Books like 'Close to You'
Readers who enjoyed Close to You by S.M. West also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary forced proximity friends to lovers dual-pov angst second chances sports
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Flaunt by Adriana Locke
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsLooking for a Fake FiancéHave you ever wanted to prove someone wrong so badly that you could taste it?It doesn’t matter if they’re right. The fact that they had the audacity to go there is what counts.Hi. It’s me. I’m that person.The man I’ve been casually seeing told me I’m not “wife material” and I should “lower my expectations... -
Here Comes My Man by Lauren Blakely
A red-hot, enemies-to-lovers, fake boyfriend, second chance romance, and the conclusion to the Hopelessly Bromantic Duet!Let me just say this -- fake dating the cocky movie star was not my idea. Especially since he’s my former roomie and, gulp, my secret ex.But my agent tells me I have no choice since I’m ridiculously overdue with turning in the next big blockbuster love story to my publisher...Categorized as:
second chances angst forced proximity friends to lovers dual-pov m-m contemporary humor -
The Last Second Chance by Lucy Score
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 39 ratingsWhat would it take to get one last chance? Joey Greer is done having her heart broken. Eight years ago, after a horrific car accident, Jackson Pierce—her high school sweetheart—abandoned her. Abandoned his family. Abandoned the town they'd both grown up in, and fled to Hollywood. He never looked back, and she never forgot him. Or forgave him... -
RUSH: Deluxe Edition by Emma Scott
To be blind is not miserable; not to be able to bear blindness, that is miserable. --John MiltonCharlotte Conroy, Juilliard-trained violinist, was on the cusp of greatness when tragedy swooped down on dark wings, crushing her hopes and breaking her heart. The music that used to sing in her soul has grown quiet, and she feels on the verge of setting down her violin for good...Categorized as:
dual-pov angst forced proximity friends to lovers sports new adult contemporary grumpy sunshine -
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Pretty It Up by Cee Bowerman
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsDescriptionSometimes love just isn’t enough, or is it?Lana Gold, one of the Donovan triplets, found her one true love in college but lost him when the life he’d dreamed of became reality. Being an outsider looking in and so far away from her family and hometown took its toll on Lana and her marriage until she’d finally had enough and left it all behind...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers second chances contemporary alpha male multicultural length-short -
Time by Penny Reid
From the New York Times Bestselling Author Penny Reid A (brokenhearted) physicist. Now an infamous (who is LITERALLY EVERYWHERE!! UGH!) musician. The worst has already happened. Mona has learned that she has nothing figured out and plans are meaningless. After leaving her in Aspen, Abram is now breaking sales-records, rising to rock star fame almost overnight. Mona can’t seem to escape him... -
Determining Possession by Christina C. Jones
Good decisions don’t always leave you unscathed. Sometimes, the best choice might be the one that leaves you vulnerable. The one that forces you to face a not-so-distant past that hurts, or go through with something you never thought would come to fruition. The one that makes taking a risk your only viable option. Wilhelmina “Wil” Cunningham is no stranger to pressure... -
Hopelessly Bromantic by Lauren Blakely
A sexy, passionate, utterly addictive, roomies-to-lovers MM romance from #1 NYT Bestseller Lauren Blakely!Look, when I met the sexy, witty Brit on the streets of London last night, I had no idea who he was. He was just that hot guy I wanted to have a drink with so I asked him out for my first evening in town. One thing almost led to another... -
Bookmarked by Bella Jay
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWhat if your soon-to-be ex-husband invited you on a divorcemoon, five nights at your bucket list baecation spot for one last hoorah before you go your separate ways? Would you go?Brooklin did... -
Refrain by Kennedy Ryan
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsPeople dream of a love that runs deep. So deep it feels like it's always been with you, just waiting for the person who'll own your heart and soul forever. So few ever find it, but for Rhyson Gray and Kai Pearson, happily ever after was only the beginning... One of the biggest rock stars in the world and one of the brightest rising stars make a life together...Categorized as:
friends to lovers dual-pov angst new adult contemporary alpha male east-asian-mc length-short -
A Little Broken by Kelsie Rae
I should’ve known Tatum Taylor was nothing but a pretty little liar when I caught her trying to sneak into my concert.After I let her into the arena, then saw her in the crowd, I couldn’t help but invite her onto the stage and take a birthday shot with her.We spent one night together before I asked for her number and she warned me to keep my distance.She’s engaged, after all...Categorized as:
friends to lovers sports dual-pov contemporary rockstars new adult length-long explicit-open-door -
Tight Laced by Lisa Suzanne
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsOne of us will have to give up the future we’ve dreamed of if we’re going to make this work. It’s not going to be me. We can’t both have that same thought if we want to stay together when our contract ends.But the more I see him struggle against the things his mother does to him, the harder I fall. The more his ex tries to get in his way, the more I want to stand up for him...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers forced proximity age difference contemporary siblings-bff length-short m-f -
Hard to Score by K. Bromberg
I’ve signed numerous players to my family’s agency—I assumed winning over my next client would be just as easy. The last thing I expected was to run into the boy who took my first kiss and broke my heart: only now Drew Bowman is all grown up. Sexy. Scandal-tainted. Second-string. The crush I never got over. I tell myself work is the reason I can’t get him out of my head...Categorized as:
sports angst friends to lovers second chances contemporary forbidden love football betrayal -
It All Comes Back to You by Melissa Wiesner
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 32 ratingsAn absolutely unforgettable and heart-shattering romance, perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover, Lucy Score and Carley Fortune, that does keeping secrets destroy true love?Anna works two jobs to get herself through college and never, ever talks about her family. It’s easier to keep her distance from everyone until she can finally leave her old life behind...Categorized as:
friends to lovers angst second chances contemporary mystery new adult found-family length-medium -
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The Proposal by Adriana Locke
Breaking Rugby’s bad boy marries his best friend’s little sisterIf Renn Brewer would’ve asked me to marry him, I would’ve said no.Why?One, his reputation precedes him. His name is in the headlines at least once a month. Two, he’s not just my brother’s best friend. They’re teammates. And three, I’m in my self-care era.Unfortunately, a version of me equates self-care with bad choices... -
Manhandled by Lauren Blakely
A spicy friends-to-lovers standalone sports romance from #1 New York Times Bestselling author Lauren Blakely writing MM romance as L. Blakely...My buddies made me do it. I swear. I didn’t plan to bid big on a date with my baseball player best friend at the auction. But he looked really good in that tailored suit, and I can't resist a dare... -
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... -
Are We There Yet? by Savannah Scott
A vintage VW van. Four friends. A cross-country road trip.It will be the best adventure of my life, if only I can shake the feelings I have for Cameron .Cameron Reeves is as gorgeous as his name makes him sound.He’s about six feet tall, which is the height I always wrote in my ideal man list in my journal. Yes. I have a list of qualities I want in a man... -
The Path to You by Carrie Ann Ryan
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThe Wilder Brothers from NYT Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan continues with a second chance romance that brings Everett Wilder to his knees.The moment I saw Bethany Cole, I knew she was not only out of my league, but in a whole different world.Only I didn’t realize I’d met her before.An explosion stole part of my past, including the first time I’d seen her pretty face...Categorized as:
angst second chances friends to lovers contemporary suspense military small town length-medium -
Separate Like Stars by Diana Kane
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsOn paper, Jordan Cohen has it all. With numerous bestsellers under her belt, a number of blockbuster movie adaptations to her credit, and a high profile relationship with one of Hollywood’s most prominent stars, what more could she possibly ask for? Maybe for Olivia Bradley, the only woman to ever break her heart, to exit her life as quickly as she’d re-entered it... -
Before I'm Gone by Heidi McLaughlin
Rated: 4.52 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsNew York Times bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin tells a poignant story about living life to the fullest―and savoring the small moments along the way. Palmer Sinclair has never needed anyone’s help. A successful loan officer, she’s all work and no play... -
Wedding at the Riverview Inn by Molly O'Keefe
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsAn emotional tale of a magical inn, a wedding gone terribly wrong and a woman searching for a second chance.Alice has hit rock bottom. Once a Michelin-starred chef, she is now drowning in debt, working the line at a chain restaurant and drinking too much. The last person she ever expected to come knocking with a job offer and a fresh start is her ex-husband, Gabe... -
Landon & Shay - Part Two by Brittainy C. Cherry
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 33 ratingsOnce upon a time, I fell in love with a boy.A beautiful, broken boy who had his own world of struggles. People warned me against our love, but I didn't listen.We looked weak. Young, foolish. Dangerously in love. We didn't care.In order to keep our hearts protected from the opinions of others, we became each other’s secret. We shared stolen moments. Tender touches. Secretive embraces... -
Forcing You Away by Kennedy Fox
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAs I search for a fresh start, a friend convinces me to move to his small town. Considering I don’t have a place to live, his little sister offers me her spare room.She’s every man’s dream—witty, down to earth, and gorgeous as hell—too bad she’s off-limits. Unspoken words and stolen glances have me eager to please her in all the forbidden ways...Categorized as:
friends to lovers angst forced proximity contemporary new adult siblings-bff length-short -
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Beautiful Broken Love by Shanora Williams
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsFrom New York Times bestselling author Shanora Williams comes an emotional page-turner about two people still reeling from tragedy who look to each other for the strength to move forward.It’s been months since her dreams of forever were brutally shattered. Seven long months since her husband and soulmate, Lew, died in her arms, leaving her to carry on. Alone... -
On Thin Ice by L.A. Cotton
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsAn emotional and angsty grumpy x sunshine hockey romance from USA Today and WSJ bestselling author L A Cotton. Are you ready to fall in love with a Laker?When Harper Dixon discovers her father is the Lakeshore U Lakers new assistant coach, she wonders if her life can get any worse.Enter Mason Steele.Arrogant. Cold. With enough ice around his heart to freeze anyone who gets too close...Categorized as:
sports dual-pov forced proximity angst new adult from hate to love college contemporary -
Knock Out by Jiffy Kate
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsIn the blink of an eye, Willow Bernard goes from stocking shelves at the Piggly Wiggly to kicking butt at Viking MMA.Willow Bernard has taken a lot of hits in her twenty-two years but always manages to come back swinging. Hoping to fly under the radar for a change, she relocates to Green Valley...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers forced proximity fighters contemporary grumpy sunshine humor length-long -
Tight Fit by Lisa Suzanne
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIt’s okay to admit I’m scared.Outside forces are working hard to tear us apart, but we’ve teamed up against them. It’s the internal struggles we’re battling that could spell the ultimate end.When Ben makes a public show to prove how committed we are, I’m left confused as I struggle to figure out whether his feelings for me are real or if they’re part of the act...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers forced proximity age difference contemporary length-short m-f -
Wishing for Champagne Kisses by Brittanee Nicole
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsBest Friends Don’t Kiss.Ryan Manning has been my best friend since we were kids. He’s my secret keeper. The holder of all my truths and the person I admire most in the world. He’s also a Lumbersnack and the man I’ve secretly pined after for decades.But we don’t talk about that.I’m just here in Lake Tahoe for the next week to play the part of his doting girlfriend...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity dual-pov angst humor contemporary christmas alpha male -
Rockstar Lost by Taryn Quinn
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsForever is the lyric I have on repeat. I’m a rockstar on a mission, ready to leave the glamorous music scene behind. But only if I have my best friend, Felicity Hudson, by my side. And in my bed, clad in nothing but her tattoos. Now that I’m back in my small town near Crescent Cove, I have a weekend to blast the friend zone to pieces with the one woman I’ve always loved... -
Cheap Trick by Emily Goodwin
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsDanielle Cross has spent her whole life running from breakups and troubles. She’s never stayed in the same place for long…until now.The moment she walks through the doors of Logan Dawson’s bar, there’s an attraction between them neither can deny. And when Danielle needs a date to her sister’s wedding, Logan is the man for the job...Categorized as:
friends to lovers dual-pov forced proximity contemporary office new adult length-short -
At Seventeen by Gerri Hill
Madison Lansford and Shannon Fletcher met when they were ten years old. Madison—daughter of wealthy parents and Shannon, daughter of their live-in maid and cook—became fast friends, yet both knew their place in life.There was never a doubt that they would become lovers . . . there was also never a doubt that Madison would marry and maintain her social standing in the community...Categorized as:
second chances angst friends to lovers contemporary f-f queer length-medium explicit-open-door -
Full Throttle by Brittany Ann
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFull Throttle is the final book in The Burnout Series. Dominique He was the boy next door, my escape from my splintered home. I fell in love with him too early, thought about him too much, and hoped for something he could never give me–a fairytale. He pushed me away, but I followed. I chased the ghost of Cain Donovan across the country, heart racing for him and him alone...Categorized as:
angst friends to lovers sports second chances forced proximity dual-pov mafia found-family -
The Brickwall and The Bombshell: a fake dating baseball romance by Jiffy Kate
He needs respectability and she needs a safe place to land. It’s a win-win, right? Mack Granger’s reputation is a PR nightmare. As his career winds down, he realizes he needs to clean up his act. One way to secure his post-MLB future is to convince the media he’s in a stable, loving relationship. When fate drops a roomie with benefits into his lap, it’s like hitting a grand slam...Categorized as:
dual-pov sports friends to lovers forced proximity suspense mystery contemporary explicit-open-door -
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Watch and Learn by Rebel Shaw
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsNateAll I wanted to do was be me, for one night. I didn’t want to be the number one quarterback in the league. I just wanted to be Nate. I couldn’t tell you exactly what made me stop at that dive bar on the outskirts of town, but it changed my life.Our connection was instant and undeniable. Our night together was explosive, which led to another, and then another. No strings...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers second chances contemporary humor friends-benefits new adult length-medium -
Target Man by Annie Dyer
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsShe’s out of bounds…As the captain of Manchester Athletic, I know exactly what persona the media and fans need to see.Everything else is behind tightly closed bedroom doors.I didn’t have a pretty childhood. I’m all kinds of broken. The only relationships I have contain boundaries, non-disclosure agreements and safe words...Categorized as:
sports second chances forced proximity friends to lovers angst dual-pov contemporary bad boys -
Rebel at Heart by Zoe York
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsJosh Kincaid's book, the final novel in the Kincaid Brothers series. Detailed description coming soon, but this is a second chance romance, a marriage renewal because the annulment didn’t happen, and when a certain woman shows up in Pine Harbour to get her estranged husband to sign divorce papers, he refuses...Categorized as:
sports second chances dual-pov contemporary military age difference third-person-pov length-medium -
Dare You by K.L. Shandwick
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsThis book and series have been rebranded to Chasing Love Billie in the Wild Romance Saga by Kelly Shandwick on Goodreads for clarity of reading order. Chasing Love Billie is book one in the series... -
Manhandled by Lauren Blakely, Teddy Hamilton
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsMy buddies made me do it. I swear.I didn’t plan to bid big on a date with my baseball player best friend at the auction. But he looked really good in that tailored suit, and I can't resist a dare.The media jumps all over the story–the city’s new quarterback nabs a date with the bigshot star shortstop.Not so fast–we’re just friends.Until we hit the links for the strictly platonic date I won... -
The Two of Us by Taylor A. Torres
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsSometimes holding on to pain means letting go of love.If there’s no place like home, that’s more than okay for Mara Makinen. In fact, she prefers it that way. Going back to the place where she made the worst mistake of her life? Not ideal... -
Overtime: Special Edition Paperback by Maggie Rawdon
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsColton St. George is the league’s star quarterback, the most eligible bachelor in the country, and the poster boy for “nice guy”.Everyone wants a piece of him.Including me—because I need him in front of my camera to raise money for charity.There’s just one problem.Before he was famous, I took his already broken heart and shattered it.So he only agrees to do the photos on one condition—I go first... -
Can't Bucking Wait by Elle Thorpe
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsI’ve wanted to be a big city doctor my entire life. I studied hard. Got into Harvard. Then moved across the other side of the country, leaving my family’s small-town ranch and bull riding school behind. I’ve hated every moment since. My older sister’s wedding is the perfect excuse for an extended trip back home... -
Rookie Mistake by Lisa Suzanne
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsI fell for the boy next door, and then my father ripped it all away from us.The first person to catch my eye in a long time is a colleague who tells me what we just did over his desk will never happen again.And then my mother calls with news from back home.I have to head back to the small town my father forced me to leave seven years ago knowing the boy I still love will show up, too... -
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... -
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See Through Heart by Amie Knight
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAinsley came into my life in a flurry of vibrant colors, lighting my world up when all seemed lost. It wasn’t our quiet nights by the creek or stolen kisses surrounded by a sea of cotton that saved me. It was her. She was my comfort when life threw one ugly tragedy after another at me. Until she dealt me the greatest blow...Categorized as:
second chances angst friends to lovers new adult contemporary tearjerkers length-short -
Last Chance: A Second Chances Novel by L.P. Dover
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsA steamy, second chances novel by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, L.P. Dover. Can be read as a STANDALONE. One Taste, the prequel to Last Chance, has been added at the beginning with all new scenes. One last chance. That's all Luke Collins, local bad boy and motocross champion, has to not only find his redemption, but win back the girl he lost...Categorized as:
friends to lovers sports second chances athletes new adult suspense contemporary length-medium -
Tanner by Katy Regnery
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsNew York Times bestselling author Katy Regnery is back with an addictive six-book series featuring the Stewarts of Skagway!When Tanner Stewart learns his crazy ex is returning for a summer in Skagway, he places a personal ad, looking for someone to pose as his fiancée for the summer. Enter McKenna Cabot, a commitment-phobic college professor from Seattle caring for her aging grandmother... -
Someday by Willow Aster
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 22 ratingsFrom childhood best friends to high school sweethearts…to a relationship so broken it seems impossible to fix… I’ve loved Sofie Copewell for as long as I can remember. She was all I ever wanted. We said someday we’d have a family together and raise them on our ranch in Landmark Mountain. She was my home. My forever...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity angst contemporary new adult cowboys abuse from hate to love -
Heart Starter by Michelle Hercules
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsMy plans were simple. Graduate from college, get a job, and not worry anymore if I can make next month's rent. It turns out I might have a shot at getting drafted to play in the NFL, and nothing will distract me from that goal.I didn't count on Sadie Clarkson wrecking my plans. Our first meeting was explosive, to say the least. Now I can't stop thinking about her sassy attitude or sexy mouth... -
Reign by Billie Lustig
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsBeing the youngest Wolfe isn’t as fun as people think. The expectation on my shoulders is a constant weight. A burden.I have a different past from my brothers. One many don’t know anything about. People don’t know the struggle.The memories.The hurt.But I push it all away.I simply try to forget it ever happened. So far, I’ve done a great job of ignoring my past...
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