Friends to Lovers: I have to admit sometimes I love them, sometimes I hate them (especially when the characters’ internal debates drag on way too long). But there’s something special about a truly bonded pair of friends realizing they want more–and finding it in the most beautiful and sometimes humorous ways. These ten friends to lovers books are all over the map, with longtime friends seeing each other in a new light, or it’s-always-been-you friends, couples who decide to be friends against their wills, or friendships and more developing through the “lessons’ trope. Whatever the trope, there are so many fantastic friends-to-lovers stories out there, and here are ten of my favorites. Plus, check out our Instagram Page more reviews here.
In this edition of friends to lovers: Two characters who don’t want a serious relationship but can’t stop what’s happening between them…
Esthetician Maggie just ended a toxic and emotionally abusive relationship; she’s good with getting back into the casual dating scene but really wants to build her soap business. She knows better than to mix it up with serial dater and player Callum. Even if she can’t stay away.
Billionaire businessman Callum doesn’t know what his next steps are, but he’s 100% sure they don’t involve having a girlfriend. Even if he can’t stop thinking about Maggie. She asks him to help her build up her business and help her with dates; he knows he should decline but can’t stop himself. And so they decide to be friends. But you know where this is going.
Raise the Bar was a pleasant, fun, friends to lovers read that I just got to enjoy—low-angst, main characters were really likeable (except the dirtbag ex-boyfriend), and side characters were great. The buildup of their relationship really works, and even though Callum says he doesn’t do relationships, he shows up for Maggie in the sweetest ways. Overall, a really fun read!
Ready or Not is a beautiful and heartfelt friends to lovers romance! If your ideal book boyfriend is the sweetest and most unselfish man who’s also adorable, smart, supportive, and sexy, this is a book for you! We need more Sheps in the world!
After an uncharacteristic one-night stand with a hot bartender, Eve finds herself knocked up and freaking out. Who shows up to support her but her (not so) best friend Willa’s brother, Shep. He goes with her to tell the father and goes from there, taking acre of her so sweetly. Ethan, the baby daddy, has just gotten back together with his girlfriend and is a bit flaky on being a dad, at least to start.
The story is adorably broken up into trimesters, with Eve’s highs and lows throughout each, Shep’s unwavering presence, and all the things that happen in love, work, life. I cannot stress enough that he is just the best ever. His sister, Willa, not so much. She’s been trying and failing to get pregnant, so is understandably heartbroken, but just can’t find it within herself to be just the littlest bit unselfish and suck it up for the best friend who’s been there for her at her lowest moments.
Really fun, nice, friends to lovers read that captivated me and kept me entertained the whole time.
Rating: 4.8
Steam: Low
Themes and Tropes: Friends to Lovers, Unexpected Pregnancy, One-Night Stand, Best Friend’s Brother, Love Triangle(ish)
Morbidly Yours was a unique and super cute read. American web designer Lark seeks a fresh start in Galway, Ireland after being widowed, where she ends up living next door to Callum and his family’s funeral home. He cares deeply about giving people the right send-off and helping their families, but he’s in danger of losing the business if he doesn’t marry, per stipulations of his inheritance. But he wants to marry for love.
Lark has sworn off ever marrying again, but as she becomes friends with Callum, she gets invested in helping him find someone to marry. As he goes on dates, Lark’s departure deadline approaches, and they spend more time together, will they be too stubborn to admit what’s really going on?
Overall, I loved this book and found it fresh and funny. And having been to Galway for a short time, I adored the setting and am dying to go back and spend more time there. I didn’t love Lark’s drama, though, it was over the top at times and got on my nerves. Still, Callum was adorable and I’d recommend this friends to lovers story.
Rachel Bai is a genius with financial analysis, but not so much with people. When she’s up for a big promotion that requires her to lead a team, she knows she’s in trouble. Luke Trudeau has the gift of gab, and ease with people that Rachel can only dream of. He wants to start his own law firm and needs a solid financial plan, so they strike a deal—he’ll help her charm her colleagues and clients, and she’ll crunch the numbers and help him plan for his new business. They also agree that they’ll just be friends, but can that term be renegotiated to friends to lovers?
I can very much relate to some of Rachel’s social anxiety and introversion, and would love to have Luke’s ease and charm. It was fun to watch their relationship grow into a solid friendship and then more, but there were some definite annoyances along the way. Like this book’s predecessor, The Year of Cecily, Rachel’s family is awful, including a snotty, selfish, and bitch sister to an overbearing and unkind mother. Rachel desperately needs to grow a backbone—there are way too many instances where she just lets people walk all over her. She eventually stands up to them, but it’s a LONG time coming.
I also liked seeing the bada** career women in this book: Rachel is a successful financial analyst in an industry that’s notorious for bros and old boys’ networks, and Cecily is an excellent corporate lawyer. There are strong women in lots of romance books with all kinds of roles, but there’s something about seeing strong women succeeding in male-dominated industries that is very satisfying.
Quick tip: Avoid the audio version. The author’s attempt at Luke’s Texas accent is super cringey and not good.
Rating: 4
Steam: Low
Tropes: Lessons/Exchange, Friends to Lovers, One Night Stand, Overbearing Family
Empty nester and recluse Maggie has no interest in being more social, but she’s worried her college freshman son is too much like her and isn’t getting out and experiencing life. She grudgingly agrees to get out more if he will. While her attempts at in-person socializing are borderline catastrophic, she manages to connect online as “Bogwitch” with some gamers and finds a friend in “Otter,” who she thinks is a college student (and who thinks she’s an old lady). Otter is really Aiden, who’s around Maggie’s age and using the online game as an escape from his god-awful family. What a surprise when they meet in person!
I liked this friends to lovers book a lot more than I thought I would. When I read the description and saw gaming as a main part of the plot, I wasn’t all that excited to read it. But I’ve enjoyed other Cathy Yardley books and I also liked her Smart Bitches Trashy Books podcast interview, so I gave it a chance and am glad I did! The scene where they meet for the first time is hilarious, and the friendship they develop is sweet and lovely before it becomes more. It’s definitely a slow burn, but you really get a chance to know the characters and see more of their lives—it’s not just two online gamers hooking up.
Rating: 4
Steam: Low to Medium
Themes or Tropes: GenX, Friends to Lovers, Divorcee, Slow Burn, Secret Identity
Pair With: Washington Wines
Book Two in the Game, Set, and Match tennis romance series wins at love! Dylan Bailey, Clean Point’s redeemed villainess, tosses her racquets aside after yet another major final loss. Talented and deeply competitive, she steamrolls her way through tournaments then struggles in the finals. Enough is enough.
Until she meets Oliver and the two strike up a friendship—and make a bet that pulls her right back into tennis. Oliver’s ready to retire from tennis and jumps into coaching Dylan, pushing these friends into close proximity and high-stress moments. And the chemistry is on fire, but will they blur the lines of coach and player to friends to lovers with so much at stake?
LOVED Game Point. First, I’m a huge tennis fan and was a competitive tennis player years ago (sadly, not on the professional circuit), so all the tennis was right up my alley and brought me back to some crazy times. I loved how the author brought the characters and their personalities together. Dylan is such a fireball and competitor, a little (or a lot) stubborn and prickly, and carries a lot of love and tenderness for the people who matter to her. Loved her tenacity and her softer side as well. Oliver is just such a good guy and the perfect balance for Dylan. The thoughtfulness and maturity they both showed (most of the time) communicating and thinking of each was perfection.
The plot was fun too—not just about the romance but competitive sports, the physical and mental toll, the emotions, family dynamics, all of it made the book that much more compelling!
Overall, I adored this book and highly recommend as a fun friends to lovers read.
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are mine.
Rating: 4.5
Themes and Tropes: Sports Romance (Tennis), Friends to Lovers, Coach/Player, Slow Burn, Great Banter, No Ridiculous Third-Act, Character Growth
Steam: Low to Medium
David and Noah have been best friends since boarding school, and find themselves in London together, where David runs an underground queer club and Noah is a talented up-and-coming tailor. Noah’s always had a loving family, while David has been on his own ever since his father disgraced the family. Protective by nature, David tries to find a solution for his employees when the slimy peer who owns the club decides to close it, but he’s in over his head. Now, Noah wants to protect David too.
This book really grew on me! I liked it from the beginning, but loved it by the end. David and Noah are very different people but equally devoted to each other. The book has some of the normal romance pieces but doesn’t completely follow the formula—in a good way. Noah and David are united by the problems they’re facing rather than torn apart, and it makes the story so much better!
The personalities are fun and interesting, and you really know who each character is and what makes him tick. It’s unique—which is really hard to do with 1800s England—and a really fun, enjoyable friends to lovers read.
Rating: 4.5
Steam: Medium
Themes and Tropes: Childhood friends/sweethearts, Friends to Lovers, Forbidden Love, LGBTQ+, Opposites Attract
Pair With: English wine
This friends to lovers romance has a little bit of everything–small town, fun characters, lessons, surfing, and spice!
Hannah has always been shy and had a hard time with guys–she could really use some help! Competitive surfer Wyatt has an easy charm and has people swooning over him left and right. He wants to go pro but has no idea how to handle social media and promotion. Luckily, that’s right up Hannah’s alley. So they strike a deal of sorts: he’ll help her get out of her comfort zone, she’ll help him with social media. And they’re soooooo good together! They grow so much as friends and then more, and I really enjoyed the ride.
I am LOVING this series and adored Wyatt and Sally. They’ve been best friends forever, with neither wanting to admit their true feelings. They each think the other doesn’t reciprocate and have other reasons. Sally’s a super smart and talented veterinarian, and she accepted a job at a prestigious facility in New York where she’ll be on the cutting edge of treating animals. Wyatt is a cowboy through and through, and is dedicated to his family and ranch in Texas. So it wouldn’t work anyway, right?
Sally wants to be able to loosen up around men and date a bit, so she enlists Wyatt’s help and I’m sure you know how that goes! They are fire together, and I love watching them learn and grow. Just a fun, spicy story.
This friends to lovers romance has a little bit of everything–small town, fun characters, lessons, surfing, and spice!
Hannah has always been shy and had a hard time with guys–she could really use some help! Competitive surfer Wyatt has an easy charm and has people swooning over him left and right. He wants to go pro but has no idea how to handle social media and promotion. Luckily, that’s right up Hannah’s alley. So they strike a deal of sorts: he’ll help her get out of her comfort zone, she’ll help him with social media. And they’re soooooo good together! They grow so much as friends and then more, and I really enjoyed the ride.