Summary: In today’s article, I’ve compiled 20 books like Icebreaker that capture the same charm, humor, and romance. Here are the top 3 picks:
- The Deal by Elle Kennedy
- Play With Me by Becka Mack
- Pucked by Helena Hunting
If you liked Icebreaker by Hannah Grace, you’ll love these sports romances packed with swoon-worthy athletes, sharp banter, and emotional journeys. Whether you prefer enemies-to-lovers sparks, friends-to-lovers sweetness, or slow-burn tension, these books deliver the perfect mix of passion, humor, and personal growth. Get ready to root for relatable characters and dive into addictive love stories with just the right amount of heat!
TOP 20: Best Books Similar to Icebreaker
1. The Deal
- Author: Elle Kennedy
- About: Follows Hannah, a college student, and Garrett, a hockey captain, who fake a relationship that becomes real.
- Style of Writing: Witty, dual POV, emotional with humor.
- Length: ~90,000 words (360 pages)
- Year Written: 2015
- Emotional Impact: Balances light romance with deeper themes like trauma and mental health.
- Difficulty Level: Moderate.
- Why Read It: Great chemistry, engaging characters, and thoughtful portrayal of personal challenges.
2. Play With Me
- Author: Becka Mack
- About: A hockey romance between Garrett, a hockey player, and Jennie, his best friend’s sister, balancing a fun, steamy relationship with real emotions.
- Style of Writing: Conversational, steamy, and emotionally engaging.
- Length: 544 pages (~120,000 words)
- Year Written: 2022
- Emotional Impact: Relatable with humor and heartfelt moments.
- Difficulty Level: Easy to follow.
- Why Read It: Perfect for fans of sports romance with humor and a “friends with benefits” twist.
3. Pucked
- Author: Helena Hunting
- About: Violet Hall, connected to the hockey world through her family, finds herself drawn to Alex Waters, an NHL captain with a wild reputation. Despite initial skepticism, sparks fly in this raunchy romantic comedy.
- Style of Writing: Humorous, fast-paced, with steamy moments.
- Length: 382 pages (~95,000 words)
- Year Written: 2015
- Emotional Impact: Lighthearted with some memorable, laugh-out-loud moments.
- Difficulty Level: Easy to read.
- Why Read It: Perfect for fans of quirky, romantic comedy with a playful take on sports romance.
4. The Off-Campus Series (Books 2-4)
- Author: Elle Kennedy
- About: Each book follows different couples in a college setting, focusing on hockey players and their romantic journeys.
- The Mistake: Logan, a charming hockey player, tries to win back Grace after pushing her away.
- The Score: Dean, a notorious ladies' man, falls for Allie, a woman immune to his usual charms.
- The Goal: Tucker faces unexpected fatherhood while falling for ambitious Sabrina.
- Style of Writing: Fun, emotional, dual-POV romance.
- Length: Each book ranges from 90,000 to 100,000 words.
- Years Written: 2015-2016
- Emotional Impact: Balances humor with emotional moments. Each book leaves readers with a feel-good vibe.
- Difficulty Level: Moderate, with easy-flowing dialogue.
- Why Read It: Ideal for fans of sports romance with humor, drama, and character growth.
5. Puck Me Secretly
- Author: Odette Stone
- About: A hockey romance with forbidden love, where a star player gets involved with the team's flight attendant.
- Style of Writing: Fast-paced and suspenseful with a mix of romance and sports.
- Length: ~350 pages (~85,000 words).
- Year Written: 2018
- Emotional Impact: Moderate, with tension-filled and steamy moments.
- Difficulty Level: Easy to read.
- Why Read It: Great for those who enjoy romance with a hint of suspense and forbidden attraction.
6. Blindsided
- Author: Amy Daws
- About: A football star falls for his best friend, leading to unexpected romantic developments.
- Style of Writing: Light-hearted, humorous, and romantic.
- Length: ~400 pages (~100,000 words).
- Year Written: 2020
- Emotional Impact: Engaging with comedic elements and tender moments.
- Difficulty Level: Easy.
- Why Read It: Perfect for fans of friends-to-lovers romance with humor and heart.
7. The Cheat Sheet
- Author: Sarah Adams
- About: A lighthearted romance where a personal trainer and a football player navigate fake dating and hidden feelings.
- Style of Writing: Sweet, closed-door romance with humor.
- Length: ~350 pages (~90,000 words).
- Year Written: 2021
- Emotional Impact: Charming with feel-good vibes.
- Difficulty Level: Easy.
- Why Read It: Great for those looking for a sweet romance with minimal angst.
8. Shipped
- Author: Angie Hockman
- About: A workplace enemies-to-lovers romance set aboard a Galápagos cruise, where marketing manager Henley Evans and her rival, Graeme Crawford-Collins, compete for a promotion. Amid tropical adventures and unexpected chemistry, they confront their differences and discover deeper feelings.
- Style of Writing: Light, witty, and heartwarming with rich descriptions of exotic settings.
- Length: 336 pages (~85,000 words).
- Year Written: 2021
- Emotional Impact: Moderate; charming and uplifting.
- Difficulty Level: Easy to moderate.
- Why Read It: Ideal for fans of enemies-to-lovers romance with a travel twist and playful banter.
9. Set on You
- Author: Amy Lea
- About: A romantic comedy about Crystal Chen, a curvy fitness influencer, who butts heads with firefighter Scott Ritchie over gym equipment—only to later discover they might have more in common than they thought. Their relationship is tested by social media trolls after a viral moment.
- Style of Writing: Witty, fun, and emotional with a focus on body positivity and slow-burn romance.
- Length: 384 pages (~95,000 words).
- Year Written: 2022
- Emotional Impact: A feel-good story with heartfelt exploration of self-acceptance.
- Difficulty Level: Easy to read.
- Why Read It: Great for fans of enemies-to-lovers stories with themes of self-love and body positivity woven into the narrative.
10. The Sweetest Oblivion
- Author: Danielle Lori
- About: This mafia romance follows Elena Abelli, the “perfect mafia princess,” who finds herself irresistibly drawn to Nicolas Russo, a dangerous Made Man engaged to her sister. As their chemistry builds, Elena grapples with forbidden feelings that threaten to upend her carefully controlled life in the criminal underworld.
- Style of Writing: Dark, seductive, and emotional, blending romance with suspense.
- Length: ~386 pages (~95,000 words).
- Year Written: 2018
- Emotional Impact: High, with intense romantic tension and morally complex characters, leaving a lasting impression.
- Difficulty Level: Moderate, with engaging prose that flows smoothly.
- Why Read It: Ideal for fans of forbidden love, mafia intrigue, and emotionally charged romance.
11. From Lukov with Love
- Author: Mariana Zapata
- About: A slow-burn romance featuring Jasmine Santos, a frustrated figure skater nearing the end of her career. She reluctantly partners with Ivan Lukov, her longtime rival, to compete in pairs figure skating, forcing them to work through their animosity and uncover unexpected feelings.
- Style of Writing: Character-driven with a focus on slow-burn romance, witty banter, and emotional development.
- Length: 538 pages (~130,000 words).
- Year Written: 2018
- Emotional Impact: High; the story explores personal growth, ambition, and evolving relationships.
- Difficulty Level: Moderate, with a leisurely pace that rewards patient readers.
- Why Read It: Ideal for fans of slow-burn romances who enjoy in-depth character development and the “enemies-to-lovers” trope with a focus on sports and personal redemption
12. Wait for It
- Author: Mariana Zapata
- About: Struggling with the challenges of adulthood, Diana finds unexpected comfort in her developing relationship with Dallas, her mysterious and supportive neighbor.
- Style of Writing: Character-driven, with deep emotional development and a slow-burn romantic arc.
- Length: 672 pages (~150,000 words).
- Year Written: 2016
- Emotional Impact: High, with themes of personal growth, resilience, and the slow unfolding of love, leaving readers emotionally connected.
- Difficulty Level: Moderate; the leisurely pace and detailed character work demand patience.
- Why Read It: Perfect for readers who enjoy emotionally rich, slow-burn romances with strong character development and family themes
13. The Friend Zone
- Author: Abby Jimenez
- About: Kristen Petersen, dealing with fertility challenges, meets Josh Copeland, a man who wants a big family. As they navigate a close friendship and budding romance, Kristen struggles with whether to reveal her secret, knowing it could impact their future together.
- Style of Writing: Witty, heartfelt, and humorous with emotional depth.
- Length: 384 pages (~95,000 words).
- Year Written: 2019
- Emotional Impact: High; it’s both humorous and poignant, addressing infertility and personal growth.
- Difficulty Level: Easy to moderate.
- Why Read It: Ideal for readers who love romantic comedies with emotional weight and relatable, complex characters
14. The Hating Game
- Author: Sally Thorne
- About: This romantic comedy centers around Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman, two co-workers trapped in a fierce rivalry. As they compete for a major promotion at their publishing company, their playful antagonism turns into undeniable attraction.
- Style of Writing: Witty, humorous, and playful with strong character banter.
- Length: 384 pages (~95,000 words).
- Year Written: 2016
- Emotional Impact: Moderate; it offers light-hearted fun with some emotional depth, making it a memorable read.
- Difficulty Level: Easy, ideal for fans of quick, enjoyable reads.
- Why Read It: Perfect for those who love enemies-to-lovers romances with sharp dialogue and sizzling chemistry
15. Twisted Love
- Author: Ana Huang
- About: This contemporary romance tells the story of Ava Chen and Alex Volkov. Alex, a cold and calculating businessman, becomes unexpectedly entangled with his best friend’s sister, Ava, while confronting the traumas of his past.
- Style of Writing: Emotional, angsty, and steamy with alternating perspectives.
- Length: 384 pages (~100,000 words).
- Year Written: 2021
- Emotional Impact: High
- Difficulty Level: Moderate, with complex emotional layers.
- Why Read It: Perfect for fans of “grumpy-sunshine” romances, dark secrets, and relationships that explore deep emotional connections with a touch of suspense and drama
16. Birthday Girl
- Author: Penelope Douglas
- About: A forbidden romance featuring Jordan, a young woman who finds herself drawn to Pike, her boyfriend’s father, after moving into his house. Their unexpected connection challenges societal norms, blending tension with emotional depth.
- Style of Writing: Angsty, character-driven, with a slow-burn romance.
- Length: 464 pages (~120,000 words).
- Year Written: 2018
- Emotional Impact: High; it explores themes of longing, regret, and love across an unconventional age gap.
- Difficulty Level: Moderate; easy to read but emotionally complex.
- Why Read It: Perfect for readers who enjoy forbidden love, age-gap dynamics, and emotional character journeys with a hint of angst and tension.
17. A Not So Meet Cute
- Author: Meghan Quinn
- About: This romantic comedy features Lottie Gardner, who enters a fake relationship with billionaire Huxley Cane to solve both their personal dilemmas. What starts as a practical arrangement slowly develops into real feelings, blending humor, romance, and the chaos of unexpected love.
- Style of Writing: Witty, humorous, with a mix of banter and heartfelt moments.
- Length: 416 pages (~100,000 words).
- Year Written: 2021
- Emotional Impact: Moderate; the story delivers both laughs and emotional moments, though it leans more toward lighthearted fun.
- Difficulty Level: Easy to read, perfect for a relaxing escape.
- Why Read It: Ideal for fans of fake-dating and romantic comedy tropes, with an engaging mix of humor and heat.
18. Broken Knight
- Author: L.J. Shen
- About: Part of the All Saints High series, this book focuses on Knight and Luna’s deeply emotional, coming-of-age love story filled with betrayal, loss, and redemption.
- Style of Writing: Angsty, emotional, and intense.
- Length: 384 pages (~100,000 words).
- Year Written: 2019
- Emotional Impact: High; it explores themes like love, grief, and personal growth, leaving a lasting impression.
- Difficulty Level: Moderate; emotionally engaging but accessible.
- Why Read It: Ideal for readers who love heart-wrenching romances with complex characters and emotional depth
19. Things We Never Got Over
- Author: Lucy Score
- About: Naomi Witt escapes her own wedding and arrives in Knockemout, Virginia, to help her estranged twin sister. When her sister abandons Naomi with a young niece she never knew about, Naomi must rely on Knox Morgan, the town’s grumpy bar owner, to navigate small-town life and rebuild her future.
- Style of Writing: Light-hearted with emotional depth, blending humor, romance, and drama.
- Length: 562 pages (~120,000 words).
- Year Written: 2022
- Emotional Impact: High
- Difficulty Level: Easy to moderate; engaging and easy to follow.
- Why Read It: Perfect for fans of small-town romances with strong character development, humor, and emotional moments involving love, family, and personal growth.
Conclusion
If you loved Icebreaker by Hannah Grace, I think you’ll really enjoy diving into other sports romances that balance humor, heat, and emotional depth. The Deal, Play With Me, and Pucked are my top picks. Each offers swoon-worthy athletes, witty banter, and heartfelt love stories. Whether you’re into college hockey players, playful friendships with romantic twists, or laugh-out-loud moments, these books capture the same chemistry that made Icebreaker such a favorite. Trust me, these will keep you hooked!
