Sushi+Book Club

eated Rivalry is a rivals-to-lovers romance following two professional hockey players whose on-ice competition turns into a secret, years-long relationship. What starts as physical tension slowly evolves into something deeper as they wrestle with identity, vulnerability, career pressure, and what it means to choose love when the stakes are high. It’s emotional, spicy, funny, and surprisingly tender—perfect for lively discussion and unhinged opinions over sushi.

Questions to be discussed:

• Desire vs. Safety
  Throughout the book, the characters repeatedly choose emotional safety over emotional honesty. When—if ever—does self-protection become a form of self-betrayal?
• The Cost of Secrecy
  Was secrecy primarily an external pressure (career, public image), or an internal one (fear of intimacy)? Which do you think was harder to overcome?
• Power Dynamics Over Time
  How does power shift between the two protagonists across the years—emotionally, professionally, and relationally? Who ultimately takes the greater risk?
• Love as a Choice, Not a Feeling
  The book suggests love isn’t just desire, but repeated decision-making. At what moment does love become a choice rather than chemistry?
• Masculinity & Vulnerability
  How does the sports setting shape the characters’ understanding of masculinity? In what ways does it restrict them—and in what ways does it push them to grow?
• Time as a Narrative Tool
  This story spans years instead of weeks. How does time deepen the romance? Would this story work—or fail—if it took place over a single season?
• Fear of Loss vs. Fear of Exposure
  Which fear drives the characters more: losing their careers or being fully seen? How does that reflect real-world relationships?
• Growth Without Guarantees
  The characters change without knowing whether the relationship will survive. What does the book suggest about personal growth when outcomes aren’t certain?
• Romance & Reality
  Does the book feel idealistic, realistic, or intentionally somewhere in between? Why do you think that balance matters for romance as a genre?
• Reader Reflection
  What part of the story felt uncomfortably relatable—and why?