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As the first season of the horny hockey hit Heated Rivalry wraps up on HBO Max, fans looking to satiate their sports thirst in the show’s off-season have plenty of similar options to pick up online.
Heated Rivalry was based on the “Game Changers” book series by Canadian author Rachel Reid, and the success of the gay-themed hockey drama has propelled the books back to the top of Amazon’s bestsellers list.
Heated Rivalry (Game Changers, Book 2)
As of this writing, the “Heated Rivalry” book is second on the charts just behind a new John Grisham novel.
If you’ve finished the “Heated Rivalry” series or looking for similar books to read, there are a number of hockey-themed and LGBTQ-themed romance novels available to purchase or download online. Amazon has a number of books like “Heated Rivalry” that you can pick up on paperback, for your Kindle or as an audiobook.
One of them is the “Heatwave Hockey” series, written by Anne Martin. The five-book series was released on paperback in 2024 and explores five different stories of forbidden hockey romances both on — and off — the ice. Among the fan favorites in the series: “Scoring Chances,” which is billed as a “single dad hockey romance.”
Scoring Chances: A Single Dad Hockey Romance
The book tells the story of hockey star Joshua Hicks, who hires a nanny to look after his three kids, only to find himself increasingly lusting for her — and vice-versa. This isn’t your average drugstore romance though, as there are also elements of family dynamics and grief woven in, with a side plot of kidnapping and blackmail for good measure.
The “Sin Bin,” meantime, is the latest release in author Chelsea Curto’s “D.C. Stars” series, which follows a fictitious NHL team of the same name. Each of the books in the series is named after a hockey term, which can also take on a double entendre (think: “Face Off,” “Power Play” and “Hat Trick”).
Sin Bin (D.C. Stars)
“Sin Bin” was released in December and follows the story of D.C. Stars’ head coach Brody Saunders, who hires the world champion figure skater, Hannah Everett, to train his daughter. But while Hannah is supposed to be there for his daughter, it’s Brody who finds himself increasingly drawn to the much more innocent — and much younger — figure skating star. As a book description teases, “Falling in love with the girl fourteen years younger than him isn’t part of Brody’s plan, but can he stay out of the sin bin when the world finally learns about their relationship?”
You can also pick up the “Hockey Ever After” series written by Ashlyn Kane and Morgan James. The series features five books telling five different stories of hockey romances, from minor leaguers falling for their hockey heroes, to a nerdy librarian’s chance encounter with a hockey hunk. Reviewers love this series, which is promoted as a “hot, hilarious and heartfelt” read.
Winging It (Hockey Ever After)
The first book in the series is “Winging It,” which chronicles the aftermath of what happens after hockey star Gabe Martin gets outed. Gabe leans on teammate Dante Baltierra for support, and their unexpected camaraderie soon develops into something more. “Getting involved with a teammate is a bad idea, but Dante is shameless, funny, and brilliant at hockey [and] Gabe can’t resist” the publisher notes tease. We love a good hockey pun in the kicker too: “Can they find their feet before the ice slips out from under them?”
Cait Nary’s “Trade Season” is perhaps the most similar to “Heated Rivalry,” following the forbidden romance of the gruff veteran hockey star Olly Järvinen and his attractive new rookie teammate Benji Bryzinski. Per the official series description, “Olly and Benji spend all their time together—on the ice, in the locker room, in their apartment—and ignoring their unspoken feelings isn’t making them go away. Acting on attraction is one thing, but turning a season’s fling into forever would mean facing the past—and redefining the future.”
Season’s Change: Trade Season, Book 1
“Trade Season” currently has two books available to listen to as an audiobook: “Season’s Change” and “Contract Season.” You can stream both audiobooks online for free right now with this free trial offer to Audible. Both books have a runtime of approximately 10 hours and 35 minutes.
Heated Rivalry’s season one finale airs on Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, and Navessa Allen’s “Snowed In” has all the makings of a cozy holiday read. “Snowed In” is a forbidden football romance novel, rather than hockey, though it has all the trappings of a sexy sports hit. Originally released in 2020, Allen’s book has been re-released on paperback and is currently back on Amazon’s sports romance book charts.
Snowed In
Like a classic Hallmark movie, the book follows the story of Ella Jones, who has resigned herself to another long winter up in snowy Maine, before her small town is surprised by the arrival of ex-football star Benjamin Kakoa. Benjamin is hoping to lay low and be by himself for a while to escape his superstar status, but his connection to Ella proves too strong to resist. Cue the “magic and love in a small town” vibes.
Former NHL star Sean Avery made news when he told Rolling Stone that he believed Heated Rivalry’s success could “open the door for the first gay NHL player.” Avery has been offering commentary on Heated Rivalry’s episodes each week on his Instagram page, but he’s also written a hockey-themed romance novel of his own.
“Summer Skate” was released in September and tells the story of a New York Ranger enforcer who falls for a journalist vacationing next to him in the Hamptons.
Summer Skate: A Novel
As for whether it’s based on a true story (or his own experiences), Avery is coy. “‘Summer Skate’ is the most authentic hockey romance novel ever written,” he tells Rolling Stone. “If you want to see behind the curtain on what really happens during the NHL off-season, then ‘Summer Skate’ is the next romance novel you should read.”
And then there’s “Pole Position,” Rebecca Caffery’s F1-themed gay romance novels. Billed as a cross between the Prime Video hit, Red, White & Royal Blue and Formula 1, the first book in the enemy-to-lovers series was released in March and became a hit with both F1 fans and readers alike.
Pole Position
“Pole Position” follows the tumultuous relationship between F1 star Kian Walker and rookie driver Harper James, who’s determined to make an impression both on and off the track. Harper comes on strong to Kian, but is it just a friendly rivalry or is there more under the hood? As the book description teases, “This might be one of the most dangerous sports in the world, so why then does Kian’s heart feel safer flying around the track at 220mph than when he’s anywhere near his teammate?”
A second book in the series, cheekily titled “First to Finish,” is due out next year.
