Rachel Reid Reveals What's Next for Shane and Ilya in Upcoming 'Unrivaled' Novel

Rachel Reid is giving fans a sneak peek at what lies ahead for her Game Changers series.

The bestselling author behind Heated Rivalry unveiled plans earlier this year for a seventh book in the franchise called Unrivaled, bringing back fan favorites Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander. The novel follows up on 2022's The Long Game and is set to arrive June 1, 2027.

During a recent Spotify fireside chat, Reid opened up about the upcoming installment's storyline and what readers should anticipate. "It's going to pick up basically where The Long Game left off, so we didn't miss anything," Reid explained, according to People. "It's set in 2021, so that's like something I have to keep remembering. It's their first season playing together on the same team. They're married. Everybody knows about the relationship. There's so many things that are brand new for them."

The narrative explores unfamiliar territory for the couple as they navigate their shared professional and personal lives. "It's a whole new kind of weird year," Reid described, noting that the season brings both challenges and changes. "[It] is totally brand new for them and isn't going to be totally smooth. We're going to see them together a lot instead of grabbing time here and there. There's going to be some backlash."

Reid acknowledged the mixed public reaction to their relationship becoming public knowledge. "Not everybody loves that two hockey players are married to each other on the same team, but some people really love it and I think we're going to see a lot of support for them, but also a lot of the other stuff," she said.

Despite the obstacles ahead, Reid emphasized her approach to the characters' journey. "I think it's going to be fun," she added. "I'm not going to drag Shane and Ilya through hell. That's not the point of the book. They've been through enough."

In related news, Jacob Tierney, who serves as creator, writer, and director of the Heated Rivalry television adaptation, recently discussed season two of the show, which is slated to begin production later this summer.