Books like 'The Score'
Readers who enjoyed The Score by Beth Bolden also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary gay romance athletes forced proximity sports grumpy sunshine hurt-comfort office friends-benefits queer
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All Is Bright (Water, Air, Earth, Fire) by Riley Nash
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA 10,000 word mini-novella featuring everyone's favorite couples from the Water, Air, Earth, Fire series as they celebrate Christmas. When six very different men and their families meet at a Wyoming lodge to celebrate the holidays, things are bound to get sweet, steamy, chaotic, and a little bit heartwarming. -
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... -
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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... -
Wheels Down by Beth Bolden
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsShaw isn’t his friend—until Ross discovers he’s so much more. Ross Stanton is having a bad week—a bad month—really, a bad year . But the last thing he wants, after the betrayal of his friend and business partner, is for anyone else to know just how much he’s fighting for survival...Categorized as:
forced proximity hurt-comfort queer m-m friends to lovers contemporary length-medium -
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Blitzed by S.E. Harmon
NFL tight end Andrew McAdams isn’t thrilled to be sidelined with an injury. He’s even less thrilled about his legal troubles. Community service is the only thing standing between him and jail so. .. yeah. That’s a no-brainer. It's not all bad news, though. He gets to work with Jesse Fox, who is as gorgeous as he is guarded. And there's no rule saying he can't do his hours and have a little fun...Categorized as:
sports athletes grumpy sunshine forced proximity hurt-comfort queer found-family m-m -
Play Dead by Avery Cockburn
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsThe 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... -
B-Mine by Ava Olsen
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsHolloway: I’m the lead guitarist for Wayward Lane and I love everything about my rockstar life. Everything except my security detail. And the more popular our band becomes, the less freedom we have. All it takes is one overzealous fan and I find myself constantly shadowed by the one bodyguard I love to tease and evade: Dawson Everly. Mr... -
Becoming Light by Riley Nash
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhen people meet me, they see a bright faced, happy-go-lucky kindergarten teacher who will do anything to support his friends. Not everyone knows the struggle I’ve faced to become the man I am today. Now it’s finally time for the gender-affirming surgery I’ve been dreaming of for years...Categorized as:
hurt-comfort queer forced proximity grumpy sunshine age difference m-m contemporary lgbtqia hate -
Perfect Gifts by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFamily 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... -
Nicked: Nordin by Nora Phoenix
The stupidest thing a con artist can ever do is fall for the man who’s trying to catch him…. Nordin likes to think of himself as a modern-day Robin Hood, redistributing the wealth from those who don’t deserve it to those who do. It’s fun, it’s exciting, and it makes good use of his talents and gifts. Unfortunately, not everyone sees it like that, including FBI agent Tavin Donley...Categorized as:
friends-benefits hurt-comfort queer found-family m-m from hate to love contemporary bad boys -
Unnecessary Roughness by Rheland Richmond, Emerson Beckett
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsJackson Kincaid. When my best friend, Allison, died in a car accident, I suddenly became the parent of my ten-year-old godson. How was I supposed to play football for the Portland Pirates and be a full-time single dad? Adjusting is the name of the game. But thanks to my friends, and Simon, the team doctor, we'll heal and make it through... -
The Fortunate Son by Aimee Nicole Walker
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIvan Gallagher’s first and only attempt at love nearly cost him everything—his reputation, family, and even his freedom. Needing an outlet for his pent-up passion, the gruff foreman turns his beekeeping hobby into a successful business. Just when he’s on the verge of taking his liquid gold to the next level, a granted favor transforms his orderly life into a sticky mess...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine hurt-comfort forced proximity friends-benefits queer found-family m-m suspense -
Relief Pitcher by Lee Blair
I thought I was helping him get his groove back. Turns out he’s helping me fall in love. Tyler. I have one rule when it comes to matters of my one and done. Consensually, of course. Fun with no complicated romantic feelings. Not that I’m built to experience those, anyway. After my car breaks down on a remote road, I follow a lumbersnack back to his creepy cabin for the cell service...Categorized as:
forced proximity hurt-comfort sports queer friends to lovers exhibitionism m-m contemporary -
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 athletes queer found-family m-m friends to lovers contemporary -
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To Take a Quiet Breath by Fearne Hill
This isn’t a romance about chiseled, lantern-jawed college kids boasting V-cut abs. There are no marathon steamy sex sessions, not without having at least one nebulizer on standby anyway. Marcel Giresse, the thirty-six-year-old Director of Finance at the French Ministry of Justice, is happy to leave all that nonsense to his oldest friend Lucien, the sixteenth Earl of Rossingley...Categorized as:
queer grumpy sunshine hurt-comfort found-family contemporary m-m length-medium virgin hero -
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... -
Scene Queen by Charlie Novak
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsNote to self: just because he's hot and funny doesn't change the fact he's annoying AF. Hooking up with my irritating as hell neighbour wasn't on my agenda for the week, even if he is ridiculously gorgeous with a smile that lights up my life. His music is too loud, he’s too nosy… but I can’t stop myself from wanting more than a taste...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine hurt-comfort forced proximity sports queer m-m contemporary length-medium -
Breakout Year by K.D. Casey
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... -
A Wedding in a Week by Con Riley
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsA second chance with his brother’s best friend also comes with a deadline. Three years after inheriting his family farm, an accident forces Stefan Luxton to rethink his future. Turning his farm into a five-star wedding venue is one goal. Another is to reconnect with Marc, who Stefan loved but let slip away to the city...Categorized as:
hurt-comfort forced proximity queer found-family m-m age difference friends to lovers contemporary -
The Linebacker by Emerson Beckett, Rheland Richmond
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIs it wrong for me to want the world to know I’m in love with Patrick Griffin and have been since we were eight-years-old? Patrick Griffin. I hurt him. I didn’t mean to. Now he’s gone, and I deserve it. As a linebacker in the NFL, I've never found the right time to come out of the closet. Not even when I promised Cole I would... -
Christmas Wishes by Lee Blair
Say it ain’t snow! After my bestie and I got laid off during the holidays, we drunkenly decide to plan a surprise vacation for each other. Knowing how much I hate snow, he sends me to sunny Arizona with my swim briefs and a dare. I’m supposed to finally start the beauty influencer accounts I’ve been talking about for years. Did you know there are parts of Arizona where it snows? I didn’t...Categorized as:
queer forced proximity hurt-comfort grumpy sunshine christmas m-m contemporary height-difference -
Sapphire Dawn by C. Travis Rice, Christopher Rice
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsUnder his pen name, C. Travis Rice, New York Times bestselling author Christopher Rice offers tales of passion, intrigue, and steamy romance between men. The fourth novel, SAPPHIRE DAWN, once again transports you to a beautiful luxury resort on the sparkling Southern California coast where strong-willed heroes release the shame that blocks their hearts’ desires... -
Queried Sick by Dallas Smith
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsFor fans of Casey McQuiston and Always Only You, Queried Sick is a slow-burn romance about two bisexual disasters finding love while working at a publishing company during the pandemic—complete with grumpy/sunshine vibes, found family, and an attention-seeking cat. Social distance makes the heart grow fonder…...Categorized as:
office grumpy sunshine queer contemporary friends to lovers m-m new adult length-medium -
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... -
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School and Rock by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsWhen 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... -
Playing Deep by Beth Bolden
Kenyon Ellis knows getting involved with Julian Anderson is an enormous mistake—but from the very first night, he finds him annoying, intriguing and ultimately, irresistible. One, Kenyon is a player, and Julian is a reporter, so hooking up with him, no matter how spectacular the nights are, is a terrible idea. Two, he’s falling for him, even if Julian continues to be prickly and impossible... -
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
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... -
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 hurt-comfort forced proximity grumpy sunshine athletes queer found-family m-m -
The Pro vs The Fan by Nicole Dykes
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsBook 3.Categorized as:
queer grumpy sunshine hurt-comfort sports athletes friends to lovers m-m contemporary -
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... -
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... -
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... -
Forever Finn by Vawn Cassidy
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsFinn Gallagher has it all, a beautiful girlfriend, a successful Hollywood career, a condo in Malibu and more money than he knows what to do with. He should be happy, but there’s just one problem, he’s gay and he’s been lying to the entire world... -
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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... -
A Handyman for the Holidays by Valerie Gomez
All he wants for Christmas is to be heard! From the author of Cover Story comes a new cozy romance to put you in the holiday mood. Nestled in the woods of Northern Michigan, everyone looks out for one another in the tiny town of Cherry Tree—especially during the holidays. Repairman Frank Garza will fix your oven on Thanksgiving and accept nothing but a slice of pie in return...Categorized as:
queer grumpy sunshine hurt-comfort found-family christmas m-m friends to lovers contemporary -
Lost Boy by Jodi Payne, B.A. Tortuga
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLost Boy is an opposites attract, smaller top, size difference romance featuring a strong but gentle veterinarian and a police dog trainer with a fiery temper. Veterinarian Leo Aetos adores animals, has a great apartment in Brooklyn, and even has a favorite bar. The only thing he doesn’t have is someone to share it all with...Categorized as:
hurt-comfort grumpy sunshine queer bdsm m-m height-difference contemporary length-short -
Recipe for Trouble: A slow-burn grumpy/sunshine Christmas MM romance by Dylan Morrison
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsWitty, heartwarming, and deliciously swoony―a grumpy/sunshine workplace romance with found family, office intrigue, and all the feels. Grumpy video editor Ben Blumenthal has perfected the art of cynicism. .. until he meets Pete Bailey, a devastatingly handsome chef whose sunny disposition should be annoying but somehow isn't...Categorized as:
queer forced proximity grumpy sunshine office m-m contemporary christmas friends to lovers -
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
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...Categorized as:
sports forced proximity athletes queer found-family m-m contemporary friends to lovers -
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:
hurt-comfort queer found-family office m-m contemporary single-father from hate to love -
Night Shift: Dirty Things Happen in the Dark by Kindle Alexander, Toni Aleo
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsSummer 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
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 forced proximity queer m-m contemporary from hate to love -
Whiskey Throttle by Riley Hart
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsLincoln. I’ve done a good job getting over my past. I’m not only proud of who I am, but revel in it. Still, I don’t let myself get too close to people. With closeness comes questions and those pesky feelings, and I’m having none of that. I’ve got a great job, friends, I’m cute and twinky, and my bed’s never empty. What more do I need? Except I can’t stop sleeping with Rush Alexander...Categorized as:
athletes sports friends-benefits queer m-m friends to lovers contemporary praise-kink -
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Butterfly by Michaela Grey, Tierney Rose
Felix Papillon is determined he'll never be hurt again. He may look like he has his life together from the outside-starting goalie for the Portland Seabirds, fancy car, adoring fans clamoring for his autograph-but he won't allow anyone to see the scars on his heart. When he meets Fisher Montgomery in the back of a dimly lit bar, the attraction is instant and mutual... -
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... -
Kaden by R.J. Scott, Meredith Russell
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsWhen the lines between pretense and reality blur, can the actor and the boyfriend-for-hire discover something real? Ryan Levesque is Hollywood’s newest blue eyed boy. Moving from soap operas to the big screen has paid off for the kid from Minnesota, and he’s hot property... -
Royal Lines by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsThey're setting fire to the sheets, but a romance between an out and proud hockey star and a reformed playboy prince could end up burning them both. Marquis Miller might be one of the NHL's best players, single, wealthy, and open about his sexuality, but he knows his future lies in taking over the reins of the family's multimillion-dollar company after retirement... -
Like I Pretended by Charlie Novak
Pretending to be in love never felt so real. Henry Lu hates being a superstar. Action movies have left a sour taste in his mouth and filming a queer period drama on the Yorkshire coast sounds like the perfect antidote. Meeting grumpy coffee shop owner, Alex, is the cherry on top...
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