Books like 'What Hurts Us'
Readers who enjoyed What Hurts Us by Maggie Gates also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary funny multicultural m-f fake relationship forced proximity grumpy sunshine competent heroine independent heroine strong heroine
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Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku, Vol. 3 by Fujita
A tall, quiet gamer boy and a geeky girl whose life revolves around yaoi manga are old friends, but when they start working in the same office, they decide to date. It's a relationship of convenience at first, but could it become something more? This manga comedy is now a hit streaming anime! Extra-long book includes 2 Japanese volumes! SUMMER ROMANCE FOR NERDS... -
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... -
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A New Dawn at Owl's Lodge by Jessica Redland
Rated: 4.52 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsCould one chance meeting change your life forever? Zara is at a crossroads in life. While she adores her job as a producer's assistant working on hit TV shows, travelling around the country means she doesn't truly feel that she has a home. With a fractured relationship with her family and unrequited love weighing heavily on her heart, she is torn about what her next step in life should be. . -
Can't Help Falling by Courtney Walsh
All it takes to start a fire is one single match. . . Owen Larrabee is not my soulmate. He wasn't when I confessed my love to him on his wedding day, and he isn't now. I should probably say that I wasn't the bride when that happened. I don't have the best timing. He’s got a temper, he's moody, and he has a history of being misunderstood and making big mistakes...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine men in uniform m-f small town contemporary friends to lovers office humor -
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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... -
The Mistletoe Kisser by Lucy Score
Ryan Sosa, grumpy former corporate accountant, has had it up to here with surprises. He didn’t see getting fired coming. And he certainly didn’t anticipate flying across the country to the world’s hippie-est, happiest, most annoying town to save his great-uncle from some mysterious emergency... -
The Wild Card by Carolyn Brown
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsWhen Lady Luck deals her a roadside diner in small-town Texas, a professional poker player discovers home may be the best win of all in this heartfelt romance by. New York Times. bestselling author Carolyn Brown... -
Hat Trick: Alternate Cover by Chelsea Curto
Riley Mitchell has everything he could ever want. He’s a back-to-back Stanley Cup champion. He has great friends, a fun life, and he’s living out his dream of playing hockey in the NHL. Except one night, everything changes. After a car accident leaves him with an amputated right leg, he struggles with his identity... -
Pitch For Me by Swati M.H.
I had a one-night stand with a gorgeous stranger, believing I’d never see him again. Except who did he turn out to be? Troy Winters, starting pitcher for the MLB and the hottest single dad to grace the planet. What’s worse, he’s now my son’s new baseball coach. In my defense, Troy and I had agreed to exchange fake names and occupations that fateful night in a seedy Colorado bar... -
Christmas Bully by K Nicole
An unexpected snow storm hits Law Grove on Christmas Eve and hustler, Kasim Davis has to find temporary shelter until it blows over. His shelter happens to belong to Sneaux, a single business woman who just stepped out to grab a few items before the storm turned for the worse... -
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 grumpy sunshine forced proximity small town cheerful heroine competent heroine cold hero humor -
The Potter's House by Hannah Ellis
Rated: 4.66 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsSometimes facing up to the past is the only way to create a better future…. Since the tragic death of his father, Lowen Treneary has kept to himself in his pottery studio on the remote island of Bryher. His quiet life is just the way he likes it. Until Pippa comes along. The local café owner plunges his peaceful existence into chaos and brightens his days while she’s at it... -
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 forced proximity m-f friends to lovers contemporary humor christian audiobook -
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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:
grumpy sunshine m-f small town cheerful heroine cold hero christmas contemporary length-novella -
The Village of Happy Ever Afters by Alison Sherlock
Rated: 4.52 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsMolly Hopkins has happily watched all of her friends’ dreams come true on Riverside Lane. Deciding to follow her passion for baking, Molly with the help of her friends takes the plunge and opens a Tea Garden in the village hoping to make it a summer to remember! Meanwhile, after a rather public end of his marriage, Logan Armstrong trusts no one but his beloved Grandad... -
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... -
Knockout by Jessica Prince
It wasn’t fair that the man I hated with a passion was so freaking gorgeous. Things in Layla Fox’s life were going great. She had a fantastic job, amazing friends, and a killer apartment. There was just one tiny glitch in all that perfect. Her upstairs neighbor was the very definition of tall, dark, and handsome . . . and she hated the man with every cell in her body... -
Moonlight Feels Right by Barbara Freethy
"I cannot wait for more of this series, I want everybody’s backstory and everybody’s happy ever after. And if there’s an empty apartment at Ocean Shores, it’s mine! !" Robin - Goodreads. Emmalyn McGuire has finally found her rhythm as a kindergarten teacher—but the once-in-a-lifetime love she reads about in her favorite books? Still missing...Categorized as:
tortured hero men in uniform cheerful heroine m-f grumpy sunshine contemporary humor length-medium -
Fire and Icing by Savannah Scott
Talk about making a bad first impression. The rookie at Waterford’s fire station literally hauled me out of my own home—over his shoulder. Was my kitchen on fire? Yes. Did I have it nearly contained? Also yes. And now he’s been tasked with making up for his overzealous rescue attempts by showing up to my bakery to grovel daily. And beg for my donuts... -
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 m-f humor suspense contemporary from hate to love length-medium -
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... -
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:
forced proximity m-f grumpy sunshine small town from hate to love office humor length-medium -
The Maverick of the Mountain by Tessa Klein
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsHe’s big. He’s bearded. AND HE HAS A CHAINSAW! ? You Only Live Once. .. My temporary tattoo feels more like a prescient warning than a gentle reminder after I nearly careen off an old mountain road during the worst storm I’ve ever encountered. I should’ve stayed in town. I should’ve thrown out the hand-drawn map the local gave me... -
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Wrong Number, Right Grump by Piper Cook
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsWrong number. Right timing. I left my ex the world’s most unhinged breakup voicemail—complete with colorful language, a few creative threats, and a playlist he could shove where the sun doesn’t shine. Only…I vented to the wrong number. Worse? The stranger listened to my rambling rant and had the nerve to respond...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine cheerful heroine cold hero m-f contemporary humor length-novella dual-pov -
Kiwi Rules by Rosalind James
Need an escape? Coming soon: The brand-new, snarky, steamy, Kiwi-centric series by the bestselling author of Escape to New Zealand. Afghanistan hadn't quite killed me. Karen Sinclair just might. You don't find many too-pretty rich boys in the New Zealand Defense Force. Turns out there's a reason for that. Fortunately, you can find your true self in the oddest places... -
The Fall of East by Nana Malone
Rated: 4.83 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTHE SIZZLING CONCLUSION TO THE HEAR NO EVIL TRILOGY. Nyla Kincade has stolen my ruthless heart. Now that she owns it I’m not taking it back. I’ve vowed to protect her and all that we love with everything that I have. I will die before I break that oath. Considering the danger we face, that might be a careless promise. But I’ve fought this hard for vengeance, I must see it through... -
What the Heart Learns by Jessica Gadziala
Liam has always preferred spending his life inside books, only looking up to occasionally growl at customers in his shop. Until the day someone new comes to town. A woman who could keep up with him, someone who sees beyond his guards, who makes him want something decidedly non -fiction for a change. The only problem is, Riley has a secret. One that just might tear them apart.Categorized as:
m-f small town competent heroine cold hero humor contemporary length-short explicit-open-door -
A Wonderland Wish on Ever After Street by Jaimie Admans
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA picture-perfect town, a place where dreams come true. Welcome to Ever After Street. .. There's always time for tea. .. unless you've lost your teapot…. Cleo Jordan has only ever wished for one thing – to open her own teashop in memory of her lovely gran...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine forced proximity small town found-family contemporary humor length-medium audiobook -
Love Without Influence by Jade Dollston
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsInfluence (noun): A power affecting a person, thing, or course of events. Monty. Boy meets Girl. Boy experiences severe intestinal distress and runs away. Boy returns and falls in love with Girl despite his… difficulties. Then Boy’s entire world explodes, shattered by outside influences that would have broken a weaker man. But not me... -
Love, Delivered by A.N. Boyden
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsTwo years ago, Noah Porter would have been described by his closest family and friends as charismatic, outgoing, the life of the party, and a social butterfly. That all changed when Noah became the victim of a mass shooting at a popular nightclub. Noah escaped with his life, but his two best friends weren't so lucky. Noah now suffers from PTSD, agoraphobia, anxiety, and depression... -
Happy New You by Brenda St. John Brown, Cassie-Ann L. Miller
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratings★10 Resolutions. 2 Friends. 1 Shot At Love. ★. I’ll admit, having nine New Year's resolutions makes me twitchy. After all, I’m Allison Gottlieb; overthinker, overachiever, hot mess extraordinaire. I’ve spent my entire life trying to be the best but for some reason, I’ve always fallen short... -
Crossing the Brooklyn Briggs by Dana LeCheminant
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsHigh school teacher Brooklyn Briggs has always been great with chemistry but terrible with relationships. When a guy drops into her life—literally—and offers to coach her into getting a date with her longtime crush, she's willing to accept any help she can get. Even if her new flirting coach is her brother Houston's best friend, the guy who drove her crazy all throughout high school...Categorized as:
forced proximity multicultural m-f contemporary siblings-bff from hate to love dual-pov humor -
Christmas With a Crank by Courtney Walsh
A second chance with your first crush. Doesn’t happen often. For Liam Fisher, that first crush was his next door neighbor, Olive Witherby. Childhood was lazy summers, treehouse stargazing, and endless games of hide and seek at Pine Creek, the Christmas tree farm that’s been in Liam’s family for generations... -
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Undeniable Temptation by Eden Summers
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHaunted by a kiss. With his destructive marriage behind him, Ryan Bennett can no longer deny his insatiable attraction to the one woman in control of his future. He needs her. Craves her. She’s the only glimpse of happiness through the building drama in his life and yet one drunken kiss has pushed her further away. Tormented by what’s at stake... -
Duke-ing it Out by Jami Albright
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIt’s game, set, and match when this pro football player turned trainer squares off against a gorgeous tennis player with an attitude as big as Texas. Duke Wayne returns to his hometown for one reason and one reason only—reckless pro tennis star Sienna Ramsey has lost her ever-lovin’ mind. His feisty client is ready to throw her career away in favor of a simple life...Categorized as:
small town strong heroine tortured hero m-f cheerful heroine grumpy sunshine cold hero contemporary -
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:
strong heroine tortured hero forced proximity m-f humor contemporary sassy heroine alpha male -
Catch a Wave by Savannah Scott
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsDid you ever see a guy and just know you had to meet him? That was me and Bodhi Merrick. I couldn't take my eyes off him as he donned his wetsuit at the famous big-wave surf spot, Mavericks. I'll never forget that day. Or every time our paths crossed after that. Big wave surfing is a small world...Categorized as:
multicultural forced proximity m-f sports siblings-bff humor contemporary length-medium -
Sweet Sunshine by Jessica Prince
She’s a romantic at heart. Chloe Delaney had three very specific wishes, growing up. She wished to stay settled in the small mountain town of Pembrooke, where she grew up, to one day be her own boss, and to fall in love with a man who would be willing to go to the ends of the earth for her...Categorized as:
m-f grumpy sunshine small town cheerful heroine competent heroine cold hero humor contemporary -
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 small town m-f contemporary from hate to love humor military -
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...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine m-f forced proximity small town cheerful heroine cold hero age difference dual-pov -
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 grumpy sunshine small town cheerful heroine cold hero men in uniform christmas contemporary -
If Only You Knew by Ellie K. Wilde
In the highly anticipated final installment of the Oakwood Bay series—“packed with sizzling tension, heat, and sweet, swoon-worthy moments” (Peyton Corinne, USA TODAY bestselling author)—childhood best friends Parker and Summer agree to matchmake each other, to disastrous results, all while fighting the fact that they’ve been each other’s soulmate all along...Categorized as:
forced proximity m-f bondage small town independent heroine strong heroine sports friends to lovers -
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:
independent heroine strong heroine m-f humor contemporary friends to lovers sassy heroine audiobook -
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Finn Rhodes Forever by Stephanie Archer
The guy who broke my heart is now an arrogant, too-hot firefighter… who’s hellbent on getting me back. This summer, I have one goal: field work. I need it to finish my PhD. I never expected Finn Rhodes to offer help. He broke my heart twelve years ago, and now that he’s back in town, I want nothing to do with him. Finn wants one thing—me. We were inseparable as kids until everything changed... -
Espresso Your Love (The Coffee Loft: Fall Collection) by Bella Greene
Welcome back to The Coffee Loft, where a new round of stories has been brewed especially for you. Those of you stopping by to visit again, we’ve missed you. The feeling of home is the same that you loved before. If it’s your first time, prepare to be swept off your feet. While our menu hasn’t changed, we think you’ll be pleased with the fall favorites we’ve added... -
The Agent by Kimberly Kincaid
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsNothing rattles stone-cold FBI Agent Kai Roman. Not chasing down ruthless criminals. Not the grief of losing his wife years ago. Not even inadvertently being caught in the middle of a bank robbery. Except Camila Garza is right beside him when danger strikes, and suddenly he’s the only person who can protect the off-limits beauty. No matter how much her older brother hates him... -
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 small town m-f contemporary from hate to love super rich hero humor length-medium -
Auctioned to the Mountain Man by Kali Hart
Alida. I would never have agreed to this auction if I wasn’t desperate. One night in exchange for some financial freedom seems like a small price to pay. But on my way, I end up stranded on the side of the road. And that man who finds me is the last man I ever wanted to see again. Fox. When I caught wind that my late buddy’s sister was putting herself up for auction, I had to intervene...
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