Who wrote ‘Heated Rivalry’? Rachel Reid, meet author

Rachel Reid wrote Heated Rivalry, the 2019 hockey romance that became the source material for the hit 2025 series now streaming on HBO Max. Readers who finished the show are tracking down the books and wondering who created the story of rival captains Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. The answer sits in Nova Scotia with a Canadian author whose quiet start turned into mainstream success almost by accident.

Early secrecy and first words

Reid, whose legal name is Rachelle Goguen, kept her writing hidden from family and friends for years. She posted early chapters on fan-fiction sites without telling anyone, including her husband. The habit began long before she considered publishing a novel under any name.

She chose the pen name Rachel Reid because it was simpler to spell and remember than her birth name. The choice proved useful once the books moved beyond small online circles. Readers could find her work without stumbling over pronunciation.

By the time Heated Rivalry reached stores in March 2019, Reid had already finished the first Game Changers book. She still approached the release with caution, unsure how people she knew would react to the explicit material.

From niche series to breakout title

Heated Rivalry became book two in the Game Changers series and quickly developed a dedicated following. The story of closeted NHL captains locked in an enemies-to-lovers relationship stood out even inside the growing hockey romance category.

Goodreads data shows the title sitting at roughly 4.26 from hundreds of thousands of ratings. Word-of-mouth kept sales steady through 2024, long before any screen adaptation was announced.

Publishers later issued deluxe reprints and new covers once the television series entered production, but the original text remained unchanged. Readers who discovered the book after watching the show found the same story that had circulated quietly for years.

Life in Nova Scotia

Reid lives in Nova Scotia and has been a hockey fan for most of her life without ever playing at a professional level. The setting and details in Heated Rivalry reflect that long familiarity with the sport and its culture.

She has described the region as a steady backdrop while the books moved from small releases to wider attention. The distance from major publishing centers never slowed the momentum once readers began recommending the series.

Local routines stayed consistent even after the adaptation news arrived. Reid continued writing in the same environment that shaped the original novels.

Diagnosis and timing overlap

In August 2023 Reid received a diagnosis of young-onset Parkinson’s disease. The same period brought early conversations about turning Heated Rivalry into a television series.

She has spoken about managing both developments without allowing either to halt the other. The medical news arrived privately while public interest in the books began to rise.

Recent profiles note that Reid has kept working on the remaining Game Changers installments despite the diagnosis. The upcoming book Unrivaled, now scheduled for June 2027, continues the central relationship from Heated Rivalry.

Television adaptation arrives

Creator Jacob Tierney adapted the novel for a Crave series that premiered in Canada in late 2025. HBO Max picked up the show for U.S. audiences shortly afterward, followed by additional markets.

The series introduced the story to viewers who had never read hockey romance before. Demand for the source material surged once episodes began airing, prompting new print runs and wider bookstore placement.

Reid has remained largely off-screen during the promotion cycle, preferring to let the adaptation speak for itself. Her involvement stayed focused on the original text rather than on-set decisions.

Recognition and industry notice

In 2026 Reid received the Hollywood Reporter Women in Entertainment Canada Changemaker Award. The honor highlighted her role in expanding visibility for Canadian women writers working in popular genres.

The award came after years of steady output that began with self-published chapters and grew into New York Times bestseller status. Industry observers noted the shift from niche category to broader cultural conversation.

Reid has used public appearances to discuss why readers respond to the emotional vulnerability shown by the male characters. She has pointed to the appeal of watching men yearn, struggle, and grow within the romance structure.

Reader response and ongoing demand

Social media platforms saw renewed discussion of Heated Rivalry once the series launched. Viewers compared casting choices to descriptions in the book and debated which scenes translated most effectively.

Bookstore stockouts occurred in several cities during the first months of streaming. Publishers responded with additional printings while the author prepared the next installment in the series.

Longtime fans of the Game Changers books welcomed the new audience while noting that the core story had remained consistent since 2019. The adaptation did not alter the original narrative or its tone.

Future projects in motion

Unrivaled, listed as the seventh Game Changers title, will continue the story of Shane and Ilya. The release date moved to June 2027 to accommodate Reid’s schedule and health considerations.

Additional short stories and side projects have appeared between main installments, keeping the universe active for readers. Reid has indicated that the series will conclude after the planned seventh book.

Interest from international markets has continued since the HBO Max pickup. Translation rights and new editions are under discussion as the adaptation reaches wider territories.

Current standing

Heated Rivalry now sits at the center of a larger conversation about sports romance reaching mainstream television. The author behind the original novel remains based in Nova Scotia, continuing the work that began in private years earlier.

Readers searching for the source material after watching the series will find the same book that circulated quietly before the adaptation. Reid’s path from secret chapters to recognized author reflects the steady growth of the property rather than any sudden shift in approach.