Sports romance literature represents a huge portion of the romance genre, so much so that there has been controversy about how fantasy bleeds into reality. After Seattle Kraken player Alex Wennenberg became the target of a content creator on Booktok, the tag given to book content on TikTok, the situation prompts a warning as to the fictional nature of these books. Wennenberg should have been protected by his team instead of allowing his discomfort to be commercialized for public relations. More importantly, the graphic language that was aimed at him publicly should never have been said. Being a public figure does not mean one’s body and personal life are up for grabs. While reading this list, please remember that these books and characters are fictional and meant for personal entertainment, whereas real-life athletes are people who should not be subjected to this treatment. Recognize the difference.
With that in mind, please enjoy the creme de la creme of sports romance responsibly…
- “The Perfect First” by Maya Hughes 🌶️🌶️
Sport: 🏈
This cute opposites-attract romance is a great introduction to the sports romance world. As college football star Reece Michaels helps the quintessential nerdy girl Persephone Alexander get the “real” college experience after a very embarrassing online ad puts Persephone up on the chopping block. Not too scandalous for new readers, but still just spicy enough!
- “Breakaway Hearts” by Nikki Lawson 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Sport: 🏒
This is for lovers of a spicy friends-to-lovers book. There’s no slow burn here as two best friends pretend to date in order to make our male hero’s terribly annoying ex-girlfriend jealous. These two quickly start feeling the heat, just don’t read it in public if you’ve got an expressive face.
- “Home Game” by Odette Stone 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Sport: 🏒
Ryan Parker meets Zoey Petrik as she’s down on her luck, offering her a place to stay and much needed friendship. This is a slow burn done right with lots of tension and emotional build up. These two start off with an antagonistic dynamic as Zoey quickly becomes the most important person in Ryan’s life, much to the chagrin of his new assistant and much to a reader’s delight.
- “Body Check” by Maria Luis 🌶️
Sport: 🏒
“Body Check” is a second chance romance about a divorced couple, Jackson and Holly, as they are forced to work together again after some slight manipulation on our male hero’s part. This is a book made for a little crying as these two work through what caused their divorce and find what will bring them back together.
- “Throttled” by Lauren Asher 🌶️🌶️
Sport: 🏎️
Noah Slade and Maya Alatorre start off as a pair that burns too bright and too fast. At first, Noah can’t deal with all of his emotional baggage while at the same time falling into a friends with benefits situation. Despite the fact that they’re obviously made for each other, Noah is a self-sabotaging pain to readers. This brother’s best friend romance is full of angst and smirk-worthy moments.
- “Boyfriend Bargain” by Isla Madden-Mills 🌶️🌶️
Sport: 🏈
This fake dating story starts off with total ‘Mastermind’ energy as Sugar Ryan drags college football star Zach Morgan into helping her achieve her law school plans. The pair almost immediately fall into something real with nothing fake about it. Unfortunately, Sugar is in for the surprise of her life when she discovers why Zach is really drawn to her…
- “The Enforcer” by Avery Keelan 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Sport: 🏒
“The Enforcer” is a second-chance college romance. After a heated breakup their freshman year, Nash and Violet have avoided each other religiously. Nash because he lives with the guilt of pushing away the one that got away, and Violet because he crushed her heart almost thoughtlessly. After her senior internship forces her to work with Nash, Violet is right back to falling for the one guy she shouldn’t.
- “Right Man, Right Time” by Meghan Quinn 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Sport: 🏒
Meghan Quinn hits all the tropes with this fake-dating, age gap romance jam-packed full of jealousy, drama and open-door spice. After having a run in with her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend, her workplace nemesis, Ollie tells a lie to save face and claims she has a fake boyfriend. Coincidentally, the man she randomly chooses is Silas Taters: Canadian hockey legend.
- “Blind Side” by Kandi Steiner 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Sport: 🏈
This spicy fake dating romance starts off as Clay Johnson just got dumped by his high school sweetheart and cheerleader. In order to help him save face and make Giana’s crush jealous, Giana Jones pretends to be his girlfriend. Clay is the perfect protective and emotionally unavailable man, because ladies, you really can change him.
- “Coach” by Devney Perry 🌶️🌶️
Sport: 🏈
This one hits too hard and it is not for those of you who are here for fluff or cutesy moments. This is a gut-wrenching second chance romance with a single dad that has you in pain from the prologue. After missing their chance in college due to an ex’s unplanned pregnancy, Ford and Millie serendipitously start working for the same football team. Let’s just say that the desk scene is why the workplace romance genre exists.
