To explain a little about what this post will be about, every Trope Tuesday post starts with the same introduction. In every romance book you read there are tropes or archetypes you find inside its pages. You can also see them in shows, movies, plays, etc. Every type of entertainment and media. Romantic tropes are everywhere, and they are fabulous. I adore them and I always tend to find my favorite ones in romance books so I can enjoy them even more. Trope Tuesday is a weekly column where I share books that I know people will enjoy with a specific central trope.
What is a trope? Urban Dictionary explains it best: “Despite the erroneous definitions already published here, trope on the interwebs really refers to an often overused plot device. It can also be described as another variation on the same theme. TV shows, movies, comics, games, anime’, & books are full of tropes & many rabid fan-sites now name & track said tropes with a self-explanatory title for each one.” We can name a few: accidental pregnancy, best friends to lovers, sibling’s best friend, marriage of convenience, and so many more. Your favorite couples? They probably got a trope too! It’s always so nice to realize or find out your favorite romance trope and keep searching for books with the same theme. So really? I’m just helping you find that new favorite book of yours. If ever you want a post on a trope I haven’t done yet, do drop me a tweet at @thebookvoyagers and let me know!
A few years ago, you didn’t find many sports romances with athlete heroines. Even less with people of color. Which was strange for me being a huge sports fan and and knowing so many athletes of color. And when I look at the books, authors were really whitewashing the sports. So I left the sports romance side of romance for a while. I was seriously disappointed and people were doing it all over the place. (Hello, 10+ baseball with an all-white cast? Not possible). Plus the hero was ALWAYS the one doing the sport.
But this time around, things are looking up! I’m still scared to pick up a sports romance because of the reasons above, but I’m seeing more and more things I like coming out. I’m going to mention some books that you seriously have to pick up if you’re a sports romance fan and if you love seeing athlete heroines at the forefront.
One Last Shot by Alexandra Warren
In One Last Shot, Selena Samuels is a professional basketball player. Her life is looking pretty great and her team is perfect for her. Everything is where it’s supposed to be. So when the new assistant coach comes in, Selena is not ready at all.
If you love “having a crush on this athlete all throughout my life and then suddenly they’re coaching me and I don’t know what to do” kind of thing, pick up this book immediately. Selena and Dre will light up the world and the court with their chemistry. All they want is for their team to have a successful season, but maybe they want more than that now?
Settle the Score / Hustle Play by Tara Frejas
Another basketball player heroine! Garnet lives and breathes basketball. That’s all she cares about until she falls in love. Tara Frejas wrote a really fun romance. You’ll speed through it and will crave more sports romance. That’s what Tara’s book inspires, for you to continue reading and loving and enjoying romance.
What I love about this book is that the hero is a cheerleader. He’s Garnet’s all-time crush so things get a little bit messy throughout this book. Tara’s romances always gives you so much through the pages and the story will flow easily and make you cherish it.
In Her Corner by Vicki Essex
I’m changing up things with this MMA athlete heroine. Bella Fiore comes from a Brazilian dynasty of MMA fighters, so the pressure is on. The only thing she wants in her life is to be a renowned fighter. She decides to sign up for this gym and to get coached by three-time Olympic medalist Kyle Peters. Oh yes.
This whole premise sounds amazing. There is sexual tension, butting heads with each other, working hard for what you want to achieve, fighting inner demons, Vicki Essex creates a story with all my favorite things.
Always There by Tiara Inserto
The Queen of Football and the King of Ruby enter the chat. You aren’t ready for them.
Liana Murphy has been named the first female manager of a national soccer team. She wants to show the world that is ready to do it and knows how to do it. She is the Queen of Football after all. But things comes crashing down when she suddenly has to share an apartment with the King of Rugby, Mitch Molloy. He on the other hand, wants to redeem himself by winning a title. Sharing a condo with ambitious Liana is not in his plans but that’s the situation they both end up with.
Kiss and Cry by Mina V. Esguerra
Love hockey and figure skating? Kiss and Cry has both. Mina V. Esguerra is easily one of my top favorite authors. Every time I pick up one of her books, I am transported to this epic romance story between two hard-working characters that aren’t in search of their other half but find them in the process.
Kiss and Cry is no different. Calinda met Ramirez a few years ago. They were young and in love but circumstances (her parents and coach) led them to separate. She was going to become the best in women’s skating while he concentrated on becoming the star of hockey. Ten years later? They meet again. They are important sports advocates now and have won a lot of shiny gold medals. They have grown and think they left their relationship inconclusive once upon a time. So they decide to make a deal: three weeks, do all the things in this list, and go their separate ways. Will they be able to do it?
1 thought on “Trope Rec Tuesday: The Season of the Sports & Athlete Heroines!”
Don’t forget the amazing Mariana Zapata who has two slow-burn romances with heroines who are athletes! From Lukov (ice skating) and Kulti (soccer/football) are both awesome with bad ass main characters. <3