Booksellers' Reads for a Sporty Summer
Inspired by The World Cup, Wimbledon, and the Knicks' historic win!
Whether you’re keeping up with The World Cup, continuing to ride the high from the Knicks’ historic win after 53 long years (Knicks in five!!), or are looking forward to Wimbledon, golf, or more, it’s impossible to deny that sports are dominating our screens, hearts, and minds.
If you’re hoping to bring some of this excitement into your reading life, you’re in luck. The Zibby’s Bookshop team put together some sporty book recommendations. (For our Totally Sports episode playlist, click here.)
World Cup Ready Reads
Landon by Landon Donovan: American soccer legend Landon Donovan shares an unfiltered account of his career, his battles with depression, and his search for peace after the game. It pulls absolutely no punches. For anyone who grew up watching him carry the US team on his back, this one is deeply personal and genuinely surprising.
World Cup Fever by Simon Kuper: Simon Kuper is one of the vanishingly small number of writers who have attended every World Cup since 1990. This book is his love letter to it all. An essential companion to the tournament and a lens through which to see what lies beyond the scoreboard.
How to Watch Soccer Like A Genius by Nick Greene: Think you already know soccer? This book will genuinely humble you in the best possible way. Greene pulls in experts from completely unexpected fields to break down a sport we thought we understood. The result is one of the most fun and surprising reads for World Cup fans.
The Long Game by Leander Schaerlaeckens: Schaerlaeckens interviewed more than 150 former and current players, coaches, and administrators so he could tell the full story of the US Men’s National Team. Full of setbacks, buffoonery, misunderstandings, and an eccentric cast of characters, The Long Game is an unforgettable account of this current American team.
The World’s Game by Yamile Saied Méndez: A wonderful way to bring kids into the World Cup excitement, this vibrant picture book celebrates the sport and its worldwide fans. As one match unfolds in the stadium, a family watches from home. A pure, joyful love letter to the beautiful game.
Tennis-Themed Books Are All Aces
The Open Era by Edward Schmidt: The Challengers-like novel we’ve been waiting for. The first openly gay man to compete in a Grand Slam is battling his anxiety, the weight of history, and a devastatingly attractive rival ranked second in the world. This rivals-to-lovers story culminates in big feelings and a Grand Slam showdown.
Forty Love by Jane Costello: A single mom. An old school crush with a killer forehand visible from her bedroom window. A last-minute decision to join the worst amateur tennis team in the league. Warm, funny, and completely irresistible—this book is proof that second chances and late bloomers make for the best stories. (Listen to Zibby’s podcast with Jane here.)
The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey: Technically about tennis. Actually about everything. This decades-old classic is still one of the most quietly radical books ever written about getting out of your own way. Whether or not you’ve ever held a racket, you will finish this one thinking differently.
Searching for Novak by Mark Hodgkinson: Whether you love him or hate him, you can’t deny that Novak Djokovic is one of the most fascinating athletes alive. This award-winning deep dive goes from a bomb shelter in Belgrade to a detention centre in Melbourne and into the psychology behind the titles.
Changeover by Giri Nathan: The Big Three era ends. Alcaraz and Sinner arrive. And the best tennis writer in America is there to document it. Fast, propulsive, and completely alive, this is the book that explains why watching these two feels so electric. (Listen to Zibby’s podcast with Giri here.)
BONUS: Zibby interviewed Andre Agassi about his memoir Open here. One of her all-time favorite reads.
Fore! Watch Out for Books About Golf
A Life Well Played by Arnold Palmer: This is a treasure trove of entertaining anecdotes and timeless wisdom from arguably the most important professional golfer in history. Breezily readable chapters cover golf, life, and business, and the whole thing feels like sitting down with Arnie himself. A classic that belongs on every golf lover’s shelf.
Tiger vs. Jack by Bob Harig: Sports Illustrated’s Bob Harig tackles the greatest argument in golf: who was better? Tiger or Jack? Exploring the records, rivalries, statistics, and intangibles that made them both icons, Harig has covered Tiger since the very beginning of his career, and it shows. A fascinating and propulsive read for anyone who has ever had an opinion on this debate (which is everyone).
The Playing Lesson by Michael Bamberger: A veteran golf writer spends a year inside the ropes trying to unlock the secrets of a sport he’s covered his whole career. What follows is funny, surprising, and completely infectious. The kind of book that makes you want to pick up a club immediately, even if you absolutely should not.
The Amateur by Chris Bohjalian: Already chosen by the New York Times Book Review as one of the novels everyone will be talking about in 2026. A golf prodigy at an elite Westchester country club accidentally kills a caddy with a stray ball. What follows is a dark, twisting tale of secret affairs, predatory men, and a teenager suddenly on trial. We genuinely could not put this down. Coming August 4th.
Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey: A grumpy, washed-up pro golfer. His one remaining fan. A wild proposal that changes everything. Tessa Bailey doing what Tessa Bailey does best, and somehow set on a golf course. We did not see this coming and we loved every page of it.
Did we miss any?? What are your favorite books that explore the world of sports?