Books like 'Difficult'
Readers who enjoyed Difficult by R.L. Mathewson also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary romance small town humor sports high-school friends-to-lovers
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Doing It Right: A Second Chance, Single Parent Romance by Harloe Rae
Rated: 4.86 of 5 stars · 14 ratings“This doesn’t have to be the end for us.”Except it was.What did we know about happily ever after at the age of eighteen?Mason Braxter was a football legend—destined for glory far bigger than the confines of our small town. Meanwhile, I had dreams of my own—a simpler life that included staying put and growing roots.And all those plans of mine were going splendidly... -
![Reshuffle by Emilia Finn]()
Reshuffle by Emilia Finn
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThe first round is for practice. The second round is for keeps. She was everything Ben ever wanted. But time, distance, and jealousy made it impossible. Now they’re adults, Evie’s back in town after college graduation, and Ben never once let go of what he knew was meant to be... -
![Sweet Home Louisiana by Erin Nicholas]()
Sweet Home Louisiana by Erin Nicholas
Rated: 4.57 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA sexy, small town, second chance rom com! Thanks to a drawn-up-while-drinking-moonshine partnership agreement, Madison Allain has to spend thirty days back on the bayou before she can sell her part of the family business... -
![When Alec Met Evie by Jenny Proctor]()
When Alec Met Evie by Jenny Proctor
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsEvie told herself not to fall for her pro-hockey crush. But when she sees him holding her baby girl, all bets are off. When Evie moves South to the same mountain town where her childhood crush plays pro-hockey, she arms herself with all the reasons why she can’t fall for him again.Number one: Alec is her best friend’s much older brother...Categorized as:
sports friends-to-lovers humor romance contemporary fiction forced-proximity small-town -
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![Frayed: A Small Town Sports Romance by Laura Pavlov]()
Frayed: A Small Town Sports Romance by Laura Pavlov
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsBad boy football star. Innocent girl next door. Two different worlds. One small town. A million reasons why they should have stayed away from one another.My life was mapped out for me before I even entered the world.Who I'd date, where I’d attend college, what I'd be when I grew up.But there was a time in everyone's life when they'd face a fork in the road... -
![My Kinda Player by Lacey Black, Sara Eirew]()
My Kinda Player by Lacey Black, Sara Eirew
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAJ Summer witnessed four of her sisters fall in love and settle down. But not her. She’s stuck in a rut, destined to spend the rest of her life watching from the dugout, kissing frogs. Then one night, she meets a mysterious stranger, who makes her feel alive and realize she’s not as broken as she thought–until she wakes up alone... -
![That Summer: A Small Town, Friends-to-Lovers Romance by Jillian Dodd]()
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...Categorized as:
friends-to-lovers high-school sports audiobook book coming-of-age contemporary drama -
![My Kinda Wedding by Lacey Black]()
My Kinda Wedding by Lacey Black
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsYou are cordially invited to celebrate the marriage of Meghan Summer to Nicholas Adams, D.D.S., at four o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the sixth of May, at the beachside home of Alison Jane and Sawyer Randall. Reception to follow. The Summer family comes together once more as the final sister prepares to tie the knot... -
![If We Never Met by Barbara Freethy]()
If We Never Met by Barbara Freethy
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsOne moment can change two lives…Keira Blake agrees to the blind date simply because she has a wedding coming up and no plus one. Tired of being the last single girl standing in her group of friends, she shows up at the bar with low expectations, but her ruggedly handsome date is far more attractive and interesting than she'd imagined... -
![Caspian: A Carolina Reapers Novel by Samantha Whiskey]()
Caspian: A Carolina Reapers Novel by Samantha Whiskey
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsShe’s the girl next door, and for the next two weeks I’ll be her NHL star boyfriend.When Ryleigh Dunham needs a date for my sister’s wedding—one confident and sexy enough to make her ex jealous—I’m more than happy to sign up for the job.After all, Ryleigh isn’t the feisty teenager I used to know—now she’s all fiery passion, delectable curves, and a smart mouth I can’t get enough of...Categorized as:
friends-to-lovers sports adult book contemporary fake-relationship fiction small-town -
![The Wildcat by Bella Matthews]()
The Wildcat by Bella Matthews
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWhat do you get when you mix a devastatingly handsome hockey player who doesn’t do casual with a blonde bombshell cheerleader who doesn’t do serious?I was supposed to be taking the summer off from dating. . . and flirting. . . and men in general. A cleanse. It sounded great in theory. But theory went out the window when my own personal kryptonite sat on the barstool next to mine... -
![Runaway Bride and Prejudice by Emma St. Clair]()
Runaway Bride and Prejudice by Emma St. Clair
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThere's one rule smart hockey players know not to break: never, and I mean, NEVER date the coach's daughter. But no one ever accused Van of being smart.When the mouthy bad boy of the Appies catches the groom cheating on the coach's daughter, he can't just walk away. Not on her wedding day.Maybe his own relationships are casual, but he would never cheat and never treat wedding vows so carelessly...Categorized as:
sports friends-to-lovers humor romance contemporary fiction womens-fiction insta-love -
![Slap Shot Surprise by Melanie Harlow]()
Slap Shot Surprise by Melanie Harlow
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIn my defense, I thought the plane was going to crash.Otherwise, I never would have blurted out those embarrassing things to a perfect stranger.Did I mention he turned out to be a scorching hot superstar of professional hockey?But wait, there’s more.When the plane lands safely, I rush off, praying I’ll never have to face him again... -
![Dax by Shannyn Leah]()
Dax by Shannyn Leah
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsDax Colyn is one of the bad boys of Willow Valley. A fearless volunteer firefighter and hard ass mechanic, he makes all the woman swoon and he likes it that way. He keeps people at a distance since his mother died. He doesn’t want to let anyone in, much less a woman he knows he could fall in love with. Ava Anderson keeps people away, too... -
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![The Problem with Players by Brittainy C. Cherry]()
The Problem with Players by Brittainy C. Cherry
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAs a female coach, I’ve always lived by a simple mantra: throw hard, swing for the fences, and never, ever look back--especially when it comes to past flames.So when my ex-boyfriend somehow manages to land the job as my new assistant coach, my life is flipped upside down. The game I thought I'd mastered is now being played with a whole new set of rules.My ex is baseball's all-star Nathan Pierce...Categorized as:
sports friends-to-lovers humor romance contemporary forced-proximity small-town enemies-to-lovers -
![Getting Over It: Sapphire Falls book six by Erin Nicholas]()
Getting Over It: Sapphire Falls book six by Erin Nicholas
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsHailey Conner has been driving Ty Bennett crazy for years. And vice versa. It’s kind of their thing. But Ty is ready to make their thing into something more. And he’s moved in next door to make it happen. But is he *really* ready? Ty loves the confident, sassy, sexy mayor’s Ice Queen act...because he loves making her melt. But he soon finds there’s more underneath all that frostiness... -
![Triple Play for the Single Mom by Rebel Bloom]()
Triple Play for the Single Mom by Rebel Bloom
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsMy plan was transfer to the college where my ex, the star quarterback, could finally be a dad.But life threw a curveball when I accidentally collided with three of his hunky teammates!Being a young single mom hasn’t been easy.My ex shirks fatherhood, and I’m a magnet for judgmental stares.But it’s all been worth it for how much I love my little boy...Categorized as:
sports friends-to-lovers humor romance reverse-harem contemporary university small-town -
![Merry Little Midlife Matchmaker by Lilian Monroe]()
Merry Little Midlife Matchmaker by Lilian Monroe
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsEveryone in Heart's Cove knows Lizzie Butler as the reliable single mom who keeps their tight-knit community running. What they don't know is that she's been secretly pining for her brother's best friend since high school—the same man they've just volunteered her to matchmake for.Sean Hardy returned to his hometown looking for community, not complications...Categorized as:
friends-to-lovers humor romance contemporary small-town action-adventure fiction book -
![Off the Market at Christmas by Chelle Sloan]()
Off the Market at Christmas by Chelle Sloan
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe saying goes that nice guys finish last. The more accurate statement is that nice guys and nerds finish last. We don’t get the girl. We don’t get the happily ever after. Even if it is the one thing we’ve asked for from Santa Claus this Christmas. So when Presley Dawson comes back into my life after twenty years, I don’t even try... -
![Flower by Jaclyn Combe]()
Flower by Jaclyn Combe
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAvaI am the pretty blonde cheerleader adored by all.The popular girl, living that so-called perfect life.But when my childhood sweetheart betrays me in the worst possible way, my entire world comes crashing down around me.They say you should always expect the unexpected in life. But the one thing I never expected… was him.MasonI am the high school nerd... -
![Loving the Coach by Cami Checketts]()
Loving the Coach by Cami Checketts
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsCan a football superstar convince a broken scuba instructor to trust and love him?Annie Holman escaped her hometown after her father’s murder to protect herself and her family from a mafia lord’s threats... -
![Perfect Someday by Lauren Runow]()
Perfect Someday by Lauren Runow
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI knew, someday, I’d have the life of my dreams.I just wasn’t prepared to lose him in return.Growing up in small-town Mason Creek, it's hard for a girl to dream big. Since my mom was barely making ends meet, I knew moving away for college wasn’t in the cards. What I didn’t know was how singing a Miranda Lambert song while unpacking a box would change my life forever ..Categorized as:
high-school sports anthologies contemporary fiction new-adult second-chances small-town -
![Lakeshore Legend by Shannyn Leah]()
Lakeshore Legend by Shannyn Leah
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsPeyton McAdams doesn’t want a thing to do with Colt Patterson…except she has had a crush on him since they were little. Recently, they also had a nice little romp in the shower together. But Peyton thinks she’s just another notch in Colt’s belt and is determined NOT to fall in love. Love is just a game and it destroys people... -
![Break the Ice by Piper Rayne]()
Break the Ice by Piper Rayne
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe Winter Games are over, but the bedroom games are just beginning… This is about the time I normally hang up my snowboard and chill for a while. Except this year. This year, I’m dealing with what fate dealt me at the Winter Games—nope, not gold. A broken arm. Since I’m not close to my family, I head to my best friend, Skylar’s pad to recoup... -
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![The Best Medicine by Charlotte Fallowfield]()
The Best Medicine by Charlotte Fallowfield
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“The story is amazing and the characters are wonderful and hilarious.” The Next Great ReadA love story for the books!She knows her way around risqué romances, but author, Charlie Faulkner, only dreams of starring in her own love story. Drowning her sorrows in takeaway pizza, she writes what she's never experienced.When she does venture out of her writing cave, chaos and medical disasters follow... -
![Ear Candy by M.E. Carter, Andrea Johnston]()
Ear Candy by M.E. Carter, Andrea Johnston
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHe’s the plot twist she didn’t hear coming. Becoming a book narrator was never my goal. But if your deep voice tempts romance listeners to swoon and throw their proverbial panties at you, plans change... -
![Ready for It by M.L. Nystrom]()
Ready for It by M.L. Nystrom
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA woman who seems to have it all, a shy construction worker who prefers to keep in the shadows, and news that will blow their worlds wide open. Join bestselling author ML Nystrom in the Dragon Runners MC spin-off following the much-loved McAteer brothers.Party girl Melanie Miser has it all: looks, brains, and money... -
![Calling Cassie by Kat Mizera]()
Calling Cassie by Kat Mizera
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTwenty-three-year-old hockey stud Logan Pelletier is having the time of his life as the ultimate bachelor. It’s all about hockey and living it up with his friends. He has no time for love, let alone a relationship. Until a spunky, hockey-playing stripper dances into his life... and his bed.Miss independent Cassidy Reynolds is already 0-2 in the marriage department... -
![My Valentine Seduction by Serenity Woods]()
My Valentine Seduction by Serenity Woods
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA ‘friends to lovers’ romanceTeddiLife’s tough. I can’t argue with that. I’m not referring to being blind. That brings its own challenges, but I’ve never let it hold me back from doing anything I wanted to do. I’m talking about losing my partner before the age of thirty. I thought I had it all figured out—marriage, kids, the whole parcel, neatly tied up with a bow, but it wasn’t meant to be... -
![Upping the Ante by Emma St. Clair]()
Upping the Ante by Emma St. Clair
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHe's been the grumpiest boss a woman could ask for--or he WAS until I quit. But former football star Deacon Clark doesn't seem to be getting the memo. Instead, he tags along with me to Sheet Cake, Texas, where I'm hoping to start a new business.Deacon's only hope is to hire me back as his assistant. At least, that's what I thought. Until ... the very clear lines we've always kept start to blur...Categorized as:
humor sports friends-to-lovers romance contemporary fiction forced-proximity boss-employee -
![Don't Fall for Your Brother's Best Friend by Logan Chance]()
Don't Fall for Your Brother's Best Friend by Logan Chance
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhat happens when you fall for your older brother's best friend? They say there are lines you shouldn't cross, but where's the fun in that? Especially when it comes to falling for your brother's best friend... Picture this: I've got five brothers, and I'm the only girl. Standing out isn't easy, especially with my big bro breathing down my neck... -
![Saving the Halfback by Aly Westman]()
Saving the Halfback by Aly Westman
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTraumatic past, dark secrets, found family.I spent most of high school as a ghost. Avoiding, blending, disappearing. It wasn’t until my ex slipped into a coma after a freak accident that something inside me shifted. I was able to breathe again, find myself. I even joined the football team, something my ex never would’ve allowed...Categorized as:
high-school sports friends-to-lovers romance reverse-harem contemporary young-adult slow-burn -
![A.D.I.D.A.S.: All Day I Dream About S*x by Frankie Love, C.M. Seabrook]()
A.D.I.D.A.S.: All Day I Dream About S*x by Frankie Love, C.M. Seabrook
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsI’ve loved her since we were ten years old, when she almost died in my arms. Dramatic? Not at all. I almost lost Joanne once, it’s not happening again. Thing is, she’s a scared little butterfly, living in a cocoon of her own making. It’s time for her to spread her wings. And her legs. Scandalous? Hell no. She wants it as bad as I do. I’m not the only one dreaming about it all day... -
![Kiss Me First: A Coming Of Age Sports Romance by Anna B. Doe]()
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... -
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![Ryan: A Contemporary Romance by Giulia Lagomarsino]()
Ryan: A Contemporary Romance by Giulia Lagomarsino
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsRyan is a contemporary romance and the final book in the series, For The Love Of A Good Woman.It can be read as a standalone, but the characters are intertwined throughout the series. “Ugh. I wish Jack was good. I swear he’s a swish and flick.” “What the-” I put my hand up to silence Jack and glared at him. He had a look of indignation on his face. “Drew always leaves a mess... -
![The Reluctant Boyfriend by Erika Kelly]()
The Reluctant Boyfriend by Erika Kelly
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsPrincess Gone Wild!When Princess Rosalina discovers her fiancé cheating on her, she’s done being dutiful. Jumping on a plane, she lands five thousand miles away in a world of hot cowboys, jean skirts, and tequila. Grabbing her chance to fly under the radar, she plans on acting out every single fantasy she’s denied herself while trying to meet the expectations of her family and country... -
![Love and Other Things by Juliana Stone]()
Love and Other Things by Juliana Stone
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsBeck Jacobs makes a living restoring and fixing homes. The only thing he can’t fix, is himself. A part of him died the night his fiancé was taken, and he’s accepted the fact he’ll live his life alone. What he doesn’t count on is Sidney Barrett, a woman more broken than he is... -
![On the Ropes by Kathryn Nolan]()
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... -
![When Our Worlds Stand Still by Lindsey Iler, Pink Ink Design]()
When Our Worlds Stand Still by Lindsey Iler, Pink Ink Design
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsTime is said to heal all wounds. Kennedy Conrad embraces survival. Group therapy, friends, and dance are helping her find the person she was. Overcoming the darkest period of her past is getting easier every day. Still, the ache in her chest tells her something is missing. Him. The more precious something is, the harder you fight for it. Graham Black embraces change...Categorized as:
friends-to-lovers high-school sports athlete book cheating contemporary domestic-drama -
![Waiting for Her by Jennifer Van Wyk]()
Waiting for Her by Jennifer Van Wyk
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsOur relationship was such a cliché. Friends to lovers. High school sweethearts. Then... driven by insecurities, I broke Grady Ryan’s heart. I was weak, afraid to love, and even more afraid to be loved. There are secrets I’ve kept buried but I can’t forget what we once shared. I’ve been given a second chance and this time, I’m prepared to fight for him... -
![The Starburst Effect by Kelly Oram]()
The Starburst Effect by Kelly Oram
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsLily Rosemont lives next door to the biggest jerk in high school. Noah Trask has bullied Lily for years, and now he’s ruined her senior year by making her a target and turning the whole school against her. On top of that, her parents are getting divorced, and her world is falling apart around her... -
![Leia's Playmaker by Nichole Rose]()
Leia's Playmaker by Nichole Rose
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWhat we professional athletes. What we stick-wielding madmen who look good in blue, play hard, and love harder. It's a good thing this is Silver Spoon Falls because these hunky hockey players fit right in.Welcome the Falcons to the roster! These over-the-top athletes are about to play the most important game of the game of love... -
![Truth About Nerds & Bees by Andrea Simonne]()
Truth About Nerds & Bees by Andrea Simonne
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHe's the beauty. She's the beast.Theodora Stewart, Bee BiologistThat's it. I've had enough. My new neighbor has been sending threatening letters for months and is now suing me. He's trying to force me to remove the beehives from my backyard. (What kind of jerk doesn't understand how important bees are?)It turns out he's some famous quarterback named Gabriel "Beauty" Bardales...Categorized as:
sports humor romance contemporary enemies-to-lovers womens-fiction small-town fiction -
![Sweet & Rich by Samantha Whiskey]()
Sweet & Rich by Samantha Whiskey
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsI’m Luna Josling, owner of Sweet Water’s most popular clothing boutique and known as an all-around shy artist. And after I catch my long-term boyfriend cheating on me in a totally humiliating way, I’m more than ready to escape my small town for a while...Categorized as:
friends-to-lovers humor romance contemporary small-town fake-relationship fiction book -
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![Fumbled Love by Lila Rose]()
Fumbled Love by Lila Rose
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsRomantic Comedy The one day English teacher Reagan Wild is late for work—and looks like she dressed herself in the dark—she remembers Carter Anthony, a well-known football star, is coming to the school to deliver a talk to her overexcited students. While Reagan knows Carter from her high school days, since he was her past crush, she wasn’t ready to see him again... -
![Playing House: A Small Town Brother’s Best Friend Romance by Cassie-Ann L. Miller]()
Playing House: A Small Town Brother’s Best Friend Romance by Cassie-Ann L. Miller
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsI only showed up to crash my best friend's sister's wedding. So how did I become the groom?! Oops!When I charged up those courthouse steps to stop Sera's wedding, I didn't exactly have a plan.But there's no way I was letting my best friend's little sister marry some no-good tool who doesn't deserve her.Let's just say things got out of control. Fast.Now, the wedding is off. And Sera is crushed... -
![Sugar Rush by Amelia Wilde]()
Sugar Rush by Amelia Wilde
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI want his hard rock.He wants my sweet sugar.I’m trapped in a candy store, and I can’t get out.Not…literally. Just job-wise. My parents own the place, and they want me working here until I’m permanently frozen behind the counter.They didn’t see Wilder Felix coming.He’s the sexiest rock star ever to exist. And for reasons I can’t explain, he’s interested in me.It’s just a rebound—I know it... -
![Wicked Chemistry by R.L. Kenderson]()
Wicked Chemistry by R.L. Kenderson
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI didn’t know I’d risk everything to be with him.I thought he was the assistant football coach.I thought I would protect my teaching career from anything.I thought I could stay away from him.I thought wrong.Wicked Chemistry deals with a student-teacher relationship. All individuals are over eighteen and consenting adults... -
![Lovestruck: The Naughty List by Julia Jarrett]()
Lovestruck: The Naughty List by Julia Jarrett
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhat’s my grown-up Christmas wish this year? For my secret crush on Hunter Callaghan to not be a secret anymore.Everyone says he’s like a golden retriever, with his happy-go-lucky attitude and friendly personality. But I see something more – I see the vulnerable side he works so hard to cover with a smile and a joke. I see the man I wish I could spend forever with... -
![Wicked Hearts by L.A. Cotton]()
Wicked Hearts by L.A. Cotton
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe edgy, angsty, addictive YA/NA crossover series from L A Cotton continues... Some hearts are too broken to fix. Kiera Lessinger’s whole life is a lie. Attend high school with her rich friends, check. Act sickeningly in love with her goofball-of-a-boyfriend, check. Pretend that every day isn’t a living nightmare, check...Categorized as:
sports high-school friends-to-lovers multi-pov new-adult small-town insta-love cheating
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