“Beartown” is a heartfelt exploration of a small town obsessed with its junior hockey team. The residents pin their hopes and dreams on winning the national championship.
Through the story of talented young star Kevin Erdahl, readers get a deeply affecting look at how hockey shapes family lives, friendships, and the entire community.
Backman offers a glimpse into the pressures of youth passion in sports, but also examines how devastating events threaten community solidarity, highlighting the complicated emotions surrounding small-town hockey culture.
In “Us Against You,” Backman continues the examination of the town of Beartown, where hockey remains the beating heart of the community. After controversy divides the residents, tensions run high.
Rivalries flare, new players step onto the ice, and the quiet intensity of hockey underscores all that happens in town.
The novel explores how a shared love like hockey can both unify and divide, embedding readers in the intricately woven web of personal and community ties built around the town’s devotion to the sport.
“The Winners” concludes Backman’s powerful trilogy with an emotional finale centered once again on hockey’s decisive role in Beartown. A devastating storm serves as a backdrop for community upheaval. Hockey continues to represent pride, identity, and family legacy.
Readers reconnect with beloved characters from earlier books, experiencing their struggles, triumphs, and dreams as everyone tries to make peace with the past.
Backman’s storytelling reveals the ways hockey binds these characters together, portraying it as much more than simply a game.
In “The Deal,” college hockey captain Garrett Graham needs tutoring to pass a class—and enlists studious Hannah Wells for help.
Using playful banter, chemistry, and friendship, the story combines romance and humorous dialogue, placing hockey as a central element in its characters’ lives.
Kennedy doesn’t simply write a romance; she shows readers a side of hockey with locker-room camaraderie and competitive determination. Through Garrett and Hannah’s evolving relationship, hockey’s ups-and-downs form not just a background, but an essential element of the story.
“Him” delivers an emotionally charged romance about two talented hockey players: Jamie Canning and Ryan Wesley.
Set within the competitive atmosphere of elite-level hockey, this novel portrays the deep friendship and evolving relationship between players navigating intense pressure both on and off the ice.
The hockey championships, training, and tensions provide authentic context for their relationship. Bowen and Kennedy effectively weave genuine hockey passion into a captivating, realistic romance, where hockey both drives and reflects the characters’ personal journeys.
In “Game Changer,” veteran NHL star Scott Hunter lives in the closet, maintaining a carefully constructed public image. A casual meeting with Kip Grady, a hockey fan unaware of Scott’s identity, sets off a charming romantic storyline.
Hockey—NHL life, fame, and stress—defines their interactions, showing how identity intersects with success in sports.
The novel is about discovering comfort in being yourself within a sport known for rigid expectations, and Reid draws readers into Scott and Kip’s intriguing mix of romance and hockey drama.
“Pucked” is a humor-filled romantic comedy focusing on NHL captain Alex Waters and Violet Hall, a woman who’s decidedly done with hockey players. Hockey defines Violet’s own skepticism and Alex’s struggles with preconceived notions.
With witty banter and engaging characters, Hunting provides an entertaining romance while incorporating on-ice competition, media intrigue, and locker-room humor.
Hockey serves as an amusingly vibrant cultural backdrop, presenting scenes readers can instantly visualize and enjoy.
In “Icebreaker,” figure skater Anastasia Allen finds herself forced to share rink space with college hockey captain Nate Hawkins after an accident closes one of their ice rinks.
With strong personalities clashing over conflicting needs, this story about navigating difficult relationships portrays hockey as part of its emotional landscape.
Anastasia and Nate illuminate the realities of college athletics, team dynamics, and competition, bringing a fresh outlook to readers interested in both romance and hockey.
Ukazu’s vibrant graphic novel, “Check, Please!” tells the story of Eric “Bitty” Bittle, a former figure skater turned college hockey player passionate about baking.
Filled with humor, excitement, and warmth, this charming graphic novel captures hockey culture, traditions, and stereotypes. Bitty’s vlog-style storytelling touchingly reflects a welcoming team environment.
The delightful illustrations and relatable plot create a captivating portrayal of hockey culture and team life, uniquely represented within the lively pages that readers can wholeheartedly appreciate.
Focusing on college hockey player Dean Di Laurentis, Kennedy’s “The Score” dives into romance, attraction, and personal ambition within a hockey team context.
Dean’s carefree personality and driven nature makes for compelling storytelling as readers explore the dynamics of hockey team friendships and rivalries.
Kennedy provides entertaining insight into team relationships, humorous encounters, and emotional growth amid a sport that shapes these athletes’ daily lives and identities well beyond the ice.
In “Good Boy,” readers revisit cherished characters from “Him,” specifically focusing on hockey player Blake Riley’s relationship with Jess Canning.
Blake, a charming, fabulously entertaining figure from the hockey world, deals with personal expectations and hockey fame while developing an unexpected romance.
Through their well-crafted banter, Bowen and Kennedy integrate humorous yet realistic depictions of hockey life, fan culture, and personal challenges that athletes face, thoroughly grounding readers in the engaging world of professional hockey.
“Heated Rivalry” captures the intense relationship between NHL rivals Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. Reid offers an exhilarating insight into elite professional hockey, competition, and charisma that drives players both on the ice and in their personal lives.
With secret encounters and public rivalries fueling an electrifying narrative, the novel offers a nuanced depiction of how fame, skill, and identity intersect in hockey. Readers see how fierce opponents can have shared passions far beyond their on-ice battles.
“King of the Ice” follows NHL player Max Hall who returns to his hometown to start anew after personal and career setbacks. Hockey is both Max’s greatest passion and deepest obstacle, offering readers compelling accounts of perseverance, emotional challenges, and redemption.
Max revisits past relationships and family conflicts, exploring how closely interconnected personal life and hockey can be. Jamieson authentically portrays hockey culture while presenting a satisfying blend of romance and emotional depth.
“Leo Loves Aries” explores relationships, family, and humor—not particularly focused on hockey itself.
While hockey is not dominant in this plot, the novel has occasional references to hockey games or players within casual conversations among characters, providing subtle context and cultural background.
Readers looking explicitly for insight into hockey themes may find this novel less connected to hockey’s core stories compared to others mentioned previously. Nevertheless, it remains an enjoyable read.