20 Playful Sports Romance Books For Every Fan

Sports Love Stories

Welcome, sports enthusiasts and romance lovers alike, to the exhilarating intersection where passion for the game collides with the quest for love. In the realm of sports romance books, heroes and heroines don’t just battle opponents on the field, court, or track—they also face the highs and lows of love, finding that the heart is the most challenging and rewarding arena of all.

Whether you’re drawn to the sweat-soaked intensity of a football game, the strategic battles on a hockey rink, or the graceful duels on a dance floor, these stories promise to captivate you with tales of determination, resilience, and love that endure beyond the final whistle. So lace up your sneakers, grab your favorite jersey, and dive into a world where sports and romance play the game of love with all their might.

20 Sports Romance Books

Sports romance books are filled with tension, drama, and high emotions as characters face the challenges and obstacles of their athletic careers and personal relationships. From nail-biting games and dramatic comebacks to locker room conflicts and off-field scandals, these stories keep readers on the edge of their seats with twists and turns that mirror the highs and lows of real-life sports.

Here are my favorite 20 best sports romance books that explore the passion, chemistry, and intensity of romantic relationships against the sports backdrop. Let’s play!

NameSports CategoryRating (Goodreads)
The DealHockey4.2/5
Pretty RecklessFootball4.1/5
ThrottledCar Racing3.8/5
The Wall of Winnipeg and MeFootball4.2/5
KultiSoccer4.3/5
Scoring WilderSoccer4/5
EnemiesFootball4/5
MoonshotBaseball4/5
Run Away With MeHockey4/5
Teardrop ShotBasketball4.3/5
Make It SweetHockey4/5
Not My MatchFootball4.1/5
PuckedHockey3.9/5
Walking DisasterBoxing4.1/5
Playing for KeepsHockey3.8/5
From Lukov with LoveOlympics4.3/5
Fake OutHockey3.9/5
Melt for YouRugby4.3/5
The Friend ZoneFootball3.9/5
OpenTennis4.2/5
Sports Romance Books List

1. The Deal (Off-Campus)

The Deal is the first book in the Off-Campus series. There are four books in this series, and then you can read even more in the Briar U series, where there are four more books. All eight of these books are companion series. In each book, you’re following a new romance, even though you get to meet everybody in all of the books. So you read the first book and meet the couple and many people.

Then one of the people you meet in book one gets their romance in book two, and it keeps following that way. So they build on each other, and I recommend reading them in order. Off-Campus is all about college hockey romance books. We follow the four players; they each get their book and are all part of the college hockey team. They all meet a girl, and they have a romance with her, which is fun. This one is for you if you are into the college new adult hockey romance vibe.

Read similar: 5 Books Like The Deal

Author: Elle Kennedy
Publisher: Elle Kennedy Inc.
Tropes: College, Humor, Abuse, Bad-boy
Number Of Pages: 342
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD

2. Pretty Reckless (All Saints High)

All Saints High is a high school football romance, technically a spinoff series to the Sinner of Saint series. You can read about the children from the couples you met in the Center of Saint Series in the All Saints High Series. All these people are in their senior year of high school or out of high school. When they were in high school, they were football players, and we’re following their romance.

The first book, Pretty Reckless, is a (Goodreads Choice Award Nominee) bully romance. Book two, Broken Night, is a childhood best friend’s romance. Then the third book, Angry Gods, is an enemies-to-lover. Those are some fun tropes if you are into any of them.

So it’s a fun series, especially if you are a fan of the Sinner of Saint series because you get to see the adults living their lives, but then you also get to see the children and their romances, and it’s adorable. I recommend checking this series out.

Author: L.J. Shen
Tropes: High School, Dark, Angst, Coming-of-age, Slow-burn
Number Of Pages: 363
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD

3. Throttled (Dirty Air)

There are four books in the Dirty Air series. This series follows a Formula One race car driver. So, it’s fascinating with a ton of fun. These are dual POVs, which is always a good time. You’re following the characters doing the Formula One rounds, and they’re going from race to race. Also, they’ll eventually have their own sports car romance.

Each book in the series builds on top of each other. You read book one and saw a romance happening in book one on the sidelines. Then that romance is going to happen. The negative side of book one is the terrible plot and weak chemistry because of the broken character. But the positive side is the hero is going through a healing process where he takes therapy regularly. The writing wasn’t well-finished, but I love the racing scenario. If you love racing romance, read the first book, and then you can continue the other books.

Author: Lauren Asher
Tropes: Multicultural, Forbidden, Steamy, Second-chance, Age-gap
Number Of Pages: 355
Available: Paperback | Kindle

4. The Wall of Winnipeg and Me

Goodreads Choice Award Nominee, The Wall of Winnipeg and Me, is a huge book and a very slow burn. I don’t recommend reading this if you lack patience for a story’s romance aspect. You have to go into it knowing that you will be reading 500 pages and not a single kiss will happen, yet it will be worth it by the end. So, I’ve warned that because I don’t want anybody to complain afterward.

In the book, we have a football moment. So you’re following a girl (Vanessa) who has worked for a professional football player for two years. Vanessa hates her job because the guy (Aiden) she’s working for is the epitome of a grump, and she doesn’t like or get along with him. One day, she finally decides to quit and start something independently. She wanted to start a graphic design company, so she finally decided to go and do it.

Then, a month later, Aiden comes crawling back to her and proposes she do the job. It will take off from there, and the book is impressive. The characters are very realistically flawed, and they have their personalities. I can’t even begin to explain how excellent the slow burn is. Sometimes, it does test my patience, but it is always so worth it in the end that I highly recommend reading it.

Read similar: 7 Books Like The Wall Of Winnipeg And Me

Author: Mariana Zapata
Tropes: Alpha-male, Marriage-of-convenience, Pregnant-heroine, Broody-hero
Number Of Pages: 672
Item Weight: 1.85 pounds
Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.68 x 8.5 inches
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD

5. Kulti

Kulti is a soccer romance. Our heroine, Sal, is a pro soccer player, and assistant coach, Kulti, is why she became a pro player. It happens to be this guy that she’s looked up to her entire life. Then, the second she meets him, she realizes she doesn’t like his personality because he’s a huge grump. Kulti’s not fun to be around, and she’s now forced to be around him because he is her new coach, and they form a friendship. Then, a romance is going to balloon from there.

The book is very slow initially, but it will be worth it. The character builds, and the writing style is excellent but boring because the story is long. I love Sal as she is intelligent and emotionally mature, and many readers will not like Kulti because of his selfishness and emotionally unstable behavior. If you want forbidden workplace romance, you must give it a chance.

Read similar: 5 Play Romance Books Like Kulti

Author: Mariana Zapata
Narrator: Callie Dalton
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Tropes: Fun, Slow-burn, Workplace, Age-gap, Damaged-hero
Number Of Pages: 570
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD

6. Scoring Wilder

Scoring Wilder is similar to Mariana’s Kulti book but is not a slow burn. As the topics of the story are very similar, you’re following a girl (Kinsley) who is currently the year’s rookie. Kinsley is playing on a college team, and her team gets a new coach for the season who is a pro player (Liam). She’s a few years older, and he needed help with his reputation.

So Liam decided to volunteer this season and help this women’s team. They’re going to have a forbidden romance because he’s the coach and she’s the player, and they can’t be together, but they’re very attracted to each other. I read this one before I read Kulti, which is next-level perfection, and Kulti was better for me. The romantic connection was weak but highly entertaining. If you like soccer romances, then I recommend this one.

Author: R.S. Grey
Narrator: Jessica Almasy
Publisher: Audible Studios
Tropes: Humorous Fiction, Rom-com, Insta-love, Arc
Number Of Pages: 402
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD

7. Enemies

Enemies is an enemies-to-lovers football romance. Our heroine, Dusty, went to a college out of state and didn’t know anybody there. Besides, Stone is a pro football player in the same state as her because they grew up together and were best friends as children. Then, they hit puberty, started to hate each other, and haven’t talked in years.

As they live in the same state, their parents catch up and get to know each other. Then, something happened in Dusty’s life, and nobody could reach her. So Stone’s the one that tracks her down, delivers the news, and then the story goes from there. Throughout the story, their emotions are kept at very low levels. Also, the writing style was not convincing, but I enjoyed the drama, mental care, and childhood friendship.

Author: Tijan
Narrator: Jason Clarke, Savannah Peachwood
Publisher: Audible Studios
Tropes: Contemporary, Enemies-to-lovers, Broken-heroine, Athletes
Number Of Pages: 370
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Audio CD

8. Moonshot

Moonshot is a contemporary baseball romance that was published back in 2016. The author is so captivating, and you don’t even know you’re being pulled in. Our main character, Tyler’s father, is a part of the Yankees when she’s 17. Our hero, Chase, is a rising star or good athlete in baseball who goes into the Yankees. He’s got a bad reputation for being a party guy and goes through women fast, a player off the field.

Tyler falls in love with Chase, and they build a friendship. It stops your heart, and they didn’t put erotica here. Maybe it needs a lot of sex to make it into erotica. There is some sexual content, which is a little bit graphic. Also, it’s a suspense thriller, and a little bit of mystery in that.

The romance is big but becomes a love triangle at some point. There is no cliffhanger in the end, but I love the ending. If you’re a big reader because it is such a beautifully written book, you don’t have to be a baseball or a sports fanatic to understand the story. The way the author writes about the sport makes you fall in love with it.

Author: Alessandra Torre
Narrator: Samantha Summers
Publisher: Select Publishing LLC
Tropes: Women’s Fiction, Suspense, Mystery, Taboo, Angsty
Number Of Pages: 408
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle

9. Run Away With Me (Come Back to Me)

Run Away With Me is the third book in a five-book companion series. This series, in general, is a military-based hockey romance. It’s also a second-chance relationship, and this book has trigger warnings for sexual assault. So, go into it knowing that and be wary if you must look out for that. But in the book you’re following, the two friends (Emerson and Jake) were both on the hockey team together when they were children. They were best friends, and no one could pull them apart.

Then something happens: Jake leaves town and never calls her again. Ten years later, Jake is back, and Emerson’s still pissed that her best friend left and she never heard from him again. Jake is a pro hockey player, and she quit hockey when they were kids. When he comes back into town, he wants to talk to Emerson. Then you’ll follow the story from there, him chasing after her.

A romance is going to bloom. So it’s a second chance childhood best friend to enemies romance. I love the entire series, but this is the only one that is a sports romance. So I recommend reading this one, and all of them have very similar vibe differences, even though the topics are different.

Author: Mila Gray
Narrator: Tim Paige, Samantha Summers
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Tropes: Emotions, Mental-health-rep, Male-lead, Feminism,
Number Of Pages: 352
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Audio CD

10. Teardrop Shot

Teardrop Shot is a basketball romance that follows a girl, Charlie. She has been hurt by one of her past relationships and is still not healed. When she returns to her friends to heal, she meets her Idol basketball player, Reese. Then, the story begins. There were many emotional scenes where I could not control my tears. The author represents the heartbreaking moments with soft humor.

Our past experiences allow us to connect or not with the characters in a book. Let’s see if we connect with this one. Some parts were quite funny, but I couldn’t connect with her because of Charlie’s feelings; her story had nothing to do with mine. So, it was hard for me to relate with her. Did you read the book? Are you planning to read it? If you are a fan of rom-com books, you can give it a chance.

Author: Tijan
Narrator: Savannah Peachwood, Dan Bittner
Tropes: Fun, Heavy-topic, Soulmates, Aggressive-hero
Number Of Pages: 422
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Audio CD

11. Make It Sweet

Make It Sweet is a sports love story because the main guy (Lucian) is an ex-hockey player. The story starts when he recently got injured, and Lucian has to stop playing hockey. Then we have a girl, Emma, a famous actress who got kicked off her show.

Also, she found out that her boyfriend, a pro football player, had been cheating on her. So she freaks out and goes to this, calming down and escaping everything. One day, Emma meets Lucian because his grandmother owns this retreat. Lucian’s living on the property, and they will keep crossing paths with each other. But they’re both dealing with their pathetic past.

The story will go from there, and they will have a romance. So this one isn’t so heavy on the sports romance because he’s only an ex-hockey player, but he’s trying to figure out what else he should do with his life. Should he go back and play hockey? Both of them are trying to resolve their careers and build feelings. The story and dialogue were average, but the chemistry was amazing. If you like broken characters struggling with difficulties, you must read it.

Author: Kristen Callihan
Narrator: Ava Erickson, Jacob Morgan
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Tropes: Celebs-royalty, Sad, Alpha-hero
Number Of Pages: 369
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD

12. Not My Match (The Game Changers)

Not My Match is the second book in a companion series. The first book, Not My Romeo, is a football romance. In this book, the main protagonist, Devon, is a pro football player with a best friend who married in the first book. You get to see his best friend’s romance, and this one happens. Devon took in his best friend’s wife’s sister to live with him after her place burned down.

Then, you will follow their romance as Giselle starts dating many people who are not working out very well because she wants to find somebody new. So it’s a charming romance. I very much enjoyed it, but I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the first book from the duet because their romance started there. So I recommend reading Not My Romeo first because it would improve this one.

Author: Ilsa Madden-Mills
Narrator: Summer Morton, Alexander Cendese
Tropes: Contemporary, Forced-proximity, Fun, Banter, Shy-heroine
Number Of Pages: 301
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD

13. Pucked

Pucked is the first book in a Hockey Romance Companion series. In this book, you’re following a team captain (Alex) who has a one-night stand in love with a girl (Violet) and then falls for her and wants a real relationship. But her brother is on the same team as him. She doesn’t want to get involved. Then, he chases after her throughout the whole book. It was a little bit too steamy for me and lacked plot development.

Their story, character development, and romance growth were unrealistic and unfinished. So, I wouldn’t mind the scene if it had a lot of good angst, tension, and build-up going along with it. But if you’re looking for a steamy hockey romance that has a ton of explicit sex scenes and you don’t care for such a good buildup of a plot, then you might like this one.

Author: Helena Hunting
Narrator: John Mclaren, Muffy Newtown
Publisher: Audible Studios
Tropes: Brother-best-friend, Comedy
Number Of Pages: 380
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD

14. Walking Disaster (Beautiful)

Walking Disaster is the sequel to Beautiful Disaster. For those who have read the first book, you need to know that this book’s plot is the same story told from Travis’s point of view, who is a fighter and playboy. Whatever you call him, he is good at picking up women. But all that changes when he meets a good girl, Abby.

At first, the story comes across as a bad boy meets a good girl romance, but it has different twists. Abby is hiding her secret past from everyone else that she tries to hide away and hopes never gets out. Then Travis himself comes from an exciting past, and he’s still deeply hurt by his mom’s passing when he was a child. So together, these two people have different backstories, and a possible relationship unfolds from their friendship.

It was interesting to see what makes Travis such a womanizer. The book opens with a prologue, looking intensely at Travis’s background and childhood. I was impressed with the book’s second half because, without giving too much away, there are more opportunities in the second half where Abby and Travis aren’t spending all their time together. This book is for you if you want to read a fighter romance with a bad boy character.

Author: Jamie McGuire
Publisher: Atria Books (Original edition)
Tropes: Mental issues, Tattooed-boy, Drama
Number Of Pages: 448
Item Weight: 12.8 ounces
Dimensions: 5.31 x 1.2 x 8.25 inches
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Audio CD

15. Playing for Keeps (Hot Jocks)

Playing for Keeps is a brother’s best friend’s romance and starts when a girl sleeps with her brother’s best friend. They have a one-night stand, and then they want to keep sleeping together and have a relationship after finally getting into bed. They both liked each other but always stayed away from each other because of the brother.

Then you’re following the story as they’re hiding it from the brother, and it was fun. The story was not mentally good enough for me and was a bit too much steam. Not everybody has the same taste as me. So, I wanted to mention that if you’re looking for another pro hockey player romance, you enjoy it. There are a lot more that you could read that will be similar.

Author: Kendall Ryan
Tropes: Best-friend-sister, Forbidden, Arc
Number Of Pages: 390
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD

16. From Lukov with Love

From Lukov with Love won Goodreads Choice Award Nominee. The story is about a single figure skater named Jasmine, who’s been in the sport for a while and has been massively successful in the past couple of years. Back in the day, she was gearing up to be one of the most promising skaters in her field. But then things took a turn.

So one day, the son of the gym owners that Jasmine skates at low key her enemy approaches her and asks her if she wants to start pair skating with him since he lost his partner. The story is about Ivan and Jasmine coming together and working towards a common goal of reaching the Olympics. I like this one so much because of the intimacy of pairs and figure skating. Many sports romances focus on one athlete and their love interest, who is not an athlete. They are both athletes, and you see them working together because that teamwork parallels relationships, too.

I loved how Ivan felt about Jasmine and how he expressed that. Jasmine’s family life, her relationship with her family, and her self-esteem are something that you will feel inspired by. Anyone a high achiever struggling a lot will find solace in this book and understand Jasmine, even if she can be annoying sometimes.

The only potential downside for this book is the length, and there’s not a lot of smut. Author Mariana Zapata is not known for her brevity. So, if you’re looking for that instant gratification, very formulaic romance, this is probably not the book for you. But in the long run, the payoff is worth it. Please don’t pick the hardcover because it has some quality problems, but the paperback is good for font size, color, binding, and cover quality.

Author: Mariana Zapata
Tropes: Enemies-to-lovers, Humor, LGBTQ
Number Of Pages: 538
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle

17. Fake Out (Fake Boyfriend)

Fake Out is a book I have talked about several times on Twitter. That’s because Eden Finley is one of the only CIS female authors who does a good job writing male-male fiction in a way that does not fetishize it. She also writes male-female fiction and also female-female (lesbian) fiction. So, we love diversity and romance.

The book is about a hockey player named Maddox who ends his relationship with his high school sweetheart by telling her he’s gay even though he’s not. So, years later, he’s invited to attend her wedding. The only trouble is that she still thinks he’s gay.

So Maddox has to find a guy to be his wedding date, which eventually turns into fake dating and genuine love. There’s the fear that Maddox won’t get punished because he’s using a marginalized identity to get out of dating someone. But he gets a mess for it, especially from the guy Damon he’s dating.

Maddox is figuring out his sexuality and attraction to men. I adored the time that Damon and Maddox spent together. Even though Eden Finley has a bit of a formula, she kills it every time with the characters, the character relationships, and the family dynamics. So, I could not recommend this book highly enough.

Author: Eden Finley
Tropes: LGBTQ, Fake-dating, Possessive-jealous
Number Of Pages: 288
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle

18. Melt for You (Slow Burn)

Melt for You is a Rugby romance that follows a rugby player, Cameron McGregor. The story starts with a girl (Joellen) who works at a publishing firm. She has to work under bosses where she’s madly in love with her one boss. Joellen is overweight and insecure but in love with her boss, and her boss is a successful millionaire running a publishing firm. Somehow, Cameron and Joellen get to know each other a little bit. Cameron tries to teach her how to be better with men.

Hearing it from Cameron is cool because this player-type man is giving you advice. Then he trains with her in the morning and teaches her that she’s a gorgeous woman on the planet and that she shouldn’t be insecure in her body. All that matters is that she’s happy with herself. It’s cool because you can see her transform when she says something negative about herself. He gets frustrated because he doesn’t want her to put herself down. They become best friends, and then their friendship turns into chemistry. Check it out if you are searching for romance, sports, and motivation.

Author: J.T. Geissinger
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Tropes: Annoying-heroine, Love-triangle, Age-gap, Protective-alpha, Rock-star-biker
Number Of Pages: 347
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD

19. The Friend Zone (End of the Line)

The Friend Zone is starting to climb as one of my favorite sports romances. It’s about an NFL player named Logan who transfers schools because he got in a fight at his last school, and he’s looking for a second chance to play football. While there, he builds a friendship with his tutor slash head coach’s daughter, Jess, who’s off-limits. They fight their feelings for each other for the majority of the book.

Also, a fake dating element explores her feelings for Logan, whom she’s had for a long time. That doesn’t work out, but nice fake dating element if you’re into that. I liked how Jess and Logan interacted, their banter, and how their relationship grew from friends to lovers over time. It’s not a wild story, but it’s cute. So, I’ll be upfront that this book does not have explicit on-page sex. If that’s something you will miss, this might not be the book for you, but if you’re sex-repulsed, here’s a nice sports love story.

Author: Sariah Wilson
Tropes: College-setting, Small-town, Friendships
Number Of Pages: 303
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD

20. Open

Open is a tennis memoir and romance that follows a tennis player, Andre Agassi. It was recommended to me by Adam Caplan, the head basketball coach at the Centre of Excellence in Australia, and Rick Croy, the head coach at Cal Baptist. I enjoyed reading about the ups and downs, what Andre went through in his career, and what he had to overcome to succeed. Also, I learned about his different training techniques and the work he put in with his trainers to transform his body physically.

One part in the book that sticks out is when he was driving back from a training session at one of the majors and sold himself short a little bit. He didn’t go as hard, and he’s a workout as he should have. That’s something that all athletes or people can relate to: when you do your best in whatever field you try, you put in the hardest effort. I also loved reading about Agassi’s work in the education space. So it’s cool that he transitions to the next part of his career and uses his platform to improve education for many people and kids.

Author: Andre Agassi
Narrator: Erik Davies
Publisher: Random House Audio
Tropes: Autobiography, Inspirational-spiritual, Literature
Number Of Pages: 388
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Audio CD

5 Sports Romance Books Series

  1. “Off-Campus” Series by Elle Kennedy

Starting with “The Deal,” the Off-Campus series follows the lives of several hockey players attending Briar University. Each book focuses on a different player finding love amidst the challenges and triumphs of college athletics. Kennedy’s blend of humor, heat, and heart makes this series a favorite among sports romance enthusiasts, offering engaging stories of love, friendship, and hockey.

  1. “Chicago Stars” Series by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

The Chicago Stars series starts with “It Had to Be You,” introducing readers to the world of professional football through the lives of the players, coaches, and the women who love them. Phillips skillfully combines sports, romance, and witty dialogue, creating entertaining and emotionally rich stories. Each novel in the series stands alone, with interconnected characters that make the world of the Chicago Stars feel real and vibrant.

  1. “The Hook Up” Series by Kristen Callihan

Beginning with “The Hook Up,” this series revolves around the members of a college football team and their romantic entanglements. Callihan explores the complexities of love and relationships in the high-stakes world of collegiate sports, delivering steamy romance, compelling characters, and the pressures of athletic excellence. Each book offers a standalone story, making it easy for readers to jump in at any point.

  1. “Wait for You” Series by J. Lynn (Jennifer L. Armentrout)

While not exclusively about sports, the Wait for You series features athletes among its protagonists, starting with “Wait for You,” where college student Avery Morgansten falls for Cameron Hamilton, a charming and determined young man with a passion for fighting. Armentrout’s series touches on themes of healing, trust, and the power of love, with the backdrop of various sports adding depth to the characters’ journeys.

  1. “Rusk University” Series by Cora Carmack

Set in the world of college football, the Rusk University series begins with “All Lined Up,” where Dallas Cole, the daughter of Rusk University’s football coach, tries to steer clear of football players until she meets Carson McClain, the team’s new quarterback. Carmack’s series delves into the dreams, pressures, and romances of those connected to the Rusk University football team, offering a blend of passion, sports, and personal growth.

5 Steamy Sports Romance Books

  1. “The Deal” by Elle Kennedy – Off-Campus Series

In “The Deal,” Hannah Wells finds herself suddenly attracted to Garrett Graham, the bad boy of Briar University’s hockey team, who needs her help to pass his exams. As Hannah tutors Garrett, their study sessions lead to unexpected chemistry and a fake relationship to help Hannah catch another guy’s attention. But their arrangement soon turns into something much more real and intensely passionate, proving that opposites attract.

  1. “Kulti” by Mariana Zapata

Sal Casillas, a professional soccer player, has idolized Reiner Kulti, a retired international soccer legend, for years—until he becomes her team’s new assistant coach. What starts as animosity between Sal and the moody, enigmatic Kulti slowly transforms into a deep connection, igniting a slow-burn romance filled with tension, humor, and heart. “Kulti” explores themes of ambition, respect, and the transformative power of love.

  1. “Real” by Katy Evans – Real Series

“Real” introduces readers to Brooke Dumas, who is swept into the world of underground boxing when she meets Remington Tate, a champion fighter with a reputation for intensity both in and out of the ring. Their instant attraction leads to a steamy and complex relationship, where Brooke becomes Remy’s biggest strength and deepest vulnerability. Evans crafts a story of raw emotion, strength, and the healing power of love.

  1. “Scoring Wilder” by R.S. Grey

When aspiring Olympic soccer player Kinsley Bryant scores a chance to be coached by Liam Wilder, a professional soccer player, and notorious bad boy, sparks fly on and off the field. Despite the no-fraternization policy, their mutual attraction becomes impossible to ignore, leading to a forbidden romance filled with witty banter, steamy encounters, and the dream of gold medals and love.

  1. “The Wall of Winnipeg and Me” by Mariana Zapata

Vanessa Mazur knows she’s doing the right thing by quitting her job as the assistant to Aiden Graves, a taciturn professional football player. But when Aiden shows up at her door with an outrageous proposal to help him stay in the country, Vanessa is thrown into a fake marriage that starts feeling all too real. Zapata masterfully builds a slow-burn romance that explores themes of loyalty, trust, and the lengths people will go to for the ones they love.

5 Ice Hockey Romance Books

  1. “The Deal” by Elle Kennedy – Off-Campus Series

“The Deal” introduces readers to Garrett Graham, the star player of Briar University’s hockey team, who needs to improve his grades to keep playing. He strikes a deal with Hannah Wells, who agrees to tutor him in exchange for help in winning over her crush. What starts as a simple arrangement soon becomes an unexpected romance filled with witty banter, emotional depth, and steamy, set against the backdrop of college hockey.

  1. “Him” by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

In “Him,” Jamie Canning and Ryan Wesley, former best friends and summer hockey camp roommates, reunite at a college championship game, reigniting old tensions and sparking new feelings. Wesley, now an openly gay pro hockey player, and Canning, a straight minor-league hockey coach, face the complexities of their renewed friendship and the burgeoning attraction between them. This novel is a heartwarming exploration of love, sexuality, and the bonds that withstand time and circumstance.

  1. “Pucked” by Helena Hunting – Pucked Series

Violet Hall is wary of hockey players, thanks to her stepbrother’s less-than-stellar reputation. But when she meets Alex Waters, the team captain, she’s taken aback by his charm and sincerity. “Pucked” is a hilarious and sexy story that follows Violet and Alex’s relationship, filled with laugh-out-loud moments, steamy scenes, and the ups and downs of dating a professional athlete. Hunting delivers a perfect blend of romance and comedy, all centered around the hockey world.

  1. “Alex” by Sawyer Bennett – Cold Fury Hockey Series

As the first book in the Cold Fury Hockey series, “Alex” introduces readers to Alex Crossman, a star player with a reputation for being cold and aloof. When ordered to work on a community outreach program, he meets Sutton Price, a social worker who sees through his icy exterior. Their relationship grows, revealing the vulnerability and passion beneath Alex’s tough facade. Bennett crafts a story of redemption, love, and the power of second chances, set within the demanding world of professional hockey.

  1. “Rookie Move” by Sarina Bowen – Brooklyn Bruisers Series

Leo Trevi’s dream comes true when the Brooklyn Bruisers recruit him, but his excitement is dampened when he discovers his high school sweetheart, Georgia Worthington, is the team’s publicist. “Rookie Move” follows Leo and Georgia as they navigate the pressures of professional sports, past heartbreaks, and the possibility of rekindling their love. Bowen combines sports action with emotional depth, creating a compelling tale of love, ambition, and forgiveness.

Last Words

These stories have taken us on a rollercoaster of emotions, from the anticipation of a first kiss to the triumph of love conquering all odds. Along the way, we’ve cheered for characters who’ve shown us that true strength lies in vulnerability, teamwork, and the courage to open one’s heart.

Whether you’ve found new favorites to root for or simply enjoyed the ride, we hope these sports romance tales have left you inspired, uplifted, and maybe a little breathless. Until our next adventure between the pages, may the spirit of the game and the power of love continue to guide you to your next great read. Keep your heart open, your hopes high, and remember—in both love and sports, it’s not just about winning, but how you play the game.


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Pauline Jackson

I like to talk about popular books. My book review inspires you to read and save time. Also, I summarize the book and give you the best lessons or ideas that can change your life. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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