Lace up your skates and prepare to dive back into the world of “Heated Rivalry” as more literary content is on the horizon for next year!
The excitement initiated by Nova Scotia-based author Rachel Reid is set to continue with a fresh novel released by Harlequin. Reid initially unveiled plans for a new addition to the Game Changer series on Jan. 12, with the intended release in September of this year. However, a recent Instagram video from Reid and Harlequin disclosed that the publication date for “Unrivaled” has been rescheduled to June 1, 2027.
In the video announcement, Reid shared that while the increased media focus on her work is a dream come true for any author, it has significantly limited her writing time. Additionally, she mentioned that writing has become more physically challenging lately due to her Parkinson’s symptoms, with a diagnosis dating back to 2023.
“Unrivaled,” the seventh installment in Reid’s hockey romance series, delves back into the evolving relationship between two hockey players, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. Once fierce rivals, their love is now out in the open, with their journey starting in book two of the series, “Heated Rivalry,” and continuing from the events of the sixth book, “The Long Game.”
The television adaptation of “Heated Rivalry,” overseen by Montreal filmmaker Jacob Tierney, premiered last November as the most successful Crave Original Series to date, captivating both new and seasoned audiences of queer hockey romance tales.
The show’s popularity has propelled its lead actors, Hudson Williams from British Columbia and Connor Storrie from the United States, into sudden stardom, with both recently gracing the 2026 Golden Globes stage.
Reid expressed her delight in the global reception of her distinctly queer Canadian characters as a surprising “hit of dopamine.” In a recent interview on “The Next Chapter” with Antonio Michael Downing, Reid emphasized her aim to contribute to the growing collection of queer narratives with happy endings, noting the uplifting response she has received.
In Canada, the literary realm has taken notice, with “Heated Rivalry” making the Canada Reads 2026 longlist and securing a top spot on the weekly bestseller list, six years after its original 2019 publication.
The latest book, “Unrivaled,” continues the celebration of queer love as Shane and Ilya navigate new aspects of their lives, including their marriage and a unique situation of playing on the same team for the first time in their hockey careers. Amidst the #TakeBackHockey movement gaining traction, the duo remains steadfast in their love for each other and the sport.
With over 1.3 million copies of the Game Changers series sold in North America and a confirmed second season of the show, fans are eagerly anticipating more from Reid’s captivating world. Alongside “Unrivaled,” Reid has crafted six other novels, with five exploring diverse romantic connections within her gripping hockey universe, such as “Role Model,” “Tough Guy,” and “Common Goal.”
Reid assured that all existing pre-orders will be fulfilled as planned.
