The New York Public Library saw a massive spike in requests for a certain e-book after the mayor recommended it in a public speech. In a news conference on Sunday, Mayor Zohran Mamdani was encouraging New Yorkers to stay safe during the massive snowstorm battering the eastern U.S. He said staying inside to read was a good way to pass the time: “I can think of no better excuse for New Yorkers to stay 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.”
The people took his advice to heart — the library reported that e-book checkouts of Heated Rivalry jumped 529 percent in recent days. Lizzie Tribone, a spokesperson for the library, said that 86 percent of the downloads occurred following the mayor’s speech. Written by Rachel Reid, Heated Rivalry follows the story of two gay hockey players and their secret romance. It’s part of Reid’s six-book Game Changer series, unlimited copies of which were made free through the New York Public Library through Valentine’s Day. Since that announcement, Heated Rivalry has been downloaded more than 5,000 times, while the entire series has been downloaded more than 13,000 times.
