Books like 'Because of Me'
Readers who enjoyed Because of Me by Katie Pearson also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary romance small town dark slow-burn outlaws steamy friends-to-lovers suspense forced-proximity
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Gin Fling by Lucy Score, Claire Kingsley
Rated: 4.61 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsA slow grin spread across his face and I had to turn away from the wattage. It was like staring at the sun. The handsome sun that was making my core temperature rise and causing a hormone dump in my brain. — Shelby Thompson Personal trainer Jonah Bodine discovers more than he bargained for with the half-siblings he didn’t know he had in small-town West Virginia... -
![Say It's Forever by A L Jackson]()
Say It's Forever by A L Jackson
Rated: 4.70 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFrom NYT and USA Today bestselling author A.L. Jackson comes a close proximity, single-parent stand-alone romance about a woman on the run and the man who will do anything to save her…Jud Lawson found me stranded in the rain.Broken down on the side of the road in a deserted neighborhood with my piece of crap car.I wasn’t looking for a hero, and definitely not one who looks like him...Categorized as:
forced-proximity friends-to-lovers slow-burn steamy suspense adult alpha-mc anti-hero -
![Leo by Maryann Jordan]()
Leo by Maryann Jordan
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsHe had no complaints… Great job, great boss, great co-workers. And a best friend he’d known for years.Okay, almost no complaints… The women he dated paled in comparison to his best friend.She had a lot of complaints… A job she hated, a tyrant for a boss, working with people that got on her last nerve. And no time for love. Plus, the guys she dated couldn’t come close to her best friend...Categorized as:
suspense friends-to-lovers slow-burn romance military mystery action-adventure small-town -
![Letting Go at 40 by L.B. Dunbar, Stella Hunter]()
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...Categorized as:
friends-to-lovers slow-burn forced-proximity steamy romance contemporary family death -
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![Singe by Chelle Bliss]()
Singe by Chelle Bliss
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsHOW DOES A FAKE RELATIONSHIP TURNS INTO SOMETHING REAL?While everyone around Carmello Caldo found love, he was busy losing himself in pleasure and pain. But when his cousin Lily wants to help him find true love, he doesn’t hesitate to accept her offer.Arlo King is not Carmello’s usual type. She’s a bookworm who doesn’t give herself away easy... -
![Black Mail: A Black's Bandits Novel by Lynn Raye Harris]()
Black Mail: A Black's Bandits Novel by Lynn Raye Harris
Rated: 4.75 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsTyler “Ty” Scott finally gets his book! When Cassie Dixon gets threatening letters, there’s only one person who can help - her best friend’s sexy cousin... -
![Code Name: Outlaw by Janie Crouch, Josie Jade]()
Code Name: Outlaw by Janie Crouch, Josie Jade
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsMonths trapped in the clutches of a madman made Jenna Franklin a shell of the woman she once was. All she can do now is use her computer genius from inside the safety of closed doors. Even two years later, going outside = blood-freezing panic. She’s made herself a haven in the only place she’s felt safe since her captivity: Oak Creek, Wyoming—home of her Linear Tactical friends...Categorized as:
dark forced-proximity friends-to-lovers suspense action-adventure adult alpha-mc book -
![Untaken Twin by Samantha Christy]()
Untaken Twin by Samantha Christy
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsA forbidden romance.There’s only one thing worse than your fiancé dying . . .It's having to look into his face every single day.Or should I say - the face of his twin.So I left.I never knew promises were made. Then broken.And I surely never expected those promises to be about me.When I return to my hometown and see his face, the heartache I’ve been running from is front and center... -
![Could Be the One: (Lucas and Becca) by Claire Kingsley]()
Could Be the One: (Lucas and Becca) by Claire Kingsley
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsI’ve always been the good girl, doing what people expect. But when I find myself dumped, instead of engaged, I realize it’s time for a change. I want to stop being so timid. Take risks. Find my naughty side. And who better to help me than my friend Lucas? Sure, Lucas is sexy as sin, with a smile that turns my brain inside out and a body that makes me think a lot of very bad girl thoughts...Categorized as:
steamy friends-to-lovers forced-proximity slow-burn romantic-love contemporary audiobook small-town -
![Keep This Promise by Corinne Michaels]()
Keep This Promise by Corinne Michaels
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsI am about to lose everything.My home. My name. My future.My husband was involved in something that could cost us our lives, and on his deathbed, he demands my daughter and I flee Britain. I had no idea he found her biological father, Holden James, in Rose Canyon, and that’s where we’d start over.The moment we see each other, feelings I’d long forgotten rush over me...Categorized as:
suspense forced-proximity friends-to-lovers steamy slow-burn romance contemporary audiobook -
![Ranger by Rebecca Sharp]()
Ranger by Rebecca Sharp
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsSydney Ward woke up on the wrong side of life—that’s what it feels like when cancel culture claims another victim...Categorized as:
suspense forced-proximity friends-to-lovers slow-burn steamy dark romance contemporary -
![Until You Can't by Brittney Sahin]()
Until You Can't by Brittney Sahin
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsFrom Wall Street Journal bestselling author Brittney Sahin comes a thrilling new standalone romance.She was the girl next door. His brother’s ex. And the woman he spent a decade pretending to hate . . .After twenty years of service, the Navy told me it’d be too risky to operate again, forcing me to retire as a Navy SEAL...Categorized as:
forced-proximity friends-to-lovers slow-burn steamy suspense 21st-century action-adventure adult -
![Before the Sunset by Laura Pavlov]()
Before the Sunset by Laura Pavlov
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsHe’s an actor in need of an image makeover. She’s determined to show her ex-fiancé that she’s moved on. A fake relationship between two best friends is the perfect solution. Or is it?Reese Murphy has been my best friend since before we took our first steps.She’s the yin to my yang.The peanut butter to my jelly...Categorized as:
friends-to-lovers forced-proximity steamy slow-burn romance contemporary audiobook fiction -
![Broken Wings by Chelle Bliss]()
Broken Wings by Chelle Bliss
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsLogan “Crow” Taylor had every intention of not getting involved in trouble after gaining his freedom and rejoining his motorcycle club. But when the rough and rowdy biker crosses paths with a single mother in need of help and his protection, he can’t turn his back and walk away... -
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![Honest Mistake by Lisa Suzanne]()
Honest Mistake by Lisa Suzanne
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHe’s not the boy next door anymore, and I’m not the girl I used to be, either.His life is in the spotlight as one of the most popular professional football players on the Vegas Aces, while I can’t afford to have my secrets exposed. But as we work together on a project benefitting our small Midwestern town, we easily slip back into the friendship we once shared... -
![Hidden Mistake by Lisa Suzanne]()
Hidden Mistake by Lisa Suzanne
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe boy next door is back, and so am I.He’s spending his NFL off-season in our small Midwestern town after seven long years away, and I’m in town for different reasons.Memories shift to reality as we find ourselves in the place where we first fell in love. We’re different people now, but I’m falling fast and hard for the man he is now.But he’s married... -
![What's It Gonna Take by Lacey Black]()
What's It Gonna Take by Lacey Black
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsGarrethFrom the first moment I saw Reagan Turner at the bar and restaurant I help manage, I was drawn like never before. She was dating someone at the time, which meant she was off-limits, until the jerk broke up with her. I can’t get her out of my head, can’t stop wanting to kiss those perfectly lush lips. Fighting this attraction has been my kryptonite.So, I give in to temptation... -
![The Rulebreaker by Amelia Shea]()
The Rulebreaker by Amelia Shea
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsSloane Baxter is a good girl. She may not have an enviable or even desirable past, but she’s making her future perfect, including all the things she’s dreamed of, a solid home, a job she loves, and a life she’s created despite the hurdles she’s had to leap. Sloane is living her life on her terms... -
![Park by Gemma Weir]()
Park by Gemma Weir
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsPark I’m a coward. I’ve hidden for the last decade because I can’t tell her the truth. She was my best friend, the greatest love of my life. When it was finally our time, it was all ripped away, ruined by something out of our control. If I can’t have her then I’d rather be alone, or at least that’s what I thought. One look was all it took. One word and I was obsessed... -
![Anti-Hero by Kelly Fox]()
Anti-Hero by Kelly Fox
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsSpoiler This isn't some sad exploration of my tragic past. I have a list of the people who bought and sold me. And they aren't getting a redemption arc. I was luckier than most. I was rescued by a team of guys who search out people like me, and now I get to work with them. But I'm not the hero of this story. I don't forgive. I don't forget... -
![Tempting Promises by Corinne Michaels]()
Tempting Promises by Corinne Michaels
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWhat’s the worst thing you could do when you’re stranded in the woods with your rival? Sleep with him. That’s what.Not only is Rowan Whitlock my sister’s ex, but we’re both vying for the contract that would save my family farm... -
![Ruthless Rejection by P.H. Nix]()
Ruthless Rejection by P.H. Nix
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsEdgewood threatens to chew me up and spit me out.Since moving to town, my life has been turned on its axis. Everything I thought I knew is a lie, and even as secrets are revealed, more questions arise.I’ve been forced into a ruthless game—one with deadly consequences in order to take care of my siblings in my parents’ absence... -
![Stay Over by Kaylee Ryan]()
Stay Over by Kaylee Ryan
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsBrooksOverhearing my cousin’s best friend confessing that she’s never been satisfied wasn’t my fault… but offering to help her change that definitely was. Her brother is a friend of mine, and while this has a bad idea written all over it, it doesn’t stop us from becoming friends… with benefits. Palmer is gorgeous, off-limits, and stubborn as hell. For the first time, I’m the one left wanting more...Categorized as:
friends-to-lovers steamy forced-proximity slow-burn romance contemporary small-town age-gap -
![Wolf.e by Paisley Hope]()
Wolf.e by Paisley Hope
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsAlways ride faster than your angel can fly.-Gabriel Wolfe As president of the Hounds of Hell motorcycle club, my life has been infused with darkness and trauma since the day I was born. Chaos is my birthright. I crave it to feel stable. Secure. Whole.The only people I care about are the ones who don my cut. Women are just a tool. Never to covet, only to use, each face blending into the next... -
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![Steady by Anna Brooks]()
Steady by Anna Brooks
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsErik Anderson is paying for his mistakes and enduring every bit of pain that comes his way. After all, if it weren’t for him, the girl who gave him more than he deserved would still be alive. Even if he were to be put out of his misery, he’d never see her again. Considering angels go to heaven and sinners go to hell, Erik’s going to burn. Polly Madison has never had it easy...Categorized as:
suspense steamy friends-to-lovers romance contemporary anthologies small-town audiobook -
![Betting Man by Maggie C. Gates]()
Betting Man by Maggie C. Gates
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe day I decided to leave Kyle Kingsley was the day I no was no longer afraid of dying.I was afraid of living.Bridget McGrath had it all.Or so everyone thought.Beneath the façade of the white picket fence, shiny car, and pretty smile, she was trapped. Confined to a gilded cage by a deadly monster.After surviving a dangerous relationship for years, she found the strength to leave... -
![Nine Month Contract by Amy Daws, Erin Mallon]()
Nine Month Contract by Amy Daws, Erin Mallon
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsA brand new spicy small town romance by Amazon #1 Bestselling author, Amy Daws. This book is the start of a mountain man spinoff series based on the three Fletcher brothers featured in her previous release, Last on the List.Coming April 11Help Wanted: Grumpy Mountain Man seeks baby momma. Job is an incubator position only...Categorized as:
forced-proximity friends-to-lovers slow-burn steamy suspense romance contemporary audiobook -
![Crash & Carnage by Emma Slate]()
Crash & Carnage by Emma Slate
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAdderly “Boxer” Ford is nothing like the men of my past.He’s an outlaw.A criminal.My opposite in every way.I save lives.He takes them.I’m makeup and mink.He’s leather and ink.I’m a fan of monogamy.I’m not sure Boxer knows the definition of the word.It’s a bad idea to get mixed up with him and his motorcycle club... -
![Wild and Wicked by Mari Carr]()
Wild and Wicked by Mari Carr
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThere are worse things than getting trapped in a cabin during a blizzard with her best friend’s big brother, hockey star, Elio!Gianna, queen of to-do lists, clean freak, organizer extraordinaire, has her future all figured out. Dream job at twenty-four, engaged at twenty-six, married at twenty-eight, first baby at thirty. And she’s on her way to achieving that…sort of...Categorized as:
steamy forced-proximity friends-to-lovers romance sports contemporary audiobook small-town -
![Forsaken Oath by Penelope Black]()
Forsaken Oath by Penelope Black
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsBeau Carter: kingpin, blue-eyed playboy from across town, and the only man I’ve ever shared my secrets with.And now, my fiercest competition.I never planned on racing in the Gauntlet, but with my sisters depending on me, winning this tournament is the only way to keep our heads above water. I work for a crew that trades in secrets, and Beau runs the underground races that keep this town alive...Categorized as:
suspense slow-burn friends-to-lovers forced-proximity steamy romance contemporary small-town -
![Silenced by A.K. Evans]()
Silenced by A.K. Evans
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMaxwell ‘Maxie’ Oliver wasn’t looking for trouble. She would have rather remained oblivious. Now that she has information she doesn’t want, a missing coworker, and a scandal on the horizon, Maxie doesn’t think she can remain quiet.But being a whistleblower comes at a high price, and Maxie isn’t willing to risk her life...Categorized as:
forced-proximity slow-burn friends-to-lovers suspense steamy romance contemporary audiobook -
![No Mistake by Lisa Suzanne]()
No Mistake by Lisa Suzanne
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAll I want is my happy ending with the boy next door.Every time we get close, something threatens to break us. Half-sisters, town gossips, and jealous exes throw punch after punch, but we hold on tight to each other as we attempt to navigate the chaos.With his life in the spotlight as a professional football player, I start to feel like it might always be like this... -
![Nailed by You: The Ross Brothers Trilogy: Book One by Nikki Mays]()
Nailed by You: The Ross Brothers Trilogy: Book One by Nikki Mays
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsKellie has had it with men! Especially good for nothing sperm donors who never see their daughter! The only men who don’t get on her nerves are her father, brother and Mason Ross. The first two for obvious reasons and the last one, well...he’s just Mason. Sweet, silly and more handsome than any man should ever be. Too bad a man like him can have any woman that he wants... -
![Holding On by Pamela Clare]()
Holding On by Pamela Clare
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA hero barely holding on… Harrison Conrad returned to Scarlet Springs from Nepal, the sole survivor of a freak accident on Mt. Everest. Shattered and grieving for his friends, he vows never to climb again and retreats into a bottle of whiskey—until Kenzie Morgan shows up at his door with a tiny puppy asking for his help... -
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![Straight Up by Charity Ferrell]()
Straight Up by Charity Ferrell
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA new standalone in the Twisted Fox Series.Book 3, Straight Up: (Lincoln and Cassidy's story)... -
![That First Flight by Jenn McMahon]()
That First Flight by Jenn McMahon
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsSomething tells me, nothing I do can stop myself from feeling things for my roommate.I’ve always wanted to be a chef.But the same day two pink lines showed up on the test, was the day I gave up chasing my own dreams to put my daughter first.I didn’t expect that to lead to a life of being scrutinized by my parents for every single move I made.After years of it, I was done...Categorized as:
forced-proximity friends-to-lovers slow-burn steamy romance contemporary found-family small-town -
![Never Too Late by Chelle Bliss]()
Never Too Late by Chelle Bliss
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHave you ever had your mother try to fix you up?Mine has been relentless, butting into my dating life forever.Every single time has been a total disaster.But when Ma summons me to her local hangout, I’m not expecting her to do it again. There’s only so many women in our small town, and at my age, I’ve met them all... -
![The Renegade Billionaire by Avery Maxwell]()
The Renegade Billionaire by Avery Maxwell
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHe’s got two reasons for getting out of bed every morning: Running his family’s empire and ruining his father. Braxton Reyes doesn’t have time for anything else in his life. At least not until his grandfather’s will is read. The only man Braxton ever trusted has just derailed everything he’s worked for... -
![Jason by Nyssa Kathryn]()
Jason by Nyssa Kathryn
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsDanger throws them together. Attraction keeps them from parting. Having lost her best friend, Courtney Davies lives every day like it's her last. Because if life has taught her anything, it's that some are cut far too short without warning. So when sexy former soldier Jason moves to Cradle Mountain, she shouldn't hesitate to express her immediate interest... -
![Jackson by Nyssa Kathryn]()
Jackson by Nyssa Kathryn
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsSometimes it’s the oldest wounds that cut deepest.River Harp fell in love with her brother’s best friend, a boy who was practically part of the family…a boy who broke her heart before leaving town. Sixteen years later, he’s back for her brother’s funeral. And River wants nothing to do with the man. At least, that’s what she keeps telling herself... -
![Beautifully Destroyed by Michelle Heard]()
Beautifully Destroyed by Michelle Heard
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsI used to be a happy, vibrant girl.Until I was destroyed in a single night.My trauma’s stalking me, every text and photo he sends me, a nail in my coffin.I run to my cousin, hoping I can hide in the sleepy coastal town of Southport.But there’s no outrunning my demon.There’s no hiding from the nightmares... -
![Sweet Spot by Jessica Prince]()
Sweet Spot by Jessica Prince
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWho knew four little words and a very public kiss would change so much.Gage Langdon didn’t do relationships. After having his heart shattered years ago, he made a vow to never go down that road again. But when his past waltzes into his town, demanding his attention, he reacts without thinking and makes a very public display of kissing his best friend... -
![The Pretend Fiancé Fiasco by Pippa Grant]()
The Pretend Fiancé Fiasco by Pippa Grant
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsA reclusive former celebrity, a recovering good girl, and small town trouble...It started as a joke. After a string of bad boyfriends, I made up a fake boyfriend so people would quit asking when I was going to meet a grumpy lumberjack trying to save his mama’s inn in my adopted hometown.When my grandma demanded proof from afar, I sent her a picture of me and my “boyfriend...Categorized as:
friends-to-lovers forced-proximity slow-burn outlaws suspense romance contemporary audiobook -
![Until Bax by Aurora Rose Reynolds]()
Until Bax by Aurora Rose Reynolds
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsBax Mayson thought he had escaped the family curse—until he saw Olivia Gannon again. It’s been eight years since he last laid eyes on his best friend’s little sister, and now, fate has thrown her back into his life. As if their undeniable connection isn’t complicated enough, a mysterious threat looms, determined to tear Olivia away from him...Categorized as:
suspense friends-to-lovers forced-proximity steamy slow-burn dark romance contemporary -
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![Bourbon & Secrets by Victoria Wilder]()
Bourbon & Secrets by Victoria Wilder
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsIn Fiasco, Kentucky, there is one rule: never fall for a Foxx brother.Any woman who did, ended up dead. It wasn’t just a rumor. It was my reality. I buried my wife along with too many secrets surrounding the night she died.Now, I’m a single dad with two priorities above everything else: raising my two girls and making great bourbon...Categorized as:
suspense forced-proximity steamy dark slow-burn romance enemies-to-lovers contemporary -
![Wild Mistake: A best friend's little sister forbidden romance by Kim Loraine]()
Wild Mistake: A best friend's little sister forbidden romance by Kim Loraine
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA Best Friend's Little Sister RomanceIt seemed like a good idea at the time.A two-week Hawaiian vacation with a beautiful woman. What could go wrong?Well, when that woman is my best friend’s little sister, the answer is - everything.Mackenzie Langston has been in my life since we were kids, and until now, I didn’t see past her family and our friendship... -
![Bourbon & Bonfires by Andrea Johnston]()
Bourbon & Bonfires by Andrea Johnston
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLandon Montgomery has suddenly found himself the lone bachelor in his group of friends. With a new career handed to him and a string of unsuccessful blind dates behind him, Landon is ready to search for love. A chance meeting and immediate attraction have him wondering if things are about to turn around or if he’s stuck in the single life forever... -
![Bad Taste In Men by Erin Nicholas]()
Bad Taste In Men by Erin Nicholas
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“You’ve been moping around long enough. Let me show you how these guys should be treating you.” Bailey Davis does not have bad taste in men. She’s just had some relationships that haven’t worked out. That’s totally normal. And she now has one broken engagement. Big deal. And an ex-fiancé who cheated on her. Okay maybe she has bad taste in men. At least the ones she plans to marry...Categorized as:
friends-to-lovers steamy forced-proximity contemporary small-town fiction multi-pov book -
![Unholy Sins by Elle Thorpe]()
Unholy Sins by Elle Thorpe
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“Bless me Father for I have sinned….and I don’t think I care.”Each Sunday morning, I stand in robes at an altar and preach about being good and moral.But when night falls, I take justice into my own hands, stealing from the rich to give to the poor. Ending the lives of men who never deserved to step foot inside my church.Until I meet her.Lyric... -
![Not in the Cards by Maggie C. Gates]()
Not in the Cards by Maggie C. Gates
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“Coming back to Beaufort was only supposed to be a touch-and-go. Check on my sister, empty my storage unit, and move on to whatever’s next… The minute I saw Mel again, roots sounded better than wings.” For Lieutenant Commander Jason McGrath, the military was his ticket out of Beaufort, North Carolina...Categorized as:
suspense friends-to-lovers forced-proximity military contemporary small-town poc-mc romance
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