Books like 'The Fly-Half'
Readers who enjoyed The Fly-Half by Charlie Novak also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary gay romance sports queer friends to lovers queer-awakening bisexual grumpy sunshine caretaking height-difference
-
The Quarterback by Tal Bauer
A slow burn, friends to lovers, bi awakening, age gap MM romance. Falling for his friend's straight dad might be the worst mistake Colton Hall has ever made. Colton's best friend is gay. He's not: he's never been attracted to men. So why the hell is he fantasizing about his friend's dad? Besides, Nick Swanscott is straight. A devoted father and the best man Colton's ever known...Categorized as:
sports athletes angst bisexual forced proximity friends to lovers new adult caretaking -
The End Zone by Riley Hart
Jeremy. Seeing my best friend West, happy with his fiancé opened my eyes to things I’ve been missing in my own marriage. My divorce, which was amicable, followed. Strangely, at West’s wedding, I find myself confiding in Darren, the straight, confirmed bachelor and star quarterback of the Atlanta Lightning... -
Sponsored links / Remove ads
-
#Fate by Cambria Hebert
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsWhat’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... -
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:
friends to lovers office queer found-family queer-awakening m-m contemporary length-short -
-
Hard Knox by Riley Hart
Callum. A gay guy walks into a straight bar and notices the hottest man he’s ever seen. Why am I not surprised my life sounds like the beginning of a bad joke? First, my ex cheated on me, and I went running to Havenwood and the mom I have a complicated relationship with. Then, there’s Knox, the gorgeous lumberjack I don’t stand a chance with...Categorized as:
friends to lovers bisexual queer queer-awakening slow burn anal sex sweet-hero found-family -
Love in Tuscany by Maya Jean, J.J. Mulder
Spend the summer in Italy for charity! Everyone deserves a second chance, including wedding photographers. They may even catch a picture of a doctor finding his opposite, yet somehow perfect, match. Fall in love in Tuscany, before hitting the road on an adventure with a stranger...Categorized as:
queer height-difference forced proximity football sweet-hero contemporary m-m age difference -
Hold 'Em Tight by Alisha Williams, Amber Nicole
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThey 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...Categorized as:
new adult sports friends to lovers queer from hate to love contemporary length-medium m-m -
Red Lined by Crea Reitan
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsMaybe you can order love online…. Julian. I’ve spent a short lifetime learning that what people say they want is rarely what they actually want. What I hope for is a relationship where both of us feel comfortable together. I think I finally find what I’m looking for in a mail order bride. Then he shows up...Categorized as:
queer sports friends to lovers found-family bisexual queer-awakening athletes hockey -
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... -
Golden Boy and the Two Bears by Nash Summers
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAsher 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
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... -
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...Categorized as:
athletes sports angst friends to lovers forced proximity queer football childfree-couple -
There Is A Light by Ban Gilmartin
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsJamie 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... -
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:
friends to lovers grumpy sunshine sports angst queer found-family queer-awakening m-m -
-
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
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... -
Northland by Cara Dee
Two years ago, Logan Ward got the surprise of his life when he discovered he was the father of a two-year-old boy. Professionally and romantically adrift, he devoted all his time and energy to caring for his son. But now he’s searching for something more, and he and Justin head north to Alaska to try out the life his best friend Quinn has been raving about...Categorized as:
alpha male bisexual queer queer-awakening m-m contemporary length-short explicit-open-door -
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 friends to lovers athletes bisexual queer found-family queer-awakening -
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 friends to lovers found-family new adult m-m contemporary -
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...Categorized as:
sports found-family queer football bisexual grumpy sunshine friends to lovers anal sex -
Unbreakable Stories: Ian by Jocelynn Drake, Rinda Elliott
Unbreakable Stories: Ian is a collection of short stories following the ups and downs of Ian Pierce and Hollis Banner has they navigate their new relationship and the unique complications of dating with a brunch of overprotective “brothers” determined to guard Ian’s heart. This collection is more than 38,000 words and contains short stories such as:. Midnight Perp. No Boyfriends Allowed...Categorized as:
queer height-difference caretaking anal sex praise-kink found-family sweet-hero sunny hero -
The Idiot by Dianna Roman
You can't pick who you love. .. nor can you run from them. Murphy Malone loves his orchard, his mother, and his dog. Life is great until he can't stop thinking about what he's missing—someone to share it all with. When he realizes that his love for his best friend, Jesse Carver, runs deeper than the bonds of friendship, it just makes things worse...Categorized as:
queer-awakening friends to lovers forced proximity grumpy sunshine queer bisexual m-m contemporary -
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... -
Angel by Linden Bell
He was only supposed to be gay for pay. Angel. I’ve never had sex before. And I've definitely never looked at a guy that way before. But with his brightly-colored hair and beautiful outfits, Rhys is hard to ignore--especially after I learn what he does for a living...Categorized as:
queer new adult queer-awakening height-difference friends to lovers anal sex sweet-hero m-m -
-
The Christmas Summons by Kelly Fox
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFrom USA Today Bestselling Author Kelly Fox comes a Wild Heart Ranch Christmas novella. I’ve loved Gael Hernandez from the moment I laid eyes on him. We had a moment back in the summer, but he needed time to recover from the traumatic events that reshaped his family. It’s now Christmas, and I think my talented shoemaker is finally ready to let me love him for the rest of his life... -
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 friends to lovers forced proximity height-difference grumpy sunshine angst queer m-m -
When Stars Align by Denver Shaw
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsScarred by the past. Terrified to love again. Savion. Once upon a time, my life was a fairytale. Engaged to a beautiful woman, we were planning our perfect future. Then, the sick act of an obsessed man ruined everything. Alone, disfigured, and betrayed, I fled to LA to focus on my work as a paleontologist. It was there I met Declan... -
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:
friends to lovers queer queer-awakening bisexual angst grumpy sunshine found-family m-m -
Third Time Lucky by R.G. Alexander
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFrom Author New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author R. G. Alexander, Book 3 in the Finn's Pub Romance series! Ever had a thing for the man next door? My sexy new neighbor is confusing the hell out of me. Elliot Ransom is a baseball player and a single dad, but he doesn’t know his butter beer from a snozzberry... -
The Defending Goal by Crea Reitan
Not only the net should be protected. Felton. I’m a disappointment, a failure, a shit show. Every decision is wrong. None of my accomplishments are good enough. I don’t do anything right. This is what I’ve been told my entire life. For more than thirty years, no one knew. What the world sees is a lie. I do a good job of hiding it. Until I don’t. Ren...Categorized as:
sports queer friends to lovers found-family forced proximity bisexual queer-awakening caretaking -
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... -
The Professor's Date by Lane Hayes
The professor, the hair stylist, and a wedding date…. Tommy. Help! My sister is getting married and according to her, I need a date. And a makeover. I’m a busy man, though. I don’t have time to meet eligible bachelors, and the tape holding my glasses together works just fine. Until my hair stylist steps on them... -
Delicious by Sierra Riley
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 17 ratings“You’re exactly what I never knew I needed. ”. “I don’t have time for love. ”. Gavin Campbell has poured everything he has into starting up his bakery, Delicious... -
Nice Guys & First Times by K.M. Neuhold
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsYou Always Remember Your First…. Come along for a sweet, steamy compilation of 4 MM romance novellas by the queen of swoon herself: K. M. Neuhold. **All of these novellas have been previously published either as part of the Heart2Heart Charity Anthology collection or as stand alone free shorts. Always You... -
-
Margins by Landry Brennan
“Didn’t know you were gonna sell me a love story. ”“Is that what I did? ”Restless and full of doubt amid a divorce from his high school sweetheart, single father Alex Ramos goes for an early morning walk and stumbles upon a garage sale held by Elijah Caplinger, who’s been tasked with clearing out his late grandfather’s home... -
Bouquets & Belonging by Duckie Mack
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMarley is a hopeless romantic who loves his job. Flowers make him happy, and he gets great joy out of the delight they bring to others. He has a standing flower shop as well as a regular booth at the Heartcraft Market. Derek is an overworked businessman. His work consumes his life, both in the office and at home... -
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:
friends to lovers new adult office grumpy sunshine queer contemporary m-m length-medium -
Fake Boyfriend Breakaways by Eden Finley
Breakaways is a collection of short stories from Eden Finley’s Fake Boyfriend universe. They all feature side characters from the series but do not contain fake boyfriend tropes. Rebound (Fake Boyfriend 2. 5). Aron and Wyatt have been best friends since college and are both rebounding from bad break-ups...Categorized as:
friends to lovers sports queer queer-awakening sunny hero sweet-hero m-m contemporary -
For the Cameras by Raleigh Ruebins
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsOur fans get to see. everything. when we’re together on camera. But what’s between the two of us is strictly for the videos… right? I’ve been a socially awkward introvert for my whole life—and not a soul knows that I upload anonymous videos to an adult site. By day, I’m a shy office worker. At night, I have my hand, my phone camera, and a little secret. Chase is my polar opposite... -
Yesterday by Sarina Bowen
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIt’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. -
A King in Wonderland by Nash Summers
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAsher Williams is obsessed with love. Or at least he was, until it all came crashing down. He made a mistake. And even Asher himself, arranger of marriages and aider of lovesick hearts, doesn’t know how to fix it. And like every heroic quest, there are a few bumps in the road and dragons to slay... -
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
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... -
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 forced proximity angst grumpy sunshine athletes queer height-difference found-family -
-
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... -
Offside Chance by Mercy Celeste
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsJudah Brody meets William Slater and it's loathe at first sight. Jude had spent his whole life in his famous brother’s shadow. Returning to New Orleans seemed like a good idea now that Levi was back home. But Jude couldn’t turn around without something of Levi’s getting in his way...Categorized as:
friends to lovers alpha male athletes sports queer queer-awakening contemporary from hate to love -
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... -
Nauti or Nice by Ava Olsen
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsBeing a first officer on board the superyacht Now, Voyager is a dream come true. And my personal life? I’m in and out and on to the next port, so to speak. I don’t have the inclination for a boyfriend. So when my boss asks me to work over the Christmas holiday, I’m happy to say yes. And then Kiernan Doyle arrives. The Irish bodyguard is a brawny grump with sad eyes and a shy smile...Categorized as:
friends to lovers queer bisexual height-difference christmas contemporary m-m length-short -
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 friends to lovers found-family queer-awakening queer contemporary m-m length-medium -
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.
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.

