If you’ve been swept up in the Heated Rivalry wildfire on HBO, you aren’t alone. The story of Shane and Ilya has taken the world by storm, transforming from a cult-favorite MM romance novel into a mainstream obsession.
Whether you are here because you just finished the season finale for the third time and need more, or you’re a long-time fan looking to gift the “book that started it all,” you’ve come to the right place.
We’re breaking down the book behind the show and curating a list of Blind Date with a Book picks that match the exact same vibe.
🏒 The Main Event: “The Game Changer”
Even if you know exactly what’s inside, there is something special about owning the physical copy of the story that broke the internet. This is the Game Changer… the enemies-to-lovers hockey romance that redefined the genre.
The Vibe: High Stakes | Secret Hookups | decade-spanning rivalry | Those hotel scenes.
Get the Book or the first in the series.
🔥 If You Loved Heated Rivalry, You’ll Love These Blind Dates
Finished the book? Waiting for Season 2? We’ve curated a collection of Blind Date with a Book picks that scratch that same itch. These books feature high tension, forbidden romance, and the “us against the world” energy you crave.
1. The “Grumpy & Sunshine” Hockey Pick
If you loved the dynamic between the serious Ilya and the charismatic Shane, this pick features a brooding veteran player and the rookie who drives him crazy. Genre: MM Sports Romance Unwrap This Date
2. The “High Stakes” Secret
If Heated Rivalry is about enemies who can’t stay away, this pick is about best friends who lost their way. It’s the gold standard for “friends-to-lovers” in the hockey world. Genre: M/M Sports Romance Unwrap This Date
3. The “Historical Rivals” Twist
Love the rivalry but want a different setting? This enemies-to-lovers tale takes the “obsession turned passion” trope to a fantasy setting with warring kingdoms. Same heat, different world. Genre: Political/Fantasy Romance Unwrap This Date
🎁 Free Download: The “Fire & Ice” Book Wrap Template
Want to gift Heated Rivalry to a friend (or just display it on your shelf)? We created a custom Blind Date Book Cover Template inspired by the show’s signature colors.
How to Use the Free Template:
Example:
- Genre: M/M Sports Romance
- Setting: The Ice / Locker Rooms
- Trope: Rivals to Lovers / Enemies with Benefits
- Steam Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
- Steam Level (alternative version):🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 (Melting the ice)
Download as a free image or free “Heated Rivalry” PDF Template.
Simply download, print, and wrap your copy. It includes our custom “Review” card where you can check off the tropes found in the story.
Download the “Heated Rivalry” Image (Simple) or “Heated Rivalry” PDF Template (Simple).
Why “Blind Date” a Book You Already Know?
Because reading is more than words, it’s about the experience. Unwrapping a favorite story, or gifting it to a friend who has no idea what they are about to read, brings the magic back to the very first page.
Have you read the book yet? Or are you strictly Show Only?