"Heated Rivalry" craze fills RVA library waitlists

Catch up quick: Rachel Reid's novel, which follows two professional male hockey players as they fall in love, came out in 2019.

• But the "Heated Rivalry" fandom has grown and gone nuts since the Crave and HBO drama dropped late last year.
• Now Reid's book — and the entire "Game Changers" queer, hockey romance series it's a part of — are in high demand.

Yes, but: If you want to borrow a "Heated Rivalry" copy from an RVA library, good luck.

By the numbers: In Chesterfield, 42 people are on the waitlist for the county's two copies, per its online catalog, but the county just ordered more copies, plus audiobooks, librarians there tell Axios.

• Henrico has 47 people on the waitlist for both its print copies and 81 people waiting on the audiobook via Libby, library spokesperson Beth Monroe tells Axios. But, but. but: — Henrico just ordered five more print copies and the ebook is available right now via Hoopla.
• Richmond doesn't even have a copy yet (don't worry, it's on order, librarians tell Axios), but there are already seven holds for it.

• And the Pamunkey Regional Library, which serves four counties including Hanover, has three holds for it.

Pro tip: The more impatient fans can listen to the entire series on Audible, no wait required, but it's $21.01.

The bottom line: If you prefer to read your hockey smut on loan from the library, it might be awhile.

• Luckily, that's plenty of time to rewatch Season 1. Again.