Now, this blog isn’t necessarily meant to convince you to start reading sports romance. I get it—romance is not everyone’s cup of tea; however, I will talk about what it means to me and why I think this trope is both important and healing.
Some of the first romance books I read featured the sports trope, and I will preface this blog by saying my favorite sport is hockey; therefore, I read a lot of hockey romance. Which actually shifted into a real-life love for hockey and a fierce loyalty to the Boston Bruins. It wasn’t intentional in the beginning, but now, I’d say probably about 90% of the romance books I read feature some kind of sport where the male main character, and sometimes the female main character, dominates the game. Maybe it’s because I also enjoy watching sports outside of reading about them that makes this trope so appealing to me, but it could also be the deeper meanings these books seem to always carry that keep me coming back.
Sports romances typically feature tough, high-stakes gameplay, main characters (MCs) who are extremely dedicated to the game (so much so they couldn’t possibly have time for a partner…) and their tough exteriors. But what you may not expect, especially considering real-life stereotypes of athletes, is the emotional vulnerability displayed throughout by the MCs. This is the aspect that I find most intriguing and healing. I can’t really picture a professional athlete crying out of plain sadness, but that doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t be given the space to do so. I think this trope can be healing for athletes as well, because it shows that emotional vulnerability is not a weakness; it can actually be a strength, a tool to help build relationships and connect with others, whether that be romantic or platonic.
I also believe sports romance gives women the space to enjoy sports through a book, which can then translate into a real-life passion. I am a perfect example of this! I started reading hockey romances and became intrigued by the descriptions of the game. I went to my first game almost three years ago and immediately fell in love. Now, every hockey season, you can catch me in an ice-cold arena (yes, even here in Tucson) or watching my Bruins play on TV. I’m even interested in working in sports now because of this.
I think playing and watching sports can come with a bad rep, seclude some individuals, and come with a lot of negativity. So I think the sports romance genre is, in its own way, breaking the wall down and allowing for more people to enjoy sports by portraying athletes as real people who are both dedicated and vulnerable.
So, after all of that, of course I must give you all recommendations. For those who are new to sports romance, popular young adult (YA) sports romances include Fake Skating by Lynn Painter, Rival Darling by Alexandra Moody, Meet Me Under the Lights by Cassie Miller, and Playin’ Hard by Whitney D. Grandison. For new adult (NA) recs, I’d suggest picking up the Windy City Series by Liz Tomforde and the Undone series by Peyton Corinne. Other sports romance authors I recommend are Chelsea Curto, Stephanie Archer, Elle Kennedy (Garret Graham lovers please rise!!), and Chloe Walsh.
Happy reading, sports fans!
Bryanna Thompson, Pine Reads Review Writer