Books like 'The Right Time'

Readers who enjoyed The Right Time by Lane Hayes also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.

contemporary  gay romance  multicultural  athletes  friends to lovers  sports  queer  queer-awakening

  • Red Lined by Crea Reitan

    Red Lined by Crea Reitan

    Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars
    · 7 ratings
    Maybe you can order love online… Julian I’ve spent a short lifetime learning that what people say they want is rarely what they actually want. What I hope for is a relationship where both of us feel comfortable together. I think I finally find what I’m looking for in a mail order bride. Then he shows up...
  • Golden Boy and the Two Bears by Nash Summers

    Golden Boy and the Two Bears by Nash Summers

    Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    Asher Williams is obsessed with love. His column is thriving, fellow students trust him with their relationship woes, and he’s on his A-game when it comes to matchmaking. At least, matchmaking other than his own. After a heartfelt letter written to his column, Asher is set on aiding the two love-struck heroes who desperately need his help...
  • Sponsored links
  • Fancy Free by Mia Monroe

    Fancy Free by Mia Monroe

    Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    The last thing I need is a curious straight guy sniffing around me. So why is he so hard to resist?My life is everything I ever wanted - by design. Being one of the nation’s most sought after wedding planners has led to a life of traveling to glamorous locations, bumping elbows with the rich and famous, and sampling every handsome hunk the world has to offer...
  • Definitely Deacon by Vawn Cassidy

    Definitely Deacon by Vawn Cassidy

    Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars
    · 7 ratings
    Jesse Ainsley’s life running his busy veterinary practice in the sleepy Cornwall bay he grew up in leaves no time for a serious relationship… at least, that’s what he tells himself, but the simple truth is much more cliché...
  • Third Time Lucky by R.G. Alexander

    Third Time Lucky by R.G. Alexander

    Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    From Author New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author R.G. Alexander, Book 3 in the Finn's Pub Romance series! Ever had a thing for the man next door? My sexy new neighbor is confusing the hell out of me. Elliot Ransom is a baseball player and a single dad, but he doesn’t know his butter beer from a snozzberry...
  • Delicious by Sierra Riley

    Delicious by Sierra Riley

    Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars
    · 17 ratings
    “You’re exactly what I never knew I needed.” “I don’t have time for love.” Gavin Campbell has poured everything he has into starting up his bakery, Delicious...
  • Enforce by Charity Parkerson

    Enforce by Charity Parkerson

    Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars
    · 9 ratings
    They were supposed to be a one-night stand, and then a weekend fling… a just-for-this-season affair… soulmates. When Chip met Jai during All-Stars weekend, their hookup should’ve ended there. At the time, it was no big deal. As the assistant coach for the Phoenix Ice Rays, Chip can’t be in a relationship with a player from his team. Lucky for him, Jai plays for the Red Zones...
  • Color Blind: An MM Romance by Andrew Grey

    Color Blind: An MM Romance by Andrew Grey

    Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars
    · 9 ratings
    Setting out on your own is tough, but for Mason Fullerton, who was born blind, it’s even more of a challenge. Mase decides that the key to independence and a life of his own is getting a job. His mother, who has always been there for support, isn’t so sure, but Mase is determined. He manages to secure an interview, and one of the men conducting it has a voice that wraps around him like a blanket...
  • Definitely Not Meant to Be by A.W. Scott

    Definitely Not Meant to Be by A.W. Scott

    Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars
    · 9 ratings
    “How long have you been in love with your best friend?” Godric I accepted long ago that I couldn’t have all of the things I wanted in life. Growing up in the way I did, I would be a fool to get my hopes up. But even with that knowledge, I couldn’t resist. I was helpless not to fall into the orbit that was my best friend...
  • Playing the Player by Beth Bolden

    Playing the Player by Beth Bolden

    Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    Center Logan Banks didn’t come to Miami looking for a best friend.He came for football and for a chance at freedom—the freedom to live out of the closet.But after a water main break, he lands an unexpected roommate, the new Piranhas kicker, Dylan Leonard. Between practices, games, and too many late nights on the couch, a best friend is exactly what he gets...
  • Offside Chance by Mercy Celeste

    Offside Chance by Mercy Celeste

    Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars
    · 25 ratings
    Judah Brody meets William Slater and it's loathe at first sight. Jude had spent his whole life in his famous brother’s shadow. Returning to New Orleans seemed like a good idea now that Levi was back home. But Jude couldn’t turn around without something of Levi’s getting in his way...
  • Sweet Spot by Sloan Johnson, Quinn Ward

    Sweet Spot by Sloan Johnson, Quinn Ward

    Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars
    · 13 ratings
    Four years ago, he gave his heart to a rookie pitcher and struck out. Now, they have a second chance to get things right.No longer living on the streets and surrounded by men who supported him, Cody Marshall’s life was finally looking up. He hadn’t expected to hook up with anyone on his first spring training trip, but there was something about Nick Stone that called to him...
  • War Torn by Andria Large

    War Torn by Andria Large

    Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    My life has been completely turned around with the help of my boyfriend and best friend, Tucker. My depression is under control. I’m not having nightmares or flashbacks anymore. My sister is having a baby. Life with Tucker is great… Or is it? Everything seems to be going so well, almost too well...
  • It's a Setup by Youcouldmakealife

    It's a Setup by Youcouldmakealife

    Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    “Don’t remember there being a rule that only women could bid,” Scratch says. “Maybe you’ll meet a nice boy.” “Oh, fuck off, Scratch,” Joey says when he waggles his eyebrows...
  • Messy Love by Riley Hart

    Messy Love by Riley Hart

    Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars
    · 13 ratings
    DannyI'm not a guy who's looking for a serious relationship. I love the chase, and the one time I thought I wanted more, the guy bailed. When my buddy Will mentions his recently out, older brother is looking for a place to stay, I offer the spare room in my apartment. It's clear Jonathan's past did a number on him, and he's locked up tight...
  • Break Down by Rebecca Norinne

    Break Down by Rebecca Norinne

    Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars
    · 5 ratings
    His heart says no, but his body says yes Liam Donnelly's honed, athletic body craves something he can't have. Not when the last time ended in disaster. Now, the Dublin Rugby player is seeking redemption with a new team in Edinburgh. His fresh start is going strong, but one look at Chef Lachlan MacLeod's inked forearms and whiskey-colored eyes and he's tempted by far more than what's on the menu...
  • Alex by S.M. Shade

    Alex by S.M. Shade

    Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars
    · 13 ratings
    Ninety- two days. Thirteen weeks. That’s how long it’s been since I lost my love, my best friend. It’s been everything I can do to drag myself out of bed and get back to work, but I know Cooper would want me to move on. I think he’d even be happy if he knew who I want to move on with. The target of my affection, though, may not be so thrilled about my choice. He’s straight. Or he thinks he is...
  • Tangled Up In You by Jaclyn Osborn

    Tangled Up In You by Jaclyn Osborn

    Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars
    · 11 ratings
    Becoming best friends at an early age, Corbin and Hunter were inseparable. Where one went, the other followed. As years passed, their friendship blossomed into something more and both boys fell madly in love. Corbin loved Hunter’s quirkiness and obsession with Shakespeare, and Hunter loved Corbin’s goofy personality and kind heart...
  • Change Up: An Out For You Gay Sports Romance by Quinn Ward

    Change Up: An Out For You Gay Sports Romance by Quinn Ward

    Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars
    · 11 ratings
    No one expected the loudmouth of the team to be hiding in the biggest closet of them all. When he’s paired with someone who just wants to keep his head down and play the game, sparks are going to fly.Kevin Green has always been the life of the party. He’s the one everyone turns to for a bit of comic relief...
  • Change Up by Sloan Johnson

    Change Up by Sloan Johnson

    Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    Kevin Green has always been the life of the party. He’s the one everyone turns to for a bit of comic relief. With so many of his teammates coming out of the closet and living healthy lives, it’s getting harder for him to keep the secret only one other person knows: that he’s not as straight as everyone assumes when they see him out with his hot girlfriend...
  • Retaking the Shot by Kimberly Knight, Rachel Lyn Adams

    Retaking the Shot by Kimberly Knight, Rachel Lyn Adams

    Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    “Ford, stay with me.”Those were the last four words Ford Mahoney heard Emmett Cooper utter before everything went dark. When Ford wakes up in the hospital, it doesn’t take long for him to realize he needs to confront the demons of his past. Meanwhile, the event of that night leaves Coop envisioning a better future for himself.As they both try to find their way, they can’t deny the bond they share...
  • Shadow and Light by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey

    Shadow and Light by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey

    Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars
    · 11 ratings
    Is it easier to fall into the shadows than hold onto the light? Injured in a horrific car accident by a man who made him feel like nothing, Henry was left with life threatening injuries, crippling self doubt, and his career as a hockey player destroyed...
  • Clip by Charity Parkerson

    Clip by Charity Parkerson

    Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars
    · 9 ratings
    Luka was nothing more than a job to Brady… until he wasn’t. When the owner of the Phoenix Ice Rays starts receiving death threats, the first thing he does is hire Brady to protect his son, Luka. It’s a move that leaves Luka less than thrilled. Ever since moving out on his own six years earlier, he’s come to embrace the silence of his workaholic ways...
  • Sweet Spot by Sloan Johnson

    Sweet Spot by Sloan Johnson

    Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    Four years ago, it took no time at all for Cody Marshall to fall for the rookie pitcher at spring training. While their lives were nothing alike, Cody understood Nick Stone’s insecurities and pain. And then… Nick left. Eventually, Cody found his own passion and landed a dream internship with the Mavericks. His life was finally turning around. And then… Nick came back...
    Categorized as:
    athletes  sports  queer  m-m  contemporary
  • Knowing Me, Knowing You by Renae Kaye

    Knowing Me, Knowing You by Renae Kaye

    Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    Loving You: Book Four Can friends turned occasional lovers move beyond past mistakes and wrong assumptions to build something that can last? Quiet bookworm Shane has a big secret—one he’s kept for fifteen years. AFL superstar Ambrose Jakoby grew up next door to Shane. They were close friends, and Shane supported Ambrose through school. One night, everything changed...
  • Pole Position by Charlie Novak

    Pole Position by Charlie Novak

    Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars
    · 7 ratings
    Pole position gives a driver the best chance at winning, but can there be a winner when a long-term relationship is on the line? Mateo Llorente was born to be Formula 1 World Champion. Charming, handsome, and incredibly talented, Mateo is everything a champion should be...
  • Tell Me Lies by Hinsel Meyer

    Tell Me Lies by Hinsel Meyer

    Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars
    · 7 ratings
    DrewA wedding planner moves to Las Vegas to start a new business…Does that sound like the start of a bad joke? Well it’s my life...
  • Two Weeks and a Day by R.G. Alexander

    Two Weeks and a Day by R.G. Alexander

    Rated: 4.04 of 5 stars
    · 14 ratings
    It’s either the beginning of a great porno or a disaster waiting to happen. That feeling when you’re a thirty-year-old gay virgin with a little OCD, nosy neighbors and a lot of awkward, secret fantasies revolving around your straight best friend? Yeah, that’s me right now...
  • Riptide by Ruthie Luhnow

    Riptide by Ruthie Luhnow

    Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    "The weirdest part about kissing my best friend is that it isn't weird at all." Drew Riordan is excellent at compartmentalization. It's the only way he's managed to survive three years at Bellamy university—and on the crew team—and how he's made peace with staying in the closet for the foreseeable future...
  • Strawberries and Thunderstorms by L. Luther

    Strawberries and Thunderstorms by L. Luther

    Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    ChadHonestly, I never would have come back to this shithole if Pop hadn’t made it clear I wouldn’t get a dime otherwise. And it really isn’t about the money for me. No, I know it’s all about that little girl he adopted and her need for a proper home...
  • Whiskey Throttle by Riley Hart

    Whiskey Throttle by Riley Hart

    Rated: 4.01 of 5 stars
    · 19 ratings
    Lincoln I’ve done a good job getting over my past. I’m not only proud of who I am, but revel in it. Still, I don’t let myself get too close to people. With closeness comes questions and those pesky feelings, and I’m having none of that. I’ve got a great job, friends, I’m cute and twinky, and my bed’s never empty. What more do I need? Except I can’t stop sleeping with Rush Alexander...
  • Don't Fall In Love With Me by Aiden Wilde

    Don't Fall In Love With Me by Aiden Wilde

    Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars
    · 5 ratings
    EDDIE Everyone knew Max was a bad boy, but everyone fell for him all the same.When I returned back home to live, he said we should hang out a bit.And that's what we did, except we started to hang out a lot.Because now I was falling for Max, too. MAX No one has ever understood me like Eddie. I was so stoked when I heard he was coming back...
  • Poolside by Taylor E. Weston

    Poolside by Taylor E. Weston

    Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars
    · Steam rating: 4 of 5
    Explicit open door [?] · 5 ratings
    Divorce left Tommy Littleton shaken. He thought he’d checked all the boxes in his marriage, but none of it mattered when “love” was left out. With nothing else to show for his life, Tommy will stop at nothing to get a promotion–even if it means participating in an open-water swim to impress his boss. Unfortunately, he looks like a drowning raccoon in the water...
  • Boys of Summer by A.E. Wasp

    Boys of Summer by A.E. Wasp

    Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    Teammates, roommates, friends with benefits. What could go wrong? Boys of Summer is a book about finding the perfect person to ride shotgun with on the crazy road trip called life. It contains a Dolly Parton lookalike, an unfortunate deer versus car incident, and poorly-timed epiphanies. Everybody leaves. That was the first lesson Thunder goalie James McVicker ever learned...
  • The Game Changer by Kay Simone

    The Game Changer by Kay Simone

    Rated: 4.01 of 5 stars
    · 14 ratings
    A straight quarterback. A gay physical therapist. Love is out of bounds… Right? Malcolm Rodgers loses everything in one week. The quarterback is benched with an injury the same week his fiancée breaks off their engagement...
  • Checked Out by Sean Ashcroft

    Checked Out by Sean Ashcroft

    Rated: 4.02 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    Librarian Charlie Jules really needs to stop falling for straight guys. Every man he’s been attracted to over the past year has turned out to be straight—including Scott, a cute new library patron who comes complete with an adorable puppy. Charlie was almost ready to give up on ever finding love in Hope Springs, but when Scott kisses him… ..
  • The Cook by Sasha Avice

    The Cook by Sasha Avice

    Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars
    · 5 ratings
    Tim had three rules:Never compromise the quality of the cook. It might be meth, but it was still his name on the product: The Cook.Never use his own gear. Not even to be sure it’s good. Use the tester.And never let Jake—his straight best friend and roommate—find out he’s in love with him and has been since high school.Tim liked his rules. They gave him a feeling of structure and order...
  • Always You by K.M. Neuhold

    Always You by K.M. Neuhold

    Rated: 3.95 of 5 stars
    · Steam rating: 4 of 5
    Explicit open door [?] · 11 ratings
    A long weekend at my parents’ lake house to celebrate the end of the school year has been a tradition for my friends and me since we were sixteen. But this year it isn’t just any school year ending, it’s our college graduation, and I’ve decided there’s no time like the present to finally tell my best friends the truth I’ve kept from them for years...
  • Curve Ball by Sloan Johnson, Quinn Ward

    Curve Ball by Sloan Johnson, Quinn Ward

    Rated: 3.97 of 5 stars
    · 17 ratings
    The last man he loved without anyone knowing he existed. Now, there’s a younger man tempting him to give life a second chance.Jason Klein’s living with the fallout from a decision he swore was right at the time. He couldn't tell anyone he was in love, which left him to mourn alone when he found out the man he gave his heart to had been killed in combat...
  • Awake and Alive by Garrett Leigh

    Awake and Alive by Garrett Leigh

    Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    A Missing Moment from Only LoveAfter a successful surgery relieves Jed of the illness that nearly killed him, he returns home to slowly recover with Max. With time to reconnect, Max shows him a new way to love. Now at a crossroads and facing a new life, Jed must listen to his friends and family to learn how to move forward...
  • Last Defense by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey

    Last Defense by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey

    Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    Two men afraid to feel, have to make choices that could end up breaking down their defenses and leading them back to love. Every time Max Van Hellren steps on the ice he knows it could be his last time. At thirty he’s past his hockey prime but he’s also hiding a life-threatening injury that private doctors warn could kill him...
  • The Last Summer by Ruthie Luhnow

    The Last Summer by Ruthie Luhnow

    Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    "It's not even really a first kiss if you're practicing on a friend." Trapped in a conservative prairie town, Alfie Alder has spent his whole life enduring bullying from his classmates and indifference from his teachers. Only one person has ever seen past Alfie's sarcastic, standoffish exterior—his best friend and the love of his life, Wynn...
  • Nice Guys Finish First by Billie Bloom

    Nice Guys Finish First by Billie Bloom

    Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    Two frat brothers, one hot confession…let the heartbreaking commence!ChaseMy roommate found my spank bank and I’ve seen the way he’s been looking at me ever since.I might be inexperienced and unsure, but I know watching Luca bring a guy back to his room makes my chest ache...
  • Playing With Fate by Ava Thorpe

    Playing With Fate by Ava Thorpe

    Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars
    · 7 ratings
    “My future’s been planned for me for as long as I can remember, but I’ve never felt this alive until I met you.” "I shouldn't want Carter, but I can't get him out of my mind." Luke Bailey doesn't have time for a boyfriend. Between dog-walking, law school applications, and trying to get his music career off the ground, love doesn't stand a chance...
  • André by Jayce Ellis

    André by Jayce Ellis

    Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars
    · 7 ratings
    After a week filled with nonstop work, André Ellison heads to the club to blow off some steam. One night off is the perfect distraction from the project that’s about to make his career—or tank it completely. A few drinks in and he leaves with a smoking-hot stranger for some scorching, burn-the-sheets-up sex...
  • Where Wishes Go by S.A. McAuley

    Where Wishes Go by S.A. McAuley

    Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    Can you have a second chance at a first love? Nick Paine is just starting to return to normal after he told his wife he’s gay and asked for a divorce. Despite a daughter he loves dearly and a job he believes in, part of him is stuck in the past. He’s never forgotten the first love he let fade away fourteen years ago. Adam "Izz" Azzi has settled into a happy rhythm...
  • Indigo Road by R.J. Jones

    Indigo Road by R.J. Jones

    Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    Two best friends take a year off to find themselves… and end up finding each other. Joshua Simpson has just finished four years at Purdue University, but that’s not why he’s buzzing with excitement. Once they’ve said goodbye to their families, Josh and his best friend Alex are taking off to discover America in an old but reliable VW van, planning on not seeing snow for an entire year...
  • Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Amy Jo Cousins

    Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Amy Jo Cousins

    Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    When friends lose the benefits, can the friendship be saved? Love Me Like A Rock With the right art tools, there’s almost nothing Austin can’t make real. Except an official relationship with his best friend, rowing teammate and occasional hookup, Vinnie. Emotional and sexual frustration fuel a spark between Austin and Sean, the nude model in drawing class...
  • White Noise by Ann Grech

    White Noise by Ann Grech

    Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    Everything he didn’t know he wanted, and now couldn’t live without… Paramedic and mountain rescuer Stratford ‘Ford’ Wallace fell hard and fast for pro-snowboarder, Reef Reid. For a ‘straight’ guy, falling in love with a dude was not what he expected, but his explosive attraction to Reef is undeniable. Neither of them have uttered those three little words yet, but Ford knows Reef feels the same...
  • Break Away by Van Barrett

    Break Away by Van Barrett

    Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    Student journalist Lane Matthews is appalled by his latest assignment: write an intimate expose on the University's most popular athlete, River Brame. Lane doesn't know a thing about sports and can't stand muscular meat-heads...
Fantastic book recommendations by romance book lovers for romance book lovers.
Find out more about romance.io.


Get recommendations by genres & tropes

Use the romance book finder to mix and match over 100 content keywords to find the books that match your preferences

romance book finder

Looking for more inspiration? Enter another book title to get more suggestions on what to read next.


Or - use our amazing romance book finder to get recommendations based on your favorite content tropes and themes. Mix and match at will.