It’s only been a day since the Winter Olympics ended, and I’m already experiencing some post-Olympics sadness. The Games are always special, with dedicated athletes inspiring us from across the world. But the stories behind the Olympians are always what get me—and when you watch the Olympics, it feels like you get to be part of them. The best sports fiction books are like that, too. They immerse you in the story so you’re invested in the outcome of these intriguing and amazing athletes you’ve never met.
If you, too, are feeling emotional about the Games being over, maybe it’s time to pick up one of these winter sports fiction books. From spicy hockey romances (i.e., Heated Rivalry) to character-driven literary picks like Layne Fargo’s The Favorites, check out this list of 13 sports novels to read if you already miss the Olympics.
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Winter sports romance novels
The 2026 Winter Olympics had its fair share of relationship drama (i.e., a very public cheating confession), but it also had plenty of stories to get our romantic hearts pumping. From married ice dancers Chock and Bates’ medal-worthy performances, to spontaneous proposals, like those between Olympic speed skater Brittany Bowe and Team USA women’s hockey player Hilary Knight, and gold-medal skier Breezy Johnson’s proposal from boyfriend Connor Watkins. If you’re here for a happy ending—some with a side of spice—check out these winter sports romance novels.
Published just in time for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, The Wild Card is the latest novel of the Vancouver Storm series, and it’s the perfect hockey romance to cure your Winter Olympics hangover. In this enemies-to-lovers trope, former star player of the Vancouver Storm hockey team, Tate Ward, is forced to team up with Jordan Hathaway after Jordan’s father threatens to sell the team. What they least expected was Jordan winning Tate’s daughter’s heart (and his).
Read the rest of the Vancouver Storm series, which includes Behind the Net, The Fake Out, The Wingman, and Gloves Off.
Revolve by Bal Khabra is figure skating meets ice hockey—perfect if you’re still celebrating the U.S. winning gold medals in both hockey and figure skating in the 2026 Winter Olympics. Former Olympian figure skater Sierra Romanova and aspiring NHL player Dylan Donovan are both battling their relationships with the ice. Sierra needs help with her panic attacks, and Donovan’s reckless behavior isn’t helping him make it to the NHL draft. And when Sierra is in need of a new pairs partner, the unlikely pair is the perfect match.
Nothing is going to stand in Anastasia Allen’s way to make it on Team USA. Her figure skating career has been her entire life, and now that she has a full ride to the University of California and a spot on their figure skating team, she’s one step closer. Well, until Nate Hawkins, the hockey team’s annoying team captain shows up on the ice. Anastasia and Nate are forced to share the rink. But when Anastasia’s in need of a partner, Nate may be the only one to help her.
Enjoy the rest of Hannah Grace’s Maple Hills series with Wildfire and Daydream.
If you love a slow burn, add From Lukov With Love by Mariana Zapata to your TBR list. Jasmine Santos has dedicated the last 17 years to figure skating, and she knows her competition days are almost over—until she partners up with her rival Ivan Lukov. One reviewer commented, “The relationship development with Jasmine and Ivan was so raw and realistic.” And for Kindle Unlimited fans, this title is included.
Professional snowboarder Chase Austin has a reputation for being the world’s best extreme athlete, and photographer Brooke Larson is eager to get a shot of him in hopes that it’ll be the big break in her career. When their two worlds collide, maybe Chase’s picture isn’t the only shot Brooke is after.
Read the second book of The Wild Sequence series, Crash, both also available on Kindle Unlimited.
Elle Kennedy is an editor-favorite for steamy hockey romances, and Amazon Prime Video is making the beloved author’s best-selling books into a TV adaptation based on her Off Campus series. In the first book, The Deal, Hannah Wells and Garrett Graham strike up a deal to get what they want. Hannah tutors Garret, the obnoxious hockey captain, to make her crush jealous. Garret agrees to help Hannah if she helps him raise his GPA. Except, when a steamy kiss ends in the best sex of their lives, maybe the guy Hannah is really looking for is Garret after all.
Adriana Russo comes from figure skating royalty, and she’s got her eye on the prize to win the World Championships and continue her family’s legacy. In order to win everyone’s hearts, Adriana and her partner, Brayden, decide to pretend their on-ice chemistry goes beyond the rink. But maybe their fake romance isn’t pretend after all, and when Adriana encounters a former crush and partner, she must decide what her heart is truly after.
After being cut from the U.S. women’s hockey team, Natalie Carpenter is desperate for a plan B. The plan B: covering the winter games as a guest-host on Wake Up with her ex-girlfriend Darcy LaCroix. For Darcy, this means sharing airtime with her cocky ex. However, the on-screen chemistry is off the charts, and the viewers can’t get enough of the two. One review described Cochrane’s novel as a “fantastic friends-to-lovers-to-rivals-to-lovers second chance rom-com,” and they’re not wrong.
This book-to-series adaptation is now streaming on HBO Max, and everyone has been raving about Heated Rivalry. If you’re looking for a book to heat things up in the bedroom, add this one to your list ASAP. In this epic enemies-to-lovers trope, professional ice hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov are enemies on paper. But behind closed doors, they can’t get enough of one another. With their romantic involvement, they’re putting their careers on the line. Keep reading the Game Changers series after you’re done with this spicy romance.
The queen of rated-R rom-coms brings together hockey, single-parenting, and plenty of spice in this forced proximity, age-gap romance between Tallulah and Burgess Abraham, hockey captain of the Boston Bearcats. Tallulah is moving to Boston to continue her studies in marine biology and needs to find a place to live, so she jumps on the opportunity to become an au pair for Burgess’s tween daughter. But boundaries are slowly crossed, and Burgess finds himself pulled between his daughter, who wants her parents back together, and his insane chemistry with Tallulah.
Winter sports fiction books
If the heartfelt stories and struggles behind the Olympians in this year’s Games had you cheering a little louder—or grabbing a tissue—you may want to pick up one of these sports-themed literary fiction picks, with characters you can’t help but care about.
If the drama and passion surrounding ice dancing in the 2026 Olympics had you hooked, you’ll want to pick up this novel ASAP. Described by some as The Cutting Edge or I, Tonya meets Daisy Jones & the Six, this sports fiction book blends interview-style writing with narrative chapters. The Everygirl’s full review of The Favorites shares the novel is “the untold story of Katarina Shaw, an Olympic ice skater with unyielding ambition and massive dreams,” and her ice dancing partner, Heath Rocha. “Their shared talent eventually takes them to an elite training center in Los Angeles, where they evolve from nobodies scraping by to headline-making stars followed by scandal.”
In Beartown, hockey can change lives. And on the old ice rink, down by the lake, a junior hockey team practices for the championship. But when a violent act occurs, accusations ripple through all of Beartown, leaving a community grappling with the consequences.
A book hangover book well worth the hype, this is the first in Backman’s three-part series.
If you can’t stop thinking about Beartown, pick up the second book in the series, Us Against You.
Hockey is everything for the community of Beartown, and it’s no surprise that the news rocks the community when the ice hockey club could soon be disbanded. As players are forced to play for their rival team in the neighboring town, Hed, it’s clear that the tension exists between the players. Can they learn to work together to keep the spirit of hockey alive in the town?
Kathy Sisson, Senior Editor
Kathy Sisson has been a key contributor in the editorial parenting space for eight years, not only as a full-time editor at The Everymom but previously as a freelance writer for top parenting sites, including Scary Mommy, Motherly, Parent Co., and more. As an editor at The Everymom, she has produced hundreds of articles on a range of parenting topics, reviewed dozens of family-focused products, interviewed leading experts in the children and parenting world, and created viral parenting social media content. A mom of two, she is committed to sharing the honest, helpful, and often humorous stories of motherhood.
Patty Schepel, Editorial Assistant
As the editorial assistant, Patty works with The Everymom’s team on pitches, creating original articles, updating existing content, photo sourcing, writing shopping product descriptions, inputting freelance articles, and more. With Patty’s passion for writing, experience as a mother of two, and expertise as a pediatric nurse, she brings a thoughtful and informative perspective to The Everymom.
Books in feature graphics linked within article.
