Books like 'First & Then'
Readers who enjoyed First & Then by Emma Mills also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary romance small town realistic sports high-school retellings coming-of-age family humor
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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... -
Down Shift by K. Bromberg
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThe New York Times bestselling Driven series continues with a standalone story about finding love where you least expect it… Behind the wheel, racing champion Zander Donavan is at the top of his game. But after too much excess in his personal life, he’s forced to step away. He needs to accomplish something all on his own—outside of his famous father’s shadow...Categorized as:
domestic-drama enemies-to-lovers family female-mc friends-to-lovers friendship humor love-triangle -
All You Need Is Love by Jessica Redland
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsWhen you’ve loved and lost, how do you find the strength to let love in again?Jemma thinks she’s found the love of her life. Scott is everything she ever dreamed of and she can’t wait to begin the next stage of their life together. But just as she is heading for her happy ever after, a shock revelation shatters Jemma’s life as she knows it... -
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... -
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Beside Golden Irish Fields by Ava Miles
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsArt teacher Angie Newcastle’s life is all monotone.She wasn’t always this dull. She’d been an up-and-coming artist with the world at her feet. But after contracting the Wrong Man Syndrome and spending years doubting herself, she no longer recognizes herself.When she loses her job, she can’t afford to keep ignoring the obvious: her life needs a serious overhaul... -
That Summer: A Small Town, Friends-to-Lovers Romance by Jillian Dodd
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsDevaney Diamond’s summer break was shaping up to be the best one ever. Her longtime crush was finally interested in her, and by the time school rolled around in the fall, she knew he’d be her boyfriend... -
Keeping Him by Kennedy Fox
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsKeeping Him is a full-length 125k+ words standalone novel that’s filled with intense chemistry, slow-burn tension, and plenty of angst! Let Kennedy Fox take you to the South for an explosive hot adventure that’ll surely leave your Kindles on fire! Jackson Bishop is your typical playboy. Unpredictable, charming, and overly confident...Categorized as:
domestic-drama enemies-to-lovers family friends-to-lovers friendship humor love-triangle slow-burn -
Christmas Wishes at the Chocolate Shop by Jessica Redland, Emma Swan
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsSometimes you just need a little Christmas magic to make your wishes come true...When master chocolatier, Charlee, takes the leap to move to the picturesque seaside town of Whitsborough Bay, she is determined to follow in her grandfather's footsteps and set up a chocolate shop.Luckily, she finds the perfect location for Charlee's Chocolates on beautiful Castle Street.. -
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... -
Difficult by R.L. Mathewson
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsSurviving high school was going to be hard enough, but surviving telling the one girl that he couldn’t live without how he felt was going to be one of the most difficult things that Sebastian Bradford was ever going to do.From New York Times and USA Today’s bestselling author R.L...Categorized as:
humor high-school friends-to-lovers sports romance young-adult contemporary small-town -
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... -
Dirty Little Midlife Mess: A Fake Relationship Romantic Comedy by Lilian Monroe
Rated: 4.37 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsLaugh-out-loud funny, with cover-to-cover banter and red-hot heat. Dirty Little Midlife Mess is not your typical fake relationship romance. It’s better.Simone owes handsome, broody Wesley Byron a favor, and he’s calling it in.He needs a maid.Yes, like the type that cleans a house. Black and white uniform not included (she asked)...Categorized as:
domestic-drama enemies-to-lovers family female-mc friendship humor adult billionaire -
The Saturday Morning Park Run: A gloriously uplifting and page-turning book that will make you feel happy! by Jules Wake
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThis is the story of two women.One old, one young.One looking for new adventures. One looking for a purpose.Both needing a friend.And this is how, along with two little girls in need of a family, a gorgeous stranger, and a scruffy dog, they bring the whole community together every Saturday morning for love, laughter and a little bit of running…(well, power walking)... -
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Finding Forever by Christine Gael
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsCome spend some time with the Sullivan sisters and their families in Bluebird Bay...Max Burrows thought she'd finally found "the one". But when Tyler gets the opportunity of a lifetime and leaves Bluebird Bay for Paris, she can't bring herself to join him. She worked like a dog to make her own dream come true by opening the bookstore, and she won't give that up. Not for Tyler.Not for anyone... -
The Village Shop for Lonely Hearts: The perfect feel-good read for 2021 by Alison Sherlock
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsA feel-good story of new beginnings set in a gorgeous country village, perfect for fans of Katie Fforde and Milly Johnson.After losing her job in New York, Amber Green isn’t looking forward to visiting her godmother in the sleepy village of Cranbridge. With its empty lanes and rundown shops, it’s hardly a place to mend her lonely heart...Categorized as:
coming-of-age domestic-drama family female-mc friends-to-lovers friendship humor adult -
The Sweet Spot by Adriana Locke
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsShe wants forever. He plays it day by day. They’re both wishing for the best in USA Today bestselling author Adriana Locke’s charming and sexy hopefully-ever-after romance.Single mom Palmer Clark will not be sidelined by the new man in town. Sure, the honey-tongued baseball legend is gorgeous, loves puppies, and has charmed his way into the community’s heart, but Palmer craves stability... -
My Life As A Country Album by L.J. Evans
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsCelebrate the 5th Anniversary of the award-winning novel with this beautifully designed book that includes the original story, This Life with Cam novella, and Cam’s scrapbook images! See why fans say this emotional, small-town, first-love romance is one they will never forget and think about often.Feisty, dive queen Cam Swayne refuses to give up on her destiny...Categorized as:
coming-of-age family female-mc friends-to-lovers friendship high-school humor season-summer -
Along Comes Trouble by Abby Brooks
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFrom the moment we met, Tessa Morgan pegged me as trouble. Why? Your guess is as good as mine. I’m funny. Easy-going. My years as a high school football star worked wonders on my body as well as my reputation. I’m Colton Carmichael. Everyone likes me. Everyone except Tessa. And believe me, the feeling is mutual... -
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... -
Not Without Your Love by Lexi Ryan
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsReturn to Jackson Harbor for the story of two people who never thought to hope for their own happily ever after.Colton McKinley has turned his life around—no more booze, no more drugs, no more self-sabotage. With a new business to run and old promises to keep, the last thing he needs is wild, impulsive Veronica Maddox disrupting his world... -
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... -
Swing and a Mishap by Tara Sivec
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratings“Hawks fans still in shock after centerfielder, Shepherd Oliver, sustained season-ending injury last night in the 5th inning of the playoffs against Chicago.”Two years ago, I was a pretty big deal. I thought I had it all, until a blast from my past popped up on my social media feed, keeping my ego in check and reminding me how basic I am. Except sassy Wren Bennett isn’t just a blast from my past... -
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... -
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Hot Mess Summer by Melissa Foster
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWho buys a cottage in a New England fishing village on a whim? A stressed-out, twice-divorced romance writer and single mother looking for a fresh start, that’s who. Despite what my besties say about my three-year dry spell, I’m not looking for a man. Or drama. Or sex. I’ve got enough on my plate with writer’s block and a daughter who refuses to grow up. Community. That’s what I need...Categorized as:
family friends-to-lovers slow-burn humor friendship domestic-drama female-mc romance -
Fight From The Heart: a small town romance by L.B. Dunbar
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen a forbidden office romance happens in this small town, one night might blossom into something more than either ever expected.Pam Carter loves all things bright and beautiful, but as manager of the local gardening center and moonlighting as a personal assistant, life isn’t always blooming lilacs. Especially when she has a crush on the one man she shouldn’t.. -
Kiss Me First: A Coming Of Age Sports Romance by Anna B. Doe
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsBefore Blairwood, there was Bluebonnet.Katherine Adams never thought she’d end up in a small town in Texas, but when things start to go south, it’s the perfect place to escape to.Emmett Santiago, Bluebonnet’s golden boy, never imagined he’d fall so quickly, but one glance at Kate and he’s a goner...Categorized as:
coming-of-age family friends-to-lovers high-school slow-burn sports book contemporary -
First Comes Loathe by Lilly Atlas
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsConceited. Harlot. Easy. Addict.A-list Hollywood actress, Scarlett, has been called every name in the book. Most she’s earned with her attention-seeking antics, high-maintenance personality, and bed-hopping. But even the most glamorous and sought-after actress can have a vulnerable center hidden beneath the glittery exterior... -
Chasing The Sun by Carrie Elks
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWelcome back to Angel Sands, where the air is heating up...Some people are like sun rays, impossible to pin down. But from the moment Jackson sets eyes on Lydia Paxton, he wants her anyway. Now he just needs to persuade her that he's playing for keeps.Chasing The Sun is an all-new standalone romance, set in the small town of Angel Sands...Categorized as:
friends-to-lovers humor family friendship female-mc contemporary small-town holidays -
Home Game by Ginger Scott
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFootball has been my life. Not that I ever had a choice in the matter. When your dad is a retired, future Hall-of-Fame quarterback, the gridiron tends to weave its way into your DNA.I always loved the game, but I could do without the spotlight that comes with being Peyton Johnson, the great Reed Johnson’s daughter...Categorized as:
sports high-school family enemies-to-lovers slow-burn romance young-adult contemporary -
On the Ropes by Kathryn Nolan
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsSummer in the city heats up when the girl who got away moves in next door.Dean “The Machine” is a South Philly legend. Much to the dismay of fans who still hound him, the broody former fighter walked away from his boxing career right before clinching another championship belt... -
Meet me at the Wedding by Georgia Toffolo
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsLily loves living in Hawke’s Cove, and planning her best friend’s wedding at the Hawkesbury estate is the icing on the cake. But when the estate’s owner dies, and his son cancels the wedding, Lily must face Henry Hawkesbury – a man she hasn’t seen since that fateful night ten years ago…Henry wants nothing more than to return to Hawke’s Cove, sell his estranged late father’s estate and leave... -
Forever in Cape May by Jennifer Probst
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsWhat happens when friends become lovers? Not what a wedding planner plans in a novel of unexpected romance by New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst.Taylor Sunshine and Pierce Powers vowed to keep things platonic. They already have the best of each other: loyalty, friendship, and trust... -
Beach Lane by Sherryl Woods
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsIn the close-knit community of Chesapeake Shores, Maryland, Susie O'Brien and Mack Franklin's "not dating" claim befuddles everyone, especially since the two spend every spare minute together. Susie's thrilled when their friendship finally heats up. Then, just when happily-ever-after seems within reach, Mack loses the job he loves and Susie faces a devastating diagnosis... -
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Under the Southern Sky by Kristy Woodson Harvey
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsRecently separated Amelia Saxton, a dedicated journalist, never expected that uncovering the biggest story of her career would become deeply personal. But when she discovers that a cluster of embryos belonging to her childhood friend Parker and his late wife Greer have been deemed “abandoned,” she’s put in the unenviable position of telling Parker—and dredging up old wounds in the process...Categorized as:
domestic-drama family female-mc friends-to-lovers friendship realistic season-summer adult -
Summer Strawberries at Swallowtail Bay: The hilarious and heartwarming romantic comedy, a perfect summer read for fans of Cathy Bramley! by Katie Ginger
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsGrab your strawberries and cream and get ready to return to the beautiful Swallowtail Bay! Summer is in full swing and the locals are getting excited for the launch of the Swallowtail Bay strawberry food festival... -
How to Lose a Girl in 10 Texts by Delancey Stewart, Marika Ray
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSophia Whittington is the girl next door. And Dillon Cunningham hates hers with the fire of a thousand suns... Only, it's not hate as much as... something else. The things that happened between them in high school, coupled with the loss of his dad, are a big part of what drove Dillon to decide that his future would be far, far away from Solano Creek, his family, and especially, Sophia... -
Sea Glass Summer by Miranda Liasson
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA moving, uplifting novel about motherhood, starting over, and an unexpected summer romance… Kit Blakemore is ready to live again. After her husband died while serving in the military, she was in a haze of grief. Now she wants to reclaim her former self—finish her degree and find a better career to provide for their sweet little boy, Oliver... -
Fearless Hart by Kelly Collins
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsKelly Collins welcomes you back to Cross Creek where love conquers all—including the secrets that haunt you...Miranda Thomas got under my skin, in a good way. The pretty little sheriff was one-part mystery and the rest perfection. I wanted her, and I intended to make her mine. Our future was as plain as day: husband and wife with two children and a house with a white picket fence... -
Choosing You by Stacy Finz
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThese newcomers to Nugget have left painful pasts behind them—just in time to embrace a future together... Picturesque Nugget, California, couldn’t be more different than the glittering caverns of Manhattan, but Brynn Barnes is grateful for the change... -
Love You by Stacy Finz
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSexy, smart, and exciting, the Garner brothers have made Glory Junction, California, the country’s top extreme sports town—but there’s no shortage of thrills wherever they go . . . Darcy Wallace may be an employee at Garner Adventure, but the kind of excitement she’s looking for is more of the indoor variety... -
Puck Happens: A Hockey Romance by Hailey Shore
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHockey players and ice skaters do not mix.Tell that to the new bane of my existence, Olivia Tyler-Branch, figure skater turned NHL skating coach. She knows her stuff, but I can't let her past my defenses.I fell hard for her once before...Now I need to be focused on the game not on Olivia’s soft honey blonde hair, her feisty competitive streak, or the heartbreak behind her eyes... -
Angle of Pursuit by Jamie Bennett
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAubin had a plan…and this wasn’t it.Never, not once in a million years, did Aubin Frazier think that she would end up like single again, rejected by her family and friends, and totally broke...Categorized as:
sports slow-burn friends-to-lovers female-mc romance small-town contemporary children -
Ruined Hopes by L.A. Cotton
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAshleigh Chase has always had big dreams.But when she wakes up in hospital with no memory of how she got there, her bright future dissolves around her.Ezra Bennet has always felt like the odd one out.But this time, he really screwed up and he has no choice but to face the consequences...Categorized as:
coming-of-age enemies-to-lovers friends-to-lovers high-school slow-burn sports abuse amnesia -
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Cold As Ice (Bedroom Games) by Piper Rayne
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIt may be Winter Games, but the bedroom games are about to begin… Competing in South Korea on the world stage is hard enough. Having to spend the entire press tour beforehand with a woman who hates me? Karma really is a bitch. While she’s spent the last four years loathing me, I’ve spent them ignoring the guilt that gnaws at my stomach... -
Getting Wound Up by Jennifer Bernard, Erin Nicholas
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA fun and flirty crossover novel from bestselling authors, Jennifer Bernard (Love Between the Bases) and Erin Nicholas (Sapphire Falls)!Caitlyn Murray has never let on that she’s had fantasies about her brother's friend Eli Anderson for years. She'd do anything for the sexy baseball player who walked away from stardom to stay in Sapphire Falls and take care of his family... -
The Way We Weren't by Phoebe Fox
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAn unlikely friendship between a septuagenarian and a younger woman becomes a story of broken trust, lost love, and the unexpected blooming of hope against the longest odds...Categorized as:
realistic season-summer domestic-drama female-mc family friendship contemporary fiction -
The Hotel at Beach and Forgotten by Nellie Brooks
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAfter many happy years in Nantucket and Maine, Jenny suddenly finds herself widowed, penniless, and going on fifty...Jenny escapes to beautiful Mendocino Cove, the small town at the West Coast where she grew up. Here, her grandmother’s beloved seaside hotel still sits, empty and abandoned, on the corner of Beach Street and Forgotten Lane... -
My Famous Frenemy by Piper Rayne
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHollywood heartthrob, Gavin Price invaded our small town, Sunrise Bay, like he owned it.Gavin was my biggest celebrity crush when I was young. He bears the charisma of an easygoing boy-next-door mixed with a rule-breaker personality both in person and on screen.For a moment, I thought maybe my fairy godmother sent him to me.Until he decided to run against my mother for mayor... -
Attractive Forces by Jax Calder
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsLoganEveryone looks at me and thinks I rule Heath Valley High School. All they see is the captain of the champion rugby team, the guy who has got everything.They don’t see my secret, one I’ll do anything to keep.I’m so used to keeping my sexuality buried I’ve never stopped to think about what it’s costing me.Until I need a chemistry tutor, and Jake Stenton waltzes into my life...Categorized as:
coming-of-age family friends-to-lovers friendship high-school slow-burn sports athlete
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