Heated Rivalry

Having reviewed the whole Game Changers series when it was originally published, I've been a big fan of Rachel Reid's writing ever since and I was delighted to hear Heated Rivalry had been picked up for a TV adaptation.

Having now seen both this opening episode and the second, I have to say I'm seriously impressed.

Not only is the casting spot on, but under Jacob Tierney's sensitive direction, the book has been brought to life beautifully.

Important scenes that drive the plot in the book are visually recreated in such a way that you can see the internal thoughts reflected on and through the actors faces and behaviour.

It's not slavishly the same though and the unique touches have only added more depth to what's already a genre classic.

I absolutely freaking love the cast! They couldn't have been more perfect alone and together, and that just comes down to how great Hudson and Connor are as actors! They sell Ilya and Shane so well, I can't picture anyone else doing what they do.

That aside, while I knew the books were torturously sexy, the show did not shy away one bit. On one hand, I love that about it, on the other, even though we're just two episodes in, I fear for the flow of the plot in the next four episodes. I might change my ratings later, but for now, this is a crazy good adaptation!

Just two episodes in, but what a show. Jacob Tierney, Wow. Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams, Wow. Truly breathtaking performances. How did they manage to do this and have chemistry this insanely tight? It's crazy.

I really love the book, and at first I kept my expectations in check because "usually," in my opinion, book adaptations tend to end up worse than the book. But this one is completely surpassed my expectations. Most of the scenes I pictured in my head when I first read the book actually came to life in this series (at least the first 2 episodes) and somehow they're even more satisfying than what I imagined.

The performances from the two leads are incredibly believable, the chemistry is absolutely wild, I was grinning awkwardly to myself for the entire two hours, and the sex scenes? Wtf? It's like they were translated straight from the book. Super hot and exactly how it should be, because sex is a core part of their journey.

There are still four episodes left, and I'm sure it's only going to get better, especially "The Cottage" episode.

This is one of the best book to tv adaptations I have seen! The actors were brilliantly cast and they embody the characters so well. I could not love this more, and how much they stay true to the books we all love so much. It's hot, steamy and you can feel the chemistry and emotions with the actors! Do yourself a favor and watch this one now!

I'm always so hesitant about adaptations because 9 times out of 10, it gets ruined. This though? It delivers. Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams are literally Ilya & Shane. It's as if the readers shook the book and they fell out of the pages. That's how wonderfully they portray two such beloved characters. The pacing is quick but easy to follow. Theres just too much to say that can't be encapsulated into mere words. One has to watch to truly appreciate this beautiful story.