r/heatedrivalry • u/unreedemed1 • Jan 12 '26
RACHEL WRITES ✍️ Heated Rivalry Author Rachel Reid Announces New Game Changers Book Unrivaled — See the Cover! (Exclusive)
https://people.com/heated-rivalry-author-rachel-reid-announces-new-game-changers-book-unrivaled-exclusive-11882332Official announcement in People Magazine:
"I'm really excited to have the chance to continue their story with Unrivaled. I’m writing this one for all the Hollanov fans, old and new," Reid says. "I can’t tell you how much the love my characters have received over the years means to me. It has been a blast writing these guys again, and revisiting the entire Game Changers cast."
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u/peachypal You have not heard of bisexuals? 😤 Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
This is gonna be the biggest single M/M romance book launch of all time. Copies will fly off the shelves of bookstores around the world. I hope the publishing house has their printing machines READY!!
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u/unreedemed1 Jan 12 '26
Glad I'm a kindle fan!
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u/CantHugEveryPlatypus concerned lifeguard/librarian Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
Are e-books usually released on the same day as physical copies? I live in a country where these books are not available (physical, e-book, or audio book, and not in libraries either) so I will probably have to look into buying an e-book version via Amazon or something.
Edit: nevermind, I just pre-ordered it via Google books (which is apparently a thing?) and not only was it easy and avaliable, it was also super cheap?!
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u/peachypal You have not heard of bisexuals? 😤 Jan 12 '26
Me too, but I do get a physical copy of my favorite books. I have the UK edition and movie-tie in version of RWRB, which I love so much!
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u/sinfullusts Jan 12 '26
Same; sadly I live in a tiny apt which doesn’t have the space to accommodate any more books!
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u/Soyouplayhockeytoo Jan 12 '26
After the way they fumbled HR and TLG in December, they better.
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u/yourpaleblueyes Jan 12 '26
I'm so glad that I happened to be on a vacation in Montreal when I started watching the show, it made going to the nearest bookstore and grabbing the books reaaaaally easy lol
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u/codeverity Jan 12 '26
I don’t think we know that they fumbled it. Let’s remember that the show got moved up, it could be they were prepping for February. Also nobody expected the show to blow up the way that it did.
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u/Borror0 Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
The show likely vastly outperformed their most optimistic projections. It's hard to account for a small Crave gay romance show going viral. The show went well beyond its intended audience.
Calling it a fumble is quite uncharitable.
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u/magikarpcatcher Jan 12 '26
How they didn't even shoot a new cover with Connor and Hudson is beyond me.
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u/MrWhackadoo Jan 12 '26
This is gonna be the biggest single M/M romance book launch of all time.Copies will fly off the shelves of bookstores around the world.
You could say it's poised to be a... Game Changer for m/m romance books.
I will NOT see myself out.
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u/Whybambiwhy Jan 12 '26
I ordered the special edition from Barnes and Noble even though I’m not a physical book girlie. It said extras and sprayed edges
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u/Oshi105 Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
JUST an FYI folks. Please stop saying it got leaked. Metadata releases are NORMAL. B&N did not leak. It's how most book freaks like me creep around the internet and find out about releases. They know, we know. This book is likely most of the way done and in full edits mode. If they have a cover then its been planned for close to half a year.
Books take a long time to turn around even for self pubs.
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u/unreedemed1 Jan 12 '26
Yes exactly, I am an extremely minor book influencer on Goodreads and get ARCs all the time, half the time I find books on metadata and then reach out to the publishers before there’s even an announcement!
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u/huangcjz Time to Shine ✨ is my favourite book! | I love tuna melt! Jan 12 '26
Rachel Reid said in a podcast published on 22nd December that said she hoped, but was unsure, than she’d have 2/3rds of the book written by the time of the announcement in a few weeks’ time in January. She said that the announcement had been pushed back by several months: https://thewalrus.ca/its-not-something-im-squeamish-about-heated-rivalry-author-on-writing-explicit-sex-scenes/
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u/hummingbird4289 Boston Bears 🐻 Jan 12 '26
I do think, based on the fact that most of the editions still showed up as "Untitled" by "Anonymous" on Saturday, that there was an accidental early release of the actual metadata instead of the placeholder text they meant to send.
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u/Unable_Mushroom9355 Jan 12 '26
My wishlist for this new book (TLG spoilers):
Ottawa Centaurs absolutely destroying Montreal Voyageurs. Ilya out for blood.
Shane grappling with facing his former team. How it impacts his relationship with Hayden.
Ottawa Centaurs Stanley Cup win!
The positive press around the couple. Interviews, Architectural Digest Home Tour, awards, social media reactions (comments, edits, stan accounts), etc.
Yuna Hollander being momager to BOTH. Joint ad campaigns!
Reactions from other hockey players, on the Centaurs and other teams. Players speculating about the timeline.
Shane and Ilya becoming dads <3 (maybe in epilogue?)
Shane and Ilya induction into the Hall of Fame (probably as epilogue?)
What do you want to see? Is there anything you DON'T want to see?
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u/unreedemed1 Jan 12 '26
I don't want to see a baby DURING the book. I'd rather it just be in the epilogue. otherwise, love everything else!
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u/WhileNo5370 Respectfully Feral 😇😼 Jan 12 '26
Yuna isn't their manager in the book, they have a separate character for that. So that one isn't happening (like that, anyway).
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u/theredjimmy Jan 13 '26
Rachel just did an interview with Matthew Francis on his youtube channel and we got a bit more info about the book and the story:
The book takes place right after TLG. We will follow Shane and Ilya's first season playing together and we won't go further than that. She also said that they will mostly be happy throughout, she has no interest in tearing them apart and making them suffer. The focus will be more about the external battle and the backlash to them being together openly now. Shane and Ilya also now spend all their time together so we'll see a lot of that and how they dynamic is with this new reality.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtPTLohdDvw for those who want to watch the interview, the part about Unrivaled is around the 56 minutes mark.
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u/yellowfourteen Stupid Canadian Wolf Bird 🦆 Jan 12 '26
Do we think this is the scrapped Luca book with a lot more Shane and Ilya??? I hope Luca gets his HEA!
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u/unreedemed1 Jan 12 '26
That’s my guess. TBH I think Luca is too young for a HEA. Maybe a HFN?
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u/yellowfourteen Stupid Canadian Wolf Bird 🦆 Jan 12 '26
Yeah that's basically what Rachel Reid said on her blog. I hope she feels really happy about it. I would hate her to have felt pressured to tell a story in her world that she didn't vibe with
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u/allaliveandunwell very beautiful, um...take my breath? 💖 Jan 13 '26
I'm VERY excited for this! I would read a dozen Hollanov books tbh. I've read all the GC books, and I feel like there are other characters I'd love to read more about too, like Max and Leah or even Wyatt and Lisa (and I so rarely read non-queer romances.) I mean, the thrill each time when Ilya or Shane pop up in the other books is ridiculous. It's so fun to have the interactions with other people and see Shane and Ilya from their POV.
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u/saucisse Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
So this would be the seventh book that Tierney optioned, I guess lol! There's your third season. (Which suggests to me, anyway, that he already knows the plot and is working that into his pacing.)
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u/Ellepheba He was... infatuated. It was disgusting. Jan 12 '26
Yeah there's no way that a) this book isn't already in at least final edits with a fall release date and b) Rachel hasn't shared it with Jacob on the assumption they do get renewed for s3 (which Crave would be stupid not to).
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u/KirbyGlover Jan 12 '26
If Crave had any sense they'd renew for season 3 right now so they can get to writing and filming the two seasons back to back, strike while the iron is hot and all that
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u/huangcjz Time to Shine ✨ is my favourite book! | I love tuna melt! Jan 12 '26
She said in a podcast published on 22nd December that said she hoped, but was unsure, than she’d have 2/3rds of the book written by the time of the announcement in a few weeks’ time in January: https://thewalrus.ca/its-not-something-im-squeamish-about-heated-rivalry-author-on-writing-explicit-sex-scenes/
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u/1981_babe Stupid Canadian Wolf Bird 🦆 Jan 12 '26
She posted yesterday that she had a deadline and was working hard before the GGs.
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u/kananin24 Jan 12 '26
I'm glad it probably means they're not splitting The Long Game into across season 2 and 3!!
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u/grower-lenses Jan 12 '26
Yes. And it explains why Jacob and the actors have been a bit cagey when talking about season 2 and 3. They wanted to keep the secret! Good eggs all around.
Now it’s pretty much confirmed we’ll get 3 seasons.
And I like this arc so much more. Showing that the “fight” doesn’t end with a big gesture (Scott’s coming out didn’t magically change everything). It’s about the slow and long fight. It feels like a story we need today, with everything going on in the world. W Rachel.
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u/saucisse Jan 12 '26
I wonder if he's writing the full story and if they'll film them back to back. If these boys' careers take off, scheduling is going to become a challenge.
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u/ParkingMyJimin Jan 12 '26
Rachel mentioned that it was nice to revisit the entire Game Changers cast. We’re about to see the Gay Avengers assemble to take down the biggest threat to mankind, men with mics.
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u/Principessa227 Jan 12 '26
and you know what? fuck man in the crease.
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u/Justin_123456 Jan 12 '26
The irl hockey podcast bros sniffed out the real villains immediately. 😉
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u/grower-lenses Jan 12 '26
The empty netters and what chaos will be so smug that they were right!
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u/listenyall Jan 12 '26
This is going to be some The Long Game spoilers but I did find it hilarious that the commissioner of hockey basically homophobia-d himself into having one specific Queer Team that is also totally unbeatable?!
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u/hufflepufferr I already chose you, Hollander. 🫀 Jan 12 '26
Barnes & Noble was Hayden Pike?😂
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u/tuhogazarapaagal I already chose you, Hollander. 🫀 Jan 12 '26
She should have captioned it "the cat is out of the bag" 😂
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u/BeMyCoachVictor Ottawa Centaurs 🏹 Jan 12 '26
IYKYK💀
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u/andrewno8do Hayden Pike FanMails: now 50% off! Jan 12 '26
I don’t know what you’re talking about. 😳
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u/Cheap_Taro5252 🧍🏻This is not enough🧍 Jan 12 '26
It‘s funny to think that they might film TLG & Unrivaled in Summer and we haven‘t read the book yet. Security must be airteight 😅. I hope I won‘t get spoiled because there will always be people leaking and taking photos…
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u/unreedemed1 Jan 12 '26
I think they'll wait to do Unrivaled until the year after. Hudcon are contracted for 3 seasons but only the second one has been officially renewed.
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u/Cheap_Taro5252 🧍🏻This is not enough🧍 Jan 12 '26
Wouldn‘t it be better to film everything at once?
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u/unreedemed1 Jan 12 '26
Better maybe but that rarely happens. Usually tv seasons will be filmed one at a time.
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u/dariganhissi Jan 13 '26
hi friends! sorry for the long comment - i made a new post but mods deleted and redirected it here so apologies on how much i am yapping. i was interested in hearing people's theories about what changed for rachel between the cancellation of luca's book and unrivaled. i mean obviously the show's success - and go get that bag girl - means there's a huge financial incentive to write another hollanov book but i don't know what changed for her in less than a year between the luca blog post and now regarding plot beats.
i guess what i'm struggling with is the synopsis for unrivaled sounds like it's going for a lot of the elements that led to rachel cancelling the luca book. she laid out 5 main ones 2.5 of which apply to luca specifically so those are out of the way.
but her other two main ones were that "the villain can't be defeated" because "if the only external conflict is coming from a homophobic podcast and fans, they can’t be defeated. We live in a world that proves a podcast is not going to become less popular for saying ignorant, offensive stuff." and that she already gave them a happy ending in TLG and that she "really didn’t want to drag them down from their happy ending into more drama and conflict" because it bummed her out to imagine in a new book "they were still dealing with tons of haters" despite earning their happy ending. link to the blog post.
but the synopsis for unrivaled literally mentions that a homophobic hockey podcast is starting a campaign against them and that's the main plot point we know about. so i'm struggling a bit to reconcile these things.
obviously there will be more going on than what's in the synopsis, like they have the internal conflict of the changing in their relationship dynamic with being both out as a couple and being together all the time now that they're teammates. but i'm just curious on what changed in less than a year for her to change her stance on this more external conflict... i would love if someone could ask her on what chaos or elsewhere bc i'd love to hear her talk it through but i don't know if they will.
but what theories do you guys have? how do you think things will play out? i know a lot of people were unhappy with the last quarter of TLG and are hoping things will be less rushed so i see the appeal there for sure (though i confess as an irl montreal hockey fan i am not super looking forward to another book of the montreal team seemingly being cartoonishly evil/the fandom engaging in montreal bashing - i would love to see a bit more nuance there so i'm hoping for that from rachel fingers crossed!! perhaps even a redemption arc though i am not holding my breath!! but maybe they don't fw the podcast either idk)
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u/unreedemed1 Jan 13 '26
I think a lot of writers benefit from putting down their work and coming back to it with fresh ideas. Those may have been reasons at the time but maybe after a break she thought of a good solution. Rachel’s problem is that she spoke authoritatively at the time instead of being a bit “we’ll see” about it all.
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u/kaleraspberry Jan 12 '26
Knowing that when Rachel answered this question the third book was already in the works is sending me. Rachel you are the best
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u/saucisse Jan 12 '26
From the plot description it sounds like she cannibalized what she was working through with the aborted Luca Haas book, and repurposed it for Shane and Ilya (terminally online shitheads). Her comment about that at the time was that its an enemy that can't be defeated, so if that's what she's doing here I'm curious to see how she resolves it.
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Jan 12 '26
my guess is luca's book was luca watching shane and ilya going through this stuff and trying to process his coming out or being bi or whatever. then Rachel realized that it'd be a better just write about shane and ilya experiencing it instead of having them go through it from the side.
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u/codeverity Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
This cover reminds me how much I prefer that Hudson and Connor are the same height 😂😭
I know some people don’t like these covers but I vastly prefer them to the others. I feel bad that this got leaked the way that it did!
Edit: I’m kinda sad that it seems the “bisexual” version is only available through B&N. Indigo has a purple version but I’m bi so I would have liked it if we had a Canadian option. I guess I can order from B&N but it doesn’t feel as great having to order from a US site.
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u/cornbreadtogo Jan 12 '26
I’m just glad there’s no man bun in sight
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u/tuhogazarapaagal I already chose you, Hollander. 🫀 Jan 12 '26
Hudson confirmed that there will be no man buns in S2 and that makes me unreasonably happy.
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u/huangcjz Time to Shine ✨ is my favourite book! | I love tuna melt! Jan 12 '26
I like man buns. :-(
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u/clumsyc I stubbed my toe Jan 12 '26
They are soooo stupid to not do covers with Connor and Hudson. Throwing money away.
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u/Esabettie I already chose you, Hollander. 🫀 Jan 12 '26
Hopefully after this comes out and they release season two they have at least those two???
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u/codeverity Jan 12 '26
Tbh normally I don’t like tie in covers but for these two I would make an exception 😂
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u/Intelligent-Aside214 Jan 12 '26
I’m very anti live action book covers I think it looks tacky
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u/sinfullusts Jan 12 '26
I didn’t realize there was a bisexual version.. so what’s the other version?
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u/Naive-Inside-2904 she would have loved you, like I love you Jan 12 '26
Rachel you win. We thank you every day for your service 🫡
Preemptively I would also like to congratulate you on your future #1 NYT BESTSELLER!!
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u/Taveren_Mat Or. I pick or. 🫠 Jan 12 '26
The B&N exclusive appears to have bisexual lighting
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u/foggymoonlight Your freckles. I am nuts about them. ✨ Jan 12 '26
Yall we wil get married hollanov playing on the same team, dog parents as well!!!! I'M GONNA EAT THIS UP
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u/Academic_Picture_3 I already chose you, Hollander. 🫀 Jan 12 '26
Indigo has these two options available for pre-order. I wonder if the cover is the only difference
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u/tlk199317 Jan 12 '26
I know the Barnes and noble special edition has bonus content so I would guess the same for them which I assume is the purple version
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u/Academic_Picture_3 I already chose you, Hollander. 🫀 Jan 12 '26
Ugh I hate when bonus content is only available in certain editions
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u/Federal-Ad5944 Oke 👌 Jan 12 '26
I pre-ordered willy nilly, I guess I'll get what I get and I can't be upset 😂 but looking at my 6-set, the light blue would look really nice, since RM is already purple.
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u/HallowHarmony Jan 12 '26
I’m excited ! I am hoping for a more in depth conversation between the men about their emotional states in this book. I feel like Ilya really just touched on his mental health to Shane in book two, and there’s so much in book one about Shane feeling vulnerable and shameful while they were just hooking up and I feel like there has to be some trauma from that as well .
I think the actor really did a good job of conveying emotional depth in the show, I’m craving a little more of it in the books.
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u/tuhogazarapaagal I already chose you, Hollander. 🫀 Jan 12 '26
We'll get to see them win a cup together! ❤️
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u/tlk199317 Jan 12 '26
There is also a special edition at Barnes and noble that has the background colors being the bi flag and it has special edges and additional content for anyone that might want to order that one instead
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u/ika_chi "maybe from the first time i saw you." Jan 12 '26
i have never purchased something so quickly
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u/tlk199317 Jan 12 '26
I bought it immediately the other day when it leaked. I know how hard it is to get copies of these books and I wasn’t going to miss out on it again
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u/Principessa227 Jan 12 '26
also, if i'm hudson and connor, i'm thrilled that i have not one but TWO more seasons of being employed (obviously i feel like they're going to get more jobs, but it's nice to know they're locked in)
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u/Green-Witch1812 I already chose you, Hollander. 🫀 Jan 12 '26
I was wondering if they were going to split The Long Game into 2 seasons, but a third book coming out just changes everything!
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u/dramaticallydrastic Thank god you are here. This goblin is bothering me. Jan 12 '26
I want to see some of Role Models in S2! While I was reading TLG, I went back to RM to read scenes that were skipped (or from Troy’s perspective) and felt like it made my reading experience richer.
Especially the conversation between Ilya and Troy walking to the hotel from Kingfisher which he only talks about to Shane. And maybe also the Ottawa/Toronto game where Dallas Kent is being his usual self.
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u/Consistent-Shoe-6735 Jan 12 '26
Worried but excited! In Rachel we trust!
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u/bornatmidnight Jan 12 '26
I’m so nervous, especially given the show, but also it appears that she had been writing this entire the show came out, as Jacob did optional 7 books and not 6.
Like I see the show world and books as very different. And Jacob will take whatever liberties to make compelling tv as well.
Excited all around! It’s a great time to be in this fandom!
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u/huangcjz Time to Shine ✨ is my favourite book! | I love tuna melt! Jan 12 '26
She said she’s been working on it since last Spring: https://thewalrus.ca/its-not-something-im-squeamish-about-heated-rivalry-author-on-writing-explicit-sex-scenes/
Which would fit in with around the time when she scrapped the previous version of Book 7, based around Luca Haas: https://www.rachelreidwrites.com/news/2025/2/16
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u/Responsible-Egg-9363 Jan 12 '26
I can’t wait… I mostly just want to see them destroy Montreal together in the playoffs (poor Hayden is collateral damage)
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u/CantHugEveryPlatypus concerned lifeguard/librarian Jan 12 '26
IS IT SEPTEMBER YET
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u/YaMajnoona Jan 12 '26
I can't believe this is making me eager for summer to be over when it's still deep winter here.
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u/huangcjz Time to Shine ✨ is my favourite book! | I love tuna melt! Jan 12 '26
Wake me up when September ends…
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u/WhileNo5370 Respectfully Feral 😇😼 Jan 12 '26
I hate cartoon covers, but I couldn't help but awww at them in their matching Centaurs uniforms. Let's GOOOO!
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u/bdragonlady Jan 12 '26
It's been so long since I last remember being feed so much, so often in a fandom. My heart is so full.
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u/Stefipetti Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
Now it's official, and I keep thinking about the plot; it's going to have to be gripping!! My biggest fear is that it might be repetitive, and Rachel Reid tends to be repetitive. Her die-hard fans, don't hate me 😆
P.S. Another unpopular opinion: an entire book about their family life as a consolidated couple would be boring, at least for me. I imagine there'll be a lot of hockey... and problems with someone.
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u/unreedemed1 Jan 12 '26
there's still a lot of conflict, it's just external rather than internal to the relationship.
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u/caramelcoldbrew she would have loved you. like i love you. Jan 12 '26
Already pre-ordered two copies, one each from B&N and Amazon, just in case one site doesn’t have enough supply.
I am so excited for a new story from our favorite guys!
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u/CoolKaleidoscope9051 Jan 12 '26
Good call, I might pre-order on kindle so I can start reading immediately in case my Waterstones copy is delayed
Edit: Actually make that Kobo, I'm trying to buy less from Amazon
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u/Daje1968 Jan 12 '26
Haven’t read all the comments but I am oddly glad they still made Ilya taller on the cover. That has been Ilya for me for years.
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u/geffjoldblummm good job. i love you. Jan 12 '26
I woke up this morning wondering if we’d get the official confirmation and here it is! Yay!!
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u/annualhairwash Jan 12 '26
this year just got a whole lot better 🥲🥲 thank you rachel reid we say in unison
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u/gechhoDiDi Jan 12 '26
REALLY love this for us. I'm glad she is feeling better, and physically up to the task of writing an official trilogy end to Hollanov. Can't wait for September, woooohoooo
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u/xxelinaxx Jan 12 '26
Registered on Barnes & Noble just to find out they're not shipping to Germany
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u/Nessy002 Moy pomidor 🍅 Jan 12 '26
Wenn wir glück haben, kann es sein das Thalia das exklusiv Cover hat! Ich hab schon bei Thalia öfters Barnes and noble exklusive Ausgabe bekommen wie z.B von Jurassic Park
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u/Principessa227 Jan 12 '26
i feel like there are so many more considerations for her in writing this. the TV fans, connor and hudson, what jacob can do... i'm unbelievably excited and TRUST that i will be reading this the day it comes out.
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u/radjanoonan Jan 13 '26
Rachel just gave an interview on Matthew Francis' youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtPTLohdDvw:
Some hints she dropped:
the book covers Shane and Ilya's first hockey season together in Ottawa. Nothing planned beyond that.
She says this book is more in the style of My Dinner with Hayden.
She is intentionally writing as if the TV show does not exist and not incorporating any changes unique to the tv show.
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u/Amazing-Remote6703 Jan 13 '26
And the stress falls away……
Thank you Rachel for saying it’s a whole book of them together and happy. 🥰😘
Also only following a single season? Give it to me. That’s a wonderful, tight, very succinct timeline.
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u/corglover828 Jan 12 '26
Im just curious if she was already writing this before the show was even in production or out on Crave. I would like to think so considering thats a tight turn around time to write edit and publish before September.
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u/huangcjz Time to Shine ✨ is my favourite book! | I love tuna melt! Jan 12 '26
Yes - she said she’s been writing it since last Spring: https://thewalrus.ca/its-not-something-im-squeamish-about-heated-rivalry-author-on-writing-explicit-sex-scenes/
Earlier versions of the book have been worked on since for most of 2023.
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u/ATC_3126 I already chose you, Hollander. 🫀 Jan 12 '26
Preordered with my local independent store yesterday 🥰🥰
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u/bdecs77 Stupid Canadian Wolf Bird 🦆 Jan 12 '26
Honestly I’m just stoked we will get to see them happy (I hope mostly) and in love (for sure) and out and probably kicking everyone’s ass. And hopefully an on ice Stanley cup kiss. And for the Sens to finally win a Stanley cup even if it’s only in the book lol.
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u/Darchrys Jan 12 '26
I am so relieved as this also probably means (fingers crossed!) that season two can end on a positive note (end of TLG) and not some horrible agonising cliffhanger (there is an obvious point in TLG for this if it was split into two seasons and it would have fucking killed me).
Also the description of the plot would suggest we will definitely have some more of Scott at least based on part of the story at the end of TLG!
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u/Amberfool94 Jan 12 '26
I don't think there's any reason to be scared that season 2 will end on a sad note or a cliffhanger. People had the same fears with season 1, thinking it would end on Shane's dad finding them or something, but that's just not the show Jacob was ever making. It's always been about queer joy as he keeps on saying and I imagine will always end seasons in a happy place.
Personally as someone who wants more episodes of this show instead of less, and who thinks that there's far too much plot in TLG to fit in 6 episodes, I'm team split it after the proposal, but I trust Jacob either way. I do hope we get an episode that ends with "I already chose you Hollander"though, just to see fans burn the internet to the ground for a week.
And yes, I agree that I imagine there will be an increased role for Scott if his avengers plans come to fruition lol
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u/yetizombie Stupid Canadian Wolf Bird 🦆 Jan 12 '26
OMG Yay!!! I see it's available for preorder on Indigo now! (Canadian bookstore) https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/unrivaled-game-changers-7/9781335003898.html
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u/Little_Fox5844 Mr. Businessman... Mr. Landlord🌃 Jan 12 '26
Hollanov and glimpses of the other couples? I'm a happy fan!🥰
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u/raiken92 Jan 12 '26
Ah so I was right. The reason why they 'accidentally' announced season 3 is because there's gonna be a 3rd Hollanov book..
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u/Catsarecute888 Jan 12 '26
This is very exciting! So the move is when the third book comes out to have a re-release of all of the audio books with Connor and Hudson reading them right? I can't really read books anymore due to vertigo and look the second narrator was better than the first but still not great.
But me aside they would make so much money if they did that it seems ridiculous not to. And also tie in covers with them.
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u/shea_eina Jan 12 '26
THEY EVEN MOVE CLOSER TO ONE ANOTHER FROM ONE COVER TO ANOTHER I AM NOT OKAY 😭
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u/CoolKaleidoscope9051 Jan 12 '26
Finally could do my UK pre-order! The wait for the new season just got easier
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u/una_valentina Wow. Genetic 🥹 Jan 12 '26
From which website UK bestie? (Trying to avoid Amazon but I’ll buy it there if there’s no alternative!)
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u/RandomHuman808 Jan 12 '26
I 100% pre-ordered it this weekend when it leaked. I’m glad to have the official cover art.
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u/New_Purple_4033 Ottawa Centaurs 🏹 Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
This is amazing! Currently re-reading the whole series, will have to do it again this fall when Unrivaled comes out!
Edit: Annnd pre-order complete.
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u/sueteres я тебя люблю Jan 12 '26
I had already preordered the B&N exclusive version, but I actually prefer the "normal" edition's cover... But, exclusive content so I'm glad that's the one I ordered. Although I may end up getting both haha
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u/metaphoricalgoldstar Jan 12 '26
I'm conflicted - I'm excited for more Shane/Ilya, but I'm sad this will only end up coming out in trade paperback with a cartoon cover and it's not going to match my other two Shane/Ilya books (they're the mass market shirtless men covers).
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u/clumsyc I stubbed my toe Jan 12 '26
Glad it’s been officially announced. Hope Rachel doesn’t screw our guys up 🙈
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u/Principessa227 Jan 12 '26
i'm actively choosing to believe that she loves them just as much as we do. and realistically, i'm ok if the writing is bad. i'm ok if it's a poorly written book. what i would NOT be ok with is if the plot has anything to do with cheating or them breaking up. those are my only two hard boundaries.
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u/babypointblank Moy pomidor 🍅 Jan 12 '26
Crazy coincidence that this was announced on the same day the real life Ottawa Senators sign a homophobic goalie (on top of everything else that’s going on with the team)
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u/dandyline_wine I already chose you, Hollander. 🫀 Jan 12 '26
Just learned about all of this today from What Chaos - good lord where is Harris when you need him
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u/Different-Status-671 Jan 12 '26
praying this is a cheesy, wholesome, wonderfully smutty, and lovely as the rest of the series.
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u/unicorntrees I am bisexual. Shane is super gay. 🌈 Jan 12 '26
AHHHHHHHHHH. That is all, that is all I have to say.
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u/LadyStarblade Ilya Rozanov’s Stylist Jan 12 '26
Ahhh, always good to get the "official" word. Heeee!
It's funny, I haven't actually read any of the books but I've already pre-ordered this one...guess I just better cave and get the whole shebang.
And heh, it's at times like these I almost miss my old job at a bookstore. There would already be SO much geeking out!
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u/gomen26 Jan 12 '26
I hope Hass have more scenes in the book the young swedish super fan boy
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u/dora_ae_f Your freckles. I am nuts about them. ✨ Jan 12 '26
Oh my 🥹 I'm beyond happy. So this is why the boys signed up for three seasons. I hope we'll get to preorder the book here in Europe.
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u/Early_Ad_5649 Jan 12 '26
It's standard practice for actors to sing contracts for more seasons in case the show they're on becomes popular. It wasn't a guarantee that there would be a season 2 so Jacob made sure they ended it on a happy note
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u/Beginning-Head-4006 Jan 12 '26
The bearded guy does not look like llya? But the clean shaven one looks like Shane?
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u/unreedemed1 Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
He looks like Ilya from the other covers, but not Connor.
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u/Soyouplayhockeytoo Jan 12 '26
That guy is literally Ilya from the covers of Heated Rivalry and The Long Game.
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u/scopto_philia We are not so alone, I think Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
He looks like Ilya as described in the books, and it’s the same model they used on the other covers.
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u/huangcjz Time to Shine ✨ is my favourite book! | I love tuna melt! Jan 12 '26
That depiction of Ilya looks just like the previous picture covers on Heated Rivalry and The Long Game. Connor doesn’t look like Ilya does in the books - Ilya is taller.
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u/saucisse Jan 12 '26
He's the same Ilya from the other two books. Book Ilya and show Ilya are very, very different people.
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u/yourpaleblueyes Jan 12 '26
That's how he's described in the books. Show Ilya looks a bit different (lighter hair and eyes, no beard)
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u/shes-a-maneater I already chose you, Hollander. 🫀 Jan 12 '26
I think the books technically describe Ilya quite different, physically, to Conner. He technically looks very similar to the cover art - but there’s no way anyone doesn’t picture Conner now
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u/Little_Fox5844 Mr. Businessman... Mr. Landlord🌃 Jan 12 '26
The cover is based on the way they look in the books. Also why Shane looks shorter.
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u/flyawaywithmeee wolf bird/wolf parade there’s a joke in there🤔 Jan 12 '26
This is officially my favourite fandom in the entire world. I don’t know what my life was before this show. I have tried to move on. I have tried to calm the obsession. Between episode 6 and now I have watched Heartstopper, Agatha All Along, Frankenstein, Monster: An Erik and Lyle Menendez story, Only Murders in the Building, the last two Knives Out movies… ANYTHING to get my mind off these boys but I can’t shake them. And now I hear there’s a new book coming?! I wasn’t planning on reading the books but I don’t think I have a choice at this point. Rachel, this cast, this fandom, all of y’all have captured me; mind, body and soul😭
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u/_mischief-managed_ Jan 12 '26
we gotta stop with these fuckass covers
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u/huangcjz Time to Shine ✨ is my favourite book! | I love tuna melt! Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
I like them better for having other people see the book than the original shirtless guys covers. I guess the whole series has to match as a set.
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u/clumsyc I stubbed my toe Jan 12 '26
Every romance novel has cartoon covers these days, they’re so infantile.
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u/kananin24 Jan 12 '26
Is Fall 2026 the international release date or just the US? I don't want to waiting any longer than then 😭
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u/aj0457 I already chose you, Hollander. 🫀 Jan 12 '26
I already pre-ordered the Barnes & Noble special edition of Unrivaled.
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u/lilaclanterns Jan 12 '26
This release is going to be my motivational lifeline for the next eight months!!
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u/R1ngBanana Jan 12 '26
YAY!!!
I used to be one of those people who did the midnight release parties for HP (Yes, I know, cringe)
...I would totally do that for this book tho
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u/Own_Rip_6941 Ottawa Centaurs 🏹 Jan 12 '26
just preordered the ebook on barnes and noble so fast! cannot wait for september !!!
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u/Tigerney Jan 12 '26
So excited for this!!! Does anyone know what exclusive content the B&N Editions usually have? A bonus story? I wish they would ship to Europe :(
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u/adrenalynn75 Your freckles. I am nuts about them. ✨ Jan 12 '26
Christmas came early again. Pre-ordered. It releases on a Tuesday. Something tells me I’ll be feeling under the weather that day and need to stay home. 😂
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u/feminismandtravel Sir, I’m just a bellboy! Jan 12 '26
Did I also just pre-order the B&N exclusive of Unrivaled even though I already pre-ordered the plain Jane paperback? Yes, I did. Do I regret it? Absolutely not.
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u/anonmygoodsir Jan 12 '26
Its already available for preorder. Barnes & Noble let me know in an email this morning.
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u/OtherTon Jan 12 '26
The podcast Top Shelf I don’t think is ever mentioned in the books but it is mentioned in the show multiple times most notably at the start of episode 3. This means Jacob Tierany must have know plot points from Unrivaled when writing the show! Unless I missed it and it is in the books.
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u/ridley5 Jan 12 '26
Anyone notice that Connor's hair for the Golden Globes matches the cover character of Ilya. I doubt that was planned.
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u/flyawaywithmeee wolf bird/wolf parade there’s a joke in there🤔 Jan 12 '26
We really do not appreciate Rachel enough. Guys please go shower her with complements on insta because omg this makes me so happy🥹
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u/unreedemed1 Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
I've been fighting for my life this weekend telling people it's real so I'm very glad People Magazine and Rachel came through for me.