Love Is a Contact Sport

by Frederick Smith

240 pages, Paperback

Expected publication June 16, 2026

Reviews

[Coffee&Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Love Is a Contact Sport, particularly its portrayal of coming out later in life and reuniting with a former love. I am a sucker for a soulmate second chance!

Smith vividly painted a picture I could empathize with--realizing that the life you've built may not be the life that truly fulfills you, while also understanding how difficult it is to walk away from something that once felt right, or was what you believed you were supposed to want. This story acknowledges that choosing a different path doesn't happen in a vacuum. There are years of history tied up in those decisions. I appreciated that the book treated those realities with care rather than offering easy answers.

The romance was engaging; I was just as invested in Brent and Renny as individuals gong through their own personal renaissance. Brent is navigating what comes after years of denying part of himself, while Renny is facing the loss of his job, his book contract, and the future he thought he was building. Their reunion didn't feel like an attempt to recapture the past, more like two people finally finding their way back to something that was right all along.

[Nadia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the second chance romance. The flashbacks were good. The romance between the two men was cute. Not sure if I felt sorry for Macy or was annoyed with Macy. I liked that Renny wanted a solid relationship. I liked that Brent worked on himself. It was a cute story, just not sure if it’s a memorable one for me. Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC.

[Casey R Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Strong Second-Chance Romance Weighed Down by Too Many Pop Culture Reference

3.5 stars rounded up

📚 On Casey’s Bookshelf

Book: 104
Dates read: 05.25.2026 – 05.26.2026
Title: Love Is a Contact Sport
Author: Frederick Smith
Format: digital ARC

#caseysbookshelf

I was about two-thirds through this book thinking it was headed toward a solid 4-star read.

I loved the structure. The story moves between college and present day as two Black men reconnect decades after a relationship that never really got the chance it deserved. The chemistry worked. The nostalgia worked. The spice definitely worked.

I appreciated how the story explored coming to terms with your sexuality on your own timeline. Brent and Renny’s journey felt authentic, and I found myself rooting for them.

What pulled me out of the story were the constant pop culture references. Celebrities. Songs. Authors. Book events. Industry references. By the end, they became distracting.

One of the things I love most about books is their ability to outlive the moment they were written in. We still read books from the Harlem Renaissance and they feel timeless because they capture the culture without relying on a checklist of recognizable names. Here, the volume of references made the story feel dated before it’s even released.

Which is frustrating because underneath that is a really good romance.

If you’re looking for a Black queer second-chance romance with heart, nostalgia, and steam, this is a great Pride Month read. I just wish the story trusted its characters enough to carry the weight without so many outside references competing for attention.

Another book off the shelf. We keep reading with intention. 📚

[Esther · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second chance romance tells in interwoven segments the love story of Larenz “Renny” Ross and Brent “B.D.” King. A story about finding what you want but not being able to take it.

After a fierce bout in college Renny and Brent reconnect at an alumni event. Once the terms of getting to know each other were set, the progression was careful and slow but with a refreshing openness guided by characters own journeys to a healthier mental well-being and fueled by history and past mistakes.

A journey I was happy to be along for. A journey full of chemistry and a love that waited for a conscious taking.

Loved especially the bittersweetness of chapter twenty five. A small glimpse of “what if” the timing, the expectations and world would work differently.

“Love is a contact sport” is my first book of Frederick Smith and will definitely not be my last. And I also filled my TBR and several wishlists with some of the authors and works mentioned in this book. I am delighted to have further reading.

Thank you Frederick Smith, Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy from NetGalley

Love is a Contact Sport by Frederick Smith is a second chance romance between a college athlete and his college tutor. Brent is bound for the NBA and meets Remy, his college orientation leader. In college, Brent navigates trying to figure out who he is, being in the closet and navigating being a black college athlete. Remy is an out and proud black man with a zest for life. He ends up tutoring Remy at Macy, Brent's girlfriend's request. Life takes a turn for Macy and Brent and they move to California. They don't talk or see Remy for nearly twenty years until a college reunion brings Remy and a separated Brent back together.

I thought this book beautifully highlight the challenges of college students, specifically black males. Frederick does a great job navigating the intersecting identifies of all the characters. I love a second chance romance and the family dynamics thrown into this story was well done.

Thank you to the author and Bold Strokes Books for the opportunity to arc read this.

Rating: 3.5⭐️

[Jerome Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and Frederick Smith for allowing to receive an electronic advanced reader copy of this book!!

Love Is A Contact Sport is everything you could ask for in a second chance Black Queer Romance novel. Being introduced to both past and present day Brent/B.D. and Renny felt intimate and intentional. I enjoyed being apart of their love story as a reader. There is plenty of spice in this book and it’s written so well that it may even take you back to your very first time! If there was one thing that made me pause when reading was the amount of time that Brent spent talking about shoulda coulda woulda’s from 20 years ago. I think he made his point very clear the first time he addressed what he wished he could’ve done 20 years ago.

I appreciate Frederick Smith for continuing to highlight professional Black Gay men and their stories. I also find this book especially heartwarming because of the way it highlights Black Gay men in their 40’s. It is a gentle reminder that our YN days don’t last always.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was the perfect way to kick off Pride month. Dr. Frederick Smith did a great job exploring the complexities of identity, obligation, and commitment in this second chance romance between two Queer Black men. This book has a dual timeline with the characters in college and reconnecting 20 years later as adults. I appreciated how the characters changed and grew during that 20 year gap without them feeling completely disconnected. I really liked B.D./Brent and how he approached life in his 40s. Keep an eye out for cameos by Taylor and Dustin from One and Done. Those two are thriving and jiving. They were the perfect addition to this story.

Although I don't typically seek out a dual timeline story, I found myself enjoying this one. I believe that it is a result of the low angst. Topics like therapy, mental health, and financial struggles were handled well and definitely not shied away from.

I received an ARC of this book from Bold Strokes Books, in collaboration with Dr. Frederick Smith, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Keaundray Osborn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love Is a Contact Sport was a great, quick read about second-chance lovers who lost 20 years together. I love that the author chose to show how black gay athletes have pressures to hide who they truly are and who they want to love just because it is not accepted in society. I also loved when characters in books are not forced to be out of the closet when they are not ready. Many people are not fully ready to embrace themselves, and we each have our own journey to go through, so it’s important that we give everyone space. I like that Brent had the opportunity to do so. I also enjoyed Renny standing his ground and not just running back to someone who broke his heart. Through all the downfalls he faced, he truly came out better in the end. I do wish this book was longer, but other than that, it was a great read.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts <3

You can tell how much love Frederick Smith has for the romance genre while reading Love Is a Contact Sport; there are multiple books referenced throughout the book, and Renny is a romance author. LIACS swept me away from the start. I was drawn to Renny and Brent in both timelines. Second chance romance can be difficult to accomplish because the reason the first chance didn't last has to be enough to separate them while simultaneously not being too much to prevent a reasonable second chance. Frederick Smith ended up with a brilliant idea to separate these two for two decades. It also made their reunion that much more impactful for me. I will definitely be reading more from Frederick Smith in the future. LIACS was cute and hot and emotional and soulmatey as hell.

[Nisha Read All · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this is how a realistic relationship happens. Hard choices, divorce and second chances. Brent and Lorenz college down low hook up buddies had to make grown up decisions and became adults even though they wanted to be together. One not ready to come out and the other is out and proud can be. I can honestly say this is an everybody problem bc in sometime in your life you are in a relationship that you know it’s not where you want to be, but life, family, expectations or pregnancy changes your faith. This was so cute, heart throbbing and erotic. The chair 🪑 baby 🥵 the chair 🤗🏳️‍🌈😋

[christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good second chance romance. Renny and Brent first fell for each other in college but circumstances and life choices drove them apart. Twenty years later they get a second chance at love. Their story is told between flashbacks to their college years and present day after they meet up again. Found Family, flirty texts, mental health rep, Black queer MCs, nerd and jock. Also characters learning to ask for and accept help when they need it.

[Japhy Ryder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so beautiful. Hearing a gay Black man's experience from a gay Black man was enlightening and enriching and so real. I absolutely loved this. Second chance romance, spice, perspective, engaging characters. Excellent book.

[Kyra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming soon

[Kiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC REVIEW✨
4 ⭐️
3 🌶️’s

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes book for an arc of this book. Love is a Contact Sport is the second book I’ve read from Fredrick and I really enjoyed this.

I love that in his books his mmc’s have a great education and that they are older as well. I am a big fan of second chance romances and I thought this is was done so well. They didn’t work out in the beginning due to societal pressures about a college athlete coming out and someone who is already out and being his true self. So while Brent went off and married Marcy and had children; Renny continued living in his truth and becoming a successful author. A chance award ceremony honoring each of them is what brought them back into each other’s orbit. I really liked the fact that Brent had come out and had divorced Marcy so that when him and Renny came back together he was cheating on anyone and he was ready to be him. I also enjoyed the fact the Renny didn’t make it is easy for him he had to work for it!

I will also say that Ioved Marcy as a side character and the dynamic she brought to the story as well!!

This releases on June 16th, go check it out when it does!!!