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https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/11/puck-you-a-slow-burn-romance-between-two-fierce-athletes/
https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?p=162747
This post is sponsored by W by Wattpad Books, publisher of Puck You by Flynn Novak.
If you love books where there’s
- Rivalry – giant rivalry, like gloves off, hollering, ice-dusted rivalry
- Two equally talented athletes trying to win while avoiding pants feelings
- Exploration of the unequal treatment of men’s and women’s college teams
- A slooooow burn between two resolutely competitive adversaries
- Eldest daughter vs. hockey captain sportbro
- Lots and lots of hockey
May I introduce Puck You by Flynn Novak?
When Grace Gillman transfers to Dallard University for her senior year, she’s excited to play top-level hockey with a high-ranking team, where she expects top-tier facilities and opportunities. But her excitement quickly fades as she learns that the women’s team isn’t a priority.
Sebastian Evans needs this year to go perfectly. It’s his last chance to prove himself to scouts for a professional hockey career. Juggling school, an old injury, and the pressure to perform is tough enough—but dealing with Grace, the fiery star from the women’s team, makes everything harder.
Neither Grace nor Sebastian wants to compete with each other, but when Grace sees how much better the men’s team is treated, she can’t stay silent. The two quickly become rivals, both on and off the ice. But when their personal conflict starts affecting their game, they risk being benched permanently. Despite the tension, sparks fly between them, and what began as a bitter rivalry might just ignite into something hot enough to melt the ice they skate on.
In Puck You, a portion of the tension between the lead characters stems from how pissed off Grace is when she sees how much better Dallard University treats the men’s hockey team than the women’s team. Loving a sport comes with acknowledging how it can cause great harm, and Grace doesn’t flinch from calling out the problems – which Sebastian isn’t too thrilled about hearing.
I love sports romances where both characters are athletes. It’s one of my favorite flavors in a very popular genre. Athlete life, especially during the season on a team, is weird and intense, and the way athletes have to live, train, and manage their lives around their sport makes for some very complicated romances.
Maaaaybe this is due to The Cutting Edge imprinting on me at a young age? Maybe? Probably.
Puck You has some great company when it comes to slow burn sports romances where both characters are athletes at the top of their respective games. Here are some favorites.
Heated Rivalry
Author: Rachel Reid
Released: March 25, 2019 by Carina Press
Genre: Contemporary Romance, LGBTQIA, Romance
Series: Game Changers #2
Nothing interferes with Shane Hollander’s game—definitely not the sexy rival he loves to hate.
Pro hockey star Shane Hollander isn’t just crazy talented, he’s got a spotless reputation. Hockey is his life. Now that he’s captain of the Montreal Voyageurs, he won’t let anything jeopardize that, especially the sexy Russian whose hard body keeps him awake at night.
Boston Bears captain Ilya Rozanov is everything Shane’s not. The self-proclaimed king of the ice, he’s as cocky as he is talented. No one can beat him—except Shane. They’ve made a career on their legendary rivalry, but when the skates come off, the heat between them is undeniable. When Ilya realizes he wants more than a few secret hookups, he knows he must walk away. The risk is too great.
As their attraction intensifies, they struggle to keep their relationship out of the public eye. If the truth comes out, it could ruin them both. But when their need for each other rivals their ambition on the ice, secrecy is no longer an option…
Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid is now a foundational book in the sports romance genre because of its popularity – and it’s about to be released as a series on Crave TV in an adaptation by Letterkenny‘s Jacob Tierney. Tierney is seriously talented. It’s going to be very good, no question. Have you seen the trailer?
To those who are holding out hope that it’ll be available in the US: Letterkenny and Shorsey, both of which are Tierney projects, are on Hulu, so fingers crossed this will be too.
UPDATE: Heated Rivalry will be on HBO in the US!
Add to Goodreads To-Read List →
Icebreaker
Author: Hannah Grace
Released: November 22, 2022 by Atria Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romance
Series: Maple Hills #1
Anastasia Allen has worked her entire life for a shot at Team USA.
A competitive figure skater since she was five years old, a full college scholarship thanks to her place on the Maple Hills skating team, and a schedule that would make even the most driven person weep, Stassie comes to win.
No exceptions.
Nathan Hawkins has never had a problem he couldn’t solve. As captain of the Maple Hills Titans, he knows the responsibility of keeping the hockey team on the ice rests on his shoulders.
When a misunderstanding results in the two teams sharing a rink, and Anastasia’s partner gets hurt in the aftermath, Nate finds himself swapping his stick for tights, and one scary coach for an even scarier one.
The pair find themselves stuck together in more ways than one, but it’s fine, because Anastasia doesn’t even like hockey players…right?
Team USA skater vs. the captain of the hockey team? Clearly, The Cutting Edge imprinted on a lot of us – I love it.
One aspect of sports romances where both characters are athletes that I love is how it allows both leads to be competitive and driven, and its within a completely understandable context that dampens (some of) the usual criticism about ambitious heroines.
Add to Goodreads To-Read List →
From Lukov with Love
Author: Mariana Zapata
Released: February 1, 2018 by Mariana Zapata
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romance
If someone were to ask Jasmine Santos to describe the last few years of her life with a single word, it would definitely be a four-letter one.
After seventeen years—and countless broken bones and broken promises—she knows her window to compete in figure skating is coming to a close.
But when the offer of a lifetime comes in from an arrogant idiot she’s spent the last decade dreaming about pushing in the way of a moving bus, Jasmine might have to reconsider everything.
Including Ivan Lukov.
If I didn’t include From Lukov With Love by Mariana Zapata, someone would probably have choice words for me. Zapata’s books are the slowest of slow burns, with so many pages to enjoy. So many pages.
Add to Goodreads To-Read List →
Bombshells
Author: Sarina Bowen
Released: April 13, 2021 by Tuxbury Publishing LLC
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romance
Series: Brooklyn Bruisers #8
The women’s league is in the house! And Brooklyn will never be the same again for Anton Bayer and the team…
This is my last chance to ditch my playboy reputation and finally fulfill my potential. So I’ve made three rules for our biggest season yet: no boozing, no women, and no scandals.
Especially that last thing.
So who do I befriend on the very first day back at the rink? An amazing female hockey player. I want Sylvie in a way that’s more than just friendly. I crave her. But I have a championship to win, and so does she.
Then she gets her heart broken by my teammate, and I make the foolish mistake of comforting her in the best way I know how. Our night together sets off a string of sins.
Nobody can know about our affair, especially my overprotective teammate. I can’t let anyone see into my greedy little heart. Not even her.
The things I want from her, and the things we’ve already done? If anyone knew, there’d be bombshells.
Contains: a defenseman with dreamy blue eyes, a female goalie with bad ideas, a major battle of the sexes and a swimming pool scene…
Bombshells by Sarina Bowen features a women’s hockey goalie having a one night – ok, a few, no, several – night stand with a hockey playboy who are hiding their fling, and trying not to show how very, very into each other they really are.
You know, it occurs to me that romances between athletes on sports teams are sort of kind of like workplace romances, only the workplaces are a little father apart ethically.
Add to Goodreads To-Read List →
Team Players
Author: Deanna Grey
Released: September 24, 2024 by Deanna Grey
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romance
Aderyn: Resident playboy, Samson Morgan, thinks he can beat me at my own game.
The hockey captain truly believes he can stop playing the field for longer than I can start having one-night stands. Okay, sure, historically I’m known for being an all-in, ask-to-be-your-girlfriend-on-the-first-date romantic. But being a player isn’t that hard. And I came to Mendell University to win. Whether that’s on the ice or off.
Morgan doesn’t realize it yet but he’s finally met an opponent who can take him down.
Sam: My bet with the women’s hockey team captain feels like an easy win.
Three months pretending to be a one-woman kind of man? Easy . . . scary easy, actually. Somewhere along the line, I start taking my role too seriously. This semester isn’t the time for me to get distracted from my main goal—ensuring my team gets a fair shot this season.
But Aderyn Jacobs consistently makes me rethink everything I’ve ever wanted. I’m in danger of losing something far bigger than our bet.
Team Players not only has a cover that I love, it has banter, rivalry, and two university sports captains who are driven, and driving one another bonkers with a rather incredible bet.
Add to Goodreads To-Read List →
Puck You
Author: Flynn Novak
Released: November 18, 2025 by Wattpad Webtoon Studios, Inc.
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romance
For fans of spicy hockey romances like Icebreaker and The Au Pair Affair comes the story of a heated rivalry between two hockey players that develops into a romance hot enough to melt the ice from debut novelist Flynn Novak.
An on ice rivalry sparks an off ice affair . . . and puts both their hockey career in jeopardy in this steamy new adult debut by Flynn Novak
When Grace Gillman transfers to Dallard University for her senior year, she’s excited to play top-level hockey with a high-ranking team, where she expects top-tier facilities and opportunities. But her excitement quickly fades as she learns that the women’s team isn’t a priority.
Sebastian Evans needs this year to go perfectly. It’s his last chance to prove himself to scouts for a professional hockey career. Juggling school, an old injury, and the pressure to perform is tough enough—but dealing with Grace, the fiery star from the women’s team, makes everything harder.
Neither Grace nor Sebastian wants to compete with each other, but when Grace sees how much better the men’s team is treated, she can’t stay silent. The two quickly become rivals, both on and off the ice. But when their personal conflict starts affecting their game, they risk being benched permanently. Despite the tension, sparks fly between them, and what began as a bitter rivalry might just ignite into something hot enough to melt the ice they skate on.
Puck You by Flynn Novak is available now where your favorite books are sold!
What other slow burn “they’re both athletes” romances do you love?
Add to Goodreads To-Read List →
https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2025/11/puck-you-a-slow-burn-romance-between-two-fierce-athletes/
https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/?p=162747
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