Books like 'Hanging On'
Readers who enjoyed Hanging On by K.F. Breene also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary funny young adult cowboys slow burn
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Funny Story by Emily Henry
A shimmering, joyful new novel about a pair of opposites with the wrong thing in common, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Henry.Daphne always loved the way her fiancé Peter told their story. How they met (on a blustery day), fell in love (over an errant hat), and moved back to his lakeside hometown to begin their life together...Categorized as:
slow burn fake relationship contemporary m-f friends to lovers small town humor forced proximity -
Ouran High School Host Club, Vol. 18 by Bisco Hatori
The uproarious comedy about a girl enlisted to work in a lavish host club!Reads R to L (Japanese Style), for audiences rated teen...Categorized as:
slow burn young adult humor contemporary length-short love triangle friends to lovers high-school -
The Golden Raven by Nora Sakavic
I do not care what they think of me. I can’t. It only matters that I play.Jeremy Knox is no stranger to damage control, but his last season on an Exy court is off to a disastrous start. The relentless crusade against his newest teammate threatens the haven he and his friends have worked so hard to build... -
Maid-sama! Vol. 01 by Hiro Fujiwara
Misaki Ayuzawa is the President of the Student Council at Seika High School, formerly an all-boys school. Unfortunately, most of the students are still male and stuck in their slovenly habits, so man-hating Misaki really socks it to them in an attempt to make the school presentable to attract more female students... -
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Skip Beat!, Vol. 19 by Yoshiki Nakamura
When Kyoko’s heart is broken, she decides that revenge is a dish best served in the spotlight!Kyoko Mogami followed her true love Sho to Tokyo to support him while he made it big as an idol. But he’s casting her out now that he’s famous! Kyoko won’t suffer in silence—she’s going to get her sweet revenge by beating Sho in show biz!Koo and Lory can't stop meddling in Kyoko's and Ren's lives... -
A Secret Service by Joy Jenkins
Carter Owens, daughter of a Secret Service agent, is trained to disassemble any weapon, any situation, and anyone. Her biting sarcasm and razor-sharp mind make her impossible to beat in a word fight and when talking doesn’t work, she uses her fists. She attends Hamilton Prep, Washington D.C.’s most prestigious high school, where everyone is related to someone in power, except her...Categorized as:
slow burn young adult vengeance contemporary friends to lovers mystery forced proximity suspense -
Five Ways to Fall by K.A. Tucker
Purple-haired, sharp-tongued Reese MacKay knows all about making the wrong choice; she’s made plenty of them in her twenty-odd-years. So when her impulsive, short-lived marriage ends in heartbreak, she decides it’s time for a change...Categorized as:
slow burn young adult contemporary friends to lovers bad boys alpha male college office -
Damaged Shadows by Kathleen Brooks
Rated: 4.76 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsAs the sheriff of the small town of Shadows Landing, South Carolina, Granger usually dealt with ornery alligators, fights over the best BBQ style, and the occasional shoot-out when his friends brought trouble home. Granger watched those friends get married one at a time, but he knew that wasn’t his fate. An auto accident had left Granger with scaring that he hid under his uniform...Categorized as:
cowboys contemporary suspense humor young adult disabilities and marks length-medium -
I Hope This Doesn't Find You by Ann Liang
Snarky and romantic, I Hope This Doesn't Find You is Never Have I Ever meets To All the Boys if Lara Jean wrote hate emails instead of love letters.Sadie Wen is perfect on paper: school captain, valedictorian, and a "pleasure to have in class... -
Crushed by Lauren Layne
Lauren Layne’s latest novel about the healing power of redemption tells the story of a crush gone wickedly wrong, proving that what you want isn’t always what you need. Growing up in New York, Michael St. Claire never expected to spend his twenties wearing cowboy boots. But that was before he learned about his real father, a total stranger with a family in Cedar Grove, Texas...Categorized as:
slow burn humor contemporary friends to lovers curvy heroine secret child college cruel hero -
The Dugout by Meghan Quinn
Let me ask you a question: If someone is vying for your spot on a team and just so happens to injure you during practice, would you believe it was on purpose? Word around campus is . . . it was no accident. That injury has cost me everything; my starting position, my junior year—and the draft... -
My Little Monster, Vol. 1 by Robico
Mizutani is a self-absorbed overachiever, concerned only with maintaining the highest grades in school. Haru is an impulsive short tempered brute, who scares everyone with his explosive bursts of violence. Haru gets suspended on the first day of school when he encounters some bullies harassing a student and dispatches the bullies with great bloody violence...Categorized as:
slow burn young adult contemporary humor high-school length-short m-f grumpy sunshine -
Nodame Cantabile, Vol. 1 by Tomoko Ninomiya
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsThe son of a famous pianist, music student Shinichi Chiaki dreams of studying abroad and becoming a conductor like his mentor. Unfortunately, his fear of flying grounds his lofty plans! As he watches other classmates achieve what he has always wanted, Shinichi wonders if he should quit music altogether. Then one day he meets fellow student Megumi Noda, also known as Nodame...Categorized as:
slow burn contemporary young adult length-short humor grumpy sunshine other-man-woman college -
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Kissing Madeline by Lex Martin
What’s the worst thing about wanting a sexy NFL football player? Everyone else wants him, too. After catching my boyfriend getting deep-throated by a skanky cage girl, I’ve learned my lesson – never date a professional athlete. Never. Besides, I have more important things to worry about, like not blowing my shot to make it as a broadcast reporter...Categorized as:
slow burn athletes humor young adult contemporary friends to lovers sports strong heroine -
Gentry Rules by Cora Brent
From NYT and USA Today Bestselling Author Cora Brent, jump into fall with this swoony, spicy small town stand alone romance between a curvy single mom and the tattooed Marine protector who will do anything to earn a second chance… ADDIEJustin Gentry had always been my best friend and I had always been in love with him. When our friendship imploded, I was shattered... -
Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis
In this charming and poignant novel that “oozes charm and wit and speaks beautifully about friendship and love, and the differences between the two” (Laura Pearson, author of I Wanted You to Know ), teenager Emmie Blue releases a balloon with her email address and a big secret into the sky, only to fall head-over-heels for the boy who finds it...Categorized as:
slow burn contemporary humor friends to lovers young adult love triangle other-man-woman m-f -
Living-Room Matsunaga-san Vol. 5 by Keiko Iwashita
It seems no amount of secret ardor can get Matsunaga-san to return Meeko's feelings, but the summer brings with it a fresh wave of shocking developments. An unfortunate coincidence convinces Matsunaga-san that Meeko is dating Ryo-kun, but luckily, Meeko manages to resolve the misunderstanding with Ryo-kun's help...Categorized as:
slow burn contemporary age difference young adult length-short humor m-f love triangle -
Living-Room Matsunaga-san, Vol. 4 by Keiko Iwashita
For Meeko, boarding house life has finally become second nature, and her feelings for Matsunaga-san, a professional designer and the eldest at the boarding house, grow stronger with each passing day...Categorized as:
slow burn contemporary age difference young adult length-short glimpses-kisses japan humor -
Bossman by Vi Keeland
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 56 ratingsThe first time I met Chase Parker, I didn’t exactly make a good impression.I was hiding in the bathroom hallway of a restaurant, leaving a message for my best friend to save me from my awful date.He overheard and told me I was a bitch, then proceeded to offer me some dating advice...Categorized as:
slow burn office humor new adult contemporary alpha male super rich hero friends to lovers -
Living-Room Matsunaga-san Vol. 3 by Keiko Iwashita
For Meeko, boarding house life has finally become second nature—or, it would be, if not for one thing: her housemate Matsunaga-san...Categorized as:
slow burn contemporary age difference young adult length-short glimpses-kisses m-f japan -
The Chocolate Garden by Ava Miles
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsVisionary gardener Tammy Hollins is making a new life for herself and her children after a tragic marriage. Plants she understands, but men…well, they’re of the weed variety. She’s started her own landscaping business, catering to her country music rock star brother’s friends. Her first client is sexy, soulful, Alpha hero material, and the one man who tantalizes her and scares her to death... -
Know Not Why (Know Not Why) by Hannah Johnson
Howie gets a job at Artie Kraft's Arts 'N Crafts hoping to score with his lady coworkers. After all, girls love a sensitive guy, and what's more sensitive than dedicating your life to selling yarn and ... stuff? (Okay, so maybe it'd be a good idea to actually learn what one sells at an arts 'n crafts store.) But things don't go exactly according to plan...Categorized as:
slow burn contemporary friends to lovers from hate to love college m-m young adult humor -
Remember When by T. Torrest
Years before Trip Wiley could be seen on movie screens all over the world, he could be seen sitting in the desk behind me in my high school English class. This was back in 1990, and I cite the year only to avoid dumbfounding you when references to big hair or stretch pants are mentioned. Although, come to think of it, I am from New Jersey, which may serve as explanation enough...Categorized as:
slow burn humor contemporary friends to lovers college young adult angst high-school -
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Motion by Penny Reid
Forced to lie to protect her sister . . . From the New York Times Bestselling Author, Penny Reid One week. Home alone. Girl genius. Unrepentant slacker. Big lie. What’s the worst that could happen? Mona is a smart girl and figured everything out a long time ago. She had to. She didn’t have a choice... -
Chihayafuru, Vol. 1 by Yuki Suetsugu, 末次由紀
Chihaya is a girl in the sixth grade, still not old enough to even know the meaning of the word zeal. But one day, she meets Arata, a transfer student from rural Fukui prefecture. Though docile and quiet, he has an unexpected skill: his ability to play competitive karuta, a traditional Japanese card game... -
Living-Room Matsunaga-san Vol. 2 by Keiko Iwashita
With the help of her housemates, high schooler Meeko begins to adjust to her new life away from her parents. Even the initially frightening Matsunaga-san helps her out—and between one kind act and another, Meeko finds herself falling for him...Categorized as:
slow burn contemporary young adult age difference length-short glimpses-kisses humor japan -
Keeping Up Appearances by Elizabeth Stevens
Three's a crowd, but four's a war.Big girl undies? Check.Speech planned? Check.Nerves of steel? Check.A single crush? …not check…?What do you do when you find your best friend/crush kissing your other best friend on the day you were going to declare your feelings for him? You only agree to fake date your crush’s rival...Categorized as:
slow burn young adult contemporary high-school from hate to love humor friends to lovers sports -
The Park of Sunset Dreams by Ava Miles
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsUSA Today Bestselling Author Ava Miles of the #1 National Bestseller NORA ROBERTS LAND presents a fun, emotional, heartwarming romance about finding happily ever after…in a dog park. “I am adding Ava Miles to my list of always reads like Susan Mallery, Jill Shalvis, Kristen Ashley, and NORA ROBERTS.” Marjay's Reading Blog Jane Wilcox has a secret... -
Dating and Dragons by Kristy Boyce
From the author of the nationally bestselling Dungeons and Drama comes another gaming romance that's sure to win you over!After moving to a new high school, Quinn is desperate for friends, so she joins a D&D group with their own livestream and serious rules—most no dating fellow party members... -
Angels' Kisses by Nikki Ashton
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSecond chance love has never been so strongThe much anticipated follow up to Box of Hearts, Angels’ Kisses is the second book in the Connor Series and it will make your heart smile and cry in equal measure.Garratt Connor knew it wouldn’t take much to fall in love with his college girlfriend, Jemma, but tragedy tore them apart before they had barely got started... -
Jock Rule by Sara Ney
Kip Carmichael is no pretty boy. He's a rough. Dirty. Giant. Hair so unruly, and a beard so thick, his friends on the team call him Sasquatch. The first time Sasquatch lays eyes on Theodora "Teddy" Johnson across the keg at a party one night on Jock Row, she'd been relegated to the sidelines by her jock-hungry "friends... -
Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich
Rated: 4.04 of 5 stars · 114 ratingsThis one's double the fun! Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum is still learning the ropes at her cousin Vinnie's bail bond office, so when she sets out on the trail of Kenny Mancuso - a suspiciously weatlhy, working class Trenton boy who has just shot his best friend - the stakes are higher than ever... -
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
A Cinderella story with deadly stakes and thrilling twists. Avery Grambs has a plan for a better future: survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her fortunes change in an instant when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves Avery virtually his entire fortune. The catch? Avery has no idea why--or even who Tobias Hawthorne is...Categorized as:
slow burn young adult high-school mystery contemporary love triangle suspense rich heroine -
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Sincerely, Arizona by Whitney G.
Rated: 4.05 of 5 stars · 42 ratingsJust friends. We’re just friends. No, wait...Categorized as:
slow burn young adult contemporary friends to lovers college humor new adult strong heroine -
Cloud White by Fearne Hill
Meet Milo and Mungo. Mungo and Milo.Just friends. Best friends.Honestly, there’s nothing more to it.Just best friends. And bad timing.That awkward moment when you realise you’re dancing alone. That you’re hopelessly in love with your oldest friend, except somehow along the way, you forgot to tell him. Tired of waiting for you to come to your senses, he’s moved on, he’s found his significant other...Categorized as:
slow burn friends to lovers hurt-comfort contemporary humor second chances m-m young adult -
Shine Not Burn by Elle Casey
IT HAPPENED IN VEGAS. I can't be held responsible. Things that happen there are supposed to stay there, right? Right? Yeeeah. Not so much. Andie's just days away from tying the knot, but there's just ooooone little glitch. Apparently, she's already married... -
Beauty and the Bachelor by Kelly Oram
Beauty and the Beast meets The Bachelor.Thanks to a stipulation in his late father's will, billionaire CEO Sebastian Monroe has one year to find a wife he loves who loves him back, or he will lose control of his family's company. The change could destroy the company and the lives of all its employees...Categorized as:
slow burn humor super rich hero length-medium contemporary new adult young adult m-f -
Matcha Made in Heaven, Vol. 7 by Umebachi Yamanaka
Isshin came back from Shizuoka after completing the work there! Chako is so excited as they start living together again. Isshin now trusts Chako even more since she worked so hard to protect the tea farm while he was away, and supported him in making his bottled tea...Categorized as:
slow burn contemporary young adult humor length-short m-f fake relationship glimpses-kisses -
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
The international bestselling romantic comedy “bursting with warmth, emotional depth, and…humor,” (Entertainment Weekly) featuring the oddly charming, socially challenged genetics professor, Don, as he seeks true love.The art of love is never a science: Meet Don Tillman, a brilliant yet socially inept professor of genetics, who’s decided it’s time he found a wife...Categorized as:
slow burn disabilities and marks young adult humor friends to lovers new adult mystery contemporary -
More Than Water by Renee Ericson
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 34 ratingsIt doesn’t feel right. It doesn’t feel wrong. It just...feels. EJ Cunning, an art history major, dates musicians. Foster Blake, a chemical engineering major, can’t sing a tune. They’re not each other’s type. They’re coworkers. Then, one night leads to sex—sex between friends—which leads to an agreement. It all seems so simple—but nothing ever is. Many layers build a person’s facade...Categorized as:
slow burn friends to lovers tortured heroine college sassy heroine office angst young adult -
Strobe Edge, Vol. 1 by Io Sakisaka
Having no experience in romance, the vibrant Ninako curiously explores the meaning of what "love" really is, and is surprised to feel a colorful range of emotions as she grows closer to the school heartthrob, the quiet yet gentle Ren, who also happens to be involved in a longtime relationship...Categorized as:
slow burn young adult contemporary high-school length-short glimpses-kisses cheerful heroine humor -
The Grand Opening by Ava Miles
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsWhen Peggy McBride moves to Dare Valley, Colorado, the last thing she wants is to meet a man. If she's learned one thing from her divorce, it's that love is a messy business, and as a single mom and the new deputy sheriff, she has her hands full. But when hotel magnate and poker player Mac Maven moves to town, she becomes enthralled by the very last man she would ever consider dating..Categorized as:
cowboys contemporary mystery super rich hero small town humor young adult length-medium -
Boys Over Flowers: Hana Yori Dango, Vol. 2 by Yōko Kamio, 神尾葉子
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsSeries Description: Tsukushi Makino has been accepted into the snobbish Eitoku academy. From a middle-class background and poor compared to her classmates, Tsukushi is determined to get her diploma...Categorized as:
slow burn young adult contemporary humor high-school length-short m-f from hate to love -
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The Holiday Serenade by Ava Miles
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsProfessional gambler Rhett Butler Blaylock is everything Abbie Maven doesn't want in a man-flamboyant, flashy, and unreserved. After a horrible experience in her youth, she has spent her life trying to make all the right choices, pouring her energy into being the best possible single mother to her son... -
Love You Forever by Christina C. Jones
Two years after leaving the neighborhood to pursue an opportunity she couldn’t pass up, Sydnee Scott is back. She’s smart, sassy, and maybe a little bit spoiled, but she’s ready to reclaim her place in her family, and in the family business… Or not. That spot is currently filled by Harlan Ramsey, head manager... -
Rebels Don’t Fall for Tomboys by Emma Dalton
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsEvery tomboy deserves to score the guy of her dreams.Bailey:I’m the Tomboy. I’ve dreamed of playing quarterback since I was a kid. No one on the football team wants me around, though, and I need to prove to them that I belong.Zane Hastings is the only guy who welcomes me. But when he plays me like a fool, I don’t want anything to do with him...Categorized as:
slow burn young adult high-school contemporary sports from hate to love humor length-long -
Lighthouse Charlie by Jessie L. Star
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsMax blew out a sigh and said, "Come on, Charlie-girl, play nice. It's too hot to argue." Forgetting about my determination not to look at him, I twisted my neck round to stare at him in disbelief...Categorized as:
slow burn young adult contemporary from hate to love sassy heroine humor soccer length-short -
Boys Over Flowers: Hana Yori Dango, Vol. 1 by Yoko Kamio, 神尾葉子
This classic shojo is featured in a 51-episode anime series. When her only friend, Makiko, accidentally offends F4 leader Tsukasa, Tsukushi boldly defends her. Enraged, Tsukasa puts the dreaded red tag in Tsukushi's locker — a sign that she is now a target for the abuse of the F4 gang and the entire school...Categorized as:
slow burn young adult love triangle other-man-woman length-short contemporary m-f from hate to love -
Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum
Everything about Jessie is wrong. At least, that’s what it feels like during her first week of junior year at her new ultra-intimidating prep school in Los Angeles. Just when she’s thinking about hightailing it back to Chicago, she gets an email from a person calling themselves Somebody/Nobody (SN for short), offering to help her navigate the wilds of Wood Valley High School...Categorized as:
slow burn contemporary young adult mystery love triangle humor high-school class difference
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