Books like 'Better Than Expected'
Readers who enjoyed Better Than Expected by Haley Cass also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary lesbian romance friends to lovers queer found-family bisexual angst single-mother queer-awakening class difference
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On the Same Page by Haley Cass
Riley Beckett met Gianna Mäkinen – drop-dead gorgeous influencer, trilingual, daughter of world-famous models, yes, that Gianna Mäkinen – their first year at Boston University, and it changed everything for the both of them... -
![When You Least Expect It by Haley Cass]()
When You Least Expect It by Haley Cass
Caroline Parker knows three things to be true. First, she is going to be Boston's most sought after divorce attorney by thirty-five. Second, given how terrible her romantic track record is, falling in love isn't in the cards for her. And third, Christmas only brings her bad luck - being broken up with not once, not twice, but three times during the holidays is proof enough of that... -
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![Above all Things by Roslyn Sinclair]()
Above all Things by Roslyn Sinclair
The Carlisle saga continues…. Aspiring writer Jules Moretti and iconic fashion editor Vivian Carlisle have been through the wringer. As Vivian’s personal assistant, Jules was there for her ice queen boss’s whims, commands, and the shocking discovery of her pregnancy. Just as shocking was Jules’s realization that she was falling hard for Vivian…and that the feeling was mutual... -
![Falls From Grace by Ruby Landers]()
Falls From Grace by Ruby Landers
Savannah Grace is a huge star in Nashville. At least, she was. Her hit band Twice Struck topped the country music charts for almost a decade until her high profile marriage to her bandmate and co-writer publicly exploded. Now she’s fading from the spotlight and her own life, just trying to keep her head above water. Brynn Marshall is a little lost...Categorized as:
queer found-family single-mother angst poor heroine class difference slow burn height-difference -
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![If I Don't Ask by E.J. Noyes]()
If I Don't Ask by E.J. Noyes
Rebecca Keane has it all figured out. With a successful career as an Army surgeon and a fresh promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, she loves her life leading a surgical team. Even if that life means she’s spent years hiding her sexuality and ignoring her desires under the Army’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy... -
![The Blind Side of Love by Ingrid Díaz]()
The Blind Side of Love by Ingrid Díaz
2nd draft available here: ingriddiaz. com. Julianne Franqui is a hot actress and secretly gay. On a trip to New York she sees the artwork of artist Kris Milano, whose talent is not the only thing she's attracted to. Undercover of email, she begins a correspondence with the artist . When she comes to New York for filming and finally meets her, will she tell Kris the truth . . -
![Honey in the Marrow by Emily Waters]()
Honey in the Marrow by Emily Waters
An enemies-to-friends-to-lovers lesbian romance about finding heart, hope, and second chances you never thought you’d have. Stella Carter is a former criminal prosecutor and new widow facing down middle age alone in Los Angeles. Without being a prestigious lawyer and someone’s wife, she’s not sure who she is anymore or where her life is headed... -
![Awaiting by Nicole Pyland]()
Awaiting by Nicole Pyland
This is book #4 in the Royalty Series. Alexandria – or Alex, as she preferred to be called – would one day be the next Queen of the United Kingdom. She would also be the first out lesbian who would take that title... -
![Once Upon a Time in December by Alyson Root]()
Once Upon a Time in December by Alyson Root
WHAT IF THE WRONG PROPOSAL LED YOU TO THE RIGHT PERSON? One disastrous Christmas proposal. One free-spirited violinist. One year that changes everything. Whitley Dupont has it a high-powered finance job, a picture-perfect fiancé, and a five-year plan—until it all falls apart at her family’s Christmas gala... -
![The Flight Risk by Macon Leigh]()
The Flight Risk by Macon Leigh
Rated: 4.75 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThings are going great for Baylee Lawrence. Her writing has won awards, been adapted into an outrageously successful movie, and she’s just achieved her childhood dream of selling out a storytelling show at the Ryman. It’s incredible. Her life is perfect—a series of grand adventures. She has no intention of changing anything... -
![Where the Heart Leads by Ally McGuire]()
Where the Heart Leads by Ally McGuire
Rated: 4.69 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsA stunt car driver, an MI5 agent, a gigolo… Finn Montoya tells everyone she meets she has a different profession. It’s all part of keeping people at a distance while still being a part of the world around her. Really, she’s an accomplished writer who has taken being a mystery to heart. At least that way, she can stay safe. Under no circumstances can her past catch up with her... -
![I Really Do by Emily K. Hardy]()
I Really Do by Emily K. Hardy
Brooke Kent hasn't spoken to a single member of her family in thirteen years. That's all changed when her younger brother calls her to invite her to his wedding. He tells her to bring her girlfriend, partner, spouse, or the woman she hooks up with on Tuesdays, he doesn't care who, just wants her there. Brooke would be tempted to take him up on that only she's painfully single... -
![The Love Lie by Monica McCallan]()
The Love Lie by Monica McCallan
A year ago, Sydney King was a successful pro tennis player with a long-term boyfriend, a plan for the future, and a shot at fulfilling all her dreams. Now, she has a cheating ex-boyfriend and a career-ending injury, and—quite frankly—things could not be going worse for her... -
![Shifting Gears by Jazz Forrester]()
Shifting Gears by Jazz Forrester
A spicy, small-town, opposites attract lesbian romance about learning to let go, no matter the cost. Workaholic Eleanor Cromwell blows into rural Canada, laser focused on her real estate development project. Given the locals already hate her father’s company, she plans to hide away in a cabin and conceal her identity to get the job done. And then her car breaks down…...Categorized as:
queer class difference career professional f-f contemporary audiobook canada small town -
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![The Forever and The Now by K.J .]()
The Forever and The Now by K.J .
Rated: 4.68 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsBron McIntyre, forty-two, has it all together. Terrific job. Loving family. No desperate need for a girlfriend but would be interested if one came along. Bron McIntyre is Teflon. Kate Agostino, forty-eight, is not Teflon. Yes, she has a terrific job. But a loving family? Not really. And her personal life is rapidly disintegrating and turning into dust... -
![If the Shoe Fits by E.J. Noyes]()
If the Shoe Fits by E.J. Noyes
Jana Fleischer loves her life—wonderful family, best sister in the world, awesome soon to be sister-in-law, fabulous job, and a never-ending stream of men to chew through and spit out... -
![Perfect Rhythm by Jae]()
Perfect Rhythm by Jae
Pop star Leontyne Blake might sing about love, but she stopped believing in it a long time ago. What women want is her image, not the real her. When her father has a stroke, she flees the spotlight and returns to her tiny Missouri hometown. In her childhood home, she meets small-town nurse Holly Drummond, who isn’t impressed by Leo’s fame at all...Categorized as:
queer rich heroine slow burn career professional competent heroine sweet heroine f-f contemporary -
![Beyond the Blue by T.J. O'Shea]()
Beyond the Blue by T.J. O'Shea
Numbers rule Dr. Mei Sharpe’s life. She has no husband, one friend, two daughters, and three random meetings with the same woman within four weeks. Once is chance, twice is coincidence, but upon the third meeting, even Mei in all her empirical rigidness must admit that perhaps the universe is giving her a nudge... -
![Love Next Door by Rachael Sommers]()
Love Next Door by Rachael Sommers
A sweet toaster-oven lesbian romance that asks whether the one we’re meant to be with might be right under our nose. Reserved tattoo artist Riley Foster has just moved apartments and can’t take her eyes off the single mom who lives next door...Categorized as:
friends to lovers queer queer-awakening competent heroine single-mother bisexual f-f contemporary -
![The Scent of Rome by Lise Gold]()
The Scent of Rome by Lise Gold
In a last-ditch attempt to secure an investor for an app she’s developed, Rome Foster travels to her namesake city hoping her luck is going to change. Just as she’s about to pitch her life’s work, she meets the charming and captivating Nadine; a high-end escort who shocks Rome by flirting with her...Categorized as:
queer queer-awakening friends to lovers found-family competent heroine f-f length-medium audiobook -
![Separate Like Stars by Diana Kane]()
Separate Like Stars by Diana Kane
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsOn paper, Jordan Cohen has it all. With numerous bestsellers under her belt, a number of blockbuster movie adaptations to her credit, and a high profile relationship with one of Hollywood’s most prominent stars, what more could she possibly ask for? Maybe for Olivia Bradley, the only woman to ever break her heart, to exit her life as quickly as she’d re-entered it...Categorized as:
angst friends to lovers queer f-f second chances from hate to love contemporary audiobook -
![The Pining Paradox by Monica McCallan]()
The Pining Paradox by Monica McCallan
Six months ago, Hallie Thatcher’s parents sold The Stone’s Throw Inn, where she’s lived and worked for her entire life. Everything is changing around her, and she’s been trying to adjust. Really. Even when it means navigating her new promotion at the inn. Helping to plan her best friend’s wedding to Hallie’s new boss...Categorized as:
queer queer-awakening bisexual class difference caretaking friends to lovers slow burn found-family -
![All the Love Songs by Nicole Pyland]()
All the Love Songs by Nicole Pyland
Peyton Gloss is the world’s most famous and popular singer/songwriter known for her chart-topping hits as well as her famous girl squad and July 4th events, inviting all of her famous friends to celebrate. This year, she did something even more extravagant than ever and invited her friends to join her for a week-long adult summer camp experience... -
![No After You by Nicole Pyland]()
No After You by Nicole Pyland
Dani Wilder only intended to go to a fundraiser and donate money to a worthy cause. She had no idea that she’d meet the love of her life that night. There were only a couple of problems with that chance meeting. Dani had a boyfriend. That chance meeting – it was with Peyton Gloss, the world’s most famous music star, who also happened to be a woman... -
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![Enthralled by Her by Chelsea M. Cameron]()
Enthralled by Her by Chelsea M. Cameron
Rated: 4.51 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThings might be going well enough, but I couldn’t see much to look forward to. Sure, I somehow had a thriving business repairing and rebinding books, and my parents had gifted me their vacation house after my apartment was turned into a co-op. Still, there wasn’t a whole lot of action and excitement in little Arrowbridge, Maine, but I was making the best of it, like I always did... -
![July by Nicole Pyland]()
July by Nicole Pyland
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsJill Solomon has watched her friends fall in love over the past year and a half, and she feels like she’s the only single lesbian left in New Orleans. When her mother runs off unexpectedly, leaving Jill to take care of her ten-year-old sister, Jill worries that her entire life is about to change, and not for the better... -
![Reservations of the Heart by T.B. Markinson]()
Reservations of the Heart by T.B. Markinson
Can two wounded souls find solace together? 41-year-old doctor Stella Gilbert used to have it all. Her career was on fire, and she had a picture-perfect family--until she was blindsided by her wife doing the unthinkable... -
![June by Erik Schubach]()
June by Erik Schubach
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsThe daughter of Mandy Fay Harris is all grown up and like her mother, is a force of nature. She is ready to come into her own and take London by storm! She never expected what what she would find while searching in New York for a scout for her music label and the new relationships she would form. This is set in the same world as Music of the Soul but is a standalone book. -
![Answering the Call by Ali Vali]()
Answering the Call by Ali Vali
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsAs New Orleans recovers from Hurricane Katrina, Detective Sept Savoie recovers from a gunshot wound with the help of her new love Keegan Blanchard. As the city returns to normal, so does the crime rate. Sept’s first case back on the job is a strangely ritualistic killing, which quickly escalates into serial murder... -
![Pieces of Us by T.B. Markinson, Miranda MacLeod]()
Pieces of Us by T.B. Markinson, Miranda MacLeod
The nanny is hot for her boss, but she’s been burned falling for a straight woman in the past. Julianna Bristol is on the brink of success as her fledgling video game design company goes after the opportunity of a lifetime. But her ex-husband is intent on making her fodder for late-night comedy... -
![The Next Chapters by Haley Cass]()
The Next Chapters by Haley Cass
Gianna Mäkinen has been in love with her best friend Riley Beckett for her entire adult life. She’d long accepted that her place in life was Riley’s best friend, and that was okay. It was more than okay. She never imagined that she would have the opportunity to confess her love to Riley, to marry her, to have a herd of children with her... -
![30 Dates in 30 Days by Elle Spencer]()
30 Dates in 30 Days by Elle Spencer
Veronica Welch has made it. She’s about to be named a partner at one of the most prestigious law firms in New York City. She’s on top of the world, except for one tiny ridiculous thing: she promised herself she’d be married by thirty-five. After a drink too many, she accidentally lets her “life plan” slip to Bea, her steadfast, ever meddling assistant, and now Bea won’t let the idea go...Categorized as:
queer angst class difference slow burn found-family strong heroine career professional f-f -
![Something New by Jacqueline Ramsden]()
Something New by Jacqueline Ramsden
The “something new” at your sister’s wedding is supposed to be your sexuality, right? Thea Cooper is heading to her sister’s wedding in Montana for Christmas. The problem is that her ex is going to be there, and her mother is hoping they’ll rekindle their romance. All Thea wants is to enjoy the lodge, the holiday, and celebrate her sister... -
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![The Wisdom of Bug by Alyson Root]()
The Wisdom of Bug by Alyson Root
Now updated in a fully revised and expanded Second Edition — with new chapters, fresh scenes, and a brand-new festive cover. Evelyn Crawford is officially having the worst run-up to Christmas in history... -
![Goddess of the Moon by Claire Highton-Stevenson]()
Goddess of the Moon by Claire Highton-Stevenson
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsDiana Maddox is a creature of comfort, she plays by the rules and she likes things done properly. Now, she finds herself in a bit of a rut. Single after an almost decade-long relationship with Jason, who cheated on her, Diana is sharing a flat with her sister and nephew. Her friends have all married and had families of their own, so there's only one thing for it, Diana decides... -
![Storm in Her Heart by KC Luck]()
Storm in Her Heart by KC Luck
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsLove can weather the stormiest of hearts…. Athena Storm, the resilient owner of a struggling tavern, has weathered many storms in her life. As she fights to keep her establishment afloat, she is convinced she does not have time for a relationship. Enter Kate Franklin, an ex-cop turned delivery driver who seeks refuge from her past... -
![Awakenings by Susan X. Meagher]()
Awakenings by Susan X. Meagher
Despite the questions of her roommates and the objections of her fiance, Jamie Evans persists in enrolling in a college course that seems an odd choice for a young woman of her background. What no one can know is that the course, The Psychology of the Lesbian Experience, will propel Jamie onto a journey of self-awareness and realization... -
![Wrong Number, Right Woman by Jae]()
Wrong Number, Right Woman by Jae
A single text message can change everything! Flirting has never been Denny’s strong suit, but so what if she’s too shy to ask women out? She’s content with her simple life, working as a cashier and helping her sister raise her niece... -
![Fragments of the Heart by Ally McGuire]()
Fragments of the Heart by Ally McGuire
Love can be the most thrilling expedition of all. Archeologist Kelly Pierce lives for adventure, weaving a tapestry of exploration, seeking out artifacts that whisper stories of the past. Always ready for the next expedition, she never thought Oklahoma would be on her map. Shawn Scott thrives in predictability... -
![At Seventeen by Gerri Hill]()
At Seventeen by Gerri Hill
Madison Lansford and Shannon Fletcher met when they were ten years old. Madison—daughter of wealthy parents and Shannon, daughter of their live-in maid and cook—became fast friends, yet both knew their place in life. There was never a doubt that they would become lovers . . . there was also never a doubt that Madison would marry and maintain her social standing in the community...Categorized as:
angst friends to lovers queer contemporary f-f second chances length-medium explicit-open-door -
![The Rules of Forever by Nan Campbell]()
The Rules of Forever by Nan Campbell
Public school teacher Cara Talarico is determined to pay off her student loans by the time she turns thirty-five and has sworn off everything fun to make it happen—including dating. Attending her high school reunion definitely ranks in the not-fun category. The last thing she expects is to reconnect with Lauren Havemayer, her unrequited crush from ten years ago...Categorized as:
class difference slow burn cheerful heroine poor heroine rich heroine career professional queer f-f -
![Mercy by Max Ellendale, Victoria Miller]()
Mercy by Max Ellendale, Victoria Miller
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsEx-rock star, Dusty Song, abandons her music career to become a U. S. Marshal tasked with safeguarding vulnerable people from the criminals set on silencing them. When Dusty first encounters the illustrious Honorable Judge Bidwell, she sees a woman marked by the cases she's tried. Years later, Dusty remembers the strong-willed, audacious woman as the unlikeable star of the courtroom...Categorized as:
queer career professional single-mother f-f contemporary bodyguard-heroine north-america usa -
![Loved and Lost by Stephanie Kusiak]()
Loved and Lost by Stephanie Kusiak
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsBlake Fortnier and Rachel Kaplan are the perfect couple. Fifteen years into a marriage that will seemingly last forever, a tragic accident tears them apart. After reaching the end of her rope, Blake is blessed with the chance to relive her life. She can right her wrongs, live life to the fullest and change the course of fate, or so she hopes. -
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![Call of Love by Lee Haven]()
Call of Love by Lee Haven
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSeparated by fear. Reunited by fate. Will they get a second chance at life and love? Parker Snow left home at nineteen after being abandoned by her family for loving her foster sister, Kate Cain. She joined the Marine Corps and has had little contact with her parents since. But when she’s transferred back to Washington D. C... -
![Finding a Keeper by Nicole Pyland]()
Finding a Keeper by Nicole Pyland
Sports Series Book #4. This series is related by a sports theme, not by characters. Sloan Rossi is about to go to college on a soccer scholarship. She has spent the past six years living in London and playing for a well-known team... -
![Beginner's Bet by Fiona Riley]()
Beginner's Bet by Fiona Riley
Ellison Gamble owns the most successful luxury real estate firm in Boston, but the accomplishment feels hollow when she comes home to an empty house. Institutionalizing her mother for her own safety was the hardest thing Katie Crawford has ever done. The costs are becoming more than she can manage, and her only solution is to sell her childhood home that has fallen into disrepair... -
![Heal their Hearts by Claire Highton-Stevenson]()
Heal their Hearts by Claire Highton-Stevenson
Georgia Samuels lives her life with no commitments other than the love of her job, and the flashy little apartment overlooking the Thames. That is until tragedy strikes and her sister, Aston, and Aston's husband Ben are both killed when the plane they're returning home on crashes, leaving the family rocked, and three kids orphaned... -
![Making It Count by Nicole Pyland]()
Making It Count by Nicole Pyland
Sports Series Book #5. This series is related by a sports theme, not by characters. NOTE: The characters of this book are living during the first year of the pandemic. Shay Amos chose Dunbar University because she wanted to play basketball at a smaller school and be the best player on the team... -
![The Christmas Catch by Clare Lydon]()
The Christmas Catch by Clare Lydon
Two stranded travellers. One secret crush. Can they make it home without falling in love? Thrown together when their plane conks out and a blizzard rolls in, Morgan Scott and her childhood friend Ali Bradford are on a mission to make it from Glasgow to Devon in time for Christmas...
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