Books like 'Heartthrob'
Readers who enjoyed Heartthrob by Sundari Venkatraman also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary funny young adult found-family tortured heroine tortured hero
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The Golden Raven by Nora Sakavic
I do not care what they think of me. I can’t. It only matters that I play.Jeremy Knox is no stranger to damage control, but his last season on an Exy court is off to a disastrous start. The relentless crusade against his newest teammate threatens the haven he and his friends have worked so hard to build... -
Check, Please! Book 1: # Hockey by Ngozi Ukazu
Helloooo, Internet Land. Bitty here!Y’all... I might not be ready for this. I may be a former junior figure skating champion, vlogger extraordinaire, and very talented amateur pâtissier, but being a freshman on the Samwell University hockey team is a whole new challenge. It’s nothing like co-ed club hockey back in Georgia! First of all? There’s checking... -
Check, Please! by Ngozi Ukazu
I'm a junior on the Samwell men's hockey team now, and not only do I have new teammates and new responsibilities and new pies to bake... I've got a new beau. ( Remember me ) Believe me: Dating a professional hockey player wasn't anything I expected to do in college. My parents don't know; my teammates have no clue...And Jack and I aren't sure that we want to keep it a secret... -
Ouran High School Host Club, Vol. 2 by Bisco Hatori
The school-wide physical exam has thrown the members of the elegant Host Club for a loop. How can the doctor not discover that Haruhi is a girl? And once the female customers learn the turn, Haruhi can kiss her job goodbye. Illustrations. Rated for teens...Categorized as:
found-family young adult humor contemporary high-school m-f class difference height-difference -
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Redeemed by Lauren Asher
Santiago AlatorreOne mistake destroys my career. I go from most eligible bachelor to monster, hiding from the world. At least until Chloe breaks into my home. My new fake girlfriend is a temporary fix to my biggest problem. But as our game changes, so do my feelings.There’s only one issue stopping me from claiming her. Me... -
Given, Vol. 1 by Natsuki Kizu
Love of music unites the four members of the band Given: hotheaded guitarist Uenoyama, playboy drummer Akihiko, gentle bassist Haruki, and Mafuyu, a singer gifted with great talent and burdened by past tragedy. Their struggles and conflicts may drive them apart, but their bond to the music—and to each other—always brings them back together again... -
Grace Note by J. Bengtsson
Grace Note Movement at the door caught my attention. I looked over, expecting Elliott to walk back through. But it wasn’t him. My back straightened like a steel rod. Oh my god. It wasn’t him. I bolted to my feet, a breath catching in my throat. I stared in both shock and awe at the man standing on the other side of the doorway. He had always been on the other side, alone and cast out by society... -
Skip and Loafer, Vol. 1 by Misaki Takamatsu, Nicole Frasik
The award-winning romantic comedy about a country girl chasing her dreams in Tokyo--and don't miss the anime! A Cheerful Country Mouse! Mitsumi is bound for high school in Tokyo! She’s got book smarts, but this small-town girl is about to find out she’s massively unprepared for the social norms of big city high schoolers...Categorized as:
tortured hero young adult contemporary high-school length-short humor m-f friends to lovers -
How to Be a Normal Person by T.J. Klune
Gustavo Tiberius is not normal. He knows this. Everyone in his small town of Abby, Oregon, knows this. He reads encyclopedias every night before bed. He has a pet ferret called Harry S. Truman. He owns a video rental store that no one goes to. His closest friends are a lady named Lottie with drag queen hair and a trio of elderly Vespa riders known as the We Three Queens. Gus is not normal...Categorized as:
found-family m-m contemporary friends to lovers young adult humor new adult small town -
This Life and All the Rest by Brit Benson
She thinks our story is over. It’s just beginning. Lennon Washington has been the star of every dream, every nightmare, since the day I lost her.Since the moment I let my demons win, and she slipped through my fingers. Her memory has haunted me. Changed me. Broken me and remade me.And I’d all but given up on us.Now tragedy has brought her back into my life... -
Given, Vol. 4 by Natsuki Kizu
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 37 ratingsAs the band focuses on creating new songs and preparing for a music festival tryout, Haruki grows more and more intimidated by the talents of younger members Mafuyu and Uenoyama. Worried that he’s holding them back, he accepts his ex-girlfriend’s request to play in her band...Categorized as:
tortured hero queer contemporary young adult m-m high-school friends to lovers length-short -
The Deal by Elle Kennedy
She’s about to make a deal with the college bad boy… Hannah Wells has finally found someone who turns her on. But while she might be confident in every other area of her life, she’s carting around a full set of baggage when it comes to sex and seduction... -
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The Sign for Home by Blair Fell
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsLonglisted for The Center for Fiction First Novel Prize When a young DeafBlind man learns the girl he thought was lost forever might still be out there, he embarks on a life-changing journey to find her—and his freedom.Arlo Dilly is young, handsome, and eager to meet the right girl. He also happens to be DeafBlind, a Jehovah’s Witness, and under the strict guardianship of his controlling uncle...Categorized as:
found-family contemporary young adult disabilities and marks new adult humor fatphobia length-long -
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I Sold Myself To The Devil For Vinyls... Pitiful I Know by DarknessAndLight
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsLexi Grayson is just a normal teenager, as normal as she can be with her unobserving skills and her overthinking mind. But she'll need the overthinking if she wants to unravel the smirking mystery that is Blake Eaton... -
Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 38 ratingsWhen Claudia accidentally eavesdrops on the epic breakup of Paige and Iris, the it-couple at her school, she finds herself in hot water with prickly, difficult Iris. Thrown together against their will in the class production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, along with the goofiest, cutest boy Claudia has ever known, Iris and Claudia are in for an eye-opening senior year... -
My Little Monster, Vol. 1 by Robico
Mizutani is a self-absorbed overachiever, concerned only with maintaining the highest grades in school. Haru is an impulsive short tempered brute, who scares everyone with his explosive bursts of violence. Haru gets suspended on the first day of school when he encounters some bullies harassing a student and dispatches the bullies with great bloody violence...Categorized as:
found-family tortured hero young adult contemporary humor high-school length-short m-f -
The Relationship Pact (Kings of Football) by Adriana Locke
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 44 ratingsHow hard can it be?That was the question rolling around Larissa Mason’s mind just before she asked Hollis Hudson to be her fake boyfriend.It was only supposed to be for five minutes, after all.Granted, that was also before she felt his hand on the small of her back as he charmed the heck out of her family.She hadn’t heard his laugh yet either... -
Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth
Aideen has plenty of problems she can’t solve. But when she stumbles upon overachiever Meabh Kowalska having a full-blown meltdown, she sees one that she can actually fix. Meabh is desperate to escape her crushing pile of extracurriculars. Aideen volunteers to help—by pushing her down the stairs.Problem? Solved. Meabh’s sprained ankle is the perfect excuse to ditch her overwhelming schedule...Categorized as:
found-family contemporary young adult from hate to love f-f high-school humor substance abuse -
Fence #12 by C.S. Pacat, Johanna the Mad
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsTryouts are coming to a close, and the three available spots on the Kings Row fencing team are almost all locked up. It’s just a question of whether or not Nicholas can push through and earn a spot for himself—or if he’ll have to leave Kings Row altogether... -
Tsubaki-chou Lonely Planet Vol. 5 by Mika Yamamori, やまもり三香
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsAkatsuki Kibikino may be a celebrated novelist, but putting his feelings into words has always been a struggle. Kaneishi’s blatant advances toward Fumi put Akatsuki in the foulest mood—that much is obvious... -
Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 80 ratingsBritt-Marie can’t stand mess. A disorganized cutlery drawer ranks high on her list of unforgivable sins. She is not one to judge others—no matter how ill-mannered, unkempt, or morally suspect they might be. It’s just that sometimes people interpret her helpful suggestions as criticisms, which is certainly not her intention... -
These Two Wrongs by Julia Wolf
The universe must really hate me. Rhys Astor, the guy with a deadly smirk and devil-may-care attitude, is the sole witness to one of the most embarrassing moments of my life. But even worse, now he’s suddenly intrigued by me, which is confusing because until now, he couldn’t be bothered to remember my name. Dorothy, Donatella, Danielle…no, it’s Delilah, you unhinged prat...Categorized as:
tortured hero found-family new adult sports angst strong heroine forced proximity young adult -
Broken Juliet by Leisa Rayven
How do you fix a love that’s been broken beyond repair? For years, Cassie Taylor tried to forget about Ethan Holt. He was the one great love of her life, and when he failed to return her love, a part of her died forever. Or so she thought. Now she and Ethan are sharing a Broadway stage, and he’s determined to win her back...Categorized as:
tortured heroine humor young adult contemporary college angst alpha male friends to lovers -
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All I Need is You by M. Malone
ALL I NEED IS YOU is the fourth book in M. Malone's USA TODAY bestselling contemporary romance series: The Alexanders . He'll do whatever it takes to protect her. What he won't do...is fall in love... Kaylee Wilhelm is tired of always being a good, respectful Southern belle. So when the man she loves leaves town after their steamy kiss, she's done...Categorized as:
tortured hero humor young adult suspense multicultural open-door sweet heroine single-mother -
椿町ロンリープラネット 4 [Tsubaki-chou Lonely Planet 4] by Mika Yamamori, やまもり三香
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 19 ratings暁に抱きしめられたふみ。暁への恋を諦めようとしていたのに──。心は乱れたまま夏休みに突入!... -
Tsubaki-chou Lonely Planet, Vol. 1 by Mika Yamamori, やまもり三香
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsFumi Oono, second-year high-school student. Stuck with the debts of her father, she needs a job—fast. While she did indeed manage to find one as a housekeeper for THE Akatsuki Kibikino, it leaves much to be desired. After all, the novelist has a mean glare and an even worse attitude.. -
Playing With Her Heart by Lauren Blakely
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsFrom the NYT & USA Today Bestselling romance author, a sizzling and addictive story of a woman with a broken past and the man who can’t fight his attraction to her… Twenty-three year old rising theater star Jill McCormick has built a life out of pretending. Pretending she’s happy, pretending she’s not haunted by the dark secret that shattered her world six years ago...Categorized as:
tortured heroine humor young adult contemporary alpha male possessive hero dual-pov m-f -
The Friend Zone by Kristen Callihan
Gray doesn't make friends with women. He has sex with them. Until Ivy. The last thing star tight-end Gray Grayson wants to do is drive his agent's daughter's bubblegum pink car. But he needs the wheels and she's studying abroad. Something he explains when she sends him an irate text to let him know exactly how much pain she'll put him in if he crashes her beloved ride...Categorized as:
tortured hero found-family athletes contemporary sports friends to lovers new adult pregnancy -
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The Avant-Guards, Vol. 1 by Carly Usdin
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 33 ratingsWhen Charlie transfers to the Georgia O’Keeffe College of Arts and Subtle Dramatics, she struggles to find her feet, but winds up exactly where she belongs...in the school’s (terrible) basketball team... -
The Secret of Us by Zarin Madiyha
Izzy Evans thought her final year of boarding school would be a quiet countdown to freedom—a chance to dodge university brochures and steer clear of her ex, Ryan.While everyone else seems to have their futures mapped out, Izzy is paralysed by the thought of making the wrong choice.Noah Park just wants a fresh start...Categorized as:
found-family sports young adult athletes college contemporary friends to lovers humor -
The Deal Dilemma by Meagan Brandy
Ever wonder what would happen if you bribed your brother’s ex-best friend to pop your cherry?Yeah, me either, but I did it anyway. Now the moody man is madder than ever, but I came prepared to strike a deal. One he can’t refuse…Crew Taylor is the picture of perfection, if gruff, grumpy, and prone to throw a punch is your type... -
Breakable by Tammara Webber
Rated: 4.04 of 5 stars · 59 ratingsHe was lost and alone. Then he found her.And the future seemed more fragile than ever. As a child, Landon Lucas Maxfield believed his life was perfect and looked forward to a future filled with promise — until tragedy tore his family apart and made him doubt everything he ever believed. All he wanted was to leave the past behind...Categorized as:
tortured heroine tortured hero young adult contemporary alpha male tattoos bad boys abuse -
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The Baller by Lulu Moore
My name is Lux Weston and I’m a matter of national security, apparently.All I did was meet a beautiful girl in a bookstore, then rescue her. One… twice… and maybe a third time - from a creeper. The problem? The creeper turned out to be Secret Service, and the girl… well, she’s Radley Andrews - the President’s only daughter. It has disaster written all over it. I should stay away... -
Winning My Queen by Madelyn Smith
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAlex: This small town feels so foreign to me. That's probably the memory loss talking.The more time I spend here the more I'm learning there's more to life than I thought. This town is starting to warm my heart, especially while spending time with the local school nurse and soccer coach...Categorized as:
found-family sports christian contemporary new adult soccer insta-love forced proximity -
More Than Water by Renee Ericson
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 37 ratingsIt doesn’t feel right. It doesn’t feel wrong. It just...feels. EJ Cunning, an art history major, dates musicians. Foster Blake, a chemical engineering major, can’t sing a tune. They’re not each other’s type. They’re coworkers. Then, one night leads to sex—sex between friends—which leads to an agreement. It all seems so simple—but nothing ever is. Many layers build a person’s facade...Categorized as:
tortured heroine friends to lovers slow burn college sassy heroine office angst young adult -
The Sky Blues by Robbie Couch
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 32 ratingsSky’s small town turns absolutely claustrophobic when his secret promposal plans get leaked to the entire school in this witty, “earnest, heartfelt” (Becky Albertalli, New York Times bestselling author), and ultimately hopeful debut novel for fans of What if it’s Us? and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before... -
I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston
From the New York Times bestselling author of One Last Stop and Red, White & Royal Blue comes a debut YA romantic comedy about chasing down what you want, only to find what you need...Chloe Green is so close to winning...Categorized as:
found-family young adult contemporary mystery from hate to love f-f high-school humor -
Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta
A compelling story of romance, family, and friendship with humor and heart, perfect for fans of Stephanie Perkins and Lauren Myracle. Francesca is stuck at St. Sebastian’s, a boys' school that pretends it's coed by giving the girls their own bathroom. Her only female companions are an ultra-feminist, a rumored slut, and an impossibly dorky accordion player... -
This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsSloane isn't expecting to fall in with a group of friends when she moves from New York to Florida—especially not a group of friends so intense, so in love, so all-consuming. Yet that's exactly what happens.Sloane becomes closest to Vera, a social-media star who lights up any room, and Gabe, Vera's twin brother and the most serious person Sloane's ever met...Categorized as:
found-family contemporary young adult high-school humor mystery cold heroine length-medium -
The Morning After by Adriane Leigh
Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsFrom Adriane Leigh comes a passionately evocative story about wanting what's forbidden and giving in to desire so sharp and sweet it threatens to consume... Georgia Montgomery lives in an ever-present state of denial. It's the only coping mechanism she's found to overcome the horror that colors her past. Until one pleasure-seeking playboy turns her world on its axis...Categorized as:
tortured heroine humor young adult contemporary bad boys cheating love triangle college -
Maison Ikkoku Collector’s Edition, Vol. 1 (めぞん一刻 [Maison Ikkoku] (10 Volumes) #1) by Rumiko Takahashi
Acclaimed author Rumiko Takahashi’s classic romantic comedy about finding your path in life.Yusaku Godai didn’t get accepted into college on the first try, so he’s studying to retake the entrance exams. But living in a dilapidated building full of eccentric and noisy tenants is making it hard for him to achieve his goals...Categorized as:
tortured heroine humor contemporary young adult historical length-medium glimpses-kisses m-f -
No More Secrets by Becca Seymour
Some things you can’t just blurt out… right?When you’ve shared a kiss with your best friend and it blows your mind—and other parts of your body—it’s inevitable that everything changes.That’s the way it now is with me and Jayden Moore, my best friend who thought he could rock my world with no consequences, all while throwing me his signature grin.But this is Jayden we’re talking about...Categorized as:
found-family sports contemporary multicultural m-m friends to lovers humor young adult -
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Girls with Bad Reputations by Xio Axelrod
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAll her life, Kayla heard the same Don't be so loud. Don't act so wild. Don't take up so much space. Now she's the beating heart of an up-and-coming rock band…and the whole world is going to know her name. Once upon a time, the pressure to be the perfect daughter nearly broke Kayla Whitman...Categorized as:
found-family contemporary african-american young adult black-mc new adult humor length-long -
Wilder at Last by Serena Bell
Falling for my frenemy? Out of the question.Easton: For as long as I can remember, I’ve been giving Hanna a hard time—and she’s been giving it right back. So we’re both shocked to find ourselves on the same side of a project: helping Hanna win the heart of the celebrity chef hired by my family’s business to give summer workshops.It shouldn’t be a big deal. A wardrobe evaluation. A shopping trip... -
What Happens in Paris by Ally Williams
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsAlone in the City of Love on Valentine's Day–until my best friend makes a a Parisian affair. But is one day worth risking our friendship?When my ex ditches me after yet another failed attempt to rekindle our relationship, I don't hesitate when my best friend Ollie tells me to meet him in Paris.But when he takes me out for Valentine's Day, all of our boundaries shatter...Categorized as:
found-family contemporary friends to lovers young adult friends-benefits humor length-long -
The Run Option by Annah Conwell
Jason Kingsley is not who I expected to marry. I didn’t expect to marry anyone so soon, especially not the cocky star quarterback I can’t stand. But when my work visa expires the same day Jason and I are caught looking a little too much like a couple…I have no choice but to pretend this fake marriage is real. Jason needs good publicity, and I need to stay in the U.S., so we’re stuck together... -
On the Fence by Kasie West
For sixteen-year-old Charlotte Reynolds, aka Charlie, being raised by a single dad and three older brothers has its perks. She can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows—including her longtime neighbor and honorary fourth brother, Braden. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn't know the first thing about anything...Categorized as:
tortured heroine contemporary young adult friends to lovers love triangle athletes sports humor -
Social Queue by Kay Kerr
'I thought I was nobody’s teen crush, but turns out I was just missing the signs.'Zoe Kelly is starting a new phase of her life. High school was a mess of bullying and autistic masking that left her burnt out and shut down. Now, with an internship at an online media company—the first step on the road to her dream writing career—she is ready to reinvent herself...
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