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Apr 20, 2026 8:35am PT
The Making of ‘Heated Rivalry’ Is Unpacked in New Book From Creator Jacob Tierney, Including Annotated Scripts
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Jacob Tierney is keeping the “Heated Rivalry” fandom fed until its second season.
The “Heated Rivalry” creator, in partnership with Brendan Brady and Accent Aigu, has announced a new book about the making of the hit show’s first season. Titled “I’ll Believe in Anything,” the book is being marked as an official and complete collection of annotated script and exclusive behind-the-scenes content. It doesn’t come out until October, but is available to pre-order online now.
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There are also two collectors edition of the book (one in a special rainbow-hued colorway and one signed by Jacob Tierney), exclusively available to pre-order on Barnes & Noble.
I’ll Believe in Anything: The Making of Heated Rivalry Season 1 (The Annotated Scripts)
SIGNED EDITION
I’ll Believe in Anything: The Making of Heated Rivalry Season 1 (The Annotated Scripts)
In a blurb online, the book promises to answer fans’ biggest questions following the Season 1 finale: How did Tierney interweave Ilya and Shane’s rivalry with Scott and Kip’s love story to create the ultimate television moment? Where did the idea for that incredible Canadian Olympic fleece originate? And what does it look like for a full team, led by Tierney and Brady, to plan, choreograph, and film some of the best sex scenes in television history? The annotated scripts include notes on scene directions, intimacy choreography, costume insights and more.
After arriving on HBO Max last November, “Heated Rivalry” now ranks as the most-watched scripted title acquired from another platform in the platform’s history. The show is based on the Rachel Reid book series “Game Changers” and is named after the series’ first installation, which was published in 2019. The story follows Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), two of the biggest stars in Major League Hockey, as they begin a secret fling, and then fall in love, over eight years. The cast also includes François Arnaud, Robbie G.K., Christina Chang, Dylan Walsh, Sophie Nélisse and Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova.
Pre-order Tierney’s new book about the series online here.
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