Rachel Reid’s Time to Shine is one of my most highly anticipated new books of 2023. The success of her much loved Game Changers series means reader expectations are high – and I’ll admit that while I really hoped this book would live up to them, I’ve also seen one too many an author fail to replicate earlier success to have been completely sure that would happen. Which makes me extra delighted to be able to say that Ms. Reid has done it, because Time to Shine is simply lovely, a low-angst, briskly-paced romance between two thoroughly endearing characters who, at first, seem like a total mismatch, but who are slowly revealed to be absolutely perfect for each other. The author has – very wisely – created something completely different from her previous work; other than being set in the world of professional hockey, this book bears little resemblance to anything in the Game Changers stories. It’s set in a completely different universe, and the characters are younger (twenty-three and twenty-four), and at a different stage in their careers, so this has more the flavour of a New Adult story. But it’s full of the things I’ve come to love about her books – excellent characterisation, a strong supporting cast, genuine warmth and plenty of humour.

Like most hockey players, Landon Stackhouse – the talented goalie for the Saskatoon Bandits AFL team – dreams of one day getting the call to go to play for the NHL. When that call comes – following the injury sustained by the back-up goalie for the Calgary Outlaws – Landon is ready and excited, but he’s also realistic and expects that his NFL début will be spent mostly sitting on the bench before he hops a plane back home. Finding out that he’s actually going to be going on a short road trip with the team is something of a relief; he knows himself well enough to know that being busy is the best way of preventing him from spending all his off-ice time alone and up in his head. The travel will be good for him.

Landon has spent a little time in Calgary before, most recently at the Outlaws’ prospects training camp, but he’s not going to be sticking around so he doesn’t expect any of his new – temporary – teammates to spend any time getting to know him. Which is why he’s surprised when Casey Hicks, the team’s pint-sized, superstar left-winger, not only remembers his name, but greets him like an old friend and strikes up a conversation. Landon, who is quiet, shy and introverted – the complete opposite of Casey – really isn’t sure what to make of him

Casey is a sweet, sunshiny chatterbox full of charm and energy and kindness who has never met a stranger. He’s the son of a hockey legend, but there’s not an ounce of ego or arrogance to him; he’s confident and outgoing and has no verbal filter – he knows he can be a lot to take and doesn’t blink an eye when his teammates rib him for being a bit dumb; he knows they love him, and he loves them. He loves being around people and is more than happy to seek out the latest member of the team and sets out to make him feel comfortable and included, in and out of the locker room.

When the team returns from their short trip, the coach informs Landon that he’s going to be with them for another couple of months – at least until January. Sensing Landon could use a friend, Casey suggests Landon move in to his house rather than stay in a hotel for two months. He has plenty of room and really, Landon would be doing him a favour – the place is way too big for one person. Landon is not immediately enthusiastic, worried that he’ll be too boring and solitary to be a good roommate – but he likes Casey and doesn’t want to say no. So he accepts the offer and moves in that day.

At first glance, the overly-eager puppyish himbo and the quiet, prone to over-thinking introvert doesn’t seem like a match made in heaven, but the author takes the time to build a strong foundation to their relationship, one built on mutual liking and respect, good communication, openness and honesty, which means that when they start to develop feelings beyond friendship, their romance already has a very solid basis. Casey is smitten by Landon, and although Landon’s reserved nature makes him hard to read, Casey really likes him – he wants to spend time with him and get to know him and make him smile. At the same time, Landon is somewhat bewildered by his responses to Casey. He has only rarely felt attraction, and in the past, he’s stuck to developing crushes on unattainable people because it was safe, but the intensity of his feelings for Casey surprises him. He hasn’t felt like this about anyone, ever, and he doesn’t know what to do or what he really wants.

While Casey and Landon’s tender, slow-burn romance is unfolding, both of them are also dealing with some sensitive issues which add emotional weight to the story. It’s clear from the start that Landon is struggling with a lot of guilt and self-doubt and that his relationship with his parents is somewhat fragile. His grief over the death of his older sister and the way her loss affected his family hangs over him like a dark cloud, even six years after the event, and he’s reached the stage where he’s starting to feel that he really needs to try to bridge the gap – for his own sake as much as for his parents’. He just doesn’t know how. This aspect of the story is handled very well; Landon’s parents are obviously good people who have been struggling themselves, and the scene where they finally talk everything out is expertly done. Equally well handled is Landon’s questioning of his sexuality and sexual identity; from the way he’s written, he’s on the asexual spectrum – maybe grey ace or demi. The representation is excellent and I loved that Casey is so patient with Landon, helping him to explore and find out what he likes and what works for him, eager to understand something he doesn’t particularly relate to and accepting Landon’s needs without hesitation or judgement

Casey is supremely confident on the ice and in just about every other way, but he’s so used to being called stupid that he even thinks of himself that way. He knows he can be a bit much – that he’s prone to running off at the mouth, to saying the first thing that enters his head – plus, hiding what he feels is a childish fear of being alone in the dark only makes it easier for him to buy into the general impression of him as being a bit dumb. Landon is the first person to tell Casey he isn’t stupid – and I was pleased when, near the end, the team captain actually apologises to Casey for letting him believe that about himself for so long. All the teasing and ribbing by the team has been done in love and affection, but none of them has realised quite how much it has played into Casey’s already shaky confidence in his own intelligence.

The lack of on-page homophobia is a refreshing change for sports romance. It might not be realistic, but it’s good to see Casey being out and proudly bisexual, talking about going on dates and hooking up with men and women, and his teammates being completely cool with it. The team dynamic is really well done, too – this is a great bunch of guys who like each other and look out for one another, and I liked that their coach is so supportive and treats them like people rather than yelling and screaming at them all the time.

Time to Shine is a fantastic read – a delicious, achingly-tender slow-burn romance between two immensely likeable and well-written characters whose love for each other grows in a completely organic way. The steamy scenes are superbly done, with a real emphasis on the emotional connection between Casey and Landon, and the book oozes warmth and charm and joy and is also very funny, whether it’s down to Casey’s antics or Landon’s rare but very dry humour. Smoosh all of this together, and you’ve got one very special romance, full of feels and fun and friendship and love. Highly recommended.