Cheesy & Delicious: Why the Game Changers Series Changed How I See Gay Love
There are books you read… and then there are books that reprogram you.
The Game Changers Series by Rachel Reid is firmly in the second category.
And yes—before you ask—it’s cheesy.
But it’s also delicious.
Like a late-night diner burger after the club… messy, indulgent, and exactly what you needed.
🏒 This Isn’t Really About Hockey
Here’s my hot take:
The Game Changers series is more for gay men than it is for straight women.
And I know that might spark debate—but hear me out.
While it’s marketed as hockey romance, it’s barely about hockey. What it really delivers is:
longing
secrecy
masculinity under pressure
and deeply passionate gay love
If anything, it feels more like a modern, queer version of Bridgerton—just with locker rooms instead of ballrooms.
💅 Reading This While Celibate… Was Wild
I started this series in one of the most ironic moments possible:
I was deep in a celibacy journey.
And yet—I devoured every book.
Especially Role Model, which didn’t break my celibacy… it actually strengthened it. It made me want to wait for something real.
At the time, I was questioning love.
Whether it was even out there for me.
This series said: yeah, it is.
And maybe more importantly:
you don’t have to be fully healed to receive it.
🌈 What This Series Gets Right About Gay Love
For me, these books unlocked something big:
You can be messy.
You can be self-sabotaging.
You can still be loved.
The relationships aren’t perfect—but they fight.
They break. They pause. They come back.
And honestly? That felt more real than perfection.
🏆 Ranking the Game Changers Books (No Fence Sitting)
Here’s my personal ranking of the Game Changers Series:
Game Changer
Heated Rivalry
The Long Game
Common Goal
Tough Guy
Role Model
But let’s break it down:
Most emotional: The Long Game
Most chaotic: Heated Rivalry
Most re-readable: Heated Rivalry
And yes…
Ilya and Shane live in my head rent-free.
Would I date Scott Hunter? Absolutely.
Would Ilya ruin my life? Also absolutely.
🌈 Masculinity, Secrecy, and Fantasy
This series says something powerful:
Queer men can be deeply masculine
Fame makes vulnerability harder
And even today, people still feel pressure to hide
Is it realistic?
Hard to say.
It feels more like a fantasy of what could be—a world where queer athletes are more accepted.
And honestly… maybe that’s why it works.
👀 What Didn’t Fully Hit
Let’s be real—it’s not perfect.
The relationships lean heavily monogamous and idealized
The conflicts can feel repetitive (a lot of circling the same fears)
It doesn’t fully reflect the diversity of queer experiences
And as much as I loved it, I did find myself wondering:
What would this story feel like if written by a queer male author?
🍽️ If These Books Were Food…
You know I had to bring the foodie lens in.
Here’s how I’d plate the series:
Game Changer → A clean, aspirational blueberry smoothie
Heated Rivalry → A tuna melt your lover made you
The Long Game → A messy 2AM diner burger
Common Goal → A spicy appetizer
Tough Guy → A customizable waffle brunch
Role Model → A wholesome apple pie
Fine dining? The Long Game
Fast food? Common Goal
Guilty pleasure? Tough Guy
Dinner party menu?
Smoothies, tuna melts, waffle bar, apple dessert. Done.
🎬 The Viral Potential
If you know, you know:
The cottage scene.
That alone could carry TikTok.
Pair it with Like a Prayer and it’s over.
My one-line hook?
“Gay sex is hot.”
Simple. Effective. True.
🔥 Spice Level + Who Should Read
Spice level: 10/10 (this makes most TV look like child’s play)
Who should read it:
People attracted to men
Allies curious about queer love
Who shouldn’t:
Anyone uncomfortable with explicit queer intimacy
Trigger warning:
Role Model includes light sexual assault themes
📚 If You Liked This, Read…
Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman
Works by Eden Finley (Fake Out)
Ashlyn Kane & Morgan James (Winging It)
Tal Bauer (You & Me)
💥 Final Thoughts
If I could say one thing to Rachel Reid:
Thank you for helping me believe in love again.
Because at the end of the day, that’s what this series gave me.
Not just heat.
Not just fantasy.
Hope.
❤️ Final Verdict
Game Changers is changing the world.
