8 of the Best Queer Sports Romance Books

In the lead-up to the World Cup, U.S. Women’s National Team athletes with opposing personalities put aside their differences on the field…and discover they have chemistry off-field, too. But with so many career pressures at hand, navigating their romantic tension becomes a lot more complicated.

Samwell University student Eric “Bitty” Bittle is thrilled to join the college hockey team his freshman year. His main background is in figure skating, but how different can it be…right? Not only will Bitty have to adjust to a new sport, but he also must navigate his budding feelings for team captain Jack.

Toma Rozene is a professional stuntwoman who takes a break from the film industry to work at the family ranch. It’s here she meets Eva, a barrel racer who is rescued by Toma from a rodeo injury. As Toma settles back into life at home, she and Eva grow close and begin to imagine a future together.

High school basketball coach Julie Packer is stunned to discover that one of her student’s foster parents is Elle Cochrane — former University of Tennessee basketball star and Julie’s old crush. Though she’s distanced herself from her college sports years, Elle agrees to become Julie’s assistant coach and slowly realizes that they work well together, professionally and as a couple.

When professional hockey players Ryu Mori and Emmitt Armstrong compete for the same starting goalie spot, the last thing they expect is to fall for each other. But they can’t deny that the sexual tension between them is just as strong as their rivalry.

Following her recent divorce, trans woman Tina Durham struggles with loneliness. But, when she hires plumber Joanne “Joe Mama” Delario for a home repair, Joe invites Tina to join her roller derby team. Tina finds the community in roller derby that she’s been longing for, but just as thrilling, she is drawn to Joe and discovers that her feelings are very much reciprocated.

Zach Glasser thought he’d be satisfied fulfilling his dream of becoming a professional MLB player, but he can’t stop thinking about his old flame and former teammate Eugenio Morales. Years after their painful break-up, an All-Star Classic event brings them back together, and Zach must find the courage to fight for a second chance at love.

High school teacher Ava Williams is less than thrilled to discover that Grace Jones, professional bowler and her ex-best friend, will be joining her faculty. How are they supposed to co-coach a student bowling team with the fraught history between them? Working together brings out not just their rivalry but the romantic sparks that both have left unspoken for years.