Book Review: Game Changer by Rachel Reid
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Introduction
Game Changer was a mixed experience for me. I appreciated what the book was trying to do — especially in terms of queer representation in professional sports — but the execution didn’t fully land. While parts of the romance were engaging, other aspects left me grossed out and having to look around to make sure no one could see my Kindle screen. If you are a fan of the HBO series, then you know this series is spicy. I didn’t think it could get spicier, but the books turned up the heat to an almost ridiculous level. This is the first book in the series and is the focus of the episode titled Hunter in the show.
Quick Facts
- Release: October 2018
- Read: January 2025
- Reading Time: Fast, bingeable
- Pages: 400
- Format Recommendation: I did Kindle and I don’t think I could have listened to this for fear of others hearing.
- Perfect for: Readers who enjoy sports romance, male/male pairings, and high-heat contemporary romance. If you like spicy smut, this one is for you.
Genre and Writing Style
- Genre: Contemporary Romance / Sports Romance
- Writing Style: Straightforward, dialogue-heavy, intimacy-forward
- Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
- Trigger Level: 💀💀💀 (closeting, power imbalance, graphic sex scenes)
Summary: A Brief Overview (Without Major Spoilers)
From Goodreads:
Pro hockey star Scott Hunter knows a good thing when he sees it. So, when a smoothie made by juice bar barista Kip Grady precedes Scott breaking his on-ice slump, he’s desperate to recreate the magic…and to get to know the sexy, funny guy behind the counter.
Kip knew there was more to Scott’s frequent visits than blended fruit, but he never let himself imagine being invited back to Scott’s penthouse. Or kissed with reckless abandon, never mind touched everywhere all at once. When it happens it’s red-hot, incredible and frequent, but also only on Scott’s terms and always behind his closed apartment doors.
Scott needs Kip in his life, but with playoff season approaching, the spotlight on him is suddenly brighter than ever. He can’t afford to do anything that might derail his career…like introducing the world to his boyfriend. Kip is ready to go all-in with Scott—but how much longer will he have to remain a secret?
What Worked for Me
- Queer rep in pro sports: The premise is important and still feels relevant.
- Kip as a character: He’s emotionally open, self-aware, and easy to root for.
- Accessibility: The writing is straightforward and easy to fly through.
What Didn’t Work for Me: Trigger Warnings and Criticisms
The Cover: You tell me that when you pick up a book that looks like #1 are you expecting the spice level that you see in cover #2. I bought the book with cover #2. I bought it AFTER I watched the first episode of the series so I knew there would be some spice but not this level and not that many scenes of it. I saw the original cover when I went to log it for Goodreads, and I think they need to keep this cover and not make it seem like a feel-good rom com.
Spice Level: I read some fiction that has erotic overtones, but my girls Devney Perry and Abby Jimenez are not on this spice meter. Spoil Alert: There are scenes about fingering their own buttholes to widen it enough to fit their partner’s penis. I can’t unread that. I have read some spicier content before like Lights Out but that had a content warning to tell me what I was getting into. If you are not used to reading Male/Male pairings this level of description can be jarring for you. It was for me. I don’t want to yuck someone’s yum. They had actually pretty vanilla sex throughout the book. But how she described each action is what gave me the ick. There was also A LOT of it. The sex scenes were pouring out of this book. If you are used to plot with some sex instead of sex with some plot, this will be too spicy for you. This book is extremely graphic in its male/male sex scenes. The intimacy is frequent and explicit, which may be a positive for some readers but felt overwhelming for me and often overshadowed character growth.
The power imbalance between Scott and Kip. It was uncomfortable at times, especially given how much of the relationship existed strictly on Scott’s terms. The emotional development felt undercut by the pacing, and I wanted more depth outside of physical connection. You can’t tell me they were more in lust and just calling it love. At one point Kip asks what Scott likes about him and he proceeds to describe all physical attributes. It felt a lot like Scott was just happy to have someone to bone and was confusing it with love.
Trigger Warnings Include:
- Closeting
- Emotional withholding
- Power imbalance
- Explicit sexual content
Final Thoughts
Game Changer has a solid premise and moments of genuine charm, but it didn’t fully come together for me. I wanted more emotional balance, more accountability, and more space for the relationship to breathe outside of the bedroom.
A three-star read — not bad, but not one I felt compelled to continue immediately.
📚 Study Guide
Tips for Readers
Go in knowing this is a high-heat romance first, with emotional development taking a backseat. If explicit content isn’t your thing, this may not be the right fit.
Discussion Questions
- How does closeting affect power dynamics in relationships?
- Where is the line between privacy and secrecy?
- Does physical intimacy strengthen or stall emotional growth in this story?
- What responsibility do public figures have to their partners?
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