Rachael answers “Do I need to know anything...”

Felipe asked this question about Heated Rivalry (Game Changers, #2):

Do I need to know anything about/appreciate hockey or sports-ball in general to enjoy this book?

Rachael I don't think this book requires any knowledge or appreciation of hockey or sports generally to read and enjoy. I mean, I'm a fan, personally (and a p…moreI don't think this book requires any knowledge or appreciation of hockey or sports generally to read and enjoy. I mean, I'm a fan, personally (and a picky fan at that!), so maybe I'm not the best person to answer this question for you, but I genuinely think this story is incredibly enjoyable to fans and nonfans alike, and there are some very highly rated reviews you can read below from people who describe themselves as knowing nothing about sports or hockey.

I will say, though: if you HATE sports and dread any reference to it, you should steer clear of this book. There's a good amount of sports discussion in this book -- not in a boring play-by-play way of course (don't worry!), but in the whole this-is-their-lives-so-yeah-it's-mentioned way: there are a few in-game scenes between the two characters, but it's focused less on the game and more on the interaction between the two guys (some funny banter that is maybe more enjoyable if you understand the reference); there are some off-ice scenes with teammates and family where hockey gets mentioned (but again, it's more a vehicle for showing the relationships, and I think Rachel Reid does a good job of giving you any and all context you might need to understand what's happening or being discussed); and there's definitely discussion of stigmas in sports and how being a professional athlete affects a person's life (you see road trips, you see charity work, etc., but, again, the book tells you everything you need to know, if anything).

So, yeah: if you hate sports or would be put off by reading mentions of teammates or of other elements of the game and lifestyle, then you should probably skip this book. But if you're neutral to it and just aren't a fan yourself, I'd say this book is definitely worth a try! There's so much here to the relationship between these two guys, and the progression is just done so well and beautifully, that this stands out to me as one of the best mm romances out there, not just one of the best mm sport romances out there.(less)

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