She's the Queen of Boy Aquarium, the Mother of Game Changer, and she's pretty much responsible for my addiction to the M/M genre. Rachel Reid knows how to write a hockey book, and while I love, and look forward to the next, Game Changer book I'd like to bring your attention to The Shots You Take.

I think this is Rachel's best book. It has everything you'd expect from the Game Changer Series but there is a maturity here that I guess comes from being her most recent book.

Where Game Changer throws you into the depths of the current and ongoing careers of NHL super stars, Shots takes a step back and approaches things from a very different angle.

Riley is grieving, he's sitting at his father's funeral and he's devastated. The last thing he needs during this time of his life is a face from him past walking through the door of the church and stirring up years of past trauma. What follows is a touching and very satisfying tale about two men who have to reconcile a twelve year chasm in their friendship.

The book is peppered with flashbacks to Riley's most triumphant moments with his best friend and teammate, Adam, at his side. But each chapter slowly builds up to a painful and devastating implosion of their friendship.

Riley has made peace with his past, put it in a well kept box. His dad's passing is sadly an easy way for Adam to return to his life but at the worst possible time. There is a lot of emotion here, Riley's struggles manifesting when he lets his guard down around Adam, the fact that Adam doesn't fully understand what his selfish approach is doing to Riley, it's all poignant stuff.

This book really pulled at all my heart strings. I've read it several times when I'm feeling down and could use an unhealthy dose of fairytale love.

9/10

  • 🫂 Best friends → secret lovers → estranged

  • 💔 Second-chance romance

  • 🌈 Closeted athlete / coming-out storyline

  • 🏡 Small-town setting

  • 😭 Grief and emotional healing

  • 🔥 Friends-with-benefits history

  • ❤️ Very mature romance—the characters are 41

  • 🌱 A major theme is rebuilding trust after years of hurt