Books like 'Defender'
Readers who enjoyed Defender by Nicole Dykes also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary young adult gay romance new adult sports forced proximity office grumpy sunshine friends to lovers from hate to love
-
19 Days by Old Xian
The cute and funny adventures of a boy and his best friend. Also contains insert art of the characters by the mangaka...Categorized as:
friends to lovers from hate to love new adult queer contemporary m-m humor young adult -
![Check, Please! Book 1: # Hockey by Ngozi Ukazu]()
Check, Please! Book 1: # Hockey by Ngozi Ukazu
Helloooo, Internet Land. Bitty here!Y’all... I might not be ready for this. I may be a former junior figure skating champion, vlogger extraordinaire, and very talented amateur pâtissier, but being a freshman on the Samwell University hockey team is a whole new challenge. It’s nothing like co-ed club hockey back in Georgia! First of all? There’s checking...Categorized as:
sports forced proximity new adult height-difference queer young adult m-m contemporary -
![]()
![]()
Sponsored links -
![Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz]()
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 82 ratingsDante can swim. Ari can't. Dante is articulate and self-assured. Ari has a hard time with words and suffers from self-doubt. Dante gets lost in poetry and art. Ari gets lost in thoughts of his older brother who is in prison. Dante is fair skinned. Ari's features are much darker... -
![Autoboyography by Christina Lauren]()
Autoboyography by Christina Lauren
Three years ago, Tanner Scott’s family relocated from California to Utah, a move that nudged the bisexual teen temporarily back into the closet. Now, with one semester of high school to go, and no obstacles between him and out-of-state college freedom, Tanner plans to coast through his remaining classes and clear out of Utah...Categorized as:
friends to lovers angst forced proximity secret-relationship queer contemporary young adult m-m -
-
![Fence, Vol. 6: Redemption by C.S. Pacat]()
Fence, Vol. 6: Redemption by C.S. Pacat
Rated: 4.47 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsA mysterious new fencer arrives at Halverton in the newest chapter of the GLAAD Media Award-nominated sports comic, perfect for fans of Heartstopper.THE COMPETITION HAS BEEN RESET… EN GARDE! Return to the thrilling world of high-stakes, competitive fencing, with a brand new story featuring the beloved cast of characters from the original hit series...Categorized as:
queer sports from hate to love friends to lovers young adult contemporary found-family m-m -
![Given, Vol. 6 by Natsuki Kizu, キヅナツキ]()
Given, Vol. 6 by Natsuki Kizu, キヅナツキ
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsLove of music unites the four members of the band Given: hotheaded guitarist Uenoyama, playboy drummer Akihiko, gentle bassist Haruki, and Mafuyu, a singer gifted with great talent and burdened by past tragedy. Their struggles and conflicts may drive them apart, but their bond to the music—and to one another—always brings them back together again... -
![Given, Vol. 6 by Natsuki Kizu]()
Given, Vol. 6 by Natsuki Kizu
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsNow that Given has an offer to record their debut album, each of the band’s members must decide whether to get serious about trying to go pro. Though Ritsuka doesn’t have a single doubt in his mind, Mafuyu isn’t ready to commit... -
![시맨틱 에러 1 (Semantic Error (Novel) #1) by Soori Jeo, 저수리]()
시맨틱 에러 1 (Semantic Error (Novel) #1) by Soori Jeo, 저수리
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 24 ratings*시맨틱 에러(Semantic Error): 전산학상의 논리적 오류조장: 추상우발표자: 추상우part1 자료 조사: 추상우part2 자료 조사: 추상우자료 취합: 추상우발표 자료 제작: 추상우참여한 조원 명단: 추상우교양수업 과제에서 무임승차 조원들의 이름을 모조리 빼버린 컴공과 추상우. 그 때문에 이상한 선배와 엮이게 된다.무임승차3: [덕분에졸업못하게생겼네나좀봐요후배님] 20:23해외 유명 대학원 유학을 앞둔 디자인과 장재영. 디자인 실력, 외모, 집안, 인간관계, 뭐 하나 빠질 데 없는 그가 추상우만은 어렵다.“사람은 감정의 동물이야. 네가 날 그렇게 무시하지만 않았다면 PPT 같은 건 웃어넘기고 말았을 텐데.”“절 아주 호구 새끼로 보시나 본데, 크게 착각하신 거예요...Categorized as:
queer from hate to love new adult grumpy sunshine contemporary m-m young adult length-long -
![Hirano and Kagiura, Vol. 1 by Shou Harusono]()
Hirano and Kagiura, Vol. 1 by Shou Harusono
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsBasketball players. Bad boys who aren’t really bad boys. Roommates. Senpai-kouhai BL romance. It all started when Kagiura moved into the school dorms with what seemed to be a bad-boy upperclassman... -
![Ander and Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa]()
Ander and Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 22 ratingsAristotle and Dante meets The Hate U Give meets The Sun Is Also A Star: A stunning YA contemporary love story about a Mexican-American teen who falls in love with an undocumented Mexican boy. Finding home. Falling in love. Fighting to belong. The Santos Vista neighborhood of San Antonio, Texas, is all Ander Lopez has ever known. The smell of pan dulce... -
![Check, Please!: Year Four by Ngozi Ukazu]()
-
![The Haircut by Alice Oseman]()
The Haircut by Alice Oseman
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsOnce again we spend some time with 25-year-old Charlie and 26-year-old Nick.. -
![I Hear the Sunspot: Limit, Volume 2 by Yuki Fumino]()
I Hear the Sunspot: Limit, Volume 2 by Yuki Fumino
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsKohei is a college student who, because of his hearing loss, tends to distance himself from others. His attitude starts to change after he crosses paths with an ever-optimistic classmate named Taichi. And over time, the two begin to develop feelings for each other... -
![Fence #10 by C.S. Pacat, Johanna the Mad]()
-
-
![Restart After Coming Back Home by Cocomi]()
Restart After Coming Back Home by Cocomi
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsHotheaded Kozuka Mitsuomi left his home in the country for a sophisticated life in Tokyo. Unfortunately, at age 25, he’s fired from his job and returns home in disgrace. As he tries to rediscover himself, he meets Kumai Yamato, a man about his age who was adopted into his community while Mitsuomi was away... -
![Fence, Vol. 4: Rivals by C.S. Pacat, Johanna the Mad]()
Fence, Vol. 4: Rivals by C.S. Pacat, Johanna the Mad
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsThe GLAAD Award nominated series Fence returns as a graphic novel series as best-selling novelist C.S...Categorized as:
sports from hate to love queer young adult contemporary m-m high-school found-family -
![I Hear the Sunspot, Vol. 1 by Yuki Fumino]()
I Hear the Sunspot, Vol. 1 by Yuki Fumino
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsBecause of a hearing disability, Kohei is often misunderstood and has trouble integrating into life on campus, so he learns to keep his distance. That is until he meets the outspoken and cheerful Taichi. He tells Kohei that his hearing loss is not his fault. Taichi's words cut through Kohei's usual defense mechanisms and open his heart... -
![I Hear the Sunspot by Yuki Fumino, 文乃ゆき]()
I Hear the Sunspot by Yuki Fumino, 文乃ゆき
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsBecause of a hearing disability, Kohei is often misunderstood and has trouble integrating into life on campus, so he learns to keep his distance. That is until he meets the outspoken and cheerful Taichi. He tells Kohei that his hearing loss is not his fault. Taichi's words cut through Kohei's usual defense mechanisms and open his heart... -
![Fence #11 by C.S. Pacat, Johanna the Mad]()
Fence #11 by C.S. Pacat, Johanna the Mad
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsIt all comes down to this—the final match that will determine who makes the team, and who gets left behind... -
![某某 A Certain Someone by Mu Su Li, 木苏里]()
某某 A Certain Someone by Mu Su Li, 木苏里
Rated: 4.47 of 5 stars · 13 ratings盛望搬进了白马弄堂的祖屋院子，一并搬进来的还有他爸正在交往的女人。他爸指着那个女人的儿子对他说：叫哥。桀骜不驯吃软不吃硬的制冷机（攻）x自认很金贵的懒蛋小少爷（受）盛望：我笔直。江添：我恐同。校园文，1v1+heSheng Wang moved into his ancestral home at White Horse Lane, along with the woman that his father was presently seeing.His dad pointed at that woman’s son and said to him: Call him ge (older brother)... -
![Something Like Stories: Volume Two by Jay Bell]()
Something Like Stories: Volume Two by Jay Bell
Rated: 4.52 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsThe Something Like… series is drawing to a close! Before it ends, reunite with favorite characters and meet others for the first time in this special collection of fourteen stories. Highlights include Something Like Champagne, in which Marcello searches for the truth behind a drunken vision. In Something Like Bunnies, a young Jace Holden struggles with his first crush... -
![Fence #9 by C.S. Pacat, Johanna the Mad]()
-
![Cherry Blossoms After Winter: Volume 1 by Bamwoo]()
Cherry Blossoms After Winter: Volume 1 by Bamwoo
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsDespite growing up together, these childhood friends have grown apart. The fan-favorite boys’ love manhwa turned K-drama comes to print for the first time.Seo Haebom was seven years old when his parents died in an accident. With nowhere else to go, he moves in with the family of his childhood friend Jo Taesung, who suddenly grows cold and distant, destroying their friendship... -
![I Hear the Sunspot: Four Seasons Volume 1 by Yuki Fumino]()
I Hear the Sunspot: Four Seasons Volume 1 by Yuki Fumino
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsKohei Sugihara, college student with hearing loss, and Taichi Sagawa, his ever-optimistic former classmate, met in a chance encounter that ignited an undeniable spark that would eventually blossom into love. Now it’s spring and as Kohei nears graduation, his search for a job begins. Meanwhile, Taichi finds himself in charge of someone new at work... -
-
![Gay Club! by Simon James Green]()
Gay Club! by Simon James Green
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsA landmark comedic novel about a group of queer teens at their worst - and ultimately their best - from one of the UK's leading writers of LGBTQ+ teen fiction. Barney's a shoo-in for his school's LGBTQ+ Society President at the club's next election. But when the vote is opened up to the entire student body, the whole school starts paying attention...Categorized as:
friends to lovers from hate to love queer young adult contemporary m-m high-school humor -
![Flower Shop by Alice Oseman]()
Flower Shop by Alice Oseman
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA little story set in an alternate universe about how one man asked out a kind florist.. -
![A Tremendous Amount of Normal by Chase Connor]()
A Tremendous Amount of Normal by Chase Connor
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsNoah is normal. He’s full of normal. His older brother Will tells everyone all of the time. Even if they don’t believe him. Noah doesn’t understand why kids in school call him a “retard." He’s not intellectually disabled. In fact, he’s very smart. But a lot of people call Will a fag—so maybe it’s kind of like that. Neurotypical people don’t always make sense...Categorized as:
queer new adult friends to lovers m-m young adult contemporary found-family length-medium -
![Boyband Crush by Alice Oseman]()
Boyband Crush by Alice Oseman
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsA little crossover mini-comic between Heartstopper and I Was Born For This... -
![Know Not Why (Know Not Why) by Hannah Johnson]()
Know Not Why (Know Not Why) by Hannah Johnson
Howie gets a job at Artie Kraft's Arts 'N Crafts hoping to score with his lady coworkers. After all, girls love a sensitive guy, and what's more sensitive than dedicating your life to selling yarn and ... stuff? (Okay, so maybe it'd be a good idea to actually learn what one sells at an arts 'n crafts store.) But things don't go exactly according to plan...Categorized as:
friends to lovers from hate to love new adult queer queer-awakening contemporary slow burn college -
![My Summer Of You: Vol. 1: The Summer Of You (君は夏のなか (Kimi wa natsu no naka) #1) by Nagisa Furuya]()
My Summer Of You: Vol. 1: The Summer Of You (君は夏のなか (Kimi wa natsu no naka) #1) by Nagisa Furuya
A wistful summer blossoms between two high-school boys finding themselves and each other through a shared love of movies in this moving, dramatic, two-volume BL romance series, perfect for fans of Seven Days, Given, or I Hear the Sunspot.Chiharu Saeki and Wataru Toda are two high school students who share a common hobby: They love to watch movies...Categorized as:
friends to lovers secret-relationship queer young adult contemporary m-m high-school length-medium -
![Fence, Vol. 1 by C.S. Pacat, Johanna the Mad]()
Fence, Vol. 1 by C.S. Pacat, Johanna the Mad
An alternate cover edition can be found here. Combines Issues #1-4. Nicholas, the illegitimate son of a retired fencing champion, is a scrappy fencing wunderkind, and dreams of getting the chance and the training to actually compete... -
![Attractive Forces by Jax Calder]()
Attractive Forces by Jax Calder
LoganEveryone looks at me and thinks I rule Heath Valley High School. All they see is the captain of the champion rugby team, the guy who has got everything.They don’t see my secret, one I’ll do anything to keep.I’m so used to keeping my sexuality buried I’ve never stopped to think about what it’s costing me.Until I need a chemistry tutor, and Jake Stenton waltzes into my life... -
![Dekoboko Bittersweet Days by Atsuko Yusen]()
Dekoboko Bittersweet Days by Atsuko Yusen
Tiny and adorable when they first met, Rui—still just as adorable—now looms over his boyfriend, Yuujirou. Though they were little more than best friends at first, the confusion over their true feelings for one another smoldered until they confessed... -
-
![Fence Challengers: Long Shot #1 by C.S. Pacat, Johanna the Mad]()
Fence Challengers: Long Shot #1 by C.S. Pacat, Johanna the Mad
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThe Kings Row fencers are fresh off of Halverton Training Camp and ready for the State Championships, bringing with them the burden and blessing of a brand-new reputation as underdog champions... -
![The Borrow a Boyfriend Club by Page Powars]()
The Borrow a Boyfriend Club by Page Powars
A feel-good, coming-of-age rom-com from debut author Page Powars that follows a trans teen who joins a boyfriend borrowing service masquerading as an Italian Club to prove that he’s one of the guys, especially to its frustratingly handsome leader.Noah Byrd is the perfect boy. At least, that’s what he needs to convince his new classmates of to prove his gender... -
![Perfectly Us by Jaclyn Osborn]()
Perfectly Us by Jaclyn Osborn
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsOne summer. Two hearts forever changed.Alex is magnetic. His vibrant personality and easy smiles draw people toward him. No one would guess he’s secretly hurting.Shiloh is quiet. His social awkwardness and anxious mind make it hard for him to make connections. He’s always felt different. A little broken.When these two meet, they recognize something in each other... -
![Jackass! by Scarlet Beriko]()
Jackass! by Scarlet Beriko
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsWhen the panty hose go on, all bets are off between these best guy friends!Practical Keisuke’s incredibly handsome best friend Masayuki has always rubbed him just a little bit the wrong way... -
![The Music of the Spheres by Chase Potter]()
The Music of the Spheres by Chase Potter
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAn athlete and introvert from a family touched by loss, Ryan Mattson splits his life between reading and spending time with his dad and precocious younger sister. With the wounds of Ryan’s past almost healed, high school is simple, and so is everything else. But that changes when he’s paired with Adam for a class project...Categorized as:
friends to lovers new adult queer queer-awakening m-m young adult contemporary length-short -
![Fake Slackers: Vol. 2 by Mu Gua Huang]()
-
![Every Mended Heart by Nik Knight]()
Every Mended Heart by Nik Knight
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsTwo broken souls searching for hope. One love that redeems them both.After everything Silas and Ben have fought for, it seems the true battle has only just begun. As rumors spread through the school, Silas's already strained relationship with Ben starts to crack from the added pressure. His personal bully is back and determined to tear Silas down at every turn...Categorized as:
queer angst friends to lovers grumpy sunshine forced proximity m-m contemporary high-school -
![Something Like Thunder by Jay Bell]()
Something Like Thunder by Jay Bell
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThis isn’t a coming out story. Nor is it the tale of a lonely heart seeking companionship. This is about how I learned to fight. My name is Nathaniel Courtney and I’m a survivor. I didn’t let the cruelty of others wear me down, and I’ve weathered the more subtle hardships of the heart. Love is a Trojan horse, slipping past your guard and leaving you ransacked and vulnerable... -
![Fence #8 by C.S. Pacat, Johanna the Mad]()
-
![SOTUS พี่ว้ากตัวร้ายกับนายปีหนึ่ง by BitterSweet]()
SOTUS พี่ว้ากตัวร้ายกับนายปีหนึ่ง by BitterSweet
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsมาก่อนเป็นพี่ มาที่หลังเป็นน้อง มาพร้อมเป็นเพื่อน!‘อาทิตย์’ เฮดว้ากสุดโหด เชื่อมั่นว่า นี่เป็นคติที่เหล่าเฟรชชี่คณะวิศวกรรมศาสตร์ทุกคนต้องยึดถือ แต่ไม่ใช่กับ ‘ก้องภพ’ เด็กปีหนึ่งที่บังอาจปีนเกลียวข้ามขั้น แถมยังประกาศจะชิงเกียร์มาให้ได้ด้วยการจับพี่ว้ากทำเมียซะงั้น!แล้วพี่ว้ากผู้รักศักดิ์ศรียิ่งชีพจะทนอยู่เฉยได้อย่างไร งานนี้คงต้องจับมาสั่งสอนระบบ SOTUS เสียใหม่เอาให้หลาบจำ! คอยดูแล้วกันว่า... -
-
![I Cannot Reach You, Vol. 1 by Mika .]()
I Cannot Reach You, Vol. 1 by Mika .
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsNo matter how much time we spend together, I’ll never become special to you.Childhood best friends. Two halves of a whole. The cool, smart one who’s good at almost everything, and his average, dorky friend who struggles to do anything right—Yamato and Kakeru. Always by the other’s side, but not together in the way they truly want to be... -
![Don't Let Me Go by J.H. Trumble]()
Don't Let Me Go by J.H. Trumble
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsSome people spend their whole lives looking for the right partner. Nate Schaper found his in high school. In the eight months since their cautious flirting became a real, honest, tell-the-parents relationship, Nate and Adam have been inseparable. Even when local kids take their homophobia to brutal levels, Nate is undaunted. He and Adam are rock solid. Two parts of a whole. Yin and yang... -
![Paint Eater by Marina Vivancos]()
Paint Eater by Marina Vivancos
Jay knows that starting up a friends-with-benefits relationship with Logan is a mistake. After all, this is the guy who rejected him in high-school. And Jay hasn’t been pining, okay? He’s just…easily invested. Jay doesn’t need Logan’s approval anymore—he’s happy at his tattoo apprenticeship, with his wild adventures in the city, painting graffiti in the sad and dark places that need it... -
![Disarmed by Sarah Rees Brennan]()
Disarmed by Sarah Rees Brennan
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsThe boys of Kings Row head to France with exes, rivalries, and secrets in this fun and hilarious novel by a New York Times bestselling author—inspired by the award-nominated comic series by C.S. Pacat and Johanna The Mad...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers from hate to love queer young adult contemporary m-m high-school -
![Fence: Redemption #1 (Fence: Redemption (Single Issues) #1) by C.S. Pacat, Johanna the Mad]()
Fence: Redemption #1 (Fence: Redemption (Single Issues) #1) by C.S. Pacat, Johanna the Mad
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsUSA Today best-selling author C. S... -
![Cinderella Boy by Kristina Meister]()
Cinderella Boy by Kristina Meister
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsBeing perfect isn't all it's cracked up to be. Sixteen-year-old Declan is the perfect son . . . except for one tiny issue. When his sister Delia comes home to find him trying on her clothes, he fears her judgment, but she only fears his fashion choices...Categorized as:
queer friends to lovers angst young adult contemporary m-m high-school length-medium
Fantastic book recommendations by romance book lovers for romance book lovers.
Find out more about romance.io.
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.
