Books like 'Celebrating What's Real'
Readers who enjoyed Celebrating What's Real by Kenzie Brayne also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary young adult funny secret-relationship christmas
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Skip Beat!, Vol. 20 by Yoshiki Nakamura
When Kyoko’s heart is broken, she decides that revenge is a dish best served in the spotlight! Kyoko Mogami followed her true love Sho to Tokyo to support him while he made it big as an idol... -
Maid-sama! Vol. 01 by Hiro Fujiwara
Misaki Ayuzawa is the President of the Student Council at Seika High School, formerly an all-boys school. Unfortunately, most of the students are still male and stuck in their slovenly habits, so man-hating Misaki really socks it to them in an attempt to make the school presentable to attract more female students... -
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I Hear the Sunspot: Theory of Happiness by Yuki Fumino
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 35 ratingsDue to the overwhelming success of I Hear the Sunspot, the sequel has finally arrived, I Hear the Sunspot: Theory of Happiness! How will this "more than friends, less than lovers" relationship evolve? --he can't hear . . . ? Because of a hearing disability Kohei is often alone. Taichi is outspoken and cheerful... -
My Favorite Color is Mistletoe by Eva Austin
A double fake date for the holidays? What could go wrong? When Audrey suddenly finds herself without a date over Christmas break, Jax comes up with an outrageous plan. But what happens when their charade starts to feel. . -
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The Grift of the Magi by Ally Carter
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsKatarina Bishop is a thief. To many it wouldn’t matter that she now uses her considerable skills to resteal valuable works of art and return them to their rightful homes. She’s still a thief. So that’s why Kat’s surprised when an Interpol agent comes to her one snowy evening, asking for her help... -
This Winter by Alice Oseman
A short story, based on characters from Solitaire – praised as ‘The Catcher in the Rye for the digital age’ — The Times. I used to think that difficult was better than boring, but I know better now …. I’m not going to think about the past few months, about Charlie and me, and all of the sad. I’m going to block it all out. Just for today. "Happy Christmas," I say... -
Takane & Hana, Vol. 6 by Yuki Shiwasu
Takane is suddenly confronted with a major crisis when his grandfather, the chairman of the Takaba Group, strips him of his wealth! When Takane instantly goes from being super rich to penniless, how will Hana deal with a dejected Takane who has lost everything?Categorized as:
christmas young adult contemporary humor age difference length-short m-f high-school -
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, Mathilde Tamae-Bouhon
Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business...Categorized as:
christmas secret-relationship young adult high-school m-m contemporary multicultural humor -
Takane & Hana, Vol. 5 by Yuki Shiwasu
Hana’s usual family Christmas celebration gets canceled, so she feels a bit sad about the prospect of spending Christmas Eve alone. Takane decides to ask Hana out to dinner for that night, but then a beautiful medical school student named Rino shows up declaring her love for Takane! Does this mean Hana has a love rival? !Categorized as:
christmas young adult contemporary humor age difference length-short m-f high-school -
A Side Character's Love Story Vol. 12 by Akane Tamura, 田村茜
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 12 ratings"The long summer is finally at an end, and I've just realized that I don't have much time left as a college student. ". With her job hunt concluded at last, Nobuko accepts a position in Ehime after graduation. Though she enjoys what little time remains of her college life with Hiroki and Fumi, she is constantly plagued with anxiety for the future... -
On His Face by Tabatha Kiss
5 Goals for a Perfect Freshman Year. 1. Learn a new life skill. 2. Get a tattoo. 3. Pay off my car. 4. Enter the Art Fest. Win. 5. Fall in love with a stranger. Yes, I know #5 isn’t technically a goal, but I couldn’t think of anything else. Little did I know, I’d cross it off my vision board two weeks into my first semester at Chicago North University. He was the model in my art class...Categorized as:
secret-relationship contemporary new adult humor college siblings-bff length-medium young adult -
The Breakup Lists by Adib Khorram
Love is more complicated than “boy meets boy” in bestselling author Adib Khorram’s sharply funny new romantic comedy, set in the sordid world of high school theater. Jackson Ghasnavi is a lot of things—a techie, a smoothie afficionado, a totally not obsessive list-maker—but one thing he’s not is a romantic...Categorized as:
secret-relationship young adult queer contemporary high-school m-m humor length-medium -
Anyone But Me by Erica Lee
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsCarter Miller-Cooper wants to start fresh and leaving Philadelphia to take her dream job in New York is the perfect way to do that. The only problem is, it’s hard to do that when she’s living with her sister’s best friend - Jax Michaels. It’s all fun until Jax becomes Carter’s first “no-strings-attached” fling and Carter becomes Jax’s practice girlfriend...Categorized as:
secret-relationship contemporary f-f queer length-medium young adult humor caretaking -
Hot Cocoa Hearts by Suzanne Nelson
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsEmery Mason hates the holidays. She’s so over tinsel, secret santas, and excessive cheer. To make matter worse, her parents are forcing her to work—as an elf! —in their Santa photo booth at the mall. Then she meets Alejandro Perez, who works at the hot cocoa shop next door... -
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An On Dublin Street Christmas by Samantha Young
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 46 ratingsBraden Carmichael and Jocelyn Butler share their first Christmas together as a couple, exchanging meaningful gifts and spending time with family. -
Girlfriend for the Summer by Erica Lee
Mia Carmichael has her whole life figured out. From high school royalty to marrying a boy from her hometown to a career in medicine, she can read her future like a map. There’s only one these are actually the things her parents want. That becomes glaringly obvious when she spends the summer with her grandma and meets Colby Rivers. Colby is completely in control of her life. Sort of...Categorized as:
secret-relationship young adult contemporary queer f-f length-medium behind-doors humor -
The Ruse by Judy Corry
What’s the first rule of getting the lead in the school musical? Don’t fall for your bad-boy co-star. When Elyse Cohen gets the lead in her private school’s winter musical, she thinks it’s a dream come true. That is, until she finds out she’s playing opposite Asher Park—the bad boy rumored to have been involved in the mysterious disappearance of his ex last spring...Categorized as:
christmas young adult contemporary high-school love triangle humor other-man-woman length-long -
Cheeky Brat, Vol. 1 by Mitsubachi Miyuki
I, Yuki, became the basketball team manager for one reason-I had a crush on the captain and wanted to be with him, always. But when Kido-senpai suddenly announced he got a girlfriend, where did that leave me? In the clubroom, crying my eyes out…until this cheeky brat of an underclassman showed up...Categorized as:
christmas young adult sports contemporary high-school humor love triangle basketball -
Christmas With Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsJoin Billy and Sophie for the next chapter of their story by bestselling author Giovanna Fletcher. Christmas has come to Rosefont Hill and it's destined to be a particularly special festive season for Sophie May. When a smitten stranger emails Sophie to ask her if he can propose to the woman he loves in her little teashop, the romantic in her finds it impossible to refuse... -
10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston
Sophie wants one thing for Christmas-a little freedom from her overprotective parents. So when they decide to spend Christmas in South Louisiana with her very pregnant older sister, Sophie is looking forward to some much needed private (read: make-out) time with her long-term boyfriend, Griffin. Except it turns out that Griffin wants a little freedom from their relationship. Cue devastation... -
The Bachelor on the Shelf by Jana Aston
My name is Carter Sheppard and I actually like Christmas and my Christmas-themed hometown of Reindeer Falls. In fact, when I learn I have to return home in order to collect an inheritance—my uncle’s dog—it puts life into perspective for me. Sure, playing professional baseball is great. But it won’t last forever and every player needs a long-term game plan. And I just found mine...Categorized as:
christmas contemporary sports humor insta-love from hate to love alpha male young adult -
Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean
The Princess Diaries meets Crazy Rich Asians in Emiko Jean’s Tokyo Ever After, the irresistible story of an ordinary Japanese-American girl who discovers that her father is the Crown Prince of Japan! Izumi Tanaka has never really felt like she fit in—it isn’t easy being Japanese American in her small, mostly white, northern California town... -
A Cross-Country Wedding by Courtney Walsh
A fun-loving free spirit. Her buttoned-up best friend. And a cross-country wedding that could drive their platonic relationship toward something else entirely. Simon Collier is my friend. Heck, he’s been my friend for most of my adult life—and we couldn’t be more different. I love late-night karaoke. He’s a homebody with a piano I’ve never heard him play...Categorized as:
christmas contemporary friends to lovers humor young adult length-medium m-f glimpses-kisses -
Pas de Don't by Chloe Angyal
Heather Hays finally has everything she's worked for—she was promoted principal dancer and is engaged to her forever crush, ballet royalty Jack Andersen. But after Jack is caught cheating, Heather's near-perfect life comes crashing down... -
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A Condition Called Love, Vol. 1 by Megumi Morino
Hotaru is a 16-year-old high school first-year who has always been ambivalent about love, preferring instead to have a lively life with her family and friends. So when she sees her schoolmate, Hananoi-kun, sitting in the snow after a messy, public breakup, she thinks nothing of offering to share her umbrella... -
The Baller by Lulu Moore
My name is Lux Weston and I’m a matter of national security, apparently. All I did was meet a beautiful girl in a bookstore, then rescue her. One… twice… and maybe a third time - from a creeper. The problem? The creeper turned out to be Secret Service, and the girl… well, she’s Radley Andrews - the President’s only daughter. It has disaster written all over it. I should stay away... -
LDK, Vol. 10 by Ayu Watanabe
FROM ROOMMATES TO CLASSMATES Although Aoi’s father found out about their housing situation, Aoi and Shusei are still allowed to live together, but on one particular condition…Before long, the two of them begin their final year of high school, and end up in the same class...Categorized as:
secret-relationship young adult contemporary length-short new adult humor m-f forced proximity -
L-DK, Vol.11 by Ayu Watanabe
かえでに柊聖との関係がバレちゃった! しかも柊聖と波留の過去を聞き、葵の不安は募るばかり……。悩んだ末に葵はある決断をするが、柊聖がまさかのリアクションを――!?. 葵と柊聖の甘いラブ同居生活、復活(!?) ハラハラ目が離せない、ひとつ屋根の下青春ラブストーリー第11巻。.Categorized as:
secret-relationship length-short contemporary young adult new adult humor m-f forced proximity -
LDK, Vol. 12 by Ayu Watanabe
CLOSE CONTACT. Aoi and Shusei have overcome their latest hurdle, and the distance between their bodies and hearts is drawing closer! Both of them are more attracted to each other than ever, but the promise they made to Aoi's father continues to stand in their way. .. !Categorized as:
secret-relationship young adult length-short contemporary humor m-f forced proximity high-school -
Christmas After All by Cece Louise
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAs if ruining my life wasn’t enough, now he’s back to ruin my Christmas. Melissa. The only thing I hate more than Christmas is Tucker James—the guy who wrote a song about me after I turned him down in high school. He became famous. I became infamous. With Tucker back in town to play at the annual winter festival, this Christmas is shaping up to be one of the worst...Categorized as:
christmas contemporary clean substance abuse christian humor new adult from hate to love -
After School Activities by Dirk Hunter
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsTwo guys insist on complicating Dylan O’Connor’s life: one, his bully, and the other, his best friend. It started out simple enough. Step one, outsmart Adam with wit and flair, goad him into doing something stupid, and land him in detention. Step two, play video games with Kai all night and laugh about it. Go to bed. Repeat tomorrow. Only, Adam and Kai are about to change the rules on him...Categorized as:
secret-relationship m-m young adult contemporary from hate to love friends to lovers abuse humor -
The Invasion of Adam by Claire Davis, Al Stewart
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsCollege life, fun nights out, guys everywhere—Adam thought his life was perfect…. Until he met Tork. Green-haired Tork creates origami models and reads Dickens. He lives in supported housing, and he is absolutely not impressed by money. Adam and Tork come from opposite worlds, but even as Adam fights it, the attraction stays strong... -
L-DK, Vol.13 by Ayu Watanabe
SAFE HAVEN. Despite some turbulent times, Aoi and Shusei’s relationship is going well. Each day, they forge new memories together, and their love grows even stronger. One day, their neighbor Wataru gets a knock on the door… It’s Shusei’s older sister Eri, and she’s in trouble! She’s on the run from a persistent ex and needs a place to crash. Wataru takes her in, and the two just might hit it off!Categorized as:
secret-relationship length-short contemporary young adult humor m-f forced proximity high-school -
LDK Vol. 19-20 by Ayu Watanabe
LOVE TRIANGULATION Unable to hide his feelings for Aoi any longer, Leon finally confronts Shusei, and the situation in the shared household becomes tense. Meanwhile, the relationship between Shusei and Aoi comes to light, threatening to shake the very foundation of their once peaceful cohabitation! Will the three of them be able to come to an agreement, or will their love force them apart? -
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L-DK, Vol. 17-18 by Ayu Watanabe
IT TAKES THREE. Aoi continues to hide her relationship and secret living arrangement with Shusei. Their love nest now includes Shusei's cousin, Leon. The three of them live together to convince Leon that Aoi is worthy of being Shusei's girlfriend. Tensions mount at home while the competitive spirit extends to their school's cultural festival where students vie for top rankings and social clout... -
LDK Vol. 23-24 by Ayu Watanabe
RULES ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN Things are heating up as graduation approaches! Aoi and Shusei are still madly in love despite being forced to live separately as they spend their very first Christmas together as a couple. The two end up going to an amusement park on a date, and afterwards, Shusei makes a shocking decision in order to ensure they stay together-forever...Categorized as:
secret-relationship length-medium contemporary young adult humor m-f forced proximity high-school -
Where You Are by J.H. Trumble
Robert Westfall’s life is falling apart—everywhere but in math class. That’s the one place where problems always have a solution. But in the world beyond high school, his father is terminally ill, his mother is squabbling with his interfering aunts, his boyfriend is unsupportive, and the career path that’s been planned for him feels appealing by the day...Categorized as:
secret-relationship contemporary friends to lovers forbidden love young adult sports humor m-m -
The Backup Plan by Jill Shalvis
Rated: 4.03 of 5 stars · 32 ratingsNew York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis returns to Sunrise Cove with a heartwarming tale of three people who are bought together when they’re bequeathed an old Wild West inn that has the potential to pull their lives apart, but instead turns into the gift of a lifetime... -
We Grant You a Merry Christmas (Save the Date) by Morgan Matson
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA new story set in the world of Save the Date! It’s Christmas of Charlie Grant’s sophomore year in college. And even though the Grants are no longer in their old house, Charlie is feeling the pressure to have the perfect holiday. All her siblings are coming back... -
Fearless King by Maya Hughes
My first crush. My first heartbreak. My brother’s best friend. The butterflies in my stomach turned into full blown eagles the second our lips touched. A kiss under the stars that changed our relationship forever. After a lifetime of wishing, I stared up into Ford’s eyes with his fingers caressing my cheek and my heart racing. The evening ended with my heart bleeding on the ballroom floor...Categorized as:
secret-relationship young adult sports humor new adult contemporary friends to lovers angst -
Betting on You by Lynn Painter
From the New York Times bestselling author of Better than the Movies , this swoon-worthy rom-com in the vein of She’s All That and 10 Things I Hate About You follows a teen girl who unwittingly finds herself at the center of a bet while working at a waterpark... -
Tessa and Weston: The Best Christmas Ever by Abbie Emmons
It's Tessa and Weston's first Christmas together, and Tessa is determined to make it the best holiday ever. But when her estranged mother shows up with a suitcase and plans to stay for two weeks, Tessa's hopes are shattered. Bitter from the past and still holding a grudge, Tessa is in no mood to give her mother a second chance... -
Tweet Cute by Emma Lord
Meet Pepper, swim team captain, chronic overachiever, and all-around perfectionist. Her family may be falling apart, but their massive fast-food chain is booming ― mainly thanks to Pepper, who is barely managing to juggle real life while secretly running Big League Burger’s massive Twitter account. Enter Jack, class clown and constant thorn in Pepper’s side... -
That Crush by Jillian Dodd
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsShe’s scared to fall in love again. He’s determined to be the one she falls for. When Damon Diamond first laid eyes on Ainsley Archibald at fifteen, he knew it was more than just a crush. But with their four-year age gap and her indifference, he had to keep his feelings at bay. Three years later, everything has changed...Categorized as:
secret-relationship sports football age difference friends to lovers young adult contemporary humor -
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Underneath the Christmas Tree by Heidi Swain
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 9 ratings***The sparkling new Christmas novel from the. Sunday Times. bestselling author Heidi Swain! ***. Liza Wynter loves being a high school art teacher, running after school clubs and helping her students find their way. But life has other plans... -
Fooling the Forward by Jacob Chance
Ryder Goode has been my celebrity crush since he signed on with the Charleston Coyotes. Watching him race around the ice has become a favorite pastime of mine. Despite him being one of my brother’s teammates, we’ve never met. At least not until he cashes in on the prize he won in a charity auction—one weekend with me as his personal chef... -
Twist of Fate by Rachael Anderson
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratings**This story was first published in the All I Want holiday romance anthology**. When a postcard meant for Kenzie winds up in Ty's mailbox, Ty's faced with a decision... -
The Spoiler by L.E. Todd
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsRose Maraczek (21) loves movies. Not just any movies, but sweeping period dramas that take her far away from who she is. Her obsession started in high school when a box of movies appeared on her doorstep and she discovered the relief they could give her from her debilitating OCD. What Rose hates are spoilers—especially those that ruin the escape she seeks... -
Penny's Christmas Date by Clara Nielsen
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsI'VE BEEN IN LOVE WITH ALEXANDER RIGBY FOR MY WHOLE LIFE. I fell in love with Alexander Rigby when we were six years old. Back then, I was naïve enough to think it might actually go somewhere. Now, I'm sixteen and know that I will never fall in love again, least of all with Alexander... -
Over the Line by Elise Faber
I’m snowed in. With a famous hockey player. I’m snowed in. With a famous hockey player. My life has been a disaster. I’ve lost my job, my apartment, and my direction, so when my best friend suggests a week trip up to her house in Tahoe, I jump on the chance for a change in scenery. Only, I didn’t anticipate Snowmageddon...
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