Rachel Reid Announces "Unrivaled", Seventh "Game Changers" Book Continuing Gay Hockey Romance

Rachel Reid, the Nova Scotia-based author known for her "Game Changers" series, has announced "Unrivaled" as the seventh and final installment, centering on gay hockey players Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander. Harlequin Enterprises Limited confirmed the publication on Monday, with a release date of September 29, 2026.

The announcement follows rumors that spread rapidly on social media over the weekend, sparked by fan accounts like @FilmUpdates on X/Twitter, which garnered 3. 5 million views in under 24 hours. A product page on Barnes & Noble further fueled excitement, providing a detailed synopsis: "A line has been drawn — and the hockey world is divided. For the first time in their professional hockey careers, Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander have nothing to hide. For more than a decade, they kept their love a secret, but now they're out, married, and even playing on the same team. The support is incredible. Most of the time. " The description continues, noting backlash led by a fictional podcast called Top Shelf and the #TakeBackHockey movement, highlighting tensions for LGBTQ+ athletes in sports.

Reid hinted at the book in a January 10 interview with The Sunday Times, stating, "Reid has another book on the way and will announce details of it this week. " ELLE Australia reported on January 13 that Reid directly confirmed the third novel featuring Ilya and Shane, titled "Unrivaled". Cosmopolitan echoed this, describing it as the "third and final "Game Changers" book about Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander. "

The "Game Changers" series began in 2019 with "Game Changer", introducing interconnected M/M romances set in professional hockey, a genre that resonates with LGBTQ+ readers seeking representation in traditionally masculine sports. "Heated Rivalry" follows rivals-to-lovers Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov over nine years of secret hookups amid career pressures and fears of coming out as gay men. Book 6, "The Long Game", builds to their decision after a decade of secrecy. "Unrivaled" picks up post-coming out, addressing ongoing homophobia through fan support contrasted with industry resistance.

This literary development aligns with the HBO Max adaptation of "Heated Rivalry", which premiered its first season in late 2025, starring Connor Storrie as Ilya and Hudson Williams as Shane. The actors, who presented at the 2026 Golden Globes on January 13, signed for three seasons, potentially drawing from the expanded book canon. Fans expressed mixed reactions online, with excitement for more representation tempered by concerns over plot tension implying hardship for the gay couple.

The series has amplified visibility for gay men in hockey, a sport with limited real-world LGBTQ+ role models, fostering community discussions on authenticity and acceptance. Pre-orders are available via retailers like Barnes & Noble, and more details can be found at RachelReidWrites. com. This continuation underscores growing demand for affirming queer narratives in sports romance literature.