Books like 'In the Penalty Box'
Readers who enjoyed In the Penalty Box by Lynn Rush & Kelly Anne Blount also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary young adult funny sports new adult high-school from hate to love friends to lovers athletes secret-relationship
-
19 Days by Old Xian
The cute and funny adventures of a boy and his best friend. Also contains insert art of the characters by the mangaka...Categorized as:
friends to lovers high-school from hate to love new adult contemporary m-m humor young adult -
My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999 Volume 4 by Mashiro
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsCould this be love? The fourth volume of the award-winning manga that inspired the anime My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999. Thanks to Yamada’s attentive care, Akane is recovering from her sudden illness. The experience has made her realize she can’t keep hiding the truth—what she feels for Yamada is more than just friendship...Categorized as:
new adult friends to lovers contemporary young adult humor age difference length-short -
Sasaki and Miyano, Vol. 4 by Shou Harusono
Rated: 4.48 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsWhat is Sasaki to Miyano? The question rings through Miyano’s mind as he struggles to come to a decision... -
Paradise Kiss, Vol. 4 by Ai Yazawa
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 33 ratingsWhen Yukari is asked to be the runway model for the clothing label Paradise Kiss, her life is turned upside down as she juggles college and career... -
-
Love★Com, Vol. 2 by Aya Nakahara
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsRisa's getting really confused about her feelings for Ôtani--she doesn't know if she wants to help him get back together with his ex-girlfriend or keep him all to... -
Cheer Up: Love and Pompoms by Crystal Frasier, Oscar O. Jupiter
A sweet, queer teen romance perfect for fans of Fence and Check, Please!Annie is a smart, antisocial lesbian starting her senior year of high school who’s under pressure to join the cheerleader squad to make friends and round out her college applications...Categorized as:
sports high-school friends to lovers from hate to love young adult contemporary f-f humor -
Paradise Kiss, Vol. 3 by Ai Yazawa
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 33 ratingsWhen Yukari is asked to be the runway model for the clothing label Paradise Kiss, her life is turned upside down as she juggles college and career... -
I sold myself to the devil for Vinyls... Pitiful I Know by DarknessAndLight
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 37 ratingsLexi Grayson is a normal teenager, as normal as she can be with her unobserving skills and her overthinking mind. But she might need the overthinking if she wants to unravel the smirking mystery that is Blake Eaton...Categorized as:
high-school from hate to love friends to lovers sports young adult contemporary humor bad boys -
My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999, Vol. 1 by Mashiro
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 32 ratingsThe award-winning manga that inspired the anime My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999.Sometimes love is like an endgame boss.College student Akane has just been dumped by her boyfriend. Heartbroken, she decides to quit the online RPG they used to play together—but instead of deleting her account, she logs in and battles low-level enemies to relieve her stress and hurt feelings...Categorized as:
friends to lovers new adult contemporary young adult humor age difference length-short -
Last Game 01 by Shinobu Amano
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsHe's rich, he's smart, girls gather around him all the time, and he has always gotten first place on his exams... well, until Kujou transferred in his primary school class... -
Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku, Vol. 1 by Fujita
The awkward, romantic comedy manga about geeks in love that inspired the new anime! Can a professional man who's secretly a hardcore gamer and a woman who's secretly a fujoshi date without their hobbies getting in the way, or revealing each other's secrets? Extra-long book includes 2 Japanese volumes!Narumi and Hirotaka are, by all appearances, a power couple...Categorized as:
friends to lovers new adult contemporary humor young adult length-medium glimpses-kisses -
-
山田くんとLv999の恋をする 1 [Yamada-kun to Lv999 no Koi wo Suru 1] by Mashiro, ましろ
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 30 ratings...Categorized as:
friends to lovers new adult contemporary young adult humor age difference length-short -
I Sold Myself To The Devil For Vinyls... Pitiful I Know by DarknessAndLight
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsLexi Grayson is just a normal teenager, as normal as she can be with her unobserving skills and her overthinking mind. But she'll need the overthinking if she wants to unravel the smirking mystery that is Blake Eaton...Categorized as:
high-school from hate to love friends to lovers sports young adult contemporary bad boys humor -
-
Love★Com, Vol. 3 by Aya Nakahara
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsRisa Koizumi is the tallest girl in class, and the last thing she wants is the humiliation of standing next to Atsushi Otani, the shortest guy. Fate and the whole school have other ideas, and the two find themselves cast as the unwilling stars of a bizarre romantic comedy... -
Scarlett and the Kiss Thief by Ivy Smoak
I’ve never been kissed.Because I saved my first kiss for my best friend, Axel Stevens. And he gave his away to someone else like it meant nothing.I was hoping that reinventing myself over the summer would make him finally see me. But I’m just as invisible as ever. Doomed to never being kissed...Categorized as:
friends to lovers new adult high-school sports love triangle other-man-woman young adult humor -
Pause by CJustMe, C.J. Adler
Rated: 4.65 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAqueela, a dreamer and comedian at heart, has just one joyous vision - to transform lives through the mere power of friendship, friendships so solid that they last a lifetime. However, Jay, pessimistic by nature, is convinced that friends are overrated, and that Aqueela is nothing short of a whackjob with an idealistic perspective on the world. It would seem that he wants nothing to do with her...Categorized as:
high-school from hate to love friends to lovers contemporary young adult humor length-epic -
The Relationship Pact (Kings of Football) by Adriana Locke
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 44 ratingsHow hard can it be?That was the question rolling around Larissa Mason’s mind just before she asked Hollis Hudson to be her fake boyfriend.It was only supposed to be for five minutes, after all.Granted, that was also before she felt his hand on the small of her back as he charmed the heck out of her family.She hadn’t heard his laugh yet either...Categorized as:
sports new adult friends to lovers athletes contemporary humor christian tortured hero -
Love★Com, Vol. 1 by Aya Nakahara
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 44 ratingsRisa Koizumi is the tallest girl in class, and the last thing she wants is the humiliation of standing next to Atsushi Otoni, the shortest guy. Fate and the whole school have other ideas, and the two find themselves cast as the unwilling stars of a bizarre romantic comedy duo. Rather than bow to the inevitable, Risa and Atsushi join forces to pursue their true objects of affection... -
Hana-Kimi: For You in Full Blossom, Vol. 5 by Hisaya Nakajo
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsDRAG RACEIt's the final day of the Osaka High School Festival, and two big competitions are still up in the air: the relay race and the cross-dressing pageant! You'd think Mizuki, an actual XX-chromosome girl disguised as a boy at an all-guy high school, would be a better cross-dresser than her classmates, but things are never so easy--and what if winning the contest blows her cover? That might... -
The Complete Jessica Darling Series: Sloppy Firsts, Second Helpings, Charmed Thirds, Fourth Comings, Perfect Fifths by Megan McCafferty
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsGrowing Up Can Be Perfect in Its Imperfection The Jessica Darling series chronicles one young woman’s coming-of-age in the first decade of the 21st century. Over five books and ten years, Jessica Darling fumbles her way into adulthood... -
Hana-Kimi: For You in Full Blossom, Vol. 3 by Hisaya Nakajo
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsMEN AT WORKIzumi, his friend Nakatsu and our crossdressing heroine Mizuki are hired to work at a beach chalet run by the family of weird school nurse Dr... -
Cheeky Brat, Vol. 6 by Mitsubachi Miyuki
Huh?! What does he even mean?! Stupid brat!! First he doesn’t push that girl away—after she kissed him—and now he’s saying THAT?? While eating squid? I mean, I know I’m the one who’s been avoiding talking to him head-on, and I did tell him to wait three months, but I was getting there, okay? Ugh, and as if that wasn’t enough to deal with, what was going on with Hakamada-kun at the festival..Categorized as:
sports from hate to love high-school athletes young adult contemporary length-short humor -
Broken Hill Havoc by Sheridan Anne
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsCollege? How did this happen? One minute I'm starting my senior year of high school and the next, I'm in college. Let me repeat myself. How did this happen? I can't even begin to understand the crazy amounts of drama I've suffered through over the past twelve months, but I've never been so happy to say it's over. I’m more than ready for this next step in my life... -
-
That Crush by Jillian Dodd
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsShe’s scared to fall in love again. He’s determined to be the one she falls for.When Damon Diamond first laid eyes on Ainsley Archibald at fifteen, he knew it was more than just a crush. But with their four-year age gap and her indifference, he had to keep his feelings at bay. Three years later, everything has changed...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers secret-relationship football age difference young adult contemporary humor -
Misunderstood by R.L. Mathewson
From New York Time’s Bestselling Author R.L. Mathewson comes the YA series inspired by the Neighbor from Hell Series… The Neighbor from Hell YA Series. For readers who enjoy stories that leave them smiling… Do you ever feel like life isn’t going the way that you thought it would? That’s what Sebastian Bradford is realizing as he tries to figure out how everything went wrong so quickly...Categorized as:
new adult high-school friends to lovers sports young adult contemporary humor virgin heroine -
Jesse by Sheridan Anne
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsJesse - Who would have known that the 'three-second rule' had the ability to change it all? I sure as hell didn't. How is it possible that I've gone so long without her in my life? Kaylah Millington is everything a guy could possibly want and I need more. So much more. One word from her smart mouth and I was on my knees, absolutely hooked. There's only one issue..Categorized as:
high-school from hate to love contemporary humor young adult insta-love length-short -
Broken Hill Honor by Sheridan Anne
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 22 ratingsBeing with Tora Roberts has been nothing but a wild ride, one I never want to get off. At twelve, I knew I loved her. By seventeen, I’d made her life a living hell. She hated me. She stole my heart completely at eighteen. And now at twenty-six, she still hasn’t given it back, and what’s more, I don’t want her to. It’s about time I make her mine… Officially... -
Curvy Girls Can't Dance by Kelsie Stelting
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsThe strongest bodybuilder in Emerson isn’t a match for my focus.Emerson Dance is one of the most prestigious dance companies in the country. And I got kicked off the team right before nationals because my curves don’t “fit.” Not their idea of a perfect dancer's body and definitely not their costume.I’m going to enter the competition on my own and show them that every body is a dancer’s body... -
Gay Club! by Simon James Green
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsA landmark comedic novel about a group of queer teens at their worst - and ultimately their best - from one of the UK's leading writers of LGBTQ+ teen fiction. Barney's a shoo-in for his school's LGBTQ+ Society President at the club's next election. But when the vote is opened up to the entire student body, the whole school starts paying attention...Categorized as:
high-school friends to lovers from hate to love young adult contemporary m-m humor queer -
Cheeky Brat, Vol. 13 by Mitsubachi Miyuki, Alethea Nibley
Geez, that was so nerve-wracking! I’m glad that I could FINALLY do something for him as his girlfriend...Next up is graduation, a spring break trip with the team, and then off to college! I’m kinda nervous about how he’s gonna handle Suwa-san being around all the time, though..Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers from hate to love young adult contemporary humor length-short -
High School Debut, Vol. 02 by Kazune Kawahara
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 34 ratingsHopeless Haruna needs help finding a boyfriend! After failing to win the eye of any guy in high school, Haruna enlists the help of cute upperclassman Yoh to coach her on how to make herself more appealing to the male species. Yoh agrees, with one catch: Haruna had better not fall for him!Haruna begins to develop feelings for Fumiya, Yoh's friend... -
Cheeky Brat, Vol. 8 by Mitsubachi Miyuki
When Hakamada crushes their dreams of the Winter Cup, Yuki’s tenure as basketball club manager is now over...However, her relationship with Naruse has only begun! But between Naruse’s captaincy and Yuki’s frantic studies, they hardly ever see each other...Categorized as:
sports from hate to love high-school athletes young adult contemporary humor length-short -
Jackass! by Scarlet Beriko
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsWhen the panty hose go on, all bets are off between these best guy friends!Practical Keisuke’s incredibly handsome best friend Masayuki has always rubbed him just a little bit the wrong way... -
-
Donuts and Other Proclamations of Love by Jared Reck
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsThe future is anything but certain in this alternately funny and heartbreaking contemporary story about food trucks, festivals, and first loves.It's easy to look at high school senior Oscar Olsson and think: lost. He hates school, struggles to read, and wants nothing to do with college. But Oscar is anything but lost---he knows exactly what he wants and exactly how to get it...Categorized as:
high-school friends to lovers from hate to love young adult contemporary queer humor m-f -
Cheeky Brat, Vol. 9 by Mitsubachi Miyuki
Today is the day her future will be decided. After all, it’s finally time...for entrance exams. However, one thing after another keeps going wrong! Meanwhile, as Yuki’s graduation gets closer and closer to becoming a reality, Naruse is painfully aware that soon, he’ll be separated from Yuki by more than just a couple of classroom doors..Categorized as:
sports from hate to love high-school athletes young adult contemporary humor length-short -
Cheeky Brat, Vol. 7 by Mitsubachi Miyuki
It's autumn, and the qualifier for the Winter Cup is just around the corner! But first, time for one of Yuki’s last school festivals. Between prepwork for that, studying, managing the basketball team, and dating Naruse, Yuki just might have bitten off more than she can chew..Categorized as:
sports from hate to love high-school athletes young adult contemporary humor length-short -
The Smirking Jerk by DarknessAndLight
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 11 ratings“I’m in love with you.” How many times would I have to think about this, how many times, before she could hear it, feel it, see it in my eyes? “I’m in love with you.” How could I make her see without telling her, without scaring her off… without losing her. I couldn’t lose her... -
Wallflower by Cookie O'Gorman
Wallflower (wohl-flou-erh): Identifier for someone who is shy and/or awkward. For reference, see Viola Kent.Seventeen-year-old Viola Kent likes being invisible. Well, not literally, but she's content being a loner, reading her books, and hanging out with the animals at the shelter. She just wants to keep her head down and get through her senior year at Durham High...Categorized as:
high-school sports friends to lovers from hate to love young adult contemporary humor shy heroine -
Hana-Kimi: For You in Full Blossom, Vol. 2 by Hisaya Nakajo
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 33 ratingsPERSONAL BESTHigh jump champion Izumi Sano has realized that his slender new roommate Mizuki is a girl, but he's decided to keep her secret so she doesn't get kicked out of their all-boys' high school... -
The Bad Boy, Cupid & Me by Slim_Shady
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsReece smirked, "Trust me Chloe, the Good Girl always falls for the Bad Boy."Chloe Armel is a Good Girl.She never gets in trouble, gets excellent grades and is loved by everyone.Enter Reece.Wild, badass and has an ego that honestly couldn't get any bigger.He gets into fights, breaks every single rule and couldn't care less about the consequences that come with it...Categorized as:
high-school new adult friends to lovers from hate to love sports young adult contemporary bad boys -
Cross Game 8 by Mitsuru Adachi
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThis poignant coming-of-age story will change your perception of what shonen manga can be. About the game of life...and baseball.Reads R to L (Japanese Style), for audiences T. Cross Game is a moving drama that is heartfelt and true, yet in the brilliant hands of manga artist Mitsuru Adachi, delightfully flows with a light and amusing touch... -
You're My Cutie, Vol. 6 by Nakaba Harufuji
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsKoga-kun has declared war on Shikura-kun, and tensions are simmering under the surface! Koga-kun is making advances on Madoka, and to prevent them from being alone together, Shikura-kun is doing his best to keep him in check... -
Her Best Friend by Claire Kingsley
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsNoah Douglas and Charlotte Lawson have been best friends since first grade. Noah had a hard time relating to other kids, and Charlotte was painfully shy. But once they found each other, they were inseparable. Now sixteen, Noah is starting to see Charlotte through new eyes. Maybe it’s just a crush. Charlotte is talented, fun, and pretty... -
-
Lane’s by Nash Summers
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsMaps doesn’t believe in growing up.He believes in his experiments, Benji’s new driving skills, Perry’s knowledge of “adult things”, and his interstellar boyfriend, Lane.Maps certainly doesn’t believe in graduating. And he especially doesn’t believe in his friends attending separate colleges.Because if Maps believed in any of those things, it would mean he was growing up... -
True Beauty Volume Two by Yaongyi
Episode 14 - 26After binge-watching beauty videos online, a shy comic book fan masters the art of makeup and sees her social standing skyrocket as she becomes her school’s prettiest pretty girl overnight...Categorized as:
friends to lovers high-school humor young adult contemporary length-medium glimpses-kisses -
The Secret of Us by Zarin Madiyha
Izzy Evans thought her final year of boarding school would be a quiet countdown to freedom—a chance to dodge university brochures and steer clear of her ex, Ryan.While everyone else seems to have their futures mapped out, Izzy is paralysed by the thought of making the wrong choice.Noah Park just wants a fresh start...Categorized as:
sports athletes friends to lovers young adult college contemporary found-family humor -
A and D by Fallenbabybubu
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 27 ratings"He's a jock. I'm not. He's popular. I'm not. He's good-looking. I'm not. And have I mentioned that we're the best of friends? So he loves me... as a friend. Too bad, because I don't just love him... I'm in love with him." -Dakota EvansDakota's sarcastic, Aaron isn't.Aaron's a morning person, Dakota most definitely is not.Dakota's a nerd, while Aaron's a jock... -
Cheeky Brat, Vol. 11 by Mitsubachi Miyuki
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWith Yuki living on her own, Naruse in his last year of high school, and more than a few months of dating history under their belt, one rainy after in Yuki’s apartment leads to.. -
Disarmed by Sarah Rees Brennan
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsThe boys of Kings Row head to France with exes, rivalries, and secrets in this fun and hilarious novel by a New York Times bestselling author—inspired by the award-nominated comic series by C.S. Pacat and Johanna The Mad...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers from hate to love high-school young adult contemporary m-m humor
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
Or - use our amazing romance book finder to get recommendations based on your favorite content tropes and themes. Mix and match at will.

