Books like 'The Best Thing'
Readers who enjoyed The Best Thing by Mariana Zapata also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary funny secret child second chances slow burn athletes cold heroine single-mother sports strong heroine
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No Easy Dare by Samantha Christy
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsSecret heir. Pompous womanizer. King of lies. And my protector. Hunter McQuaid is definitely a fish out of water. Or maybe a shark out of the tank. He's a cocky, arrogant, playboy. Something he shouldn't be considering he can barely scrape together the rent for his craptastic apartment. After an ill-advised one-nighter with him, I end up pregnant. Which puts me in a precarious position... -
![Without You: Scotch and Sammy duet - book 2 by Emilia Finn]()
Without You: Scotch and Sammy duet - book 2 by Emilia Finn
Rated: 4.54 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsSammy. I left because I thought I was doing the right thing. I was falling on my sword. I thought I was saving everyone a lot of heart ache, and in exchange, I took all that ache on my own. I was supposed to be the hero, but instead I was the villain. He hates me with every fiber of his being…. It’s been thirteen years since we last saw each other. It turns out ghosts can’t be buried... -
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![Dirty Little Midlife (fake) Date by Lilian Monroe]()
Dirty Little Midlife (fake) Date by Lilian Monroe
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 2 ratingsBrooding, grumpy Des has a problem. He needs a date to his family's Thanksgiving reunion for reasons he'd. .. rather not say. Single mother and all-around hot mess Mia has an even bigger issue: She can't afford her rent, and her new landlord Des is a major you-know-what. So, they make a deal. One simple weekend away in exchange for a serious rent reduction... -
![Killing Booth by Lani Lynn Vale]()
Killing Booth by Lani Lynn Vale
Rated: 4.52 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsEvery single thing you want is going to require you to be uncomfortable. Those words had been shared with her by the one man she didn’t think she could take a chance on. She just didn’t know that he was right, or that he was going to be the one making her uncomfortable. Nash Wilder Christopherson was the world’s golden boy. For fifteen years, she watched Nash race from the safety of her phone...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine friends to lovers pregnancy sports from hate to love strong heroine m-f humor -
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![Kiss My Giraffe by Erin Nicholas]()
Kiss My Giraffe by Erin Nicholas
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsEnemies to friends to almost lovers then back to enemies…to lovers. She's got a lot of baggage. .. literally and figuratively. And an entourage. And a freaking giraffe. For real. For a guy who wants to keep things simple, this is anything but. So why can't he stay away? Knox and Fiona's story! Finally! -
![The Legend by Shey Stahl]()
The Legend by Shey Stahl
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsIn a lifestyle of speed, adrenaline and desire, one racer has sacrificed everything for the sport he loved. In turn, he will fight for his name, his family and now his life to be the legend he’s been portrayed to be. You can be everything you set out to be if you want it bad enough. You can be that record breaker you said you’d be. You can be that hero you always thought you would be... -
![Black Flag by Shey Stahl]()
Black Flag by Shey Stahl
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsWhen the taste you thought you never needed becomes a thirst you cannot quench, then what? Jameson Riley, a NASCAR rookie driver, and Sway Reins, his pregnant girlfriend, are put to the test. They have love; they have lust, and a bond that proves to be vital. But do they have what it takes to make it through his lifestyle. When tested, it’s either fight, or give in... -
![The Copper Valley Thrusters Origin Series by Pippa Grant]()
The Copper Valley Thrusters Origin Series by Pippa Grant
A billionaire boss, a terror on the ice with ego to spare, and a hockey-playing prince are here to entertain you with their love stories in this box set introducing the Cooper Valley Thrusters hockey team! 'Mister McHottie' is the hilariously sexy prequel to the Copper Valley Thrusters series, where you'll first meet the twin tank hockey players who inspired the next books...Categorized as:
sports pregnancy insta-love strong heroine from hate to love contemporary humor super rich hero -
![The Fear of Falling by Dana LeCheminant]()
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 second chances slow burn independent heroine sassy heroine strong heroine sunny hero sweet-hero -
![Spoke Too Soon by Dulcie Dameron]()
Spoke Too Soon by Dulcie Dameron
It’s every girl’s dream to move in with the hot guy who ghosted her. .. NOT. I’m about to be homeless at almost twenty-five. Cue the pathetic wah, wah, wah sound effect. And to make matters worse, I’m nowhere near having enough money to fund the clothing line startup I’ve dreamt about for years... -
![Just One Look by Rosalind James]()
Just One Look by Rosalind James
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsLuka Darkovic has some tackling skills. He hadn’t planned on using them to bring down a runaway dog the size of a Shetland pony, though, especially not when his neck is already buggered. At 33, a rugby forward protects his vertebrae. . He’s even less happy when the dog’s incompetent owner turns up in his hospital cubicle the next day with a plan to fix those vertebrae... -
![Katy, My Impact by Danielle Norman]()
Katy, My Impact by Danielle Norman
Rated: 4.37 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsThey always say that two wrongs don’t make a right. .. Well, she was wrong for breaking into a house that didn’t belong to her; even if she and her daughter had nowhere else to go. And, I was wrong for watching her on the surveillance camera as she moved through the house and climbed into bed. So I offered her a job and a home. Her smile…. Her curves…. Wrong has never felt so right... -
![Delayed Call by Toni Aleo]()
Delayed Call by Toni Aleo
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsVaughn Johansson is the Nashville Assassins' star player. He's brash, cocky, and talented. And he isn't afraid to let anyone know it. He lives his life on his own terms, never forming romantic attachments, and only allowing his very closest to see his true, caring self. Brie Soledad has the weight of the world on her shoulders... -
![Loving at 40 by L.B. Dunbar]()
Loving at 40 by L.B. Dunbar
Rated: 4.54 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsSexy silver alpha hero returns to his family’s lakeside cottage where there’s a single mother in his bed and her presence just might be the second chance he needs at love and family. Archer McCaryn has been a mystery to his family. At forty-five, he isn’t certain himself who he is anymore. When he returns to the family’s lakeside cottage, he finds there is someone in his garage apartment... -
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![Knockout by Jessica Prince]()
Knockout by Jessica Prince
It wasn’t fair that the man I hated with a passion was so freaking gorgeous. Things in Layla Fox’s life were going great. She had a fantastic job, amazing friends, and a killer apartment. There was just one tiny glitch in all that perfect. Her upstairs neighbor was the very definition of tall, dark, and handsome . . . and she hated the man with every cell in her body... -
![Never The Bride by Kortney Keisel]()
Never The Bride by Kortney Keisel
No rings. No vows. No ‘til death do us part. As a top divorce attorney who’s built her career—and her walls—on the belief that marriage doesn’t last, Camila swears she’ll never walk down the aisle. After years of watching relationships crumble, she’s made it her personal mission to convince her little sister to avoid getting married at all costs. The problem? Camila’s already married. Secretly... -
![Jerk It by Lani Lynn Vale]()
Jerk It by Lani Lynn Vale
Mavis always assumed that she would be in a hospital with the good drugs when her time came. Not in the middle of the road, with no one around but the damn town mechanic that hated her. But there she was, having a rock star’s baby, with no one to rely on but the one that let it be known around every turn that she was a horrible person...Categorized as:
from hate to love pregnancy single-mother contemporary humor explicit-open-door audiobook -
![TJ: Sins of the Father by Nicole James]()
TJ: Sins of the Father by Nicole James
Rated: 4.55 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsFROM WALL STREET JOURNAL BEST SELLING AUTHOR NICOLE JAMES COMES A ONE-NIGHT STAND, SURPRISE PREGNANCY, MC ROMANCE! TJ—The beautiful tattoo artist told me to leave her alone after what I thought was an amazing night together. Maybe she was just trying to get her bad boy fill... -
![The Last Second Chance by Lucy Score]()
The Last Second Chance by Lucy Score
What would it take to get one last chance? Joey Greer is done having her heart broken. Eight years ago, after a horrific car accident, Jackson Pierce—her high school sweetheart—abandoned her. Abandoned his family. Abandoned the town they'd both grown up in, and fled to Hollywood. He never looked back, and she never forgot him. Or forgave him... -
![Happy Halloween from the Montgomerys by Kristen Proby]()
Happy Halloween from the Montgomerys by Kristen Proby
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsCaleb is spending his first Halloween as a dad! -
![Kiss Me Tonight by Maria Luis]()
Kiss Me Tonight by Maria Luis
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 37 ratingsI had it all. The Super Bowl rings. The hot shot TV gig. Then I got fired. Now I’m living in middle-of-nowhere Maine, playing assistant coach to the woman of my nightmares. Did I mention that she and her son are my new neighbors? If you talk to the locals, they’ll tell you Aspen Levi is the queen of high school football. But if you ask me, my new head coach is a pain in my left nut sac...Categorized as:
sports from hate to love athletes single-mother friends to lovers alpha male m-f office -
![With This Fling by Tara Sivec]()
With This Fling by Tara Sivec
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsLaura Bennett has spent her life taking care of other people and running the Dip and Twist. Happily spending her time being single and carefree, she has no intention of settling down or falling in love. With an ever-growing family, she’s a mother to them all, and she loves every minute of it. But her baby is getting married, and her oldest has her own life changes she’s dealing with... -
![Big, Bossy Problem: An Accidental Baby Romance by Lilian Monroe]()
Big, Bossy Problem: An Accidental Baby Romance by Lilian Monroe
Being a dog walker isn’t as glamorous as you might imagine. Unless, of course, you’re walking a tech billionaire’s German shepherd mix... -
![Mine To Love by Natasha Madison]()
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 -
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![Checking Mr. Wrong by Anne Kemp]()
Checking Mr. Wrong by Anne Kemp
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsI’m sarcasm with a messy bun. He’s a sweetheart with a slapshot. Sparks were one thing—those fireworks, though? Yeah…no one warned me about those. Mabel. Returning to Maple Falls wasn’t part of my five-year plan—or my backup plan. Or any plan, really. But here I am, back in my quirky hometown, dodging my mother’s judgment and trying not to cringe every time someone mentions the viral moment... -
![Blindsided By Fake Love by Abby Greyson]()
Blindsided By Fake Love by Abby Greyson
This is a dual POV, kisses only, sports romance in the Sweet Sports Kisses Series. A jilted bride. A rebound marriage. And a lifetime of secret pining. Beau. My teammates know I’m not the biggest party guy, and Vegas is not my scene. But they wouldn’t take no for an answer...Categorized as:
sports m-f second chances from hate to love sassy heroine sweet-hero athletes contemporary -
![This Is Love by Natasha Madison]()
This Is Love by Natasha Madison
From the best selling series, Something So comes the spin-off series This is. .. Vivienne. Never fall in love. That was my motto, and I was sticking to it. Having my heart broken once was enough, and I never wanted to do it again. He was supposed to be a one-night stand, the only thing I do. One rule shouldn’t be so hard to follow, but then I went back for seconds, then thirds...Categorized as:
sports alpha male friends to lovers m-f sassy heroine independent heroine athletes humor -
![Born to Sin by Rosalind James]()
Born to Sin by Rosalind James
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsBeing sentenced by a woman in a black robe is not a meet-cute. Quinn Jeffries follows the rules. A judge in small-town Sinful, Montana, doesn’t have much room for missteps, and when you spend your childhood training for the Olympics, you don’t have time for anything but discipline anyway. And, see? It’s worked! Her life is just fine... -
![Fore-Ever Yours by Bella Greene]()
Fore-Ever Yours by Bella Greene
A viral photo, a fake relationship, and one big problem. Matthew. All I wanted was a quiet few days. Instead, I get coffee poured on me, a gossip scandal, and a fake girlfriend. My agent insists this PR stunt will boost my career. Fake dating her for a few months? Fine. No problem. Except it’s definitely a problem. The more we fake this, the more I forget it’s not real. Beth... -
![Perfectly Grumpy by Grace Worthington]()
Perfectly Grumpy by Grace Worthington
A grumpy hockey player. A sunshine PR queen. One fake relationship to survive the off-season—and one summer that changes everything. The first rule of hockey PR? Never. Date. A. Player. Which shouldn’t be a problem—Tate Foster is the least dateable guy on the team. Logical. Bookish. Allergic to chaos. He hates attention almost as much as he dislikes me, the team’s PR rep...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine from hate to love sports m-f strong heroine sassy heroine shy-hero sweet-hero -
![When I'm with You by Samantha Brinn]()
When I'm with You by Samantha Brinn
The first time I saw Julie Parker, the gorgeous, brilliant, sharp tongued lawyer knocked the wind right out of me. The second time I saw Julie Parker, our eyes met across a football field. The third time I saw Julie Parker, we had a *moment* and I was certain she was meant to be mine. The fourth time I saw Julie Parker, she was struggling...Categorized as:
sports grumpy sunshine friends to lovers athletes m-f insta-love independent heroine strong heroine -
![Daddy on Duty by Taryn Quinn]()
Daddy on Duty by Taryn Quinn
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsI’ll do anything for the cookie…. I’m used to playing the field. But specialty baker Tabitha caught my attention the first time I tasted her…frosting. Suddenly I’m offering my services in any way I can. Need some furniture moved? Check. Followed by rogue ducks? Check. Weird noises late at night? Check. Except that late night when I’m on patrol and she calls for assistance, we fall into bed...Categorized as:
friends to lovers alpha male pregnancy secret child insta-love contemporary humor men in uniform -
![Text Me Baby One More Time by Teagan Hunter]()
Text Me Baby One More Time by Teagan Hunter
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsA SECOND-CHANCE ROMANTIC COMEDY! I love you , he said. Forever , he said. Turns out, he lied. When he leaves me high and dry after a cross-country move, I push him out of my life as much as I can, which is hard to do when the guy who broke your heart also happens to be the most famous dude in town...Categorized as:
athletes friends to lovers from hate to love sports m-f second chances humor new adult -
![The Crush by Karla Sorensen]()
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:
sports strong heroine friends to lovers athletes independent heroine sassy heroine sunny hero m-f -
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![The Day the Jerk Started Falling by Max Monroe]()
The Day the Jerk Started Falling by Max Monroe
My name is Oliver Arsen, but my mates call me Ollie. I live hard and love harder, and it’s love that usually gets me in the most trouble. According to the greater population, I’m the ultimate jerk. My affection tends to be short-lived—a quality I’ve been assured multiple times by the fairer sex isn’t becoming—and the leaving part of loving and leaving has always come natural...Categorized as:
sports from hate to love m-f grovel second chances grumpy sunshine athletes sunny hero -
![I Think I Might Need You by Christina C. Jones]()
I Think I Might Need You by Christina C. Jones
Joia Love is all about… well, Joia. Her primary interests right now are how creative she can get with her video camera, how much weight she can bench press, and her social media brand. A man doesn’t even factor into her top five. Especially not Theodore Graham, the ex-boyfriend committed to becoming her next boyfriend... -
![She Loves Me by Melissa Foster]()
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 -
![Kissing A Stranger by Lacey Black]()
Kissing A Stranger by Lacey Black
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsDecker. If you ask my family, I’m wasting my life. If you ask me, I’m living it to the fullest. Am I capable of doing more? Absolutely. However, slinging drinks at the resort makes me happy. At least for now. Not that my family would understand. It’s just another night behind the bar, until it isn’t. She’s everything I never knew I wanted wrapped up in one breathtaking package... -
![Pop! by V. Kelly]()
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... -
![Summer Hate by Melissa Ivers]()
Summer Hate by Melissa Ivers
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsHe was the last person I wanted to see on my girls trip, let alone share a room with. Donovan Fitzroy is grumpy. Irritable. Annoyingly perfect. And as handsome as he is uptight. He’s also my best friend’s older brother. My bestie promised me a relaxing week at her family owned resort, but when I got there all I got was an apologetic phone call and a promise that her brother would take care of me... -
![Playboy’s Reward by Gina Azzi]()
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... -
![Hopelessly Romantic by Barbara Freethy]()
Hopelessly Romantic by Barbara Freethy
Welcome to OCEAN SHORES in the sun-soaked paradise of Oceanside, California where the ocean pounds the shore, surfers ride the early morning waves, and the local military base sends roaring jets into the sky...Categorized as:
m-f grumpy sunshine independent heroine strong heroine sunny hero sweet-hero athletes contemporary -
![End Game by Adriana Locke]()
End Game by Adriana Locke
Previously published as Lucky Number Eleven. The headlines don’t lie—two pro football players went head-to-head … over me. My brother warned me. Don’t touch Branch Best. They might be teammates and best friends, but Branch is a heartbreaker. The smirk. The swagger. His playboy reputation is well earned. So obviously, I was drawn to the red flag like a wide receiver to an end zone...Categorized as:
sports pregnancy athletes insta-love friends to lovers strong heroine secret child alpha male -
![Freak Show by Lani Lynn Vale]()
Freak Show by Lani Lynn Vale
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsWelcome to the Circus is a brand-new series that centers around a family that owns a circus, 6 sisters and one brother. This is book 1 featuring Val & Felix.Categorized as:
athletes insta-love sports friends to lovers alpha male strong heroine m-f contemporary -
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![Only One Love by Natasha Madison]()
Only One Love by Natasha Madison
From USA TODAY bestselling author Natasha Madison comes a brand new stand alone sports romance. The seventh installment of the Only One Series. A spin off from the Something So Series and This is Series. Wilson. I was the bad boy on and off the ice. I loved it — owned it. Hockey. Women. Money. Until she came into the picture. Now, all I want to do is be better...Categorized as:
sports insta-love friends to lovers independent heroine strong heroine athletes alpha male m-f -
![Body Check by Maria Luis]()
Body Check by Maria Luis
They call me the Bad*ss of Hockey. The Beast of the Northeast. And I’m not just referring to my stick play on the ice. As Captain for the Boston Blades, I’ve spent years working toward bringing home the Stanley Cup. But when the owners sell us out to Hollywood, suddenly we’re not just playing for thousands of fans, we’re cracking open our lives on a new reality show, Getting Pucked... -
![Red, White, and You by Ash Keller]()
Red, White, and You by Ash Keller
This Fourth of July, I'm declaring my independence from love. Too bad nobody told Phoenix Wood. Gigi Hart has two goals this summer: keep her bakery stocked with red, white, and blue cupcakes, and avoid anything—or anyone—remotely connected to her health-obsessed family and their fitness empire, Hart Health... -
![The Ex Puck Bunny by Ellie Hall]()
The Ex Puck Bunny by Ellie Hall
Life Rule #1: Never date your brother’s best friend, especially if he’s a hockey player. He’ll break your heart. Life Rule #2: Never fall for your brother’s other best friend who’s also a hockey player. I’m a former hockey hype girl, aka a puck bunny. After a big win, I fell for the center who happened to be one of my brother’s best friends...Categorized as:
sports m-f from hate to love single-mother independent heroine sweet-hero athletes humor -
![Jasper by Lulu Moore]()
Jasper by Lulu Moore
As Captain of an NHL team, I'm rich, successful and have women falling at my feet. I thought my life was perfect until a pint sized blonde checked into me one day, knocking my life off course. Wolfie Williams is sass personified. Beautiful, fiery, funny and oh so sexy. With every eye roll she gives me I become more and more wrapped around her finger, making me realise she is my missing piece... -
![A Not So Merry Kiss-mas by Abby Greyson]()
A Not So Merry Kiss-mas by Abby Greyson
Next Door Neighbors. A Blind Match. And a Kiss That Melts the Ice. Mel. My neighbor’s easy on the eyes, but his blaring music and clanging weights keep me awake. Michael Matthews is all charm and good vibes—qualities that drive my sleep-deprived self up a wall; even if his smile does spark an annoying flutter. Mike. Cole’s been raving about Noelle's best friend since they started dating...Categorized as:
m-f grumpy sunshine from hate to love cold heroine independent heroine sweet-hero sunny hero humor
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