Heart Racer
STEM meets sports romance in this spicy, slow-burn, nerd/jock, academic rivals rom com
by Megan Avery
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Pub Date Apr 23 2026 | Archive Date Apr 23 2026
Little, Brown Book Group UK | Sphere
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Description
Romance readers! You've had chemistry with steminist romance, you've raced through sports romance. Now get ready for the ultimate crossover...
Biochemistry major Keely has the next five years of her life down to a science. But when her grad school loan application is inexplicably rejected, her carefully calculated future spontaneously combusts.
Her college's Pursue Your Passions scholarship could be the answer. The problem? There's one place left, and she's not the only student in the running. Enter Max: a state champion sprinter who sets hearts racing on and off the track - and the one thing standing between Keely and her dreams.
Keely knows the key to winning is keeping her head in the game. But when your opponent is Lycra-clad and... rippling?! Well, it's hard to keep the chemistry to the lab.
Experimenting with her heart could cost Keely everything she's worked for. But staying away from Max might be a race she's destined to lose...
The Love Hypothesis meets Heated Rivalry in this spicy, dual-pov, academic rivals rom com - as nerdy as it is sure to raise your pulse...
Tropes:
💖 Stem x Sports/ Jock x Nerd
💖 Childhood friends to academic rivals to lovers
💖 He falls first
💖 On campus!
💖 Slow burn (some spice)
💖 Only one... scholarship
💖 You know how to ball, I know Aristotle
💗💗 Real readers loved Max and Keely 💗💗
'I really enjoyed this one...every exchange sparked with tension and humor...Funny, smart and surprisingly heartfelt' GoodReads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'So cute, I loved every bit of it. It would be hard not to love these two...I loved the prank wars and watching them fall for each other...I already wish I could read it again for the first time' GoodReads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This book is absolutely phenomenal!!! The chemistry between Max and Keely? Sizzling. Their shared love for Biscuit? Adorable. How painfully relatable Keely is? Perfection. I wish I could go back and read this for the first time again. Hello??? The locker room scene??? If you're a fan of witty, spicy romance, this is the book for you!' GoodReads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A cutie of a romance...told with care and empathy, which adds to the overall depth of the book. Five stars!' GoodReads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'As someone who has only read ice hockey [sports] romances, this was a pleasant change of scenery for me. Who knew that running could be so sexy?...I really felt for both characters throughout and I was completely cheering them both on to win the scholarship...I really had no idea how it would end, but I was happy with the outcome' GoodReads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Really liked this...such a cute and fun read. I would definitely buy this book for a friend' GoodReads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Heart Racer is a heartfelt sports romance with strong themes of ambition, family and women in STEM, and two likeable leads with real emotional stakes... Sweet and engaging' GoodReads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781408724804 |
| PRICE | £10.99 (GBP) |
| PAGES | 416 |
Available on NetGalley
Average rating from 21 members
Featured Reviews
Sapphire R, Reviewer
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Megan Avery for sending me an ARC of Heart Racer!
Keely and Max are both in the running for the last spot on a scholarship, both are counting on winning it but only one will come out on top. Follow academic Keely and athlete Max as they compete for a scholarship and discover some things along the way.
This was so cute, I loved every bit of it. It would be hard not to love these two, they bounced off each other so well, I loved the prank wars and watching them fall for each other.
I know I’ve just finished it, in what would’ve been one sitting if i didn’t have to sleep, but I already wish I could read it again for the first time. I didn’t want the ending to come. I loved how their relationship was written and ugh they’re just so cute.
I’ll definitely be grabbing myself a physical copy when this releases
Stephanie M, Reviewer
A cutie of a romance. Two students with totally different areas of expertise but the same commitment and passion are up for the same funding award. Keely is a science nerd in her own words and loves biochemistry and labs. Max is a runner who is great on the track, does lots in his community, especially at the dog shelter, but his grades are struggling. Between them, they make the ideal all-rounder who should get the bursary; however, they are unable to see past the financial need to get along and help each other. The background story that is given and delved into for both Max and Keely is a good one, told with care and depth which adds to the overall empathy of the book. Max and Keely are deserving of the bursary, they are both generous and generally kind - and their love for the dog shelter dog Biscuit is lovely!
A great relax of a read.
Paola C, Reviewer
I really enjoyed this one. Max and Keely's dynamic balanced by sharp rivalry with slow growing respect is something that I truly love, it made every exchange spark with tension and humor. Keely’s focus on her biochemistry goals felt refreshing for a romance lead, and her stress about grad school and scholarships added real stakes without feeling heavy handed. Max, on the other hand, brought just the right amount of cocky charm and hidden depth, and seeing his perspective made the story flow naturally. Their banter was fast and fun, but there were also moments where the emotional walls dropped, and it felt very honest. The writing was light and engaging, and I could easily picture both characters’ worlds. Overall, it was funny, smart, and surprisingly heartfelt. Thank you so much to the author, Little, Brown Book Group and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read the book in advance, I received this for free and I'm leaving an honest review.
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