Books like 'Simply the Best'
Readers who enjoyed Simply the Best by Susan Elizabeth Phillips also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary funny sports mystery from hate to love grumpy sunshine forced proximity football secret-relationship third-person-pov
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Promise Me This by Karla Sorensen
Imagine this: an author with a raging case of writer’s block finds an unexpected source of inspiration in her grumpy, gorgeous new roommate. Sounds amazing, right? Except that new roommate is my childhood best friend. And Ian Wilder has been off-limits since I was five...Categorized as:
sports new adult forced proximity football cold hero grumpy sunshine contemporary humor -
One Day Fiance by Lauren Landish
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsI’m Poppy Woodstock.Romance author and wholehearted believer in Happily Ever Afters.A terminal case of writer’s block should be my biggest worry. Then I crash into him—literally—and fall into the most gorgeous pair of blue eyes I’ve ever seen. Connor Bradley.Thief, rebel… and my new neighbor.One slip with the bad boy next door, and my life becomes stranger than any fiction I could ever write... -
Now's The Time by Harlow James
Rated: 4.61 of 5 stars · 12 ratings“Let me experience all of you tonight, Penelope…since this is all that we get.”That was the agreement between me and Maddox Taylor, the NFL’s most notorious playboy and mega-talented quarterback who happened to be out in California for one night—one night in which I broke all of my rules and gave in to the undeniable attraction I felt for the man...Categorized as:
sports forced proximity from hate to love secret-relationship football contemporary humor athletes -
Strictly Pretend by Carrie Elks
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsA knight in shining armor? Hardly. More like my worst enemy wrapped in a swoon-worthy tux… When Brooks Salinger saves me from heartbreak at a wedding, I never expect to see him again—let alone find him back in my life, set to destroy my family’s bookstore.But when he offers me a wild deal—pretend to be his girlfriend at a ritzy wedding in exchange for saving the store—I reluctantly agree... -
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Dangerous Exes by Rachel Van Dyken
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsIn #1 New York Times bestselling author Rachel van Dyken’s scorching series, revenge is a justified pleasure… Isla made one teeny little mistake. Now she and her PI company, Dirty Exes, are being targeted by one seriously angry and furiously sexy ex-quarterback. Jessie freakin’ Beckett. But there’s no way some NFL superhunk is going to take her business away... -
Matchmaking The CEO by Layla Hagen
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsJake Whitley and I start on the wrong foot. And then it goes downhill from there.After my career implodes, I’m determined to make a living with my new event planning business.But Jake and I are at odds from the moment I step on his private plane.He wants to get rid of me. I want to throw his grandmother the celebration of a lifetime…on his property in Martha’s Vineyard... -
The Day I Stopped Falling for Jerks by Max Monroe
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsI’m Luciana Wright. Everyone calls me Lucky, but when it comes to love, I’m anything but. I have a long history of dating the wrong men. You know the ones I’m talking about. The beautiful, charming guys who are quite literally too good to be true. The ones who are impulsive in love and prefer short flings over long-term relationships. I’m talking about the jerks...Categorized as:
sports new adult from hate to love forced proximity humor contemporary siblings-bff length-medium -
Anger Banger by S.M. Shade
The residents of Happy Haven Trailer park have been waiting for this for a long time. The slumlord who abandoned this place and let our homes deteriorate has been court ordered to live here while making repairs. Imagine our surprise when the guy who shows up to move in to the dilapidated trailer across the street isn't the sixty year old man we expected, but his son...Categorized as:
new adult from hate to love grumpy sunshine forced proximity found-family contemporary humor -
Show Me Forever by Layla Hagen
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 17 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... -
Perfect Strangers by Carly Phillips
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsOne night.No strings.Things just got complicated.Between long hours in the ER and failing to please her demanding father, Dr. Alexa Collins barely has time for a life, and the strain is starting to take its toll.On a rare night out, she can’t resist getting a little crazy on the dance floor. Or playfully crooking her finger at the sinfully hot football player watching her every move... -
Love Is In the Air Volume 1 by Susan Stoker, A.M. Kusi
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratings30 of your favorite authors come together to celebrate love and romance in this anthology featuring brand new, original short stories.All proceeds will go to the American Heart Association.Featured authors include:A.M. Kusi, Abbie Zanders, Alley Ciz, Anna Blakely, Anna Brooks, Becca Steele, Cora Kenborn, Darcy Burke, Elizabeth SaFleur, Emery Rose, Greer Bailey, Ivy Layne, J. Kenner, Jeana E... -
Perfectly You by Claudia Y. Burgoa
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsUSA TODAY Bestselling Author Claudia Burgoa brings us a light-hearted small-town romantic comedy full of a swoon-worthy billionaire, single dad romance, and big laughs. I need a massive break.So long to my cheating boyfriend and betraying roommate.Goodbye hectic emergency room and long hours... -
One Bossy Offer by Nicole Snow
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 33 ratingsInheriting a bad-tempered boss brings the sweetest insanity in this roaring funny and shamelessly steamy grumpy-sunshine romance from Wall Street Journal bestselling author Nicole Snow.Grandma left me the life of my dreams with one ginormous catch.Miles flipping Cromwell.Workaholic king of grumps. Control freak. Older billionaire next door... -
The Wild Card by Cassie-Ann L. Miller
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIt was supposed to be harmless. One fake date with a football player.Except Harry Westbrook is the exact opposite of harmless. My first mistake? Underestimating that boyish smile, those playful eyes, the charming words on those perfect lips. He claims to have a crush on me. But, as hot as he is, I'd bet he's scheduling booty calls like a dentist booking teeth cleanings... -
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The Plan by Karla Sorensen
Have you ever fake dated your bodyguard? I don't recommend it. Especially if he's anything like Erik Wilder: former football player, world class know-it-all and unapologetic grump. To be clear, I didn't want a bodyguard (hence the fake dating idea). Most days, I can’t figure out why he wants the job either. We drive each other insane, probably because we’re as opposite as two people can be...Categorized as:
sports from hate to love forced proximity new adult grumpy sunshine cold hero contemporary humor -
The Day the Jerk Started Falling by Max Monroe
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsMy name is Oliver Arsen, but my mates call me Ollie. I live hard and love harder, and it’s love that usually gets me in the most trouble. According to the greater population, I’m the ultimate jerk. My affection tends to be short-lived—a quality I’ve been assured multiple times by the fairer sex isn’t becoming—and the leaving part of loving and leaving has always come natural... -
Some Kind of Blunderful by Livy Hart
If you ask Mia Madden, the road to dating hell is paved with suspiciously hot online profiles. Take tonight’s date, for example. Alex Conroy’s whole “boardroom in the streets, lumberjack in the sheets” thing totally works for her, but his profile did not convey that he represents everything she loathes about corporate hustle culture. He’s not even worth her bottle of purse wine... -
Palisades Point by Jennifer Griffith
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA dark and stormy night.A pillared marble mansion.A grumpy but gorgeous CEO. Un-photogenic photographer Beatrix Bay is out to snap pics of the historic mansions on the ocean-side cliffs. But, when her car overturns in the snow, she finds much more than a photo op... -
One Hundred Desires by Kelly Collins
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsShe’s all work.He’s all play.Can they meet in the middle for love?Vivian Armstrong has taken control of Vortex, her family's security business, and she’s determined to prove her worth. She may be the youngest of seven and the only woman bodyguard on the team, but she’s every bit as tough as her older brothers...Categorized as:
forced proximity sassy heroine from hate to love contemporary suspense humor length-short -
Rival Desires by M. S. Parker
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWelcome to Rival Desires, where the rivalry is fiery, but the romance? It's downright scorching.Meet Cory charming, socially awkward, and co-owner of the established Palo Alto finance firm Gracen & McCrae. Enter Rylee Palmer, the brilliant, enigmatic head of the new game-changer in town, Palmer Money Management... -
Isabelle and the Beast by Marie Soleil
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIt was supposed to be a quick meeting.I’ve been trying to break into acting for years, and now I’m FINALLY up for a lead role in a romcom movie. It’s a huge step up from barista #3, especially considering who’s supposed to play my love interest—Adam Stone... -
Third and Long by K.T. Quinn
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsTHIRD AND LONG is a scorching sports romance filled with humor, suspense, and football-related excitement...Categorized as:
new adult sports super rich hero from hate to love humor age difference contemporary strong heroine -
Flowers and Financiers by Alina Jacobs
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsIn my defense, I never claimed to be professional...At least that’s my excuse for why I mistook a billionaire for a waiter, made off-color comments and accidentally dumped a plate of food all over him.Embarrassing myself is a daily occurrence, just like my unpaid bill notices.But being in a wedding instead of planning one is not...Categorized as:
super rich hero from hate to love grumpy sunshine forced proximity contemporary humor suspense m-f -
The Atelier Assignment by Annie Dyer
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHer assignment is to not fall in love with him…Zeke Brooksbank is in need of a wake-up call. One that shakes him out of the grump he’s permanently in and turns him into a reasonable human being.I’m not staying at his country residence to tame the beast. I’m meant to be cataloguing his art collection, not fangirling over his own paintings, or becoming attached to his little daughter... -
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50 Ways to Win Back Your Lover by Kelly Siskind
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFrom Kelly Siskind comes a slow-burn romantic comedy about one man’s creative attempt to win back his high school sweetheart after a change in fortune gives them a second chance at love.Growing up, I had it all—my art, close friends, a gorgeous girlfriend who owned my heart—but then my life exploded.Turns out my father was laundering money, and my whole family got shoved into witness protection... -
JOCK by Jacob Chance
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsWhen the dean of students asked me for a favor, I had no idea it would mean tutoring Owen Dawson. Me, forced to spend time with Boston University’s notorious quarterback? With his dark hair, chiseled body, and a promising future playing in the NFL, every guy on campus wants to be him. Every girl wants to be under him. Every girl, except me... -
Once Upon a Grump by Penelope Bloom
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAll I wanted was a fresh start.Instead, I got him.Mr. Mysterious Millionaire in His Tower.Mr. Don't Dare Question Me.Mr. Grumpy With a Side of Fine.Well, he’s about to get introduced to his newest employee,Ms. Doesn’t Give A Flying Toot.All right, all right. I’m exaggerating a bit. I give one or two toots, but I just got finished fleeing the ruins of my former life... -
The Trouble With Gravity (Gravity Series) by K.K. Allen
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsKai's life is a series of choreographed steps, each one shielding her from the tragic memories of her past. Audition, dance, paycheck, repeat. It's a broken record, but it's what keeps her world spinning... -
This Much is True by Tia Louise
A smart and sexy romance about a grumpy single dad on a mission of revenge, and the girl he can’t leave behind by USA Today bestselling author Tia Louise. Hope I blame the alcohol.I lost my restaurant business, was forced to sell my dad’s cherished 1967 Chevy Impala, and I got a little drunk...Categorized as:
new adult sports from hate to love grumpy sunshine cold hero humor contemporary open-door -
Resisting the Rookie by Jacob Chance
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsBodhi Shine, my brother’s best friend, is the closest thing I have to an enemy. Tall, with irritatingly good looks, this cocky jerk has been a thorn in my backside for as long as I can remember.We’re like oil and water—we just don’t mix. I do my best to avoid him, but now that he’s the new running back for the Charleston Pirates and staying with my twin, that’s damn near impossible...Categorized as:
forced proximity sports sassy heroine from hate to love humor alpha male contemporary siblings-bff -
Love Inn Books by Erin Branscom
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHe doesn’t believe in love.She’s a romantic at heart.He’s her sworn enemy…and her new boss.Preston Steele is a buttoned up, Ivy League lawyer from an affluent prominent Boston family.He ditches the city life and moves to small town Freedom Valley to start over where he finally feels like he belongs.His new friends think he could use some fun and love in his life... -
The Fastball by Emily Childs
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsShe's the coach's aggravating daughter. He's the shy guy on first base. And they have no idea they're keeping the same secret. After a devastating accident that leaves his throwing hand in shambles, MLB first baseman, Dax Sage, finds out the woman handling the PR for his recovery is none other than the gorgeous, frigid daughter of his head coach... -
Wright Kind of Love by K.A. Linde
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe conclusion to the Wright duet age gap romance from USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde.Chase Sinclair should be my enemy.Wrights and Sinclairs don’t mix. Not with years of history and turmoil between our families. A rivalry that only seems to fester and corrode with time.Except I’m done denying what I want.We both are.Just when we think we have it figured out, it all blows up in our faces... -
Charlie Takes a Chance: An Enemies to Lovers Romantic Comedy by Carina Taylor
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen Charlie is hired to repair a lodge in Pine Ridge, she's stuck sharing a house with the grumpy ranch manager. And he is not happy she's here.Charlie is exhausted—tired of being told she’s “too much” and sick of boyfriends who stick around as long as a temporary tattoo... -
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The Winning Score by G.K. Brady
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsShe can’t stand him. The feeling is mutual. Can they make it through quarantine together?Quinn Hadley only does one thing as well as he plays hockey—wheeling the ladies. He’s the envy of his teammates. With puck bunnies on speed dial in every city, he never spends a night alone unless it’s by choice. He has a certain type—hot, blond, and easy... -
Stranded with the Billionaire by Sophie Brooks
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsWith a snowstorm on the way, she needs someone to keep her warm... I had to see her one last time. Fiona's gorgeous red hair and luscious curves are impossible to forget. She runs a soup kitchen, taking care of people in need. But I want to take care of her . She thinks I'm an ordinary volunteer. But I'm the billionaire who increased her funding... -
Things I Forgot About by Kelsey Humphreys
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratings"He is off limits. Complicated. Not right for me at all. He's trouble, wrapped up in an expensive navy suit. But I never could stay out of trouble..."Kat Canton is a woman with a plan. Though a rebel at heart, she’s had to stay focused since becoming a single mom at seventeen... -
Isabelle and the Beast: A Sweet Rom-Com Retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Marie Soleil
It was supposed to be a quick meeting.I’ve been trying to break into acting for years, and now I’m FINALLY up for a lead role in a romcom movie. It’s a huge step up from barista #3, especially considering who’s supposed to play my love interest—Adam Stone... -
The Suit by Lulu Moore
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHave you ever met someone who makes your blood boil simply by existing? Or turn your notorious, ice-cool demeanor volcanic in a nanosecond? Perhaps smother your usual air of indifference with a lightning-charged thundercloud, threatening to strike at any moment?Because that’s what she does.It’s been seven peaceful years since I last saw Beulah Holmes... -
Bossy Rockstar by Roxy Reid
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTen years ago he took my v-card,Now he's my billionaire rockstar boss.A decade after dumping me without warning or explanation,He's back in my life.Annoyingly, he's grown up to be extra hot,With muscular arms I want to be wrapped up in,And a cocky grin that really could stop the world from turning.For the first time in my life,I understand the urge to throw my underwear at a rockstar... -
Baby For The Off Limits Boss Daddy by Callie Stevens
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI never thought I'd break the bro code and HR rules in one fell swoop.Rowan Headley tops the list of people I never wanted to see again.She shattered my best friend's heart, turning him into a shell of his former self.I hate her for what she did.But guess who my company's new hire is?Yep, the last person I expected - Rowan Headley.It’s awkward, it’s tense, but we have to put up with each other... -
Luca & Ivy and the Four Calling Birds by Ellie Hall
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWould you rather be stranded in a snowstorm with Miss All-things Christmas or the Grinch?IvyIf you ever find yourself on the run, do not, I repeat, do not drive off the road and into an icy pond. Should you have such an accident, do not wander into the woods to a chalet with a blazing fire. But if you lose feeling in your toes and go inside to warm up, do not, I repeat, do not, doze off...Categorized as:
grumpy sunshine forced proximity from hate to love christmas contemporary humor length-short -
Make My Heart Malt by Gia Stevens
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsA sizzling hate to lovers, unrequited crush, standalone sports romance by romantic comedy author Gia Stevens… Dessa should have been mine... until my brother kissed her first. Ten years is a long time to be infatuated with your former best friend, especially when she’s dating your brother... -
Mr. Knightsbridge by Louise Bay
Rated: 4.04 of 5 stars · 38 ratingsDexter Daniels prefers gems over women. Emeralds over girlfriends. Diamonds over marriage.He might be the most successful jeweler of his generation, a loyal friend and some say the most handsome man in London, but his past means he doesn’t deal in love.When Hollie Lumen enters the ballroom where exquisite royal jewels are on display, she brings Dexter’s world to a screeching halt...Categorized as:
super rich hero new adult poor heroine contemporary age difference humor length-medium -
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The One Who Loves You by Pippa Grant
From USA Today bestselling author Pippa Grant comes a fabulously sharp-witted romantic comedy about a socialite’s fall from elitist grace to backcountry purgatory—and her accidental tumble into love.If the Upper East Side had an evil twin, it would be Tickled Pink, Wisconsin. This run-down, backwoods town isn’t worthy of the footprint of my Louboutins, never mind all of me... -
Charlie Takes a Chance by Carina Taylor
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsWhen Charlie is hired to repair a lodge in Pine Ridge, she's stuck sharing a house with the grumpy ranch manager. And he is not happy she's here.Charlie is exhausted—tired of being told she’s “too much” and sick of boyfriends who stick around as long as a temporary tattoo... -
Puppy Love by Misha Bell, Erin Mallon
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsLillyAn opportunity to tell off the billionaire whose bank took my childhood home? Yes, please! The greedy, arrogant jerk thinks I’m here to interview for the job of his dog trainer (a.k.a. nanny), but he’s got a big storm coming... -
You're So Extra by Angela R. Casella
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 13 ratings**The first romantic comedy in a new series by USA Today-bestselling author Angela Casella!** Does it count as cruel and unusual punishment if you’re forced to be a movie extra with your enemy? Lucas I figured being an extra for a local production would be a harmless distraction—a way for me to forget my charmed life is imploding... -
His Fake Wife by Alina Parker
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsHow NOT to screw yourself1. NEVER go for a fake marriage with your childhood enemy2. DON’T sleep with him.. EVER3. Absolutely do NOT get pregnant with his baby!When my father died, he sold his company and just about everything else to his best friend.I would have been cool with that if he hadn’t made another deal―Marry his best friend’s son, Adam Thorne... -
Dirty Business by Sylvia Hart
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsMy anonymous one-night-stand is the billionaire who bought my family’s resort. Now my dreams are going up in smoke… and Dante’s holding the match.I never meant to fall in lust with the handsome stranger. But a spilled drink, a charming smile, and a game of chance later, I’m left moaning his name. It’s incredible.Until it isn’t...Categorized as:
forced proximity from hate to love super rich hero dual-pov contemporary humor length-long
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