Books like '45 and Holding'
Readers who enjoyed 45 and Holding by Jacki James & Jill Wexler also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
gay romance sports friends to lovers mature couple bisexual queer queer-awakening daddy-kink
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Sated in Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsThe Montgomery Ink saga continues in a seductive romance where a runaway bride and two best friends might just take the chance of a lifetime. Ethan Montgomery thought he had his life figured out until the moment he and his best friend met a woman in a wedding dress drinking wine out of a paper bag. He might work too many hours and always seems to put his family and friends first... -
![Strike a Chord by K.M. Neuhold]()
Strike a Chord by K.M. Neuhold
“You want to fake date me?” Music is my life, my band is my heart and soul, and it’s all falling apart before my eyes. A plan hatched from desperation as we both watch our careers burn down around us. Dating my best friend’s twin brother, Paris, who just so happens to be a gay icon at the moment seems like the perfect plan... -
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![Silent Knight by Beth Bolden]()
Silent Knight by Beth Bolden
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsJeremiah—or Jem, as his friends like to call him—Knight is stuck at a crossroads. Injured and unsure if he’ll be spending another season on the football field, he returns home for the holidays, hoping to lick his wounds in private. Only to be roped into being the mascot and grand marshal of the annual Christmas Falls festival and parade... -
![Golden Boy and the Two Bears by Nash Summers]()
Golden Boy and the Two Bears by Nash Summers
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsAsher 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... -
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![Extended Stay by Mia Monroe]()
Extended Stay by Mia Monroe
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsI’ve never been interested in a man before. So why do I want to kiss this one?Promising my sick uncle I’d help fix his rundown hotel in San Diego was just the beginning of my problems. I plan to do what I can, convince him to sell, and then take off, returning to my calm and structured existence back east. I double down on that plan when I arrive to find it in worse shape than I expected... -
![Free Me by Mia Monroe]()
Free Me by Mia Monroe
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsOnly his ropes can unravel the past. I never thought I’d see him again, but when my former best friend shows up ready to make amends, it becomes clear just how tied to the past I am. He disappeared when I needed him the most, leaving me to navigate my truth alone. Now he’s back.Nixon’s art leaves me vulnerable, defenseless, and I like it... -
![Exploring Daddy by Mia Monroe]()
Exploring Daddy by Mia Monroe
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsI’ve never had a Daddy. Can he teach me how to be the perfect boy?I have three problems.No jobNo direction No clue what I’m doing next.Following my best friend to LA is the only thing that makes sense. I’ll start a new life, figure out a career, and learn how to be an adult. Meeting Matteo is intimidating but exciting. I know he wants a boy. I also know I’m far from what he’s looking for... -
![Fancy Free by Mia Monroe]()
Fancy Free by Mia Monroe
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe 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... -
![Skating to Him by Christie Gordon]()
Skating to Him by Christie Gordon
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI’m skating to the NHL while he’s running from his past. When we collide, am I brave enough to take the shot?TylerHockey is my life. My ticket to the NHL is in sight, and I can’t afford distractions.Then Coach pairs me with Rowan, the new guy from Boston.He’s talented, sharp, and annoyingly irresistible.When he asks to hit the gay bar with me and my friends, I chalk it up to curiosity... -
![Definitely Deacon by Vawn Cassidy]()
Definitely Deacon by Vawn Cassidy
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsJesse 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... -
![When Stars Align by Denver Shaw]()
When Stars Align by Denver Shaw
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsScarred by the past. Terrified to love again. SavionOnce upon a time, my life was a fairytale. Engaged to a beautiful woman, we were planning our perfect future. Then, the sick act of an obsessed man ruined everything. Alone, disfigured, and betrayed, I fled to LA to focus on my work as a paleontologist.It was there I met Declan... -
![Fake Boyfriend Breakaways by Eden Finley]()
Fake Boyfriend Breakaways by Eden Finley
Breakaways is a collection of short stories from Eden Finley’s Fake Boyfriend universe. They all feature side characters from the series but do not contain fake boyfriend tropes. Rebound (Fake Boyfriend 2.5) Aron and Wyatt have been best friends since college and are both rebounding from bad break-ups...Categorized as:
friends to lovers sports queer queer-awakening m-m contemporary age difference explicit-open-door -
![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... -
![How To Save A Life by Andria Large, Jena Brignola]()
How To Save A Life by Andria Large, Jena Brignola
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsHow do you save someone’s life? There’s the obvious way of physically saving them from a tragic end. Then there’s the more subtle way of saving someone who doesn’t know they need to be saved. Someone who is drowning emotionally and has no idea that they are slowly dying. Ezra Whitmore is one of those people...Categorized as:
bisexual friends to lovers queer queer-awakening m-m contemporary single-father length-short -
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![Summer Secret by Raleigh Ruebins]()
Summer Secret by Raleigh Ruebins
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsWe’re still just best friends. …Even though we’re sharing a bed. Owen: Is it weird to want to sleep with your best friend? Max has always been there for me. He’s rescued me when I partied too hard and saved me from bad situations more times than I can count. And it’s never mattered that he was gay and I was straight... -
![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... -
![Better Together: A Roommates to Lovers MM Romance by Quinn Ward]()
Better Together: A Roommates to Lovers MM Romance by Quinn Ward
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsZach’s spent three years trying to ignore how he felt about his roommate. Now, the new guy in the suite is going to make him face his fears…Hiding his sexuality has alienated Zach from most of his roommates. They don’t understand what it’s like trying to live up to his father’s image of what a good son should be. When a new suitemate moves in, denying the truth becomes impossible... -
![Playing the Player by Beth Bolden]()
Playing the Player by Beth Bolden
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsCenter 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... -
![You've Got Male by DJ Jamison]()
You've Got Male by DJ Jamison
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMy friends are all about the romance. Me? I've got other things to worry about.Carrying on my uncle's little record store--his legacy--means everything to me. Too bad a big audio store promising to be the one-stop shop for music is opening across the street. The owner, Chase Fox, is too friendly, too smooth--too annoying... -
![The Jock by E.M. Denning]()
The Jock by E.M. Denning
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsColby Bennett is straight.At twenty-five, he’s the middle of three boys raised by a single father. He’s always been a jock, so managing a gym feels like his calling. If only being a big brother were as easy. When Colby stumbles on his younger brother trying on feminine clothing, Taylor is angry and embarrassed... -
![Dare to be Different by Nordika Night]()
Dare to be Different by Nordika Night
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsZahnLove? It's not that I don't believe in it, it's just that I've never been interested in finding it. Who wants to settle down with one person when variety is the spice of life? My tastes aren't exactly singular, and I haven't met anyone who has captured my attention long enough to stick around for.Or... have I?RemyI thought I knew everything about Zahn. He's been my best friend forever...Categorized as:
friends to lovers queer-awakening queer bisexual sports found-family siblings-bff m-m -
![War Torn by Andria Large]()
War Torn by Andria Large
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsMy 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... -
![Betting Brett by Joy Danvers]()
Betting Brett by Joy Danvers
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsBrett is seriously clueless. He’s a great friend and a great father to his little girl, but how could he not realize after all this time that I’m gay? And I’m in love with him? I know I’ve never said anything, but I feel like I’m pretty obvious.Now I messed up and made a tipsy bet with him about a blow job that I really don’t want to take back. I’m not sure if it was a mistake though... -
![Break Down by Rebecca Norinne]()
Break Down by Rebecca Norinne
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsHis 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... -
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![Beautifully Wrecked by Charity Parkerson]()
Beautifully Wrecked by Charity Parkerson
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsJohnny sees himself as straight. Wrecker disagrees. Their friendship is about to get an upgrade.When Johnny moved to L.A. to start a singing career, he never expected to end up working instead as security for one of the world’s most renowned musicians. It’s not so bad. After all, his job led to him meeting his best friend, Wrecker. That’s one relationship he wouldn’t trade for the world... -
![Alex by S.M. Shade]()
Alex by S.M. Shade
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsNinety- 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... -
![Broken Ice, Mended Hearts by Ryan Taylor, Joshua Harwood]()
Broken Ice, Mended Hearts by Ryan Taylor, Joshua Harwood
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsPIERRE (“GAGS”)My life is complicated.Hell, I’m complicated.I don’t know a life beyond how I’m perceived. After a devastating divorce, it looked like I never would.Can a hockey fight change your life?I may not understand my attraction to Sven Holmer, but I can tell you my obsession with kissing him started in the middle of a fight... -
![Tangled Up In You by Jaclyn Osborn]()
Tangled Up In You by Jaclyn Osborn
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsBecoming 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 ratingsNo 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... -
![Hot Doggin' by Raquel Riley]()
Hot Doggin' by Raquel Riley
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsHot Doggin' is the first book in the Bitches With Stitches Series. This is a connected work of the Scars and Stripes series. Hot Doggin' is a friends-to-lovers double bi-awakening story about Stiles and McCormick, two lovable and clueless veterans who belong to a trauma support group of badass men who knit... -
![Mud & Lace by Jay Northcote]()
Mud & Lace by Jay Northcote
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWhen Wicksy falls for drag queen Charlie, they discover that both sexuality and gender can be fluid. Simon Wicks—Wicksy to his rugby teammates—has only ever been interested in women. But when he sets eyes on Lady Gogo, a drag queen who performs at Rainbow Place, he can’t stop thinking about her... -
![Love Song by Christina Lee]()
Love Song by Christina Lee
Thirtysomething bandmates, Nolan Metcalf and Ellis Bloom, have been there for each other through thick and thin. So when a life-changing event sends Ellis to the safety of Nolan’s apartment, he’s grateful for the comfort his best friend provides. They’ve never done anything resembling cuddling and sleepovers before, but Ellis finds he needs it just the same...Categorized as:
queer bisexual friends to lovers queer-awakening m-m contemporary hurt-comfort explicit-open-door -
![Adam's Song by Spencer Spears]()
Adam's Song by Spencer Spears
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsThey say it’s a bad idea to fall for your best friend. But since when do I say no to bad ideas? Adam: It’s not like I wanted to fall in love with Ben. When we first met in college, I thought he’d be like every other hot jock who’d made my life hell in high school. It's not my fault he turned out to be sweet, funny, and insanely talented... -
![Dressed in Desire by Quinn Ward]()
Dressed in Desire by Quinn Ward
He left home to find acceptance. When he falls for a supposedly straight bouncer, can he awaken the man who's everything he needs?Living in the shadows has always been easier for Maverick. One trip to Annandale was all it took for him to see what life could be like if he let both sides of his personality shine...Categorized as:
queer queer-awakening daddy-kink m-m length-medium age difference explicit-open-door -
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![Delayed Game by Baylin Crow]()
Delayed Game by Baylin Crow
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsMemphis: Tristan thinks I don't notice him. He couldn't be more wrong. What he doesn't realize is that we've met before.The second I spotted him on campus I made the decision to avoid him. Though I told myself it was the right thing to do because of our history, it was more difficult than I'd anticipated... -
![I’m His First, He’s My Forever by Romeo Alexander]()
I’m His First, He’s My Forever by Romeo Alexander
Rated: 3.90 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsTwo best friends, one straight, one gay, fight their own emotional storm in the middle of a raging hurricane.Who will win, heart or hurricane?Ethan: Being in love with my straight best friend? Not the greatest idea. But hey, I’ve kept it a secret from him all these years. Well, until hurricane Ada decided to visit our quiet town... -
![If I Could: An M/M Romance by B. Celeste]()
If I Could: An M/M Romance by B. Celeste
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsI never considered myself a selfish man until I met Lawrence “Ren” McKinley.When pro baseball’s “would have been” becomes Exeter High’s newest coach, it takes one look of those flirty brown eyes and cocky smile before everything changes.I thought I knew exactly what I wanted out of life until he walked into it... -
![We Could Do This Forever by Emerson Beckett]()
We Could Do This Forever by Emerson Beckett
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsPreston James did things to me. Things that had me wanting more of him and his dirty mouth, even though I knew I better. Things that made my heart race. Things that made me come to realize there was more to my boss’s best friend than met the eye.Nick ReedAs one of the bartenders at Alejandro’s Bar, I’ve seen it all... -
![The Last Summer by Ruthie Luhnow]()
The Last Summer by Ruthie Luhnow
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 7 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... -
![Tell Me Lies by Hinsel Meyer]()
Tell Me Lies by Hinsel Meyer
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsDrewA 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 ratingsIt’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 ratingsChadHonestly, 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...Categorized as:
friends to lovers queer queer-awakening m-m contemporary single-father length-medium -
![Beautiful Boy by Skyler Snow]()
Beautiful Boy by Skyler Snow
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsBeautiful. Sweet. Bratty. Aaron is a boy worth saving.Red had no idea what he was getting himself into when his boss, Diego, assigned him to watch the much younger Aaron. Keep him safe, keep him out of trouble. Those were his orders. It was supposed to be easy, but Aaron is as wild as he is beautiful. And Red finds himself protecting Aaron for more reasons than a paycheck... -
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![Hard Count: by Emerson Beckett]()
Hard Count: by Emerson Beckett
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe first time I met Hudson Gatlin, the governor was a hot mess. The last thing the widowed, straight, single father needed was a public relationship with a man. He wasn't going to win re-election with the tight end of the Storm on his arm. Can we keep this new relationship under wraps, or will I need to pull him offside with a hard count?... -
![Keeper by Mackenzie Gray, M.A. Gray]()
Keeper by Mackenzie Gray, M.A. Gray
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsIt's been four years since I've seen Logan McGregor. The one guy I could never get over. Former teammate and (unfortunately) very straight best friend. This summer was supposed to be unforgettable. Six weeks in Paris. A prestigious soccer institute. But when I find out he'll be in Paris too, it doesn't take long for those unrequited feelings to come rushing back... -
![Kai's Healing Smiles by Vivi Anne Hunt]()
Kai's Healing Smiles by Vivi Anne Hunt
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsSilas is mourning the loss of his wife. Every day, he is going through the motions and barely managing to keep the excruciating pain from overtaking his life. There is precisely one ray of sunshine in his days — Kai — the smiley, awkward barista at Starbucks. For some reason, Silas finds comfort being around Kai and soaks up as much light as this sweet boy could give him...Categorized as:
bisexual friends to lovers queer queer-awakening daddy-kink m-m age difference hurt-comfort -
![It's a Setup by Youcouldmakealife]()
It's a Setup by Youcouldmakealife
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 5 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... -
![Heat Transfer by Katherine McIntyre]()
Heat Transfer by Katherine McIntyre
Rated: 4.05 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsCor’s crush on the straight boy in sword fighting class has been unrequited, but with one crossed sword, that’s all about to change…CorFrom the second I showed up for sword fighting class, Felix grabbed my attention. Yet not only was he straight, but he also had a girlfriend. However, the more we hang, the more I can’t help but hang on his every word, every look...Categorized as:
friends to lovers sports queer queer-awakening bisexual contemporary height-difference m-m -
![Boys of Summer by A.E. Wasp]()
Boys of Summer by A.E. Wasp
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsTeammates, 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...
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