We're so into playing hockey and reading books right now.
Only four episodes of Heated Rivalry have been released so far, but the TV series has already become a cultural phenomenon. Of note, it is Crave's No. 1 original series of all time, it has topped HBO Max's daily charts for most-watched TV shows in the U.S., and it still has very limited physical copies available for sale due to an intense interest in purchasing the novels.
Wondering if the success of the Crave/HBO Max series had translated into more fans wanting to borrow Rachel Reid's Game Changers series of novels, Out reached out to Hoopla — one of the biggest platforms in digital media service for public library users — and asked. Not only was the answer a resounding yes, but the statistics shared by Hoopla are fascinating.
Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander and Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov on Heated Rivalry season 1.HBO Max/Crave Canada
A rep for Hoopla tells Out that the Heated Rivalry novel has become the No. 1 most borrowed e-book across its entire library since the TV show premiered on both Crave and HBO Max. The novel is also the platform's No. 3 most borrowed audiobook since the November 28 premiere.
The increased interest in reading the books that originated the characters seen on Heated Rivalry only grew when the TV series premiered its first two episodes on Friday, November 28. Yet, despite only having a couple of weeks — as opposed to all or most of 2025 — to catch up, three novels within the Game Changers literary series by Rachel Reid have already cracked Hoopla's top 10 list of most borrowed LGBTQ+ e-books for the entire 2025 calendar year.
Hoopla also disclosed the top 10 list of most borrowed LGBTQ+ fiction books for the entire year of 2025.
- The House in the Cerulean Sea by T. J. Klune (audiobook)
- Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid (e-book)
- For the Fans by Nyla K. (audiobook)
- Saint by Sierra Simone (audiobook)
- The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (e-book)
- Pucking Sweet by Emily Rath (audiobook)
- The Long Game by Rachel Reid (e-book)
- Game Changer by Rachel Reid (e-book)
- Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas (e-book)
For context, Game Changer was Reid's first novel in the series, and it focused on the love story between Scott Hunter (played by François Arnaud on the TV show) and Kip Grady (played by Robbie G.K. on the show). Heated Rivalry is the second novel in the series, which introduced readers to beloved characters like Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie). The sixth and final book in Reid's Game Changers universe, The Long Game, serves as a direct sequel to Heated Rivalry given that it centers Shane and Ilya once again.
It bears repeating that three of six books related to this hit TV show have made it into this top 10 list from Hoopla even though this live-action adaptation of Reid's work was released in (very) late November — unlike the seven other books in this year-end list. Following the announcement that Heated Rivalry season 2 is officially happening, it's pretty exciting to think about people picking up the habit to read books all over again.
Reading is fun, after all… And fundamental!
Heated Rivalry is streaming on HBO Max.
