Books like 'The Exception to the Rule'
Readers who enjoyed The Exception to the Rule by Christina Lauren also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary funny friends to lovers new adult college competent heroine m-f heroine athlete athletes sunny hero
-
The Sterling Shore Series by C.M. Owens
Rated: 4.59 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsLimited time bundle that includes Book 1, 1.5, 2, and 3 of the Sterling Shore series. No cliffhangers. Book 1 - Hooked on the Game Kade Colton and Raya Capperton come from two different worlds, but one thing they have in common is that they have both judged each other wrong. Opposites don't just attract; they collide and shift the world off its axis... -
![Suit by B.B. Easton]()
Suit by B.B. Easton
"Since when are you into guys in ties? You only like guys who look like they rob guys in ties. At gunpoint."It was true. By 2003, my type had been well-established. There might as well have been a giant sign on my heart that said, "Good Guys Need Not Apply."Which is exactly why I had to friend-zone Ken Easton... -
![]()
![]()
Sponsored links -
![Fiercely Emma by J. Bengtsson]()
Fiercely Emma by J. Bengtsson
Rated: 4.52 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsEmma, older sister of renowned rock star Jake McKallister, has crafted a quiet existence for herself. Fiercely independent, scorned at work, and indifferent to relationships, she’s spent the past decade trying to move on from the crime that shook her family to the core... -
![Once Upon A Sure Thing by Lauren Blakely]()
Once Upon A Sure Thing by Lauren Blakely
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsA sexy, standalone best-friends-to-lovers romance from #1 NYT Bestseller Lauren Blakely! It's so easy being best friends with a gorgeous, talented, charming guy. Said no woman ever. Except me. My friendship with Miller is a sure thing — he’s my plus one, my emergency contact, and my shoulder to lean on... -
-
![Black Flag by Shey Stahl]()
Black Flag by Shey Stahl
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsWhen the taste you thought you never needed becomes a thirst you cannot quench, then what? Jameson Riley, a NASCAR rookie driver, and Sway Reins, his pregnant girlfriend, are put to the test. They have love; they have lust, and a bond that proves to be vital. But do they have what it takes to make it through his lifestyle. When tested, it’s either fight, or give in... -
![Home Run by Jordan Marie, Robin Harper]()
Home Run by Jordan Marie, Robin Harper
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsGreen Lucas doesn't know what's about to hit him. Complete Standalone Romance Wanted A woman with grit and fire who will help me get my son’s head out of his ass. You must be self-sufficient and not looking for a gravy train. Common sense is a plus, book smarts are optional. Cannot have red hair, as my son seems to go for that type and he needs something to shake him up... -
![Tangle by Adriana Locke]()
Tangle by Adriana Locke
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsSparks fly between a die-hard romantic and a sexy cynic in this fresh, funny romance from USA Today bestselling author Adriana Locke. That cream-filled, caramel-topped doughnut should have been hers. Still, Haley Raynor can’t deny that the pastry thief with the dreamy blue eyes looks even more delicious...Categorized as:
new adult friends to lovers m-f humor contemporary cheerful heroine friends-benefits audiobook -
![Trouble by Adriana Locke]()
Trouble by Adriana Locke
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsShe wants something real. He wants something now. Together they’re trouble in USA Today bestselling author Adriana Locke’s sexy and funny twice-in-a-lifetime love story. With his shameless grin and let’s-play swagger, carpenter Penn Etling leaves women wanting in Dogwood Lane. What do they get? Avery Perry knows: a one-night stand. She’s been there...Categorized as:
new adult friends to lovers m-f humor contemporary independent heroine length-medium audiobook -
![Queen of Klutz by Samantha Garman]()
Queen of Klutz by Samantha Garman
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsChoose the best phrase to describe Sibby Goldstein's 1) Sucky. 2) Really sucky. 3) Major suck-fest. D) All of the above. I started my day with a boyfriend and a job. I ended my day with a bottle of tequila. I'll let you connect the dots. Somehow, I wound up working as a waitress at an Italian restaurant. I have no idea what I'm doing. And I'm not just talkin' about life... -
![The Theory Of Second Best by J. Bengtsson]()
The Theory Of Second Best by J. Bengtsson
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsTwenty-two-year-old Kyle McKallister has lived his life in the shadows. Younger brother to one of the world’s most elusive and embattled celebrities, Kyle has carved out a comfortable existence touring with his famous brother and living in the lap of luxury with no commitments or plans of his own, only a deep, haunting loyalty to his brother... -
![The Green Valley Vineyard by Lucy Coleman]()
The Green Valley Vineyard by Lucy Coleman
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsA beautiful vineyard. A new beginning. A summer that will change their lives forever...Linzi arrived at Green Valley Vineyard nine years ago, in need of a fresh start. In the lush emerald countryside and ripening grapes, she finally has a place to call home.But Linzi's world is rocked when the owner announces he is retiring, and his grandson is taking over... -
![Scarlett and the Big Bad Billionaire by Tru Taylor]()
Scarlett and the Big Bad Billionaire by Tru Taylor
Rated: 4.61 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsIn my expert opinion, every woman who’s been left at the altar should follow up that singularly humiliating experience by spending a week in paradise with a totally inappropriate—and totally sexy—stranger.Even better if you meet him at the bar of the resort hotel where your destination wedding and honeymoon were supposed to take place...Categorized as:
new adult friends to lovers m-f contemporary military humor super rich hero second chances -
![The Cafe at the Loch by Hannah Ellis]()
The Cafe at the Loch by Hannah Ellis
Rated: 4.52 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsA holiday fling threw her life into chaos …Elspeth Mackenzie hasn’t had any contact with the father of her child since they had a fling three years ago. Getting pregnant at sixteen turned her life upside down. But now she has everything back under control. She’s managing a cafe and a toddler and making it look easy.If only dating was as easy... -
![Delayed Call by Toni Aleo]()
Delayed Call by Toni Aleo
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsVaughn Johansson is the Nashville Assassins' star player. He's brash, cocky, and talented. And he isn't afraid to let anyone know it. He lives his life on his own terms, never forming romantic attachments, and only allowing his very closest to see his true, caring self. Brie Soledad has the weight of the world on her shoulders... -
-
![After His Banana by Penelope Bloom]()
After His Banana by Penelope Bloom
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsWhat comes after His Banana? Technically, that would be me. Before you assume I’m a potassium sucking harlot, Let me explain… I didn’t have time for relationships, especially not with someone like Miles Chamberson. But considering my circumstances, I didn’t really have a choice. Yes, he was the kind of offspring only generations of exceptionally attractive people could create... -
![Bayside Escape by Melissa Foster]()
Bayside Escape by Melissa Foster
Rated: 4.59 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsFall in love at Bayside, where sandy beaches, good friends, and true love come together in the sweet small towns of Cape Cod. Bayside Summers is a series of standalone steamy romance novels featuring alpha male heroes and sexy, empowered women. They're fun, flirty, flawed, deeply emotional, always passionate, and easy to relate to... -
![A Forever of Orange Blossoms by Ava Miles]()
A Forever of Orange Blossoms by Ava Miles
Rated: 4.59 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsMillions of readers have fallen in love with Ava's bestselling books...come join the family.International Bestselling Author Ava Miles’ feel-good series, The Merriams, is back with a humorous and heartwarming story about a playboy without a cause and a woman whose dreams were diverted by family responsibility—and, of course, everyone’s favorite matchmakers to guide the way... -
![Heavy Petting by Erin Nicholas]()
Heavy Petting by Erin Nicholas
Rated: 4.53 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsHe’s her best friend.A reformed bad boy turned hot teacher.And after one spur-of-the-moment Vegas wedding... her husband. Jordan Benoit and Fletcher Landry have been best friends since they were six. He’s always been The Guy. When she needed picked up, cheered up, or lifted up — like literally, to see the stage at a concert — Fletcher was the guy... -
![Rogue Wave by J. Bengtsson]()
Rogue Wave by J. Bengtsson
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsA love story that survives the test of time. Keith McKallister is the king of the stoners. You know the type. Every school has one – the hot, fun, dopey guy beloved by the student body but despised by, well, just about everyone else. He spends his early mornings in the ocean and his days trying to get to class on time... -
![The Champion by Shey Stahl]()
The Champion by Shey Stahl
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsA powerful love story of tragedy, love, and commitment. The fourth book in the Racing on the Edge series submerges you in the lifestyle of a champion of a sport that dominates America. Through smoke and methanol, you learn the good, the bad, and the secrets no one wants you to know... -
![Show Me Forever by Layla Hagen]()
Show Me Forever by Layla Hagen
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsI moved to Chicago six months ago, determined to finally open my own bakery. My landlady was this sweet woman who treated me like her granddaughter. Then she sold the house. Now the devil himself is my landlord and neighbor since I live in the guesthouse on his property. Declan Maxwell is moody, unreasonable, and takes himself far too seriously. Unfortunately for me, he’s also damn sexy... -
![Don't Fall for Your Best Friend by Logan Chance]()
Don't Fall for Your Best Friend by Logan Chance
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsA wickedly, funny romcom that'll have you laughing and swooning one minute, and hot and sweaty the next. Follow along as Paxton and Hartford try to navigate a world they know nothing about--B D S M! I’ve always lived by one major rule, don’t fall for your best friend, and this is one rule I can’t break. I’m supposed to write an article about a topic so scandalous, I can’t even say it... -
![Loved Enough by Kelly Elliott]()
Loved Enough by Kelly Elliott
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsEven though they’d never dated, Lily Shaw always just assumed she’d eventually end up with Ben, the boy who’s been her bestie since they were toddlers. So she’s understandably shocked to learn he’s getting married—and having a child with his fiancée. Shocked…but not terribly upset. The truth is, she's been feeling butterflies every time she’s near a particular horse trainer on her parents’ ranch... -
![Tasty Pickle by J.J. Knight]()
Tasty Pickle by J.J. Knight
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsSurely nobody has ever met their great love while using duct tape to pull cactus needles out of their girl parts on a mountain trail.Except I just did.Let me tell you about Axel Pickle.He’s a bronzed god.Totally outdoorsy.Worth half a billion after selling his nature app.And he hikes naked... -
-
![Cocky Senator’s Daughter: Hannah by Faleena Hopkins]()
Cocky Senator’s Daughter: Hannah by Faleena Hopkins
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsHANNAH COCKER Every man I've dated in this city has either bored me or hurt me. When Sofia Sol, my crazy cousin, offers a ride on the back of her Harley with no destination in mind besides out-of-Atlanta, what do you think my answer is? I'll give you one guess. TOBIAS KYRKOS Life doesn't ever hand you what you want. You have to take it... -
![The Right Wrong: A Hot Romantic Comedy by Michelle Mankin]()
The Right Wrong: A Hot Romantic Comedy by Michelle Mankin
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsBen Kennedy is a rock star.Whoever or whatever he wants, he can easily have with just a snap of his talented fingers. He’s rock royalty, a handsome prince with a court of beauties to command. To the outside world, the legendary life he leads seems charmed, but it’s not. Looks can be deceiving.Sierra Marshall is a single mom... -
![Playing Dirty by Mickey Miller]()
Playing Dirty by Mickey Miller
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsI'm going to teach Andrea to play dirty...she just doesn't know it yet. Jake Pulling in eight figures a year as star pitcher for the Chicago Jaguars, there's no shortage of parties, booze, and women. I'm a beast on the mound and between the sheets but when my social media presence becomes a major problem, the team’s owner brings in a PR expert to clean up my image... -
![A Perfect Story by Elísabet Benavent]()
A Perfect Story by Elísabet Benavent
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 61 ratings*Now an original series from Netflix* *International bestseller* Two heartbroken people from totally different worlds go on a fake-dating vacation of a lifetime. What could possibly go wrong? Margot Ortiz de Zarate always struggled to be the princess in her own a successful career, a huge salary, a gorgeous apartment, and a perfect fiancé... -
![To Love a Prince by Nana Malone]()
To Love a Prince by Nana Malone
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe good news is, I'm out of exile and I have the woman I love by my side. And I still have my crown, tarnished though it may be. The bad news is...all of that is temporary. There are those that want me as far away from the crown as possible. I still have a killer on my tail who has a more permanent solution in mind. Oh and there's the small matter of all the secrets I'm keeping from Ariel... -
![Shawn by M.S. Parker]()
Shawn by M.S. Parker
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsShawn: I’m good with my hands and I’m a quick study. At least that’s what the women say. No trouble in that department, if you know what I mean. Still, it’s best to keep them at arm’s length. I’ve seen how women go after my brothers for money and the family name. I guess you can say I have always been guarded. But then I met Talia, a woman unlike any other... -
![Dirty Vegas Nights by Logan Chance]()
Dirty Vegas Nights by Logan Chance
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMy body’s made of iron. My muscles are sculpted by God himself.And my green eyes have been described as ‘lady magnets’ by the Vegas Tribune. The Trifecta sensation is only the dirtiest male revue show Vegas has ever seen. We’ve been blazing the stage for a while and have gained quite the fan base. Women travel from across the country just to catch a glimpse of us... -
![Born to Sin by Rosalind James]()
Born to Sin by Rosalind James
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsBeing sentenced by a woman in a black robe is not a meet-cute.Quinn Jeffries follows the rules. A judge in small-town Sinful, Montana, doesn’t have much room for missteps, and when you spend your childhood training for the Olympics, you don’t have time for anything but discipline anyway. And, see? It’s worked! Her life is just fine... -
![Illicit – A Sizzling Boxed Set by Calinda B., Sylvie Stewart]()
Illicit – A Sizzling Boxed Set by Calinda B., Sylvie Stewart
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsOver 20 illicit romances with the sexy heroes and strong heroines you crave!Lose yourself in the world of hot hookups, where the stories run from sexy to downright scandalous and the characters will leave you breathless. In these pages, you’ll find tantalizing romance, rekindled flames, and forbidden trysts... -
![Tempting the Heiress by Nana Malone]()
Tempting the Heiress by Nana Malone
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsOne error in judgment. That is all it took. They say don't mix business with pleasure, but I fell in love with the client and now I’ve lost her.But I would do it all over again if it meant keeping her safe.Now I’ll have to fight like hell to earn her trust again. If I don’t, it could cost both of us everything... -
-
![Kitty Valentine Dates Santa by Jillian Dodd]()
Kitty Valentine Dates Santa by Jillian Dodd
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsSpin the wheel. Date the guy. Write the story. Fall in love? Six years ago, Kitty Valentine took the book world by storm when her sweet debut romance hit number one on the Best Sellers List, which was followed by a string of successful releases. Her latest novel, however, totally bombs, causing her editor to suggest she write much sexier books... -
![Presently Perfect by Alison G. Bailey]()
Presently Perfect by Alison G. Bailey
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsPerfection is an illusion fueled by the perception of others. Tweet was my heart, my soul, and my purpose. She was my everything. Neither of us were perfect. We both made mistakes. Looking back, that was okay, because every choice brought us to where we needed to be at the time we needed to be there. The one constant, our love and friendship... -
![Pink Bits by J.B. Heller]()
Pink Bits by J.B. Heller
Did you know the medical term for a butt crack is intergluteal cleft? My name is Reagan, and spouting random facts like this one at inopportune moments is my affliction. I’m chronically awkward, socially inept and completely lack a filter. Believe it or not, men do not find these attractive traits...Categorized as:
new adult friends to lovers m-f humor contemporary working class hero neurodivergent length-short -
![Outta My League by Ali Parker, Weston Parker]()
Outta My League by Ali Parker, Weston Parker
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThe way she looks, smells, laughs is killing me.I fell in love with my sister’s best friend. To top it all off, she’s brilliant. And I’m failing Chemistry.Of course, when I get her help, she’s laidback about it. Charming and helpful as always, like she doesn’t know how much I want her. I’ve got to play it cool and let her see a different side of me... -
![Hard by Donna Alam]()
Hard by Donna Alam
Rated: 4.47 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA man walks into a coffee shop and gets offered a job in p0rn. Sounds like the start of a joke, right? Or every man’s fantasy. Until I remember I’m trying to be a good man. A single father. One who doesn’t do casual relationships, Let alone get paid for sex. But for those curves and that mouth? Any man might change his mind. ~*~ It was an honest mistake . . -
![All Hung Up by Kathleen Brooks]()
All Hung Up by Kathleen Brooks
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsThis novella originally appeared in the Three Southern Beaches collection released July of 2014. Taylor Jefferies fled the Hollywood spotlight and found herself helping the citizens of the small town of Keeneston. As luck would have it, the sexy man who caught her eye and found a place in her heart joined her at college that fall... -
![The Roomie Rulebook by Crystal Kaswell]()
The Roomie Rulebook by Crystal Kaswell
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsOliver is my best friend's older brother. He's brooding, bossy, and painfully off limits. But all rules are off when I move in as his new roommate. When I need a place to crash, I go straight to the guy I know best. My best friend's older brother, Oliver. Who's right in the middle of enjoying his alone time. No big deal, right? It's not like I'm going to die of embarrassment... -
![Nude Awakening by Penny Clarke]()
Nude Awakening by Penny Clarke
Rylie swears she’s not a prude.How was I to know the art course my best friend signed me up for meant I’d be sketching a nude model? I should have checked the fine print. Then I never would have―quite literally―bumped into Levi Hart moments before he dropped trou in class... -
![Text Me Baby One More Time by Teagan Hunter]()
Text Me Baby One More Time by Teagan Hunter
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsA SECOND-CHANCE ROMANTIC COMEDY! I love you , he said. Forever , he said. Turns out, he lied. When he leaves me high and dry after a cross-country move, I push him out of my life as much as I can, which is hard to do when the guy who broke your heart also happens to be the most famous dude in town...Categorized as:
new adult athletes friends to lovers m-f humor from hate to love contemporary sports -
![His Punishments by Ajme Williams]()
His Punishments by Ajme Williams
Rated: 4.80 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsRepeat after me… No one can find out. No one. Especially not the press. My boss broke her heart… and now it’s become my job to protect her. Protect her body, not her heart. Although, I’m up for the other task as well. But first, I’ll punish her if she gets herself into trouble. Punish her in a way that she’ll love. In a way that she’ll never forget. Her curves beg for me to teach her a lesson... -
-
![Illicit Promises by Catharina Maura]()
Illicit Promises by Catharina Maura
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsWe both claim we're over each other, so why do we keep finding ourselves back in each other's arms?CarterI thought I was over her, right until she walked back into my life. My head knows she and I will end in disaster, yet my heart can't deny her. Maybe I can convince Emilia to make me her dirty little secret...EmiliaCarter is still the only one I want and the only one I desire... -
![Sin by M. Malone, Nana Malone]()
Sin by M. Malone, Nana Malone
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsI’m a bodyguard . I walk softly and carry a big...stick . Too bad I have no idea how to use it. I know what you’re thinking. How the hell do you end up a virgin when you live in a city known for easy access? But my focus is protecting the women of New York...not fulfilling my every desire. Then I meet her... -
![Royal Bastard by Nana Malone]()
Royal Bastard by Nana Malone
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsLucas… Don’t get in trouble, they said. Don’t cause an incident. Oops. I might be a newfound prince, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to say goodbye to my days of freedom. So when my brother, the king, asks me to babysit a diplomat’s daughter, my first thought is to say no… that is until I see her climbing out of a window with her dress tucked into her thong... -
![Teasing the Princess by Nana Malone]()
Teasing the Princess by Nana Malone
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsRoone … She’s gone. Someone took her from me. I knew I wasn’t supposed to fall in love. But I did it anyway. And now it might have cost my princess - the princess - her life. I won’t stop until I find her. But when I do, I’ll need to stay away. She won’t survive the scandal. There’s no way I can love her and protect her. I'll have to choose one... -
![Filthy Vegas Nights by Logan Chance]()
Filthy Vegas Nights by Logan Chance
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsI’m a male stripper. Yeah, I said it. And let me tell you, it’s an end to a means, my friend.My brothers and I are the kings of Las Vegas. Owning our own male revue club has been a fantasy of mine for a long time. And now that dream is finally a reality. My nerves are shot. The stress is real. And I need just one night to let loose... -
![A Change of Heart by Hannah Ellis]()
A Change of Heart by Hannah Ellis
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsShe was never meant to fall for her best friend’s brother...Seren has had a soft spot for her best friend’s brother for as long as she can remember. But when she starts to see Kit as more than just a friend, she knows she’s on dangerous ground.Avoiding him is probably her best course of action, but that’s easier said than done when you live on a tiny island...
Fantastic book recommendations by romance book lovers for romance book lovers.
Find out more about romance.io.
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.
