Books like 'Make the Play'
Readers who enjoyed Make the Play by Lucky Hart also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary gay romance neurodivergent height-difference queer-awakening friends to lovers bisexual teacher-hero queer slow burn
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Dip Out by Eve Holmes
A journey through the wilderness can reveal the wild within.Arthur Mercer has spent his life hidden in Newfoundland’s rugged wilderness, where nature’s untamed beauty offers him peace from an overwhelming world. As a renowned wildlife photographer, he finds solace in the quiet, predictable presence of birds and nature, which matches the solitude he craves...Categorized as:
virgin hero queer friends to lovers slow burn neurodivergent sweet-hero nerdy-hero queer-awakening -
![Hard Knox by Riley Hart]()
Hard Knox by Riley Hart
CallumA gay guy walks into a straight bar and notices the hottest man he’s ever seen.Why am I not surprised my life sounds like the beginning of a bad joke? First, my ex cheated on me, and I went running to Havenwood and the mom I have a complicated relationship with. Then, there’s Knox, the gorgeous lumberjack I don’t stand a chance with... -
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![Sated in Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan]()
Sated in Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsThe Montgomery Ink saga continues in a seductive romance where a runaway bride and two best friends might just take the chance of a lifetime. Ethan Montgomery thought he had his life figured out until the moment he and his best friend met a woman in a wedding dress drinking wine out of a paper bag. He might work too many hours and always seems to put his family and friends first... -
![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... -
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![The Contractor by Raleigh Ruebins]()
The Contractor by Raleigh Ruebins
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 16 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 queer-awakening m-m contemporary found-family length-short -
![Studious by Leslie McAdam]()
Studious by Leslie McAdam
After a disastrous high school game of spin the bottle, I gave up trying to get a boyfriend and spent my time studying instead. Now I’m twenty-four, and I’m not only a virgin, I haven’t even been kissed.When I meet Danny, a handsome legal hotshot, he catches my eye. Right before I trip on flat ground. Ugh.He’s got a massive … reputation...Categorized as:
friends to lovers queer queer-awakening anal sex nerdy-hero virgin hero latinx-mc sweet-hero -
![Free Me by Mia Monroe]()
Free Me by Mia Monroe
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsOnly his ropes can unravel the past. I never thought I’d see him again, but when my former best friend shows up ready to make amends, it becomes clear just how tied to the past I am. He disappeared when I needed him the most, leaving me to navigate my truth alone. Now he’s back.Nixon’s art leaves me vulnerable, defenseless, and I like it... -
![The Christmas Summons (Wild Heart Ranch) by Kelly Fox]()
The Christmas Summons (Wild Heart Ranch) by Kelly Fox
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFrom USA Today Bestselling Author Kelly Fox comes a Wild Heart Ranch Christmas novella. I’ve loved Gael Hernandez from the moment I laid eyes on him. We had a moment back in the summer, but he needed time to recover from the traumatic events that reshaped his family.It’s now Christmas, and I think my talented shoemaker is finally ready to let me love him for the rest of his life... -
![Jericho Candelario's Gay Debut by R. Cooper]()
Jericho Candelario's Gay Debut by R. Cooper
Jerry Candelario, known as Potts to almost everyone, has spent his entire adult life focused on raising his siblings and his young niece. But the home he fought hard to make is starting to feel empty now that everyone has grown up and moved out and his precious baby niece has suddenly become a teen with a life of her own...Categorized as:
friends to lovers queer multicultural slow burn sweet-hero queer-awakening m-m contemporary -
![Fancy Free by Mia Monroe]()
Fancy Free by Mia Monroe
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe last thing I need is a curious straight guy sniffing around me. So why is he so hard to resist?My life is everything I ever wanted - by design. Being one of the nation’s most sought after wedding planners has led to a life of traveling to glamorous locations, bumping elbows with the rich and famous, and sampling every handsome hunk the world has to offer... -
![Definitely Deacon by Vawn Cassidy]()
Definitely Deacon by Vawn Cassidy
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsJesse Ainsley’s life running his busy veterinary practice in the sleepy Cornwall bay he grew up in leaves no time for a serious relationship… at least, that’s what he tells himself, but the simple truth is much more cliché... -
![Head Over Wheels Book 2 by Jayda Marx]()
Head Over Wheels Book 2 by Jayda Marx
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsHarley - Life is great. I’m healthy and happy, enjoying every day with my sweet and sassy Finn by my side. Jake is graduating college and starting his new career, and in just a few weeks, Finn and I will be joined together as husbands. But it never fails that just when you least expect it, life will throw you a curve ball... -
![When Stars Align by Denver Shaw]()
When Stars Align by Denver Shaw
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsScarred by the past. Terrified to love again. SavionOnce upon a time, my life was a fairytale. Engaged to a beautiful woman, we were planning our perfect future. Then, the sick act of an obsessed man ruined everything. Alone, disfigured, and betrayed, I fled to LA to focus on my work as a paleontologist.It was there I met Declan... -
![Fake Boyfriend Breakaways by Eden Finley]()
Fake Boyfriend Breakaways by Eden Finley
Breakaways is a collection of short stories from Eden Finley’s Fake Boyfriend universe. They all feature side characters from the series but do not contain fake boyfriend tropes. Rebound (Fake Boyfriend 2.5) Aron and Wyatt have been best friends since college and are both rebounding from bad break-ups...Categorized as:
friends to lovers sports queer queer-awakening sunny hero sweet-hero m-m contemporary -
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![Delicious by Sierra Riley]()
Delicious by Sierra Riley
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 17 ratings“You’re exactly what I never knew I needed.” “I don’t have time for love.” Gavin Campbell has poured everything he has into starting up his bakery, Delicious... -
![Angel by Linden Bell]()
Angel by Linden Bell
He 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 queer-awakening height-difference friends to lovers anal sex sweet-hero m-m length-medium -
![See You in Boston by Eden Finley, Saxon James]()
See You in Boston by Eden Finley, Saxon James
All I want is to be dicked down, why is that so much to ask? When graduation night hits and I still haven’t crossed bottoming off my bucket list, I’ll do anything to make it happen. Including hitting on the bashful, dimpled cutie from the CU Hockey team. He’s not queer, but he is curious. One last college experience with someone we never have to see again... -
![How To Save A Life by Andria Large, Jena Brignola]()
How To Save A Life by Andria Large, Jena Brignola
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsHow do you save someone’s life? There’s the obvious way of physically saving them from a tragic end. Then there’s the more subtle way of saving someone who doesn’t know they need to be saved. Someone who is drowning emotionally and has no idea that they are slowly dying. Ezra Whitmore is one of those people...Categorized as:
bisexual friends to lovers queer queer-awakening m-m contemporary single-father length-short -
![A King in Wonderland by Nash Summers]()
A King in Wonderland by Nash Summers
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsAsher Williams is obsessed with love. Or at least he was, until it all came crashing down. He made a mistake. And even Asher himself, arranger of marriages and aider of lovesick hearts, doesn’t know how to fix it. And like every heroic quest, there are a few bumps in the road and dragons to slay... -
![Color Blind: An MM Romance by Andrew Grey]()
Color Blind: An MM Romance by Andrew Grey
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsSetting out on your own is tough, but for Mason Fullerton, who was born blind, it’s even more of a challenge. Mase decides that the key to independence and a life of his own is getting a job. His mother, who has always been there for support, isn’t so sure, but Mase is determined. He manages to secure an interview, and one of the men conducting it has a voice that wraps around him like a blanket...Categorized as:
multicultural friends to lovers queer contemporary m-m disabilities and marks length-novella -
![Definitely Not Meant to Be by A.W. Scott]()
Definitely Not Meant to Be by A.W. Scott
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratings“How long have you been in love with your best friend?” Godric I accepted long ago that I couldn’t have all of the things I wanted in life. Growing up in the way I did, I would be a fool to get my hopes up. But even with that knowledge, I couldn’t resist. I was helpless not to fall into the orbit that was my best friend... -
![Little by J.M. Dabney]()
Little by J.M. Dabney
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsInsanity was in the eye of the beholder. Harmon Little was a surveillance expert. He lived in the shadows, and he liked it there. There wasn’t a place he couldn’t get in and out of without detection. As usual with his mischievous nature, his current assignment went south, and he ran. He thought he was free and clear until he knocked someone over in a grocery store aisle... -
![Playing the Player by Beth Bolden]()
Playing the Player by Beth Bolden
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsCenter Logan Banks didn’t come to Miami looking for a best friend.He came for football and for a chance at freedom—the freedom to live out of the closet.But after a water main break, he lands an unexpected roommate, the new Piranhas kicker, Dylan Leonard. Between practices, games, and too many late nights on the couch, a best friend is exactly what he gets... -
![The Jock by E.M. Denning]()
The Jock by E.M. Denning
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsColby Bennett is straight.At twenty-five, he’s the middle of three boys raised by a single father. He’s always been a jock, so managing a gym feels like his calling. If only being a big brother were as easy. When Colby stumbles on his younger brother trying on feminine clothing, Taylor is angry and embarrassed... -
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![War Torn by Andria Large]()
War Torn by Andria Large
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsMy life has been completely turned around with the help of my boyfriend and best friend, Tucker. My depression is under control. I’m not having nightmares or flashbacks anymore. My sister is having a baby. Life with Tucker is great… Or is it? Everything seems to be going so well, almost too well... -
![Coaching the Nerd by Eli Easton, Tara Lain]()
Coaching the Nerd by Eli Easton, Tara Lain
Super-bod meets super-brainWhat happens when marshmallow-bodied supernerd Sean volunteers to be on the jocks’ flag-football team? It screws Bubba’s fraternity’s chances at the coveted flag football title, that’s what.Bubba is drafted to be Sean’s personal trainer. He has to whip Sean into shape and make sure he doesn’t F up their team...Categorized as:
sports friends to lovers bisexual height-difference queer queer-awakening anal sex sweet-hero -
![Rescue by Alison Hendricks]()
Rescue by Alison Hendricks
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratings"I don't need you to rescue me." Tiberius "The Beast" Caulville is the bad boy of the NFL: an arrogant PR nightmare who doesn't care about his public image. But when an off-season fight lands him in hot water, he's forced to hide out in Hidden Creek and clean up his act with the help of the one person who doesn't buy it... -
![One Manic Lie by Addison Beck]()
One Manic Lie by Addison Beck
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSomeone needs to knock some sense into me before I get expelled.I’m not a bad guy. I’m not even a particularly interesting guy but I am someone that always seems to find myself in…unfortunate situations.Eccentric, that’s what my friends call me. Some would say I’m just flat-out weird. Others would call me obsessive... -
![Betting Brett by Joy Danvers]()
Betting Brett by Joy Danvers
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsBrett is seriously clueless. He’s a great friend and a great father to his little girl, but how could he not realize after all this time that I’m gay? And I’m in love with him? I know I’ve never said anything, but I feel like I’m pretty obvious.Now I messed up and made a tipsy bet with him about a blow job that I really don’t want to take back. I’m not sure if it was a mistake though... -
![Nauti or Nice by Ava Olsen]()
Nauti or Nice by Ava Olsen
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsBeing a first officer on board the superyacht Now, Voyager is a dream come true. And my personal life? I’m in and out and on to the next port, so to speak. I don’t have the inclination for a boyfriend. So when my boss asks me to work over the Christmas holiday, I’m happy to say yes.And then Kiernan Doyle arrives.The Irish bodyguard is a brawny grump with sad eyes and a shy smile...Categorized as:
friends to lovers queer bisexual height-difference christmas contemporary m-m length-short -
![Messy Love by Riley Hart]()
Messy Love by Riley Hart
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsDannyI'm not a guy who's looking for a serious relationship. I love the chase, and the one time I thought I wanted more, the guy bailed. When my buddy Will mentions his recently out, older brother is looking for a place to stay, I offer the spare room in my apartment. It's clear Jonathan's past did a number on him, and he's locked up tight... -
![Break Down by Rebecca Norinne]()
Break Down by Rebecca Norinne
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsHis heart says no, but his body says yes Liam Donnelly's honed, athletic body craves something he can't have. Not when the last time ended in disaster. Now, the Dublin Rugby player is seeking redemption with a new team in Edinburgh. His fresh start is going strong, but one look at Chef Lachlan MacLeod's inked forearms and whiskey-colored eyes and he's tempted by far more than what's on the menu... -
![Alex by S.M. Shade]()
Alex by S.M. Shade
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsNinety- two days. Thirteen weeks. That’s how long it’s been since I lost my love, my best friend. It’s been everything I can do to drag myself out of bed and get back to work, but I know Cooper would want me to move on. I think he’d even be happy if he knew who I want to move on with. The target of my affection, though, may not be so thrilled about my choice. He’s straight. Or he thinks he is... -
![Broken Ice, Mended Hearts by Ryan Taylor, Joshua Harwood]()
Broken Ice, Mended Hearts by Ryan Taylor, Joshua Harwood
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsPIERRE (“GAGS”)My life is complicated.Hell, I’m complicated.I don’t know a life beyond how I’m perceived. After a devastating divorce, it looked like I never would.Can a hockey fight change your life?I may not understand my attraction to Sven Holmer, but I can tell you my obsession with kissing him started in the middle of a fight... -
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![Extended Stay by Mia Monroe]()
Extended Stay by Mia Monroe
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsI’ve never been interested in a man before. So why do I want to kiss this one?Promising my sick uncle I’d help fix his rundown hotel in San Diego was just the beginning of my problems. I plan to do what I can, convince him to sell, and then take off, returning to my calm and structured existence back east. I double down on that plan when I arrive to find it in worse shape than I expected... -
![Tangled Up In You by Jaclyn Osborn]()
Tangled Up In You by Jaclyn Osborn
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsBecoming best friends at an early age, Corbin and Hunter were inseparable. Where one went, the other followed. As years passed, their friendship blossomed into something more and both boys fell madly in love. Corbin loved Hunter’s quirkiness and obsession with Shakespeare, and Hunter loved Corbin’s goofy personality and kind heart... -
![Change Up: An Out For You Gay Sports Romance by Quinn Ward]()
Change Up: An Out For You Gay Sports Romance by Quinn Ward
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsNo one expected the loudmouth of the team to be hiding in the biggest closet of them all. When he’s paired with someone who just wants to keep his head down and play the game, sparks are going to fly.Kevin Green has always been the life of the party. He’s the one everyone turns to for a bit of comic relief... -
![A Soft Touch by Laura Lascarso]()
A Soft Touch by Laura Lascarso
Roman Reynolds needs a housekeeper and Ezra Powell is arguably the best. Despite their rocky start, Ezra is determined to set Roman’s house to rights without any distractions, if only the man would keep his shirt on and stop looking so damn handsome all the time.An ex-NFL player and confirmed bachelor, Roman has been on a long losing streak when it comes to men... -
![Gay on a Train by K.C. Wells, Meredith Russell]()
Gay on a Train by K.C. Wells, Meredith Russell
I’m straight. So when a gay guy on the train asked me out on a date, why in the hell did I say yes? And why am I excited about seeing him again? Okay, let’s start again…I thought I was straight for all of my twenty-six years. I dated women. I slept with women. And yeah, occasionally I’d wondered what it would be like to experiment with a guy...Categorized as:
bisexual queer queer-awakening friends to lovers sweet-hero slow burn anal sex contemporary -
![Unwritten by J.R. Gray]()
Unwritten by J.R. Gray
Success was lonely. I should have been on top of the world but I felt trapped, suffocated by fame. My life wasn’t my own. I belonged to the fans and the media. Too famous to leave my house without attracting a crowd. Like a prince in a palace of glass watching life pass me by...Categorized as:
friends to lovers queer height-difference slow burn anal sex office sweet-hero nerdy-hero -
![Bad Idea by Felice Stevens]()
Bad Idea by Felice Stevens
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsLosing your job to the boss's new wife. That's bad luck.Hooking up with a stranger to forget about it?Seems like a good idea.Finding out your new boss is that one-night stand?There’s that bad luck again.Except you both agree to put it behind you.That’s a great idea.Until you slip and hook up again—not the best idea.Catching feelings for the boss? Not the smartest idea... -
![Clip by Charity Parkerson]()
Clip by Charity Parkerson
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsLuka was nothing more than a job to Brady… until he wasn’t. When the owner of the Phoenix Ice Rays starts receiving death threats, the first thing he does is hire Brady to protect his son, Luka. It’s a move that leaves Luka less than thrilled. Ever since moving out on his own six years earlier, he’s come to embrace the silence of his workaholic ways... -
![Stronger With You by Sierra Riley]()
Stronger With You by Sierra Riley
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 9 ratings"Give it a try. Let yourself be happy. Believe you deserve it." "A summer adventure is just what I need." Eddie Damron needs a break from the stress of nursing school and everyday life. When an opportunity arises to work for a kayak tour company on a picturesque island in the Pacific Northwest, he jumps in with both feet... -
![Summer Catch by Beth Bolden]()
Summer Catch by Beth Bolden
Newly hired Charleston Condors’ coach Jonathan Kelley is very aware of all the uphill battles he’s got to climb.There’s a new owner he’s got to please. New culture to implement. New players to train. New rules to follow.But one rule hasn't don't spend so much time flirting with the cute bartender via text that you start to wonder if you're straight, after all... -
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![Love Is Heartless by Kim Fielding]()
Love Is Heartless by Kim Fielding
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA Love Can't Novel Small but mighty—that could be Detective Nevin Ng’s motto. Now a dedicated member of the Portland Police Bureau, he didn’t let a tough start in life stop him from protecting those in need. He doesn’t take crap from anyone, and he doesn’t do relationships. Until he responds to the severe beating of a senior citizen and meets the victim’s wealthy, bow-tied landlord... -
![Knowing Me, Knowing You by Renae Kaye]()
Knowing Me, Knowing You by Renae Kaye
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsLoving You: Book Four Can friends turned occasional lovers move beyond past mistakes and wrong assumptions to build something that can last? Quiet bookworm Shane has a big secret—one he’s kept for fifteen years. AFL superstar Ambrose Jakoby grew up next door to Shane. They were close friends, and Shane supported Ambrose through school. One night, everything changed... -
![Mother Parker by Rhys Everly]()
Mother Parker by Rhys Everly
Divorced. Beaten down. A failure. Until a ray of sunshine comes into my life...People call me Mr. Grumpypants, but wouldn't you be if life kept knocking you down?My life is an endless sh*t list that I can't even begin to unravel.It started when my wife walked out on me.It continued when my home was repossessed.And it all came to an epic conclusion with almost getting shot to death...Categorized as:
multicultural bisexual friends to lovers height-difference queer queer-awakening m-m suspense -
![The Last Summer by Ruthie Luhnow]()
The Last Summer by Ruthie Luhnow
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 7 ratings"It's not even really a first kiss if you're practicing on a friend." Trapped in a conservative prairie town, Alfie Alder has spent his whole life enduring bullying from his classmates and indifference from his teachers. Only one person has ever seen past Alfie's sarcastic, standoffish exterior—his best friend and the love of his life, Wynn... -
![Tell Me Lies by Hinsel Meyer]()
Tell Me Lies by Hinsel Meyer
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsDrewA wedding planner moves to Las Vegas to start a new business…Does that sound like the start of a bad joke? Well it’s my life... -
![Two Weeks and a Day by R.G. Alexander]()
Two Weeks and a Day by R.G. Alexander
Rated: 4.04 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsIt’s either the beginning of a great porno or a disaster waiting to happen. That feeling when you’re a thirty-year-old gay virgin with a little OCD, nosy neighbors and a lot of awkward, secret fantasies revolving around your straight best friend? Yeah, that’s me right now...
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