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 dual-pov athletes
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Made For You by Kami Holt
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsTHIS IS A RERELEASE!!!!Please be aware that this book has been previously released under the same title.Why doesn’t she love me? That’s the question that lives rent free in CiyaniRobinson’s head. After tragedy strikes, her mother completely abandons herleaving her with responsibilities that she was not old enough to handle on herown...Categorized as:
friends to lovers found-family sports dual-pov african-american length-medium contemporary -
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... -
Roman by Samantha Whiskey
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 27 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
Rated: 4.54 of 5 stars · 13 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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The Dandelion Diary by Devney Perry, Connor Crais
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsFrom Wall Street Journal bestselling author Devney Perry comes a new story in her Maysen Jar series…Dear Diary,My dad needs a girlfriend, and I’ve already picked her out.Miss Adler would be perfect for him, right? She’s super pretty. She has the best smile and she gives the best hugs. And she’s, like, the most amazing teacher in the world.Dad is my hero, but I can tell he’s lonely... -
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
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 -
Forgotten Dreams by Natasha Madison
When the box of secrets is opened, no one is left the same. SierraI thought I knew until I accidentally discovered my adoring parents' biggest secret on mytwenty-fifth birthday.I am adopted.Part of me is missing, and I set out to find it.Trying to figure out the past piece by piece, I bought a little fixer-upper in the small town I wasgiven up in.Old lies will come out... -
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 -
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... -
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... -
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... -
The One I Need by Chelle Sloan
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsYou’re cordially invited to the wedding of Oliver Price and Izzy McCall…That’s how my wedding invitations should have started. I should know, I’ve had my wedding planned since I was ten. I should’ve been wearing a designer tuxedo, not a tuxedo t-shirt. The wedding should’ve been in a church with family and friends, not in a 1960’s style chapel with Elvis as the officiant... -
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 -
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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 -
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 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... -
The Sneak Peak 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 -
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 -
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 -
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... -
Silent Knight by Beth Bolden
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsJeremiah—or Jem, as his friends like to call him—Knight is stuck at a crossroads. Injured and unsure if he’ll be spending another season on the football field, he returns home for the holidays, hoping to lick his wounds in private. Only to be roped into being the mascot and grand marshal of the annual Christmas Falls festival and parade... -
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... -
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... -
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Jolly & Jaded by D.J. Krimmer, Amanda Willow
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsHer tireless holiday spirit is like a snowstorm in summer-overpowering, all-encompassing, and a wonder to behold... -
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... -
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 -
The Plays We Fake by Brooke O'Brien
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsUSA Today Bestselling author Brooke O'Brien returns to Braysen University in this fake dating, opposites attract standalone romance.I've heard the rumors about the football players in our small town. Trouble always has a way of finding them, and the girls can't get enough of their wild ways.Hayes Carver has the bad-boy reputation down to go with his scoring records and good looks...Categorized as:
sports football dual-pov grumpy sunshine friends to lovers college new adult alpha male -
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... -
Game Day by Piper Lawson
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsIn the heat of victory, I asked her to be mine forever. We’d both triumphed in our own way:Nova broke free from her past.I led my team to a championship and discovered life beyond the court. Our journey to "I do" was supposed to be easy. Except…The hottest resort in Aspen is only available is on short notice.A new season with the Denver Kodiaks looms on the horizon... -
Aftersome by Remi Rose
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsTen years ago, I lost the love of my life.In a blink of an eye, he was gone and to this day, I still seem to be picking up the pieces of my broken heart.But in losing Hayes, we had also lost Mal. The misunderstood hockey player who wished more than anything that he could turn back time and trade places with his best friend. So, in his grief and guilt, he left. Without a goodbye... -
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 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... -
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 -
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Ice, Love, & Other Penalties by Claudia Y. Burgoa
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFrom USA TODAY Bestselling Author Claudia Burgoa comes an enthralling single dad, hockey romance that skates through the challenges of forbidden love, healing after trauma, and found family.They say never mix business with pleasure.As a single father, and the captain of the Seattle Sasquatches, I’m adamant to keep every corner of my life separate and running perfectly... -
Undeniable Love by Samantha Chase
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 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... -
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
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 athletes forced proximity humor contemporary -
Single Chance: A Single Dad Small Town Romance by Amy Knupp
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSometimes all you get is a single chance to turn a surprise into happily ever after… Chance One night. That’s all I wanted. A single night to forget I’m a widowed single dad with a million responsibilities and a ton of emotional baggage. To remember what it’s like to just be a man. I didn’t need any extra drama in my life. Romantic complications? No thanks... -
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
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...Categorized as:
athletes friends to lovers grumpy sunshine sports single-father forced proximity dual-pov football -
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
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
Rated: 4.03 of 5 stars · 34 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... -
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The Heart Stealer by Katy Archer
He’s a hockey star with no strings attached and a life any other college student would be jealous of… but when he meets a girl with big green eyes and tears on her face, he’s a goner. When I open the door to our hockey frat house late one night and find a distraught woman shivering on the doorstep, every protective instinct inside me rises to the challenge...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers found-family forced proximity athletes hockey abuse college -
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 -
Break the Rules by Julia Jarrett
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsI live by one simple my daughter and baseball are all that matter. Until I get traded to the same team my unforgettable vacation fling works for.I wanted Willow Lawson from the first second I saw her, and once we gave in to temptation on the sunny beaches of Hawaii, I knew I’d never forget her.But our fling was meant to be just that. A hot vacation hookup and nothing more...Categorized as:
sports single-father forced proximity dual-pov found-family friends to lovers office baseball -
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... -
THE RULE BREAKER by Crystal Kaswell
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsRule #1 Hands off my kid sister’s best friendRule #2 See rule number oneRule #3 Seriously, don’t even think about touching LunaLuna is my new room mate. My very off limits room mate. My gorgeous, feisty, painfully tempting room mate.I try to keep my distance. To ignore her soft laugh, her intense eyes, her sweet smile... -
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 dual-pov athletes hockey single-mother contemporary
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