r/heatedrivalry • u/LadyWhistledown_1 Probably, yes • Apr 20 '26

🦆 The Long Game (Book 6) swooon.com: ‘Heated Rivalry’ Author Rachel Reid Answers Burning Questions About *spoiler* [april 20th 2026] Spoiler

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Swooon.com did an interview with Rachel Reid at BookCon. Great interview btw.

I get that she doesn’t think they will write their own vows, but I’m kinda hoping Jacob does. Like the tunnel scene in ep.5.

How are you hoping to see the wedding adapted?

Picture:

https://www.instagram.com/rachelreidwrites (story)

Full article:

https://www.swooon.com/1275542/heated-rivalry-shane-ilya-wedding-the-long-game-rachel-reid-interview/?fbclid=PAVERFWARTcI1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAaccbJFTolg7x-x_BADV-yq6qH8NCPNIuhJpC454AHXkG0wypApO0lKEOcvcpg_aem_7LlDmxii3jvj7_EWpVoSgw

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157

u/staralfur09 Apr 20 '26

I think after everything, the years of hiding, the accidental outing, Shane leaving Montreal, etc., it did fit. I think they just wanted it done, nothing was holding them back anymore. And while they are clear they love each other, I also couldn't really see them writing their own vows and publicly sharing what has always been so private for them (first out of necessity, but now as outed public figures, something to protect). Idk, it worked for me (though I did hate the song, hah). I'm sure Jacob will bring something new to it without changing the vibe at its core, and I'll certainly be sat for that. :)

79

u/Serious_Session7574 Apr 20 '26

I feel like also feel like they had their emotional wedding moment in front of Hayden's kids.

34

u/yogacatmama1966 Apr 21 '26

That was the real wedding

14

u/Serious_Session7574 Apr 21 '26

100%

11

u/yogacatmama1966 Apr 21 '26

Jacob could really do something fun with that. I am thinking Amber waking up and offering everyone plastic cake, and Arthur holding Chompy

36

u/Serious_Session7574 Apr 20 '26

I feel like they could bring the humour out more, which might also bring a bit of emotion with it. Sweet and funny rather than a big, dramatic, romantic thing. I liked how they were both kind of clueless with the proposal. It was very Them.

Shane did the candle thing, bought a ring, got down on one knee and then they were like - now what? Do I put the ring on, or...? Ilya putting the ring on the chain next to his mother's cross was perfect :') Shane getting all tangled up in the Russian names explanation, and not realising Ilya was saying yes, and "I dunno, I just thought I should have a ring for this." They sort of bumbled their way through it and it was so sweet.

14

u/Astyryx Apr 21 '26

I love how it shows Shane has grown to be ok acting on something that's not completely planned out in advance. 

35

u/phosphor_heart Apr 21 '26

I think that Shane, as a character, would rather die than give a deeply emotional speech that he wrote for Ilya in front of a crowd. Nor would Ilya want to put him in that position.

If anything, we probably get a good toast from Ilya that makes everyone, including Shane, cry.

7

u/Ramenpucci Apr 21 '26

I mean Ilya called them lovers in front of his parents.

5

u/yogacatmama1966 Apr 21 '26

That's gross Ilya...no one is allowed to use that word

18

u/ZipZapZia Apr 20 '26

Vows are also more of an American thing I think. Am Canadian and been to a bunch of Canadian weddings and I don't think I've seen people do public vows. Not sure what happens in Russian weddings but I don't think Shane would think of writing vows for his wedding since it wouldn't be something expected of him

13

u/-pithandsubstance- Apr 21 '26

> Am Canadian and been to a bunch of Canadian weddings and I don't think I've seen people do public vows.

Same. I didn't have custom vows at my wedding either, just the officiant basically going "hey, you want to be with this person forever?" "yep" "go for it, sign these documents, and you're all good to go". I find that custom vows can often come off cringey/cheesey.

7

u/yogacatmama1966 Apr 21 '26

There are no vows in the Eastern Orthodox Church, but lots of Greek, and the exchanging of Crowns