Heated Rivalry book downloads surge 529% after Mayor Zohran Mamdani endorsement
The New York Public Library reported a massive spike in digital downloads of Heated Rivalry after the mayor’s recommendation.
Heated Rivalry experienced a colossal spike in downloads at the New York Public Library after receiving an unexpected seal of approval from Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday (25 January), Mamdani encouraged New Yorkers to stay indoors amid a citywide snowstorm, and recommended Rachel Reid’s beloved MLM hockey series as the perfect way to pass the time.
“I can think of no better excuse for New Yorkers to say home, take a long nap or take advantage of our public library’s offer of free access to Heated Rivalry on e-book or audiobook for anyone with a library card,” he said to laughter from his team.
According to Lizzie Tribone, a spokesperson for the New York Public Library, Mamdani’s recommendation led to a 549% surge in downloads, with 86% occurring after his endorsement.
The library made unlimited digital copies of Rachel Reid’s six-book series — Game Changer, Heated Rivalry, Tough Guy, Common Goal, Role Model and The Long Game — available via its app on Saturday (24 January). Since then, Heated Rivalry has been downloaded more than 5,000 times, with the series as a whole surpassing 13,000 downloads.
@cnn New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani tells New Yorkers to stay home and read "Heated Rivalry" as a dangerous winter storm struck states across the US. #CNN #News ♬ original sound - CNN
Tribone said the library “expect this number to continue to climb”.
Reid’s series has exploded in popularity following Crave’s adaptation of Heated Rivalry, created by Jacob Tierney, which aired in November and has since emerged as both a pop culture phenomenon and a critical darling.
The six-episode series stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie as Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, rival hockey players whose secret fling slowly unfolds into a multi-year journey of love, denial and self-discovery.
As per the synopsis: “Over the next eight years, as they chase glory on the ice, they struggle to navigate their feelings off it. Torn between the sport they live for and the love they can’t ignore, Shane and Ilya must decide if there’s room in their fiercely competitive world for something as fragile – and powerful – as real love.”
Heated Rivalry also stars François Arnaud and Robbie G.K. as Scott Hunter and Kip Grady, the protagonists of Reid’s first novel in the series, Game Changer.
One of the most talked-about new shows of the decade, Heated Rivalry has also propelled Storrie and Williams to global stardom. The pair have each surpassed 2.8 million Instagram followers, fronted a plethora of magazine covers, appeared on late-night talk shows, presented at the Golden Globes and even carried the Olympic flame in Italy ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
Unsurprisingly, season two has been confirmed, which Storrie recently teased could begin shooting this summer.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Tierney reassured fans that the series’ return wouldn’t follow the increasingly lengthy timelines that have become common across television: “It’s not gonna be two years. It’s not even gonna be 18 months, I don’t think.
“So we’re gonna go as fast as we can, while ensuring that we’re doing as good a job as we possibly can. There’s only so fast a track to go down when the show is written and directed by one person. I haven’t started writing yet—but we are aware.
“We want to get the season out as soon as we can, while also making sure we give people a good second season.”
Heated Rivalry is streaming in the UK on Sky and NOW TV.