Heated Rivalry, an HBO Max series about two professional, Olympic tier, closeted men who fall for one another after years of hookups, has brought Rachel Reid's Game Changers series to the forefront of pop culture this winter. Sports romances are nothing new: elite athletes match because they may share drives and goals, competitive streaks, compatible lifestyles and schedules, as well as a passion for their sport; their superstitions, curated diet, and lack of availability due to travel require a certain level of understanding that only someone in a similar situation can relate to.
Whether you can't get enough of Heated Rivalry and want a steamy readalike, are a Boston Bruins fan looking for a sports romance, or love the idea of tough hockey players falling for even tougher figure skaters, read on for a list of suggestions for romance set on--and off--the ice.
Game Changers series by Rachel Reid 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Him series by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy: Him / Us / Epic 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
This M/M hockey romance is the closest read-alike match to Game Changers in plot and spice level. In Him, childhood friends at hockey camp were best buds on and off the ice, until Wes realized he was attracted to Jamie and cut off their friendship. At the end of their college days, both are called back as counselors for the camp, where they reconnect on more than one level. Jamie always believed himself to be straight, but can’t fight his attraction to his teammate and roommate any longer. In Us, the guys are together, but apart due to Wes's signing to a professional hockey team, which means he's traveling` for work, and back in the closet. In Epic, Jamie is being scouted to play for another National team, and that, coupled with his mental health struggles, put a strain on his and Wes's relationship. Blistering hot, talkative, highly consensual intimate scenes between the two athletes are balanced out with the mundanities of life, ongoing pranking and superstitions, exciting hockey game play by play, and internal growth as they angst of divulging their relationship, and then struggle to maintain the relationship over time, through distance, and between professional obligations.
Always Only You by Chloe Liese 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Loosely following the themes of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, hockey player Ren is an outlier in his family of soccer players, but he’s great at what he does on the ice–and off, always up for whatever social media scheme the team’s PR prickly person, Frankie, has cooked up. Frankie is on the spectrum, and suffers from a chronic illness, while Swedish Ren is a self-proclaimed nerd who is the nicest, most modest, unruffled hockey player ever, hosting a Shakespeare Club on the side. Sweet, sensual writing with emotional depth and literary allusions.
This age-gap workplace romance launches when single (grumpy) dad and hockey star Burgess hires broke, aspiring marine biologist Tallulah to be the live-in nanny for his tweenager. The lovers are in very different spots in their lives, and Tallulah is still recovering from past trauma; their off-the-charts chemistry makes it all work. The novel was a roller-coaster of drama and emotion, mostly based on the characters being stuck in their ways, and having baggage to work through, and while they do change and grow to be a better partner for each other, there was a lot of miscommunication, cringe, and stereotypical behavior. Bailey excels at hot men who like to talk in bed, and The Au Pair Affair is no exception.
Beyond the Play series by Grace Reilly: Wicked Serve / Breakaway 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
In this new adult series about secret relationships, Wicked Serve focuses on volleyball player Izzy and her brother’s hockey rival Nikolai, enjoying a no-strings-attached summer romance during Izzy’s party planning internship with Nikolai’s mother. In Breakaway, coach’s daughter Penny has had some unsatisfying relationship experiences and past trauma, and has a bucket list that her new friends-with-benefits Cooper is happy to explore at her pace, with full consent. Reilly excels at creating warm, authentic, characters; pitch perfect college-age dialogue; complex situations; and passionate intimacy.
B’Nai Mitzvah Mistake by Stacey Agdern 🌶️
Two students in an adult b’nai mitzvah class clash, so of course, they are paired together on a project. Judith, who works for a Jewish charitable organization, needs to find a Jewish athlete for her nephew to interview; Ash, a hockey player who wants to start a foundation supporting Jewish athletes, is willing to step in if she’ll help him out with his foundation. The Jewish content is rich with familiar traditions, cultural touchstones, and a careful balance of referencing but not over-explaining, with a sprinkling of Hebrew and Yiddish throughout; the author is a knowledgeable fan of the game, so the hockey parts ring true.
Single, hockey playing widow Mike falls for his daughter Olivia’s dance teacher Aurora in this charming sports romance. When he proposes that Rory, who has a strong connection with Olivia, provide some childcare in the form of a ride home and babysitting, Rory agrees, and pretty soon, Mike’s trying to solve Rory’s rent problem by inviting her to move into the lower level of his home...Mental health--Mike's grief, Rory's anxiety--is a strong theme throughout the novel, and love letters, Wikipedia articles, and text messages enhance the narrative and move the story along. Therapy scenes are juxtaposed against intimate ones: emotional and forthright, sometimes a little raw, insightful, asking for what they need, sharing their emotions, and communicating.
Fated Skates by Victoria Schade 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Olympic figure skater Quinn suffered a fall in her last bid for a gold, but she's recovered from her injury (and from some of her humiliation) and is ready to try again. A journalism team, inspired by her comeback, wants to do a feature on her, and her reluctance is only partly her desire for privacy; the lead interviewer is none other than the retired speed skater she had an almost thing with a four years ago. Issues of privacy, stage moms, eating disorders, competition, controlling your narrative, depression, athleticism, pressure to succeed, and women in sports compound and amplify the vulnerabilities and desires of the protagonists.
The Favorites by Layne Fargo 🌶️🌶️
An instant connection between two skating underdogs makes them a formidable duo on the ice. Kat and Heath go from childhood sweethearts to champion ice dancers, until a shocking incident at the Olympic Games brings their partnership to a sudden end. As the ten-year anniversary of their final skate approaches, an unauthorized documentary reignites a public obsession seeking to uncover the “real story” through interviews with their closest friends and fiercest rivals. Kat wants nothing to do with the documentary, but she can’t stand the thought of someone else defining her legacy. So, after a decade of silence, she’s telling her story: from the childhood tragedies that created her all-consuming bond with Heath to the clash of desires that tore them apart. Sensational rumors have haunted their every step for years, but the truth may be even more shocking than the headlines. The writing is literary, with excellent plotting.
This “falling for my best friend’s brother” romance is set locally in Boston, and author Ferguson does the city, its' climate and its' sports fanaticism proud. Delilah’s homegrown cooking show isn’t generating interest, and is in danger of being canceled. Hockey star Ian Chase’s recent public breakup is bad PR for his nice guy persona. The baker and a hockey player join forces to boost ratings for her baking show and to make over his reputation. The flirty banter is fun, the pacing is quick, and the culinary details delicious. This is a solid addition to the hockey romance ouevre, with slightly older characters.
Isn't It Bromantic? by Lyssa Kay Adams 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Russian hockey player Vlad--known for his moves on the ice, his odor, and his wise insights--sets out to move the barometer of his marriage of with the childhood friend he’s in love with from “brink of divorce” to “the real deal” in this sweet and suspenseful second chance romance. When he gets injured, his wife steps in to assist him and it’s the opportunity they needed to reconnect and (finally!) consummate their marriage of convenience. Subplots involve the Russian mob and an underground cheese ring. Part of the Bromance Book Club series featuring professional athletes and business moguls in Chicago, this is a lighthearted, funny read with an emotional punch.
Maple Hills series: Icebreaker / Wildfire / Daydream by Hannah Grace🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
In Icebreaker, when a prank goes wrong and puts one rink out of commission, the hockey team and figure skaters at Maple Hills College in LA need to share the remaining rink, and skater Stas gets into a complicated relationship with her frenemy, hockey captain Nate. In Wildfire, a couple has a one-night stand and then turn up as co-counselors at the same summer camp, and come up against a "no-dating" rule. They agree to be friends, and love blossoms slowly and beautifully. In Daydream, bookworm and aspiring writer Hallie meets neurospicy Henry when he crashes her book group, and they become fast friends. The writing is fast and emotional, the banter is fun and flirty, and the sexy scenes are athletic and spicy. Grace excels at observational details that set a scene, dual points of view, and the slow burn.
Sports is not at all the focus of this academic/STEM themed spicy romance between a food engineer and the science entrepreneur who is intent on taking down the company she works for, and her mentor along with it. Rue and Eli have an instant connection, and only later learn they may have crossed paths when she was a skater and he played hockey. Minute industry details, from behind-the-scenes at the labs, from methodology to meetings to schedules, to real estate law, patent law, and business negotiations, add another level of authenticity. Hazelwood's shame-free racy writing showcases characters who are kinky, inventive, and chatty--who care deeply about each other's consent, pleasure, and comfort.
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