Current Mood: M/M Sports Romance
Gimmie Rough Edges, Soft Hearts, and Love Worth Fighting For
Let’s talk about what’s been on my mind (and on my Kindle) right now: M/M Sports Romance.
I’ve been deep into a few specific cravings when it comes to characters, settings, and the kind of heat that keeps reading whole ass book in one day. And M/M Sports Romance reallllly scratches that itch.
Here’s why I think that is:
1. Small-Town Vibes, Rough Around the Edges
There’s something about small towns.
Maybe it’s the close-knit communities, the quiet streets, or the way everyone knows everyone.
Don’t get me wrong, big cities have their moments, but right now, I’m craving something…
🫣 a little rougher,
🫣 a little grittier—where things aren’t polished,
🫣 and the characters come with baggage.
I love seeing that tension play out in a small-town setting, where you can’t just run away from your problems.
2. Overly Masculine with a Soft Heart
Okay, this might be the heart of what I’m craving—give me those overly masculine characters.
The guys who are tough as nails on the outside, but have a soft, vulnerable side they’re not showing to the world. When they get into fights on the ice but they’re pining later for their boo… ugh. Love it.
It’s probably why I’m so hooked on MM hockey romance right now (seriously, the tension, the banter, the heat). I loved the entire Puckboys series for this reason. Give me jock straps and locker room glances. 🥵
Oh, and don’t get me started on football romance—I’m talking about books like You and Me by Tal Bauer or Quarterback. These guys are sweaty, rough, and steaming hot.
Side note: I’m oddly learning a lot about hockey through these books. Like, did you know there’s a thing called the "sin bin" for penalties? Who knew I’d care about power plays and time spent in the box while drooling over brooding hockey players? Put me in the sin bin puh-lease!
3. Slow Burn, Make It Painful
I don’t want it easy.
I want a slow burn that aches, that makes me wait for it, and when the characters finally get together, it’s worth every second.
Let me see the miscommunications, the tension building, the moments where it’s so obvious they’re meant for each other, but the world is keeping them apart.
I love the oh so delicious torture of watching two people fall in love bit by bit, where every stolen glance and accidental touch means something. When staring into their eyes means everything. When the MC is will do anything to just be in the presence of their love. I’m done. 🤩
4. Not Forbidden, But Damn Complicated
When I say I love forbidden love, I don’t mean being queer is forbidden—let’s make that clear. What I’m craving is watching someone question the very fabric of who they are as a person while they’re falling in love.
That push and pull between what they thought they knew about themselves and what they’re discovering.
I want to see those walls come down, those assumptions unravel, and I want it to break my fucking heart in the process.
But/and, the author MUST put my heart back together by the end of the book. Please and thank you.
5. Hard Edges, Soft Hearts
I need characters with a little bite.
I want hard edges—people who’ve been through some shit, who might not be the easiest to love at first glance.
But underneath all that? Soft hearts. The kind of guys who fall hard when they finally let their guard down.
It’s that perfect balance of tough and tender that keeps me coming back for more.
6. Family Values
Family is huge.
I love stories where strong family values shape the characters. Whether they’re living up to expectations or defying them, family is the foundation that adds so much depth to their love stories.
Found families are welcomed too! All sorts of friend/family dynamics make it work for me. I don’t want the loner. I want someone the MCs can turn to so they can figure out why they’re feeling things about a certain someone.
I think that’s why I’m loving the hockey and football stuff right now. Teams are family units in a way.
Watching how love impacts not just the couple but their entire family is something that always hits me right in the feels.
7. Possessiveness & Pining (After the Reckoning)
Once they’ve gone through the emotional rollercoaster of figuring out their feelings, that’s when I want the possessiveness to kick in.
After all the self-doubt, the questioning, and the reckoning, I want one thing to become crystal clear: this person is mine.
I want to see that fierce, almost primal protectiveness—the kind where they’d literally fight off the world to keep their person safe. The pining doesn’t stop just because they’re together either. I want that intensity to build even after the love is acknowledged.
Give me characters who will burn down anything that stands between them and their person. Yes, please!!!!
8. Books I’ve Read Recently That Hit This Mark
Puckboys (8 book series) by Eden Finley & Saxon James
Fake Boyfriend Series by Eden Finley
The Rest of the Story by Tal Bauer
Final Thoughts
I suddenly have a craving to watch hockey though I’ve never watched a whole game in my entire life. And I live in Canada now. Sheesh!
Up next: I’m looking forward to diving in to the world of C. Rochelle. I heard her on the
podcast and am ready for a superhero M/M moment.Note: There are some Amazon affiliate links in this post. If you make a purchase, I get a small commission at no additional cost to you.