Books like 'The Best Thing'
Readers who enjoyed The Best Thing by Mariana Zapata also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary romance sports humor slow-burn enemies-to-lovers second-chances friends-to-lovers children family
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From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 50 ratingsIf someone were to ask Jasmine Santos to describe the last few years of her life with a single word, it would definitely be a four-letter one. After seventeen years—and countless broken bones and broken promises—she knows her window to compete in figure skating is coming to a close... -
Dia Que Dejo de Nevar En Alaska, El -V2 by Alice Kellen
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsUn chico con el corazón de hielo.Una chica que huye de sí misma.Dos destinos que se cruzan.Heather cree que solo hay tres cosas que sabe hacer: atraer problemas, salir huyendo y correr. Así es como termina en Alaska, en un pequeño pueblo perdido, trabajando de camarera mientras intenta llevar una vida nueva y tranquila...Categorized as:
cheerful-mc drama enemies-to-lovers friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine slow-burn steamy -
Kulti by Mariana Zapata
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 41 ratings“Trust me, I’ve wanted to punch you in the face a time or five.” When the man you worshipped as a kid becomes your coach, it’s supposed to be the greatest thing in the world. Keywords: supposed to... -
Perfectly Toxic by C.M. Owens
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsBELLA New life. New job. New home. New goals... I vowed to make drastic changes and to never fall back into old habits. But then Ethan Noles showed up and blew all my good intentions to hell. I should have stayed away. I shouldn't have played his game. But I did. Now I just hope I don't regret it. ETHAN Bella is the type of girl you can't help but chase, because she doesn't want to be caught...Categorized as:
alpha-mc angst enemies-to-lovers family female-mc friends-to-lovers humor insta-love -
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Sweeper by Amy Daws
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThe cocky footballer next door has some serious balls…luckily, Daphney Clarke knows how to play. Zander Williams is the hot new American determined to take European football by storm. His head is so big, it barely fits under his backwards hat. And when he’s recruited to one of the biggest up and coming clubs in London, he’s certain to make his name known...Categorized as:
alpha-mc athlete celebrity cheerful-mc drama enemies-to-lovers family friends-to-lovers -
CowSex by Lesley Jones
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIf you add two strangers to a cabin, in the middle of a snowstorm, the obvious is bound to happen... CowSex. When Essex lifestyle blogger and fashionista, Gracie Elliott crash lands into the life of Colorado mountain man Koa Carmichael, fists, chemistry and sexual banter ensue...Categorized as:
alpha-mc angst children enemies-to-lovers family female-mc friends-to-lovers friendship -
Jerk It by Lani Lynn Vale
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsMavis always assumed that she would be in a hospital with the good drugs when her time came. Not in the middle of the road, with no one around but the damn town mechanic that hated her.But there she was, having a rock star’s baby, with no one to rely on but the one that let it be known around every turn that she was a horrible person...Categorized as:
alpha-mc angst children enemies-to-lovers family friends-to-lovers humor second-chances -
No Strings by Nikki Ash
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFrom USA Today Bestselling Author Nikki Ash comes a brand new, contemporary, stand-alone romance about a single dad who thinks he has everything figured out... until he meets her.SavannahA sexy, single dad and his teenage son weren’t a part of my white picket fence fairy tale, but if life has taught me anything, it’s that things don’t always work out according to plan...Categorized as:
cheerful-mc children family female-mc friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor -
Drink It Up: The Donovans by Cee Bowerman
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsQuinn Donovan is a single dad with too much on his plate. He is surrounded by his wild and crazy family at home and at work while raising two little girls who are the light of his life. When a complete stranger swoops in to help him when he needs it most only to then disappear without a word, it seems he’s lost his chance to get to know her... -
Play with Me by Kristen Proby
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsWill Montgomery is a successful professional football player and seemingly has it all. He’s not used to being told no, and certainly doesn’t take no for an answer. So when he turns his charms on his sister’s sexy rocker-chick friend Meg, he’s not only turned down, but met with open hostility, piquing his curiosity and libido... -
Wild Side by Lacey Black
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsJamesonLast man standing. I’ve watched all three of my friends fall in love with no desire to ever follow in their footsteps. Collectively, we own the hottest restaurant, bar, and brewery in town. They are a few of the places I find peace, a refuge against this cruel world. When I’m on the stage playing music, everything just seems to fade away.Until I saw her...Categorized as:
cheerful-mc family friends-to-lovers friendship grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine steamy adult -
Something So Irresistible by Natasha Madison
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThe third installment in the best-selling Something Series Max Horton They call me an outcast like it's a bad thing. An asshole byproduct of a shitty upbringing. I don't care about anything except myself and my little sister. I will always protect what’s mine. With one year left on my hockey contract I'm keeping my head down and my eyes on the goal... -
Stay for Me by Corinne Michaels
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsFrom New York Times Bestselling author Corinne Michaels comes the final poignant love story in the Arrowood Brothers Series.Hollywood taught me everything I know about relationships—except how to be in one. As an actor, I became an expert at faking it. Faking that I wasn't affected by my childhood. Faking that I was okay. Faking that I knew how to save the day, the girl, the whole damn world... -
Love Unrehearsed by Tina Reber
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsThere is no rehearsal for true love.When A-list film actor Ryan Christensen ducked into her pub to escape his screaming fans, never in a million years did Taryn Mitchell think her life was about to change forever... -
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Coaching the Kicker by Jacob Chance
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWhen I purchased a home in an upscale neighborhood, I never imagined having one of the Charleston Pirates living next door.Knox Irons knows just how to push my buttons. Every part of him rubs me the wrong way—well, not quite every part.So imagine my surprise when Mr. Tall, Dark, and Infuriating comes to me for help with his kicking...Categorized as:
alpha-mc celebrity enemies-to-lovers family friends-to-lovers friendship humor slow-burn -
Unforgettable by Melanie Harlow
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsBack then, I had it all.Wicked fastball. Killer instinct. Cocky grin. Full package. (And believe me, I knew how to score.)My senior year, I was a first round draft pick with a two-million-dollar signing bonus. Before I could even legally buy myself a beer, I made my Major League debut. Point is, I was invincible.Until one day I wasn’t... -
Home Run by Jordan Marie
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsGreen Lucas doesn't know what's about to hit him. Complete Standalone Romance Wanted A woman with grit and fire who will help me get my son’s head out of his ass. You must be self-sufficient and not looking for a gravy train. Common sense is a plus, book smarts are optional. Cannot have red hair, as my son seems to go for that type and he needs something to shake him up... -
Kiss Me Tonight by Maria Luis
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsI had it all. The Super Bowl rings. The hot shot TV gig. Then I got fired. Now I’m living in middle-of-nowhere Maine, playing assistant coach to the woman of my nightmares. Did I mention that she and her son are my new neighbors? If you talk to the locals, they’ll tell you Aspen Levi is the queen of high school football... -
Pucked Over by Helena Hunting
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsNarrated by Rose Dioro, Jacob Morgan10 hrs and 37 minsUnabridged AudiobookLily LeBlanc isn’t versed in the art of casual sex, but after seven years in an on-again, off-again relationship, she’s definitely willing to give it a shot. And who better to try it with than her best friend’s boyfriend’s best friend? What could possibly go wrong? Nothing at all... -
Holeshot by Winter Travers
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFirst one to the finish line wins. Frankie Jensen works hard. She’s clawed her way up to become the car chief for the Cummings Racing pit crew, but none of that matters when her boss doesn’t even know her name. She refuses to let people take advantage of her. Quitting is her only option, but there was one thing she didn’t factor in. Brooks Cummings always wins... -
Stroked Hard by Meghan Quinn
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsHe’s hot. Like, stop breathing kind of hot with his killer body, vivid blue eyes, and constant five o’clock shadow. Did I mention his body? Watching Hollis Knightly, Olympic diving gold medalist, man-pony specialist—and cocky bastard—stand up on the diving platform in nothing but a small piece of Spandex? Yeah, I’m beguiled. And easily seduced...Categorized as:
athlete celebrity enemies-to-lovers family friends-to-lovers friendship humor insta-love -
Desperately Seeking Epic by B.N. Toler
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsPaul James loved Clara Bateman. Hating her would have been easier. She was the past, and he was hell-bent on keeping her there. Or so he thought... Craigslist Ad: DESPERATELY SEEKING EPIC You’re my father. I don’t know much about you. I know your name is Paul James, you’re a thrill seeker, and once upon a time you did stunts and people called you ‘Epic.’ I’ve been told you don’t know about me... -
Wait for It by Mariana Zapata
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 37 ratingsIf anyone ever said being an adult was easy, they hadn't been one long enough. Diana Casillas can admit it: she doesn't know what the hell she's doing half the time. How she's made it through the last two years of her life without killing anyone is nothing short of a miracle. Being a grown-up wasn't supposed to be so hard... -
Lucky Bastard by Kaylee Ryan
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsEmma When my best friend Aubrey asked me to tag along to an event with her, I never could have imagined that it would be the day that my life changed forever.He’s arrogant and demanding and doesn’t take a hint. Landon Barker, the quarterback for the Hermosa Beach Trojans, is a player on and off of the field. He’s got his sights set on me as his next play, but I see right through him... -
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The Champion by Shey Stahl
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA powerful love story of tragedy, love, and commitment. The fourth book in the Racing on the Edge series submerges you in the lifestyle of a champion of a sport that dominates America. Through smoke and methanol, you learn the good, the bad, and the secrets no one wants you to know... -
When I Need You by Lorelei James
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsRules are tossed aside when a pro football player join forces with a spitfire cheerleading coach in New York Times bestselling author Lorelei James’s brand-new romance… Heir to Lund Enterprises and ladies’ man Jensen “The Rocket” Lund has three conditions when it comes to dating: 1) No single mothers 2) No cheerleaders 3) No medical personnel So it makes no sense that he’s wildly... -
Love You Wild by Becka Mack
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsShattered. That’s the best way to describe Claire Thompson after the ultimate betrayal. When her long-term boyfriend cheats on her, Claire decides she’s done with men. Maybe forever. Healing the pieces of her broken heart seems like too impossible a task...Categorized as:
alpha-mc cheerful-mc enemies-to-lovers friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor sports -
Tempt the Hookup by Natasha Madison
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsEliahn Getting pregnant after a booze cruise hookup was not what any parent wanted to hear, so I picked up my entire life and moved to Paris to start over. Six years later, I was ready to go home. I was a single mom and the only thing I knew about my son’s dad was his name—Luca. I didn’t need to know anything else...Categorized as:
alpha-mc children family friends-to-lovers humor insta-love second-chances slow-burn -
The Crush by Karla Sorensen
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsYou know that girl from your past that you can’t quite stop thinking about? The one that you pushed away because you had a goal that seemed so much bigger, so much more important than any crush you might have had?That’s Adaline Wilder for me.Nothing came before football. Not in college, and not in my five years in the pros... -
The Pilot and the Puck-Up: A Hockey / One Night Stand / Virgin Romantic Comedy by Pippa Grant
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsHe’s the biggest, baddest, most spider-fearing motherpucker on the ice… When you’re named after the king of the gods, the world expects certain things of you. Tough? Damn right. Smart? Don’t let the hockey uniform fool you. Large and in charge? Honey, I’m the biggest, baddest, mother pucking-est machine to ever own the ice. I shoot. I score. In and out of the rink... -
Resisting the Rookie by Jacob Chance
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsBodhi Shine, my brother’s best friend, is the closest thing I have to an enemy. Tall, with irritatingly good looks, this cocky jerk has been a thorn in my backside for as long as I can remember.We’re like oil and water—we just don’t mix. I do my best to avoid him, but now that he’s the new running back for the Charleston Pirates and staying with my twin, that’s damn near impossible... -
Duke: Faking the Play by Kayley Loring, Connor Crais
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratings#4 Callum Duquette. Placekicker for the Boston Tomcats. Former underwear model. NICKNAME: Duke. I thought the most annoying thing about being a single dad was that my friends were always trying to find me a date. Until a sassy British ray of sunshine bumps into me at a bookstore... -
Just A Kiss by J.H. Croix
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA swoony billionaire romance from USA Today Bestselling Author J.H. Croix!Brainy brings bossy to his knees.Jessica Slater is brilliant. When she was my intern, she was off limits and waaaay too tempting.She’s even more delectable now and wins every battle of wits she faces. A chance encounter ignites a fire between us.It was just a kiss. Just. It nearly brought me to my knees... -
The Fall Out by Jenni Bara
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLet me tell the story of how I fell in love with a woman who had no idea that we were even dating. The ridiculousness started when she stole my beer, and trust me, my grumpy self doesn’t normally share. But somehow, Avery Wilson is the exception to every one of my many rules.Unfortunately, I’m not hers...Categorized as:
sports friends-to-lovers grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc slow-burn athlete humor -
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A Collision of Stars by Georgia Stone
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsOne summer. One bucket list.No one would ever call Ava Monroe a people person, which is unfortunate, as a barista in a busy London coffee shop. Bored, cynical and deathly sarcastic, she’s built up walls for a reason. Despite attempts from her best friend to shake up her routine, Ava refuses to do anything to disrupt her carefully curated life...Categorized as:
friends-to-lovers grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc humor slow-burn romance contemporary -
Falling First Hell by Marika Ray
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI’m unemployed and down to my last dollar—thank you, stranger, who bought my coffee when my card was declined this morning. If that wasn’t bad enough, I just T-boned the truck belonging to the guy I was meeting on a first date.Ethan Hellman, small-town sweetheart with a secret, and an instant—unbelievable—love for me despite the condition of his truck.It’s not that I don’t believe in love per se...Categorized as:
steamy friends-to-lovers insta-love grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc humor friendship -
Charming CEO by Lila Monroe
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratings"He's the bane of my existence... and my brother's best friend!" Fall for a new trope-tactic off-limits rom-com from USA Today bestselling author, Lila Monroe! Flynn McCord is ruggedly charming, impossibly annoying, and… my brother’s best friend. He’s been driving me crazy as long as I can remember - and not even in a sexy, fun ‘oh my god, don’t stop’ kind of way...Categorized as:
steamy female-mc alpha-mc enemies-to-lovers friends-to-lovers friendship family angst -
A.D.I.D.A.S.: All Day I Dream About S*x by Frankie Love, C.M. Seabrook
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsI’ve loved her since we were ten years old, when she almost died in my arms. Dramatic? Not at all. I almost lost Joanne once, it’s not happening again. Thing is, she’s a scared little butterfly, living in a cocoon of her own making. It’s time for her to spread her wings. And her legs. Scandalous? Hell no. She wants it as bad as I do. I’m not the only one dreaming about it all day... -
Seaside Serenade by Melissa Foster
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsDiscover the magic of New York Times bestseller Melissa Foster's writing and see why millions of readers have fallen in love with the Love in Bloom series. Seaside Summers is a series of stand-alone steamy romances with beautifully flawed and fiercely loyal, alpha heroes and smart, sassy heroines... -
Home Run King by Stella
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMy life was what country songs are made of: my Granny died, my girlfriend broke up with me, I knocked up her cousin, and I was inducted into the Major League Hall of Fame. Yup…just like every country song I’ve ever heard. But let me start over… My name is Gage Nix. That’s all you need to know. Actually, there’s a lot more to Gage than meets the eye... -
Bro Code Hell by Marika Ray
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsLiving with my older brother’s best friend wasn’t even my worst idea lately.Keeping it a secret from my brother was on the list too. Oh, and actually falling (literally) for Blaze Hellman—when every frown clearly said to stay away—was most definitely at the top of the list.I was kind of a genius normally...Categorized as:
steamy friends-to-lovers alpha-mc humor enemies-to-lovers slow-burn grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc -
Dash: Rushing the Play by Kayley Loring, Connor Crais
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratings#99 Dash Taylor. Rookie defensive end for the Boston Tomcats. 285 pounds of fast-twitch muscle. Nickname: Big D.I’ve been sacking quarterbacks since junior high and causing trouble since I was born.My college coach thinks I have a bad attitude, so he makes me take ballet lessons as punishment. If I don’t turn things around on the field next season, he’ll bench me...Categorized as:
alpha-mc athlete cheerful-mc enemies-to-lovers friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor -
Breaking Beast (Pounding Hearts) by Izzy Sweet, Sean Moriarty
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHe's determined to protect her, even if it breaks him. Alex : Life's been pretty damn good to me. As the reigning middleweight champion, I've got money, power and fame. Not to mention a surplus of women willing to jump into my bed. All in all, I've got few complaints. I'm just living the dream... then Christy falls into my lap. She's young, vulnerable, and innocent... -
Fighting Dirty by Stacey Lynn
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe Raleigh Rough Riders are back, and this time Super Bowl Quarterback Beaux Hale finds himself playing the most important game of his life. Every woman knows Beaux Hale is nothing but a player. Yet the first time he walks into Paige Halloway’s restaurant and flashes his sexy grin, she feels a heat between them spark. Too bad he opens his mouth and ruins it... -
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The Love Act by Zara Bell
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsThe camera-man creeps closer, and my loving boyfriend pulls me into his chest. “Keep your tongue in your mouth, or you’re fired,” he mutters, bending to kiss me.I never wanted to be famous. I’m perfectly happy working backstage at a late-night chat show, safely hidden off-camera. But when a paparazzo snaps a misleading photo of me and a bratty celebrity guest, my life is ruined overnight...Categorized as:
alpha-mc angst celebrity cheerful-mc enemies-to-lovers friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine -
The Enforcer by Olivia T. Turner
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsHe's mean.And grumpy.When he's on the ice, he's the most violent player out there.But there's something about him I just can't shake.There's a sweetness hiding under that gruff, brute exterior.A little boy peeking out who wants to come out and play.I never thought I'd be with someone like Tucker McKinstry.But once I get past that rough hard shell, I can't imagine being with anyone else... -
Spill the Sweet Tea by Lyra Parish
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsSome describe me as a quirky, free-spirited journalist who charges her crystals by moonlight.They’re not wrong.My instincts ensure I know everything that goes on in my small town. And not much surprises me. But when the man who destroyed my heart returns to care for his family’s business, I’m shaken to the core.After our messy breakup, Hayden Shaw swore he’d never come back to Valentine, Texas...Categorized as:
enemies-to-lovers grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc family steamy female-mc alpha-mc -
The Friend Zone by Kristen Callihan
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsGray 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... -
Just Ten Seconds by Jeannine Colette
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 13 ratings"Top 2019 Reads List!" -Guide To Romance Novels Just Ten Seconds That's all it took for my life to change forever. I left my posh life in Manhattan and escaped to the Hudson Valley in hopes of a fresh start. It wasn't until I happened upon a bereavement group when I finally found a place I felt understood. I told them my husband was dead when, really, I was the one who had died inside... -
Love Me Tomorrow by Maria Luis
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThey call her America’s Sweetheart. And me? I’m the so-called “inked god” she dumped on TV. I’ve tried to forget her. I’ve tried to move on. Until I discover that her family is opening a new restaurant next to my tattoo parlor. If I were a gentleman, I’d offer my congratulations and go my own way. If I were a gentleman, I’d let her be . . . but I’m not...Categorized as:
alpha-mc cheerful-mc enemies-to-lovers friends-to-lovers grumpy-mc grumpy-sunshine humor steamy
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