Books like 'The Next Best Thing'
Readers who enjoyed The Next Best Thing by Kristan Higgins also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary romance small town humor friends-to-lovers love-triangle family grief forbidden-love drama
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The Son & His Hope by Pepper Winters
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsA Sweeping, Heart-wrenching Standalone from New York Times Bestseller Pepper Winters. "Things you should know about me from the very beginning:I was born to true love, witnessed the destruction it causes, and vowed never to let such agony happen to me. I am not a story-teller like my father. I am not a writer like my mother. I am just a son--their son.I am happy being alone...Categorized as:
age-gap drama family female-mc forbidden-love friends-to-lovers grief second-chances -
Could Have Been Us by Corinne Michaels
Rated: 4.53 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsNew York Times Bestselling author Corinne Michaels returns to the Willow Creek Valley Series in this stunning friends-to-lovers romance STANDALONE. Stella Parkerson has hidden her feelings for Jack since she was sixteen. He’s older, broken, and unwilling to see her as anything but his best friend’s little sister... -
Taming My Whiskey by Melissa Foster
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsBuckle up for a wild ride as Dixie Whiskey finds forever love in TAMING MY WHISKEY, a funny, sexy, and emotionally riveting standalone romance by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster... -
Maybe We Will by Melissa Foster
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsFrom Melissa Foster, the New York Times bestselling author of She Loves Me, comes a sexy and heart-warming novel about finding love—and family—where you least expect it... -
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Crushing on Love by Melissa Foster
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThe Bradens are a series of stand-alone romances that may also be enjoyed as part of the larger Love in Bloom series. . In CRUSHING ON LOVE... Steve Johnson is living his life's passion watching over the Colorado Mountains as a ranger and wildlife consultant... -
Trails of Love by Melissa Foster
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsFall in love with Graham Braden and Morgyn Montgomery in TRAILS OF LOVE. When Graham Braden travels to Oak Falls, Virginia to attend the wedding of his buddy Reed Cross to Grace Montgomery, he sticks around to help with renovations to Reed’s new theater. The last thing he expects is to be asked to assess and possibly invest in Grace’s sister Morgan’s business endeavor... -
Letting Go at 40 by L.B. Dunbar, Stella Hunter
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA bereaved widow finds herself with a chance at love after loss with the most unlikely of people: her late husband’s best friend.Anna Kulis has lost her husband. Their love was a perfect kind of love; a once in a lifetime experience. She never intended to find love again. Never expected to have this attraction stirring inside her... -
The Start of Something Wonderful by Jessica Redland
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsAutumn Laine has lost her creative sparkle. After losing her grandad and her job as an illustrator in quick succession, she is at a crossroads in life and needs a break. Spending time with her parents in Paris, even in the artistic community of Montmartre, doesn't appear to be the answer... -
The Lucky Shamrock by Carolyn Brown
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsNew York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown’s bighearted novel about family, secrets, small-town Texas romance, and—with a little bit of luck—starting over. Family doesn’t mean everyone has to like each other. That’s the case when cousins Taryn, Anna Rose, and Jorja return to Shamrock, Texas, to help manage their grandmother’s flower shop, the Lucky Shamrock... -
Wild, Crazy Hearts by Melissa Foster
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsDiscover the magic of New York Times bestseller Melissa Foster's writing, and see why millions of readers have fallen in love with the Bradens and the rest of the Love in Bloom big-family romance collection. In WILD, CRAZY HEARTS... High school teacher Brindle Montgomery and rancher Trace Jericho have been close friends forever and on-again off-again lovers for years... -
We're Made of Moments by Molly McLain
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWe were made of moments. A handful of nights.Two weeks of passion.Four years of denial. Jesse She was never mine to keep, but I took every second that girl was willing to give me.I always knew she’d go back to him.But I never expected she’d take a piece of me with her. -- Hayden He changed my life forever, and it happened long before our two weeks together.I didn’t mean to fall for him... -
Kiwi Sin by Rosalind James
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIf it’s better to marry than to burn, I was in trouble. When you walk out of a cult with a driving license and the clothes on your back, you can face some challenges... -
Small Town Swoon by Melanie Harlow
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsOnly in the movies does the Hollywood heartthrob fall for the small town diner waitress.So when Dashiel Buckley returns to Cherry Tree Harbor for a wedding, I’m determined not to let my massive crush on my best friend’s older brother hijack my good sense.(It happened once before. Do not recommend.)But when my hand is injured, it’s Dash who steps in at the diner...Categorized as:
family friends-to-lovers age-gap forbidden-love friendship humor romance contemporary -
The Banty House by Carolyn Brown
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsIn the fading town of Rooster, Texas, all that’s really left is a service station, a church…and the Banty House, a long-ago Depression-era brothel. For more than seventy-five years, Betsy, Connie, and Kate Carson have called their mama’s house a home... -
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The Lilac Bouquet by Carolyn Brown
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsCome hell or high water, Emmy Jo Massey will have a wedding. After three generations of Massey women with children out of wedlock, she wants the whole town of Hickory, Texas, to witness the legitimacy of her union with Logan Grady. But dream weddings aren’t cheap... -
Why Not Tonight by Susan Mallery
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsSusan Mallery welcomes you to Happily Inc, where true love isn’t just for fairy tales… Natalie Kaleta will do anything for the artists at her gallery, including risk life, limb and the effect of humidity on her naturally curly hair... -
Dirty Little Midlife Secret by Lilian Monroe
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsLily Viceroy arrived in Heart’s Cove with a suitcase by her side and two eensy weensy secrets tucked into the corners of her heart.Well, that’s if “eensy” and “weensy” are code for “terrifying” and “dire.”Clearly, the only thing for Lily to do is to engage in a good ol’ bout of denial... -
Home Sweet Love by Ava Miles
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsMillions of readers have fallen in love with Ava's bestselling books...come join the family. International Bestselling Author Ava Miles shares a powerful tale about the sweetness of home and falling in love for the first time. Chase Parker doesn’t believe in all that gushy home sweet love stuff. Moira Hale sure as heck does... -
A Change of Heart by Hannah Ellis
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsShe was never meant to fall for her best friend’s brother...Seren has had a soft spot for her best friend’s brother for as long as she can remember. But when she starts to see Kit as more than just a friend, she knows she’s on dangerous ground.Avoiding him is probably her best course of action, but that’s easier said than done when you live on a tiny island... -
Todos los lugares que mantuvimos en secreto by Inma Rubiales
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsNunca pospongas las cosas importantes de la vida«Me aprendí el nombre completo de Maeve, su canción favorita y todas las cosas que la hacían reír mucho antes de aprender a contar hasta diez.»Maeve no sabe mucho sobre sí misma... -
When I'm with You by Harper Sloan, Shirl Rae
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsListening length: 8 hours, 39 minutes.Nate: It's nearly impossible to be surrounded by love but not understand it. My parents, my sister, and just about everyone around us has no trouble accepting that love. To give your trust to someone else and believe they would die before hurting you. I've witnessed it-I've seen the power of it-but I've also seen the pain...Categorized as:
age-gap drama family female-mc forbidden-love friends-to-lovers humor second-chances -
The Calendar of New Beginnings by Ava Miles
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThe last thing international photojournalist Lucy O’Brien expected when she returned to her hometown was for her mother to ask her to shoot photos for a ‘Calendar Girls’-like calendar…Of course, it’s all for a good cause—raising money for breast cancer. Lucy agrees to help—ribald photos and all... -
My Twist of Fortune (The Greene Family) by Piper Rayne
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsTwo aching hearts. A meddling small town. A second chance.It’s not a new story. Wife finds out husband’s been cheating on her and she packs up her four kids and heads back to her hometown, Sunrise Bay, Alaska.Yeah, not a fresh start, but thousands of miles away from my ex will do just fine. I’m prepared for the cold weather, the early snowfalls, and dark days and nights... -
Dirty Little Midlife Dilemma by Lilian Monroe
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA hot, hilarious fresh start! Nora’s forties begin with a bang…or rather, a crash.What’s worse than bumping into a parked motorcycle and tipping it over?Easy. It’s bumping into a motorcycle, tipping it over, and sending it crashing into an entire row of bikes like horrible, slow-motion dominos.What’s even worse than that?Nora knows the answer... -
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The Perfect Ingredient by Ava Miles
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsElizabeth Saunders is a woman of secrets, a rarity in small town Dare Valley. Her life hasn’t turned out like she expected after a tragedy forced her to flee her old life and hide her identity. Now she’s unmasked, hoping to put the past behind her—until the only man who ever captured her heart reappears. Terrance Waters may look like a sexy Alpha Navy Seal, but he’s actually a celebrity chef... -
The Fire by May Archer
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsJAMIE Parker Hoffstraeder is gorgeous, cocky, and totally irrational. He also broke my heart when he left town eleven years, four months, and twenty-eight days ago. Not that I’m counting. I don’t mind admitting it: I was young. I got burned. I learned my lesson... -
The Comfort of Secrets by Christine Nolfi
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsCat Mendoza needs a win. After a business failure and years of dating the wrong men, she’s ready to turn things around.First she must convince the residents of Sweet Lake, Ohio, that she’s taking her responsibilities seriously. As the events director of the newly restored Wayfair Inn, she has the support of her best friends, Linnie and Jada... -
June First by Jennifer Hartmann
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsWant to know what happens to a man who barely claws his way out of a tragedy, only to fall right into the arms of the one girl in the world he can never have?Another tragedy, that’s what.When I was six years old, my father made a choice that altered the course of my entire life. Because of what he did, the only girl I ever loved became the only girl I couldn’t have...Categorized as:
age-gap drama family female-mc forbidden-love friends-to-lovers grief second-chances -
When I Fall by J. Daniels
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsFrom New York Times bestselling author, J. Daniels, comes a sexy new STANDALONE novel. For the past nine years, I’ve kept my heart as far away from my dick as possible. Those two can’t be anywhere near each other. They don’t play nice, and one of them undoubtedly winds up getting hurt. Not my dick. My dick is good. The women I take home know exactly what they’re getting from me—sex... -
Cowgirl Up and Ride by Lorelei James
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsRidin’ the edge of lust is fun…until someone falls in love. For years, goody-two boots AJ Foster wished her dream man Cord McKay would see her beyond the girl in pigtails. Now that she’s old enough to stake her claim on him, she challenges the cowboy to teach her how to ride—and she doesn’t mean horses... -
Love You More by Julia Kent
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsColleen Luview's love life is cursed. No—really. The small-town nurse is notorious in her touristy mountain community. After every third date she's ever had, the guy ends up in her emergency room.She's untouchable now, and it's not her fault... -
Riverbend Reunion by Carolyn Brown
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsBack home is the best place to start over in a heart-stirring Texas romance about friendship, second chances, and small-town scandals by New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown.Riverbend, Texas, doesn’t look like the crossroads of anywhere. But for four high school besties reuniting after twenty years, it’s a place to unpack a lot of baggage... -
Just One Wish: A Kingston Family Novella by Carly Phillips
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Carly Phillips returns to her sexy Kingston-Dare world of rich billionaire heroes in her new Kingston Family series.**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do...Categorized as:
family friends-to-lovers friendship humor second-chances adult anthologies billionaire -
32 Rowan Blvd by Kelsey Kingsley
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsGet married.Buy a house.Have a baby.That's every girl's dream, isn't it? Well, maybe not every girl, but for Christy Bush, it was.So, when her boyfriend realized he didn't want any of those things, the obvious answer was to set him free and find a man who did... -
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Duke-ing it Out by Jami Albright
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIt’s game, set, and match when this pro football player turned trainer squares off against a gorgeous tennis player with an attitude as big as Texas. Duke Wayne returns to his hometown for one reason and one reason only—reckless pro tennis star Sienna Ramsey has lost her ever-lovin’ mind. His feisty client is ready to throw her career away in favor of a simple life... -
Flirting with the Single Dad by Whitley Cox
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen first impressions happen twice. Welcome to Seattle, the Emerald City and home to The Single Dads of Seattle. Ten sexy single fathers who play poker every Saturday night, have each other's backs, love their children without quarter, and hope to one day find love again. This is Atlas’s story … Single Dad of Seattle, Atlas Stark is in over his head... -
Maintenance Required: A small town romance by Giulia Lagomarsino
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsEricI live my life by a certain standard. There are right and wrong ways to do things, and I always make sure that I'm on the right side. My brothers call me a wet blanket. They say I'm buttoned-up, boring, and that I don't know how to let loose. There's a reason I'm that way, and she just walked through my door. With one wild night, I've thrown all my moral guidelines out the window... -
Devil in Disguise by Rosalind James
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe devil doesn’t come with pointy horns and a tail. He comes as everything you’ve ever wished for. When discipline is your life, structure’s a good thing, and Owen Johnson’s got plenty of both. An All-Pro NFL center who’s also a cattle rancher? Yeah, that’s structure. His marriage didn’t work out, but then, he picked the wrong woman. A Wyoming ranch doesn’t look nearly as romantic up close... -
The Weekend Getaway by Hannah Ellis
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA weekend break changes everything…The chemistry between Keira and Noah is instant. It only takes one date for Keira to realise there’s something special between them.When Noah invites her to a family party in his hometown, she eagerly agrees, and by the end of their weekend away she’s absolutely head over heels. Not only for Noah, but for his close-knit family and the stunning Isles of Scilly... -
Fluke by Adriana Locke
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsSEEKING AN EX-HUSBAND I need a fake ex-husband. Let me explain … I may have let it slip to my new co-workers that I have an ex-husband. Now they’re fascinated with the details, specifically with him. Why wouldn’t they be? He’s gorgeous, has exceptional skills in the bedroom, and is determined to win me back. But there’s a problem. He doesn’t exist...Categorized as:
humor friends-to-lovers friendship family romance contemporary fake-relationship forced-proximity -
The Bridge to a Better Life by Ava Miles
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsFrom USA Today Bestselling Author Ava Miles of the #1 National Bestseller NORA ROBERTS LAND comes a humorous and emotional romance about the power of love and second chances—perfect for fans of Debbie Macomber and Susan Mallery. "Ava's story is witty and charming... -
The Wild One by Cassie-Ann L. Miller
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsJasper Westbrook. Code name: Swoon Machine.My best friend's older brother.Melter of ovaries. Destroyer of panties.And suddenly...a single dad.Guys like Jasper—I bet you know the type? The chiseled arms. The wavy hair. The melt-your-brain-cells smile.Good thing I'm a smart girl—Honey Hill's former child prodigy, to be precise—I should know better than to fall for this playboy's charm... -
The Lost Promise of Ireland by Susanne O'Leary
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA completely gorgeous story about lost loves and small-town secrets that will sweep you away to the Irish coast. Maggie remembers her summers in the village of Sandy Cove in Ireland like they were yesterday. She and her family would swim in the crystal-clear waters, collect beautiful seashells and relax on the sand... -
On Second Thought by Kristan Higgins
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsAinsley O'Leary is so ready to get married—she's even found the engagement ring her boyfriend has stashed away. What she doesn't anticipate is being blindsided by a breakuphe chronicles in a blog…which (of course) goes viral. Devastated and humiliated, Ainsley turns to her older half sister, Kate, who's struggling with a sudden loss of her own... -
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Redwood Bend by Robyn Carr
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsIn Virgin River, you never know what you might find around the bend in the road... Former actor Dylan Childress left the L.A. scene behind years ago for a quiet life running an aviation company in Montana. But with business slowing down, Dylan is starting to wonder whether he should take one of the offers Hollywood keeps sending his way... -
Take Me Home: A Small Town Rock Star Love Story by Carrie Elks
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA grammy-winning rock star falls for a small-town girl in this all-new standalone romance from author Carrie Elks.Gray Hartson is coming home. After years of playing to sold-out stadiums around the world, the tattooed singer is determined to build bridges with his sick father and reconnect with the family he left behind.But then he meets her . . -
Afternoon Tea at the Sunflower Cafe by Milly Johnson
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsLove and friendship bloom at the Sunflower Café…When Connie discovers that Jimmy Diamond, her husband of more than twenty years, is planning to leave her for his office junior, her world is turned upside down.Determined to salvage her pride, she resolves to get her own back... -
Love for Beginners by Jill Shalvis
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsWhat would you change if you had to start your life—and love life—over again?When Emma Harris wakes up from a coma she learns that her fiancé and her BFF have fallen in love, she’s lost her job, and the life she knew is gone. Overwhelmed but grateful to be alive she starts over from scratch. Not as easy as it sounds, of course...Categorized as:
family female-mc friends-to-lovers friendship humor second-chances animals audiobook -
Just A Kiss by Carrie Elks
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsShe's the one woman he shouldn't want... Caitie Russell's big brother is getting married. As the proud owner of Holiday Magic, Caitie is the obvious choice to organise the perfect Christmas wedding. Piece of cake, right? If it weren't for one gorgeous, man-shaped problem... Her brother's best friend, Brecken Miller. He was her first crush. Her first kiss. Her first broken heart... -
Cowboy Tough by Stacy Finz
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFive hundred acres of gorgeous California land is a life-changer for cousins Cash, Jace, and Sawyer—and a surprising chance for each of them to find a game-changing love . . . Sheriff Jace Dalton’s plate is piled high even before he discovers a stranded motorist just a few miles from his home...
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