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Quick answer: If you liked Rachel Reid, read Helena Hunting, Hannah Grace, Elle Kennedy and Casey McQuiston. All write romance with hockey, banter and slow-burn love, often with LGBTQ+ leads.
Rachel Reid is best known for the Game Changers series, including Heated Rivalry, which follows two professional hockey players who start as rivals and become secret lovers. Her books are sweet, sexy and emotional. The books below offer similar sports romance and queer love stories.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game Changer | Rachel Reid | Adult | the series start |
| Pucked | Helena Hunting | Adult | hockey romance |
| Icebreaker | Hannah Grace | Adult | college hockey |
| The Deal | Elle Kennedy | Adult | fake dating |
| Red, White & Royal Blue | Casey McQuiston | Adult | queer romcom |
| Boyfriend Material | Alexis Hall | Adult | fake boyfriend |
| Husband Material | Alexis Hall | Adult | the sequel |
| The Charm Offensive | Alison Cochrun | Adult | reality TV romance |
| Check, Please! | Ngozi Ukazu | Teen | college hockey graphic novel |
| Honey Girl | Morgan Rogers | Adult | quiet love |
| One Last Stop | Casey McQuiston | Adult | time-slip romance |
| Beach Read | Emily Henry | Adult | writers in love |
| The Hating Game | Sally Thorne | Adult | office rivals |
| The Wedding Date | Jasmine Guillory | Adult | fake dates |
| Cool for the Summer | Dahlia Adler | Teen | summer questions |
1. Game Changer by Rachel Reid
A star hockey player comes out and finds love with a younger man. Sweet and emotional.
Best for: the series start.
2. Pucked by Helena Hunting
A woman meets a hockey star in a messy night. Funny and spicy.
Best for: hockey romance.
3. Icebreaker by Hannah Grace
A figure skater and a hockey player must share ice time. Fast and charming.
Best for: college hockey.
4. The Deal by Elle Kennedy
A student agrees to help a hockey player pass a class in exchange for fake dating. Popular and light.
Best for: fake dating.
5. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
The president's son falls for a British prince. Funny and big-hearted.
Best for: queer romcom.
6. Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
A man needs a fake partner to save his reputation. Witty and warm.
Best for: fake boyfriend.
7. Husband Material by Alexis Hall
The couple deals with weddings and families. Funny and tender.
Best for: the sequel.
8. The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun
A producer and the star of a dating show fall for each other. Sweet and honest.
Best for: reality TV romance.
9. Check, Please! by Ngozi Ukazu
A baker joins his college hockey team. Charming and funny.
Best for: college hockey graphic novel.
10. Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers
A young woman marries a stranger in Vegas. Gentle and lyrical.
Best for: quiet love.
11. One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
A young woman falls for a girl displaced in time on the subway. Sweet and dreamy.
Best for: time-slip romance.
12. Beach Read by Emily Henry
Two rival authors swap genres. Sharp, sweet and emotional.
Best for: writers in love.
13. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
Two assistants compete for a promotion. Banter and tension.
Best for: office rivals.
14. The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
A woman and a doctor pretend to be a couple at a wedding. Light and fun.
Best for: fake dates.
15. Cool for the Summer by Dahlia Adler
A girl has a summer fling with a girl and then meets a boy. Warm and honest.
Best for: summer questions.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Rachel Reid: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
For more Reid start with Game Changer and continue with the series. For hockey pick Pucked, Icebreaker or The Deal. For queer romcoms choose Red, White & Royal Blue, Boyfriend Material or The Charm Offensive. For gentler love stories read Honey Girl or One Last Stop. For a graphic novel try Check, Please! Content varies, so check for explicit scenes before you start. Reid's Game Changers series was adapted for television as Heated Rivalry, which has brought many new readers to the books. If you are new to sports romance, hockey is the most popular subgenre, so there are plenty of authors to try. If you prefer queer romance without sports, Casey McQuiston and Alexis Hall are good starts. If you want something gentler, Honey Girl and Heartstopper-style stories are warm and low on spice. Many of these titles also exist as audiobooks. Another tip is to look for series with shared casts, so if you enjoy a couple you can follow their friends in later books.
Related: Rachel Hanna Printable Book List · 12 Dystopian Books Like the Hunger Games | Best Books to Read Like Hunger Games
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rachel Reid known for?
The Game Changers hockey romance series.
What is Heated Rivalry about?
Two rival hockey stars start a secret relationship.
Where should I start?
With Game Changer, the first in the series.
Are the books explicit?
Yes, they include sex scenes.
Is there a TV show?
Yes, a series based on Heated Rivalry.
Is the series complete?
Check current listings for the latest releases.
Do I need to read them in order?
It helps, since characters reappear.
What should I read next?
Try Red, White & Royal Blue or Pucked.
Are Rachel Reid's books connected?
Yes, the Game Changers series shares characters and settings.
Are there more hockey romance authors?
Yes, including Helena Hunting, Elle Kennedy and Hannah Grace.
Is the TV show faithful to the book?
It adapts the Game Changers series, so it changes some details. Read the books for the full story.
Are these books good gifts?
Yes, for readers who enjoy contemporary romance and sports stories.