Books About Sports
Nothing is more thrilling in a novel or nonfiction story about an underdog team winning a big game or an individual athlete’s rise to glory. But what are the best books about sports? Read on to find out.

Awhile back, I rounded up my favorite steamy sports romances and my favorite books about women in sports, but those lists didn’t include some of my favorite sports books – like Beartown and The Boys in the Boat. That’s why I wanted to create a list that wasn’t so gender or genre-specific.
Below, you will find my absolute favorite fiction and nonfiction books about sports – and some of Jackie’s favorites too!
The Best Books About Sports
Each colorful block below represents the best book in a subgenre. Click on the arrow to reveal my “best” pick in any category. You’ll also be able to use a page jump to see more books in that section.
The Best Nonfiction Book About Sports
The Boys on the Boat by Daniel James Brown – Jump to Section
The Best Fiction Book About Sports
Beartown by Fredrik Backman – Jump to Section
The Best Romance Sports Book
The Deal by Elle Kennedy – Jump to Section
The Best Historical Fiction Book About Sports
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Jump to Section
*Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
Nonfiction Books About Sports

The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold in the 1936 Berlin Olympics
Author: Daniel James Brown
Year: 2013
Genre: Nonfiction
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This bestselling book, recently adapted into a movie, tells the true tale of the 1936 USA men’s rowing team and their unlikely run for the gold medal. It’s a non-fiction story that reads like fiction, and sports nuts will love this story!
Trigger Warnings
Antisemitism, War
Why Kirsten loves it
The Olympic games gave me such a heightened sense of American pride. The heroics of the team enthralled me. The sheer force of will and strength it took to get in that boat and win. I was rooting for the team and cheering them on the whole time. I thought I would be bored by the minutia of rowing, but I wasn’t.
Find this book in: Books with Colors in the Title / Feel Good Nonfiction Books / Boat Books / Books About Sports

What Made Maddy Run
Author: Kate Fagan
Year: 2018
Genre: Nonfiction
More info: National Bestseller
Age Range: 16+
Plot
What an emotional non-fiction book about Madison’s life, her pressures, and her mental state leading up to her suicide. I remember when Madison’s suicide happened here in Philadelphia.
I was 8 months pregnant at the time. It was a tragedy that was all over the news as parents everywhere felt the pain of Madison’s parents.
Trigger Warnings
Suicide
Why Kirsten loves it
I read this book in prep for a book discussion at a local community center that works on suicide prevention. I learned so much about suicide from this book, which handled the subject with the grace and thoughtfulness it deserves.
Find this book in: Books About Women in Sports / Best Nonfiction Books / Books About Sports

The Swans of Harlem (YA Edition)
Author: Karen Valby
Year: 2025
Genre: YA Nonfiction
Age: 12+
More info: Adapted from the
Plot
This riveting story tells the tale of five Black female ballerinas who were members of The Dance Theater of Harlem. The famed ballet company was created by Arthur Mitchell and performed for celebrities, presidents, and royalty.
Their impressive, trailblazing stories were resurrected in this non-fiction account of how the troop came to be. It also details the racism and lack of opportunities for black ballerinas during the civil rights movement.
Trigger Warnings
Racism
Why Kirsten loves it
I grew up hearing about Misty Copeland, the first Black Principal ballerina at ABA. I had no idea of the women who paved the way for her success years before she was born. Their story was inspiring and heartwarming, and sadly ignored until now. Valby did an incredible job bringing their story to life and the adapted version for young adults was just as enjoy for me as it would be to a teen.
Find this book in: Best Books for 12-Year-olds / Books About Ballet / Books About Women in Sports / Books About Sports

Seabiscuit: An American Legend
Author: Lara Hillenbrand
Year: 1999
Genre: Nonfiction
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Age Range: 16+
Plot
If you are looking for the best feel-good nonfiction book, look no further than this story which is the perfect underdog story. Seabiscuit is the story of a horse who overcame every obstacle, bad fortune, and injury to run one of the best horse races of all time.
Why Jackie loves it
This book reads like fiction because the story is fantastic and is one of the rare cases where the adaptation did the book justice. It is the ultimate story of an underdog. If you are looking for an animal book for adults you will love, this should be your pick.
Find this book in: Nonfiction Animal Books / Feel-Good Nonfiction Books / Books About Sports
Contemporary Fiction Books about Sports

Beartown
Author: Fredrik Backman
Year: 2016
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
More info: Beartown #1
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This is a heavy story that also has a lot of heart. It’s about a small-town hockey team and the fallout when the star player is accused of raping the General Manager’s daughter.
As the town takes sides and loyalties are tested, a gripping narrative of the complexities within a community emerges. This character-driven story is the first in a three-book series.
Trigger Warnings
Rape
Why Kirsten loves it
This was my first exposure to Fredrik Backman. I was instantly enthralled by his writing abilities. He took a coming-of-age story and wove in life lessons while simultaneously creating characters I will never forget.
Why Jackie loves it
Frederik Backman is a master storyteller. He doesn’t just tell a story but, he submerges his reader deep in the lives of his characters. This town will follow me for a long time. It’s my favorite of all the Fredrik Backman books.
Find this book in: Coming-of-age Books for Adults/ Winter Books / Books like Where the Crawdads Sing / Books like A Man Called Ove / Books About Sports

The Favorites
Author: Layne Fargo
Year: 2025
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This fantastic story is about Katrina Shaw’s rise to the Olympics alongside her ice dance partner, and sometimes boyfriend, Heath Rocha. It’s told in a multi-narrator documentary style reminiscent of Daisy Jones & The Six.
It starts when Katrina is a motherless 10-year-old girl, captivated by Sheila Lin, an Olympic Gold Medalist. Heath is a foster child, enamored by Kat and willing to do anything to be in her orbit – including becoming her ice dance partner.
When their chemistry and technique captures the attention of Sheila and her twins – the begin to train at her facility – a dream for Katrina. But Kat’s drive for gold threatens her relationship with Heath.
Inspired by Wuthering Heights, this retelling is epic in scope and creative in execution. The secondary characters (particularly the Lins) are each as fascinating as the main protagonists and being able to hear from them as narrators really enhances the story.
Why Kirsten loves it
There is love, passion, betrayal, death, breakdowns, comebacks, rebellion and so much more in this riveting story. The book (I recommend consuming it on audio) captured my attention and never let me go.
This one is going to be a massive hit and it’s well-deserved. Now who is gonna buy the series rights? Cause I’m ready to see it on the screen.
Find this book in: Books About Female Athletes / Books About Sports

Break the Fall
Author: Jennifer Iacopelli
Year: 2020
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range: 12+
Plot
This YA novel is all about Olympic Gymnasts. It follows a fictional gymnast’s quest to make the Olympic team while trying to juggle friendships, family, rivalry, and chronic pain. The book also heavily discusses sexual abuse from a Team USA coach.
Trigger Warnings
Bullying, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship
Why Kirsten loves it
It balances the fun of the games with the seriousness of the assault scandal quite well, particularly for a book geared at young adults.
Find this book in: Best Books for 13-year-olds / Books About Women in Sports / Faux Celebrity Fiction / Books About Sports

Black Cake
Author: Charmaine Wilkerson
Year: 2022
Genre: Fiction
More info: A Read With Jenna Pick for February 2022
Age Range: 16+
Plot
I absolutely loved this contemporary fiction which is a story about love, family, and acceptance. It captured me from the first page with the story and the writing.
When Eleanor Bennett dies, she leaves a voice recording for her two children Benny and Byron. She wants to tell them things about her life that she could not say when she was alive.
While listening to their mother’s story, Byron and Benny learn about their mother, family, and themselves. They try to piece their relationship back together. The novel looks at everyone’s lives in the present and the past, but in its essence, it is a book about motherhood.
Trigger Warnings
Parental death
Why Kirsten loves it
The story, the writing, and the characters all drew me in from the first page. This is such a well-written pick from the Read with Jenna Book Club.
Why Jackie loves it
This is such a deep look at each sibling’s relationship with their mother and each other. I could not put it down.
Find this book in: Books About Women in Sports / Books About Mothers / BIPOC Female Authors / Books with Color in the Title / Books with Food in the Title / Books About Sports

Carrie Soto is Back
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Year: 2022
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Spice Rating:đź’‹đź’‹
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Carrie Soto was the world’s most decorated tennis player who has come out of retirement to take back the title. Carrie was trained to be the best there was from a young age and has dedicated her entire life to winning- at the expense of everything else in her life.
Why Jackie loves it
I loved this book so much, that I could not put it down. I alternated between reading and listening to the book and have to say that the audio version was really fantastic. My heart was pounding with each and every game played.
Find this book in: Books About Female Athletes / Books Like Daisy Jones and the Six / Ultimate Beach Reads 2019 / Taylor Jenkins Reid Books / Books About Sports
Romance Sports Books

Fangirl Down
Author: Tessa Bailey
Year: 2024
Genre: Romance
More info: Big Shots #1
Spice Rating: đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Wells Whitaker was supposed to be the next big thing in golf but his career has spiraled. Josephine Doyle is his biggest fan who is always there to cheer him on no matter what until the days he quits.
Now, he knows he has made a huge mistake. He goes to find Josephine and begs her to be his caddy, which she agrees to do because she needs the money to rebuild her family’s pro shop after a storm.
Why Kirsten loves it
I’d never read a golf romance before but was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it! As in every Tessa Bailey book, Josephine and Wells had chemistry in spades and the sexy scenes were HOT!
Find this book in: Sports Romances / Books About Women in Sports / Books About Sports

Evvie Drake Starts Over
Author: Linda Holmes
Year: 2019
Genre: Romance
More info: July 2019 Read with Jenna Book List Pick
Spice Rating: đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹
Age Range: 18+
Plot
When Evvie’s husband dies unexpectedly in a car crash, she is still staying in her house a year later. Everyone in her small town thinks that she is overcome with grief but in actuality, it is guilt.
Dean is a retired major league baseball pitcher who woke up one day and was unable to throw the ball over the plate. When he moves into the apartment in the back of Evvie’s house the two become friends and agree to never talk about baseball or her husband.
Trigger Warnings
Emotional Abuse
Why Jackie loves it
I just adored this celebrity romance book. It was such a sweet and light romance, easily read on the beach.
Find this book in: Sports Romances / Celebrity Romance Books / Friends-to-Lovers / Books About Sports

The Bromance Book Club
Author: Lyssa Kay Adams
Year: 2019
Genre: Romance
More info: Bromance Book Club #1
Spice Rating:đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Gavin, a professional baseball player in Nashville, recently discovered his wife has been faking her orgasms. Determined to do better in the bedroom, and avoid a divorce in the process, Gavin joins a secret club – a book club!
But this book club is unlike any other. It’s comprised of the biggest alpha males in Nashville and they only read romance books. Together, the members of the bromance book club help Gavin win back his wife.
Why Jackie loves it
This book was the perfect break I needed into a world of romance. The idea of a bunch of men getting together to read romance novels to try and improve their relationships is amazing.
Although now that I think of it, maybe this book is a fantasy. This book is a perfect light read that I finished in a day and as far as rom-com novels go, it is a definite must-read!
Find this book in: Sports Romance Novels / Faux Celebrity Fiction / Books about Books / Rom-Com Books / Second Chance Romance / Books About Sports / Romance Books About Books

The Study Hours
Author: Sara Ney
Year: 2019
Genre: Romance
More info: How to Date a Douchebag #1
Spice Rating:đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹
Age Range: 18+
Plot
When champion college wrestler, Oz, is dared to kiss a girl in the library, he has no idea that Jameson is not as much of a good girl as her diligent studying makes her look.
He loves how she treats him like guy on campus instead of the star athlete he is. He can’t get enough and will try anything to capture her heart for good.
Why Kirsten loves it
This series is laugh-out-loud funny. Each book is a stand-alone featuring a dedicated bachelor from a University’s Wrestling team. They are each tamed by a woman in a totally predictable way, but these books set in college are hysterical.
For starters, the author has funny pick-up lines between chapters that I found utterly hilarious, but the dialogue between the characters is witty too.
Find this book in: Sports Books / Rom-Com Books / Books Set in College / College Romances / Fluff Reads / Books About Sports

The Deal
Author: Elle Kennedy
Year: 2015
Genre: Romance
More info: Off-Campus #1
Spice Rating:đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹
Age Range: 18+
Plot
The first in a series of books set in college about hockey players is also the series that got me hooked on the college romance books sub-genre! This one features a bunch of bachelor hockey players who are the campus hotshots.
To get the attention of the man she really wants, Hannah convinces the cocky captain to go on a pretend date with her in exchange for her tutoring services. Garrett is desperate to get his GPA up so that he can stay on the hockey team and play professionally when he graduates.
But when one kiss leads to a STEAMY hook-up, Hannah needs to reevaluate which man she wants.
Trigger Warnings
Rape
Why Kirsten loves it
It’s very similar to the How to Date a Douchebag series, but it has a bit more heart and a little less humor. This is one of the steamy fake dating books EVER but I loved it.
Adaptation Information
The Off-Campus series is now going to be adapted for TV on Amazon Prime Video. Louise Levy, Wick Godfrey, and Marty Bowen will be producing it. Each book in the series will be one season.
Find this book in: College Romances / Sports Romances / Fake Dating Romances / Books Set in College / Books About Sports
Historical Fiction Books About Sports

Malibu Rising
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Year: 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: June 2021 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick,
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Nina Riva is having her annual summer party which is famous for its epic scale and exclusivity. But this year, the party will end with devastation. Nina and her siblings are famous children of one of the biggest rock stars of all time and they each have their secrets. Perfect for a list of books about music, right?
Why Kirsten loves it
I have loved the last two books by Taylor Jenkins Reid so much that I often recommend them to friends for their universal appeal. I had high hopes for this family saga but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations.
Why Jackie loves it
I enjoyed the book but I felt that it was a little drawn out at times. Still, I loved Nina’s character and her ability to surf puts her on our list of books about women in sports!
Adaptation Information
The same team that adapted Little Fires Everywhere is set to adapt this book to TV for Hulu. Liz Tigelaar will produce it and Amy Talkington will be the writer.
Find this book in: Books Becoming Movies and TV Series / Taylor Jenkins Reid Books in Order / Books like Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo / Novels About Music / Family Sagas / Hollywood Novels / Books About Women in Sports / Books About Sports

Plot
I’ve always been a firm lover of the Olympics, so I was eager to read this historical fiction book set in the 70s and 80s Soviet Union about an Olympic gymnast. In it, Anya has been selected at 8 years old to compete in the USSR gymnastics program. As she strives to become the best gymnast in the country, she realizes just how ruthless the sport is, while also striving to uncover what was behind her mother’s disappearance all those years ago.
Trigger Warnings
Child abuse, Rape
Why Kirsten loves it
Having read a few books about gymnasts in the past, I was prepared for Anya’s ill-treatment at the hands of her coaches and trainers. I found the added elements of Russian communist life to be fascinating and helpful in creating a reason for her drive to be a legend.
Find this book in: Books Set in Winter / Books About Women in Sports / Books About Sports

Horse
Author: Geraldine Brooks
Year: 2022
Genre: Literary Historical Fiction
More info: Pulitzer Prize Winner
Age Range: 16+
Plot
An enslaved groomsman in Kentucky in 1850 has a way with horses and a deep connection with one beautiful horse. A gallery owner in the 1950s has an obsession with a painting of a horse. In 2019 a scientist working for the Smithsonian and an art historian are seeking answers. All of these stories are connected with one amazing horse!
Trigger Warnings
Racism, Slavery
Why Jackie loves it
This book for adults was recommended to me a dozen times over the last year and I am so glad that I finally read this amazing, sweeping story. I loved how this story came together and the fact that it was based on a real horse. But there is so much more to this story that examines race and slavery as well. The description does not do justice to this amazing book.
Find this book in: Animal Novels / Books About Sports
Expert Tip
- Pick your story based on your favorite sport or pick it based on a sport you want to learn more about.
- Consider reading about a sport that is currently in season! It might inspire you to go to a game or try it out for yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is sports a book genre?
Sports in not considered a book genre, but rather a topic. As a topic, it can be across any genre from thriller to fiction to historical fiction to nonfiction.
Which are the best inspirational books based on sports?
I tend to find nonfiction books to be the most inspirational. Boys in the Boat looks at the US’s unlikely win at the Berlin Olympics while The Swans of Harlem looks at the first all-Black dance company in America.
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Epilogue
Of all the sports books I’ve read, these are my favorite. Which books about sports do you love the most or most want to read?

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