Renowned author Rachel Reid, known for her book series Heated Rivalry, has announced a delay in the release of her upcoming hockey romance novel due to the challenges posed by her sudden rise to fame and the progression of Parkinson’s disease symptoms. Originally scheduled for a fall release, Reid shared in a video message on Instagram that her novel Unrivaled is now anticipated to hit shelves in June 2027.
Unrivaled will mark the seventh installment in Reid’s popular Game Changer series, centered around the tale of hockey rivals and clandestine lovers, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. The series has garnered immense success, with the first two books, Heated Rivalry and The Long Game, serving as the inspiration for the hit Crave original series featuring Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie.
In her Instagram post, Reid expressed how recent life changes have affected her writing schedule, emphasizing her commitment to ensuring Unrivaled reaches its full potential. She acknowledged the importance of producing a top-quality book despite facing challenges that have slowed down her writing process, citing the exacerbation of her Parkinson’s symptoms as a significant factor.
Reid disclosed that she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2023, coinciding with director Jacob Tierney’s interest in adapting her literary works. Tierney’s adaptation has enjoyed widespread acclaim, leading to a second season renewal on Crave and HBO Max, where it became a top-rated series during its debut season.
For further insights, Rachel Reid engaged with fans in a video discussion, offering perspectives on her journey from book to screen adaptation, the unexpected fame surrounding her work, her distinctive writing methods, and the profound emotional resonance of the Game Changers series.
