Series Review: Game Changers

There was no better way to kick off this blog than with my first-ever series review — and of course, it had to be the Game Changers series by Rachel Reid. This six-book series has been everywhere on social media lately, especially since Book 2 has its own TV adaptation!

I’ll admit, I picked these up before the series was announced (or at least before it aired in the UK), so I like to think I was ahead of the hype.

The books all centre around ice hockey and MM romances — two things this reader absolutely adores. I read the entire series through Kindle Unlimited, and now it’s time to share my thoughts. First, let me tell you a little about each book, and then we’ll dive into the fun part: the review

1. Game Changer

The first book in the series follows New York Admirals captain Scott Hunter and smoothie shop worker Kip Grady. This is a steamy, secret romance with a fast-burn storyline centred around a closeted ice hockey captain — and I think we can all safely assume who that captain is.

What starts off as an innocent routine of Scott stopping by for a blueberry smoothie after his runs soon becomes part of his pre-game good luck ritual before home matches. But it doesn’t take long to realise that these visits are about far more than just the smoothies… the smoothie maker might have something to do with it too.

This was such a fun, addictive read, and I finished it in just three days!

2. Heated Rivalry

Book 2 focuses on ice hockey rivals Shane Hollander (Canada) and Ilya Rozanov (Russia). This is a classic enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn romance — complete with secret hook-ups. These two have been public rivals for their entire careers, but what happens when that rivalry turns into something much more behind closed doors? While the romance itself is a slow burn, the spice definitely isn’t — for these two, it’s more of a full-blown inferno.

This book took me a little longer to read (10 days, to be exact), but that wasn’t due to the story or the writing. The time jumps are necessary because of their situation, which makes the timeline feel more spread out and slowed my reading pace slightly.

3. Tough Guy

Now we’re onto Book 3, which gives us an opposites-attract, high-school-friends-to-lovers reunion romance. This story follows ice hockey defenceman Ryan Price and musician Fabian Salah. The two first met when they were younger, as Fabian’s family used to host hockey players.

In terms of both personality and looks, they couldn’t be more different. Ryan is a big, traditionally masculine sportsman, while Fabian is more feminine and loves expressing himself through makeup. Add in the fact that Ryan is shy and anxious, and Fabian hates hockey, and you’ve got a true textbook opposites situation.

But this story proves that sometimes a high-school crush really can turn into “Mr Forever.” It also beautifully breaks the stereotype that strength has to be loud or aggressive, and that happily ever after has to look a certain way.

If you couldn’t already tell, I loved this book, I finished their story in just three days.

4. Common Goal

Book 4 shines a spotlight on a couple of side characters we’ve met in earlier books, particularly in Book 1. This time, the story focuses on veteran goaltender Eric Bennett and grad student/bartender Kyle Swift.

This is an age-gap, friends-with-benefits romance. When we first meet them, Eric (40) is coming out of a long-term marriage and trying to figure out who he is, feeling a little lost in the process. Kyle (25), on the other hand, is nursing a broken heart from an unrequited love and is determined not to repeat his past mistakes.

Eric wants to explore a new side of himself but isn’t sure if a happily-ever-after is in the cards for him. Kyle is looking for something more meaningful than a one-night stand and is trying hard not to fall back into old habits.

I devoured this book in six days, but fair warning — this one might tug at your emotions. 

5. Role Model

Book 5 brings us a grumpy/sunshine, close-proximity workplace romance — and it definitely feels like a redemption arc for a character we first met back in Book 3. This story follows hockey player Troy Barrett and social media manager Harris Drover. And honestly, within the first few chapters we also meet an adorable puppy, so what more could you possibly need?

At the start of the book, Troy is beginning fresh in Ottawa after a very private breakup and a very public scandal. While his connection with Harris starts off with some mixed signals, their relationship quickly becomes something sweet and supportive — helping Troy heal and grow along the way.

Harris is an instantly lovable character who has secretly crushed on Troy since before they even properly met. The chemistry, the softness, and the emotional moments make this one such an easy read.

I flew through this book in just two days. My emotions were absolutely wrecked — but in the best possible way. 

6. The Long Game

In Book 6, we return to Ottawa and Montreal to revisit Shane and Ilya’s story. This book shows how their relationship has progressed, especially now that they’re publicly friends. Some of the events take place behind the scenes of Book 5, but we also get to see a softer, sweeter side of Ilya — along with how his relationships have evolved.

From the very beginning, it’s clear that Ilya is growing tired of the secrecy and not being able to show off his boyfriend, while Shane is more comfortable keeping their relationship private until retirement. This book explores how those differing feelings impact both their relationship and their emotional journey together.

It took me four days to read this one, but once I hit Chapter 15, I physically could not put it down — I finished the rest in one sitting that same night.

Final Thoughts

So, it’s time for my final thoughts on this series. Overall, I absolutely loved it — especially how past characters continued to pop up in later books. I also adored how Ilya basically played the role of the fairy godmother whenever he wasn’t the main character.

Part of me wishes every book had multiple sequels, just so I wouldn’t have to say goodbye to these characters. This series has only made me more excited to watch the show (which, at the time of writing this, I still haven’t watched yet — not even once, let alone rewatched).

The whole series is beautifully written, and I love that it isn’t just fluffy sports romance. It tackles serious topics like anxiety, homophobia in sports, and the pressure players feel to hide their real lives from the public. Every book put me through an emotional wringer and had me reaching for the tissues — sometimes more than once (thanks, Shane and Ilya).

Even though I read these through Kindle Unlimited, I’ll definitely be buying the paperbacks for my bookshelf. Some stories just deserve a permanent place on display.

If you’re in the mood for hockey players, heartfelt angst, found family vibes, and romances that will emotionally destroy you (in the best way), the Game Changers series needs to be on your TBR immediately. From swoony moments to serious topics and unforgettable characters (hi, Shane & Ilya 👀), this series delivers every single time. Grab your copies and prepare for the feels 🏒✨📚

Buy the books here:
Book 1 - Game Changer
Book 2 – Heated Rivalry
Book 3 – Tough Guy
Book 4 – Common Goal
Book 5 – Role Model
Book 6 – The Long Game

And just when I thought I was finally emotionally stable, Book 7 has been announced for a September release — which feels far too long to wait, but you can bet I’ll be counting down the days until I’m back in this world. 🏒✨📚💥

From my cozy corner to yours,
📚✨