Books like 'The Playmaker'
Readers who enjoyed The Playmaker by Josie Blake also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary university sports friends-to-lovers
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Inevitable: Carter Kids #5 by Chloe Walsh
Rated: 4.80 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIf two people are truly meant to be together, eventually they will find their way back to each other's arms. It is a prerequisite of love. It is inevitable… Right? Then why does it feel so wrong? Why is my heart pulling me in another direction? Why do I feel so lost? So utterly broken… On paper, Hope Carter has the perfect life... -
![Becoming Selfish by lizrose, Liz Tomforde]()
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]()
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]()
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... -
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![Wild Love by Rebecca Jenshak]()
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... -
![A Little Secret by Kelsie Rae]()
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... -
![Lost Boy by Hannah Gray]()
Lost Boy by Hannah Gray
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsI was four when my parents gave me my first pair of skates. By six, I was hooked on hockey and couldn’t get enough. At twelve, I had made a name for myself on the ice. And when I was fifteen, colleges were starting to take notice. Life was great—until it wasn’t. Because when I was seventeen, my best friend died in my arms. And nothing made sense after that. Drinking turned to smoking...Categorized as:
sports university friends-to-lovers romance contemporary forced-proximity steamy substance-abuse -
![3 Count by Nikki Castle]()
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... -
![Brazen Girl by Ali Dean]()
Brazen Girl by Ali Dean
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIt only takes a second for her world to come crashing down.Jordan’s crash is a wake-up call for everyone. Recovering from a head injury brings new challenges no one is expecting or prepared to handle. Jordan begins to doubt that she has what it takes to make it as a pro skateboarder... -
![The Lion Heart by Carrie Aarons]()
The Lion Heart by Carrie Aarons
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHe’s supposed to be the ruler of this kingdom. The prince poised to take his rightful place on the pitch. Instead, he plays the jester, shunning his legacy. Only I am privy to his lion heart. Kingston Phillips is the heir to England’s football dynasty. The offspring of two of the world’s greatest players, the expectations set on his shoulders could crush the universe... -
![Brazen Tricks by Ali Dean]()
Brazen Tricks by Ali Dean
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHer new path is all about split second decisions. One of them will change her life forever.Jordan’s ready to embrace her identity as a pro skateboarder but wants to do it on her own terms.With her boyfriend the most popular skateboarder in the world, it’s not easy being seen and treated as just the girlfriend... -
![The Season: Kaufman by Nicole Edwards]()
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]()
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]()
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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![Vengeful Rotten Casualties by Lucy Smoke]()
Vengeful Rotten Casualties by Lucy Smoke
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsI sold my soul to the devil only to turn around and slit his throat… Thomas Kincaid took everything from me. My mother. My hopes. My innocence.Now, it’s my turn.He thought he was safe.They all did.They were wrong.Men always think they can take without ever having to deal with the consequences. Well, now I’m back, and I'm the last consequence they’ll ever see... -
![Score by Jacob Chance]()
Score by Jacob Chance
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsI have a crush on Nolan Archer, Boston University’s freshman running back. He’s the definition of tall, dark, and swoon worthy. My knees weaken every time our eyes meet. There’s only one problem… he’s a virgin. As much as I try to convince myself he’s too young for me, or that I prefer experienced guys, I can’t deny the flames of attraction flaring between us... -
![Bad Crush by Rebecca Jenshak]()
Bad Crush by Rebecca Jenshak
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsReasons not to crush on Adam:He's my best friend's brother.He's my neighbor.He's the captain of the hockey team.He's a serial monogamist who's sworn off dating. Reasons not to fake date Adam:See above.He has no idea I actually like him—like really like him. But do I listen to any of those really great reasons? Of course not...Categorized as:
friends-to-lovers sports university book contemporary fake-relationship fiction new-adult -
![68 Days And Counting by Nikki20038]()
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]()
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]()
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.. -
![Triple Play for the Single Mom by Rebel Bloom]()
Triple Play for the Single Mom by Rebel Bloom
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsMy plan was transfer to the college where my ex, the star quarterback, could finally be a dad.But life threw a curveball when I accidentally collided with three of his hunky teammates!Being a young single mom hasn’t been easy.My ex shirks fatherhood, and I’m a magnet for judgmental stares.But it’s all been worth it for how much I love my little boy...Categorized as:
sports university friends-to-lovers romance reverse-harem contemporary humor small-town -
![My Next Play by Carrie Ann Ryan]()
My Next Play by Carrie Ann Ryan
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhat happens when you fall for your best friend, but they fall in love with someone else? Nothing is what it seems in this unrequited love, new adult romance.Miles knew Nessa never had eyes for him. Only when someone new tries to hurt her, he knows he can’t stand back any longer. It’s time she finds out the man he is behind the glasses and beneath the shell he wrapped himself in... -
![My Bad Decisions by Carrie Ann Ryan]()
My Bad Decisions by Carrie Ann Ryan
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe first time he kissed me, we kept it a secret.Tanner and I have been at each other’s throats ever since.The second time he kissed me, I told myself not to fall.I should have known something burned beneath the surface and I couldn’t resist him.The third time led to something more and now one positive test later, neither one of us can walk away...Categorized as:
friends-to-lovers sports university adult book contemporary enemies-to-lovers family -
![Mr. Handsome Hunk: A Manhattan Men Novel by Jacob Parker]()
Mr. Handsome Hunk: A Manhattan Men Novel by Jacob Parker
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI’ve wanted her my whole life.My best friend’s little sister. But things didn’t work out like they were supposed to.And now she’s back in my life and I’m not sure how I feel about it.She left for college without looking back, and I’m a billionaire bachelor with my eye on lots of prizes now.I’m not the boy she walked away from.Manhattan is my playground, and my family owns the city... -
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![The Defenseman's Second Chance by A.J. Wynter]()
The Defenseman's Second Chance by A.J. Wynter
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHow many times do I have to repeat it?Second Chances Don't Work.Twenty years is a long time.Yet, she looks exactly the same.They say you never get over your first love.And, I'd have to agree with that statement.But,I've also never gotten over my first heartbreak.And, I don't believe that people change.The best thing for me - and my heart, is to stay far, far, away from the new girl in town... -
![Full Count by Kimberly Readnour]()
Full Count by Kimberly Readnour
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsDating my bestie? Yeah, I can only wish... Garret Cartel.Cessna University’s starting shortstop.Painstakingly gorgeous.ReservedFriend-zoned since freshman year.I have a knack for falling for unattainable guys.Blame my trust issues.They keep me safe.But this is our final year.My last chance to break the dreaded friend-zone chains before graduation.There’s one slight problem... -
![My Rebound by Carrie Ann Ryan]()
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]()
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 friends-to-lovers romance contemporary fake-relationship black-mc mlm -
![Slip Shot by Pippa Green]()
Slip Shot by Pippa Green
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMy best buddy from high school is marrying my ex and I'm the best man. Talk about awkward. The silver lining is I'm paired for the wedding with the groom's little sister Chloe. She's always been adorable...also, off limits - because I'm the small-town bad boy, now an NHL star, and she's the pastor's daughter.But weddings make people do crazy things and we end up doing each other... -
![Unloved by Peyton Corinne]()
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]()
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 -
![Felix by Lulu Moore]()
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... -
![Tripped by Jacob Chance]()
Tripped by Jacob Chance
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsEight hundred and eighty days. That’s how long it’s been since my no good ex broke my heart. And I was doing just fine without him. But now, with both of us playing hockey for Boston University and running in the same circles, I can’t seem to avoid him—no matter how hard I try. And boy do I try.It seems my former boyfriend is cockier than ever—if that’s even possible...Categorized as:
friends-to-lovers sports university adult book contemporary enemies-to-lovers fiction -
![Sweet Talk Boxed Set by Brenda Novak, Melody Anne]()
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.. -
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![Xavier by Lane Hart]()
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]()
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 -
![Sacked in Seattle: Game On in Seattle Rookies by Jami Davenport]()
Sacked in Seattle: Game On in Seattle Rookies by Jami Davenport
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsYou've met Riley in Crashing the Net and Tiff in Melting Ice. Now they're all grown up and have their own story to tell.He's loved Tiff since high school--but tragedy has blockaded her heart. Tyee University football player Riley Black has adored Tiff since high school, but she's never felt the same way... -
![Playing the Field by L.M. Reid]()
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... -
![Caught in a Jam by Lila Felix]()
Caught in a Jam by Lila Felix
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsI’ve loved her since we were kids. But loving someone gets tough when they don’t love you back. Nixon Black has made mistakes. He made one mistake that would change his life forever. Now he’s working and in school—and he’s got a three year old. He gave up dating when Scout was born, but every night he retreats to another life in his mind, one he could’ve had with her... -
![Dirty Score by Skye Jordan]()
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... -
![Nude Awakening by Penny Clarke]()
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... -
![Falling For You by Gianna Gabriela]()
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]()
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:
friends-to-lovers sports university adult audiobook book contemporary fake-relationship -
![Dear McKinnon by Danielle Keil]()
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... -
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![Limitless by Terri Anne Browning]()
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]()
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:
friends-to-lovers sports university adult athlete book contemporary enemies-to-lovers -
![The Professor's Date by Lane Hayes]()
The Professor's Date by Lane Hayes
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe professor, the hair stylist, and a wedding date…TommyHelp! My sister is getting married and according to her, I need a date. And a makeover. I’m a busy man, though. I don’t have time to meet eligible bachelors, and the tape holding my glasses together works just fine. Until my hair stylist steps on them... -
![Jocking Jameson by Jillian Quinn]()
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 -
![The Puck Decoy by G.N. Wright]()
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... -
![The Final Move by Victoria Denault]()
The Final Move by Victoria Denault
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsHockey legend Devin Garrison thought he blew his shot. But his relationship with Callie Caplan just went into overtime.Sexy, rich, and one of the biggest stars in the NHL, Devin Garrison has always been the one who had it all. That is until his marriage falls apart and he realizes he has to start over. If he's honest, there has only been one woman who ever really excited him-Callie Caplan...
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