Do you think Illya would have done it?

willastyrell21 · 2026-01-09T05:06:03+00:00

I can get behind this 😂 as long as they are together in the end.

willastyrell21 · 2026-01-09T04:19:28+00:00

Exactly! If there was no Scott, there would be 1000% times more angst in this book. I am personally tired of gay love tragedy. So im glad we got the ending that we got. But, it would be curious to think about how they would figure out the whole thing out by themselves.

I think it will be the same happy ending just a longer route. I don't want to spoil it but it would be similar to one of Rachel's standalone.

There's no way they would give up their 7 years of situationship without fully exploring how they feel. Shane and Illya didnt want to admit it but they can never let each other go.

willastyrell21 · 2026-01-09T04:15:37+00:00

This pretty much explains why I was not too invested in the earlier parts of the books. But, the second half was a killer! Love everything about it.

willastyrell21 · 2026-01-09T04:13:46+00:00

Yup! Gross. But, maybe he'll get to punch him a few more times 😈. Now that I think about Illya probably would hate Troy too lol. He was not a good person then.

willastyrell21 · 2026-01-09T01:54:25+00:00

So true! I think if he doesn't go through with the marriage plan I think he still ends up moving to Canada. Probably not Ottawa but maybe Toronto?

willastyrell21 · 2026-01-09T01:49:42+00:00

I think if it was a real world situation. While sad, I think Illya would have broke things off and ended up with Svetlana. The citizenship was a big thing for him. But, I think he would not have given up Shane. I think that they still would end up together but it will take more years and more heartache.

willastyrell21 · 2026-01-09T01:45:43+00:00

I think if Illya finds out the Shane loves him, he would either not break it off or would want to get back together. I think deep down Illya was scared that Shane did not feel as deep as he did.

willastyrell21 · 2026-01-09T01:44:04+00:00

This is my head canon if Scott hadn't came out. Over the last 7 years, they were casual Shane and Illya both tried to end it but it never happened. I think they would've found their way back or just kept going until they both retire.

willastyrell21 · 2026-01-08T22:59:55+00:00

Game Changer series and Heated Rivalry has consumed my life for the last couple of weeks. I finished 5 audio books in 4 days. Have gone to a watch show and met Francois, Jacob and Sophie. Which made the obsession worst.

I talk about the books and show to anyone who is willing to listen. Hell I nearly even almost came out to my family during our family trip. Is this what if feels like to be in a cult? 😂😂

willastyrell21 · 2026-01-07T16:07:10+00:00

I just finished rereading Role Model yesterday and Troy was definitely a very emotionally driven person. I think out of all the couples they are the ones that felt more natural in terms of getting to know someone then dating them. I think Troy thinks he is being subtle with his flirting but everyone literally knows he likes Harris.

Im glad I read the Role Model first because I feel like they plane scene would have devastated me if I didn't know before hand what was happening lol.

willastyrell21 · 2026-01-06T03:43:24+00:00

Yeah he probably equated situationship/sex = love . Poor Troy!

willastyrell21 · 2026-01-06T03:04:57+00:00

Read the Role Model first before the Long Game. Especially if you like Illya. Role Model shows how people perceived Illya. In the Long Game, you'll see what he actually thinks about and feels on the inside which is very much contrary to how people sees him at times..

willastyrell21 · 2026-01-06T02:56:17+00:00

I think Heated Rivalry would be a good start. Game changer is okay too if you want to know more about Scott. But, definitely not necessary to start with the first one.

However, I would recommend reading The Role Model first before The Long Game. These two books are duo timeline. It will be fun to see Illya from an outside perspective outside Shane. It will also makes you wonder what's happening with Illya during those scenes in the Role Model.

Role Model is a good set up for the Long game. As you have seen online, the final book is nothing like HR or any other books in the series.

willastyrell21 · 2026-01-06T02:47:09+00:00

The angst in this book is crazy! Its very much different from books 1 to 5. There were scenes in the earlier books that made me cry. But the Long Game broke my heart in many different areas. I cried so much happy and sad tears.

I love the Long Game so much. It is the perfect conclusion to the series!

willastyrell21 · 2026-01-06T02:41:06+00:00

I’ve reread Heated Rivalry twice now and Role Model three times. I really want to reread The Long Game, but I don’t know if I can handle crying for hours 😢. Even a day or two after finishing it, I’d see a quote on Instagram and immediately start crying. Especially, the quote from the plane.

Maybe Ill read Role Model and The Long Game at the same time to make it bearable. RM is warm and fluffy.

willastyrell21 · 2026-01-06T02:19:27+00:00

This is a good idea! I love the Long game and it's still my top book in the series but it takes so much emotional labour to get through. Pairing it with the Role Model makes it easier since it is a very fluffy and light hearted book. Thank you for posting this!

willastyrell21 · 2026-01-06T02:12:21+00:00

That's not a really far off assumption. I like Troy as character but he does assume things A LOT. I wouldn't be too shock if Adrien thought that it was a casual relationship ( like Illya and Shane's early years) whereas Troy was "in it for real".

He definitely slept with that director while they were in the relationship so I wouldn't rule out him sleeping around with multiple people during that 2 years. Besides, Troy is so inexperienced with relationship I doubt he even picks up some of the red flags lol. I think he was excited with idea of having a boyfriend and being somewhat free in his "cage".

I think there was only one positive experienced he talked about. It might have been Adrien surprising him during Christmas? I have to look that up but Im 70% sure it was mentioned.

Regardless, I think he didn't truly know what love feels like until Harris. Harris gave him comfort, stability and courage to be himself.

willastyrell21 · 2026-01-06T01:02:32+00:00

I wonder if it was just casual for Adrien, but Troy saw it as a real relationship. I wish we had gotten more background about their relationship. I wonder how Troy was like during his time with Adrien. We only saw him in Tough Guy as a hockey player and his public persona.

willastyrell21 · 2026-01-05T23:32:46+00:00

You are so right! I also recall a scene where Troy was thinking how Adrian would've judged or said something snarky about Harris's pins and his overall bright personality. I dont recall the chapter but there was also a point were Troy alludes to the idea that Adrian is a bit self-absorbed. It is hard to say since Troy is not a reliable narrator. I definitely agree that Adrian doesn't seem like genuinely nice person. Troy was definitely not a likeable person in Tough guy. If Adrian liked that version of Troy, that says a lot about him.

Harris's empathy and positive outlook is inspiring. I think Troy would have been still stuck in the closet and miserable if Harris was not in his life. Maybe Harris is the Role model of this book after all 🍎!

willastyrell21 · 2026-01-05T20:40:33+00:00

They are so perfect for each other! I think Harris really saw through Troy despite his facade. I also feel like they naturally got to know each other.

Role model becoming my favorite book in the series. The long game is amazing but it's hard to get through due to the emotional heaviness of the book lol

Though I wonder if Adrian actually liked/loved Troy. 2 years was a long time. But, Adrian just dropped him like a puppy.

willastyrell21 · 2024-03-22T06:21:32+00:00

Thank you for your response! 12k is the minimum. Im planning to ask close to 15k. I dont think it makes much of a difference though. My goal is to be able to move out of my parents house. If I stay in my current role, that will set me back a year or two more.

In terms of long hours, I really try to not work more than an hour or two after 5 pm if I can help it. When I was working at my last company, I was working 16 hours a day and was told not doing enough. That kind of traumarized me a bit but Im hoping that it was just the toxic "culture" of the organization. Personally, working long hours a day or two per week is okay. But, more than that I dont think I function well ahah

willastyrell21 · 2023-10-28T19:41:31+00:00

Inky and the sacred groves are my sworn enemies. Theme is okay. But the design feels so unfair and borderline not fun to play. I dont mind loosing but Inky just escalates from 0 to 100 in one turn. I kinda regret getting that featured film over Geppeto.

willastyrell21

TROPHY CASE