Books like 'Baxter's Right-Hand Man'
Readers who enjoyed Baxter's Right-Hand Man by Lane Hayes also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary gay romance actors friends to lovers height-difference secret-relationship hurt-comfort super rich hero bisexual from hate to love
-
Still Beating by Jessie Walker
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 22 ratingsTHE END WAS JUST THE BEGINNING... I thought I was strong enough to say goodbye.I thought I was ready to leave him.It doesn't matter that I'll be seeing him in three days.I just have to get through three more nights.I'm dying now. Shattering. Breaking.I'm determined to show him I can manage on my own.What if he needs me?I need him...What if he doesn't?...but I want to be better for him...Categorized as:
friends to lovers from hate to love hurt-comfort queer m-m new adult angst contemporary -
Every Breath After by Jessie Walker
Rated: 4.64 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsHe would never be mine. Official Cover + Blurb coming soon. *Every Breath After will be a full-length, emotional, MM rockstar romance novel. While this book will focus on a new couple, it is not considered a stand-alone. This series is meant to be read in order, beginning with the Duet: Where There's A Will (#1) and If There's A Way (#2)... -
Semantic Error, Vol.2 by Soori Jeo
Computer science major Chu Sangwoo is the epitome of an inflexible and strict rule-abiding person. While working on a liberal arts group project with freeloaders who don’t put in any effort, Sangwoo reasonably decides to remove their names from the final presentation.But he didn’t imagine how involved he would become with the person whose study-abroad plans were messed up because of that project... -
Call Me By Your Name - Screenplay by James Ivory, André Aciman
Rated: 4.53 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsIn Northern Italy in 1983, seventeen-year-old Elio begins a relationship with visiting Oliver, his father's research assistant, with whom he bonds over his emerging sexuality, their Jewish heritage, and the beguiling Italian landscape... -
-
Protecting Mr. Fine by Lucy Lennox
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsI’m a lucky man and I know it. Kids from backwoods Georgia don’t land scholarships to Yale, but I did, and striking it rich–like, billions of dollars rich–with my best friends after graduation should have used up my luck for a lifetime. But luck struck again when I followed my passion into music...Categorized as:
queer secret-relationship hurt-comfort super rich hero m-m grumpy sunshine virgin hero contemporary -
The World's Greatest First Love, Vol. 6 (世界一初恋 (The World's Greatest First Love) #6) by Shungiku Nakamura
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsWhen Ritsu Onodera changes jobs, looking for a fresh start, he's not exactly thrilled when his new boss turns out to be his old flame. Ritsu's determined to leave all that in the past—but how can he when his boss is just as determined that they have a future?Masamune Takano is the boss—and first love—of rookie shojo manga editor Ritsu Onodera... -
Old-Fashioned Cupcake by Sagan Sagan
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 23 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... -
Budding Attraction by Saxon James
FordI’ve never thought much about Orson Naples.He’s a cute guy who I’d seen around town a few times, but then one day he up and left and didn’t reappear until a few years later. No one knows where he went or what he was doing, all this gossipy town knows is that he’s a widower, owns the florist, and is friends with that divorced group that hang out at the Killer Brew all the time...Categorized as:
friends to lovers height-difference hurt-comfort queer bisexual m-m contemporary mature couple -
Jem and Tean: Guys Gone Wild by Gregory Ashe
Rated: 4.51 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsJem and Tean: Guys Gone Wild is a collection of short stories. It includes the following:“First Dates”A prequel to The Lamb and the Lion books, this short story shows Jem and Tean as they are set up on blind dates—with disastrous results.“Cheap Seats”Jem and Tean go to the movies. Jem insists it’s an epic bromance date. Tean insists they’re just casual acquaintances... -
Impaired Judgement by Youcouldmakealife
Rated: 4.71 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsIt’s kind of a shame someone that talented is that big a... -
Rafe by Nicole Edwards
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA history of running… When Rafe Sharpe was eighteen, he put Coyote Ridge, his family, and everyone he knew in his rearview in order to escape his past. When he returned three years ago, everyone thought he’d returned to face the horrors that had shaped his existence. What he didn’t tell anyone was that he’d been running then, too... -
Heart2Heart: A Charity Anthology by May Archer, Charlie Cochet
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsOnce upon a time, a bunch of M/M authors wondered… What if a dating app that guaranteed you a love match broke down just in time for Valentine’s Day? What if you found yourself on a blind date with a random guy who might be your opposite in every single way? It could be a disaster. Or… When the code breaks down, fate just might take over... -
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 -
Sated in Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsThe Montgomery Ink saga continues in a seductive romance where a runaway bride and two best friends might just take the chance of a lifetime. Ethan Montgomery thought he had his life figured out until the moment he and his best friend met a woman in a wedding dress drinking wine out of a paper bag. He might work too many hours and always seems to put his family and friends first... -
-
Delinquent Daddy and Tender Teacher Vol. 1 by Tama Mizuki
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsBack in high school, studious Hitsuji had a secret crush on one of his guy friends--a friendly "bad boy" named Hatoyama--but never confessed... -
Best Supporting Actor by Joanna Chambers, Sally Malcolm
Lights, camera…attraction! When Tag O’Rourke, struggling actor-slash-barista, meets Jay Warren, son of acting royalty, it’s loathing at first sight. Loathing…and lust. Tag’s dream is to act, but it’s a dream that’s crumbling beneath the weight of student debt and his family’s financial problems. If his career doesn’t take off soon, he’s going to have to get a real job...Categorized as:
from hate to love actors hurt-comfort secret-relationship friends to lovers queer contemporary m-m -
Flirt by Lucy Lennox
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsSassy-mouthed Stevie Devore has always had a crush on the local fire chief. Gorgeous silver fox, Evan Paige, is way out of Stevie's league, however, not to mention the chief has always been a ladies' man, but when Stevie turns twenty-one, he decides he's tired of only daydreaming about Evan...Categorized as:
queer hurt-comfort friends to lovers height-difference bisexual m-m contemporary humor -
Alone On the Water by MadLori
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsSherlock Holmes never expected to live a long life, but he never imagined that it would end like this. - 7725 WordsSorrow’s my body on the wavesSorrow’s a girl inside my caveI live in a city sorrow builtIt’s in my honey, it’s in my milkDon’t leave my half a heart alone on the waterCover me in rag and bone sympathyCause I don’t want to get over you... -
My Dearest Patrolman, Vol. 2 by Niyama
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsLiving 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... -
The World's Greatest First Love, Vol. 7 (世界一初恋 (The World's Greatest First Love) #7) by Shungiku Nakamura
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA fresh start turns sour after a manga editor's new boss turns out to be his ill-fated first love!When Ritsu Onodera changes jobs, looking for a fresh start, he's not exactly thrilled when his new boss turns out to be his old flame... -
Promises Part 3 by A.E. Via
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsA bounty hunter’s partners to lovers’ story. The hunt is on… and he’s the prey. Bradford (Ford) King was sure he had the rest of his life mapped out. Though he was no longer a SEAL Lieutenant, his brother was home safe and he had a job that still allowed him to satisfy his hunger for hunting bad guys...Categorized as:
bisexual friends to lovers queer m-m age difference contemporary military length-short -
When We Ignite by Alex Cross
They were never supposed to happen. From the moment their paths cross, the attraction between them is undeniable—but completely forbidden.Ash Langley is the heir to an empire built on luxury and wealth, a man trapped between a father who refuses to loosen his grip and the crushing weight of his own expectations... -
Milo by Lily Morton
Once upon a time a brave knight rescued a young man. Unfortunately, he then spent the next few years bossing the young man around and treating him like a child. Milo has been burying himself at Chi an Mor, hiding from the wreckage of his once promising career and running from a bad relationship that destroyed what little confidence he had...Categorized as:
hurt-comfort friends to lovers bisexual height-difference queer m-m humor contemporary -
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... -
-
Beautiful Mistakes by Felice Stevens
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsThe other side of loathing might be lust ...Or love ...WolfDesire: What Wolf struggles with from the moment he sees Spencer Hawkins the first day of college.Fear: Not a word in Wolf’s vocabulary except when it comes to facing his feelings for Spencer.Lust: What he gives in to that changes everything between them. And his life forever... -
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... -
Performance in a Leading Role by MadLori
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsSherlock/Watson FanficSherlock Holmes is an Oscar winner in the midst of a career slump. John Watson is an Everyman actor trapped in the rom-com ghetto... -
Another Day With Jory by Mary Calmes
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsJory holiday ficlet from Mary Calmes...Categorized as:
queer hurt-comfort from hate to love m-m contemporary christmas humor length-novella -
The Boyfriend Comeback by Lauren Blakely, Teddy Hamilton
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsA sexy, emotionally-charged, rivals-to-lovers, second chance sports romance… Some men are just off-limits. Like, say, all the other football players in the league. But I’ve been crushing hard on one quarterback in particular for the last year. When Jason invites me to his place the night before my first pro football game, I say yes so fast...Categorized as:
from hate to love queer friends to lovers bisexual secret-relationship m-m sports contemporary -
Relief Pitcher by Lee Blair
I thought I was helping him get his groove back. Turns out he’s helping me fall in love.TylerI have one rule when it comes to matters of my one and done. Consensually, of course. Fun with no complicated romantic feelings. Not that I’m built to experience those, anyway.After my car breaks down on a remote road, I follow a lumbersnack back to his creepy cabin for the cell service...Categorized as:
hurt-comfort friends to lovers height-difference queer forced proximity sports exhibitionism m-m -
Dauntless by Victoria Denault
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsHe’s everything I’ve ever wanted, at the worst possible moment.One and done. That’s always been my motto when it comes to guys, because I’m not about to pull someone else into the closet my parents have locked me inside. I’ve been waiting years to claim my inheritance and live the life I want to live–out, free, and oh yeah, rich...Categorized as:
friends to lovers secret-relationship queer m-m contemporary angst length-short audiobook -
The Christmas Summons (Wild Heart Ranch) by Kelly Fox
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFrom 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... -
Game On by Amy Aislin
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen he broke off his engagement to his team captain's brother the day before their wedding, Jamie Jamieson swore he'd never get involved with anyone associated with a teammate again. Getting traded to the Orcas is a chance at a fresh start, but one glance at his new housemate, and Jamie knows he's in way over his head.Dorian is his new coach's cousin. And his team's social media coordinator...Categorized as:
friends to lovers hurt-comfort height-difference super rich hero queer m-m sports forced proximity -
ChrisMyths by Amy Lane
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 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... -
-
A Different Kind of Love by Nicola Haken
Love is simple. People are not. Despite growing up without it, William Walker knows all about love. He loves his wife. He loves his children. He loves the cat. He has the perfect family, and all he had to do to get it was push aside one pesky little feeling.Unfortunately, love doesn’t pay the bills...Categorized as:
actors bisexual friends to lovers secret-relationship hurt-comfort queer angst cheating -
Sweet as Pie by Beth Bolden
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsLuca Moretti is grumpy—and he wouldn't have it any other way.Wrangling six—Italian—siblings and the family's restaurants would make anyone cranky. But when his mother requests that he save his aunt’s struggling Italian deli in charming, picturesque Indigo Bay, he has no idea that he's about to get an overdose of sweetness...Categorized as:
height-difference hurt-comfort queer grumpy sunshine m-m insta-love contemporary length-medium -
Change My Ticket by Zarah Detand
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsHollywood heartthrob meets med school dropout in this contemporary British MM romance.When your key credential is looking good in spandex, your first serious role matters. Too bad that Gabe Duke can’t seem to get a proper handle on the molecular biologist he’s meant to portray... -
Breakaway by Kindle Alexander
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsGreer Lockhart set out to save the world from itself when he organized his first beach cleanup at the age of twelve. Now, as a uber-successful venture capitalist for eco-friendly startups, he doesn’t let anything get in the way of his goals—whether personal or professional. When a new fitness app schedules a site-wide cycle race, Greer’s competitive side won’t let him back down...Categorized as:
super rich hero friends to lovers queer contemporary sports m-m insta-love length-medium -
After the Fire by Felice Stevens
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsA single bullet destroyed the dreams of Dr. Jordan Peterson. With his lover dead, Jordan descends into an endless spiral of self-destruction that nearly costs him his friends, his career and his life...Categorized as:
queer hurt-comfort height-difference from hate to love m-m tortured hero abuse angst -
Something About Us by Riley Hart
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFalling in love was the easy part. Lucky and Saint are head-over-heels for each other. It doesn’t matter that they met only a few months ago. It also doesn’t matter that this is Saint’s first real relationship and Lucky’s first with a man. They’re infatuated, happy, and excited to start their life together in LA. It isn’t as easy as they thought... -
Take Me with You by Michael Robert
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe tropical storms that roll into The Low Country of South Carolina are fierce. High destructive winds pummel the coastlines and rivers along the Atlantic, blowing debris and wreaking havoc. Storm surges crash up the river, depositing all sorts of rubble along the river’s shores...Categorized as:
hurt-comfort friends to lovers super rich hero queer m-m abuse contemporary age difference -
Knox by Laura John
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsKnox Hanes has always kept his feelings for his older brother’s best friend, Gunnar, a secret. When Knox is forced from his home Gunnar invites him to live with him until things are sorted out. Trapped in close quarters, their hidden desires ignite, but the danger around them escalates, forcing them to confront their feelings and protect their newfound love...Categorized as:
queer hurt-comfort friends to lovers height-difference m-m mystery contemporary forced proximity -
Love Match by Pandora Pine
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSix years after a panic attack on stage ended Nero Lombardi’s Broadway career, a comeback is in the wings. Everything’s coming up roses—and second chances—when he’s cast as Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, the very role from that fateful night, but when a hotshot Hollywood star blows into town and steals his role, Nero wonders if he’ll ever have that encore he craves...Categorized as:
from hate to love hurt-comfort queer friends to lovers actors m-m contemporary office -
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?EvanEverything 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... -
-
Forever Finn by Vawn Cassidy
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsFinn Gallagher has it all, a beautiful girlfriend, a successful Hollywood career, a condo in Malibu and more money than he knows what to do with. He should be happy, but there’s just one problem, he’s gay and he’s been lying to the entire world... -
Saving Him by Sara Hurst
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhen the one you love but shouldn’t is taken, you fight like hell to get them back.Adam DuBois is a true hero—a Navy SEAL dedicated to his team and country. You can see it in everything he does.That’s what I tell people when they ask me about him.To me, though, he’s so much more than a hero. More than a SEAL. He’s the love of my life.I met Adam when we were eighteen and headed to boot camp... -
Betting Brett by Joy Danvers
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsBrett is seriously clueless. He’s a great friend and a great father to his little girl, but how could he not realize after all this time that I’m gay? And I’m in love with him? I know I’ve never said anything, but I feel like I’m pretty obvious.Now I messed up and made a tipsy bet with him about a blow job that I really don’t want to take back. I’m not sure if it was a mistake though... -
Nauti or Nice by Ava Olsen
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsBeing 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...Categorized as:
friends to lovers queer bisexual height-difference christmas contemporary m-m length-short -
Lost Boy by Jodi Payne, B.A. Tortuga
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLost Boy is an opposites attract, smaller top, size difference romance featuring a strong but gentle veterinarian and a police dog trainer with a fiery temper. Veterinarian Leo Aetos adores animals, has a great apartment in Brooklyn, and even has a favorite bar. The only thing he doesn’t have is someone to share it all with...Categorized as:
height-difference hurt-comfort queer bdsm m-m grumpy sunshine contemporary length-short -
The Way You Lie by Crea Reitan
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 4 ratingsSometimes a happy ending comes with heartbreak. Falling in love with my father’s best friend wasn’t on my to-do list. Yes, he’s hot. Sure, I’ve been flirting with him since I was sixteen. Of course I’d be down for a little fun.When Laiken begins returning my flirting, things get heated. It was supposed to be sexy fun and nothing more. We weren’t planning on making this a forever thing...Categorized as:
queer secret-relationship bisexual hurt-comfort friends to lovers age difference m-m contemporary
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.