Books Like The Score
by Elle Kennedy
The Score delivers the combination most readers seek in contemporary sports romance: a locker-room world, sharp banter that flips into heat, and an emotional arc that proves the characters’ growth matters as much as the chemistry. Elle Kennedy writes with an ear for teammates’ rhythms — the jokes, the rivalries, the inside references — and she layers that with a meet-cute that turns into mutual dependence and hard-won vulnerability. The book balances scene-of-the-moment steam with set-piece moments that land emotionally: confessions, reckonings with past mistakes, and the team-family that helps characters change.
If you loved The Score, you might have been most drawn to its specific combination of things: the hockey setting and locker-room camaraderie; the frank, flirtatious banter that flips to tenderness; or the slow build from mutual testing to committed relationship. The nine recommendations below are organized by which of those elements they share with The Score — from the closest matches by the same author to looser tone or structural fits — so you can pick the next book based on the exact ingredient you want more of.
Recommended for fans of The Score
The Deal
Elle Kennedy
Same author, hockey romance, enemies-to-lovers banter and emotionally satisfying payoff.
Pick this if you want almost the identical formula: Elle Kennedy’s voice, a hockey team backdrop, sharp enemies-to-lovers banter and the kind of emotional payoff The Score delivers.
The Hook Up
Kristen Callihan
Slow-burn college romance with sports, witty banter, and emotional payoff.
Pick this if you liked the campus setting, teammates’ friendships and gradual, witty buildup — this is a close tonal match for Off-Campus-style college sports romance.
Kulti
Sally Thorne
Sharp, flirty banter and a sports-adjacent coach-player dynamic with sizzling tension.
Pick this if you liked the teacher/coach-adjacent power dynamics and razor-sharp flirtation that turn erotic — this carries a similar charged coach-player energy, though it’s soccer rather than hockey.
The Player
K.A. Tucker
Contemporary romance featuring a high-stakes athlete, emotional vulnerability, and passionate chemistry.
Pick this if you want a contemporary romance built around a professional-caliber athlete with physical stakes and vulnerable emotional work; it shares the athletic pressure and passionate chemistry.
Pucked
Helene Dunbar
Hockey-centered rom-com with alpha leads, steam, and humor.
Pick this if you want hockey specifically mixed with broad humor and alpha leads; it’s lighter and more comedic but keeps the same athletic focus.
Him
Elle Kennedy & Sarina Bowen
Blends sports team dynamics and steamy relationships with humor and heartfelt moments.
Pick this if you want more of the ensemble-team banter and intersecting relationships; this one shares the locker-room camaraderie and lighthearted team moments.
On the Island
Tracey Garvis Graves
Emotionally intense relationship development in an isolated setting with deep character growth.
Pick this if you loved the emotional intensity and character growth but don’t need a sports setting — this isolates two characters to let their relationship develop in depth, though it’s a looser fit for hockey fans.
Archer's Voice
Mia Sheridan
Brooding hero and emotional rescue romance with slow-burn intimacy and deep healing arcs.
Pick this if you were drawn to The Score’s emotional rescue and deeper healing, and want an even more brooding, intensely private-hero romance — expect a slower, heavier pace and darker wounds.
The Wall of Winnipeg and Me
Mariana Zapata
Slow-burn boss/athlete romance with low-angst buildup and a powerful emotional payoff.
Pick this if you prefer slow-burn, low-angst development that eventually delivers a big emotional payoff; it’s more deliberate than The Score but rewards patience.
At a glance
These matches were chosen for three specific dimensions of The Score: hockey/team setting, the enemies-to-lovers / banter-to-heat dynamic, and the emotional payoff. Each recommendation shares some — but not necessarily all — of those elements.
| Book | First published | Pages | Closest match on | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The Deal Elle Kennedy | 2000 | 394 | Same author & setting | 95% |
The Hook Up Kristen Callihan | 2015 | 352 | College sports romance | 88% |
Kulti Sally Thorne | 2015 | 570 | Coach-player tension | 86% |
The Player K.A. Tucker | 2020 | 364 | High-stakes athlete arc | 82% |
Pucked Helene Dunbar | 1900 | 206 | Hockey rom‑com energy | 82% |
Him Elle Kennedy & Sarina Bowen | 2015 | 356 | Team dynamics & humor | 80% |
On the Island Tracey Garvis Graves | 2011 | 360 | Isolated intense growth | 76% |
Archer's Voice Mia Sheridan | 2014 | 384 | Brooding slow burn | 75% |
The Wall of Winnipeg and Me Mariana Zapata | 2016 | 608 | Patient emotional payoff | 74% |
About The Score
The Score is a contemporary sports romance by Elle Kennedy and part of her Off-Campus universe, which centers on collegiate hockey players and their close social circle. Kennedy’s books are widely credited with popularizing the modern, banter-forward college sports romance subgenre.
Frequently asked questions
Which Elle Kennedy book should I read next if I liked The Score?+
Start with The Deal if you want the most similar mix: same author, same hockey setting, and the same blend of teasing banter and emotional stakes. If you prefer more team-wide perspective and intersecting couples, Him (coauthored by Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen) is also a good follow-up.
Are there other hockey romances like The Score by different authors?+
Yes. Pucked offers a hockey-centered rom-com voice with alpha leads and broad humor, while The Player gives a contemporary athlete romance with high-stakes feelings. Both echo The Score’s sports backdrop though they vary in tone and pacing.
I liked the slow emotional build in The Score. What else has a similar payoff?+
If you want a slower burn toward a big emotional payoff, The Wall of Winnipeg and Me emphasizes a patient buildup and cathartic resolution. Archer’s Voice delivers a deep-healing romance with an intensely emotional slow-burn arc as well.
Is The Hook Up similar to The Score?+
Yes — The Hook Up is a college-set, slow-burn sports romance with witty banter and emotional payoff. It isn’t by Elle Kennedy, but it shares the Off-Campus-style tone and campus-team dynamics that many readers enjoy.
More books by Elle Kennedy
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