Books like 'Player Problems'
Readers who enjoyed Player Problems by Samantha Bee also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary romance university forced-proximity sports friends-to-lovers stalking grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc
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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 cheerful-mc forced-proximity found-family friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor -
Stand and Defend by Sloane St. James
Rated: 4.54 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsJordanaI live my life head over heart and never rock the boat. Which is how I wound up engaged to Bryan Davenport—the biggest mistake I ever made. We were a power couple, but no one knew how cruel he could be behind closed doors. When I decide to leave, my fiancé shows just how ruthless he can be and sends me running to the last person I expected: his best man...Categorized as:
sports forced-proximity friends-to-lovers found-family stalking dark romance contemporary -
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 adult book -
Haven by Bella Matthews
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsShe’s a former Olympic figure skater whose world turned upside down. He’s a pro-football player who never let go of the past. What happens when these two finally have their second chance and a stalker threatens everything?Brandon Dixon came into my life like a quiet storm. Powerful and intense. I was sure he was my fresh start. But it turned out life had other plans...Categorized as:
sports forced-proximity stalking athlete grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc found-family -
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Dirty Toe Drag by Toni Aleo
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsStella Brooks is a woman who knows what she wants. From her first glimpse of Paris Fashion Week at the tender age of eleven, she has only ever wanted to be a designer. Hardworking and dedicated, she knows she can make a success of it. Until…she is driven to trade fashion for frosting, a move that makes her soul sing but shakes her confidence in her decision-making to her core... -
My Kind of Perfect by Nikki Ash
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFrom author Nikki Ash comes a roommates to lovers, single dad romance...GeorgiaI’m surrounded by love, yet have no one to call my own.But then Chase, my new roommate, is suddenly there.He could be the perfect guy for me, if he wasn’t nursing a broken heart.The more time I waste looking for love, the more I realize that what I want has been right in front of me all along...Categorized as:
cheerful-mc forced-proximity friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine adult age-gap book -
Strike Zone by Ginger Walls
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWYATT:All my friends are under the impression I’m only at Newhouse to chase women and play baseball. Those are two of my favorite pastimes.The truth is, Newhouse is my chance to save my family’s farm. If I don’t get drafted, we’ll lose everything we’ve been working hard to keep.Then I hear her sing and she’s all I can think about. It’s messing up my game and putting my future in jeopardy...Categorized as:
university sports friends-to-lovers grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc forced-proximity romance -
Never Fall for the Fake Boyfriend by Lauren Landish
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsWhat’s a girl to do when a hot stranger appears in her vacation cabin? Run. Probably. Or…I had it all planned out. A perfect getaway, in a perfect forest locale, with my perfect boyfriend. It should’ve been… perfect.Until he breaks up with me, leaving me all alone when a stranger walks in on me post-shower, getting a too-good look at my bare backside... -
Forever Wild by Rebecca Jenshak
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThe annoyingly handsome hockey captain glaring at me needs my help.He won't admit that, of course. But with his teammate's gone for the summer and him fresh off a season-ending injury, someone has to keep him in check and it's not the nurses he keeps running off... -
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 found-family friends-to-lovers grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc sports romance -
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 humor romance -
Cold as Ice by Nichole Rose
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsCaptain of the team? He's not giving up until he's Captain of her heart.KrisWhen you're the Captain, you get what you want.Until the one thing you want refuses to cooperate.I've been chasing Kelsey, our feisty publicist, for years.She won't give me the time of day.I know she wants me too.I see it in her eyes every time she looks at me.But she runs as soon as I get close...Categorized as:
sports athlete grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc found-family friends-to-lovers romance -
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 romance new-adult -
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... -
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Midnight Confessions by J.L. Kenna
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratings...Categorized as:
cheerful-mc forced-proximity friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor adult angst -
Not As Planned by Harlow James
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“So you’re single?” “Are you seriously hitting on me right now while I have breastmilk all over my shirt?”When Grant Thomas, the handsome stranger standing in front of me in line at the coffee shop, stripped his uniform shirt off and handed it to me, I could have sworn I was on an episode of Punked...Categorized as:
found-family grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc friends-to-lovers humor romance contemporary -
Upping the Ante by Emma St. Clair
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHe's been the grumpiest boss a woman could ask for--or he WAS until I quit. But former football star Deacon Clark doesn't seem to be getting the memo. Instead, he tags along with me to Sheet Cake, Texas, where I'm hoping to start a new business.Deacon's only hope is to hire me back as his assistant. At least, that's what I thought. Until ... the very clear lines we've always kept start to blur...Categorized as:
humor sports forced-proximity grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc friends-to-lovers romance -
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 athlete humor romance -
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 romance contemporary slow-burn -
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... -
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... -
Wedlocked by Cambria Hebert
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIt’s no secret that, over the past couple years, Elite has been through it. For real, when I look around, I think, Two billion years of evolution for this?But even with the heaping pile of crazy tossed at us on the regular, we still have each other’s backs and are stronger than ever. With Westbrook’s winter break coming up, it’s time Elite got their relax on... -
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 -
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 forced-proximity found-family romance contemporary new-adult -
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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 friends-to-lovers romance contemporary steamy -
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...Categorized as:
athlete cheerful-mc friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor sports university -
The Curveball by Emily Childs
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHe's the charmer of the infield. I'm the uptight, jaded author who won't give him a chance...now we're roommates?Griffin Marks can charm the socks off anyone he meets. Except me. To me he's a beautiful pest who will do just about anything to make me like him. I wish him luck...Categorized as:
cheerful-mc friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor sports university adult -
Things I Read About by Kelsey Humphreys
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsI was never supposed to see him again. And my family just hired him as my personal bodyguard...Sally Canton wanted one week. Just one week where she was not, well, herself. Not the quirky kid sister. Not the smart sidekick. Not the baby of the Canton family (as in the massive greeting card empire, Canton International.) One last Spring Break as the main character in her own story... -
Without you by Ashlyn Montgomery
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsAubrey Wilson has the heart of an angel. As the type of person to always trust in others, she's admirable to peers.A total darling, but with a sadness that encases her heart.Anyone could shrink down in fright at the receiving end of Luke Taylor's infamous glare. Tall, muscular, dark-haired, and handsome, he's no stranger on or off the field. Not a kind stranger either...Categorized as:
university grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc dark found-family romance young-adult -
Brogan by Samantha Whiskey
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThey call me Demon for a reason—I’m the most ruthless Reaper on the ice.I’m not the person who finds a baby on their doorstep.Except, after a morning run, I am.And the note accompanying the little bundle says she’s mine.Looks like I'm the newest single dad in the NHL.I was nothing but a burden on my aunt and uncle after my parents died, and I’d decided I’d never have children... -
Betrothal or Breakaway by Leah Brunner
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsMy best friend—and unrequited love—has a hole in her heart. Literally and figuratively.First, Amber’s fiancé left her when she told him she was pregnant, and then her daughter's birth left her with complications from a heart defect she didn’t realize she had.I’m devastated...Categorized as:
sports friends-to-lovers forced-proximity grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc found-family humor -
Never Kiss the Bad Boy by Lauren Landish
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsA full plate? More like an overflowing platter.The last thing I have time for is the bad boy next door.Even if he’s hot, sweaty, muscled, pierced, and makes sexy promises that keep me on edge.Survival Mode is how I live. My ghost kitchen is the place to be for every work crew in the city, and I bust my butt from sunup to sun down, while rubbing every nickel and dime together to scrape by...Categorized as:
grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc found-family humor romance contemporary enemies-to-lovers -
Poetry On Ice by Jesse H. Reign
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsI can’t tell if we’re fighting…or flirting?Being traded to the Seattle Vipers has left me with mixed feelings. On the one hand, they’re my team, the team I’ve loved and supported since I was a kid, but on the other hand, he’s here. Him. Ant Decker. Infamous NHL bad boy. Right wing to my left. A man who’s made it his sole purpose in life to be better than me...Categorized as:
sports forced-proximity grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc humor athlete found-family -
Legend by Isla Olsen, Willow Thomas
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTomLegend of the Game. That’s me, apparently. I suppose it’s meant to be a compliment, but to me it just sounds like one of those labels people slap on you when you’re on your way out. Legend. Stalwart. Dinosaur. It all sounds the same to me.I’ve been in the Premier League for over twenty years and I’m not ready to leave...Categorized as:
sports grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc found-family forced-proximity friends-to-lovers humor -
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The Keeper by Raine Miller, Brit DeMille
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAn anti-social goalie unhappy about being traded to Vegas meets an outgoing drummer in a rock band and discovers that maybe fighting their attraction is the completely wrong approach in this enemies-to-lovers, opposites attract hockey romance. "Sometimes I feel like a square puck trying to roll down ice...Categorized as:
sports forced-proximity athlete grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc romance contemporary -
Needing the Next-Door Neighbor by Kristin Canary
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMy next-door neighbor, Ryan Rosche, is pretty much the perfect guy.He’s a freaking doctor, for one.Humble…Mature (Did I mention he’s eleven years older than me?) …And flat-out gorgeous.If only he wasn’t also … my boss.Look, if I wasn’t the nanny to his nieces, I’d be all. over. that...Categorized as:
found-family forced-proximity grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc humor romance contemporary -
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...Categorized as:
friends-to-lovers athlete grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc forced-proximity humor sports -
The Suit by Lulu Moore
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHave you ever met someone who makes your blood boil simply by existing? Or turn your notorious, ice-cool demeanor volcanic in a nanosecond? Perhaps smother your usual air of indifference with a lightning-charged thundercloud, threatening to strike at any moment?Because that’s what she does.It’s been seven peaceful years since I last saw Beulah Holmes...Categorized as:
cheerful-mc forced-proximity found-family grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor university adult -
Better With You by Brit Benson
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsRiggs Stanton is a thief.He’s also a liar, a jerk, and a playboy jock.Sure, he might have had me fooled for a moment.I might have thought we had a connection.I might have even considered breaking my “no dating” rule for him.But it was a farce.A trick.Another lie.And I don’t make mistakes twice.Now he says he needs me. One week of my help and I never have to deal with him again...Categorized as:
university sports forced-proximity grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc athlete found-family -
Fox by D.J. Krimmer
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsJanieWhen my father passed away, I assumed my grieving would be as simple as closing a book and starting another. Only, he had other plans.Leaving me his beloved tattoo shop, I’m stuck to figure out what exactly to do with it, all while being constantly reminded of him...Categorized as:
forced-proximity grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc dark humor romance contemporary -
Ice Cold Heart by Nikki Hall
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsGood boys don’t date the coach’s daughter, but a date isn't what she wants...ColeHockey is my life. I play hard, and I don’t lose. The Frozen Four is at my fingertips, but my eligibility is at risk thanks to one frustrating class. Enter Avery Dalton—beautiful, independent, and utterly off limits. She’s my coach’s daughter and his choice for a tutor...Categorized as:
sports university friends-to-lovers found-family forced-proximity stalking humor dark -
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:
forced-proximity grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc friends-to-lovers humor romance contemporary -
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... -
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 sports -
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Frozen Flames by V.H. Nicolson
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsI’ve been in love with Ash Johansson for as long as I can remember.Former hockey player for the NHL, he now has his dream job coaching the team he loves.Except, while he’s off living his best life, I’m left here.Not in a loveless marriage, but in something much worse; a lonely one.Our forever has fizzled out.So I do the only thing that makes sense... -
The Beekeeper by S.M. Shade
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAfter two years of hiding, I'm finally free and all I want is some peace and maybe a little garden to tend. The adorable cabin in the forest is just what I'm looking for, private and secluded. Other than the long dead inhabitants of the old graveyard nearby, I only have one neighbor. Arlow Shaw is antisocial if not outright reclusive, quiet, and guarded when it comes to discussing himself...Categorized as:
dark stalking found-family friends-to-lovers humor grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc -
Forced Proximity by Lani Lynn Vale
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThis is book seven in the Content Advisory Series! Summary coming...Categorized as:
found-family forced-proximity grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc friends-to-lovers stalking dark -
Kissing the Quarterback by Jacob Chance
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAs the quarterback for the Charleston Pirates, the current Super Bowl champs, I lead a blessed life. Between my salary and endorsements, I have more money than I could ever spend.But when the sale of my old home doesn’t line up with the closing on my new one, I’m forced to take up residency in a friend’s empty house.Except, it’s not empty... -
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... -
Stealing Home by Grace Reilly
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsI should be focusing on my game–not on falling for my gorgeous, grumpy roommate… especially since she’s already left me once.SebastianIt’s my final season to prove myself before the MLB Draft. The last thing I need is a distraction–and especially not one as tantalizing as Mia di Angelo...Categorized as:
sports university forced-proximity friends-to-lovers grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc romance
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