I am a hockey girlie. Anyone who knows me can tell you that, though my team, the Arizona Coyotes, tragically is no longer a team and moved to Utah. But that is a rant for a different day. But I was truly shocked by the book world when it seemed to me that overnight hockey romance had become an incredibly loved genre. I know people who typically read sports romance could tell you it was a long time coming, but the more I have come to read hockey romance, the more it has given me ways to enjoy hockey when my team isn't playing - or when I can't find a way to watch them because the local networks don't play their games anymore. So here are some of the hockey romances I love, perfect for the NHL season.
1. The Game Changer by Lana Ferguson
First of all, I am absolutely convinced Liam O'Brien was the inspiration behind Ian. Looking at the cover and looking at his picture, they look exactly the same. However, this book is an adorable grumpy and sunshine pairing and has two of my absolute favorite things: hockey and baking shows. In addition, a fake dating trope is thrown in for funsies, making this a cute and quick romance read that's perfect for all readers, not just ones who love hockey romance.
The Game Changer is available through Penguin Random House
2. Icebreaker by A.L. Graziadei
I'm sure everyone expected me to put Icebreaker by Hannah Grace on this list. And while you should check that one out, I wanted to focus on a more underrated book with the same title everyone should read. This YA graphic novel is all about hockey and self-discovery. Its realism is what I love the most about it because the characters all feel like they could come off the page and live in the real world. It's full of flirtation, sports action, and most importantly, the scary act of being true to yourself. And the way it covers mental health is done in a sensitive and realistic way, which makes the read all the more powerful.
Icebreaker is available through Macmillan Publishers
3. Puck and Prejudice by Lia Riley
If someone had told me there was a book that combined everything I loved about Regency romance with everything I loved about Hockey romance, I would have laughed in their face. And then Lia Riley had to go and write that exact book with Puck and Prejudice. A hockey player falls through a time travel portal and ends up in Regency England, and meets Lizzy: a woman who wants nothing more than the freedom that comes with being a widow. Sparks fly as the two fall in love, only for them to realize their plan of him going back to his own time and leaving Lizzy's new husband "dead" might not be what they actually wanted. It's a fun and spicy read, that will make fans of hockey and Bridgerton happy.
Puck and Prejudice is available through HarperCollins Publishers