Recommendations

If you didn’t know already I love sports novel. I don’t play, but I love watching different sports. I’ve been watching and going to AFL (Australian Football League) from before I can remember.

But today isn’t about footy, it’s all about ice hockey. Over the past couple of years as I’ve been ready more New Adult, I’ve started to read lots of books about Ice Hockey and I love it.

On Sunday I went to my very first ice hockey along with Ely and Michelle. You can check out how our day went over at Tea and Titles. 

So today I thought I would share some of my favourite books that I’ve read that feature Ice Hockey. Most of these books are NA. But I would love to find some YA that features ice hockey. These are in no particular order, but here are some of my ice hockey recommendations. 

Him/Us by Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen: I’ve spoken about this series quite a lot recently. Him and Us features a Gay and Bi protagonist and I adored it. It was so beautiful and I love how their relationship grows throughout both books. But the main thing I loved about this series was how it dealt with the LGBTQI+ community in Sport. It’s rare that you see this in real life in sports, let alone in a novel and I adored it. 

Good Boy by Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen: This is the companion series to Him and Us and it’s just as good. While it’s a female and male relationship. It’s still as amazing and fun as the Him duo. I love that we get to see old characters that we know and love. Ice Hockey was again the focus on this one. Blake Riley is totally a fun protagonist and just made the novel great. I loved the relationship between him and Jess and how throughout the novel that both grow. 

Taking Shots Series by Cindi Marsden: I found this series last year and I was taken by it. While it’s not the best series out there it’s still really fun to read. I love that throughout the series we get to see all different types of characters. They all have different personalities and traits. We get to see different love stories from friends to lovers, and to the one you promised you would never fall for. This is currently a 4 part series following a different couple each book. But, all the stories intertwine and you see those who have fallen in love again. 

I am not going to lie it is very cliche at times, but sometimes I feel like those types of novels. Where I don’t care too much and I just want to fall in love with these character as they go on a journey to fall in love. 

The Ivy Years Series by Sarina Bowen: This has only been a recent discovery of mine. Well, I had heard about it last year, but only managed to pick it up last month and well I loved it for so many reasons. One of the main reasons I like this series so much is that it deals with diversity that is rare in NA sports novels.  The Year We Feel Down deals with a permanently disabled protagonist, while the other is temporary. The Understatement of the Year centres LGBTQI+ characters – which I find rare in sport. While the Shameless hour has diversity in race. 

I also really enjoy the romance side of things. Yes, there is a lot of angst and trouble for each couple, but each story is different and you want to follow their journey. 

I love the hockey in this one, however, I wish there was more of a focus on it in selected novels. But it was still fun. This is one that is high on my recommendations list espeically those just starting NA and ice hockey novels. 

Off the Ice by Julie Cross: This is a good one if you don’t want to dive straight into NA. Sometimes that can scare some people especially those who haven’t read many NA novels. So this is a great way to start. It’s that border between YA and NA. And while I didn’t love it as much as the other books on this list, I would still recommend it. 

The romance was cute and there is a big theme of family in this one. Both characters don’t have the best family life and when they come together, they have a release from it all. I liked the ice hockey elements in this one. Which is different to college ice hockey – but I enjoy it. 

You can read my full review here. 

Off-Campus by Elle Kennedy: This was one of my first ice hockey series that I read and I still really enjoying now. Yes, it’s very cliche at times, but it’s also very fun. There are times where you might want to cry and wrap the characters in a hug. I really enjoy Elle Kennedy as a writer and while I’ve read a number of her books, this has to be one of my favourite series. Apart from Him and Us. 

The romances in this series are fun and heartbreaking. But you cannot help but love it. The first deals with a deal, then there is the one that starts with a mistake. Don’t forget about the one with the couple that no one saw coming, oh and don’t forget about the baby. 

This series is fun but also deals with heart cutting issues. It’s about finding yourself, trusting in others and that family is not always by blood. 

Cold Fury Hockey by Sawyer Bennett: This one is for people like their protagonists a little but older. While most of the series mentioned are college aged, this one deals with those who are on the professional level. I don’t read much adult, but I still enjoyed this series so far quite a bit. I thought after sharing some NA some adult recommendations would be great. 

These books deal with some more hard-hitting issues, but I liked that it did. The romances were much more grow up in a way. And while these was still angst it was like NA novels. 

Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them? Are you planning on reading them? Do you have any ice hockey recommendations for me? Let’s Chat! Don’t forget to check out Tea and Titles.