‘Heated Rivalry’ Author Rachel Reid Pushes ‘Unrivaled’ to 2027 — Here’s Why
Rachel Reid, the bestselling author behind the hockey romance series The Game Changers, announced that her highly anticipated novel Unrivaled has been delayed.
In an Instagram post shared Tuesday, Feb. 24, Reid spoke directly to fans in a video message, explaining that worsening Parkinson’s symptoms and an overwhelmingly busy schedule have made it physically difficult to write at the pace she’d planned.
The new publication date is June 1, 2027.
Reid’s Message to Fans
Reid opened her video with gratitude before shifting to the harder news.
“Hey, Rachel here. I first of all just want to say thank you to everyone for the last few months. It’s been absolutely incredible,” she said. “I can’t really put into words what any of this feels like for an author. It’s beyond a dream come true. It’s been amazing and I really appreciate all the love for Ilia and Shane and all my other characters, my books and the show.”
Then came the explanation. Reid was candid about the toll her sudden rise in visibility has taken on her daily life — and about a more personal struggle she has been navigating behind the scenes.
“It’s also been very, very busy and overwhelming. My life has gotten very different in the last couple of months, and although it’s all good, it’s also taken away my ability to have quality time to write. And there’s nothing more important to me than ‘Unrivaled’ being the best book it can possibly be,” she said.
“And I also think when good things happen, sometimes the universe hands you some worse stuff to balance it out. And for me, that’s been that my Parkinson’s symptoms have gotten a bit worse, and it’s made it difficult physically to write. So I’m definitely a lot slower and that’s just something I need to learn how to navigate and kind of face instead of ignoring.”
Reid said her publisher has given her the additional months she requested. “So yes, June 1st, 2027,” she confirmed.
Pre-Orders and Bookstore Events
Reid addressed practical concerns about the delay, particularly for fans who have already placed pre-orders and booksellers who had been planning release events.
“If you’ve pre-ordered the book, don’t worry. That will be held for you. Your order will not be canceled,” she said. She also spoke directly to bookstores that had been organizing midnight release parties for “Unrivaled.”
“First of all, thank you so much. That’s like, such an incredible honor. It’s huge. I mean, it’s amazing and I really hope that this doesn’t cause a lot of hassle for you, ‘cause I do feel bad about that, I think more than anything,” Reid said. “But I do think that this book will be worth the wait. Ultimately. It’s gonna be a much better book, and that’s the most important thing to me. And I think it’ll be better for the readers and it’ll be better for the characters.”
She added that announcements were coming later that same week about “some things that I think people have been hoping for,” though she did not elaborate on what those might be.
“So you can maybe wait for those and it might make you feel a little bit better,” she said.
The Game Changers Series and Its TV Adaptation
Reid’s Game Changers series includes seven main books. The series starts with Game Changer and centers on hockey romance, with the main couple’s story continuing through Heated Rivalry, Tough Guy, Common Goal, Role Model, The Long Game, and the upcoming Unrivaled.
The franchise has grown well beyond the page in recent months. The first book was adapted into a Crave show starring Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams, and the show has become a smash hit and cultural phenomenon, projecting its two main stars into superstardom. Season 1 premiered in November 2025, airing concurrently on HBO Max.
When Will Season 2 of the Show Arrive?
Crave announced that a second season was in development, intended to adapt Reid’s 2022 sequel novel, The Long Game. But viewers should not expect a quick turnaround.
According to series creator Jacob Tierney, season 2 will not be released at the “same time next year” as it was in 2025, which was November. The second season will likely premiere sometime in 2027, per Variety.
Tierney emphasized that the production team wants to keep things moving — but not at the expense of quality.
“We understand that everybody’s goal is to not do two years between seasons. And at the same time, I don’t want to put out a rushed sh**ty second season just because the show is very popular. But we’re very aware that our creative partners are enthusiastic and don’t want to wait too long,” Tierney said, adding that the cast and crew are “getting back to work” as soon as possible.
A Packed 2027 for the Franchise
For those invested in the Game Changers universe through the books, the show, or both, 2027 is shaping up to be a busy year. The June 1, 2027 publication date for Unrivaled and the likely 2027 premiere window for Season 2 of the television adaptation could land close together on the calendar.
Reid’s message made clear that the writing is going well — she just needs more time to get it right, especially as she navigates the physical challenges of worsening Parkinson’s symptoms alongside a life that has changed rapidly in the wake of the show’s success.
“So I am really excited about this book. It’s going well. I just need a little more time and I appreciate your patience,” she told fans. “I just want to make a really good book and I just need a little bit more time to do that. So thank you.”
Production of this article included the use of AI. It was reviewed and edited by a team of content specialists.
