If you’ve ever dismissed sports romance as nothing more than books about attractive athletes, you’re missing one of the fastest-growing subgenres in contemporary romance.
As an author currently writing a sapphic hockey romance, I’ve spent countless hours researching the genre. I’ve learned the nuances of professional hockey and studied what readers love most about sports romance. The more I’ve researched, the more I’ve realized that the sport itself isn’t what makes these books unforgettable. It’s everything that comes with it.
Sports romance combines high-stakes competition, built-in found family, emotional vulnerability, and some of the hottest chemistry you’ll find in contemporary romance. It’s no surprise that readers continue to gravitate toward it.
If you’re wondering which sports romances are dominating the genre right now, here’s what I’m seeing.
Hockey Romance Continues to Lead the Pack
Without question, hockey romance remains the hottest sports romance trend. Part of that momentum comes from the romance community itself, but I also think we’re seeing something bigger happen. Hockey romance has expanded beyond books and into streaming television, introducing even more people to the genre. Once readers finish watching those shows, many go searching for books that capture the same chemistry, tension, and team dynamics.
That creates a cycle where new readers continually discover hockey romance, fueling its popularity even further.
As someone currently writing a hockey romance, I completely understand why readers keep coming back.
Hockey naturally creates opportunities for:
- Forced proximity
- Team bonding
- Road trips
- Protective teammates
- Competitive tension
- Emotional vulnerability beneath a tough exterior
- Plenty of opportunities for humor
It’s an environment where romance develops organically.
Why Sports Romance Feels Different
People often ask why sports romance has exploded in popularity when there are already so many contemporary romances available. I think the answer has very little to do with sports. It has everything to do with belonging. Traditional contemporary romances usually focus on the couple.
Sports romances give readers an entire community to fall in love with. The locker room jokes. The veteran teammate acting like everyone’s older brother. The rookie trying to find their place. The celebrations after a win. The heartbreak after a loss. The team becomes another character in the story.
When it’s written well, readers aren’t just invested in the romance—they’re invested in the entire team. That’s something sports romance offers that very few other contemporary romance subgenres can.
High Spice Works Because the Emotional Stakes Are High
Let’s be honest. Sports romance is known for being spicy and readers absolutely enjoy that. But I don’t think spice alone explains why these books continue to dominate bestseller lists. The best sports romances earn every romantic moment.
The emotional tension builds through practices, games, injuries, victories, losses, locker room banter, and shared experiences. By the time the couple finally gives in to their attraction, readers have spent hundreds of pages watching that relationship grow.
That’s what creates the payoff. High spice without emotional connection is forgettable. High spice backed by genuine emotional intimacy is what keeps readers recommending a book to everyone they know.
What Makes a Great Sports Romance?
After researching the genre extensively for my own novel, I’ve realized I look for a few specific things every time I pick up a sports romance.
The Team Should Matter
The team shouldn’t simply exist in the background. The teammates should influence the relationship, challenge the characters, create conflict, provide comic relief, and celebrate the couple’s victories.
If you could remove the sport entirely without changing the story, something is missing. The best sports romances couldn’t exist outside of that team environment.
The Romance Should Feel Earned
I love books with plenty of spice. But what makes those scenes memorable is the emotional journey leading up to them. When the relationship develops naturally through trust, vulnerability, and shared experiences, every romantic moment carries more weight.
The Sport Should Feel Authentic
One of the things I’ve appreciated most while researching hockey is discovering how much detail goes into making the world believable. Readers don’t necessarily need every rule explained. They do notice when an author understands the culture of the sport.
Authenticity helps immerse readers, whether they’re lifelong fans or have never watched a game before.
One Area I’d Love to See Grow
As excited as I am about the popularity of hockey romance, I’ve also noticed a gap in the market. There simply aren’t enough sapphic hockey romances. As someone writing one myself, that’s become even more apparent during my research.
Readers clearly love hockey. Readers also want more diverse love stories. Bringing those two together feels like an exciting opportunity, and I hope we continue seeing more authors explore women’s hockey, LGBTQ+ relationships, and fresh perspectives within sports romance.
The audience is ready.
Should You Try Sports Romance?
Absolutely. Even if you’ve never watched a hockey game. Even if you couldn’t explain the rules. Even if you’ve always assumed sports romances weren’t for you. The best sports romances aren’t really about sports.
They’re about finding your people. They’re about chasing impossible dreams. They’re about learning to trust someone enough to let them into your heart. And yes, they’re usually pretty spicy, too.
If you’ve never picked up a sports romance before, there’s never been a better time to start. You might discover your next favorite contemporary romance—and a whole team of characters you’ll never want to leave behind.
