Megan Avery's 'spicy' STEM and sports romance snared by Sphere
Little, Brown imprint Sphere has fallen head over heels for a "spicy" dual-POV academic rivals novel, which combines the STEM and sports romance tropes, from Kentucky-based author Megan Avery. Senior commissioning editor Molly Walker-Sharp brokered the deal for Heart Racer with Rebeka Finch at Darley Anderson. Publication is slated for spring 2026.
The novel follows a biochemistry major and a student-athlete as they go head-to-head for the last place on a scholarship that will make or break their futures.
Walker-Sharp said: "Megan has fulfilled all my ‘he knows how to ball, I know Aristotle’ fantasies – and then some. Heart Racer has opposites attract, childhood friends to enemies-to-lovers, grumpy-sunshine, he falls first and spice aplenty… all wrapped up in an on-campus academic rivalry that had me cackling. Paired with Megan’s pitch-perfect voice and two lead characters that leap into your heart and set up camp, this is for anyone who was swooning over those romantic moments in the Olympics last summer."
Avery is a pseudonym for Megan Murphy – whose debut romcom, Fake It Like You Mean It, will launch on 18th March with New York indie Alcove Press. She aims to continue to publish under the Murphy and Avery names. She said: "[Heart Racer is] hopefully the perfect mix of STEM, sports and romance, and I can’t wait for the world to have a front-row seat to Keely and Max’s chemistry – pun intended."
Finch added: "Megan’s knack for crafting swoonworthy characters that feel like your best friend has found the perfect home with Molly and the Sphere team."
