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4.54 AVERAGE
4.54 AVERAGE
I like Shane and Ilya a lot, they’re super cute together!
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
I LOVE THIS BOOK!! SO MUCH!!! I've read this book once before in 2023, but I only read Shane and Ilya's first and second book (so #2 and #6 in the series). So, I loved reading all six books in order this time through because I knew so many more of the characters in the sixth book, and I loved the pop-ups from everyone in all of the books as well. In their first book, I was more of a fan of Shane because I feel like we were more inside his head as he was going through their relationship, but especially after reading the other books in this series I love Ilya so much! He is so complex and intriguing and interesting and he is just the best! Sorry Shane, still love you but 😍Ilya😍. ILYA ROZANOV THE MAN THAT YOU ARE!!!!!! The complexities of this man is just astounding. He is one of the best written characters in all of fiction!! Truly, truly truly such a beautiful character, I love him so much! What a beautiful way to wrap up a really really good series. Amazing book, 10 out of 10 would recommend!
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
I LOVE THIS BOOK!! SO MUCH!!! I've read this book once before in 2023, but I only read Shane and Ilya's first and second book (so #2 and #6 in the series). So, I loved reading all six books in order this time through because I knew so many more of the characters in the sixth book, and I loved the pop-ups from everyone in all of the books as well. In their first book, I was more of a fan of Shane because I feel like we were more inside his head as he was going through their relationship, but especially after reading the other books in this series I love Ilya so much! He is so complex and intriguing and interesting and he is just the best! Sorry Shane, still love you but 😍Ilya😍. ILYA ROZANOV THE MAN THAT YOU ARE!!!!!! The complexities of this man is just astounding. He is one of the best written characters in all of fiction!! Truly, truly truly such a beautiful character, I love him so much! What a beautiful way to wrap up a really really good series. Amazing book, 10 out of 10 would recommend!
Just as incredible as its predecessor, this story takes us even more into the heart of the story between our two favorite hockey players. This book dives more into mental health which I really appreciated, as well as the tension and heartbreak of being closeted, and the internal fight about coming out. No fear, the sex is absolutely just as hot in this book as the first! Once again a fantastic audiobook as well. I repeat my feelings about this being one of my favorite romances I've read in a while!!
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
This story really covered off on the emotional burden of keeping a relationship secret for 11 years in elite sports, and wow there were some highs and lows.
The paranoia of keeping it off the radar, the longing to reveal all and live an authentic life, with some homophobic behaviour and acceptance. The full spectrum was all here, and I was so happy to see how it all played out.
Great narrating, kudos to the author and voice actor!
The paranoia of keeping it off the radar, the longing to reveal all and live an authentic life, with some homophobic behaviour and acceptance. The full spectrum was all here, and I was so happy to see how it all played out.
Great narrating, kudos to the author and voice actor!
Now that's how you write an established relationship. This book was so, so good. I love Shane. I love Ilya. I love Shane and Ilya together. Their relationship was written so well. They both love each other so much, and it shines through every moment of this book, even the difficult moments. The weight of their shared secret affected their relationship in believable ways, and it honestly felt suffocating to read how it hurt them both, even while they were so happy when they were together. I really enjoyed seeing how they learned to communicate better. And it really was fitting for Shane and Ilya's story to get a proper conclusion for the conclusion of the series. It was great seeing all the previous books' characters, especially in the ways The Long Game overlapped with Role Model. The ending was ridiculously happy, and it's absolutely what Shane and Ilya deserved.
Side note,Montreal fumbled so hard with the way they treated Shane after his and Ilya's relationship was outed, and I hope they choke on their regret when they lose to Ottawa in the playoffs for the next ten years. It worked out in Shane's favor, but he deserved better after winning them three Stanley Cups.
Side note,
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
5⭐️, it’s excellent, even upon re-reading
Genre/sub-genre: open door and explicit MM contemporary sports (hockey) romance
Narrative voice: dual third person POV past tense
Rep: mental health — depression
This really is a sequel to Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid, and although the two of them work together as standalones within the larger interconnected series, it is really better to read Heated Rivalry before reading this.
What can I say? It really is a delight to spend more time with Shane and Ilya. We knew at the end of Heated Rivalry that they were committed to doing what it would take to be together, but it was sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes funny, and always rewarding to see how they navigate their challenges in The Long Game. I’m sure that this won’t be the last time I reread this fantastic book
Genre/sub-genre: open door and explicit MM contemporary sports (hockey) romance
Narrative voice: dual third person POV past tense
Rep: mental health — depression
This really is a sequel to Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid, and although the two of them work together as standalones within the larger interconnected series, it is really better to read Heated Rivalry before reading this.
What can I say? It really is a delight to spend more time with Shane and Ilya. We knew at the end of Heated Rivalry that they were committed to doing what it would take to be together, but it was sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes funny, and always rewarding to see how they navigate their challenges in The Long Game. I’m sure that this won’t be the last time I reread this fantastic book
Rachel Reid, what have you done to me?
I'm wrecked. I am absolutely wrecked. I have never cried or laughed so much during a book before. This book was just so very, very good. Exactly what you want a romance to be. I'm so beyond thrilled that Ilya and Shane got the most perfectly of perfect HEAs.
This book runs during the same time as [b:Role Model|54561591|Role Model (Game Changers, #5)|Rachel Reid|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1615242877l/54561591._SY75_.jpg|85133195], so I think before getting into this one, it's a good idea to at least read [b:Heated Rivalry|41735449|Heated Rivalry (Game Changers, #2)|Rachel Reid|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1539738291l/41735449._SY75_.jpg|65120637] and that one before starting.
I won't go into the plot because as long as you like Ilya and Shane, you're going to like this. It's emotional and wonderful, and I just love these characters even more...which I didn't think was possible to do.
I don't know how I'm going to move on from this one.
I'm wrecked. I am absolutely wrecked. I have never cried or laughed so much during a book before. This book was just so very, very good. Exactly what you want a romance to be. I'm so beyond thrilled that Ilya and Shane got the most perfectly of perfect HEAs.
This book runs during the same time as [b:Role Model|54561591|Role Model (Game Changers, #5)|Rachel Reid|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1615242877l/54561591._SY75_.jpg|85133195], so I think before getting into this one, it's a good idea to at least read [b:Heated Rivalry|41735449|Heated Rivalry (Game Changers, #2)|Rachel Reid|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1539738291l/41735449._SY75_.jpg|65120637] and that one before starting.
I won't go into the plot because as long as you like Ilya and Shane, you're going to like this. It's emotional and wonderful, and I just love these characters even more...which I didn't think was possible to do.
I don't know how I'm going to move on from this one.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes