Who doesn’t love a good sports romance? No matter what sport you’re into, there’s a book for everyone. Here are some spicy and mildly spicy sports romance novels to choose from.
Sports Romance Novels Full Of Spice
Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner
Standalone | Soccer
First up is a sapphic grumpy sunshine sports romance adventure between two professional soccer players, Grace and Phoebe. Grace has been a soccer star for ten years, and Phoebe has been her biggest fan for a while. So, when Phoebe makes the cut as the newest member of the US Women’s National Team, the games begin on and off the field.
Grace is very stubborn and set in her ways, and she is soooo not ready for a relationship, while Phoebe is all energy and raring to go. Months of playful banter during practices, last-minute touristy adventures, and a drunken night at a bar lead to Grace finally loosening up and letting Phoebe in.
Not long after, Phoebe finds herself in a budding friendship and a thriving team, and she is well on her way to winning the championship game as well as winning over Grace. If only Grace could leave her ego behind and follow her heart.
Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey
Ongoing Series | Golf
Golf may not seem like a good backdrop for spicy romance novels, but you’ve got to trust me with this one. This is a super-grumpy meet-sunshine, superfan-turned-employee, forced proximity kind of story.
Wells is grumpy, miserable, and usually hungover. Josephine, on the other hand, is bubbly, happy, and always on the sidelines cheering him on even when he’s on a losing streak. As his biggest fan, of course she's heartbroken when he gives up golfing and chooses to wallow in self-pity instead.
Wells quickly realizes his mistake and presents Josephine with an offer that's too good to be true.
Being in dire need of money, she agrees to be his new caddy for the coming season. This is every fangirl’s dream!
What starts off as a business relationship on the rocks turns into a budding friendship and eventually leads Wells to success. It seems they found each other at the best possible moment in time.
Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan
Finished Series | Basketball
TW (may contain spoiler):
Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault
A chance meeting at a dingy bar starts a years-long will they, won't they between Iris and NBA star August West.
Iris is already in a relationship with Caleb, a player on a rival team, and turns August down when he pushes for something more, but that doesn’t stop him from pining after her anyway. He can’t stop thinking about Iris, and it starts to throw off his game.
When Iris finds herself pregnant and trapped in an abusive relationship that wasn’t abusive before she had the baby, she doesn’t know what to do. With minimal freedom and ever-dwindling self-agency, Iris tries to escape multiple times with the baby but is always forced back to Caleb.
All she can do is put her baby first and do what she can to stay alive long enough to get them both out safely. Will August’s help and support give Iris the courage to reset her life and let real love in?
Sports Romance Novels With Mild Spice
The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams
Duology | Football
This is a silly little romcom that will fill you with laughter and second-hand embarrassment. In this novel we follow two best friends who are so oblivious about each other's feelings that it’s a comical mess.
Bree and Nathan have been besties since high school; one’s a football superstar and the other a ballet teacher for low-income youths.
They do everything together when they’re not working, like staying at each other's houses, making meals for each other, and supporting each other in their individual sports endeavors.
They are so goofy and oblivious you’ll be frustrated with how goofy and oblivious they are! After a drunken oops of a viral video on Bree’s part, the two begin fake dating to help further Nathan's career (courtesy of the suggestion of his manager). They take to it like a moth to a flame. They are naturals; Bree and Nathan are made for each other, but they are just too stupid to realize it.
Seasons Scheming's by Katie Bailey
Duology | Hockey
Faking dating, a revenge plot, and Christmas; count me in! Maddie was recently dumped on live television by her fiancé and cooking show co-host. When she crosses paths with Sebastian, one of the NHL’s most famous players, a new friendship quickly blossoms.
With laughter and easy, quick banter, the two soon start to fall for each other, although neither is willing to admit it. They each think the other is boring, which is utter nonsense because the chemistry between them is soooo obvious.
When Maddie gets a phone call from her mother about their family's Christmas plans, she goes into a panic. She’s being forced to make an appearance at her ex-fiancé’s house for the holidays.
In an attempt to make her ex jealous and prove to her mother that she is happy and thriving now, Maddie and Sebastian decide to get married, during a drunken night in Vegas. Their antics start off as fun and games meant to poke fun at everyone else but quickly turns to more as the festivities continue in this winter romance.
For Butter or For Worse by Dana LeCheminant
Finished Romance Series | Surfing
In a small seaside town, two childhood friends reunite in the most unexpected way. Royal “King” Kingston has lived in the touristy town of Willow Cove his whole life, and while he loves it, he’s quickly getting overwhelmed.
After his uncle, the man who raised him, dies, he is left with a popular but rundown bakery to take care of, all while running his own surfing business. The summer season is fast approaching, and he is not prepared to tackle the rush of tourists on his own.
When Georgie, who broke King’s heart when he was 18 before running away to New York instead of marrying him, shows up at the bakery out of the blue with big plans, emotions begin to skyrocket.
With both of them frustrated with where their lives have led them, it appears that their paths are going to be more intertwined than they had originally planned. A fake marriage, a pile of lies, a drastic kitchen renovation, and a runaway llama will keep them both too busy to realize they are falling for each other all over again.
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