Books like 'The Friend Zone'
Readers who enjoyed The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary funny military friends to lovers friends-benefits men in uniform m-f tortured heroine independent heroine sassy heroine
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Ask Me If I Care by Lani Lynn Vale
Ares saw him for the first time at a Kilgore Police Department benefit dinner. She’d gone with her dad as his plus one. Hayes Greer had gone by himself and brooded silently across the same table as her, drinking whiskey and not saying a word. It only took that one time for her to become interested... -
The Lost Letters by Brittney Sahin, Joseph Cannata
Rated: 4.71 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsFrom Joseph Cannata and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Brittney Sahin comes the love story of Jesse and Ella told from a unique perspective in this companion novella to the international bestselling novel The Broken One. Step back into the Falcon Falls Security world and experience it like never before...Categorized as:
military sassy heroine friends to lovers m-f humor tortured hero contemporary length-short -
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Blood Feud by J.D. Nixon
Book 3 in the Little Town series. A seemingly inexplicable and shockingly violent crime in the beautiful rural locale of ‘Little Town’ has devastating personal and professional consequences for its two police officers, Senior Constable Tess Fuller and her partner, Sergeant Finn Maguire. And has Tess really seen the last of the predatory Red Bycraft? -
Any Day Now by Lani Lynn Vale
Amelia loves her good friend, Avery. So much so that she agrees to do the stupidest thing ever. A stranger photo shoot. You know the type. The photographer takes photos of two individuals. Two individuals that, until that day, have never met in their life. The moment she shows up at the photo shoot, she knows that she made a terrible decision... -
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My Bad by Lani Lynn Vale
Hoax knows two things very well. One, he’s not relationship material. Two, the nurse that treats him for erectile dysfunction is the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen, and practically has ‘the marrying type’ stamped on her forehead. Does that stop him from wanting her? No. Unfortunately, he learned a long time ago that Army Delta Force and long-lasting relationships don’t go hand in hand... -
Star by B.B. Easton
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsIn 1999, I met my Prince Charming. He was the tall, tattooed, wickedly handsome bass player for the up-and-coming rock band, Phantom Limb. But, more importantly, he was mine. I knew it the moment he flashed me that shy, dimpled smile. And he knew it too. Hansel "Hans" Oppenheimer wore his heart on one sleeve and scrawled lyrics about me on the other...Categorized as:
new adult angst friends to lovers cheating other-man-woman m-f contemporary rockstars -
Scenes from the Hallway by Penny Reid
You know who I am. I swear too much, I crack too many jokes, and I got a thing for Kat Tanner; a messy thing, a distracting thing, a getting-in-the-way-of-everything thing; a thing that makes being in the same room with the woman torture. Sometimes it's the good kind. Mostly, it's not. What you don't know is how it all started...Categorized as:
new adult sassy heroine men in uniform working class hero friends to lovers m-f humor contemporary -
What Lovers Do by Jewel E. Ann
How did Scottsdale’s sexiest pet store guy get dumped by his wife, forced into shared custody of their dogs, and fall for Dr. Sophie Ryan, the world’s most unavailable bachelorette? What starts out as a disastrous first meeting involving a coffee catastrophe and mistaken flirting, turns into an unconventional friendship. Fake phone sex. Dog park dates. And eighteen holes of golf...Categorized as:
friends to lovers new adult pregnancy angst friends-benefits working class hero sweet-hero m-f -
Stone Cold Kiwi by Rosalind James
Let's inventory, shall we? State of my professional life: Brilliant, if counted in terms of sales of eight Poppy Cantwell children's books starring my often-confused blue hippo, Hazel; the very substantial proceeds from selling my Kiwi Adventures New Zealand glamping business; and any number of glossy magazine articles about my charmed existence...Categorized as:
sassy heroine strong heroine competent heroine sunny hero pregnancy sweet-hero m-f caretaking -
Nobody Knows by Lani Lynn Vale
All he ever wanted was to matter to someone. What he didn’t know was that he did matter to someone. Someone that worried about him every single day that he was gone. Malachi Gabriel Gnocchi was missing for two years. Thanks to a mission gone wrong, not only had he been captured, but his best friend along with his fellow teammates had been taken, too... -
Stay Wild by Kaylee Ryan
What happens when your wandering heart is captured by your friend with benefits? Scarlett. Archer Kincaid is supposed to be all the fun and none of the strings, but the longer I stay in Willow River, the more I feel roots pulling me to settle down. I plan to complete a one-year photography contract with Captured Moments, then move on to travel the world...Categorized as:
friends-benefits insta-love new adult strong heroine angst friends to lovers m-f humor -
Weekend Fling by Claire Kingsley
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsIt’s just a fling. Or is it? Juliet Blake shows up at my bar, dejected after her surprise girls’ weekend goes bad. So I do the usual—mix her a drink and listen to her troubles. I’m a spontaneous guy, so I offer to help—spend the rest of the weekend with her so she’s not alone on her birthday. I don’t expect her to end up in my bed, but when she does, it’s mind-blowing... -
Tangle by Adriana Locke
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsSparks fly between a die-hard romantic and a sexy cynic in this fresh, funny romance from USA Today bestselling author Adriana Locke. That cream-filled, caramel-topped doughnut should have been hers. Still, Haley Raynor can’t deny that the pastry thief with the dreamy blue eyes looks even more delicious...Categorized as:
new adult friends to lovers friends-benefits m-f humor contemporary cheerful heroine audiobook -
Trouble by Adriana Locke
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsShe wants something real. He wants something now. Together they’re trouble in USA Today bestselling author Adriana Locke’s sexy and funny twice-in-a-lifetime love story. With his shameless grin and let’s-play swagger, carpenter Penn Etling leaves women wanting in Dogwood Lane. What do they get? Avery Perry knows: a one-night stand. She’s been there...Categorized as:
new adult friends to lovers independent heroine m-f humor contemporary length-medium audiobook -
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The Wedding Menu by Letizia Lorini
How many weddings does it take to fall in love? One year ago, Amelie had it all. Almost engaged to her high school sweetheart, close to her childhood best friend, and cooking at her dad's restaurant: her life was exactly what she’d ordered. Until Ian, an opinionated wedding-hater, popped up out of nowhere and proved she might like something off menu. ***. One year later, Amelie has lost it all...Categorized as:
new adult friends to lovers m-f other-man-woman sweet-hero competent heroine sunny hero angst -
Fiercely Emma by J. Bengtsson
Emma, older sister of renowned rock star Jake McKallister, has crafted a quiet existence for herself. Fiercely independent, scorned at work, and indifferent to relationships, she’s spent the past decade trying to move on from the crime that shook her family to the core...Categorized as:
new adult m-f independent heroine competent heroine sweet-hero working class hero pregnancy angst -
Happily Evan After by Kat Baxter
She’s scared to fall. He’s ready to catch her. MARLEY. It was one night. No names. No strings. Just the kind of reckless escape I never let myself have—until him. Now he’s standing in my clinic, smiling like he doesn’t remember me. Which is fine. Because Evan Cartwright is too young, too charming,. and way too dangerous to my heart. EVAN. I knew it was her the moment I saw her... -
The Fear of Falling by Dana LeCheminant
What happens in Italy…follows you home. Avery was supposed to be married by now—not stuck working alongside her ex-fiancé, pretending their failed relationship never happened. So when a solo trip to Italy introduces her to a charming stranger with a devastating smile, a no-strings-attached fling feels like the perfect way to remember there’s more to life than work and heartbreak...Categorized as:
m-f competent heroine independent heroine sassy heroine strong heroine sunny hero sweet-hero humor -
Cooper Bailey Is A Cinnamon Roll by Jen Atkinson
I’ve hated Cooper Bailey since high school. So why would a few years, a set of swoon-worthy forearms, and one shiny new law degree change anything? Leah Bradford’s never been a fan of the spotlight—not years ago at her high school prom and definitely not now with the drama her ex-boyfriend is causing. Running her cinnamon roll shop is all she needs, thank you very much...Categorized as:
m-f competent heroine sassy heroine sweet-hero contemporary from hate to love humor audiobook -
Scarlett and the Big Bad Billionaire by Tru Taylor
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 3 ratingsIn my expert opinion, every woman who’s been left at the altar should follow up that singularly humiliating experience by spending a week in paradise with a totally inappropriate—and totally sexy—stranger. Even better if you meet him at the bar of the resort hotel where your destination wedding and honeymoon were supposed to take place...Categorized as:
military new adult friends to lovers m-f contemporary humor super rich hero second chances -
The Moment of Truth by Shari Low
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsThe Moment of Truth…. Laney Cochrane loves her life. With her friends Millie and Tash, she runs a proposal agency, organising the perfect setting for their clients to pop the question. Finding that forever love is something Laney knows all about. Her marriage to Cameron is blissfully content and she has never doubted they’ll live happily ever after. Then Cara Deacon walks into their office... -
Jed Had to Die by Tara Sivec
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 35 ratingsThe happiest day of Payton Lambert's life was the day she graduated high school and watched Bald Knob, Kentucky get smaller and smaller in her rearview mirror. She wanted more for her life than a tiny town where everyone knows your business and you can’t find a decent cup of coffee for at least forty miles...Categorized as:
sassy heroine men in uniform friends to lovers new adult competent heroine sweet-hero m-f humor -
Flipping Love You by Erin Nicholas
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsHe’s the tattooed bad boy her mama warned her about. She’s his hot mess — but mostly hot — next door neighbor. Until a two-night-stand gives them the surprise of a lifetime. .. Jillian Morris is a workaholic who forgets to watch the time. And to eat. And to change her shoes. And to keep even a house-plant alive. And to have any kind of a personal life...Categorized as:
insta-love pregnancy independent heroine working class hero m-f contemporary humor small town -
Stella & Nine by Kennedy B.
Stella is inches away from the title of lonely cat lady. What’s even more tragic is she doesn’t realize she’s lonely until a concussion and a tow truck driver inserts himself into her life. Nine is mean, callous, and short tempered…until he meets a woman who he can’t seem to stay away from. Sugar cookies and synergy seal their fate, creating the perfect recipe for the perfect mismatched pair.Categorized as:
m-f angst caretaking insta-love pregnancy competent heroine independent heroine sassy heroine -
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Sinner by Giulia Lagomarsino
Sinner is the first book in the Reed Security Series. It is preceded by the series For The Love Of A Good Woman and it is recommended that the series be read in order, as characters from the first appear in the second. Cara. I've been broken for six years...Categorized as:
friends to lovers military cheating m-f other-man-woman contemporary suspense bad boys -
Loved Enough by Kelly Elliott
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsEven though they’d never dated, Lily Shaw always just assumed she’d eventually end up with Ben, the boy who’s been her bestie since they were toddlers. So she’s understandably shocked to learn he’s getting married—and having a child with his fiancée. Shocked…but not terribly upset. The truth is, she's been feeling butterflies every time she’s near a particular horse trainer on her parents’ ranch... -
The Last Thing by Bethany Monaco Smith
What do you do when the one night stand you were never supposed to see again shows up at your door as your daughter’s new nanny—and she’s pregnant with your baby? Convince her it’s all fate and you’re meant to be together, of course. From the moment Hallie Baker’s eyes met mine across a New York City bar, she’s owned me...Categorized as:
pregnancy m-f independent heroine sweet-hero working class hero caretaking contemporary humor -
This is Beautiful: Logan & Kayla, #2 by Kennedy Fox
Kayla Sinclair is a saint and real life Angel. She wears her heart on her sleeve and inspires me to be a better person. Rescuing dogs, feeding the homeless, volunteering at the local food pantry are just a few of the ways she gives back to others, although no one has ever been there for her. Falling for her was inevitable, losing her will destroy me... -
Almost a Bride by Jo Watson
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsThat awkward moment you catch your boyfriend in bed with another woman and then mistakenly get arrested #chargesdropped. Annie knows life isn't always fair. Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. Sometimes you get mistaken for a crazed intruder when you come home early and find your boyfriend wearing nipple clamps with a coworker on the night you thought he was going to propose to you...Categorized as:
new adult cheating sassy heroine other-man-woman sweet-hero humor contemporary vengeance -
Mine To Love by Natasha Madison
Presley. After my sisters’ disastrous weddings, I’m never going to get married. I’ll just stay single forever. It doesn’t matter that I’m in love with my brother’s best friend. Or that Bennett and I shouldn’t even be friends with benefits. Until the positive sign tells me I’m pregnant. Bennett. I fell in love with Presley when she was eighteen and asked me for a favor...Categorized as:
sassy heroine friends to lovers strong heroine pregnancy m-f contemporary humor explicit-open-door -
Triplets for The Millionaire by K.C. Crowne
Rated: 4.48 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsHe's a famous artist - reckless and unpredictable. She's a rigid type A doctor who thrives off rules. Except for one teeny tiny rule. .. No fraternizing with the patient. Lola. Patrick walked away from an avalanche lucky to be alive. But his eyesight was left jeopardized. I've trained my entire life for this and I'm the best in the business. But one thing I wasn't prepared for. . -
Illicit – A Sizzling Boxed Set by Calinda B., Sylvie Stewart
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsOver 20 illicit romances with the sexy heroes and strong heroines you crave! Lose yourself in the world of hot hookups, where the stories run from sexy to downright scandalous and the characters will leave you breathless. In these pages, you’ll find tantalizing romance, rekindled flames, and forbidden trysts... -
Charming CEO by Lila Monroe
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratings"He's the bane of my existence. .. and my brother's best friend! " Fall for a new trope-tactic off-limits rom-com book from USA Today bestselling author, Lila Monroe! Flynn McCord is ruggedly charming, impossibly annoying, and… my brother’s best friend. He’s been driving me crazy as long as I can remember - and not even in a sexy, fun ‘oh my god, don’t stop’ kind of way...Categorized as:
angst m-f caretaking friends-benefits friends to lovers insta-love competent heroine sassy heroine -
The Crush by Karla Sorensen
You know that girl from your past that you can’t quite stop thinking about? The one that you pushed away because you had a goal that seemed so much bigger, so much more important than any crush you might have had? That’s Adaline Wilder for me. Nothing came before football. Not in college, and not in my five years in the pros...Categorized as:
strong heroine friends to lovers new adult angst independent heroine sassy heroine sunny hero m-f -
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Master Baker by Pippa Grant
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 45 ratingsThey call me the sugar whisperer. Anything your tongue desires, I can bake it. Scones? Child’s play. Cupcakes? I’ll frost them so good you won’t know what hit you. Donuts? Please. You’re talking to a master baker. But there’s one egg I’ve never been able to crack. My best friend. Correction: My former best friend. She’s the apple in my pie. The whip in my cream. The lemon in my meringue...Categorized as:
friends to lovers military m-f new adult humor contemporary from hate to love dual-pov -
Shameless With Him by Carrie Ann Ryan
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Carrie Ann Ryan completes a sexy contemporary series with an unrequited crush on the bad boy next door. Caleb Carr might have once been ready for commitment, but when the unexpected slams into him with the force of a two-ton truck, he knows he has to run away from anything that might be important... -
When You Least Expect It by Jessica Prince
The last thing Stella Ryan had time for was a man. With her family in trouble and looking to her to fix everything, romance and commitment were the furthest things from her mind. Until she ran into a man with a jawline that could cut granite and arms she wanted to lick like an ice cream cone. A man who made her forget the things that really mattered... -
In Her Jam Jar by Alina Jacobs
Revenge is best served cold, but Weston is smoking hot! Bullies never get what’s coming to them. Instead they lead charmed lives while their victims continue to spiral into an anxious ball of junk food and wine fueled self-care. No just me? Probably because I had to move back to my small home town with only broke and reeking of failure...Categorized as:
m-f cheating sunny hero competent heroine independent heroine tortured heroine contemporary humor -
She Loves Me by Melissa Foster
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsWhat are two besties willing to risk for something more? The New York Times bestselling author of This Is Love has the answer in this fun, sexy, and emotional romance about friendship, family, and giving love a chance. Something is off in Piper Dalton’s life, and she has a feeling it might just be her. All her siblings are blissfully settled with their forever loves...Categorized as:
friends to lovers independent heroine sassy heroine strong heroine m-f humor contemporary audiobook -
Mr. Fixit by Lauren Landish
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsHe's good with more than just his hands. I’ve known Caleb Strong for over a year. We have a special kind of friendship—we make crude comments, double entendres, and tease each other mercilessly. But we’ve never crossed that line. We’re just friends . Until we start working together to renovate my childhood home. Seeing him shirtless working out in the sun is making me want something more...Categorized as:
new adult friends to lovers friends-benefits humor contemporary length-medium audiobook -
Wishing for Champagne Kisses by Brittanee Nicole
Best Friends Don’t Kiss. Ryan Manning has been my best friend since we were kids. He’s my secret keeper. The holder of all my truths and the person I admire most in the world. He’s also a Lumbersnack and the man I’ve secretly pined after for decades. But we don’t talk about that. I’m just here in Lake Tahoe for the next week to play the part of his doting girlfriend...Categorized as:
friends to lovers angst sweet-hero men in uniform sassy heroine competent heroine m-f humor -
Hover by Anne A. Wilson
Kristin Hannah meets Tom Clancy: a thrilling, emotional women’s journey written by a groundbreaking former Navy pilot. Helicopter pilot Lt. Sara Denning joins a Navy battle group with little fanfare—and that’s just the way she likes it. After her brother Ian’s tragic death, her career path seemed obvious: step into his shoes and join the Naval Academy, despite her fear of water...Categorized as:
military strong heroine tortured heroine men in uniform m-f humor contemporary length-medium -
That Secret Crush by Meghan Quinn
USA Today bestselling author Meghan Quinn brings more humor and heart with the third novel of her Getting Lucky series: a story about breaking curses and laying your heart on the line... -
Enforce by M. Malone, Nana Malone
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI am the shadow that haunts the night. I am a hunter, a protector. .. a force for good. .. I am Jonas Castillo. And now that she’s mine, I’m never letting her go. If only she would let me protect her. .. Seeing the fear in her eyes, makes me want to do the one thing I’ve vowed never to do again… kill. But I’ll do anything to protect what’s mine. ** The finale of The FORCE Duet... -
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Honeysuckle Breeze by B.R. Goodwin
Would you rather know what your best friend’s lips feel like against yours but get ghosted immediately after… or never even taste the possibility of forever? What could be worse than inconveniently falling for your long-distance best friend? How ‘bout sharing an unexpected, but magical, Christmas kiss with him, then being ghosted ever after…...Categorized as:
friends to lovers m-f strong heroine competent heroine sunny hero sweet-hero contemporary christian -
Pop! by V. Kelly
A sex contract seemed like a good idea, until she fell in love. When Symone Esquire fails to woo her best friend into taking her virginity, his rejection is the catalyst that inspires her to create a sex contract with a local legend, a man nicknamed “The Cherry Popper”, to take her virginity instead... -
Somebody to Lean On by Jess Mastorakos
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsDo I want to kiss my best friend? Yep. Always have. Too bad it’s not that simple. Jackson Wilson and I are long-distance co-guardians of our friends' daughter, and even though we're best friends and we're totally committed to Phoebe, this isn't a romcom where the best friends get together in the end. Unfortunately . But now, Phoebe and I have nowhere to go but Jackson's tiny Tennessee town... -
The Candidate by Alice Ward
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsLust drove us together. Our differences are driving us apart. As the Republican Party’s front-runner for the White House in 2024, I’m the man the media praises for having a silver tongue. By day, I’m a very conservative, buttoned-up professional. By night, my wild side comes out to prowl, searching for something. I end up in The Black Room. .. and find her... -
Writing Dirty by Alley Ciz
“I’ve always been her shelter in the storm. ”. Hockey players. MMA fighters. Rock stars. The boys in blue. Even sexy SEALs have all offered to slay my dragon—or in my case, my stalker. Why can’t they get it through their thick, stubborn heads that I can take care of myself? I’m no damsel! But. . -
Playboy’s Reward by Gina Azzi
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsIt was supposed to be a favor between neighbors…. When sexy-as-sin Harper Henderson launches profanities into the night sky from the balcony below mine, I intervene. I volunteer to be her date to her ten-year high school reunion. I may be a professional hockey player with a playboy reputation, but I’m also a good guy and I make an exceptional plus-one. Being Harper's fake date is easy...
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