Books like 'Better Than People'
Readers who enjoyed Better Than People by Roan Parrish also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary gay romance hurt-comfort virgin hero sweet-hero shy-hero friends to lovers forced proximity small town caretaking
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Something Wild & Wonderful by Anita Kelly
From the author of Love & Other Disasters comes a sparkling grumpy-meets-sunshine rom-com featuring two men's sweeping journey across the Northwestern wilderness. When Alexei Lebedev finally comes out to his conservative community, it does not go well... -
![Dip Out by Eve Holmes]()
Dip Out by Eve Holmes
A journey through the wilderness can reveal the wild within. Arthur Mercer has spent his life hidden in Newfoundland’s rugged wilderness, where nature’s untamed beauty offers him peace from an overwhelming world. As a renowned wildlife photographer, he finds solace in the quiet, predictable presence of birds and nature, which matches the solitude he craves...Categorized as:
virgin hero queer friends to lovers slow burn neurodivergent sweet-hero shy-hero nerdy-hero -
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![Ranger by K.M. Neuhold, Nora Phoenix]()
Ranger by K.M. Neuhold, Nora Phoenix
I’ve been living under storm clouds since my honorable discharge, but Julian’s the sun. I’ve tried everything to deal with my PTSD from yoga to sunning my butthole, but nothing seemed to help. So when my brother suggests a therapy dog, I figure I don’t have anything to lose. The last thing I expect is for the dog to come with a cheerful, quirky trainer I can’t get out of my head…... -
![Looks Over by Rose Christo]()
Looks Over by Rose Christo
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 18 ratings"There's nothing wrong with trying to get to know my son's boyfriend. ". Skylar knows he's lucky to have an open-minded father. It's not just that Skylar and Rafael are both boys. Between their families exists a dark and turbulent past: Rafael's father was the first serial killer in the history of the Nettlebush Indian Reserve, and Skylar's mother was his last victim... -
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![Touch Within the Abyss by Moyori Mori]()
Touch Within the Abyss by Moyori Mori
Hitman who can’t kill x Blind young man. A salvation that melts loneliness away. The tender, romantic love story of two lonely hearts, masterfully told with amazing artistic talent. The debut work of an incredibly talented newcomer! “When you’ll get to know the real me… you will be disappointed. ”. Chinatsu, a hitman, meets his destiny again. His name is Kasumi...Categorized as:
queer friends to lovers forced proximity sweet-hero shy-hero contemporary m-m historical -
![Sweet as Honey by Lucy Lennox]()
Sweet as Honey by Lucy Lennox
When I rode my bike into Aster Valley, it was supposed to be temporary. A quick, relaxing visit with friends. No entanglements. Zero drama. But then I saw the bumblebee being harassed on the side of the highway. More specifically, I saw Truman Sweet, Aster Valley’s resident botanist, spice merchant, and bee-costume enthusiast, being harassed...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine nerdy-hero queer shy-hero virgin hero sweet-hero small town anal sex -
![Hard Knox by Riley Hart]()
Hard Knox by Riley Hart
Callum. A gay guy walks into a straight bar and notices the hottest man he’s ever seen. Why am I not surprised my life sounds like the beginning of a bad joke? First, my ex cheated on me, and I went running to Havenwood and the mom I have a complicated relationship with. Then, there’s Knox, the gorgeous lumberjack I don’t stand a chance with... -
![Amid Our Lines by Zarah Detand]()
Amid Our Lines by Zarah Detand
Realising your new boss is the adult star you fancied as a teenager? Awkward. In the snow-kissed Swiss Alps, Adrian’s world is a high-wire act of old-world charm and new-world problems at the Gletscherhaus Hotel. Enter Eric, an undercover London songwriter, seeking a mental break in a place where the Wi-Fi is as patchy as his past relationships...Categorized as:
small town forced proximity queer contemporary m-m boss & employee length-medium explicit-open-door -
![Reinventing Cato by Barbara Elsborg]()
Reinventing Cato by Barbara Elsborg
Fate is not always written in the stars…. Being headhunted by NASA might be his ultimate dream, but Cato’s life still sucks. He’s tired of anonymous one-night stands. He’s tired of being lonely. And, frankly, he’s tired of himself. As the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, he realises the only thing to do if he wants to be happy is to reinvent himself...Categorized as:
queer grumpy sunshine caretaking hurt-comfort anal sex nerdy-hero cold hero sweet-hero -
![The Remarkable Lover by Maya Jean]()
The Remarkable Lover by Maya Jean
Jackson. Dreams collapse in the blink of an eye, I know that better than anyone after losing my career as an athlete. Now I spend my days giving people pleasure for pay and playing with stocks. Most of my friends have settled in Clay Springs, Florida. A sleepy little town that moves slower than molasses... -
![Wheels Down by Beth Bolden]()
Wheels Down by Beth Bolden
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsShaw isn’t his friend—until Ross discovers he’s so much more. Ross Stanton is having a bad week—a bad month—really, a bad year . But the last thing he wants, after the betrayal of his friend and business partner, is for anyone else to know just how much he’s fighting for survival...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity hurt-comfort queer m-m contemporary length-medium -
![Winning You by E.M. Lindsey]()
Winning You by E.M. Lindsey
“Quick question: do you think a judge would let me off for murder if I tell him that it was the health inspector who has a vendetta against me? ”. It’s a question Lucas never thought he’d have to ask when he became the owner of a food truck. And that pisses him off more considering he has enough in his life to deal with. He’s blind. He’s a virgin... -
![Rhythm of Us by Aimee Nicole Walker]()
Rhythm of Us by Aimee Nicole Walker
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsXavier Cruz has come home after touring with his band for eight years, a life his family and friends would never envy if they knew the truth. Haunted by past decisions, he’s lost himself and his music. Every day is a struggle to recapture them both and forgive the mistakes he’s made. Can Xavier push past his nightmares and hear the melodies all around him again? Ben St... -
![Instant Regret by E.M. Lindsey]()
Instant Regret by E.M. Lindsey
There’s nothing like having your sanctuary destroyed. My life has been a series of carefully cultivated, strategic moves to ensure peace and quiet. I’m generally a happy guy but there’s one thing I can’t stand: having my space invaded. After all, that's why I chose this run-down building that no one wants to live in. And then he moved in... -
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![The Pretenders of Copper County by May Archer]()
The Pretenders of Copper County by May Archer
It was supposed to be a straightforward protection job. Remove the target from Vermont, get him to the safehouse, keep him there until his mafia uncle testifies, get back in my employer’s good graces. Boom, done. Easy... -
![Becoming Light by Riley Nash]()
Becoming Light by Riley Nash
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhen people meet me, they see a bright faced, happy-go-lucky kindergarten teacher who will do anything to support his friends. Not everyone knows the struggle I’ve faced to become the man I am today. Now it’s finally time for the gender-affirming surgery I’ve been dreaming of for years...Categorized as:
hurt-comfort queer forced proximity grumpy sunshine age difference m-m contemporary lgbtqia hate -
![One Last Wish (Home for the Holidays) by Alex J. Adams]()
One Last Wish (Home for the Holidays) by Alex J. Adams
Blair. Heading home for the holidays was the last thing I wanted to do. I had plans. Plans that didn’t involve visiting the back of beyond. But a call from mum two weeks before the holidays put paid to said plans. Grandpa was sick and wanted to see me. He’d been a big part of my life growing up and I wouldn’t deny him that. He’s got a list too. Not a bucket list, he didn’t like that name... -
![Jericho Candelario's Gay Debut by R. Cooper]()
Jericho Candelario's Gay Debut by R. Cooper
Jerry Candelario, known as Potts to almost everyone, has spent his entire adult life focused on raising his siblings and his young niece. But the home he fought hard to make is starting to feel empty now that everyone has grown up and moved out and his precious baby niece has suddenly become a teen with a life of her own... -
![Invisible Strings by Aimee Nicole Walker]()
Invisible Strings by Aimee Nicole Walker
Magnetic as the Sun. Jimmy Alsop, a vivacious journalist, longs to trade his sheltered life for a summer of adventure but lacks the confidence to launch his stellar plan. Lonely as the Moon. Nova Skye, an aloof scientist, wants to resuscitate his dead love life but hasn’t found the right man to kickstart his guarded heart. Eclipse of the Heart...Categorized as:
queer virgin hero friends to lovers shy-hero disabilities and marks m-m length-medium audiobook -
![The Law of Miracles by K.C. Wells]()
The Law of Miracles by K.C. Wells
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe sequel to A Christmas Promise… Joshua Trant is doing his best to support his son Micah and Micah’s partner Greg as they approach the trial of Greg’s attackers. This was never going to be easy, especially as Greg wants them prosecuted for a hate crime, but County Attorney Alexander Rycliffe assures them he’ll do his utmost to make sure the perpetrators are held accountable for their actions... -
![Relief Pitcher by Lee Blair]()
Relief Pitcher by Lee Blair
I thought I was helping him get his groove back. Turns out he’s helping me fall in love. Tyler. I have one rule when it comes to matters of my one and done. Consensually, of course. Fun with no complicated romantic feelings. Not that I’m built to experience those, anyway. After my car breaks down on a remote road, I follow a lumbersnack back to his creepy cabin for the cell service...Categorized as:
forced proximity hurt-comfort friends to lovers queer sports exhibitionism m-m contemporary -
![When The Walls Come Down by Harper Robson]()
When The Walls Come Down by Harper Robson
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsDylan. "Quirky. " Ugh, I hate that word. The PC term these days is 'neuro-divergent', but I prefer to be called autistic. It's often a huge advantage to have a brain that works differently, but I sometimes wish it was easier to connect with other people...Categorized as:
queer neurodivergent hurt-comfort friends to lovers sweet-hero m-m contemporary new adult -
![A Flowering of Ink by K.L. Noone]()
A Flowering of Ink by K.L. Noone
One misdirected card . .. and a chance at love. Professor Burne Cameron loves his job and his environmental research. Unfortunately, three months of field work on a tiny island can get pretty lonely, especially when even his brother forgets his birthday. That is, until an unexpected letter arrives . .. and Burne finds himself fascinated by the mysterious sender...Categorized as:
queer friends to lovers hurt-comfort disabilities and marks sweet-hero nerdy-hero m-m contemporary -
![To Take a Quiet Breath by Fearne Hill]()
To Take a Quiet Breath by Fearne Hill
This isn’t a romance about chiseled, lantern-jawed college kids boasting V-cut abs. There are no marathon steamy sex sessions, not without having at least one nebulizer on standby anyway. Marcel Giresse, the thirty-six-year-old Director of Finance at the French Ministry of Justice, is happy to leave all that nonsense to his oldest friend Lucien, the sixteenth Earl of Rossingley...Categorized as:
queer virgin hero grumpy sunshine friends to lovers hurt-comfort contemporary m-m length-medium -
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![The Idiot by Dianna Roman]()
The Idiot by Dianna Roman
You can't pick who you love. .. nor can you run from them. Murphy Malone loves his orchard, his mother, and his dog. Life is great until he can't stop thinking about what he's missing—someone to share it all with. When he realizes that his love for his best friend, Jesse Carver, runs deeper than the bonds of friendship, it just makes things worse...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity grumpy sunshine queer m-m queer-awakening contemporary bisexual -
![Seven Points: A Crash Test Novella by Amy James]()
Seven Points: A Crash Test Novella by Amy James
Six months after the events of Crash Test, Travis and Jacob's relationship faces a new test at the Singapore Grand Prix. For six months, twenty-four-year-old Jacob Nichols has worked as a test driver for Crosswire Racing, the best Formula 1 team on the grid...Categorized as:
queer sweet-hero disabilities and marks hurt-comfort contemporary sports m-m length-novella -
![Boyfriend Goals by Riley Hart]()
Boyfriend Goals by Riley Hart
Milo. Unusual. Quirky. Different. I’ve heard it all. I’ve accepted I’m not for everyone. Maybe not anyone. When I find out I inherited a bookstore and apartment on a small East Coast island, I jump at the chance for a new life. Turns out, I’ve also inherited a sexy, tattooed guy who not only rents the space next to my store for his tattoo parlor but my apartment too...Categorized as:
forced proximity friends to lovers neurodivergent virgin hero small town queer anal sex sweet-hero -
![Kindred Spirits by Alexa Land]()
Kindred Spirits by Alexa Land
Elijah Everett knows he should feel good about the progress he’s made over the last four years, ever since he ran away from a terrible situation at age sixteen. With the support of his loving, adopted family, he recently graduated from college and has a good job and an exciting new life waiting for him on Catalina Island...Categorized as:
shy-hero queer sweet-hero small town nerdy-hero friends to lovers slow burn caretaking -
![Let Your Heart Be Light by J.R. Lawrie]()
Let Your Heart Be Light by J.R. Lawrie
FOR SERVICES RENDERED. Dr. David Christmas has heard every joke in the book when it comes to his name. Weary of the festive season and from his long shifts in the emergency room, David is also tired of his lonely single life. His only hope for Christmas is a glimpse of the shy but gorgeous neighbour who lives above him... -
![A Wedding in a Week by Con Riley]()
A Wedding in a Week by Con Riley
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsA second chance with his brother’s best friend also comes with a deadline. Three years after inheriting his family farm, an accident forces Stefan Luxton to rethink his future. Turning his farm into a five-star wedding venue is one goal. Another is to reconnect with Marc, who Stefan loved but let slip away to the city...Categorized as:
friends to lovers hurt-comfort forced proximity queer m-m age difference contemporary found-family -
![The Rest of Forever by Alexa Land]()
The Rest of Forever by Alexa Land
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsDoes love stand a chance between two very different long-time friends? Mike Dombruso’s life is anything but glamorous. He’s a shy, nerdy accountant and a widower with three young sons, whose world revolves around his kids. In many ways, Yoshiro Miyazaki is Mike’s polar opposite... -
![ChrisMyths by Amy Lane]()
ChrisMyths by Amy Lane
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsAfter courtship, cohabitation, and learning about love and each other, Andy and Eli face the ultimate test: being separated at Christmas. Eli’s seen the propaganda—the country boy goes home from the city and realizes his heart is back among the snow, trees, and chickens. A big happy family is something Eli, with his demanding job running a shelter for LGBTQ youth, can’t provide... -
![Blue Skies by Nic Starr]()
Blue Skies by Nic Starr
Coming to Collier’s Creek is the best decision they’ll ever make. When Kit arrives in the small town of Collier’s Creek, he's searching for a change of scenery and the solitude to help him overcome his writer's block. All he wants is to be left alone to finish his novel. Felix was born in Collier's Creek, with no plans to return...Categorized as:
hurt-comfort grumpy sunshine friends to lovers queer age difference m-m contemporary suspense -
![Christmas Wishes by Lee Blair]()
Christmas Wishes by Lee Blair
Say it ain’t snow! After my bestie and I got laid off during the holidays, we drunkenly decide to plan a surprise vacation for each other. Knowing how much I hate snow, he sends me to sunny Arizona with my swim briefs and a dare. I’m supposed to finally start the beauty influencer accounts I’ve been talking about for years. Did you know there are parts of Arizona where it snows? I didn’t...Categorized as:
queer forced proximity hurt-comfort grumpy sunshine christmas m-m contemporary height-difference -
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![Sapphire Dawn by C. Travis Rice, Christopher Rice]()
Sapphire Dawn by C. Travis Rice, Christopher Rice
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsUnder his pen name, C. Travis Rice, New York Times bestselling author Christopher Rice offers tales of passion, intrigue, and steamy romance between men. The fourth novel, SAPPHIRE DAWN, once again transports you to a beautiful luxury resort on the sparkling Southern California coast where strong-willed heroes release the shame that blocks their hearts’ desires... -
![Fake & Bake by Romeo Alexander]()
Fake & Bake by Romeo Alexander
Nothing says home quite like the smell of baking. The quiet, small town of Higbee is set in the perfect place for the upcoming northern lights. People from different parts of the country are flocking in droves to see the brilliant cosmic show as the town celebrates this unusual event. Anthony Clarence has spent his entire life not only in Higbee but in the small bakery he runs from his home...Categorized as:
small town slow burn virgin hero disabilities and marks hurt-comfort queer m-m contemporary -
![Nothing To Lose by E.M. Lindsey]()
Nothing To Lose by E.M. Lindsey
Once upon a time, in a small seaside town, a happy man living a happy life brings other people joy with his delicious bakes. And then a storm cloud moves in next door, and suddenly things are. .. different. A war between them is brewing, like a hurricane offshore, and if Peyton isn't careful, Hudson is going to sweep him into the raging waters like a tsunami... -
![Frat Bro by Raleigh Ruebins]()
Frat Bro by Raleigh Ruebins
This fall, I have one simple rule: don't fall in love with my fake boyfriend. I’m awful at following the rules. One minute I was a nobody in a small Colorado town, getting by on contract work, home renovations, and a dumpster fire of a dating life—and then suddenly, my life was on TV... -
![Cold Winter Nights by Sue Laybourn, Jay Aheer]()
Cold Winter Nights by Sue Laybourn, Jay Aheer
Beauregard Stone lives a life of solitude in the snow-blanketed town of Windeville, Maine. The burly, gruff lumberjack is a man of few words and even fewer smiles. He hasn’t spoken much since his husband died eight years ago. Now, each day bleeds into the next as Stone loses himself in his woodshop and lumber- hauling business... -
![Love Comes Silently by Andrew Grey]()
Love Comes Silently by Andrew Grey
Caring for a loved one with cancer is tough. Doing it alone is overwhelming—especially when that loved one is a child. But ever since Ken Brighton’s partner left him, Ken has spent his days at the hospital with his daughter, Hanna, hoping for a miracle... -
![Queried Sick by Dallas Smith]()
Queried Sick by Dallas Smith
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsFor fans of Casey McQuiston and Always Only You, Queried Sick is a slow-burn romance about two bisexual disasters finding love while working at a publishing company during the pandemic—complete with grumpy/sunshine vibes, found family, and an attention-seeking cat. Social distance makes the heart grow fonder…...Categorized as:
friends to lovers grumpy sunshine queer contemporary m-m new adult office length-medium -
![Moonlight by Evie McGlynn]()
Moonlight by Evie McGlynn
I was the most sought-after concert pianist in the world. Now I barely leave my apartment. Injury and addiction have taken their toll, and I can't seem to get my life back on track. My best friend wants to send me on a month-long vacation to the Moonlight Inn to get ready to play for his wedding. In New Jersey. The place where I almost died...Categorized as:
queer hurt-comfort disabilities and marks friends to lovers caretaking sweet-hero m-m contemporary -
![Leaning Into the Look by Lane Hayes]()
Leaning Into the Look by Lane Hayes
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsGrant Kostas made a career based on his looks before joining his family’s real estate firm. He may not love his job but he’s better at sales than he thought. And when he’s poised to bring in the biggest account of the company’s history, even his father is impressed. Unfortunately, the extra attention highlights Grant’s personal life. His parents accept that he’s gay... -
![Paint Our Song by Maia Kinley]()
Paint Our Song by Maia Kinley
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsMiles Curtis, a painter, owes his success to the popular band Cloverlily. Their music helped him get out of a slump many years ago, and he’s been a huge fan ever since. When he temporarily moves back home to help his family’s inn, he finds out that their guitarist, Calvin Lowe, is staying in one of their rooms...Categorized as:
queer grumpy sunshine slow burn friends to lovers small town forced proximity m-m contemporary -
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![Knox by Laura John]()
Knox by Laura John
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsKnox Hanes has always kept his feelings for his older brother’s best friend, Gunnar, a secret. When Knox is forced from his home Gunnar invites him to live with him until things are sorted out. Trapped in close quarters, their hidden desires ignite, but the danger around them escalates, forcing them to confront their feelings and protect their newfound love...Categorized as:
queer forced proximity hurt-comfort friends to lovers m-m mystery contemporary siblings-bff -
![It's Not You by Becca Seymour]()
It's Not You by Becca Seymour
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen a protective ex-cop helps his gorgeous tenant through his recovery, their complicated history is asking for trouble. Will the fear of the past repeating itself destroy any possibility of happiness? Daredevil drifter Lawrence Crawford is hunting for a place to call home. After ten years of looking, he believes he’s found what he’s been searching for... -
![Camera Shy by E.M. Leya, Sara York]()
Camera Shy by E.M. Leya, Sara York
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsTrust is earned, but sometimes we form walls around ourselves to protect us from the pain, keeping others from getting close, and shielding us from the darkness that lurks around us. Charles has faced the worst of that darkness. Living on the streets from eleven years old, he learned to survive by trusting no one... -
![Head Over Wheels Book 2 by Jayda Marx]()
Head Over Wheels Book 2 by Jayda Marx
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHarley - Life is great. I’m healthy and happy, enjoying every day with my sweet and sassy Finn by my side. Jake is graduating college and starting his new career, and in just a few weeks, Finn and I will be joined together as husbands. But it never fails that just when you least expect it, life will throw you a curve ball...Categorized as:
queer sweet-hero disabilities and marks m-m contemporary length-medium sunny hero audiobook -
![A Handyman for the Holidays by Valerie Gomez]()
A Handyman for the Holidays by Valerie Gomez
All he wants for Christmas is to be heard! From the author of Cover Story comes a new cozy romance to put you in the holiday mood. Nestled in the woods of Northern Michigan, everyone looks out for one another in the tiny town of Cherry Tree—especially during the holidays. Repairman Frank Garza will fix your oven on Thanksgiving and accept nothing but a slice of pie in return...Categorized as:
queer grumpy sunshine friends to lovers hurt-comfort christmas m-m contemporary single-father -
![Lost Boy by Jodi Payne, B.A. Tortuga]()
Lost Boy by Jodi Payne, B.A. Tortuga
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLost Boy is an opposites attract, smaller top, size difference romance featuring a strong but gentle veterinarian and a police dog trainer with a fiery temper. Veterinarian Leo Aetos adores animals, has a great apartment in Brooklyn, and even has a favorite bar. The only thing he doesn’t have is someone to share it all with...Categorized as:
hurt-comfort grumpy sunshine queer bdsm m-m height-difference contemporary length-short
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