Rachel Reid Delays ‘Unrivaled’ to 2027, Shares Parkinson’s Update With Fans
Rachel Reid shared an Instagram post on Tuesday, Feb. 24, with news that will land like a body check for anyone invested in Ilya and Shane’s story. The next Game Changers novel, Unrivaled, has been pushed to June 1, 2027.
But the video message Reid recorded — raw, grateful, honest about her health — is the kind of author update that makes the wait feel less like a setback and more like a promise.
What Reid Told Fans
Reid opened with gratitude, and her warmth came through immediately.
“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 began. “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.”
She was also candid about the reality behind the scenes. The momentum and visibility that came with the Heated Rivalry adaptation has reshaped her daily life.
“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.”
A Deeply Personal Disclosure
Then Reid shared something that stops you mid-scroll.
“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.”
She made clear the decision wasn’t made lightly.
“And for all of these reasons, I’ve decided to move the publication date for Unrivaled to June 1st, 2027. I hope that’s not too long to wait for everyone. I just needed a few more months for writing, and my publisher has been gracious enough to give those to me. So yes, June 1st, 2027.”
Your Pre-Order Is Safe
If you locked in your pre-order the moment Unrivaled went live — and plenty of readers did — Reid addressed this head-on.
“If you’ve pre-ordered the book, don’t worry. That will be held for you. Your order will not be canceled.”
No need to panic-check your account. June 2027 is the new date to circle.
A Tease to Soften the Blow
Reid ended her update with something that immediately set the fandom buzzing.
“And maybe to soften the blow a little — later this week, there’s gonna be some announcements made about some things that I think people have been hoping for. So you can maybe wait for those and it might make you feel a little bit better.”
She didn’t elaborate. But “things that I think people have been hoping for” is the kind of phrasing that sends a fandom spiraling. Reid closed simply:
“But ultimately I just want to make a really good book and I just need a little bit more time to do that. So thank you.”
The Heated Rivalry Adaptation and Season 2
On the show side, there’s a parallel story unfolding. The Heated Rivalry adaptation premiered on Crave in November 2025 and aired concurrently on HBO Max. The show projected stars Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams into superstardom.
Crave announced that a second season was in development, intended to adapt Reid’s 2022 sequel novel, The Long Game. But 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’s comments suggested a team fully aware of the fandom’s appetite and determined not to let urgency compromise the work. He insisted that the cast and crew are “getting back to work” as soon as possible, adding, “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.”
The Game Changers Series
The Heated Rivalry books are part of Reid’s Game Changers series, which has seven main books in publication order, starting with Game Changer and focusing on hockey romance. The main couple’s story evolves through Heated Rivalry, Tough Guy, Common Goal, Role Model, The Long Game and the upcoming Unrivaled.
The date to remember: June 1, 2027. Pre-orders are secure, the book is going well, and Reid is asking for the time and grace to deliver the story Ilya and Shane deserve.
Production of this article included the use of AI. It was reviewed and edited by a team of content specialists.
