Lace up your skates and prepare for more thrilling content from the “Heated Rivalry” series later this year! The captivating journey initiated by Rachel Reid, a writer hailing from Nova Scotia, continues with a fresh novel published by Harlequin. The upcoming addition to the Game Changer series, revealed by Reid, is scheduled for release on September 29, 2026.
Titled “Unrivaled,” this seventh installment in Reid’s hockey romance collection delves back into the evolving relationship between two hockey players, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. Once rivals, the pair now openly share their love. Introduced in the second book of the series, “Heated Rivalry,” their story picks up right after the events of the sixth book, “The Long Game.”
The on-screen 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 immersed in queer hockey romance tales. This success has propelled the show’s lead actors, Hudson Williams from British Columbia and Connor Storrie from the United States, into overnight stardom, with both gracing the 2026 Golden Globes stage last weekend.
Rachel Reid, the author, expressed her delight at the overwhelmingly positive global reception to her authentically queer Canadian characters, describing it as a delightful “hit of dopamine.” In a recent interview on “The Next Chapter” with Antonio Michael Downing, Reid highlighted her intention to contribute to the growing collection of queer narratives with happy endings, emphasizing the timing and encouraging response to her work.
In Canada, the literary community has taken notice, with “Heated Rivalry” securing a spot on the Canada Reads 2026 longlist and dominating the weekly bestseller charts six years after its initial 2019 release, as reported by Bookmanager.
The upcoming book, “Unrivaled,” continues the celebration of queer love as Shane and Ilya navigate new milestones in their lives, including their marriage and the unique experience of playing on the same team for the first time in their hockey careers. Amidst the #TakeBackHockey movement fostered by popular hockey podcasters, the duo stands steadfast in their love for each other and their 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 from Reid’s vivid hockey universe. Alongside “Unrivaled,” Reid’s collection features six other novels, with five exploring diverse romantic pairings in the intense hockey setting, such as “Role Model,” “Tough Guy,” and “Common Goal.”
“Unrivaled” is slated for release on September 29 and is currently available for pre-order.