Books like 'The Friendship Study'
Readers who enjoyed The Friendship Study by Ruby Barrett also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary bisexual m-f friends to lovers grumpy sunshine shy-hero friends-benefits pegging hurt-comfort sweet heroine
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How to Kiss on Christmas Morning by Jenny Proctor
She’s merry and bright. He’s…. not. But something between them is warming up. Megan Sheridan just landed the perfect holiday a quiet week in the mountains house-sitting an event venue while the owners are away. Check the mail, answer the phone, keep the pipes from freezing—easy. The only trouble? No one told Megan she’d be sharing the farmhouse with a very grouchy, very handsome farmhand...Categorized as:
m-f grumpy sunshine caretaking small town sweet heroine competent heroine cold hero sweet-hero -
![Samson by Marie James]()
Samson by Marie James
Who says you can’t fall in love at seven years old? I know I did. The love I felt for my babysitter, Camryn Davison at such a young age transformed over time. By the time I was a teen that love turned into fantasies I knew would never come true. By the time I saw her again at twenty-one I was determined to make those fantasies a reality... -
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![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... -
![Uninhibited by Melody Grace]()
Uninhibited by Melody Grace
He’ll teach her a pleasure beyond her wildest dreams…. Alicia Wright isn’t the kind of girl to make out with a stranger in a dark alley. She’s spent years playing it safe, pining after the perfect man – who’s about to marry someone else. She doesn’t know how to move on, until a sexy stranger turns her world upside down with a wickedly tempting proposition…...Categorized as:
insta-love tortured hero sweet-hero competent heroine sweet heroine angst m-f contemporary -
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![Out of Love by Ruth Cardello]()
Out of Love by Ruth Cardello
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsLaughter and sparks set the stage for a fun romance from New York Times bestselling author Ruth Cardello about a farmer who switches places with his business-savvy twin brother and falls in love with the daughter of his brother’s biggest client. I just found out I have an identical twin... -
![Make Me Trust Again by Anna B. Doe]()
Make Me Trust Again by Anna B. Doe
After leaving my abusive ex-husband, I’m determined to make a life for my son and me, but nothing could have prepared me for him. Chase Williams. Broody. Damaged. Reclusive. He’s been keeping to his ranch ever since he retired from the army. The scars on his body tell a story of pain and loss, and there is no denying the demons of the past hiding behind his serious gaze... -
![He Said Together by Ruth Cardello]()
He Said Together by Ruth Cardello
Rated: 4.48 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsFrom New York Times, bestselling author Ruth Cardello comes another scorching Corisi romance about the lengths people go for those they love and how complicated family can be. Kal has always done whatever was necessary to protect and care for his family—even if that meant dancing for money. He’s not happy with his life or himself, but what matters most are the people he loves...Categorized as:
insta-love friends to lovers m-f contemporary super rich hero length-short audiobook -
![Sated in Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan]()
Sated in Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 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... -
![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 hurt-comfort queer m-m forced proximity contemporary length-medium -
![One Night with the Player (Club Curve) by Eve London]()
One Night with the Player (Club Curve) by Eve London
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA brother's best friend. A sister's forbidden desire. Olivia. The man who ruined me for any other is coming home. He thinks he won't have to deal with me, but I’m waiting for him. I need answers only he can provide, and I won’t rest until I get them. The only problem is… once I see Leo Steele, the feelings I’ve kept locked up inside break free... -
![Her Giant Lumberjack by Clara King]()
Her Giant Lumberjack by Clara King
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHe’s a seven-foot giant who feels like a beast. She’s a curvy beauty looking for her happily ever after. Duke. Life isn’t easy when you look like a monster. With my scarred face and hulking frame, people see a freak, not a man. So I keep to myself, rarely leaving the safety of my workshop. Then Ariana walks into my life. She wants me to build her a bookcase. Sounds easy enough...Categorized as:
disabilities and marks insta-love m-f age difference curvy heroine contemporary length-novella -
![Jericho Candelario's Gay Debut by R. Cooper]()
Jericho Candelario's Gay Debut by R. Cooper
Jerry Candelario, known as Potts to almost everyone, has spent his entire adult life focused on raising his siblings and his young niece. But the home he fought hard to make is starting to feel empty now that everyone has grown up and moved out and his precious baby niece has suddenly become a teen with a life of her own...Categorized as:
friends to lovers queer small town shy-hero sweet-hero m-m contemporary multicultural -
![Above and Beyond by Lucy Lennox, Sloane Kennedy]()
Above and Beyond by Lucy Lennox, Sloane Kennedy
Lucky. Two years ago I humiliated myself by declaring my love to an older man who clearly didn’t share my feelings. And that’s fine. One day Zach will come around. Meanwhile, I’ve built a life for myself in northern Montana, pursuing my college degree while working hard toward certification in high-risk alpine search and rescue on the side... -
![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... -
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![The Law of Miracles by K.C. Wells]()
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... -
![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 -
![Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan]()
Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan
Benefits of a summer romance: it’s always fun, always brief, and no one gets their heart broken. There aren’t enough labeled glass containers to contain the mess that is Ali Morris’s life. Her mom died two years ago, then her husband left, and she hasn’t worn pants with a zipper in longer than she cares to remember. She’s a professional organizer whose pantry is a disgrace... -
![Strong Enough by Cardeno C.]()
Strong Enough by Cardeno C.
A Book in the Family Series. When twenty-two-year-old Emilio Sanchez sees handsome Spencer Derdinger walking by his construction site, Emilio makes it his goal to seduce the shy professor. Getting Spencer into bed isn’t difficult, but Emilio soon learns that earning the trust of a man deeply hurt will take time and patience...Categorized as:
insta-love tortured hero working class hero shy-hero hurt-comfort queer sweet-hero contemporary -
![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... -
![When The Walls Come Down by Harper Robson]()
When The Walls Come Down by Harper Robson
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsDylan. "Quirky. " Ugh, I hate that word. The PC term these days is 'neuro-divergent', but I prefer to be called autistic. It's often a huge advantage to have a brain that works differently, but I sometimes wish it was easier to connect with other people...Categorized as:
queer neurodivergent hurt-comfort bisexual friends to lovers sweet-hero m-m contemporary -
![A Flowering of Ink by K.L. Noone]()
A Flowering of Ink by K.L. Noone
One misdirected card . .. and a chance at love. Professor Burne Cameron loves his job and his environmental research. Unfortunately, three months of field work on a tiny island can get pretty lonely, especially when even his brother forgets his birthday. That is, until an unexpected letter arrives . .. and Burne finds himself fascinated by the mysterious sender... -
![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... -
![Alette by pourthemoon]()
Alette by pourthemoon
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsThe cold man fell in love with the kind girl because he knew that she deserved the world and that he wanted to be the one who gave it to her. ♡. Alette Faye was a sweet girl. She was exceptionally kind and had an air of simplicity... -
![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 -
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![Love Directions by A.F. Zoelle]()
Love Directions by A.F. Zoelle
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsElias Forthwright. Horoscopes always seemed a bit woo-woo to me, but I don't know how else to explain why it feels like the cosmic universe is pushing me in the direction of the mysterious North Easton, who miraculously comes into my life at just the right time. We’re nothing alike, but for the first time since my mom passed away, life is finally fun again thanks to him...Categorized as:
queer hurt-comfort insta-love friends to lovers m-m contemporary queer-awakening humor -
![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 -
![Lightning Strikes Twice by Erik Schubach]()
Lightning Strikes Twice by Erik Schubach
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsReturning home to Seattle from a twenty year absence in London. .. Victoria discovers that time has not erased her feelings for an unrequited love. It soon becomes obvious that with true love, lightning can sometimes strike twice. This is set in the same world as Music of the Soul but is a standalone book. -
![Gravity by Mia Monroe]()
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... -
![Every Saturday Night by Alexa Land]()
Every Saturday Night by Alexa Land
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAs a young single dad, my life’s all about raising my sweet baby boy. But every Saturday night while my family babysits, I get to go out, cut loose, and act my age. Hey, we all need a break from time to time. And every Saturday night, I keep winding up in bed with a gorgeous, Cuban-American motorcycle mechanic named Lucky... -
![Maddie by Annabella Michaels]()
Maddie by Annabella Michaels
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAfter witnessing firsthand just how dirty and underhanded a life in politics can be, Maddie Vanderhorne steps off the campaign trail to follow his passion. Starting his own event planning business is the best decision Maddie’s ever made, quickly winning over his clients with his vibrant and outgoing personality... -
![A Midnight Kiss on Ever After Street by Jaimie Admans]()
A Midnight Kiss on Ever After Street by Jaimie Admans
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsBook one in the brand new and utterly enchanting series by bestselling author Jaimie Admans. A picture-perfect town; a place where dreams come true. Welcome to Ever After Street. .. Will a kiss at midnight change her life forever? Sadie Winters has spent her whole life doing as she's told... -
![The Measure of Home by Krista Sandor]()
The Measure of Home by Krista Sandor
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA fallen supermodel with a secret faces the man she left behind in The Measure of Home, a second chance at love, steamy small-town romance with just enough suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat from USA Today Bestselling Author Krista Sandor. Monica Brandt didn’t have money or power. Beauty was her only currency... -
![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. . -
![ChrisMyths by Amy Lane]()
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... -
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![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... -
![Bear's Best Friend by Raleigh Ruebins]()
Bear's Best Friend by Raleigh Ruebins
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHe’s a ray of sunshine. I’m a loner lumberjack. We don’t make sense……But my straight best friend keeps ending up in my bed. Sawyer Hendricks is the best friend I’ve ever had—the Goose to my Moose, and the shoulder I’ve cried on even though I’m not the crying type. The difference between us? Sawyer brightens any room in an instant, and I’m the gruff guy wearing flannel who’d rather be alone... -
![Cherished by the Mountain Man by Sadie King]()
Cherished by the Mountain Man by Sadie King
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsShe’s my best friend’s widow and the only woman I’ve ever loved…. Paul was my best friend, my brother in arms, and the only one of us that didn’t come back alive. I promised if something ever happened to him that I’d look after Angie, his wife. He doesn’t know that I’ve loved Angie for almost as long as he has. Now she’s a single mom and running a business on her own...Categorized as:
friends to lovers grumpy sunshine insta-love military contemporary length-novella audiobook -
![My Chaos, His Calm by Romeo Alexander]()
My Chaos, His Calm by Romeo Alexander
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsMy world is chaos, and he’s my only peace—but at what cost? My scars are both visible and hidden. I’m lonely, but I do okay…I think. I’m still a bit of a disaster, but I have a job and a roof over my head, and the medication keeps my demons at bay. What I don’t need is a babysitter, but try telling my overprotective brother that...Categorized as:
friends to lovers queer hurt-comfort grumpy sunshine friends-benefits angst m-m contemporary -
![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... -
![Black by Quin, Perin.]()
Black by Quin, Perin.
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 14 ratings“Meow! ”. There it was. The sound that made my knees buckle. He purred, neck stretched, eyes half-lidded. With those cat ears, in his hair. And the tail, that he flicked. A ray of sun in the drizzling rain. I’d been a traveler, floating adrift, while he’d stayed in one place. How was I supposed to know he’d become my anchor? My light. My everything... -
![Run Away With me, Girl 2 by Battan]()
Run Away With me, Girl 2 by Battan
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsMaki's first love was her high school classmate, a girl named Midori. But Midori broke up with Maki at graduation, saying they were now "too old to be fooling around dating girls... -
![Cold Winter Nights by Sue Laybourn, Jay Aheer]()
Cold Winter Nights by Sue Laybourn, Jay Aheer
Beauregard Stone lives a life of solitude in the snow-blanketed town of Windeville, Maine. The burly, gruff lumberjack is a man of few words and even fewer smiles. He hasn’t spoken much since his husband died eight years ago. Now, each day bleeds into the next as Stone loses himself in his woodshop and lumber- hauling business...Categorized as:
queer childfree-couple grovel hurt-comfort insta-love small town cold hero tortured hero -
![The Truest Thing by Samantha Young]()
The Truest Thing by Samantha Young
Nine years ago, Emery Saunders moved to Hartwell to start her life over as a bookstore owner. Her inability to trust people made it hard for her to find a place in the small community until Jessica Lawson moved to town and befriended the shy beauty. But there was one person in Hartwell who tried to befriend Emery long before Jessica arrived…. Jack Devlin has his secrets...Categorized as:
friends to lovers angst sweet heroine cold hero m-f contemporary second chances new adult -
![Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn]()
Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn
The acclaimed author of Love Lettering weaves a wise and witty new novel that echoes with timely questions about love, career, reconciling with the past, and finding your path while knowing your true worth. Longtime personal assistant Georgie Mulcahy has made a career out of putting others before herself. When an unexpected upheaval sends her away from her hectic job in L. A... -
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![On The Honey Side by Staci Hart]()
On The Honey Side by Staci Hart
No one can ever have Keaton Meyer. Least of all me. The brooding construction manager is a man of myth and legend, rarely seen in the wild. Once upon a time, he was the star quarterback, the smiling homecoming king, royalty in our small town. Until tragedy struck. And then he disappeared completely. Now he’s resurfaced, and I can’t keep my eyes off him...Categorized as:
friends to lovers grumpy sunshine small town cold hero tortured hero working class hero m-f humor -
![Moonlight by Evie McGlynn]()
Moonlight by Evie McGlynn
I was the most sought-after concert pianist in the world. Now I barely leave my apartment. Injury and addiction have taken their toll, and I can't seem to get my life back on track. My best friend wants to send me on a month-long vacation to the Moonlight Inn to get ready to play for his wedding. In New Jersey. The place where I almost died...Categorized as:
queer hurt-comfort disabilities and marks insta-love friends to lovers caretaking sweet-hero m-m -
![Besiege by June Gray]()
Besiege by June Gray
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsThe continuing story of Elsie and Henry…. Elsie has waited six long months for Henry to return from his deployment to Afghanistan. But she learns that, sometimes, the person who leaves for war is rarely the same one who comes home….Categorized as:
tortured hero friends to lovers m-f contemporary men in uniform military length-novella -
![Leaning Into the Look by Lane Hayes]()
Leaning Into the Look by Lane Hayes
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsGrant Kostas made a career based on his looks before joining his family’s real estate firm. He may not love his job but he’s better at sales than he thought. And when he’s poised to bring in the biggest account of the company’s history, even his father is impressed. Unfortunately, the extra attention highlights Grant’s personal life. His parents accept that he’s gay... -
![Dirty Sweet Duet by Laurelin Paige]()
Dirty Sweet Duet by Laurelin Paige
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsIncludes Sweet Liar and Sweet Fate. British ad exec Dylan Locke isn't looking for love. He isn't looking for fate. He's definitely not looking for Audrey Lind. She's pretty, far too young, and overly romantic--in short, exhausting. But when the girl, young enough to be his daughter, literally lands in his lap and asks for his expertise, he'd be lying if he said he wasn't interested... -
![Summer Angel by Suzie O'Connell]()
Summer Angel by Suzie O'Connell
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFive years ago, Ben Conner killed a man. If that were the worst of it, he could have swallowed the guilt, but the man had a son—an eleven-year-old boy who was now no one’s son...
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