By Ahaqir Ishaq
Rachel Reid’s books offer several ways into her hockey romances. You can start with the first Game Changers novel, follow Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov’s relationship, or pick up one of her standalone stories.
The full Game Changers reading order is Game Changer, Heated Rivalry, Tough Guy, Common Goal, Role Model, The Long Game, and the forthcoming Unrivaled. If you only want Shane and Ilya’s main story, read Heated Rivalry → The Long Game → Unrivaled.
The distinction matters because Heated Rivalry is the second book in the larger series, while its direct sequel is book six. The intervening novels focus on other couples within the same hockey world.
Below, you will find the complete series order, a guide to each romance, and advice on where to start without major plot spoilers.
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Game Changers Books in Order
For readers who want the complete series, I recommend following the numbered order. It gives the supporting characters and wider hockey community room to develop before you return to Shane and Ilya in The Long Game.
| Order | Book | Main couple | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Game Changer | Scott Hunter and Kip Grady | Published |
| 2 | Heated Rivalry | Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov | Published |
| 3 | Tough Guy | Ryan Price and Fabian Salah | Published |
| 4 | Common Goal | Eric Bennett and Kyle Swift | Published |
| 5 | Role Model | Troy Barrett and Harris Drover | Published |
| 6 | The Long Game | Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov | Published |
| 7 | Unrivaled | Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov | Scheduled for June 1, 2027 |
Reid’s official book listings identify these series numbers and list her two standalone hockey romances separately. As of October 13, 2026, six Game Changers novels have been published; Unrivaled is the announced seventh installment.
1. Game Changer
The series begins with Scott Hunter, captain of the New York Admirals, and Kip Grady, the man behind the counter at a smoothie shop.
Scott’s visits turn into something more personal, but his public profile complicates the relationship. Kip wants a place in Scott’s life that extends beyond private encounters, while Scott worries about what visibility could mean for his career.
The official description of Game Changer establishes the tension between professional reputation and private happiness that readers encounter throughout the series.
Start here if you want the original introduction to Reid’s hockey world or are particularly interested in Scott and Kip.
2. Heated Rivalry
Heated Rivalry follows Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, professional hockey stars whose fierce competition conceals an increasingly complicated attraction.
Shane is disciplined and protective of his reputation. Ilya projects confidence and enjoys getting under his rival’s skin. Their private connection develops alongside the careers that make a public relationship feel risky.
Reid’s Heated Rivalry page identifies it as Game Changers book two and describes its enemies-to-lovers premise.
If Shane and Ilya brought you to Rachel Reid, this is the logical starting point. You can begin here and return to Game Changer later.
Find Heated Rivalry on Amazon.
3. Tough Guy
Ryan Price’s job as a hockey enforcer contrasts with his anxiety away from the rink. After a move to Toronto, he reconnects with Fabian Salah, an aspiring musician he knew in high school.
Fabian dislikes hockey, which gives the romance a different starting point from Shane and Ilya’s competitive relationship. The attraction asks Ryan to consider what he wants beyond the role he plays for his team.
The Tough Guy synopsis highlights anxiety, reconnection, and the physical and emotional cost of Ryan’s career.
Choose this entry if you are drawn to opposites attracting and a character trying to build a more satisfying life outside work.
4. Common Goal
Common Goal centers on veteran goaltender Eric Bennett and graduate student Kyle Swift.
Eric is considering life after hockey and beginning to date men. Kyle is attracted to him but reluctant to become emotionally involved. What starts as a friends-with-benefits arrangement becomes harder to keep uncomplicated.
Reid’s Common Goal description emphasizes the age gap and both men’s difficulty admitting what they want.
This installment is a useful choice for readers interested in later-life change, romantic vulnerability, and relationships that outgrow their original rules.
5. Role Model
Troy Barrett arrives at a new team following a scandal and a breakup. He wants to concentrate on hockey and avoid further attention.
Harris Drover, the team’s upbeat social media manager, takes a more welcoming approach. Their growing connection challenges Troy’s instinct to retreat and raises questions about how openly he can live.
The Role Model synopsis presents a grumpy-and-sunshine pairing with a central conflict around fear and public identity.
I recommend reading this before The Long Game when following the full series. It introduces its own central couple before you move into the sixth installment.
6. The Long Game
The Long Game returns to Shane and Ilya. Their relationship has lasted for years, but keeping it secret puts pressure on the future they want together.
Shane fears what going public might cost. Ilya wants the closeness and freedom of an acknowledged relationship. The central question shifts from attraction to whether they can make a shared life work.
The official Long Game description makes clear that this is a continuation of Shane and Ilya’s story.
Read Heated Rivalry first. Although The Long Game is book six in the larger series, it is their second main novel.
7. Unrivaled — Forthcoming
Unrivaled is the third Shane and Ilya novel and the seventh Game Changers book.
Its announced premise follows the couple into a more public phase of their relationship, with new pressures from the hockey world. To keep this reading guide light on spoilers, save the detailed synopsis until after The Long Game.
Reid’s current FAQ confirms that Unrivaled picks up where The Long Game left off and is scheduled for June 1, 2027. It has not yet been published as of this guide’s October 2026 update.
For the fuller announcement and current publication details, see our Unrivaled release-date and story guide.
The Heated Rivalry Reading Order: Shane and Ilya’s Books
If you want to focus on the couple at the center of Heated Rivalry, use this order:
- Heated Rivalry — begin their relationship story.
- The Long Game — continue their relationship and its challenges.
- Unrivaled — the forthcoming continuation, scheduled for June 1, 2027.
This is a focused reading route through the larger Game Changers series. It is not a separate sequence of three currently available novels.
For the broadest experience, follow all seven numbered entries, with Unrivaled added after publication. For the most direct route through Shane and Ilya’s main novels, follow the three-title list above.
Can You Read Heated Rivalry First?
Yes. It introduces Shane and Ilya’s central romance, making it a practical starting point for readers specifically interested in them.
Starting with Game Changer gives you Scott and Kip’s story first and preserves the numbered series order. Starting with Heated Rivalry takes you directly to the relationship you may have come looking for.
My recommendation is simple: choose Game Changer if you already want to read the entire series. Choose Heated Rivalry if you are curious about Shane and Ilya and want to see whether their story appeals to you before committing to the other novels.
Rachel Reid’s Standalone Books
Reid also writes hockey romances outside the numbered Game Changers sequence. Neither of these books needs to be inserted between its series entries.
Time to Shine
Time to Shine follows quiet backup goalie Landon Stackhouse and outgoing winger Casey Hicks. A temporary living arrangement brings them together, and friendship develops into romance during the holiday season.
The Time to Shine synopsis makes it an appealing option for readers seeking roommates-to-lovers and contrasting personalities. Reid also confirms in her FAQ that it takes place in its own fictional hockey universe.
Pick this up whenever you want a standalone romance without catching up on a series.
The Shots You Take
The Shots You Take follows Riley Tuck and Adam Sheppard, former teammates whose complicated history resurfaces when a tragedy brings Adam back into Riley’s life.
Set in a small Nova Scotia town, it centers on grief, trust, and the possibility of a second chance. Reid’s official description identifies it as a standalone hockey romance.
This is the option to consider if rebuilding a past relationship interests you more than watching a new rivalry turn romantic.
Where Do Bonus Stories and the Script Book Fit?
Reid shares optional extras, including short stories and deleted scenes, through her website. Her Heated Rivalry page links to several of these pieces.
For a straightforward first read, finish the relevant novel before exploring its extras. They offer additional time with the characters but do not replace the main books.
The television companion I’ll Believe in Anything also belongs outside the numbered reading order. As our guide to the Heated Rivalry script book explains, it is Jacob Tierney’s annotated script collection, with a foreword by Reid. It is not another Rachel Reid novel or a sequel to The Long Game.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Rachel Reid novels are there?
As of October 13, 2026, Reid’s listed published novels comprise six Game Changers books and two standalones: Time to Shine and The Shots You Take. Unrivaled is the forthcoming ninth novel across those listings.
Is Heated Rivalry the first Game Changers book?
No. Game Changer is book one, and Heated Rivalry is book two.
What book comes after Heated Rivalry?
Tough Guy comes next in the numbered series. The Long Game is the next main novel focused on Shane and Ilya.
Do I need to read the standalones before Unrivaled?
No. The relevant main novels are Heated Rivalry and The Long Game. The standalone books sit outside that sequence.
What should I read first?
Start with Game Changer for the full series, Heated Rivalry for Shane and Ilya, or Time to Shine for a standalone entry point.
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