Rachel Reid’s novel, Heated Rivalry, explained the deep-seated animosity Ilya’s brother feels towards him, and the HBO Max series portrayed this accurately. Though the book primarily centers on the love story between Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander, the show also dedicated significant time to exploring the families of both characters.
Both the book and the TV series delved into the complicated relationship between Ilya and his brother, Alexei (called Andrei in the books). From the beginning, a strong rivalry was established, and it became so intense that viewers wondered what had caused the brothers to grow apart.
Heated Rivalry Explains Why Ilya’s Brother Hates Him So Much
The first episode of Season 1, “Heated Rivalry,” revealed a strained relationship between Ilya Rozanov and his older brother, Alexei. Alexei, who is married with a family, was demanding money from Ilya, seemingly aware of his brother’s wealth earned through his successful NHL career. It was clear the brothers harbored resentment towards each other.
In Rachel Reid’s novel, Heated Rivalry, Alexei (known as Andrei in the book series) repeatedly asks for money. In Chapter Five, he requests $20,000 simply to fund his lifestyle. This behavior highlights Andrei’s bitterness towards his brother, Ilya, who seems to have everything – intelligence, good looks, and a privileged life – while Andrei feels he’s been shortchanged.
Throughout Heated Rivalry, the story reveals more about the deep-seated resentment Ilya’s brother holds for him. By the end of the book, after their father passes away, Andrei continues to request money from Ilya, but Ilya ultimately stands firm and says no.
In the fifth episode of “Heated Rivalry,” Alexei accuses Ilya of leaving him to care for their ailing father, deepening the existing bitterness he feels towards his more accomplished brother.
Beyond his brother’s anger, Alexei feels deeply ashamed of needing Ilya’s help. To cope with this, he tells himself Ilya is a bad person who deserves to lose the money. This is all happening while Alexei is also struggling with a serious problem with drugs and alcohol.
Why Alexei & Ilya’s Father Had Something To Do With Their Conflict
Ilya and Alexei’s father, Grigori, was emotionally abusive. Although he seemed proud of Ilya’s hockey success, his relentless pressure actually caused Ilya to feel resentment towards him.
He wasn’t emotionally available for either of his sons, which likely contributed to Alexei’s bitterness about being the sole caretaker, and Ilya’s enjoyment of his life and career overseas.
Alexei’s constant negativity deeply affected Ilya, and Ilya began to understand that offering Alexei financial help might have eased his brother’s resentment. Eventually, Ilya realized Alexei’s behavior was unacceptable, and this realization, combined with their father’s passing, finally allowed him to break free from the harmful pattern they’d been stuck in.
Honestly, finding Shane Hollander was like finding a whole new family – and someone I fell head over heels for. Being with Shane finally gave me the strength to break free from the really tough situation with my own family and start building a life on my own terms. It was a total game-changer.
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2026-01-13 01:35