Examine the novel’s engagement with the #MeToo movement. How does Reid use the conventions of the romance genre, particularly the focus on emotional intimacy and the promise of a happy ending, to critique the institutional silence surrounding sexual assault in professional sports? How does this social context advance the theme of Speaking Truth to Power and the Cost of Integrity?

While Troy’s journey is central to the novel, Harris is also a round and dynamic character. In what ways does Harris provide a crucial counterpoint to the performative invincibility of the hockey world and demonstrate The Courage to Redefine Masculinity and Selfhood?

Select one of the supporting characters who are central figures in earlier installments of the Game Changers series, such as Ilya, Scott, Eric, or Kip. Discuss how this character has changed since the previous novel and how they support Troy’s development and Role Model’s message.

Citing specific evidence from the novel, compare and contrast Dallas’s and Curtis’s personality traits, narrative functions, and roles within Troy’s life. How does the author use these two characters to shape the story’s structure, the protagonist’s growth, and the novel’s overall meaning?

How does Reid use settings like the Christmas season and the apple farm to support her vision of a more inclusive world? Consider the qualities culturally associated with these settings as well as their specific contributions to the story’s structure.

Explore how the novel uses secondary male characters, particularly Ilya and Wyatt, to present Troy with alternative models of masculinity that challenge the toxic examples set by his father and former best friend.

How does Role Model compare and contrast with Reid’s other works, such as Game Changer and Tough Guy? What patterns can you identify in the novels’ themes, the characters, and the social issues that the author addresses?

Analyze how the novel’s dual third-person point-of-view structure shapes the reader’s experience of the central romance. What techniques does Reid employ to heighten the romantic tension?