Books like 'The Best Ever'

Readers who enjoyed The Best Ever by Deanna Wadsworth also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.

contemporary  gay romance  athletes  sports  high-school  friends to lovers  height-difference  age difference  queer

  • The Dangerous Convenience Store Vol. 6 by 945

    The Dangerous Convenience Store Vol. 6 by 945

    Rated: 4.55 of 5 stars
    · Steam rating: 5 of 5
    Explicit and plentiful [?] · 17 ratings
    건우가 종적을 감춘 후 더디게 흘러가는 시간을 버티듯 살아가는 의준. 어느덧 3년이 지나 스물여덟을 맞이한다. 건우를 떠올리게 했던 사람과 시작한 연애. 그리고 아르바이트를 전전하다 어렵사리 취업한 중소기업 영업부. 상처받은 마음으로 인한 것일까? 미세하게 불안하지만 남들과 비슷해 보이는 그런 삶을 살고 있다. 의준은 직장 생활에서 막내, 신입이라는 이유로 상사의 사소한 심부름을 하게 되는데 그중 편의점에 가는 것이 가장 달갑지 않다. 그곳이 건우의 명함에서 보았던 그의 직장 CIK 그룹과 마주 보고 있다는 부분이 마음을 무겁게 만들기 때문이다. 함께했던 시간을 잊고자 하는 노력을 비웃듯 이렇게 추억들은 사소한 순간순간에 떠오른다...
  • Old-Fashioned Cupcake by Sagan Sagan

    Old-Fashioned Cupcake by Sagan Sagan

    Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars
    · 24 ratings
    A visit to a pancake shop leads to an unexpected May-December romance that breathes life into the monotonous routine of an older salaryman. The daily grind both soothes and troubles older salaryman Nozue, until an unexpected visit to a pancake shop with his blunt younger coworker shakes things up! At 39 years old, Nozue lives a routine, if not melancholic, life of sleep and work...
  • Sponsored links / Remove ads
  • My Dearest Patrolman, Vol. 2 by Niyama

    My Dearest Patrolman, Vol. 2 by Niyama

    Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars
    · Steam rating: 4 of 5
    Explicit open door [?] · 18 ratings
    Living under the same roof as the man he’s had a crush on for a solid decade has Shin’s libido in overdrive, and even his rampant awkwardness can’t get in the way of him getting some! Meanwhile, Seiji is swamped with self-doubt. Does an old man with a bleak romantic history have what it takes to satisfy his hot, young partner?
  • My Dearest Patrolman, Vol. 2 by Niyama

    My Dearest Patrolman, Vol. 2 by Niyama

    Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars
    · 21 ratings
    The seasons have shifted, and Shin and Seiji are starting their new life together. Living under the same roof as the man he’s had a crush on for a solid decade has Shin’s libido in overdrive, and even his rampant awkwardness can’t get in the way of him getting some! Meanwhile, Seiji is swamped with self-doubt...
  • Hold 'Em Tight by Alisha Williams, Amber Nicole

    Hold 'Em Tight by Alisha Williams, Amber Nicole

    Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    They weren't kidding when they say life can change in the blink of an eye. One moment, I think I have it all. My men. Happiness. Friends. Family. And the next, my whole life comes crashing down around me. Betrayal like I’ve never felt before consumes me. A heartbreak so gut-wrenching it hurts to breathe...
  • Golden Boy and the Two Bears by Nash Summers

    Golden Boy and the Two Bears by Nash Summers

    Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    Asher Williams is obsessed with love. His column is thriving, fellow students trust him with their relationship woes, and he’s on his A-game when it comes to matchmaking. At least, matchmaking other than his own. After a heartfelt letter written to his column, Asher is set on aiding the two love-struck heroes who desperately need his help...
  • Play Dead by Avery Cockburn

    Play Dead by Avery Cockburn

    Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars
    · 11 ratings
    The popular Scottish gay-romance series returns with this must-read novella! Colin’s wounds have finally healed. He’s ready for his big comeback on the football pitch and can’t wait to return to a normal life—especially the rampaging sex he and his boyfriend, Lord Andrew, once indulged in. But Andrew has his own invisible wounds...
  • Perfect Gifts by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey

    Perfect Gifts by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey

    Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    Family comes first in all things. Whatever the cost. Ten had always heard the saying ‘Out of the mouth of babes,’ but he’d not expected it to hit home as it had. After a comment from their daughter, Ten and Jared find themselves pondering an addition to the family. Moving into the adoption process is nerve-wracking and riddled with anxiety—kind of like how the Railers have been playing of late...
  • Hard Ink by Ali Lyda

    Hard Ink by Ali Lyda

    Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars
    · 14 ratings
    I don’t have the best history with older men. When Mateo saw my last relationship implode, he was there to help. He saved me. Hopefully self-defense lessons will keep me from getting hit again. I can’t ask for more of my friend. Even dreaming of keeping him is wrong. But when my ex makes things difficult, Mateo steps up again. I don’t want a protector, but maybe it’s time to accept a little help...
  • Assisted by Carly Marie

    Assisted by Carly Marie

    Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars
    · 12 ratings
    Foolish is judging a book by its cover… or a hockey coach by his suit. As assistant coach of the Nashville Grizzlies, Imil Bouchard has everything he needs, except maybe a Daddy. On the wrong side of forty and not looking for a traditional Dom, he knows there’s no point wishing for what he can’t have...
  • Tempt Me by Mia Monroe

    Tempt Me by Mia Monroe

    Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars
    · Steam rating: 4 of 5
    Explicit open door [?] · 16 ratings
    My best friend’s little brother is all grown up. Figuring out my sexuality at nearly forty years old has been a revelation, but dating hasn’t been any easier. After a failed engagement, I know what’s important to me, and I refuse to settle anymore. So when my best friend asks me if I can help his little brother settle in after being away, it sounds like a pleasant distraction...
  • A Kind of Romance by Lane Hayes

    A Kind of Romance by Lane Hayes

    Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars
    · 25 ratings
    Zeke Gulden is a ruthless Wall Street exec. His hard-edged, no-nonsense attitude has served him well in the cutthroat business world, but less so in his personal life. When he finds out his ex-boyfriend cheated on him with a coworker, Zeke can’t let go—not until he finds a way to get even. However, his meddlesome father has other ideas...
  • Golden Sparkle by Minta Suzumaru, 鈴丸みんた

    Golden Sparkle by Minta Suzumaru, 鈴丸みんた

    Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars
    · 21 ratings
    Himari Uehara, for a first-year high school boy, knows very little about sex. Without his father at home and having skipped health in middle school, Himari is only confused when he wakes up with his boxers a mess and has no one for advice. Luckily, Himari has Gaku Asada, a new friend from high school who offers to teach him everything and more he missed out in health class.
  • Surrender Your Heart by Aimee Nicole Walker

    Surrender Your Heart by Aimee Nicole Walker

    Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars
    · 20 ratings
    Secrets and fears… Everyone has them; Jack Murphy and Liam Connelly are no exception. A secret brings Liam Connelly to D. C. , but what he discovers upon his arrival is so much more than he expected. Hired to tend bar at Bottoms Up, Liam finds himself drawn to his enigmatic boss like a moth to a flame...
  • Love In Slow Motion by E.M. Lindsey

    Love In Slow Motion by E.M. Lindsey

    Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars
    · Steam rating: 4 of 5
    Explicit open door [?] · 10 ratings
    “Maybe it didn’t end there. Maybe it started with a kiss…”. The only thing Ilan Nadav knows about relationships and marriage is that they ruin people. He’s committed himself to the bachelor life, and he’s never been happier—until his best friend had to go and fall in the sort of toe-curling, sonnet-writing kind of love...
  • The Christmas Summons by Kelly Fox

    The Christmas Summons by Kelly Fox

    Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    From USA Today Bestselling Author Kelly Fox comes a Wild Heart Ranch Christmas novella. I’ve loved Gael Hernandez from the moment I laid eyes on him. We had a moment back in the summer, but he needed time to recover from the traumatic events that reshaped his family. It’s now Christmas, and I think my talented shoemaker is finally ready to let me love him for the rest of his life...
  • Final Score by Charlie Novak

    Final Score by Charlie Novak

    Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars
    · 9 ratings
    Can one perfect night lead to more? Jordan Green is too busy for a relationship. With the World Cup looming, his focus is on making the England team, not finding someone to spend his life with. His friends may be settling down, but Jordan’s had enough of planning weddings. All he wants is some fun, and Félix is the perfect person for that… even if he is his boss’s brother...
  • All In by Eliza Lentzski

    All In by Eliza Lentzski

    Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    Book Four and the dénouement of the Winter Jacket Series. Hollywood had been a disaster. Elle Graft—Associate Professor of English and once-budding television screenwriter—could admit that much. Now back in Minnesota and back to her old life, Elle’s determined to get her relationship with Hunter back on track. It all started with a broken classroom heater and a blue winter coat. How will it end?
  • Definitely Deacon by Vawn Cassidy

    Definitely Deacon by Vawn Cassidy

    Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars
    · 7 ratings
    Jesse Ainsley’s life running his busy veterinary practice in the sleepy Cornwall bay he grew up in leaves no time for a serious relationship… at least, that’s what he tells himself, but the simple truth is much more cliché...
  • Third Time Lucky by R.G. Alexander

    Third Time Lucky by R.G. Alexander

    Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    From Author New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author R. G. Alexander, Book 3 in the Finn's Pub Romance series! Ever had a thing for the man next door? My sexy new neighbor is confusing the hell out of me. Elliot Ransom is a baseball player and a single dad, but he doesn’t know his butter beer from a snozzberry...
  • Playing With Fire by Avery Cockburn

    Playing With Fire by Avery Cockburn

    Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars
    · 16 ratings
    “I don’t want options. I just want you. ”. Robert McKenzie has a secret. As the only straight player on an all-LGBT soccer team, he’s known to fans as “McWhatAWaste. ” No one would guess Robert’s actually bisexual. At twenty-one, on the verge of a brilliant career in video game design, he’s finally ready to be his true self...
  • The Professor's Date by Lane Hayes

    The Professor's Date by Lane Hayes

    Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars
    · Steam rating: 5 of 5
    Explicit and plentiful [?] · 13 ratings
    The professor, the hair stylist, and a wedding date…. Tommy. Help! My sister is getting married and according to her, I need a date. And a makeover. I’m a busy man, though. I don’t have time to meet eligible bachelors, and the tape holding my glasses together works just fine. Until my hair stylist steps on them...
  • School and Rock by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey

    School and Rock by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey

    Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars
    · 13 ratings
    When Colorado Penn finds an unexpected package on his front step, his life will be changed forever. Colorado Penn is living the dream. Starting goalie for the Arizona Raptors when in season, lead singer for a hard rock band when summer rolls around. He’s the quintessential free spirit who’s making sure he enjoys all the carnal blessings of his athleticism, and gritty singing voice...
  • Yesterday by Sarina Bowen

    Yesterday by Sarina Bowen

    Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars
    · 12 ratings
    It’s been seven years since John Rikker left his childhood home in Michigan. Surely that’s long enough to scar over the wounds he received there. Or is it? Can Rikker survive a visit with his parents? And can Graham let him do it alone? (Only published in the Novella Collection "Extra Credit" - The Ivy Years 6 which contains all three novellas.
  • A King in Wonderland by Nash Summers

    A King in Wonderland by Nash Summers

    Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    Asher Williams is obsessed with love. Or at least he was, until it all came crashing down. He made a mistake. And even Asher himself, arranger of marriages and aider of lovesick hearts, doesn’t know how to fix it. And like every heroic quest, there are a few bumps in the road and dragons to slay...
  • Enforce by Charity Parkerson

    Enforce by Charity Parkerson

    Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars
    · 9 ratings
    They were supposed to be a one-night stand, and then a weekend fling… a just-for-this-season affair… soulmates. When Chip met Jai during All-Stars weekend, their hookup should’ve ended there. At the time, it was no big deal. As the assistant coach for the Phoenix Ice Rays, Chip can’t be in a relationship with a player from his team. Lucky for him, Jai plays for the Red Zones...
  • Reawaken by Christina Lee

    Reawaken by Christina Lee

    Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars
    · 9 ratings
    Losing his adoring husband shattered Tristan Rogers's world. For the past few years, he’s been going through the motions, running their dog grooming business while hiding the loneliness he feels down to his bones. When he witnesses an ugly breakup between a pretentious customer and his boyfriend, Tristan can’t help but intervene...
  • Chance at the Impossible by J.M. Dabney

    Chance at the Impossible by J.M. Dabney

    Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars
    · 9 ratings
    Brent Canter lived forty-seven years content with his life to have it all disappear with one life-threatening diagnosis. Cancer without hope of survival, yet he’d beat the odds. He had a successful business and a family he loved, yet he was missing something. That something was an adorable, younger man, and he didn’t know what to do. Miller Andrews loves the silver fox, Brent Canter...
  • Age Rules by Jacki James, Michelle Frost

    Age Rules by Jacki James, Michelle Frost

    Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars
    · 9 ratings
    I was still too old for him, and he was still too far in the closet for me, but damn, if I didn’t crave him like a drug. After spending twenty years serving in the US Navy while Don’t Ask Don’t Tell was in effect, Darren Davis is unapologetically out and proud. He knows exactly what he wants in a relationship, and up and coming MMA star Andre Harrison isn’t it...
  • Holiday Crush by Lane Hayes

    Holiday Crush by Lane Hayes

    Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars
    · Steam rating: 5 of 5
    Explicit and plentiful [?] · 15 ratings
    The hockey has-been, the barista, and some holiday magic…. Court. Cut from the team, fired my agent…now what? This can’t be it for me. Unfortunately, the phone isn’t ringing. My best bet is to head home for the holidays and regroup. Problem: I don’t know what to do with myself. Helping out at the rink might be my ticket out of here, but nothing is happening fast enough. And then there’s Ivan...
  • Neutral Zone by Catherine Gayle

    Neutral Zone by Catherine Gayle

    Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    USA Today bestselling author Catherine Gayle presents another novella in the emotional Portland Storm hockey romance series. Being stuck in the Neutral Zone is no way to live…. Portland Storm defenseman Cole Paxton never intended to be the poster boy for gay hockey players...
  • Ikumen After by Kazuma Kodaka

    Ikumen After by Kazuma Kodaka

    Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    This is a really cute, sweet story about two single dads Asakura and Kentarou, whose young sons happen to go to the same daycare.
  • The Pro vs The Fan by Nicole Dykes

    The Pro vs The Fan by Nicole Dykes

    Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    Book 3.
  • Knox by Kimberly Knight, Rachel Lyn Adams

    Knox by Kimberly Knight, Rachel Lyn Adams

    Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    Being with Crew is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Even better than getting called up to the majors. We may have started as a fling, but he’s my end game now, the part of everything I want beyond baseball. There’s another guy in his life now, though, and he’s making up for lost time with his son Grady. I’ve been trying to find my place with them, and most days I think I have...
  • Sweet Spot by Sloan Johnson, Quinn Ward

    Sweet Spot by Sloan Johnson, Quinn Ward

    Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars
    · 13 ratings
    Four years ago, he gave his heart to a rookie pitcher and struck out. Now, they have a second chance to get things right. No longer living on the streets and surrounded by men who supported him, Cody Marshall’s life was finally looking up. He hadn’t expected to hook up with anyone on his first spring training trip, but there was something about Nick Stone that called to him...
  • Rescue by Alison Hendricks

    Rescue by Alison Hendricks

    Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    "I don't need you to rescue me. ". Tiberius "The Beast" Caulville is the bad boy of the NFL: an arrogant PR nightmare who doesn't care about his public image. But when an off-season fight lands him in hot water, he's forced to hide out in Hidden Creek and clean up his act with the help of the one person who doesn't buy it...
  • Nauti or Nice by Ava Olsen

    Nauti or Nice by Ava Olsen

    Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars
    · 6 ratings
    Being a first officer on board the superyacht Now, Voyager is a dream come true. And my personal life? I’m in and out and on to the next port, so to speak. I don’t have the inclination for a boyfriend. So when my boss asks me to work over the Christmas holiday, I’m happy to say yes. And then Kiernan Doyle arrives. The Irish bodyguard is a brawny grump with sad eyes and a shy smile...
  • Messy Love by Riley Hart

    Messy Love by Riley Hart

    Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars
    · 14 ratings
    Danny. I'm not a guy who's looking for a serious relationship. I love the chase, and the one time I thought I wanted more, the guy bailed. When my buddy Will mentions his recently out, older brother is looking for a place to stay, I offer the spare room in my apartment. It's clear Jonathan's past did a number on him, and he's locked up tight...
  • Break Down by Rebecca Norinne

    Break Down by Rebecca Norinne

    Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars
    · 5 ratings
    His heart says no, but his body says yes. Liam Donnelly's honed, athletic body craves something he can't have. Not when the last time ended in disaster. Now, the Dublin Rugby player is seeking redemption with a new team in Edinburgh. His fresh start is going strong, but one look at Chef Lachlan MacLeod's inked forearms and whiskey-colored eyes and he's tempted by far more than what's on the menu...
  • Triple Play: An M/M/M Sports Romance by Quinn Ward

    Triple Play: An M/M/M Sports Romance by Quinn Ward

    Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars
    · 14 ratings
    When Eric is unable to help his friend recover, he has to put his feelings aside for a second time. He never imagined the man who could help would be the glue that bound them together. Drew Jackson had it all: a family who loves him, a tight circle of friends, and he’s a rising star with the Milwaukee Mavericks...
  • Change Up: An Out For You Gay Sports Romance by Quinn Ward

    Change Up: An Out For You Gay Sports Romance by Quinn Ward

    Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars
    · 11 ratings
    No one expected the loudmouth of the team to be hiding in the biggest closet of them all. When he’s paired with someone who just wants to keep his head down and play the game, sparks are going to fly. Kevin Green has always been the life of the party. He’s the one everyone turns to for a bit of comic relief...
  • Change Up by Sloan Johnson

    Change Up by Sloan Johnson

    Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    Kevin Green has always been the life of the party. He’s the one everyone turns to for a bit of comic relief. With so many of his teammates coming out of the closet and living healthy lives, it’s getting harder for him to keep the secret only one other person knows: that he’s not as straight as everyone assumes when they see him out with his hot girlfriend...
  • Retaking the Shot by Kimberly Knight, Rachel Lyn Adams

    Retaking the Shot by Kimberly Knight, Rachel Lyn Adams

    Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    “Ford, stay with me. ”. Those were the last four words Ford Mahoney heard Emmett Cooper utter before everything went dark. When Ford wakes up in the hospital, it doesn’t take long for him to realize he needs to confront the demons of his past. Meanwhile, the event of that night leaves Coop envisioning a better future for himself...
  • Summer Makeover by Kelly Fox

    Summer Makeover by Kelly Fox

    Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars
    · 13 ratings
    Gregory: Maybe it’s odd that an astrophysicist would spend his weekend before a big conference cutting hair, but it's my creative outlet. Frankly, it's closer to community outreach with all of these pandemic styles. Speaking of which, a weird guy with a huge beard and crazy salt-and-pepper hair just walked in. He's got pretty eyes, I'll give him that...
  • Clip by Charity Parkerson

    Clip by Charity Parkerson

    Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars
    · 9 ratings
    Luka was nothing more than a job to Brady… until he wasn’t. When the owner of the Phoenix Ice Rays starts receiving death threats, the first thing he does is hire Brady to protect his son, Luka. It’s a move that leaves Luka less than thrilled. Ever since moving out on his own six years earlier, he’s come to embrace the silence of his workaholic ways...
  • King by J.M. Dabney

    King by J.M. Dabney

    Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars
    · Steam rating: 3 of 5
    Open door [?] · 9 ratings
    Andrew King’s life wasn’t what he’d expected it to be. At thirty he was a single dad who drove his rig to make ends meet and played in his band Executioners on the weekends. King saw himself being a husband again one day because that’s what was expected. When Melanie had gotten pregnant, their parents had given them one choice—they’d stuck it out a year...
  • There For You by Anyta Sunday

    There For You by Anyta Sunday

    Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars
    · Steam rating: 3 of 5
    Open door [?] · 26 ratings
    Sam’s freaking out. He’s 30 in three weeks. And what has he done in his twenties? It’s pretty simple math: nothing exciting at all. But hey, he has three weeks right? Maybe that’s just enough time to tick his way through a 20s Must Do List . . . Luke’s freaking screwed. He’s come out to his family, and his friends. Except there’s a certain someone who doesn’t know yet: his neighbor of 7 years...
  • Sweet Spot by Sloan Johnson

    Sweet Spot by Sloan Johnson

    Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    Four years ago, it took no time at all for Cody Marshall to fall for the rookie pitcher at spring training. While their lives were nothing alike, Cody understood Nick Stone’s insecurities and pain. And then… Nick left. Eventually, Cody found his own passion and landed a dream internship with the Mavericks. His life was finally turning around. And then… Nick came back...
    Categorized as:
    athletes  sports  queer  m-m  contemporary
  • Knowing Me, Knowing You by Renae Kaye

    Knowing Me, Knowing You by Renae Kaye

    Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    Loving You: Book Four. Can friends turned occasional lovers move beyond past mistakes and wrong assumptions to build something that can last? Quiet bookworm Shane has a big secret—one he’s kept for fifteen years. AFL superstar Ambrose Jakoby grew up next door to Shane. They were close friends, and Shane supported Ambrose through school. One night, everything changed...
  • Pole Position by Charlie Novak

    Pole Position by Charlie Novak

    Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars
    · 7 ratings
    Pole position gives a driver the best chance at winning, but can there be a winner when a long-term relationship is on the line? Mateo Llorente was born to be Formula 1 World Champion. Charming, handsome, and incredibly talented, Mateo is everything a champion should be...
Fantastic book recommendations by romance book lovers for romance book lovers.
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

romance book finder

Looking for more inspiration? Enter another book title to get more suggestions on what to read next.


Or - use our amazing romance book finder to get recommendations based on your favorite content tropes and themes. Mix and match at will.