Let's get physical - why readers love sports romance.

Why choose a sports romance in the first place?

There’s something electrifying about sports romance novels that gets readers’ hearts racing both on and off the field. Whether it’s a sexy cyclist (that's what my sports romance is about), a brooding quarterback or a grumpy golfer, these stories blend intense romantic tension with the adrenaline of competition. Sports romance can be steamy or sweet, but always deeply emotional. And that's what we love about 'em.

Sports romance books uniquely combine the thrill of athletic competition with the slow burn of falling in love - or the fiery passion of unquenchable desire. Characters push their physical and emotional limits, making the journey to love feel powerful and deeply satisfying. Who doesn’t love a confident athlete with a soft spot for the one person who truly sees them beyond their fame and achievements?

You'll find everything from love between rivals, to second chances after career-ending injuries. So if you like you have stores fast-paced and full of heart, sports romance might just be your next obsession. Game on!

What’s your favourite sport to fall in love with?

For me, it’s cycling - probably because my husband is a cycling enthusiast and my personal hero. But whether you’re into football, golf, basketball, or any other sport, there’s a sports romance novel out there that’s perfect for you.

Your ultimate sports romance reading list: from cycling to rugby

Here are a few different sports, if you're looking for inspiration – with an emphasis on cycling of course!

Cycling

Le Tour de Love by Lilac Mills

Physiotherapist Molly Matthews takes a leap of faith by joining a pro cycling team on the Tour de France, swapping comfort for chaos. Amid the sweat, strain, and road life, she never expects to fall for one of the riders—and have her own heart pulled into the race.

Availble from Amazon http://mybook.to/TourDeLove

Cat by Freya North

Sports journalist Cat McCabe joins the Tour de France to rebuild her career and heal a broken heart. Thrown into the chaotic, male-dominated world of elite cycling, she chases stories from Provence to Paris—only to find her own life mirroring the drama, pressure, and pace of the race itself.

Available from Amazon #ad https://amzn.to/4579KzP

Head Over Wheels by Leonie Mack

After a crash and a broken heart, cycling star Lori Gallagher trains with an anonymous online partner—only to discover he’s real, and on her team. As careers rise and fall on the road to the Tour de France, Lori must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice for love, loyalty, and the chance to win.

Available from Amazon #ad https://amzn.to/491aS9k

High Heels & Bicycle Wheels by Jane Linfoot

TV assistant Bryony is very single and very fed up, while injured cycling bad boy Jackson is killing time off the race circuit. A no-strings one-night stand seems perfect - until a campervan road trip, a tandem bike, and undeniable chemistry turn their summer into something neither of them expected.

Available from Amazon #ad https://amzn.to/491pF3Q

Ice Hockey

Pucking Sweet by Emily Rath

PR whizz Poppy St. James lands her dream job with the NHL’s newest tea, but keeping it means managing wild hockey players and one major PR nightmare. When a single drunken mistake upends her perfectly planned life, Poppy must face a future she never anticipated, on and off the ice.

Available from Amazon #ad https://amzn.to/4j0co02

Diving

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

Focused on recovery and med school, elite diver Scarlett Vandermeer has no time for romance—until an unexpected connection with disciplined swim captain Lukas Blomqvist changes everything. What begins as a no-strings arrangement heats up as Olympic pressure mounts, forcing Scarlett to face feelings she never planned to risk.

Available from Amazon #ad https://amzn.to/494Q3Kd

Dancing

The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams

Dance studio owner Bree Camden has secretly loved her best friend, NFL star Nathan Donelson, for years. When a viral mistake convinces the world they’re a couple, they agree to fake a romance to protect Nathan’s image and save Bree’s studio. But three weeks of pretending may reveal feelings neither of them meant to hide.

Available from Amazon #ad https://amzn.to/45hGGFQ

Basketball

Night Shift by Annie Crown

Bookish Kendall Holiday prefers romance novels to campus parties - until basketball captain Vincent Knight storms into her quiet library world. What begins as unlikely banter over poetry recommendations turns into a real-life romance, forcing Kendall to discover that happily-ever-afters take more than just fictional tropes.

Available from Amazon #ad https://amzn.to/3Y3Na7r

Surfing

Ride The Wave by Katherine Reilly

Disgraced surfing legend Leo Silva plans a shock comeback after years in hiding, drawing the attention of ambitious sports journalist Iris Gray. Sent to uncover his past, Iris finds herself battling Leo’s guarded nature - and their undeniable chemistry. With careers and a major competition on the line, both must decide whether chasing love is worth the risk.

Available from Amazon #ad https://amzn.to/4aRSpi4

Polo

Polo by Jilly Cooper

Drawn into the glamorous, ruthless world of polo, Perdita MacLeod dreams of greatness, and of the magnetic Ricky France-Lynch. As tragedy shatters lives and obsessions take hold, their ambitions carry them across the world’s most elite polo fields, where love, rivalry, and ambition collide in a battle that means far more than winning a silver cup.

Available from Amazon #ad https://amzn.to/4pVgDwo

Formula 1

Drive Me Crazy by Carly Robyn

Formula 1 champion Blake Hollis needs an image makeover, and disgraced sportswriter Ella Gold is hired to write his tell-all biography. As they travel the racing circuit together, friction turns to attraction, forcing them to decide whether their story will end in redemption - or heartbreak.

Available from Amazon #ad https://amzn.to/3YxaquD

Motocross

Burnout by Rebecca Jenshak

Bad-boy motocross star Knox Holland needs a comeback, and elite gymnast-turned-trainer won’t let distractions derail her own second chance. Forced to work together, sparks fly amid clashes and chemistry. But falling for Knox could cost them both everything they’re fighting to rebuild.

Available from Amazon #ad https://amzn.to/4s1jCoE

Marathon Running

Love in the City by the Sea by Lilac Mills

Struggling artist Tess Barton is pushed into running the Barcelona marathon in memory of her late sister. Alone, in a strange city, an unexpected connection with local Roberto helps her face the race, her past, and the dreams she’s been running from.

Available from Amazon https://mybook.to/citybythesea

Tennis

Match Point by Katherine Reilly

 Flora Hendrix’s quiet summer in Wimbledon is upended when notorious tennis bad boy Kieran O’Sullivan moves in unexpectedly. As sparks fly between them, both must decide whether to follow their hearts - or their dreams - during the world’s most prestigious tournament.

Available from Amazon #ad https://amzn.to/4j47NK9

Boxing

Loving Romeo by Laura Pavlov

Demi Crawford is Magnolia Falls royalty, and I’m a boxer from the wrong side of the tracks. When she moves in next door, everything I thought I knew about love - and hate - gets flipped. With secrets between us and hearts on the line, Demi just might be the fight worth taking.

Available from Amazon #ad https://amzn.to/4qispkt

Baseball

Triple Play by Ally Wiegand

Sports reporter Harper Nelson heads to Chicago to cover the baseball season, only to be reunited with MLB star Jamil Edman, the man she shared a secret night with weeks earlier. As sparks fly on and off the field, both must navigate fame, pressure, and attraction to see if their connection can hit a home run. Or strike out.

Available from Amazon #ad https://amzn.to/3MKepBx

Volleyball

It's a Set Up by Stef C.R.

Volleyball star Malia Kahale and grumpy hockey captain Alex Dionis clash when their teams share an arena. A viral interview forces them to fake a romance for the fans. But as sparks fly, can rivalry turn into real love before the season begins?

Available from Amazon #ad https://amzn.to/4pEHGfv

Cricket

Hit For Six by Isabella May

Lola juggles two jobs while Monty, cricket captain and heir, lives a life of luxury. When a chance encounter sparks chemistry, their worlds collide. But Monty’s family isn’t keen. Can love survive, or will their match be a sticky wicket?

Available from Amazon #ad https://amzn.to/3KGMBNT

Ice Skating

On Thin Ice by Olivia Belle

Disgraced actor Luca Vasvault and drama-averse skater Matilda Stevens are forced to partner on Stars on Ice. Sparks fly both on and off the ice as they fake a showmance to win the competition - but can pretending to fall in love turn into the real thing?

Available from Amazon #ad https://amzn.to/49j91hp

Golf

Sweet Spot by Rebecca Jenshak

Lincoln Reeves, pro golfer and revered coach, pushes me harder than anyone ever has. I want to hate him, but with my game on the line - and tequila-fueled encounters - resisting his charm might be the hardest challenge yet.

Available from Amazon #ad https://amzn.to/48JuBvo

Soccer

The Long Game by Elena Armas

Adalyn Reyes is sent to turn around a struggling small-town soccer team, only to find herself coaching nine-year-old girls. Teaming up (and clashing) with surly goalkeeping legend Cameron Caldani, they must learn to play nice… but sparks fly both on and off the pitch.

Available from Amazon #ad https://amzn.to/3KDobov

Rugby

Tackled by Trouble by Beatrice Bradshaw

Brodie MacRae’s rugby career is in ruins, and only Charlotte Harrington can save it. Tasked with managing the volatile, infuriatingly handsome star, Charlie must navigate sparks, scandal, and stubborn attraction. Can she fix his reputation without losing her heart?

Available from Amazon #ad https://amzn.to/4p2X1Fs

This list offers a diverse range of sports romance novels to suit every taste - whether you love the intensity of cycling or the thrill of the rink. Happy reading!

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About the Author

Lilac Mills writes heartwarming romance inspired by life in the Welsh countryside, her love of simple pleasures, and the beauty of everyday moments. She’s the author of over twenty feel-good novels, and also writes as Liz Davies and Etti Summers. Meet her here.

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