Books like 'Like Real People Do'
Readers who enjoyed Like Real People Do by E.L. Massey also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary romance sports lgbtq mlm friends-to-lovers university slow-burn poc-mc family
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Free from Falling by E.L. Massey
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsJustin “Matts” Matthews is good at a lot of things: Rubik’s Cubes, playing guitar, herding cattle, and most importantly for his career in the NHL, hockey. He’s not good at human interactions or social cues, especially when it comes to women. This deficiency is an annoyance rather than a problem, right up until he meets Sydney Warren. If it’s not love at first sight, it’s sure something close... -
Like You’ve Nothing Left to Prove by E.L. Massey
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsAs the headline-stealing captain of the Houston Hell Hounds, nineteen-year-old Alexander Price has one goal: the Stanley Cup. He’s got the talent. He’s got the drive. But he’s also got an anxiety disorder and his therapist on speed dial. And, oh yeah, he’s gay. And he’s not willing to hide it anymore... -
#HEA: Happily Ever After by Cambria Hebert
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsJingle Bells Christmas smells Chopping down a tree Travis states: Santa’s fake! Oh for goodness sake! Trent, Drew, and the entire hashtag crew are back for holiday shenanigans! When Travis declares, “Santa’s fake!” the family bands together to deliver Christmas magic and the joy of family into the heart of a little boy who never had a reason to believe... -
Cravings of the Heart by Nicky James
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFor years, Arden McMillan has been hiding his phobia in plain sight. People can believe whatever they want to believe about him so long as they never learn the truth. It’s easier to lie than to be seen as a coward. Besides, it’s no one’s business but his own.It’s been ten years since Ignatius Rojas—or Iggy—has seen Arden... -
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Take a Chance on Me by Alexa Land
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFree-spirited ballet dancer Quinn is sure he made a terrible mistake by agreeing to be Duke’s roommate. The big cop is the most uptight person Quinn’s ever met, and both men begin driving each other crazy from day one. Before long though, an undeniable spark of attraction ignites between them... -
Broken Bridges by Tania Joyce
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHe's lost his band, his lover and his grandfather - the friends and family who'd accepted his lifestyle choices.She's lost her career, the love of her life and after a freak accident has to accept she'll never be the same.A chance audition for The Flintlocks could change his life.A move across the country could be the fresh start he needs.She needs to find her way in the world again... -
Tigers on the Way by Sean Kennedy
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSequel to Tigers on the Run Documentary producer Simon and ex-footballer Declan are taking some big steps toward a lasting life together. They’ve bought a house, and they’ll need it for the family they plan to start. Their friend, Nyssa, has made the generous offer to be their surrogate, and Declan couldn’t be more excited about the idea of a baby... -
All I Ever Wanted by Alexa Land
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsI’ve been given this amazing gift: a second chance. I have to get it right this time. Because Cole Ealy is all I ever wanted, and this is our last shot at forever. River and Cole met, and fell in love, and then it all went horribly wrong. A year has passed, but River can’t move on... -
Foxed by Jay Hogan
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsFOXED: To be thrown into a state of uncertainty—flustered, bamboozled, bewildered, puzzled, vexed.AKA, me. Jed Marshall. 55-year-old successful classic car mechanic; divorced, mostly closeted, and whose wholly inexperienced bisexuality has suddenly awakened after one smouldering look and said, ‘Damn, who’s the hottie?’ Or words to that effect.Cue, Nash Collingwood... -
You Could Make a Life by Taylor Fitzpatrick
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThe first thing Dan says to him is, “we’re in the NHL!”, because that’s how he’s been greeting anyone wearing a jersey, and Marc Lapointe, 'the future of the franchise', is wearing Dan's colours. “I think you’re my new best friend,” Dan says, his excitement beating out common sense, social filters, the need to play it cool. “It is nice to meet you, new best friend," Marc says, his mouth twitching... -
Stick Shift by K.M. Neuhold
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsIs it possible my straight best friend had a sudden stick shift?I made peace with my hopeless crush on my straight best friend, Journey, years ago. It helps that he’s never in the country long and our relationship consists of sporadic texts and video chats at odd hours.Now Journey is back. Back in the country, in my space, sharing my bed, and something is changing between us... -
When I Grow Up by John Goode
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA Tales from Foster High Story After graduation, Kyle Stilleno and Brad Graymark move to California to pursue their dreams. But high school sweethearts are called that for a reason, and their love rarely stands up to the test of time. As money, school, sex, and jealousy test their relationship to the breaking point, Kyle and Brad fight to hold on to the love that brought them together... -
Suffocate: A Senses Series Novel by Xavier Neal
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsER Nurse, Luke Hart, is known for his desire to take care of others and his need to be in control at all times. However, Stuart Ducane knows exactly which buttons to push to make sure Luke relinquishes both. When the chance comes for them to take their delicate friendship that's coated in secret desires to the next level, the timing isn't convenient and neither are the circumstances... -
Rescue by Alison Hendricks
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratings"I don't need you to rescue me." Tiberius "The Beast" Caulville is the bad boy of the NFL: an arrogant PR nightmare who doesn't care about his public image. But when an off-season fight lands him in hot water, he's forced to hide out in Hidden Creek and clean up his act with the help of the one person who doesn't buy it... -
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Trade Deadline by Jodi Oliver
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsBLAINEWhen my name is involved in yet another scandal, I’m told to keep my head down and my stats up. The trade deadline is looming, and I don’t want to leave Chicago.But that night, I meet Alex. The guy with the bluest eyes and the kindest smile.My reputation precedes me, and he’s determined to resist me, but the more time we spend together, the harder it is to deny the chemistry between us... -
To Catch a Fallen Leaf by Fearne Hill
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTake one shy French gardener, mix in a naughty aristocrat, add a splash of water, a dash of sunshine, and wait for love to grow.If only it were that easy.Reuben Costaud counts his blessings daily. His run-in with crime is firmly behind him. He has a wonderful job gardening on the Rossingley estate, a tiny cottage all to himself, an orphaned cat named Obélix, and a friendly bunch of workmates... -
Chandler: Training Days Book 1 by J.D. Light
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsChandler Bell When my boyfriend breaks up with me because I'm overweight, I go to the one place I feel the most comfortable. Oddly enough, it's the gym I was basically raised in. Things have changed over the years, but the people inside are my family. Some of them literally. Baker reluctantly agrees to help me get in shape, and so begins the torture... -
Fancy Free by Mia Monroe
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe last thing I need is a curious straight guy sniffing around me. So why is he so hard to resist?My life is everything I ever wanted - by design. Being one of the nation’s most sought after wedding planners has led to a life of traveling to glamorous locations, bumping elbows with the rich and famous, and sampling every handsome hunk the world has to offer... -
Always Eli by Charlie Novak
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhat happens when a sassy drag queen falls for his brother’s best friend?Eli Baker needs a job. Drag isn’t paying the bills and the life of a starving artist isn't as fun when he’s the one living it. Taking a temporary office job is meant to be a quick fix... -
Suddenly Beck by Vawn Cassidy
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA surprisingly sweet, sinfully sexy, and deliciously hilarious romp along the Cornish coast.Nathan Elliott has run away from home at the age of twenty-six. His teenage rebellion may have come ten years late, but better late than never... -
Twincerely Yours by Eden Finley
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsEMMETTMy twin brother and I have gotten ourselves into a lot of messes growing up. We would constantly switch places to escape consequences while protecting each other at every cost.But sleeping with Ben’s professor is a whole new level of mess, because there’s something Jonah doesn’t know. He might have been Ben’s professor last semester, but the person he was lecturing wasn’t Ben. It was me... -
The Best Wedding Ever by Eden Finley, Saxon James
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA short featuring Jacabs and Beck from Face Offs & Cheap Shots book two of the CU Hockey by Eden Finley & Saxon... -
Marc Jillson & The Gazebo by Anyta Sunday
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWant true, heart-throbbing romance? Put down the Cheetos, and stop being a jackass.The question is, can I do it?I’ve been an epic dick to my friends, my uncle. Him.Travis Hunter. Photographer, econ-student, paraplegic. Can I redeem myself? Apologize? Make a fresh start?Hunter seems to think so. Even roped me into saving his favorite gazebo from the bulldozers.The confidence of this man amazes me... -
The Professor's Date by Lane Hayes
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe professor, the hair stylist, and a wedding date…TommyHelp! My sister is getting married and according to her, I need a date. And a makeover. I’m a busy man, though. I don’t have time to meet eligible bachelors, and the tape holding my glasses together works just fine. Until my hair stylist steps on them... -
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Operation Meet the Parents by K.M. Neuhold
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsTeddy is ready to pop the question, but can he find the perfect movie-moment proposal for Harlow? And more importantly, will Low survive meeting the parents? Oh, the joy of Christmas... -
Messy Love by Riley Hart
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsDannyI’m not a guy who’s looking for a serious relationship. I love the chase, and the one time I thought I wanted more, the guy bailed. When my buddy Will mentions his recently out, older brother is looking for a place to stay, I offer the spare room in my apartment. It’s clear Jonathan’s past did a number on him, and he’s locked up tight... -
The Coincidence by Felice Stevens
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsNice guys always finish last, and Coby Epstein is sick and tired of being last. After his boyfriend dumps him, Coby vows to take it slow and not jump into another relationship, no matter what his ninety-five-year-old great aunt says. When Coby sees his ex has moved on, he goes on a series of disastrous first dates and swears off men, determined to be alone... -
Golden Boy and the Two Bears by Nash Summers
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAsher Williams is obsessed with love. His column is thriving, fellow students trust him with their relationship woes, and he’s on his A-game when it comes to matchmaking. At least, matchmaking other than his own. After a heartfelt letter written to his column, Asher is set on aiding the two love-struck heroes who desperately need his help... -
Heart Strain by Michele Notaro, Sammi Cee
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHolden~ When I get a call that my twin brother’s been shot, I’m in shock as I head back to Baltimore to be with him. Seeing him in a coma is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do; sitting here not knowing whether he’s going to live or die is the worst thing I can imagine. But at least Jameson is with me—he makes it more bearable, and I don’t feel like I’m in this alone... -
Risking the Shot by Amy Aislin
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsTime for distractions? Hardly. A chance at making the playoffs? It’s a dream for NHL forward Taylor Cunningham that just might come true. If he can keep his eyes on the ball—ahem, puck. And study for midterms. Dakota Cotton, eleven years his senior, isn’t just a distraction, though—he’s everything Tay’s ever wanted... -
Jude's Lullabye by Lucy Lennox
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWhen Jude goes back on the road as part of his European tour, he realizes leaving Derek behind isn't as easy as he thought it would be. This is a 6k very short story featuring a quick peek into Jude and Derek's current life several years after the novel Jumping Jude takes place... -
Paint the Stars by Christina Lee, Nyrae Dawn
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsEzra Greene has made a pretty decent life for himself. He has a nice apartment and spends his days doing the one thing he’s always loved—creating art. Despite being somewhat of a grumpy recluse, he’s even made a few loyal friends... -
The Making of Matt by Nicola Haken
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsMatt Carter, self-proclaimed sex-god and drummer for world renowned Souls of the Knight, didn’t have the time or inclination for planning his future, preferring to fill his days with music, women and alcohol. He didn’t want or need anything else in his life. Until the band parted ways and he found himself no longer living the dream... -
By the Numbers by K.M. Neuhold
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsTwo hot roommates, minus clothes, plus a drawer full of debauchery, and a WHOLE lot of tension. You don’t have to be a math genius to figure out the sum of that equation... -
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Can't Match This by Xavier Neal
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHelping your best guy friend, who you just happen to be in love with, find his dream woman through a dating service is a great idea... Right? Gideon Lucas Sports agent. Obsessively organized. And best friend to the most beautiful, brainy, bubbly, but insane, woman on the entire planet. Lennox Marston Sometimes therapist. Incredibly impulsive... -
Spiced Kisses by Charlie Novak
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsOne broken collarbone, two stubborn men, three interfering chefs, four weeks to go, five chewed garlands, and The Pear Tree covered in snow…Ben’s Christmas Plans:1. Finish the staff schedules, get the orders done, and make sure the next month runs smoothly because December is hell.2. Break collarbone at rugby.3. Scrap all plans. Drag Ianto in to help.4... -
Star of the Game by Amy Aislin
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFelix only wants two things:1. To make music.2. His best friend, Emery.But he’s not willing to risk two decades of friendship for something more. Besides, a bout of writer’s block is preventing him from creating new material, and he’s got deadlines to meet. He doesn’t need any distractions—and Emery is the biggest distraction of all.Emery only wants two things:1. To play hockey.2... -
Subsurdity: Vignettes from Jasper Lane by Eric Arvin
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsJasper Lane is the perfect, sunny, American neighborhood, or so it would seem. Melinda Gold is a young mother whose desire for position in the neighborhood is at odds with her upbringing by her ultra conservative mother. The same mother who makes life hell for Melinda's son, Patrick; Cassie Bloom is the grand dame of Jasper Lane, living on a cul du sac and doing her best to annoy Melinda... -
Hail Mary by Julianna Marley
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHe’s football’s poster boy with one thing on his mind. Well, perhaps two things, but Shay Cunningham’s outstanding football career and contract negotiations take precedent over everything else. Even women. Living life to the extreme, Shay’s past indiscretions continue to fuel his lifestyle. And that’s just how he likes it. Whitney Scott is broke, anxious and afraid... -
Izzy and the Right Answer by R. Cooper
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsJamie “Izzy” Islington is an ace, femme, neuroatypical college junior with anxiety, an interest in coding and poetry, and difficulty identifying his own emotions. He’s had no interest in romantic love until very recently, when he realized he has a crush on someone in his circle of friends—although he has no intention of doing anything about it... -
Who We Were by E.M. Lindsey
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratings"Don't leave the house, don't talk to the paparazzi, don't answer your phone unless it's me, and do not- whatever you do- attempt to post about this on social media." Life isn’t supposed to be this complicated when you’re an Oscar winner…right? So what if he has two names, and straddles the line between two worlds... -
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... -
Pitcher Perfect by Lee Blair
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhen a workaholic brewer and a lonely chef team up to win a prestigious food and beer competition, they might find the perfect pairing in each other.AustinMe and my friends knew that when we joined forces to open Tap That Brewery, we needed to do more than just make great brews to break into the crowded Oregon beer scene... -
Masc (Femme) by Marshall Thornton
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLionel and Dog are back in this follow-up to the Lambda finalist, Femme. Almost six months have passed and, after taking an online quiz, Lionel believes their relationship is doomed because they have nothing in common. To save their future together, the pair joins a gay bowling league and discovers that Lionel is an excellent, if somewhat eccentric, bowler... -
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Meeting Mr. Adorkable by Ali Ryecart, A.E. Ryecart
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTwo wounded hearts. One small town. A romance with the power to heal.Dumped by his older lover and left jobless in the family business, life isn’t looking too rosy for Lucian, a sweet but awkward English florist. At rock bottom, he’s determined to make a fresh start, and the Wyoming town of Collier’s Creek might just be the place to do it... -
Defenseman No. 9 by Xavier Neal
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA New Adult Romantic Comedy. Once upon a time, the Vlasta Vipers hockey team was so incredible — on and off the ice — they were almost mythical. Back then, they were the undefeated conquerors of the rink. Coveted prizes for Puck Bunnies. Their reputation was ironclad until the wrong skates landed on the wrong feet... -
Past the Rush by Britt Stark
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsOne night changed everything.Every hope and dream I had vanished with the touch of a hand.Whoever said love lasts forever obviously has never been in love with their brother’s best friend.Ever since high school, I have been trying to replace the painful memories of my past with new ones. Forgetting every trauma was working until I ran into him… Conrad Stone...Categorized as:
sports celebrity friends-to-lovers slow-burn humor romance contemporary forced-proximity -
The Fly-Half by Charlie Novak
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA Way To Score With My Best Friend Meet Jonny and Devon in the second book in the Lincoln Knights series, featuring a fly-half who's been in love with his best friend for fifteen years, a number eight dealing with new feelings of jealousy, "I want you to be mine" vibes, chaotic teammates and friends, and plenty of low-angst steam and sweetness.Coming February 2025... -
King of the Mountain by Aiden Ainslie
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAmerican cycling sensation and heartthrob Clifford Du Frey is riding the wave of success. Brand Du Frey is a multi-million-dollar business, and during the Tour de France, Clifford is mobbed by fans wherever he goes. The superstar must focus on winning the Tour de France and maintaining the image of the athletic hetero alpha male at all costs.But Clifford has a secret... -
Pole Position by Charlie Novak
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsPole position gives a driver the best chance at winning, but can there be a winner when a long-term relationship is on the line? Mateo Llorente was born to be Formula 1 World Champion. Charming, handsome, and incredibly talented, Mateo is everything a champion should be...
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