The Best Audiobooks For Heated Rivalry Fans
Newcomers to the Heated Rivalry universe might not realize that the book series it’s based on (Game Changers by Rachel Reid) is just one in a plethora of hockey romances—or that hockey romance itself is a subsection of the massive genre that is sports romance.
How lucky for new fans, who have an entire world of hot and heavy audiobooks ahead of them! But even veteran romance readers can be overwhelmed by the options and eager for guidance. Below, we’ve gathered some of the best and most recommended must-listens that will satiate anyone who is desperate for more Shane and Ilya energy.
Why listening on audio is the best choice if you love Heated Rivalry
Reading romance means following the author’s lead, taking the world and characters they’ve created, and bringing them to life in your own mind. It isn’t a better or worse experience than watching the steamy scenes on television, just different. Listening to romance is the best of both worlds, as if the actors are speaking directly to you—possibly while you’re sitting on the train or washing the dishes.
Types of sports romance audiobooks
Rivals-to-Lovers (The Shane and Ilya blueprint)
Rivals-to-lovers, a close cousin to enemies-to-lovers, turns the passion and tension of competition between two players—whether on different teams or the same—into attraction.
Teammates-to-Lovers
This often overlaps with “rivals-to-lovers″—say a hot up-and-comer arrives to butt heads with the seasoned pro. But it can also involve friends taking things to the next level. (See also: friends-to-lovers, colleagues-to-lovers.) In sports romance, this usually involves at least one person’s queer awakening.
Veteran stars and grumpy enforcers
A hot shot is getting out of hand but knows he’s valuable enough to get away with almost anything? A bad boy is letting his off-the-clock life interfere with his performance on the field? Enter the crisis manager, new coach, college tutor, etc., to bring him back in line.
Beyond gockey: Soccer, baseball, and golf romances
Hockey is overwhelmingly popular among other sports romances, but you can find an audiobook for almost any game. To name a couple, there’s Tamsen Park’s luge romance Love on the Tracks (narrated by Amelie Griffin & Alex Kydd), or Karmen Lee’s sapphic bowling rom-com The 7-10 Split (narrated by Amina Sali) for example.
Your next heated listen: top recommendations
If you love rivals-to-lovers: Pole Position
Kian Walker is a four-time motorsport champion and reliable off the track; Harper James is a hot-headed rookie with a bad reputation who happens to be on Kian’s team. As bookseller Josh L. at The Underground Bookshop puts it, “What can I say? It’s about two hot, sweaty athletes who hate each other and then love each other. It’s lit!”
If you love secret relationships: If This Gets Out
Ruben and Zach are two members of the boy band Saturday, and also two of the world’s hottest heartthrobs. Behind the scenes, Ruben confides in Zach about the pressure to stay in the closet—and soon Zach goes from friend and confidant to something more. Miriasha from Phoenix Books says, “For boy band fans or anyone who knows hard, complex, and beautiful it is to come out as queer and live honestly whether you’re famous or not: This is our book. Ramon de Ocampo did an excellent job with the narration and truly brought Ruben, Zach, and their bandmates Angel and Jon to life.”
If you love slow burn romance: You Should Be So Lucky
Giving slow-burn, grumpy/sunshine, and historical romance, You Should Be So Lucky follows an obnoxious shortstop struggling with his game, and the arts journalist sent (begrudgingly) to write an article about him. Amy from Book Ends describes it as, “a beautiful exploration of grief, love, and living as queer individuals in the 1960s. I love the setting—both the time period and in the world of journalism/baseball. I left thoroughly immersed in the life of a struggling player who is also just a human who is learning how to live. This was just so, so perfect.”
If you love queer awakening stories: Futbolista
College freshman Gabriel has his identity strictly contained: college goalie, future pro, and 100% straight. The last part is complicated when Vale, a classmate he once kissed at a party—but not, he insists, in a romantic way—becomes his tutor. – Cassidy at Bookshop Santa Cruz highly recommends: “Futbolista is a story that follows goalie Gabriel Piña through his first semester of college. I found myself tearing through the pages to see what would happen next, while also savoring Gabi’s journey of self-discovery and the sweet, slow friendship he develops with Vale.”
If you love forbidden love: For the Fans
When it comes to forbidden relationships, step-sibling romance (brand new college-age step-siblings, but still) is close to the top. For the Fans also features opposites attract and dual queer-awakenings tropes, all inspired by the brothers’ venture selling X-rated videos online to save their newly combined family from financial ruin. “This was the hottest M/M romance I have read in a while,” says bookseller Mandy at Aber Stoat Books.
If you love the grumpy/sunshine dynamic: Act Your Age, Eve Brown
Trying to get her chaotic life on track, Eve interviews for a chef position at a swanky B&B and is quickly rejected by the perfectionist owner, Jacob. Then she accidentally hits him with her car (oops) and insists he let her help now that he’s both understaffed and recovering from a broken arm. Miriasha from Phoenix Books says: “Eve is sunshine and chaos, Jacob is all structure and self-reliance – they’re both autistic (as is the author), hard-working, and absolutely obsessed with each other from the beginning. Equal parts significant, silly, and sexy.”
And if you simply want more heat on the ice: Pucking Strong
Six years ago, Teddy was an intern for the Jacksonville Rays NHL team and fell for their star forward, Henrik. Now he’s a physical therapist trying to get over Henrik. Then family tragedy strikes, sending Henrik to Sweden to adopt his orphaned niece—the government just needs him to be married. Against his better judgment, Teddy answers the call.
Check out our list of 13 must-read hockey romance books
If you loved Tor Thom and Cooper North: must-listen narrators
Audiobook narrators have a lot of power. They can make or break the story—often they can elevate it. Tor Thom and Cooper North bring Shane and Ilya to life, and the narrators below are beloved for the voices they bring to reader favorites.
Teddy Hamilton
Teddy Hamilton is praised for his impressive range, giving voice to hundreds of leading men throughout his career. He’s perhaps best known for his work with Rebecca Yarros, Elle Kennedy, and Ali Hazelwood.
Ramon de Ocampo
The majority of Ramon de Ocampo’s work is in science fiction and children’s books, but his recent shift to romance has been a definite success. For instance, he narrated the massive hit Red White & Royal Blue.
Sean Crisden
Sean Crisden doesn’t just narrate bestselling literary fiction (Erasure, An American Marriage) — he also voices some of the most popular hockey players in the genre.
Upcoming releases in the Game Changers series
Unrivaled: Shane and Ilya return in September 2026
Season one of Heated Rivalry may be finished, but Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series is already on book seven. Unrivaled comes out this September, with Shane and Ilya enjoying being out after a decade of keeping quiet. But that means they’re also dealing with the backlash. Learn more about Unrivaled and preorder.
Exploring the rest of the Game Changers universe
Fans can keep themselves busy between seasons by catching up on—or revisiting—the other audiobooks in the 6-book series.
Season 2: What’s up next
Actors Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams will continue Shane and Ilya’s story in Heated Rivalry’s second season, which is an adaptation of the sixth Game Changers book: The Long Game. If the show sticks close to the book, that means season two will pick up three years after season one’s final episode, with Shane and Ilya still dating in secret.
Support your local bookstore while getting your romance fix
Spicy sports romance is great but you know what’s even better?
Getting to support your favorite indie bookstore while listening. Every purchase you make on Libro.fm goes toward the indie bookshop of your choice. Whether you’re buying a membership, a credit bundle, or a single audiobook, you can feel happy knowing that a local shop dedicated to putting the best romance books in readers’ hands gets to share in the profit.
