Lace up your skates and prepare for more captivating content from the “Heated Rivalry” literary series in the upcoming year! The trend initiated by the Nova Scotia-based author Rachel Reid is set to continue with a fresh novel released by Harlequin.
Initially planned for a September release this year, the announcement of a new addition to the Game Changer series by Reid on Jan. 12 has been updated to June 1, 2027, as revealed in an Instagram video by Reid and Harlequin. In the video, Reid shared the challenges of handling increased media attention, which has limited her writing time, compounded by the physical difficulties stemming from her Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2023.
The upcoming book, “Unrivaled,” marks the seventh installment in Reid’s hockey romance series, diving back into the evolving relationship between hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. No longer rivals, their love story is now out in the open after being introduced in the second book, “Heated Rivalry,” with the new release picking up right after the events of the sixth installment, “The Long Game.”
The TV adaptation of “Heated Rivalry,” helmed 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 love stories. This success has propelled the lead actors, Hudson Williams from British Columbia and Connor Storrie from the U.S., into instant stardom, with both making appearances at the 2026 Golden Globes.
Rachel Reid expressed her joy at the global reception of her Canadian queer characters, describing it as an unexpected “hit of dopamine.” She emphasized her aim to contribute to the growing number of queer narratives with happy endings, citing the positive response as uplifting.
In Canada, the literary community has also taken notice, with “Heated Rivalry” making the Canada Reads 2026 longlist and dominating the weekly bestseller list six years after its initial 2019 release, as per Bookmanager reports.
The latest book, “Unrivaled,” continues the celebration of queer love as Shane and Ilya navigate new chapters in their lives, from marriage to playing together on the same hockey team for the first time. Amidst the #TakeBackHockey movement gaining traction, 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 TV show, fans are eagerly anticipating more content. Reid’s portfolio includes six other novels exploring various romantic relationships within her fervent hockey universe, such as “Role Model,” “Tough Guy,” and “Common Goal.” Existing pre-orders for the upcoming book will be fulfilled as promised.