Women's Health August 8, 2026 0 Comments

Unlock Rachel Reid’s Secret Romance Reads That’ll Keep You Hooked Until ‘Unrivaled’ Drops—Are You Ready to Fall Hard?

Season 2 of Heated Rivalry is underway, and honestly, the buzz on social media has got me hooked like never before. I mean, who isn’t craving that rollercoaster of emotions, the electric tension, and the kind of romance that leaves you breathless? Luckily, Rachel Reid—the brilliant mind behind the Game Changers series that sparked the show—is not just busy penning the eagerly awaited seventh book, Unrivaled, but she’s also dishing out some spicy romance recommendations to tide us over. Here’s the kicker: she swears pacing is everything in love stories. Too early for that first kiss, and you risk losing readers. Too late—and heck, you might just miss the magic entirely. Sound familiar? If you’re like me, always hunting for that perfect read to hook your heart and keep it racing, Reid’s picks are about to become your next obsession. Ready to upgrade your TBR pile with some seriously swoon-worthy tales? Let’s dive in. LEARN MORE

Season 2 of Heated Rivalry is officially filming, and all the sneak peeks on social media have us desperate for more of the epic love story. Luckily, the unrivaled Rachel Reid (see what we did there?) is coming to our rescue. Reid, author of the Game Changers series that inspired the show, is currently writing the highly anticipated seventh book, Unrivaled. But she’s still taken time to share recommendations that can help scratch our Heated Rivalry itch.

How does a pick win her heart? “Pacing is extremely important with romance. You have to know when the moment is to have them kiss for the first time,” she said while dropping recommendations on the House of Maher podcast. “If it’s too soon, you’ve got a lot of book left and maybe nobody’s interested anymore. But if it’s too late, they’ve lost interest before it happens.” Her faves definitely hit the sweet spot. We bet you’re gonna want to add all of them to your TBR list immediately.

4 spicy romances Rachel Reid raves about

Until we can go back to the cottage, these may be our very best bets…

We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian

Goodreads Rating: 4.25/5 (24,096 ratings)

We Could Be So Good book jacket — courtesy Avon

Set in late-1950s New York, scrappy Brooklyn reporter Nick Russo and newspaper tycoon heir Andy Fleming form an unlikely friendship that slowly sharpens into something more. In a time when being gay could destroy everything, the two must decide if what they have in secret is worth fighting for. Reid gushed about author Sebastian on House of Maher: “She’s an author I love. She’s a really great writer.”

What readers are saying: “The angst/mutual pining/tension/yearning was perfection. And the sweetness literally bled from the pages.”

“It’s still like sinking into a warm bath, if warm baths were awkward young men falling in love with each other over bowls of soup.”

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

Goodreads Rating: 3.85/5 (855,202 ratings)

Hating Game book jacket — courtesy of Avon

Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman sit across from each other as exec assistants to co-CEOs of a publishing company—and they despise each other. Through a series of escalating office games and a promotion they’re both gunning for, their battle of wills reaches a boiling point, and Lucy starts to wonder if hate and something else might feel a lot alike. Reid says she’s been recommending this one for years. “It’s just like a good page turner,” she shared on the Judge John Hodgman podcast.

What readers are saying: “This book reinvigorated the romantic comedy genre.”

“It was named in the top 20 romance novels by the Washington Post. And it definitely is!”

Liar City and the Sugar & Vice series by Allie Therin

Goodreads Rating: 4.17/5 (3,031 ratings)

Sugar & Vice series book jackets — Carina Adores

In an alternate Seattle where empaths exist and are feared, pacifist empath Reece is pulled into a triple homicide investigation alongside a shadowy government agent known only as The Dead Man. He’s a guy “who’s been altered to have no emotions so he can hunt down rogue empaths,” Reid shared on House of Maher. As the pair track a killer across a scared city, an irritating attraction begins to simmer. Can a man with no emotions fall in love?

What readers are saying: “The banter was immaculate. The world-building was done so well. I NEED MORE.”

“It took me out of a reading slump, hooking me from page one, and generally made me FEEL.”

The Shots You Take by Rachel Reid

Goodreads Rating: 4.07/5 (30,031 ratings)

The Shots You Take book jacket — Carina Adores

If you miss Reid’s writing, here’s a great one to try. Spotify recently asked her to recommend one of her own books, and her newest novel was her pick. It’s the tale of Riley Tuck, who has left his NHL career and broken heart behind him and is living quietly in his Nova Scotia hometown. Then a funeral brings ex-teammate and former bestie-with-benefits Adam Sheppard back into his life. As Adam helps Riley through grief, long-buried feelings resurface. Their complicated past won’t go quietly, but did they miss their chance? “It’s a little bit heavier than my other books, and I think it’s honestly the best book I’ve written,” Reid shared. “I am proud of it.”

What readers are saying: “Calling it now, this is gonna be my favorite Rachel Reid book right behind Heated Rivalry and The Long Game.”

“The angst and emotion hits you from the FIRST PAGE. Heartbreak and grovel porn redemption — can we even ask for more?”