Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did your experience reading The Long Game compare to Heated Rivalry or other books in the Game Changers series if you’ve read them? Did the shift from a “will they or won’t they” romance to the story of a long-term, secret partnership meet your expectations for a sequel?

2. The novel balances intense emotional moments with the high-stakes world of professional hockey. Which aspect of the story resonated with you more, the personal relationship between Shane and Ilya or the external pressures they faced from the league and the public?

3. What was your overall feeling about the ending and the Epilogue? Did the resolution of Shane and Ilya’s story, including Shane’s move to the Ottawa Centaurs, feel like a satisfying and earned conclusion to their journey?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Shane’s identity is deeply tied to his disciplined, controlled public persona as a team captain. Think about a time you’ve had to present a certain version of yourself in a professional or social setting. How does Shane’s struggle to reconcile his private self with his public image connect with your own experiences?

2. Ilya finds a sense of belonging and unconditional acceptance with Shane’s family, particularly with his mother, Yuna. Has there been a person or a place in your life that felt like a sanctuary, offering you a similar sense of safety and acceptance?

3. Ilya faces mental health decline for a long period before deciding to seek therapy for his depression, fearing the stigma and what it might mean. What do you think makes it so difficult for people, especially those in high-pressure environments, to ask for help when they are struggling?

4. The accidental outing forces Shane and Ilya to confront their fears head-on. Have you ever faced a situation where a secret was revealed or a difficult truth came to light unexpectedly? How did that experience change your perspective or your path forward?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel uses the fictional NHL to explore antigay bias in men’s professional sports. How does the story of Shane and Ilya reflect the real-world pressures faced by queer athletes today? Did Commissioner Crowell’s reaction feel like a realistic portrayal of institutional resistance to change?

2. Through Ilya’s storyline, the book tackles the stigma surrounding mental illness among elite athletes. How does his journey of coming to terms with his depression and seeking help challenge the traditional ideal of the mentally tough, unflappable athlete?

3. What does the way Shane and Ilya were outed, via a viral video from a celebrity message app, suggest about privacy in the digital age? How has social media changed the dynamic between public figures and their audiences, and what are the potential consequences?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How does the novel use settings to explore its central themes? What is the significance of the contrast between the private, safe space of the cottage and the public, performance-driven environment of the hockey arenas?

2.  What impact does the shifting, limited third-person perspective have on your understanding of Shane and Ilya as characters? Discuss specific moments in the text that convey this. How would the novel have been different if it were told entirely from one character’s perspective?

3. The narrative explores the “corrosive burden” of keeping their relationship a secret. In what specific ways does this secrecy damage their connection and individual well-being over the course of the novel? How does their journey compare to the one depicted in a book like Taylor Jenkins Reid’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, which also explores a long-term, secret queer relationship under the glare of public life?

4. What role does Ilya’s dog, Anya, play in the novel? What about the other dogs like Chiron and the ones at Harris’s house? What do they reflect about the characters’ internal conflicts and emotions?

5. Shane’s and Ilya’s character arcs move in opposite directions for much of the novel, with Shane clinging to control and Ilya pushing for more openness. How does this fundamental difference in their personalities create conflict and ultimately drive them toward their final decision to live openly?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. You are asked to create a playlist for the book. What three songs would you choose to represent key moments in Shane and Ilya’s relationship, and why would you select each one?

2. Picture the scene where Shane and Ilya confront Commissioner Crowell after being outed. What do you imagine was going through Crowell’s mind after they walked out of his office having defied him?

3. Design a new tattoo for Ilya that symbolizes his journey by the end of the novel. What images or symbols would you incorporate to represent his love for Shane, his decision to embrace his vulnerability, and his hope for their future?