#sports romance books

[desdasiwrites]

How else would you get to live a thousand lives in the span of only one? The beauty of fiction is that it makes you feel things on a visceral level. You can cry with those characters, laugh with them. It teaches you to look at another’s perspective, to have empathy. In nonfiction, you simply learn about something instead of feeling it.

– Liz Tomforde, The Right Move

[marissakumari]

Elle Kennedy Teaches Us Hockey??

Hockey Romance Books have taken the internet by storm -- but as the library grows, so do female hockey fans. Can a romance novel teach you anything about hockey? And if it can, how accurate will it be?

On my quest to find the perfect sports romance novel that balances accurate sports and swoon worthy romance, today we're breaking down The Graham Effect by Elle Kennedy. This is the first book I've found where both the FMC and MMC are hockey players, which leads to some of my favorite conversation I've had in this review series so far.

[iamhereforthevibes]

If anyone is looking for a book which is something like 'The Deal' and 'The Score', please read Campus Legend by Jennifer Sucevic. Asher is the perfect mix of Garrett and Dean. Loved loved loved that book!

[author-a-holmes]

ARC Review: The Signature Move

By Cassandra Diviak aka @queen-kass-the-writer

The Signature Move is the first contemporary romance of Cassandra Diviak’s that I’ve delved into and I have to say I’m not in any way disappointed. While I wouldn’t call ‘Sports Romance’ my preferred genre, Diviak is able to bring characters to life with a vivacity that grabs you immediately.

The Signature Move explores themes of domestic violence, parental neglect and emotional abuse, eating disorders, and the worst kind of ex-boyfriend, but with a light, delicate, touch that handles the difficult subject matters with care and careful consideration.

Woven over and through these heavy topics is the kind of beautiful romance I’ve come to expect from Cassandra, bringing a much needed lightness to the story, despite it’s origins within the bounds of an enemies-to-lovers trope. Logan and Ava capture your heart quickly, and their rivalry on the rink will have you rooting for one, or both of them sooner rather than later!

Alongside our main couple is a cast of diverse characters that are a delight to get to know, and gave a warm, underlying, ‘Found Family’ feel to the town of Waybrook.

Overall, a 10/10 read from the wonderful Cassandra Diviak!

Check out some more reviews, and maybe add this wintery romance to your TBR over on Goodreads...

The Signature Move Releases on January 17th! Ebook & Preorders available at Amazon now!

[franticvampirereads]

This is one of my favorite books in this series! I mean all of them are fantastic, but this one got to me in a different way then the others did. I loved everything about this one and I just wanted to live between its pages. One of the things that I really loved about this one was that we got a pansexual main character! And really in general, this series has been one of the best for having a huge variety of lgbtq+ characters. Especially the ones that don’t have a lot of representation.

Kris was so lovely throughout this whole book even with all the shit that got piled on him. I hated every time someone posted something about him that was out of context or just a straight up lie or when he was outed by the media. I’m just glad he had Rory to lean on. And Rory was a literal ray of sunshine! Even after breaking his leg in the dumbest way possible. He deserves all the waffles and cuddle he could ever want. I loved that he was able to lean on Kris when he was hurting. I also really liked that we got to explore Rory’s childhood memories, both good (his big brother’s best friend {Kris} standing up for him, painting miniature trains, hockey) and the bad (bullying to the point of having to move schools). I also loved that we got to see Kris building his charity and all the struggles that came with it.

This book was just lovely. I swear, each book in this series is better than the next. And I can’t wait to see what else is in store for this series. Two-Man Team is getting five stars from me! 😊

Reading Challenge Prompt Fills:

PopSugar 2023: forbidden romance (it counts if the characters only thought they couldn’t have each other but weren’t forced apart, right?)

Read Queerly 2023: a pansexual main character

[amandarayyy]

Who's your favorite couple in the sterling u series?????

[hitchhikerbooks]

Puck Me Secretly by Odette Stone (Review)

Like, half a star. 🤷‍♀️ A full review available via my website: www.hitchhikerbooks.com

[happygirl2oo2]

Queer Sports Romance Books Recs For Pride Month 🌈 (all are books I've either read or currently have on my own tbr list)

Hockey

Rookie Recovery (Bobcat Boys #1) by Jemma Croft and Lex Veia [mlm]

Vancouver Orcas interconnected series by Amy Aislin [mlm]

Hometown Hero (Whistleport Hockey #1) by Declan Rhodes [mlm]

Hockey Guys interconnected series by Sarina Bowen [mlm]

Prove It by Stephanie Hoyt [mlm]

Fake Boyfriend interconnected series by Eden Finley [mlm]

Caught off Guard by Catherine Cloud [mlm]

Chicago Thunder interconnected series by Jodi Oliver [mlm]

Don't Look Down (Best Laid Plans #1) by Jessica Ann [mlm]

Hockey Ever After interconnected series by Ashlyn Kane and Morgan James [mlm]

Love & Other Inconveniences by Catherine Cloud [mlm]

Time to Shine by Rachel Reid [mlm]

Relationship Goals interconnected series by Brigham Vaughn [mlm]

Light Up the Lamp by Kit Oliver [mlm]

Puckboys interconnected series by Eden Finley and Saxon James [mlm]

Hot Shot (Orlando Storm #1) by Marissa James [mlm]

Breakaway partially-interconnected series by E.L. Massey [mlm]

Delay of Game interconnected series by Hannah Henry [mlm]

Offsides interconnected series by J.J. Mulder [mlm]

Roughing (Portland Seabirds #1) by Michaela Grey [mlm]

Stick Side interconnected series by Amy Aislin [mlm]

Let's Do This (IFU Hockey #1) by Loren Leigh [mlm]

CU Hockey interconnected series by Eden Finley and Saxon James [mlm]

Back to Center (Mohegan U Hockey #2) by Ryan Taylor and Joshua Harwood [mlm]

Penalty Box interconnected series by Ari Baran [mlm]

Shenanigans (Brooklyn Hockey #6) by Sarina Bowen [m/f with a bi mc]

The Inside Edge by Ashlyn Kane [mlm]

Icebreaker by A. L. Graziadei [mlm]

Hockey Bois by A.L. Heard [mlm]

Three Is The Luckiest Number by Catherine Cloud [mlm]

Not Over You by Samantha Wayland [mlm]

Wake Up, Nat & Darcy by Kate Cochrane [wlw]

It's a Love/Skate Relationship by Carli J. Corson [wlw]

Off the Bench Duet Series by Kimberly Knight [mlm]

Twincerely Yours by Eden Finley [mlm]

Car Racing

Pole Position by Rebecca J. Caffery [mlm]

Lights Out Series interconnected series by various authors [mlm]

Fast Love (Fast Love #1) by Kerry Lockhart [wlw]

Driven By Passion (Gamble Racing #2) by Renee Dahlia [mlm]

Redline (Redline #1) by Emma Barlowe [mlm]

Furious by Jamie Pacton and Rebecca Podos [wlw]

Bowling

The 7-10 Split by Karmen Lee [wlw]

Baseball 

The Prospects by KT Hoffman [mlm]

Batting Style by Louisa Masters [mlm]

You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian [mlm]

The Smile Has Left Your Eyes by Danielle Dawsen [mlm]

Volleyball 

We Got the Beat by Jenna Miller [wlw]

Always More (Sports #1) by Nicole Pyland [wlw]

Roller derby

Mighty Millie Novak by Elizabeth Holden [wlw]

False Start by Santana Knox [wlw]

Basketball 

How You Get the Girl by Anita Kelly [wlw]

Love and Sportsball (Atlanta Cannons #1) by Meka James [wlw]

Zone Defense interconnected series by Becca Seymour [mlm]

Fencing

Fence comic series by C.S. Pacat and Joanna the Mad [mlm]

Football

One Last Play by E.B. Neal [mlm]

Coming Out on the Sidelines by Dev Hahn [wlw]

Forward Entry (Sydney Swallows #1) by Aurora Crane [mlm]

The Game (Charleston Condors #2) by Beth Bolden

Atlanta Lightning interconnected series by Riley Hart [mlm]

Fumbled Past (San Diego Seals #2) by Cecelia Storm [mlm]

Onside Kiss (Domingo #1) by Octavia Jensen [mlm]

You Started It (Fan Service Series #3) by Hinsel Meyer [mlm]

Tigers and Devils (Tigers and Devils #1) by Sean Kennedy [mlm]

Roosevelt College interconnected series by Christina Lee [mlm]

You & Me by Tal Bauer [mlm]

Crushing on the Quarterback by Baylin Crow [mlm]

Tennis

Deuce (Tennyson Bend #2) by P.T. Ambler [mlm]

Soccer

You Don't Have a Shot by Racquel Marie [wlw]

Everything for You (Bergman Brothers #5) by Chloe Liese [mlm]

Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner [wlw]

Pull Me Under by Zarah Detand [mlm]

The Game Changer (Denver Defiant, #1) by Finley Chuva [wlw]

I Like Me Better by Robby Weber [mlm]

Finding a Keeper (Sports #4) by Nicole Pyland [wlw]

Don't Hate the Player by Shelby Elizabeth [mlm]

Endgame by Zoe Reed [wlw]

Hotshot by Clare Lydon [wlw]

Rugby

Attractive Forces by Jax Calder [mlm]

The Tighthead (Lincoln Knights #1) by Charlie Novak [mlm]

Softball

The Unexpected Dream (Sports #3) by Nicole Pyland [wlw]

Chess

Always the Almost by Edward Underhill [trans boy x boy]

Wrestling 

Alondra by Gina Femia [bisexual girl mc]

Lacrosse 

Catch and Cradle by Katia Rose [wlw]

Swimming

Tears in the Water Margherita Scialla [LGBTQ+]

Badminton

Shy by Ashish Rastogi [mlm]

[hemlocketrove]

THEM!!!

Gene and Luis from KT Hoffman’s “The Prospects”!!

[kaylaauandromedus]

THE KINGS MEN | ALL FOR THE GAME | NORA SAKAVIC @korakos

Bookstagram: Kaylaauandromedus

Went into the biggest book slump of my life after finishing this book

[jessread-s]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

✩☁️💜Review:

Henry Turner and Halle Jacobs are my everything!

“Daydream” follows Henry Turner, the captain of the hockey team, and Halle Jacobs, and aspiring author, as they strike a deal amongst themselves to overcome their respective challenges in a difficult year. In exchange for being Henry’s private tutor to help him maintain his good academic standing, he will give Halle new experiences to beat her writer’s block. They just need to stick to their rule book. Simple enough…right?

First and foremost — Hannah Grace, just in case anyone hasn’t told you this yet, “Daydream” WAS worth waiting for! It is beautifully written and will be held close to my heart from this point forward. 

As an eldest daughter, I heavily related to Halle and her people-pleasing tendencies. The loneliness that stemmed from taking on so much and putting everyone else first truly made my heart ache. 

Henry faces many obstacles of his own, like the pressure he puts on himself to be a good team captain. I appreciate the way Grace portrays his neurodivergence. It felt realistic and she handles it with care, which is so important in terms of representation. I enjoyed reading from his perspective and learned a lot from how he views the world and processes conflict. 

I adore Henry and Halle’s dynamic. Henry puts Halle first and Halle, having a sister with an ADHD diagnosis, makes every effort to understand Henry and his needs. She is very observant of his body language and gives him space when he needs to sort through his feelings. I especially love the pacing of this book surrounding Henry and Halle’s physical intimacy. Halle had a lot of anxiety surrounding it due to her previous relationship and Henry was so patient with her. He made sure to be respectful of her timeline, ask for consent, and check in with her. Throughout the book they maintain a healthy relationship by being open and honest with each other. Not only is it heartwarming, but it contributes to their insane chemistry! 

Cross-posted to: Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads | StoryGraph

[calming-chaos]

[marissakumari]

Learning Formula 1 From Romance Novels | Downforce by Hannah Lily

Sports romance novels continue to get more and more popular, but how accurate are they? How much can you learn about the sport from reading a romance novel?

For the next review in this series, we're breaking down the Formula 1 Romance novel, Downforce by Hannah Lily. What worked, what didn't, how much you'd learn, and whether this can help you get your friends into the world of car go fast.

And, for the first time: what's more unbelievable, the sport, or the romance itself?

[franticvampirereads]

June has been interesting, I’ve read some great books and some just okay ones and I had a DNF. So it’s been a bit of a grab bag this month, but that’s okay! Here’s what I read:

Prince’s Gambit 5⭐️ {review}

Three Meant To Be 4⭐️ {review}

Fence: Rise 4⭐️ {review}

For The Fans-DNF @ page 30 {vague reasoning why}

The Alpha’s Son 3.25⭐️ (changed rating) {review}

Lore Olympus vol 1 5 ⭐️ {review}

Washed Up With A Kraken 3.5 ⭐️ {review}

That Time I Got Drunk And Saved A Demon -currently reading

On The Run -currently reading

My favorite books this month were Prince’s Gambit and Lore Olympus. Both were so good that I just couldn’t put them down.