Heated Rivalry series scoring large audiences with its queer romance

"Heated Rivalry" is scoring big with hockey romance fans.

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Hudson Williams (left) and Connor Storrie (Instagram)

Since its Thanksgiving weekend debut, the steamy television adaptation of Rachel Reid's 2019 novel has dominated social media feeds and inspired a growing fanbase devoted to the queer romance at its center.The story traces Canadian Shane Hollander and Russian Ilya Rozanov as they sustain a decade-long secret relationship, mixing slow-building yearning with explicit sexual scenes. Jacob Tierney, who developed, wrote, and directed the series, said he was drawn to the project for its "pure queer joy."

Audiences have responded with passion to that joy, propelling "Heated Rivalry" to the No. 1 series on HBO Max as the first season heads into its finale Friday. Along the way, it generated new interest in the "Game Changers" book series that it's based on and drew attention to sports romance fiction, especially stories with queer storylines.

Originally developed for the Canadian streaming service Crave, the show scored a distribution deal with HBO and has already been renewed for a second season.

"Unashamedly, when pitching, it was just like, this is a Harlequin romance. This has a happy ending," Tierney said. "This is about two boys in love and a lot of sex."

A 'Game Changer' for hockey romance fans

Hockey romance books have grown in popularity within the broader sports romance genre, fueled by readers drawn to the intensity of sport as much as the relationships at its center.

Mackenzie Walton, who edited the "Heated Rivalry" novel, said the genre's staying power comes from how deeply the stories immerse readers in the sport itself.