When is the next Heated Rivalry book released?
Your guide to Rachel Reid's Game Changers series.
Who would’ve thought we’d all be tuning in to watch men play ice hockey? Only, of course, we’re not really watching Heated Rivalry for the hockey — we’re here for the magnetic romance between the two star players, Shane Hollander (played by Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie).
Their fierce on-ice rivalry is mirrored by undeniable off-ice chemistry, as the pair struggles to balance a secret relationship with the intense demands of their professional lives. It’s high-stakes sport meets high-stakes romance, and viewers have been hooked.
The series became an instant hit when season 1 premiered in its native Canada in December 2025, with such a strong response that a second season is already in the works. UK viewers were finally able to dive in when the show landed on 10 January 2026, and many of us have been eagerly devouring it ever since.
What some viewers may not realise, however, is that Heated Rivalry is adapted from a hugely popular book series. The show is based on Heated Rivalry, the second novel in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series, which centres on different gay couples navigating love, ambition and life in the world of professional ice hockey.
Once you’ve finished binge-watching the TV adaptation, chances are you’ll want even more heat on the ice. That’s where the books come in...
Here’s everything you need to know about the Heated Rivalry novels — also known as the Game Changers series. Happy reading.
When is the next Heated Rivalry book out?
Unrivaled is currently set for release on 29 September 2026.
The Heated Rivalry duo are easily the most beloved characters in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series — a fact made clear by one very important detail: Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov are the only couple to receive not just a sequel novel, but now a third book as well.
On 12 January 2026, Reid officially announced that Shane and Ilya would be returning for another instalment. Titled Unrivaled, the upcoming novel is the seventh book in the Game Changers series and follows the couple after The Long Game, exploring the next chapter of their relationship — and the new challenges that come with it.
The official synopsis reads: "For the first time in their professional hockey careers, Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander have nothing to hide. After more than a decade of keeping their love secret, they’re out, married, and even playing on the same team. The support has been incredible. Most of the time."
It continues: "While fans celebrate them, others in the hockey world are still reeling from the reveal. A growing backlash — led by the popular hockey podcast Top Shelf and the #TakeBackHockey movement — is making its presence felt. Standing together in the light was everything Shane and Ilya ever wanted. Now, they may be facing their biggest challenge yet."
And who knows, if season 2 of the TV adaptation proves just as successful as the first, this third novel could well provide the perfect blueprint for a potential season 3.
Heated Rivalry books in order
- Game Changers (2018)
- Heated Rivalry (2019)
- Tough Guy (2020)
- Common Goal (2020)
- Role Model (2021)
- The Long Game (2022)
- Unrivaled (2026)
1. Game Changers (2018)
This one will feel instantly familiar to fans of the show. Scott Hunter, the captain of the New York Admirals, is a star centre who finds himself stuck in a frustrating on-ice slump. One day, he stumbles into the Straw+Berry smoothie shop, and everything changes when sparks fly with grad student Kip.
Before long, Scott becomes a regular, with Kip’s smoothies (and unmistakable flirting) helping to pull him out of his rut. What starts as a chance encounter quickly turns into something far more meaningful.
Viewers were first introduced to Scott (François Arnaud) and Kip (Robbie G.K.) in season 1, making their story the perfect entry point into the Game Changers book series. Their romance offers a striking contrast to Heated Rivalry: instead of a slow burn rivalry, Scott and Kip fall hard and fast, while still tackling the realities of hockey’s deeply ingrained homophobic culture and the very real fears surrounding coming out.
2. Heated Rivalry (2019)
This is the book that had everyone frantically Googling the rules of ice hockey — especially those of us in the UK. Heated Rivalry follows Canadian golden boy Shane Hollander and Russian rebel Ilya Rozanov, who first meet as teenage prodigies on the road to the MLH (Major League Hockey) draft.
From the very beginning, they’re each other’s fiercest competition. Their legendary rivalry makes every on-ice matchup an unmissable event, fuelled by national pride, ego and an intense drive to win. But while the hockey world fixates on their clashes on the ice, the real tension simmers off it.
Behind closed doors, Shane and Ilya find themselves unable to resist one another, blurring the line between rivalry and desire, and setting the stage for one of the most addictive, slow burn romances in contemporary sports fiction.
3. Tough Guy (2020)
Unfortunately, we have to say goodbye to Ilya and Shane — for now — but there’s no need to worry, because book three in the Game Changers series is just as irresistible.
This instalment follows Ryan Price, an enforcer: a 6’7” giant whose role on the ice is to protect his team’s star players. Beneath the intimidating exterior, however, Ryan struggles with anxiety and deep-rooted self-esteem issues. When he’s transferred to Toronto, he’s determined to put down roots and finally connect with the city’s LGBTQ+ community.
Things take an unexpected turn when Ryan runs into his childhood crush, Fabian Salah. Confident, extroverted and a musician by trade, Fabian is the polar opposite of Ryan, and he can’t stand hockey. As the pair reconnect, Fabian becomes Ryan’s guide to Toronto’s gay scene, helping him step outside his comfort zone and into a life he’s long wanted.
But with their worlds colliding once again, the question remains: can a relationship survive when hockey threatens to come between them?
4. Common Goal (2020)
How do you shake things up in the fourth instalment of an MLH hockey romance series? You go for an age-gap romance.
Eric Bennett, the 41-year-old goalkeeper for the New York Admirals, has decided this will be his final season. He’s ready to retire, but is also facing an uncertain future after ending his 16-year marriage. Always aware of his bisexuality, Eric is now stepping into the dating world with men for the very first time... and has no idea where to start.
Enter Kyle Swift, a 25-year-old bartender at the Kingfisher (aka Kip’s favourite bar!). Kyle has made a personal vow to steer clear of older men, but when he and Eric meet, sparks fly. The two start off in a friends-with-benefits arrangement, but as the hockey season progresses, they both realise that hearts are rarely so easy to contain.
5. Role Model (2021)
It’s time for some classic grumpy-meets-sunshine energy — think black cat meets golden retriever.
Role Model brings back a familiar face from Game Changer: Troy Barrett, the closeted sidekick to homophobic bully Dallas Kent. Recently traded to the struggling Ottawa Centaurs after a scandal and a messy breakup, all Troy wants is to do his job and go home… until he meets the team’s social media manager, Harris Drover.
Sunny, outgoing Harris is determined to lift Troy’s spirits, even as he starts developing what he assumes is a one-sided crush. Slowly, Troy begins to see Ottawa not just as a fresh start on the ice, but as a chance to make amends for past toxic behaviour and embrace his full self.
And for fans of the series, there’s a bonus treat: Ilya Rozanov makes a memorable appearance in Role Model, keeping the Game Changers universe delightfully connected.
6. The Long Game (2022)
They’re back! The Long Game is the long-awaited sequel to Ilya and Shane’s story.
At the start of the novel, it’s been 10 years since Shane and Ilya’s secret hookup blossomed into a full-blown romance, and the pair have reached a crossroads. Shane is at the top of his game and doesn’t want to rock the boat, while Ilya, now playing for Ottawa, worries they could be sneaking around for another decade.
Now it’s time to decide what truly matters: each other, or hockey?
For fans of the television show, The Long Game will likely provide the foundation for season 2 of Heated Rivalry, promising even more drama, passion, and on-ice tension.
How is the show different to the books?
As always, adaptations require some changes, and Heated Rivalry is no exception.
The TV series speeds up the timeline, condenses events, and trims much of the internal monologue that gives readers insight into Shane and Ilya’s thoughts. These adjustments make sense given the show’s six-episode run and budget constraints.
The differences are noticeable right from the opening. While the book spends time exploring Shane and Ilya’s lives before they meet — giving readers a sense of their personalities and why we should root for them — the series drops viewers straight into their first encounter.
Surprisingly, the show also downplays the hockey itself. The intensity of their on-ice rivalry and the stakes that drive their competitive spirit are less prominent than in the book.
However, the series adds new layers, particularly to Shane’s character. His Asian-Canadian identity is explored in greater depth, and his mother emerges as a more formidable 'mom-ager' presence.
One change fans particularly lamented is the omission of the book’s prologue, as well as a different, shortened ending that cuts the original epilogue, one of the most beloved parts of the novel.
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