Role Model follows Troy Barrett, a grumpy NHL player who gets traded to a struggling team after a very public scandal and an equally messy breakup. His plan is simple: stay invisible, keep his head down, and just play hockey like nothing else exists.
Enter Harris Drover, the team’s upbeat social media manager, basically assigned to clean up Troy’s image and make him marketable again. Unfortunately for both of them, Troy wants absolutely nothing to do with PR, people, or feelings. What starts as forced proximity and reluctant teamwork slowly turns into something way more charged, where every interaction feels like it’s one breath away from snapping.
And because Rachel Reid loves a slow burn that burns, the tension builds quietly until it’s impossible to ignore—especially when both of them start seeing each other as more than just a project or a problem to fix.
Not gonna lie, this dynamic isn’t usually my thing. But neither were sports romances once, and look at me now—fully in the trenches, no exit strategy.
Also, I love that Ilya keeps casually showing up across books like he pays rent in this universe. But seriously… where is Shane??
What I really appreciated is that the book doesn’t shy away from heavier themes, especially around assault and how sports culture often protects the wrong people. I recently read about a real-life football player with multiple accusations who is still treated like a star because he brings in money. And it’s disgusting how often talent gets used as a shield for the unforgivable. The book touches on that discomfort in a way that actually sticks with you.
Troy, though? I liked him. Especially when he finally stands up to his ex-best friend. That kind of courage isn’t clean or easy—he risks his career, loses fans, and still does it anyway. But at the same time, it’s unfair how someone else’s actions end up reshaping his entire life. That part sits heavy.
And Harris… Harris might honestly be the grounding force Troy didn’t know he needed. There’s something about the way Troy is so openly drawn to him that just works. He’s down bad in the most unhinged, honest way, and I was already 70% in before I even realized it. I could’ve stayed in their bubble for an entire series.
Overall? I didn’t expect to love this as much as I did. It gave me that warm, slightly chaotic “best date on a cold Christmas night” feeling. Not quite Heated Rivalry level perfection, but emotionally addictive in a completely different way.
5 stars. No hesitation.
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