Books like 'Playing Rough'
Readers who enjoyed Playing Rough by Heather Ashley also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary romance sports mlm enemies-to-lovers multi-pov lgbtq university
-
Iced Out by C.E. Ricci
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsAll's fair in hate and hockey.My path to success never included an enemy as a teammate, especially one as infuriating as Quinton de Haas.Clawing under my skin is his favorite pastime, only feeding the animosity between us as the years pass.We’re as completely opposite as two people can be; the golden boy and the black sheep.Constantly at odds or at each other’s throats... -
Limerence: A MM Rivals to Lovers Ballet Romance by Scarlett Drake
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFelixDancing is everything to me. It’s the mother I lost, the father who never sees me. It’s the fiery love of my life, and I’ll defend it to my last breath—that’s what it means to be the lead principal at one of the best ballet companies in the world. Just when I thought I was on top, my greatest rival—my eternal nemesis—waltzes back into my Nicoló Savini... -
Royal Scoundrel by Saxon James
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsRoyal Scoundrel is the prequel novella between Charles's dads. Even though it takes place twenty years before the Frat Wars books, it's best enjoyed last. DASHArchibald Levine the third is a pain in my ass. Rich, cocky and the closest thing to a prince that our school has. I hate everything about his entitled attitude and the stupid Kappa crown he wears... -
Unbelievers by AgnesBellex
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsIt’s Louis’ senior year, and he’s dead set on doing it right. However, along with his pair of cleats, a healthy dose of sarcasm and his ridiculous best friend, he’s also got a complicated family, a terrifyingly uncertain future, and a mortal enemy making his life just that much worse. Mortal enemies “with benefits” was not exactly the plan... -
-
Breaking the Rules by Brigham Vaughn
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsRule #1: Don't fall in love with your agent. Trevor Underhill is a bottom D-pair grinder. A pest. The kind of player who makes it possible for the talent to score. Off the ice, he looks out for himself and never trusts anyone but his sister to have his back... -
-
-
Home Game by Raleigh Ruebins
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHe’s pro football’s hottest wide receiver…But for me he’s pure, red-hot trouble.Storm Rosling is cocky. Charming. A bad boy football player who can’t keep his name out of headlines and scandals.In my life, he’s one big red flag.I’m working with Fixer Brothers Construction to take their home renovation TV show to the stratosphere. I’m all business, and I’m damn good at it... -
Extra Credit by Sarina Bowen
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThree novellas, including all new Ivy Years fun! BLONDE DATE: A nervous sorority girl, a mean fraternity prank and an adorkable basketball player with a heart of gold. Blonde Date follows Katie and Andy’s first blind date… STUDLY PERIOD: One hunky hockey player with a language barrier. Plus one awkward English tutor with a big crush... -
Don't You Dare by C.E. Ricci
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsIt was never meant to be more than a dare.A party game. A dare. A single kiss.That’s all it took to flip my world upside down.I’ve always classified myself as straight, and as far as I can tell, so has he.I didn’t think one kiss would change that, but I was so wrong.Now, I can’t stop thinking about him. In all the ways I shouldn’t.My best friend.Aspen... -
The Freshman Year by Adam Van Dyck
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsHey guys! It’s Tyler here, and this is the newest chapter of my life. Y’all are not going to believe this, but…I just joined the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee’s Men’s Soccer team! No, seriously, I actually did! I’m officially a Panther now! I did well on my youth soccer team, and I destroyed the opposing team in high school lacrosse, so I should be ready for college soccer, right?I wish... -
The Red Zone by Beth Bolden
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSpencer’s deep in the Red Zone and it’s time to even the score. Nine years ago Spencer Evans became the first player out of the closet to be drafted into the NFL. Everyone believed he had aspirations to change the world but all Spencer ever wanted to do was play football for a team that accepted him wholeheartedly... -
Love at First Sighting by Chloe Gray, A.M. Bellows
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLove can be found in the most unexpected places.Charlie is on the verge of burnout from working three jobs while taking care of his newborn daughter. The single father desperately needs some down time to let out his inner, adventure-loving little. Fortunately, Cuffed is there to save the day... -
In Your Hands by Louisa Masters
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhen Grant Davis stepped into the job of assistant director at Joy Universe, he knew he was taking on a challenge. The AD before him left a mess nobody thought could be cleaned up—but Grant loves nothing more than beating the odds. Over a year later, he’s convinced there’s something hinky going on. The solution: an independent audit... -
-
The Bedroom Coach Agreement by Hayden Hall
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWe’re the least likely couple you’ll ever see. Until the lights go out.ParkerMy brother’s best friend has a secret. And I just happen to know what he does in a hidden downtown apartment at night. In front of a camera. Sculpted like a Greek god, Dayton soon becomes all I want.But a guy like me could never hope to catch his attention. I’ve never been with anyone. I’ve never even kissed a guy... -
And Then by Taylor Fitzpatrick
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsDavid Chapman has achieved almost everything he's ever wanted. He may not have been anyone's first pick, and he may not have the respect he knows he deserves, but he also knows he has no shortage of chances to prove himself. And he has Jake. So it doesn't make sense for him to feel so dissatisfied. And it really doesn't make sense for him to feel so afraid... -
The Hotshot vs The Reporter by Nicole Dykes
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsRoyalI’m the hotshot—both on and off the track. I know how to work the crowd and show off. And I’m good at it.I’ve had to become very effective at putting on a show.But my agent is not a fan of my over-the-top antics. So she did something I still can’t believe . . .She called in the press—the media. Specifically, the reporter who hates everything I stand for... -
The Comeback Pact by E.M. Moore
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHe’s everything she hates… So, why can’t she say no to him? Introducing Book 1 in the Warner University Bulldog series...KennaWest Brooks stands for everything I despise. He’s a meathead jock whose silence says it all: He only cares about himself and his football season.So, why can’t I say no when he offers me his help?I should run the other way... -
Blindsided by Carly Marie
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI sent my boss into subspace before lunch. Now what?Easton knows, in the world of professional hockey, he’s getting old and his body can’t take many more hits. When a job offer too good to pass up falls into his lap, Easton goes for it. What should be the start of a new chapter, opens another he thought had closed when he'd been drafted... -
-
Rookie by Eddie Cleveland
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratings* Although part of a series, you will enjoy it as a standalone as well! Rookie is everything you love in an MM first time gay romance. A journey of self-discovery, the undeniable sparks with the man who makes him question everything, the moment of realization, the secret relationship, and coming out... -
#HookUp by Cambria Hebert
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMissing your favorite #family? This is your exclusive invitation back into their world. #HookUp is an explosion of the award-winning #Hashtag series by Cambria Hebert and makes the perfect collector’s item and addition to the series... -
Illegal Motion: An MM Enemies To Lovers Sports Romance by Rheland Richmond, Emerson Beckett
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsCallum KennedyI should have known behind that deep sexy southern drawl, and beautiful face lived the world’s biggest asshole.I’ve tried my damnedest to put him behind me. But it was hard to do when I saw his face every night in my dreams and couldn’t forget how he worked my body over.It was okay. I had my work as a vet, my equine rescue to manage, and my friends... -
Back to Center by Ryan Taylor, Joshua Harwood
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsEckieThere are ways to get ahead in college hockey, but having a meltdown, trying to get rid of your coach, and stalking his boyfriend isn’t one of them... -
-
Twincerely Yours by Eden Finley
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsEMMETTMy twin brother and I have gotten ourselves into a lot of messes growing up. We would constantly switch places to escape consequences while protecting each other at every cost.But sleeping with Ben’s professor is a whole new level of mess, because there’s something Jonah doesn’t know. He might have been Ben’s professor last semester, but the person he was lecturing wasn’t Ben. It was me... -
The Best Wedding Ever by Eden Finley, Saxon James
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA short featuring Jacabs and Beck from Face Offs & Cheap Shots book two of the CU Hockey by Eden Finley & Saxon... -
Playing Deep by Beth Bolden
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsKenyon Ellis knows getting involved with Julian Anderson is an enormous mistake—but from the very first night, he finds him annoying, intriguing and ultimately, irresistible.One, Kenyon is a player, and Julian is a reporter, so hooking up with him, no matter how spectacular the nights are, is a terrible idea.Two, he’s falling for him, even if Julian continues to be prickly and impossible... -
Marc Jillson & The Gazebo by Anyta Sunday
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWant true, heart-throbbing romance? Put down the Cheetos, and stop being a jackass.The question is, can I do it?I’ve been an epic dick to my friends, my uncle. Him.Travis Hunter. Photographer, econ-student, paraplegic. Can I redeem myself? Apologize? Make a fresh start?Hunter seems to think so. Even roped me into saving his favorite gazebo from the bulldozers.The confidence of this man amazes me... -
Love and History by Lane Hayes
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe sporty roommate, the professor, and a history lesson…Holden-Ezra might be the most annoying roommate ever. He’s loud, obnoxious, and full of himself. So what if he’s a tall, muscular, tattooed jock? His tendency to strip to his boxers in the kitchen while helping himself to my food isn’t endearing in the slightest. Nope. Ezra has to go... -
Surprise Play by Carly Marie
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAn innocent gift has the power to change everythingMalcolm Ward is a retired wide-receiver, NFL offensive line coach, and husband to one of the best wide-receivers in the NFL. His life is hectic and the last thing he expects is to walk into the bedroom one afternoon to find his husband sleeping with the pacifier Malcolm had jokingly given him a decade before... -
An Unrivaled Off Season by Ashlyn Kane
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAny other year, hockey player Grady Armstrong would be licking his wounds after a disappointing playoffs exit. Somehow, this year, he’s in the stands as his rival-turned-boyfriend Max Lockhart competes for the Stanley Cup… and there’s nowhere he’d rather be. Well, except maybe lifting the Cup himself... -
Illegal Contact by Neve Wilder, Riley Hart
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsI've hated spoiled, cocky Patrick Whitt since the first time I saw him at football camp when we were kids.Once we made it to the NFL, of course, he landed on the LA Royals, the biggest rivals of my team, the Denver Rush. Everything about him rubs me the wrong way...until one unexpected night, we happen to rub each other the right way, and suddenly I can't get enough of him... -
Head in the Game by Rebecca Rathe
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsPart of the Groveton College shared world series.Bryant Nicks is the head football coach for the Groveton College Jackals, determined to do anything to push his team toward a championship season. When scouting out new players, Nicks comes across a rookie running back that impresses him both on and off the field. His attraction to his student runs deep, but Nicks knows better... -
Tackle by Jacob Chance
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsTrevor Lincoln is the legendary tight end for Boston University’s football team. As the youngest son of a former NFL player, he lives a life of privilege with an endless stream of girls vying for his attention. He always gets his way. Until I come along. Everything about him irks me. From his crooked smile and sexy, dark hair, to his obscenely large trust fund... -
-
The Hookup Mix-up by Riley Hart
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsPerryI moved to San Luco to get to know my brother, and so far, it’s been great. Working as a bartender at Shenanigans, a bar close to Franklin University, there are beautiful men and women everywhere. When a hot guy falls into my arms at a party, I’m down for some naughty fun. Until I realize he’s way too drunk for anything to happen. Thankfully, we agree to meet up the next day... -
The Soccer Field Is Empty by Mark A. Roeder
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe Soccer Field Is Empty is the story of teen love, steamy romance, friendship, loyalty, understanding, and ancient prejudice. Here is a tale that breaks the stereotypes of the ignorant and peers into the soul of two boys who want what we all want; to love and be loved... -
Changing the Rules by Brigham Vaughn
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsRule #1: Don’t fall in love with the coach.Gabriel Theriault’s been skating on thin ice for the past two seasons with Toronto but his arrest following an off-ice fight is the final straw.His only shot at redemption is to start over in Evanston and prove that he still has what it takes to be a pro player.No more fights. No more drinking. No more random hookups. Rule #2: The team always comes first... -
Rules, Schmules! by Becca Seymour
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe first Zone Defense series spin-off with a rule-following basketball player and an unimpressed twink who thinks rules are made to be obliterated.It’s not my milkshake that brings Kieran Kendall to my yard. Okay, maybe it’s a little bit my milkshake. But I also like to think it’s my dazzling personality and my magical… uhm… you get the idea... -
Down in Flames by Kate Meader
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA steamy and emotional MM standalone firefighter-hockey player romance ...It was supposed to be a random hookup.At a crossroads, my life a hot mess, I swiped right on the guy with the washboard abs and the tree-trunk thighs... -
Royal Lines by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThey’re setting fire to the sheets, but a romance between an out and proud hockey star and a closeted playboy prince could end up burning them both.Marquis Miller might be one of the NHL’s best players, single, wealthy, and open about his sexuality, but he knows his future lies in taking over the reins of the family’s multimillion-dollar company after retirement... -
Riptide by Ruthie Luhnow
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratings"The weirdest part about kissing my best friend is that it isn't weird at all." Drew Riordan is excellent at compartmentalization. It's the only way he's managed to survive three years at Bellamy university—and on the crew team—and how he's made peace with staying in the closet for the foreseeable future... -
The No Strings Theory by Hayden Hall
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsDallas: Kai's nothing like I expected. The scrawny kid I once knew is gone, replaced by a nerdy, curious young man who crawls deep under my skin. The moment he enters my life, he disrupts everything. I shouldn't want my best friend's little brother. But I've never been great at resisting temptation. What starts as messing around in secret, soon becomes a lot more serious... -
The Fairy Dance by Tara Lain
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhat if the man of your dreams dances into your life—and he’s a nutcracker?Maintenance man, Jed, might yearn for an alpha-femme guy, but where’s he going to find him in his small Oregon town?New York ballet rising star, Henri, just wants to dance, but his desire for top roles only leads him into the pervy artistic director’s bed.The chances of these two meeting are less likely than a grand jete... -
The Bitter Rivals Fiasco by Hayden Hall
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI fell in love with the enemy. Twice.HudsonFor my twenty-first, I threw a masquerade party and met the most exciting guy on the planet, dressed as a fallen angel. Then, I never saw him again.And just when I think my life is perfect, in walks my nemesis, Tate Anderson.The guy’s got no finesse. He looks down on everyone, especially me... -
-
Breaking the Record by Raleigh Ruebins
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“When will I see him again? And why do I want to so badly?” Ben Lakeland owns a failing record store in small-town Welling, New York, and it's the last place he wants to be. Everything used to be easy: watching football with his frat buddies, drinking beer, and being popular in school. But at 24 years old, everyone else seems to have grown up but Ben... -
On a Roll by Beth Bolden
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIf they could stop arguing for a hot second . . . they just might fall in love.Gabriel Moretti and Sean Cooper should be friends. They’re both passionate about serving delicious food to their customers. They both love to kick back with the other food truck owners at the collective they’ve joined. But maybe it’s possible to have too much in common . . -
Masc (Femme) by Marshall Thornton
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLionel and Dog are back in this follow-up to the Lambda finalist, Femme. Almost six months have passed and, after taking an online quiz, Lionel believes their relationship is doomed because they have nothing in common. To save their future together, the pair joins a gay bowling league and discovers that Lionel is an excellent, if somewhat eccentric, bowler... -
Andre by L.A. Witt
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMattThere’s nothing quite like a night with one of the Gentlemen of the Emerald City. No strings. No complications. I’ve been burned by love, and I’m not going there again.Unlike my teammates who fell for their Gentlemen, I know how to keep emotions from coming into play.At least… I used to.AndreI used to love this job. The money doesn’t matter—just the thrill. But that thrill is gone now... -
Emergency: Kiss of Life by Andrew Grey
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsProfessional hockey player Marcus Markington—Mark Mark to his fans—has dreamed of playing in the NHL since childhood, and has been raising his nephew with his parents’ help for the past few years. He’s at the top of his game and getting noticed when a clash with an aggressive defender results in a head injury and an encounter with Logan... -
A Little Christmas: Raymond by A.W. Scott
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSometimes you have to hit rock bottom before things work out.Raymond has had a tough go at life. Between being on his own since he was fifteen and the growing pile of debt for all his medical expenses, he's working nonstop just to keep a roof over his head. When his apartment becomes infested with not so savory creatures, his safe place becomes unlivable...
Or - use our amazing romance book finder to get recommendations based on your favorite content tropes and themes. Mix and match at will.