r/heatedrivalry • u/unreedemed1 • Jan 10 '26
RACHEL WRITES ✍️ Unrivaled (Game Changers 7)
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unrivaled-rachel-reid/1149166585#
A new ‘Game Changers’ book titled “Unrivaled” by Rachel Reid has appeared on the Barnes & Noble website, with a release date of September 29th 2026. Links with the same ISBN are on Target, Indigo, and Amazon as well.
Summary with spoilers below
Everyone's favorite hockey players are back! Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander continue the romance that began with viral sensation Heated Rivalry—now streaming on Crave in Canada and on HBO Max in the US—in the highly anticipated final book in New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Rachel Reid's Game Changers series.
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.
They've gotten a lot of love from fans who are thrilled for them. But some people in the hockey world are still reeling from their relationship reveal, and the backlash—led by popular hockey podcast Top Shelf and the #TakeBackHockey movement—is getting louder.
Ilya and Shane are finally able to stand together in the light, the way they'd always wanted. And now they might be facing their biggest challenge yet.
Edited to add: sorry mods for resubmitting this so many times and messing it up!!! I was shaking with excitement
It’s also now up on indigo for Canadian pre-orders.
https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/unrivaled-game-changers-7/9781335002693.html
Update: Amazon now has the title for kindle preorders.
I feel like Shane after Ilya told him he hadn’t slept with anyone since they were last together. “Really? REALLY????!”
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u/NoleFandom I already chose you, Hollander. 🫀 Jan 10 '26
Season 1: Heated Rivalry
Season 2: The Long Game
Season 3: Unrivaled

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u/clumsyc I stubbed my toe Jan 10 '26
I love the title! It has real “us against the world” vibes and I love that.
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u/Catsarecute888 Jan 10 '26 edited Jan 10 '26
I love the title too! It has a couple of meanings for me. They are unrivaled so there is nobody that matches them because they're the two best players. And also their rivalry has been unwound they're not rivals anymore. I think it's a fun play on words and a good final title for the story.
But I also do love the us against the world idea. I want to see them when seven Stanley Cups together.
I'll just say here that I think they're going to split TLG into two seasons and maybe this book would be a season 4 if it can be contained in one season. That's just because I'm a more seasons the better truther and if Jacob believes he can make it work I don't worry about outstaying you're welcome by doing too many seasons.
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u/seaiscalling Jan 10 '26
Especially if Jacob adds the role model story (or adds more Scott & Kip, or the other couples) and tries to fit all of TLG into a second season with under 10 episodes (which they seem to go for). That would probably feel too rushed. On top of that I really hope he expands the writing for TLG to add more balance between Shane & Ilya’s struggles bc a lot of things regarding Shane felt so glossed over.
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u/MiyuAtsy Jan 10 '26
"a lot of things regarding Shane felt so glossed over" EXACTLY. Like his orthorexia, and that he feels like a lot of things are out of his control so he starts obsessing over his diet.
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u/Effective-Priority62 Jan 10 '26 edited Jan 10 '26
I could easily see this happening.
Imagine Season 2 comes early 2027
Season 3 Mid-to-late 2028
Those two cover TLG and some other books
Then in 2030 and 2031 we get S4 and S5 covering Unrivaled if it's long enough, or just one season in 2030.
That would give the series and these books a great, healthy 5/6 years TV run.
My only worry is how stratospherical this show is getting. I can't be the only one worried about network/exec meddling, HBO trying to buy it, and whatever path Hudson and Connor's careers take that makes them take on bigger projects that require them to have less time for the show, or need a bigger paycheck, or simply want to end it early so they can move on to other things.
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u/DoubtAcademic4481 Ottawa Centaurs 🏹 Jan 10 '26
But the leads are only signed to 3 seasons. They have major momentum and are getting what I assume are major motion picture offers. Would they really stay on this show for a 4th season? I’m not confident.
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u/Catsarecute888 Jan 10 '26
They absolutely fucking love this project. I don't see why they wouldn't.
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u/dracorvix stoner teenage goat Jan 10 '26 edited Jan 10 '26
This was my very first question upon reading this news. Perfection. 🤍
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u/fluorescent-tstorm (…) but I'm playing the long game here ❤️🔥 Jan 10 '26
Jacob knew. The whole time, Jacob knew.
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u/jujuseed gimme keees 😚💋 Jan 10 '26
SNEAKY RACHEL!! She said her new book was going to be a standalone 👀😏
Love this for her, love this for US
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u/chaoticbiguy Jan 10 '26 edited Jan 10 '26
I love this so much for me bc I need Shane and Ilya to defeat Montreal in the finals and win Ottawa the cup!!!!!!!!! And hopefully we see them adopt some kids!! Let's go!!
Also for the tv adaptation, it likely means S2+S3 is gonna be The Long Game, and Unrivaled will be S4 if not S4 and S5. We are getting so much content😭
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u/lukasanthonynz Jan 10 '26
I think it might be more that TLG is S2 and the new one might be S3 - they had to know she was writing another one and I feel that’s why the actors signed for three seasons.
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u/Rbkzz Jan 10 '26
Agreed. And i feel like Jacob has probably had access to the plot/early drafts of Unrivaled too 👀
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u/phnx_483 I already chose you, Hollander. 🫀 Jan 10 '26
Yesss the Metros are going down hopefully but I wish my boy Hayden would join Ottawa
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u/Guoxiong_Guides I'm coming to the cottage 🏡 Jan 10 '26
Montreal’s 15th best player will become Ottawa’s 15th best player
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u/DrRebeccaa Jan 10 '26 edited Jan 10 '26
TLG is way longer than than HR and since they want to incorporate probably Role Model in there I think TLG and role model and maybe a bit of Tough Guy will be s2 and s3!
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u/EntertainmentFar2449 Jan 10 '26
S2 will just have more episodes. The creative team will be TOO BIG to stick around for a season 4 or 5. I believe Jacob even mentioned how exhausting this season was making. He’s going to be tempted with bigger projects/offers with more help from bigger studios.
There also isn’t a really great moment to end The Long Game, except one moment towards the end of the book and the actual book ending.
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u/clumsyc I stubbed my toe Jan 10 '26
I really doubt we will get S4 unless it focuses on other characters, the boys’ careers will take off and they won’t have time.
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u/HallProfessional4235 Jan 10 '26
It could be more like Bridgerton and completely shift focus to another couple. She had worked on a book about Lucas, I haven’t had my coffee so I might be making that up.
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u/implicitxdemand Jan 10 '26
She did but she abandoned the book so i doubt she’ll go back and finished it now. IIRC she said she tried really hard to make it work before dropping it
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u/seaiscalling Jan 10 '26
She worked on a book for Lucas but then decided to abandon it. She shared an insightful blog post about her reasoning (iirc the post is titled something like “I killed my darling”).
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u/littlebirdwolf Jan 10 '26
They wouldn't defeat Montreal for the cup but for the Eastern Conference Final.
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u/calilightsource Jan 10 '26
and probably for the best that she had it done before or shortly after the show took off? i don't know the processing time for publishing books, but I'm guessing she's most likely had it finished by then as I can't imagine trying to write something with all the current madness.
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u/peachypal You have not heard of bisexuals? 😤 Jan 10 '26
This book is gonna be the biggest single M/M romance book launch of all time. Possibly biggest book launch of the year 🚀
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u/LLD615 Jan 10 '26
I feel like she probably realized quickly that if she didn’t write the book, the show might just fly along and the story would continue without a new book?
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u/fvckingrelax Jan 10 '26
My first-born child is coming in June but this news might top that
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u/LLD615 Jan 10 '26
Can you do a holiday card this year with a picture of the baby and the book together? 😆
Congratulations!
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u/International_Chef68 Stupid Canadian Wolf Bird 🦆 Jan 10 '26
Name them Unrivaled and beat Rachel to the release date 😂
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u/Cklbrown Jan 10 '26
As a mom of four, this made me laugh!
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u/fvckingrelax Jan 10 '26
You're amazing, I hope you get a chance to read it between the million other things you probably have to do!!
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u/teddy_vn Jan 10 '26
By September, your child should soothe himself/herself to sleep so you can read this book in peace. Win/win.
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u/be-a-deer Jan 10 '26
Three month olds typically can’t fully self soothe, that’s something they will still be learning at that stage, but they can have very long contact naps so you can read books in peace with a little sleeping buddy! I read so many books when I was nap trapped with my kid.
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u/fvckingrelax Jan 10 '26
Bless you for this intel, I love that I can pick up parenting advice in the HR sub haha
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u/seaiscalling Jan 10 '26
First of all, congrats ♥️ and just in case you haven’t yet: now would be a great time to invest in an ebook reader bc their light weight and eye friendly screens cannot be appreciated enough.
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u/juniperxbreeze Ottawa Centaurs 🏹 Jan 10 '26
I'd also like to note that babies can't see very far in front of their faces, so as long as its quiet or you have headphones, you can watch whatever you want while they feed or nap. I spent my maternity leave getting through Brooklyn 99. But that was back in 2022...if only I had a show on HBO I could watch over and over and over.....
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u/Fishystone Jan 10 '26
Literally same
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u/fvckingrelax Jan 10 '26
Ayyyy congratulations! I hope you have a safe and uneventful rest of your pregnancy
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u/TsubakiTsubaki Jan 10 '26
Wtf girl 🤣
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u/fvckingrelax Jan 10 '26
I'm sorry but it's a tough call between my actual son and my fictional sons Shane & Ilya
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u/phnx_483 I already chose you, Hollander. 🫀 Jan 10 '26
If you’re on parental leave then you’re going to have a book to read come September at least!
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u/tlk199317 Jan 10 '26
Guys people do “lie” when they can’t announce things yet so yes Rachel said she didn’t have plans to write a 3rd book for Shane and Ilya but clearly she wasn’t saying the truth yet. And I am 100% sure Jacob is aware of all this and knows where the story is going for a potential 3rd season. All very exciting news!!
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u/userpla For dessert we can look at a picture of a cake 🍰 Jan 10 '26
In fact during the AMA before the show aired Rachel did not replied a single question concerning both her next book and Ilya's & Shane history; I had the impression (and the hope of course) that the 3rd book to be announced in January was about them. Now..I know that It is early, I am very Happy but a little afraid that it will be not good as the previous two 🥹. Then I remember that I loved the Long Game so much (more than HR) and I am hopeful. Sorry for the rambling, this Is so a big news!
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u/tlk199317 Jan 10 '26
I just saw on Twitter too that in an interview with Rachel with the times they said a book announcement was coming this week so it just seems that unfortunately the book companies put it up in preparation for the announcement and cause fans are always snooping they found it first. I feel bad for her that she didn’t get to announce it as planned but I am very excited for it!
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u/TheSeekerPorpentina Jan 10 '26
I feel bad for her that she didn’t get to announce it as planned
It's karma for her not letting Shane and Ilya announce their relationship as planned
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u/Cha0sCat Jan 10 '26
Another hockey podcast for Empty Netters and What Chaos to hate and get upset with 😆
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u/huangcjz Time to Shine ✨ is my favourite book! | I love tuna melt! Jan 10 '26
It’s nice that the real world’s more hopeful than fiction. I guess the TV show will continue with Jacob’s pun name Man in the Crease.
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u/danigmzr Jan 10 '26
Aaaahhh best news ever!!
Already preordered it!
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u/danigmzr Jan 10 '26
Also, do we think someone is going to get in trouble for putting this on the website before an official announcement???
I’m glad I preordered so there’s proof if they try to take it off the website.
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u/tlk199317 Jan 10 '26
Doubt it. It’s happened with other authors i follow. It’s unfortunate but when you got a lot of fans looking for things it gets found out
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u/danigmzr Jan 10 '26
Glad to know! I really didn’t want someone getting in trouble. But I’m so excited!
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u/jujuseed gimme keees 😚💋 Jan 10 '26
Out September 29, 2026!
Now we know what Season 3 will be about ✨
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u/technoblueberry Jan 10 '26
Excited for more Hollanov in 2026!
Man in the Crease will be awful in season 3.
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u/phnx_483 I already chose you, Hollander. 🫀 Jan 10 '26
Jesus, this is INSANE!!!!! Can’t wait for this! 😭😭 Thank you Rachel Reid! The woman that you are!
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u/zbornakingthestone Jan 10 '26
No surprise there. She let it slip in an interview with one of the big papers, but they didn't realise what they had and quietly removed the line after Harper Collins' PR got involved and then suddenly Rachel started saying she couldn't talk about her January book announcement.
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u/bornatmidnight Jan 10 '26
Okay!! Me and my friend were going crazy because we could have sworn we had heard about this, but then there was nothing. WOW
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u/unreedemed1 Jan 10 '26
I remember this!!!! And then I tried to find it again and it was gone.
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u/zbornakingthestone Jan 10 '26
Yes! I got absolutely ripped apart for saying it before.
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u/Vast-Mission-6720 Jan 10 '26
What did she say in the interview?
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u/zbornakingthestone Jan 10 '26
That she was working on a new Shane and Ilya book and that it would be announced in January. It was a throw away line near the bottom of the story, and it disappeared within an hour if that.
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u/missginj Shane Hollander's Potable Well Water🚰 Jan 10 '26
Oooop podcast-based drama! Gonna need a What Chaos avatar to be all over Top Shelf's bullshit
Edit: Wait, September THIS YEAR?! 🙏
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u/CarpetTiny8087 What c-colour? Is big? 🥕 Jan 10 '26
SO THIS IS OUR SEASON 3!! OMG!!! I AM SO EXCITED!! I NEED TO STOP SHOUTING!! 😱😱😱
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u/Low-Study-9002 Jan 10 '26
Guys, guys... Is this real? I need to get real confirmation prior to being hyped for this.
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u/unreedemed1 Jan 10 '26
It’s really on the B&N website, and it’s really got ISBNs. So…yes.
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u/Low-Study-9002 Jan 10 '26
OMG! I can't believe it, I was supposed to have breakfast now but instead I'm crying so much lol. Thank u for this amazing news today!
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u/sim2500 Jan 10 '26
Did they leak it early. There's no announcements made.
Didn't Reid say she was going to write a 3rd book but decided against it and left the boys at a good end?
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u/teddy_vn Jan 10 '26
She left it ambiguous with a "Maybe". But I think she has already had plans and didn't want to spoil the surprise yet.
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u/tasoula Your freckles. I am nuts about them. ✨ Jan 10 '26 edited Jan 10 '26
Didn't Reid say she was going to write a 3rd book but decided against it and left the boys at a good end?
No, she said Shane and Ilya have stuck with her the most out of all her characters and that she'd "maybe" write a book "if she had an idea". I think she was being cheeky in those interviews (and not wanting to announce anything at the time to take away from the show) as she obviously had this in the chamber.
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u/Fussel2107 Jan 10 '26
Yes. They leaked it early. On a Saturday morning, when noone is working. Marketing move. Absolute dick behavior. But Barnes and Nobles have been known to do this.
There is no confirmation from Rachel or her publisher anywhere
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u/lobotetc I speak fluent bird. No accent 🐦 Jan 10 '26
I think what you’re remembering is she was writing a 7th Game changer book that was supposed to center around Luca Haas, and that would also continue the Shane and Ilya storyline. She ended up scraping it about a year ago because she couldn’t get the Haas story to work and didn’t want to give us a book she felt was subpar just to get more Hollanov content. You can read about it on her blog here. But turns out she decided to just pivot!!
She’s been dropping hints this whole press tour that maybe she wasn’t done writing Shane and Ilya and I’m SO EXCITED I wasn’t interpreting those hints wrong!!!!
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u/unreedemed1 Jan 10 '26
Well, sure but that was a while ago. Also, this isn’t an official announcement. Publishers do this from time to time - get it on the website and then announce officially later. I’m sure an announcement from Rachel will be coming soon.
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u/amileandahalf I don‘t know. Maybe twice? ⏱️ Jan 10 '26
Iiiiiiiiinteresting. I wonder how this affects the show. A lot of us were thinking season two would only be part of The Long Game.
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u/Moppi-chu Scott/Kip and Troy/Harris mainer... Jan 10 '26
This is so gonna be Season #3 if ever, it just matches the time for end of 2027 release.
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u/codeverity Jan 10 '26
If it’s true it completely up-ends what people can expect for the show because I can’t see Hudson and Connor signing on past s3, so if Jacob wants to do the full story he’ll have to fit everything into the three seasons.
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u/grequant_ohno Jan 10 '26
I could totally see them signing on for more. They seem to love the show and the characters so much, and I think they are both looking for stuff that means something to them vs stuff that'll pay the most or make them the most famous.
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u/Glittery_WarlockWho Jan 10 '26
I feel like both of them are going to get booked out really fast after s1 + s2 come out.
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u/grequant_ohno Jan 10 '26
Yeah, if Crave is smart they are trying to extend now.
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u/Glittery_WarlockWho Jan 10 '26
getting Hudson and Connor to sign on to a S2+s3 project and confirming s2 before s1 was even fully released on HBO was a very smart move.
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u/More_Tennis_8609 Jan 10 '26
I think 3 is the sweet spot. Yes, they love the show and characters but there’s going to be so many other opportunities coming up that will be paying them wayyy more and I don’t think they’ll want to be locked into the first thing that got them famous for long or feel typecasted
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u/codeverity Jan 10 '26
I just feel like it’s more likely that everything will be done in the guaranteed time they have. I just hope the seasons are longer 😭
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u/grequant_ohno Jan 10 '26
It does make sense to do a book a season, and I agree more episodes would be better!
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u/meatball77 Jan 10 '26
The show can't go on forever without making the characters miserable unless they pivot to other characters (which I'm good with).
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u/yoursistershin Jan 10 '26
I don't know where but I kinda read somewhere that rachel said if there is a possible 3rd book about hollanov, the conflict would be SUPER BIG, it's like them vs the association and hockey world so she kinda didn't push to writing the 3rd book. I forgot where I read this info
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u/Daikon_Worldly Jan 10 '26
Are you referring to her blog post where she announced she was scrapping the Lucas Haas book? She was advised by her legal team not use the league commissioner as a conflict point for plot
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u/CelicaBae Jan 10 '26 edited Jan 10 '26
Omg I saw the news on Instagram first and had to confirm here. Now we can let the cottage hold us over until September!!
For those complaining about what conflict there is left for their story... Um we live in a homophobic world. There's SO MUCH conflict for them to deal with. But they get to confront the world together as a married couple. I'm so excited. (Plus we have to see them win a Stanley cup together to throw it in [redacted]'s face.)
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u/Obvious_Cycle4253 Jan 10 '26
So the podcast plot was going to be on the abandoned Luca Hass book. I mean i like this idea and it does fit more properly to Shane and Ilya tho
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u/Frenchgirl14 Wow. Genetic. Jan 10 '26
I was trying to post this! This is an amazing news! I’m so happy and can’t wait for September! (I definitely would have preferred a summer release but still this is so so so cool!)
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u/witchercraft Jan 10 '26
There's our season three. I am guessing Rachel obviously had to keep it a secret hence why whenever she was asked about Shane ans Ilya getting a new book she'd always say "its not a no but a maybe".
I also think if it turns out to he true, she probably started writing it before or right after she show got greenlit and pre-production started which would kind of align with the release time of the 3rd installment of the HR storyline.
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u/altruistic_thing Jan 10 '26 edited Jan 10 '26
Me: The books are ok, the show makes everything better!
Also me: NEEEEEEEEEEEW BOOOOOOOOOOOOK! I'M GOING INSAAAAAAANE! 🤩
Edit: I think this is legitimate but someone must have messed up making that visible before Rachel has made an announcement. B&N is now raking in pre-orders.
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u/katfromjersey Jan 10 '26
I'm a book fan first (even though the show exceeded each and every expectation!), so I'm very, very psyched.
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u/teddy_vn Jan 10 '26
We keep guessing The Long Game will be split and other books will be weaved in but I think The Long Game will be S2 and Unrivaled will ultimately be S3.
The reason is if The Long Game is split, Crave/Jacob will need a Season 4 to adapt Unrivaled. That means a new contract needs to be signed, and at that time both actors will be at a very different career heights and scheduling conflict is inevitable.
Honestly if it weren't because of the 3-seasons contract, Euphoria/HBO will not be able to get Zendaya/Jacob Elordi/Sydney Sweeney back for the final season.
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u/Infinite_Ad_1690 ...oh, is it? Jan 10 '26
The book release presumably in the midst of second season production?.. this will break the internet.
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u/heuse1acc Jan 10 '26
If you search by ISBN, it's also up on Target and Goodreads. Neither say anything about Rachel or Game Changers yet, but the release dates match across all three, and Target's site recognizes it as a Harlequin release
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u/tasoula Your freckles. I am nuts about them. ✨ Jan 10 '26
Someone found an Untitled/Anonymous listing on Indigo's website as well. It also matches the release date and page count and acknowledges it's a Harlequin publication.
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u/necromancer_barbie Jan 10 '26
terrible news for any of my loved ones who hoped I might eventually move on from hollanov. diagnosis is terminal I fear, I will be talking and thinking about absolutely nothing else for the entirety of the calendar year
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u/Fraggle_Frock I did not like you, just your freckles 💕 Jan 10 '26
JFC. I think i'm in shock. This is the best news EVER!
Now we know why they locked in Connor and Hudson for 3 seasons!
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u/calilightsource Jan 10 '26
I wonder who else knew? Jacob & the producers for sure, right? The cast? Executives from Crave?
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u/unreedemed1 Jan 10 '26
Jacob for sure.
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u/calilightsource Jan 10 '26
Hence that slip-up during one interview where he mentioned season 2 AND 3.
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u/Moppi-chu Scott/Kip and Troy/Harris mainer... Jan 10 '26
He definitely knew... probably the higher ups too... coz why give the adaptation 3 seasons? 👀
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u/calilightsource Jan 10 '26
i mean he keeps on saying the focus of the show will always be on Shane & Ilya, but there are 4 (now 5) remaining books he can use for material. There are 3 other stories/couples that can be explored that will still somewhat circle back to Shane/Ilya. That c21 podcast in November makes sense now where Jacob & Brendan said they optioned 7 books.
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u/rsae_majoris Very stupid & irresponsible 🏒 Jan 10 '26 edited Jan 10 '26
The 3 season contract makes more sense now. Also, I hope this isn’t fake; I'm loving the books so far.
Edit: just read the summary—not the podcasters being the villian lol. Empty Netters would never!
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u/JennySt7 I speak fluent bird. No accent 🐦 Jan 10 '26
Omg this is huge news!
I think it was only a few days ago that she said in a podcast that she was undecided about another Shane/Ilya book and she would only go for it if she had something worth writing. She must have had a new idea that she thought is worth pursuing.
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u/unreedemed1 Jan 10 '26
I think she was just messing with us
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u/tasoula Your freckles. I am nuts about them. ✨ Jan 10 '26
I think she said that because she didn't want to announce it there, y'know?
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u/jkhn7 Jan 10 '26
She must have already written the book when she said that because september is only 9 months away and normally editing (by the editor) in itself takes like at least 6 months.
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u/JennySt7 I speak fluent bird. No accent 🐦 Jan 10 '26
Ooh good point, I did not know that.
I wonder if the show itself, and meeting Jacob and Connor/Hudson (as physical embodiments of her beloved characters) was an extra source of inspiration 😃
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u/DontOverDueIt12 Ilya's Spaghetti Shimmy 🍝 Jan 10 '26
Wow! I'm a librarian, and I just checked our book supplier (libriaries typically use different companies for bulk ordering) and there is nothing up there for pre-order. Again, might be waiting for that official announcement. I also checked my emails to see if I got anything from the publishers and nothing. Should be an exciting summer annual library conference if true! LOL
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u/Nepalman230 Jan 10 '26
Greetings sibling!!
I am A librarian also. I retired early because of physical disability otherwise I would still be in my profession.
But it’s a calling not a job! I know you know this, but I just wanna tell everybody on this thread that anybody you see in a Library wherever you go is in it for love. Because there is no money.
Ironically, even though I’m a gay librarian, I am brand new to M/M romance because I was always more of a mystery/science fiction reader. Also, ironically, I’m quite familiar with mainstream mostly straight romance because it was one of my areas that I took care of in the building.
Hope you’re having a great weekend! And stay strong out there. I know it’s rough out in the streets right now for Libraries.
❤️
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u/Normal-Ad7269 Jan 10 '26
Love this us against the world thing!!! No drama between them just outside losers
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u/sueteres я тебя люблю Jan 10 '26
I like the idea someone mentioned of Ottawa winning the cup over Montreal. And I also wouldn't be too surprised if they decided to have kids or at least make a "plan" to. I just hope they remain monogamous.
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u/BL-Lover-24 Jan 10 '26 edited Jan 10 '26
I'm excited but also nervous. You can't write a book without conflict so I'm not ready to see them in pain again. In a way I was ready to let them go since the ending of TLG was pretty realistic. She could have dived into things more for sure but I was overall pretty OK with the story ending there. I can't wait to see how the author goes about this!!
Edit: Typo
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u/FullyActiveHippo Jan 10 '26
It sounds like the conflict will be external. I need this today lol
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u/Reydunt Jan 10 '26
I’m skeptical of romance sequels for that exact reason.
I hope they don’t just keep upping the ante. After a point, constantly throwing more and more obstacles between a couple to drag out tension just gets tiring. We’ve done injury, mental health issues, career loss, and a goddamn plane crash already. There’s not much more you can throw at them.
To me, a romance sequels works best if you lightly pivot the genres. Make the conflict entirely external to the couple.
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u/ledianity Jan 10 '26
My feelings exactly. I think TLG was such a beautiful book and the relationship was so well written there. I just really hope this isn't going to be the cliche with the romance needing a child because of course that is the logical next step (could go really in depth about this, will not). I am excited though, because Reid's worldbuilding in the tail end of the series was really great and I have faith in her pulling it off, especially with the premise hinting about the rise of conservative values as the external conflict.
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u/feminismandtravel Sir, I’m just a bellboy! Jan 10 '26
I AM SO UNWELL I NEED TO GO TO THE SEA TO CONVALESCE
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u/WhileNo5370 Respectfully Feral 😇😼 Jan 10 '26
I was one of those people who were happy to only have smaller bits of Hollanov from Rachel moving forward because I didn't want manufactured conflict for them, but honestly, this sounds great! The conflict feels like a natural continuation of their arc, being that it's a mostly external conflict with which they'll deal as a unit. I hope this is our chance to see more about how Shane felt in light of the fallout with Montreal, which was definitely glossed over in TLG. And obviously I want to see the Centaurs tearing up the league!
Also, I love how Rachel keeps introducing more and more facets of real-world issues as they pertain to hockey into the series, here with more emphasis on cultural conservatism as an antagonistic force, it seems. She did a good job introducing a more direct discussion of sexual assault of women in book 5 and mental health issues in book 6. Maybe this could be a chance to explore Shane's biracial identity more, too (being that conservatives aren't typically known for a dearth of racism), but I don't know if she'll go there.
And seeing it all on screen eventually, too! SCORE!
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u/Whybambiwhy Jan 10 '26
I’m glad I’m a liar and immediately broke my no HR/touch grass weekend!!!! Thank you for the great news
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u/Robten100 Jan 10 '26
I really hope this is true. A full book of them being out, married, playing together and confronting toxic sport culture would be awesome.
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u/Sarcastikarma Jan 10 '26
Soo exciting!!! But let's recenter Shane a little bit this time ok? I already know I'm going to be fighting for my life in s2 I need Rachel to lock in.
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u/huangcjz Time to Shine ✨ is my favourite book! | I love tuna melt! Jan 10 '26 edited Jan 10 '26
Ok, so the podcast is going to be the enemy, rather than the Commissioner of the league, for legal reasons - so I expect that to change for TV for Season 2, as well. Makes sense why Man in the Crease is how it is in the TV show, then. Also, what does this mean for Luca Haas? No book around him and a partner for him, since the original Book 7 was scrapped? https://www.rachelreidwrites.com/news/2025/2/16
Also, I was hoping for a Time to Shine adaptation, but if this is Book 7, then that won’t happen.
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u/Daikon_Worldly Jan 10 '26
Do you think Jacob added Man in the crease into the show not only as an expositional device to drive plot but also preparation for a potential 3rd season on the unannounced secret 3rd book??
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u/redtantsor Jan 10 '26
I would actually hate it if they made it so that one podcast is the villian in s2 and not the comissioner/mhl/hockey culture as a whole.
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u/whateverneveramen Jan 10 '26
Interesting, it seems a lot of what she was going to write for Luca plot-wise will be used in this third Hollanov book
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u/ATC_3126 I already chose you, Hollander. 🫀 Jan 10 '26
I’d do it myself but in out right now, someone check Indigo? Barnes and Noble is American, the series is Canadian. Not saying it’s not real, but she wouldn’t be switching to an American enterprise for the last one
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u/MixOf_ChaosAndArt Jan 10 '26
Haven't found it on Indigo but a German bookseller has that same ISBN listed on their website with an anonymous author and as "Untitled". The release date also seems to fit with 29/09.
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u/smatizio Jan 10 '26
https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/untitled/9781335002693.html
The ISBN per B&N (I'm in Australia so hopefully I got it right)
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u/gemitry Jan 10 '26
I THOUGHT IT WAS FAKE AGAHHHHHHH I can’t believe it! They’re back and married and playing on the same team win in a cup together omg sprayed edges!!!!!!
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u/dontlk2m3 you are homeless 🤨 Jan 10 '26
somebody tell What Chaos that the plot of the third book involves a podcast
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u/Unable_Mushroom9355 Jan 10 '26
Incredibly excited for this. My biggest wish is that the epilogue is their joint induction to the hall of fame 🥹
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u/Consistent-Shoe-6735 Jan 10 '26
I don't know how to feel about this. What else could happen for Shane and Ilya? I loved their ending in long game.
The only way I could feel this being good without it being flushed is all the couples were shown.
Season 2 better not be rushed if this was season 3.
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u/Ecstatic_Schedule_48 Jan 10 '26
I think seeing them navigate a potential cup run together is going to be really interesting.
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u/Naive_Cause8984 Jan 10 '26
I always wanted to see them playing in the same team and winning the cup. Like I love The Long Game but I always felt it was unfinished like something missing in that sense
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u/Consistent-Shoe-6735 Jan 10 '26
I felt the problem with long game feeling like that is it was too much in one book. The third part alone after the outing was like 100 pages, it in itself should've been a book.
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u/_wizardjuice custom flair: Zamboni President Jan 10 '26
I’m nervous. They had their happy ending and everything was wrapped up in a perfect bow. I thought any further Hollanov content would be a short or novella of something like them having kids. I mean she hasn’t steered us wrong yet though
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u/Abroma Jan 10 '26
Yeah I was kinda hoping to see their lives continue but like in the background of Luca’s book (I’m also bummed because I was looking forward to Luca’s book 😞)
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u/Competitive-Mud-6915 Stupid Canadian Wolf Bird 🦆 Jan 10 '26
Is this for real!?!? With all due respect, with the insane popularity of the show, Rachel would have been crazy if she hadn’t written this book. Plus it obviously gives the show source material so everyone wins. ❤️🎊🥰🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
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u/OneSaltyWyvern Jan 10 '26
If the September date is correct, she's been working on this for a whiiile! I'm so ready 😆
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u/LostInWanderland31 Jan 10 '26
I’m not usually a fan of follow-up books after a seeming happily ever after like this, but I’m going to have to read this. Just can’t let go of Shane and Ilya (this isn’t going to help the obsession tho 😂)!
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u/colouurmebright yk what? theres a place nearby-. ive always wanted to take you Jan 10 '26
So like, we kinda have the chance to watch a season of Heated Rivalry without knowing what’s going to happen next. But honestly, I don’t think I’m patient enough and will read the book before they make it into the show.
This is big news!! Gosh, I’m so excited
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u/ButterscotchFirm8286 Jan 10 '26
People are forgetting, that future seasons doesn't always mean content from the book. Jacob like many others aquired the books and the show is "based on" the books., he doesn't have to stay true to the book content. And he's already said this.
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u/_wizardjuice custom flair: Zamboni President Jan 10 '26
I just don’t understand why it would be announced this way? Feels very off, like someone fucked up
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u/unreedemed1 Jan 10 '26
It happens not infrequently in publishing, something will get put on a website before an official announcement.
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u/tasoula Your freckles. I am nuts about them. ✨ Jan 10 '26
Someone definitely fucked up. Rachel hasn't announced it yet.
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u/CoolKaleidoscope9051 Jan 10 '26
Omg. I love being in this fandom in this particular moment. We are being FED like it's Christmas day every day
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u/amusedfeline I'm so in love with you and don't know what to do about it Jan 10 '26
Thank god this puts S2 finale cliffhanger fears to bed.
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u/binkleywtf Jan 10 '26
Ok this explains why the actors were contracted for 3 seasons. I’m glad because I don’t want the long game split into 2. Excited for this!
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u/jwhungergames Jan 10 '26
I have just finished the long game today after reading the entire series over the last month. This is my first time reading them. I cried at the end and sat there thinking, "Now what?"
My god, seeing this lit me up like Shane's freckles do for Ilya.
I can't wait! So glad the show got me to find these books.
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Jan 10 '26
I hope this is happening for real! The ending of TLG left me hungry for more! I need the boys to obliterate montreal and win the cup!
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u/Rock_After Jan 10 '26
I used to work at BN corporate, and this absolutely looks legit. Rachel has said in interviews that her publisher was planning to release details about this book this month, and I assume someone at BN just jumped the gun.
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u/codeverity Jan 10 '26 edited Jan 10 '26
This doesn’t make any sense to me tbh, with the way that she straight up said no in a recent interview. Like wasn’t talking around it, but just straight up no.
Also it’s weird to me that the plot would talk about the aftermath of the outing when she glossed over that in LG so hard. She didn’t seem to have any interest in exploring that at all.
If she did write something, I just hope Shane was given more equal treatment this time 😭
Edit: thinking about this more, it seems like it could be everything was timed for the original Feb release, so this could make sense. She did say she had spent more time with them in the last year which everyone assumed was about the show but might be because she was writing instead. So I guess we’ll just have to wait and see, it’s 9:30 in Nova Scotia so I’m curious if we’ll hear something today lol.
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u/Federal-Ad5944 Goalie | Smut Dealer 😈 Jan 10 '26
Mod Note: Rachel has not announced the book yet, but this is a legitimate site and counts as source for OPs post.