Rachel Reid, who wrote the Game Changers books that inspired the popular HBO series Heated Rivalry, has postponed the release of her next novel because she’s been dealing with health issues.
Unrivaled, which was due to be released in September 2026, will now be published on 1 June 2027.
On Tuesday, Reid shared on Instagram that her Parkinson’s symptoms, diagnosed in 2023, have recently worsened, making it physically challenging for her to write.
She believes the revisions will result in a stronger book, which is her top priority. She also thinks these changes will benefit both the story and the people reading it.
- Rachel Reid’s Game Changers book series is available now
Reid launched her Game Changers series with her first novel in 2018, and has since released five more books. “Unrivaled” is the seventh installment and continues the story of characters Ilya and Shane.
Since debuting on Crave in Canada and HBO Max in the US last November, and on Sky and NOW in the UK in January, “Heated Rivalry” has quickly gained popularity.
The series, adapted and directed by Jacob Tierney, centers on Shane Hollander, a Canadian hockey star (played by Hudson Williams), and Ilya Rozanov, a Russian player (Connor Storrie). They’re rivals who secretly fall in love, facing the difficult choice of whether to come out publicly and risk their careers.
Fans and critics have both loved the series for its open and positive portrayal of sexuality, and for being the first to truly showcase LGBTQ+ athletes.
In December, Reid explained that the popularity of the TV show allowed her to receive improved medical treatment for her Parkinson’s disease.
The author told Variety that a Parkinson’s disease specialist reached out after learning about her diagnosis through an interview promoting the show.
She explained that she’d been trying to see a Parkinson’s specialist for years, but living in a small town meant she was on a five-year waiting list. Thankfully, someone has finally connected her with a neurologist who specializes in Parkinson’s, and she has an appointment scheduled in a few weeks.
This could really make a difference for me, as I’m not currently receiving the care I need.
Unrivaled by Rachel Reid is available to pre-order now.
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Molly Moss writes about the newest happenings in TV, movies, and other entertainment for TopMob. She has a master’s degree in journalism and has contributed to major publications like The Guardian, The Times, and The Sun Online.
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2026-02-25 17:39