Rachel Reid is on book tour for the deluxe edition of her hockey romance Heated Rivalry, and she is nervous — not about the crowds, but about what she can say. Season two of the Jacob Tierney-created show is filming now, and Reid has been to set, but she is sworn to secrecy.
“I’m sure people have very burning questions they’d like to ask, but obviously I can’t talk about it,” Reid told The Hollywood Reporter backstage at her Los Angeles event. “But this time next year, we’ll have all those answers.”
The Show’s Second Season
Heated Rivalry is the TV adaptation of Reid’s 2019 novel, which became a cultural phenomenon after the show premiered. The series follows Canadian hockey prodigy Shane Hollander, played by Hudson Williams, and Russian phenom Ilya Rozanov, played by Connor Storrie. They are the league’s fiercest on-ice rivals and its best players.
Season two is based mainly on Reid’s 2022 novel The Long Game, which serves as a sequel to the original book. Reid is keeping tight-lipped about what fans will see.
The Book Behind the Show
Reid is also working on Unrivaled, the next chapter in her Game Changers series. Set to publish in June 2027, it continues Shane and Ilya’s story. Reid admits she has been writing a little more of Scott Hunter into this book than usual, and she has also tried to do a little more with Yuna, Rose and Svetlana.
“I’ve been writing maybe a little more of Scott Hunter into this book than I have into other Ilya and Shane books,” she said. “He’s more of an important side character, so that’s definitely one.”
The Trailer Test
Reid says the moment she realized something was happening came when the trailer dropped. She hosted a bookstore event the day after, played the trailer, and watched the audience recite every word.
“I told everyone at the show that, and I was like, ‘I think this might be a hit,'” she recalled. “I’ve never seen people memorize a trailer like this in one day.”
She also pointed to HBO picking up the show, and to episode three, which she said felt like a hit.
The Author’s New Baseline
Reid admits the past year has been wild. But she is settling in, especially since she now knows the people making the show.
“It still feels unbelievable every day, but also I think I’m starting to accept it as normal,” she said.
Social Media Limits
One change Reid has noticed is how she posts online. She says she cannot joke freely anymore without worrying that a quote will become a headline.
“I can’t just post a little flippant joke or really say anything without thinking, ‘Do I want this to go viral as a headline on a bunch of outlets or social media accounts?'” she explained.
What Fans Can Expect
Reid says she considers fan opinions while writing, though she has not made any huge decisions based on them. She is focused on delivering the story she wants to tell.
The tour continues, and Reid is enjoying the ride — even when she cannot spill the secrets.
Key Facts Box
- Heated Rivalry deluxe edition on book tour now
- Season two of the show filming, based mainly on The Long Game
- Unrivaled, the next Game Changers book, set for June 2027
- The Long Game published in 2022
Schedule Table
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Heated Rivalry deluxe edition release | Now |
| Season one premiere | Past |
| Season two filming | Ongoing |
| Unrivaled publication | June 2027 |
Reid’s quotes about what she cannot say are the ones worth paying attention to.
Source material: “Rachel Reid on Upcoming Book ‘Unrivaled’ and Keeping All Those ‘Heated Rivalry’ Season 2 Secrets,” The Hollywood Reporter.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.