Zohran Mamdani urges New Yorkers to stay home and read Heated Rivalry during snow storm

New York mayor Zohran Mamdani has issued excellent advice to the city’s residents amid a dangerous winter storm that has dumped double-digits worth of snow on the Big Apple: stay inside and read gay hockey romance Heated Rivalry.

The New York City area was hit with a huge storm on Sunday (25 January), which saw a record-breaking – for the date – amount of snow fall whilst flights were grounded, bus riders faced disruption and schools swapped in-person classes for online ones on Monday (26 January).

“The snow is coming down heavily across our city, and I can think of no better excuse for New Yorkers to say home, take a long nap or take advantage of our public library’s offer of free access to Heated Rivalry on e-book or audiobook for anyone with a library card,” Mamdani – who was elected mayor of the city in November – said during a press conference, making those standing with him chuckle.

Mamdani’s remarks come just a day after the New York Public Library announced e-book and audiobook copies of Heated Rivalry and other books in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series would be immediately available to anyone with an NYPL library card. The promotion runs until 14 February, aka Valentine’s Day.

“Now, with instant access, there’s room for everyone at the cottage!” the library said in the announcement.

Mayor Zohran Mamdami wants YOU to read Heated Rivalry (and he’s 100% correct) pic.twitter.com/OynrkcZpED

— 🏳️‍🌈 S. Erin 🏳️‍⚧️ (@hearts530) January 25, 2026

The second book in the Game Changers series, Heated Rivalry has become a runaway success following its spicy, smash-hit television adaptation starring Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie.

The book and TV series both follow two professional hockey players – Ilya Rozanov (Storrie) and Shane Hollander (Williams), who are rivals on the ice but lovers between the sheets.

“Shane and Ilya are two of the biggest stars in major league hockey, bound by ambition, rivalry and a magnetic pull neither of them fully understands,” the show’s synopsis reads, for those who have somehow missed the Heated Rivalry train.

“Their secret fling evolves into an eight-year journey of self-discovery and rivalry. Over time, they must learn how to chase their desires on and off the ice.

“Torn between the sport they live for and the love they can’t ignore, Shane and Ilya must decide if there is room in their fiercely competitive world for something as fragile and as powerful as real love.”

The popularity of the show has made Storrie and Williams the hottest new talent in the world, with the pair recently presenting at the Golden Globes and selected as torchbearers for the upcoming Winter Olympics.

Mamdani using the popular queer series to promote safety amid the storm comes as no surprise, given his unashamedly pro-LGBTQ+ stance which saw his election campaign firmly centre queer rights.

Following his win, Mamdani has pledged to protect trans New Yorkers amid on-going attacks by the Trump administration and appointed appointed Jewish trans woman Abby Stein to his transition team.

Mamdani’s unapologetic LGBTQ+ allyship paid off, with exit polls revealing the vast majority of queer New Yorkers (81 per cent) voted for him.

Comparatively, straight and/or cisgender voters were almost completely divided between Mamdani and his rival Andrew Cuomo, with 46 per cent voting for Mamdani and 45 per cent voting for Cuomo.