Books like 'The Way We Play'
Readers who enjoyed The Way We Play by Tia Louise also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
small town virgin heroine m-f sports found-family grumpy sunshine forced proximity from hate to love athletes competent heroine
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Where It All Began by Lucy Score
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsAvailable only through Lucy's newsletter, this free book is the prequel to the popular Blue Moon series and is set in 1985. John Pierce has plans for these two hundred rundown acres. He sees a farm, a family, a future. He’s not about to drag someone in on the ground floor, not before he’s put in the work to turn rubble into home... -
![Billionaire Unreachable ~ Wyatt by J.S. Scott]()
Billionaire Unreachable ~ Wyatt by J.S. Scott
Rated: 4.62 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsWhat happens when the man you think you despise turns out to be a completely different guy beneath the surface? I didn't like Wyatt Durand. He might be my friend's older brother, but he was unpleasant, sarcastic, and the grumpiest guy on the planet. It didn't matter to me that he was a breathtakingly gorgeous, ultra-wealthy billionaire with the very prestigious Durand last name... -
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![Hart to Heart by M.E. Carter, Jacob Morgan]()
Hart to Heart by M.E. Carter, Jacob Morgan
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 22 ratingsListening Length: 5 hours, 6 minutes. We’re the Harts. Between an engagement, a wedding and an adoption, we’ve had the best year of our lives. Things have never looked better for any of us. But just because you say “I do” doesn’t mean you get a happily ever after. And sometimes, you get tackled more in life than you ever did on the football field... -
![Path To Resolution by TheFeveredBookaholic]()
Path To Resolution by TheFeveredBookaholic
Rated: 4.61 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsWolfe Emerson is notorious for two things: being an absolute beast in a boxing ring and being a voluntary mute. His story remains unspoken and he prefers to live his life in silence. That is, until, his world is turned upside down when he meets someone who is louder than life... -
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![This Much Is True by Adriana Locke]()
This Much Is True by Adriana Locke
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsWhen celebrity Laina Kelley bolted from her small hometown church on her wedding day, she ran to the first place that came to mind—the home of the local farrier, a gorgeous playboy who just so happens to be her first love … and biggest frenemy... -
![Now's The Time by Harlow James]()
Now's The Time by Harlow James
Rated: 4.61 of 5 stars · 12 ratings“Let me experience all of you tonight, Penelope…since this is all that we get. ”. That was the agreement between me and Maddox Taylor, the NFL’s most notorious playboy and mega-talented quarterback who happened to be out in California for one night—one night in which I broke all of my rules and gave in to the undeniable attraction I felt for the man... -
![Dr. Beckett by Grace Maxwell]()
Dr. Beckett by Grace Maxwell
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWe were childhood enemies. Now I’m sleeping in his guest room… and I’m not sure I want to leave. Beckett. Sadie Calloway showing up on my doorstep in the middle of a storm wasn’t on my bingo card. She’s my best friend’s little sister, the girl I used to torment for fun, and now she’s standing in my living room, dripping wet and out of options... -
![Charring Bones by Brandy Hynes]()
Charring Bones by Brandy Hynes
You’re either the hunter or the hunted. The lion or the lamb. Bound on an altar. Belts of deceit. Tangerine skies. Taunted by time. Scorch. Stack. Salt. Gage. She’s my nightmare. My weakness. My Wicked. Ainsley Morelli was everything I craved, the breath in my lungs, my only home. But she sent me to die, and threw dirt on my grave. That was another life. When she had the upper hand... -
![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... -
![Delayed Call by Toni Aleo]()
Delayed Call by Toni Aleo
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsVaughn Johansson is the Nashville Assassins' star player. He's brash, cocky, and talented. And he isn't afraid to let anyone know it. He lives his life on his own terms, never forming romantic attachments, and only allowing his very closest to see his true, caring self. Brie Soledad has the weight of the world on her shoulders... -
![Hart to Heart by ME Carter, Murphy Rae]()
Hart to Heart by ME Carter, Murphy Rae
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsWe’re the Harts. Between an engagement, a wedding and an adoption, we’ve had the best year of our lives. Things have never looked better for Jaxon, Addison and myself. But just because you say “I do” doesn’t mean you get a happily ever after. And sometimes, you get tackled more in life than you ever did on the football field... -
![It's Always Sonny by Kate Watson]()
It's Always Sonny by Kate Watson
Sunshine always melts ice eventually. And I’m starting to feel the burn. People may call me an “overachieving ice queen,” but I would do anything for the people I love. So when my friends ask me to host an event at their famous farm, I’m more than happy to help…until I discover I’ve been set up. The “event” is actually a reunion for my ex’s family...Categorized as:
forced proximity sports grumpy sunshine m-f found-family football contemporary humor -
![The New Doctor at Peony Practice by Christie Barlow]()
The New Doctor at Peony Practice by Christie Barlow
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsPreorder the next book in the heartwarming and bestselling Love Heart Lane series. Love Heart Lane – where friends are there for you no matter what. All’s fair in love and…medicine? Dr Katie O’Neil has only been in Heartcross a few hours when she finds herself already ruffling feathers – not least with medical school nemesis and new colleague Ben Sanders...Categorized as:
small town forced proximity from hate to love m-f humor suspense contemporary length-medium -
![Overtake by S.J. Sylvis]()
Overtake by S.J. Sylvis
Rated: 0.00 of 5 stars · 0 ratingsA sexy Rivals to Lovers, Forced Proximity, Formula One romance from Amazon Top 50 and USA Today bestselling author S. J. Sylvis. Rome Pierce is Formula One’s golden boy—reckless, ruthless, and wrapped in an ego as polished as his race suit. Arrogance isn’t just a trait; it’s his personal trademark... -
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![Over & Out by Claire Wilder]()
Over & Out by Claire Wilder
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIntroducing a brand new enemies to lovers romance from USA TODAY Bestselling Author Claire Wilder! Three months ago, a dirt bike accident stole my confidence, my beloved ride, and the one thing that made me feel alive. Now I’m going through the motions in my coastal tourist town, totally adrift… and trying not to think about the stranger who pulled me from the wreckage...Categorized as:
from hate to love forced proximity m-f grumpy sunshine small town office humor length-medium -
![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... -
![Not That Impressed by Ranee S. Clark]()
Not That Impressed by Ranee S. Clark
I’m totally fine if America wants to cast me as the villain. So why do I care if brooding football player Will Pemberton believes it too? But honestly? It stings more than it should when Will—grumpy football star and walking scowl—judges me based on a five-second video from Being the Bennets, my family’s reality TV show. Maybe it’s because his best friend is dating my sister...Categorized as:
sports from hate to love football m-f competent heroine sassy heroine athletes humor -
![Malicious by K.E. Osborn]()
Malicious by K.E. Osborn
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMy entire world has been turned upside down. With one adjustment after another. The truth of my father’s betrayal cuts deep. Now, my little sister, Clover, is struggling to deal with day-to-day life. I’ve given everything for her. I joined Defiance to keep her safe. And now, being reunited with our older sister who we thought was gone, I don’t have to go it alone. But it’s not enough... -
![A Wonderland Wish on Ever After Street by Jaimie Admans]()
A Wonderland Wish on Ever After Street by Jaimie Admans
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA picture-perfect town, a place where dreams come true. Welcome to Ever After Street. .. There's always time for tea. .. unless you've lost your teapot…. Cleo Jordan has only ever wished for one thing – to open her own teashop in memory of her lovely gran...Categorized as:
found-family grumpy sunshine forced proximity small town contemporary humor length-medium audiobook -
![A Christmas Auction: A Marriage Auction Novella by Audrey Carlan]()
A Christmas Auction: A Marriage Auction Novella by Audrey Carlan
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFrom New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Audrey Carlan comes a new story in her Marriage Auction series…. “’Tis the Season,” some people say, as if the month of December could somehow magically make the world a better place. Fat chance of that happening in Sin City. In my world, nothing is merry and bright. More like dark and dank...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine forced proximity from hate to love contemporary length-short audiobook -
![On Thin Ice by L.A. Cotton]()
On Thin Ice by L.A. Cotton
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsAn emotional and angsty grumpy x sunshine hockey romance from USA Today and WSJ bestselling author L A Cotton. Are you ready to fall in love with a Laker? When Harper Dixon discovers her father is the Lakeshore U Lakers new assistant coach, she wonders if her life can get any worse. Enter Mason Steele. Arrogant. Cold. With enough ice around his heart to freeze anyone who gets too close...Categorized as:
sports forced proximity from hate to love grumpy sunshine m-f new adult dual-pov college -
![Keeping You by Alex Taylor]()
Keeping You by Alex Taylor
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsHannah:. I learned two years ago to never date a coworker or a playboy. Waking up married to Dr. Grayson Maxwell was not how I thought this work trip in Vegas would end. I want an annulment, but he surprises me with a request: ninety days to show me we can make this marriage work. With planned dates, thoughtful gestures, and beautiful words, he starts to chip away at my resolve... -
![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 sports found-family m-f alpha male contemporary friends to lovers new adult -
![Luciano by taintedkissesxo]()
Luciano by taintedkissesxo
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsLiam Luciano is one of the most feared men in all the world. At the young age of 18, he inherited the family name. 10 years later, the Luciano name is well known for its role in the Mafia; along with two other families: The Costello's and The Corinelli's. But when a 21-year-old is put on all three of the family's radar, Luciano steps in the way; doing something he had never done before... -
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![Home Is Where You Park It by Marika Ray]()
Home Is Where You Park It by Marika Ray
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHe’s a giant of a man who grunts for words and barks out orders, yet circumstances require I be his fake girlfriend and spend the weekend with him in an isolated cabin. And of course there’s only one bed. Just my luck…But I need this commission check that only Boston can guarantee me...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine forced proximity from hate to love small town m-f contemporary humor military -
![Storm by Abbi Glines]()
Storm by Abbi Glines
Briar. Falling in love with a man you can’t fully trust isn’t just unwise, it's a constant battle. Storm Kingston had busted into my life, shattering my well-maintained walls. He claimed I was his, promising to fulfill all my dreams. But I had already caught him in a lie that I couldn’t confront him about. To do so would mean the death of an innocent person... -
![Delayed Call by Toni Aleo]()
Delayed Call by Toni Aleo
Vaughn Johansson is the Nashville Assassins' star player. He's brash, cocky, and talented. And he isn't afraid to let anyone know it. He lives his life on his own terms, never forming romantic attachments, and only allowing his very closest to see his true, caring self. Brie Soledad has the weight of the world on her shoulders...Categorized as:
sports athletes from hate to love m-f contemporary independent heroine explicit-plentiful audiobook -
![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... -
![Heavy Shot by Toni Aleo]()
Heavy Shot by Toni Aleo
From the Nashville Next Generation series, comes your next book-boyfriend! Dimitri Titov was on hockey skates before he could walk. All he’s ever wanted is to play for the Assassins, his dad’s team. After growing up in Russia, he’s back in Nashville, Tennessee, and ready to pursue his lifelong goal. Austen McDavid escaped the kind of life they make Netflix documentaries about... -
![The Deeper I Fall by Erika Kelly]()
The Deeper I Fall by Erika Kelly
He's a rough and rugged hockey player. She's a posh British princess. To win an enormous inheritance, they’re forced to live together. This is not going to go well. When his former hockey coach passes away, Declan Cadell is shocked to learn the man left him a cattle ranch. Well, not exactly. He’s got one little hurdle to jump first...Categorized as:
sports small town from hate to love forced proximity m-f contemporary length-long audiobook -
![Scoreless Nights by Katie Rae]()
Scoreless Nights by Katie Rae
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 7 ratings"I knew I wouldn’t be strong enough to resist her anymore. ". Our parents wanted us to spend quality time together, but I’m not sure this is what they meant…. Cruz. As the goalie of the Miami Inferno FC, it was my job to keep everyone scoreless. So how did I end up being the one that couldn’t score? The answer: Lily Harris. My step sister, and apparently my new roommate... -
![Snowed in with the Mountain Man by Lilah Hart]()
Snowed in with the Mountain Man by Lilah Hart
A stranded motorist might be the key to melting his icy heart. Since when does it snow on Thanksgiving? I've been away from my hometown in the mountains since college, but today, I'm traveling home to spend Thanksgiving with my grandmother. My little hatchback does a decent job climbing the mountain. .. until the halfway mark...Categorized as:
from hate to love m-f small town grumpy sunshine virgin heroine contemporary curvy heroine dual-pov -
![Set My Heart Bonfire by Marika Ray]()
Set My Heart Bonfire by Marika Ray
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHe's a dashing millionaire who thinks everything in life is one big joke, probably because he bathes in piles of money each morning. He’s also my new neighbor, and after a humiliating experience in the cemetery that is my backyard, he becomes my shadow, showing up everywhere just to annoy me. I’m not a fan of happy people...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine from hate to love small town m-f contemporary super rich hero humor length-medium -
![Eoghan by Kate Randall]()
Eoghan by Kate Randall
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsShe’s a fighter, but I’m a criminal who will do whatever it takes to steal her heart. Gemma. I rose from the ashes of my childhood like a phoenix, and never looked back. The last thing I need is the cocky bad boy of the Monaghan family barging in and turning my carefully constructed life into chaos. He’s everything I shouldn’t want, nothing I was prepared for, and the only thing I crave... -
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![Free Falling by Jill Shalvis]()
Free Falling by Jill Shalvis
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsCollege rivals become workplace frenemies-turned-lovers in this warm, sexy contemporary romance from New York Times bestseller Jill Shalvis. First, they were rivals… Now they're stuck with each other…. Retired hockey player Caleb Colburn needs this construction project to prove himself in the family business, but he also needs to recover from the injury that ended his pro career... -
![Goal by Holly S. Roberts]()
Goal by Holly S. Roberts
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsQuarterback Aiden Patrickson has a goal to win even though he plays for the worst team in pro football. When management pulls a stunt to put his team in a good light they go too far. No women in the locker room is Aiden’s motto. Raised by a strong mother and two demanding sisters, the NO WOMEN zone is his sanctuary. Jordan Givens has a goal too and she’ll do just about anything to achieve it... -
![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... -
![Uprooted by Andrea Wiseman]()
Uprooted by Andrea Wiseman
Stuck in Montreal with no job prospects, recent biology graduate Soleil Bellerose makes a snap decision to try tree planting in Alberta. She expects long days, blood‑sucking mosquitoes, and hard work. What she doesn’t the wild beauty of the land—and Gabe Hawthorne, the cocky, rugged foreman at Silvertip Reforestation who pushes all her buttons...Categorized as:
from hate to love small town m-f grumpy sunshine found-family competent heroine contemporary office -
![Flowers and Financiers by Alina Jacobs]()
Flowers and Financiers by Alina Jacobs
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsIn my defense, I never claimed to be professional. .. At least that’s my excuse for why I mistook a billionaire for a waiter, made off-color comments and accidentally dumped a plate of food all over him. Embarrassing myself is a daily occurrence, just like my unpaid bill notices. But being in a wedding instead of planning one is not...Categorized as:
from hate to love grumpy sunshine forced proximity m-f contemporary super rich hero humor suspense -
![Unexpectedly Hers by Jamie Beck]()
Unexpectedly Hers by Jamie Beck
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsBy day, bashful wallflower Emma Duffy works at her family’s bed-and-breakfast. By night, she secretly pens erotic romance hot enough to melt the snow in their cozy Rockies town. But Emma’s real life is about to heat up when her mother books the entire inn to a professional snowboarder, hoping the publicity will put them on the map...Categorized as:
sports small town m-f athletes contemporary length-medium third-person-pov audiobook -
![Red Zone by Lisa Suzanne]()
Red Zone by Lisa Suzanne
My job is make Maverick Jennings, the world’s grumpiest quarterback, look like a decent human being. If I can’t fix his reputation, I can kiss my dream of launching my own brand consulting business goodbye. His job? Making my life a living nightmare. He’s arrogant, impossible, and entirely too handsome for someone so determined to self-destruct... -
![Tee'd Up For Trouble: A Small Town Sports Romance by Maya Alden]()
Tee'd Up For Trouble: A Small Town Sports Romance by Maya Alden
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsOne American Billionaire + One Irish Pub Owner = Trouble. Burned by betrayal, Jax Caldwell, golf’s answer to Henry Cavill, needs a break from the spotlight. He didn’t expect to find it in the form of a busted Porsche on a muddy road leading to the edge of Ballybeg, Ireland... -
![Ghost Dance by Catherine Gayle]()
Ghost Dance by Catherine Gayle
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsUSA Today bestselling author Catherine Gayle presents another novel in the sexy Tulsa Thunderbirds hockey romance series. He had it all. And lost it in an instant. The night Dmitri Nazarenko won hockey’s Holy Grail, he lost more than he ever bargained for. With a world of guilt weighing him down, Dima can never forgive himself for his tragic misjudgment... -
![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... -
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![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 -
![Watermelon With You? by Alexandra Hale]()
Watermelon With You? by Alexandra Hale
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsGet ready for Talon and Cora in this small town, enemies to lovers story! In 2024, escape to the lowcountry of Magnolia Point, South Carolina, and celebrate all the fun holidays with your favorite group of romance authors and their charming Southern men. See you there! -
![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... -
![Cruel Love by Isla Vaughn]()
Cruel Love by Isla Vaughn
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsI fell for the enemy. He broke me, and then put me together again. Our future? It’s worth fighting for. Or it was before the accident. The accident stole Phoenix from me. Now, he’s nice… kind even. But the memory of me—of our baby—is gone. Despite everything, I’m left fighting for our child and the man I’ve come to love...Categorized as:
from hate to love sports found-family forced proximity new adult angst second chances contemporary -
![Ice Deke by Ellie K. Drake]()
Ice Deke by Ellie K. Drake
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsJordan “Bougie” Boucher has a reputation – one he didn’t earn. The star NHL defenseman plays the part of a rich young playboy who doesn’t take anything seriously, and he lets everyone believe it—because it’s easier than explaining the truth. Thinking his love life was cursed, he’d almost given up on finding something real. Until Kennedy Kramer stepped onto the team plane...
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