There’s something undeniably electric about sports romance. Maybe it’s the adrenaline of competition, the emotional stakes of victory and defeat, or the way locker rooms and stadium lights become the backdrop for slow-burning tension and fiery passion.
This September, the genre is having a moment: ten new titles are hitting shelves (or your Kindle) that combine athletic ambition with romantic chaos, and we’re here for all of it. Whether you’re into hockey heartthrobs, football scandals, or the kind of fake dating that spirals into real feelings mid-season, this list is your ultimate binge guide.
From small-town ice rinks to high-stakes NFL contracts, these books delve into the complex, captivating intersection of romance and sport. And no, you don’t need to know the rules of the game to fall hard for these stories. Just bring a willingness to be swept up in the drama.
1. Burn Bright by Krista Ritchie & Becca Ritchie
Burn Bright isn’t your typical sports romance; it’s a character-driven deep dive into legacy, secrecy, and emotional reckoning.
The story follows Ben Cobalt, heir to a media empire and former college hockey player who walked away from the sport years ago. Now a student at Manhattan Valley University, Ben is trying to live a quieter life, but the weight of his family name and a secret he’s been hiding for years threaten to unravel everything.
Harriet Fisher, a journalism student with her own complicated ties to the Cobalt family, becomes the unexpected catalyst for change.
Set in the same universe as the Addicted and Like Us series, this novel explores themes of identity, vulnerability, and the cost of silence. The romance is slow-burning and emotionally rich, built on trust, shared trauma, and the courage to be seen.
While hockey is part of Ben’s past, the heart of the story lies in the tension between who he was and who he’s trying to become. Readers who love introspective characters and layered family dynamics will find Burn Bright a compelling addition to the Cobalt Empire saga.
Why we recommend it: There’s something magnetic about a character who’s trying not to unravel while the universe hands him scissors. Ben Cobalt’s quiet implosion is the kind of slow-burning drama that makes you want to cancel plans and read under a blanket. Ideal for readers who crave emotional wreckage, legacy angst, and romance that feels like therapy with eye contact.
2. Faceoff with Forever by Larissa Hommes
Faceoff with Forever blends the intensity of professional hockey with the vulnerability of second chances. Luke Ryder, star defenseman for the Minnesota Wolves, is reluctantly participating in a behind-the-scenes documentary about the team.
Quinn Fallon, a production assistant with a sharp eye and a guarded heart, is tasked with managing Luke’s segment, despite the fact that they share a complicated history. Their reunion is anything but smooth, especially under the scrutiny of cameras and teammates.
The story unfolds in locker rooms, hotel suites, and media trailers, capturing the tension between public image and private emotion. Hommes explores themes of emotional repression, media manipulation, and the fear of intimacy with a deft touch.
The romance simmers beneath layers of unresolved feelings and professional boundaries, making every glance and conversation feel loaded. This isn’t a small-town reunion, it’s a high-stakes collision between past and present, spotlight and shadow. Perfect for readers who crave emotional depth and sports romance with a cinematic edge.
Why we recommend it: If you like your sports romance with a side of unresolved tension and camera-induced chaos, welcome to your next obsession. Best served to readers who enjoy second chances, locker room vulnerability, and men who brood professionally.
Related10 Fall Romances Autumn Romances That Will Wreck You (And Then Fix You)
3. Call the Shots by Bree Hayden
Call the Shots is a college hockey romance that trades coaching drama for roommate chaos and slow-burn tension. Bear Moreau, the grumpy defenseman of the university’s hockey team, is forced to share his off-campus housing with a new roommate: a former prom queen turned team assistant who’s working off her rent by helping manage the squad.
Their dynamic is anything but friendly; he’s brooding and private, she’s sunshine with a clipboard, but a mutual agreement to fake date for personal gain throws them into a spiral of unexpected feelings.
Set against the backdrop of campus life, team rivalries, and late-night strategy sessions, the story explores themes of identity, self-worth, and emotional vulnerability. Hayden crafts a romance that’s equal parts banter and longing, with moments of genuine connection that sneak up on both characters.
There’s no assistant coach in sight, just two people learning how to coexist, collaborate, and maybe fall in love along the way. Ideal for fans of forced proximity, fake dating, and hockey boys with hidden hearts.
Why we recommend it: Recommended for readers who like their hockey boys grumpy, their heroines unbothered, and their slow burns served with a side of chaos.
4. Good Girl’s Guide to Love by Chelle Sloan
Good Girl’s Guide to Love kicks off with a karaoke night, a viral photo, and a fake relationship that neither party saw coming. Dani, a young nurse trying to dodge her clingy ex and impress Harvard admissions, finds herself in the spotlight after a chance encounter with Linc Kincaid, star quarterback and walking headline.
When their impromptu duet sets the internet ablaze, Linc proposes a mutually beneficial plan: pretend to date, clean up his image, and help Dani look like she’s thriving. It’s messy, impulsive, and just the kind of chaos that turns strangers into something more.
Sloan’s story is fast-paced and full of charm, with scenes that bounce between hospital shifts, football practices, and the ever-watchful eyes of social media. The romance builds through shared vulnerability, unexpected chemistry, and the kind of emotional honesty that sneaks up on you. Themes of reputation, self-worth, and the pressure to perform, both publicly and privately, are woven throughout.
It’s a story that proves sometimes the best relationships start with a little bit of pretending and a whole lot of heart.
Why we recommend it: This book is what happens when a karaoke duet turns into a PR stunt and feelings. It’s messy, it’s fast, and it’s got the kind of emotional whiplash that makes you grin mid-swoon. Perfect for fans of fake dating, viral fame, and love stories that unfold between hospital shifts and football huddles.
RelatedThe Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker Review: A Journey Into The Wild Heart Of The Alaskan Wild
5. Moms of Mayhem by Aimee Vance
In Moms of Mayhem, the chaos of youth hockey meets the even greater chaos of motherhood. The story centers on a single mom whose son’s new coach turns out to be her high school ex, the one who left without a word and now wants a second chance.
The setting is suburban and emotionally charged, with PTA meetings, rink drama, and family dynamics shaping the narrative. Vance captures the exhaustion and exhilaration of parenting with humor and heart.
What makes this book unique is its focus on adult romance in a world often dominated by teen angst and college crushes. The protagonists are older, wiser, and more emotionally scarred, but that just makes their connection more compelling.
Themes of forgiveness, co-parenting, and rediscovering desire are woven throughout, making this a standout for readers who want romance with depth and maturity. It’s messy, it’s real, and it’s impossible to put down.
Why we recommend it: Finally, a romance that understands PTA meetings are just gladiator arenas with cupcakes. This one’s for the grown-ups: single moms, second chances, and exes who show up with hockey sticks and emotional baggage. If you want love stories with depth, maturity, and just enough rink-side drama to keep things spicy, this is your puck drop.
Enjoying this article?
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter6. Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey
Pitcher Perfect is what happens when a softball star with a chip on her shoulder meets a cocky hockey player with a golden retriever smile, and agrees to fake date him to win a petty family competition. Skylar Page is laser-focused on her future, but when her ex shows up at the annual Page Stakes, she needs a distraction.
Enter Robbie Corrigan, a Boston Bearcats defenseman who’s more than happy to play the part of doting boyfriend. Their chemistry is instant, their banter is relentless, and their plan? Absolutely doomed to get complicated.
Bailey delivers a romance that’s equal parts snark and sincerity, set against the backdrop of summer games, family rivalries, and late-night confessions. The story explores themes of legacy, identity, and the pressure to live up to expectations, both athletic and emotional. It’s not about winning the tournament, it’s about finding someone who sees you beyond the scoreboard.
With fake dating, enemies-to-lovers tension, and a dog named Biscuit stealing scenes, this one’s a grand slam for fans of fiery romance and heartfelt redemption.
Why we recommend it: This book is what happens when fake dating meets family drama and a dog named Biscuit steals the emotional spotlight. It’s snarky, sun-drenched, and tailor-made for readers who like their romance with a side of petty competition and golden retriever energy in human form.
7. End Game by Adriana Locke
End Game isn’t just about touchdowns, it’s about secrets, loyalty, and the kind of love that risks everything. Branch Best is a professional football player with a reputation for keeping things casual, until a one-night stand with his best friend’s sister turns into something far more complicated.
When she discovers she’s pregnant, the fallout isn’t just personal; it’s a potential scandal that could fracture the team and destroy lifelong bonds. The stakes are high, and the playbook doesn’t cover what happens when love collides with loyalty.
Locke builds a romance that’s emotionally raw and narratively bold, set against the backdrop of locker room tension, family expectations, and the pressure of public scrutiny. Themes of forbidden love, responsibility, and emotional growth are front and center, making every moment feel earned.
This isn’t a story about fame, it’s about what happens when the people you love are the ones you stand to lose. For readers who crave drama, depth, and a romance that doesn’t play by the rules, End Game delivers a powerful emotional punch.
Why we recommend it: Some stories whisper. This one tackles you at full speed and doesn’t apologize. If you’re into emotional wreckage, forbidden love, and men who finally learn how to feel something other than football stats, this is your kind of chaos.
Related10 Romantasy Books Coming Out In September Not To Miss
8. Addicted to Glove by Kelly Reynolds
Addicted to Glove slides into the world of baseball management with a romance that’s equal parts unexpected and irresistible. Dani Bernal is the social media director for the Rose City Roasters, and she’s got her hands full keeping the team’s image polished.
Brooks, the team’s general manager, is all business until one impulsive night between them leads to a surprise pregnancy and a whole new kind of negotiation. Their dynamic is complicated by age differences, workplace boundaries, and the fact that Brooks is already a single dad navigating co-parenting.
Reynolds crafts a story that’s warm, witty, and emotionally layered, with themes of trust, vulnerability, and the messy beauty of building a family from scratch. The romance unfolds through shared responsibility, reluctant tenderness, and the kind of chemistry that doesn’t need a stadium to feel electric.
It’s not about the game, it’s about the people behind it, and the love that grows when life throws you a curveball. For fans of workplace romance, found family, and heartfelt second chances, this one’s a home run.
Why we recommend it: It’s not just a romance, it’s a masterclass in emotional multitasking. Single dad? Check. Surprise pregnancy? Check. Workplace tension so thick you could cut it with a foam finger? Absolutely. For readers who love their love stories messy, mature, and full of heart.
9. You Make It Feel Like Christmas by Sophie Sullivan
Holiday romance meets hockey in You Make It Feel Like Christmas, a story that’s as cozy as it is emotionally charged. The plot follows a woman returning to her hometown for the holidays, only to discover that her childhood crush is now the captain of the local hockey team, and still very much single.
The setting is festive and familiar, with snow-covered streets, family traditions, and awkward reunions shaping the narrative. Sullivan blends nostalgia with emotional complexity, exploring themes of belonging, regret, and the bittersweet nature of coming home.
What sets this book apart is its ability to balance warmth with emotional depth. The romance unfolds amid twinkling lights and family dinners, but beneath the surface lies a story about missed chances and the courage to rewrite your own narrative.
It’s not just a holiday fling, it’s a reckoning with the past and a hopeful look toward the future. Readers who crave seasonal stories with substance will find this one a perfect blend of sentiment and spice.
Why we recommend it: This one’s for anyone who’s ever romanticized their hometown crush while pretending not to cry into a mug of peppermint cocoa. It’s festive, nostalgic, and quietly devastating in the best way. Perfect for readers who want their holiday romance with actual emotional stakes.
10. Fake Skating by Lynn Painter
Fake Skating isn’t about triple axels or sequined leotards, it’s about high school hockey, social sabotage, and a fake dating scheme that spirals wildly out of control. Dani Collins is back in her hometown after years away, hoping to keep a low profile and pad her Harvard application with a few extracurriculars.
Alec Barczewski, the golden boy of the school’s hockey team, is in damage control mode after a viral scandal threatens his reputation. Their solution? Pretend to be a couple. It’s strategic, it’s ridiculous, and it’s exactly the kind of plan that should never work, but somehow does.
Painter delivers a YA romance that’s fast-paced, witty, and emotionally charged. The setting is pure teen drama: locker rooms, school hallways, and the ever-watchful eyes of social media. Themes of reputation, ambition, and the pressure to perform, on and off the ice, are woven into every scene.
The romance builds through banter, reluctant vulnerability, and the kind of chemistry that makes fake dating feel dangerously real. Perfect for readers who love high school chaos, sports romance with bite, and characters who learn that sometimes the best plays aren’t scripted.
Why we recommend it: If you’ve ever wanted to scream “Just kiss already!” at two teens pretending not to fall in love while the internet watches, this book delivers. It’s sharp, chaotic, and painfully relatable for anyone who’s ever tried to curate their life into something Harvard-worthy.
Whether it’s the roar of a stadium crowd or the quiet tension of a locker room confession, sports romance thrives on emotional extremes. These ten titles offer more than just athletic drama: they explore the messy, beautiful ways people connect under pressure. From second chances and fake dating to family legacies and holiday reunions, each story brings something fresh to the genre while honoring its most beloved tropes.
So if you’re looking for page-turners that deliver both heart and heat, this month’s lineup is a winning roster. Grab your favorite blanket, queue up your reading playlist, and prepare to fall in love, on and off the field.
