Books like 'The Rivalry'
Readers who enjoyed The Rivalry by Beth Bolden also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary gay romance sports from hate to love queer queer-awakening office athletes football anal sex
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![The Contractor by Raleigh Ruebins]()
The Contractor by Raleigh Ruebins
He’s my best friend, my best worker, and it was just a silly crush. Then he kissed me. Now it feels like he's mine…. I’ve shown my best friend Tristan everything: how to use a circular saw, how to lay grout, and how to do a kitchen renovation right. On the job, we became close friends—then even closer as we learned to share a camping tent. It was all harmless. Just like my crush on him...Categorized as:
office queer found-family queer-awakening m-m contemporary friends to lovers length-short -
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![Heart2Heart: A Contemporary Charity Anthology (Collection), Volume 7 by Annabeth Albert, Avril Ashton]()
Heart2Heart: A Contemporary Charity Anthology (Collection), Volume 7 by Annabeth Albert, Avril Ashton
Once upon a time SIX YEARS AGO, the Heart2Heart app made its first batch of incredibly unlikely (but oh-so-perfect) love matches... -
![Pretend You're Mine by Sloane Kennedy]()
Pretend You're Mine by Sloane Kennedy
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsLandscape architect Devon Rhodes doesn’t know what to think when he overhears a heated conversation in his new next-door neighbor’s back yard, but when he decides to intervene, he definitely isn’t expecting the encounter to change his life forever...Categorized as:
queer queer-awakening insta-love angst forced proximity m-m contemporary hurt-comfort -
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![Brace and Chase by Hinsel Meyer]()
Brace and Chase by Hinsel Meyer
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhat 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... -
![MistleFoe by Cambria Hebert]()
MistleFoe by Cambria Hebert
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratings‘Tis the season for twinkling lights, cookies, joy, and a little sprinkle of mom guilt on the side. Did I say little? I mean an entire sleigh full. Which is exactly why I’m on my way home to Winterbury for the holidays, something my parents have been pleading for since I left the small-town life for a view of the city nearly ten years ago. It’s not that I don’t come home to visit. I do...Categorized as:
forced proximity from hate to love grumpy sunshine queer christmas m-m second chances contemporary -
![Second Shot by Con Riley]()
Second Shot by Con Riley
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsSecond Shot (Second Chance School #2). Welcome back to Glynn Harber School for another steamy, swoony romance between two bruised souls. Passion always leads to heartbreak for Hayden Novac. Nice guys always get picked last. That’s what my coach at a soccer academy once promised... -
![Manhandled by Lauren Blakely]()
Manhandled by Lauren Blakely
A spicy friends-to-lovers standalone sports romance from #1 New York Times Bestselling author Lauren Blakely writing MM romance as L. Blakely. .. My buddies made me do it. I swear. I didn’t plan to bid big on a date with my baseball player best friend at the auction. But he looked really good in that tailored suit, and I can't resist a dare... -
![To Mend a Broken Wing by Fearne Hill]()
To Mend a Broken Wing by Fearne Hill
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratings“I think,” Lucien began, “that we accept the love we believe we deserve. And unfortunately, Noah doesn’t believe he deserves any. ”. For twenty-two-year-old Noah, the revelation that his biological father is an ex-professional footballer is like tearing the wrapper from a cheap chocolate bar and discovering he’s won the elusive golden ticket. Every homeless young man’s dream, right? Wrong...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine sports angst queer found-family queer-awakening friends to lovers m-m -
![Family First by RJ Scott, VL Locey]()
Family First by RJ Scott, VL Locey
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAn 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:... -
![FOG[电竞] by Man Man He Qi Duo, 漫漫何其多]()
FOG[电竞] by Man Man He Qi Duo, 漫漫何其多
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratings现代电竞+男神VS男神. 医疗师攻X突击手受. 【主角配角均无原型，谢谢大家】. ---. Yu Sui and Shi Luo met each other when they were much younger. One was a pro-gamer, a widely-renowned, best of the best, in-game medic. The other was an e-sports newcomer who was just starting out. The two originally played for the same team, during which their relationship became increasingly deep. But things did not go as expected... -
![Love and History by Lane Hayes]()
Love and History by Lane Hayes
The sporty roommate, the professor, and a history lesson…. Holden-. Ezra might be the most annoying roommate ever. He’s loud, obnoxious, and full of himself. So what if he’s a tall, muscular, tattooed jock? His tendency to strip to his boxers in the kitchen while helping himself to my food isn’t endearing in the slightest. Nope. Ezra has to go...Categorized as:
sports forced proximity from hate to love athletes queer found-family queer-awakening m-m -
![Cost of Redemption by Hayden Hall]()
Cost of Redemption by Hayden Hall
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHe 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...Categorized as:
sports queer queer-awakening found-family from hate to love m-m friends to lovers contemporary -
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![Quarterback Drill by Christie Gordon]()
Quarterback Drill by Christie Gordon
Breaking down in front of a repair shop wasn’t what I needed. Neither was falling for the broody mechanic under the hood. Casey. Football is my future—my escape, my identity. But when my Beamer craps out in a sketchy part of town, I meet Ryker Hart, the grumpy mechanic who calls me a pretty boy and still makes my stomach flip... -
![A Healing Man by Sandrine Gasq-Dion]()
A Healing Man by Sandrine Gasq-Dion
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsDario Ramos thought he’d left the fighting behind in the war zone when a life-threatening injury sent him home. But a certain Irishman crossing his path everywhere he went convinced him that his biggest battle might be ahead. Tiernan Callahan is a bigoted jerk. Ramos finds himself constantly in the man’s orbit, even in a city as big as New York... -
![The Play by Beth Bolden]()
The Play by Beth Bolden
Last year, defensive end Deacon Harris witnessed the very worst of the Charleston Condors. After everything he and the team went through, he promised himself he’d walk away from football. But before he can retire, the team is sold to the last person he ever expected to see again. Deacon stays because the Condors are going into major rebuilding mode. New owner. New coach. New players. New rules... -
![The Sexy Suit by Lauren Blakely]()
The Sexy Suit by Lauren Blakely
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...Categorized as:
sports from hate to love athletes queer m-m contemporary boss & employee length-novella -
![Every Saturday Night by Alexa Land]()
Every Saturday Night by Alexa Land
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAs a young single dad, my life’s all about raising my sweet baby boy. But every Saturday night while my family babysits, I get to go out, cut loose, and act my age. Hey, we all need a break from time to time. And every Saturday night, I keep winding up in bed with a gorgeous, Cuban-American motorcycle mechanic named Lucky... -
![Game On by Amy Aislin]()
Game On by Amy Aislin
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen he broke off his engagement to his team captain's brother the day before their wedding, Jamie Jamieson swore he'd never get involved with anyone associated with a teammate again. Getting traded to the Orcas is a chance at a fresh start, but one glance at his new housemate, and Jamie knows he's in way over his head. Dorian is his new coach's cousin. And his team's social media coordinator...Categorized as:
sports forced proximity grumpy sunshine super rich hero angst queer m-m friends to lovers -
![After The Siren by Darcy Green]()
After The Siren by Darcy Green
Theo Bestavros wasn’t supposed to be a footballer. He worked hard, got his game-winning moment and—failed. He’s determined to make the most of a second chance at the Brunswick Falcons. Jake Cunningham couldn’t have had a better start to his career. He’s the Falcons’ star small forward, a fan-favourite, and a constant headline... -
![Thawed Out by Jodi Payne, BA Tortuga]()
Thawed Out by Jodi Payne, BA Tortuga
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThawed Out is an opposites attract, second chance romance featuring an established couple on the edge of divorce, a ferocious snow storm, precocious children and a healthy dose of holiday magic. Kiren knows there is a storm coming when he goes to the cabin to deliver divorce papers to his husband Flynn, but he doesn’t plan to stay long... -
![Bear's Best Friend by Raleigh Ruebins]()
Bear's Best Friend by Raleigh Ruebins
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHe’s a ray of sunshine. I’m a loner lumberjack. We don’t make sense……But my straight best friend keeps ending up in my bed. Sawyer Hendricks is the best friend I’ve ever had—the Goose to my Moose, and the shoulder I’ve cried on even though I’m not the crying type. The difference between us? Sawyer brightens any room in an instant, and I’m the gruff guy wearing flannel who’d rather be alone...Categorized as:
queer queer-awakening angst grumpy sunshine found-family friends to lovers m-m contemporary -
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![Suited For You by Aiden Bates, Ali Lyda]()
Suited For You by Aiden Bates, Ali Lyda
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsHe’s smug, conceited … and hot as hell …. Becoming a partner at Caldwell and Holton will be the crowning achievement in my hard fought career. There’s just one problem. One arrogant, materialistic, flashy problem: Saint Caldwell. Unlike me, he’s never had to struggle for anything a day in his life … or so I think. But there’s more to the man than a showy Porsche and killer smile... -
![Just Winging It by Crea Reitan]()
Just Winging It by Crea Reitan
One weekend can change everything. Caulder. I’ve lived a very quiet life, keeping my deepest secrets close to my chest. I let no one in; not even my closest friends. When I’m invited to participate in the All-Star Games, I’m suddenly forced to share a hotel room, and a single bed, with a stranger. My carefully guarded world starts to come undone when he kisses me, and I can’t get enough...Categorized as:
sports queer office forced proximity insta-love secret-relationship anal sex athletes -
![Winning the Season by Beth Bolden]()
Winning the Season by Beth Bolden
Coach Asa Dawson has fallen wildly in love only twice in his life. First with football. Then with Scott Callaway. But Scott isn’t just the one who got away. He’s the one person—the one man—Asa hoped might finally show him how all-consuming passion could be. Instead, fate (and football) intervened and they never got the chance to explore their attraction...Categorized as:
sports office grumpy sunshine athletes secret-relationship angst queer queer-awakening -
![Liar's Gambit by Kelly Fox]()
Liar's Gambit by Kelly Fox
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsHe’s a liar. I’m a hitman. And there’s a game afoot. After seeking sanctuary at The Anonymous, an elite club for lawless types, the elegant, beastly Wilhelm invites me to help him with a simple mission: retrieve the priceless artifact that was stolen from one of his billionaire friends... -
![Peaches and Pucks by M.A. Wardell]()
Peaches and Pucks by M.A. Wardell
One hotel room. One bed. Zero chance of keeping it professional. Harry. When I agreed to chaperone the boys’ hockey team, I thought my biggest challenge would be pretending to understand the rules—not being stuck sharing a hotel room with Darius Hall. The P. E. teacher. The human whistle. The man who’s made my Mondays miserable for years...Categorized as:
sports office forced proximity queer from hate to love secret-relationship anal sex athletes -
![Undisputed by Aimee Nicole Walker, Nicholas Bella]()
Undisputed by Aimee Nicole Walker, Nicholas Bella
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThere was once a time in my life where the only thing that mattered to me was fighting and winning. I’d step into that octagon with all the confidence in the world that I’d leave the victor. There was no challenge too great that I couldn’t handle. That was until I met a sassy and sexy reporter by the name of Aiden James and he flipped my world upside down... -
![Enforce by Charity Parkerson]()
Enforce by Charity Parkerson
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsThey 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... -
![Playing the Player by Beth Bolden]()
Playing the Player by Beth Bolden
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsCenter Logan Banks didn’t come to Miami looking for a best friend. He came for football and for a chance at freedom—the freedom to live out of the closet. But after a water main break, he lands an unexpected roommate, the new Piranhas kicker, Dylan Leonard. Between practices, games, and too many late nights on the couch, a best friend is exactly what he gets... -
![Unconditional Love by Andrew Grey]()
Unconditional Love by Andrew Grey
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratings"A Seven Days Story". Can a person's life change in just one day? How about seven? Donald Pottier and Jason Greene are barely more than boys when they meet on Chincoteague Island, Virginia. A day of crabbing soon turns them from strangers to friends, then to something more, but the boys' time is limited: at the end of the summer, Jay will leave Don and the island behind... -
![Montana Sky by R.J. Scott]()
Montana Sky by R.J. Scott
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen they spend time alone on a Montana mountainside will Tyler ever convince Martin that like sapphires, love is worth searching for? Martin’s name was the very last on a kill list. The son of a murderer, he’s had no childhood; lost in a horrific holding pattern of death that turned his heart to stone... -
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![The Handy Nanny by K. Sterling]()
The Handy Nanny by K. Sterling
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThey call Pennsylvania Tucker the human Band-Aid because he can fix just about anything and make anyone feel better, but can Penn mend a broken heart? Reid Marshall thinks so and sends his master nanny on a very important and sensitive mission. A close friend is grieving and caring for his newborn niece after losing his twin sister... -
![Roughing The Kicker by Rheland Richmond, Emerson Beckett]()
Roughing The Kicker by Rheland Richmond, Emerson Beckett
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsDo you believe in fate? Yeah, me neither until the sexy Navy SEAL I hooked up with three years ago suddenly reappears back in my life in the form of one of my best friend’s older brother. And now, they want me to share a room with him in the Keys. “Can you share a room with Jesse tonight? ”. How could I say no? What Greg and Cooper didn’t know was Jesse and I met three years ago in Madrid... -
![The Hotshot vs The Reporter by Nicole Dykes]()
The Hotshot vs The Reporter by Nicole Dykes
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsRoyal. I’m the hotshot—both on and off the track. I know how to work the crowd and show off. And I’m good at it. I’ve had to become very effective at putting on a show. But my agent is not a fan of my over-the-top antics. So she did something I still can’t believe . . . She called in the press—the media. Specifically, the reporter who hates everything I stand for...Categorized as:
sports from hate to love forced proximity angst grumpy sunshine athletes queer found-family -
![The Rookie vs The Ace by Nicole Dykes]()
The Rookie vs The Ace by Nicole Dykes
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsCarson. I’m the Rookie. That’s how they want to label me. The new guy. But I’m damn good at what I do. I don’t have anything to prove. Except maybe to him. I’ve watched his career for years. So yeah, maybe I want to impress him a tiny bit. But I also can’t help riling him up and ruffling his feathers. He wants me to do things his way, but I don’t work like that...Categorized as:
sports from hate to love queer forced proximity athletes angst grumpy sunshine office -
![The Billionaire's Mistake by Silvia Violet]()
The Billionaire's Mistake by Silvia Violet
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsEveryone envies me. I have it money, power, a perfect body. For years I’ve spent my days chasing pleasure, but now I want something else. I don’t know what that is until I end up in bed with Laurie, my little brother’s best friend. The one man I’ve been forbidden to touch. He’s hurting. He needs me. We try to keep our hands off each other, but we’re alone in Aruba...Categorized as:
super rich hero insta-love found-family queer m-m contemporary age difference siblings-bff -
![Sweet Spot by Sloan Johnson, Quinn Ward]()
Sweet Spot by Sloan Johnson, Quinn Ward
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsFour 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... -
![The Winger by Charlie Novak]()
The Winger by Charlie Novak
Wanted: An Experienced Player To Teach Me The Rules. When I finally admit my attraction to men might be more than just curiosity, I start questioning everything about myself. I’d always been told I couldn’t be gay and play rugby, but my teammates are proof that isn’t true. Now I’m fixated on all the filthy things Ezra, the Knights’ hot, older Head of Marketing, might do to me... -
![Skating to Him by Christie Gordon]()
Skating to Him by Christie Gordon
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsI’m skating to the NHL while he’s running from his past. When we collide, am I brave enough to take the shot? Tyler. Hockey is my life. My ticket to the NHL is in sight, and I can’t afford distractions. Then Coach pairs me with Rowan, the new guy from Boston. He’s talented, sharp, and annoyingly irresistible. When he asks to hit the gay bar with me and my friends, I chalk it up to curiosity... -
![Covert by Kelly Fox]()
Covert by Kelly Fox
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsPart of the Wrecked universe. Takes place between book 2 and 3. A short story featuring Morris and his Maggie. (Where Maggie is short for Magnussen, a male, in case you care. ) It's sweet and informative. Helps explain Morris and his overall crankiness. -
![Ice Rivals by Christie Gordon]()
Ice Rivals by Christie Gordon
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsI should hate him. But after learning the truth, how could I not fall for him? Mason. My rookie season in the NHL started with a gut punch. There he was, standing in my locker room. Jett Jarvis, a player hated by his former teammates. He has an arrogant smirk, intense eyes, and a birthmark that looks…too familiar. I’m sure I saw it on the dude who dumped me in my hookup app...Categorized as:
sports from hate to love athletes queer angst secret-relationship found-family hockey -
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![Poolside by Taylor E. Weston]()
Poolside by Taylor E. Weston
Divorce left Tommy Littleton shaken. He thought he’d checked all the boxes in his marriage, but none of it mattered when “love” was left out. With nothing else to show for his life, Tommy will stop at nothing to get a promotion–even if it means participating in an open-water swim to impress his boss. Unfortunately, he looks like a drowning raccoon in the water...Categorized as:
sports found-family queer-awakening queer contemporary friends to lovers m-m length-medium -
![In Love's Key, Reprised by Guri Nojiro]()
In Love's Key, Reprised by Guri Nojiro
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsSweet Home Hokkaido wins over a conductor for whom home is anything but sweet. A burnt-out, curmudgeonly conductor finds love in a humble grocer determined to unfreeze the maestro’s heart. -
![RIDE by Nellie Christine]()
RIDE by Nellie Christine
Bentley Williams never thought he’d hit rock bottom at 19-years-old. From top-rated college running back to homeless, girlfriend-less, UCLA dropout, Bentley can’t help but wonder if he’s making the right decision. Pursuing a career as a BMX rider likely means a life of struggling to afford groceries, but he can’t imagine doing anything else. The sport’s in his blood... -
![Second Story by Con Riley]()
Second Story by Con Riley
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsBig and burly caretaker vibes clash with fierce independence when a de facto single dad and the scarred welfare worker who once turned him down reunite in Cornwall. Glynn Harber School needs a new live-in librarian, and I need the job more than breathing. The headmaster also wants a trauma-informed storyteller for his bruised children, so you better believe I pour my soul into winning both roles...Categorized as:
queer found-family from hate to love office m-m hurt-comfort contemporary single-father -
![Caught off Guard by Catherine Cloud]()
Caught off Guard by Catherine Cloud
Rated: 4.04 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsMatthias 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...Categorized as:
sports athletes grumpy sunshine from hate to love forced proximity queer m-m contemporary -
![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 ratingsNo 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...
![FOG[电竞] by Man Man He Qi Duo, 漫漫何其多](https://s3.amazonaws.com/romance.io/books/small/66e574534e4ad59621705f5e.jpg)
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