Books like 'Bad Crush'
Readers who enjoyed Bad Crush by Rebecca Jenshak also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary romance sports university friends-to-lovers fake-relationship
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Becoming Selfish by lizrose, Liz Tomforde
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsELIThis is it. my senior year. My last shot to get called up to play in the National Hockey League. This season is about me. Though every season is about me. I'm the captain of my university's hockey team- the top scorer both o and off the ice- and everyone on campus knows my name.I feel the pressure every single day.I can't afford to get distracted... -
Saved by Love by Toni Aleo
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsEvan Adler can’t get out of his own head.Worthless.Broken.Failure.Those are just a few of the words he uses to describe himself now. Medically retired from the NHL before he even had a chance to live up to the Adler legacy, Evan has returned to his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, to focus on his mental health... -
Always Ever After by Claire Kingsley
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsBraxton and Kylie have been married for over a year, and Kylie is busy helping Selene get ready for her upcoming wedding. Kylie and Selene go out of town for a bachelorette party weekend, and Kylie gets a little—or maybe it’s a big—surprise. But springing the news on Braxton is harder than Kylie thought... -
Tight Hold by Lisa Suzanne
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe pro football player I’m faking a relationship with has the perfect solution to my career woes. He’s encouraging me to lean into the pseudo-celebrity life I was born into instead of trying to outrun it, and for the first time in my life, someone sees me for me.I feel like he’s falling for me, too.And then my ex shows up... -
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Wild Love by Rebecca Jenshak
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsJohnny Maverick is a lot of things.Great hockey player.Loyal friend.Rule breaker.Always up for a good time.And now, he’s my new roommate.It’s only for a few weeks while I intern for the Wildcats—his new NHL team.And there are some pros to living with my hot and ridiculous friend (or is that ridiculously hot?). He’s fun and unexpectedly sweet, and he reminds me not to take myself too seriously... -
Don't You Dare: A Wedding Bells Alpha Novel by Weston Parker
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHe’s a playboy like no other…The crown prince of New York City’s real estate industry. A pompous jerk who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and a camera in his face.All of which makes him absolutely perfect.Not for me, obviously, but for something much more important—to save the online fashion magazine I’m the editor of.It’s too bad I can’t get within a mile of the guy.Until I can... -
Chosen by Love by Toni Aleo
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsCameron White is the most famous student influencer on the Bellevue campus. Not only that, she is one hell of a gymnast, ready to stick every landing her senior year. It’s time to go out with a bang...Categorized as:
university sports friends-to-lovers fake-relationship romance contemporary fiction coming-of-age -
A Little Secret by Kelsie Rae
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsTo be fair, when I looked at the pregnancy test results, I didn't think it would literally make me have a seizure.Then, I woke up in the hospital with my brother's best friend by my side and the doctor congratulating us on our baby.Our. Baby.But the worst part?I didn't correct him.Oops.Now, Griffin Thorne is the only man on the planet who knows about my not-so-little secret... -
Caspian: A Carolina Reapers Novel by Samantha Whiskey
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsShe’s the girl next door, and for the next two weeks I’ll be her NHL star boyfriend.When Ryleigh Dunham needs a date for my sister’s wedding—one confident and sexy enough to make her ex jealous—I’m more than happy to sign up for the job.After all, Ryleigh isn’t the feisty teenager I used to know—now she’s all fiery passion, delectable curves, and a smart mouth I can’t get enough of...Categorized as:
fake-relationship friends-to-lovers sports adult book contemporary fiction small-town -
3 Count by Nikki Castle
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsA charming ladies' man that everybody loves.A badass photojournalist that treats every day as a new adventure.A friends with benefits relationship.When Aiden and Dani meet on his college campus, their playful banter and physical chemistry immediately draws them to each other. It's easy for one accidental meet-cute to become a standing date, and for a certain understanding to develop between them... -
Reckless Fate by Kate Crew
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsDaisy WellsI never planned to kiss Kye that night, but with him being the only one not scared of my ex, it became my only chance to get back at him. But now, I’m pretending to be the girlfriend of the town troublemaker while trying to not let that be known to my father...Categorized as:
university friends-to-lovers sports fake-relationship romance contemporary found-family small-town -
The Season: Kaufman by Nicole Edwards
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsSpencer Kaufman When I signed on to the NHL, I promised to give 150% to the game. I’ve done that. Little did I know, but they would ask more from me than merely my skill on the ice. The team wanted me to be their captain. It’s an honor, one I’ve done my best to fulfill. Although I can’t take all the credit, I was there to lead when we won the Stanley Cup... -
Defending Donovan by Jillian Quinn
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHe'll do anything to earn her v-card... and her heart. Here’s the thing about Drake Donovan. He’s a hotshot hockey player with a secret the size of his stick, a real monster of a problem. And I’m the only one who can help him. But as we grow closer, I realize there’s more to Drake than good looks and a big stick. If he wants to be the one to punch my v-card, he has to work for it...Categorized as:
friends-to-lovers sports university adult book contemporary enemies-to-lovers female-author -
Forgetting the Rules: A Second-Chance-Romance Sports Standalone by Mariah Dietz
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA standalone sports romance. Book 6 in The Dating Playbook Series... -
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68 Days And Counting by Nikki20038
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratings~Sequel to The Bad Boy And The Tomboy~Macy Anderson and Sam Cahill are together in Manchester, England living the new university life. Their relationship is striving as they meet new people and experience different things and strengthen their beautiful relationship. But then again there's soccer, the Cahill family and girls because where there's Sam Cahill there will also be many girls... -
Lovestruck by Julie Capulet
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsShe’s completely off-limits.But some rules were made to be broken.Elias O’Shea isn’t just Hawthorne University’s star quarterback—he’s the campus heartthrob. With the looks of a god and an easygoing charm that leaves women swooning, he’s at the top of his game. The NFL is within reach and endorsements are pouring in...Categorized as:
sports university friends-to-lovers romance contemporary new-adult insta-love forbidden-love -
Behind the Plate: A New Adult Sports Romance by J. Sterling
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsChance Carter is the son of local baseball legend, Jack Carter. Now in his junior year at Fullton State, Chance is facing challenges he never saw coming. Failing a class will stop his draft season short, making him ineligible to play and pushing his goal of professional baseball even further away.In steps Danika, a mouthy tutor from New York, who only wants to help him pass his class.. -
If We Dare by J.H. Croix
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA fake relationship, friends to lovers romance from USA Today Bestselling author J.H. Croix!WalkerI’m definitely not looking for love, but I need a date. A fake date for a wedding.Jade owes me a favor. Because I rescued her from a dumpster—don’t ask. Jade might turn my crank, but she’s hands off when it comes to men. She’s perfect... -
The Proposal Play by Lauren Blakely
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMy plan when I win a date in Vegas with my brother’s hockey star best friend? Poker and go to sleep early. Instead, I wake up with a ring on my finger and the sexy athlete naked in my bed.But Asher’s my best friend too so we’ll get this annulled and laugh about this secret for years to come.Trouble is our wedding pics went viral overnight.Now everyone thinks we’re a real couple... -
My Rebound by Carrie Ann Ryan
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA rebound isn’t supposed to last. Though, sometimes, fate has other ideas in this opposites attract, friends with benefits romance.It wasn’t supposed to happen this way.Mackenzie Thomas started planning her future at the age of six. She knew the college she wanted, the career she needed, and the boy she would marry.Only he wasn’t supposed to break up with her in such a spectacular fashion... -
My Fair Puck Bunny by Xavier Neal
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFrom bestselling romance author Xavier Neal comes a sizzling new standalone in the series that's being called a MUST READ for any sports romance fans! Once upon a time, the Vlasta Vipers hockey team was so incredible — on and off the ice — they were almost mythical. Unfortunately, seasons passed and things changed for the worst, like a curse the team didn't know how to break...Categorized as:
sports university fake-relationship friends-to-lovers romance contemporary black-mc mlm -
Unloved by Peyton Corinne
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe highly anticipated follow-up to Peyton Corinne’s “unputdownable and unforgettable” (Bal Khabra, author of Collide) TikTok sensation Unsteady follows hopeless romantic Ro and player—on and off the ice—Freddy as their feelings for each other grow from strictly friendly to so much more. Matt “Freddy” Fedderic is all smiles—at least on the surface...Categorized as:
sports university friends-to-lovers romance contemporary new-adult forced-proximity disability -
No Paine No Gain by McKinley May
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsOne thing I've learned from three years as an undergrad?College is all about balance.Juggling a science-heavy course load, weekend bar crawls, and my plentiful dating life is an art form. An art form I've got down to a T...Until the campus Casanova comes barreling into my biology class and throws my mojo for a major loop...Categorized as:
friends-to-lovers sports university book contemporary enemies-to-lovers fiction humor -
Fake Crown by W. Million
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsPreviously published as Olympic Crown by W. Million.Posey Jensen is a friend collector, boyfriend avoider, and thrill seeker. When someone posts in a group chat looking for a wedding date to Bermuda, Posey jumps on the chance to prove to a new friend that she’s the reigning queen of adventure... -
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DIRTY REBOUND: A Slayers Hockey Novel by Mira Lyn Kelly
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsI care too much about Cammy Wesley to marry her…Yeah, I know what you’re thinking. But hear me out. Cammy’s my best friend. The one person I can’t live without. The girl with the sunshine smile, the loaded fridge, and the most awesome kid I’ve ever met. She’s also the hot AF single mom I’ve made it my mission to protect from guys like me...Categorized as:
fake-relationship friends-to-lovers sports adult audiobook book contemporary fiction -
Iced by Jacob Chance
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsOliver Ice, one of Boston University’s notorious hockey players, has been on my radar since I slammed into his rock-hard body during my first week of college, three years ago. He helped me to my feet, muttered an apology, and ran off after his girlfriend, dashing my hopes of a happily ever after. Now, he’s the bartender where I work, and this time, very much single...Categorized as:
fake-relationship friends-to-lovers sports university adult book contemporary fiction -
Felix by Lulu Moore
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsI have a secret. Twelve years ago I crushed on my teammate’s little sister, before firmly putting her in the friend zone. Which then became the best friend zone. And my teammate became more of a brother.But now we have two problems.1. I just found out she’s been crushing on me too, and my feelings have come hurtling back like a puck heading for the net2... -
Crossland by Samantha Whiskey
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFrom Amazon top ten bestselling author Samantha Whiskey comes the billionaire, fake relationship romance you won't want to miss!I hold several NHL Calgary Team Owner, McClaren Empire Heir, and Insatiable Playboy.My friends believe I’m more likely to walk on the moon than hold down a monogamous relationship, and that’s never bothered me…Until now... -
Sweet Talk Boxed Set by Brenda Novak, Melody Anne
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIn 2014, the boxed set curated by Brenda Novak’s Online Auction for Diabetes Research (titled A SWEET LIFE), raised almost $100,000 net to the charity in only one month. This year we’re back for a second helping, and you can indulge, too! This heart-warming, limited edition collection features ten BRAND NEW contemporary romances by New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors.. -
Xavier by Lane Hart
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsXavier Malone returned to Maryland for his ten-year high school reunion to get away from all the drama in Seattle. He never thought he would spend the week second-guessing every decision he’s ever made or seriously consider trading in his suit and tie for a chance to get in the cage. Most of all, he wasn’t supposed to fall for Cassidy, his childhood best friend... -
810 Destiny Dr. by Tracy Lorraine
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHe’s the one all the girls want.The talented musician. The football player. He’s also my best friend. My ride or die. The one who knows all my secrets. Well, all but one. Only, he doesn’t see me the way he does all the other girls at Cherry Falls High. It’s like I’m invisible to him. Just one of the guys. But I want more...Categorized as:
friends-to-lovers sports university book contemporary fiction friendship high-school -
Ain't Happenin' by Shandi Boyes
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLorenzo Ricci is a big-shot footballer known for his talents both on and off the field. In his hometown of Milan, he’s the divinity of all men. Women want to be bedded by him, men want to be him. However, during his one-off visit to the land of the free, he can’t even get final-year college student Skylar Maine to talk to him... -
Playing the Field by L.M. Reid
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWork hard. Play harder.I’m a player - both on and off the field.Avery and I have been friends since we were kids.In a moment of weakness, she winds up being the latest addition in my playbook and everything falls apart – our friendship and my life.I’m spiraling out of control, and with my football career on the line, there is only one person who can save me... -
Dirty Score by Skye Jordan
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsRafe “Savage” lives up to his name on the ice and in the bedroom. Forging a legacy as the Rough Riders’ most notorious playboy is easy when the woman he really wants is off limits. Mia’s brother isn’t just Rafe's best friend, he’s also a teammate. With the Cup in site, Rafe won’t screw with anything that threatens the team’s winning streak... -
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Nude Awakening by Penny Clarke
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsRylie swears she’s not a prude.How was I to know the art course my best friend signed me up for meant I’d be sketching a nude model? I should have checked the fine print. Then I never would have―quite literally―bumped into Levi Hart moments before he dropped trou in class... -
The Roommate Route by Mariah Dietz
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsUSA Today Bestselling Author Mariah Dietz Delivers a delicious and page-turning, forced-proximity, found family, standalone sports romance you don't want to miss!Nolan Payne, wide receiver for the Camden Knights is equal parts impulsive and reckless, and utterly addictive.He’s also my new roommate.My orderly existence implodes when Nolan proposes…. a situation... -
Falling For You by Gianna Gabriela
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsZack Hayes was taught that hard work pays off. He lives by that adage, working a part-time job, playing football and taking a full load of courses in the hope that his parents can stop working themselves to the bone. However, when things start to go wrong, Zack begins to believe that when you come from nothing, working hard doesn’t get you anywhere... -
The Two Stars Collision by Hayden Hall
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen an adorable force meets an irresistible object they might just fall in love.MilesStudies astrophysics? Check.Loves Star Wars? Check.Still a virgin at twenty-one with zero experience in real life? Double-check.I didn’t want any fanfare around my twenty-first birthday...Categorized as:
fake-relationship friends-to-lovers sports university adult audiobook book contemporary -
The Rule Maker by Gina Azzi
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsNHL Boston Hawks captain Austin Merrick used to be my boy-next-door. Now, he’s the man on my mind. Our paths haven’t crossed in over a decade when I find myself back in Boston, desperate to save face in front of my ex-fiancé. With a devilish smirk and wicked blue eyes, Austin steps back into my life to be my plus one for a summer filled with weddings and events... -
Dear McKinnon by Danielle Keil
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsEveryone knows what it means to have a teal envelope taped to their locker on the first day of the month. Everyone except new girl McKinnon Gregory.The envelope is the start of a monthly tradition called the Secret Admirers, and something McKinnon never thought she'd see. To her surprise-- and everyone else's-- the teal envelope is taped to her locker on March first... -
Limitless by Terri Anne Browning
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIn the Underground, I make the rules. The Underground is mine . I call the shots. It is who and what I am. I am the Judge , jury, and executioner. Except to her. I’ve always been a man who gets what he wants, but she was too young and too sweet to touch. Now, staying away from her is no longer possible. She has pushed me to the end of my limits... -
The Kiss List by Maya Hughes
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIf I were on fire, she’d break out the marshmallows.It’s not that we don’t like each other, more like hate with the fury of a thousand suns. But it wasn’t always that way.I still remember how her lips tasted. How they felt pressed against mine. How I wanted more. How I still crave her...Categorized as:
fake-relationship friends-to-lovers sports university adult athlete book contemporary -
Jocking Jameson by Jillian Quinn
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsI never meant to fall for my best friend…After a bad breakup, I’m not looking for another relationship. I’d rather drown my sorrows in beer, hockey, and video games. And that’s how I end up kissing Shannon.After a few drinks, one kiss leads to another…And before I know it, I’m breaking my no-dating rules.But when my past crashes into our future, we need more than chemistry to stay together...Categorized as:
sports university friends-to-lovers romance new-adult contemporary fiction audiobook -
Faking It with the Forward by Angel Lawson
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWhat happens when the captain of the hockey team kisses you in front of his ex? Things get awkward.What happens when he asks you to be his fake girlfriend?Things get complicated.In the high-pressure world of varsity hockey at Wittmore U, being the team intern means more than overseeing grueling workouts and injuries. It's the colossal egos of the players that truly test my patience...Categorized as:
sports university fake-relationship friends-to-lovers romance contemporary fiction steamy -
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The Puck Decoy by G.N. Wright
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHockey is my life. It’s all I’ve ever wanted, all I’ve ever needed, and everything was going according to plan. All I had to do was focus on the game, keep my head down, then get drafted into the NHL.With my team by my side I was focused solely on the game. I thought nothing could stop me, but then my father came along and ruined everything... -
Toxic: Logan's Story by K.A. Robinson
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsTrue love is forever. After years of chasing his best friend, Chloe, Logan finally managed to win her heart—or so he thought. His world crashes down around him when she confesses to cheating on him with a local rock star, Drake. Unable to let her go completely from his life, Logan reassumes his role of best friend while he watches Chloe find her happily ever after with another man... -
Pep Talks by Ali Dean
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratings(This is the fourth book in the Pepper Jones series, which should be read in order. The first three books in the series may be purchased as a box set for a discounted price, under the title “The Pepper Jones Collection.”) Pepper’s freshman year at college is a harder transition than she anticipated... -
Hard As Steel by McKinley May
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsBecoming a sports reporter isn't just my dream job--it's my calling.I've been sketching the blueprint for my future since I was an overly ambitious ten-year-old: Get accepted into Windhaven University's journalism program? Check. Score the sports section of the campus paper? Easy as pie. Snag a once-in-a-lifetime internship? Currently in progress...Categorized as:
friends-to-lovers sports university adult athlete book contemporary enemies-to-lovers -
The Fake by Rebecca Jenshak
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsI've made a lot of dumb mistakes but none dumber than losing her.Senior year. I should be partying and living it up with my friends before graduation, but one more mistake and I'm off the team.Enter Chloe. She comes into my life at a low point, but she becomes the bright spot I reach for every day. She's the kind of girl who makes a guy want to be a better man... -
Trust Me Always by Meagan Brandy
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsFake dating one football player while his teammate tries to win me back? Yeah, probably not the best idea, yet here we are.Talk about complicated…I loathe the day I ran smack dab into the hard chest of Alister Howl, Avix University’s second-string quarterback. The moment he smiled my way I should’ve run. And, well, I did … straight into his bed.That was before I learned he was nothing but a liar...
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