When author Rachel Reid first published her self-described “smut” novels about hockey players’ secret love affairs, she never imagined they would one day become a word-of-mouth hit on television. Yet, that’s exactly what has happened with the adaptation of her “Game Changer” series, now known as the critically acclaimed show “Heated Rivalry.”
The six-part drama, which follows the illicit relationship between two rival ice hockey stars, has taken the television landscape by storm. Despite Reid’s initial doubts about the adaptability of her sexually explicit queer romance novels, the show has remained remarkably loyal to the source material, much to the delight of the author.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen an adaptation this loyal before,” Reid, who writes under the pen name Rachelle Goguen, told the BBC. The show’s heartfelt depiction of LGBTQ+ relationships and representation in sports has resonated with viewers, leading to a surge of fan engagement, from watch parties to social media rave reviews.
However, the show’s popularity has not come without some criticism. Some have dismissed it as “the gay hockey show,” trivialising the complex and nuanced love story at its core. But Reid remains unfazed, stating, “If you like this show, you’re probably on the right side of a lot of things.”
The show’s success has also had a significant impact on the book sales of Reid’s “Game Changer” series. The original novel, “Heated Rivalry,” first published in 2019, has hit the New York Times bestseller list, and the author has announced a new book featuring the beloved protagonists, “Unrivaled,” set to be released soon.
The show’s popularity with female viewers, dubbed “wine moms” by showrunner Jacob Tierney, has also been a topic of discussion. Reid, however, sees this as a natural progression, noting that romance novels have traditionally had a strong female fan base. “Now, with the show, we’ve gained a much wider and more diverse fanbase – a lot of men, which is really exciting,” she said.
The success of “Heated Rivalry” has also shone a light on the growing popularity of “sport romance” as a literary subgenre. Literary agent Saskia Leach described it as “arguably the breakout romance sub-genre of the 2020s,” with readers drawn to the combination of romance and the high-stakes world of sports.
For Reid, the show’s impact goes beyond just entertainment. She hopes it will inspire more positive LGBTQ+ love stories in media, where happy endings are often elusive. “There just haven’t been many shows that have had a happy ending, and queer joy,” she said. “Maybe we don’t have to kill one of them before the end, it would be a nice change.”
As “Heated Rivalry” continues to captivate audiences and readers alike, it’s clear that Rachel Reid’s “unadaptable” novels have found a way to transcend the page and become a cultural phenomenon, challenging perceptions and celebrating the power of love in unexpected places.