Why Hockey Romance is the Most Addictive Read of the Season

How could you say no to a hero with the name Randy Ballistic? He's the hockey player who, fittingly, lives up to his moniker on the ice and in the bedroom. But his penchant for casual flings may come to an end now that he's met Lily LeBlanc. She's gorgeous, feisty, and on the rebound. Randy’s more than happy to help her find herself after a messy on-again, off-again relationship, but it's just temporary, of course...

Carter Beckett is the NHL's resident bad boy, where his arrogance and attitude help him to win games but make him very unpopular in his downtime. His notorious playboy ways have left a string of broken hearts in his wake, but there's one woman who won't fall for his charm and that's Olivia Parker. Of course, any good hockey player will tell you what happens when you let your guard down, and soon, Olivia and Carter are letting one another see new sides of themselves. Is love worth the risk?

Of course, we have to include the hockey romance that’s ignited the internet’s passions this Winter! The Crave/HBO Max series has driven a whole new audience to the genre and we don’t blame them. The source material is just as juicy, as two pro hockey players fall for one another but struggle to keep their relationship out of the public lest in ruin their careers. Expect lots of steamy liaisons, tension on the ice, and oh so much longing.

Emily Rath’s why-choose poly romance is often cited as one of the books that helped to kickstart the hockey romance trend on BookTok, and it’s not hard to see what drew readers to this wonderfully spicy title!

Rachel Price landed her dream job as a physical therapist for the Jacksonville Rays, and she refuses to let anything get in the way of it, like the scorching one-night stand she had with one of the players. But he's determined to win her over, and there are so many other men on the team who would love to share Rachel. Why not indulge them all?

If you want real-life relationship drama in hockey, the women's league will never fail you! Kelly Farmer's Out on the Ice series offers a welcome F/F take on the subgenre, and Calling the Shots is especially fiery.

A retired superstar takes over coaching Boston's women's team, which puts her in the firing line of the head coach of the rival New York players. They're determined to win no matter what, but things are heating up between them off the ice! The championship is on the line but so are their hearts. 

Here's an enemies-to-lovers tale with an alter-ego twist! By day, Jane Alcott is a sports reporter covering the Seattle Chinooks and their escapades on and off the ice. By night, she's "Honey Pie", the pseudonymous saucepot of the dating scene documenting her scandalous adventures for readers across the city. To Luc Martineau, the Chinooks' infamous goalie, she's a nuisance. But after seeing another side of Jane, he's wondering if he should give in to his wildest fantasies with the reporter.