Sports romance, particularly hockey romance, is a rapidly growing subgenre. It usually contains popular tropes like celebrity romance and size difference, and sometimes workplace romance. They’re thrilling, dramatic, sweet, and often quite spicy. As with all romance, there’s a wide variety—both in sports portrayed and characters. Plus size main characters aren’t rare in this genre with many fat and curvy babes getting loved and lusted after by the athlete of their dreams. A plus size sports romance is the perfect read for literally any occasion.
Not a sports fan? Sports romance contain varying amount of sports from “this just happens to be someone’s job” to “detailed descriptions of training and events.” But because it’s a book, even the most detailed descriptions are over quickly while giving you a chance to microdose the excitement of a sport and gain insight on the book’s characters. Also, there’s a wide variety of sports from popular and traditional sports like hockey and football to robot fighting and more!
Check out these nine sports romances with plus size main characters, fill up your TBR, and enter your sports romance era.
The C*ck Down the Block by Amy Award
The first in the very popular “Cocky Kingsman” series The Cock Down The Block by Amy Award is a delightful sports romantic comedy with plenty of chicken puns. Chris is a hunky star quarterback of a professional football team. He’s got everything except the heart of his childhood best friend, Trixie, a dorky, plus size librarian. Not only does this combine childhood friends to lovers, they’re also neighbors to lovers. When Trixie needs a date to her highschool reunion, Chris jumps at the chance—he fell for her years ago and is desperate for an in. If you love found family, jock x nerd, virgin FMCs, and lots of puns, this book should be at the top of your TBR.
From the blurb:
Look, I’ve had it bad for the girl with all the curves next door forever
Read it on KindleUnlimited, paperback, or listen to the audiobook.
Big Girl Blitz by Danielle Allen
Big Girl Blitz by Danielle Allen is a fun, healing, joy filled, and spicy read and the final book in Danielle’s Curve series. When Lamar and Jazmyn connect over football at the bar it kicks off a beautiful and banter filled romance. While the book gets spicy quickly, it’s an emotional slow burn. There are more serious elements like Jazmyn’s aunt’s illness and the bullying Jazmyn endures, but joy and healthy relationships shine through to make this your next five star read. Also did I mention Lamar is 6’5?
From the blurb:
Jazmyn Payne fled her hometown—and the fatphobes who made her life hell– the minute she graduated high school. Growing up, her haven was her Aunt Addison, and when her health takes a drastic turn, she insists that Jazz should spice up her life. Emphasis on spice.
Read it on KindleUnlimited or paperback on Amazon or Audible Audiobook.
Sparks Will Fly by Laurel Holl
Sparks Will Fly by Laurel Holl features an nontraditional sport—combat robotics. This slow burn, rivals to lovers romance dials up the nerd in “sports nerd” as a STEM romance. The plus size female main character, Mari, is burnt out. She’s been taking care of her family for years. When she gets a chance at the most famous competition in the world, she’s now in forced proximity to her childhood friend and the man who betrayed her, Jacob. This “it’s always been you” romance features disability rep, hurt/comfort, and plenty of spice.
From the blurb:
When Jacob tries to make amends by offering assistance, Mari must decide if giving him access to her robot means a chance to win it all, or a chance to get hurt all over again.
When it releases on June 25, 2026 you can read it on KindleUnlimited. You can pre-order the paperback from Laurel’s store.
Ruin the Friendship by Alice Daniels
Ruin the Friendship by Alice Daniels is the first in the Minnesota Blue Herons series. This plus size hockey romance has the added bonus of being a surprise pregnancy—but it’s not his baby! Lydia finds herself facing down single motherhood, but her long time best friend and roommate Fletcher, captain of Minnesota’s professional hockey team, is happy to step into the role. He falls first and hard, doting on Lydia. If you like found family, plenty of spice, AND plenty of tenderness, Ruin the Friendship is the perfect plus size sports romance perfect for you.
From the blurb:
Look, I’ve had it bad for the girl with all the curves next door forever
Read it on KindleUnlimited or paperback or get a signed copy and art from Alice.
The Game by Leonor Soliz
The Game by Leonor Soliz is a grumpy/sunshine football romance. Plus size Evie just wanted her one night with the hot but grumpy quarterback Logan, and she got it. But years later when she gets hired to do PR for the team, she’s got to hope he doesn’t remember her. Evie is first generation immigrant, handling both taking care of her family and the pressures of a career, and Logan is living in the shadow of his legendary father. Together they learn what true care and love and support looks like in this sports workplace romance. It’s the first in the Seattle Strike series.
From the blurb:
His famous frown doesn’t deter me. His incredible body can’t tempt me. Getting a promotion is all I care about, when my parents’ debt hangs over my head and my childhood home is in the balance.
Read it on KindleUnlimited or paperback on Amazon or listen to it on audiobook.
Beast Mode by Mary Warren
The second book in the connected standalone Grimm Reapers series, Beast Mode by Mary Warren is a Beauty and the Beast inspired roller derby romance. When disaster strikes plus size bad ass Belle in this plus size sports romance, she needs health insurance and has no choice but to turn to her reclusive client, Raphael, for a marriage of convenience. While Belle can certainly handle her self, Raphael is a protective hero (that falls first) in this hurt/comfort romance.
From the blurb:
Raphael Renault is rumored to be a beast. He is reclusive, rigid, and more comfortable behind locked doors than at the dinner table. His house feels less like a home and more like a castle built to keep the world out.
But Belle has never been afraid of monsters.
Read it on KindleUnlimited or paperback on Amazon.
Down South Bayou by Aricka Alexander
Down South Bayou by Arika Alexander is a Black, sapphic, basketball romance and part of the sapphic BR Bayou Series. Harley is a charismatic WNBA player who keeps missing her shot at love. Cheynne’s relationship just ended and in the chaos, she narrowly avoids an early demise thanks to Harley. When life puts them in each other’s path again they strike up a steamy friends-with-benefits agreement. However, things aren’t a clear shot for them. They must navigate jealous exes and family drama on the way to their HEA.
From the blurb:
[Cheyenne is] so distracted that she doesn’t see the car hurling toward her. Right before the worst outcome could happen, she’s pulled away just in time by a mysterious, yet gorgeous person who introduces themself as Harley.
Read it on KindleUnlimited or paperback on Amazon, Audible audiobook, or get a signed copy from Arika.
Trick Shot by Kayla Grosse
Kayla Grosse’s Trick Shot is a hot and spicy hockey-ish romance with a MMF dynamic. When plus size Riley catches the eye of Leo, she mistakes him for his identical twin hockey player brother. This case of mistaken identity leads to a “one night to forever” tryst with Leo and Jace, Leo’s boyfriend. This book has two plus size characters, Riley and Jace. If you enjoy high heat quick reads, this book is perfect for you. It’s the first in the Brother Puckers series, and the second book, Puck Shy, is a more traditional plus size hockey romance.
From the blurb:
With an intriguing woman, his best friend Jace, and a whole night of possibilities ahead of them, Leo has all the ingredients for what promises to be a memorable Christmas Eve.
Read it now on KindleUnlimited, listen to it on Audible audiobook, or find it from the bookstore of your choice (including directly from Kayla).
Center of Attention by Daisy Wren
Center of Attention by Daisy Wren is a rugby romance. When Sutton lands her dream job as the athletic trainer for the Utah Knights things get complicated quickly as she rekindles her friendship with her ex-fiance’s brother Ezra, a player on the team. This workplace romance is a slow burn that dials up the drama and the fun with plenty of meddling friends and a found family. It’s the first in the planned Utah Knights Rugby series.
From the blurb:
Rekindling an old friendship is exactly what they both need, but as they spend more time with each other, things start to burn into a more complicated tangle of emotion.
Read it on KindleUnlimited or paperback.
Have fun in your plus size sports romance era bookish besties!
