6 Books to Read After 'Heated Rivalry'
Rolling Stone••entertainment
Key Points:
- The HBO series Heated Rivalry, based on Rachel Reid's novel, follows hockey stars Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander in a secret gay relationship, gaining significant popularity since its November 28 premiere.
- Despite having only six episodes, the show has become a cultural phenomenon, with mentions at NHL games, late-night TV appearances, and celebrity interest in future seasons.
- Creator Jacob Tierney highlighted that the series stands out by focusing primarily on the romantic relationship between Shane and Ilya rather than the coming out narrative typical of similar stories.
- Tierney praised the show for portraying the characters' journey of realizing they are allowed to love, offering a fresh perspective within the hockey romance genre.
