We're all living vicariously through the unlikely romance between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. While we can catch glimpses of their relationship through the longing looks and sweet smirks that NFL cameras capture on the field, it's not nearly enough. So until Taylor pens a lovestruck album filled with Easter eggs dedicated to the Kansas City Chiefs tight end (as much as we love seeing her bond with Donna Kelce), we'll have to find other means of satisfying our #Traylor cravings.
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And what better way to do that than through the pages of a good book?
Author and former NFL wife Alexa Martin was years ahead of the game when she wrote The Playbook Series, four standalone love stories that all emerge from the same football team. While Intercepted, Blitzed, and Snapped are great reads, it's Fumbled, the second book in the series that truly captures the Swift-Kelce dynamic.
"The main character's name is T.K., and he's my Travis Kelce-inspired hero," Martin said in an exclusive interview with Wide Open Country. "The man in the suit is just something to behold.
"But what I think is so fun about my series is that it's very much centered on the heroine, her journey, and telling her story, which is something we all love about Taylor Swift. She and Travis are my entire personality right now. I don't know how to talk about anything else."
While Martin's series should definitely be on your TBR list, it turns out there's an entire sub-genre of football-influenced romances just waiting to be discovered. So, whether you're a hardcore Swiftie, a diehard Chiefs fan, or just love a good sports-themed love story, here are 13 books that deserve a spot on your bookshelf.
Fumbled by Alexa Martin
Credit: Amazon
If there's anyone who knows anything about second chances in love, it's Taylor Swift. The second book of Martin's series takes a look at what can happen when you finally say yes to the one who got away—even if that person is your high school sweetheart who just so happens to be an NFL superstar.
First Down by Grace Reilly
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We all love a good nerd-and-jock pairing, and this first book in Grace Reilly's Beyond the Play series combines football and academia in the most swoon-worthy way. Because who wouldn't want to trade some tutoring sessions for a few "fake" dates with their high school's quarterback?
Dare You to Hate Me by B. Celeste
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For some reason, football stories love to pen the game and romance against each other. The stars on the field can only pick one, and in this collegiate romance, our protagonist is torn between his life as a star tight end and the high school crush he doesn't want to lose again.
The Silent Count By Meg Reading
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Is there anything more enticing than an off-limits love story? In The Silent Count, the daughter of a football coach falls for one of his players, which is definitely not allowed. So, for four years, they've kept their attraction hidden behind online messages and secret identities—until one night changes everything.
Breakaway by Grace Reilly
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Another forbidden romance with the coach's daughter, this friends-with-benefits situation takes a turn when our pro-bound college athlete hero realizes he wants more than just the physical. Technically, this love story takes place on the hockey rink and not the football field, but it's too good to leave off the list.
Coach by Devney Perry
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What happens when the man who broke your heart (and thus spent years avoiding) gets hired as your team's new head coach? An explosive second-chance romance that's sure to keep you on the edge of your seat and rooting for a happy ending both on and off the field.
Enemies by Tijan
Credit: Amazon
Spending your whole life hating someone and blaming them for all the reasons things went wrong sounds like a great foundation for a love story, right? Well, that's exactly what happens when our heroine falls for the pro football players she's been at odds with since they were kids.
Under the Lights by Abbi Glines
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Growing up and falling in love under the bright lights of a high school football setting is idyllic—unless you count the fact that said love is actually a love triangle between three best friends. But hey, who doesn't love a little drama on the field?
The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata
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Working as the personal assistant for a beloved pro football player may sound like a dream to many. But not if your boss is a grumpy, cold-hearted man who can't even be bothered to wish you a happy birthday. So, when our heroine has enough and quits, she never expects him to come knocking on her door, asking for a second chance.
Say You Swear by Meagan Brandy
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Grappling with the fact that the person you thought you were going to spend forever with may not be your forever is tough. But a new chance at love with one of your ex's football buddies may just be the perfect way to move on.
The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams
Credit: Amazon
Enemies-to-lovers is about as tantalizing as it gets, but those softer, friends-to-lovers moments can be just as swoon-worthy. In The Cheat Sheet, a professional ballerina hides the romantic feelings she has for her long-time-best-friend-turned-NFL-legend. But when she's asked to pretend to be his girlfriend for a publicity stunt, the lines between friends and lovers start to get blurry.
Playing Hard to Get by Monica Murphy
Credit: Amazon
Opposites attract in this steamy romance between a playboy college football star and his shy, studious tutor. They may seem like they're from two different worlds, but their chemistry on the field (and off) can't be denied. But can it last?
Just a Football Star by Deb Goodman
Credit: Amazon
Not at all spicy and a whole lotta sweet, this small-town romantic comedy explores what happens when an unemployed sports trainer agrees to help a handsome football player battling a career-ending injury. Cue the hilarious banter and budding romance that'll make any reader swoon.
