Playing Offside and Empty Net are the two strongest picks to read after Heated Rivalry. At ReadNext, we check candidate books against Open Library’s catalog.
Playing Offside captures the danger of two elite athletes competing for one roster spot while sneaking around together, and Empty Net matches the raw, abrasive hockey banter between two players who clash hard before opening up. Our pick changes if you want the slow-burn warmth of Shane and Ilya’s later seasons more than the early hostility, with Time to Shine replacing Playing Offside as the first pick. Every recommendation here is an adult romance with explicit sexual content.
Books like Heated Rivalry, by what you loved most
Bitter sports rivals who cannot keep their hands off each other
1. Playing Offside
Jax Calder
Aiden and Tyler play on the same New Zealand national rugby squad and compete for one starting position. Their secret physical arrangement risks both roster spots while media attention stays fixed on the team. Readers who want the high-heat athletic rivalry of Shane and Ilya will appreciate the tense locker-room friction. Explicit sex scenes feature throughout.
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2. Empty Net
Avon Gale
Goalie Laurent St. Savoy spat slurs at Spitfires captain Isaac Drake, then gets traded onto Isaac’s team while hiding a history of abuse from his NHL-legend father. Both carry career frustration and emotional wounds behind their insults. It provides the same sharp on-ice hostility as Heated Rivalry, balancing athletic pressure with emotional recovery. Skip this title if you want pure banter without heavy emotional baggage. Explicit sex.
Find it on AmazonSecret hookups and enemies-to-lovers tension
3. Him
Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy
Jamie and Wes were inseparable friends at summer hockey camp until an impulsive dare drove them apart during their final summer. Reunited years later as coaches, the sexual tension boils over during a summer at hockey camp. While warmer and less hostile than Shane and Ilya, it delivers the same elite hockey setting and electric chemistry. Explicit sex scenes appear throughout.
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4. Top Secret
Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy
Fraternity president Keaton and his campus rival Luke compete for the same leadership position while anonymously matching on a dating app. The contrast between daytime contempt and nighttime attraction matches the double-life dynamic Shane and Ilya maintain in hotel rooms across the league. Readers seeking professional rink settings should pass, as this is a college romance. Contains explicit sex.
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5. Red, White & Royal Blue
Casey McQuiston
Alex Claremont-Diaz and Prince Henry turn a forced public friendship into a clandestine international romance under intense tabloid scrutiny. It shares the thrilling secrecy, frantic travel logistics, and snarky banter found in Rachel Reid’s novel. It leans on political pageantry instead of sport. Includes explicit sex.
Find it on Amazon6. Garron Park
Nordika Night
Devon and Maddox have engaged in brutal dirt-bike racing and bare-knuckle neighborhood fights for years. Their mutual loathing erupts into feral, chaotic physical encounters. This book is far grittier, darker, and more aggressive than professional hockey romance. Readers looking for charming locker-room camaraderie should look elsewhere. Contains explicit sex and graphic physical violence.
Find it on AmazonCloseted athletes handling pro sports and feelings
7. Time to Shine
Rachel Reid
Rachel Reid pairs Landon, a quiet backup goalie called up to Calgary, with Casey, the team’s sunny star winger, who offers him a spare room. The humor and inside look at professional hockey life match Heated Rivalry perfectly, though the central dynamic focuses on gentle forced proximity. Contains explicit sex.
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8. Gravity
Tal Bauer
Bryce Michel, an established hockey captain, shares an unexpected moment with rival star Hunter Lacey during an exhibition weekend before a trade puts them on the same roster. Their quiet support amid the brutal physical toll of the sport reflects Shane and Ilya’s private devotion, though the tone leans much more toward emotional angst. Contains explicit sex.
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9. Season's Change
Cait Nary
Olly arrives in Washington carrying anxiety from his last team and shares an apartment with eager rookie Benji. The slow development of domestic intimacy offers a quiet contrast to the fiery bickering of Shane and Ilya. Skip this if you want immediate bedroom fireworks, as this slow burn takes its time. Explicit sex.
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10. Deke
Eden Finley
Closeted player Ollie asks a stranger to pose as his boyfriend for an uncomfortable family dinner, only to discover the man is Lennon, the sharp-tongued hockey writer who constantly critiques his play. The high-risk public deception and snappy banter give it a lively energy similar to Rachel Reid’s style. Contains explicit sex.
Find it on AmazonThe Elements That Made Shane and Ilya Stand Out
Heated Rivalry succeeds because the romantic conflict directly connects to the athletic stakes. Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov are franchise stars for rival cities who hide their meetings across several seasons.
The story balances two very different emotional tones. On the surface, the pair trade public barbs and compete mercilessly during games. In private hotel rooms across North America, their fierce physical dynamic slowly transforms into mutual protection and deep personal reliance.
- Professional rivalry: Playing Offside and Empty Net match the genuine hostility and fierce on-field competition between opponents.
- Clandestine encounters: Him and Top Secret capture the thrill of hiding explosive physical chemistry from teammates and peers.
- Pro league realities: Gravity and Time to Shine explore the emotional cost of staying closeted in a conservative sports culture.
How to Pick Your Next MM Sports Romance
Pick based on the specific mood you want after finishing Rachel Reid. Readers who want the sharp, angry edges of early Shane and Ilya should start with Playing Offside or Empty Net, where the leads actively resent each other before giving in.
If you preferred the comfort of hotel rooms and the sweet progression toward emotional safety, try Time to Shine or Him instead. Both provide a warmer atmosphere with plenty of hockey action and snappy dialogue.
Exploring the Game Changers Series and Direct Sequels
Heated Rivalry is part of Rachel Reid’s Game Changers hockey romance series. While the other books in the lineup focus on different couples across the league, Shane and Ilya return as primary leads in a full-length sequel titled The Long Game.
The Long Game picks up years into their established relationship, dealing with the psychological strain of sustained secrecy and public expectations. Readers who want complete closure on Shane and Ilya’s story should read it before moving outside Reid’s catalog.
Maturity Level and Content Warnings
Every recommendation here is written for adult readers and contains graphic, explicit sexual scenes. Heated Rivalry is known for frequent, intense encounters, and these follow-up picks match that heat level.
A few selections introduce heavier material outside the rink. Empty Net contains candid discussions of past parental abuse and lingering trauma, while Garron Park includes intense street violence and volatile brawling. Readers who want clean romance or young adult stories should skip these titles.
Next Steps for Romance Readers
If you want to move beyond ice rinks into competitive tension across other genres, explore our guide to Books Like Fourth Wing for high-stakes fantasy rivals. You can also explore our broader library of Books Like the One You Just Finished to discover your next favorite series.
Readers who want romantic tension without explicit bedroom scenes should take our What should I read quiz to filter recommendations by exact heat level and genre.
