Books like 'The Guy in the Alley'
Readers who enjoyed The Guy in the Alley by Cara Dee also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary gay romance found-family age difference hurt-comfort friends to lovers angst anal sex dual-pov queer
-
The Long and Winding Road by T.J. Klune
Sequel to The Art of Breathing Family is not always defined by blood. It’s defined by those who make us whole—those who make us who we are. And here, at the end, Bear and Otter will be tested like they’ve never been before. There’s a knock at the door from a little girl who has nowhere else to go. There’s a phone ringing, bringing news they do not expect...Categorized as:
angst age difference queer found-family friends to lovers hurt-comfort m-m contemporary -
Point of Contact by Melanie Hansen
Only love can heal an impossibly broken heart There’d forever been a thread running through Trevor Estes’s life—his son, Riley, strong and constant like a heartbeat. But when Riley is killed in combat, everything in Trevor’s life unravels into a mess he doesn’t know how to mourn. Then Jesse Byrne, Riley’s friend and platoon mate, arrives on Trevor’s doorstep with a box of Riley’s things...Categorized as:
hurt-comfort age difference angst friends to lovers dual-pov queer single-father m-m -
Still Beating by Jessie Walker
Rated: 4.53 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsTHE END WAS JUST THE BEGINNING... I thought I was strong enough to say goodbye.I thought I was ready to leave him.It doesn't matter that I'll be seeing him in three days.I just have to get through three more nights.I'm dying now. Shattering. Breaking.I'm determined to show him I can manage on my own.What if he needs me?I need him...What if he doesn't?...but I want to be better for him... -
Old-Fashioned Cupcake by Sagan Sagan
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsA visit to a pancake shop leads to an unexpected May-December romance that breathes life into the monotonous routine of an older salaryman.The daily grind both soothes and troubles older salaryman Nozue, until an unexpected visit to a pancake shop with his blunt younger coworker shakes things up!At 39 years old, Nozue lives a routine, if not melancholic, life of sleep and work... -
-
Budding Attraction by Saxon James
FordI’ve never thought much about Orson Naples.He’s a cute guy who I’d seen around town a few times, but then one day he up and left and didn’t reappear until a few years later. No one knows where he went or what he was doing, all this gossipy town knows is that he’s a widower, owns the florist, and is friends with that divorced group that hang out at the Killer Brew all the time...Categorized as:
friends to lovers mature couple dual-pov hurt-comfort queer found-family m-m contemporary -
The Gods of Chaos and Chance by John Wiltshire
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsMost people in Aleksey Rider-Mikkelsen’s life would probably assert that at fifty honest living and sobriety were long overdue. But recovering in bed from the lingering after-effects of his leg injury, bored, in pain, and feeling entirely irrelevant, Aleksey doesn’t much care what Benjamin Rider-Mikkelsen thinks. He doesn’t appreciate the close monitoring either... -
All Is Bright (Water, Air, Earth, Fire) by Riley Nash
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA 10,000 word mini-novella featuring everyone's favorite couples from the Water, Air, Earth, Fire series as they celebrate Christmas. When six very different men and their families meet at a Wyoming lodge to celebrate the holidays, things are bound to get sweet, steamy, chaotic, and a little bit heartwarming... -
Heart2Heart: A Contemporary Charity Anthology (Collection), Volume 7 by Annabeth Albert, Avril Ashton
Once upon a time SIX YEARS AGO, the Heart2Heart app made its first batch of incredibly unlikely (but oh-so-perfect) love matches... -
Abandoned But Not Alone by Nicole Dykes
FelixI’ve always been a helper. Someone who sees the world in a brighter light than others do. Who tries to show everyone there’s good in this world.So when I meet Henry, I immediately make it my mission to show him how great the world can be if he’ll only accept a little help.Easier said than done. But I’ve always liked a challenge...Categorized as:
friends to lovers office single-father queer found-family m-m grumpy sunshine contemporary -
My Dearest Patrolman, Vol. 1 by Niyama
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsResigned, Shin has to settle for seeing Seiji when they run into each other about town or when Shin makes a point of stopping at his store. Shin believes he's content with that, but one night Seiji changes everything by bemoaning his lack of romantic prospects and mentioning he might as well try his luck with guys... -
Raze by Roan Parrish
Sometimes the walls we build to save ourselves have to come tumbling down. For the last ten years, Huey has built his life around his sobriety. If that means he doesn't give a damn about finding love or companionship for himself, well, it's probably better that way. After all, the last thing he wants is to hurt anyone else... -
My Dearest Patrolman, Vol. 2 by Niyama
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsLiving under the same roof as the man he’s had a crush on for a solid decade has Shin’s libido in overdrive, and even his rampant awkwardness can’t get in the way of him getting some! Meanwhile, Seiji is swamped with self-doubt... -
Starting From The Top by Lane Hayes
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe guitarist, the dad, and a band on the rise… Johnny A quiet place to live and some time to recharge before my band heads out on the road again sounds amazing. I wouldn’t mind a distraction too, but my new neighbor is off-limits. There are rules about not getting involved with your bandmate’s ex, right? And Sean isn’t my type anyway... -
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... -
-
In Step by Jay Hogan
Karma. You reap what you sow, and KANE MARTIN isn’t looking for forgiveness. But the arrival of ABE TYLER in Painted Bay has Kane dreaming of the impossible. The sexy, silver fox choreographer is determined to pull Kane out from the shadows, but Kane’s life is in neat little boxes for a reason.A past he isn’t proud of.A family he’s walked away from.A job he doesn’t deserve...Categorized as:
age difference angst friends to lovers queer found-family silver-fox hurt-comfort anal sex -
Old-Fashioned Cupcake with Cappuccino by Sagan Sagan
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsThirty-nine-year-old Nozue went from living a routine, melancholic life of sleep and work to spending his days in bliss with Togawa, his younger subordinate. Now six months into their relationship, the two have graduated from dates at a pancake shop to spending their nights together... -
Whiskey Neat by Mia Monroe
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsI want a commitment like I want a rash so why can’t I get the bossy twink with pretty lips and plenty of snark out of my head? Anyone who spends time with me knows two things. 1. If I want something I get it, which is how I end up back in my old college haunts, buying a dilapidated bar with my five best friends and staring down the barrel of an unknown future. 2...Categorized as:
queer age difference office found-family hurt-comfort m-m contemporary length-medium -
A Daddy In Cameron by Sammi Cee
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIndie’s determined to navigate this world alone, but he’s never come up against a determined Daddy before. Normally, everyone likes Cameron. As the General Manager of The Tap Tavern, he’s protective, empathetic, and considerate of his employees and their needs. Especially those who’ve come in through the Takoda Career Center. Indie knows betrayal. He’s lived with the consequences and survived...Categorized as:
age difference friends to lovers hurt-comfort queer found-family m-m age play boss & employee -
Strings Attached by Riley Hart
I spent college worrying about responsibilities and earning my teaching degree, so before graduation and moving to Atlanta with my best friend, Ross, I figure I deserve a little fun. I’ve never been with an older man, but the guy at the bar grabs my attention and doesn’t let go…for multiple rounds, all night long...Categorized as:
age difference friends to lovers single-father queer silver-fox contemporary m-m friends-benefits -
Obsessed by Sloane Kennedy
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsI wanted him from the moment I laid eyes on him and from that point on, the question wasn’t if I’d have him but when…Thirty-five-year-old Matias de la Vega is good at one thing and one thing only... -
Rear Ended by K.M. Neuhold
Love is a highway, and Henry just got Rear Ended I’ve spent my entire adult life working eighty hours a week, chasing money, security… success . When my recent start-up went under, leaving me with nothing to show for years of grinding myself down to the bone, I’m not sure who I am anymore...Categorized as:
angst office age difference friends to lovers queer found-family curvy-hero contemporary -
Old Ink by Ali Lyda
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsHe’s way too young and he works for me … so why can’t I stay away? I had no trouble saying no to Channing when he left for college two years ago. I’m two and a half decades older than him and he was just a kid. But he’s all man now and it’s hard to stay away. Especially when he takes a job at my tattoo shop for the summer. He’s got his whole life ahead of him. I can’t let him waste it on me...Categorized as:
age difference spanking friends to lovers queer m-m contemporary bikers length-short -
Jingle Bells & Mistletoe by Sammi Cee
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsJonathan watched all of his friends fall in love, get married, and grow their families. All he’s ever wanted is a relationship as wonderful as the one his parents have always had... -
Starts With a Bang by Aimee Nicole Walker
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe best way to get over a cheating jerk is to get under someone new. Dominic isn’t looking for love or salvation at the Thirsty Cowboy. He needs a temporary escape from the drudgery his life has become, and the universe provides him with the sexiest distraction he’s ever seen. Sven is a sucker for sad eyes, thick thighs, and a Royal Cosmopolitan...Categorized as:
friends to lovers hurt-comfort found-family age difference queer m-m contemporary humor -
-
Alfie: Part II by Cara Dee
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsMM Romance • Part 2 of 2 • Second Chances • Irish Mafia • Family • Hurt/Comfort • Age Gap • Revenge • Opposites AttractWhen two broken hearts have reached their limits, it’s time for a mobster to play dirty in order to let the healing begin. Don’t worry, Alfie has a plan.That very second, the moment West said those words…I almost shattered. Again. I’d put myself out there... -
King's Silver Knight by Ki Brightly
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsThe Runaway Rock StarMusic is part of Andy Spire’s soul, but he can’t handle being in a band with his abusive husband anymore. His only option is to give up his career and make a run for it. After years of being belittled, it takes all his nerve to escape the toxic relationship. Andy isn’t sure how he can leave alive. When the tour bus stops to refuel, Andy flees from his soon-to-be ex-husband... -
Heartstring by Ana Ashley
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsMikIf I had a dollar for every mistake I made… But there’s only one mistake I regret.Breaking my promise to the only person who ever understood my need to get away from a future I didn’t want…Tyler.I’ve reached many hearts through my music, but the only one I’ve ever wanted might be lost to me forever.TylerFool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice…Mik broke a promise a long time ago...Categorized as:
angst friends to lovers single-father hurt-comfort queer second chances m-m contemporary -
FOG[电竞] by Man Man He Qi Duo, 漫漫何其多
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratings现代电竞+男神VS男神医疗师攻X突击手受【主角配角均无原型,谢谢大家】---Yu Sui and Shi Luo met each other when they were much younger. One was a pro-gamer, a widely-renowned, best of the best, in-game medic. The other was an e-sports newcomer who was just starting out. The two originally played for the same team, during which their relationship became increasingly deep.But things did not go as expected... -
Hard Ink by Ali Lyda
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsI don’t have the best history with older men.When Mateo saw my last relationship implode, he was there to help.He saved me.Hopefully self-defense lessons will keep me from getting hit again.I can’t ask for more of my friend.Even dreaming of keeping him is wrong.But when my ex makes things difficult, Mateo steps up again.I don’t want a protector, but maybe it’s time to accept a little help... -
The Contractor by Raleigh Ruebins
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsHe’s my best friend, my best worker, and it was just a silly crush.Then he kissed me. Now it feels like he's mine…I’ve shown my best friend Tristan everything: how to use a circular saw, how to lay grout, and how to do a kitchen renovation right. On the job, we became close friends—then even closer as we learned to share a camping tent.It was all harmless. Just like my crush on him...Categorized as:
friends to lovers office queer found-family m-m contemporary queer-awakening length-short -
Unnecessary Roughness by Rheland Richmond, Emerson Beckett
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsJackson Kincaid When my best friend, Allison, died in a car accident, I suddenly became the parent of my ten-year-old godson. How was I supposed to play football for the Portland Pirates and be a full-time single dad? Adjusting is the name of the game. But thanks to my friends, and Simon, the team doctor, we'll heal and make it through...Categorized as:
age difference friends to lovers single-father office dual-pov hurt-comfort queer found-family -
Surrender Your Heart by Aimee Nicole Walker
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 23 ratings***Surrender Your Heart was originally published in 2015. This second edition has been completely re-edited but does not contain new material. *** Secrets and fears—everyone has them. Some more than others. A heavy secret brought Liam Connelly to DC, but it isn’t the only reason he stays. Hired to tend bar at Bottoms Up, Liam finds himself drawn to his enigmatic boss like a moth to a flame...Categorized as:
queer age difference friends to lovers hurt-comfort m-m contemporary military length-short -
Winning the Dad by Nora Phoenix
Vegas isn't my scene, but I might as well have some fun while I'm here for my son's wedding.I've always considered myself straight...until I meet Sawyer at the blackjack table.He's my age, super hot, and funny, and the sparks between us could power the entire casino. When he asks me up to his room, I happily accept.But one night isn't enough for either of us. We want more...Categorized as:
single-father found-family queer curvy-hero silver-fox m-m contemporary queer-awakening -
Endless Stretch of Blue by Riley Hart
Lorenzo Moretti and Damon Blackwell have never met, but they're tied together by the same tragedy. They were both there that night . They each lost someone they loved. They've been living as shells of their former selves ever since. Running into each other and realizing their shared pasts? Pure serendipity...Categorized as:
hurt-comfort friends to lovers angst age difference mature couple anal sex tortured hero dual-pov -
-
A Lifetime Kissing You by Riley Hart
CharlesI have a great family, a successful career, and never struggle to find the company of a man when I want it, and I do—often. The loss of my brother years ago is the one dark spot in an otherwise perfect life. But at forty-three, my world suddenly feels emptier than it should. Something’s missing... -
Spring Rains by R.J. Scott
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsWhen love is on the line, the only way to move forward is to challenge ghosts of the past and find a place to belong.High School Teacher Chris, an amputee since his teens, has wrestled with darkness and emerged victorious. He’s a pillar of strength in the classroom, deflecting his overbearing family by day and yearning for love by night... -
Made for You by Anyta Sunday
Ben wants to find a new home. Twenty-four-year-old Ben McCormick is the primary caregiver for his brother Milo after their parents’ death. A year into the job, he’s totally got the hang of it. Mostly. Sort of...Categorized as:
friends to lovers age difference single-father dual-pov queer found-family m-m contemporary -
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... -
A Kind of Romance by Lane Hayes
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 22 ratingsZeke Gulden is a ruthless Wall Street exec. His hard-edged, no-nonsense attitude has served him well in the cutthroat business world, but less so in his personal life. When he finds out his ex-boyfriend cheated on him with a coworker, Zeke can’t let go—not until he finds a way to get even. However, his meddlesome father has other ideas... -
Change of Heart by K.M. Neuhold
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsDoes my husband's heart still miss me now that it beats in the chest of another man? Lub-dub A heartbeat more familiar than Easton’s own Lub-dub He vowed to love his husband until death do they part. And then the worst happened. Lub-dub His heart kept another man alive. River. A stranger in the world with Easton's husband's heart pumping the blood that warms his skin... -
Saints Like Him by Aimee Nicole Walker
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsFrom ex-con to self-made millionaire, there’s no challenge too tough for Cash Sweeney to conquer. So why has he spent twelve years pining for his best friend instead of doing something about it? Because losing Nick would be like existing with half of his heart...Categorized as:
friends to lovers age difference hurt-comfort queer found-family angst m-m contemporary -
A Not So Typical Love by Tristen Rowen
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsJordan and Jamie’s love is anything but typical. Jordan Cameron is not like most nineteen year olds. He’s never been on a date, he’s never left New England, and he’s never fallen in love. He lives in his own world, or so that's what it seems to the average person. No one, not even his thirty-one year old brother, Tim, has ever given him the chance to break free... -
No Wrong Moves by Becca Seymour
Pining for your best friend sucks ass—and not the good kind of sucking. But I can’t back away, and I definitely can’t let go. Eddie Phelps is too damn important to me. He has my heart and soul. Well, he and his daughter, a ten-year-old who one day will run the world.It’s not like I can even blame Eddie for mixed signals or anything. He’s done everything right. He always does...Categorized as:
age difference friends to lovers single-father mature couple dual-pov queer contemporary sports -
A Wedding in a Week by Con Riley
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsA second chance with his brother’s best friend also comes with a deadline. Three years after inheriting his family farm, an accident forces Stefan Luxton to rethink his future. Turning his farm into a five-star wedding venue is one goal. Another is to reconnect with Marc, who Stefan loved but let slip away to the city...Categorized as:
age difference friends to lovers hurt-comfort queer found-family m-m forced proximity contemporary -
-
The Ghosts Between Us by Brigham Vaughn
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsDr. Christopher Allen knows how to deal with death. He’s a psychiatrist who works with hospice patients and their families, helping them cope with grief and letting go. But Chris’s job doesn’t prepare him for the sudden death of his devil-may-care brother Cal. At Cal’s funeral, Chris is completely thrown when he meets Elliot Rawlings, an artist Cal has been dating... -
Drawn in by You by R.M. Neill
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsOne has endured a life of loneliness.The other is content in his solitude.Can the draw of epic love intertwine their lives?TravisWhen my grandfather died, I was swallowed by the system. Depression set in at a young age as I was bounced from foster home to youth shelter. For twelve years since, I’ve battled with my mental health issues, refusing to reveal to anyone how bad things truly are...Categorized as:
queer hurt-comfort found-family age difference friends to lovers single-father m-m contemporary -
Until Jude by Briar Prescott
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsI'm the first one to tell you doing the right thing has never been high on my list of priorities.Same goes for respecting the law. And ethics in general.It's more like guidelines anyway.Until him.Jude Riley.I invite myself into his life and refuse to leave. I know it's wrong. I know I shouldn't.I do anyway.It's never meant to turn into anything serious.It's never supposed to matter.Until it does... -
Beauty and the Beard by R.M. Neill
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLeafGrief is a complex thing to experience. Since losing my husband, I’ve let it call the shots. It’s been in control so long that I’ve almost forgotten what it feels like to have someone hold me tight at night or share a secret smile with.But a beautiful young model shows up at my lodge. He’s eager to learn about the outdoors and experience life outside the city... -
Co-Star by Ava Olsen
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsReed: Tate Aduma is a Hollywood actor that everyone wants and no one really knows. Our first meeting as young dreamers sparks a decade of incredible highs and lows. I’ve loved him, I’ve hated him, and I can’t live without him. But I know that love in the spotlight is not made to survive. Will we?Tate: Reed Larkin is the only constant in my chaotic life of movie sets, parties, and nameless lovers...Categorized as:
hurt-comfort friends to lovers dual-pov office queer m-m grumpy sunshine contemporary -
Heal Me by Beck Grey
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA lawyer and an architect walk into a bar…Jocelin:What do you do when your boss’s pushy nephew repeatedly asks you out and won’t take no for an answer? You create a fake boyfriend. One who works a lot, so he never comes to office functions or meets you for lunch. It works well until le salaud calls my bluff...Categorized as:
hurt-comfort friends to lovers found-family queer m-m contemporary death length-medium
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.