Australian bookstores are facing an unusual shortage: they have completely run out of gay hockey romance novels. The physical copies of Rachel Reid’s "Game Changers" series have evaporated from shelves nationwide, driven by the viral success of the TV adaptation, Heated Rivalry.

The show, which launched on HBO Max in late November, has sparked a cultural moment comparable to the "Bridgerton effect." It follows the intense, secret relationship between rival hockey captains Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. The on-screen chemistry has sent fans flocking to the source material, overwhelming supply chains.

"No Stock Anywhere"

"It is absolute chaos," said a spokesperson for Dymocks. "We have zero stock, and the publisher is scrambling to reprint." HarperCollins Australia confirmed that a massive reprint is underway, but the delay caused by the Christmas break means books won't hit shelves until late January. Backorders are reportedly numbering in the thousands.

• The Impact: Sales for the first two books, Game Changer and Heated Rivalry, have spiked by over 400% in a month.
• What's Next: To capitalize on the frenzy, HarperCollins announced today that the seventh book in the series, Unrivalled, will be released internationally on September 29.

Mainstreaming Queer Romance

The shortage highlights the exploding popularity of MM (Male/Male) romance in mainstream media. "Readers are hungry for these stories," noted a literary critic. "The success of the show proves that queer joy is a powerful market force."