Rachel Reid Parkinson’s Diagnosis, Books, Partner & Net Worth

For most authors, the call about a TV adaptation is the dream scenario. For Rachel Reid — the pen name behind the wildly popular Game Changers hockey romance series — that call arrived just days after she was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease at age 37.

Age at diagnosis: 37 ·
Year of diagnosis: 2018 ·
NYT bestsellers: 1 (Heated Rivalry) ·
Books in series: 7 (Game Changers) ·
TV adaptation: Heated Rivalry (2025)

Seven key facts about the author, one pattern: a career built against the odds, defined by a single diagnosis and a major adaptation.

What medical condition does Rachel Reid have?

Parkinson’s disease: a progressive neurological disorder

• Diagnosis: Parkinson’s disease (2018). (The New York Times reporting on her condition)
• Nature: Progressive neurological disorder affecting movement and coordination.
• Treatment: Manageable with medication and therapy but not curable.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that primarily affects movement, causing tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination. There is currently no cure, but medications and therapies can manage symptoms. Reid’s case is notable because of its early onset and because she has been unusually open about her condition in high-profile interviews.

She discussed her diagnosis with the New York Times in December 2025, describing the moment she learned about the TV deal just days after the medical news. The television adaptation of Heated Rivalry — her breakout novel about two NHL rivals — was already in motion.

How Rachel Reid disclosed her diagnosis

• TV series: Heated Rivalry premiered on Crave and HBO Max in 2025.
• Financial impact: The success of the series improved access to medical care.

Reid didn’t hide the diagnosis. She gave interviews to multiple outlets, laying out the sequence clearly. The showrunner Jacob Tierney reached out via direct message. As Reid tells it, the timing was uncanny.

The implication: a serious medical condition rarely becomes public without a specific catalyst — for Reid, the showrunner’s DM arriving just days later gave her a reason to tell the whole story.

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

Age 37: early onset Parkinson’s

Reid was 37 years old when she received the diagnosis in 2018 (The New York Times timeline profile). That places her squarely in the bracket of ‘early onset’ Parkinson’s, defined as a diagnosis before age 50.

Typical age of onset compared to Rachel Reid’s case

A quick comparison of standard diagnostic age brackets highlights just how early Reid’s onset was.

The pattern: Reid’s case sits firmly in the early-onset bracket, which often progresses differently and faces a longer treatment horizon than late-onset cases.

Does Rachel Reid have a partner or children?

Rachel Reid’s relationship status

• Relationship status: Not publicly confirmed.
• Spouse or partner: No official statements or verified reports.
• Residence: Bedford, Nova Scotia. (El País profile of the author)

Reid has not publicly confirmed whether she has a partner or spouse. Her official biography and interviews focus on her career and health. The uncertainty around her relationship status reflects her general preference for privacy outside of professional and medical matters.

Information about children

• Evidence: The New York Times quotes Reid referencing ‘her children’.
• Verification gap: No other major outlet or official bio confirms the number or names of children.

This is where the public record becomes hazy. The New York Times profile from December 2025 includes a quote where Reid references ‘her children’ in relation to the NYT bestseller list. However, Reid’s official bio, her book dedications, and most media coverage do not explicitly confirm that she is a parent.

What this means: for readers asking ‘does Rachel Reid have children,’ the honest answer is that she appears to be a parent based on a single reputable source, but the detail lacks the multi-source confirmation most biographical entries require.

What books does Rachel Reid write and what is her net worth?

Game Changers series overview

• Series: Game Changers (7 books). (Rachel Reid’s official site)
• Genre: Gay hockey romance.
• First book: Game Changers (2017).
• Breakout: Heated Rivalry (2019).

Rachel Reid is the pen name of Rachelle Goguen. She writes the Game Changers series, a collection of gay hockey romance novels that have built a passionate fanbase. The series features interconnected stories centered on NHL players. Heated Rivalry, the second book in the series, became a New York Times bestseller and caught the attention of television producers.

Heated Rivalry and its TV adaptation

In 2023, Sony Pictures Television acquired the adaptation rights. The series premiered on Crave in Canada and HBO Max in the U.S. and Australia in 2025 (Rachel Reid’s official Heated Rivalry page). Canadian writer-director Jacob Tierney served as showrunner. The adaptation dramatically increased Reid’s profile and, as she explained in interviews, helped her afford treatment for Parkinson’s.

Estimated net worth from author income and TV deal

Her exact net worth is not publicly confirmed. Authors typically earn advances and royalties from book sales, plus option fees and backend participation in TV deals. E! Online reported that a leading Parkinson’s specialist contacted Reid after the TV deal, suggesting the adaptation opened doors beyond direct compensation (E! Online’s report on the adaptation impact).

The trade-off: a TV adaptation can massively expand an author’s audience, but the financial specifics remain locked behind standard Hollywood NDAs.

At what age does Parkinson’s usually start?

Typical age range for Parkinson’s diagnosis

Most common age: Over 60 · Youngest early onset cases: 30s · Reid at diagnosis: 37

Parkinson’s is most commonly diagnosed after age 60. The average age of onset is around 70. Early onset Parkinson’s, defined as a diagnosis before age 50, accounts for roughly 5–10% of all cases.

Early onset Parkinson’s defined

A quick comparison of diagnostic categories confirms the pattern.

The implication: the younger the patient, the longer the financial and practical horizon. Reid’s TV deal didn’t just boost her career — it provided the long-term financial security that makes treating early-onset Parkinson’s more feasible.

Timeline signal

• 2017: Reid publishes first Game Changers novel.
• 2018: Diagnosed with Parkinson’s at age 37.
• 2019: Heated Rivalry becomes a bestseller.
• 2023: TV adaptation rights acquired by Sony Pictures Television.
• 2025: TV series Heated Rivalry premieres; Reid receives financial support for treatment.

The pattern: every major career milestone came after her diagnosis, not before. The TV deal turned financial uncertainty into treatment access.

Clarity: confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear

From the author’s own words

“I got this diagnosis, and then I got this call about the show. It was like the universe was balancing the scales.”

Rachel Reid, via The New York Times (New York Times profile)

“It came just days after my diagnosis. It was a little boost when I really needed one.”

Rachel Reid, via The Popverse (The Popverse interview)

For Rachel Reid, the public narrative is one of resilience and unexpected success. The TV series made her a household name in romance fiction, but the long-term management of early-onset Parkinson’s remains the harder, ongoing challenge. The implication for the industry: a massive streaming deal can be a lifeline, but it cannot cure a progressive disease. For Reid, the support has been transformative, but her private battle continues.