Is there anything hotter than an athlete scoring the winning point then pointing to their love in the stands? It’s enough to make you swoon! Luckily, college sports romance books have that in spades. Whether it’s two teammates falling in love, a football star falling for a bookish student, or a hockey player melting hearts off the ice, these romance novels give you the perfect blend of high stakes sports, young love, and plenty of steam.
1. “Collide” by Bal Khabra
Summer Preston is a type A honors student with aspirations of becoming a sports psychologist...despite no interest in sports. To change that, her college thesis adviser insists she conducts a student research project—which is where Aiden Crawford comes in.
Aiden is a college jock who eats, breathes, and sleeps hockey. As captain of the school hockey team, he thought he’d be immune to consequences. But when a reckless mistake lands the team in hot water, the coach makes an example of him. His punishment? To participate in a student research project led by an uptight overachiever.
At first, Summer and Aiden can’t stand each other. But soon, the animosity between them thaws and what’s left is a connection hot enough to melt the ice.
Ranked as one of the #BestofBookTok by Amazon, this enemies to lovers hockey romance is perfect for fans of Elle Kennedy’s Off Campus book, “The Deal,” and Hannah Grace’s “Icebreaker”!
2. “Catch and Cradle” by Katia Rose
Becca Moore is captain of the women’s lacrosse team at her university in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In addition to off-field bonding and winning plays, Becca has another rule that’s crucial to her team’s success: no dating teammates. This rule is easy enough for her to follow—until Hope Hastings shows up.
Hope is charismatic, talented, and adorkable in a way that’s hard to resist. Becca denies their attraction for as long as she can, but after going through a breakup, she finds her resolve slipping. When the two break the rules and act on their attraction, they’re no longer just catching lacrosse balls on the field—they’re catching feelings too.
“Catch and Cradle” is a standalone WLW college sports romance book that TikTok and Goodreads users can’t get enough of!
3. “Undeclared” by Dipsea
This original college sports romance story follows Sam, a freshman who’s trying to balance classes, friends, and the relationship with her boyfriend back home, Dan.
During the first day of her Philosophy and the Modern Mind class, she’s surprised to find herself paired with Pete—the bad boy from her high school—for a new assignment. She and Pete used to hang out and skateboard together until he started ditching school, eventually moving away. Sam is excited to reconnect—until he stands her up at the library for their study session. When she runs into him at a party later, her anger and hot temper gives way to another kind of heat between them.
The next day, they hit the skate park together and Sam is noticeably more relaxed than she has been in a long time. She and Pete share a love of skateboarding that leads to them sharing something more, as well. But when Sam’s boyfriend comes for a visit, she has some hard decisions to make about what she wants before she wipes out altogether.
4. “Night Shift” by Annie Crown
Kendall Holiday doesn’t buy into the typical college experience. Instead of hitting parties and drinking with her friends, she prefers the solitude of working the Friday shift at the library and reading her favorite romance novels. Her quiet bubble is popped, however, when Vincent Knight strolls into the library asking for help finding a book.
As captain of the college basketball team, it’s not often that Vincent finds himself in the library. But an injury and an annoying poetry assignment lands him there nonetheless. When he meets demure Kendall, he finds himself wanting to spend more time in the stacks. Soon, they’re living in their own romance novel...but will they get their happily ever after?
This college sports romance has nearly 10,000 book reviews on Goodreads and is listed as one of TikTok’s favorite books by Amazon.
5. “Sunny Disposition” by Deanna Grey
Naomi is a happy-go-lucky college student and gamer who finds herself sharing a house with four hockey players one semester. One of those hockey players is Finn, a grouch who anonymously moderates for a popular streamer in his spare time.
Despite his crabby attitude, Naomi finds herself drawn to Finn. And when she discovers that he’s the mod for her channel—the one she’s been sending flirty DMs to for years—it becomes clear why. Finn and Naomi’s pasts were entangled, but their future was stripped from them after a tragic accident. Will their present be a second chance for them?
This new adult college sports romance book features tropes like grumpy/sunshine, enemies to lovers, and even an amnesia plot!
6. “The Hook Up” by Kristen Callihan
Anna Jones and Drew Baylor may go to the same college, but they live in two completely different worlds. One is a senior who’s trying to figure out her life post-college and the other is the star quarterback of the college football team. Nevertheless, a shared class brings them together and ignites a spark that Anna is desperate to ignore.
When the two eventually give in to their mutual attraction, Anna wants their one-night stand to be nothing more than a hookup. After all, she has no interest in the limelight that would come with dating the college’s biggest star. So, she makes rules: no kissing on the mouth, no sleepovers, and no falling in love. But Drew has already broken the most important rule. He’s fallen for Anna and wants a future with her. So, he comes up with a playbook that will make her realize what they have is real. And just like that, it’s game on.
“The Hook Up” is the first book in a college sports romance series from New York Times bestselling author Kristen Callihan. If you love romance novels by Helena Hunting and Sarina Bowen, this spicy read will become one of your new favorite books!
7. “Say You Swear” by Meagan Brandy
After graduating high school, Arianna Johnson is determined to make her college experience everything she’s ever dreamed of—and that includes finally confessing her love to her brother’s best friend, Chase. But after revealing her feelings and having a steamy night together, Chase rejects her.
Weeks later, Arianna starts her freshman year of college feeling lonely and depressed. It isn’t until she meets Noah, a star football player, that she begins to smile again. Noah is a total sweetheart and things between them are going well—until bad boy Chase comes back asking for a second chance. When an unexpected accident evens the playing field, Chase and Noah fight for Arianna’s heart...but only one of them will make it into the end zone.
This spicy romance novel features tropes like slow burn, friends to lovers, first time, college football, and more. If you love college sports romance books, “Say You Swear” will sweep you off your feet.
Score big with these college sports romances
College sports romance books are all about winning the game of love. Cheer on your favorite characters as they navigate life as a new adult, from scoring A’s to scoring hearts.
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