Lace up your skates and prepare to return to the ice because more captivating content from the “Heated Rivalry” literary series is on its way next year!
Following the success initiated by writer Rachel Reid from Nova Scotia, a new novel under the Game Changer series is set to be released by Harlequin. Originally announced by Reid on Jan. 12, a new installment titled “Unrivaled” was scheduled for release in September of this year. However, a recent Instagram video revealed that the publication date has been rescheduled to June 1, 2027.
In the video announcement, Reid shared that while the increased attention on her work has been a dream come true, it has also limited her writing time. She also mentioned the challenges of writing with her Parkinson’s symptoms, a condition she was diagnosed with in 2023.
“Unrivaled,” the seventh book in Reid’s hockey romance series, delves back into the evolving relationship between two hockey players, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. No longer rivals, their love is now out in the open. This narrative picks up right after the events of the sixth book, “The Long Game,” where readers were first introduced to this dynamic pair in “Heated Rivalry.”
The adaptation of “Heated Rivalry” directed by Montreal filmmaker Jacob Tierney premiered recently as the most successful Crave Original Series to date, captivating audiences with its queer hockey love story. This success has propelled the lead actors, Hudson Williams from British Columbia and Connor Storrie from the US, into instant stardom, with both presenting at the 2026 Golden Globes.
Reid expressed her delight at the global response to her queer Canadian characters, describing it as a surprising “hit of dopamine.” She emphasized her aim to contribute to the increasing number of queer stories with happy endings, noting the uplifting response she has received.
The literary industry in Canada has also taken notice, with “Heated Rivalry” making the Canada Reads 2026 longlist and dominating the weekly bestseller list six years after its initial release in 2019.
In the latest installment, “Unrivaled,” Shane and Ilya navigate new chapters in their lives as they embrace marriage and play together 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. Reid’s series includes six other novels exploring various romantic relationships in the heated hockey universe, such as “Role Model,” “Tough Guy,” and “Common Goal.”
Reid assured that all existing pre-orders for the upcoming book will be honored.