the best sports romance books — booktok favorites and underrated reads

May 19, 2026

sports romance is the most consistently recommended romance genre on booktok right now — and these are the books that actually deliver on the tension.

we love a man who can lift heavy and wears his heart on his sleeve.

sports romance has a way of delivering all of it. high stakes, competitive tension, and an mmc who may be very good at his sport but somehow even more devoted to the fmc.

[specific:sports]

if you love

if you love competitive tension, enemies to lovers banter, and an mmc who shows up just as hard off the field as he does on it, you’re in the right place.

what you’ll find in this list

these sports romance books range from lighter reads to a little more spicy, with a mix of fan favorites and a few you may not have picked up yet.

my take

if he’s not a little obsessed and built like he lives in a gym, i don’t want it.

the books

books mentioned in this guide
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sports romance

Hat Trick

Chelsea Curto
#4 •
🌶🌶
Hat Trick

a hockey star loses everything after an accident… except the trainer who isn’t interested in men, let alone younger ones, but somehow can’t stay away from him.

forced proximity hockey romance slow burn
✓ on kindle unlimited
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sports romance

Lucky Shot

Rebecca Jenshak
🌶🌶
Lucky Shot

a romance author on a deadline is forced to live with a grumpy single dad hockey captain… who has no idea he just signed up to help her.

forced proximity grumpy x sunshine hockey romance single dad romance
✓ on kindle unlimited
amazon support local bookshop bookshop
sports romance

Fall With Me

Becka Mack
#4 •
🌶🌶🌶
Fall With Me

a one night stand with a grumpy hockey player turns into a job working for his team… and now he’s determined that if he falls, she’s coming down with him.

forced proximity hockey romance
✓ on kindle unlimited
amazon support local bookshop bookshop
sports romance

From Lukov with Love

Mariana Zapata
🌶
From Lukov with Love

a stubborn figure skater is forced to team up with the one man she’s spent years wanting to kill… and now she has to trust him with everything.

enemies to lovers slow burn
✓ on kindle unlimited
amazon support local bookshop bookshop
sports romance

Say You Swear

Meagan Brandy
🌶🌶
Say You Swear

he saw her for who she truly was while she chased the friend she’d loved for years, and when everything finally fell apart, he was waiting.

friends to lovers he falls first slow burn
✓ on kindle unlimited
amazon support local bookshop bookshop

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frequently asked questions

what is sports romance?
sports romance is a subgenre of romance fiction where at least one main character is an athlete or involved in professional or college sports. the competitive dynamic, the discipline, and the stakes often drive the tension between the leads — and the best ones make you feel every moment of it.
what are the best hockey romance books?
hat trick by chelsea curto, lucky shot by rebecca jenshak, and fall with me by becka mack are the most consistently recommended hockey romance books right now. all three are on this list.
what are the best sports romance books on booktok?
from lukov with love by mariana zapata, say you swear by meagan brandy, and the windy city series by liz tomforde are the most recommended sports romance books on booktok. slow burn, competitive tension, and men who are just as devoted off the field.
is sports romance always spicy?
no — sports romance ranges from sweet (🌶) to very spicy (🌶🌶🌶🌶). this list covers the full range, from slow burn with barely any heat to books that definitely need a warning label.
what’s the best sports romance series to binge?
the windy city series by liz tomforde is the most recommended sports romance series right now — each book follows a different couple but they’re all connected and best read in order.

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