Books like 'Faking Christmas'
Readers who enjoyed Faking Christmas by Cindy Steel also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary funny christmas office from hate to love forced proximity m-f fake relationship teacher-heroine teacher-hero
-
Where It All Began by Lucy Score
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsAvailable only through Lucy's newsletter, this free book is the prequel to the popular Blue Moon series and is set in 1985. John Pierce has plans for these two hundred rundown acres. He sees a farm, a family, a future. He’s not about to drag someone in on the ground floor, not before he’s put in the work to turn rubble into home... -
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 angst from hate to love forced proximity strong heroine m-f humor friends to lovers -
Sponsored links / Remove ads
-
Isabelle and the Beast by Marie Soleil
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIt was supposed to be a quick meeting. I’ve been trying to break into acting for years, and now I’m FINALLY up for a lead role in a romcom movie. It’s a huge step up from barista #3, especially considering who’s supposed to play my love interest—Adam Stone...Categorized as:
forced proximity grumpy sunshine from hate to love contemporary humor length-medium audiobook -
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:
office m-f forced proximity sassy heroine strong heroine sunny hero sweet-hero humor -
-
A Risk Worth Taking by Jessica Joyce
Claire Ashford has always led a careful life—her family didn't nickname her Claireful for nothing. But after ending a relationship that was equal parts safe and unfulfilling, she recognizes just how much her caution has cost her and dedicates herself to leaving her Claireful ways behind. Her first chance to take a risk comes with a job opportunity in San Francisco...Categorized as:
forced proximity christmas new adult m-f sweet-hero sunny hero insta-love contemporary -
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:
from hate to love m-f sassy heroine sweet-hero contemporary humor audiobook glimpses-kisses -
One Enchanted Moment by Sarah Morgan
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsUSA TODAY bestselling author Sarah Morgan will sweep you away with her Puffin Island series! Life has just thrown Skylar Tempest a serious curveball. So she’s returned home to Puffin Island to regroup among friends. Unfortunately, that means seeing Alec Hunter, who’s become a big-deal TV historian. Sky’s never liked the cynical Alec, and the feeling was mutual. But maybe that was then... -
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 New Doctor at Peony Practice by Christie Barlow
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsPreorder the next book in the heartwarming and bestselling Love Heart Lane series. Love Heart Lane – where friends are there for you no matter what. All’s fair in love and…medicine? Dr Katie O’Neil has only been in Heartcross a few hours when she finds herself already ruffling feathers – not least with medical school nemesis and new colleague Ben Sanders...Categorized as:
small town forced proximity from hate to love m-f humor suspense contemporary length-medium -
Over & Out by Claire Wilder
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIntroducing a brand new enemies to lovers romance from USA TODAY Bestselling Author Claire Wilder! Three months ago, a dirt bike accident stole my confidence, my beloved ride, and the one thing that made me feel alive. Now I’m going through the motions in my coastal tourist town, totally adrift… and trying not to think about the stranger who pulled me from the wreckage...Categorized as:
from hate to love office forced proximity m-f grumpy sunshine small town humor length-medium -
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 from hate to love forced proximity small town sassy heroine sweet-hero humor length-medium -
Mine To Cherish by Natasha Madison
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsThings are supposed to go smoothly on your wedding day. Aren't they? Clarabella. Did I want to get married today? It's hard to say when he proposed in front of over a hundred people. Everything happened so fast, and I thought it was just nerves. It was not. The knock on the door showed me that what I was feeling was more than just cold feet. I was a runaway bride. Luke... -
Perfectly You by Claudia Y. Burgoa
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsUSA TODAY Bestselling Author Claudia Burgoa brings us a light-hearted small-town romantic comedy full of a swoon-worthy billionaire, single dad romance, and big laughs. I need a massive break. So long to my cheating boyfriend and betraying roommate. Goodbye hectic emergency room and long hours... -
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... -
-
This Is Love by Melissa Foster
Fall in love in Harmony Pointe, where hearts are lost, found, and sometimes misplaced…and everyone get a happy ever after. If a woman can’t find love in the quaint town of Harmony Pointe, it’s sure to find them—whether they’re looking for it or not. Here, the remaining single Dalton siblings are about to discover that they’re next in line to get swept away by love...Categorized as:
sassy heroine strong heroine forced proximity office m-f humor contemporary alpha male -
Show Me Forever by Layla Hagen
I moved to Chicago six months ago, determined to finally open my own bakery. My landlady was this sweet woman who treated me like her granddaughter. Then she sold the house. Now the devil himself is my landlord and neighbor since I live in the guesthouse on his property. Declan Maxwell is moody, unreasonable, and takes himself far too seriously. Unfortunately for me, he’s also damn sexy... -
The Wishing Season by Denise Hunter
She daydreams of whipping up sauces and souffles in her own restaurant. His heart is set on helping foster children. Both dreams are at stake. So are their hearts. With grand plans to open her own bed & breakfast in Chapel Springs, PJ McKinley can't afford the most crucial part: the brick and mortar...Categorized as:
christmas new adult m-f from hate to love forced proximity contemporary christian length-medium -
Home Is Where You Park It by Marika Ray
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHe’s a giant of a man who grunts for words and barks out orders, yet circumstances require I be his fake girlfriend and spend the weekend with him in an isolated cabin. And of course there’s only one bed. Just my luck…But I need this commission check that only Boston can guarantee me...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine forced proximity from hate to love small town m-f contemporary humor military -
Fa-La La-La Land by Brittany Larsen
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsShe’s got a list to finish. He’s got a song to escape. Neither planned on falling in love this Christmas. Stella Sparks has no time for love—not when her 30 Before 30 list is calling and her new job depends on reviving rockstar Rhys James’s image before he headlines Winter Lights Live... -
Summer Tease by Martha Keyes
Falling for a Palmer would be the ultimate crime. Wild horses couldn’t drag me back to the small island where I grew up, but you know what can? Making sure the Palmer family–aka the worst neighbors ever–show appropriate respect to the newest resident of their retirement center: my grandma. But as soon as Grams moves in, her shenanigans put her at risk of being kicked out... -
A Winter Warmer at the Little Cornish Kitchen by Jane Linfoot
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratings‘Sparkling, laugh-out-loud, romantic’ Phillipa AshleySt Aidan: a cosy Cornish village where friendships are made for life and it’s always cocktail hour somewhere…. A clean slate in the world’s cosiest cottage by the sea…. When Gwen Starkey and her best friend, Ella Simpson, arrive in St Aidan to take on a cottage renovation, it’s the fresh start they both so desperately need... -
The Christmas Dilemma by Sarah Vance-Tompkins
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSkipping Christmas is easy. But it’s impossible to deny your heart… Eli Adair is the first call whenever his family and friends need a hand. But this Christmas, he has no obligations, so he’s taking a break from the stress of big family celebrations. No presents under the tree. No stockings by the fireplace. No twinkling lights. All he wants is to be home alone at Hillcrest House... -
Set My Heart Bonfire by Marika Ray
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHe's a dashing millionaire who thinks everything in life is one big joke, probably because he bathes in piles of money each morning. He’s also my new neighbor, and after a humiliating experience in the cemetery that is my backyard, he becomes my shadow, showing up everywhere just to annoy me. I’m not a fan of happy people...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine from hate to love small town m-f contemporary super rich hero humor length-medium -
Give & Take by Claire Wilder
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsI shouldn’t be thinking about him. Even though he tells me he can’t stop thinking about me. I’m turning 41. He’s 26. I’m a serious person. He’s fun-loving and carefree. It’s all wrong. But every time Raphael LaForest looks at me, it feels so, so right. Just a glance and my whole body melts. The simple brush of his hand on mine and every last nerve ending is on fire. But that’s not all...Categorized as:
small town m-f grumpy sunshine forced proximity cold heroine sunny hero age difference contemporary -
-
Evil is Forever by Trilina Pucci
In this sizzling sequel to One Killer Night, a special effects artist and a hotshot chef put their shared past to the test to survive a stalker—and their feelings for each other. It’s been two years since Evie and Chase clawed their way out of the real-life horror movie that would define most people. They’ve finally moved on. Or so they thought. Evie’s doing special effects for a new slasher film... -
Some Kind of Blunderful by Livy Hart
If you ask Mia Madden, the road to dating hell is paved with suspiciously hot online profiles. Take tonight’s date, for example. Alex Conroy’s whole “boardroom in the streets, lumberjack in the sheets” thing totally works for her, but his profile did not convey that he represents everything she loathes about corporate hustle culture. He’s not even worth her bottle of purse wine...Categorized as:
forced proximity grumpy sunshine from hate to love new adult m-f humor contemporary dual-pov -
The Fake Wedding Project by Pippa Grant
Romeo and Juliet meets Hallmark Christmas movie in this steamy romp about star-crossed nonlovers caught up in a fake romance that could change everything they know in a real big way. Faking an engagement to my secret high school crush was not on my to-do list when I landed for a short visit home. But when Amanda Anderson announces that she’s my fiancée, I take a leap and play along with the farce... -
A Fish Out of Water by Savannah Scott
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsI knew trying to make a fresh start on Marbella Island would mean reinventing myself. I'm only here while I work my way up to my dream role in a major motion picture in Hollywood. Which explains why I took a role playing a mermaid in the island production of In So Deep . What I didn't count on? Ben. The charmer who just took a job as a water sports instructor. Everyone loves Ben. Everyone but me... -
Flowers and Financiers by Alina Jacobs
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsIn my defense, I never claimed to be professional. .. At least that’s my excuse for why I mistook a billionaire for a waiter, made off-color comments and accidentally dumped a plate of food all over him. Embarrassing myself is a daily occurrence, just like my unpaid bill notices. But being in a wedding instead of planning one is not...Categorized as:
from hate to love grumpy sunshine forced proximity m-f contemporary super rich hero humor suspense -
Hate You, Maybe by Julie Christianson
When the stakes are win, lose, or fall … and love is not in their lesson plan. Sayla Kroft has only two goals this year:. Score the big district grant to rebuild her high school’s dilapidated theater. Avoid Dexter Michaels, the flirty-flirt athletic director who wants those same funds for the gym. Losing to her workplace enemy—again—is not on Sayla's never-ending to-do list... -
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...Categorized as:
m-f grumpy sunshine from hate to love small town sassy heroine strong heroine sweet-hero sunny hero -
Wrapped Up at the Vintage Dress Shop: Curl up with this uplifting, cozy and hilarious winter read for 2025 by Annie Darling
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratings'This cozy, heartwarming story is the literary equivalent of your favorite festive sweater - snug, sparkling, and just what you need for a feel-good escape' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. 'A beautifully written story with twists and turns that makes for a book difficult to put down. A real page turner' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. ❄️ 🧵Falling in love is never seamless. .. 🧵❄️... -
Lucky Penny by Katherine Bitner
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsLucky Penny is book two in The Hometown series, however it can be read as a stand alone novel. Ten years ago, they were inseparable—until she left for college and he went to prison. Now there’s only one thing that can get Penny Hanson to return to her hometown of her little sister...Categorized as:
forced proximity from hate to love angst christmas m-f found-family friends to lovers bad boys -
The Mistletoe Makeover by Grace Worthington
He’s the hottest country rock star in the country whose reputation needs repaired. I’m an unemployed event planner who’s desperate for a job. When I’m forced to team up with Mr. Smolder for the most ambitious Christmas event around, it might be my biggest mistake yet…. For me, Christmas has never been the most wonderful time of year... -
-
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 forced proximity christmas cold heroine sweet-hero sunny hero -
Acting Merry by Martha Keyes
She brought him to save her pride. He showed up ready to steal her heart. When Reese Cameron learns that her annual friend’s Christmas getaway will include her ex coming as her friend’s plus one, she considers a few. Stay home and nurse her prideBreak her leg skiing for a rock-solid excuse not to goAsk someone to come as her fake boyfriend. Enter Cole Bradley...Categorized as:
m-f fake relationship forced proximity christmas sweet-hero sunny hero humor length-short -
Puffin Bay by Annie Dyer
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsHeartbreak led me to Puffin Bay, searching for peace in a small, coastal town. Four years later, my bar is thriving and my next business is just what the town needs. It doesn’t need Roman Tominey. Arrogant, city-boy, suit-wearing grump - he knows how to push every one of my buttons, and after an evening of bad decisions, he knows how to push that one too...Categorized as:
from hate to love grumpy sunshine forced proximity office strong heroine m-f humor contemporary -
British Black Sheep (Cocky Hero Club) by Lauren Smith
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAn arrogant Brit might just be the right cup of tea for her…. He is exactly the kind of man Brie Honeyweather swore never to love…or lust after ever a sexy, arrogant, British bad boy in a designer suit. Alec is the last person Brie wants to be stuck on an international flight to London with, but hey…at least they’re in first class... -
One Small Spark by Genny Carrick
Nemesis: the inescapable agent of one’s downfall. See also Shepherd Callahan. I can’t escape Callahan. Believe me, I’ve tried. Ever since he opened his bike shop next door to my family’s bakery, the broody man’s been unavoidable. Whether he’s sauntering into our store to ask pointed questions about our pies or stealing my favorite parking spot, he’s skilled at getting under my skin...Categorized as:
from hate to love m-f small town sassy heroine sweet-hero humor behind-doors contemporary -
The Principal Problem by Sienna Mills
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe golden boy who made my childhood miserable is all grown up… and my new boss. Look, I didn’t run away from my prestigious teaching job. I just… needed a change… as a substitute teacher… in the podunk town I left fourteen years ago. The cherry on top? The principal is Sawyer Strong, the boy whose relentless teasing would make me cry... -
Dirty Secret Love by Claudia Y. Burgoa
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFrom USA Today bestselling author Claudia Burgoa comes an angsty, fake-fiance, opposites attract, secret billionaire romance. What do you do when you’re tired of being the loser? You make up the perfect fiancé, of course. I know it sounds desperate, but hear me out. In my family, everyone is someone. But me? I’m just a small-town librarian with no prospects and no future...Categorized as:
office forced proximity angst small town contemporary super rich hero humor length-medium -
Runaway Love by Lea Coll
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA dream wedding, a bride with cold feet, and the mountain man that comes to her rescue. I never thought that, on my wedding day, I would literally bolt from my wedding, and into the arms of a grumpy mountain man. Emmett offers me a much-needed respite from the chaos, inviting me into his cabin to "hide out" until all the wedding guests leave...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine christmas forced proximity small town m-f contemporary humor length-medium -
Ship Fate by Dulcie Dameron
A quirky marine archeologist and a grumpy jaded fisherman are forced to spend the summer together. Or drown trying. .. Shipwrecks and heartbreaks are oddly similar. Both are reminders that all it takes is one devastating blow to sink something that was once beautiful. Then all you're left with is a pile of wreckage that clutters up the ocean. Okay, so analogies aren’t Perry Ford’s strong suit...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine from hate to love m-f contemporary humor length-short glimpses-kisses -
Luca & Ivy and the Four Calling Birds by Ellie Hall
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWould you rather be stranded in a snowstorm with Miss All-things Christmas or the Grinch? Ivy. If you ever find yourself on the run, do not, I repeat, do not drive off the road and into an icy pond. Should you have such an accident, do not wander into the woods to a chalet with a blazing fire. But if you lose feeling in your toes and go inside to warm up, do not, I repeat, do not, doze off. Luca...Categorized as:
christmas grumpy sunshine forced proximity from hate to love contemporary humor length-short -
-
Love So Irresistible by Marquita Valentine
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsAll former Navy SEAL Mason Lawson craves is solitude. Unfortunately, his new neighbor won’t allow him the peace he so desperately needs. Between the traffic and the music, Mason is constantly on edge—not exactly what the doctor ordered for someone recovering from a bullet to the leg... -
A Brooding Bodyguard by Angela R. Casella
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIt’s not easy being famous. Okay, you already hate me. .. can we start over? Sinclair. I’m Sinclair Jones, best known for playing a woman ten years younger than me on TV. Or at least I was until I quit my job and moved to Asheville. I came here to find myself...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine office forced proximity from hate to love suspense humor mystery contemporary -
Ending in Marriage by Debbie Macomber
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsRediscover an exciting and heartfelt, opposites attract romance from New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber. Duke Porter is the best pilot of Midnight Sons, a bush-plane charter service located in the small town of Hard Luck, Alaska. He is a rugged, no-nonsense traditionalist set in his ways... -
The Principal Problem by Sienna Mills
The golden boy who made my childhood miserable is all grown up… and my new boss. Look, I didn’t run away from my prestigious teaching job. I just… needed a change… as a substitute teacher… in the podunk town I left fourteen years ago. The cherry on top? The principal is Sawyer Strong, the boy whose relentless teasing would make me cry...Categorized as:
small town from hate to love new adult m-f office forced proximity sassy heroine teacher-heroine -
Juicy Pickle by J.J. Knight
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsCan you imagine getting stuck alone on a deserted island with the person you hate most in the world? And no end in sight? Well, that’s me. Bailey Johansson, former assistant to the absolute worst boss ever to boss in the boss world. Stranded on a tiny island owned by a cruise line in an abandoned party hut. In a tropical storm. This is not a love story. It’s not a tale of redemption or heroism...Categorized as:
from hate to love forced proximity new adult m-f contemporary humor length-medium first-person-pov -
Puppy Love by Misha Bell, Erin Mallon
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsLilly. An opportunity to tell off the billionaire whose bank took my childhood home? Yes, please! The greedy, arrogant jerk thinks I’m here to interview for the job of his dog trainer (a. k. a. nanny), but he’s got a big storm coming...
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.

