Friends to Lovers

Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation brings us Poppy and Alex, two best friends who couldn’t be more different. Poppy is free-spirited and adventurous, while Alex is quiet and reserved. For years, they’ve taken a summer vacation together, until one trip ruins everything. Now, after years of silence, Poppy convinces Alex to take one last vacation with her, hoping to fix their friendship. As they reconnect, old feelings resurface, making this a perfect mix of slow-burn romance and emotional depth.

Love, Rosie is an emotional rollercoaster about lifelong friends, Rosie and Alex. They’ve been best friends since childhood, but their timing is always off when it comes to romance. Over the years, they face missed opportunities, bad relationships, and life getting in the way. This novel explores not just the romance, but the depth of friendship and the bonds that last through life’s ups and downs. With its bittersweet moments and heartwarming resolution, this is a friends-to-lovers romance that tugs at the heartstrings.

Christina Lauren brings humor and heart in Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating. Hazel is quirky, unpredictable, and the total opposite of the cool, calm, and collected Josh. Despite their differences, they’ve been best friends for years. When they decide to set each other up on a series of blind dates, sparks start flying between them instead. Full of laugh-out-loud moments, awkward encounters, and sizzling chemistry, this book is a delightful friends-to-lovers story that’s impossible to put down.

In The Flatshare, Tiffy and Leon share a flat, but they’ve never met. Thanks to opposite work schedules, they communicate through post-it notes and slowly form a strong friendship. What starts as a platonic relationship turns into something more as they begin to rely on each other for emotional support. Beth O’Leary crafts a heartwarming and quirky love story that’s as much about friendship as it is about romance. The slow-burn buildup makes the eventual transition to lovers all the more satisfying.

Abby Jimenez’s The Friend Zone explores a deeper emotional side of friends-to-lovers romance. Kristen and Josh hit it off right away, but Kristen is dealing with personal issues that make her hesitant to pursue a relationship. As their friendship deepens, so do their feelings, but Kristen’s fears hold her back from admitting them. This book beautifully balances humor, heartache, and the realities of life, making the romance feel that much more rewarding. You’ll laugh, cry, and fall in love right alongside the characters.

Eleanor & Grey is a beautiful and emotional journey of two friends who reconnect after years apart. Eleanor and Grey were inseparable in high school, but life took them down different paths. When they find each other again as adults, they’re both dealing with loss and grief, but their friendship rekindles something deeper. Brittainy C. Cherry weaves a poignant tale of love, healing, and second chances, making this a must-read for anyone who loves emotional depth in their romances.

Mariana Zapata is the queen of slow-burn romance, and Wait for It is no exception. Diana has been through a lot and is focused on her career and raising her nephews. When she meets her neighbor, Dallas, the two form a tentative friendship that slowly evolves into something more. The beauty of this book lies in the patience and trust that grows between them, as well as the deep emotional connection that blossoms into love. It’s a heartwarming and rewarding read for fans of slow-burn romance.

Another gem from Christina Lauren, My Favorite Half-Night Stand follows Millie and her group of guy friends, including her best friend Reid. When a group decision to join a dating app leads Millie and Reid into an unexpected romantic encounter, things get complicated. What follows is a hilarious and heartwarming exploration of friendship, love, and the messy in-between. Millie and Reid’s chemistry is undeniable, making this friends-to-lovers romance a fun, feel-good read.

Blindsided follows the story of Mac and Freya, best friends who couldn’t be more different. Mac is a Scottish soccer player with a fun-loving personality, while Freya is a fiery, no-nonsense woman. When Freya decides she wants to start dating and asks Mac for help, their friendship takes a turn as Mac realizes his feelings for her might be more than friendly. With witty banter, sizzling chemistry, and plenty of laughs, this is a friends-to-lovers romance that will keep you entertained from start to finish.

Chloe Liese’s Always Only You is a heartwarming and inclusive friends-to-lovers romance that centers on Ren, a professional hockey player, and Frankie, the team’s social media manager. Frankie, who is on the autism spectrum and has rheumatoid arthritis, is used to keeping her guard up, but Ren’s patience and kindness slowly break through her defenses. Their friendship is full of warmth and understanding, making their eventual romance all the more touching. This book beautifully highlights the importance of acceptance and love in all its forms.

In Fix Her Up, Georgie has always been seen as the goofy little sister, especially by her brother’s best friend, Travis. But when Travis returns to town, washed-up from his baseball career, Georgie decides to help him out by faking a relationship. As their friendship deepens, so do their feelings, and what started as fake quickly turns real. Tessa Bailey combines humor, heat, and heart in this steamy friends-to-lovers romance that’s perfect for anyone who loves a good fake dating plot.

Play With Me tells the story of Meg and Will, best friends who have always had each other’s backs. But when their close bond starts to shift into something more, Meg isn’t sure if she’s ready to risk their friendship for a chance at love. Will, on the other hand, knows exactly what he wants and isn’t afraid to fight for it. Kristen Proby weaves a sweet, emotional, and steamy story about taking chances and following your heart when love is right in front of you.

Roomies is another Christina Lauren hit, this time focusing on Holland and Calvin. When Holland helps Calvin, a talented street musician, get a green card by marrying him, she never expects their relationship to grow beyond friendship. But as they spend more time together, their feelings start to shift, leading to plenty of heartfelt and funny moments. This slow-burn romance is full of charm, with a dash of music and art, making it a perfect read for anyone who loves a good friends-to-lovers story.

The Off-Limits Rule is a sweet and funny romance about Lucy and Cooper. Lucy has always had a crush on her brother’s best friend, but he’s always been off-limits. When she moves back home, the two reconnect, and their friendship quickly rekindles. As they spend more time together, it becomes clear that their feelings are more than just friendly. Sarah Adams delivers a light-hearted and swoony friends-to-lovers romance with plenty of laughs and heart.

In The Deal, Hannah and Garrett start as unlikely friends when she helps him pass a class in exchange for a fake relationship to make her crush jealous. What starts as a strategic arrangement quickly turns into a deep friendship and undeniable chemistry. As Garrett and Hannah get to know each other, they realize they have much more in common than they thought. Elle Kennedy blends humor, steam, and heart into this fun and emotional friends-to-lovers romance that’s hard to resist.

Friendship on Fire is part of Melissa Foster's "Love in Bloom" series and tells the story of Josh and Riley. Best friends since forever, their relationship takes a sudden turn when they share a kiss that changes everything. As Josh’s career in the fashion industry rises, Riley faces personal and professional challenges. Their new romance is tested as they navigate jealousy, outside pressures, and old insecurities. This steamy, heartfelt romance perfectly captures the vulnerability and joy of falling for your best friend. 

In Faking It, Zane and Harlow are thrown into a fake dating scenario that tests their friendship. Zane, a billionaire bad boy, needs to fix his public image, and Harlow agrees to help, thinking they’ll just fake their relationship for the media. But as they spend more time together, their fake relationship starts feeling very real. K. Bromberg mixes humor, chemistry, and emotional depth in this fast-paced and fun friends-to-lovers romance that shows how pretending can sometimes lead to something real.

Him is a captivating friends-to-lovers story with an LGBTQ+ twist. Jamie and Ryan have been best friends since childhood hockey camps, but after an incident during one summer, they drift apart. Years later, they reconnect, and their friendship blossoms again—only this time, their feelings deepen into something neither expected. With emotional honesty, swoon-worthy moments, and plenty of heat, this book delivers a heartfelt romance about navigating new emotions and taking chances on love.

The Hook Up follows the story of Drew and Anna, two college students who start off as friends with undeniable chemistry. Drew is the star football player, and Anna is determined to keep her distance—especially after a casual hook-up. But the more time they spend together, the harder it is to deny their deepening connection. Kristen Callihan balances light-hearted moments with intense emotions, making The Hook Up a slow-burn friends-to-lovers romance that's perfect for anyone who enjoys complex characters and real-world stakes.

In Beautiful Player, Hanna has had a crush on her brother’s best friend, Will, for as long as she can remember. Will, a notorious ladies' man, never saw her as anything more than his friend’s little sister—until she asks him to help her become more confident in dating. As they spend more time together, their friendship turns into something much more complicated, and Hanna realizes Will might be the person she’s been waiting for all along. Full of playful banter, sizzling chemistry, and heartfelt moments, Beautiful Player is a must-read for friends-to-lovers fans.