Common Goal (Book 4 of the Game Changer Series) by Rachel Reid

This book (and entire series) is LGBTQIA+ themed. 

This book specifically is focused on a gay man and a bi man (MM)

Other genres: Romance, Sports, Sports Romance

"Because I think you might be a good kisser. I want to test that theory."

New York Admirals veteran goaltender Eric Bennett is coming off of an amicable divorce. Newly single, Eric is starting to embrace the reality that he has always been bisexual. But he never really acted upon it, and right now, he is just trying to figure out what dating men would even look like. Encouraged by his teammate Scott Hunter and his relationship with barista Kip Grady, Eric is ready for some big changes. 

What he didn't count on was his friends-with-benefits arrangement with young Kyle Swift to leave him wanting more. 

Kyle Swift had moved to New York to nurse his broken heart. A scandalous affair with an older man had left him hurt and vowing to only crush on people his own age. Until the silver fox hockey player came along. Still recovering from his crush on Kip, Kyle has found a new project in the inexperienced hockey goalie. 

What harm could come from teaching Eric a few tricks? Mutually consensual fun, and then walk away. So why is he left wanting more? 

The Review

I was a little concerned starting this book. As I stated in my review of Tough Guy, I didn't overly care for Ryan and Fabian's story, and I was worried that this one would fall flat also. But Eric and Kyle did not disappoint. I loved Eric Bennett right away. I think he really represented a demographic that we don't often see. A middle-aged man, trying to find where he belongs on the sexual scale. At forty-one, Eric is finally ready to embrace his bisexuality. It's a whole new world for the goaltender who has been married to a woman, Holly, for twenty years. 

One of the things I love about this series, and especially this book, is that it explores so many different stories. For Scott, it was about being afraid to come out because of life obligations. For Kip, it was the heartbreaking journey of loving someone not ready to share their truth. For Ilya and Shane, it was about the world as a whole, expectations, image, and life-changing confessions. For Ilya, he knew he would never be welcomed back to Russia, his home. His family would never accept him. For Shane, it was the fear of everything changing. While he never expected his family to have a problem with him being gay, I think the pressure of being the first Asian representative for the hockey world (pressure his mom put on him - unintentionally), and having all these sponsorships, the pressure to be picture-perfect was more than what the hockey world in itself would think. 

For Eric Bennett, it was about coming to terms with what he knew all along. While he insists he wasn't hiding it, maybe he wasn't. I think the fact that he married Holly so young and then admitted that he may not have ever really been in love with her just shows that being bisexual wasn't always an acceptable option in his mind. To see him really navigate what being bisexual looks like and learn all these new things again - with a man. I think it is a great reminder that sexuality doesn't have an age limit. It is never too late to come out of the closet. It is never too late to explore your options. And I think it is important to be represented. 

SPOILER ALERT

I wasn't a huge fan of Kyle, and frankly the TV series didn't help that at all. BUT, learning more about his story, you can't help but fall in love with Kyle. By the end of the book, I was so proud of Kyle (and Eric, of course). Kyle had a terrible experience with an older, married, closeted man that really shook his world. Kyle was 19 years old when this "pillar" of the community decided to explore. And yet Kyle's parents and I am going to assume the community seemed to blame him and cast him out. Which is terrible. And it really messed him up. Which is one of the biggest hurdles that Kyle has to overcome to even entertain the possibility of anything more than sex with Eric. 

I did feel that the back-and-forth " I can/I can't " got a bit long. Halfway through, Kyle still thought Eric was married, and Eric was still wrestling with how young Kyle is and if he really can be a catch to young gay men. While I appreciate the conflict and how hard it must be in both situations, it felt a little too drawn out for me.

But once they figured it out and started exploring together! Oh boy! *fans self* I am glad they finally figured everything out and were able to get their happily ever after. And the little pieces of characters we already met were nice also - Ilya, Ryan, Shane, etc. And if you have already read Role Model, you will notice Troy and a certain handsome lumberjack who smells like apples. 

I listened to this book through my local library (via Libby). 

Rating and Recommendation

I originally gave this book three stars, but after rereading it again. I bumped it up. It was definitely better (in my opinion) than Tough Guy,  but I didn't quite connect to it as much as Heated Rivalry or Game Changer. I think I just hung up on too much "drama" of the back and forth. It definitely restored my faith in the series though and I am glad I kept going. 

After listening to this Heated Rivalry, I bought it (and the whole series) from Indigo online. I also pre-ordered the next book in the series. 

Conclusion

If you are a fan of sports romance novels, of hockey, or just a fan of MM stories, you will love the Game Changer Series. Keep in mind, there are a lot of sexual scenes that are very detailed. If you offend easily or are under the age of majority, a different series may be better suited for you. I definitely wouldn't skip Common Goal, but I think that reading Role Model first may make this book a little more interesting, as a few of those characters make secret appearances here. 

Heated Rivalry Impact: 
This week (September 29th, 2026), Jacob Tierney (director) and Brendan Brad of Accent Aigu Entertainment established the Irina Foundation. Bringing the fictitious charity that Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander start together in the series. The Irina Foundation is based on the belief that participation fosters inclusivity. And, strengthens mental health. "It envisions a world where LGBTQIA2S+ individuals and underserved communities experience genuine belonging and opportunity through organized sports and arts programs - creating inclusive spaces that build confidence, connection, and a strong sense of community" (Irina Foundation). For more information, you can visit: www.irina-foundation.com.

You can find Tough Guy in its respective mediums below: 

You can find Heated Rivalry (2025, directed by Jacob Tierney), Season 1, on Crave (CAN) or HBO Max (USA). 

* Book cover image retrieved from GoodReads. All rights belong to the author and/or publisher. 
* All the "stickers" in this blog were provided by Bookish (presented by NetGalley). 
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