For more Sapphic Tennis Romance, click here.
Thirty Love by Tom Vellner (m/m)
Set Point by Meg Jones (f/f)
The Open Era by Edward Schmit (m/m)
Triple Threat by Katie Chandler (m/m/f)
In Your Court by Kit Haley (m/m)
Tag Archives: Sports Romance
Fave Five: Queer YA Starring Cheerleaders
Home Field Advantage by Dahlia Adler
Cheer Up! by Crystal Frasier and Val O. Wise
Queerleaders by Olivia A. Cole and Ashley Woodfolk
She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen
Doe by Rebecca Barrow
Cover Reveal: Spiraling Out by Maya Ameyaw
Today on the site, I’m delighted to welcome back Maya Ameyaw to reveal the cover of her next contemporary YA, Spiraling Out, which releases March 2, 2027 from Annick Press! (Can’t wait to get your hands on a copy? Reviewers can grab it on Netgalley as a Read Now for 24 hours!) Here’s the story:
A competitive figure skater tries not to buckle under pressure while ignoring her growing feelings for her rival in this YA novel perfect for fans of Some Girls Do and Spinning.
Ever since failing to get the gold last season, figure skater Evelyn Osei has had her eyes on the prize. This time nothing will get in her way―not friends or school, not her OCD, and definitely not her ex-friend and rival Mei Sato who is training at Evelyn’s club this year. As the season progresses and her relationships fray, Evelyn has to confront that she might not have everything under control and that her feelings for Mei run deeper than either friendship or rivalry.
In her third novel, award-winning author Maya Ameyaw explores the stress of athletic competition and the confusion of first love with sensitive and vivid prose. Spiraling Out will speak to figure skating fans as well as any reader balancing the demands of daily life while on the complicated road to self-discovery.
And here’s the beautiful cover by Ashley Floreal!
Buy it: Bookshop | Amazon | Annick Press
MAYA AMEYAW is a Toronto-based community arts writing instructor and award-winning author. She has edited several mental health–themed anthologies for youth and adults and is the author of the critically acclaimed novels When It All Syncs Up and Under All the Lights.
Cover Reveal: Final Cut by Amy James
Today on the site I’m delighted to partner with Amy James to reveal the cover of her upcoming m/m romance, Final Cut, releasing November 3rd! Here’s the story:
Hollywood’s favorite actor. Nobody’s favorite Formula 1 driver. One life-changing winter break.
Quin McCarthy is Hollywood’s favorite actor. Cole Milton is nobody’s favorite Formula 1 driver. The two men have less than nothing in common, and when their paths briefly cross at the Singapore Grand Prix, it ends in mutual loathing.
Neither expects to see the other again, but when Quin moves to a remote Canadian ski town to film a thriller series, he learns that his deep-woods rental cottage has a single neighboring property, owned and occupied by none other than Cole.
Quin resolves to ignore him and spend his winter nights reading books by the fireplace. But when he stumbles upon a dead body on set—and glimpses the murderer making a run for it—his laid-back winter plans take an abrupt turn for the worse. As things grow more dangerous, he’s forced to turn to Cole for help—and in doing so, realizes Cole might not be the bad guy everyone thinks he is.
Early praise for Final Cut:
“Amy James delivers a pulse-pounding romance that proves first impressions can be dead wrong. Equal parts heart-racing suspense and swoon-worthy chemistry, Final Cut had me racing to see what would happen next! Quin and Cole are the perfect opposites…one beloved by millions, one misunderstood by nearly everyone…and watching them fall for each other amidst danger, secrets, and snow-covered isolation was absolutely irresistible!” – Chip Pons, USA Today Bestselling author of Dearly Departed
“In Final Cut, a wintry small-town romance collides with a twisty murder investigation. I love how Amy James writes tense, tamped-down yearning, and how her characters push each other for honesty—baiting the tenderness from one another even when it’s hiding behind a shield of animosity. This is a fast-paced, moving story about grief, our capacity for both pain and healing, and the kind of love that sees our fear and brings it into the light.” – Ellen O’Clover, author of The Heartbreak Hotel
And here’s the sexy cover by Quel Martins!
Buy it: In Bloom Bookery | Hopeless Romantic
Amy James lives on the east coast of Canada with her husband and dog. Her debut romance novel, A Five-Letter Word for Love (Avon, 2024) was short-listed for the Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize. Her second romance novel, Crash Test (Avon, 2025) was named one of CBC Books’ Best Books of 2025.
Exclusive Cover Reveal: In Your Court by Kit Haley
Today on the site I’m delighted to help reveal the cover of In Your Court by Kit Haley, an m/m sports romance releasing May 21st! Here’s the story:
Australian Matteo Russo is the first and only openly gay tennis pro. Once a brilliant junior, he was slated for a bright future – until a freak accident derailed his career. Now, he’s fed up, he’s struggling to qualify for tournaments, and he’s not sure he can afford dinner tonight.
After losing to his old rival—the rich, arrogant, American superstar Miles Callahan—Mat throws the man’s privilege in his face and sets him a challenge – one he’s sure Miles would never accept. But he does. Determined to prove he’s earned his success, Miles travels to Wimbledon on a tight budget – no support team, no coach, no fancy hotel. And now the American needs a hitting partner, and someone to explain laundromats, and what started as a dare soon becomes a searing off-court fling.
Mat should be focussing on his career, not falling for a glamorous star. But Miles believes in his game in a way Mat hasn’t for a long time, and is fast becoming everything he’s ever wanted. Only… love and tennis just don’t mix, because one day soon they’ll have to face each other on the court.
And in tennis, someone always has to lose.
And here’s the sexy cover, with designed by Laura Thomas with art by Noah Dao!
Kit Haley is a queer author from Australia. A drinker of tea and a liker of dogs, they’re best understood as an obsessive tennis fan and an obsessive romance fan, which turned out to be a very happy pairing.
Exclusive Cover Reveal: Triple Threat by Katie Chandler
Today on the site I’m excited to welcome back Katie Chandler to reveal the cover of her next tennis Romance, Triple Threat, releasing December 8, 2026 from Atria Books! Here’s the story:
From the author of the “exquisite” (The New York Times) Backhanded Compliments, a steamy sports romance about a disgraced tennis star, the ex-pro who becomes her coach, and the soulmate they share. Perfect for fans of Challengers and Carrie Soto Is Back.
Octavia Ricci has spent her entire life proving she doesn’t need anyone—especially not her father, the controlling coach who built her career and broke her spirit. But after a public meltdown at the Australian Open, the icy Grand Slam champion isn’t sure if she ever wants to play again. She agrees to take it one tournament at a time, now under a new coach, determined to find her footing and love of the game again.
Ariel de Cordova was once the next big thing in tennis until a devastating injury ended his career. Now, with his confidence shot, he’s not sure he can handle another player’s comeback story—especially not a player as volatile as Octavia. But as they practice, they both tentatively open up about their experiences and begin to heal their deepest wounds.
The only stable, grounding presence in Octavia’s life is her soulmate and partner, Leo Mantovani. But he has two soulmarks on his wrist, and when Leo shakes hands with Octavia’s new coach for the first time, Ariel turns out to be Leo’s other soulmate. Knowing the optics of a player and coach relationship aren’t ideal, they decide to keep their relationship secret and surface-level.
While Octavia, Ariel, and Leo fight to keep their relationship private, the tennis world is watching their every move. But when the spotlight turns harsh and old wounds resurface, they’ll have to decide if love is worth risking their careers, their reputations, and their hearts.
And here’s the athletic cover, designed by Kelli McAdams and illustrated by Liza Rusalskaya!
Buy it: Bookshop | Amazon | S&S
Katie Chandler is a romance author, who loves adding a speculative twist to her kissing books. She is passionate about writing joyful queer love stories that are full of tenderness, angst, and spice. You can usually find Katie writing with a full caffeine iced beverage, a Taylor Swift album blasting, and her yellow lab, Blue, who makes sure her feet are toasty and that she takes regular breaks to give him treats. When not writing, Katie spends her time watching tennis with her snuggly black lab, Bunny, chasing her thieving chocolate lab, Bear, who thinks her socks are his chew toys, and wondering where her glasses are (they’re nestled in her hair).
Exclusive Cover Reveal: Queerleaders by Olivia A. Cole and Ashley Woodfolk
Today on the site I’m delighted to welcome Olivia A. Cole and Ashley Woodfolk to reveal the cover of their second Sapphic YA rom-com, Queerleaders, releasing May 26, 2026 from Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers! Here’s the story:
Two cheerleaders find themselves inconveniently tumbling head over heels for each other in this satirical, sapphic teen rom-com that’s Bring It On meets She Drives Me Crazy.
Oak Haven High doesn’t have cheerleaders—it has queerleaders.
It’s a fun coincidence that every new varsity cheerleader since Davie Cathee took the squad by storm three years ago is—or soon comes out as—queer.
But when a rumor sparks that this season, newly minted captain Davie has been specifically recruiting queer members only, Davie is accused of “discrimination” against straight students. She’s given an ultimatum: recruit a straight athlete for the team or the funding for their competitive cheer season will take a major tumble.
Enter Kendall Hayes, the edgy, mysterious new girl. When Davie sees that Kendall has a boyfriend, she quickly convinces her to join the squad. Problem solved.
Until she finds out that Kendall’s actually bisexual…and newly single.
Now Kendall and Davie are faced with having to keep those details under wraps until nationals, which only gets more complicated when they start falling hard and fast for each other. Can Kendall go back in the closet long enough to save the squad? Or will Davie find the courage to love her new crush out loud, even if it might mean the end of the queerleaders?
And here’s the cheer-worthy cover, designed by Krista Vossen with art by Betsy Cola, along with a note from the authors!
We Said Brr It’s Cold in Here, There Must Be a RomCom in the Atmosphere
The best part about writing for teens is meeting the teens you write for – even better when they inspire a book all their own. This is how Queerleaders was born.
While giving a book talk at a high school in Louisville, one of the points of discussion was how lucky I feel to be queer, and as I heard from some of the students in the class about their sources of joy, some of them gleefully discussed their cheerleading squad, which was 95% queer and had become a safe haven. “One day we’ll be totally, fully gay,” one of the kids told me. “And we’ll write a cheer about it.”
At this point Ashley and I had already written a queer YA rom-com together – Call Your Boyfriend – and hadn’t decided what our next book together would be about. But something about the idea of an all-queer cheerleading squad had my antennae up, and when I mentioned it to Ashley we laughed about the inevitable fury of The Straights. Ashley said, “You just know there would be someone claiming the squad is discriminatory for being a straight-free environment.”
That was all it took. Queerleaders was plotted within the week. What if there was an all-queer cheerleading squad? What if the president of the Conservative Club tried out and didn’t make it? What if she was so butt-hurt that she filed a formal complaint? What if the cute captain of the squad had to hurriedly recruit an even cuter straight girl to be their Token Straight in order to prevent the squad being disbanded? And <drum roll> what if that Token Straight’s straightness was a big misunderstanding and she’s actually gay as hell? Cue dating in secret. Cue heterosexuality pageantry to keep the word from getting out. Cue accidentally falling in love.
We had a great time writing this book. It’s even more hilarious than Call Your Boyfriend and has all the things we love most about romance and young love. Fans of Bring It On, Imogen Obviously, and But I’m a Cheerleader will love Queerleaders – this book is everything that its amazing cover promises, a cover made possible by artist Betsy Cola and designer Krista Vossen. We’re so excited to be sharing it here on LGBTQ Reads.
Buy it: Bookshop | B&N | Amazon
Olivia A. Cole and Ashley Woodfolk have written over ten critically acclaimed novels each. In 2023 they joined forces, determined to write something “fun,” and CALL YOUR BOYFRIEND, a queer romcom about two unpopular girls who want revenge but find love instead, was the result. QUEERLEADERS is their second co-written novel and it promises more laughs and hi-jinks than the first. They live and write in different cities but they’re always sharing ideas, jokes, and tea, thanks mostly to voice notes.
Exclusive Cover Reveal: Thirty Love by Tom Vellner
Today on the site, I’m delighted to help reveal the cover of Thirty Love by Tom Vellner, a gay tennis romance releasing March 10, 2026 from Alcove Press! Here’s the story:
Things heat up on and off the court for two tennis rivals in this steamy debut gay sports romcom perfect for fans of TJ Alexander and Casey McQuiston.
American tennis star Leo Chambers is determined to win the US Open by 30, the age when many players feel retirement looming. He’s just a year away from that dreaded birthday, but he can’t find his focus—considering he hasn’t told anyone he’s gay, he’s clashing with his strict coach (who also happens to be his dad), and he still can’t figure out how to beat his longtime nemesis on tour, Gabe Montoya, who, well, hits different. Gabe is playing better than ever, and Leo can’t seem to escape him—and maybe he doesn’t want to escape him.
Leo’s other obstacle is Sascha Volkov, a Russian legend who has such a powerful influence on the tennis world, he would destroy Leo’s career if he found out that he’s gay.
No distractions, Leo reminds himself. But when Gabe makes a shocking announcement, Leo is thrown off his game—in more ways than one. Ready? Play.
And here’s the steamy cover by Débora Islas!
A note from author Tom Vellner:
Débora brought my boys to life in the most beautiful, tender, vibrant way for the cover of Thirty Love. They’re exactly how I’ve been picturing them since I first started dreaming them up almost three years ago, especially how gone Leo (left) is over Gabe. That yearning gaze says it all. I’m over the moon to have a cover that so proudly shows two men in love — as we face an alarming surge of book bans and efforts seeking to erase LGBTQ stories. I can’t wait for this cover to sit on shelves in all its queerness. I hope it brings some joy and comfort when it’s needed most.
Buy it: Bookshop | Amazon | PRH
Tom Vellner is a writer, editor, and mediocre tennis player. A former staff writer at BuzzFeed, he has also contributed to VICE, Thrillist, ACLU Magazine, and more. This is his debut novel. He lives in the Hudson Valley with his husband and two dogs.
Fave Five: Sapphic Tennis Romances
Backhanded Compliments by Katie Chandler
Love All by Rachel Spangler
Break Point and Lucky Loser by Yolanda Wallace
Slammed by Lola Keeley
In Her Court by Tamsen Parker
Exclusive Cover Reveal: Hold Me Like a Grudge by Celine Ong
Today on the site, I’m thrilled to be revealing the cover for Hold Me Like a Grudge by Celine Ong, a bi m/m sports romance releasing March 31, 2026 from Berkley! Here’s the story:
When a fierce rivalry between two professional wrestlers grows increasingly heated, neither man can fight the attraction burning between them, in this dazzling debut romance.
From dramatic character gimmicks to death-defying stunts, everything in the world of professional wrestling is an act. Asher Ross’s hatred for Caleb Knight, however, is not. When Asher gets drafted to Global Elite Wrestling’s main roster, playing the role of Caleb’s worst enemy—the face to his heel—should be easy. Stripping him of his World Championship title should be even easier. But as the two men trade barbs and blows across arenas, they’re each surprised to find their chemistry is so sizzling, it can’t just be for the cameras.
Through training sessions, rehearsals, and injuries, Caleb’s icy demeanor melts away, and Asher begins to see the real man behind the cruel persona GEW has molded Caleb into. An unlikely truce evolves into feelings neither want to deny, but the company won’t let them be seen as anything other than bitter rivals, both in and out of the ring.
As Asher and Caleb grapple with what they truly want in an industry with a history of denying queerness, their forbidden romance comes crashing down on them, and both men are forced to decide if their relationship is real enough to last, and just how much they’re willing to fight for it.
And here’s the beautifully bisexual cover, designed by Steve Meditz with art by Sarah Maxwell!
Buy it: Bookshop | Amazon | B&N
Born in sweltering Singapore, Celine Ong (she/they) was raised in mosh pits, and writes queer romance novels about chaos gremlins with bad manners, weird feelings, and big hearts. With a B.A. in Psychology, by day, she works with her local queer community. By night, she’s just a little court jester. Hold Me Like a Grudge is their debut novel.
You can find Celine trying to be cool and mysterious (but failing miserably for they were born to yap about their many fixations) at writewithcel.com or on Instagram at @readwithcel.