Books like 'The Ordeal of Being Known'
Readers who enjoyed The Ordeal of Being Known by Malia Rose also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary funny forced proximity queer sports found-family
-
How to Be a Movie Star by T.J. Klune
Sequel to How to Be a Normal Person. A How to Be Novel. Josiah Erickson wants to be a movie star. The problem with that is so does half of Los Angeles. But he’s on his way, what with memorable roles as a TV show background cadaver and a guy in a commercial for herpes medication. All he needs is his big break...Categorized as:
forced proximity queer found-family m-m contemporary humor friends to lovers sunny hero -
![NautiCal by Lucy Lennox]()
NautiCal by Lucy Lennox
I didn’t mean to stow away on the yacht, I swear. My first mistake was going home with the jerk at the bar, but in my defense, Prescott said he owned the Worthington—ninety feet of sleek, yachty perfection—and if I could get the chief mate’s job, I’d have an excuse to stay on board and keep avoiding my family and my future... -
![]()
![]()
Sponsored links / Remove ads -
![Quitting the Quarterback by Lisa Suzanne]()
Quitting the Quarterback by Lisa Suzanne
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsA steamy Pro Football, Single Mom, Forbidden Doctor/Patient Romance from Amazon Top Ten Bestselling author Lisa Suzanne. I went to Vegas to celebrate my divorce, and the pro football star was there celebrating his new contract. I heard someone call his name, and I wasn't about to miss my chance to get with the man my ex had idolized... -
![Until You by T.J. Klune]()
Until You by T.J. Klune
Sequel to The Queen & the Homo Jock King. Together with their families and friends, Paul Auster and Vincent Taylor request the honor of your company at the celebration of their marriage. Paul Auster and Vince Taylor just want to have a simple wedding. Really, is that too much to ask? As the big day approaches, they struggle to keep everything from spiraling out of control... -
-
![The Complication by Jocelynn Drake]()
The Complication by Jocelynn Drake
It was just a fling. A bit of fun on the weekends. Definitely not permanent. Not that I wouldn’t love to crack the ice around rich and sexy Declan Foster’s heart. And he was the last person I expected to ride to my rescue when I found myself suddenly homeless and a father. Now he’s spoiling my daughter and me at every turn, offering the perfect life on a silver platter... -
![Sleigh It Ain't So by Charlie Cochet]()
Sleigh It Ain't So by Charlie Cochet
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFitz Harlow has the idyllic life he always dreamed of. With the fashion industry a distant memory, he now revels in the joy of running his own salon. In addition to his flourishing career, Fitz has found the love of his life, Jack, and inherited a colorful family of former Green Berets and their loving partners... -
![The Hitman's Guide to Stately Fences and Killer Defenses by Alice Winters]()
The Hitman's Guide to Stately Fences and Killer Defenses by Alice Winters
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsLeland. Life is normal… suspiciously normal. During my long, lonely years as a hitman, I never realized that one day, I would have a family to call my own... -
![It's Always Sonny by Kate Watson]()
It's Always Sonny by Kate Watson
Sunshine always melts ice eventually. And I’m starting to feel the burn. People may call me an “overachieving ice queen,” but I would do anything for the people I love. So when my friends ask me to host an event at their famous farm, I’m more than happy to help…until I discover I’ve been set up. The “event” is actually a reunion for my ex’s family...Categorized as:
forced proximity sports found-family contemporary grumpy sunshine m-f football humor -
![Rebel without a Claus by Charlie Cochet]()
Rebel without a Claus by Charlie Cochet
Rated: 4.48 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsLife for Leopold de Loughrey is anything but ordinary. His meticulous and logical mind is both a gift and a curse, especially when it comes to finding a heartfelt present for his beloved fiancé, Ward Kingston. As Christmas and their first milestone anniversary draw near, Leo is eager to find the ideal gift that will perfectly capture their deep love and devotion... -
![Sterling Fight by L.B. Dunbar]()
Sterling Fight by L.B. Dunbar
These former friends might be faking their engagement, but revealed crushes prove there might not be anything fictional about their arrangement. In college, I often saw Judd Sylver in the library. He was a cool, broody type of guy who reminded me of a deeply tortured soul who might write poetry... -
![Miles Bailey Gets Down On One Knee by Jen Atkinson]()
Miles Bailey Gets Down On One Knee by Jen Atkinson
I am Delaney Jones, courageous enough to defy my mother, fearless enough to leave my successful rock band, and daring enough to propose to a perfect stranger. Delaney:. Miles wasn’t planned. Which kind of made him perfect. Sure, I’d just said no—to a load of handsome men on a reality show designed to find me a husband, but I didn’t want any of them... -
![Silver Linings by Violet Page]()
Silver Linings by Violet Page
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsSilver James has perfected the art of keeping everything at a distance—her career, her friends, and most definitely romance. Her motto is simple: keep life carefree and fun. The more she avoids the unexpected, the less likely she is to get hurt... -
![A Wonderland Wish on Ever After Street by Jaimie Admans]()
A Wonderland Wish on Ever After Street by Jaimie Admans
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA picture-perfect town, a place where dreams come true. Welcome to Ever After Street. .. There's always time for tea. .. unless you've lost your teapot…. Cleo Jordan has only ever wished for one thing – to open her own teashop in memory of her lovely gran...Categorized as:
found-family forced proximity grumpy sunshine small town contemporary humor length-medium audiobook -
![Curveball by E.J. Blaise]()
Curveball by E.J. Blaise
Cass Morgan is used to hitting home runs. Sunday Lane is the strike he never saw coming. An MLB legend and a single mom. Ordinarily, their paths would never cross. But when a career-threatening injury and a cross-country move put them in each other’s paths, two pink lines forever entangle their lives. One night. One drink. One encounter that changes everything.Categorized as:
forced proximity sports queer found-family single-mother age difference pregnancy dual-pov -
-
![Ella Gets the D by Tanvier Peart]()
Ella Gets the D by Tanvier Peart
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsThe end of my marriage was the beginning of my happily ever after. What happens when you hear your husband putting dents in your mattress with another woman? Leave and never look back! Easier said than done when you're a stay-at-home mom, share two kids with the no-good cheater, and have a savings account that laughs in your face on the daily...Categorized as:
found-family sports forced proximity age difference single-mother contemporary black-mc humor -
![Your Rule to Break by Rachel LaBerge]()
Your Rule to Break by Rachel LaBerge
YOUR RULE TO BREAK IS A STEAMY FOOTBALL ROMANCE WITH FAKE DATING. It's the second book in The Play Caller series and can be read as a standalone. What do you do when your sister is marrying your ex? If there’s an answer, Emilie Hayes would love to know... -
![Fake Fiancé at First Sight by Kristine W. Joy]()
Fake Fiancé at First Sight by Kristine W. Joy
I can't believe I'm at the point in my life where I need to convince a stranger to pretend to be my fiancée. My publicist came up with the idea to hire a fake fiancée to improve my bad-boy reputation and “win over the hearts and minds of fans. ” But I'm the one who impulsively decided to bring one home with me for my brother's vow renewal...Categorized as:
forced proximity found-family humor contemporary friends to lovers m-f length-medium audiobook -
![Blitzed by S.E. Harmon]()
Blitzed by S.E. Harmon
NFL tight end Andrew McAdams isn’t thrilled to be sidelined with an injury. He’s even less thrilled about his legal troubles. Community service is the only thing standing between him and jail so. .. yeah. That’s a no-brainer. It's not all bad news, though. He gets to work with Jesse Fox, who is as gorgeous as he is guarded. And there's no rule saying he can't do his hours and have a little fun... -
![Scoring Chance by A.J. Truman]()
Scoring Chance by A.J. Truman
A totally fake marriage… with very real feelings. I'm a carefree bachelor who never wanted kids. But it seems life has other plans. When my best friend and hockey teammate Tanner Chance finds himself jobless with four kids to support, I suggest a wild marriage. My health insurance can cover Tanner’s family, but to keep nosy coworkers from sniffing out the scheme, the whole Chance clan moves in... -
![Catch a Wave by Savannah Scott]()
Catch a Wave by Savannah Scott
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsDid you ever see a guy and just know you had to meet him? That was me and Bodhi Merrick. I couldn't take my eyes off him as he donned his wetsuit at the famous big-wave surf spot, Mavericks. I'll never forget that day. Or every time our paths crossed after that. Big wave surfing is a small world...Categorized as:
sports forced proximity multicultural siblings-bff humor contemporary m-f length-medium -
![Mood Swings and Hockey Flings by Marika Ray, Sylvie Stewart]()
Mood Swings and Hockey Flings by Marika Ray, Sylvie Stewart
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsIn the cutthroat world of professional sports, I’m the agent who always calls the shots. Until a decade-old feud with hockey superstar Banks Bennet resurfaces, and I’m forced to play nice. When his agent drops him and rumors of a trade swirl through the league faster than a puck on a breakaway, I find myself in the dreaded role of Banks’s new agent...Categorized as:
sports forced proximity hockey from hate to love contemporary office mature couple humor -
![The Christmas You Crash by Piper Hale]()
The Christmas You Crash by Piper Hale
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsOne blizzard. One cabin. One uninvited hockey player. Ho, ho, humbug. Normally I love Christmas. The lights, the snow, the cozy traditions. Then my parents divorced. Intent to avoid awkward holiday drama, I head to our family’s secluded cabin for a nice, relaxing week alone. At least that’s the plan until Ryder Hanson shows up uninvited and dressed like a serial killer... -
![It Happened on a Sunday by Tracy Wolff]()
It Happened on a Sunday by Tracy Wolff
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFrom #1 New York Times bestselling author Tracy Wolff comes a fierce, emotional romance about surviving the spotlight, outrunning your past, and choosing love when everything says you shouldn’t. They call her the Black Widow. A pop star. A tabloid tragedy. A girl who set the world on fire—and got burned in return. But Sloane Walker doesn’t care what they say. Not anymore...Categorized as:
found-family sports football contemporary friends to lovers humor length-long audiobook -
![As You Ice It: An Appies Hockey Romance by Emma St. Clair, Emily Ellet]()
As You Ice It: An Appies Hockey Romance by Emma St. Clair, Emily Ellet
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsIf at first you don't succeed,. do not. try, try again. At least not when it comes to dating a hockey player. When Naomi met Camden Cole on Oakley Island, she assumed he would be gone in a week or two like any other tourist passing through. Perfect for a fun summer relationship. A temporary one... -
-
![The Trouble with Love and Coaches by Harriet Ashford]()
The Trouble with Love and Coaches by Harriet Ashford
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsApril Baird is determined to finish an Ironman—even if it is 140. 6 miles of misery in the form of swimming, cycling, and running. The distance would be daunting enough, but April is certain she has an Ironman curse. What else could explain the events that have caused her to DNF the last three years? Now, her coach has even bailed... -
![What's Santa Got to Do with It? by Bix Barrow]()
What's Santa Got to Do with It? by Bix Barrow
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA late-awakened bi guy and his secret crush try to play Santa for some kids. But there’s a hitman blocking the chimney. .. Have you ever been locked out of your apartment shirtless, holding a wet rabbit and getting served with legal papers right when your super-hot neighbor walks by? Maybe it’s just me... -
![Truly by Adriana Locke]()
Truly by Adriana Locke
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIt was the happiest day of my life, until I realized I was marrying the wrong man. So, I ran straight from the church to the only place that’s ever felt like home. Luke Marshall’s farm. It’s safe to say my broody, infuriatingly handsome ex-boyfriend didn’t expect to find me sobbing on his sofa in a pile of tulle...Categorized as:
found-family forced proximity second chances cowboys small town contemporary humor length-short -
![Whenever You're Ready by Rachel Runya Katz]()
Whenever You're Ready by Rachel Runya Katz
After reconnecting on a road trip, two friends must decide if love is the ultimate risk worth taking in this funny, emotional sapphic romance. Nia and Jade had been inseparable ever since their best friend, Michal, introduced them at her tenth birthday party...Categorized as:
forced proximity queer found-family humor contemporary f-f friends to lovers length-medium -
![The Trip by Robin Alexander]()
The Trip by Robin Alexander
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWho wants to take a road trip with two old, bickering women and a complete stranger? Not Jill Savoy. She finds herself behind the wheel of her father’s sacred Winnebago anyway, responsible for her grandmother and adopted aunt, both of whom are mischievous teenagers in old bodies, and then there’s Shay. The last thing on Shay Macaluso’s mind was a vacation... -
![So Flocked by Sarah Estep]()
So Flocked by Sarah Estep
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAfter the wedding, they’ll go their separate ways and no one will ever know what happened in the lighthouse. Jordy Taylor is a disaster. Over the hill by professional football standards, the veteran quarterback isn’t ready to hang up his pads just yet, but his team might have other plans... -
![Pumped by Linden Bell]()
Pumped by Linden Bell
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsEverest. Owen and I do not get along. He thinks I'm irresponsible and I find him arrogant and uptight. Good thing we only see each other when my sister and his brother pester us into attending family events. But when a fatal car accident leaves our niece orphaned, my brother-in-law and I are forced to raise her together--as long as we don't strangle each other first...Categorized as:
forced proximity found-family sports queer from hate to love grumpy sunshine hurt-comfort m-m -
![Just for Me: A Rugby Romance by Rosalind James]()
Just for Me: A Rugby Romance by Rosalind James
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsLuke Armstrong doesn’t want to be a pioneer or an inspiration. He just wants to be a prop. What’s it like to be the first All Black to come out while he’s still playing rugby? Luke has spent over thirty years not wanting to find out, but hiding has become so hard. He’s a man who doesn’t get tired, but now, he’s soul-weary... -
![Final Score by Charlie Novak]()
Final Score by Charlie Novak
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsCan one perfect night lead to more? Jordan Green is too busy for a relationship. With the World Cup looming, his focus is on making the England team, not finding someone to spend his life with. His friends may be settling down, but Jordan’s had enough of planning weddings. All he wants is some fun, and Félix is the perfect person for that… even if he is his boss’s brother... -
![An Unexpected Path by Megan McSpadden]()
An Unexpected Path by Megan McSpadden
Sometimes unexpected paths lead to the best destinations. Highly sought after conflict photographer, relationship-averse Marley Cunningham thrives on adrenaline and the chaos of her nomadic life. But when the passion for her career starts to wane, she decides a hike far from the noise of life is the best way to shake the doubts from her mind and focus on what she wants... -
-
![Just a Football Star by Deb Goodman]()
Just a Football Star by Deb Goodman
He’s a competitive ex-athlete. Which is code for “He’s gonna break my heart. ”. When I started my career as a sports trainer for professional football players, I didn’t understand the dangers involved. I thought my knowledge and next-level love for the game would be all I needed to treat and motivate the guys. Now? It’s all gone... -
![Christmas in Paradise by Brittany Larsen]()
Christmas in Paradise by Brittany Larsen
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsCould an innocent fling turn into the real thing? I only want two things out of life: a career as a wedding planner extraordinaire and for Mom to stop treating me like a kid. Is that too much to ask? Probably. That is, until I get the chance to plan a televised, Christmas-themed wedding a thousand miles away from Mom in Paradise, Idaho. It seems like all my dreams might be coming true...Categorized as:
forced proximity found-family christmas contemporary dual-pov humor length-medium audiobook -
![Billionaire Bachelor by Laura Lee]()
Billionaire Bachelor by Laura Lee
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsEscaping to my family’s cabin after my engagement imploded seemed like the perfect plan. But when Logan Edwards—my brother’s best friend, bad boy tech billionaire, and the man who’s haunted my fantasies for years—shows up unexpectedly, everything changes. With only one bed and a snowstorm raging outside, it doesn’t take long for the sparks between us to ignite... -
![Buckeye by Casey Morales]()
Buckeye by Casey Morales
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFrom international bestselling author, Casey Morales . . . A traded player, a children's home, and a love to defy all odds. Climbing the ladder of professional baseball is hard. As one of the only openly gay players in the league, Nick Dunlap's path is rockier than most. When Nick is traded mid-season, despite a team-leading batting average, everyone knows his "open secret" is to blame... -
![Hold Me by Tawna Fenske]()
Hold Me by Tawna Fenske
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsRomeo. Boy Toy. Player. I’ve heard what they call me, and never gave it much thought. Then Zoe walks in with her library smarts and innocent eyes and one helluva dirty idea. I guess living in hospitals for two decades didn’t leave much time for dating. Or any kind of fun, really. Zoe’s a virgin with a bucket list, and guess who’s on it? No way am I satisfying her desires...Categorized as:
found-family forced proximity contemporary age difference friends to lovers humor length-short -
![Saving Mr. Bell by H.L. Day]()
Saving Mr. Bell by H.L. Day
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhen is a kidnap not a kidnap? When it's a rescue. Rudolf Bell does NOT need saving. But after the worst performance of his life, there are those who disagree. All he wants is to have a good time and forget everything for a while. Easier said than done when the media have done a hatchet job on him. His career's not over, though. Not until he says so... -
![A Wedding Mismatch by Kaylee Baldwin]()
A Wedding Mismatch by Kaylee Baldwin
Let’s play a Two truths and a lie. 1. I am a self-help influencer who is a hot mess. 2. If I don’t get some quiet time between planning my sister’s wedding to finish my book, Happily Single, I’m in hot water with my publisher. 3. I’m blackmailing the hot grump next-door into letting me live with him until this book is done...Categorized as:
forced proximity found-family contemporary grumpy sunshine humor glimpses-kisses length-medium -
![Slow Pitch by Amy Lane]()
Slow Pitch by Amy Lane
Tenner Gibson has a job he enjoys, a prickly ex-wife, and an adorable daughter he wouldn’t trade for the world. With no romance, no sex life, and no other hobbies, a rec league softball team is as close as he gets to hedonism. But life throws him a curveball when cocky Ross McTierney sets his sights on getting under Tenner’s skin... -
![The Misfits of Copper County by May Archer]()
The Misfits of Copper County by May Archer
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsWhen you burn down your contractor’s home… and kind of, accidentally invite him to move into yours. First things first, that fire was a fluke. A tragic, completely unintentional byproduct of high emotions, an ill-timed backyard grilling… and one very shirtless man...Categorized as:
forced proximity queer m-m contemporary from hate to love humor length-medium audiobook -
![When Sparks Fly by Kristen Zimmer]()
When Sparks Fly by Kristen Zimmer
The room is dark, except for the streetlights coming through the blinds. I can barely see her, but I feel her. She pushes me up against the wall and we kiss harder than we ever have before. I’ve been waiting so long for it to happen, and finally, it’s going to. Then the bedroom door flies open, and someone screams her name…. Britton Walsh has never had a home... -
-
![Drop Shot by Vai Denton]()
Drop Shot by Vai Denton
Delilah Anderson is no stranger to sacrifice where her siblings are concerned. Who needs to go to college when you have three hungry mouths to feed and pro tennis money in your sights? Except it’s not that simple. No matter how hard she works, the bills are piling up ad infinitum. When her doubles partner decides to start focusing on singles, she knows the margins are going to be razor thin...Categorized as:
sports forced proximity found-family contemporary grumpy sunshine athletes humor length-medium -
![Trick Shot by Lyssa Lemire]()
Trick Shot by Lyssa Lemire
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWhen I need a fake fiancée, my best friend Abby seems like the safe choice. But I should have known there’s nothing more dangerous than pretending to love your best friend – after you realize pretending isn’t enough. There’s a lot that makes me one of a kind. Being the best defensive player in college hockey. My status as a local celebrity and campus superstar...Categorized as:
sports forced proximity friends to lovers athletes contemporary new adult humor hockey -
![Giving It All by Christi Barth]()
Giving It All by Christi Barth
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsChristi Barth’s smoking-hot contemporary romance series continues as the five best friends who survived a tragedy as teenagers take to their Naked Men podcast to open up about women. In Giving It All, the group’s globe-trotting hunk discovers that you need to go home to find love. Logan Marsh never stays in one place for long... -
![The Handy Nanny by K. Sterling]()
The Handy Nanny by K. Sterling
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThey call Pennsylvania Tucker the human Band-Aid because he can fix just about anything and make anyone feel better, but can Penn mend a broken heart? Reid Marshall thinks so and sends his master nanny on a very important and sensitive mission. A close friend is grieving and caring for his newborn niece after losing his twin sister... -
![The Hotel Inspector by Sienna Waters]()
The Hotel Inspector by Sienna Waters
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsRoom service has never been so much fun. .. Ice queen hotel inspector Isla Seymour loves nothing more than her career. She’s demanding, critical, and terrible with people. Until a buy-out means she’s on shaky ground and about to take on what could be her last assignment. Hotel owner Katie Taylor is a washed-up singer with a heart of gold...Categorized as:
forced proximity queer f-f age difference from hate to love humor contemporary length-medium -
![Legally Brawn by DJ Jamison]()
Legally Brawn by DJ Jamison
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMy boyfriend left me a year ago. .. but sometimes you have to fight for true love, right? When Clayton breaks off our relationship to find someone more "serious" in law school, I'm devastated but not defeated. I just have to show him I have brains as well as brawn. I study hard to get into law school and prove myself. But when I get there, ready to reclaim my man, he's moved on. .
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.
