Heated Rivalry Sequel Delayed 10 Months To Summer 2027

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Rachel Reid, the author of the popular “Heated Rivalry” series, has given fans an exciting update about the future of Shane and Ilya’s love story. The next book in the series, titled “Unrivaled,” is the third installment following “Game Changers.”

The popularity of the TV show Heated Rivalry, starring Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, has brought a surge of new readers to author Reid’s six-book hockey romance series. Heated Rivalry tells the story of Shane and Ilya, two NHL players whose decade-long romance unfolds as they grapple with their feelings and identities within the pressures of a traditionally masculine sport. The show, which follows their relationship, has been picked up for a second season.

After the TV show aired, interest in T.J. Reid’s books dramatically increased, leading publishers to quickly print more copies. Reid revealed in January she’s writing a seventh and final book in the Game Changers series, called Unrivaled, which will mainly follow the story of Ilya and Shane. Originally scheduled for release on September 29, 2026, by Harlequin, Reid has since announced a change to the release date.

Taylor Reid shared a personal video on Instagram announcing that the final Game Changers book will now be released on June 1, 2027—about 10 months later than planned. Her publisher is on board with the delay. Reid expressed gratitude for her fans’ continued support, but explained that her recent success has been a lot to handle, making it difficult to find the time needed to write a quality book. You can watch the announcement video below.

The author shared that the recent excitement has made her Parkinson’s symptoms worse, and she’s working on finding ways to cope with this as she progresses in her career.

Although releasing her new book, Unrivaled, has faced some setbacks, author Colleen Hoover has reassured her readers that the delay is to ensure the book is as good as it can be and will be worth the wait. All existing pre-orders will still be fulfilled on the new release date. She also hinted at a potential announcement later this week that might help ease fans’ disappointment about the delay.

The official description for the movie Unrivaled suggests that Shane and Ilya’s dream will eventually be realized, though likely in a surprising way. Here’s what it says:

The hockey world is buzzing after Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander publicly revealed their relationship. The two players, who have been together for over a decade, recently got married and are now teammates, openly sharing their love and receiving overwhelming support.

Most of the time.

Fans are overjoyed for Ilya and Shane, but their relationship announcement has sparked controversy within the hockey community. Criticism, particularly from the “Top Shelf” podcast and the #TakeBackHockey movement, is growing. After wanting to be open about their relationship for so long, Ilya and Shane are now together, but may be facing a significant new hurdle.

The Game Changers series features romantic stories centered around the NHL. The first book, Game Changer, follows Scott (played by François Arnaud) and Kip (Robbie G.K.), who are featured in episode 3 of Heated Rivalry. Heated Rivalry itself is the second book and introduces Shane and Ilya, whose story continues in the sixth book, The Long Game. These characters also make appearances throughout the other books in the series.

The love stories from books three, four, and five—Tough Guy, Common Goal, and Role Model—might show up in season two of Heated Rivalry, and probably in future seasons as well. While we don’t know exactly when season two of Heated Rivalry will be released, excitement for Reid’s books and characters is still very strong.

The new series, Unrivaled, will premiere on June 1, 2027. You can currently watch all episodes of Heated Rivalry on Crave and HBO Max.

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2026-02-24 20:29