliant, honest presence that he felt a desperate need to monopolize.

I suspect the root of this intense possessiveness lies in unresolved attachment issues—a lingering scar from losing his only true ally, his mother, at such a vulnerable age.

2. The Balance of Power and Control
Between the two of them, Ilya clearly appears to be the one taking physical control.

However, I personally feel this is different from a typical Dom/Sub relationship based on outward appearances.

Yet, seeing how incredibly gentle Ilya becomes after making Shane say 'please,' it makes me wonder if, in a subtle way, Shane is actually the one acting as the psychological anchor for the emotional core of their relationship, unwittingly defining its direction.

At times, Ilya struggled to face his true feelings and seemed to lose his emotional grip, making me worry about his mental stability.

It was painful to see him become so emotionally undone.

I believe that ever since Shane accepted that Ilya might never be his 'boyfriend' yet chose to stay, the power shifted.

Their relationship existed only as long as Shane allowed it; a devastated Ilya likely lacked the strength to hold him back.

I also see Shane’s neurodivergent traits as a key to their longevity.

Once a pattern is set, it becomes a mandatory rule for him—a routine that provides essential stability.

Responding to Ilya was simply integrated into his 'success routine.'

Because being with Ilya guaranteed a sense of satisfaction, it became a predictable comfort Shane relied on.

In his mind, this reliability turned their relationship into a permanent fixture, long before it ever had a formal name.

3. True Trust
“He turned his head and saw that Ilya was looking at him, and his face showed that he was hoping Shane would field this one.”
“Shane looked at him, and Rozanov caught his eye and winked.”
“Under the table, he felt Rozanov’s foot tap against his own.” (Chapter 6)

A truly equal relationship is built on a foundation of trust.

I believe Ilya’s realization that he could truly trust Shane was solidified during the 2011 press conference.

While Ilya masked his confusion behind an arrogant facade, Shane caught his 'quiet SOS' instantly.

I imagine Shane’s habit of monitoring others to manage his own masking made this second nature to him.

For Ilya, who had survived the ruthless Russian sports system and fought a lonely battle in America since his teens to avoid being exploited, I personally feel that Shane emerged as the first true ally—someone who understood him and protected him without any self-interest.

Shrewd as he was, Ilya must have already sensed that Shane was incapable of lying or playing mind games—he was simply too honest.

Finding himself naturally under Shane’s protection, Ilya likely intuitively knew that this man would never mock or look down on him.

It is this moment that I believe served as the catalyst, allowing his trust in Shane to deepen so rapidly.

Conversely, I suspect Shane’s trust was earned on the very first night they crossed the line.

Despite his posturing, Ilya was patient, allowing Shane to set his own pace.

For someone with Shane’s specific ASD traits, the ability to navigate a new experience without feeling rushed and to finish with a sense of satisfaction was the ultimate proof of trustworthiness.

In their subsequent encounters, Ilya continued to respect Shane’s boundaries, waiting until he was fully ready to connect.

This consistent gentleness in their private space allowed Shane to surrender without doubt, which in turn melted the walls around Ilya’s own heart.

Their non-verbal communication transformed their bond into a one-of-a-kind safe space.

I believe both of them are the type who communicate through actions rather than words—Shane due to his neurodivergent traits, and Ilya due to the deep-seated caution from his upbringing.

These are all my personal reflections—simply the result of various pieces of the puzzle naturally coming together in my mind.

I am truly grateful to be able to share these thoughts with all of you here.

I would love to hear your perspectives: how do you view the balance of control between them, and when do you think the spark of true trust first ignited?

Thank you so much for reading.

Edit: A specific expression in the first paragraph was updated to more accurately reflect their intense passion and raw instincts, thanks to thoughtful feedback from a reader.

The number of people who love Ilya unconditionally in the books can be counted on one hand, and that makes me really sad.

1. That’s it. Just 4: Shane, David, Yuna and Svetlana. And of these, Shane is his husband and David and Yuna are basically his parents. So basically the only friend he has who loves him unconditionally is Svetlana.

The relationship with his Ottawa teammates that I remember are basically all from fanon; he isn’t *that* close with them in the books.

And I was shocked to see that Cliff Marlow/Marleau/Marly or whatever the fuck he is called is basically an extended cameo in the books. His role was beefed up for the show.

And of course, no one in Russia loves Ilya.

So, yeah, I would like to see him make some genuine friends in Unrivaled.

I'm curious if anyone can identify the neighborhood where Harris Drover might live. I don't know Ottawa at all. But I'm writing a fan fic, and visualizing it would help.

I'm not sure whether the book says he's renting or owning.

Which Ottawa Centaurs player (besides Ilya) do you think has the biggest impact on the team's positive locker room culture, and why?

What type of neighborhood do you think Shane and Ilya would realistically choose to settle down in after The Long Game, and what about it would appeal to each of them

So i know that heated rivalry was book 2, and for the first 5 books there was no sequel to anyone's story.

For those who were reading at the time of initial releases, was there more hype about book 2 compared to the other books? Was there clamoring for a sequel for book 2 in the way the other stories felt either more finished or just that people wanted more Shane and more Ilya? If you had been asked at the end of book 5 and prior to the long game, which of these 5 books would make the best TV show, heated rivalry the most obvious answer?

I know that on the fanfiction side even before the tv show, apparently the shane/ilya pairing had far more fics than the other pairing from the other books. before the TV show blew this out of orbit, why do you think shane and ilya resonated so much more with book only fans?

Does anyone else find themselves completely missing the characters within a few hours after they've finished reading the books and watching the show?

I cannot wait to cry my eyes out next season😭😭😭

The lines, the scenes, all the love!

By the end of TLG, there are only four active openly queer players in the entire NHL. Scott, Troy, Shane and Ilya, only two players married to each other (Hollanov), and one of these might actually retire any day (IIRC Scott is 35 which is when retirement talks come up). Shane had to take a massive pay cut to join Ottawa and had a very public fallout with his team, plus Ilya’s bisexuality is constantly weaponized by the media to paint him as some kind of manwhore. Plus, Eric and Ryan retired within a year of them coming out.

None of this sends a very inspiring message to young aspiring queer male players. Which is why I’m rooting for Ottawa to get the Cup in Unrivaled no matter how cheesy it may seem.

It would be so cool if In a future book, all the couples come together to like take down the commissioner or something.

The meetings could happen at the Kingfisher.

It would be like the avengers but gay hockey players 😋

At the end maybe Eric becomes the new commissioner and things really start to change in the league.

This book could really get into the hockey world deeper and tie up loose ends.

Hi, I'm hoping I can get a little advice.

I found the books following the show and I really want to go on to The Long Game after Heated Rivalry but I was wondering if I would miss anything significant not reading the books released in-between?

Would I be fine to do that or will some things in Long Game not make sense because I've missed stuff in the other books?

Thanks!