Books like 'Head Above Water'
Readers who enjoyed Head Above Water by C.E. Ricci also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary gay romance stepsibling cheating angst from hate to love other-man-woman forced proximity hurt-comfort queer
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Still Beating by Jessie Walker
THE END WAS JUST THE BEGINNING. .. I thought I was strong enough to say goodbye. I thought I was ready to leave him. It doesn't matter that I'll be seeing him in three days. I just have to get through three more nights. I'm dying now. Shattering. Breaking. I'm determined to show him I can manage on my own. What if he needs me? I need him. .. What if he doesn't? . .Categorized as:
new adult angst from hate to love hurt-comfort queer m-m friends to lovers contemporary -
![Landon by Marie James]()
Landon by Marie James
He ruined a lifelong friendship the night he kissed me. I spent the next three years avoiding him. Well… I tried at least. With my dad being a member of the Cerberus MC and his dad married to one of the members it was virtually impossible. Just like it was impossible to keep from watching his mouth when he spoke...Categorized as:
new adult angst bisexual from hate to love queer forced proximity friends to lovers contemporary -
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![Crushed But Not Defeated by Nicole Dykes]()
Crushed But Not Defeated by Nicole Dykes
Miles. Selfish. That’s the only way Andrew will ever see me. An abused boy who grew up and became a defense attorney for the rich and famous. I’ll never forget the look on his face when I told him. The hurt and disgust I saw in his eyes as I stomped all over his dreams. He left me behind, convincing me he’d hate me forever. Now, circumstances have brought me back into his life...Categorized as:
forced proximity from hate to love hurt-comfort angst second chances queer m-m contemporary -
![Semantic Error, Vol. 3 by Angy, J. Soori]()
Semantic Error, Vol. 3 by Angy, J. Soori
Sangwoo and Jaeyoung’s feelings come to a head as the two clash over their views on what it means to be in a homosexual relationship! And while the two finally settle on having a purely physical affair to satisfy their needs and curiosity, Sangwoo’s inexperience with romance leads to a rocky start... -
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![Pretend You're Mine by Sloane Kennedy]()
Pretend You're Mine by Sloane Kennedy
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsLandscape architect Devon Rhodes doesn’t know what to think when he overhears a heated conversation in his new next-door neighbor’s back yard, but when he decides to intervene, he definitely isn’t expecting the encounter to change his life forever...Categorized as:
queer queer-awakening hurt-comfort angst forced proximity m-m contemporary insta-love -
![MistleFoe by Cambria Hebert]()
MistleFoe by Cambria Hebert
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratings‘Tis the season for twinkling lights, cookies, joy, and a little sprinkle of mom guilt on the side. Did I say little? I mean an entire sleigh full. Which is exactly why I’m on my way home to Winterbury for the holidays, something my parents have been pleading for since I left the small-town life for a view of the city nearly ten years ago. It’s not that I don’t come home to visit. I do...Categorized as:
forced proximity from hate to love queer second chances christmas m-m grumpy sunshine contemporary -
![Sawyer by Siobhan Davis]()
Sawyer by Siobhan Davis
Torn between duty and desire. .. Sawyer Hunt has always been confident with his place in the world. He knows what he wants, conceals his painful truths behind a mask of cool indifference and keeps his circle small. The only person who has ever come close to smashing through his inner walls is the one person his parents will never accept. Xavier Daniels is sick of being Hunt’s dirty little secret... -
![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:
forced proximity hurt-comfort queer m-m friends to lovers contemporary length-medium -
![Valentine's Hearts by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey]()
Valentine's Hearts by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWill broken hearts replace the wedding they dreamed of? Ryker's heart has space for three things—his family, hockey, and Jacob. As their wedding grows closer, it seems that nothing can stand in the way of an idyllic celebration, surrounded by friends and loved ones... -
![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...Categorized as:
from hate to love angst forced proximity hurt-comfort queer m-m christmas contemporary -
![Heartstring by Ana Ashley]()
Heartstring by Ana Ashley
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsMik. If I had a dollar for every mistake I made… But there’s only one mistake I regret. Breaking my promise to the only person who ever understood my need to get away from a future I didn’t want…Tyler. I’ve reached many hearts through my music, but the only one I’ve ever wanted might be lost to me forever. Tyler. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice…. Mik broke a promise a long time ago...Categorized as:
second chances angst hurt-comfort queer m-m contemporary friends to lovers single-father -
![This Will Hurt II by Cara Dee]()
This Will Hurt II by Cara Dee
Part II of II Angst Awakening Friends to Lovers Family. Buckle in. Roe and Jake have mountains to climb, walls to tear down, and countless private moments to bring them even closer in this final part of their journey. The ground beneath me had finally settled. I was content. I was all right. I could move forward and live with my choices. Then I found Jake’s damn journal from… therapy...Categorized as:
hurt-comfort cheating forced proximity other-man-woman angst secret-relationship bisexual queer -
![Bent Backwards by Jesse H. Reign]()
Bent Backwards by Jesse H. Reign
A story retold - straight to gay erotic romance. One very average day, Ethan Quinn walks into a pub and in a split second, his entire life is turned upside down. A chance encounter with sexy, sweet Oliver, gives rise to an addiction that can't be ignored or overcome. If you've read Bent, you might have found yourself wondering about what enigmatic and at times, maddening, Ethan was thinking...Categorized as:
cheating angst other-man-woman queer queer-awakening anal sex bisexual secret-relationship -
![Shades of Gray by Brooke McKinley]()
Shades of Gray by Brooke McKinley
Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars · 40 ratingsMiller Sutton, a by-the-book FBI agent, is starting to see some troubling shades of gray in his black-and-white world. He comes face-to-face with his doubts in the person of Danny Butler, a mid-level drug runner Miller hopes to use to catch a much larger fish: Roberto Hinestroza, a drug lord Miller has pursued for years...Categorized as:
forbidden love from hate to love angst bisexual hurt-comfort queer queer-awakening m-m -
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![A Healing Man by Sandrine Gasq-Dion]()
A Healing Man by Sandrine Gasq-Dion
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsDario Ramos thought he’d left the fighting behind in the war zone when a life-threatening injury sent him home. But a certain Irishman crossing his path everywhere he went convinced him that his biggest battle might be ahead. Tiernan Callahan is a bigoted jerk. Ramos finds himself constantly in the man’s orbit, even in a city as big as New York... -
![All Roads Lead to You Special Edition by Courtney W. Dixon]()
All Roads Lead to You Special Edition by Courtney W. Dixon
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA 1980s Stepbrother Road Trip Romance. A road trip that turned into a journey. Logan. Nicholas Theodoropoulos had been my stepbrother since I was fourteen. Mom died when I was twelve, and I resented Dad remarrying so soon. Even worse, my stepbrother had grown into a gorgeous man. I hated looking at him, reminding me every day of what I could never have. No one knew I was gay and never would... -
![Liberating Love by Michele Notaro, Sammi Cee]()
Liberating Love by Michele Notaro, Sammi Cee
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAiden. Finding out the man I slept with is my friend’s father is terrifying, but maybe forgivable since I didn’t know who he was… right? But falling into bed with him again… and again and again is probably not excusable. Maybe if Delaney got rid of his miles of muscles and stopped being so sweet to me, I could stop. I need to stop. If only I had the willpower—or the desire...Categorized as:
hurt-comfort secret-relationship forbidden love queer m-m contemporary age difference humor -
![Kiss My Axe by R.M. Neill]()
Kiss My Axe by R.M. Neill
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsPerry. You know that saying, keep your friends close and your enemies closer? Well, whoever said that never had the misfortune of meeting Roman Auclair. Sure, he’s sexy and wears a corset like nobody’s business, but he’s arrogant, entitled and so damn judgemental he should sit on the Supreme Court. I’d rather sleep with a porcupine than bunk with him...Categorized as:
queer new adult from hate to love forced proximity contemporary m-m humor length-medium -
![In His Secret Life by Mel Bossa]()
In His Secret Life by Mel Bossa
When Allan's boyfriend leaves him for a younger man, Allan lets him go without a grudge. When his sister, Elsie, gets pregnant and ditched, he becomes her support system and father figure to his niece. Then Elsie becomes engaged to Dayton, and Allan meets Dayton's older brother, Davinder—a fierce and exceptionally gifted artist with a thousand secrets breathing in his eyes... -
![Faithful by N.N. Britt]()
Faithful by N.N. Britt
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSome secrets aren’t meant to remain secret forever. Ever since Iodine’s debut album propelled Kai to stardom, his every move is scrutinized on social media and in the tabloids. And after the recent scandal Kai has been dragged into, Dylan’s worst fears come true–Kai suggests putting their affair on pause. With Dylan closeted and Kai being the talk of the town, it's the smart thing to do...Categorized as:
from hate to love new adult secret-relationship queer m-m rockstars mental illness abuse -
![Thawed Out by Jodi Payne, BA Tortuga]()
Thawed Out by Jodi Payne, BA Tortuga
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThawed Out is an opposites attract, second chance romance featuring an established couple on the edge of divorce, a ferocious snow storm, precocious children and a healthy dose of holiday magic. Kiren knows there is a storm coming when he goes to the cabin to deliver divorce papers to his husband Flynn, but he doesn’t plan to stay long... -
![Saving Mr. Bell by H.L. Day]()
Saving Mr. Bell by H.L. Day
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhen is a kidnap not a kidnap? When it's a rescue. Rudolf Bell does NOT need saving. But after the worst performance of his life, there are those who disagree. All he wants is to have a good time and forget everything for a while. Easier said than done when the media have done a hatchet job on him. His career's not over, though. Not until he says so... -
![When Stars Align by Denver Shaw]()
When Stars Align by Denver Shaw
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsScarred by the past. Terrified to love again. Savion. Once upon a time, my life was a fairytale. Engaged to a beautiful woman, we were planning our perfect future. Then, the sick act of an obsessed man ruined everything. Alone, disfigured, and betrayed, I fled to LA to focus on my work as a paleontologist. It was there I met Declan... -
![Want You Still by C.E. Ricci, Marley Valentine]()
Want You Still by C.E. Ricci, Marley Valentine
The heart always wants what it can't have. .. Duty, honor, and sacrifice. Dedicating my life to these elements, for family and country, leaves little for myself in return. It’s why I indulge in a no-strings hookup with a handsome stranger mere days before heading half-a-world away. Except one night turns into a week-long fling, creating a connection at the most inopportune time...Categorized as:
hurt-comfort forbidden love cheating other-man-woman angst second chances queer new adult -
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![Suited For You by Aiden Bates, Ali Lyda]()
Suited For You by Aiden Bates, Ali Lyda
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsHe’s smug, conceited … and hot as hell …. Becoming a partner at Caldwell and Holton will be the crowning achievement in my hard fought career. There’s just one problem. One arrogant, materialistic, flashy problem: Saint Caldwell. Unlike me, he’s never had to struggle for anything a day in his life … or so I think. But there’s more to the man than a showy Porsche and killer smile... -
![A Different Kind of Love by Nicola Haken]()
A Different Kind of Love by Nicola Haken
Love is simple. People are not. Despite growing up without it, William Walker knows all about love. He loves his wife. He loves his children. He loves the cat. He has the perfect family, and all he had to do to get it was push aside one pesky little feeling. Unfortunately, love doesn’t pay the bills...Categorized as:
angst cheating forced proximity bisexual other-man-woman secret-relationship hurt-comfort queer -
![Playing for Keeps by Jax Calder]()
Playing for Keeps by Jax Calder
Falling for your former best friend? Never a good idea. Ethan Lewis is the joker of his rugby team, the guy who’s always up for a good time. The only thing that can wipe the smile from his face is any mention of his former best friend, Luke. He has no idea why Luke has actively avoided him for the past five years...Categorized as:
from hate to love angst queer new adult second chances anal sex hurt-comfort bisexual -
![Double Dared by Raquel Riley]()
Double Dared by Raquel Riley
First love. First betrayal. One dare away from unraveling everything. Truen "Tru". I was twelve when I realized I loved him. Thirteen when I kissed him. And the next day, he made me hate myself for it. Darien turned our friendship into a weapon. Now he calls me his stepbrother and looks right through me like I’m nothing. He pretends he doesn’t remember that night in the closet. But I do... -
![Love Sky by Mame]()
Love Sky by Mame
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsLove Sky. The intensified situation got ‘Sky’ cornered and forced him to get laid in order to get out. Sky tries to make up his mind, thinking of it as just a one night stand and no string attached. However, what he doesn’t know is that ‘Phraphai’ won’t give up so easily... -
![Our Favorite Songs by Anita Kelly]()
Our Favorite Songs by Anita Kelly
Restless and disillusioned with his life, Aiden McCarstle is ready for a night out at The Moonlight Café with his best friend Penelope: one night to not think about how much he hates grad school, to watch queer people make fools of themselves singing karaoke. A simple, reliable escape...Categorized as:
from hate to love second chances anal sex forced proximity new adult queer bisexual contemporary -
![Unconditional Love by Andrew Grey]()
Unconditional Love by Andrew Grey
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratings"A Seven Days Story". Can a person's life change in just one day? How about seven? Donald Pottier and Jason Greene are barely more than boys when they meet on Chincoteague Island, Virginia. A day of crabbing soon turns them from strangers to friends, then to something more, but the boys' time is limited: at the end of the summer, Jay will leave Don and the island behind... -
![Ryzen (Federal Protection Agency) by Eve Riley]()
Ryzen (Federal Protection Agency) by Eve Riley
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsTrue evil lurks in the darkness…. Recruited at eighteen by the CIA, Ryzen is one of the best snipers in the world. Now, he’s working with the Federal Protection Agency to aid them in their fight to track down the vile people who perpetuate crimes against children. Always hidden behind his dark sunglasses, Ry is a mystery to everyone and he prefers it that way... -
![Impact Zone Special Edition by Courtney W. Dixon]()
Impact Zone Special Edition by Courtney W. Dixon
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSpecial Edition Book Art - Paperback only. Two desperate encounters led to a dating arrangement. One for money. The other for sexual exploration. Kel. I tried to save Ohana Surfing Club, a surf shop my father and I owned... -
![Once Broken, Twice Loved by Romeo Alexander]()
Once Broken, Twice Loved by Romeo Alexander
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen the man who left you broken-hearted reappears with a child in tow, do you slam the door or let the past come flooding back? He left me broken . He walked out of my life ten years ago with no explanation, and I fell apart. Ian, the only man I’ve ever loved just walked back into my life…with his sassy, eleven-year-old daughter, Ayla, who’s deaf. Yes, I can do the math...Categorized as:
second chances angst from hate to love hurt-comfort queer single-father m-m contemporary -
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![Lovely Allergen by Zhichu, 稚楚]()
Lovely Allergen by Zhichu, 稚楚
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsSong Yu has three requirements for Yue Zhishi:. – You cannot call me gege in public. – We won’t do anything together in public. – You cannot let other people know you live with me. Yue Zhishi has always been obediently following these rules. They were practically strangers at school... -
![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... -
![Before I Fall by Joelle Lynne, Courtney W. Dixon]()
Before I Fall by Joelle Lynne, Courtney W. Dixon
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsWho’s going to catch me when I fall? Evan. Everything has been taken from me. My home, my family, and the love of my life. Raising a child on my own isn’t how I envisioned my young life full of hopes and dreams. Now, my youth is gone, too. I had been drowning with no way out until him. The one man I didn’t expect to hold my head above water... -
![Covert by Kelly Fox]()
Covert by Kelly Fox
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsPart of the Wrecked universe. Takes place between book 2 and 3. A short story featuring Morris and his Maggie. (Where Maggie is short for Magnussen, a male, in case you care. ) It's sweet and informative. Helps explain Morris and his overall crankiness. -
![Tashiro-kun, Why're You Like This? Vol. 2 by Yamada, ヤマダ]()
Tashiro-kun, Why're You Like This? Vol. 2 by Yamada, ヤマダ
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFirst we're trapped at a rural bus stop during a thunderstorm. Then the storm of the century comes along when I'm trapped at your place. All these mf'ing storms sure are convenient for you. . -
![Alex by S.M. Shade]()
Alex by S.M. Shade
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsNinety- two days. Thirteen weeks. That’s how long it’s been since I lost my love, my best friend. It’s been everything I can do to drag myself out of bed and get back to work, but I know Cooper would want me to move on. I think he’d even be happy if he knew who I want to move on with. The target of my affection, though, may not be so thrilled about my choice. He’s straight. Or he thinks he is... -
![Love Mechanics vol.1: กลรักรุ่นพี่ 1 by Faddist]()
Love Mechanics vol.1: กลรักรุ่นพี่ 1 by Faddist
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIt always ends up this way, where he walks away and I am left with nothing. I should feel happy that he once seemed interested in me, and that I could spend time with him. But in the end, when he disappeared, I have nothing left but suffering.Categorized as:
from hate to love queer forced proximity forbidden love cheating bisexual angst other-man-woman -
![Truth & Tenderness by Tere Michaels]()
Truth & Tenderness by Tere Michaels
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFaith, Love, & Devotion: Book Six. Newly promoted police captain Evan Cerelli takes command of his own precinct as Matt Haight’s security business begins to expand at a rapid rate. Both of their careers require more and more of their time—away from home and each other...Categorized as:
angst cheating other-man-woman queer queer-awakening m-m contemporary men in uniform -
![Kaden by R.J. Scott, Meredith Russell]()
Kaden by R.J. Scott, Meredith Russell
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsWhen the lines between pretense and reality blur, can the actor and the boyfriend-for-hire discover something real? Ryan Levesque is Hollywood’s newest blue eyed boy. Moving from soap operas to the big screen has paid off for the kid from Minnesota, and he’s hot property... -
![Billion Dollar Sugar Baby by E.M. Denning]()
Billion Dollar Sugar Baby by E.M. Denning
Bachelor. Billionaire. Unlucky in love. Alex Schaffer is tired of rich playboys with ulterior motives. Broke. Tired. Trying to get by. Wren Collins just wants to look after his found family. Wren's life is about to go from rags to riches when Alex decides he wants Wren all to himself, and he's willing to pay any price...Categorized as:
queer hurt-comfort forced proximity from hate to love m-m contemporary super rich hero length-short -
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![Something About Us by Riley Hart]()
Something About Us by Riley Hart
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsFalling in love was the easy part. Lucky and Saint are head-over-heels for each other. It doesn’t matter that they met only a few months ago. It also doesn’t matter that this is Saint’s first real relationship and Lucky’s first with a man. They’re infatuated, happy, and excited to start their life together in LA. It isn’t as easy as they thought... -
![Junkyard Heart by Garrett Leigh]()
Junkyard Heart by Garrett Leigh
Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsTired of the London rat race and the heartbreak that comes with it, photographer Jas Manning returns to Porthkennack, the Cornish seaside town where he spent every childhood summer on his father’s farm. Resigned to year-round rain, wind, and homemade jam, he’s sorely unprepared for the impact that artsy carpenter Kim Penrose has on his heart... -
![Starfish and Coffee by Kele Moon]()
Starfish and Coffee by Kele Moon
Rated: 4.02 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsOn the island where they first met two lovers from opposite sides of the tracks are reunited. Now jaded and broken, Alex and Matt still can’t deny their sizzling connection or the memories of one perfect, uninhibited year together... -
![Set Fire to This Cardhouse by Zarah Detand]()
Set Fire to This Cardhouse by Zarah Detand
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThey're just your average coworkers who got off on the wrong foot. Except with guns. Agent Toby Brown—not his real name—is a damn good agent who knows his way around any IT system. Why, then, is he partnered with Agent Mike Redding—not his real name either—who is impulsive, contradictory, and hot as hell? Toby didn't think they'd combine well, but somehow, they do...Categorized as:
from hate to love bisexual other-man-woman queer m-m contemporary military length-short -
![This Isn't Me by T.A. McKay]()
This Isn't Me by T.A. McKay
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsNathan Cooper thought he had everything in life worked out; his own company, a great best friend, and all the women he could want. That is until one night his whole outlook changed. One misunderstanding, a man instead of a woman, and just like that he was looking at guys like he never had before... -
![Felix by R.J. Scott, Meredith Russell]()
Felix by R.J. Scott, Meredith Russell
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHiring a fake boyfriend for a school reunion seems to be the only solution, but love was never part of the equation. Felix has enough on his plate looking out for his parents, let alone agreeing to being hired for a date with the friend of a friend. His instant attraction to the scatter-brained scientist has him making impulsive decisions he hopes he won’t regret...
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