The Best Hockey Romance Books You Need to Read

Always Only You by Chloe Liese

Always Only You pairs sunshiney Ren with the team’s grumpy, off-limits social media manager. When Frankie prepares to leave the organization, Ren finally decides it’s time to take his shot, proving that the best love stories aren’t about fixing someone but about fully seeing them. It’s sweet, swoony and emotional—plus, you’ll love the slow-burn tension.

Behind the Net by Stephanie Archer

When her grumpy high school crush becomes her new boss (and roommate), keeping things professional is easier said than done. What starts as a job quickly turns into late-night tension, protective gestures, and a hero who’s far more obsessed than he lets on. Spicy, emotional, and full of slow-burn payoff, this hockey romance is pure swoony chaos in the best way.

Breakaway by Grace Reilly

Cooper knows getting involved with the coach’s daughter is a terrible idea—which only makes it more tempting. Their friends-with-benefits arrangement starts off fun and uncomplicated, but the closer they get, the harder it is to pretend feelings aren’t involved. Breakaway is steamy, emotional and full of college hockey tension—delivering both heat and heart to the reader.

Canadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday

Tender, emotional, and full of second-chance vibes, this hockey romance leans just as much into healing as it does into the love story. When a former ballet hopeful reconnects with the hockey player she once pretended was her boyfriend, old memories and new feelings collide in the sweetest way. It’s honest, heartfelt, and full of swoony romance that so many readers will love.

Collide by Bal Khabra

When an ambitious psychology student is forced to work with the college hockey team’s cocky captain, sparks fly fast—and not always the good kind. Their enemies-to-lovers tension, sharp banter, and slow shift from frustration to genuine feelings make this college hockey romance equal parts fun, swoony, and seriously addictive.

Consider Me by Becka Mack

Cocky NHL superstar Carter isn’t used to working for anyone’s attention—until Olivia makes it clear she’s not impressed. Watching the ultimate player try (and occasionally fail) to win her over delivers all the banter, tension, and swoony moments. Consider Me is the first in a hockey romance series that’s full of humour and ridiculously bingeable. It’s easy to see why TikTok fell for this series.

Desire or Defense by Leah Brunner

Redemption never looked so good. After a suspension lands this hot-tempered NHL defenceman in a youth hockey coaching gig, the last thing he expects is to fall for the fiercely protective big sister who won’t let him off the hook. With a grumpy hero, heartfelt moments, and clean romance, this hockey romance proves even the so-called villain deserves a second chance.

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey

One unforgettable meet-cute turns complicated when a hockey player realizes his dream girl might soon be his stepsister. The forbidden tension, forced proximity, and signature Tessa Bailey heat make this one equal parts fun, messy, and swoony. If you love high-drama romance with plenty of chemistry, this hockey rom-com absolutely delivers.

Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid

Though it’s technically the second book in the series, this is the hockey romance everyone knows thanks to the TV adaptation—for good reason. Rival team captains Shane and Ilya are bitter enemies on the ice but secretly entangled off it, risking their careers for a relationship they can’t seem to quit. Angsty, emotional, and packed with tension, this enemies-to-lovers story is iconic. Not sure where to start? Don’t miss my in-depth guide to the Game Changers series!

Icebreaker by Hannah Grace

This wouldn’t be a complete list without mentioning Icebreaker. When a competitive figure skater and the college hockey captain are forced to share a rink, the tension is instant—and so is the chemistry. With rivals-to-lovers energy, forced proximity, and plenty of swoony moments, this TikTok-famous hockey romance is fun, flirty, and binge-worthy.

If You Hate Me by Helena Hunting

Tristan is her brother’s best friend, her extremely annoying roommate, and, unfortunately, the guy she’s never quite gotten over. Their constant bickering, undeniable chemistry, and very blurry boundaries make this hate-to-love hockey romance deliciously messy. Extra spicy, emotionally charged, and packed with tension, it’s perfect for readers who love when hate turns into something more complicated.

Isn’t It Bromantic? by Lyssa Kay Adams

The Bromance Book Club series is fun in general, but this hockey romance is definitely worth picking up. When Vlad turns to romance novels (and a little outside help) to win over his guarded wife, the result is a romance with heart, humour, and some swoony grand gestures. Isn’t It Bromantic? is emotional, charming, and full of found-family vibes—it’s impossible not to root for their happily ever after.

Just Breaking the Rules by Lauren Blakely

Opening a bakery with your brother’s hockey-star best friend definitely wasn’t part of the plan—but neither was falling for him. With single-dad sweetness, forced proximity, and plenty of flirty tension between baking sessions, this hockey romance by Lauren Blakely is cozy, swoony, and full of heart.

Just Don’t Fall by Emma St. Clair

I adore Emma St. Clair in general, but Just Don’t Fall is a personal favourite. Logan might be hockey’s hottest bad boy now, but to Parker, he’s still her brother’s best friend who broke her heart. Being forced to work together and fake-date in their small hometown brings those old feelings rushing back. Sweet, closed-door, and full of chemistry, this hockey rom-com is perfect if you love tension and emotional payoff without the spice. You’ll definitely want to read the rest of the Appies series afterwards!

Kiss and Don’t Tell by Meghan Quinn

I am a big Meghan Quinn fan—and if you haven’t picked her books up yet, you need to start with this hockey romance. Getting stranded in the Canadian Rockies is stressful enough, but discovering the remote cabin belongs to a group of pro hockey players definitely complicates things. When one of them turns out to be her ex’s half-brother, the forced proximity and secret chemistry make walking away nearly impossible. If you’re anything like me, you’ll dive into the rest of the Vancouver Agitators series as soon as you finish!

Mile High by Liz Tomforde

Evan Zanders fully embraces his bad-boy hockey reputation until the team’s new flight attendant refuses to be impressed. Their constant friction, sharp banter, and undeniable attraction make every road trip more complicated than either planned. Tense, swoony, and packed with personality, this hockey romance is seriously addictive.

Mister Hockey by Lia Riley

A swoony NHL captain and a shy bookworm librarian make an unexpectedly perfect match in this fun, spicy hockey romance. Their instant chemistry, secret fangirl tension, and emotional stakes deliver the perfect mix of heat and heart. If you love opposites-attract stories with plenty of charm and steam, this one is a good time.

My Phony Valentine by Courtney Walsh

I adore Courtney Walsh’s books, and this one is a definite favourite! Poppy’s fake-boyfriend panic move turns very real when the stranger she grabs in a coffee shop turns out to be hockey’s most infamous bad boy. What starts as a publicity-saving arrangement quickly spirals into contract dates, undeniable chemistry, and feelings that don’t feel fake at all. This hockey romance will have you turning the pages late into the night. It’s perfect for readers who like romance without the spice and will leave you wanting to read the rest of the books in the Holidays with Hart series.

Offside by Avery Keelan

If you enjoy enemies-to-lovers vibes with messy chemistry and high-stakes drama, you’ll want to pick up Offside. After a disastrous birthday and an even worse first impression, Bailey finds herself tangled up with her ex’s fiercest on-ice rival—and the tension only escalates from there.

Powerless by Elsie Silver

I will always recommend Elsie Silver’s books, but this hockey romance is not to be missed! Childhood friends, years of unspoken feelings, and a hockey star who might finally be ready to admit what’s always been there make Powerless a perfect story. If you love friends-to-lovers with depth and angst, this hockey romance and addition to the Chestnut Springs series absolutely delivers!

Pucked by Helena Hunting

A notorious hockey playboy was supposed to be a one-night mistake, not someone who suddenly won’t stop calling, texting and showing up in her life. As layers peel back, this hockey romance mixes charm, banter, and surprising emotional depth beneath the flashy reputation. Pucked is flirty, fun, and packed with chemistry—it’s perfect if you love a reformed-bad-boy hockey story.

Pucking Around by Emily Rath

Landing her dream job with an NHL team gets complicated fast when past hookups, workplace boundaries, and unexpected feelings collide. Pucking Around is a bold hockey romance that leans into inclusive, why-choose dynamics while delivering plenty of heart alongside the heat. If you’re looking for something spicy, unconventional, and totally addictive, this one definitely stands out!

Rookie Season by Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner

Noah’s rookie NHL season is supposed to be all focus, zero distractions—until a sharp-tongued new roommate with a complicated past turns his world upside down. Rookie Season features forced proximity, emotional healing, and undeniable chemistry that make this hockey romance impossible to miss. With the rest of the books in the Hockey Boys of Loft 3B series releasing this year, you don’t want to miss this one.

Skate It Till You Make It by Rufaro Faith Mazarura

Set against the high-stakes backdrop of the Winter Games, this fake-dating hockey romance brings all the pressure — on and off the ice. When a newly appointed team captain and a risk-averse photographer reconnect in the Swiss Alps, their “no strings attached” arrangement quickly starts to feel very real. With international vibes, family drama, and sizzling chemistry, this one blends rom-com fun with emotional depth beautifully.

The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey

Another Tessa Bailey hockey romance on this list! In The Au Pair Affair, a grumpy hockey veteran and his quirky live-in nanny make for a seriously swoony slow burn. With single-dad sweetness, forced proximity, and undeniable chemistry, this rom-com balances laugh-out-loud moments with emotional growth. It’s full of heart and classic Tessa Bailey swoon, in the best way!

The Boyfriend Goal by Lauren Blakely

What starts as a spontaneous night with a sexy stranger quickly turns complicated when he turns out to be her brother’s hockey teammate—and her new roommate. If you love brother’s best-friend energy, forbidden vibes, forced proximity, and lots of flirty tension, this hockey romance will certainly deliver. You don’t want to miss The Boyfriend Goal!

The Deal by Elle Kennedy

Elle Kennedy is beloved for good reason! A tutoring-for-fake-dates arrangement between a focused college student and the hockey team’s cocky captain quickly turns into something neither of them planned. With classic Elle Kennedy banter, emotional vulnerability, and plenty of chemistry, this college hockey romance perfectly balances humour, angst, and swoon. It’s addictive, heartfelt, and fun to read—and definitely worth picking up before the adaptation releases!

The Game Changer by Lana Ferguson

If you love your romance spicy, you don’t want to miss The Game Changer by Lana Ferguson. A PR stunt between a hockey player and his teammate’s little sister, who also happens to be a baker with a long-standing crush, quickly starts to feel a little too real. With fake dating, public pressure and plenty of chemistry, this hockey romance blends sweetness, spice and emotional stakes.

Thrown for a Loop by Sarina Bowen

A second-chance romance between a former figure skating star and the hockey player who broke her heart brings plenty of tension both on and off the ice. Forced to work together again years later, old chemistry resurfaces quickly—along with unresolved feelings. This hockey romance strikes the perfect balance of angst and heat, with swoony emotional moments.

Unsteady by Peyton Corinne

After a devastating concussion leaves a star hockey captain battling panic attacks and self-doubt, the last thing he expects is comfort from a guarded figure skater barely holding her life together. Their connection starts quietly but slowly grows into something tender and deeply emotional. Raw, angsty, and beautifully vulnerable, this hockey romance hits hard in all the right ways.