The enormous popularity of Heated Rivalry and Off Campus means that people everywhere have hockey — and sexy hockey players —on the brain.
Both steamy romances have captured the imaginations of audiences who have been going wild for cute hockey players falling in love, and the steamy sex scenes that follow.
The hockey romance subgenre is having a boom right now, which means that not only are there countless novels about straight hockey players falling in love — think Off Campus — but there are a ton of gay ones too.
So if you’ve already read the Game Changer series by Rachel Reid that Heated Rivalry was adapted from, it’s time to dive into the wild world of gay hockey romances that is awaiting you. And trust us, there are WAY more than you think.
There are coaches falling for their players, teammates having gay awakenings, enemies-to-lovers tropes, and even taboo romances. And they are not only full of fun banter, found family, and hockey, but also the spiciest sex scenes you’ve ever read (unless you are an A03 reader, and then there is probably nothing that will shock or surprise you).
The current political climate may feel like a never-ending attack on the LGBTQ+ community, but that means it’s the perfect time to explore a genre of fiction where a happily ever after is always guaranteed.
So get ready for slow-burn romance, lots of yearning, flirty banter, gay folks finding community, and so so many spicy scenes!
'The Shots You Take' by Rachel Reid
Carina Press
If you’ve already read Heated Rivalry and the entire Game Changers series, then it’s time to tuck into Rachel Reid’s standalone gay hockey romance that follows former teammates and best friends with benefits, Riley Tuck and Adam Sheppard, as they reconnect and fall for each other while dealing with grief and a complicated past.
This one is perfect if you’re looking for a more mature romance where both men are in their 40s.
'The Kennedy Rule' by K.C. Carmichael
Storm Publishing
The Kennedy Rule has all of the best romance tropes: rivals-to-lovers, forced proximity, and grumpy/sunshine.
This gay romance is about two hockey rivals who are forced to share a room and play on the same team when they are both picked for the US Olympic hockey team. Of course, what starts as hate turns to love as the opposites-attract romance unfolds.
'The Fall' by Tal Bauer
Tal Bauer
In a world where most M/M romance novels are written by women, Tal Bauer stands out as a gay man writing hockey romances. So far, he’s written a few, but The Fall is definitely a fan favorite.
The novel follows hockey star Torey, who wakes up in bed next to a gorgeous man with no memory of who he is or how he got there because of a severe concussion. Corey doesn’t remember Blair at all and has to fake it ’til he makes it so that he doesn’t lose his hot partner.
'Egotistical Puckboy' by Eden Finley and Saxon James
Canelo
Egotistical Puckboy is the first book in Saxon James and Eden Finley's — affectionately called Saden by fans — Puckboys series of interconnected gay romances.
Each of the 10 books follows a different hockey couple, and the first one starts with the enemies-to-lovers romance between Ezra and Anton, who have a one-night stand and then can’t stay away even though they claim to hate each other.
Is it unrealistic that there are so many queer players in the NHL? Extremely. But the found family that forms as the couples in the series become the “Queer Collective” will warm even the coldest heart. And if you fall in love with these funny and spicy books, check out James and Finely’s gay college hockey romance series that starts with Power Plays and Straight A’s.
'No Pucks' by J.R. Gray
J.R. Gray
Each book in genderqueer author J.R Gray’s Gods Versus Monsters series focuses on a different classic romance trope: coach-player age gap, enemies-to-lovers, and finally best friends-to-lovers.
The first book in the series No Pucks follows Coach Hawke, who has a one-night stand, only to discover that the young stranger he hooked up with is actually one of his new players.
All three books in the series are funny, angsty, and super spicy, so you’ll want to devour them all — plus, there is a fourth one coming out later this year!
'Iced Out' by C.E. Ricci
Deserted Press LLC
Iced Out is the first book in C.E. Ricci’s Leighton U college sports romance series and features rival teammates Quinton and Oakley, who fall into bed with each other and then keep doing it after their hook-up leads to their team winning.
The book is filled with snarky banter, forbidden secret sex scenes, and an opposites-attract love story that will have you falling for both main characters. If you love it, Ricci just published the fifth and final book in the series, so you binge all of the spicy gay romances.
'Gross Misconduct' by A.J. Truman
Out gay author A.J. Truman’s Gross Misconduct is loved by fans for a reason.
The rivals-to-lovers age-gap romance about a former hockey player who is attempting to recapture his former glory but ends up competing against a former rival is full of banter, fun pranks, and spicy sex scenes.
It’s low-stakes, low stress, and so sweet it will make your teeth hurt. What more could you ask for?
