Books like 'Asking for a Friend'
Readers who enjoyed Asking for a Friend by J.J. Harper also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary gay romance hurt-comfort friends to lovers age difference friends-benefits grumpy sunshine second chances queer
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Snow Fairy by Tomo Serizawa, 芹澤知
When Hokkaido-born Haruki meets animal photographer Akihito and finds out his accommodations have fallen through, he offers his home as a shelter for the winter. A city slicker, Akihito is smart, charming, and a smooth conversationalist; the polar opposite of country boy Haruki. Despite their differences, Akihito wants to close the gap between the two of them, before the snow thaws in the spring. -
Vow Maker by Lily Morton
Dylan Mitchell wants to get married. However, after seven years of being engaged, that’s looking slightly doubtful. After going through ten wedding planners, they’re gaining a reputation somewhat akin to Henry the Eighth on the wedding circuit. Gabe has vetoed symbolic dove releases, forests of flowers, fire-eating performers, and puce as a wedding colour...Categorized as:
age difference hurt-comfort grumpy sunshine queer m-m contemporary humor explicit-open-door -
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On or Off, Volume 3 (On or Off (Paperback Ed.) #3) by A1
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsWinner of the Ridibooks 2019 BL Awards. Ahn Yiyoung is hard at work building a startup with his college friends, knowing that a successful product could change all of their lives... -
Jonty in Russia by Barbara Elsborg
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsWhen Devan, Best Boyfriend in the Entire World, books them a trip to Russia in February, Jonty’s excitement knows no bounds. There’s packing to do, plans to be made, and places to see. Armed with his smile and a handful of dubious Russian Phrases, Jonty is ready for the delights Vladivostok has to offer—the famous glass beach he’s dreamed about, ice skating on a frozen sea, and snow... -
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Old-Fashioned Cupcake by Sagan Sagan
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsA 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... -
My Dearest Patrolman, Vol. 2 by Niyama
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? -
All Is Bright (Water, Air, Earth, Fire) by Riley Nash
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA 10,000 word mini-novella featuring everyone's favorite couples from the Water, Air, Earth, Fire series as they celebrate Christmas. When six very different men and their families meet at a Wyoming lodge to celebrate the holidays, things are bound to get sweet, steamy, chaotic, and a little bit heartwarming. -
Alfie: Part II by Cara Dee
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsMM Romance • Part 2 of 2 • Second Chances • Irish Mafia • Family • Hurt/Comfort • Age Gap • Revenge • Opposites Attract. When two broken hearts have reached their limits, it’s time for a mobster to play dirty in order to let the healing begin. Don’t worry, Alfie has a plan. That very second, the moment West said those words…I almost shattered. Again. I’d put myself out there... -
My Dearest Patrolman, Vol. 2 by Niyama
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsThe 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... -
Wheels Down by Beth Bolden
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsShaw isn’t his friend—until Ross discovers he’s so much more. Ross Stanton is having a bad week—a bad month—really, a bad year . But the last thing he wants, after the betrayal of his friend and business partner, is for anyone else to know just how much he’s fighting for survival...Categorized as:
friends to lovers hurt-comfort queer m-m forced proximity contemporary length-medium -
Keeping Secrets by Alexa Land
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsThe truth can cost you everything. Twenty-six-year-old Beck Medina is convinced of that. He’s been abandoned by so many people over the course of his life, including most of his adopted family. Now he’s created a new family for himself at the resort he manages on Catalina Island. But they don’t know the whole truth about him... -
Rhythm of Us by Aimee Nicole Walker
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsXavier Cruz has come home after touring with his band for eight years, a life his family and friends would never envy if they knew the truth. Haunted by past decisions, he’s lost himself and his music. Every day is a struggle to recapture them both and forgive the mistakes he’s made. Can Xavier push past his nightmares and hear the melodies all around him again? Ben St... -
A Daddy In Cameron by Sammi Cee
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIndie’s determined to navigate this world alone, but he’s never come up against a determined Daddy before. Normally, everyone likes Cameron. As the General Manager of The Tap Tavern, he’s protective, empathetic, and considerate of his employees and their needs. Especially those who’ve come in through the Takoda Career Center. Indie knows betrayal. He’s lived with the consequences and survived...Categorized as:
age difference friends to lovers hurt-comfort queer m-m age play boss & employee contemporary -
Alfie: Part One by Cara Dee
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsPart 1 of 2 • Second Chances • Irish Mafia • Family • Hurt/Comfort • Age Gap. Two broken hearts, pent-up anger, the right amount of Philly grit, painful yearning, and the complete inability to move on… This is Alfie and West’s love story. It begins in the wreckage they created. Mom always warned me when I was a kid...Categorized as:
queer age difference hurt-comfort second chances m-m contemporary mafia class difference -
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Becoming Light by Riley Nash
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhen people meet me, they see a bright faced, happy-go-lucky kindergarten teacher who will do anything to support his friends. Not everyone knows the struggle I’ve faced to become the man I am today. Now it’s finally time for the gender-affirming surgery I’ve been dreaming of for years...Categorized as:
hurt-comfort age difference queer grumpy sunshine m-m forced proximity contemporary lgbtqia hate -
Starts With a Bang by Aimee Nicole Walker
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe best way to get over a cheating jerk is to get under someone new. Dominic isn’t looking for love or salvation at the Thirsty Cowboy. He needs a temporary escape from the drudgery his life has become, and the universe provides him with the sexiest distraction he’s ever seen. Sven is a sucker for sad eyes, thick thighs, and a Royal Cosmopolitan...Categorized as:
friends to lovers hurt-comfort age difference queer m-m found-family contemporary humor -
Heartstring by Ana Ashley
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsMik. If I had a dollar for every mistake I made… But there’s only one mistake I regret. Breaking my promise to the only person who ever understood my need to get away from a future I didn’t want…Tyler. I’ve reached many hearts through my music, but the only one I’ve ever wanted might be lost to me forever. Tyler. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice…. Mik broke a promise a long time ago...Categorized as:
second chances friends to lovers hurt-comfort queer m-m contemporary angst single-father -
Hard Ink by Ali Lyda
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsI 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...Categorized as:
age difference friends to lovers queer m-m contemporary found-family length-short audiobook -
Ruined by April Wilson
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsFinally! Sam and Cooper's long-awaited story is here. .. a second chance gay romance, with a guaranteed HEA. Sam. .. Coming out of the closet was easy. Falling in love with a man twice my age was not. Cooper grew up old-school, hiding his true self. He may be the love of my life, but I can’t be his dirty little secret any longer. He needs to man up and claim me if he wants to keep me... -
The Law of Miracles by K.C. Wells
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe sequel to A Christmas Promise… Joshua Trant is doing his best to support his son Micah and Micah’s partner Greg as they approach the trial of Greg’s attackers. This was never going to be easy, especially as Greg wants them prosecuted for a hate crime, but County Attorney Alexander Rycliffe assures them he’ll do his utmost to make sure the perpetrators are held accountable for their actions... -
Surrender Your Heart by Aimee Nicole Walker
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 23 ratings***Surrender Your Heart was originally published in 2015. This second edition has been completely re-edited but does not contain new material. ***. Secrets and fears—everyone has them. Some more than others. A heavy secret brought Liam Connelly to DC, but it isn’t the only reason he stays. Hired to tend bar at Bottoms Up, Liam finds himself drawn to his enigmatic boss like a moth to a flame...Categorized as:
queer age difference friends to lovers hurt-comfort m-m contemporary military length-short -
Grinding by Sean Ashcroft
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsTwo childhood best friends. One accidental fake engagement. One Labrador puppy. One week to fall in love. When Harvey runs into his childhood best friend—literally—on the way into Otter Bay for his cousin's wedding, he doesn't plan to end up playing the part of the guy's fiancé... -
The Fortunate Son by Aimee Nicole Walker
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIvan Gallagher’s first and only attempt at love nearly cost him everything—his reputation, family, and even his freedom. Needing an outlet for his pent-up passion, the gruff foreman turns his beekeeping hobby into a successful business. Just when he’s on the verge of taking his liquid gold to the next level, a granted favor transforms his orderly life into a sticky mess...Categorized as:
age difference grumpy sunshine hurt-comfort friends-benefits queer m-m suspense forced proximity -
Assisted by Carly Marie
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsFoolish 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...Categorized as:
hurt-comfort friends to lovers age difference queer sports m-m contemporary age play -
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Second Wind by Aimee Nicole Walker
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsSecond wind: a new strength or energy to continue something that is an effort. After an amicable divorce, Lincoln Huxley is ready to embrace the sexuality he repressed for more than two decades. Rush Holden is no longer willing to settle for closeted men or those who don’t share his dreams of marriage and fatherhood. A chance encounter on a lakeside pier is the second wind they both need... -
Tempt Me by Mia Monroe
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...Categorized as:
age difference friends to lovers queer contemporary m-m length-short audiobook explicit-open-door -
To Take a Quiet Breath by Fearne Hill
This isn’t a romance about chiseled, lantern-jawed college kids boasting V-cut abs. There are no marathon steamy sex sessions, not without having at least one nebulizer on standby anyway. Marcel Giresse, the thirty-six-year-old Director of Finance at the French Ministry of Justice, is happy to leave all that nonsense to his oldest friend Lucien, the sixteenth Earl of Rossingley...Categorized as:
queer grumpy sunshine friends to lovers hurt-comfort contemporary m-m length-medium virgin hero -
A Kind of Romance by Lane Hayes
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsZeke 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... -
Luke: Learning to Love #3 by Con Riley
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsLuke Lawson is committed to one thing—saving his boarding school before a cash crisis sinks it. He’ll do anything to keep it afloat while vulnerable children rely on him, even if that means accepting help from the man who let him down at uni. Nathan’s offer to teach for free could be a blessing as long as Luke can guard his soft heart... -
12 Dates of Christmas by Brigham Vaughn
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsLeo Fenner needs a Christmas miracle …. Charmed by the small town, and weary the big city dating scene, Leo moved to Christmas Falls in hopes of finding love like his college friend, Hayden. Nick Morgan had the love of his life and lost her, but is determined to help others find their happily ever after with his matchmaking service...Categorized as:
queer friends to lovers age difference second chances hurt-comfort christmas m-m contemporary -
Surrender Your Heart by Aimee Nicole Walker
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsSecrets 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...Categorized as:
friends to lovers age difference queer m-m military contemporary length-short audiobook -
Love In Slow Motion by E.M. Lindsey
“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...Categorized as:
age difference friends to lovers queer m-m contemporary bff-parent length-medium explicit-open-door -
Yarn & Yearnings by Duckie Mack
Collin is big, burly, and rides a Harley. He's the last person anyone would expect to have a passion for yarn. He crochets and sells his wares at the Heartcraft Market. Harper is new to town. He wants to plant roots and find someone to share a life with. He has only dated women since that unforgettable night with a biker who took his v-card...Categorized as:
age difference second chances queer hurt-comfort m-m contemporary height-difference found-family -
Born Daddy by Morticia Knight
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThey both loved an evil man. In a wrenching journey to redemption, leaning on each other will change their lives forever. Grief-stricken Tate Myers can’t believe his Daddy and Master is gone. Reeling from the discovery of his dead lover’s secret life as a serial killer, he seeks answers from the one person who could help heal his heart... -
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A Wedding in a Week by Con Riley
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsA second chance with his brother’s best friend also comes with a deadline. Three years after inheriting his family farm, an accident forces Stefan Luxton to rethink his future. Turning his farm into a five-star wedding venue is one goal. Another is to reconnect with Marc, who Stefan loved but let slip away to the city...Categorized as:
age difference friends to lovers hurt-comfort queer m-m forced proximity contemporary found-family -
Gravity by Mia Monroe
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHe was only meant to be a hookup. Until he became my coworker. Only I could ruin the hottest potential hookup ever. One look at the gorgeous ginger, and I was done for. I summoned every bit of courage I had, then panicked. As is my way. I managed to put it behind me until he became my new coworker. Now, every day is a reminder of my insecurities and what might have been... -
Drawn in by You by R.M. Neill
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsOne has endured a life of loneliness. The other is content in his solitude. Can the draw of epic love intertwine their lives? Travis. When my grandfather died, I was swallowed by the system. Depression set in at a young age as I was bounced from foster home to youth shelter. For twelve years since, I’ve battled with my mental health issues, refusing to reveal to anyone how bad things truly are...Categorized as:
queer hurt-comfort age difference friends to lovers m-m found-family contemporary abuse -
His Protector: a First Love, M/M Romance by Sue Brown
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhat kind of courage does it take to travel two thousand miles just to say hello to a man who doesn’t know you exist? At thirty years old and never been kissed, Walker is about to find out. After a rocky start to his life in the agency, newly trained operative Walker takes the biggest chance of his life before his first mission. He returns to J. T... -
Definitely Deacon by Vawn Cassidy
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsJesse 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... -
ChrisMyths by Amy Lane
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsAfter courtship, cohabitation, and learning about love and each other, Andy and Eli face the ultimate test: being separated at Christmas. Eli’s seen the propaganda—the country boy goes home from the city and realizes his heart is back among the snow, trees, and chickens. A big happy family is something Eli, with his demanding job running a shelter for LGBTQ youth, can’t provide... -
Blue Skies by Nic Starr
Coming to Collier’s Creek is the best decision they’ll ever make. When Kit arrives in the small town of Collier’s Creek, he's searching for a change of scenery and the solitude to help him overcome his writer's block. All he wants is to be left alone to finish his novel. Felix was born in Collier's Creek, with no plans to return...Categorized as:
age difference hurt-comfort grumpy sunshine friends to lovers queer m-m contemporary suspense -
Queried Sick by Dallas Smith
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsFor fans of Casey McQuiston and Always Only You, Queried Sick is a slow-burn romance about two bisexual disasters finding love while working at a publishing company during the pandemic—complete with grumpy/sunshine vibes, found family, and an attention-seeking cat. Social distance makes the heart grow fonder…...Categorized as:
friends to lovers grumpy sunshine queer contemporary m-m new adult office length-medium -
Reawaken by Christina Lee
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsLosing 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
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsBrent 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...Categorized as:
age difference friends to lovers queer m-m contemporary daddy-kink bff-parent length-novella -
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Fire and Glass by Andrew Grey
State Trooper Casey Bombaro works too hard to have time for a love life, never mind a family. But when a missing persons case leads him to three scared kids and eventually their uncle—an old friend from Casey’s college days—all that changes. Bertie Riley hasn’t seen his troubled sister, Jen, or his niece and nephews in years. Now suddenly Jen is gone and Bertie is all the kids have...Categorized as:
friends to lovers hurt-comfort queer second chances contemporary m-m dual-pov mystery -
Ikumen After by Kazuma Kodaka
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThis is a really cute, sweet story about two single dads Asakura and Kentarou, whose young sons happen to go to the same daycare.Categorized as:
age difference friends to lovers queer m-m contemporary humor first-in-series standalone-first -
The Pro vs The Fan by Nicole Dykes
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsBook 3.Categorized as:
friends to lovers queer grumpy sunshine hurt-comfort age difference m-m contemporary dual-pov -
The Outcast by E.M. Denning
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsEthan Bennett is too old for Mickey. Ethan Bennett plays guitar, barbecues as often as possible, and owns a diner. He’s a widower whose life still revolves around his sons, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. When Mickey, a younger man his son Taylor had been helping shows up at the diner, cold to the bone, thin as a rail, Ethan knows he can’t send him away... -
It's Not You by Becca Seymour
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen a protective ex-cop helps his gorgeous tenant through his recovery, their complicated history is asking for trouble. Will the fear of the past repeating itself destroy any possibility of happiness? Daredevil drifter Lawrence Crawford is hunting for a place to call home. After ten years of looking, he believes he’s found what he’s been searching for... -
Before I Fall by Joelle Lynne, Courtney W. Dixon
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsWho’s going to catch me when I fall? Evan. Everything has been taken from me. My home, my family, and the love of my life. Raising a child on my own isn’t how I envisioned my young life full of hopes and dreams. Now, my youth is gone, too. I had been drowning with no way out until him. The one man I didn’t expect to hold my head above water...
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