The Lainey Davis Hockey Reading Order: A Complete Guide
The Lainey Davis Playing series reads best in published order, though every book stands alone with its own couple and its own happily ever after. The published order is Playing for Keeps, Playing for Payback, Playing with Fire, Lit for Him, Playing with Trouble, and Playing It Safe, with Playing Games arriving January 2027.
Here's the full order with each couple and central trope:
Playing for Keeps — Gunnar & Emerson. Woke-up-married / accidental marriage.
Playing for Payback — Alder & Lena. Fake dating / roommates.
Playing with Fire — Tucker & Sloane. Surprise baby.
Lit for Him — Brian & Noa. Holiday novella, agent and bookshop owner.
Playing with Trouble — Howie & Ella. Brother's best friend / forced proximity.
Playing It Safe — Cameron "Mayhem" & Briar. Fake dating / dual-team romance (publishing October 15, 2026).
Playing Games — Jason "Rookie" & Rowena. Gaming-chat-room meet / roommates (January 2027).
All the books share one world: the Pittsburgh Fury men's team, the Pittsburgh Uprising women's team, and the arena they share, the Furnace. Characters recur, restaurants recur, and cats recur.
Do I have to read them in order? No. Each book is a complete standalone with its own couple and HEA. Reading in order gives you the payoff of watching the ensemble grow.
Where should I start? If you want the current Fury generation, start with Playing with Trouble. If you want the whole saga from its roots, start with Playing for Keeps.
Are the books steamy? Yes — high steam, emotional depth, comedy, and always a happily ever after.