Books like 'Playing to Win'

Readers who enjoyed Playing to Win by Avery Cockburn also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.

contemporary  gay romance  athletes  sports  royalty  from hate to love  new adult  class difference  queer  soccer

  • Semantic Error, Vol.2 by Soori Jeo

    Semantic Error, Vol.2 by Soori Jeo

    Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars
    · Steam rating: 2 of 5
    Behind closed doors [?] · 23 ratings
    Computer science major Chu Sangwoo is the epitome of an inflexible and strict rule-abiding person. While working on a liberal arts group project with freeloaders who don’t put in any effort, Sangwoo reasonably decides to remove their names from the final presentation. But he didn’t imagine how involved he would become with the person whose study-abroad plans were messed up because of that project...
  • #Fate by Cambria Hebert

    #Fate by Cambria Hebert

    Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars
    · 15 ratings
    What’s meant to be will always find a way. Perfection isn’t an illusion. I met it, held it in my hands. But then it slipped right through. Perfection isn’t an illusion. It’s elusive, cleverly evasive, and, in many ways, a horrible tease. I’m not a man to be toyed with. Quiet, thoughtful, and even sometimes careful,. but never someone to taunt...
  • Sponsored links / Remove ads
  • #FinishLine by Cambria Hebert

    #FinishLine by Cambria Hebert

    Rated: 4.47 of 5 stars
    · 17 ratings
    Every race has a finish line. Where you go after you cross it is what matters most. And sometimes, that's the most intriguing. Here at GearShark, we've featured lots of drivers. All of them are well acquainted with the finish line. And as race fans, we're well acquainted with cheering as they cross it. What we aren't privy to is riding shotgun, seeing where they drive once the race is over...
  • Secret XXX by Meguru Hinohara, 日ノ原 巡

    Secret XXX by Meguru Hinohara, 日ノ原 巡

    Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars
    · Steam rating: 4 of 5
    Explicit open door [?] · 32 ratings
    Shohei’s just trying to find love in a pet shop, so why are all these bunnies making it so difficult? Shohei loves bunnies! He loves them so much he’s even taken to volunteering at a local pet shop...
  • Nice Guys Collection With Added Bonus Material by Kindle Alexander, Reese Dante

    Nice Guys Collection With Added Bonus Material by Kindle Alexander, Reese Dante

    Rated: 4.78 of 5 stars
    · 9 ratings
    Have you met the Nice Guys? Available for a limited time! Here's your chance to get the complete Nice Guys collection with an additional 30,000 words of bonus material for the low price of $2. 99 for fourteen days only. Don't miss out on this special pricing! Double Full:...
    Categorized as:
    sports  queer  m-m  contemporary  length-epic
  • BJ Alex 7 by Mingwa

    BJ Alex 7 by Mingwa

    Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars
    · Steam rating: 4 of 5
    Explicit open door [?] · 33 ratings
    Every night at 10, Dong-gyun locks himself up in his room, grabs a box of tissues, and watches a live cam boy show hosted by Alex, a BJ (broadcast jockey). Timid Dong-gyun admires not only Alex’s ripped body, but his candor in sharing his sexual experiences with viewers. One night, Dong-gyun downs too many drinks at a school networking event and passes out...
  • BJ Alex 6 by Mingwa

    BJ Alex 6 by Mingwa

    Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars
    · Steam rating: 4 of 5
    Explicit open door [?] · 33 ratings
    Every night at 10, Dong-gyun locks himself up in his room, grabs a box of tissues, and watches a live cam boy show hosted by Alex, a BJ (broadcast jockey). Timid Dong-gyun admires not only Alex’s ripped body, but his candor in sharing his sexual experiences with viewers. One night, Dong-gyun downs too many drinks at a school networking event and passes out...
  • A Merry Brutal Christmas by E.V. Olsen

    A Merry Brutal Christmas by E.V. Olsen

    Rated: 4.49 of 5 stars
    · Steam rating: 5 of 5
    Explicit and plentiful [?] · 14 ratings
    Tis the season to be naughty. .. College hockey rivals turned lovers Jackson Reed and Killian Blackwell are about to face their toughest match Christmas with both their families at the Reed mansion. Between sexual tension to melt the estate's ice sculptures, and a shared future that's anything but certain, this holiday season is bound to be unforgettable...
  • BJ Alex 5 by Mingwa

    BJ Alex 5 by Mingwa

    Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars
    · Steam rating: 4 of 5
    Explicit open door [?] · 33 ratings
    Every night at 10, Dong-gyun locks himself up in his room, grabs a box of tissues, and watches a live cam boy show hosted by Alex, a BJ (broadcast jockey). Timid Dong-gyun admires not only Alex’s ripped body, but his candor in sharing his sexual experiences with viewers. One night, Dong-gyun downs too many drinks at a school networking event and passes out...
  • Semantic Error, Vol. 3 by Angy, J. Soori

    Semantic Error, Vol. 3 by Angy, J. Soori

    Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars
    · Steam rating: 3 of 5
    Open door [?] · 13 ratings
    Sangwoo and Jaeyoung’s feelings come to a head as the two clash over their views on what it means to be in a homosexual relationship! And while the two finally settle on having a purely physical affair to satisfy their needs and curiosity, Sangwoo’s inexperience with romance leads to a rocky start...
  • Brace and Chase by Hinsel Meyer

    Brace and Chase by Hinsel Meyer

    Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    What happens when rivals have to work together to earn their spot on the team back? SANTA. Charlie Heart is many things:. An annoyingly good hockey player. The man who the media has pitted me against our whole careers. My rival. The only person I truly hate in the world. And now apparently, my newest teammate...
  • Hold 'Em Tight by Alisha Williams, Amber Nicole

    Hold 'Em Tight by Alisha Williams, Amber Nicole

    Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    They weren't kidding when they say life can change in the blink of an eye. One moment, I think I have it all. My men. Happiness. Friends. Family. And the next, my whole life comes crashing down around me. Betrayal like I’ve never felt before consumes me. A heartbreak so gut-wrenching it hurts to breathe...
  • BJ Alex 3 by Mingwa

    BJ Alex 3 by Mingwa

    Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars
    · Steam rating: 4 of 5
    Explicit open door [?] · 35 ratings
    Every night at 10, Dong-gyun locks himself up in his room, grabs a box of tissues, and watches a live cam boy show hosted by Alex, a BJ (broadcast jockey). Timid Dong-gyun admires not only Alex’s ripped body, but his candor in sharing his sexual experiences with viewers. One night, Dong-gyun downs too many drinks at a school networking event and passes out...
  • Rivals by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey

    Rivals by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey

    Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars
    · 9 ratings
    Playing for their country in the Winter Olympics is the highest of all honors, but when family members are pitted as rivals and a dark specter from the past turns up in Beijing, tensions run high, and abruptly, it’s not all about the hockey. Jared is torn—assistant coach for Team Canada, with Ryker on the team; he bleeds red and white and wears the maple leaf with pride...
    Categorized as:
    sports  queer  contemporary  m-m  length-novella
  • Golden Boy and the Two Bears by Nash Summers

    Golden Boy and the Two Bears by Nash Summers

    Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    Asher Williams is obsessed with love. His column is thriving, fellow students trust him with their relationship woes, and he’s on his A-game when it comes to matchmaking. At least, matchmaking other than his own. After a heartfelt letter written to his column, Asher is set on aiding the two love-struck heroes who desperately need his help...
  • Play Dead by Avery Cockburn

    Play Dead by Avery Cockburn

    Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars
    · 11 ratings
    The popular Scottish gay-romance series returns with this must-read novella! Colin’s wounds have finally healed. He’s ready for his big comeback on the football pitch and can’t wait to return to a normal life—especially the rampaging sex he and his boyfriend, Lord Andrew, once indulged in. But Andrew has his own invisible wounds...
  • Be My Endgame by Zarah Detand

    Be My Endgame by Zarah Detand

    Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars
    · 18 ratings
    Sometimes the endgame is only the beginning. In the heated world of the Premier League, Earl Alex Beaufort, a charming Liverpool midfielder, collides on-pitch with Lee Taylor, Manchester United’s top striker. But when England’s World Cup dream brings them to sunny Spain, the real game sharing a room...
  • Christmas Beau by Amy Aislin

    Christmas Beau by Amy Aislin

    Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars
    · 15 ratings
    Hank Beaufort's life is a mess. Oh, he looks like he has it all together, but the reality is that he's freshly retired from an unimpressive minor hockey career, and the ink is barely dry on his equally unimpressive second divorce...
    Categorized as:
    sports  queer  m-m  christmas  contemporary
  • There Is A Light by Ban Gilmartin

    There Is A Light by Ban Gilmartin

    Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    Jamie Gilmour is starting over. A new school, a new city, a tenth attempt at a second start. All he has to do is stop making bad decisions and stick to something for once in his life. All he has to do is stop being himself. Jude Pujari is thinking of calling it all off. He’s overstressed, depressed and frozen in place, trapped by grief and fear of change...
    Categorized as:
    new adult  queer  m-m  contemporary  found-family
  • Family First by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey

    Family First by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey

    Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    An injury threatens to end Stan’s career. Will he choose to fight for his beloved hockey, or put his family first? Few goalies are as dedicated as Stan Lyamin, known for his resilience on the ice, talking to his pipes, and his love of Elvis. Add in his adoration of his family and his life has been filled with all the things that bring him joy...
    Categorized as:
    sports  queer  m-m  contemporary
  • Perfect Gifts by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey

    Perfect Gifts by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey

    Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    Family comes first in all things. Whatever the cost. Ten had always heard the saying ‘Out of the mouth of babes,’ but he’d not expected it to hit home as it had. After a comment from their daughter, Ten and Jared find themselves pondering an addition to the family. Moving into the adoption process is nerve-wracking and riddled with anxiety—kind of like how the Railers have been playing of late...
  • Family First by RJ Scott, VL Locey

    Family First by RJ Scott, VL Locey

    Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    An injury threatens to end Stan's career. Will he choose to fight for his beloved hockey, or put his family first? Few goalies are as dedicated as Stan Lyamin, known for his resilience on the ice, talking to his pipes, and his love of Elvis. Add in his adoration of his family and his life has been filled with all the things that bring him joy...
  • Rookie by Eddie Cleveland

    Rookie by Eddie Cleveland

    Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars
    · 9 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. You can't miss out on this tender, loving, and hot-as-sin m/m college hockey romance! Rookie:...
  • Tigers on the Way by Sean Kennedy

    Tigers on the Way by Sean Kennedy

    Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    Documentary producer Simon and ex-footballer Declan are taking some big steps toward a lasting life together. They’ve bought a house, and they’ll need it for the family they plan to start. Their friend, Nyssa, has made the generous offer to be their surrogate, and Declan couldn’t be more excited about the idea of a baby...
    Categorized as:
    sports  queer  m-m  contemporary  length-short
  • Cost of Redemption by Hayden Hall

    Cost of Redemption by Hayden Hall

    Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    He was my forbidden craving. My biggest regret. And now, he’s my only weakness. Elio. Some mistakes you bury. Others crawl under your skin and never let go. Jaxon Mercer was supposed to be my past. The stolen kiss. The fist that followed. The silence after. But now? He’s here—cocky, dangerous, and looking at me like he already knows how this ends. I should shut him out...
  • Pride By the Book by Jeff Adams

    Pride By the Book by Jeff Adams

    Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    One small-town Pride festival. Two enemies forced to work together. An unexpected chance to find their happily ever after. NHL star Ethan Gallagher faces his worst fear when he's named grand marshal of Maplewood's Pride festival: public speaking. The only thing more daunting? Working with Andre Thompson—the passionate librarian who made his high school years miserable...
    Categorized as:
    queer  sports  m-m  contemporary
  • The Sexy Suit by Lauren Blakely

    The Sexy Suit by Lauren Blakely

    Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars
    · Steam rating: 4 of 5
    Explicit open door [?] · 12 ratings
    Technically, he wasn’t my client the night I met him. But that’s hardly an excuse for flirting with the charming athlete at a hotel bar. Buying him a drink. Leading him on that I’d say yes if he asked me to spend the night. My only excuse? Some men are just irresistible. Now I might lose him as a client, and I can’t afford the hit to my reputation...
  • Breakout Year by K.D. Casey

    Breakout Year by K.D. Casey

    Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars
    · Steam rating: 4 of 5
    Explicit open door [?] · 13 ratings
    A newly traded, newly out third baseman on the cusp of his first major contract hires a fake boyfriend—not expecting him to be the former player who ghosted him years before. But as their star ascends in public, their feelings burn hot in private. .. threatening to expose what’s for the cameras—and what’s for real. Eitan Rivkin is used to being first...
  • Final Score by Charlie Novak

    Final Score by Charlie Novak

    Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars
    · 9 ratings
    Can one perfect night lead to more? Jordan Green is too busy for a relationship. With the World Cup looming, his focus is on making the England team, not finding someone to spend his life with. His friends may be settling down, but Jordan’s had enough of planning weddings. All he wants is some fun, and Félix is the perfect person for that… even if he is his boss’s brother...
  • Playing With Fire by Avery Cockburn

    Playing With Fire by Avery Cockburn

    Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars
    · 16 ratings
    “I don’t want options. I just want you. ”. Robert McKenzie has a secret. As the only straight player on an all-LGBT soccer team, he’s known to fans as “McWhatAWaste. ” No one would guess Robert’s actually bisexual. At twenty-one, on the verge of a brilliant career in video game design, he’s finally ready to be his true self...
  • All Bats are Off by Kelly Reynolds

    All Bats are Off by Kelly Reynolds

    Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars
    · Steam rating: 4 of 5
    Explicit open door [?] · 6 ratings
    Friends with Benefits meets Ted Lasso in this one-night-stand to lovers, gay baseball romcom set in the Pacific Northwest. If there's one rule every pro-baller knows, it's to avoid the press like the plague...
  • School and Rock by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey

    School and Rock by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey

    Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars
    · 13 ratings
    When Colorado Penn finds an unexpected package on his front step, his life will be changed forever. Colorado Penn is living the dream. Starting goalie for the Arizona Raptors when in season, lead singer for a hard rock band when summer rolls around. He’s the quintessential free spirit who’s making sure he enjoys all the carnal blessings of his athleticism, and gritty singing voice...
  • Love Sky by Mame

    Love Sky by Mame

    Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars
    · 16 ratings
    Love Sky. The intensified situation got ‘Sky’ cornered and forced him to get laid in order to get out. Sky tries to make up his mind, thinking of it as just a one night stand and no string attached. However, what he doesn’t know is that ‘Phraphai’ won’t give up so easily...
  • Yesterday by Sarina Bowen

    Yesterday by Sarina Bowen

    Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars
    · 12 ratings
    It’s been seven years since John Rikker left his childhood home in Michigan. Surely that’s long enough to scar over the wounds he received there. Or is it? Can Rikker survive a visit with his parents? And can Graham let him do it alone? (Only published in the Novella Collection "Extra Credit" - The Ivy Years 6 which contains all three novellas.
  • Enforce by Charity Parkerson

    Enforce by Charity Parkerson

    Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars
    · 9 ratings
    They were supposed to be a one-night stand, and then a weekend fling… a just-for-this-season affair… soulmates. When Chip met Jai during All-Stars weekend, their hookup should’ve ended there. At the time, it was no big deal. As the assistant coach for the Phoenix Ice Rays, Chip can’t be in a relationship with a player from his team. Lucky for him, Jai plays for the Red Zones...
  • Sweet Spot by Sloan Johnson, Quinn Ward

    Sweet Spot by Sloan Johnson, Quinn Ward

    Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars
    · 13 ratings
    Four years ago, he gave his heart to a rookie pitcher and struck out. Now, they have a second chance to get things right. No longer living on the streets and surrounded by men who supported him, Cody Marshall’s life was finally looking up. He hadn’t expected to hook up with anyone on his first spring training trip, but there was something about Nick Stone that called to him...
  • Benched Volumes 1-3 Boxed Set by Misha Horne

    Benched Volumes 1-3 Boxed Set by Misha Horne

    Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    This Three Volume Bundle includes Parts 1-3 of the Benched series:. Benched #1: Rookie Mistake. Benched #2: Double Play. Benched #3: Out By A Mile. Approximately 40,000 words. ----------------------------...
  • Night Shift: Dirty Things Happen in the Dark by Kindle Alexander, Toni Aleo

    Night Shift: Dirty Things Happen in the Dark by Kindle Alexander, Toni Aleo

    Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars
    · 14 ratings
    Summer in the Big Easy is hot. Inside Tulane Medical Center the temperature is on the rise. Six never before released stories that will leave you breathless. Dirty things happen in the dark. Off Duty. Sawyer Bennett. A member of the New York Fire Department, single father Tim Davis is about as tough as they come...
  • Caught off Guard by Catherine Cloud

    Caught off Guard by Catherine Cloud

    Rated: 4.04 of 5 stars
    · 14 ratings
    Matthias Brandl always knew he wouldn’t spend his entire career with the same team. He does have two tiny problems with getting traded to Las Vegas, though. Number one: Matthias hooked up with their starting goalie Casey Wallace last summer. Number two: Casey totally hates his guts. Now that Matthias has to be Casey’s backup whether he likes it or not, they have to find a way to work together...
  • Change Up: An Out For You Gay Sports Romance by Quinn Ward

    Change Up: An Out For You Gay Sports Romance by Quinn Ward

    Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars
    · 11 ratings
    No one expected the loudmouth of the team to be hiding in the biggest closet of them all. When he’s paired with someone who just wants to keep his head down and play the game, sparks are going to fly. Kevin Green has always been the life of the party. He’s the one everyone turns to for a bit of comic relief...
  • Change Up by Sloan Johnson

    Change Up by Sloan Johnson

    Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    Kevin Green has always been the life of the party. He’s the one everyone turns to for a bit of comic relief. With so many of his teammates coming out of the closet and living healthy lives, it’s getting harder for him to keep the secret only one other person knows: that he’s not as straight as everyone assumes when they see him out with his hot girlfriend...
  • Retaking the Shot by Kimberly Knight, Rachel Lyn Adams

    Retaking the Shot by Kimberly Knight, Rachel Lyn Adams

    Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    “Ford, stay with me. ”. Those were the last four words Ford Mahoney heard Emmett Cooper utter before everything went dark. When Ford wakes up in the hospital, it doesn’t take long for him to realize he needs to confront the demons of his past. Meanwhile, the event of that night leaves Coop envisioning a better future for himself...
  • Clip by Charity Parkerson

    Clip by Charity Parkerson

    Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars
    · 9 ratings
    Luka was nothing more than a job to Brady… until he wasn’t. When the owner of the Phoenix Ice Rays starts receiving death threats, the first thing he does is hire Brady to protect his son, Luka. It’s a move that leaves Luka less than thrilled. Ever since moving out on his own six years earlier, he’s come to embrace the silence of his workaholic ways...
  • In His Court by Max Rowan

    In His Court by Max Rowan

    Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars
    · 9 ratings
    A spy prince needs: a man who sees through his disguise. Prince Benedict is not what he seems. His image as a lazy playboy is carefully constructed to hide the truth. Trained since childhood to become Rosavia's top spy, he spends his life in disguise—and danger—to protect his country. Nobody sees the loneliness in his heart...
  • Teasing the Winger by Laura John

    Teasing the Winger by Laura John

    Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars
    · 9 ratings
    Falling for a tease is a bad idea, right? Growing up, all I ever wanted was to play soccer. I know it isn't going to be forever, but while I'm still in college, I am going to give it my all. Just like I’ve always done. Everything was going according to plan. .. until the universe decided it would be fun for me to develop feelings for the man I saw as nothing more than an annoyance...
  • Sweet Spot by Sloan Johnson

    Sweet Spot by Sloan Johnson

    Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    Four years ago, it took no time at all for Cody Marshall to fall for the rookie pitcher at spring training. While their lives were nothing alike, Cody understood Nick Stone’s insecurities and pain. And then… Nick left. Eventually, Cody found his own passion and landed a dream internship with the Mavericks. His life was finally turning around. And then… Nick came back...
    Categorized as:
    athletes  sports  queer  m-m  contemporary
  • Knowing Me, Knowing You by Renae Kaye

    Knowing Me, Knowing You by Renae Kaye

    Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    Loving You: Book Four. Can friends turned occasional lovers move beyond past mistakes and wrong assumptions to build something that can last? Quiet bookworm Shane has a big secret—one he’s kept for fifteen years. AFL superstar Ambrose Jakoby grew up next door to Shane. They were close friends, and Shane supported Ambrose through school. One night, everything changed...
  • Six Years by Joelina Falk

    Six Years by Joelina Falk

    Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    Luan Hayes is charming, caring, determined, and talks a lot. He knows how to never leave space for awkward silence. Looking at him, he almost seems like a perfect human, but everyone has their demons in some ways, even those who shine as bright as the sun with their positivity. Grey Davis keeps to himself...
    Categorized as:
    sports  new adult  queer  soccer  m-m  contemporary  abuse  hockey
  • Later, He Became a Royal Healer 后来,他成了御用奶妈 by 艳归康

    Later, He Became a Royal Healer 后来,他成了御用奶妈 by 艳归康

    Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    You Liangxing would never open the speech function in game. That was because his voice was…. Particularly! Kittenish! But there was one day, he queued up with a teammate who had so much to say that they may as well explode. Vexed to the point of no return, he contributed a voice that was capable of splitting heaven and earth, “Don’t BB. ”. The other party who was being scolded stilled...
Fantastic book recommendations by romance book lovers for romance book lovers.
Find out more about romance.io.


Get recommendations by genres & tropes

Use the romance book finder to mix and match over 100 content keywords to find the books that match your preferences

romance book finder

Looking for more inspiration? Enter another book title to get more suggestions on what to read next.


Or - use our amazing romance book finder to get recommendations based on your favorite content tropes and themes. Mix and match at will.