19 Books That "Ted Lasso" Fans Will Adore

BuzzFeed
·11 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

1.Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

Why Ted Lasso fans will love it: A big cast of characters, lightness in the midst of the dark, and unexpected connections.An apartment open house turns into a hostage situation when a failed bank robber bursts in. Among the captives are a recently retired couple hunting for fixer-uppers, a wealthy banker who cares about money more than people, a young couple disagreeing on everything, a flustered real estate agent, and an 87-year-old woman who isn't afraid of someone waving a gun in her face. And all of them, including the failed bank robber, are desperate for a rescue.Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie bookstore from Indiebound here. 

2.Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez

Why Ted Lasso fans will love it: A protagonist with a heart full of dreams and a fútbol star.Camila is La Furia, a fútbol player in Argentina, whose team has just qualified for the South American tournament. Despite the fact that it could lead to the future she's dreamed of, including an athletic scholarship, her parents don't know. But to get farther, she needs their permission, though seems they won't allow her to play fútbol (unlike her rising star brother). And with the return of the boy she once loved, now an international star playing in Italy, everything in her life becomes more complicated. Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie bookstore from Indiebound here. 

3.Running with Lions by Julian Winters

Why Ted Lasso fans will love it: A coach encouraging their team to not hide who they are, a big cast of characters, and of course, soccer. Sebastian is the star goalie of Bloomington High School's soccer team, reeling from the reappearance of his estranged childhood best friend, Emir, at summer training. Putting the team first, Sebastian reaches out to regain Emir's trust, developing not only their once lost friendship, but also the sparks between them.Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie bookstore from Indiebound here. 

4.Football by Mark Yakich

Why Ted Lasso fans will love it: Because it is about football, but really about people. Published as part of a partnership with an essay series in The Atlantic, Football is Mark Yakich's reflection on not only the sport itself, but on his own experiences alongside it, from the ways it is portrayed, it's implications, and even its language.Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie bookstore from Indiebound here.  

5.Cheer Up! Love and Pompoms by Crystal Frasier, illustrated by Val Wise

Why Ted Lasso fans will love it: A grumpy/sunshine pairing — plus sports.Antisocial lesbian Annie needs to round out her college applications (and make a few friends, if possible). To do so, she'll join the cheerleading squad, which includes her former friend BeeBee. BeeBee is trying to keep her parents happy, and in the process keep their support of her transition, through her grades and social life. And as the two rekindle their friendship, new feelings begin to pop up between them. Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie bookstore from Indiebound here. 

6.Well Matched by Jen DeLuca

Why Ted Lasso fans will love it: For all you Rebecca lovers out there, an older heroine, heart guarded after her ex, surrounded by enthusiastic people and falling for a younger man. April is a single mother, ready to move on from the town of Willow Creek when her daughter heads off to college. Mitch is the (usually kilted) life of the party, and is a well known figure at the local Renaissance Faire. In exchange for help getting her house ready to sell, Mitch asks April to pretend to be his girlfriend at an upcoming family dinner...which turns into a weekend trip. And when April gets pulled into helping with the Faire for the first time, and Mitch's family unexpectedly shows up, the relationship starts to feel less and less fake. Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie bookstore from Indiebound here. 

7.Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega

Why Ted Lasso fans will love it: We know Ted loves middle grade novels already (hello A Wrinkle in Time) and I know in my soul that in addition to connecting with the characters, Ted would say

8.The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

Why Ted Lasso fans will love it: Exploration of mental health, love stories, and parental grief? Season 2 Ted Lasso energy.A viral YouTube video leads to violinist Anna accidentally achieving career success and consequently burning out. So then, when her longtime boyfriend announces that he wants an open relationship, she decides that she does too, and proceeds to embark on a string of one-night stands. Enter Quan Diep, a tattooed motorcyclist, who turns out to be a failed one-night stand attempt, as their connection is about more than sex.  Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie bookstore from Indiebound here. 

9.The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai

Why Ted Lasso fans will love it: Grumpy/sunshine plus dating apps? Yes.One magical night, Rhiannon Hunter was wooed by sexy and (seemingly) sweet former pro-football player, Samson Lima. And then he ghosted her. Months later, he reappears — in league with a business rival. Rhiannon is cynical, even if she may have created a revolutionary dating app, and has to determine whether she's willing to open her heart back up to him.  Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie bookstore from Indiebound here. 

10.Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle

Why Ted Lasso fans will love it: Rebuilding and reinventing when things are falling apart, mental health, and love. Maybell has just inherited a charming house in the Smokies from her great aunt, but she's not the only one. Wesley, the groundskeeper, shares her inheritance, and the two begin to bond as they struggle to compromise about the future of the property.  Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie bookstore from Indiebound here. 

11.Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

Why Ted Lasso fans will love it: Roy/Keeley shippers will love the grumpy/sunshine pairing of Darcy and Elle.Darcy just wants her well-meaning brother to stop trying to play matchmaker, so after her blind date goes wrong, she lies and says it was a success. But Elle, one of the astrologers behind the popular Oh My Stars Twitter account, finds herself confused when her business partner, Darcy's brother, mentions how glad he is that she and Darcy hit it off. After a bit of begging from Darcy, Elle agrees to play along, and while the two pretend to date, Darcy must help Elle deal with her overbearing family during the holidays.  Get it from Bookshop or from your local indie bookstore from Indiebound here. 

12.Amelia Unabridged by Ashley Schumacher

Why Ted Lasso fans will love it: If you love Ted and Rebecca scenes, you'll love this Amelia and Jenna were brought together by the Orman Chronicles series, written by young (and reclusive) N.E. Endsley. When the pair get a chance to attend a book fest where Endsley will be, what starts as a dream quickly goes wrong: Jenna gets a chance to meet the author, Amelia doesn't, and the two have a blowout fight. Before they can make up, Jenna is in a car accident and dies. But a mysterious rare edition of the Orman Chronicles makes its way to Amelia, who wonders if it's from Jenna, and she tracks it to a small bookstore in Michigan, where she comes face to face with Endsley.  Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie bookstore from Indiebound here. 

13.Check Please by Ngozi Ukazu

Why Ted Lasso fans will love it: A delightful sports team, baking, and an enthusiastic lead.Eric Bittle, vlogger and baker, has just started as a freshman at Samwell University, and his hockey team is nothing like back home. Plus, there's his very attractive captain, Jack, to think about.  Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie bookstore from Indiebound here. 

14.Let's Talk About Love by Claire Kann

Why Ted Lasso fans will love it: Ted is a firm believer in rom-coms, so he'd absolutely adore this. Alice's summer plans do not involve a significant other, mostly because her girlfriend ended things after Alice came out to her as asexual. But then Takumi comes along, bringing with him rom-com feels and a library-employee badge, and she has to decide if opening her heart up to him is worth the risk.  Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie bookstore from Indiebound here. 

15.The Heartbreak Bakery by A. R. Capetta

Why Ted Lasso fans will love it: Community, baking, and emotions? Yep, that's something this book has in common with Ted Lasso. Agender teen Syd works at the Proud Muffin, a queer bakery and community space in Austin. But after being dumped, Syd's baking, which has always been an outlet for big feelings, quite literally takes on the feelings Syd was trying to bake away: everyone who eats Syd's breakup brownies breaks up. Now it's up to Syd, along with the cute bike delivery person, Harley, to fix things...including the magical brownie-induced breakup of Vin and Alec, the bakery owners.  Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie bookstore from Indiebound here. 

16.Here and Now and Then by Mike Chen

Why Ted Lasso fans will love it: A good-hearted man separated from his family by a great distance, trying desperately to stay connected. Kin Stewart lives in 1990s San Francisco with his teenage daughter, Miranda, and his wife. But his past — as a time-traveling secret agent from 2142 that got stuck after a mission gone wrong — is kept hidden, until a rescue team shows up to take him home. The home in question has only missed him for a few weeks, while he's lived 18 years with increasing memory loss, and he's desperate to stay connected to his daughter.Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie bookstore from Indiebound here. 

17.The Passing Playbook by Isaac Fitzsimons

Why Ted Lasso fans will love it: New beginnings, soccer, and taking a stand. Spencer is getting a fresh start at Oakley, the most liberal private school in Ohio, after transitioning led to bullying at his old school. He's making new friends, potentially falling for a classmate, and might have a chance at a starting position on the boys' soccer team. But when a discriminatory law forces Spencer's coach to bench him after discovering the

18.It Goes Like This by Miel Moreland

Why Ted Lasso fans will love it: Found family made up of characters who, after a separation, undergo major changes individually but come together as a group. Moonlight Overthrow was a world-famous queer pop band formed by Eva, Celeste, Gina, and Steph in middle school. But a sudden falling out is succeeded by the dissolution of the band and the end of the relationship between Eva and Celeste. But though Gina and Celeste ventured further into fame, Steph disappeared completely, and Eva took refuge as a songwriter and online fangirl of Moonlight Overthrow, the four former best friends will need to come together after a storm devastates their hometown.Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie bookstore from Indiebound here. 

19.Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

Why Ted Lasso fans will love it: Our main character heads to a different country and deals with mental health as he makes friends and discovers new things about himself while bonding with a football enthusiast. Three things to know about Darius Kellner: 1) He's a nerd. 2) He's got clinical depression. 3) He is about to take his first trip to Iran. While there, he gets to know his ailing grandfather, loving grandmother, and other family members. He also meets Sohrab, who becomes his first real friend. Sohrab makes Darius feel like a new version of himself. But as the trip winds down, he has to wonder if he can still be the new Darius without Sohrab by his side.  Get it from Bookshop, Target, or from your local indie bookstore from Indiebound here. 

Note: In regards to books featuring football/soccer, I use the term that is used in each book. American football is not mentioned in any of these blurbs.