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]()
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... -
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![Imperfect Arrangement by Vikki Jay]()
Imperfect Arrangement by Vikki Jay
Rated: 5.00 of 5 stars · 1 ratingsRaymond Teager is the last man I ever expected to fall for— mostly because I can’t stand him. My biggest rival, the arrogant billionaire, is determined to buy the land my grandfather left me. The same land I’ve spent my whole life dreaming about turning into a wedding estate. We’re sworn enemies and this small town isn’t big enough for the both of us… until his daughter chooses me... -
![Run the Play by Kaylee Ryan]()
Run the Play by Kaylee Ryan
Rated: 4.37 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsNYT and USA Today Bestselling author Kaylee Ryan brings you a new standalone series surrounding the Nashville Rampage football team. Run the Play is a fake dating, found family, workplace, he falls first romance. Rowan. I swore I’d never look twice at a football player again, especially after barely surviving the last one...Categorized as:
sports found-family forced proximity football athletes friends to lovers contemporary new adult -
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![The Promise of Forever by Morgan Elizabeth]()
The Promise of Forever by Morgan Elizabeth
For as long as she can remember, Hallie Young’s life has been intertwined with the King family in every way that matters. Over the years, the Kings have become the family she always desperately wanted after her mom left, and there is nothing she would ever do to jeopardize that. Not even Jesse, her best friend’s hot older brother, whose name she used to doodle in the margins of her notebooks... -
![Just Breaking The Rules by Lauren Blakely]()
Just Breaking The Rules by Lauren Blakely
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsBreaking the rules has never tasted so good…. How did I end up opening a bakery with my brother’s hockey star best friend? Start with one cake disaster, add a dangerously hot pro athlete, and mix in a steamy encounter that definitely wasn’t supposed to happen... -
![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...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers football contemporary length-medium standalone standalone-first -
![Full Contact by Fiona Davenport]()
Full Contact by Fiona Davenport
Micah Daughtry knew he was done for after one smile from the tired, stubborn waitress at The Tight Line. And the linebacker wasn’t subtle about what he wanted. He just started showing up for Rylin Curtis like she already belonged to him. Except Rylin has strict dating rules: no customers, no bosses…and definitely not a pro football player with a panty-melting smile... -
![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 -
![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 -
![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... -
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![Careless Storm by Katherine Jay]()
Careless Storm by Katherine Jay
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI’m not his to protect, but the NFL's bad boy has never been one to follow the rules. Six years ago, I was living my dream life. Supportive family, amazing friends, admission into my dream college. .. And a secret relationship with my brother’s best friend. Zane and I had it all worked out until one horrific moment tore our worlds apart, sending us spiraling in different directions... -
![Silver Linings by Violet Page]()
Silver Linings by Violet Page
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 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... -
![Cooper by Lexi James]()
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![Neo: A Valentino-Petrov Heirs Novella by Kylie Kent]()
Neo: A Valentino-Petrov Heirs Novella by Kylie Kent
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsNeo. When you’re the heir to the Russian Bratva, nothing is off-limits. So when my sights are set on keeping the broken little blonde who just ran into me, that’s exactly what I do. I keep her. Even if she’s not so sure she wants to be kept. Caitlyn is afraid to trust me, and knowing her history, I don’t blame her. Lucky for us, I’m a patient man...Categorized as:
forced proximity found-family grumpy sunshine mafia insta-love suspense length-short -
![Quake by Giuliana Victoria]()
Quake by Giuliana Victoria
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsLark Hughes is the kind, sweet, and outgoing veterinarian who owns Toute la Famille, a non-profit veterinary clinic on the outskirts of Philadelphia. It's a typical night for Lark, working a late shift at the clinic, when one of the players from the Divine Flyers soccer team arrives with his golden retriever rescue, Pickles. He clearly takes them both by surprise when he asks her out...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers found-family soccer friends-benefits contemporary length-long -
![The Scientist by Kristen B. Cole, Margo Lipschultz]()
The Scientist by Kristen B. Cole, Margo Lipschultz
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 14 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 -
![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 -
![End Game by Riley Paige]()
End Game by Riley Paige
Rated: 4.69 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSloane-. My dad’s cancer is back and I keep trying to outrun the inevitable with practice, routines, and lists—anything to keep my hands busy so my heart doesn’t break. Logan Brooks, my brother’s best friend, moving back in with us was the changeup I didn’t see coming. I want to hate him, but he’s the only person who seems to quiet the panic in my chest...Categorized as:
sports siblings-bff friends to lovers found-family football forced proximity athletes new adult -
![Cage by Tia Louise]()
Cage by Tia Louise
Rated: 4.37 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsSometimes fate sends a sign, and sometimes it sends a bloodhound with a hot hockey player holding its leash, dragging it off you. Owen Stone is not your usual hockey player. He’s a six-foot-two single dad with dark hair, ocean eyes, and muscles for days. He’s also a last-minute trade trying to find a home for his seven-year-old daughter, his psychic sister, and his adoring bloodhound... -
![It Happened on a Sunday by Tracy Wolff]()
It Happened on a Sunday by Tracy Wolff
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 14 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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![Summer with the Single Dad by Whitley Cox]()
Summer with the Single Dad by Whitley Cox
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsWhat happens when the stubborn island prince falls for the mysterious stranger with a secret? Welcome to San Camanez, a humble, peaceful little island in the Puget Sound and home to the McEvoy brothers. Four sexy single fathers—and one childless snack with a beard—who run a brewpub on the beach, raise their kids together, and hope to find love and happiness in the chaos that is life...Categorized as:
found-family forced proximity single-father military contemporary multicultural length-long -
![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... -
![After The Vows by D.E. Haggerty]()
After The Vows by D.E. Haggerty
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe sexy cop next door wants nothing to do with me. Until he asks me to marry him to save his daughter. When Lucas moves in next door, I don’t waste any time trying to get his attention. But the police officer who looks strong enough to throw me over those wide shoulders of his and carry me away isn’t interested in me. Time for desperate measures... -
![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... -
![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...Categorized as:
forced proximity grumpy sunshine friends to lovers contemporary humor length-medium audiobook -
![Silent Knight by Beth Bolden]()
Silent Knight by Beth Bolden
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 19 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... -
![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 -
![Game Day by Piper Lawson]()
Game Day by Piper Lawson
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 11 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... -
![Drop Shot by Ella Wren]()
Drop Shot by Ella Wren
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsWhimsy. Traveling the world as one of the world’s top tennis player’s assistant should be the time of my life. Except Elias Johnson likes to make my life difficult just for the sake of it. Not to mention the annoying, no good, crush I’ve developed on him. I can’t help it. Even when he drives me insane there’s an underlying sweetness to him. But it’s not like I’m going to act on it... -
![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... -
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![Strong Side by Ava Sutton]()
Strong Side by Ava Sutton
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThis is book 3 in the Walker University Stallions series.Categorized as:
friends to lovers sports athletes football found-family friends-benefits college new adult -
![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... -
![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... -
![Aftersome by Remi Rose]()
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]()
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 Parent Playbook by Elsie Woods]()
The Parent Playbook by Elsie Woods
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsI don’t know when dad jokes and mismatched socks became my type, but that hockey dude skated into my life like a runaway puck… and I think I like it. I know I should be thankful that my charity was selected by the Ice Breakers hockey team. It’ll make a huge difference in children’s lives all over the state. There’s only one. I hate hockey dudes... -
![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 -
![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 -
![Ice, Love, & Other Penalties by Claudia Y. Burgoa]()
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...Categorized as:
sports found-family forced proximity hockey friends-benefits length-medium audiobook -
![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... -
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![Billionaire Bachelor by Laura Lee]()
Billionaire Bachelor by Laura Lee
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsEscaping to my family’s cabin after my engagement imploded seemed like the perfect plan. But when Logan Edwards—my brother’s best friend, bad boy tech billionaire, and the man who’s haunted my fantasies for years—shows up unexpectedly, everything changes. With only one bed and a snowstorm raging outside, it doesn’t take long for the sparks between us to ignite... -
![From Now Until Infinity by Layne Harper]()
From Now Until Infinity by Layne Harper
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsEight years have passed since Colin and Caroline “Charlie” ended their college romance. A chance meeting reunited them confirming that time had not diminished their love for each other. Now, they have to turn their passionate reunion into a legitimate and sustainable relationship. Charlie’s medical practice is in Houston. Colin is the starting quarterback for Dallas... -
![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...Categorized as:
sports football friends to lovers siblings-bff athletes forced proximity humor contemporary -
![Getting Wound Up by Jennifer Bernard, Erin Nicholas]()
Getting Wound Up by Jennifer Bernard, Erin Nicholas
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA fun and flirty crossover novel from bestselling authors, Jennifer Bernard (Love Between the Bases) and Erin Nicholas (Sapphire Falls)! Caitlyn Murray has never let on that she’s had fantasies about her brother's friend Eli Anderson for years. She'd do anything for the sexy baseball player who walked away from stardom to stay in Sapphire Falls and take care of his family... -
![Hold Me by Tawna Fenske]()
Hold Me by Tawna Fenske
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsRomeo. Boy Toy. Player. I’ve heard what they call me, and never gave it much thought. Then Zoe walks in with her library smarts and innocent eyes and one helluva dirty idea. I guess living in hospitals for two decades didn’t leave much time for dating. Or any kind of fun, really. Zoe’s a virgin with a bucket list, and guess who’s on it? No way am I satisfying her desires...Categorized as:
friends to lovers found-family forced proximity contemporary age difference humor length-short -
![A Wedding Mismatch by Kaylee Baldwin]()
A Wedding Mismatch by Kaylee Baldwin
Let’s play a Two truths and a lie. 1. I am a self-help influencer who is a hot mess. 2. If I don’t get some quiet time between planning my sister’s wedding to finish my book, Happily Single, I’m in hot water with my publisher. 3. I’m blackmailing the hot grump next-door into letting me live with him until this book is done...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine forced proximity found-family contemporary humor glimpses-kisses length-medium
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