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Women’s Football Fiction That Explores Grief and Healing

In recent years, women’s football fiction has become a powerful space for telling stories that go far beyond the pitch. These novels don’t just celebrate the game, they also explore the emotions, struggles, and inner lives of the women who play it. One theme that appears is grief, whether through the loss of a loved one, the end of a dream, or the quiet ache of change. For readers seeking books about women’s football and grief, these stories can offer more than just compelling narratives; they can provide comfort, reflection, and a sense of connection. By showing how characters move through loss while still finding strength and joy in the game, these novels may resonate deeply with anyone navigating grief in their own life.


Children's fiction

Cover of Has Anyone Seen our Striker which shows a girl on a blue background. Featured in a list of soccer fiction about grief at Her Boots, Her Books

Girls FC: Has Anyone Seen Our Striker?

Helena Pielichatry

Eve Akboh is heartbroken when her best friend quits the team, and juggling football with family responsibilities starts to feel impossible. With warmth and realism, this story explores friendship, grief, and the quiet strength of girls who keep showing up.


Young Adult fiction

Cover of Catastrophe Theory by Rebecca Lowry Warchut which is abstract orange and pink shapes in front of a blue sky. Featured in a list of football fiction about grief at Her Boots, Her Books

Catastrophe Theory

Rebecca Lowry Warchut

Vera Garcia’s soccer dreams are derailed by a rare brain tumour just as Hurricane Phoenix barrels toward her surgery site, forcing her and her mother to confront secrets, grief, and reinvention. This emotionally layered YA novel blends sport, surrealism, and survival in a storm of identity, art, and resilience.


Cover of Going for the Record by Julie A. Swanson which shows a girl with her head in her hands in front of a goal. Featured in a list of soccer fiction about grief at Her Boots, Her Books

Going for the Record

Julie A. Swanson

Leah is on the cusp of making the U.S. under-18 national team when her father is diagnosed with terminal cancer, forcing her to reevaluate everything. This emotionally rich YA novel explores ambition, grief, and the meaning of legacy through sport.


Adult fiction

Cover of A Match to Remember by Helen Hawkins which shows a man and woman looking at each other on a blue background. Featured in a list of football fiction about grief at Her Boots, Her Books

Match to Remember

Helen Hawkins

Set in the Cotswolds, this second-chance romance follows trainee teacher Lizzie as she juggles football dreams, grief, and rekindled chemistry with her old flame Noah. With sports day chaos, emotional depth, and a closed-door slow burn, it’s a heartwarming ode to resilience and love.


Cover of Only When It's Us by Chloe Liese, which shows a man and woman laying next to each other. Featured in a list of soccer fiction about grief at Her Boots, Her Books

Only When It's Us

Chloe Liese

College soccer star Willa and her surly classmate Ryder clash over lecture notes, sparking a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance full of pranks and emotional depth. This inclusive, new adult romcom tackles grief, communication, and the vulnerability of falling in love.


Cover of Playing the Field by Ivy Bailey which is an illustration of a man and woman wearing football kit looking at each other. Featured in a list of football fiction about grief at Her Boots, Her Books

Playing the Field

Ivy Bailey

Sadie McGrath, star striker at Durham University, is forced to train a cocky American boy while juggling team drama and personal grief. This YA romcom delivers enemies-to-lovers tension, queer representation, and competitive fire.


Want to discover more women's soccer books? Visit the main list here.

 
 
 

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