Heated Rivalry's Rachel Reid Finds Hope Amidst Parkinson's Diagnosis

Wed Dec 31 2025 15:29:48 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The success of the TV adaptation of 'Heated Rivalry' leads author Rachel Reid to receive crucial help for her Parkinson's disease, highlighting the positive outcomes from increased visibility.

Rachel Reid, author of 'Heated Rivalry', has gained vital assistance for her Parkinson's diagnosis following the success of her TV adaptation. The series, focusing on a secret romance between rival hockey players, has opened doors for Reid, including a consultation with a neurologist, which she hopes will improve her treatment and quality of life as she navigates the challenges of writing with the condition.

The author of Heated Rivalry has revealed the success of the TV adaptation has resulted in her receiving specialist help with her Parkinson's disease.

Rachel Reid, 45, was diagnosed with the condition in the summer of 2023, around the same time she was approached about adapting her book series for the screen.

Heated Rivalry, which centres on an illicit same-sex relationship between two ice hockey players, has become one of the most talked-about new TV shows of recent weeks.

In an interview with Variety, the Canadian author explained that a Parkinson's expert contacted her after hearing about her diagnosis during a publicity interview for the series.

The subsequent appointment she secured with a neurologist, Reid said, could change things for me, because I'm not really getting the treatment that I should be getting.

Reid published her first book in the Game Changers series in 2018. Five further books followed, and the TV version soon created a stir after launching in North America in late November. The show, adapted and directed by Jacob Tierney, is set to launch in the UK on 10 January on Sky and streaming service Now.

Reid noted an amazing thing coming from the show's attention, recounting how Tierney's discussion of her diagnosis on CNN led to the expert's outreach. I've never gotten to talk to a Parkinson's expert. I've been on a five-year waiting list because I live in a very small place, she shared.

She expressed hope that this connection will lead to significant changes in her treatment.

Reid shared the struggles she faces due to Parkinson's, stating, It's hard for me to sit in a chair for very long. I need to figure out new ways to write.

Heated Rivalry follows the relationship between rival hockey players Shane and Ilya, whose rivalry leads to a secret affair that evolves into a years-long romance.

What is Parkinson's disease?

Parkinson's is a progressive condition that worsens over time. Those with the disease have too little dopamine in their brain due to nerve cells stopping their function.