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.
sports forced proximity found-family single-father friends to lovers grumpy sunshine football siblings-bff athletes
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Fumble. Pass. Repeat. by T'Lyn
Rated: 4.62 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsKyce Jefferson understood change. His life had been a continuous reminder that nothing last for ever. However, his one constant had always been football. Women come and go but the Chicago Bears was his team, his home and his life. Being traded was the last thing he expected or wanted.Iyoni Nixon lived and breathed for her son. He was her reason... -
![Moms of Mayhem by Aimee Vance]()
Moms of Mayhem by Aimee Vance
Rated: 4.62 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsStarting over was never part of the playbook.Fresh off a failed marriage and years of putting everyone else first, Emmy Hudson returns to her small hometown determined to rebuild a life for her and her teenage son, Jace. With her brother close by and Jace joining the once-elite Mayhem Hockey Club, it seems like the perfect second chance...Categorized as:
sports found-family siblings-bff friends to lovers grumpy sunshine athletes hockey contemporary -
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![Roman by Samantha Whiskey]()
Roman by Samantha Whiskey
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 28 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... -
![Dice by Teagan Brooks]()
Dice by Teagan Brooks
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsDaphneMy life took a drastic turn when my husband of three years told me he was leaving me. He’d been having an affair, and the woman had just given birth to his child. To say I was shocked would have been an understatement, but not for the usual reasons. What surprised me was the overwhelming feeling of relief I felt when he said he was leaving... -
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![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... -
![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 -
![All This Time by Harlow James]()
All This Time by Harlow James
Fletcher Adams is not just the man that stole my heart at fifteen and never gave it back.He’s also my brother’s best friend, and now one of the most famous players in the NFL.But now he’s back in Blossom Peak for our mutual friend’s wedding, and guess who are the maid of honor and best man?That would be us... -
![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 -
![Promise Me This by Hannah Bird]()
Promise Me This by Hannah Bird
Forever wasn’t supposed to look like this.When Leona Granger studied abroad in Ireland, she spent a lot more time falling in love with Callum Walsh than she did in the classroom. On the eve of her return to the States, she promised to come back for him when she finished college. They said goodbye under the stars, sealing their promise with more than just a kiss... -
![Someone To Love by Michelle Major]()
Someone To Love by Michelle Major
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsOne month. One fake boyfriend. One shot at forever.I’ve got four weeks to cross one thing off my bucket list—and it isn’t exactly PG.I’m not the type to take risks, but when a friend battling cancer dares you to go big, you don’t say no. My mission? Lose my V-card before my baby sister’s wedding. Did I mention she’s marrying my high school crush? Yeah... -
![If Love Had A Manual (Skeptically In Love) by Laura Ashley Gallagher]()
If Love Had A Manual (Skeptically In Love) by Laura Ashley Gallagher
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAfter a family tragedy leaves Wes Turner as the unexpected guardian of his one-year-old niece, he’s drowning in responsibilities he never asked for. Running his auto shop is hard enough—raising a baby on his own? Impossible. Enter Lena a no-nonsense nanny with a soft heart and a past she keeps locked away... -
![The Love Trick by Kristine W. Joy]()
The Love Trick by Kristine W. Joy
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsDon’t tell lies. Otherwise, you might end up stuck in Hawaii, pretending to be in love with your best friend just to save face at your little sister’s wedding.I’m nearly thirty and forever alone.But my little sister is getting married to the man of my parents’ dreams … and my love life—or lack thereof—is back in the spotlight...Categorized as:
friends to lovers sports athletes forced proximity found-family hockey dual-pov humor -
![Caught from Behind by Elise Faber]()
Caught from Behind by Elise Faber
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsIt's always the quiet ones you have to watch out for. I’ve had a crush on my brother’s teammate and friend for a long time… Long enough to know that my interest isn’t reciprocated. I’m destined to be his teammate’s little sister—untouchable and completely off-limits no matter how hard I try to convince him otherwise. But then…everything changes...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers siblings-bff grumpy sunshine found-family hockey sassy heroine angst -
![A Callahan Wedding by Monica Murphy]()
A Callahan Wedding by Monica Murphy
Rated: 4.47 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe sweet and sexy conclusion to New York Times bestselling author, Monica Murphy’s standalone Callahan series, bringing readers along for the ride as fan favorites, Jake and Hannah get married! Hannah Walsh. Gorgeous. Intelligent. My first love. My high school sweetheart. My everything. And now my fiancée...Categorized as:
athletes friends to lovers sports found-family alpha male contemporary new adult m-f -
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![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 -
![If It's Only Love by Lexi Ryan]()
If It's Only Love by Lexi Ryan
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 19 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 audiobook -
![The Marriage Auction 2, Book One by Audrey Carlan]()
The Marriage Auction 2, Book One by Audrey Carlan
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThree women and one man put themselves up for auction in a high-stakes game of marriage, money, and mayhem. The spice is high, the characters intense, and the plot will keep you guessing until the bitter end. This is the filthy, gritty, angsty soap opera you never knew you needed. Welcome to The Marriage Auction... -
![Off Limits by Chelle Sloan]()
Off Limits by Chelle Sloan
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsProfessional football has an actual rulebook, but it’s the unwritten rules that come with the harshest consequences.The biggest one of all: don’t date your teammate’s sister. And if you do, don’t you dare fall in love with her.I never meant to fall, but when it comes to Brenna Donald, I never stood a chance. She’s everything I’m not--a light-hearted wild child who shines brighter than the sun...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers athletes siblings-bff forbidden love contemporary humor length-medium -
![Caution by A.K. Evans]()
Caution by A.K. Evans
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsLike every hardworking member of Harper Security Ops, Forrest Hickman takes time away from work to relax and recharge. And he often does that while riding his snowboard on the slopes of his favorite ski resort.He wasn’t sure anything would be better than some time alone to clear his head. That is, until he meets someone to spend his break with... -
![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... -
![Highest Point by Kels Stone, Denise Stone]()
Highest Point by Kels Stone, Denise Stone
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA daring mountaineer helps a ballerina on a mission to train for a winner-takes-all competition in the Alaskan wilderness in this sports romance.Alec HastingsI had a plan for everything. Gear lists, weather patterns, mountain routes down to the mile.But nothing prepared me for the moment I watched my best friend fall into the abyss... -
![At First Flight by Renee Harless]()
At First Flight by Renee Harless
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLila Wright never expected to flee her dress fitting covered in a cloud of lace—let alone land in a first-class seat next to the most gorgeous man she’s ever seen. With mascara-streaked cheeks, a shattered heart, and no plan beyond “anywhere but here,” she spills her secrets to the stranger with the sharp jawline and stormy eyes. She expects a little sympathy... -
![Searching for Sunshine by Hollie Luckie]()
Searching for Sunshine by Hollie Luckie
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsYou know what they say— when everything’s falling apart, move to the beach and marry the grumpy boat captain you haven’t seen in over a decade. After losing both my teaching job in the city and my grandmother, I feel like I have no idea what to do with my life... -
![The Valentine's Bet: A Sweet RomCom by Kristine W. Joy]()
The Valentine's Bet: A Sweet RomCom by Kristine W. Joy
What happens when a hopeful romantic bets a grumpy skeptic that love really exists?Now that I’ve landed my dream job in NYC, I’m finally ready to find Mr. Right.What better way to meet new people in a big city than a speed dating event?Or so I thought—until I got stuck with the biggest cynic in the room... -
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![Play With Me by Claire Wilder]()
Play With Me by Claire Wilder
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsA shy librarian and a charming ex-tennis pro single dad come together in this steamy friends-to-lovers romance from USA Today bestseller Claire Wilder. With banter, steam, and a guaranteed Happily Ever After.I’ve been in love with my best friend Jude Kelly—and his dark-haired mini-me son Cap—since the moment they walked into my library... -
![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 -
![Undeniable Love by Samantha Chase]()
Undeniable Love by Samantha Chase
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsA Small Town, Enemies to Lovers, Sports Romance from New York Times bestselling author, Samantha Chase She’s a small town girl looking to escape her monotonous life. He’s the NFL superstar looking to return to his roots. Twelve years ago, he nearly destroyed her family. Now they’re working together and the attraction she feels is…completely undeniable. Lucy Dawson dreamed of leaving South Creek... -
![Perfect Pairing by Amanda Chaperon]()
Perfect Pairing by Amanda Chaperon
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsLife has been good for Ezra Wendt and his son, Hansen, since he accepted the head chef position at the Chateau Delatou winery. Well, mostly good—except for that time he pushed away Brie, the girl of his dreams, in a moment of cowardice.Bakery owner Brie Delatou has everything a girl could an amazing family, a thriving business, and the perfect small town to call home... -
![The Trail Often Crossed by Ambar Cordova]()
The Trail Often Crossed by Ambar Cordova
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsIn this spicy sports romance, a woman has to face her attraction to the new man in town, who happens to be her newest rival.Everything she touches dies.Roe has always been a trailblazer. From a very young age, she learned that life has its own twists and turns, and the only way of making it out the other side is on your own...Categorized as:
sports forced proximity grumpy sunshine found-family multicultural contemporary suspense male-pov -
![Silver Linings by Violet Page]()
Silver Linings by Violet Page
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsSilver James has perfected the art of keeping everything at a distance—her career, her friends, and most definitely romance. Her motto is simple: keep life carefree and fun. The more she avoids the unexpected, the less likely she is to get hurt... -
![Stout of My League by Sylvie Stewart]()
Stout of My League by Sylvie Stewart
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsLynn Brooks is officially over it.With four overprotective brothers, the youngest Brooks sibling has had enough with bossy alphas. So, when professional baseball star Joey Martel makes a play for her, she's determined to steer clear of him and his toxic circle of jocks. Being the latest conquest for another overbearing caveman? No thanks...Categorized as:
friends to lovers sports grumpy sunshine athletes contemporary age difference humor length-medium -
![Force Play by Lo Everett]()
Force Play by Lo Everett
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsI’ve always been that guy; charming, charismatic, the one that things come easy for. Baseball is the only thing I’ve ever had to work at … until her. Maybe that carefree smile I wear is part of the reason why I’ve developed a reputation as a playboy. Okay, some of it is deserved. Deep down, under the one-night stands and fun-loving spirit, I’ve always wanted a lasting love like my parents have... -
![Faked and Fumbled by Gina Azzi]()
Faked and Fumbled by Gina Azzi
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 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 athletes forced proximity humor contemporary -
![It Happened on a Sunday by Tracy Wolff]()
It Happened on a Sunday by Tracy Wolff
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsFrom #1 New York Times bestselling author Tracy Wolff comes a fierce, emotional romance about surviving the spotlight, outrunning your past, and choosing love when everything says you shouldn’t.They call her the Black Widow. A pop star. A tabloid tragedy. A girl who set the world on fire—and got burned in return.But Sloane Walker doesn’t care what they say. Not anymore...Categorized as:
found-family football friends to lovers sports contemporary humor length-long audiobook -
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![Suddenly Entwined by Kelsey Woods]()
Suddenly Entwined by Kelsey Woods
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsCarolinaAfter making the dumbest mistake of my life, I need a safe place to figure out what comes next. When my older brother’s best friend offers me free room and board in exchange for caring for his daughters, it feels like coming home. These two little girls become more than a job– and their handsome dad so much more than a boss... -
![The Heart Beat by Alice DesMerveilles]()
The Heart Beat by Alice DesMerveilles
Le second tome de la saga phénomène Wattpad aux 3 millions de lecteurs débarque enfin sur vos liseuses !Ashley court après les mecs, court après l'amour, court après son père.Mais la vérité, c'est qu'elle ne cesse jamais d'être déçue par les hommes. Elle collectionne les plans cul sans attaches et les coups d'un soir qu'elle finit toujours par regretter... -
![Stolen Vows by Penelope Black]()
Stolen Vows by Penelope Black
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsGraham Carter: ethical hacker, resident grump of Avalon Falls, and the man who’s about to make me his wife.For convenience, of course.I need an escape plan—fast. My family expects me to marry a man I can’t stand, and Graham needs a wife to secure his inheritance. A simple deal, no emotions involved. Just one year of marriage, and we both walk away with exactly what we want... -
![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... -
![The Bucket List by Alice DesMerveilles]()
The Bucket List by Alice DesMerveilles
Le phénomène Wattpad aux 3 millions de lecteurs débarque enfin sur vos liseuses ! Lily a tout pour être heureuse : de bonnes notes à la fac, un environnement familial sain et une carrière de médecin en perspective.Seulement, elle est trop sage, trop sérieuse, à l’inverse de son frère, Kyllian, qui part en vrille depuis la mort de leur père...Categorized as:
sports found-family forced proximity football new adult from hate to love length-long open-door -
![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... -
![The Reno by Maggie Grant]()
The Reno by Maggie Grant
The Reno is a grumpy-sunshine romcom for fans of Tessa Bailey and Talia Hibbert, with the quirky characters of Gilmore Girls. Love wasn’t in the plan…When self-proclaimed flop Kat Williams moves miles north to Everly Heath to refurbish her late father’s childhood home, she thinks it will be a quick fixer-upper... -
![Someone You Love by Kristen Granata]()
Someone You Love by Kristen Granata
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 23 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 -
![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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![Seal The Deal: A Second Chance Hockey Romance by Hailey Rodger]()
Seal The Deal: A Second Chance Hockey Romance by Hailey Rodger
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsTwelve years. Two hearts. One love that refuses to fade. Jake Twelve years ago, I let her walk away.For one unforgettable summer, Charlie and I were inseparable—camp counselors sharing stolen laughs, late-night talks, and a bond so rare it left a mark. But when the summer ended, we said goodbye, thinking the world was too big for us to hold onto each other...Categorized as:
sports found-family friends to lovers athletes hockey single-mother dual-pov contemporary -
![Fighting Dirty by Stacey Lynn]()
Fighting Dirty by Stacey Lynn
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe Raleigh Rough Riders are back, and this time Super Bowl Quarterback Beaux Hale finds himself playing the most important game of his life. Every woman knows Beaux Hale is nothing but a player. Yet the first time he walks into Paige Halloway’s restaurant and flashes his sexy grin, she feels a heat between them spark. Too bad he opens his mouth and ruins it... -
![Bodychecking by Jami Davenport]()
Bodychecking by Jami Davenport
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsAs the wild child of the family, Bellani Maxwell isn’t interested in settling down. Between a fledgling party crashing business, teaching self-defense at a martial arts studio, and hitting the bar every night, she has her hands full. She doesn’t need the added responsibility or commitment of a relationship... -
![Wreck by Ginger Scott]()
Wreck by Ginger Scott
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratings**Wreck is the second book in the brother’s-best-friend, friends-to-lovers Fuel Series by Ginger Scott.When Dustin Bridges left Camp Verde to try to make it on his own, he left half his heart behind. A life with Hannah Judge was just too dangerous... -
![Wildflowers and Wide Receivers by Kathryn Andrews]()
Wildflowers and Wide Receivers by Kathryn Andrews
A few years ago, I wrote a short story set at a private party on New Year’s Eve about Jonah Dallman, the Tampa Tarpons newest wide receiver, and Sophie Black. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about them, his teammates and what would have happened next...Categorized as:
found-family sports athletes forced proximity football single-father age difference contemporary -
![Curveball by Kate Angell]()
Curveball by Kate Angell
Rated: 4.04 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsThe bad boys of baseball, they are the top power hitters of the Richmond Rogues, and the team's best hope for a shot at the World Series. But when all three have to be benched for brawling, it's the beginning of a whole new ball game, and the opposing team could win something more than a trophy--these ladies are after their hearts...
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