This week’s Sapphic Book Bingo category features sporty sapphics!
For this square of the bingo card, read a sapphic book with a main character who’s either a professional athlete or loves sports as a hobby. Below, you’ll find books about a soccer coach, a basketball player, a tennis player, a runner, a fitness trainer, a golfer, a rock climber, a martial arts champion, a soccer player, a swimmer, an Olympic fencer, a ski instructor, and a baseball player, but, of course, you can pick a book featuring any other sport too.
15 sapphic books featuring sporty sapphics
Below, you’ll find 15 recommended sapphic books with a main character who’s a sporty sapphic a.k.a. an athlete.
Loser of the Year by Carrie Byrd
An enemies-to-lovers, opposites attract lesbian romance about daring to take a risk, even if it burns you.
Mattie Belman’s life has gone from dismal to desperate. After the loss of her acting career, her marriage, and her usual optimism, she’s back home teaching high school theater. Maybe it’ll be a fresh start.
St. Rita’s arrogant soccer coach Jillian Reed sees Mattie’s musical as an outrageous distraction for her champion players. When Jillian declares war, Mattie is far too stubborn to back down.
But as Mattie discovers there might be more to Jillian than spectacle, fire, and ego, she gets dangerously close to her iron-willed colleague. Can she avoid temptation? Or will the growing flame in Jillian’s dark eyes ignite them both?
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June and Inobe’s Dating Game by Jillian Amena
Star athlete and captain of the basketball team, June Carter has never been in love- except for her love for basketball. That is until she falls head over-heel at a cheerleader named Inobe Nosa. Ever since at that day setting eyes on her, June cannot contain her strong feelings for the cute cheerleader with an obsession for boba tea. But the fear of putting her heart out there and her past haunting her keeps June away.
That is until June receives a text from an on online troll accusing her of queer-baiting ever since she was found dancing intimately with a male friend during a college party. To prove people wrong about her, June sets out on a mission to ask out the cutest cheerleader in her campus. And that girl happens to be Inobe. However, that may not be easy dealing with others who try to tear them apart for their new found love.
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Break Point by Yolanda Wallace
Germany’s Meike von Bismarck is rich, famous, and the top-ranked amateur female tennis player in the world. She seems to have it all, but the Nazis want more. Can Meike deliver the victories Adolf Hitler requires on court while keeping her soul intact off it?
Brash American Helen Wheeler has reached the upper echelons of women’s tennis, but her fiery temper and headline-grabbing social life have prevented her from being accepted by the genteel sport’s fans. When a shadowy government agent presents Helen with compromising photographs of her with Meike von Bismarck, her one-time doubles partner and former lover, will Helen allow her career to be derailed by an inevitable morals charge or will she agree to spy on the woman she once loved?
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For the Long Run by Cheyenne Blue
A koala ruined her life. Well, that’s how elite athlete Shan Metz sees it.
When an idiot charity runner in a koala suit trips Shan during a community fun run, her knee blows out, destroying her dream of making the Australian Commonwealth Games team. Recovering from knee surgery will be bad enough, but living on her building’s fourth floor will make it a nightmare.
Consultant Lizzie Carras, aka the dream-wrecking koala, does guilt like a pro. The only decent thing to do is offer Shan her spare bedroom during recovery. Their incompatible lifestyles don’t help matters. Neither does Shan’s training partner, the haughty and possessive Celia. But they’ll muddle through until Shan’s knee has healed enough to get out of Lizzie’s life.
Because it’s not like Shan would ever miss a dream-wrecking koala or anything. Right?
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All the Wrong Places by Karin Kallmaker
Brandy Monsoon is looking for love. Since there’s never a shortage of casual playmates at the tropical resort where she works as a fitness trainer, most of the time she gets it, too. If Brandy tires of the perpetually curious but primarily straight women, there’s her best friend Tess for a friendly encounter – safe, with no strings. After all, they’re just buddies.
When an all-lesbian tour group arrives for a week, Brandy is sure she’ll be in paradise on earth. The guests include lesbian celebrity comic Celine Griffin, who has an obvious interest in an after-dinner Brandy. Celine and Brandy do find explosive pleasure together — so why does Brandy feel as if that’s no longer enough for happiness?
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Calculated Risk by Katherine Rupley
Ex-US national rock climber Leslie McAllister finally has her life right where she wants it. When she’s asked to accept a new position in Boston, she must decide whether to stay in her comfort zone or take a leap and trust she’s anchored herself well enough to not fall.
Stuntwoman CJ Broadmore has big dreams and a big problem. She needs to learn to climb, and fast, if she wants to do stunt work on a new movie. Enter Leslie McAllister, who not only sparks an attraction, but who may be CJ’s ticket to success.
CJ and Leslie must calculate each step, weigh the risks, and work through their fears as they reach for the top—and toward each other.
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The Long Shot by A. L. Brooks
Talented golfer Morgan Spencer has never won a major but it’s so close she can taste it—no thanks to her sexist father, a golfing legend who won’t even give her the time of day.
Television producer Adrienne Wyatt has thrown herself into her career after her lover left her a year ago. She has a brilliant new plan: a documentary featuring Morgan’s rise and rise, capitalizing on the young woman’s star appeal.
The main problem is that the reserved golfer treats Adrienne’s plan like an invasion of privacy. The other issue is her growing feelings for the irritatingly attractive woman—an unprofessional lapse that would get her ridiculed by her peers if anyone found out.
When things come to a chaotic head, as fierce desires, risked careers, age differences, and dreams all come into play, what will win?
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Can’t Fight Love by KC Luck
Alexa Knight has one more battle before she retires as an undefeated mixed martial arts champion. When ESPN wants to film her preparation for the final match, she reluctantly agrees. All she cares about is remaining the best.
Kara Roberts is a documentary filmmaker who needs a few more dollars to finish the most important project of her life. Desperate, she agrees to work on the crew filming the final weeks before Alexa Knight’s last fight. All she cares about is making her movie.
When their two worlds collide, sparks fly as neither is willing to yield to the other’s desires. All they agree on is nothing can be allowed to distract them from what they want to accomplish, especially each other. But the women have forgotten one important thing when it comes to plans… you can’t fight love.
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Onside Play by Liz Rain
Knockabout Australian Keeley McGee is living her childhood dream of playing soccer at the World Cup. The only thing that could kill her focus is coming up against the cool and dispassionate US team’s star striker.
Beautiful, brilliant Christine Delacourt was the college girlfriend who dumped Keeley out of the blue years before.
What will it be like reuniting under the stadium lights, especially since they know the other’s game—and each other—so intimately?
Despite a strict “no distractions” rule from her coach, Keeley finds herself drawn to Christine in a way that feels almost dangerous. Will Keeley be able to rekindle what she once shared with her now on-field enemy with the eyes of the world on them? Dare she even try?
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Underwater Vibes by Mickey Brent
Hélène Dupont, a scientific translator in Brussels, Belgium, cherishes two things: flowers and her cat. She writes bad poetry to help her survive her painful existence with her husband, until she is forced to undergo a radical lifestyle change. Sylvie Routard, a young Greek photographer, enters Hélène’s world as her new private swim coach. During their daily lessons, Hélène’s admiration toward Sylvie turns to attraction. As unsettling feelings hijack Hélène’s mind and body, daydreams featuring Sylvie enter her world—even her poems. While the two athletes increasingly feel underwater vibes in the pool, Hélène questions her relationship at home, and everything else in life.
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En Garde by MJ Duncan
After seven years as Nina Devereaux’s executive assistant, Serena Bowers is finally getting her shot at her dream: producing shows for The Royal Ballet. The problem is her promotion depends entirely on the success of Illyria, Nina’s latest original ballet, and that means working closely with the Honorable Rowan Alexander—Olympic fencer and Serena’s arch-nemesis from University. Rowan needs the ballet to succeed for her own reasons, but working with Serena just might be a bigger challenge than defending her Olympic gold. Will they be able to push past grievances aside, or will Illyria be their downfall?
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Honeymoon for One by Rachel Bowdler
Robin Ellis has had a year she’d like to forget. She’s tired, overworked and most definitely not ready to spend the holidays with her rowdy family in Manchester. So when she discovers she forgot to cancel her honeymoon she sees this as the perfect opportunity to get away; it’s time to relax and embrace adventure!
The last thing she expects is to clash with standoffish ski instructor Neve. But despite their rocky start these two unlikely people can’t help but fall for each other under the starry Canadian skies.
They know that holiday romances don’t last, and Robin has had her heart broken one too many times before, but can they overcome the distance between them and find a happily ever after together?
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The Touch of Her Voice by Sara Scott
My world turned to shades of grey as I squared my shoulders and turned around. The woman with the short, dark hair and the blue scarf was the only source of color in the coffee shop. I seemed to glide across the floor until I found myself standing by her table. She had been stunning from across the room; up close she dazzled.
Suddenly, there was Sophie…..
On the surface, Jensy Willett appears to have it all: good friends, a storied basketball career, a great job, and most important, the love of her life, Sophie Barnes.
But there is a secret in Jensy Willett’s past that she will not share. Not even with her beloved Sophie. That vow of silence will have far-reaching ramifications when a chance encounter results in a disastrous decision. A decision that will tear at the fabric of Jensy and Sophie’s relationship and send them spiraling out of control.
Can their relationship be saved?
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When Dreams Change by Violet Morley
As another softball season begins, Coach Lennox Clementine is juggling many balls in the air. With so many upperclassmen returning, she feels confident about Sitka High School’s chances, but only if she can manage to keep the girls in one piece. Outside of the softball field, Lennox has to keep up with the challenges of her job at the hospital. Everything would be easier if she could keep her mind from drifting to her boss, Jenna.
After separating from her husband, Jenna Macintyre is suddenly looking at the lonely blank page of her new life. She’s trying hard to keep herself from being crushed by the quiet, especially since her daughter, Wren, is finishing her senior year and is busy not only with her friends, but also softball. Left to her own devices, Jenna finds herself seeking out Lennox.
As Lennox and Jenna navigate a blossoming friendship, the two women stumble over feelings both old and new. Lennox does her best to keep her feelings hidden, but she can’t ignore the way Jenna makes her feel. All Jenna has to do is look past everything she’s known, and maybe she’ll find everything she’s been looking for.
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Heart of the Game by Rachel Spangler
Sometimes baseball is just a metaphor for life, and sometimes it works the other way around. All Sarah Duke ever cared about was baseball, and she’s finally earned her shot as a full-time sports writer. She loves the work, she loves being one of the few women to ever gain access to a man’s world, but most of all, she loves the game. When Duke meets Molly Grettano and her two sons at the ballpark, she instantly connects with the young family, but Molly isn’t sure Duke’s ready for something more. Molly wants someone softer, more feminine, and more importantly, someone steady. She and her boys have been abandoned before, and she’s vowed to never to put them in that position again. If she were ever to trust anyone, it would have to be someone fully dedicated to her and her children. Duke has a lot of heart, but neither woman is sure there’s enough room left in it for anything other than baseball.
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Love and Sportsball by Meka James
Hard work has Khadijah Upton starting her dream job as an athletic trainer for the Atlanta Cannons. Then an evening of celebratory letting loose turns into a one-night stand with a beautiful stranger. It’s a reckless, wildly sexy encounter that Khadijah intends to forget…until her first day on the job lands her face-to-face with basketball star Shae Harris again.
Shae is a major player in every sense of the word, and Khadijah doesn’t plan to be the latest in a long line of “Harris Honeys.” Personal and professional just don’t mix. But Shae, who’s all about living life to the fullest, keeps tempting Khadijah to blur the boundaries. And the more Shae reveals about herself, the harder it is for Khadijah to resist her.
In the bedroom, their tension sizzles. On the court, it’s a liability. But unless Khadijah’s willing to really let Shae in, it won’t be just the team championship on the line, but a body-and-soul connection that rewrites all the rules.
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Leave a comment
What book will you be reading for the “sporty sapphic” category? Are there other books that are a good fit for this category? Let us know in the comments!
6 Responses
I’m currently reading Last Chance by Claire Highton-Stevenson which is a very enjoyable football (soccer) story. I love Pas de Deux by EJ Noyes about a dressage rider. And Rachel Spangler writes fantastic sports books that are so well researched, Thrust and Fire and Ice are two of my favorites.
The Clinch by Nicole Disney–MMA fighters, amazingly physical, very sweet
Romancing the Kicker by Catherine Lane–a fantasy of progressive sports action, a touching love story
Some great reads on your list. I want to recommend Nicole Pyland’s Sports Series. It includes 8 books. with a meriad of athletes and sports from which to to choose.
That would have been my recommendation, too.
It’s not fiction, but I am currently listening to Billie Jean King’s autobiography All In. She narrates it as well.
Looking forward to reading For the Long Run by Cheyenne Blue.