Rachel Reid’s Parkinson’s Diagnosis: Author’s Story

There’s a story behind every bestselling author, but few are as unexpectedly moving as Rachel Reid’s. Days after learning she had Parkinson’s disease in August 2023, she received a message from a Canadian filmmaker about turning her hockey romance Heated Rivalry into a TV series.

Full name: Rachel Reid (pen name of Rachelle Goguen) ·
Born: September 2, 1980 ·
Diagnosis: Parkinson’s disease ·
Age at diagnosis: 44 (2024) ·
Notable work: Heated Rivalry (Game Changers series)

The following table captures the essential facts about Rachel Reid’s identity and career milestones.

What medical condition does Rachel Reid have?

Parkinson’s disease diagnosis

• Rachel Reid was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in August 2023, as she confirmed in an interview with People (celebrity news outlet).
• The diagnosis came as no surprise because she had already noticed visible symptoms, including a tremor in her hands (People).
• She later shared the news publicly through interviews with The New York Times (major U.S. newspaper) and BBC News (UK public broadcaster).

Symptoms and early signs

• Reid’s most visible symptom is a tremor (shaking) that affects her hands (Rachel Reid Writes (author’s official FAQs)).
• She has said that she initially dismissed the shaking as stress, but it persisted (BBC News).
• Parkinson’s also makes it hard for her to type for long periods and to control a mouse (BBC News).

The implication: Parkinson’s is not just a personal health challenge for Reid — it is actively reshaping her creative process and the timeline of her future books.

How old was Rachel Reid when she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s?

Age at diagnosis

• Rachel Reid was born on September 2, 1980, in Halifax, Nova Scotia (IMDb (film database)).
• She was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in August 2023, making her 42 at the time of diagnosis (turning 43 two weeks later).
• Public reporting in 2024 often stated she was 44, because the diagnosis became widely known after her birthday in 2024 (The New York Times).

Timeline of diagnosis

• August 2023: Reid receives her Parkinson’s diagnosis (People).
• Days later: Filmmaker Jacob Tierney contacts her about adapting Heated Rivalry (People).
• February 2024: The TV adaptation premieres in Canada (El País English (Spanish news outlet)).
• 2026: Symptoms worsen; Reid delays her next book (The Independent (UK news outlet)).

What this means: At 42, Reid is part of a growing group of people diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s. Her age makes the diagnosis particularly disruptive to a career that still had decades of writing ahead.

Why is Rachel Reid shaking?

Parkinson’s tremor as a symptom

• The shaking visible in Reid’s hands and arms is a classic symptom of Parkinson’s disease, known as resting tremor (Rachel Reid Writes (author’s official FAQs)).
• Reid has acknowledged that the tremor is noticeable: “I am comfortable signing my name and sometimes doing a personalization, but not longer inscriptions because of the shaking” (Rachel Reid Writes).
• She has said she did not initially realize it was a medical issue; she assumed it was stress from work (BBC News).

Impact on daily life and writing

• Typing is difficult: “I can’t type for very long,” Reid told BBC News.
• She needs to find new ways to write, including shorter sessions and possibly voice-to-text software (Reddit (social platform — community discussion)).
• Despite the physical challenges, Reid has said she does not mind talking about Parkinson’s and likes to joke about it (Rachel Reid Writes).

The pattern: Reid’s shaking is both a visible marker of her condition and a practical barrier to the very act of writing. Her career hinges on adapting around it.

Does Rachel Reid have a partner?

• No public information about a partner or spouse has been confirmed by reliable sources.
• Related searches sometimes suggest “husband,” but the author’s official FAQs and biographical interviews with The New York Times and BBC News do not mention a partner.
• Reid has not posted about a relationship on her social media or in public statements.

The pattern: Unlike many authors who share personal details in interviews, Reid keeps her private life — including her relationship status — firmly out of the public eye.

Has Rachel Reid got any children?

• There is no public confirmation that Rachel Reid has children.
• Biographical materials, including her official website and interviews with The New York Times, do not mention children.
• She has not referenced children in any of her public statements about her diagnosis or career.

The implication: For readers searching for family details, the answer is simply that Reid has chosen not to share this aspect of her life — and no reliable source has reported otherwise.

For fans of Reid’s work, the takeaway is clear: the same author who brought Shane and Ilya to life in Heated Rivalry is now fighting a disease that affects every keystroke. Her openness about Parkinson’s has deepened the connection with her readers, but it also means the pace of future books will slow. For a romance novelist whose universe has taken on a life of its own, the choice is between adapting her craft or watching the stories pile up unwritten.