‘Heated Rivalry’ Star Hudson Williams’ Favorite Books: ‘This Is the Best Thing Ever of All Time’

As the star of one of the most popular book-to-screen adaptations of all time, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Heated Rivalry’s Hudson Williams loves to read. What might come as a surprise is what he loves to read, and spoiler alert: it’s not all steamy hockey romances. To learn more about what’s on Hudson’s bookshelf, keep scrolling!

Hudson Williams’ favorite books

From literary fiction to romances, here are the best books on Hudson Williams’ bookshelf.

‘Heated Rivalry’ by Rachel Reid

As one of the stars of the TV show adaptation, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Hudson loves Heated Rivalry. The plot of the book follows hockey star Shane Hollander, who believes nothing can throw him off his game—not even his dangerously sexy rival Ilya Rozanov, who is just as cocky as he is talented. On the ice, the two are bitter enemies battling for dominance. But off the ice, their chemistry is impossible to ignore. A swoon-worthy enemies-to-lovers romance packed with tension, passion and heart. 

 What Hudson says: “I didn’t even know hockey smut was a thing, let alone popular….It’s beautiful, I love it… Reading it, the heart permeates way past it. It supersedes the sex and the level of intimacy and these characters really stay with you after you read them..” 

What readers are saying: “This ended up being something truly special for me. If you want a sports romance that balances serious heat with genuine emotional depth, that respects both the physical and emotional journey of falling in love, this absolutely belongs on your shelf.” 

‘One, None and a Hundred Thousand’ by Luigi Pirandello 

Originally published in 1926, One, None and a Hundred Thousand is a classical novel that follows Vitangelo Moscarda after he learns that other people view him differently than he views himself. Determined to change that, he goes on a mission to delete these other versions of him and become the one he knows he is, even if it destroys his real personality in the process. What follows is a battle of loss, identity and trust. 

 What Hudson says: “This is the best thing ever of all time.” 

What readers are saying: “This is one of those books that blows you away. Why? Well, Mr. Pirandello’s novel will make you doubt who you are for years. This is the book I would pick up if I were asked to choose the one novel that has taught me the most about life.” 

‘Play It As It Lays’ by Joan Didion

Set in the 1960s, this novel captures a woman on the edge of collapse. Maria Wyeth is a 31-year-old former actress whose carefully constructed life is crumbling around her. Her marriage has fallen apart, her young daughter has been institutionalized and Maria finds herself adrift—driving aimlessly through Hollywood, Las Vegas and the Mojave Desert, searching for something she can’t quite name. As she spirals through empty days and sleepless nights, Maria grapples with questions that have no easy answers: How do you keep going when everything falls apart? 

What Hudson says: “This novel goes down like absinthe, but it’s amazing.” 

What readers are saying: “As with everything I’ve read from Joan Didion, this book had me hooked and breathless. She’s a word master and goddess of detail.” 

‘Stoner’ by John Williams

This classic novel follows William Stoner, a poor farm boy born in 19th-century Missouri who’s sent to the state university to study agronomy to help his family. But everything changes when William discovers literature and abandons his predetermined future to become a scholar, dedicating his life to teaching and the written word. Yet as William builds his academic career and finds his place in the world, he discovers that success comes with unexpected costs. His relationships suffer, his marriage crumbles and the distance between him and his family grows wider with each passing year. It’s a novel that will leave readers questioning what truly matters in the end. 

 What Hudson says: “Beautiful in its simplicity. A book I’ll come back to every five to 10 years.” 

What readers are saying: “This book felt less like reading a story and more like confronting a truth about human existence. It is one of the most emotionally gripping and devastating novels I have ever read.” 

‘Martyr!’ by Kaveh Akbar 

In this bestselling novel, Cyrus Shams is mourning the loss of his parents. He’s also a drunk, an addict and a poet with an obsession with martyrs. One night, during an internet deep dive, he discovers that an uncle of his rode through Iranian battlefields dressed as the angel of death. Then, putting pieces together, he discovers that his mother might not have been the person he thought she was. What follows is a journey of self-discovery and moving on. 

 What Hudson says: “Kaveh is a genius. For anyone who felt like a dilettante artist or for biracial people who feel disconnected from their culture(s). Also for agnostic theists.” 

What readers are saying: “This novel is one of those rare books that lingers long after you finish it. The writing is absolutely beautiful—lyrical and poetic without feeling forced—and it elevates what could have been a simple story into something much more profound.” 

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