Books like 'Once Upon a Time in December'
Readers who enjoyed Once Upon a Time in December by Alyson Root also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary lesbian romance queer queer-awakening bisexual boss & employee class difference friends to lovers christmas slow burn
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When You Least Expect It by Haley Cass
Caroline Parker knows three things to be true. First, she is going to be Boston's most sought after divorce attorney by thirty-five. Second, given how terrible her romantic track record is, falling in love isn't in the cards for her. And third, Christmas only brings her bad luck - being broken up with not once, not twice, but three times during the holidays is proof enough of that... -
![Better Than Expected by Haley Cass]()
Better Than Expected by Haley Cass
Hannah Dalton had a lot of expectations in her life. Growing up watching her mother struggle for everything they had, she resolved to make sure she did everything she could to make those hardships worthwhile. She would pursue the career she dreamed of, she would marry someone trustworthy and kind, and she would try to give her own daughter everything her mother gave her, only without the struggle... -
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![The Blind Side of Love by Ingrid Díaz]()
The Blind Side of Love by Ingrid Díaz
2nd draft available here: ingriddiaz. com. Julianne Franqui is a hot actress and secretly gay. On a trip to New York she sees the artwork of artist Kris Milano, whose talent is not the only thing she's attracted to. Undercover of email, she begins a correspondence with the artist . When she comes to New York for filming and finally meets her, will she tell Kris the truth . . -
![Awaiting by Nicole Pyland]()
Awaiting by Nicole Pyland
This is book #4 in the Royalty Series. Alexandria – or Alex, as she preferred to be called – would one day be the next Queen of the United Kingdom. She would also be the first out lesbian who would take that title... -
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![The Flight Risk by Macon Leigh]()
The Flight Risk by Macon Leigh
Rated: 4.75 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThings are going great for Baylee Lawrence. Her writing has won awards, been adapted into an outrageously successful movie, and she’s just achieved her childhood dream of selling out a storytelling show at the Ryman. It’s incredible. Her life is perfect—a series of grand adventures. She has no intention of changing anything... -
![A Lesbian's Guide to Women by Erica Lee]()
A Lesbian's Guide to Women by Erica Lee
Annalise Finch is content - she has a job she enjoys, lives close to her family and friends, and spends most Wednesday nights drinking wine with her grandma. According to her grandma, though, she has lost her sparkle, and the only solution is to join a site to hook up with other women. The only problem (aside from a meddling grandma with a dirty mind) is Annalise doesn’t like women...Categorized as:
friends to lovers queer queer-awakening f-f contemporary friends-benefits humor length-short -
![Mutual Benefits by H.P. Munro]()
Mutual Benefits by H.P. Munro
Coming out to your loved ones is stressful, so when Hannah Melville’s family not only accept but celebrate her accidental announcement, it should be a relief. Which it would be, if Hannah was gay. Ashley West isn’t looking for a relationship. When she’s set up by her mother on a blind date, she’s ready to nip any expectations in the bud. She’s less prepared for her love interest to be straight...Categorized as:
queer friends to lovers queer-awakening f-f contemporary humor fake relationship forced proximity -
![Love Next Door by Rachael Sommers]()
Love Next Door by Rachael Sommers
A sweet toaster-oven lesbian romance that asks whether the one we’re meant to be with might be right under our nose. Reserved tattoo artist Riley Foster has just moved apartments and can’t take her eyes off the single mom who lives next door...Categorized as:
friends to lovers queer queer-awakening bisexual f-f contemporary competent heroine single-mother -
![The Summer of Our Discontent by Robin Alexander]()
The Summer of Our Discontent by Robin Alexander
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsA fun summer read. Faith Leblanc is looking for that special someone, but her tactics have branded her somewhat of a womanizer. A few doors down, Rachel Chauvin is looking for the same, but her conservative style hasn’t yielded any keepers, either. Neither woman is willing to consider the other as a prospective partner, mostly because they’ve hated each other for nearly four decades... -
![And Then I Met You by Erica Lee]()
And Then I Met You by Erica Lee
Rated: 4.64 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHave you ever met someone and known from that very first moment that they were going to have a big impact on your life? That’s how it was with Willow Stone. She was that person to me. She will always be that person to me. And this is her story. Before you get your hopes up, I need to issue a warning about this story. There’s happiness. And there’s an ending. But there’s not a happy ending...Categorized as:
queer friends to lovers contemporary f-f length-medium first-in-series standalone-first -
![The Scent of Rome by Lise Gold]()
The Scent of Rome by Lise Gold
In a last-ditch attempt to secure an investor for an app she’s developed, Rome Foster travels to her namesake city hoping her luck is going to change. Just as she’s about to pitch her life’s work, she meets the charming and captivating Nadine; a high-end escort who shocks Rome by flirting with her...Categorized as:
queer queer-awakening friends to lovers found-family f-f length-medium audiobook explicit-open-door -
![The Pining Paradox by Monica McCallan]()
The Pining Paradox by Monica McCallan
Six months ago, Hallie Thatcher’s parents sold The Stone’s Throw Inn, where she’s lived and worked for her entire life. Everything is changing around her, and she’s been trying to adjust. Really. Even when it means navigating her new promotion at the inn. Helping to plan her best friend’s wedding to Hallie’s new boss... -
![All the Love Songs by Nicole Pyland]()
All the Love Songs by Nicole Pyland
Peyton Gloss is the world’s most famous and popular singer/songwriter known for her chart-topping hits as well as her famous girl squad and July 4th events, inviting all of her famous friends to celebrate. This year, she did something even more extravagant than ever and invited her friends to join her for a week-long adult summer camp experience...Categorized as:
queer neurodivergent queer-awakening bisexual friends to lovers found-family rich heroine f-f -
![Enthralled by Her by Chelsea M. Cameron]()
Enthralled by Her by Chelsea M. Cameron
Rated: 4.51 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThings might be going well enough, but I couldn’t see much to look forward to. Sure, I somehow had a thriving business repairing and rebinding books, and my parents had gifted me their vacation house after my apartment was turned into a co-op. Still, there wasn’t a whole lot of action and excitement in little Arrowbridge, Maine, but I was making the best of it, like I always did... -
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![June by Erik Schubach]()
June by Erik Schubach
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsThe daughter of Mandy Fay Harris is all grown up and like her mother, is a force of nature. She is ready to come into her own and take London by storm! She never expected what what she would find while searching in New York for a scout for her music label and the new relationships she would form. This is set in the same world as Music of the Soul but is a standalone book. -
![Pieces of Us by T.B. Markinson, Miranda MacLeod]()
Pieces of Us by T.B. Markinson, Miranda MacLeod
The nanny is hot for her boss, but she’s been burned falling for a straight woman in the past. Julianna Bristol is on the brink of success as her fledgling video game design company goes after the opportunity of a lifetime. But her ex-husband is intent on making her fodder for late-night comedy... -
![Behind the Pine Curtain by Gerri Hill]()
Behind the Pine Curtain by Gerri Hill
Jacqueline Keys was ostracized from her small hometown of Pine Springs, Texas when she was seventeen, sent away because she was gay. Her family was the largest employer in the county, owning Pine Springs Lumber, and her father was mayor of this small town. Her mother could not accept the fact that her only child was gay, could not tolerate the gossip about her family... -
![Take Two by Stephanie Shea]()
Take Two by Stephanie Shea
Being in love is Whitney Dimaano’s favorite past time. Though lately, she can’t seem to get it right. She’s tried—she is trying—but it just hasn’t…clicked, and maybe her time would be better spent focusing on all the things that are actually good in her life... -
![Goddess of the Moon by Claire Highton-Stevenson]()
Goddess of the Moon by Claire Highton-Stevenson
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsDiana Maddox is a creature of comfort, she plays by the rules and she likes things done properly. Now, she finds herself in a bit of a rut. Single after an almost decade-long relationship with Jason, who cheated on her, Diana is sharing a flat with her sister and nephew. Her friends have all married and had families of their own, so there's only one thing for it, Diana decides... -
![Storm in Her Heart by KC Luck]()
Storm in Her Heart by KC Luck
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsLove can weather the stormiest of hearts…. Athena Storm, the resilient owner of a struggling tavern, has weathered many storms in her life. As she fights to keep her establishment afloat, she is convinced she does not have time for a relationship. Enter Kate Franklin, an ex-cop turned delivery driver who seeks refuge from her past... -
![Awakenings by Susan X. Meagher]()
Awakenings by Susan X. Meagher
Despite the questions of her roommates and the objections of her fiance, Jamie Evans persists in enrolling in a college course that seems an odd choice for a young woman of her background. What no one can know is that the course, The Psychology of the Lesbian Experience, will propel Jamie onto a journey of self-awareness and realization...Categorized as:
slow burn class difference queer friends to lovers bisexual contemporary f-f length-long -
![Holly and Ivy: A Lesbian Holiday Romance by T.B. Markinson, Miranda MacLeod]()
Holly and Ivy: A Lesbian Holiday Romance by T.B. Markinson, Miranda MacLeod
The only thing harder than saving the world is doing it alone. Holly Lovelace is a multi-millionaire tech genius and the CEO of her own company. But if she can’t come up with a brilliant innovation and convince her investors that she’s back in tip-top shape by the end of the year, Holly could lose everything she’s worked so hard to build...Categorized as:
queer class difference working class heroine christmas humor f-f contemporary length-long -
![Barging In by Emily Banting]()
Barging In by Emily Banting
The best-selling and award-winning author of The South Downs Romance Series and The Nunswick Abbey Series brings you a charming standalone sapphic romance set along a picturesque waterway in rural England. Clem Wentworth, cake baker and marketing extraordinaire, moors her beloved orange narrowboat, Florence, outside her late Great Aunt Maud’s house to keep an eye on its renovation for her parents... -
![All Wrapped Up in You by T.B. Markinson, Adrian J. Smith]()
All Wrapped Up in You by T.B. Markinson, Adrian J. Smith
A saboteur. A bookstore in trouble. A writer on the verge of ruin. After a painful divorce, Mathilda “Mat” Kincaide has one clear vision. Ascend the throne of her family’s cherished chain of bookstores. Yet a mysterious troublemaker lurks in the heart of her store, intent on derailing Mat’s every ambition... -
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![Party Animal by Ali K. Mulford]()
Party Animal by Ali K. Mulford
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsShe’s never done love long-term. But will faking it lead to forever? Finch Lachlan works hard and parties harder. But tired of her siblings judging her fun-loving ways, the head veterinarian at her family’s zoo vows to prove she can make it past the third date. And maybe she can begin with the hottie who just seized her attention with a sizzling kiss. Chef, Frankie Benedetti, craves a fresh start... -
![Lucky Yellow Shoes by Jae]()
Lucky Yellow Shoes by Jae
Denny is planning to propose to her girlfriend, Eliza, on Christmas Day, but she needs some help finding the perfect ring. Will it all go according to plan, or will she end up being the one surprised? “Lucky Yellow Shoes” is a short story sequel to Jae’s light-hearted lesbian romance Wrong Number, Right Woman. -
![Paradise Pride by Lise Gold]()
Paradise Pride by Lise Gold
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsLondon-based casino manager Meghan has no expectations of her two-week holiday in Spain; she’s just tagging along with her friend who’s visiting her love interest. When they arrive at a deserted hotel due to a booking fault and her friend leaves to see her boyfriend, she’s left with the bartender who stays on for the night... -
![Sprinkled in the Stars by Violet Morley]()
Sprinkled in the Stars by Violet Morley
AJ Beckett is just trying to get Parker, her seven-year-old autistic daughter, through life in one piece. As a paramedic, AJ puts others’ needs above her own; in her personal life, she keeps everyone an arm’s length away. That distance disappears when a chance run-in with actor Melanie Cooper leaves her sticky, angry, and fed up. Melanie Cooper has just signed her last movie...Categorized as:
neurodivergent queer class difference f-f dual-pov contemporary single-mother age difference -
![Heart Block by Melissa Brayden]()
Heart Block by Melissa Brayden
Happily ever after is easier said than done…. Sarah Matamoros can’t complain. After immigrating from Mexico when she was nine years old, she’s content with the life she’s made for herself in sunny San Diego. She works hard at her mother’s housecleaning service by day and spends the evenings with her quirky eight-year-old daughter, Grace... -
![A Purrfect Gift by Jae]()
A Purrfect Gift by Jae
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsLena has just moved to Freiburg with her cat, Scully, so when she finds little gifts on her doorstep every day, she thinks they are a welcome-to-the-building Advent calendar from her new neighbors. Caroline, who lives next door, can’t figure out how her stuff keeps disappearing until she catches a cat in the act of stealing from her. She follows the feline felon home—and meets its cute owner... -
![Sleigh Bells Ring by Alyson Root, Tara Sullivan]()
Sleigh Bells Ring by Alyson Root, Tara Sullivan
For Nicole Robinson, Christmas means returning to the family home in Hebden Bridge with her sister Beth and their brother Liam, who has lived with permanent delays since a childhood accident. Though Beth and Nicole have grown up and moved away, every December the Robinson kids reunite for a month of family and festive traditions...Categorized as:
christmas friends to lovers queer f-f contemporary length-medium audiobook explicit-open-door -
![Lucky in Love by Cara Malone]()
Lucky in Love by Cara Malone
Sometimes luck means landing exactly where you need to be. Jules Wakefield’s family has rescued rabbits for decades, but with her parents gone and her veterinary practice demanding all her time, Jules desperately needs a successor. She decides to run an essay contest – the winner must love bunnies... -
![Blurred Lines by Olivia Lucas]()
Blurred Lines by Olivia Lucas
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsThis week is not going to plan…. So far, I’ve been stood up, taunted by a kid, and dunked in coffee. And that was just on my way to my job interview. I almost couldn’t believe it when the hot stranger who crashed into me in the coffee shop came to my rescue. Unfortunately, this stranger has a name – Natalie Dalton – and she might’ve also popped up at my job interview. And then on a night out... -
![Spectrum by M.J. Duncan]()
Spectrum by M.J. Duncan
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsSparks fly the moment Bryn Nakamura lays eyes on Anna Fitzpatrick, and not in a good way. Driven, reserved, and recovering from another encounter with a life she would rather leave behind, all Bryn wants is to forget about Anna and focus on her beloved vineyard—but Fate has other plans...Categorized as:
friends to lovers queer f-f contemporary age difference from hate to love length-long -
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![The Secret Pond by Gerri Hill]()
The Secret Pond by Gerri Hill
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsGrieving over the loss of her family and feeling like her life is unraveling, Lindsey McDermott quits her job, gets a puppy and retreats to her grandparents’ home in the Texas Hill Country. She spends her solitary days walking childhood trails and reminiscing, trying to reconcile the conflict within her as she struggles with survivor’s guilt... -
![Operation: Secret Santa by M.J. Duncan]()
Operation: Secret Santa by M.J. Duncan
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsWhen Holly Burke saw who she’d drawn for Secret Santa, she knew she had to do something to make it special. It was Christmas, after all, and if anyone deserved some extra Christmas cheer, it was Mo Davy. -
![Lightning Strikes Twice by Erik Schubach]()
Lightning Strikes Twice by Erik Schubach
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsReturning home to Seattle from a twenty year absence in London. .. Victoria discovers that time has not erased her feelings for an unrequited love. It soon becomes obvious that with true love, lightning can sometimes strike twice. This is set in the same world as Music of the Soul but is a standalone book. -
![Butterflies by Frances M. Thompson]()
Butterflies by Frances M. Thompson
Chloe. They say the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else. And when the woman you're trying to get over is the biggest f*ck girl out there, this needs to happen, like, yesterday. So that's my plan. And Radia, my friendly and funny regular customer, is my target. I'm pretty sure she's been flirting with me for nearly a year so this plan should be foolproof. Except, it isn't... -
![The Christmas Inheritance by Addison Clarke]()
The Christmas Inheritance by Addison Clarke
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsCharlie Monroe loves everything about Baxter Tree Farm. From the smell of the pine trees to the shimmer of Christmas lights, Charlie is at home on the farm. Having managed the farm since graduating high school, Charlie considers herself an expert on all things Christmas trees. Her dream is to continue to grow the place she loves so much and make it a must visit place in Maine... -
![This Is the Season to Make You Mine by Johana Gavez]()
This Is the Season to Make You Mine by Johana Gavez
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWill the Christmas magic help these two friends take a shot at love? Morgan Bergman doesn’t want to go home for Christmas. She loves her family, but since her parents retired and her sister moved back to their hometown of Apfelville to take over the family business, she’s been avoiding them, feeling guilty about choosing her rising career in New York over her family... -
![Finally Loved by Jacqueline Ramsden]()
Finally Loved by Jacqueline Ramsden
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsCan you meet The One in the middle of being dumped? Neve thought she’d finally found someone who would love her, but here she is, getting dumped again. Perhaps it would be less embarrassing if it were happening in private—and with words she hadn’t heard time and time again. Or, perhaps she’s destined to never find real love... -
![Just Jorie by Robin Alexander]()
Just Jorie by Robin Alexander
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsSome believe that special someone is out there just waiting to be found. Jorie Andolini is one of those people and has spent a lot of time envisioning that moment. She bumps into a woman at a grocery store, the woman drops a can of peas, Jorie picks it up, their eyes meet, and two souls connect... -
![Every Little Thing by Lily Seabrooke]()
Every Little Thing by Lily Seabrooke
The end isn’t the best time to realize you’ve been in love all along. Bakery owner Harper has her secrets. She’s always kept to herself, constantly on a career climb that only she can see, with no one allowed close—except the one person in Bayview who won’t take no for an answer. Paisley’s fallen into bed with Harper twice already over their years of friendship, but it’s never meant anything... -
![Sunstone: Mercy Book Three by Stjepan Šejić]()
Sunstone: Mercy Book Three by Stjepan Šejić
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTwo women deal with modern themes of sex, relationships, and fetishism in this erotic romantic comedy. "MERCY," Part Three. Loving someone means building a shrine within your heart dedicated to them. A shrine made of good memories and treasured moments. As the mercy arc reaches its third volume Anne is about to find the shrine of her heart ransacked by none other than the person it was devoted to... -
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![Tangled Threads by C.W. Elliot]()
Tangled Threads by C.W. Elliot
Lenora Graves is a force of nature. She’s built a career—and a reputation—on being untouchable. As a top corporate lawyer and partner at an elite law firm, Lenora thrives on power, precision, and the unwavering control that keeps her at the top of her game. But control is more than her weapon—it’s her armor. And it has never failed her. Then Sol Ruiz walks into her life...Categorized as:
queer queer-awakening boss & employee from hate to love office length-long audiobook f-f -
![Run Away With me, Girl 2 by Battan]()
Run Away With me, Girl 2 by Battan
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsMaki's first love was her high school classmate, a girl named Midori. But Midori broke up with Maki at graduation, saying they were now "too old to be fooling around dating girls... -
![I Do by Cheyenne Blue]()
I Do by Cheyenne Blue
A fabulous twin-swap lesbian romance where the toaster oven could double as a wedding gift. Accountant Allie Lane would do anything for her injured twin sister, including pretend to be her to save Sophie’s fledgling event-planning business. All Allie has to do is fake being a lesbian for a few weeks and co-ordinate a rural gay wedding festival. Simple... -
![Wherever Is Your Heart by Anita Kelly]()
Wherever Is Your Heart by Anita Kelly
How long, exactly, had June been coming to Moonie’s for the sole purpose of pining after the bartender? She certainly didn’t come for the karaoke. Even though the karaoke made her smile sometimes. All these young queers with their off-key, bouncy energy. They made Mal smile, too, June knew. Even if Mal tended to hide her smiles. But she saved them sometimes, for June... -
![Popcorn Love by K.L. Hughes]()
Popcorn Love by K.L. Hughes
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsA prominent figure amongst New York City’s fashion elite, Elena Vega is a successful businesswoman and single mother to an adorable three-year-old son, Lucas. Her love life, however, is lacking, as those closest to her keep pointing out. At the persistent urging of her closest friend, Elena reluctantly agrees to a string of blind dates if she can find a suitable babysitter for Lucas...Categorized as:
boss & employee bisexual queer f-f contemporary age difference single-mother length-medium -
![Arbor Vitae by Susan X. Meagher]()
Arbor Vitae by Susan X. Meagher
Abby Graham is uncommonly lovely, happy and content with her life, but when she finds herself a widow just a week before her 40th birthday, the secure world that she thought was permanent is suddenly on very shaky ground. Struggling to work through her grief, she always puts her children’s needs first, leaving little time for herself...
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