Jacob Tierney, the creator of the hit sports romance series Heated Rivalry, is set to reveal how the global television adaptation was made in a new behind-the-scenes book, according to CBC News.
The Montreal filmmaker and creator behind the global hit series will explore the production of the show in I'll Believe in Anything, a nonfiction book due for publication on October 13 via Little, Brown and Company.
According to publisher details, the book will take readers deep into the creative process behind bringing the series to screen, charting how Tierney, his producing partner Brendan Brady, and their Toronto-based production company Accent Aigu developed and delivered the adaptation.
From Page to Screen
The series, which premiered on HBO in late 2025, quickly became a global phenomenon after adapting Rachel Reid's bestselling Game Changers book series. It follows the complicated relationship between rival professional hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov.
Hollander, a Canadian, plays for the fictional Montreal Voyageurs, while Russian-born Rozanov skates for the Boston Bears. Both are at the peak of their careers, but their once-casual secret romance gradually deepens, forcing them to confront an impossible choice between their devotion to professional hockey and their growing love for each other.
The characters are played on screen by Canadian actor Hudson Williams and American actor Connor Storrie, whose performances helped propel the series into widespread international attention.
Inside the Book
I'll Believe in Anything will explore the elements that shaped how the romance novels were adapted for television, including casting decisions, set and costume design, and the use of carefully choreographed intimacy coordination throughout production.
The book will also address questions fans have been asking since the show's debut, including how Tierney wove together key narrative threads from the source material, particularly the dynamic between Shane and Ilya alongside secondary character storylines, to create what has been described as a defining moment in contemporary romance television. It will also reveal the origins of the now-iconic Canadian Olympic fleece that has become a fan-favourite detail from the series.
In addition to behind-the-scenes commentary, the book will include the complete scripts from all six episodes of the first season, each annotated with Tierney's personal notes unpacking key creative decisions and hidden details within pivotal scenes.
Award-Winning Success
The breakout drama has since gone on to receive 18 Canadian Screen Award nominations, including nods for Best Drama Series, Best Writing and Best Direction. It has also been nominated for a Peabody Award and won the GLAAD Award for Outstanding New Television Series, cementing its status as one of the most successful recent romance adaptations on screen.
