Books like 'The Playbook'
Readers who enjoyed The Playbook by Erin MacKenzie also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary grumpy sunshine forced proximity single-father siblings-bff friends to lovers football dual-pov sports
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The Grip Trilogy by Kennedy Ryan
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsThe Grip Trilogy charts the course of rising star Marlon "Grip" James and his manager Bristol Gray. From the beginning, attraction ignites between the struggling musician and his best friend's ambitious sister. It starts with a kiss at the top of a Ferris wheel when they're young, combusts into a tumultuous love affair, and matures into an epic love that defies each odd and defeats every obstacle...Categorized as:
friends to lovers siblings-bff dual-pov contemporary multicultural new adult length-epic -
![The Best of All by Karla Sorensen]()
The Best of All by Karla Sorensen
He’s commitment phobic. She believes in happy endings. The twist of fate that binds them is a surprise they never saw coming in a bittersweet romance about instant family—and not-so-instant love.A decade-old animosity is the only thing Liam Davies and Zoe Valentine have in common... -
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![Roman by Samantha Whiskey]()
Roman by Samantha Whiskey
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsI’m one of the fastest running backs in the NFL, but I can’t outrun my feelings for my best friend.I’ve wanted Teagan Hall for over a decade, but I’ve never been willing to risk our friendship.Then she shows up at my doorstep, fleeing her abusive ex, and everything changes.Now she’s not just my best friend—she’s my roommate.She's also the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.Every innocent touch crackles... -
![One Night Valentine by Hope Ford]()
One Night Valentine by Hope Ford
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIt’s not a question of IF this football star can resist the curvy florist but rather WHEN he’ll give in…Cruz It is said that you only want what you cannot have. I hate to be a cliche, but that statement rings true for me.In my case it’s not what I want, but rather who. Tara Brooks. Sweet, funny, and my little sister’s best friend... -
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![Tight Laced by Lisa Suzanne]()
Tight Laced by Lisa Suzanne
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsOne of us will have to give up the future we’ve dreamed of if we’re going to make this work. It’s not going to be me. We can’t both have that same thought if we want to stay together when our contract ends.But the more I see him struggle against the things his mother does to him, the harder I fall. The more his ex tries to get in his way, the more I want to stand up for him...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers forced proximity siblings-bff age difference contemporary length-short m-f -
![Are We There Yet? by Savannah Scott]()
Are We There Yet? by Savannah Scott
A vintage VW van. Four friends. A cross-country road trip.It will be the best adventure of my life, if only I can shake the feelings I have for Cameron .Cameron Reeves is as gorgeous as his name makes him sound.He’s about six feet tall, which is the height I always wrote in my ideal man list in my journal. Yes. I have a list of qualities I want in a man... -
![Forcing You Away by Kennedy Fox]()
Forcing You Away by Kennedy Fox
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAs I search for a fresh start, a friend convinces me to move to his small town. Considering I don’t have a place to live, his little sister offers me her spare room.She’s every man’s dream—witty, down to earth, and gorgeous as hell—too bad she’s off-limits. Unspoken words and stolen glances have me eager to please her in all the forbidden ways...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity siblings-bff contemporary new adult angst length-short -
![Knock Out by Jiffy Kate]()
Knock Out by Jiffy Kate
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsIn the blink of an eye, Willow Bernard goes from stocking shelves at the Piggly Wiggly to kicking butt at Viking MMA.Willow Bernard has taken a lot of hits in her twenty-two years but always manages to come back swinging. Hoping to fly under the radar for a change, she relocates to Green Valley...Categorized as:
sports grumpy sunshine friends to lovers forced proximity fighters contemporary humor length-long -
![Tight Fit by Lisa Suzanne]()
Tight Fit by Lisa Suzanne
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIt’s okay to admit I’m scared.Outside forces are working hard to tear us apart, but we’ve teamed up against them. It’s the internal struggles we’re battling that could spell the ultimate end.When Ben makes a public show to prove how committed we are, I’m left confused as I struggle to figure out whether his feelings for me are real or if they’re part of the act...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers forced proximity age difference contemporary length-short m-f -
![The Scientist by Kristen B. Cole, Margo Lipschultz]()
The Scientist by Kristen B. Cole, Margo Lipschultz
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsWhen an outgoing musical maven meets the enigmatic neuroscientist next door, will their worlds clash in a dramatic showdown of art versus science, or will they discover that love is the ultimate experiment worth conducting?When celebrated Broadway composer Hadley Olivier’s best friend receives a life-threatening diagnosis, Hadley says goodbye to her beloved home in NYC and sets off to the West...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine friends to lovers forced proximity contemporary humor menage length-long -
![Someone You Love by Kristen Granata]()
Someone You Love by Kristen Granata
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsA touching forced proximity summer romance about healing and taking chances.Charly Johnson created a bucket list when cancer left her mother with less than a year to live. They didn’t make it all the way through the list before she died, but she made Charly promise to finish it and live her life to the fullest.Spending the summer in a coastal mountain city in Maine is next on her list...Categorized as:
sports forced proximity grumpy sunshine football new adult contemporary christian length-medium -
![Writing the Rules by Mariah Dietz]()
Writing the Rules by Mariah Dietz
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsPoppy Anderson was nailing her sophomore year at Brighton University. She liked her classes, had the greatest best friend, and was finally ready to start dating again. Or she was … until her ex, Mike, transferred to Brighton and started exchanging long stares and inside jokes that Poppy thought he’d forgotten.Paxton Lawson was long ago labeled ‘The Golden Boy...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers siblings-bff football contemporary new adult college length-long -
![Flirting With Forever by Claire Kingsley]()
Flirting With Forever by Claire Kingsley
He’ll break all her rulesNora Lakes is sophisticated, successful, and happily single. Career problems aside, her life is fine the way it is, thank you very much. Sure, her best friends are all moving into a new season of life—full of husbands and babies and white picket fences. But that’s not what Nora wants. Neither is the gruff, tattooed guy next door. Tattoo artist Dex St... -
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![Tell Me a Story by Kaylee Ryan, Lacey Black]()
Tell Me a Story by Kaylee Ryan, Lacey Black
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 22 ratingsJoey I don’t want to be someone’s dirty little secret. I know all too well what that feels like. Guarding my heart means staying out of pro football player Brock Williams’s bed and out of the spotlight. But after all these years, he’s exactly like I remember, charming, determined, and used to getting what he wants. And what he wants now is me. The chemistry between us is undeniable... -
![Cheap Trick by Emily Goodwin]()
Cheap Trick by Emily Goodwin
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsDanielle Cross has spent her whole life running from breakups and troubles. She’s never stayed in the same place for long…until now.The moment she walks through the doors of Logan Dawson’s bar, there’s an attraction between them neither can deny. And when Danielle needs a date to her sister’s wedding, Logan is the man for the job...Categorized as:
friends to lovers dual-pov forced proximity contemporary office new adult length-short -
![If It's Only Love by Lexi Ryan]()
If It's Only Love by Lexi Ryan
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsFrom New York Times bestseller Lexi Ryan comes a sexy new standalone romance in the bestselling Boys of Jackson Harbor series. Meet single dad Easton Connor as he leaves the NFL and returns to Jackson Harbor to fight for another chance with the love of his life. *** I don’t regret much. Not my decision to enter the NFL draft before finishing college...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers single-father siblings-bff contemporary new adult length-medium -
![Falling into Forever by Avery Maxwell]()
Falling into Forever by Avery Maxwell
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsWhat’s a brokenhearted romance novelist to do when an interview accidentally turns her into the villain? I’ll tell you one thing—the plan definitely wasn’t to turn to the man who taught me that happily ever afters exist only on the page...Categorized as:
friends to lovers grumpy sunshine forced proximity contemporary from hate to love m-f -
![The Sneak Peak: A Single Dad, Small Town Romance by Victoria Wilder]()
The Sneak Peak: A Single Dad, Small Town Romance by Victoria Wilder
My Best Friend. Young. Tempting . She bid on me at my company’s charity auction and won. Back then, she was too young, with hearts in her eyes and her whole life ahead of her. That’s how we started, and after all this time, she’s become my best friend. Being a single dad of twins and running Colorado's most successful summer sports company requires control and focus...Categorized as:
sports forced proximity grumpy sunshine single-father dual-pov friends to lovers contemporary humor -
![The Brickwall and The Bombshell: a fake dating baseball romance by Jiffy Kate]()
The Brickwall and The Bombshell: a fake dating baseball romance by Jiffy Kate
He needs respectability and she needs a safe place to land. It’s a win-win, right? Mack Granger’s reputation is a PR nightmare. As his career winds down, he realizes he needs to clean up his act. One way to secure his post-MLB future is to convince the media he’s in a stable, loving relationship. When fate drops a roomie with benefits into his lap, it’s like hitting a grand slam...Categorized as:
dual-pov sports friends to lovers forced proximity suspense mystery contemporary explicit-open-door -
![The One I Want by Chelle Sloan]()
The One I Want by Chelle Sloan
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAs a professional football player, I had a playbook for everything on the field. Then I retired and found out there’s no playbook for life—especially when the one you thought was perfect gets flipped upside down. There’s no play for suddenly becoming a divorced, single dad. There’s no plan for moving your family back to the town you grew up in...Categorized as:
sports single-father forced proximity friends to lovers football age difference contemporary humor -
![Accidentally In Love with my Best Friend's Brother by Abby Greyson]()
Accidentally In Love with my Best Friend's Brother by Abby Greyson
This is a kisses only, sweet romance.My best friend’s annoying brother, some spilled tea, and a crazy proposition.Josh Owen’s is the top receiver in the NFL, with a bad boy reputation. He’s click bait fodder for any, and all, gossip columns.A released video shows us “kissing”, and the news is spreading like wildfire.Now me, "good girl" Brie, is in the rumor mills with him... -
![Make Your Save by Cali Melle]()
Make Your Save by Cali Melle
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFalling for my ex-boyfriend’s brother was never supposed to happen… especially while I’m pretending to be his fiancée.When I find Rowan Taylor’s infant daughter abandoned outside the hospital I work at, both of our lives are instantly flipped upside down...Categorized as:
single-father forced proximity sports friends to lovers dual-pov hockey secret child found-family -
![With a Hitch by R.C. Boldt]()
With a Hitch by R.C. Boldt
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsRC Boldt brings us a smart, sexy new standalone about a matchmaker/dating coach who's faced with the challenge of finding Mrs. Right for the city's beloved NFL wide receiver... She’s playing it safe. He’s playing for keeps. DARCY Growing up in the foster system, I learned the hard way that lasting love doesn't always come easy... -
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![Burn by Ginger Scott]()
Burn by Ginger Scott
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratings**Burn is the third and final book in the brother’s-best-friend, friends-to-lovers Fuel Series by Ginger Scott. This second-chance romance completes this angsty, steamy, new adult trilogy.Dustin Bridge’s world is about speed. About the edge. His life has been carved by cutting corners and making moves, following impulsive decisions while weighing the facts at hand... -
![Rule Breaker by Stacey Lynn]()
Rule Breaker by Stacey Lynn
Spending the night in jail isn’t exactly how I planned to spend Christmas, but I’ve had worse holidays… Now that I’m out, it’s time to accept my real punishment. Coaching ten-year-old terrors on the ice, in my non-existent free time. My Coach thinks it’d be good for me. Remind me where I came from. He should know I’ve tried every day of my life for the last ten years to forget... -
![Kind of a Sexy Jerk by Lili Valente]()
Kind of a Sexy Jerk by Lili Valente
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsSo let me get this straight... For the next few days I’ve got myself a grumpy fake husband who’s also kind of my...bodyguard?I guess that’s a better way to spend the weekend than binge-watching reality television, especially since it’s kind of my fault we’re on the run from the mob and I need a protector.Oops... -
![Fumbled by Lisa Suzanne]()
Fumbled by Lisa Suzanne
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsAs a pro football player, I’m known for scoring both on and off the field. But all that changes when a tragic accident leaves me as a single dad to a little girl. With both our lives flipped upside down, I’m scrambling to balance my career while supporting the needs of a girl who just had her life torn apart... -
![Fake Start by Jasmin Miller]()
Fake Start by Jasmin Miller
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsYou know that awkward moment when your agent tells you to fake date your best friend’s sister so you can get the endorsement deal of your dreams? No? Call me crazy for considering it, but why not? Daisy’s my friend, after all, and I’ve gotten quite close to her and her two awesome boys over the last few years since her douche-nozzle husband divorced her... -
![That Time I Kissed The Groomsman Grump by Julie Christianson]()
That Time I Kissed The Groomsman Grump by Julie Christianson
BRADYYeah, I shouldn’t have kissed Natalie Slater.Not on the porch. Or at the beach. Or in the storage closet. Especially not the storage closet. But to be fair, she kissed me first. Six months later, I’m still thinking about it.Trouble is, I’ve made promises that tie me to our small town, while Natalie can’t wait to escape. I’ve got no business pursuing her or my secret ambitions... -
![Collide with Me by Claudia Y. Burgoa]()
Collide with Me by Claudia Y. Burgoa
Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsUSA TODAY Bestselling Author Claudia Burgoa continues a romantic comedy series of enemies who become lovers. A romance where opposites attract and being different leads to falling in love. I love routine. Schedules. Stability.And I’m about to travel across the country with an actual chicken and the one man who I would schedule a root canal to avoid.How did this happen? Let me back up...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity dual-pov from hate to love contemporary length-medium -
![Single Dad Center by Latisha Sexton]()
Single Dad Center by Latisha Sexton
The Denver Dragon’s captain’s perfect life was ripped to shreds when his wife suddenly passed away two years ago, leaving him a single father to their toddler girl. Since then, Archer Sullivan has taken his grief and anger out on the puck. When he’s not shredding it on the ice, he’s playing princess and having tea parties with his four-year-old daughter, Indigo...Categorized as:
single-father sports friends to lovers grumpy sunshine contemporary christian hockey length-medium -
![Perfect Praise by Grace Pearce]()
Perfect Praise by Grace Pearce
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsMaren and Locke both exist in the same world of professional golf—he's the number one player in the world while she just takes his picture.Never mind that Locke unintentionally leads the press to believe that he and Maren are dating, because when she confronts him, he couldn't care less... -
![Game Changer: A Wynn Hockey Novel by Kelly Jamieson]()
Game Changer: A Wynn Hockey Novel by Kelly Jamieson
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsJackson Wynn I don’t want anything to do with my crazy family’s drama, which I’ve been watching unfold from a distance over the last year, but now my grandfather has Alzheimer’s and I feel I need to at least make a quick visit to see him. My hockey season’s over, all I have to do is get through my teammate Steve’s wedding, and then I’m on a plane to Los Angeles to do my family duty... -
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![It Doesn't Have to Be This Hard by Christina Hovland]()
It Doesn't Have to Be This Hard by Christina Hovland
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFrom USA Today bestselling author Christina Hovland comes a single parent, #DateMyCelebrityDad, forced proximity romance. Divorce her Beverly Hills check. Set the neighborhood dumpster on fire with her nightstand buddy… check. Her hunky celebrity chef neighbor rushes to her aid? Sigh. Check mate... -
![The Fastball by Emily Childs]()
The Fastball by Emily Childs
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsShe's the coach's aggravating daughter. He's the shy guy on first base. And they have no idea they're keeping the same secret. After a devastating accident that leaves his throwing hand in shambles, MLB first baseman, Dax Sage, finds out the woman handling the PR for his recovery is none other than the gorgeous, frigid daughter of his head coach... -
![Sean by Sheridan Anne]()
Sean by Sheridan Anne
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSean -I’m a shell of the man I used to be.Three years ago, my world shattered.My wife died the day my daughter was born and she took my soul with her.I’ve never been able to get it back.Not until she came and saved me.Gigi -He came storming into my ER screaming for help.I never thought that moment would define the rest of my life.He’s broken and tortured, but not for long...Categorized as:
sports single-father friends to lovers dual-pov new adult contemporary hockey super rich hero -
![The Grump's Guide to Chaos: A Small Town Grumpy-Sunshine Romantic Comedy by Valerie Pepper]()
The Grump's Guide to Chaos: A Small Town Grumpy-Sunshine Romantic Comedy by Valerie Pepper
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsShe’s chaos and sunshine. He’s order and grumpiness. What could possibly go wrong?When Tori Welch upends her career and comes home for a reset, she’s forced to stay at the local B&B instead of her mom’s house. And that would be fine, except her only regret in life happens to be the innkeeper.Will Joseph likes order and rules... -
![Faked and Fumbled by Gina Azzi]()
Faked and Fumbled by Gina Azzi
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsKnoxville Coyotes football heartthrob Cohen Campbell is my brother’s best friend. Now, he’s the man posing as my fake boyfriend. Simple, right? Wrong.I thought my luck couldn’t get worse than when my long-term boyfriend publicly dumped me. Wrong again. Now, my ex is dating my cousin, and our friend group is embarking on an annual ski trip.Desperate to save face, I beg Cohen to pretend to like me...Categorized as:
sports football friends to lovers siblings-bff forced proximity humor contemporary athletes -
![Saving the Halfback by Aly Westman]()
Saving the Halfback by Aly Westman
Traumatic past, dark secrets, found family.I spent most of high school as a ghost. Avoiding, blending, disappearing. It wasn’t until my ex slipped into a coma after a freak accident that something inside me shifted. I was able to breathe again, find myself. I even joined the football team, something my ex never would’ve allowed...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers dual-pov football reverse harem high-school contemporary poly -
![On a Flight to Sydney by J.A. Forde]()
On a Flight to Sydney by J.A. Forde
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhat if the very last thing you’re looking for turns out to be exactly what you need?Joss Morgan is perfectly happy with her life in Sydney, thank-you-very-much. She may be single, have only one true friend, and live alone… but she doesn’t need a man… or more friends… or anything at all...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity dual-pov contemporary military humor length-medium -
![Kissing the Quarterback by Jacob Chance]()
Kissing the Quarterback by Jacob Chance
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAs the quarterback for the Charleston Pirates, the current Super Bowl champs, I lead a blessed life. Between my salary and endorsements, I have more money than I could ever spend.But when the sale of my old home doesn’t line up with the closing on my new one, I’m forced to take up residency in a friend’s empty house.Except, it’s not empty... -
![Autumn Nights by Willow Aster]()
Autumn Nights by Willow Aster
He's a hot football star and a sexy-as-sin single dad. Zac Ledger is everything I never knew I wanted.A prince on a white horse swooping in to save the day...Isn't that every girl's dream? Maybe for some, but I've never expected to find my own happily ever after... -
![Home Game by Lisa Suzanne]()
Home Game by Lisa Suzanne
Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsGetting fired and dumped in the same thirty seconds makes for a pretty bad Tuesday. But by Thursday, I’ll be in Vegas celebrating my brother’s wedding. Since I could use a fresh start, he offers me a place to stay with a buddy of his.At the bachelorette party, a raunchy game results in a quest to find me a one-night stand... -
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![Reckless Impulse by L.A. Shaw]()
Reckless Impulse by L.A. Shaw
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAs kids, we had an unexplainable bond. One I don’t think we even understood back then.Over time, the pull between us developed into something we could no longer ignore.We were reckless, we were impulsive, we were… everything.Until it all came shattering down... -
![Baby Llama Drama by Kate Watson]()
Baby Llama Drama by Kate Watson
Embittered single dad Duke has sworn off love forever. Unfortunately, his daughter just met the mother of her dreams. I have it all. I work my dream job doing animal-assisted therapy, I live with the four best friends in history, and I own an actual pair of Louboutins. I should be content... -
![Lucky Number Eleven by Adriana Locke]()
Lucky Number Eleven by Adriana Locke
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 33 ratingsI’ve always been the person that does whatever someone tells me I can’t. Can’t graduate with a four-point-oh? Check.Can’t win a modeling contract without trying? Did it. Check.Can’t make it in the pro football league? Triple check with an MVP Award on top.When my best friend told me to stay away from his little sister, Layla, it didn’t sound like a challenge. Then again, I’d never seen her before... -
![Off-Ice Collision by Cali Melle]()
Off-Ice Collision by Cali Melle
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsVaughn One moment in time, one freak accident, and my entire hockey career was over. Two years had passed since my injury and I am still mentally struggling with this loss. Mad at the world and everyone in it, I sought solace at my parents' lake house for the summer. It was supposed to be somewhere for me to be alone and heal...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine sports friends to lovers dual-pov forced proximity contemporary new adult college -
![Grumpy Player by R.C. Stephens]()
Grumpy Player by R.C. Stephens
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsMarrying the nanny wasn’t my biggest mistake… falling for her was. Being injured on the ice doesn’t just make me a grumpy goalie, it makes me a frustrated single dad unable to care for my daughter… or myself.Ellie is the perfect candidate— kind, patient, beautiful, and looking for a place to call home after a falling out with her family...Categorized as:
sports single-father grumpy sunshine forced proximity hockey contemporary alpha male length-medium -
![Blindsided by Shey Stahl]()
Blindsided by Shey Stahl
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsLandon Slade. Highest paid quarterback in the NFL. Demi-god. Certifiable ladies’ man. It’s no secret my ego is boosted. Being light on my feet and good with my hands, I control the plays and my stamina is legendary. And on and off the field, I make the decisions, the rules. Do I do complicated? Hell, no. I take what I want, tackle life my way. But then there’s her...
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