Rachel Reid says writing Unrivaled sex scenes was hard after seeing Heated Rivalry show
Author Rachel Reid said it was "very difficult" to write sex scenes for the upcoming book Unrivaled once the Heated Rivalry actors had shaped how Shane and Ilya look to readers. In a separate interview, Reid discussed expectations, social media and Season 2 secrecy.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 1Rachel Reid, author of the Game Changers hockey romance series on which the Crave show Heated Rivalry is based, said it is "very difficult" to write sex scenes for the upcoming book Unrivaled because the characters Shane and Ilya are now linked in the author's mind to actors Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie. DeadlineN “it’s “very difficult” writing sex scenes for the upcoming book Unrivaled as she now associates the characters Shane and Ilya with actors Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie.” Read at Deadline ↗ Centre · 1Speaking at a Q&A, as reported by Deadline citing E! News, Reid said they stopped rewatching the show until the book was finished in order to stay focused on their own version of the characters, and called the experience "very weird". DeadlineN “‘OK, I can’t watch it again until this book is done because I just need to focus on what I’m doing,'””““It’s very difficult to write sex scenes when you’re thinking about [Connor and Hudson]. It’s very weird,” she noted.” Read at Deadline ↗ Centre · 1Reid also described the pressure of larger expectations after Season 1: within a few months a "small-ish loyal fan base" became "the whole world" waiting to see what happens next. DeadlineN “it felt like the whole world was waiting to see what happened next to them,” she said.” Read at Deadline ↗
Left · 1In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter at a Los Angeles stop on a tour for the deluxe edition of Heated Rivalry, Reid likewise said it has been challenging to write the book knowing how big the expectations are, and that they tried not to focus too much on that. The Hollywood ReporterLC “It’s been challenging writing the book knowing how big the expectations are, so a lot of this year has been me trying to not focus too much on that.”“Heated Rivalry author Rachel Reid has been hitting the road on a book tour for the deluxe edition of the hockey romance novel.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Mixed · 2Unrivaled is the third book about Shane and Ilya after Heated Rivalry and The Long Game, which is the main basis for Season 2 of the show; it is now due on 1 June 2027, having originally been set for last month, with Deadline linking the delay to Reid managing a Parkinson's diagnosis. DeadlineN “Originally set to release last month, Unrivaled has been pushed to June 1, 2027 as Reid manages her Parkinson’s diagnosis.” Read at Deadline ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “The upcoming book, set to be published in June 2027, continues Shane and Ilya’s story.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Centre · 1Season 2, created by Jacob Tierney, began filming in Canada in August and is set to premiere in spring 2027, according to Deadline, which listed new cast members including Justice Smith, Charlie Gillespie and Edvin Ryding. DeadlineN “Production began on the sophomore season of Jacob Tierney’s Crave Original series adaptation in Canada in August.”“which is set to premiere in spring 2027.” Read at Deadline ↗
Left · 1The Hollywood Reporter says Reid has visited the set but is avoiding spoilers about Season 2 and Unrivaled, and quotes Reid saying Tierney wanted to make the show for adults and not shy away from the sex scenes, which meant a lot to Reid as an author and a fan of romance. The Hollywood ReporterLC “He didn’t want to shy away from the sex scenes, and he wanted to make sure that they were important part of the story, all of it.”“Going on tour right now is risky because there are a lot of things I can’t talk about,”” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Left · 1Reid also told The Hollywood Reporter that social media has become harder to navigate, as event remarks are pulled into headlines and their following grew from roughly 7,000 to over 400,000, and that they wrote more of side characters such as Scott Hunter in Unrivaled. The Hollywood ReporterLC “Even on this tour, every event I do, there’s quotes being pulled from it and turned into headlines.”“I’ve been writing maybe a little more of Scott Hunter into this book than I have into other Ilya and Shane books.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- The Hollywood Reporter runs a long Q&A-style interview during Reid's book tour, focused on the author's feelings about the show's success, secrecy around Season 2 and the new book.
- Emphasis
- Reid's changing life, fan expectations, social media, side characters and Tierney's serious treatment of the books.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the difficulty of writing sex scenes while picturing the actors, nor the Parkinson's diagnosis and delay, in the portion covered.
- Charged language
- “cultural phenomena”
- For example
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“She’s a bit stressed about it, but not for the reason you might think.” — The Hollywood Reporter
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Deadline leads with Reid's candid remark that writing sex scenes is difficult after seeing the actors, framed as a pressure-of-success story, then adds delay and casting news.
- Emphasis
- The sex-scene quote, expectations, the Parkinson's-related delay and Season 2 casting.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not cover Reid's views on social media, side characters or Tierney's approach.
- Charged language
- “steamy hit”“It’s Very Weird”
- For example
-
“Rachel Reid is dealing with a whole new level of pressure in continuing her novels.” — Deadline
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Rachel Reid wrote the Game Changers books on which Heated Rivalry is based and is writing Unrivaled, due June 2027.
- Season 2 of the show, based mainly on The Long Game, is filming.
- Reid says expectations for the new book are high.
Rachel Reid person
Reid says the show is loved but made writing Unrivaled's intimate scenes strange, and that expectations and virality add pressure, while staying positive about what lies ahead.
“I love everything about the show. I love everything they did with the characters, but I just needed to stay focused on my version.” — Deadline
“I think right now I’m feeling quite excited about a lot of things because there’s so many things on the horizon.” — The Hollywood Reporter
Heated Rivalry product
The show is described as a hit whose Season 2 is filming, adapting The Long Game, with a spring 2027 premiere.
“which is set to premiere in spring 2027.” — Deadline
Left1 article
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Rachel Reid on Upcoming Book ‘Unrivaled’ and Keeping All Those ‘Heated Rivalry’ Season 2 Secrets
Sympathetic Friendly, in-depth interview presenting Reid as excited but wary of fame and spoilers.
Centre1 article
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Neutral Short entertainment-news item built around Reid's quote about the sex scenes, with schedule and casting context.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 1 Oct 22:53 First DeadlineN Rachel Reid Found It “Very Difficult” Writing Next ‘Heated Rivalry’ Book’s Sex Scenes After Seeing Show: “It’s Very Weird”
- 4 Oct 23:26 +72h 33m The Hollywood ReporterLC Rachel Reid on Upcoming Book ‘Unrivaled’ and Keeping All Those ‘Heated Rivalry’ Season 2 Secrets
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.