5 sports romances to read this summer
With the recent release of Amazon Prime’s Off Campus, the adaptation of Elle Kennedy’s ice hockey romance novel The Deal, fans are going wild for contemporary romance set in the world of competitive sport. And if bookstore shelves are anything to go by, the love for this sub-genre is here to stay. Taking readers from the rinks to the stables to the football fields, there are plenty of books to tide you over until the second season of Off Campus drops. Here are five to feed your sports romance fix.
Face Off by Chelsea Curto
Given we’re in something of an ice hockey romance era, it would be criminal to begin this list with anything other than a book featuring NHL players. Chelsea Curto’s Face Off is an opposites attract novel about two pro hockey players whose tension on the ice transfers to the bedroom. Emmy and Maverick swear it’ll be a one-time thing, a night of passion to clear the air so they can focus on their game. But one night soon turns into every night and, as the season unfolds, they quickly realise that keeping things casual isn’t as easy as they thought it would be. An irresistible sports romance that delivers not only a heart-stealing central couple but a loveable ensemble too. Read this and its follow-up, Power Play, over the summer, ready for the next two books in the D. C. Stars series which hit shelves in the autumn. (Pan)
Hit or Miss by Elle Kelk
A soccer romance set against a college backdrop, Hit or Miss is a dual POV novel that sees two American students swapping their small Carolina town for the imposing halls of an English university. For wallflower Mia, junior year abroad is her chance to step into the spotlight and reinvent herself. For soccer star Ethan Taylor, it’s a punishment and a reminder of everything he’s done wrong. They might not have been friends back home but under the gothic spires of Hemden University, Mia and Ethan might be just what the other needs. Equal parts funny, tender and spicy, this new-adult romance will have anyone who’s ever been to an English university feeling all nostalgic. (HQ)
Taking the Reins by Ivy Bailey
Having previously penned YA romances themed around football and tennis, Ivy Bailey turns her attention to the equestrian world with Taking the Reins. This Riders-inspired book centres on talented but overlooked Sophie, who’s earned herself a spot at the prestigious Blackwood Equestrian Camp in the French countryside. There she meets Luke, the camp’s charming star jumper whose dad owns the estate, and Finley, the scrappy stable hand who’s hiding a secret that could ruin him. With a major riding competition on the line, the three are forced to work together and Sophie must decide who really has her heart. A fun summer read that celebrates the beautiful bond between humans and horses. (Simon & Schuster)
Abby Offsides by Anna McCallie
Seeking something to fill the Ted Lasso shaped hole in your life until the show returns in August? Look no further than Anna McCallie’s wonderfully witty debut. Abby McIntyre only applied for the marketing job at Mersey FC to get away from her cheating fiancé in Boston. She’s certain all footballers are players but then she meets Lachlan Ramsey, a recently recruited Scottish star midfielder, and the two bond over being lonely in a new city. When her housing situation falls apart, Lachlan invites her to move into his penthouse. But with her job and his marriage dependent on them keeping things strictly friendly, the forced proximity only makes their undeniable chemistry harder to ignore. Don’t worry if you’re not a footie fan, the banter, sexual tension and friends to lovers dynamic will have you hooked regardless. (Penguin)
Trick Shot by L. A. Jasper
If you enjoyed Rachel Reid’s gay, hockey-themed Game Changers series, which was adapted into the hit TV show Heated Rivals last year, then you’ll love Trick Shot. It follows controlled and closeted NHL captain Nick whose world is turned upside down when he meets charismatic, openly gay rock band frontman Matt. As secret dates turn into something more intense than either of them could have expected, Nick must decide if he’s willing to risk it all for love. Interspersed with articles, text messages and social media posts, this is a book that’s full of flirting, yearning and queer joy. Bonus points for the pop-punk playlist at the beginning. Get this on your pre-order list for July. (One More Chapter)
