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Heated Rivalry<\/em> is scoring big with hockey romance fans. Since its debut, the steamy television adaptation of Rachel Reid\u2019s 2019 novel has dominated social media feeds and inspired a growing fan base devoted to the queer romance at its centre.<\/p>\n 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, was drawn to the project for its \u201cpure queer joy\u201d.<\/p>\n Audiences have met that joy with a passionate response, propelling Heated Rivalry<\/em> to the No 1 series on HBO Max as the first season ended last week. Along the way, it has generated new interest in the Game Changers<\/em> book series that it is based on and drawn attention to sports romance fiction, especially stories with queer storylines.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cUnashamedly, when pitching, it was just like, this is a Harlequin romance. This has a happy ending,\u201d Tierney says. \u201cThis is about two boys in love and a lot of sex.\u201d<\/p>\n Hockey romance books have grown in popularity within the broader sports romance genre, fuelled by readers drawn to the intensity of sport as much as the relationships at its centre. Mackenzie Walton, who edited the Heated Rivalry<\/em> novel, says the genre\u2019s staying power comes from how deeply the stories immerse readers in the sport.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n