the best sports romance books — booktok favorites and underrated reads

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.

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
some links may be affiliate links, so thank you for supporting the recs. <3
sports romance

Breaking Point

Mads Rafferty
#1 • icehawks series
🌶🌶
Breaking Point

he needed a fake girlfriend to save his reputation… but the one woman who can’t trust him might be the only one he actually falls for

fake dating romance hockey romance boss x employee
✓ on kindle unlimited
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sports romance

Caught Up

Liz Tomforde
#3 • windy city series series
🌶🌶
Caught Up

a grumpy single dad baseball player hires the one nanny he can’t fire… and she’s only supposed to be there for the summer, not become something that feels like home.

single dad romance baseball romance nanny romance
✓ on kindle unlimited
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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.

hockey romance forced proximity
✓ on kindle unlimited
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sports romance

Fighting Chance

Mads Rafferty
#2 • icehawks series
🌶🌶🌶
Fighting Chance

a reckless hockey star gets a daughter he never knew existed… and the nanny who was supposed to help fix his life might be the one he falls for instead

single dad romance nanny romance forced proximity hockey romance he falls first
✓ on kindle unlimited
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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.

slow burn enemies to lovers
✓ on kindle unlimited
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sports romance

In Her Own League

Liz Tomforde
🌶🌶
In Her Own League

when the first woman in mlb history inherits her grandfather’s team, the head coach who doubts her becomes the one man she can’t ignore.

boss x employee baseball romance forced proximity
✓ 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.

hockey romance forced proximity single dad romance grumpy x sunshine
✓ on kindle unlimited
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sports romance

Rewind It Back

Liz Tomforde
#5 • windy city series series
🌶🌶🌶
Rewind It Back

the boy next door who broke her heart is now her client, her neighbor… and still the one he’s been quietly in love with since he was twelve.

hockey romance second chance romance forced proximity
✓ on kindle unlimited
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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 slow burn he falls first
✓ on kindle unlimited
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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.

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

The Right Move

Liz Tomforde
#2 • windy city series series
🌶🌶
The Right Move

after a rough time in her life, she moves into her friend’s brother’s place, but the busy pro basketball player isn’t exactly thrilled about the unexpected roommate.

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

Until I Get You

Claire Contreras
🌶🌶🌶🌶
Until I Get You

she ruined his life three years ago… now he’s back, obsessed, and ready to make her feel it too

hockey romance second chance romance
✓ on kindle unlimited
amazon support local bookshop

want more like this? say less.

the full romance library is waiting.

peek inside the society library

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Close to You
Close to You
Nissa Renzo
Daggermouth
Daggermouth
H.M. Wolfe
Dear Reader
Dear Reader
Tate James
Death
Death
Laura Thalassa
Dire Bound
Dire Bound
Sable Sorensen

morally gray men, slow burns, hockey romances, villains who should absolutely not be attractive… it’s all there.

frequently asked questions

questions readers ask

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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