Books like 'Penalty to the Heart'
Readers who enjoyed Penalty to the Heart by Ivy Fox also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary young adult sports age difference slow burn office angst hockey
-
Check, Please! by Ngozi Ukazu
I'm a junior on the Samwell men's hockey team now, and not only do I have new teammates and new responsibilities and new pies to bake... I've got a new beau. ( Remember me ) Believe me: Dating a professional hockey player wasn't anything I expected to do in college. My parents don't know; my teammates have no clue...And Jack and I aren't sure that we want to keep it a secret... -
![Five Ways to Fall by K.A. Tucker]()
Five Ways to Fall by K.A. Tucker
Purple-haired, sharp-tongued Reese MacKay knows all about making the wrong choice; she’s made plenty of them in her twenty-odd-years. So when her impulsive, short-lived marriage ends in heartbreak, she decides it’s time for a change... -
![]()
![]()
Sponsored links -
![Crush by Svetlana Chmakova]()
Crush by Svetlana Chmakova
Rated: 4.48 of 5 stars · 32 ratingsFollowing the overwhelming success of AWKWARD and BRAVE, Svetlana Chmakova's award winning Berrybrook Middle School series continues with its next installment - CRUSH!Jorge seems to have it all together. He's big enough that nobody really messes with him, but he's also a genuinely sweet guy with a solid, reliable group of friends... -
![Rebel by Rebecca Yarros]()
Rebel by Rebecca Yarros
She’s Penna Carstairs. The Renegade they call Rebel. FMX-treme Magazine’s sexiest female athlete of the year.There’s no rule in extreme sports she hasn’t broken,No gender barrier she hasn’t demolished. She’s the woman I met in a bar in Vegas.The woman I illegally BASE jumped for.The woman I spent one insane, incredible night with.But now I’m screwed.Or rather…not screwed...Categorized as:
sports angst age difference contemporary forbidden love new adult latinx-mc military -
-
![Hirano and Kagiura, Vol. 3 by Shou Harusono]()
Hirano and Kagiura, Vol. 3 by Shou Harusono
Rated: 4.51 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsIt just might work out if I try hard enough...At least, that’s what Kagiura keeps telling himself as he works himself to the bone studying for his final exams. After all, that’s the only way to protect his dorm life with his dear upperclassman. But although Hirano agreed to another year of their roomshare, does he really understand what it means to live with the person who’s crushing on him.. -
![Fallen Crest Campout: A Fallen Crest/Crew crossover novella by Tijan]()
Fallen Crest Campout: A Fallen Crest/Crew crossover novella by Tijan
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsSam and Mason return to Fallen Crest for a camping trip.They head north, meeting up with a few friends from Roussou and enjoy a night of booze, some leapfrogging, and there’s a small therapy session to air out some tension in the group... -
![Someone I Used To Know by Paige Toon]()
Someone I Used To Know by Paige Toon
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsSo much can change in half a lifetime… Then At fifteen, George is the foster brother Leah never asked for. As the angry, troubled boy struggles to come to terms with his circumstances, Leah finds herself getting drawn closer to him. Theo’s wealthy family have mysteriously pulled him out of boarding school and he’s now enrolled at the local state school with Leah and George... -
![The Man I Love by Suanne Laqueur]()
The Man I Love by Suanne Laqueur
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 22 ratings"You never got over her. You just left." From author Suanne Laqueur comes an astonishing debut novel: a young man's emotional journey to salvage relationships destroyed in the wake of a school shooting. As a college freshman, Erik Fiskare is drawn to the world of theater but prefers backstage to center stage... -
![Interference by Zoe Reed]()
Interference by Zoe Reed
The last thing Jordan Marshall wants is a relationship, especially with someone like Taylor Becks, the star player from a rival roller hockey team. Taylor doesn’t talk – to anyone. When Jordan’s curiosity about the athlete overpowers her predisposition to being guarded, the two strike up an unlikely romance... -
![Check, Please!: Year Four by Ngozi Ukazu]()
-
![That Summer by Jillian Dodd]()
That Summer by Jillian Dodd
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsDevaney Diamond’s summer break was shaping up to be the best one ever. Her longtime crush was finally interested in her, and by the time school rolled around in the fall, she knew he’d be her boyfriend...Categorized as:
angst sports contemporary young adult friends to lovers high-school length-medium m-f -
![Living-Room Matsunaga-san, Vol. 7 by Keiko Iwashita]()
Living-Room Matsunaga-san, Vol. 7 by Keiko Iwashita
If she doesn't tell him, he'll never know...! High schooler Meeko continues to pine for her housemate Matsunaga-san. When she discovers that Matsunaga-san's ex "Konatsu" is actually her homeroom teacher, Kobayashi-sensei, her world gets even more complicated. Meanwhile, her housemate Ryo-kun lends an ear to her romantic troubles while harboring a secret interest in Meeko himself...Categorized as:
age difference slow burn contemporary young adult length-short m-f love triangle christmas -
![Living-Room Matsunaga-san, Vol. 6 by Keiko Iwashita]()
Living-Room Matsunaga-san, Vol. 6 by Keiko Iwashita
If only she never had to say goodbye. High schooler Meeko continues to pine for Matsunaga-san, the scary-but-kind designer whose room is across from hers. Not only do they spend a day at Kitneyland with each other, they unexpectedly spend a night at a…special…place as well...Categorized as:
age difference slow burn contemporary young adult length-short glimpses-kisses m-f love triangle -
![Living-Room Matsunaga-san, Vol. 8 by Keiko Iwashita]()
Living-Room Matsunaga-san, Vol. 8 by Keiko Iwashita
"I love you as a woman..."Volume 8 of this boarding-house opens at Christmas, a time of love for the whole cast! Meeko is still in love with Matsunaga-san, but at their holiday part, she spots his old flame Konatsu telling him that her old love is still there! Shocked, Meeko storms out of the house -- only to have Ryo catch her, claiming that he'll "never make you cry..Categorized as:
age difference slow burn contemporary young adult length-short glimpses-kisses m-f love triangle -
-
![Living-Room Matsunaga-san Vol. 9 by Keiko Iwashita]()
Living-Room Matsunaga-san Vol. 9 by Keiko Iwashita
A romantic manga starring a high school girl who learns to live on her own, win at high school, and experience first love - all in a boarding house whose living room is home to the odd (but handsome) Matsunaga-san.After her parents leave to care for her ailing grandmother, high schooler Miko "Meeko" Sonoda moves into her uncle's boarding house...Categorized as:
age difference slow burn contemporary young adult length-short m-f found-family japan -
![How The Heart Breaks by Stacey Marie Brown]()
How The Heart Breaks by Stacey Marie Brown
He was her secret, her sin, the heart she couldn’t love.Emery Robert’s life is everything she wanted. Married to the love of her life, with a good job, and plans for a family in the future. But when Emery’s husband dies tragically, she is the one who stops living.Three years later, at the age of 30, she’s still struggling to move on...Categorized as:
age difference angst contemporary death high-school insta-love young adult explicit-open-door -
![Amour Amour by Krista Ritchie, Ava Erickson]()
Amour Amour by Krista Ritchie, Ava Erickson
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsListening time 13 hours 21 minutesLove is a circus"Every day,” he says lowly, “I hold a person’s life in my hands. The circus is based one-hundred percent off trust. I give it all to someone, and they give it all to me.”The best aerial technique won’t land 21-year-old Thora James her dream role in Amour—a sexy new acrobatic show on the Vegas strip... -
![Living-Room Matsunaga-san Vol. 5 by Keiko Iwashita]()
Living-Room Matsunaga-san Vol. 5 by Keiko Iwashita
It seems no amount of secret ardor can get Matsunaga-san to return Meeko's feelings, but the summer brings with it a fresh wave of shocking developments. An unfortunate coincidence convinces Matsunaga-san that Meeko is dating Ryo-kun, but luckily, Meeko manages to resolve the misunderstanding with Ryo-kun's help...Categorized as:
age difference slow burn contemporary young adult length-short humor m-f love triangle -
![Living-Room Matsunaga-san, Vol. 4 by Keiko Iwashita]()
Living-Room Matsunaga-san, Vol. 4 by Keiko Iwashita
For Meeko, boarding house life has finally become second nature, and her feelings for Matsunaga-san, a professional designer and the eldest at the boarding house, grow stronger with each passing day...Categorized as:
age difference slow burn contemporary young adult length-short glimpses-kisses japan humor -
![Bittersweet Always by Ella Fields]()
Bittersweet Always by Ella Fields
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsFrom bestselling author Ella Fields comes an all new standalone. An emotional new adult romance that proves love is worth fighting your demons for. Toby Hawthorne was an enigma. One I didn't factor into my college plans. I wasn't looking for love. I wasn't not looking for it either. And in that state of in-between, he found me. Unaware of the battle he fought everyday, I fell fast... -
![Taking A Shot by Catherine Gayle]()
Taking A Shot by Catherine Gayle
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsKatie Weber has lost her health due to leukemia, and now her chemotherapy treatments have taken her hair. She’s not about to show up to her senior prom bald and let her classmates steal her dignity, too... -
![Living-Room Matsunaga-san Vol. 3 by Keiko Iwashita]()
Living-Room Matsunaga-san Vol. 3 by Keiko Iwashita
For Meeko, boarding house life has finally become second nature—or, it would be, if not for one thing: her housemate Matsunaga-san...Categorized as:
age difference slow burn contemporary young adult length-short glimpses-kisses m-f japan -
![The Final Move by Victoria Denault]()
The Final Move by Victoria Denault
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsHockey legend Devin Garrison thought he blew his shot. But his relationship with Callie Caplan just went into overtime.Sexy, rich, and one of the biggest stars in the NHL, Devin Garrison has always been the one who had it all. That is until his marriage falls apart and he realizes he has to start over. If he's honest, there has only been one woman who ever really excited him-Callie Caplan...Categorized as:
sports hockey new adult contemporary friends to lovers athletes young adult length-medium -
![Living-Room Matsunaga-san, Vol. 11 by Keiko Iwashita]()
Living-Room Matsunaga-san, Vol. 11 by Keiko Iwashita
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsMeeko, a high schooler living in a boarding house, is finally in a full relationship with Matsunaga, an older designer. But then Matsunaga leaves the house after taking on a big job... and Ken and Asako, now a couple themselves, follow soon behind. As the atmosphere around the house changes, Matsunaga seems ever-more-distant to Meeko -- he even cancels a birthday date with her last-minute...Categorized as:
age difference slow burn contemporary young adult length-short m-f love triangle japan -
-
![Living-Room Matsunaga-San, Vol. 10 by Keiko Iwashita]()
Living-Room Matsunaga-San, Vol. 10 by Keiko Iwashita
"Right now, I have family, I have friends, I got someone who loves me. But..."Meeko's finally discovered that her feelings for her designer housemate Matsunaga are mutual! They won't officially become a couple until after her high school graduation, but knowing Matsunaga cares for her puts Meeko's mind at ease...Categorized as:
age difference slow burn contemporary young adult length-short m-f japan glimpses-kisses -
![Tyson by Sheridan Anne]()
Tyson by Sheridan Anne
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsBrylee - It was supposed to be a one-time thing which quickly turned into two, and then three. Don’t ask me how, but now I can't seem count the times on one hand, let alone two. I'm in trouble. I never intended for this to be something more, but he has the ability to keep drawing me back in. He's coming for me. He's always wanted more, but this time, I don't think he's going to let me go... -
![That Wedding by Jillian Dodd]()
That Wedding by Jillian Dodd
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 35 ratingsMarry the boy next door in this sweet contemporary romance by USA Today Best Selling Author, Jillian Dodd.The gorgeous engagement ring on my finger mimics my happiness. I feel so sparkly, glittery, and full of promise, because I absolutely know he's that boy. The boy I want to marry. My prince. My happily ever after.But then our pastor starts asking lots of questions... -
![Living-Room Matsunaga-san Vol. 2 by Keiko Iwashita]()
Living-Room Matsunaga-san Vol. 2 by Keiko Iwashita
With the help of her housemates, high schooler Meeko begins to adjust to her new life away from her parents. Even the initially frightening Matsunaga-san helps her out—and between one kind act and another, Meeko finds herself falling for him...Categorized as:
age difference slow burn contemporary young adult length-short glimpses-kisses humor japan -
![Off Limits by Sawyer Bennett]()
Off Limits by Sawyer Bennett
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 37 ratings“There is a vulnerability there, hovering just below the surface. And I want to pick at it until I expose it. Then I want to kiss it." Two years ago, Emily Burnham had an epiphany about the shallowness of her life. And she made it her mission to become a different person…a better woman. Out from under the controlling thumb of her mother, Emily is tasting the real world for the first time... -
![Forever Golden by Rachel Jonas, Nikki Thorne]()
Forever Golden by Rachel Jonas, Nikki Thorne
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 43 ratingsWest Golden—Fierce protector. The one.The cocky jock I once wanted to kill with my bare hands is now the only one I trust with my heart.In a city full of corruption and dark secrets, knowing who’s on your side gets harder to determine every day. Especially now that Vin’s on the warpath, passing out threats he fully intends to see through to the end...Categorized as:
sports angst new adult young adult suspense from hate to love contemporary poor heroine -
![Ravished By Her by Chelsea M. Cameron]()
Ravished By Her by Chelsea M. Cameron
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsEvery day I look forward to waking up in my beautiful apartment and going to my job in marketing at a real estate agency. Then life turns upside down when the company goes under and I can’t find another job that will pay enough for me to keep my apartment...Categorized as:
office age difference f-f friends to lovers queer contemporary young adult length-short -
![Power Play Rivals by Ivy Fox]()
Power Play Rivals by Ivy Fox
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsNever fall in love with a client.Just one of the many guidelines you must follow when you represent the best athletes in the game.The rule never bothered me.A pretty smile from a cocky player couldn’t do it for me anyway.As a no-nonsense sports agent, I've seen it all in this cutthroat world of athletic negotiations and powerplays.And say what you will about me, I know how to handle business...Categorized as:
sports hockey age difference office angst from hate to love young adult contemporary -
![The Complete Fire on Ice Series by Brenda Rothert]()
The Complete Fire on Ice Series by Brenda Rothert
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThis series has five full-length novels about hot hockey stars and the women who steal their hearts. Bound College senior Kate Camden has learned to adapt - to her last year of school, to the promise of motherhood, to the fact that she’s doing it all alone. But just when she’s learned to adjust, heartache threatens to break her apart... -
![The Crash Trilogy: Includes Crash, Clash and Crush by Nicole Williams]()
The Crash Trilogy: Includes Crash, Clash and Crush by Nicole Williams
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsLucy Larson lives for wearing the satin down on her ballet shoes, and has her sights firmly set on a place at Juilliard. She's on her way to the top and has so far been careful to keep trouble out of her life. Well, up until now…Jude Ryder is the quintessential bad boy and everything a girl like Lucy needs to stay away from, especially if she wants to hold onto her dream future... -
-
![The Secret Ex-Boyfriend by Krista Ritchie, Becca Ritchie]()
The Secret Ex-Boyfriend by Krista Ritchie, Becca Ritchie
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 27 ratings"Don’t have a best friend that’s a girl" — this was the advice from my older cousin. I didn’t take it. Because he followed with, "friends don’t f*ck friends. And you’ll want to f*ck her." It was terrible advice. My cousin should’ve told me that being best friends with Baylee Wright — since she was twelve — would be the best and worst decision of my life...Categorized as:
sports angst new adult contemporary friends to lovers young adult forbidden love dual-pov -
![Portland Storm: The First Period by Catherine Gayle]()
Portland Storm: The First Period by Catherine Gayle
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsBREAKAWAY She’s reaching for a breakaway pass. Dana Campbell has spent the past seven years in self-imposed isolation for a crime she didn’t commit. The danger is well in the past, but her panic attacks make it impossible to have a normal, healthy relationship with a man. Even her counselor has given up on her... -
![Comeback by Catherine Gayle]()
Comeback by Catherine Gayle
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsNicklas Ericsson is an addict. He’s also a star goaltender with the NHL’s Portland Storm, or he was until his addiction changed everything. Now he’s throwing himself into doing all the necessary things to pave his path to a comeback, both in his personal life and on the ice. Nicky’s run out of options, and now his sister and her children are in Portland... -
![Double Major by Catherine Gayle]()
Double Major by Catherine Gayle
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsIt’s the NHL’s draft day, but the whole Portland Storm team is back together for an entirely different event. Complete with a double wedding, an unanticipated guest, overdue apologies, unexpected goodbyes, and fresh starts, this big day has the potential to get them all called for a Double Major... -
![Off the Record by Sawyer Bennett]()
Off the Record by Sawyer Bennett
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 32 ratingsEver Montgomery suffered the ultimate betrayal by the one man who she should have been able to count on for anything. It has left her hurt, jaded and incapable of forming relationships, but it also means that she can spot a liar a mile away... -
![Drive by Brenda Rothert]()
Drive by Brenda Rothert
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 22 ratingsYears of training are about to pay off for hockey player Nikola Vereshkova. A call to play in the big league means he can finally come through for those who need him. His relocation to Chicago comes with built-in friends – and one gorgeous enemy who was less than impressed with him after their first encounter. Sadie Alexander knows all about the drastic measures men will take just to get laid... -
![Delay of Game by Catherine Gayle]()
Delay of Game by Catherine Gayle
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsWith her father’s health in question, Sara Thomas is focused on reducing his anxiety. That’s no small feat considering his high-stress job, not to mention her own distractions. Everyone knows Sara’s single; no one knows she’s pregnant. There’s never a good time to unexpectedly get knocked up, but now is definitely not it... -
![If There's No Tomorrow by Jennifer L. Armentrout]()
If There's No Tomorrow by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsLena Wise is always looking forward to tomorrow, especially at the start of her senior year. She's ready to pack in as much friend time as possible, to finish college applications and to maybe let her childhood best friend Sebastian know how she really feels about him. For Lena, the upcoming year is going to be epic—one of opportunities and chances...Categorized as:
sports angst contemporary young adult friends to lovers new adult high-school length-medium -
![Habits by Anna B. Doe]()
Habits by Anna B. Doe
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHow can something so wrong feel so good? A brand new standalone in Greyford High series is coming March 27th! Senior year. Three girls. Three guys. Secrets and lies. Demons of past and present. Old insecurities and new fears. One more year left to pretend. One more year to wreck it all. The countdown begins...Categorized as:
sports hockey contemporary new adult young adult from hate to love siblings-bff length-medium -
![Lucky Left Wing by M.J. Padgett]()
Lucky Left Wing by M.J. Padgett
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe Denver Dragons’ team mascot is an enigma, and Finchley Bennett likes it that way. When the gymnast puts on the dragon uniform and performs death-defying stunts in front of huge crowds, it’s the fulfillment of her life’s dream. Keeping her identity a secret is part of the show’s appeal, but it also allows Finchley to do what she loves without her father’s judgment looming over her... -
-
![Cruel Hate: A College Sports Romance by Isla Vaughn]()
Cruel Hate: A College Sports Romance by Isla Vaughn
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsKnocked up by the QB.Harassed by punt bunnies. Falling for the enemy isn’t an option here. I threw caution to the wind and my v-card at the one man I can’t stand. What did that get me? Pregnant. Now, we’re both screwed. Mr. Superstar wants the punt bunnies off his back. I want my parents off mine. To do that, he proposes a fake relationship... -
![More Than Water by Renee Ericson]()
More Than Water by Renee Ericson
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 34 ratingsIt doesn’t feel right. It doesn’t feel wrong. It just...feels. EJ Cunning, an art history major, dates musicians. Foster Blake, a chemical engineering major, can’t sing a tune. They’re not each other’s type. They’re coworkers. Then, one night leads to sex—sex between friends—which leads to an agreement. It all seems so simple—but nothing ever is. Many layers build a person’s facade...Categorized as:
slow burn office angst friends to lovers tortured heroine college sassy heroine young adult -
![Tales from Foster High by John Goode]()
Tales from Foster High by John Goode
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsKyle Stilleno is the invisible student even in his nothing high school in the middle of Nowhere, Texas. Brad Graymark is the baseball star of Foster High. When they bond over their mutual damage during a night of history tutoring, Kyle thinks maybe his life has changed for good. But when you’re gay and falling for the most popular boy in school, the promise of love is a fairy tale, not a reality... -
![In the Zone by Catherine Gayle]()
In the Zone by Catherine Gayle
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsIt was supposed to be a single night of fake names, half-truths, and anonymous sex. Neither of them was prepared for it to become more. Keith Burns, star defenseman for the NHL’s Portland Storm, was just looking for a way to pass the time and ease the loneliness of his lavish lifestyle... -
![The Shortstop by A.M. Madden]()
The Shortstop by A.M. Madden
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 21 ratings“Quint and Annie sitting in a tree…K.I.S.S.I.N.G.” Quint Lawson and Annie Weber heard that childhood song over and over and it never bothered them. Even though Quint was only five, Annie wasn’t just his neighbor. She would become his best friend and the love of his life. Annie wasn’t interested in dolls, or girly things when growing up... -
![Fearless King by Maya Hughes]()
Fearless King by Maya Hughes
My first crush. My first heartbreak. My brother’s best friend. The butterflies in my stomach turned into full blown eagles the second our lips touched. A kiss under the stars that changed our relationship forever. After a lifetime of wishing, I stared up into Ford’s eyes with his fingers caressing my cheek and my heart racing. The evening ended with my heart bleeding on the ballroom floor...
Fantastic book recommendations by romance book lovers for romance book lovers.
Find out more about romance.io.
Find out more about romance.io.
Get recommendations by genres & tropes
Use the romance book finder to mix and match over 100 content keywords to find the books that match your preferences
Or - use our amazing romance book finder to get recommendations based on your favorite content tropes and themes. Mix and match at will.
