J
JeaHeg
May 14, 2026
Emotion-driven MM sports romance
Going for Gold is the 2nd book in the Heart of Gold series by Ariel Atwater. This is a very emotional story of two elite gymnasts who are trying to survive a long-distance relationship. They are both under extreme stress from not only the pressure of competing at an elite level and chasing Olympic dreams, but also the cultural dynamics of being members of the LGBTQ community, the physical and mental toll of constant training, the difficulty of maintaining a long-distance relationship, all while dealing with individual crises. Danny just wants to love Sasha out loud, but Sasha lives in fear of their secret relationship being found out, because for him, the cost of discovery could be everything.
Tropes:
• sports (Olympic gymnasts) romance
• hidden relationship
• slow-burn/emotional yearning
• long-distance secret relationship
• MM romance