New Semester, New Mood

Media Recommendations for When You’re Feeling Romantic and Sporty

1) “Heated Rivalry”

To absolutely no one’s surprise, this list would not be a complete recommendation without a “Heated Rivalry” mention. The gay hockey show has taken the world by storm by increasing NHL ticket sales by 20% in just a month, leading professional athletes to share their LGBTQ+ stories with the public and stars of the show, and even turning laypeople (like us) into big hockey fans. 

But this isn’t a one-and-done, redundant recommendation: This is actually an attempt to de-influence you from information that might have otherwise kept you away from this angsty, complicated, and still heartwarming sports romance.

The ticket entry to “Heated Rivalry” — at least to some — seems to be the “intense” amount of smut present in the show. While the idea of two attractive men getting it going on screen might sound appealing to some, it can also be a big turn-off for others. We’re here to tell you this isn’t all true. Though it is undeniable that you will encounter sexual content in the show, it is far from being more scandalous, over-graphic, or debauched than your average romance show (like “Bridgerton”); it’s just gay! 

The show explores the complex realities of being queer and a professional athlete in a sport and league that might not always be accepting of who you are. The story of Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) spans years of yearning, longing, secrecy, and pain. So, grab your blankets, your popcorn, and get ready to binge this six-episode romance story. It will warm your heart and fill you with hope for a world of sunshine, despite the lingering winter cold and gloom. 

2) “Game Changers” and “She Drives Me Crazy”

For those of us who can’t get enough of “Heated Rivalry” and can’t wait until 2027 for a second season, know that Rachel Reid (author of the “Game Changers” book series) has not left us hanging! “Heated Rivalry,” as some may know, was based on a novel by the same name from the six-book series “Game Changers.” So, you can read Shane and Ilya’s story and what happens to them after episode six, dive deeper into Kip and Scott’s romance, and even meet a whole new cast of characters that are part of this hockey universe! 

For those of you who want a subtle change but still wish to stay within the queer, romantic, sports realm, we recommend Kelly Quindlen’s “She Drives Me Crazy,” a queer, rom-com about high school rivals Scottie and Irene (not unlike Shane and Ilya) who, by chance, end up falling in love. While it’s been a while since we read this basketball x cheerleader romance, and we can’t speak about all its nuances and how they read nowadays, this novel definitely hits all the tropes our fangirl hearts have been yearning for since finishing “Heated Rivalry”: enemies-to-lovers, forced-proximity, romance-in-sports, and even fake-dating! 

Be it sapphic or gay, hockey or basketball, we are itching to curl up in bed with these and many other books that make our hearts warmer this winter. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

Media Recommendations for When You’re Feeling Dark and Mysterious

1) “A Dowry of Blood” 

If you’ve ever wondered what it would feel like to be wooed by a monster who also happens to be a master manipulator — maybe you already have — “A Dowry of Blood” by S. T. Gibson will satisfy that morbid curiosity. Told through the journal entries of Constanta, Dracula’s first bride, the novel reads like a love letter written after the relationship has already burned to the ground. 

When a mysterious man rescues Constanta from death and makes her his bride, she believes she has been granted a miraculous second chance at life, devotion, and immortality. What she slowly realizes, however, is that his affection is conditional, possessive, and suffocating — what he calls love is really ownership dressed up as romance. As other brides enter their shared existence, Constanta begins to recognize the patterns of cruelty she once rationalized, understanding that her husband’s violence is not a flaw but the core of who he is. The epistolary format makes this reckoning painful, allowing readers to witness her gradual awakening and the difficult unlearning of devotion to someone who thrives on control. 

Unlike many unfortunate victim stories, this ending is incredibly satisfying, as if justice is finally catching up to a monster who never deserved a name. Watching Dracula stripped of his power is cathartic precisely because it is earned, rooted in truth rather than spectacle. “A Dowry of Blood” is a masterclass in confronting toxic love without romanticizing it. If you’ve ever carried a grudge against a beautiful lie or found yourself haunted by a love that took more than it gave, this book will feel like both a reckoning and a release.

2) “Bodies”

The Netflix series “Bodies” is an insanely ambitious spin on the otherwise well-established detective drama. We went in expecting a standard mystery and instead got four period pieces for the price of one. The premise is instantly gripping: The same dead body appears on the same London street in 1890, 1941, 2023, and 2053, forcing four detectives — each trapped within their own political anxieties, social taboos, and technological limits — to solve what seems like a single impossible murder stretched across 160 years.

One moment you’re living amongst Victorian police as they quietly repress labor unrest and queer lives; the next, you’re dodging WWII bombings, navigating modern protest policing, and staring down a full-blown authoritarian sci-fi future. The show cross-cuts between these timelines, building toward a doomsday plot centered on the long shadow of one man’s actions. For anyone who consumes a lot of media, that level of originality feels refreshing. While the story stumbles occasionally and leans into a few familiar tropes, the ambition is thrilling, the performances sell the madness, and the drawn-out reveal is genuinely addictive. It may start a little slow, but stay with it. The plot escalates, and more importantly, it impresses with a satisfying ending rather than a cliffhanger.

“Bodies” is ideal for anyone who enjoys time-travel narratives, political sci-fi, and mysteries that ask big questions. If you liked “Dark,” “12 Monkeys,” or “Black Mirror” when it leans more narrative rather than episodic, this will be right up your alley. It’s not a light background watch, but if you’re ready to indulge in something strange and unapologetically ambitious, the eight mind-warping episodes are more than worth it.

Media Recommendations for When You’re Feeling Like Summer 

1) “People We Meet on Vacation” 

As a college student trudging through the snow on campus in the never-ending cold weather of the spring semester, “People We Meet on Vacation” by Emily Henry is basically a permission slip to start planning that summer vacation. With its lighthearted and romantic theme, this novel offers a much-needed reminder that warmer days (and better outfits) are coming.

This novel follows Poppy and Alex, polar opposite best friends, whose relationship has been shaped by a series of summer vacations they take across the world. Jumping between various locations, the book offers an array of the destinations you swear you’ll go to once finals are over. If you’re more of a cinophile, you’re in luck. A film adaptation of “People We Meet on Vacation” was recently released on Netflix. Although the book and movie plot lines don’t completely align, the atmosphere of that exciting summer is still present and can quickly become your go-to movie or book on the plane. 

This book is perfect when you’re in that mid-semester slump where everything feels cold, gray, and way too routine. The trips feel spontaneous and fun, and the characters are messy and relatable, creating the right balance of romance and drama. You’ll start thinking about summer plans, texting friends about trips you should definitely take, and romanticizing the warm weather. If you need something light, funny, and very easy to get lost in while waiting for summer to arrive, this is the book for you.

2) “I Love LA” 

Being stuck on campus in the middle of one of the worst winters in the history of New England isn’t something any student prepared for this semester. Fortunately, “I Love LA” by Rachel Sennott is the perfect show to mentally ditch your responsibilities (in 20-minute intervals) and teleport to beautiful, sunny California. This series leans all the way into chaotic Los Angeles energy — hot people, bad decisions, bigger-than-life drama — and makes your own stress feel small in comparison (yes, even that problem set that’s ruining your night).

Even though Los Angeles is quite popular already, “I Love LA” puts the city’s hat in the ring, competing with the amount of representation New York City gets in shows like “Friends,” “Gossip Girl,” and “How I Met Your Mother.” The show follows a group of young adults navigating friendships, relationships, and their own questionable choices, all set against the sun-drenched backdrop of Los Angeles. Their problems are absurd, self-inflicted, and often completely unserious, which makes watching them play out incredibly entertaining. 

Watching this show in the winter feels like you can get vitamin D through the screen. The sunshine, the outfits, and the ridiculous conversations make you want to believe that somewhere out there, people are arguing by a pool instead of quietly panicking over their paper in the library. The characters are comically problematic and weirdly relatable, leaning into stereotypes of LA transplants in the Silver Lake area while still feeling grounded enough to care about as a college student. What makes “I Love LA” such a great semester watch is that it doesn’t ask much from you. Its lighthearted nature is perfect for binge-watching when you need a break but don’t want something emotionally heavy. If winter seems to be dragging on and your motivation is disappearing, this show is a chaotic escape worth taking.

College has a funny way of putting you through every emotional genre in a single week: romance on Tuesday, existential dread by Thursday, and delusional summer optimism by Sunday night. Sometimes the best way to survive that whiplash is to find ways to cope, so when the time comes and the mood strikes, give these recommendations a chance and fully embrace those emotions!