Books like 'Apex'
Readers who enjoyed Apex by Victoria Denault also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary romance mlm sports fake-relationship lgbtq forced-proximity multi-pov
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Splintered by Isabel Lucero
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWelcome to Black Diamond Resort and Spa —the best place to go when all you want to do is disappear and not have anyone expect anything of you.Overwhelmed with work and feeling like I’m being pulled in multiple directions at once, I crave the serenity a private island holds for me...Categorized as:
mlm sports lgbtq forced-proximity romance contemporary friends-to-lovers bisexuality -
Limerence: A MM Rivals to Lovers Ballet Romance by Scarlett Drake
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFelixDancing is everything to me. It’s the mother I lost, the father who never sees me. It’s the fiery love of my life, and I’ll defend it to my last breath—that’s what it means to be the lead principal at one of the best ballet companies in the world. Just when I thought I was on top, my greatest rival—my eternal nemesis—waltzes back into my Nicoló Savini... -
Strike a Chord by K.M. Neuhold
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratings“You want to fake date me?” Music is my life, my band is my heart and soul, and it’s all falling apart before my eyes. A plan hatched from desperation as we both watch our careers burn down around us. Dating my best friend’s twin brother, Paris, who just so happens to be a gay icon at the moment seems like the perfect plan... -
Seth by Carly Marie
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsBe yourself because everyone else is taken. But what if that risks everything you know? Seth Johnson has worked his entire career to be remembered more for his skill than as an openly gay NHL player. Finding a boyfriend has been pushed to the back burner. As for exposing his softer side, the side that loves lace and lingerie? It’s not happening... -
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Just Winging It by Crea Reitan
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsOne weekend can change everything. CaulderI’ve lived a very quiet life, keeping my deepest secrets close to my chest. I let no one in; not even my closest friends. When I’m invited to participate in the All-Star Games, I’m suddenly forced to share a hotel room, and a single bed, with a stranger. My carefully guarded world starts to come undone when he kisses me, and I can’t get enough... -
The Influencer by August Jones
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIf you’re looking for a classic case of opposites attract—look no further.There’s Pretty. Flamboyant. Extra. Some even say ridiculous. I’m a tour dancer for the biggest pop star in the world with an exploding social media platform and a constant need for attention... -
Mistletoe Kisses by Lee Blair
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIt’s the most wonderful time of the year…until you get laid off.The fastest way to trigger my anxiety is losing my job at the holidays. Fortunately, I can always count on my platonic bestie to keep me grounded. Except our commiseration drinks lead to planning pre-Christmas vacays for each other, so instead of grounding me, my bestie sends me flying to Dahlia Springs, Oregon... -
Relief Pitcher by Lee Blair
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI thought I was helping him get his groove back. Turns out he’s helping me fall in love.TylerI have one rule when it comes to matters of my one and done. Consensually, of course. Fun with no complicated romantic feelings. Not that I’m built to experience those, anyway.After my car breaks down on a remote road, I follow a lumbersnack back to his creepy cabin for the cell service... -
Take Down by Michelle Frost
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsTwo men. Harbor "the Viking" Rourke is known for being a badass inside and outside the cage. His life revolves around working to win the MMA Middleweight championship title, riding his Harley, and making his family proud. He doesn't have time for relationships until one anonymous hook-up has him questioning his choices and making the list of things he cares about a whole lot longer... -
Hat Trick by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsStan Lyamin has seen many of his dreams come true. He’s found his soulmate, loves Noah like his own, hoisted the Cup, and has his Mama living with him in his new country. But his fantasies of a loud, loving, madcap home overflowing with childish laughter linger... -
Home Game by Raleigh Ruebins
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHe’s pro football’s hottest wide receiver…But for me he’s pure, red-hot trouble.Storm Rosling is cocky. Charming. A bad boy football player who can’t keep his name out of headlines and scandals.In my life, he’s one big red flag.I’m working with Fixer Brothers Construction to take their home renovation TV show to the stratosphere. I’m all business, and I’m damn good at it... -
Teddy by Emmy Sanders
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsWaking up married is bad enough. Having feelings for my husband? Pure disaster. TeddyI wasn’t looking for attachments. I certainly wasn’t looking to get drunkenly hitched to my coworker’s best friend, the very man I’ve been denying an attraction to for over a year...Categorized as:
mlm lgbtq forced-proximity fake-relationship romance contemporary found-family age-gap -
Lost And Found by Aiden Bates
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsI’m going to die on this cliff with only a bobcat kitten for company. I’m sure of it until the hottest man I’ve ever seen swoops in and makes me leap.Eli’s made for danger, and he dedicates his life to finding desperately stranded hikers like me.He’s too perfect to be true.I’ve fallen hard before and ended up bruised and battered.I have to resist him... -
Owen by Jacki James
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsFake dates only turn into real love in the movies, right?Owen Flynn never expected to get an invite to his former boy’s wedding, and he sure didn’t have any intention of showing up alone. Enter Keegan Richards.Keegan had always found Owen attractive, but he had never seriously considered dating a man... -
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Painted Lace by K.M. Neuhold
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsAustin never realized he was painting his life with shades of gray, until Keaton came along and injected a rainbow of color.Keaton is a tornado of chaos and paint, which turns out to be more exciting than I ever would’ve imagined. I love my organized, predictable life...or at least I thought I did... -
Don't You Dare by C.E. Ricci
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsIt was never meant to be more than a dare.A party game. A dare. A single kiss.That’s all it took to flip my world upside down.I’ve always classified myself as straight, and as far as I can tell, so has he.I didn’t think one kiss would change that, but I was so wrong.Now, I can’t stop thinking about him. In all the ways I shouldn’t.My best friend.Aspen... -
The Freshman Year by Adam Van Dyck
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsHey guys! It’s Tyler here, and this is the newest chapter of my life. Y’all are not going to believe this, but…I just joined the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee’s Men’s Soccer team! No, seriously, I actually did! I’m officially a Panther now! I did well on my youth soccer team, and I destroyed the opposing team in high school lacrosse, so I should be ready for college soccer, right?I wish... -
Hit the Brakes: A Fake Boyfriend Food Truck Romance by Beth Bolden
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsCan they fake it til Tate makes it?Tate Ward is in a bind. His food truck hasn’t been the runaway success he’d always dreamt it would be. When he tries to join a new food truck collective to gain a larger following, his sales aren’t even high enough to win a spot. What he needs is a high profile endorsement—and he knows just the guy.Tate hasn’t seen Chase Riley since high school... -
Live Wire by E. Davies
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAdam: I might be into guys. Do you have any idea how terrifying that is? I've already run halfway across the country to get away from my abusive parents, and I really want to experiment, but I can't even hook up without scaring myself away. I might look confident on the outside, but this is tearing me apart. Then my new roomie wins a trip for two to a gay resort in Hawaii... -
Stolen Hart by E. Davies
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWith one look, he blew down every wall I built.Barista Aaron Fisher has no time for shame, propriety, or boyfriends. He’s tired of being used—by his family, hookups, and even a would-be blackmailer. A year after his last heartbreak, Aaron’s ready to give love another chance. He swoops in to rescue a gentle, bashful hunky customer from the depths of app-swiping hell... -
Care for You by Jayda Marx
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMiles - I may be young, but I know what I want. And what I want is Jake Woods. He’s funny, caring, gorgeous...and straight. Which is exactly why I need to stay away from him. I’m only going to get my heart broken. But I can’t help it; every day I fall a little deeper in love with the guy... -
Montana Sky by R.J. Scott
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhen they spend time alone on a Montana mountainside will Tyler ever convince Martin that like sapphires, love is worth searching for? Martin’s name was the very last on a kill list. The son of a murderer, he’s had no childhood; lost in a horrific holding pattern of death that turned his heart to stone... -
The Red Zone by Beth Bolden
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSpencer’s deep in the Red Zone and it’s time to even the score. Nine years ago Spencer Evans became the first player out of the closet to be drafted into the NFL. Everyone believed he had aspirations to change the world but all Spencer ever wanted to do was play football for a team that accepted him wholeheartedly... -
Love at First Sighting by Chloe Gray, A.M. Bellows
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLove can be found in the most unexpected places.Charlie is on the verge of burnout from working three jobs while taking care of his newborn daughter. The single father desperately needs some down time to let out his inner, adventure-loving little. Fortunately, Cuffed is there to save the day... -
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Ship Off by Michelle Frost
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsBen - Free spirit. Nomad. Drifter. Those are the labels my family always threw at me. I’ve been on my own and on the road—nothing but me and my motorcycle—for a long time now and that’s the way I like it... -
In Your Hands by Louisa Masters
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhen Grant Davis stepped into the job of assistant director at Joy Universe, he knew he was taking on a challenge. The AD before him left a mess nobody thought could be cleaned up—but Grant loves nothing more than beating the odds. Over a year later, he’s convinced there’s something hinky going on. The solution: an independent audit... -
Escort by Romeo Alexander
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsJacob: My whole life has been grabbing one handhold after another to pull myself up. And I’ve done it. I have everything I ever dreamed of and more. I’ve got a head for business, and I’m successful. I’m even on the board of Greenford University. I float around the rich and successful, and I don’t have to worry... -
The Hotshot vs The Reporter by Nicole Dykes
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsRoyalI’m the hotshot—both on and off the track. I know how to work the crowd and show off. And I’m good at it.I’ve had to become very effective at putting on a show.But my agent is not a fan of my over-the-top antics. So she did something I still can’t believe . . .She called in the press—the media. Specifically, the reporter who hates everything I stand for... -
Blindsided by Carly Marie
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI sent my boss into subspace before lunch. Now what?Easton knows, in the world of professional hockey, he’s getting old and his body can’t take many more hits. When a job offer too good to pass up falls into his lap, Easton goes for it. What should be the start of a new chapter, opens another he thought had closed when he'd been drafted... -
No Backing Down by Becca Seymour
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhen we’re both needy and tactile AF, it’s no wonder everyone thinks my best friend and I are an item. But that’s so not what’s going on.Cassius Britton, the mouthy basketball player for the Minnesota Eagles, is my soul mate. He has been since he shared his gummy bears and let me have all the red ones.Because that’s the kind of person he is—selfless and sweet. But he’s so much more than that... -
Jaxon by Ruby Raynes
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratings***Jaxon - Love in Ink - Book 2***AlexMy life is going fine. Okay, it was going fine until I found myself both homeless—my trusty car Trixie on her last leg—and in need of a fake fiancé. What I don't expect is for Jaxon, my long-time crush and the owner of Ink Me, to come swooping in like a knight in shining armor...Categorized as:
mlm fake-relationship lgbtq forced-proximity romance contemporary age-gap friends-to-lovers -
Fake The Game by Julia Jarrett
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsI’m the bad boy of baseball. And she’s the good girl who’s meant to repair my image. Falling in love with my pretend girlfriend is not part of the plan…My life is a mess. My career is in serious jeopardy because of one stupid decision that had disastrous results. I’m stuck on the injured list, for who knows how long, and losing endorsements because of my reckless behaviour...Categorized as:
sports fake-relationship multi-pov forced-proximity romance contemporary sad fiction -
Mad For Madison by Hayden Hall
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMadison Masters is everything I want to be.He’s confident, good-looking, and beyond popular. Wherever he appears, he’s the center of attention. It’s his natural charisma that pulls every gaze to him. Mine especially.I have been in love with Madison since the moment I met him. The only trouble is he has no clue that I exist... -
Second Shot by Con Riley
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSecond Shot (Second Chance School #2)Welcome back to Glynn Harber School for another steamy, swoony romance between two bruised souls.Passion always leads to heartbreak for Hayden Novac. Nice guys always get picked last. That’s what my coach at a soccer academy once promised... -
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They Hate Each Other by Amanda Woody
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsJonah and Dylan get along like oil and water. Until a fake dating ploy gives them new perspective, and they realize that “falling for your enemy” isn’t as impossible as it seems.There are plenty of words Jonah Collins could use to describe Dylan Ramírez. “Arrogant,” “spoiled,” and “golden boy” to name a few... -
Save The Date by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsEver since he first set foot in Harrisburg, Tennant’s life has been a rollercoaster. Ups and downs too numerous to mention, hard knocks and championship rings. Through all of those monumental moments, one thing has been a constant for him, Jared Madsen. Now that their wedding day is drawing nearer, Ten is seriously considering eloping... -
Clutch by E. Davies
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsCocky racing driver Tyler Joseph is sidelined after one risk too many. After being at the center of a fiery crash, he’s forced to rest and recover at his best friend’s farmhouse or he’ll miss the rest of the season. Tyler does what he wants, though, and what he wants right now is the hot, sexy little physiotherapist whose hands only touch him where it hurts... -
The Two Stars Collision by Hayden Hall
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen an adorable force meets an irresistible object they might just fall in love.MilesStudies astrophysics? Check.Loves Star Wars? Check.Still a virgin at twenty-one with zero experience in real life? Double-check.I didn’t want any fanfare around my twenty-first birthday... -
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... -
Playing Deep by Beth Bolden
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsKenyon Ellis knows getting involved with Julian Anderson is an enormous mistake—but from the very first night, he finds him annoying, intriguing and ultimately, irresistible.One, Kenyon is a player, and Julian is a reporter, so hooking up with him, no matter how spectacular the nights are, is a terrible idea.Two, he’s falling for him, even if Julian continues to be prickly and impossible... -
Surprise Play by Carly Marie
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAn innocent gift has the power to change everythingMalcolm Ward is a retired wide-receiver, NFL offensive line coach, and husband to one of the best wide-receivers in the NFL. His life is hectic and the last thing he expects is to walk into the bedroom one afternoon to find his husband sleeping with the pacifier Malcolm had jokingly given him a decade before... -
Don't Mess with the Ex by D.J. Jamison
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFor years, I've lived by one simple Don't Mess With The Ex.It was an easy rule to follow when Laurence Kensington III was on the other side of the country.Now that he's shown up out of the blue? Not so much.I followed my heart into a whirlwind romance with him once, and it led to disaster. I've vowed to never be so impulsive or reckless again... -
Keeping It Casual by Jax Calder
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsDustinI moved to Mineral Creek so I could focus on my son. After my recent breakup, small-town life is exactly what we need, and I’m determined to stay single.But the town’s resident matchmakers have other ideas. Every second person I meet tries to set me up with Mineral Creek’s one other gay single Dad.Jeremy. King.I’ve heard those two words so many times since we moved here...Categorized as:
mlm lgbtq fake-relationship multi-pov forced-proximity romance contemporary small-town -
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Knot Giving Up: Pack Hart Olympic Omegaverse Part 2 by Thea Masen, Jenni Peck
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWhen everything’s on the line, can the pack still choose each other?After Meggie’s ex fails to kidnap her, Pack Hart is faced with a difficult decision. Do they allow Meggie to stay on the water polo team and risk their own careers, or do they leave her behind and risk their pack?As tensions rise and more people become aware of Meggie’s secret designation, the stakes are higher than ever... -
Hired by the Enemy by Jax Calder
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsLiamI’ve landed my first big assignment with Elite, and it has the potential to be a financial game-changer, so I’m determined not to screw it up. All I have to do is pretend to be a wealthy CEO’s boyfriend on a sun-kissed tropical island for a week. How hard can that be?Unfortunately, I’m met at the airport by an unexpected blast from my past: Matthew O’Conner...Categorized as:
mlm lgbtq fake-relationship forced-proximity romance enemies-to-lovers contemporary humor -
Egotistical Puckboy by Eden Finley, Saxon James
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsEZRAPartying, dudes, and hockey. What more could a gay NHL player want?If it weren't for Anton Hayes, my life would be perfect.Not that he affects my life in any way. At all. That would imply I care what the winger from Philly thinks of me.Which I don't.Not even a one-night stand with him can thaw his misplaced animosity toward me.He says I'm the one with the ego, but he can talk... -
Curve Ball by C.L. Cruz
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLucy My teacher life is my only life. Every day I’m pleasant, logical, and respectable except for one night when I let my passions free. Now it's back to the real world, and I’m determined to leave it—and him—in the past. But that becomes impossible when he shows up at the school where I teach. Rhett Hartigan is everything I’m not. He's popular, outgoing, and a player, literally... -
The Soccer Field Is Empty by Mark A. Roeder
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe Soccer Field Is Empty is the story of teen love, steamy romance, friendship, loyalty, understanding, and ancient prejudice. Here is a tale that breaks the stereotypes of the ignorant and peers into the soul of two boys who want what we all want; to love and be loved... -
Changing the Rules by Brigham Vaughn
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsRule #1: Don’t fall in love with the coach.Gabriel Theriault’s been skating on thin ice for the past two seasons with Toronto but his arrest following an off-ice fight is the final straw.His only shot at redemption is to start over in Evanston and prove that he still has what it takes to be a pro player.No more fights. No more drinking. No more random hookups. Rule #2: The team always comes first...
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