This photo cover art on the original mass market paperback edition is my personal favorite, at least until/if they release a Heated Rivalry show cast Hollanov version. (Respect to the talented artist who's crafted the illustrated covers.)
Recent public comments from people who've read (in any and all formats) The Long Game by Rachel Reid and feel annoyed, disappointed, frustrated with Shane inspired this post.
****(mostly vague) SPOILERS****
Until the death of his father and breaking free of his brother, Ilya has been in a constant mindset of fight, flight or freeze for most of the nearly three decades of his life. Once he's disconnected from his toxic family dynamic, firmly established in his loving relationship with Shane, welcomed and embraced by Yuna and David, and settled into Ottawa--city and hockey team--his body, mind, and spirit recognize that he's safe from being targeted by acts of malice from the people who are closest to him.
He feels safe enough to fall apart because he knows on a fundamental level that Shane and his parents love him as he is, the public and private versions. Shane is often confused but always conscientious when it comes to providing what Ilya needs. He's always willing to put forth the effort required to figure out what's necessary, to expose himself to the risks of rejection (except in the tuna meltdown). Same applies in service to his perception of the needs of his parents and his team and their fans. Being a beloved only child and a sports phenom who is also autistic and considered ethnically other in hockey all contribute to his mindset. At the same time, Shane has spent decades carrying the weight of being A Model Minority. Constantly self-editing and self-policing every word and action in order to satisfy the high expectations projected onto him, with too many people waiting to pounce on the first misspoken word, misstep or mistake, no matter how minor, while other people place him on a pedestal of perfection. That pressure increases over time. It evolves, mutates, and spreads; it doesn't shrink or lessen.
Except when Shane is with Ilya, he's free to be his quirky self because everything that others (even his parents sometimes) consider as odd, Ilya adores. That offers him safety that gives him space to release some of the heaviness and tension.
The Long Game is their transition from the hyper-vigilance of their lives as guarded individuals in public while no longer hiding their love for each other, from each other in private. They're both struggling in different ways for different reasons, and they still aren't the most effective interpersonal communicators although they keep making the effort and improving because they each believe that building a life together is worth whatever is required.
What happens to Shane with the Montreal team is the manifestation of every conscientious phenom of color's ultimate nightmare: No matter how much obvious diligent effort or measurable success, one error is all it takes to get discarded with prejudice. Past achievements and contributions discounted and erased. No benefit of the doubt. No grace. No mercy. No compassion. It confirms what was suspected the whole time: Acceptance was always contingent upon how much one's behavior and performance satisfied, entertained, reflected positively on, and generated accolades and profit for others. Being valued and included was always conditional. Anything less than perfection in all things all the time is unacceptable.
My sincere hope for Unrivaled is that it includes going to therapy for Shane, because as with Ilya there's a lot for him to acknowledge and process.
Also, the expectation for Shane, the half-Asian character (who's often assigned a feminized role in their relationship by people who can't/won't think about couplehood outside of the cis-het binary) to anticipate Ilya's, the European's, needs and to read his mind is giving racialized solicitous entitlement dynamics.
As a person who was labelled "the smart Black student" (which was an obvious misnomer in my opinion due to spending quality time with lots of other Black students in other environments that made it clear that my academic abilities were good but average in comparison) throughout my years in predominantly white schools and often one of a few if not the only Black or Brown person in privileged white spaces, this phenom of color aspect of Shane's character pokes at an old wound. Therapy*, journaling, and actually sharing details of my struggles with trustworthy people who love me helped me heal, but there's scar tissue that aches sometimes.
From my position as an elder loon (thanks again to @renreadstoomuch for this accurate term), the global success of the Heated Rivalry show and the conversations it's generating make me hopeful, especially during these challenging, stressful times when a disturbing number of people want to roll society back to the 1800s.
Some books that helped me process and heal:
You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacy: Crazy Stories About Racism by Amber Ruffin & Lacey Lamar
All About Love & Bone Black by bell hooks
Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think About Race and Identity by Michele Norris
Black Fatigue: How Racism Erodes the Mind, Body, and Spirit by Mary-Frances Winters
Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain
*The most recent episode of unravelling in public by a certain golf great also has me hoping that more Black and Brown people will pursue therapy from a licensed, accredited, ethical therapist to help identify, sort, and process past trauma that keeps impacting their present in unhealthy ways.
Happy Easter with hope that this season sparks a sense of renewal and possibilities!
Always wishing you good health, peace of mind, safety, joy & some pleasure every day
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