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The best ice hockey romances to read right now
Melt the ice with steamy scenes, forbidden love, and secret relationships. Here are the swoon worthy hockey romances we can’t get enough of.
Published on January 10, 2024
Icebreaker: A Novel
Hannah GraceGrace’s BookTok favorite may be set on the ice, but the chemistry between her protagonists is fire. A scheduling error at U.C. Maple Hills thrusts Anastasia, a figure skater and Olympic hopeful, and Nate, the captain of the hockey team, into the same rink. “Icebreaker” is funny and steamy with well-developed, ambitious characters and a cute cover that’s taking over everyone’s reading list.
Mile High
Liz TomfordeStevie, assigned to work as a flight attendant on NHL flights for the season, can’t stop clashing with Chicago’s top player, Zanders. There’s a no-fraternization policy, which is fine, because Stevie can’t stand Zanders’ attitude. But because this is a hockey romance, you already know that rules are meant to be broken and beneath Zanders’ bad-boy image beats a heart of gold. Spicy hookups up in the air combined with plus-size representation and BIPOC main characters equal a high-flying love story.
A Favor for a Favor
Helena HuntingA sports rehab therapist in need of more experience moves in next door to an NHL player who just so happens to be recovering from a groin injury. As you can imagine, things are about to get up close and personal. Hunting takes sexy banter to the next level in the second stand-alone novel of the “All In” series, after “A Lie for a Lie.”
The Graham Effect
Elle KennedyLongtime fans of the beloved “Off-Campus” series get an inside look at the second generation of Briar U’s hockey stars. Gigi Graham (yes, daughter of THE Garret Graham) needs to level up her skills. Ryder, the grumpy yet undeniably hot men’s hockey co-captain, wants to land a summer coaching position with Gigi’s dad. What starts as quid pro quo on the ice quickly turns into something more heated. Packed with sizzling chemistry and nostalgia, Kennedy delivers yet another flawless college sports romance that will have you sweating one minute (don’t get us started on the shower scene, 12/10) and crying the next.
Heated Rivalry
Rachel ReidInsane tension! Frantic hate sex! Snappy banter loaded with innuendo! Reid’s “Game Changers” series novel is a deliciously edgy M/M romance that pits the NHL’s two best players against each other. To the world, Shane and Ilya have been locked in a fierce competition ever since they joined rival teams. Little does everyone know that their passion extends well beyond the rink.
Puck Me Secretly
Odette StoneIf you like your hockey romances with a heavy dose of over-the-top drama, “Puck Me Secretly” (this subgenre is rife with top-tier puns) is a can’t-miss. It’s chaotic in the best way possible (there’s a plane crash, plenty of fights on the ice, and a SWAT team makes an appearance). Get ready to suspend disbelief and dive into the forbidden love between an NHL general manager’s daughter and a womanizing bad-boy star player.
Icebreaker
A. L. GraziadeiGraziadei’s YA debut follows Mickey, an elite hockey player destined for the NHL, and his competitive roommate, Jaysen. The two clash as they fight for recognition as their college team’s top player, and sparks fly in more than one way. A slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance, LGBTQ+ representation, and a focus on the importance of mental health make for a sweet and satisfying novel.
Egotistical Puckboy
Eden FinleyFinley and James’ “Puckboys” series gets off to a sizzling start with Ezra and Anton. Although the pair have never seen eye to eye, they’re ordered to play nice for the cameras when they end up on the same team. Forced politeness quickly transforms into a juicy friend with benefits situation in a scorching love story overflowing with heart and humor.
Always Only You
Chloe LieseIt’s not often we get an autistic heroine (written realistically at that) at the heart of a love story. Which is why Liese’s #OwnVoices story is a game changer in the sports romance genre. Lovably grumpy Frankie suffers from arthritis, but she’s not going to let that stop her from living life. As much as she tries to ignore it, her chemistry with cinnamon roll sunshine Ren (a hockey-playing, Shakespeare-reading hunk) is off the charts. Prepare to fall hard and fast for a disgustingly adorable couple that will leave you wishing there were more Frankies and Rens in the world.
Pucking Around: A Why Choose Hockey Romance
Emily RathLike “A Favor for a Favor,” “Pucking Around'' follows a physical therapist, Rachel, working for an NHL team. However, there’s not one, not two, but three (!) love interests vying for Rachel’s attention. The bond between the four main characters turns out to be stronger — and spicier — than any of them could have imagined. A unique “why choose?” romance with fantastic polyamorous representation.
Good Guy (A Rookie Rebels Novel): Rookie Rebels, #1
Kate MeaderAt its heart, Meader’s spin-off of her “Chicago Rebels” series is a passionate enemies-to-lovers romance between a sports journalist, Jordan, and her dead husband’s best friend/war hero-turned-NHL player, Levi. However, beyond the steamy sex scenes, there’s an important plot line focused on gender equality in male-dominated sports.
Cold Day in the Sun: Life Is Short, Take the Shot
Sara BirenGirl power is in full force in Biren’s short and sweet coming-of-age novel centered around a badass heroine. All Holland wants to do is play hockey. However, as the only girl on her school’s team, she’ll have to contend with gender bias and immense pressure. Not to mention her growing attraction to the team’s captain, Wes. With characters you can root for, a soft romance, and an empowering storyline at its heart, “Cold Day in the Sun” is a fabulous read.
Reed
Sawyer BennettFrom neighbors to enemies to friends to lovers, Reed, a two-time Stanley Cup-winning champion, and Josie, an ER doctor, have had their ups and downs. Fortunately, there are definitely more ups, as the two share an intense attraction to one another. A standalone novel in the “Cold Fury Hockey” series, “Reed” is a sweet girl-next-door romance that’s low on drama.
Kiss and Cry
Mina V. EsguerraFormer ice skater Calinda rekindles a 10-year old flame with Ram, a forward for the Philippine national hockey team. As the former lovers navigate a new relationship, the electricity between the two will leave you blushing. If you’re in the market for a low drama romance with a mature couple at the center, you’ll love Esguerra's diverse and steamy #OwnVoices story.
Breakaway: A Hockey Romance
Kelly JamiesonJamieson kicks off her “Heller Brothers” contemporary hockey romance series with “Breakaway,” which is an opposites attract/one-night stand romance. Jase is a hockey player who plays in life, too; Remi is a schoolteacher who shies away from the spotlight. Jamieson’s sharp writing abilities make the steamy scenes and the personality conflict between the two characters come alive.
Hard Knocks: An enemies-to-lovers romance to make you smile
Ruby LangSurprisingly emotional and smartly written, “Hard Knocks” explores the effects of high-impact sports via the story of Helen, a neurologist, and Adam, a pro hockey player who’s taken many big hits. Their slow-build romance is punctuated by the fact that the two stand on opposite sides of the debate on whether or not sports like hockey should be banned (or at least, the full-contact version of them). This one’s unique on many fronts in the hockey romance genre (e.g. Adam isn’t a star player, female anger is front and center throughout the novel), making it a standout on the list.