I’ve been to two baseball games in my life. The first was a trip to Wrigley Field for an 8th grade class trip, where the Cubs lost badly, I got a sunburn, and my best friend and I giggled about butts every time a player squatted down. The second was on what I thought might be a date at Nationals Park shortly after moving to D.C., where I tried my first bag of Cracker Jacks, got a sunburn, and listened to my companion talk for what we’ll call too long about his fondness for following the band 311 through a multi-state tour. I wouldn’t call these a reflection of baseball itself, and more telling of my fondness for indoor activities thereafter.

Baseball is interesting to me in an abstract way like most sports: I don’t root for or against any particular teams, but I enjoy the camaraderie of a big unifying experience. Since we can’t always count on a celebrity or politician everyone hates dying to unite society and the internet, a competitive match up between rival sports teams is often the most accessible. As are sports romance novels, which have been surging in popularity for years, not to mention the “Heated Rivalry” of it all (but damn, I have to mention it).

I’m no exception to enjoying this subgenre of contemporary romance novels, and I’ve now read more baseball romances than I’ve attended actual baseball games. Here are three I’d recommend to anyone looking for their next joyful read, where someone happens to play baseball and everyone gets to be in love (No 311, I promise).

“The Art of Catching Feelings” by Alicia Thompson

Full disclosure, I’d read anything Alicia Thompson put out, and if anyone is qualified to write about baseball, it’s her. Her encyclopedic knowledge of any larger themes in her novels is always so on point and funny and she writes characters you want to hang out with and kiss. Chris and Daphne are no exception, with a meet-ugly turned love story for the ages. After Daphne has a few too many beers in the sun (who among us?), her heckle at Carolina Battery player Chris during a game turns into a fastball of “surprise, we’re enemies who work together now,” hidden identity, and a hot, hot connection between two people struggling to find their ways back to themselves.

“The Prospects” by KT Hoffman

THIS BOOK. I’ve recommended this one to so many people, whether they typically read romance or not. Hoffman’s debut novel traces the rivals-to-teammates-to-lovers-to- whoops!-we’re-in-love of minor league baseball teammates Gene and Luis. With the forced proximity of the road, excellent mental health rep, and the softness Hoffman captures of being truly understood for the first time- this book is one I’ll read again and again. Also the only one on this list to feature a trans lead character, and the funniest team name (I present…the Beaverton Beavers).

“You Should Be So Lucky” by Cat Sebastian

Technically a sequel, but can be read independently of “We Could Be So Good” (which isn’t about baseball, but you should not skip it if you care about gay feelings or New York City or a free press!!).

Set in 1960s New York, a swoony period piece that made me want to sit in the cheap seats and walk the length of the Brooklyn Bridge still snacking on a paper bag of popcorn. I don’t remember if this actually happens in the book, because what I remember most are cozy big feelings that sneak up on you, and two men pulled like gravity to make a future together. Sebastian is a queen of historical queer romance, and stunningly deft at exploring grief and hope and where to go when you’re at the crossroads of the two. Don’t worry: Eddie the shortstop and Mark the reluctant sports reporter assigned to follow his slump of a season figure things out just fine.

This piece is in Recommend If You Like The Baseball Issue Summer 2026. You can find physical copies in bars, cafes and stores in Chicago and Washington, D.C. The newspaper is available for purchase here. 

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