20+ FOOTBALL ROM-COM FICTION (FOR THE GIRLS WHO DON’T LOVE GAME DAY!)
Despite the big event next week that weeks (and weeks) of games have led to, some of us aren’t too keen on the big game that is the Super Bowl. For others, the game is a big anticipated even that the week is planned around. If you, like me, tend to be in the former camp, you might be someone who enjoys a different kind of football experience. There are films (always an option, too), of course, which we collected in two different lists from 2021 and 2023, but there are also fictional books that follows a football romance. This is the subject of our weekly list and so we’ve collected some 15 Football Rom-Com Fiction novels to read and enjoy.
QUIZ | A ROM-COM QUIZ: WHICH ONE ARE YOU? THE 2025 EDITION!
20+ FOOTBALL ROM-COM FICTION (FOR THE GIRLS WHO DON’T LOVE GAME DAY!). How many of these would you (or have you) read? #Football #Books #Readers #Reading #ReaderList Share on XFootball has been a favorite American pastime for years. But then in more recent years, its popularity, at least by numbers dwindled. Now, with the simple headline grabbing pop culture news that is the Taylor Swift (aka global pop star) and Travis Kelce (aka super bowl winning NFL champ) romance, well, it’s seen a resurgence. So all this to say, the football trope is popular in pop culture which spans Christmas movies, fiction and yes, even commercials from popular beauty brands.
From popular authors to names that are perhaps lesser known, while most do center on a romance (because we love our HEA’s!), hopefully in the following list, we collected a variety of fictional titles to appeal to a wider audience. They also range in variety from average reader ratings. Still, this is why there is usually always something for everyone; just because one person rates something low doesn’t mean you may not enjoy the book!
So if you like the aesthetics of football but not the technical, maybe discovering a new book is a better option while everyone else watches the game! From new and young adult to the oft debated “clean” romance and secular titles, here are some of the football rom-com fiction novels you can add to your TBR.
15 FOOTBALL ROM-COM FICTION NOVELS to READ
Note: some of these are secular titles which means there is PG-13/R content, and others fall into the “closed-door” category. We’ll try to make note for those that give content information on their product pages.
THE CHEAT SHEET, SARAH ADAMS
This one follows a dancer who is in love with her best friend, a football star, and is also penned by an author that I see a lot of reader love for. Shop on Amazon | Goodreads
Content Note: according to reviews, this one isn’t “clean,” but doesn’t have sex scenes. Some rate it PG-13 for some mild profanity and sexual innuendo.
BEST FRIENDS, BACKUPS and SOMETHING MORE, RANEE S. CLARK
Using Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility as inspo (sounds promising, right?), this one tells the story of Eli and Court. Two people who begin with a friendship. When she steals the quarterback’s heart, it’s up to him to prove to Court that they’re perfect for each other. Shop on Amazon | Goodreads
Content Note: The tag on this is “clean and wholesome” and reviews say there is no “sex, language or violence.”
THE COMEBACK, RANEE S. CLARK
A football player in the “middle of championship” season and an event planner planning her bestie’s wedding run into each other again when Jett discovers he’s in the wedding Ava is planning! According to the synopsis, this one is inspired by Jane Austen’s Persuasion, so bonus if you love Austen and its tags as a “sweet” romance. Shop on Amazon | Goodreads
Content Note: The tag on this is “clean and wholesome” and reviews say there is no “sex, language or violence.”
HER FOOTBALL STAR EX, JUDY CORRY
The first in a series of five books (more than one of which is about football), this follows a woman who scrambles to find a date when she learns her ex is bringing his own plus one to a mutual event they’re attending. This one also has quite a few reviews with an average of 4.3 for its rating! Shop on Amazon | Goodreads
Content Note: this one is tagged (on its product page) as “clean and wholesome” and reviews say it doesn’t have “detailed” sex.
THE FOOTBALL BARGAIN, DAPHNE DYER
Camille is a heroine who’s had a bad day. She’s nearly gotten fired, her boyfriend leaves her and her grandma’s athletic facility is nearly on its last leg. Enter former football player, Liam, who just may be the new partner Camille needs to save her dreams. Shop on Amazon | Goodreads
Content Note: according to its product page, this is a “closed-door” romance.
THE COWGIRL’S FOOTBALL STAR, BONNIE FIELDS
A woman meets her sons new coach, an ex-NFL football star, which sparks an unexpected romance. Shop on Amazon | Goodreads
Content Note: According to reviews, this one is being called “clean.”
UNTIL FRIDAY NIGHT, ABBI GLINES
A young adult genre novel, this one sounds like it looks deeper than surface level. It follows a “cocky” football star who help to lead his team to state, but really he’s a broken guy watching his father succumb to a painful illness. Then there is Maggie, a girl who saw her father murder her mother and hasn’t spoken since the aftermath. Shop on Amazon | Goodreads
Content Note: According to most reviewers, there are no “explicit” sex scenes, but one review say there are sex scenes… so take that as you will.
THROW LIKE a GIRL, SARAH HENNING
After an ill-advised choice, a girl loses her private school scholarship and her boyfriend, too! When she has to start fresh, by proving she deserves to be on the softball team, she instead will first have to play on the football team in the hope of earning herself a place on the softball team for the spring season. This is another YA novel that I think I did read a while back, though I don’t think it was super memorable. Shop on Amazon | Goodreads
I’LL BE YOURS, JENNY B. JONES
After her football coach dad becomes the center of a scandal, a girl pulls away from everyone in this young adult romance. Shop on Amazon | Goodreads
WHY TREY LET ME GET AWAY, KORTNEY KEISEL
This one follows a rising football player star who determines to get back “the one that got away.” Shop on Amazon | Goodreads
Content Note: According to its product page, this novel is categorized as a rom-com with “sizzling chemistry but no spice. It’s considered a closed door…”
CATCHING JORDAN, MIRANDA KENNEALLY
A young adult romance, this one is about a girl who’s captain and quarterback of her school’s football team. One position is threatened when a newcomer with quarterback talent moves to her school. Shop on Amazon | Goodreads
HAIL MARRY, MARTHA KEYES
A marriage of convenience story about a man chasing his dream to be drafted by the NFL with one small thing in his way: he needs a visa! Shop on Amazon | Goodreads
Content Note: according to its product page, this one is a “closed-door marriage of convenience, free of steamy scenes and swearing.”
LEAVING, KAREN KINGSBURY
I read this series years ago, and honestly cannot remember how much football is in the story. All I know is its leading character has a father who coaches football and her first love is one of the players from the team. Shop on Amazon | Goodreads
Content Note: nothing that I can remember that would step outside of a PG rating.
SURVIVING ADAM MEADE, SHANNON KLARE
A young adult novel, this one is a loathe-to-more story. Shop on Amazon | Goodreads
Content Unknown
THE UPSIDE of FALLING, ALEX LIGHT
This one is a fake dating trope between a girl who doesn’t believe in true love and the captain of the football team. Shop on Amazon | Goodreads
Content note: I did read this one years ago, and it’s relatively clean. There are a few uses of the f-word and some suggestive content.
BLINDSIDED by the SPOTLIGHT, ELORA MAXWELL
According to reviewers, this one is heavily influenced by the Travis and Taylor romance. It also seems like one that would ideally fit the football rom-com fiction title. The plot is, like the real-life counterpart, about an NFL player who becomes “smitten” by a pop star and the ups and downs of their social media obsessed romance. Shop on Amazon | Goodreads
Content Note: the content is unknown. I didn’t find any reviews sharing information.
THE BUY-IN, EMMA ST. CLAIR
This one follows a family of ex pro football players who buy a small Texas town only for many of its residents to be resistant to this change. The story bills itself as being a reunion romance, too! Shop on Amazon | Goodreads
FROM the START, MELISSA TAGG
This follows a TV writer and a former NFL player, who happens to be the best friend of her brother. The book is quite cute from what I remember. Shop on Amazon | Goodreads
Content Note: from what I remember this one contains nothing that would go outside a PG-rating.
20+ FOOTBALL FICTION ROM-COMS (FOR THE GIRLS WHO DON’T LOVE GAME DAY!). #FootballBooks #FootballFiction #Football #TaylorSwift #SuperBowl Share on XHER ONE and ONLY, BECKY WADE
A novel I read quite some time ago, this one follows a bodyguard who winds up protecting an NFL star, and is also one of four novels in a series about siblings. Shop on Amazon | Goodreads
Content Note: from what I remember this one contains nothing that would go outside a PG-rating.
BABY LLAMA DRAMA, KATE WATSON
This one is a single dad rom-com about an NFL player whose daughter finds the perfect new mom! Shop on Amazon | Goodreads
Note: according to reviews, this one doesn’t have language or sex, but does have some kissing that are “mildly” descriptive and “light” innuendo.
BETTER than REVENGE, KASIE WEST
Penned by a fan favorite young adult author, this one is going to follow an aspiring podcaster who decides she must get “revenge” on her hot football star ex after he tries to use her plan to start podcasting! I haven’t read this book, but have read many others by Kasie (in the YA market) that are all sweet and cute reads. Shop on Amazon | Goodreads
Content Unknown
I GOT YOU, STACY WILLIAMS
This one follows a mother who meets a former football player who had to give up the game, which is all he is good at. Now, as a coach he’s trying to reinvent his life. Shop on Amazon | Goodreads
Content Note: according to its product page this one is a “low spice/fade-to-black romance,” but does have “language.”
How many of these football fiction rom-coms have you read? Would you read any of these? Which ones sound more interesting? Do any look familiar? What football rom-com fiction novels have you read? Leave all of your thoughts in the comments section below.
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I used to enjoy watching college football. Now I prefer to read.
My mom used to watch (and she was a big fan of) the NFL and so I’ve watched games through the years, but it was never something I got into. If I was at a game (or somewhere it was on), I’d much rather be in another room in conversation or reading or watching a movie. ;)