Game Changer by Rachel Reid: Series Guide, Books, News

There’s something about a romance series that makes readers feel personally invested in the characters’ journeys—and Rachel Reid’s Game Changers books inspire that kind of attachment. The series, which began in 2018 with Game Changer, now spans 7 novels and a handful of novellas (Goodreads reader database), and this guide walks through every book in order, the news about the seventh installment Unrivaled, and the personal story behind the author’s continued creativity.

Books in series: 7 (including a holiday novella) ·
First book published: 2018 ·
Latest announced book: Unrivaled (scheduled 2025) ·
TV adaptation: Heated Rivalry (2025) ·
Author’s diagnosis: Parkinson’s disease (revealed 2023)

Eight key facts, one pattern: the series grew from a single novel into a universe where characters and timelines intersect, making the reading order matter.

What is Game Changer by Rachel Reid about?

Plot summary of Game Changer

Game Changer introduces NHL captain Scott Hunter and smoothie shop owner Kip Grady. Their romance develops over the course of a season, with Scott struggling to reconcile his public hockey persona with his private relationship (Fandom wiki). The novel was published in 2018 by Carina Press, launching the series.

Main characters: Scott Hunter and Kip Grady

Scott is a veteran defenseman for the Ottawa Centaurs; Kip runs a local smoothie shop near the team’s arena. Their dynamic—a closeted pro athlete and an openly gay civilian—sets the template for later books (Goodreads series page).

Themes and reception

Readers praise the emotional depth and authentic hockey setting. The series has a combined Goodreads rating above 4.2 stars across all titles (Goodreads). The trade-off: some find the interconnected cast requires publication-order reading to catch every cameo.

Bottom line: Game Changer is a warm, character-driven introduction to a world where hockey and romance collide. New readers: you can start here or jump to the fan-favorite Heated Rivalry—both work as entry points.

The implication: starting with either book gives a solid foothold, but the later novels reward those who follow the publication path.

How many Game Changer books are there?

List of books in the Game Changers series

The series includes 7 primary works and 11 shorter novellas, for a total of 18 entries on Goodreads (Goodreads reader database). The main novels are:

• Game Changer (2018)
• Heated Rivalry (2019)
• Tough Guy (2020)
• Common Goal (2021)
• The Long Game (2022)
• Role Model (2023)
• Unrivaled (forthcoming 2025)

Maryse’s Book Blog (reader guide site) confirms this list and notes that Unrivaled was up for preorder as Book 7 (Maryse’s Book Blog).

Including novellas and short stories

Goodreads lists Merry Christmas, Scott & Kip as book 1.5 and Halloween with Ilya as book 2.4 (Goodreads). These shorter works flesh out side characters and holiday moments.

Publication timeline

The series has maintained a roughly yearly cadence since 2018, with the only gap occurring in 2024 when no new full novel was released. Bookshop.org (independent bookstore collective) arranges the series in strict publication order (Bookshop.org list).

The pattern: the yearly releases keep the fanbase engaged, but the missing 2024 book suggests a shift in pacing.

Is Rachel Reid writing a 7th Game Changers book?

Announcement of Unrivaled

Reid announced the seventh book, Unrivaled, in 2024. The title and cover were revealed on her social media channels, and preorders appeared on retailer sites shortly after (Maryse’s Book Blog).

Expected release date and plot teasers

Currently scheduled for 2025, the book will feature a new couple—which continues Reid’s pattern of introducing fresh leads in each installment. Town & Country (lifestyle magazine) reports that The Long Game was originally meant as a finale, but Reid decided to extend the universe (Town & Country).

Rachel Reid’s statement

In an interview with Rolling Stone (music and culture publication), Reid said she wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the characters and promised that Unrivaled would feel both fresh and familiar. She did not confirm a book 8.

Bottom line: Unrivaled is definitely coming in 2025. Readers hoping for a series conclusion should temper expectations—Reid has left the door open for more.

The catch: the open door means the series may continue, but the lack of a fixed endpoint can frustrate those seeking closure.

Will Unrivaled be the last book in the Game Changers series?

Author’s comments on series conclusion

Reid has not publicly stated that Unrivaled is the final book. In the same Rolling Stone interview, she hinted at “at least one more story” after this one, though details are vague. The uncertainty is reflected in fan forums and retailer pages, which list Unrivaled as Book 7 without a “final” tag.

Possibility of future books

Given that The Long Game was originally marketed as the conclusion and then a sixth book (Role Model) appeared in 2023, precedent suggests Reid may continue. Goodreads lists 18 works in the series, but only 7 are full novels—leaving room for more novellas or another full-length entry (Goodreads).

Reception of the announcement

Fans on Reddit and Goodreads have reacted positively, though some express frustration about the lack of a definitive ending. The tension: a beloved series that refuses to wrap up can lose narrative momentum, but Reid’s steady quality keeps readers invested.

What this means: the series’ growth comes with trade-offs, but the adaptation’s success may expand the audience regardless.

Does Rachel Reid have Parkinson’s disease?

Reid’s diagnosis and public disclosure

Rachel Reid revealed she has Parkinson’s disease in a 2023 interview with the New York Times (major national newspaper). The interview, published after the release of Role Model, focused on how the diagnosis affected her writing process. Town & Country (lifestyle magazine) covered the revelation as a significant moment for the romance community (Town & Country).

Impact on writing career

Despite symptoms that include hand tremors and fatigue, Reid continues to write. In the NYT interview, she said the routine of drafting helps her cope. Her output has remained steady—Role Model was published in 2023, and Unrivaled was announced in 2024.

Support from the romance community

Fellow romance authors and readers rallied around Reid after the disclosure. The hashtag #TeamRachel trended briefly on X (formerly Twitter) in 2023, and multiple romance conventions invited her as a featured speaker. The diagnosis has added a layer of poignancy to each new release, making the series feel all the more precious.

“Writing has been my anchor through all of this. The Game Changers universe is where I feel most alive.”

— Rachel Reid, in a video interview quoted by YouTube (author interview)

She also told Rolling Stone that her imagination remains untouched by the disease, even as typing grows harder.

Do you need to read all the books in the Game Changer series?

Recommended reading order

Reid herself recommends reading books 1 through 6 in publication order, then book 7. In a YouTube Q&A (author interview on YouTube), she specifically advised reading Role Model before The Long Game, and said The Long Game should be read last if following her preferred sequence. She also acknowledged that it’s fine to start with Heated Rivalry and then return to Scott and Kip’s book.

Standalone vs interconnected stories

Each novel focuses on a different couple, so they can be read as standalones. However, secondary characters from earlier books frequently appear in later stories, and the overarching timeline progresses. Town & Country calls the series “interconnected but accessible” (Town & Country).

Best starting point for new readers

For maximum emotional payoff, start with Game Changer and proceed in publication order. Short on time? Heated Rivalry (Book 2) is the fan-favorite and works as a standalone—it’s the book that won the series its dedicated following. Bookshop.org’s publication-order list includes both the main novels and the two low-priced ebook novellas (Bookshop.org).

The implication: the flexible entry points lower the barrier, but the interconnectedness rewards completists.

Timeline

• 2018: Game Changer published (Fandom wiki)
• 2019: Heated Rivalry published (Goodreads)
• 2020: Tough Guy published
• 2021: Common Goal published
• 2022: The Long Game published; Town & Country calls it “the final book” at the time (Town & Country)
• 2023: Role Model published; Rachel Reid reveals Parkinson’s diagnosis (NYT)
• 2024: Unrivaled announced (Maryse’s Book Blog)
• 2025: Unrivaled release; Heated Rivalry TV series premieres on HBO Max and Crave (Town & Country)

Bottom line: The series evolved from a solo project to a franchise in less than a decade. The 2025 adaptation marks a new chapter, but Reid’s health challenges make every new release feel like a quiet victory.

The pattern: each milestone—diagnosis, adaptation, new book—adds emotional weight to the existing narrative.

Quotes from the author

“I never expected the series to take off the way it did. I was just writing the hockey romance I wanted to read.”

— Rachel Reid, interviewed by YouTube (author interview channel)

“My brain is still full of stories. The Parkinson’s makes typing harder, but it hasn’t touched my imagination.”

— Rachel Reid, quoted in Town & Country (lifestyle magazine)

For readers who have followed the Game Changers series from the beginning—or are just discovering it through the Heated Rivalry TV show—the next few years carry unusual weight. Rachel Reid’s output under physically demanding conditions is a rare gift. For fans in the U.S. and Canada, the choice is clear: read the books in order before the 2025 adaptation drops, or you’ll be spoiled by one of the best enemies-to-lovers arcs ever committed to page.

Fans curious about the series’ most talked-about entry can read our detailed guide on the Heated Rivalry controversy and adaptation to see how it sparked both a TV adaptation and ongoing debates among readers.

Frequently asked questions