7 sports stories for fiction fans

If you loved books like Nick Hornby's popular Fever Pitch and David Peace's bestselling biographical novel The Damned Utd., we recommend seven more sports stories for fiction fans. You'll come across all kinds of sport, from ice hockey and boxing to tennis and gymnastics.

What sports writing do you love? Tell us in the comments below.

The Art of Fielding

The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach

This warm and funny novel tells the story of Henry Skrimshander and his talent for playing college baseball for the fictional Westish College Harpooners – until, one fateful day, Henry misthrows a ball. And everything changes.

The Fair Fight

The Fair Fight by Anna Freeman

Set in Georgian Bristol, The Fair Fight is a lively historical novel about two women from very different worlds – Ruth Webber and Lady Charlotte Sinclair – and the ups and downs of female bare-knuckle boxing.

Ghost

Ghost by Jason Reynolds

Jason Reynolds' fast-paced stories were recommended by Book Doctor Jeff Kinney. Each story follows one of four kids chosen for an elite middle school running team. The first is centred around Ghost (real name Castle Cranshaw) and his crazy natural talent for speed.

Infinite Jest

Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace

For readers of literary fiction, Infinite Jest is David Foster Wallace's story about addition and recovery, which partly takes place at an elite tennis academy. The students – including tennis prodigy Hal – are ensnared in the search for the master copy of a dangerously entertaining movie.

National Velvet

National Velvet by Enid Bagnold

The most famous and loved racing story of all time, National Velvet tells the tale of fourteen-year-old Velvet. When Velvet wins a piebald horse in a raffle, she and her friend Mi have their sights set on the biggest race in England. But can a girl win the Grand National?

Beartown

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

In a large Swedish forest, the town of Beartown hides a dark secret...

The town and its people are devoted to ice hockey and their junior team has just made it to the national semifinals. If they win, it'll put Beartown on the map. Beartown is a suspensful, intriguing novel for fans of crime fiction.

You Will Know Me

You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott

Talented, determined, an Olympic hopeful, Devon is the focus of her parents' lives and the lynchpin of their marriage. There is nothing they wouldn't do for her. Written by author Megan Abbott, You Will Know Me is an unsettling psychological thriller set in the world of elite gymnastics.

Win a £20 National Book Token!

Post a comment below telling us about your favourite sports in books. We’ll pick one winner to receive a £20/€25 National Book Token after Sunday 23rd June 2019.

Congratulations Solange!

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