Lace up your skates and prepare to hit the ice as more exciting literary content from the “Heated Rivalry” series is on the horizon for next year! Rachel Reid, a celebrated author from Nova Scotia, is continuing the phenomenon with a new novel being published by Harlequin.
Initially scheduled for release in September of this year, the announcement of a new addition to the Game Changer series was made by Reid on January 12. However, Reid and Harlequin have now revealed in an Instagram video that the publication date for “Unrivaled” has been rescheduled to June 1, 2027.
In the video, Reid shared that while the increased media attention on her work has been a dream come true, it has posed challenges in finding time to write. Additionally, Reid mentioned the physical difficulties she faces while writing due to her Parkinson’s symptoms, a condition she was diagnosed with in 2023.
“Unrivaled,” the seventh installment in Reid’s popular hockey romance series, delves back into the relationship between two hockey players, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. No longer rivals, their love is now out in the open, continuing the storyline introduced in the second book, “Heated Rivalry,” and following the events of the sixth book, “The Long Game.”
The TV adaptation of “Heated Rivalry,” directed by Montreal filmmaker Jacob Tierney, debuted recently as the most successful Crave Original Series to date, captivating both new and seasoned fans of queer hockey love stories. The show’s success has propelled its lead actors, Hudson Williams from B.C. and Connor Storrie from the U.S., into sudden stardom, with both making appearances at the 2026 Golden Globes.
Rachel Reid expressed her joy at the global reception of her queer Canadian characters, describing it as a surprising “hit of dopamine.” In a recent interview on “The Next Chapter” with Antonio Michael Downing, she shared her intention to contribute to the increasing number of queer stories with happy endings and expressed gratitude for the uplifting response.
“Heated Rivalry” has been making waves in the Canadian literary scene, making the Canada Reads 2026 longlist and dominating the weekly bestseller list, six years after its initial release in 2019, according to Bookmanager.
In the latest book, “Unrivaled,” Shane and Ilya embark on new chapters in their lives as they navigate marriage and playing for the same team for the first time in their hockey careers. Amidst the #TakeBackHockey movement led by popular hockey podcasters, the couple 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 the confirmation of a second season of the TV show, fans are eagerly anticipating more from Reid. Alongside “Unrivaled,” Reid has written six other novels, each exploring unique romantic pairings within the intense world of hockey, including “Role Model,” “Tough Guy,” and “Common Goal.” Reid reassured fans that any existing pre-orders will be fulfilled.
