Heated Rivalry author Rachel Reid reveals why release of next novel, ‘Unrivaled’ is delayed to 2027

Heated Rivalry author Rachel Reid has postponed the release of her upcoming novel 'Unrivaled,' the latest chapter in the fan-favourite Shane Hollander–Ilya Rozanov storyline, pushing the publication date from September 29 to June 1, 2027.

'Unrivaled' is the seventh novel in the Game Changers series and marks the third chapter in Shane and Ilya’s long-running arc. Reid shared the update on Instagram, explaining that after a “busy” and “overwhelming” few months, an experience she said she was deeply grateful for, she struggled to find sufficient quality time to write. She also revealed that her Parkinson’s symptoms have worsened, making it more physically challenging for her to work on the book.

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“There’s nothing more important to me than 'Unrivaled' being the best book it can possibly be,” Reid said. “The writing is going well. I just wanna make a good book, and I need a little bit more time to do that.” She added that fans may hear more soon, teasing that the disappointment would likely be softened by announcements expected later this week.

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Reid said that she learned she had Parkinson’s in 2023, around the same time director Jacob Tierney approached her about adapting her work for television. That adaptation, developed for Canadian streaming service Crave and later released on HBO Max, became the platform’s top-rated series in its first season.

Heated Rivalry has since expanded beyond the page, with the hockey-set romance gaining a strong following on screen. The series stars Hudson Williams as Canadian hockey star Hollander and Connor Storrie as Russian player Rozanov. A second season of the show is currently in development.