Book-to-screen adaptations are more popular than ever, and celebrities are joining the trend with their own book clubs. Romances are leading the way, with adaptations like Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation and Ana Huang’s Twisted series. Recently, Rachel Reid’s 2019 novel Heated Rivalry, adapted by director Jacob Tierney, has drawn massive attention and praise.

However, queer romance fans have felt a noticeable void—one that Dua Lipa’s book club is now stepping in to fill with carefully curated recommendations.

Dua Lipa's book club recommends 5 books to cope with Heated Rivalry's void

Dua Lipa’s book club, Service95 Book Club, took to its Instagram to share a few queer romances for all the romantics coping with the void Heated Rivalry created. The list begins with Yael van der Wouden’s The Safekeep, about Isabel in 1960s Netherlands, whose orderly life is disrupted when her brother’s lively girlfriend Eva visits, sparking an unexpected and intense connection.

The second suggestion is A Room Above a Shop by Anthony Shapland. It’s a tender love story about two men in a small South Wales town in the late 1980s. They find connection while living and working above an ironmongery shop amid homophobia and the HIV crisis.

Third is Alice Winn’s In Memorium, a historical novel about two English boarding school friends, Sidney Ellwood and Henry Gaunt. Their unspoken love grows amid the brutal realities of World War I.

Gracing the list at number 4 is The Edges by Angelo Tijssens, the story of an unnamed man who returns to his childhood hometown after his abusive mother’s death and seeks out his first love, confronting memories of pain, longing, and the lifelong search for affection.

Finally, Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta takes the last spot. It follows Ijeoma, a young Igbo girl coming of age during the Nigerian Civil War. She discovers and grapples with her love in a deeply conservative, religious society.

By spotlighting queer love stories at a moment when readers are hungry for more authentic, emotionally rich narratives after Heated Rivalry, Dua Lipa's book club positions itself as a driving force in amplifying LGBTQ+ voices within the booming book-to-screen era.

The void Dua Lipa is filling did not appear out of nowhere—it was carved by the sheer impact of Jacob Tierney’s Heated Rivalry.

How Heated Rivalry captured hearts and refused to let go

Heated Rivalry follows rival hockey captains Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie). Their forced secrecy and slow-burn tension grow into a decade-long romance. The story is emotionally rich and feels lived-in, making their journey real and intimate, not just steamy.

Fans loved how the series shows vulnerability in the hyper-masculine hockey world. Shane struggles privately with his identity, while Ilya’s guarded exterior cracks in tender moments. The story gives more than lust—viewers get an authentic emotional journey rarely seen on screen.

Beyond the main pair, side stories like Scott Hunter and Kip’s unexpected bond add depth and heart. The chemistry between Williams and Storrie, praised by critics and loved by fans, keeps audiences hooked long after the final puck drops.

Dua Lipa’s recommendations simply continue what Heated Rivalry proved: queer love stories deserve the spotlight, the fandom, and the cultural moment they have earned.

Which ‌of Service95’s recommendations will you be picking up? Let us know in the comments below.

Written by

Itti Mahajan

Edited by

Hriddhi Maitra