Heated Rivalry Season 2 Details Revealed—Including New Characters

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Heated Rivalry fans aren’t getting iced out.

Jacob Tierney, the show’s creator, shared some insights into season two, which is planned to be filmed this summer and released in April 2027.

At BookCon 2026 in New York City, Tierney discussed with Rachel Reid, author of Heated Rivalry, how he’s adapting her 2022 book The Long Game into season two of a show. He also mentioned that he’ll be incorporating elements from her earlier novel, Role Model, published in 2021.

I’m so excited for the new season! We’re going to meet Troy Barrett, a new player joining the Ottawa Centaurs alongside Ilya Rozanov, played by Connor Storrie. I’ve heard the storyline focusing on Troy and Harris Drover, the team’s social media manager, is really captivating – it seems their connection will be a big part of the show, called Role Model.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Tierney described the show Role Model as having a “grumpy sunshine” and “apple orchard” vibe. However, he emphasized that the character of Troy is deeply troubled, both within the show and even more so as the series progresses. He explained they are exploring Troy’s damaged side in greater detail.

Adapting the books for season two—and potentially season three—has been difficult, as they take place ten years after the story in Heated Rivalry.

Tierney described the show, Long Game, as being drawn out and overly focused on strategic gameplay, comparing it to a rich but heavy meal like venison. She explained that adapting the show presented a unique challenge because it delves into more serious themes, though it still includes flirtation and intimacy. However, the show moves away from the more casual, ‘hotel room’ type of sexual encounters seen in similar programs.

Ilya has joined the Ottawa Centaurs and is still dating Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams), keeping their relationship private. They’ve also followed through with their plan to start a charity, as hinted at in the first story.

The show’s creator described the challenge of a couple navigating life after a crisis. Even though they care about each other, they’re still struggling to communicate effectively. As many adults realize, love isn’t enough for a healthy relationship, and the characters are currently learning this lesson.

The author, Reid, is excited to finally see a specific Christmas moment between the characters Shane and Ilya appear in the movie.

While you’re waiting for the next season of Heated Rivalry with Tierney, here are some other books to enjoy this spring.

Release: March 10

T Kira Madden’s book opens with Birdie fleeing her troubled past and heading to Whidbey Island near Seattle, specifically to escape the man who abused her as a child, Calvin Boyer. But her escape is complicated when she learns Calvin has been murdered. The story then unfolds through the eyes of three people: Birdie, Linzie – another survivor of Calvin’s abuse who wrote a bestselling memoir about it – and Calvin’s mother, Mary-Beth, who remains loyal to him.

The author of Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls, Whidbey, makes a bold debut with this novel, which isn’t always easy to get through. But she navigates challenging themes with sensitivity, resulting in a powerful and thought-provoking story.

Judy Blume has been a constant companion for generations of readers, from beloved childhood books like Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret and Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing to her novels for adults such as Wifey and Summer Sisters. Now, readers will have a chance to learn about Blume’s own life in a new biography by Mark Oppenheimer. The book is already generating buzz, especially because of reports that Blume and Oppenheimer disagreed during the writing process.

Released on March 31st, the latest novel from the popular Irish thriller writer Tana French—known for books like In the Woods—continues the story of retired American cop Cal Hooper. This is reportedly Hooper’s last case, as he investigates a young woman’s death in his quiet Irish town. The investigation quickly uncovers deep-rooted conflicts within the community, bringing long-held tensions to the surface.

Natalie Heller Mills appears to have it all: a loving husband, beautifully homeschooled children, and a picturesque farm that’s perfect for Instagram. She portrays an idyllic, traditional family life to her many followers. But her carefully crafted image is shattered when she suddenly finds herself transported back to 1805, with no memory of how she arrived and no idea how to return. This novel follows Natalie’s journey through both her rise to social media fame and her struggle to survive in the past, offering a surprising and unpredictable look at the world of “tradwife” influencers.

Patrick Radden Keefe’s April 7th article in The New Yorker explores the tragic story of Zac Brettler, a British teenager who lived a double life pretending to be the son of a Russian oligarch. Given Keefe’s reputation as the author of acclaimed books like Say Nothing and Empire of Pain, readers might have wondered if there was anything new to learn. However, Keefe delivers a compelling and honest look into the dangerous world of wealth and influence that Zac became involved in, and the determined search for answers by his family after his death in 2019.

Charlie Jones starts a new job managing a remote island farm shop, only to discover another Charlie Jones has also been hired! Both are looking for a fresh start, but the owners can’t decide which one should get the position. They come up with a solution: both Charlies will work at the shop for a few months, and whoever does the better job gets to keep it. As they compete, they begin to realize they might have more in common than just a name.

Coming April 7th, “Rainy March” introduces a book witch with a unique gift: she can enter the worlds of books to repair damage. Book witches have one rule—don’t stay too long!—but Rainy must break it when her grandfather and a cherished book disappear. She teams up with the fictional detective, the Duke of Chicago, traveling through classic novels to find them. Along the way, she’ll uncover family secrets and explore her growing feelings for the Duke.

Coming April 7th, Emma Straub’s new book offers a heartwarming look at fandom. It follows Annie, a 50-year-old divorced woman, on a cruise celebrating Boy Talk, the boy band she loved as a teenager. The story honestly explores themes of getting older, celebrity obsession, and how pop culture influences us, all without judging the passion of fans.

What I love most about Straub’s book is how perfectly she captures the feeling of being a teen obsessed with a boy band, no matter which band it was for you. She tells the story through the eyes of Annie, a boy bander named Keith, and a cruise employee named Sarah, giving you a complete picture, but honestly, it’s the way she nails that magical, nostalgic feeling that really makes it special. It doesn’t matter who your band was – she gets it, and that’s what makes the book so timeless.

Coming April 14th, this story follows Cherry as she navigates life after her ex turned their relationship into a wildly popular graphic novel, launching him to internet fame. While trying to rebuild her life, she reconnects with an old friend, Russ, who might help her heal and move forward.

Coming April 21st, “The Caretaker” offers a spring scare from the author of “We Used to Live Here.” Macy, needing a job, takes a three-day caretaker position at a property in the Pacific Northwest, even though she senses something isn’t right. It doesn’t take long for her to realize something is very wrong indeed.

I was immediately drawn into Xochitl Gonzalez’s latest novel! It takes you back to 2007 Brooklyn, specifically Fort Greene, and introduces you to Alicia Canales as she’s figuring out her next move. She gets caught up in the orbit of this fascinating, enigmatic artist who lives next door and throws incredible parties. The story is set at a really interesting time – the neighborhood is changing, and there’s this sense of uncertainty hanging in the air with the financial crisis just around the corner. Honestly, it’s another absolutely unputdownable book from Gonzalez!

Released on May 5th, this story follows John-Calum as he returns to his close-knit, religious community in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland after struggling in Edinburgh. His father, John, is a respected figure there, while his grandmother, Ella, originally from Glasgow, has always felt like an outsider. Back home, Cal is trying to keep his sexuality a secret, and his relationship with his father is strained – a mix of affection, anger, and sometimes, physical conflict.

Despite their conflict, the core issue between these characters is what they both refuse to admit. This is a deeply affecting and honest story about the complex relationships between fathers and sons, the weight of the past, and the challenges of growing up gay in 1990s Scotland—further establishing Douglas Stuart as an author you won’t want to miss.

Scheduled for release on May 5th, this story follows Frankie, who is unexpectedly dumped by her fiancé the day before her wedding. Determined to still take her prepaid honeymoon, she heads to the peaceful rainforests of Tofino, British Columbia. She’s joined by her childhood friend, George, who isn’t thrilled about the trip. Over the course of the week, they have a chance to reconnect and either revive their old friendship or discover a romantic connection.

Premiering on May 5th, this story begins with the arrival of American actress Monica Logue in Derry, Northern Ireland. She’s there to prepare for a new TV show about The Troubles, but she soon goes missing. Her disappearance quickly becomes the talk of the town, sparking rumors and theories. The story unfolds through the perspectives of various people connected to the show and the historical events it portrays. Woven throughout these viewpoints is the struggle of the show’s screenwriter to finish his work.

This film is a moving and often humorous look at how The Troubles continue to affect Northern Ireland, and the difficult feeling of watching a painful past be turned into a tourist attraction.

I’m so excited! The author of the Hollywood Renaissance series is back with a new book, releasing May 19th! It’s been five years since the first one, and this story really pulls you in. It’s about a screenwriter named Verity who has to work with Monk, the composer who broke her heart, on a movie about the Harlem Renaissance. Their careers are on the line with this project – it could be huge, maybe even Oscar-worthy! But they’re going to have to face their history together if they want to succeed. I can’t wait to read it!

Released on May 26th, this new book from historian Hugh Ryan follows up on his acclaimed work, When Brooklyn Was Queer, with a personal and honest account of his own journey as a queer man in the 1990s and early 2000s. Ryan blends his experiences—from early online chatrooms to the nightlife scene as a struggling student—to explore what it meant to come of age as a queer person leading up to the Y2K scare and the rise of the internet. The book is a compelling and unfiltered look at a complex time, thoughtfully detailing the challenges and triumphs of self-discovery.

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2026-04-20 02:48