Heated Rivalry author gives update on upcoming Ilya and Shane novel Unrivaled: “I rewrite a lot”

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After the great success of the recent adaptation, Rachel Reid, author of the Game Changers series, has given fans an update on her next book, Unrivalled, which continues the story from Heated Rivalry.

Reid revealed to Entertainment Weekly that she had been quietly developing the project until January, when it was publicly announced – just two days after the successful TV series premiered.

This story follows Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, two hockey players on rival teams who are supposed to be enemies. Despite their rivalry, they fall in love and must figure out how to make their relationship work while dealing with the pressures of their careers and other difficulties.

There’s been a lot of online discussion about her next book, and the author says she’s pleased with how it’s coming along. She’s planning to dedicate the next few months to fully focusing on the novel, ensuring it’s the best it can be before sending it to her editor, as quality is a top priority.

The Game Changers is a seven-book series about LGBTQ+ hockey players who find love while facing challenges both on and off the ice, including prejudice within the National Hockey League (NHL).

After the positive reception of her previous books and the ‘Heated Rivalry’ series, Reid admitted she’s feeling a lot of pressure to deliver a great sequel. She explained that this book feels particularly important to get right.

I’m trying to deliver a story that readers will enjoy, and I hope my vision aligns with what they’re hoping for. I’m still refining the plot and doing a lot of revisions – some sections have been rewritten countless times. Ultimately, I believe I’m making the right choices, and the writing process is progressing well.

I’m so excited for the next book in the Unrivalled series! It picks up right where ‘The Long Game’ left off – you might know that one as the sixth book, and it’s even been made into a show on Crave Canada. I loved ‘The Long Game’ and can’t wait to see where the story goes next!

The story continues after Shane and Ilya’s wedding, following their journey as they begin playing on the same team and explore how love and work intersect. Now that their relationship is public, they’ll face both acceptance and the challenges of being in the spotlight.

Reid explained the core idea behind her novel: it’s the point where everyone will form an opinion about the characters, because now that they’re openly a team, their relationship is out in the open and people will have to confront their feelings about it.

Okay, so here’s the deal with the reaction I’m expecting. It’s going to be intense, and frankly, pretty divided. On one side, you’ll have fans who are absolutely thrilled and maybe even a little too invested – you know, where their excitement isn’t really grounded in reality. But then, unfortunately, there’s going to be a really ugly side too – people who are just openly hateful and prejudiced, and it’s going to be tough to watch.

I was really struck by how she explained their story. Even though things worked out for them, it wasn’t a simple, perfect ending. She felt, and I agree, that there were still a lot of challenges ahead for them, and that’s exactly why she wanted to write another book – to explore everything that was still happening and needed to be said.

Viewers can expect season 2 of the show to explore darker and more intense themes, according to creator Jacob Tierney. While the playful romance and intimate moments will still be present, he hinted at a growing sense of danger and higher stakes.

Fans can expect the return of Heated Rivalry on HBO Max around April 2027, followed by the release of Unrivalled on June 1st, 2027.

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Keela Elliott

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2026-04-20 20:26