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've recommended seven more sports stories for fiction fans. You'll come across all kinds of sport, from ice hockey and boxing to tennis and gymnastics.
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 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 by Jason Reynolds
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 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 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 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 suspenseful, intriguing novel for fans of crime fiction.
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.
