Books like 'Simplicity'
Readers who enjoyed Simplicity by Nicole Dykes also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary gay romance forced proximity friends to lovers found-family queer office new adult grumpy sunshine insta-love
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Beautifully Unexpected by Lily Morton
Sometimes love comes when you least expect or want it.Magnus Carlsen is determined to grow old disgracefully. At fifty-two, he doesn’t believe in keeping anything. Men, sofas, books—everything gets jettisoned, eventually. He’s divided his life into happy compartments. A successful trial lawyer, he spends his days lecturing jurors, exasperating judges, and striding arrogantly around courtrooms...Categorized as:
friends to lovers dual-pov sunny hero forced proximity queer first-person-pov mature couple m-m -
![Drilled by K.M. Neuhold]()
Drilled by K.M. Neuhold
A month in a remote cabin with the last man I ever expected to see again? I can’t decide if I should punch him or drill him. It might end up being both.After more than a decade, the last person I expected to see walk into the Four Bears Construction offices as a new hire was Ridge.He was my first crush, and my first heartbreak when he started dating my sister...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity office first-person-pov queer found-family small town male-pov -
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![Semantic Error, Vol.1 (Semantic Error (Novel) #1) by Soori Jeo]()
Semantic Error, Vol.1 (Semantic Error (Novel) #1) by Soori Jeo
Computer science major Chu Sangwoo is the epitome of an inflexible and strict rule-abiding person. While working on a liberal arts group project with freeloaders who don’t put in any effort, Sangwoo reasonably decides to remove their names from the final presentation.But he didn’t imagine how involved he would become with the person whose study-abroad plans were messed up because of that project... -
![Davo by N.R. Walker]()
Davo by N.R. Walker
When Fergus Galloway takes on a research trip to a tiny mining town in the far Western Australian outback, he’s as far from Sydney as he can get. Which is entirely the point. He arrives in Pannalego totally unprepared for the baking heat, unprepared for the people who call it home, unprepared for the craziness and the laughs... -
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![How to Be a Movie Star by T.J. Klune]()
How to Be a Movie Star by T.J. Klune
Sequel to How to Be a Normal PersonA 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:
friends to lovers sunny hero forced proximity queer found-family m-m contemporary humor -
![Dearest Milton James by N.R. Walker]()
Dearest Milton James by N.R. Walker
Malachi Keogh finds himself in a job he neither wanted nor asked for when his father, boss of Sydney’s postal service, sends him to the end of the business line, aka The Dead Letter Office. Malachi expects tedious and boring but instead discovers a warehouse with a quirky bunch of misfit co-workers, including a stoic and nerdy boss, Julian Pollard...Categorized as:
friends to lovers insta-love office first-person-pov queer sweet-hero found-family sunny hero -
![On the Run by May Archer]()
On the Run by May Archer
I was supposed to be partying with a bunch of celebrities in paradise this week, okay?But then I made one teeny, tiny error in judgement before leaving New York, and suddenly the paparazzi expected me to give a command performance as “the other man” in their straight celebrity “outing” of the week.Um, no, precious. So much no...Categorized as:
insta-love grumpy sunshine queer new adult small town sunny hero sweet-hero working class hero -
![Thieves' Honor by Kate King, Jessa Wilder]()
Thieves' Honor by Kate King, Jessa Wilder
"Run, Rabbit, Run." After weeks in the Esposito Hotel, I now know three things: 1. The Gentlemen are liars. 2. The Trilogy took my sister. 3. My father is insane. I've been reminded of who I am and who my enemies are. Nico lied to me, and Beck and Rush backed him up. I'm on my own again—the spare to the heir, with nothing to lose and no one I can trust...Categorized as:
new adult grumpy sunshine cold hero forced proximity first-person-pov dual-pov queer contemporary -
![Into the Tempest by N.R. Walker]()
Into the Tempest by N.R. Walker
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsJeremiah Overton is now in charge of Darwin’s Bureau of Meteorology, and his storm chaser boyfriend, Tully Larson, couldn’t be happier. For Tully, it means watching summer storms with the love of his life but for Jeremiah, it means relearning everything on equipment that’s older than he is. But summer storms also mean it’s cyclone season...Categorized as:
forced proximity insta-love queer dual-pov first-person-pov m-m suspense contemporary -
![Stick Shift by K.M. Neuhold]()
Stick Shift by K.M. Neuhold
Is it possible my straight best friend had a sudden stick shift?I made peace with my hopeless crush on my straight best friend, Journey, years ago. It helps that he’s never in the country long and our relationship consists of sporadic texts and video chats at odd hours.Now Journey is back. Back in the country, in my space, sharing my bed, and something is changing between us...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity queer male-pov dual-pov first-person-pov small town sunny hero -
![Joker by Aiden Bates, Ali Lyda]()
Joker by Aiden Bates, Ali Lyda
Who’d want a guy like me?Sure, I can make my MC brothers laugh, but I’m not good for much else.Muscle? Sure.Smarts? Not so much.At least Brennan knows I’m one hot mother… Well… You know.No one ever wants me for more than a roll in the sheets.No one except Brennan. Will he still want me when he realizes how messed up I am?Joker is more than just fun and games... -
![The Dangerous Convenience Store Vol. 3 by 945]()
The Dangerous Convenience Store Vol. 3 by 945
This hit Boys’ Love webtoon/manhwa (comic) is coming to print in English for the first a full-color and Mature-rated romantic comedy about a convenience store part-timer and a handsome gangster!College student Yeo Eui-joon works the graveyard shift at a convenience store to pay his bills...Categorized as:
queer grumpy sunshine working class hero cold hero sunny hero contemporary age difference mafia -
![Easy Does It by K.M. Neuhold]()
Easy Does It by K.M. Neuhold
I've never shied away from the hard things in life. But falling in love with Lux… EASY has never felt so good. Most of the guys on Palm Island call me the token straight guy. The truth is, I'm not so much straight as I'm just… nothing. Asexual, demi, the label doesn't make much of a difference to me...Categorized as:
friends to lovers queer found-family dual-pov male-pov sunny hero small town sweet-hero -
![Method Acting by N.R. Walker]()
Method Acting by N.R. Walker
Chase SoriaEvery budding actor knows acting is a difficult gig. There will be grueling auditions and punishing rejections. If you’re lucky, there’ll be roles that pay the bills and even roles that won’t.Roles we don’t believe in.But that’s what acting is—acting as if we do believe in them.So when the semester’s production project is announced and I’m cast as one of the leads, I’m ecstatic...Categorized as:
found-family grumpy sunshine new adult forced proximity queer sunny hero cold hero dual-pov -
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![The Dangerous Convenience Store Vol. 1 by 945]()
The Dangerous Convenience Store Vol. 1 by 945
This hit Boys' Love webtoon/manhwa (comic) is coming to print in English for the first a full-color and Mature-rated romantic comedy about a convenience store part-timer and a handsome gangster!Yeo Eui-joon needs cash, so he works part-time at a convenience store--where the clientele includes hoodlums and mobsters...Categorized as:
queer grumpy sunshine cold hero sunny hero sweet-hero working class hero m-m contemporary -
![Abandoned But Not Alone by Nicole Dykes]()
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 grumpy sunshine office queer found-family m-m contemporary single-father -
![The Dangerous Convenience Store Vol. 2 by 945]()
The Dangerous Convenience Store Vol. 2 by 945
This hit Boys’ Love webtoon/manhwa (comic) is coming to print in English for the first a full-color and Mature-rated romantic comedy about a convenience store part-timer and a handsome gangster!College student Yeo Eui-joon works the graveyard shift at a convenience store to pay his bills... -
![Boyfriend Goals by Riley Hart]()
Boyfriend Goals by Riley Hart
MiloUnusual. Quirky. Different. I’ve heard it all. I’ve accepted I’m not for everyone. Maybe not anyone.When I find out I inherited a bookstore and apartment on a small East Coast island, I jump at the chance for a new life.Turns out, I’ve also inherited a sexy, tattooed guy who not only rents the space next to my store for his tattoo parlor but my apartment too... -
![Prince by Cambria Hebert]()
Prince by Cambria Hebert
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsOnce upon a time…A baby is born in privilege, blooming under the warmth of his parents’ love. Jealousy sprouts and brings with it malevolent intentions. A king and queen cursed with an empty kingdom. A child abandoned in revenge.A misfit, the boy should turn hard and cold among the thorns he grows in. Despite lifelong attempts to destroy him, this child does not wither...Categorized as:
insta-love grumpy sunshine dual-pov first-person-pov queer sweet-hero found-family contemporary -
![Second Shot by Con Riley]()
Second Shot by Con Riley
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsSecond Shot (Second Chance School #2)Welcome back to Glynn Harber School for another steamy, swoony romance between two bruised souls.Passion always leads to heartbreak for Hayden Novac. Nice guys always get picked last. That’s what my coach at a soccer academy once promised... -
![Wheels Down by Beth Bolden]()
Wheels Down by Beth Bolden
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsShaw isn’t his friend—until Ross discovers he’s so much more. Ross Stanton is having a bad week—a bad month—really, a bad year . But the last thing he wants, after the betrayal of his friend and business partner, is for anyone else to know just how much he’s fighting for survival...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity queer m-m contemporary hurt-comfort length-medium -
![Wicked Outlaw by Jocelynn Drake, Rinda Elliott]()
Wicked Outlaw by Jocelynn Drake, Rinda Elliott
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsCole loves the city. He loves the noise, chaos, and having tacos delivered at 2 a.m.He loves his job at Ward Security. He might look like a bodyguard, but there’s nothing better than being counted as one of the hacking tech triplets.There is no way he will ever love horses, cows, and the great wide open of Texas.At least, that’s what he thought until JB Alexander rode into his life...Categorized as:
insta-love friends to lovers queer found-family m-m cowboys contemporary queer-awakening -
![The Idiot by Dianna Roman]()
The Idiot by Dianna Roman
You can't pick who you love...nor can you run from them.Murphy Malone loves his orchard, his mother, and his dog. Life is great until he can't stop thinking about what he's missing—someone to share it all with. When he realizes that his love for his best friend, Jesse Carver, runs deeper than the bonds of friendship, it just makes things worse... -
![Wicked Heat by Ella Frank]()
Wicked Heat by Ella Frank
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsRyanKind, caring, and protective. Those are the three qualities I’m looking for when it comes to my dream man. In a city as big as Chicago, you wouldn’t think he would be that hard to find, right?Wrong.Sure, my boss found a super-sexy detective and my best friend fell madly in love with the most eligible bachelor around...Categorized as:
friends to lovers grumpy sunshine cold hero queer contemporary m-m firefighter men in uniform -
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![Danger Zone by Brooke Blaine, Ella Frank]()
Danger Zone by Brooke Blaine, Ella Frank
They train to serve their country. They strive to be the best. But only a select few can be ... The Elite * * * MATTEO MORGAN CALL SIGN: SOLO Reckless, arrogant, and bold, Solo is as known in the U.S. Navy for his bad-boy reputation as he is for his skills as a fighter pilot...Categorized as:
new adult forced proximity friends to lovers grumpy sunshine dual-pov office queer m-m -
![Not That Ridiculous by Isabel Murray]()
Not That Ridiculous by Isabel Murray
Charlie Galloway is handling it, okay?Yes, he’s been left to run the family coffee shop all on his own, he’s up to his eyeballs in mortgages and loans, and his fixer-upper dream house is falling down around his ears. Big deal. He can handle it... -
![Chasing You: A Single Dad Romance by E.M. Lindsey]()
Chasing You: A Single Dad Romance by E.M. Lindsey
“Playing house-husband to my best friend isn’t weird, right? Even though I’m head over heels in love with him and he doesn’t have feelings for me?”Adele is a caretaker. Always has been, always will be. So when his lifelong best friend comes home after losing his job to a nervous breakdown and chronic illness, Adele steps in...Categorized as:
friends to lovers queer grumpy sunshine found-family small town sweet-hero male-pov dual-pov -
![There Is A Light by Ban Gilmartin]()
There Is A Light by Ban Gilmartin
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsJamie Gilmour is starting over. A new school, a new city, a tenth attempt at a second start. All he has to do is stop making bad decisions and stick to something for once in his life. All he has to do is stop being himself.Jude Pujari is thinking of calling it all off. He’s overstressed, depressed and frozen in place, trapped by grief and fear of change... -
![Golden Boy and the Two Bears by Nash Summers]()
Golden Boy and the Two Bears by Nash Summers
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsAsher Williams is obsessed with love. His column is thriving, fellow students trust him with their relationship woes, and he’s on his A-game when it comes to matchmaking. At least, matchmaking other than his own. After a heartfelt letter written to his column, Asher is set on aiding the two love-struck heroes who desperately need his help... -
![Salt by Fearne Hill]()
Salt by Fearne Hill
When was the right time to tell someone that silver flames were shooting from their hair? And that your own tranquil green desired nothing more than to tangle with them, if only it could escape a malevolent orange flare hounding your every move?Over-stressed businessman Charles Heyer is not like most people... -
![Handy by K.M. Neuhold]()
Handy by K.M. Neuhold
My new neighbor may be grumpy but he's also hot, and very good with his hands…I definitely overestimated my own handyman skills when I bought this fixer-upper. I have to say, the view from my new place is worth it though. Especially around seven o'clock every morning when my big, furry bear of a neighbor drinks his coffee shirtless on his back porch.He's dedicated to the bear thing too...Categorized as:
queer small town grumpy sunshine forced proximity sunny hero working class hero cold hero male-pov -
![Hard Ink by Ali Lyda]()
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]()
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 -
![Resonance by Neve Wilder]()
Resonance by Neve Wilder
I gave the rumor mill fodder for a lifetime the day I walked away from a lucrative music career without explanation. People can talk all they like; my record stores are my lifeblood now, and I’m devoted solely to keeping them afloat in the digital age. There’s just one little thing distracting me: an earth-dwelling sunbeam named Owen Harper. I don’t know what I was thinking when I hired him...Categorized as:
friends to lovers grumpy sunshine forced proximity cold hero sunny hero queer m-m age difference -
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![Total Creative Control by Joanna Chambers, Sally Malcolm]()
Total Creative Control by Joanna Chambers, Sally Malcolm
Sunshine PA, meet Grumpy Boss ... When fanfic writer Aaron Page landed a temp job with the creator of hit TV show, Leeches, it was only meant to last a week. Three years later, Aaron’s still there ...It could be because he loves the creative challenge. It could be because he’s a huge Leeches fanboy. It’s definitely not because of Lewis Hunter, his extremely demanding, staggeringly rude ..Categorized as:
forced proximity friends to lovers grumpy sunshine office queer cold hero sweet-hero contemporary -
![Amid Our Lines by Zarah Detand]()
Amid Our Lines by Zarah Detand
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsRealising your new boss is the adult star you fancied as a teenager? Awkward.In the snow-kissed Swiss Alps, Adrian’s world is a high-wire act of old-world charm and new-world problems at the Gletscherhaus Hotel. Enter Eric, an undercover London songwriter, seeking a mental break in a place where the Wi-Fi is as patchy as his past relationships... -
![By the Numbers by K.M. Neuhold]()
By the Numbers by K.M. Neuhold
Two hot roommates, minus clothes, plus a drawer full of debauchery, and a WHOLE lot of tension. You don’t have to be a math genius to figure out the sum of that equation...Categorized as:
friends to lovers new adult first-person-pov dual-pov forced proximity queer contemporary m-m -
![Pick One by May Archer]()
Pick One by May Archer
I once lived a fairly quiet existence as a math professor. Then Teagan Donahue crashed into my life like a shooting star. Now every day's a holiday, and my very best friend is also the guy I can't stop fantasizing about.The guy I'm madly in love with.The guy I'm ready to turn down my dream job for... -
![Pretty Perfect by Riley Hart, Christina Lee]()
Pretty Perfect by Riley Hart, Christina Lee
Jesse After spending the first part of my life trapped in a small town where it wasn’t okay to be a makeup-wearing boy who liked boys, I swore I’d leave and never be anything but loud, proud, and unapologetically me. I’ve kept that promise. I’m following my dreams, have an apartment with my bestie, and get to dance my nights away at one of the hottest gay bars in Portland...Categorized as:
new adult queer office cold hero working class hero grumpy sunshine dual-pov first-person-pov -
![Angel by Linden Bell]()
Angel by Linden Bell
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHe was only supposed to be gay for pay. Angel I’ve never had sex before. And I've definitely never looked at a guy that way before. But with his brightly-colored hair and beautiful outfits, Rhys is hard to ignore--especially after I learn what he does for a living...Categorized as:
queer new adult friends to lovers sweet-hero first-person-pov dual-pov m-m length-medium -
![A Wedding in a Week by Con Riley]()
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:
friends to lovers forced proximity queer found-family m-m age difference hurt-comfort contemporary -
![Starting Over by Alexa Land]()
Starting Over by Alexa Land
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsColt Matthews is trying to find his way in the world. His friends are getting married, finding rewarding careers, and moving forward with their lives. Meanwhile, twenty-one-year-old Colt is still trying to figure out who he is and what he wants out of life. About the only thing he knows for sure is that he’s undeniably drawn to his friend Ren, despite their age difference...Categorized as:
queer new adult first-person-pov dual-pov friends to lovers m-m age difference contemporary -
![Every Saturday Night by Alexa Land]()
Every Saturday Night by Alexa Land
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAs a young single dad, my life’s all about raising my sweet baby boy. But every Saturday night while my family babysits, I get to go out, cut loose, and act my age. Hey, we all need a break from time to time.And every Saturday night, I keep winding up in bed with a gorgeous, Cuban-American motorcycle mechanic named Lucky... -
![Maddie by Annabella Michaels]()
Maddie by Annabella Michaels
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAfter witnessing firsthand just how dirty and underhanded a life in politics can be, Maddie Vanderhorne steps off the campaign trail to follow his passion. Starting his own event planning business is the best decision Maddie’s ever made, quickly winning over his clients with his vibrant and outgoing personality... -
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![Kiss My Axe by R.M. Neill]()
Kiss My Axe by R.M. Neill
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsPerryYou know that saying, keep your friends close and your enemies closer? Well, whoever said that never had the misfortune of meeting Roman Auclair.Sure, he’s sexy and wears a corset like nobody’s business, but he’s arrogant, entitled and so damn judgemental he should sit on the Supreme Court.I’d rather sleep with a porcupine than bunk with him... -
![When He Saved Me by Melody Claire]()
When He Saved Me by Melody Claire
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsHe was the savior I never knew I needed…Jamie: The moment I laid eyes on him, I was captivated. I wanted to know everything about the guy with the soulful eyes and broody exterior. He throws up walls at every turn, but I can be patient. The more I get to know him, the more I want to help him see how beautiful life is once you truly choose to live it...Categorized as:
new adult grumpy sunshine queer friends to lovers first-person-pov dual-pov sunny hero contemporary -
![Co-Star by Ava Olsen]()
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:
grumpy sunshine friends to lovers dual-pov office queer m-m hurt-comfort contemporary -
![A Handyman for the Holidays by Valerie Gomez]()
A Handyman for the Holidays by Valerie Gomez
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAll he wants for Christmas is to be heard! From the author of Cover Story comes a new cozy romance.Nestled in the woods of Northern Michigan, everyone looks out for one another in the tiny town of Cherry Tree—especially during the holidays. Repairman Frank Garza will fix your oven on Thanksgiving and accept nothing but a slice of pie in return. But as a nonspeaker, Frank has never felt he belongs...Categorized as:
queer friends to lovers found-family dual-pov christmas contemporary m-m single-father -
![To Take a Quiet Breath by Fearne Hill]()
To Take a Quiet Breath by Fearne Hill
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsThis isn’t a romance about chiseled, lantern-jawed college kids boasting V-cut abs. There are no marathon steamy sex sessions, not without having at least one nebulizer on standby anyway. Marcel Giresse, the thirty-six-year-old Director of Finance at the French Ministry of Justice, is happy to leave all that nonsense to his oldest friend Lucien, the sixteenth Earl of Rossingley...Categorized as:
queer grumpy sunshine friends to lovers found-family contemporary m-m length-medium virgin hero -
![Never Have I Ever: Wanted My Brother's Rival by Willow Dixon]()
Never Have I Ever: Wanted My Brother's Rival by Willow Dixon
“Why is the one person I hate the only guy I can’t stop thinking about?”West, my older brother’s high school rival. The rich kid who has it all. The guy who disappeared six years ago and destroyed my brother’s life.I thought West and I were friends. I trusted him, but he showed me I was nothing more to him than a means to an end.Being twenty and in my last year of college isn’t easy...
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