Sports romance series and novels surge in popularity, led by hockey and Formula 1 themes

The recent release of "Off Campus" on Prime Video, a romance series about a hockey player and a music student, has drawn comparisons to the earlier hit "Heated Rivalry." Both are adaptations of successful romance novels from Canadian authors Elle Kennedy and Rachel Reid, respectively, and belong to the growing "sports romance" subgenre. These stories blend athletic competition with romantic tension, often exploring themes like consent, LGBTQ+ relationships, and emotional pressure. The trend extends beyond hockey to football, figure skating, baseball, tennis, and Formula 1, with books like "Icebreaker" by Hannah Grace, "Throttled" by Lauren Asher, and "Cleat Cute" by Meryl Wilsner gaining traction. "Cleat Cute" is set to become a TV series produced by Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird. The popularity of these novels has even boosted attendance at Australian semi-professional hockey games after author Emily Rath encouraged fans to follow teams. In Formula 1, increased female viewership, driven by charismatic drivers like Lewis Hamilton and documentaries such as "Formula 1: Drive to Survive," has correlated with higher interest in related romance books. Despite the success of "Heated Rivalry" and former NHL player Jesse Kortuem coming out as gay citing the series, no active NHL player is openly gay.