Books like 'Real Players Never Lose'
Readers who enjoyed Real Players Never Lose by Micalea Smeltzer also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
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He's Not My Type by Meghan Quinn
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsFrom USA Today and Amazon Charts bestselling author Meghan Quinn, comes a new roommates to lovers, standalone sports romance featuring the hockey men you can’t get enough of. This steamy, one bed romantic comedy will bring all the laughs while making your cheeks blush at the same time. Sometimes the quietest are the most . . . vocal . .Categorized as:
sports humor forced-proximity friends-to-lovers grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc slow-burn -
Play With Me by Becka Mack
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsI’m the star right winger for the Vancouver Vipers, an unstoppable force, fast as lightning. My dream come true, and I’ve worked my whole life to get here. I don’t plan on giving it up, but if I want to keep playing hockey, I’m going to need all my limbs. To ensure my body parts stay intact, I only need to follow one simple rule.Don’t touch my captain’s little sister.Seems easy enough...Categorized as:
athlete billionaire cheerful-mc forced-proximity friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor -
Finn Rhodes Forever by Stephanie Archer
Rated: 4.75 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe guy who broke my heart is now an arrogant, too-hot firefighter… who’s hell-bent on getting me back. This summer, I have one goal: field work. I need it to finish my PhD. I never expected Finn Rhodes to offer help. He broke my heart twelve years ago, and now that he’s back in town, I want nothing to do with him. Finn wants one thing—me. We were inseparable as kids until everything changed...Categorized as:
cheerful-mc forced-proximity friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor multi-pov adult -
Tutoring the Player by Rebecca Jenshak
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsA sexy opposites attract standalone novel from USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Jenshak.I have a type.I love the good guy.Responsible and stable. Safe.So when a beer-drinking, quick-witted, tattooed hockey player asks me to tutor him, I'm suddenly thrust into the world of bad boys and bad decisions.Jordan is a renowned player on campus...Categorized as:
athlete cheerful-mc friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine multi-pov slow-burn sports -
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Gotta Be Bayou by Erin Nicholas
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHow do you get over a woman you never should have been, ahem, under in the first place?Just when FBI special agent Spencer Landry had decided to forget about investigative journalist Maxine — Max — Keller and their one hot night together, there's a threat made against her and Spencer's protective instincts get all riled up. Again... -
Real Like Daydreams by Julia Wolf
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsSeraphina…that’s a big name.The first time I laid eyes on Julien Umbra, he made me cry.That makes him sound mean, but grumpy would be more of an apt description. Besides, I always cry when I’m drunk.Hate is a strong, strong word.I’m back for another semester at Savage U, nursing a bruised heart and shattered ego. That’s what happens when your ex cheats and everyone knows... -
Love Notes & Lifelines by Avery Maxwell
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThe job was simple. Always answer the phone—no exceptions—then solve the caller’s catastrophe as efficiently as possible.The rules were simpler. They contact you, not the other way around. Never give them your real name, number, or any personal information not required to help a newly single dad keep his head above water.And never, ever get involved with a caller... -
Blind Pass by Teagan Hunter
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsWhat happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay there.I would know. I’m coming home with a brand-new ring on my finger.My wife? Ryan Bell.We’re polar opposites.She’s sunshine and happiness.I’m grumpy and scarred—literally.We could get it annulled and no one would be the wiser.Only problem? We posted about it online, and it’s already making headlines... -
Making His Play by Mari Carr
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAlex has a big name in hockey, famous for his stick skills—on and off the ice. But he’s also got a freckle-faced female problem. He took his sister’s tomboy best friend, Charley, to a Vegas wedding to cheer her up after a bad breakup.Too much champagne later and he’s waking up with Charley in his bed and his ring on her finger. And the crazy part is…Mrs. Alex Stone has a nice ring to it... -
Over My Brother's Dead Body, Chase Andrews by Piper Rayne
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsChase Andrews.The Kingsmen’s top tight end.My brother’s friend and teammate.My new neighbor.The grumpy to my sunshine.But underneath that grumpy exterior, there’s so much more.Chase likes to pretend nothing affects him, but I’ve seen glimpses of his other side in the time we’ve spent together.And the more we get to know each other, the more I’m falling for him...Categorized as:
sports grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc friends-to-lovers forced-proximity slow-burn multi-pov -
Love You Wild by Becka Mack
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsShattered. That’s the best way to describe Claire Thompson after the ultimate betrayal. When her long-term boyfriend cheats on her, Claire decides she’s done with men. Maybe forever. Healing the pieces of her broken heart seems like too impossible a task...Categorized as:
billionaire cheerful-mc friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor sports steamy -
Don't Let Me Break by Kelsie Rae
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsMacklin and I are just friends.And even that's a stretch.He saw me at my most vulnerable, and now the guy's popping up left and right.Pretty sure it's because my friend is trying to set me up with him, but what do I know?It's not like I have much experience with guys.And he's...well, Macklin's older, much more experienced, and bluntly put?Way out of my league...Categorized as:
university sports friends-to-lovers grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc steamy romance -
Burnout by Rebecca Jenshak
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsHe’s the hot, tattooed bad boy that I traded insults with...and now he wants my help? Knox Holland is in a jam. After an incredible first year on the pro motocross circuit, he should be on top of the world. Instead, his bad reputation has landed him without a team. He’s untouchable and desperate to turn it around. Which is how he ends up at my gym asking me to train him...Categorized as:
sports university forced-proximity grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc multi-pov steamy -
Awake at Dawn by Amelie Rhys
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsWhen Gemma Briggs moves in with her brother’s friend, the only thing harder than keeping the arrangement a secret is resisting the explosive chemistry she has with her new roommate—hot NFL player, Noah London.After a workplace one-night stand leaves her high and dry with a baby on the way, Gemma Briggs is forced to leave her job as a college figure skating coach...Categorized as:
sports forced-proximity friends-to-lovers slow-burn multi-pov humor romance contemporary -
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Now's the Time by Harlow James
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“Let me experience all of you tonight, Penelope…since this is all that we get.”That was the agreement between me and Maddox Taylor, the NFL’s most notorious playboy and mega-talented quarterback who happened to be out in California for one night—one night in which I broke all of my rules and gave in to the undeniable attraction I felt for the man... -
Midnight Confessions by J.L. Kenna
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratings...Categorized as:
billionaire cheerful-mc forced-proximity friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor adult -
What Hurts Us by Maggie C. Gates
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAsking Layla Mousavi to be my fake fiancé wasn’t the weirdest thing I had done this week. It didn’t even crack the top ten. Not when my days were filled with escaped pigs, radioactive casseroles, and cow-induced car crashes._____________The population of Falls Creek, North Carolina, is a collective menace to society... -
Man Splain by Vanessa Vale
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIt's literally my job to make sure everything goes to plan. I'm really f-ing good at it. But when the beautiful coffee shop owner refuses a corporate loan to keep her business afloat solely because we had a slightly-drunk quickie, it makes me crazy. Insane. Frustrated. Turned on. Especially when I discover the stubborn woman chooses instead to be a cam girl to pay her bills...Categorized as:
billionaire forced-proximity steamy grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc multi-pov humor -
The Fall Out by Jenni Bara
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLet me tell the story of how I fell in love with a woman who had no idea that we were even dating. The ridiculousness started when she stole my beer, and trust me, my grumpy self doesn’t normally share. But somehow, Avery Wilson is the exception to every one of my many rules.Unfortunately, I’m not hers...Categorized as:
sports friends-to-lovers grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc slow-burn athlete humor -
A Collision of Stars by Georgia Stone
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsOne summer. One bucket list.No one would ever call Ava Monroe a people person, which is unfortunate, as a barista in a busy London coffee shop. Bored, cynical and deathly sarcastic, she’s built up walls for a reason. Despite attempts from her best friend to shake up her routine, Ava refuses to do anything to disrupt her carefully curated life...Categorized as:
friends-to-lovers grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc humor slow-burn romance contemporary -
When I'm with You by Samantha Brinn
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe first time I saw Julie Parker, the gorgeous, brilliant, sharp tongued lawyer knocked the wind right out of me.The second time I saw Julie Parker, our eyes met across a football field.The third time I saw Julie Parker, we had a *moment* and I was certain she was meant to be mine.The fourth time I saw Julie Parker, she was struggling...Categorized as:
sports forced-proximity grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc friends-to-lovers athlete multi-pov -
Perfect Praise by Grace Pearce
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMaren and Locke both exist in the same world of professional golf—he's the number one player in the world while she just takes his picture.Never mind that Locke unintentionally leads the press to believe that he and Maren are dating, because when she confronts him, he couldn't care less... -
Rule Breaker by Stacey Lynn
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSpending the night in jail isn’t exactly how I planned to spend Christmas, but I’ve had worse holidays… Now that I’m out, it’s time to accept my real punishment. Coaching ten-year-old terrors on the ice, in my non-existent free time. My Coach thinks it’d be good for me. Remind me where I came from. He should know I’ve tried every day of my life for the last ten years to forget...Categorized as:
cheerful-mc forced-proximity friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine sports adult book -
Fake it For Fortune by Weston Parker
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhoever said money can’t buy happiness is a liar.Take it from me. It buys loads of thrills.That is until my father sabotages me with a contingency.To have all my riches?I need a wife.Talk about old school.When I catch wind of a dating agency that helps billionaire bachelors like me, I see an opportunity.Appease my dad.Pretend to have a bride for six months.Give her the money...Categorized as:
billionaire fake-relationship multi-pov steamy grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc romance -
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The Has-Been and the Hot Mess by Isabel Jordan
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHer job is to resurrect his image. Falling for him is not part of the plan...Kendall Quinn is a PR goddess. Meanwhile, her love life is a complete mess. So, when her latest romantic disaster leaves her jobless and homeless, it's time to take drastic measures. And that means dragging a grumpy, has-been rock star kicking and screaming back into the limelight. The job will be easy...Categorized as:
humor grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc steamy friends-to-lovers romance contemporary -
Dash: Rushing the Play by Kayley Loring, Connor Crais
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratings#99 Dash Taylor. Rookie defensive end for the Boston Tomcats. 285 pounds of fast-twitch muscle. Nickname: Big D.I’ve been sacking quarterbacks since junior high and causing trouble since I was born.My college coach thinks I have a bad attitude, so he makes me take ballet lessons as punishment. If I don’t turn things around on the field next season, he’ll bench me... -
Cruel by Deborah Bladon
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHe’s dangerous, addictive, and my newest assignment.The future I desperately crave rests in the palm of his hand.Breathtakingly handsome and painfully private, he’s the sinner who killed a saint. That’s what the world sees when they catch a glimpse of Kavan Bane.He’s the mysterious billionaire tucked away in his penthouse high above Manhattan.My job is to understand him. His goal is to break me... -
How to Honeymoon Alone by Olivia Hayle
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA paradise island. Two strangers. The attraction they never saw coming…When Eden dumped her cheating ex before the wedding, the last thing she expected was to go on their tropical honeymoon alone. But with no refunds possible, she packs her budget guidebook and broken heart, and sets off... -
One Last Play by Annah Conwell
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsShe could be the one. I’ve spent twelve years caring for my niece Maddie who I adopted after my sister died. Having a daughter has made me picky when it comes to the women I spend time with. Not to mention dealing with the pressure of being a college football coach. But when I spot MJ at a mutual friend’s wedding, something draws me toward her...Categorized as:
sports grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc friends-to-lovers forced-proximity multi-pov slow-burn -
The Fake Zone by Mariah Dietz
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA romance that will have you on the edge of your seat by USA Today Bestselling Author Mariah Dietz.Greyson Meyers can’t afford the distraction of a relationship. His focus is football and earning his degree to ensure his mom never has to work another day.Mila Atwool has it all together—at least, that’s what everyone thinks...Categorized as:
sports university fake-relationship friends-to-lovers multi-pov athlete grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc -
The Tip-Off: A College Sports Romance by Rebecca Jenshak
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsA slow burn, friends to lovers, college sports romance. I've spent years hiding in the shadows. He's spent his whole life chasing the bright lights of the NBA. We have nothing in common, except for the fact our friends ditched us for spring break. I have a bucket list for my senior year at Valley U. He's the only person I know on campus. I'm ready to start checking things off my list...Categorized as:
athlete cheerful-mc friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor multi-pov slow-burn -
Just Don't Fall by Emma St. Clair
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsBefore Logan Barnes was hockey’s hottest bad boy, he was my brother’s best friend … and my first crush. Oh, yeah--and the guy who ghosted me and broke my teenage heart.Now Logan is back in Harvest Hollow, but not willingly. Recovering from an injury (and some bad press), he’s stuck playing for our minor league team. Which means I’ll be working with him almost daily... -
Glove Save by Teagan Hunter
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsI’ve been told I’m the grumpiest goalie in the league, and that may be the case, but who cares when I’m also killing it this season? The Carolina Comets are currently on a record-breaking run, and I intend to keep it that way.This means the last thing I need is distractions, but my mother didn’t get that memo... -
Yo también no es te quiero by Violeta Reed
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsEscribir romance nunca fue tan complicado.William Anderson es el escritor de fantasía más exitoso de la década, con millones de lectores enganchados a su pluma. Es exigente, ambicioso… y tremendamente atractivo. Y también es un bocazas. Raquel García es una joven española que llegó a Nueva York persiguiendo su sueñ trabajar en una de las editoriales más importantes del país...Categorized as:
slow-burn forced-proximity steamy humor grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc romance -
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The Change Up by Meghan Quinn
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsBREAKING NEWS: The Bad Boy of Baseball, Maddox Paige, is totally and utterly whipped. Okay, that might not be the headlines in the newspaper this morning, but it's the reality of my current situation. It all started a month ago when I received a call from my best friend, Kinsley. She got a new job in Chicago and needed a place to stay...Categorized as:
athlete cheerful-mc forced-proximity friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor multi-pov -
Conveniently Yours by Anise Storm
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsCaspian ArcherClothes, cars, property, women; none of life’s luxuries are out of Caspian's grasp until the splendor he’s accustomed to threatens to come crashing down around him if he fails to fulfill his uncle’s dying wish.- Find true love.- Stay married for a year.Only by accomplishing those two paramount tasks will he secure his inheritance... -
One Week Wingman by Lila Monroe
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFake date. Real trouble. Fall for a new trope-tactic, fake dating rom-com read from USA Today bestselling author, Lila Monroe! Sebastian Wainwright is handsome, British, and charming… and the last man you can rely on. Bartending at Mavericks, I’ve seen his love-em-and-leave-em routine up close, and I know better than to become another notch on his king-sized bedpost... -
Love's Dance by Karen Deen
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsGrant I control my life. It doesn’t control me. As CEO to the family company, I’m used to calling the shots and making executive decisions. People answer to me, and business flows without a hitch because of it. The same applies to everyday life. Until I meet… her. When she opens her mouth, she leaves chaos in her wake. Like a whirlwind, she tears through my world leaving me in chase...Categorized as:
humor grumpy-sunshine friends-to-lovers billionaire cheerful-mc grumpy-mc multi-pov slow-burn -
Nice Guys Still Finish by Harlow James
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“Come on. What’s the risk of getting to know me if I’m just some dorky guy that’s hopeless when it comes to dating? I mean, it’s not like you’re going to fall for me.”But hey, a guy could hope, couldn’t he?That was my idea when I met Ariel Logan—my sister’s new assistant on her talk show—to get her to agree to be my relationship tutor in hopes that she’d realize I’m the man she needs...Categorized as:
fake-relationship friends-to-lovers grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc slow-burn steamy humor -
Tight Spot by Stacey Lynn
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhen a fake relationship feels a little too real…. I’m in a Tight Spot. I’m not a nice guy. I’m too rude. Too gruff. I want to be left alone and stay in my lane as one of the best tight ends in the NFL. Too bad management has a sudden problem with my image and all the fines I’ve been racking up. Now I’m told I need to settle down, shape up…or they’re shipping me out...Categorized as:
sports fake-relationship grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc steamy multi-pov friends-to-lovers -
Hard Facts by Penny Clarke
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSummer knows secrets.Everyone has a secret. Everyone, that is, except Grayson Rowe. With my new tutor, apparently what you see is what you get. Though what I see is fine, I know he’s hiding something behind those dorky glasses and annoyingly endless collection of facts. And it’s not just a superhero set of biceps.I don’t date nerds...Categorized as:
university slow-burn multi-pov grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc steamy fake-relationship -
Beautiful Devil by Rachel Leigh
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA Deliciously Sexy Ex-Boyfriend’s Rival, New Adult, Hockey Romance by USA Today and International Bestselling Author Rachel Leigh.Two sports collide when a feisty sideline cheerleader meets her match in an arrogant hockey player who is more than just his bad boy reputation.I fell for the wrong Devil…Hayes Madden was never on my dance card... -
Famous Last Words by Shann McPherson
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA laugh out loud haters-to-lovers, fake-dating hockey romance. Not so long ago, Robbie Mason had it all. Three Stanley Cup wins, two Hart trophies, and sponsorship deals worth millions. But then he went and broke his own teammate’s jaw, and the best defenseman in the history of the NHL hit rock bottom, hard...Categorized as:
sports fake-relationship multi-pov athlete grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc humor -
Things I Remember by Kelsey Humphreys
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIt shouldn’t be a surprise that my marriage is ending, since it was secretly a business arrangement to begin with. It’s time to let it go. I have accepted that.Apparently, my almost-ex-husband has not.Susan Canton loves her family and their business. Typical first-born, she’s an achiever, a leader... -
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Package Makes Perfect by Lauren Connolly
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen a man cheats, don’t go postal. Date a postman.Robin Dunn is used to dealing with egotistical men. After years in the military and working in the male-dominated field of aviation mechanics, Robin thought she could tell the good guys from the bad. She even moved to the small town of Green Valley for a man she planned to build a life with... -
The Grumpy One by Leslie North
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsCleaning floors in Branson Couture was never part of my career plans.Neither was almost decapitating the CEO with a mop.Of course, I didn’t know he was the CEO—my mind only registered “intruder” and “hot”.Maybe not in that order.Meet James Branson: infuriatingly hot, obscenely wealthy, and as charming as a door slammed in your face.He’s the king of high fashion. And, apparently, of ruining my day...Categorized as:
grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc billionaire fake-relationship steamy humor romance -
Behind the Pages: A sultry romcom of the unexpected by K. Iwancio
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsTwo authors, an intertwined plot, and one heck of an alluring ending to their highly-anticipated bestselling books... With her fantasy series, Bridget Paige is the newest member of the New York Times Bestseller list. Except no one knows who she is. To the world, she's Bridget. To those behind the scenes, she's introverted Paige Booker...Categorized as:
billionaire forced-proximity grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc friends-to-lovers steamy humor -
Calling it Safe by Lo Everett
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFriends with benefits—that’s the agreement. No commitments. No complications … but it’s never that simple.At my wit's end, I planned to spend the winter focusing on my writing, away from the soul-sucking grind that’s become my norm. The last person I expected to step in and save me when things go awry is my brother’s teammate, the intense and sometimes grumpy Dean Harrison...Categorized as:
sports friends-to-lovers forced-proximity grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc multi-pov athlete -
Frostbite by Deborah Bladon
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsCalder Frost is everything I don’t want in a man.He’s rude, insensitive, and cold as ice.After he crashes into me on a snowy night, I vow that I’ll do everything in my power to avoid him for the rest of my life.That lasts a day.When I realize that I’ll be forced to spend more time with him, I try to make nice.Calder wants to get naughty.That will never happen... -
Dear Roomie by Kate Meader
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsReid Durand isn't here to make friends. Coming from a legacy of hockey greatness, he has games to win and things to prove. With his focus during his first season as a Chicago Rebel on his drive to succeed, every vice is off the table. No booze, no sugar, and definitely no women. Kennedy Clark is the master of the side hustle...Categorized as:
athlete cheerful-mc forced-proximity friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor slow-burn
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