The Long Game First Impressions

My fellow Loons,

Welcome back to my cottage. For those who have read my previous posts, thank you for sticking with me through my stream-of-consciousness ramblings for what is now 3 lengthy posts. For those just joining us here’s the rundown: I will read an installment of the Game Changers series (this time it’s The Long Game), jot down my thoughts as they come to me, and give an overall rating after I’ve finished the book. Sound good so far? Brilliant! I’ll see you in the comments 🫶🏽.

Ch1 we’re starting out with Shane & Ilya being all cute and coupley. How am I gonna make it through this whole book? Okay let me skip to the good part: Ilya assuming their agent Farrah probably already knows they’re dating is so funny. He’s probably right but his explanation kills me. “‘We are together at your cottage. You are gay. I am hot.’” I mean he’s right: we do have the ingredients for a smoking hot couple.

Ch2 Ilya’s dream of his mother / Shane not moving fast enough. I feel like this is a reflection of Ilya’s frustration of keeping their relationship - their romance - a secret. And then Ilya throws a tantrum after seeing Shane talking to a hot reporter named Laurent and it all comes out: he’s terrified Shane would move on with someone he can love openly 🥺

Ch3 Shane & Ilya’s double date with Ryan & Fabian. Fabian was gonna get the tea even if he had to pry it out of Shane with pliers 🤣 I see you boo and I respect your game. These two beloved idiots need a push.

Ch5 My poor Ilya is in a decade-long committed relationship and still touch starved in the club 😭 Shane your man is suffering!! God I wish they would just talk to each other and forgive this out!!

Ch8: Ilya hanging out with the Hollanders, watching Shane play against Boston on tv is so wholesome. You can practically see his inner child healing in this scene. Until Shane copied his signature move The Rozanov during the game. Ilya is pressed about this but honestly it’s so poetic to me. Shane is using his boyfriend’s signature move against his boyfriend’s former team to score on them. He winked at the camera - at Ilya - afterward to show even when he’s at work, Ilya’s on his mind. It’s a flex. It’s hot.

Ch9: Shane & Hayden are watching Love Island and Hayden - married & father of four - says “I’d be good on that show!” Love that fantasy for you king. I sure hope you get some beach time while you’re in Los Angeles.

Ch12: Ilya remains our most charming Consent King! He asks Jackie if he may carry her to the car after she injured her foot & couldn’t put weight on it. Hayden’s upset 1) because his wife is hurt 2) he could’ve prevented it 3) he actively dislikes Ilya and 4) Ilya is carrying his wife (Jackie) in his arms. Damn it’s hard to be Hayden right now 😅 And then Ruby watched Shane paint Ilya’s nails and asked “Is he your husband?” This is totally something a child would say. An incredibly perceptive child. No sweetie, they’re not married *yet.* We can hope and pray 🙏🏽 I need a minute y’all. I can’t stop cheesing. My boys just got hitched!!! Sure the wedding was officiated by 7-year-olds but love is love. Shane & Ilya said the vows from their hearts. They sealed it with a kiss. They are married. Now time for cake 🤭

Ch13 Ilya’s Halloween house party: Ilya is surrounded by his teammates and their partners, crossfaded, and the depression hits. Earlier Shane had told Ilya he noticed something’s off with him. He encouraged him to talk to someone. But Ilya brushed him off. Ilya please!! You need help!!

Ch14 Thank GOD!! Ilya finally started therapy! The first step of a long (and hopefully) healing journey for him. And he found a therapist who speaks Russian! This allowed Ilya to really dig deep and fully express himself the best way he can. Oh I hope things start improving for Ilya 🥺He needs a break.

Ch15 Ilya telling Shane “I’m so glad I met you” has me tearing up. Romantic declarations aside, it all started with Shane approaching Ilya first. Imagine if he’d chickened out. Life would look a whole lot different for them. Maybe they’d be with different people right now. Maybe Ilya would be in Boston married to Svetlana. Maybe Shane would be dating Miles. That’s an interesting AU to consider 👀

Ch16: Raise your hand if you hate Roger Crowell ✋🏽 Also it could be the lifelong NFL fan in me but I swear he bears a resemblance to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Complete coincidence I’m sure. Those men must have NOTHING in common. I’m clearly reading too deep into this surely /s

Ch21 Reporting to you from the floor because my god the gym scene has laid me out 🥵 Ilya Rozanov the man that you are!!! He knows just how to nudge Shane out of his comfort zone and Shane’s game for it. I love how Shane drops into sub space in this scene (as do he & Ilya actually). We have seen Shane question what Ilya sees in him and finally *finally* Shane sees it for himself. Also Ilya Rozanov exhibitionist kink is confirmed. Don’t worry about me I’m fine. Just contemplating how to find me an Ilya…

I also need to point out Ilya is spilling all the tea on the phone with Shane. This whole conversation is taking me out. Shane’s disbelief is just leaping off the page 🤣 I mean queer NHL royalty got together to drink and chat. It’s a big deal. And poor Shane missed it. Babes there’ll be another one. That’s the thing about community: we flock together 🫂🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Ch22 Shane thinks Ilya eats like a “stoner teenage goat” and I’m dying 😭 This is flair material people! Also that fight on Boxing Day was building for a while. Shane is a smart man but I swear he’s clueless when it comes to Ilya. This man packed up his life and moved to your hometown to play for what’s probably the lowest ranked team in the league so he could be close to you and you ask what he’s sacrificed. You ask “Would you choose me?” Hollander you big dummy (affectionately) 😭WAKE UP!! Okay this is why Yuna is MOTHER: She gave Shane the wake-up call he severely needed - *Listen to your boyfriend dammit!*

Ch24 The plane to Tampa. “My Heart Will Go On” - Celine Dion

Ch25 I’m not crying you’re crying 😭 I read the spoilers so I knew how Shane proposed but it still got me right in the heart. I do hope Jade & Ruby get to be flower girls at the wedding. They called it.

Ch29 Svetlana accused Ilya of blushing and he didn’t deny it. His whole “Russians don’t blush” act wouldn’t work on her anyway. This is growth! I love how Svetlana is calling Ilya boring. It’s sort of a callback to Ilya calling Shane boring. “‘Now you’re going to marry a Canadian. Boring.’” They’re so cute. I love their friendship.

Ch30 Shane is really improving as a partner. He’s noticing when Ilya needs him more, stepping up to be his rock the way Ilya has for him all these years.

Ch31 Troy you icon 😭 Ilya encouraged Troy to be open with his feelings when he was ready and now Troy is giving Ilya the same advice. Also I never thought I’d love a duo more than Shane & Ilya but Ilya & Anya take the cake! Perfect pairing. No notes.

Ch32 And I oop! Hayden you… 😤 you know that’s so on brand for Hayden. Of course he doesn’t watch his videos before posting them. But I love how he said that it was a great kiss. He’s not Ilya’s biggest fan by a long shot but he’s moved from petty jealousy to fully accepting Ilya as Shane’s partner. I’m so proud of his growth! Damn I feel bad for my boys. They barely have been able to do things on their timeline. First with Shane’s parents and now with the world. It was getting harder for them to hide. Now they won’t have to hide anymore. Coach Wiebe is the best coach in the whole NHL!!! ARGUE WITH THE WALL!!! I have never seen anyone go to bat for their players like him. He’s made a culture of love and kindness that is desperately needed in the league. I hope he becomes NHL Commissioner one day and if not him, someone with his disposition and leadership style.

Ch33 As mad as I am at the Voyageurs at large for their response to Shane & Ilya being outed, I am equally proud of Hayden for his speech supporting Shane. That’s what friendship looks like. That’s what brotherhood looks like. I hope JJ comes around because he is Shane’s friend and unlike the vibe most of the team is giving, I think JJ is pissed Shane didn’t tell him he was with Ilya specifically. Also when Shane is at his lowest point - a place he wasn’t even at when he saw how close he came to losing Ilya - he breaks his diet and eats a Snickers. Great choice Shane. It is yummy. Snickers satisfies. And while they both have the right to play, I do think Shane & Ilya need time to process this off the ice. That time off should have been their choice following the shock of being outed, not the league’s homophobic decision. And the sign on Ilya’s neighbors’ yard was so sweet 🥹

Ch34 Ilya. Fucking. Rozanov. Lord have mercy 🥵 Does Shane know just what he has in Ilya? They way Ilya knows exactly what Shane needs and how to provide it. He knows Shane’s ego needs a boost so he left him naked and exposed in his trophy room to remind him he’s the fucking king of hockey. As much as Ilya peacocks on the ice, he acknowledges Shane has a leg up on him. More than that, it matters more to Shane than to Ilya and Ilya doesn’t try to take that from Shane. He doesn’t just give in; he brings his best to the ice as Shane brings his so they both know Shane earned every win he got. That’s love, putting your ego aside for someone else.

Ch35 Shane chose Ilya. ABOUT. DAMN. TIME!!! And JJ came around (as I hoped he would)!! I wish we got to see more of Shane & JJ’s friendship because that Cardi B moment was rich!

Ch36 I read about the stumble in the prologue but reading it in context is even more devastating 🫣🫢 Shane oh my god.

Ch37 Salute to Heroes: Scott Hunter 🫡 I love he came to check on Shane & Ilya and lend his support. I also love he’s froming a Union of players to change hockey culture into a positive legacy they can be proud of. I hope they’re able to change the culture from the top (I’m looking at you Roger Crowell) because that’s the key to really turning the tide. I’m also glad Ilya told Shane about his depression. He’s really going through it but at least he’s not suffering in silence anymore.

The last couple chapters + epilogue I just had to read and absorb. It was so beautiful: Shane signing with the Ottawa Centaurs, the Hollanov wedding. I feel like Shane signing with Ottawa was only logical since they’re actually supportive of his & Ilya’s relationship. It also works because the East vs. West All-Star game in Tampa shows how well they play together. Now they get to do that all the time. Time to build a dynasty together!

Now about the wedding specifically: I love the moment David takes with Ilya before the wedding. He knew he’d need fatherly support and Ilya finally has that in David. I’m glad JJ and Shane are back on good terms. I’m so glad Rose & Svetlana finally met. I feel like they’d be good friends. We got a description of Shane’s suit for the wedding but not one of Ilya’s. I want to know did they match or wear different styles? I saw Ilya in black personally. It feels more him, a more classic formal look. Also Shane Hollander, son of Yuna Hollander - two people who plan everything down to the minutest detail - did not plan the wedding ceremony??? I don’t buy it. No preferences for a wedding song, no custom vows, not even chairs for the guests. Nah Shane wouldn’t do that. He would’ve had everything planned out down to the codes for where people were allowed to park on the street. Not to mention that Shane promised Hayden he’d be Shane’s Best Man. But next best thing was Hayden & Ilya’s conversation before the wedding. Could this be a device to show out & proud Shane is a more relaxed person? Maybe. But that Type A nature doesn’t evaporate overnight or over a few months. But I digress. I wish we got to hear about Ilya & Shane in Spain (imagine that podcast for a minute 🔥) but our newlyweds deserved some time off to just *be* and be *together*. I can’t wait for their next book(s). Literally. I’m ready to pick it up and dive in. However I’m gonna be a good fan and wait patiently for Rachel to finish on her timeline because it’ll be worth the wait.

I know I said I’d read Tough Guy and then Common Goal next…but CHANGE OF PLANS! I’m rereading The Long Game. Shortest turnaround on a reread I’ve ever done. To be quite honest, I rewatched Heated Rivalry shortly (like days) after watching it the first time. That first reheat was my fastest turnaround for rewatching a series ever. The runner up would be either *The Bear* or *Only Murders in the Building* and that was after months of processing.

The Long Game

Rachel Reid

5⭐️