POC in Sports Romances/NAs
Hi, guys! Sil here. Yesterday in the Twitter Universe, I saw great Alisha Rai and Courtney Milan getting these tweets because they spoke about this article in Culturess called Sports-Themed Romance Novels: Two Great Tastes... and that article is great + it talks about the lack of diversity in regard of the MCs or secondary characters in sports romances.
So of course, I had to talk a bit about this because IT IS SO TRUE. I wrote a super long thread saying why it is impossible writing all-white sports teams when in REAL LIFE there is nothing like that.
You can click the tweet and it will lead you to my thread where I also talk about various sports (tennis, F1, football, and more).I am tired of finding a sports romance and it sounds good but the cast is all white? It's impossible for a sports team especially football+— The Book Voyagers (@thebookvoyagers) August 24, 2016
I decided to make a list of books with POC as MC/LIs in sports romances/New Adults! You know I love doing rec lists and it's a joy to me doing them. I also find out about more books while doing the lists and it's a win win!
1. Slamdunked By Love by Jamie Wesley.
What you can find: FAKE DATING, Basketball, Coach's daughter.
2. Right of First Refusal by Dahlia Adler
Fake dating, second-chance romance, basketball, lacrosse.
3. The Player Next Door by Kathy Lyons.
NBA star hero, neighbors trope, heroine is a professor with PhD.
4. Fast Break by Regina Hart.
Heroine owns the basketball team + former WNBA star, hero is a retired NBA player/turned coach.
5. Once Upon a Player by Agay Llanera.
College volleyball star, girl friendships, hero wants his own food business.
6. Match Point Mishap by Madelyn Tuviera.
Can't pay college so he decides to apply for a sport scholarship, sport: badminton, talented badminton heroine.
7. Well Played by Katrina Ramos Atienza.
Inspired by Pride & Prejudice, math genius hero, soccer player heroine.
8. Kulti by Mariana Zapata.
Soccer player heroine, age gap, childhood crush, hate-to-love, best friends to lovers.
9. The Shameless Hour by Sarina Bowen.
Heroine owns herself, virgin hero, soccer and hockey.
10. Revved by Samantha Towle.
Race car mechanic heroine, bad boy of F1.
11. Revived by Samantha Towle.
Heroine is a therapist, F1 driver is forced into therapy so he doesn't lose his contract.
12. Power Play by Katherine Stark.
Hockey, investigative reporter heroine, BDSM.
13. Love on the Highlight Reel by Christina C. Jones.
Football player and owner's daughter trope.
14. Love in the Redzone by Love Belvin.
Football player wants a second chance at his career + heroine wants the best for her son.
15. All Played Out by Cora Cormack.
Heroine writes to do list, hero finds out and wants to help her. Also: football.
16. Falling Hard by Mina V. Esguerra
Rugby player, journalism intern, they can't afford to fall in love.
17. Settle the Score by Tara Frejas
Basketball player heroine + cheerleader hero = ENOUGH SAID.
18. Head Over Heels by Crystal B. Bright.
Pitcher in the MLB, junior sports agent heroine has a rule not to date athletes.
And if you want more books, you should all check out WOCINROMANCE sports section here. There are so much more books there. I love that page so much, you can find so many books by WOC authors! Definitely check it out.
4 comments
I am SO in love with this recs list, I don't know what to put my hands on first *-* Definitely getting most of these books and adding them to my TBR pile.
ReplyDeleteYAYYY!! So happy you are <3 Enjoy them!
DeleteSil
I am in love with this list because I am a huge fan of sports romance (which is weird because I am not a fan of sports) so to have a comprehensive list which involves a bit more diversity is always good. I don't know why but romance in general seems to be a little too white in general. Whilst other genres seem to be embracing diversity romance doesn't seem to have followed suit in the same way (not that I am an expert I love romance but I'm not exactly wide read in the genre). I'm off to sort through my TBR and decide which of these to get first.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. I love love sports romances (I also love sports lmao) but yeah not a lot of racial diversity in it! We totally need more POC as main characters in romances and especially in sports romances. Because sports is filled with so much diversity ~~~ TEAMS ARE MOSTLY POCS and I hate to see them whitewash or taken out of the narrative!
DeleteSil