Books like 'What We Were'
Readers who enjoyed What We Were by Jen Samson also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary romance religion lgbtq mlm found-family steamy forbidden-love angst cheerful-mc
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Hired: Hadley by Nora Phoenix
Rated: 5.00 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsSebastian LeClerc is richer than Midas. He’s also a grumpy a**hole, a playboy, and the world’s worst boss. At least, according to Hadley, who was crazy enough to take the job as Sebastian’s PA.Big mistake. Huge.Sebastian may look like Richard Gere and be equally charming in public, but it’s all an act. Hadley should know, as he’s one of the few people who gets to see the real Sebastian... -
Hostile by Nicole Dykes
Rated: 4.79 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsGraysonLife has been easy for me. Top of my class. Star quarterback of the football team. Every guy wants to be my friend, and every girl wants to date me.Yeah, life is pretty sweet.Except it’s not.It’s all fake. School comes too easy for me, and I’m bored. Football isn’t fun anymore. The guys I hang out with aren’t really my friends.And the girls? I don’t want to date them... -
Starting Over Scottish: A Grumpy Sunshine Holiday Romance by Tricia O'Malley
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 12 ratings... -
A Family Chosen: Volume 1 by Sloane Kennedy
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratings***Note that this bundle includes books already available as single titles*** Save $2 if you buy the bundle vs the individual titles in each bundle! Come meet my amazing extended family of men, the Protectors and the Barrettis! Since all of my series cross over with one another, I've gotten many requests to bundle my bestselling books by reading order... -
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And All Their Stars by Riley Nash
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsWe’re complete opposites, the sun and the moon, things that were never meant to touch.Everything changed the day this brooding, high-powered lawyer found his forever in a scrappy farm boy from Iowa. Jonah’s my sun, the center of my orbit. Separately, we’re lost souls. Together, we make something unforgettable... -
Vow Maker by Lily Morton
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsDylan Mitchell wants to get married.However, after seven years of being engaged, that’s looking slightly doubtful. After going through ten wedding planners, they’re gaining a reputation somewhat akin to Henry the Eighth on the wedding circuit.Gabe has vetoed symbolic dove releases, forests of flowers, fire-eating performers, and puce as a wedding colour... -
All the Battles We Surrender by Garry Michael
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTime. That was what Sawyer Montgomery thought he had until he realized that it was running out. Now, all he wanted to do was right a wrong from three years ago. He made a vow to spend what little time he had left with Hawkins, the only man he ever loved. He would try everything to penetrate Hawkins’ armor before it was too late. Time... -
Easton by Riley Hart
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsEastonI’m the youngest Swift brother. The one who’s always in trouble and can’t get his life together. I wouldn’t know where to start, and ever since my twin died, I can’t bring myself to care. After my last “situation,” Dad washed his hands of me. And though my brothers should’ve done the same, they stood up for me, fracturing their relationship with him too... -
The Blame Game by Brigham Vaughn
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsFiery Rescue: Fisher Cats Player Heating Up the Sheets with Handsome Stranger?Fourth line center, Dominic Olson, was spotted with an unidentified man following a fire at the High Park Towers building in Liberty Village late last night.The fire was contained to the fifth floor where—according to firefighters from Toronto Fire Station 346—it began in one of the condo’s kitchens... -
Written at Randy's by Katherine McIntyre
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsAn adorkable author and an outgoing club kid as roommates only results in one thing—shenanigans! And of course, love.Love beyond the binary, serving up low angst trans romances at Randy's DinerWritten at Randy’s is a low angst M/X roommates to lovers romance between a reclusive trans male author and a life of the party bigender club kid that reads as a standalone... -
The Phoenix Chronicles by C.J. Bishop, A.M. Snead
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratings*A continuation of the Phoenix Club series"I don’t know if my story is truly that powerful, as to light the path for another soul... -
Before They Were Lovers: A Nothing Special Valentine's Origin Story by A.E. Via, Abbie Nicole
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTwo warriors. One unbreakable bond. A love story in the making. God is a hardened and confident alpha with emotional walls that keep him isolated. Day is quieter, more watchful, and looking to connect... -
Until You by Briar Prescott
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsEvery life has a before and an after. An invisible line that divides a life into two halves: the before and the after...When Jude is seventeen he overhears something that changes the course of the rest of his life. Now, at twenty-five, he's guarded, distrustful, and determined to keep the rest of the world at arm's length. He doesn't need other people. He has plenty of issues to keep him busy... -
All We Are by Jessie Walker
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsPride.Will and Waylon have been through hell and back—more than once. But they’re still standing, still loving each other, still embracing their found family. And that’s something Will is stupidly proud of. He’s happier than he’s ever been, and more in love than he ever thought possible. He just hopes he can find a way to make Waylon believe in them as much as he does.Pride... -
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Constructing the Soul: Souls of Chicago series by Annabella Michaels
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAkio Forrest loved his life. He had an amazing job, great friends, supportive parents and was recently given the responsibility of heading up the Agape House project, the construction of a new facility for the Chicago-based center that helped LGBTQ teens... -
Whiskey Sour by Addison Beck
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsKnoxWhat do you do when the love of your life chooses someone else?Easy, you find a nice rebound. If it just so happens to be his hot, dumb hunk of a brother, even better.Elton Hill is everything wrong with people. He’s loud, annoying, way too intense, and pushes too hard. But he’s available and our secret friends-with-benefits relationship turns out to be exactly what I need... -
Hard by Donna Alam
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA man walks into a coffee shop and gets offered a job in the movies. Sounds like the start of a joke, right? Or every man’s fantasy. Until I remember I’m trying to be a good man. A single father. One who doesn’t do casual relationships, Let alone get paid for s*x. But for those curves and that mouth? Any man might be tempted . . . ~*~ It was an honest mistake . . -
Never Have I Ever: Submitted to My Enemy by Willow Dixon
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsHow could I not have realized the guy I’ve been chatting with online is the one person I hate?Kai, the bad boy I broke my rules for. Who stomped all over my heart. Twice. He’s arrogant and annoying, and worse, he doesn’t even remember what he did to me.He’s also my new presentation partner... -
The Loner by Riley Hart
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsDeclanAs a founding member of The Vers, a queer podcast I host with my three best friends, I’m The Loner—quieter than the others, and except for them, I don’t let myself get too close to people. Most of them just let you down anyway, or maybe it’s just that something about me chases people away.Infrequent, no-strings-attached hookups have always worked for me... -
A Lifetime Kissing You by Riley Hart
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsCharlesI have a great family, a successful career, and never struggle to find the company of a man when I want it, and I do—often. The loss of my brother years ago is the one dark spot in an otherwise perfect life. But at forty-three, my world suddenly feels emptier than it should. Something’s missing... -
Never Kiss the Bad Boy by Lauren Landish
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsA full plate? More like an overflowing platter.The last thing I have time for is the bad boy next door.Even if he’s hot, sweaty, muscled, pierced, and makes sexy promises that keep me on edge.Survival Mode is how I live. My ghost kitchen is the place to be for every work crew in the city, and I bust my butt from sunup to sun down, while rubbing every nickel and dime together to scrape by...Categorized as:
grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc steamy found-family romance contemporary enemies-to-lovers -
Poetry On Ice by Jesse H. Reign
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsI can’t tell if we’re fighting…or flirting?Being traded to the Seattle Vipers has left me with mixed feelings. On the one hand, they’re my team, the team I’ve loved and supported since I was a kid, but on the other hand, he’s here. Him. Ant Decker. Infamous NHL bad boy. Right wing to my left. A man who’s made it his sole purpose in life to be better than me... -
Pretty Mess by Lily Morton
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsKiss him, sleep with him, but don’t ever fall in love with him.The first time Wes Archer steps into Jack of Clubs, an exclusive London pleasure club, he’s completely confident he can heed the tried-and-true advice about becoming an escort. Wes gives himself away for free with casual hookups all the time... -
Balls Up by Kate Aaron
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsOwen Barnes’s life is finally going the way he wants. He’s making a living as an author, and his relationship with building surveyor Magnus Cassidy is going from strength to strength.When Owen finds a lump, he buries his head in the sand. He’s too busy for doctor appointments and besides, it’s probably nothing. He pushes concern away and is soon swept up in a whirlwind of distractions... -
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Learning to Love by M.A. Innes
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLeon’s trusted very few people in his life…but that’s starting to change.Finally understanding why love and attraction were always confusing for him has changed Leon’s life in more ways than he can count, but the biggest has been how he sees Morgan. They’ve gone from barely being friends to so much more but trust requires honesty, and Leon knows it’s time to start opening up about his past... -
Plaything by Colette Davison
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsCan being Beau’s housemate and plaything, transform into forever love?A one-night stand with my housemate wasn’t the best idea, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting seconds.Beau is unexpectedly everything I want. He respects me and accepts me the way I am. He takes charge but relinquishes control to me when I feel the need.Nothing’s ever simple... -
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Bar Re’s Redemption by STESLARA
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratings...Categorized as:
lgbtq grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc romance young-adult contemporary fiction -
Jack of Hearts by A.M. Snead
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIn a taboo industry that thrives on raw, emotionless sex, Gideon Dodd is a visionary who views gay sex as a thing of beauty and something to be celebrated rather than exploited. Gideon’s boys are the best in the business, not merely for their exquisite talents but for the bonds they share with one another as their mutual love for each other thrives on and off the camera... -
UnConVentional Kiss by Katherine McIntyre, K.C. Carmine
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsOne Comic-Con. One chance encounter. One kiss that changes everything.BeckI never claimed to be easy to love. My steady stream of ex-girlfriends is proof positive, and my anxiety pretty much confirms I’ll be alone for the rest of my life. No matter who I date, I can’t ever feel completely myself.At least until I met Cay, who’s bright, charming, and captures my attention from the start... -
Camboy by Colette Davison
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHaving a foursome is a dream come true, but navigating a relationship is more challenging.Being a camboy is great, but I’m bored of performing solo. I’ve invited myself to be adult film star Lyric Steele’s co-star for the day, and I’m taking my partner-in-crime and soon-to-be-housemate, Rubin, along as my chaperone.It doesn’t take long to realise I’m attracted to Lyric... -
Scene Queen by Charlie Novak
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsNote to self: just because he's hot and funny doesn't change the fact he's annoying AF.Hooking up with my irritating as hell neighbour wasn't on my agenda for the week, even if he is ridiculously gorgeous with a smile that lights up my life. His music is too loud, he’s too nosy… but I can’t stop myself from wanting more than a taste... -
Implode by Victoria Dawson
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsNicI should have stayed away from her. Even I know this.I used to convince myself that I’m irreparable. But what if the one woman I shouldn’t crave is the only person who can mend my jaded heart?Claire Nettles is hiding more than just her feelings from me. And when I find out what has her so scared, I’m never allowing her to walk out of my life again...Categorized as:
grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc angst enemies-to-lovers contemporary romance fiction -
Lovely Allergen by Zhichu, 稚楚
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSong Yu has three requirements for Yue Zhishi:– You cannot call me gege in public.– We won’t do anything together in public.– You cannot let other people know you live with me.Yue Zhishi has always been obediently following these rules. They were practically strangers at school. At the opening ceremony, he suddenly collapsed due to an allergy-related asthma attack, sending everything into chaos... -
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FOG[电竞] by Man Man He Qi Duo, 漫漫何其多
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratings现代电竞+男神VS男神医疗师攻X突击手受【主角配角均无原型,谢谢大家】---Yu Sui and Shi Luo met each other when they were much younger. One was a pro-gamer, a widely-renowned, best of the best, in-game medic. The other was an e-sports newcomer who was just starting out. The two originally played for the same team, during which their relationship became increasingly deep.But things did not go as expected... -
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... -
The Gentleman by Dianna Roman
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsCameron Fairway has a secret. Before he shares it with the world, he’s determined to build the confidence he wants to live life as a gay man and the experience he’ll need to snag Mr. Right. For that, he requires a mentor—someone experienced. Someone with manners. Someone discreet enough to be able to mix business with pleasure under the watchful eye of his father’s empire—a gentleman... -
Snowed In by Lexi Blake, Sophie Oak
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsPreviously released in the Alphas Confess All anthology with the name In From the Cold. Winter might be cold, but this threesome is heating up … Jessica Phillips never imagined that Gideon Michaels would be at the seminar she was attending in the snowy Aspen wilderness. Gideon broke her heart six months before but introduced her to the world of BDSM... -
Contours and Cuddles by Della Cain
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAsh has the world at his feet—everyone says so. Then why does he feel like something is missing?Ash’s indie makeup brand is taking the industry by storm. He loves twisting gender norms on their head and making everyone feel gorgeous. If only he felt that way about himself. He keeps his scars hidden and his heart locked tight... -
Sweet as Pie by Beth Bolden
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsLuca Moretti is grumpy—and he wouldn't have it any other way.Wrangling six—Italian—siblings and the family's restaurants would make anyone cranky. But when his mother requests that he save his aunt’s struggling Italian deli in charming, picturesque Indigo Bay, he has no idea that he's about to get an overdose of sweetness... -
Ignited by Becca Steele
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMy life was perfect. A dream degree course, amazing friends, a different guy every weekend.Until him. One night.No names.We thought we’d never see each other again.But the man that blew my mind turns out to be Dr. Wilder, a lecturer at my university with a reputation of being cold and unapproachable.Completely wrong for me. He’s a teacher. I’m a student... -
Lipstick and Lecture Halls by Della Cain
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSometimes you think you have everything you want in life only to discover you're wrong.College professor Nathan Walker spends his days preparing students to be the next generation of teachers and his nights alone. He's been living a half-life since his wife decided his bisexuality was an issue and his love of makeup a dealbreaker. It's fine. Really--sort of... -
Choke Hold by Eve Holmes
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratings“But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward.”-Rocky Balboa Ty Roscoe and Luca Mitchell have moved beyond their rivalry in MMA, becoming more than just teammates. Now working together both in and out of the cage, they’re focused on one common making it to the Ultimate Fighting Championship... -
Pretty Boy by Brianna Flores
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsPretty boy Liam Walker is unlucky in love…LiamMy newest obsession is nothing like any of my past hookups.The tattoos? Not exactly my type. A perma-scowl and general leave-me-alone attitude? Yeah, that's the kind of thing I usually stay away from. And, sure, is it surprising that suddenly those things seem to be everything I want? Absolutely... -
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Love in the Wild by Mandi Blake
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIt’s all fun and games until the fake relationship puts their lives on the line.Gage Howard’s last name is a legacy, and not a good one. The Howards and the Pattons have been rivals for half a century, but his sister's actions have branded her a traitor. Now, his own loyalty is divided...Categorized as:
grumpy-sunshine cheerful-mc grumpy-mc found-family religion spirituality romance christian -
Our New Song by Emily Childs
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsOnce upon a time, a claustrophobic schoolteacher collided with a broody rock star in a finicky elevator...Vienna Shaw doesn't do risky, edgy, or anything on the wild side. She's the woman who thinks The Goonies is a horror movie and lives for Austen-era romance novels... -
Fairy Cakes in Winter by Lane Hayes
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA grumpy baker, a quirky ad man, and a recipe for forever…ScottSo this cute guy sits next to me on the plane and proceeds to talk my ear off for hours. Not good. I don’t like talking and I don’t like strangers. But Theo’s sweet, smart, and sexy—the perfect distraction from business woes and personal worries.Okay, things got overly friendly, but we’re adults and we know the score... -
Resisting You by E.M. Lindsey
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratings“Do you think I can go to jail for cutting holes in all the toes of my boss’s socks? Because that’s where I’m at in life.”Frey’s a single dad, a nurse, and ready to wage a one-sided prank war against the arrogant surgeon with the sexy accent he keeps getting paired up with. And while there might be more to Dr... -
Breakneck Hockey by S. Legend
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsI don’t want Casey Alderchuck, but I don’t want anyone else to have him either.My hook-up for the night wasn’t supposed to be my long-time hockey rival, but here he is. I’m too worked up to let him go home without having a taste. One little bite of that smart mouth is mine for the taking after how many times he’s broken my nose... -
Rhett by Riley Hart
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsRhettI’m the eldest Swift brother, the one who should have taken care of my siblings and protected them, but I’ve never been the kind of brother they deserve.Both Morgan and East had the courage to walk away from our abusive father before I did, but now that I have, there’s no turning back...
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