“I know you hated that guy.”
“Hate is a strong word,” Scott said. “A strong, accurate word.”
― Rachel Reid, Game Changer“I’m sorry I couldn’t get a third ticket, but this game is super sold out.”
“Yeah, no shit. The tickets are going for, like, five thousand dollars online,” Maria said.
“I’ll text you a selfie from the game, alright?”
“Oh, fuck you.”
― Rachel Reid, Game Changer
Scott is the star forward of the New York Admiral’s NHL team. Although he’s a great player and his team always makes it to the playoffs, he’s having an unusually rough season. So, when he meets Kip, the cute guy working at his local smoothie shop, he starts playing some of his best hockey in years.
Through another chance encounter, Kip and Scott run into one another at a gala. Scott is a speaker and Kip is picking up extra hours for his other part-time gig as a cater waiter. The attraction is mutual and soon they are hooking up at Scott’s penthouse apartment.
Kip is living at home with his parents while he tries to pay off his student loans. He isn’t sure what he wants to do and he loves being pampered by Scott. However, Kip is out and Scott is closeted. Since there are no known openly-gay NHL players, Scott doesn’t want to be the first one. He is worried he will lose his sponsorships, kill the momentum of his team and, worst of all, lose all of his friends once they find out either that he is gay or that he’s been lying to them for years.
This was a fun, fast read. The angst is predictable but also done well. Scott and Kip are a bit too perfect. Scott is hot, smart, sweet, funny, and a star athlete. Kip is the cute, broke guy who must decide if his celebrity romance is worth staying in every night and not being able to share his happiness with anyone.
My main complaints are petty but I’ll still complain. Scott and Kip are the worst names ever. Sorry to all the Scotts and Kips out there but all I could think of was the jock meathead from an 80’s movie and Kipper snacks.
Despite the predictable nature of this book, I freaking LOVED its sequel Heated Rivalry.