Books like 'The Dream Guy Next Door'
Readers who enjoyed The Dream Guy Next Door by Lauren Blakely also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary funny single-mother friends to lovers single-father m-f found-family small town cheerful heroine competent heroine
-
One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune
A radiant escape to the lake from #1 New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After and This Summer Will Be Different. As featured in People ∙ Good Morning America ∙ Cosmopolitan ∙ TODAY ∙ E! News ∙ Buzzfeed ∙ Us Weekly ∙ The New York Post ∙ SheReads ∙ and more! I never anticipated Charlie Florek. Good things happen at the lake. That’s what Alice’s grandmother says, and it’s true... -
Summer Nights at the Starfish Café by Jessica Redland
Welcome back to The Starfish Café for a glorious summer, but with a few dark clouds on the horizon. .. A new beginning. .. As her summer wedding to Jake approaches, Hollie is excited for their new beginning as a family. But when some unexpected news threatens the future she and Jake had hoped for, Hollie will need to find the strength to overcome heartache once more. A fragile heart. . -
Sponsored links / Remove ads
-
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? -
Hook by Cee Bowerman
***The Time Served MC series is written in tandem with the Ares Infidel MC series by Ciara St. James. You can read this series alone, but you’ll get more time with the characters of both MCs if you read both series in the order they are written. This is the second book of TSMC which will follow Sin, Ciara’s first book of her AIMC series. ***... -
-
Irresistibly Wicked: Zander Wicked by Melissa Foster
Get ready to fall hard for everyone’s favorite playboy, Zander Wicked, in Irresistibly Wicked. When the woman who helps save his life needs a little saving herself, Zander takes on a role he never saw himself playing—husband of convenience. Irresistibly Wicked may be enjoyed as a standalone romance or as part of the larger series... -
Highland Holiday by Kasey Stockton
One rejected kiss. Two clashing personalities. And a snowstorm that traps them in an isolated cottage. Callie Winter is the kind of person who holds everything together—for her family, her friends, her coworkers. But this Christmas, she’s hoping to catch her breath in the Scottish Highlands and maybe rediscover a little joy along the way...Categorized as:
m-f forced proximity slow burn sassy heroine independent heroine sweet-hero sunny hero humor -
Talk Nerdy To Me by C.M. Owens
Despite the fact it seemed like Base Masters was all over Sterling Shore, I'd never really known much about him, aside from random factoids. Things like. .. he's a semi-estranged cousin of one of my brother's friends, plays guitar in a local band, and he doesn't get mentioned much unless he's on stage. Until. . -
Lips Like Sugar by Jess K. Hardy
The last thing Cole Sanderson expects when he drives into the small ski town of Red Falls, MT for his best friend’s wedding is the gorgeous, green-eyed bakery owner hauling him across her counter and kissing him... -
My Dress-Up Darling, Vol. 4 by Shinichi Fukuda
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsA loner boy and a flashy girl find common ground via cosplay in this sweet and spicy romcom! The preparations for Marin and JuJu's group cosplay steadily advance. .. until at long last, the costumes are complete! ! That should just leave the photo shoot. .. but Wakana has a secret plan the other two don't know about! !Categorized as:
m-f cheerful heroine strong heroine sweet-hero humor contemporary length-short high-school -
But He's My Fake Fiancé by Annah Conwell
My ex-boyfriend is engaged to my stepsister. Yeah, it shocked me too. So much so, that when my ex tells me, I grab the first guy I see and pretend he’s my fiancé. Somehow it only gets wilder from there, because the guy I grab happens to be Grayson Carter, notorious flirt and extrovert to the max. Also, the guy I turned down a month before while dating said ex-boyfriend...Categorized as:
small town sunny hero sweet-hero sassy heroine found-family friends to lovers forced proximity m-f -
Crazy for Loving You by Pippa Grant
Is there anything hotter than a growly, overprotective Marine cradling a baby? My melted ovaries don’t think so. When you work hard and have the bank account to prove it, you’re entitled to play hard. I’ve seen some crazy things. I’ve caused some crazy scenes. And there’s no shame in my game. But I’m still knocked off my stilettos when an insane chain of events leads to me inheriting a baby... -
That Swoony Feeling by Meghan Quinn
USA Today bestselling author Meghan Quinn brings more humor and heart with the fourth novel of her Getting Lucky series: a story about breaking curses and finally finding that swoony feeling. I'm single . . . so single it's painful. Yup, ladies, Brig Knightly--that's me--is still a lonely bachelor, stumbling through the streets of Port Snow, looking for the girl he's supposed to end up with... -
Twenty-four Three by K.C. Mills
A shot in the dark. A mistaken identity. A undeniable attraction. An injured hitman finds himself depending on a stranger and for Carter Reed trust is not something he’s willing to extend. Unfortunately when it comes to McKenna Smith, Carter can either allow her to be his saving grace or risk loosing something more precious than trust…his life. Stakes are high... -
Hot Mess Summer by Melissa Foster
She’s a romance writer who, against her better instinct, is finding love in the friend zone in a fun, sexy, and unpredictable romantic comedy by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster. Who buys a cottage in a New England fishing village on a whim? A stressed-out, twice-divorced romance writer and single mother looking for a fresh start, that’s who... -
-
Headfirst by Amelia Markley
A spicy small-town romantic comedy about a single dad that’ll make you cry and laugh your ass off. After moving to the small-town of Canyon Creek with nothing to her name but an ancient car off of craigslist, and a teaching position at the local middle school, Ivy Bennett quickly learned to love two things... -
How to Kiss on Christmas Morning by Jenny Proctor
She’s merry and bright. He’s…. not. But something between them is warming up. Megan Sheridan just landed the perfect holiday a quiet week in the mountains house-sitting an event venue while the owners are away. Check the mail, answer the phone, keep the pipes from freezing—easy. The only trouble? No one told Megan she’d be sharing the farmhouse with a very grouchy, very handsome farmhand...Categorized as:
m-f forced proximity small town cheerful heroine sweet heroine competent heroine sweet-hero humor -
The Sandcastle Hurricane by Carolyn Brown
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsFamily, wounded hearts, and a Texas bed-and-breakfast are in need of repair in New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown’s inviting novel about down-home comfort and second chances. Cousins Tabby and Ellie Mae are due for a change...Categorized as:
small town friends to lovers forced proximity m-f contemporary humor christian audiobook -
Absolutely Not in Love by Jenny Proctor
My requirements for a man are simple. Must love books. Must NOT love hockey. Which is why I will never be interested in my neighbor, the aloof and mysterious Felix Jamison, no matter how many books I see him hauling into his apartment. Unless he loses his pro hockey skates, I’m out. But then he shows up at my symphony concert. And I catch the sweet strains of Dvorak floating across the hall... -
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 Busiest Place You Know by Allison DeRosia
Grab a cup of coffee, find a spot by the fire, and come along with debut author Allison DeRosia as she takes you to Northern Michigan for this atmospheric small-town romance. A second chance romance between an author and her editor. Oh, and she just unknowingly moved in next door...Categorized as:
m-f slow burn forced proximity friends to lovers found-family small town sweet-hero humor -
The Busiest Place You Know by Allison DeRosia
Grab a cup of coffee, find a spot by the fire, and come along with debut author Allison DeRosia as she takes you to Northern Michigan for this atmospheric small-town romance. A second chance romance between an author and her editor. Oh, and she just unknowingly moved in next door...Categorized as:
m-f forced proximity friends to lovers slow burn found-family sweet-hero small town contemporary -
No Place Like You by Jillian Meadows
Childhood friends turned high school rivals fall into a small-town fake dating scheme in this sweet, spicy, and utterly irresistible romance from the author of Give Me Butterflies. Fable Oaks never planned to return to Fern River. But after a string of failures, here she is, living in her parents’ backyard, watching her beloved late grandfather’s A-frame crumble around her... -
Betting on the Best Friend: a Sweet Romantic Comedy by Melanie Jacobson
I helped all my roommates find love. Now they want revenge. When my besties present me with a plan to find the man of my dreams, I pass. Easily. Until my recent ex of five years very publicly announces his engagement to someone he just met. If dating shows him I’m happy and thriving, I’m all in. But after half a dozen nightmare dates, I’m having doubts...Categorized as:
m-f friends to lovers slow burn cheerful heroine sassy heroine sweet-hero contemporary humor -
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... -
-
Date Yourself a Grinch by Savannah Scott
He’s allergic to Christmas. I’m practically made of tinsel. What could go wrong? I’m not saying Gage Lockett is the actual Grinch … but if someone in town woke up tomorrow to find all the candy canes missing, my money’s on him. The man glares at twinkle lights like they personally insulted his mother...Categorized as:
m-f slow burn small town cheerful heroine sweet heroine sweet-hero christmas grumpy sunshine -
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 -
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... -
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:
small town sassy heroine men in uniform friends to lovers competent heroine sweet-hero m-f humor -
Catch and Keep by Erin Hahn
In Erin Hahn's latest cozy, swoony romance, Maren Laughlin has been fishing her whole life, but she’s finally ready to be caught. At thirty-three, Maren Laughlin's just turned down her boyfriend’s proposal, walked away from her decade-long position as a park ranger, and returned to her childhood playground in Northern Wisconsin to accept her inheritance: a decrepit waterfront bait shop... -
The Spite Date by Pippa Grant
From USA Today and #1 Amazon Bestselling author Pippa Grant comes a hilarious romcom about an unforgettable revenge date between a famous British single dad and a small-town girl who had to grow up too fast…. I might be the only person not obsessed with Simon Luckwood, Hollywood's hottest leading man and the newest part-time resident of my little hometown... -
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... -
The Hot Mess and the Heartthrob by Pippa Grant
A rock star / single mom / fairy tale romcom. You don’t know me, but you do know me... -
Full Throttle by Melanie Moreland
There’s a new mechanic in town. Dom Salvatore. Tall, serious, intense. A loner. Exactly what he wants to be. Until he meets her. Cherry Gallagher. Independent. Stubborn. Sexy as hell. And not interested... -
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... -
-
Home on a Yorkshire Farm by Jane Lovering
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsNeeding an escape, Dora swapped city living for life as a shepherdess on her grandad’s Yorkshire farm. More than a decade later Dora is still there, now farming the fifty acres and caring for the one hundred rare sheep by herself. She never hears the call of the city, but instead relishes the peace and simplicity of life on the Moors... -
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 m-f contemporary humor pregnancy explicit-open-door -
This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune
This summer they’ll keep their promise. This summer they won’t give into temptation. This summer will be different. Lucy is the tourist vacationing at a beach house on Prince Edward Island. Felix is the local who shows her a very good time. The only problem: Lucy doesn’t know he’s her best friend’s younger brother...Categorized as:
sweet-hero m-f forced proximity small town slow burn found-family competent heroine sweet heroine -
Book and Ladder by Savannah Scott
My nemesis is about to ruin my life. Is Patrick O’Connell gorgeous? Unfortunately, yes. Jet-black hair, smoldering eyes, and those muscles I accidentally saw when my friends dragged me to spy on the fireman calendar photo shoot. Is Patrick O’Connell also the bane of my existence? Absolutely. He wrecked my dream years ago, and I’ll never forget what he—and his family—took from me...Categorized as:
m-f forced proximity slow burn small town sassy heroine sweet-hero men in uniform humor -
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... -
Fake Fiancé at First Sight by Kristine W. Joy
I can't believe I'm at the point in my life where I need to convince a stranger to pretend to be my fiancée. My publicist came up with the idea to hire a fake fiancée to improve my bad-boy reputation and “win over the hearts and minds of fans. ” But I'm the one who impulsively decided to bring one home with me for my brother's vow renewal...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity m-f found-family humor contemporary length-medium audiobook -
Knock Out by Jiffy Kate
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsIn the blink of an eye, Willow Bernard goes from stocking shelves at the Piggly Wiggly to kicking butt at Viking MMA. Willow Bernard has taken a lot of hits in her twenty-two years but always manages to come back swinging. Hoping to fly under the radar for a change, she relocates to Green Valley... -
That Time I Kissed My Beachfront Boss by Julie Christianson
My dream job just got snapped up by the one man who rejected me…. That’s right. I’m an unemployed twenty-something stuck sleeping on my grandmother’s old futon while Hudson Blaine, the guy who shot me down, gets to manage The Beachfront Inn. Talk about life being unfair. I’m about to flee town with what’s left of my pride when Mr. Rejection begs me to stay... -
Controlled Burn by Marie James
As the mechanic for Blackbridge Security, when I make a mistake things don’t work properly. Correcting that mistake is the only way to get things operational. I meet issues in my personal life with the same mindset. How was I to know the woman I’ve been flirting with at the gym is the same woman I called a noise complaint on? I got her kicked out of her condo. My first response: Move in with me... -
Make Mine Sweet: A Grumpy-Sunshine Small Town Romantic Comedy by Genny Carrick
My heart's had a No Trespassing sign on it for years, but my next-door neighbor is tempting me to lay out a welcome mat. When I took my friend’s offer of cheap rent for me and my five-year-old son, I knew it came with a reclusive neighbor attached. I just didn’t realize he’s the same guy I adored from afar fifteen years ago... -
-
Cozy by the Fire(man) by Lindsay Rochester
A woman in need, a man who doesn’t realize all he has to offer, and a. .. bear in a hot tub? Welcome to Christmas in Crescent Cove. Cleo. As my brother’s guardian, he’s my top priority. If it’s not helpful to Cameron, I’m not doing it. Dating is off the table for me. But when we take cookies to the fire station, I’m intrigued by the lieutenant...Categorized as:
m-f small town cheerful heroine sweet heroine single-mother sweet-hero men in uniform christmas -
This Time, Next Year by Ruby Barrett
Nora hates two New Year’s Eve parties (too loud, too late) and her friend group frenemy, Finn (too tall, too argumentative). Then one New Year’s Eve, their friends enforce the “everyone has to kiss someone at midnight” rule and Nora and Finn begrudgingly lock lips. And something about that kiss makes Nora rethink that Finn’s mouth might be good for something other than pestering her... -
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 -
The Problem with Pretending by Emma Hart
From New York Times bestselling author Emma Hart comes a swoony, hilarious romcom about what happens when you find yourself snowed in at Scottish castle. .. with only one bed to share with your aristocratic fake boyfriend. .. Literally colliding with the hottest guy in the world and agreeing to be his date to his sister's wedding? Done. .. for some reason... -
Betting on the Best Friend's Brother by Melanie Jacobson
She doesn’t want a dating coach. Especially not one she’s been in love with since junior high. Ava’s roommates say she’s a workaholic. But when her boss temporarily suspends her extra lab time, her best friend and bossiest roommate makes fixing Ava’s love life her summer project... -
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...
Find out more about romance.io.
Get recommendations by genres & tropes
Use the romance book finder to mix and match over 100 content keywords to find the books that match your preferences
Or - use our amazing romance book finder to get recommendations based on your favorite content tropes and themes. Mix and match at will.

