The Long Game: Now Streaming on Crave and HBO Max (Game Changers Book 6)
4.8 | 27,175 ratings
Price: 10.99
Last update: 01-20-2026
Product details
- ASIN : B09DW1YSGQ
- Publisher : Carina Press
- Accessibility :
- Publication date : April 26, 2022
- Language : English
- File size : 908 KB
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 453 pages
- ISBN-13 : 978-0369704436
- Page Flip : Enabled
- Book 6 of 7 : Game Changers
- Best Sellers Rank:#8 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- Sports Romance (Books)
- Sports Romance (Kindle Store)
- LGBTQ+ Books
- Customer Reviews:4.84.8 out of 5 stars(25,222)
Top reviews from the United States
- SMHA Rare, Hopeful Portrayal of Gay Love With a Truly Satisfying EndingGay culture is often portrayed through a lens of trauma—sad endings, infidelity, abandonment, and relationships that never seem to settle into something stable or lasting. While this portrayal isn’t entirely false, it reflects a more profound truth about how much of that culture has been shaped by social stigma, taboo, and long-standing marginalization. When a relationship is constantly judged or denied legitimacy, it’s not surprising that many people cope through hypersexuality, drugs, or chasing short-lived highs to escape depression and anxiety.
That’s why the Game Changers series, especially Heated Rivalry and The Long Game, hit me so profoundly. From the moment I encountered this story, I was genuinely blown away by how honestly—and humanely—it portrayed a gay relationship.
Many people assume this book is “just about sex.” Yes, there is a lot of sex, and it is explicit. But the deeper point the author makes is something I found refreshingly honest: most relationships begin with attraction and sexual chemistry. If that spark isn’t there, it’s hard for anything meaningful to grow. In this story, the relationship between Shane and Ilya begins with strong sexual tension. When they realize that the chemistry is real and fulfilling, it creates emotional safety. They stop looking elsewhere. They choose each other.The author writes intimacy in a way that feels passionate rather than gratuitous. The sex scenes are are rooted in mutual desire, care, and love. It feels pleasurable to read because it’s clear these men truly want each other and are committed to making their relationship work.
Over time, that physical connection evolves into something more profound: affection, commitment, and love. What stood out to me most is that this story allows gay characters the same narrative dignity that straight couples often get by default. This serious, monogamous relationship actually works.
Before reading, I did what I always do with gay fiction: I searched for spoilers. I needed to know if this would end in despair, death, or punishment. I’m exhausted by stories that treat gay love as something doomed. Thankfully, this book delivers a genuinely happy ending—and not in a forced or unrealistic way, but in a way that feels earned.
More than anything, this book gave me hope. Hope that gay stories don’t always have to end in suffering. Hope that more writers and filmmakers will move away from trauma-centered narratives and toward stories that normalize gay love as something stable, joyful, and enduring.
I cannot recommend this book enough. It’s sexy, emotional, honest, and—most importantly—uplifting. For anyone tired of seeing gay relationships portrayed as tragic or broken, this story is a breath of fresh air. - K. B.One million stars for the sequel this beloved hockey couple deservesI originally didn't want to read this sequel to HEATED RIVALRIES because HR was so wonderful, I was happy where it ended, and I haven't been impressed with same-couple sequels in the past by other authors.
WOO BOY was I being a dummy.
Somehow this book make me love/root for this couple even more? A thing I didn't think was possible???
Shane and Ilya (both 29) have been together for a decade, hiding the fact that they were attracted to one another as teen rivals before their rookie year, and eventually quietly became a committed couple who made big changes to be near one another for the long term, hoping they will one day be able to retire away from the NHL spotlight and live openly together then.
But they're both also still at the top of their game with retirement nowhere near in sight.
Shane is scared he'll lose everything if they are outed: the NHL's commissioner doesn't like "disruptions," homophobia still runs rampant in the sport and fans, and being outed as someone who has hidden/lied about a decade-long relationship with the ONE guy who media, the NHL and fans have L O V E D to obsess over as his hated rival could cause a lot of people to lose the good faith they have in him.
Ilya understands -- and may have even more to lose -- but is having a harder time hiding who he is, who they are. And communicating those feelings isn't something that comes naturally to him.
This book is about what you are willing to risk and how to make positive change. It's about secrets, trust, separation of relationships (of any kind) and competitiveness in sports, building a future, family, compromise...love.
UGH it is just so GOOD. Recommend times one million, giving all the stars.
Note: You don't have to read/listen to the whole series if you don't want to, BUT I do recommend reading HEATED RIVALRY (book #2) before this one because you need Shane and Ilya's past to understand this book, and ROLE MODEL (book #5) because there are important events that happen that give you a helpful perspective and background for this book.
Read the content warnings.
Read if you like:
• Contemporary romance
• Sports romance (NHL hockey)
• Tough guys with gooey centers
• Clear, repeated consent and communication during intimacy
• Dual POV
• Fighting homophobia and other issues related to toxic hockey culture
• Communication and vulnerability
• Positive mental health care rep
• Open door spice - LetMeSumUpHooray for love! And hockey!What a ride. What a great follow-up. I loved Heated Rivalry and was nervous the sequel wouldn't be as good. But I didn't need to worry. The characters still had a lot of growing to do, and friendships to test, and a happy ending to earn. Which they did. Still so many surprises and twists and turns, but also exactly what I wanted. I'm very satisfied with this sequal. Can we make this a trilogy? Let's go Centaurs!
- Kate GFun sequel I was surprised to love so much!Really enjoyed reading this, went into it right after Heated Rivalry so of course some of the other characters I was less familiar with. Love to see the progression of Shane and Ilya’s relationship. I liked exploring more of Ilya’s depression although I feel like there should’ve been more of that. Hopefully the next book will dive in a bit deeper. With that, feel like this was mostly an Ilya book, we do so much with him, and not as much with Shane and his story. Genuinely the moment with the Pike kids made me so happy and I’m so excited to see that in the show.Overall really enjoyed it though and am excited to see it adapted for the tv show!