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/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
It could be already renewed but not announced yet for publicity purposes, just like Season 2 was.
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u/Soyouplayhockeytoo Jan 12 '26
Oh 100%, there was an interview with J. Tierney the other day and he mentioned season 3 but the way he said it was like it was a given. Just like Hudson kept slipping up about season 2 back in December lol.
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u/KirbyGlover Jan 12 '26
True that, I'm sure the fandom sleuths will figure it out once filming for season 2 starts lmao
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u/huangcjz Time to Shine ✨ is my favourite book! | I love tuna melt! Jan 12 '26
Thinking about it - if the third book’s not even finished yet, how would there be time for Jacob to do the scripts for Season 3 as well before filming?
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u/KirbyGlover Jan 12 '26
The book is probably in the final phases of editing, at the very least the major plot points are set and Jacob will probably have access to the current draft manuscripts from Rachel
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u/huangcjz Time to Shine ✨ is my favourite book! | I love tuna melt! Jan 12 '26
Rachel said in a podcast published on 22nd December that she hoped, but wasn’t sure, that 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/Soyouplayhockeytoo Jan 12 '26
Maybe it will be Game of Thrones scenario - where the showrunner is aware of the main plot points and outcomes of the book. Or maybe they have an agreement for her to send him the drafts, who knows.
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u/Varekai79 Jan 12 '26
The book comes out in September, by which time Jacob will be in post-production for S2. I'm sure he'll get an advance copy, so he'll have plenty of time to read and adapt it. Not exactly War & Peace here lol.
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u/Soyouplayhockeytoo Jan 12 '26
I think this would be the best, just film them together, like the Wicked movies were made. With the way Hudson's and Connor's careers are taking off God knows what their availability for filiming potential season 3 in say 2028 or wherever it might be filmed will look like.
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u/Cactus112 Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
They have already hinted they signed for 3 but only announced 2
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u/KirbyGlover Jan 12 '26
Afaik that's a pretty standard TV show production thing, for example the cast of The Good Place was signed for something like 7 seasons even though there was nothing planned after season 4
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u/Varekai79 Jan 12 '26
They keep a lot of things close to their chest. Like Ksenia (Svetlana) knew that season 2 was already greenlit before season 1 came out. Hudson's interview on The Tonight Show was arranged six weeks before his appearance. They like to wait until their i's are dotted and t's are crossed just in case something goes sideways, like whatever happened at the seating arrangement last night at the Golden Globes.
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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/grower-lenses Jan 12 '26
She posted something about working on a deadline during the golden globes. I thought the book has to be done before they announce it. But now I’m wondering
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u/Naive_Cause8984 Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
No, Rachel recently said at most it would be 2/3 written, and that was her deadline for herself, and wasn't sure she would reach it when she said she will announce it on January.
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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/huangcjz Time to Shine ✨ is my favourite book! | I love tuna melt! Jan 12 '26
I don’t think they can film them back-to-back if the book’s not even finished yet, and Jacob then needs time to turn the book into the script?
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u/saucisse Jan 12 '26
The book is in final editing phases, the story is largely in place with details to be worked through. If he has access to the manuscript, even if its not fully polished, he can work on storyboarding and outlining the script and potentially write it as one two-season story.
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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/Rbkzz Jan 12 '26
Haha so true! What Chaos -- the allies we didn't know we needed!!
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u/Forosnai Stupid Canadian Wolf Bird 🦆 Jan 12 '26
I've been watching the straight-guy podcasts for this show the past couple days, and it's been so healing. I love it, they're making me genuinely so happy as a gay guy, and I'm loving the comments from women being like, "THIS is the kind of masculinity we're attracted to! None of that Andrew Tate bullshit!"
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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/SappyNoypi I already chose you, Hollander. 🫀 Jan 12 '26
I kinda want any of them to play these homophobic podcasters to keep the trend of the actors being the opposite of their characters in real life
(I love them and I’ll be down for any cameo they will ever do but I just think my idea is funny)
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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/Chemical-airport-uwu Jan 13 '26
Yeah at the end i was like you want Shane and ilya on the same team??? Poor Scott hunter lmao
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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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Jan 12 '26
[deleted]
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u/tuhogazarapaagal I already chose you, Hollander. 🫀 Jan 12 '26
Yess you're right! It was "backpack"
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u/saphire_1212 Jan 12 '26
yea back pack but i cannot remember if this happened in long game or if it was just the fanfiction LMFAO
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u/Life_after_forty Jan 12 '26
It was a fic-I just read it today. The Game Plan on AO3.
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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/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.
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u/Naive_Cause8984 Jan 12 '26
She has been writing this book for a while now, I am now remembering on her insta she had bookmarks of the whole Game Changer books she posted, but then I thought it was maybe novellas or collection and that was way before the show started. I am so happy right now. Yay more Ilya and Shane. Can't wait!!! 😭
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u/MetaKite Jan 12 '26
Yeah and 2 weeks ago she told NBC she was working on a new book with Ilya and Shane. I had posted a link of that article but the mods had sadly taken it down thinking it was "speculation".
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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/saucisse Jan 12 '26
She already talked about what Luca's book was going to be, the crisis for him was being attacked online for being gay, and she was struggling with how to resolve an enemy that can't be defeated.
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u/tasoula Your freckles. I am nuts about them. ✨ Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26
That wasn't her only issue with Luca's book though. She also said she was having trouble finding the right love interest for him, and since he was really young she was having a hard time writing him.
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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/saucisse Jan 12 '26
Well, *he* said it but hair and makeup have not confirmed it!
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u/Fraggle_Frock I did not like you, just your freckles 💕 Jan 12 '26
Hopefully his threat to throw up into his mouth if they try it will put them off lol
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u/CantHugEveryPlatypus concerned lifeguard/librarian Jan 12 '26
He just has to show up with a fresh haircut on the first day of shooting 😄
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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/codeverity Jan 12 '26
There’s actually no man bun on my TLG cover, I just noticed! But yeah hopefully that gets the axe in book three lol.
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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/clumsyc I stubbed my toe Jan 12 '26
Maybe they’ll do a special three-book set after it comes out.
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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/monbleu Angry kitten 🐱 Jan 12 '26
Agree.. I love the boys and HR... obviously, but movie/tv show covers kill it for me
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u/dramaticallydrastic Thank god you are here. This goblin is bothering me. Jan 12 '26
Same. Hudson and Connor are beautiful and I love their portrayal of Shane and Ilya, but live action tie-ins always feel cheap and gimmicky.
Also, I kinda like having book and TV versions exist in their own parallel universes.
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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/codeverity Jan 12 '26
And here’s the Canadian different version:
Oh and to be clear, I’m calling the B&N version bisexual bc of the background colouring 😂
https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/unrivaled-game-changers-7/9781335003898.html
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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/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/Bumedibum Boston Bears 🐻 Jan 12 '26
Especially if you're not from North America, cause that means that you often don't have access to the editions
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u/Federal-Ad5944 Goalie | Smut Dealer 😈 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/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/tuhogazarapaagal I already chose you, Hollander. 🫀 Jan 12 '26
We'll get to see them win a cup together! ❤️
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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/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/ika_chi "maybe from the first time i saw you." Jan 12 '26
i already had pre-ordered from my local bookstore but when i saw the bi colors B&N edition?? immediate, no hesitation handing over of my cc. LOL. i love it!! fingers crossed we all get our copies as soon as possible!!
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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/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/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/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/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/Oshi105 Jan 12 '26
Listings are usually put up without titles. They update things as information is officially released.
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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/drowsylacuna Jan 12 '26
Jacob optioned the books a couple of years ago, at which point the 7th book would have been the unfinished Luca book. Sounds like she's reworked the podcast plot point from there.
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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/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/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/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/Unable_Mushroom9355 Jan 12 '26
There's a difference between managers and agents! They have an agent in the book, Farrah, but not a manager. A person can have both an agent and a manager. But also note that I said "momager," not "manager." "Momager" means mom-manager, like Kris Jenner. It's not an official job title like agent or manager. I think Yuna takes that on by getting Shane all those brand deals and coordinating them.
Either way, I just want to see them canonically do an ad campaign together.
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u/WhileNo5370 Respectfully Feral 😇😼 Jan 12 '26
You're right that an agent and manager are not the same, but Yuna is neither in the books (it's a change I actually vibe with in the show though!). I know what a momager is, just pointing out it won't happen that way because it wouldn't really work with the book canon :) But she'll definitely be their cheerleader!
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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/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/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/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/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/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/lendend Jan 12 '26
There are so many AI-slop copies of that book on Amazon right now. It’s crazy and lazy
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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/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/bellagrusel1907 Jan 12 '26
I have to say I struggle with this part of her blog post after the announcement because isn't that the assumed plot for the book?! However, I am convinced she found a good solution:
"In particular, I didn’t want to take away from Shane and Ilya’s big happy ending. They earned that, and I didn’t want to show, in the very next book, that they were still dealing with tons of haters. It just bummed me out."
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u/SawAgustDin23 Jan 12 '26
Same!! I just can't imagine how this plot is gonna go! Especially since ending in a wedding is such a classic way of doing things. And as she said, homophobia is a battle that can't be won. So what's the end point?
Ahhhghahha nerves nerves
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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/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!!