Lace up your skates and prepare for more thrilling content from the “Heated Rivalry” series in the upcoming year! The journey initiated by Rachel Reid, a writer from Nova Scotia, continues with a fresh novel under the Harlequin publication.
Rachel Reid unveiled a new addition to the Game Changer series on January 12, initially scheduled for a release in September of the current year. However, both Reid and Harlequin disclosed in an Instagram video that the release date for “Unrivaled” has been rescheduled to June 1, 2027.
In the video announcement, Reid shared that the increased spotlight on her work, while a dream come true for any author, has limited her writing time. She also mentioned the physical challenges she faces due to symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, which she was diagnosed with in 2023.
“Unrivaled,” the seventh installment in Reid’s hockey romance series, revisits the evolving relationship between two hockey players, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. The once-rival pair’s love is now out in the open, with their story progressing from the second book, “Heated Rivalry,” and continuing immediately after the events of the sixth book, “The Long Game.”
The screen adaptation of “Heated Rivalry,” directed by Montreal filmmaker Jacob Tierney, emerged as the most successful Crave Original Series to date in November. The show’s success propelled its lead actors, Hudson Williams from British Columbia and Connor Storrie from the U.S., to overnight stardom, as they both presented at the 2026 Golden Globes.
Rachel Reid expressed delight at the global reception to her uniquely Canadian queer characters, describing it as an unexpected “hit of dopamine.” She emphasized her desire to contribute to the increasing pool of queer narratives with happy endings.
In Canada, “Heated Rivalry” gained recognition by making the Canada Reads 2026 longlist and topping the weekly bestseller list six years post its 2019 release, as reported by Bookmanager.
“Unrivaled” continues the celebration of queer love as Shane and Ilya navigate new milestones in their lives, from being newlyweds to playing on the same team for the first time in their hockey careers. Amidst the #TakeBackHockey movement, 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 a confirmed second season of the show, fans eagerly anticipate more from Reid’s hockey romance universe. Reid’s collection includes six other novels, each exploring different romantic connections within the heated hockey setting, such as “Role Model,” “Tough Guy,” and “Common Goal.”
Reid assured that all existing pre-orders will be fulfilled as planned.