Books like 'Only Love Can Hurt Like This'
Readers who enjoyed Only Love Can Hurt Like This by Paige Toon also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary friends to lovers m-f love triangle angst forced proximity hurt-comfort slow burn small town competent heroine
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Myles by Riley Edwards
Former Delta Operator Myles Simms doesn’t know when to quit. The concept so foreign to him he can’t give up on Delilah Watts. A woman he’s never met—a woman who might be the enemy yet he’s compelled to save her. Intel Specialist Delilah Watts never imagined sending an email would be deadly. Kidnapped and left to die, yet she regrets nothing...Categorized as:
m-f forced proximity hurt-comfort sweet heroine tortured heroine sweet-hero contemporary suspense -
![The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce]()
The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce
Estranged exes must stick close together to save their best friend’s wedding after a string of disasters in this swoony and steamy second-chance romance from the USA Today bestselling author of You, with a View . Georgia Woodward lives by her lists, none more so than the one about her ex, Eli Mora...Categorized as:
forced proximity m-f friends to lovers sweet heroine sweet-hero angst strong heroine slow burn -
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![Awakened by Sin by Mia Knight]()
Awakened by Sin by Mia Knight
Carmen Pyre had it all until her husband was murdered by a madman who threatened everyone she loved. Now that her husband has been avenged, it's time to move on. .. she just doesn't know how. Two men who fill her husband’s former roles offer to help her move forward with her life... -
![Talk Nerdy To Me by C.M. Owens]()
Talk Nerdy To Me by C.M. Owens
Despite the fact it seemed like Base Masters was all over Sterling Shore, I'd never really known much about him, aside from random factoids. Things like. .. he's a semi-estranged cousin of one of my brother's friends, plays guitar in a local band, and he doesn't get mentioned much unless he's on stage. Until. . -
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![The Billionaire's Secrets by J.S. Scott]()
The Billionaire's Secrets by J.S. Scott
Rated: 4.37 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsFormer rock star Xander Sinclair may be out of rehab, but he’s not out of the woods. Still haunted by his parents’ murders, he has secluded himself in his Amesport mansion and dodges any attempted contact from his two brothers. Struggling not to fall into relapse, he believes he’s battling his demons alone. That is, until Samantha arrives to work as his live-in housekeeper...Categorized as:
independent heroine sweet heroine m-f contemporary super rich hero length-medium audiobook -
![Swept Into Love by Melissa Foster]()
Swept Into Love by Melissa Foster
The Ryders are a series of sexy stand-alone romances. These hot contemporary romance novels feature alpha male heroes and sexy, empowered women. They're flawed, funny, passionate, and relatable to readers who enjoy new adult romance, contemporary romance, and women's fiction. It’s been years since Sally Tuft’s husband died and she was left to raise her teenage son alone... -
![The Sandcastle Hurricane by Carolyn Brown]()
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 friends to lovers forced proximity m-f contemporary humor christian audiobook -
![Moonraker's Bride by Madeleine Brent]()
Moonraker's Bride by Madeleine Brent
Born in a Mission in China, Lucy Waring finds herself with fifteen small children to feed and care for. The way she tackles this task leads to her being thrown into the grim prison of Chengfu, where she meets Nicholas Sabine - a man about to die. He asks her a cryptic riddle, the mystery of which echoes through all that befalls her in the months that follow. . -
![Landon & Shay - Part Two by Brittainy C. Cherry]()
Landon & Shay - Part Two by Brittainy C. Cherry
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsOnce upon a time, I fell in love with a boy. A beautiful, broken boy who had his own world of struggles. People warned me against our love, but I didn't listen. We looked weak. Young, foolish. Dangerously in love. We didn't care. In order to keep our hearts protected from the opinions of others, we became each other’s secret. We shared stolen moments. Tender touches. Secretive embraces... -
![The Fear of Falling by Dana LeCheminant]()
The Fear of Falling by Dana LeCheminant
What happens in Italy…follows you home. Avery was supposed to be married by now—not stuck working alongside her ex-fiancé, pretending their failed relationship never happened. So when a solo trip to Italy introduces her to a charming stranger with a devastating smile, a no-strings-attached fling feels like the perfect way to remember there’s more to life than work and heartbreak... -
![Hate to Love Him by J. Saman]()
Hate to Love Him by J. Saman
A gorgeous, brooding rock god. An unstoppable chemistry we fight to ignore. Desperate passion I want indelibly inked on my soul. .. Jobless and financially destitute, I have no choice but to see this tour through. Even with my boss hating my guts. A fact he goes out of his way to prove every chance he gets. Lucky for me, the best part of Jasper Diamond is his daughter... -
![The Half of It by Theresa Christine]()
The Half of It by Theresa Christine
In a small town halfway around the world, she might just find her whole heart. Tough but tender Juniper Martin should have tossed that DNA test. A frustrating workday and one too many cosmos later, she mails a sample that unearths her half-sister in Ireland. Raised in a broken home, Juniper grants trust sparingly...Categorized as:
m-f forced proximity slow burn small town independent heroine sweet-hero contemporary siblings-bff -
![When Forty Blooms by Jacinta Howard]()
When Forty Blooms by Jacinta Howard
A rare birthday. A second chance. A woman finally choosing herself. Simone Harris has always known how to hold it down. For her son. For her clients. For the sports agency she built from scratch. She keeps things running, keeps herself moving, and keeps her heart tucked safely out of reach. But this birthday feels different. It falls on a leap year, a date that only circles back every so often... -
![Wheels Down by Beth Bolden]()
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 forced proximity hurt-comfort m-m contemporary queer length-medium -
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![That Time I Kissed My Beachfront Boss by Julie Christianson]()
That Time I Kissed My Beachfront Boss by Julie Christianson
My dream job just got snapped up by the one man who rejected me…. That’s right. I’m an unemployed twenty-something stuck sleeping on my grandmother’s old futon while Hudson Blaine, the guy who shot me down, gets to manage The Beachfront Inn. Talk about life being unfair. I’m about to flee town with what’s left of my pride when Mr. Rejection begs me to stay... -
![The Birthday List by Devney Perry]()
The Birthday List by Devney Perry
From USA Today Bestselling Author Devney Perry comes a small town romance. I carry a journal with me. A journal with a list. Take a karate class. Go skydiving. Learn to play the ukulele. Say yes to everything for an entire day. The list goes on, line by line, of youthful dreams. For too long that list has haunted me. But starting today, I’m going to cross one item off... -
![That Secret Crush by Meghan Quinn]()
That Secret Crush by Meghan Quinn
USA Today bestselling author Meghan Quinn brings more humor and heart with the third novel of her Getting Lucky series: a story about breaking curses and laying your heart on the line... -
![This Time, Next Year by Ruby Barrett]()
This Time, Next Year by Ruby Barrett
Nora hates two New Year’s Eve parties (too loud, too late) and her friend group frenemy, Finn (too tall, too argumentative). Then one New Year’s Eve, their friends enforce the “everyone has to kiss someone at midnight” rule and Nora and Finn begrudgingly lock lips. And something about that kiss makes Nora rethink that Finn’s mouth might be good for something other than pestering her...Categorized as:
friends to lovers slow burn m-f sweet-hero independent heroine competent heroine contemporary humor -
![She Loves Me by Melissa Foster]()
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:
friends to lovers independent heroine strong heroine m-f humor contemporary sassy heroine audiobook -
![Moonlight Road by Robyn Carr]()
Moonlight Road by Robyn Carr
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 40 ratingsWITH HER BELOVED YOUNGER SIBLINGS SETTLED AND HAPPY, ERIN FOLEY HAS EMPTY NEST SYNDROME. AT AGE THIRTY-FIVE. So she's hitting the pause button on her life and holing up in a secluded (but totally upgraded --- she's not into roughing it! ) cabin near Virgin River. Erin is planning on getting to know herself . .. not the shaggy-haired mountain man she meets...Categorized as:
slow burn small town sweet-hero m-f contemporary military virgin heroine length-long -
![Honeysuckle Breeze by B.R. Goodwin]()
Honeysuckle Breeze by B.R. Goodwin
Would you rather know what your best friend’s lips feel like against yours but get ghosted immediately after… or never even taste the possibility of forever? What could be worse than inconveniently falling for your long-distance best friend? How ‘bout sharing an unexpected, but magical, Christmas kiss with him, then being ghosted ever after…... -
![The Secret Ingredient by Nancy Naigle]()
The Secret Ingredient by Nancy Naigle
Now a Hallmark Channel Original Movie! From the USA Today bestselling author of The Shell Collector comes a delightfully festive Valentine's treat, perfect for fans of Carolyn Brown, Susan Mallery, and Viola Shipman. Years ago, Kelly McIntyre couldn’t see her life getting any sweeter. She was engaged and dreaming of opening a restaurant with her fiancé, Andrew York... -
![Every Chance With You by Lexi Ryan]()
Every Chance With You by Lexi Ryan
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen I met Alec Hayes in Vegas, I thought I'd stumbled into a love affair with the man of my dreams. Alec's sexy, confident, and charming. Our night together was full of laughter and the kind of toe-curling kisses that tempted me to believe in fate for the first time in years. Until I flew out to LA to surprise Alec and ran into the unnamed half-brother he'd admitted to despising... -
![A Love Like You by Kait Nolan]()
A Love Like You by Kait Nolan
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAfter Mick Routlege catches the garter at his best friend’s wedding, everyone is convinced he’s next. Too bad the only woman he wants has him lodged firmly in the friend zone. Between her job as a nurse and the demands of her family, Juliette Chen feels like the world is on her shoulders...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity small town m-f sweet-hero contemporary christmas humor -
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![Dare You by K.L. Shandwick]()
Dare You by K.L. Shandwick
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsThis book and series have been rebranded to Chasing Love Billie in the Wild Romance Saga by Kelly Shandwick on Goodreads for clarity of reading order. Chasing Love Billie is book one in the series. Book two Chasing Love: Sawyer. Book three Chasing Love: James. Book four Chasing Love: Tricia. Book five coming Dec Chasing Love: Erin. Book six coming Dec Chasing Love: Ryder... -
![When I Come Back by Alise Monroe]()
When I Come Back by Alise Monroe
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThirteen years ago, Carrington Grant and Thea Ashford left Indigo Hill, South Carolina with a shared dream of a larger life that only Seattle could offer. Cary hoped to be the next big chef with his childhood sweetheart at his side, leaving his estranged family behind without a second glance. Eight years ago, Thea moved back home to care for her sick mother, leaving Carrington alone in Seattle... -
![Rumor Has It by Jill Shalvis]()
Rumor Has It by Jill Shalvis
He’ll help unleash the new woman in her…. Special Ops soldier Griffin Reid doesn’t exactly have happy memories of growing up in Sunshine, Idaho. He’s only come back to recover from a war injury, and while he refuses to admit he’s in a weakened state, he finds comfort in the last person he’d expect. Kate Evans teaches fourth grade science in Sunshine, the place she’s always called home... -
![Blue by M.L. Nystrom]()
Blue by M.L. Nystrom
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsBlue’s life is in shambles. He has to fight off his MC brotherhood on a drug problem threatening his town, balance his time as a father while dealing with a vicious custody battle with his ex, and somehow manage the huge load of responsibilities of his job. All the while, he is fighting his attraction to the quiet shopkeeper who lives just across the street from him...Categorized as:
friends to lovers tortured hero sweet heroine angst bikers contemporary single-father length-short -
![Chance Encounters by Jessica Prince]()
Chance Encounters by Jessica Prince
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsThere are three kinds of nerdy women in the world. - The Sexy Nerd. - The Confident Nerd; and. - The So-Socially-Awkward-it’s-Painful-to-Watch Nerd. You can probably guess which one I am. After witnessing me making a fool of myself, Chance Hoffman decided to take pity on me. He’s smart, sexy, charming, and totally out of my league… and for some unexplainable reason, he wants to help me... -
![Forget Me Not by Brenda Jackson]()
Forget Me Not by Brenda Jackson
Brenda Jackson welcomes you back to Catalina Cove, where love is waiting to be reclaimed…. Ashley Ryan never doubted that her husband, Devon, was the love of her life. Even now, three years after Devon died in a car wreck while on a business trip, Ashley can’t bring herself to move on... -
![Love Me Like You Do by Erika Kelly]()
Love Me Like You Do by Erika Kelly
How did the hottest hockey player in the NHL wind up braiding hair and hosting tea parties? Because someone was foolish enough to name him co-guardian of their children. That's how. Cole Montgomery's living his best life--until he gets a call from an attorney letting him know he's been entrusted with the care of two little girls. He can't imagine why anyone would think he was a good role model... -
![Doors by Clover Down]()
Doors by Clover Down
Levi He is a professional cuddler. He’s always been good with people and after a rough youth, he understands loneliness and pain. Or he thought he did until he knocked on Noelle Shaw’s door. He could never have prepared for meeting her—not for the storm in her eyes or the way she constantly surprises him. Levi thought he was there to help her, but maybe he had it backward... -
![The Guy at The Wedding by Katherine Center]()
The Guy at The Wedding by Katherine Center
It's the story of the night Jake and Helen (the main characters in Happiness for Beginners) first met. The first time Jake ever sees Helen, he's crashing her wedding with her little brother, Duncan—and Jake glimpses her for the first time as the boys burst into her dressing room without knocking just as Helen is adjusting the garter under her wedding dress... -
![Not About Love by Jamie Bennett]()
Not About Love by Jamie Bennett
“These are not love lessons,” I said, shaking my head. “This is not about love. ”. Tally Taylor is definitely not the woman to instruct anyone in that particular topic. Life hasn’t given much love to her, but it isn’t what she wants, anyway. It’s certainly not what she’s after from men—like, not even her own father loves her, but that’s just the way things are. She’s fine with it... -
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![Retreat by June Gray]()
Retreat by June Gray
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsReturn to the place where it all began…. Elsie surprises Henry in California in the sexiest way possible, and inadvertently reveals the secret of their relationship to their families. But just when she thinks everything is finally falling back into place, a revelation changes everything…. ~. RETREAT is a 13,000 word erotic romance novelette. FOR MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY PLEASE...Categorized as:
friends to lovers tortured hero m-f contemporary men in uniform military length-novella -
![Wreck My World by Victoria Ashley]()
Wreck My World by Victoria Ashley
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 17 ratings“The feeling I have in this very moment, after not seeing her for so long, will haunt me forever, reminding me why I left to begin with. ”. For as long as I can remember, Easton Crews has been off-limits. As much as it kills me, that’s never going to change. After his little disappearing act three years ago, then suddenly showing up out of nowhere, I shouldn't want anything to do with him... -
![Derail by Kacey Shea]()
Derail by Kacey Shea
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsDon't fall in love with your bandmate's girl. It's an unspoken rule, and one I'm determined to follow. I've always been the guy to take the high road, to be the voice of reason, but when it comes to Jess I'm tired of fighting this overwhelming attraction. The more time we spend together, the more compelled I am to show her she's worthy of love and dreams of her own...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity m-f love triangle contemporary dual-pov cheating rockstars -
![The Henry Sessions by June Gray]()
The Henry Sessions by June Gray
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsPART FOUR OF JUNE GRAY'S DISARM SERIES. In eighteen days, a life can change. .. Henry talks about the past during his therapy sessions but one night puts everything into question, including his relationship with the woman he's loved all his life. Don't miss Engage, part five of the Disarm series!Categorized as:
friends to lovers tortured hero m-f contemporary men in uniform military length-novella -
![Tabitha in the Moonlight by Betty Neels]()
Tabitha in the Moonlight by Betty Neels
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsHer Prince Charming? Sister Tabitha was an efficient nurse, but when it came to matters of the heart she was less sure of herself. So when she fell in love, she had no idea how to deal with her feelings. Was that why the Dutch surgeon Marius van Beek called her Cinderella? If only Marius would ride up on a white horse and ask for her hand in marriage... -
![Whispers at Seaside by Addison Cole]()
Whispers at Seaside by Addison Cole
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsSweet with Heat: Seaside Summers features a group of fun, flirty, and emotional friends who gather each summer at their Cape Cod cottages. They’re sassy, flawed, and so easy to relate to, you’ll be begging to enter their circle of friends! IN WHISPERS AT SEASIDE. . -
![Only Mine by Kennedy Fox]()
Only Mine by Kennedy Fox
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI’m not your girl next door. They call me loud, blunt, and too gorgeous for my own good. A woman who can’t be tamed. Until Archer. The problem? He’s my brother’s best friend. My new roommate. And off-limits. Until we spend a wild night between the sheets. But secretly dating isn’t easy. Our pasts collide with the present. And the only man who can save me is the one I shouldn’t want... -
![When Sky Breaks by Ashley Alexander]()
When Sky Breaks by Ashley Alexander
Can the ultimate betrayal be forgiven? For five years, I’ve thrived. From my fantastic job to dating someone who encourages me to try new things, I’ve had the strength to cut ties with those who lied and move on. Or so I thought. Circumstances out of my control call me back to a place I vowed I’d never to return to…my hometown... -
![Marrying the Gardener by Camilla Evergreen]()
Marrying the Gardener by Camilla Evergreen
I’m only his wife until I get my inheritance, then this relationship is over. Growing up in an environment that doesn’t value women has meant playing the incompetent princess in order to survive. Now that my grandfather—the man who holds the most power in the family—is dying, I have a chance to get what should have always been mine... -
![When Fate Breaks by Nikki Witt]()
When Fate Breaks by Nikki Witt
Do you believe in fate? It’s a simple question…unless you’re a strict life planner and serial overthinker like Annie Jacks. It’s a good thing she finally has it all figured out. Now twenty-eight and two months away from her wedding, Annie has found herself moving into the home of her dreams with her fiancé. The only issue with the move? The house has an old dilapidated greenhouse in the backyard...Categorized as:
friends to lovers small town slow burn forced proximity sweet-hero suspense humor contemporary -
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![Snow by Jules Ford]()
Snow by Jules Ford
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsI was a dedicated soldier, determined to serve my country, but life has a habit of throwing curveballs. Before I deployed to Afghanistan, I met a girl in Vegas and fell hard. She said she’d wait for me, but war changes men, and the boy she knew slowly turned into someone else. War ate away at my soul... -
![My Grumpy Valentine by Nyla Lily]()
My Grumpy Valentine by Nyla Lily
I fell for Penelope the moment my best friend introduced her as his new girlfriend. She wasn’t mine to want, but that didn’t stop me. I stood by as their relationship flourished, watched her walk down the aisle, and tried to bury my feelings beneath forced smiles. Leaving Hope Peak was my only option to give up on the woman of my dreams... -
![Chasing Stardust: A Novel by Erica Lucke Dean]()
Chasing Stardust: A Novel by Erica Lucke Dean
Rated: 4.02 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsA funny and heartfelt novel about learning who your parents are as people, finding yourself, and falling in love in the strangest places—with a David Bowie soundtrack of a lifetime. A crazy promise is still a promise. Zoey Jones is spreading her late mother’s ashes along a path her eccentric grandma G-Lo followed in 1972: David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust tour. G-Lo was no ordinary groupie... -
![The Holiday Whoopie by Sara L. Hudson]()
The Holiday Whoopie by Sara L. Hudson
What happens when a type-A small-town baker and a Hollywood lawyer collide? Whoopie… pies, for starters. Audrey Nouel didn’t swap Manhattan’s Michelin stars for Maine’s whoopie pies just to fall for a man who wears thousand-dollar suits like pajamas...Categorized as:
m-f small town competent heroine independent heroine sweet-hero humor audiobook open-door -
![Save Me by Samantha Chase]()
Save Me by Samantha Chase
Pretending to date the town’s bad boy seemed like a good idea. But who knew that being bad could feel so good…. A small town, fake dating, opposites attract standalone romance from NY Times Best Selling Author Samantha Chase. Ryleigh Donovan has been unsuccessfully dodging her mother’s matchmaking attempts for far too long... -
![Love at a Funeral and Other Awkward Conversations by Sophie Andrews]()
Love at a Funeral and Other Awkward Conversations by Sophie Andrews
Death is an awkward matchmaker…. When my brother suddenly passes away, shattering my family, I’m left to pick up the pieces. Then Vince Mancini knocks on my door. My brother’s best friend from high school—and the boy I loved—is a funeral director, and he promises to answer whenever I call...
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