Books like 'Encore'
Readers who enjoyed Encore by Shira Anthony also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary romance mlm coming-of-age lgbtq friends-to-lovers angst second-chances university
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Aaron's Awakening by K.C. Wells
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAaron isn’t looking for love, but it finds him – and it has a few surprises in store…A laidback man who goes with the flowAaron is happy for his friends who’ve found love, but he’s starting to feel as if he’s an endangered species – a single guy. Not that he’s looking for anyone... -
Unbroken by Larry Benjamin
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMy parents, unable to change me, had instead, silenced me. When they'd stilled my hands, they'd taken my words, made me lower my voice to a whisper. Later, I remained silent in defense, refusing to acknowledge the hateful words: Brainiac. Sissy. Antiman. Faggot... -
Sacrificed by J.P. Barnaby
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsReunited with his father but missing the one man he loves more than any other, Jamie Mayfield attempts to put his life back together amid rehab, seizures, and the gutting loneliness of Brian’s rejection. As he tries to cope, Jamie finds that relying on his friends isn’t nearly as difficult as he’d imagined, and soon he can once again stand on his own two feet... -
Second Nature by Alexa Land
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe last time I saw Gabriel, he was putting me on a bus and sending me to some relatives I’d never met, with the hope of a fresh start after rehab. That was four years ago. Now he’s back in my life. I’ve wanted him for years, while he’s always thought of me as just a friend. This is my one shot at turning our friendship into so much more... -
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Wrecked Rose by Leila James
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMax SuttonConfident, witty charmer. Out and proud.I never expected him to cross my mind.One kiss wrecked me for anyone else.And now he consumes all my thoughts.If people find out, my world explodes.He doesn’t want to hide us.And I want him … but I might have to choose her.Welcome back to Rosehaven Academy... -
The Long Way by DomLuka
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsNote: Book cover incorrectly titled.After tragedy strikes at home and he loses a special friend, is betrayed by someone he trusts and his father discovers he's gay, Owen Dovan moves in with the brothers he hasn't seen in two years. Even in a loving environment things aren't always easy... -
过门 - Guomen by Priest
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” -Matthew 7:14Guomen, 過門/过门, meaning marriage in Chinese. If explained literally, it means going past the gates/door-a reference to the Bible(see above).“Through the Strait Gates”: to me, it’s the best way to explain it.The gate’s narrow, the road small for them... -
Until Jude by Briar Prescott
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI'm the first one to tell you doing the right thing has never been high on my list of priorities.Same goes for respecting the law. And ethics in general.It's more like guidelines anyway.Until him.Jude Riley.I invite myself into his life and refuse to leave. I know it's wrong. I know I shouldn't.I do anyway.It's never meant to turn into anything serious.It's never supposed to matter.Until it does... -
Requited by Jesse H. Reign
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsIf you've read Unrequited, and have been left longing for more of Andy and West's story - you are in luck.Requited tells the story of roommates and best friends Andy Montgomery and West Baxter from West's perspective. It is a sweeping story of friendship that turns into longing that can't be ignored... -
Escaped by J.P. Barnaby
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFinally together, Brian McAllister and Jamie Mayfield have risked everything in a desperate escape. Jamie is now free of his tormentor, Steven O’Dell... for the moment. But Brian and Jamie know that one wrong choice could lead Steven to their door. With the strength of Brian and his friends to protect him, Jamie hides and finds the one person he is truly afraid of—himself... -
Finding Grey by Rebecca Raine
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen being seduced by a rock star, only a fool falls in love. Sean The night Dante Sinclair lured me into his dressing room and gave me my first kiss, I was oblivious to one important fact: all rock stars are spoiled narcissists. I learned my lesson when our failed attempt at a reunion left me humiliated and heartbroken. Now, Dante is booked into the music retreat I run... -
Free Me: Tattoos and Temptation Book 3 by Mia Monroe
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsOnly his ropes can unravel the past. I never thought I’d see him again, but when my former best friend shows up ready to make amends, it becomes clear just how tied to the past I am. He disappeared when I needed him the most, leaving me to navigate my truth alone. Now he’s back.Nixon’s art leaves me vulnerable, defenseless, and I like it... -
Luke by Con Riley
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsLuke Lawson is committed to one thing—saving his boarding school before a cash crisis sinks it. He’ll do anything to keep it afloat while vulnerable children rely on him, even if that means accepting help from the man who let him down at uni.Nathan’s offer to teach for free could be a blessing as long as Luke can guard his soft heart... -
Any Given Sunday by Mari Carr
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWild Irish, Book Seven.The child who is born on the Sabbath day, is bonny and blithe and good and gay. Sean Collins is happy working at the family pub and sharing a house with the woman of his dreams. He and Lauren are equals in every way, including in bed, where they burn the sheets. Life is good. Even if he must hide a couple of secrets to keep it that way.Lauren is madly in love with Sean... -
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My Ride, I Love You by Patrick Rangimant
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsThis is a love story of Mork, who is a motorcycle taxi driver in Bangkok, and Tawan, a junior internal medicine resident doctor in the university hospital. Seems like they both have a small chance to meet, let alone the falling in love, but it did happen... -
Blink by Rick R. Reed
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLife can change in the blink of an eye. That's a truth Andy Slater learns as a young man in 1982, taking the Chicago 'L' to work every morning. Andy's life is laid out before him: a good job, marriage to his female college sweetheart, and the white picket fence existence he believes in. But when he sees Carlos Castillo for the first time, Carlos’s dark eyes and Latin appeal mesmerize him... -
The Love Song by Kay Simone
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHow can you trust a second chance with the love of your life?Casey has never met anyone like Grant: smart, mysterious, and utterly alone.Grant walks through Casey’s life like a ghost, showing up in the middle of their senior year with no explanation, no history, and no interest in knowing anyone. Casey has plenty of friends, supportive parents to pay for college, and a solid future ahead of him...Categorized as:
coming-of-age friends-to-lovers lgbtq mlm second-chances book contemporary female-author -
False Start by Sloan Johnson
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsNixon Cross isn’t wired to share his life with anyone. He’d considered a relationship once, but after the one man patient enough to put up with all his quirks shut him down, he committed all of his energy to football and helping his players. Now, one of his players need more help than Nixon can provide and his former flame is the one man who will know what to do... -
Second Act by Alexa Land
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAfter pursuing my big break in Hollywood for more than a decade, I’ve finally landed the role of a lifetime. The only downside--it happened just as sweet, gorgeous Lorenzo and I were taking the first tentative steps from friendship to so much more. Our brand-new relationship barely had a chance to get off the ground, and now the pressures of my new-found success are coming at us from every angle... -
Jericho Candelario's Gay Debut by R. Cooper
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsJerry Candelario, known as Potts to almost everyone, has spent his entire adult life focused on raising his siblings and his niece. But the home he fought hard to make feels empty since everyone has grown up and moved out, and his precious baby niece is now a teen with a life of her own... -
Love Me by K.C. Wells
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTrent Sutton doesn’t ‘do’ monogamy. He spends his days on the road in his truck, and his nights hooking up with anyone who catches his eye. Casual sex, no strings – Trent likes his life just the way it is. He sees what his friend Connor has, but he’s just not interested... -
Love by Shaw Montgomery
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAs his muscular, submissive boys grow more confident, Dare couldn’t be more proud of them. Each step they take brings them all closer together and gives Dare glimpses of the family they’ll become. They just have a few hurdles to get over first, like the fact that his boys need to move and that they aren’t exactly forthcoming with what they want from a Dom or a boyfriend... -
Lollipops and Leashes by Della Cain
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSometimes the Daddy you are looking for isn’t a Daddy at all.Evan Taylor gave up finding a Daddy years ago. Instead, he focuses on his successful candy shop, embracing his little side on his own. It’s not the same as being taken care of and being loved, but it’s something. Playdates, craft hours, and story times at Club Collared help fill the void left by being daddyless—sort of... -
The Doctor's Wish by Andrew Grey
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsDr. Jackson Burnside is an orthopedic surgeon who made his own way. Always different, he got out of Natchez before his family could throw him out, but still wishes things could be reconciled. He's built a successful practice and a sound reputation in Carlisle. When he's called to the hospital for a consultation, the last person he expects to meet is Wes... -
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Breaking the Record by Raleigh Ruebins
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“When will I see him again? And why do I want to so badly?” Ben Lakeland owns a failing record store in small-town Welling, New York, and it's the last place he wants to be. Everything used to be easy: watching football with his frat buddies, drinking beer, and being popular in school. But at 24 years old, everyone else seems to have grown up but Ben... -
Mondays with You by K.J. Lewis
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHigh-school teacher West Connors struggled to put the pieces of his heart back together after the sudden departure of his best friend, Blake Thomas, from his life ten years ago. While loves have come and gone, West has never quite filled the hole in his heart Blake left behind. Blake Thomas gets things done... -
Late Check In by Mia Monroe
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHis late awakening plus my years of pining equals one explosive reunion. Five years ago, he was my history professor. The crush I had on the sophisticated, intellectual man morphed into love. As an older student and teaching assistant, I figured I’d take my shot. I asked him out as soon as the semester was over, only to find out he was married. Oh, and straight...Categorized as:
mlm lgbtq friends-to-lovers second-chances romance age-gap anthologies forced-proximity -
Couture Crush by Charlie Novak
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsBeau Barrett is about to become Alt. Bride’s first male cover model, but what about his own fairy-tale ending?When Beau Barrett arrives to shoot for alternative bridal magazine, Alt. Bride, the last person he expects to see is Cash, his long-lost childhood best friend. The spark between them is instant, but with Beau’s calendar splitting at the seams, he’s not convinced a relationship is possible... -
A Place to Go by Kit Oliver
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFalling in love was a long, bumpy, wonderful ride.Now, they just have to figure out the rest of it: family, holidays...and what to get each other for Christmas... -
Wrecked by Sierra Riley
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratings“The best gifts are the ones you didn’t even know you needed.” “Everyone in the wedding party gets laid. It’s tradition.” Roger “Beck” Beckworth grew up with a strict, homophobic father who was always changing the rules just to keep Beck on his toes, but now he’s made a well-ordered, predictable life for himself that he’s perfectly happy with. Perfectly... -
The Light by May Archer
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWhen Fran Goode kissed me goodbye four years ago, he took my heart with him.Sure, there were reasons we broke up, but they all seem silly now. And I know I should have moved on long ago, but the man's burned into my memory: his smile, his kiss, those long, unforgettable nights in his bed.So instead, I find myself driving up a mountain, on the eve of an O'Leary blizzard, to Fran's remote cabin... -
Lima Oscar Victor Echo and The Truth About Everything by Suki Fleet
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsGrowing up in a small village in Wales with a domineering homophobic father, Oscar has always believed he has to hide his real feelings. He's hidden his heart from everyone, but most of all from his best friend, Jamie--who also happens to be the boy he's in love with... -
Second Chances by M.J. Duncan
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsCharlie Bennett is a rising star in the world of sports journalism, but her personal life is a mess. Still hung up on her college sweetheart, a one-night-stand gone wrong convinces her that she needs to make a change. An offer for a one-year guest lecturer position from a small private university provides her the opportunity she needs to escape, and she jumps at it... -
Rare by Briar Prescott
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsOne summer changes their lives forever…Alex Ellison is well-educated, rich and good-looking. Too bad the ingredients of success haven’t mixed too well for him and instead of having the world at his feet, Alex has, once again, landed himself in a hot mess of trouble... -
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Talker's Graduation by Amy Lane
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsSequel to Talker’s Redemption Talker Series: Book 3 When you get past the basics of survival, what next? Brian Cooper recovered from the attack that almost killed him, and Tate Walker faced down his own demons. Now all that’s left is... each other. Growing up together and growing into their love is everything but easy... -
Desert Sons by Mark Kendrick
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA coming-of-age novel for gay males ages 15-30. Scott Faraday is 16, gregarious, talented, never been in a relationship, and is out to only a select few. Ryan St. Charles is 17, hot-tempered, has already has been in a long relationship, yet is barely out to himself. Behind Ryan's carefully fashioned façade is emotional scarring from a past he's never been able to reconcile... -
Unraveling Josh by Edie Danford
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWhen the crown prince of bad boys hooks up with his former high school crush, he’s after just one kind of happy ending.Nick McQueen just scored the perfect hookup—Ellery College ski champion, Joshua Pahlke... -
Always Together by Quinn Ward
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThey’ve been best friends since they were little. Can their relationship survive the secrets one of them has been keeping?No one believes Matt when he swears he and his roommate are just friends. That probably has something to do with the way he looks at Brandon when he thinks no one is watching and the fact Brandon doesn’t balk whenever Matt teasingly calls him Daddy... -
Sol by Con Riley
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsSolomon Trebeck’s heart broke the night of his bi-awakening. Fifteen years later, Sol’s back in Cornwall where it happened, single, shy, and oh-so lonely. Teaching art to kids wasn’t his life plan. Neither is raising a teenage nephew, but with no family left to support him, a live-in job at a boarding school becomes his life raft.Problem: that life raft is sinking... -
His Temptation by Jaclyn Osborn
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsCASONWhat do you do when you think you might be falling for your best friend's dad?Emery Cross is everything I never even knew I needed until the night I accidentally met up with him in a hotel room. Now he's all I think about. All I want. But after a kiss that sends my head spinning in the best way, he turns as cold as his glacier blue eyes. Refusing to let me close to him... -
Wish Come True by Keira Andrews, Joanna Chambers
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFirst love. Young love. Holiday love... Wish Come True is a collection of contemporary, new adult, holiday short stories by some of our favorite authors! Included in this anthology: "A Very English Christmas" by Keira Andrews "Mr... -
Into This World We're Thrown by Mark Kendrick
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratings“While Desert Sons deftly handles the difficult and sometimes dangerous coming out process of young lovers Ryan and Scott, the sequel finds that lingering tensions remain, while new challenges continue to surface. Infidelity, jealousy, town gossip, and buried feelings threaten to destroy their relationship. Worse yet, the threat of violence looms constantly in their lives... -
The Three Hearts Equation by Hayden Hall
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIf love makes sense to you, you’re doing it wrong.MasonI loved Leo from the moment I met him. But life gets busy when you grow up. Leo took good care of me, and now he needs someone to take care of him. I must step up and be that person. Except I can’t do it alone.LeoI could carry everyone’s worries on my shoulders but mine... -
Fling by Baylin Crow
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsOur time together has an expiration date. HAYDEN: I don't remember a time when I didn't love him. The only guy I've ever wanted sees me as nothing more than the kid next door and his younger sister's best friend. But when Dean comes home after college graduation, things are different. I've grown up, and the way his golden-brown gaze scorches a path over my body tells me he's noticed... -
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Straight as a Cucumber by Ana Byrde
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThere's a couple of reasons I shouldn't crush on Zach Stauff.1) He's my big brother's best friend.2) He's my roommate.3) He's straight.None of those things matter when I'm around him and my heart starts beating like crazy. He's been the star of my wet dreams since forever, but to him I'm just the kid who used to eat mudcakes... -
Son of Money by Brandon Witt
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsRandall Morgan, youngest son of one of Seattle’s wealthiest families, rejected his family’s money to live free of their control and pursue his career as a photographer. To make ends meet, Randall does erotic photography and massage—a secret he keeps from his family so he can remain a part of his young niece’s life... -
Window (Love's Landscapes) by Ali MacLagan
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsDear Author,I shouldn’t have come. He doesn’t want me here. How many times do I need to hear him say it, shout it, snarl it at me, before I get it through my head that he means it? I wish I could turn my back on him and leave, and find someone easy. Someone warm and welcoming who would laugh when they see me, and give me a hug... -
Trouble by Talia Carmichael
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAlex Hayes doesn’t get involved. He’s been hurt before and has no desire to repeat the experience. Besides, his friends are his family. He doesn’t need anything else. Or so he thinks until he comes face-to-face with Leslie “Maestro” Hannigan… again. Two years ago, Alex was the one that got away... -
The Bones of You by Laura Stone
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsOliver Andrews is wholly focused on the final stages of his education at Cambridge University when a well meaning friend upends his world with a simple email attachment: a video from a U.S. morning show. The moment he watches the video of his one-time love Seth Larsen, now a Broadway star, Oliver must begin making a series of choices that could lead him back to love or break his heart... -
Heart's Strum by Charity Parkerson
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFor a moment, Jamie held the world, even though it wasn’t his to hold… Jamie has spent his entire life playing the good twin. Now, he’s the one standing out after signing with Guillotine Records. Two years of being on his own in California hasn’t lessened his desire for the man who made it happen. Too bad that man belongs to one of Jamie’s oldest friends...
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