Rachel Reid expands the world of Heated Rivalry with a new novel focusing on Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander.
The author has confirmed that Unrivaled, the seventh book in her hockey romance series, will be released on September 29. The novel is currently available for pre-order as a Barnes & Noble exclusive.
Unrivaled continues Ilya and Shane’s story after the events of The Long Game, which explored the pair a decade into their relationship. According to the official synopsis, the two hockey stars are no longer hiding their romance. Now married and playing on the same professional team, they are publicly living their lives together for the first time. While many fans are celebrating its opening, the book will also face backlash from parts of the hockey community, including criticism fueled by a popular podcast and a growing online movement.
The announcement comes as interest remains high for the TV adaptation of Heated Rivalry, which premiered on Crave and HBO Max. Created by Jacob Tierney, the series is based on Reid’s Game Changers novels and focuses on the long-standing rivalry-turned-romance between Ilya and Shane. Season 1 adapted the novel Heated Rivalry, while Season 2 is expected to draw mainly from The Long Game.
Tierney has previously stated that the show will continue to focus on Ilya and Shane while gradually expanding its universe. Unrivaled’s release provides additional source material as the adaptation progresses.
With its mix of professional sports, public scrutiny, and long-lasting romance, Unrivaled positions itself as a major addition to the Heated Rivalry franchise and a highly anticipated release for fans of romantic hockey and LGBTQ+ fantasy.
The series premiered at the Image+Nation LGBTQ+ Film Festival in Montreal, Canada on November 23, 2025. The first season premiered on Crave on November 28, 2025 and was streamed on HBO Max in select territories. Neon in New Zealand. and Movistar Plus+ in Spain.
Heat Rivalry received critical acclaim, with praise for the direction, the script, and the performances and chemistry of the leads. It also achieved strong audience ratings, making it Crave’s most-watched original series to date and the top HBO Max debut for an acquired, non-animated title since the platform launched in 2019.
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