Rachel Reid Postpones 'Unrivaled' Release Amid Health Challenges
Rachel Reid, the Canadian author behind the popular hockey romance novel series that inspired HBO Max's hit show Heated Rivalry, has announced a significant delay for her upcoming book. The release of Unrivaled, the next installment in her "Game Changers" series, has been pushed from September 2026 to June 1, 2027. This decision stems from Reid's worsening symptoms of Parkinson's disease, which she was diagnosed with in 2023.
Author's Health Impacts Writing Process
In an Instagram video update shared on Tuesday, Reid explained the personal and physical challenges she faces. "My life has gotten very different in the last couple months, and although it's all good, it's also taken away my ability to have quality time to write," she stated. The author emphasized her commitment to quality, noting, "There's nothing more important to me than Unrivaled being the best book it can possibly be."
Reid detailed how her Parkinson's symptoms have intensified, making the writing process more difficult. "When good things happen, sometimes the universe hands you some worse stuff to balance it out. For me, that's been that my Parkinson's symptoms have gotten a bit worse, and it's made it difficult physically to write, so I'm definitely a lot slower," she revealed. She expressed gratitude to her publisher for granting extra time, ensuring that pre-orders will be held for fans.
Connection to HBO's Hit Series
The Heated Rivalry television series, based on Reid's books, premiered on HBO in November and has seen substantial success. The show follows rival hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov as their secret relationship evolves over years. Since its release in the U.S. and Canada, and its U.K. debut in January, viewership has grown by over 100 percent after the final episode aired in December, with a second season already confirmed.
Interestingly, Reid's Parkinson's diagnosis coincided with director Jacob Tierney's approach to adapt her books for HBO in 2023. During a December interview with Variety, she described severe symptoms, including difficulty controlling a mouse and typing for extended periods. "I can't type for very long. It's hard for me to sit in a chair for very long. I need to figure out new ways to write," she explained, considering alternatives like voice-to-text technology.
Unexpected Support and Future Prospects
Amid these challenges, Reid shared a positive development. During press interviews for the series, Tierney mentioned her Parkinson's diagnosis on CNN, leading a top Parkinson's expert to reach out and offer assistance. "I've never gotten to talk to a Parkinson's expert. I've been on a five-year waiting list here because I live in a very small place. Now he's found me a Parkinson's expert, a neurologist," she said, highlighting the unexpected support from the entertainment community.
Reid reassured readers that the delay will result in a superior book. "Ultimately, it's going to be a much better book, and that's the most important thing to me. I think it'll be better for the readers, and it'll be better for the characters," she affirmed. As the Heated Rivalry series continues to captivate audiences globally, fans await Unrivaled with anticipation, understanding the author's health-driven postponement.
