Sports romance has one big advantage: the stakes are built in. There's a season to win, a career on the line, a locker room full of opinions, and a love interest who may be the biggest distraction of all. In Google's keyword data, "hockey romance books" gets more than twice the monthly U.S. searches of "sports romance books", so this list starts there. Every pick is adult romance, and we note the content warnings our sources mention.
Book descriptions are paraphrased from the Book Riot lists linked below.
Why readers love hockey romance (our take)
Hockey brings together everything romance readers love: a physical, high-risk sport, a tight team culture full of found family, travel that keeps couples apart, and a "tough on the ice, soft off it" hero archetype. It also pairs naturally with popular tropes like second chance, forbidden romance and rivals to lovers.
NHL stars and pro hockey
A Lie for a Lie by Helena Hunting
A hockey star and a shy woman share a secret month together in Alaska. Fourteen months later they meet again in Chicago, both still keeping secrets. It's a spinoff from Hunting's Pucked series.
The Playing Game by Ainsley Booth
A woman's one-night stand turns out to be a new NHL player who has just moved to her city, and he keeps pursuing her despite her painful history with hockey. Book Riot calls it a quieter, less angsty pick.
Power Play by Maria Luis
A reporter has eight days to convince an NHL player who never gives interviews to sit down with her.
Nothing But Trouble by Rachel Gibson
An actress is hired to help an injured NHL star who has driven off everyone assigned to him. She decides to stay for the bonus.
Gravity by Tal Bauer
Two players meet at the NHL All-Star Weekend and become close friends, until one, who is gay, falls for the other, who has always believed he's straight. Book Riot describes it as a bi-awakening story.
Hard Knocks by Ruby Lang
A player on a struggling Portland team clashes with an ER neurologist who wants to reduce hockey in the city because of the risk of CTE. Themes include concussion and CTE.
Season's Change by Cait Nary
A veteran and a rookie, opposites who are also teammates and roommates, both try to focus on hockey while fighting their attraction.
Goal by Alexandria House
A pro player devoted to the game becomes guardian of his young siblings and hires a nanny, a former teacher who left her job after a school shooting. Content note: mentions a school shooting.
Rookie Mistake by Anna Zabo and L.A. Witt
A harshly self-critical Pittsburgh rookie finds support from a star teammate with baggage of his own. Content note: includes a storyline about past sexual and emotional abuse; Book Riot advises caution.
Comebacks, minor leagues and women's hockey
The Tao of Hockey by Melanie Ting
After a car accident ends his NHL career, a player tries to come back with a minor-league Canadian team and meets a woman who challenges him to change.
On the Fly by PJ Trebelhorn
A former Olympian who dreams of the NHL plays in a women's semi-pro league and falls for a violinist who is caring for her ailing father.
Out on the Ice by Kelly Farmer
A former player who runs a girls' hockey camp and a current player who joins her staff fall for each other, though one of them isn't out. It's the first in a series.
Grumpy, sunny and why-choose
Sunny Disposition by Deanna Grey
A woman sharing a house with four hockey players is drawn to the grumpy one, who has amnesia and doesn't know why she makes him feel safe. Book Riot calls it a grumpy-sunshine slow burn.
Pucking Around by Emily Rath
A team physical therapist discovers her one-night stand is the newest player on the roster, and other members of the team become part of the story too. Content note: a why-choose (multiple partners) romance; it's long, and the author's website lists extensive content notes.
How to choose a sports romance
- Pick the stage. NHL glamour, minor-league grit and amateur hockey feel very different.
- Check the heat level and format. Some are closed-door; some are explicit or why-choose.
- Check series order. Many hockey romances follow one team, a different couple per book.
Write your own sports romance
Three original prompts with adult characters, non-explicit:
- A team's new physiotherapist is the sports journalist's sister, and the journalist just wrote the article that got the captain benched.
- Two rival figure skaters are forced to share the only rink time left before the national qualifiers.
- A retired goalie coaches a beer-league team and the opposing team's captain is his ex.
For more, see our romance tropes list and the full romance books guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good hockey romance to start with?
A Lie for a Lie by Helena Hunting for a secret-identity reunion, or The Playing Game by Ainsley Booth for a quieter, less angsty story.
What is a why-choose romance?
A romance where the main character ends up with more than one partner instead of choosing between them. Pucking Around by Emily Rath is a hockey example; its author lists content notes online.
Are there sports romances outside hockey?
Yes. Football, soccer, figure skating and other sports have their own romance shelves; this guide starts with hockey because it has the most reader interest.
Sources
- 13 Hockey Romances to Read During the NHL Playoffs — Book Riot, Jessica Pryde, May 22, 2023; checked October 9, 2026.
- 10 Hockey Romance Books to Warm Your Heart — Book Riot, Sarah Nicolas, April 14, 2021; checked October 9, 2026.
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Be My Story publishes these guides and selected industry news. We check factual claims against linked sources, attribute company statements, and label our analysis. Send corrections through Support.
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