🏷️ Grumpy Sunshine
228 entries tagged with this trope
Fourth Wing
Rebecca Yarros · 2023
Violet Sorrengail was supposed to be a scribe. Instead she's thrown into dragon rider training where the weak die and the ruthless thrive. Then there's Xaden Riorson — her enemy in every way that matters.
The Love Hypothesis
Ali Hazelwood · 2021
Olive panic-kisses a hot, grumpy professor to prove a point. He agrees to fake-date her. Started as Reylo fanfic and you can FEEL it. The 'he's only soft for her' energy is off the charts.
The House in the Cerulean Sea
TJ Klune · 2020
A caseworker visits an orphanage for magical children. One of them might be the Antichrist. It's the coziest, most wholesome book you'll ever read.
The House in the Cerulean Sea
TJ Klune · 2020
Linus Baker is a caseworker for magical youth. He's sent to investigate an orphanage on a remote island run by the charming Arthur Parnassus. One of the children may be the Antichrist. It's the coziest book you'll ever read.
The Hating Game
Sally Thorne · 2016
Josh and Lucy are executive assistants who HATE each other. They share an office, they compete for everything, and the sexual tension could cut glass. Then they play a game that changes everything.
Book Lovers
Emily Henry · 2022
Nora is a cutthroat NYC literary agent. Charlie is a grumpy small-town editor. She's supposed to be having a Hallmark movie summer in his town. Instead she keeps running into him. The meta-romance for people who love books about books.
Funny Story
Emily Henry · 2024
Daphne's fiancé left her for his best friend. Miles's girlfriend left him for Daphne's ex. So they become roommates and pretend to date to make their exes jealous. What could possibly go wrong.
The Spanish Love Deception
Elena Armas · 2021
Catalina needs a date to her sister's wedding in Spain. Aaron Blackford — the most infuriating man alive — volunteers. He's tall, gorgeous, and she can't stand him. Obviously they fall in love in Spain.
The Deal
Elle Kennedy · 2015
Hannah needs help with her grades. Garrett needs a fake girlfriend. They make a deal. He's cocky, she's unimpressed, and the banter is elite. THE new adult romance that started a whole subgenre.
The Wall of Winnipeg and Me
Mariana Zapata · 2016
Vanessa quit her job as an NFL player's assistant. Aiden crawls back and asks her to marry him — for a green card. The slowest of slow burns. 600 pages of tension before a single kiss. Worth every page.
Kulti
Mariana Zapata · 2015
Sal's childhood soccer hero becomes her team's new coach. He's washed up, arrogant, and rude to everyone. Except slowly, painfully slowly, he starts being less rude to her. Zapata's signature glacier-pace slow burn.
Things We Never Got Over
Lucy Score · 2022
Naomi gets stranded in a small town after her twin sister steals her car and abandons a kid. Knox is the grumpy bearded bar owner who reluctantly helps. He's mean to everyone. Except her. EXCEPT HER.
Things We Hide from the Light
Lucy Score · 2023
Nash Morgan got shot. He's the police chief dealing with PTSD and he does NOT need Lina — a gorgeous, stubborn woman hiding her own secrets — crashing into his recovery.
The Simple Wild
K.A. Tucker · 2018
City girl Calla goes to Alaska to reconnect with her dying father. His pilot, Jonah, is gruff, lives off the grid, and thinks she's a spoiled princess. Alaska changes her. He changes her more.
The Flatshare
Beth O'Leary · 2019
Tiffy and Leon share an apartment but never meet — she has it at night, he has it during the day. They communicate through Post-it notes. The notes get flirtier. The yearning is UNREAL.
It Happened One Summer
Tessa Bailey · 2021
Socialite Piper gets exiled to a small fishing town. Brendan is the grumpy sea captain who thinks she's ridiculous. He's a WALL of restraint until he's not. Tessa Bailey writes the best 'he wants her so bad it's killing him' scenes in the game.
The Kiss Quotient
Helen Hoang · 2018
Stella is autistic and hires an escort to practice intimacy. Michael is Vietnamese-Swedish and way too good at his job. What starts as lessons turns into the realest thing either has ever felt.
The Bride Test
Helen Hoang · 2019
Khai is autistic and convinced he can't love. His mom brings Esme from Vietnam to change his mind. She's determined, he's oblivious, and the cultural details are gorgeous.
Act Your Age, Eve Brown
Talia Hibbert · 2021
Eve accidentally hits Jacob with her car, then accidentally gets hired at his B&B. He's autistic, prickly, and furious. She's chaotic, warm, and exactly what he didn't know he needed.
Twice Shy
Sarah Hogle · 2021
Maybell inherits half a house from a dead woman she barely knew. Wesley inherits the other half. He's anxious and guarded. She's anxious and hopeful. Two anxious introverts learning to let someone in.
Icebreaker
Hannah Grace · 2022
Figure skater Anastasia has to share ice time with hockey captain Nate. He's golden retriever energy in a hockey player's body. She's focused and driven. He's so soft for her it's embarrassing and we love it.
Terms and Conditions
Lauren Asher · 2022
Declan proposes a fake marriage to his assistant to secure his inheritance. He's cold to everyone. EVERYONE. Except slowly, painfully, her. The contract-to-love pipeline hits different.
Love on the Brain
Ali Hazelwood · 2022
Bee is a neuroscientist heading a NASA project. Levi is the engineer she's convinced hates her. He does not hate her. He has never hated her. The gap between what she thinks and what's actually happening is comedy gold.
Assistant to the Villain
Hannah Nicole Maehrer · 2023
Evie gets a job as the assistant to the kingdom's most feared villain. He's dark, brooding, and murderous. She brings him coffee and organizes his evil lair. It's cozy villain romance and it's DELIGHTFUL.
A Man Called Ove
Fredrik Backman · 2012
Ove is the grumpiest man alive. His neighbors keep bothering him. He keeps accidentally saving their lives. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll want to hug every grumpy old person you meet.
The Wall of Winnipeg and Me
Mariana Zapata · 2016
Van quits as personal assistant to NFL player Aiden Graves. He shows up at her door asking her to marry him — for a green card. The QUEEN of slow burn wrote her masterpiece. 600 pages of delicious tension.
The Goal
Elle Kennedy · 2016
Tucker and Sabrina. He's a hockey player. She's a single mom-to-be. The most emotionally mature Off-Campus book. Tucker is the kind of book boyfriend that ruins you for real men.
The Score
Elle Kennedy · 2016
Dean Di Laurentis doesn't do relationships. Allie Hayes doesn't do hookups. They do each other anyway. The funniest Off-Campus book — Dean's internal monologue is comedy gold.
The Mistake
Elle Kennedy · 2015
Logan screwed up. Grace isn't giving him a second chance easily. His grovel game is STRONG though. The redemption arc romance of the Off-Campus series.
The Duke and I
Julia Quinn · 2000
Daphne Bridgerton and the Duke of Hastings fake a courtship. You know how this goes. The book that launched a Netflix empire. Lighter than the show in some ways, spicier in others.
The Viscount Who Loved Me
Julia Quinn · 2000
Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sheffield. The verbal sparring. The Pall Mall scene. Most fans agree this is the best Bridgerton book. The enemies-to-lovers tension is immaculate.
Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love
isthisselfcare · 2021
Eighth year. Draco is lazy, dangerous, and trying very hard not to be in love with Hermione Granger. Features hyper-competent fiery Hermione and a Draco who's too smart for his own good. The title is the whole mood — and the fandom abbreviation (DMATMOOBIL) has become legendary.
An Offer from a Gentleman
Julia Quinn · 2001
Benedict Bridgerton meets a mystery woman at a masquerade ball. She vanishes. A Cinderella retelling with class dynamics that feel real and a love interest who earns his happy ending.
The Duchess Deal
Tessa Dare · 2017
A scarred duke needs an heir. Emma is the seamstress who altered his ex-fiancée's wedding dress. He proposes. She accepts on her terms. Tessa Dare writes the funniest historical romance — this hero is peak grumpy.
A Week to Be Wicked
Tessa Dare · 2012
Minerva needs to get to Edinburgh for a geology conference. Colin needs to escape a scandal. Fake engagement + road trip in Regency England. Widely considered the best Tessa Dare book and one of the best historical romances ever written.
Twisted Games
Ana Huang · 2022
Rhys is a bodyguard. Bridget is a princess. It's forbidden. It's inevitable. The most romantic Twisted book — Rhys would burn the world for her and that's not an exaggeration.
King of Wrath
Ana Huang · 2022
Dante Russo is forced into an arranged marriage with Vivian Lau. He's furious. She's unimpressed. The start of Ana Huang's Kings of Sin series — billionaire romance with actual plot.
King of Pride
Ana Huang · 2023
Kai Young is the heir to a media empire with a perfect reputation. Isabella is a bartender and aspiring writer. Their worlds shouldn't mix. Kai's slow fall is everything.
The Fine Print
Lauren Asher · 2021
Rowan inherits a theme park and has to work with Zahra, a creative director who hates everything he stands for. Disney-adjacent romance with a billionaire who slowly becomes human. The first Dreamland Billionaires book.
The Love of My Afterlife
Kirsty Greenwood · 2024
Delphie dies and meets her soulmate in the afterlife. Then she's sent back to Earth with 10 days to find him — alive. Bridget Jones meets It's a Wonderful Life. Pure joy on every page.
Just for the Summer
Abby Jimenez · 2024
Justin and Emma have a curse: everyone they date finds their soulmate right after. They team up to break it by dating each other. The premise is pure rom-com but Jimenez sneaks in real emotional depth.
Part of Your World
Abby Jimenez · 2022
An ER doctor from a wealthy family falls for a small-town carpenter 10 years younger. The class and age gap tensions feel real. Daniel is the softest hero — he builds her a coffee table. Reader, she melted.
Yours Truly
Abby Jimenez · 2023
Dr. Briana Ortiz needs a fake boyfriend. Dr. Jacob Maddox needs a kidney donor for his brother. They write letters. It's the most epistolary-romance thing since You've Got Mail and it works perfectly.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
Sangu Mandanna · 2022
Mika is a witch who's never met another. Then she's hired to tutor three young witches at a crumbling estate. The grumpy librarian next door is not impressed. THE cozy witch book. Pure autumn comfort.
It Happened One Autumn
Lisa Kleypas · 2005
Lillian is an American heiress who refuses to play by English society's rules. Lord Westcliff is the most proper man in England. They clash instantly. The verbal sparring alone is worth the read.
Tools of Engagement
Tessa Bailey · 2020
Bethany is a house flipper. Wes is the out-of-towner who challenges her on a renovation competition. She's competent. He's in awe. The competence-is-sexy trope has never been done better.
Secretly Yours
Tessa Bailey · 2023
Hallie has been secretly writing love letters to Julian, her grumpy professor neighbor. When she becomes his gardener, keeping her crush hidden becomes impossible. Sunshine heroine meets curmudgeon hero.
The American Roommate Experiment
Elena Armas · 2022
Rosie's apartment floods and she crashes at her friend's empty apartment. Except it's not empty — Lucas, a hot Spanish man, is staying there too. One bed energy but make it an entire apartment.
The Graham Effect
Elle Kennedy · 2023
Gigi Graham is hockey royalty. Luke Ryder is the brooding new player who wants nothing to do with her. Elle Kennedy returns to college hockey with a new generation and the same addictive formula.
Mile High
Liz Tomforde · 2022
Zanders is Chicago's most hated hockey villain. Stevie is a flight attendant who doesn't care about his fame. Forced to share planes all season. He's secretly soft. She sees through him immediately.
The Right Move
Liz Tomforde · 2023
Ryan is a basketball player recovering from a public breakup. Indy needs a place to stay. He offers his spare room. Roommate romance with a hero who redefines green flag energy.
The House in the Cerulean Sea
TJ Klune · 2020
Linus is a case worker assigned to evaluate an orphanage for magical children run by the enigmatic Arthur. A found family story about love, acceptance, and choosing kindness. Will make you cry happy tears.
Under the Whispering Door
TJ Klune · 2021
Wallace dies and ends up at a tea shop run by Hugo, a ferryman who helps ghosts cross over. Wallace has one week before he must go. A love story about letting go and holding on.
Boyfriend Material
Alexis Hall · 2020
Luc O'Donnell is a hot mess. When a tabloid scandal threatens his career, he needs a fake boyfriend — fast. Enter Oliver Blackwood, the most respectable man in England.
Deep End
Ali Hazelwood · 2025
Ali Hazelwood does it again with another irresistible romantic comedy featuring two brilliant leads who are too smart for their own good. If you loved The Love Hypothesis, you'll devour this.
Somewhere Beyond the Sea
TJ Klune · 2024
The sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea. Linus and Arthur continue fighting for their magical family. Pure comfort reading that BookTok won't stop recommending.
The Wallflower Wager
Tessa Dare · 2019
Penny collects stray animals. Gabriel wants quiet. They're neighbors. She's sunshine, he's a thundercloud. Tessa Dare at her absolute best.
Get a Life, Chloe Brown
Talia Hibbert · 2019
Chloe has a chronic pain condition and a list of wild things to do. Her grumpy building superintendent Red is exactly the wrong person to help. Or the right one.
The Proposal
Jasmine Guillory · 2018
A spontaneous proposal rescue leads to fake dating and real feelings. Nikole's life gets turned upside down when she helps a stranger out of an awkward public proposal, and suddenly she's fake-dating a charming baseball player.
The Hating Game
Sally Thorne · 2016
Lucy and Joshua hate each other. Office enemies competing for the same promotion. But the line between hate and love is thinner than they think.
Roomies
Christina Lauren · 2017
Holland needs to marry her Irish musician roommate so he can get a visa. What starts as paperwork becomes complicated when feelings get involved.
The Duke and I
Julia Quinn · 2000
Daphne needs a husband, Simon needs to avoid marriage. Their fake courtship seems perfect—until real feelings complicate everything.
Nobody's Baby But Mine
Susan Elizabeth Phillips · 1997
Jane wants a baby with a smart man's genes. Cal is perfect—except she tricks him into it. When he finds out, all hell breaks loose.
It Happened One Summer
Tessa Bailey · 2021
Hollywood party girl Piper is sent to a small fishing town as punishment. She clashes with grumpy sea captain Brendan, but opposites attract in the most steamy way.
Book Lovers
Emily Henry · 2022
Literary agent Nora is tired of being the other woman in romance novels. But when she keeps running into brooding editor Charlie in small-town North Carolina, life imitates art.
The Spanish Love Deception
Elena Armas · 2021
Catalina needs a date to her sister's wedding in Spain. Her academic rival Aaron volunteers to help. Their fake relationship feels increasingly real during a week in Spain.
The Kiss Quotient
Helen Hoang · 2018
Stella has Asperger's and wants to improve her dating skills. She hires escort Michael to teach her, but their arrangement becomes complicated when feelings develop.
Act Like It
Lucy Parker · 2015
Theatre actress Lainie needs to fix her bad reputation. Fake dating her difficult co-star Richard seems like the perfect solution—until real feelings develop.
Things We Never Said
Samantha Young · 2019
She vanished nine years ago without explanation. Now she's back in the small town she fled, and the man she left behind isn't exactly rolling out the welcome mat.
The Wall of Winnipeg and Me
Mariana Zapata · 2016
She quits working for the NFL's most stoic player. He shows up at her door asking her to marry him — for a green card. The slowest of slow burns but SO worth it.
Well Met
Jen DeLuca · 2019
She gets roped into a Renaissance Faire by the most uptight man alive. He wears a kilt. She has opinions about it. Enemies-to-lovers in doublets and corsets.
Love Redesigned
Lauren Asher · 2023
She's a famous interior designer who comes home after a public breakdown. He's the childhood rival who bought up half the town. Sparks, arguments, and renovation metaphors ensue.
Yours Truly
Abby Jimenez · 2023
She hates the new doctor competing for her promotion. Then he writes her a letter and she realizes the quiet, anxious man might be the kindest person she's ever met.
The Exception
Adriana Locke · 2018
He doesn't do relationships. She doesn't do one-night stands. They do a lot of arguing before admitting they're each other's exception.
Wildfire
Hannah Grace · 2024
She's a summer camp counselor. He's the hockey player who somehow ended up there too. Cabin assignments, campfires, and the kind of bickering that's basically foreplay.
Assistant to the Villain
Hannah Nicole Maehrer · 2023
Evie gets a job as the Evil Overlord's assistant. He's terrible at being evil when she's around. She color-codes his torture schedules. The vibes are immaculate.
The Deal
Elle Kennedy · 2015
Hannah needs help with her music grade. Garrett needs her to tutor him. They strike a deal. He's the hockey captain everyone wants; she couldn't care less. That's exactly why he's obsessed.
Part of Your World
Abby Jimenez · 2022
An ER doctor from a wealthy family falls for a small-town carpenter ten years younger. He's sunshine personified. She's terrified of what her world will think. Absolutely wrecking.
The Flatshare
Beth O'Leary · 2019
Tiffy and Leon share an apartment but never meet — she has it during the day, he has it at night. They communicate through Post-it notes. It's the coziest premise that somehow works perfectly.
The Kiss Quotient
Helen Hoang · 2018
Stella Lane is autistic, brilliant, and terrible at dating. She hires escort Michael Phan to teach her. He wasn't supposed to catch feelings. Neurodiverse rep done beautifully.
The Flatshare
Beth O'Leary · 2019
Tiffy and Leon share an apartment but never meet — she works days, he works nights. They communicate via Post-it notes and slowly fall for each other. The coziest premise that actually delivers.
Twice Shy
Sarah Hogle · 2021
Maybell inherits a resort and has to co-manage it with broody Wesley. She's anxious sunshine, he's secretly soft. The vibes are cottagecore perfection with actual emotional depth.
The Soulmate Equation
Christina Lauren · 2021
A genetics company can match soulmates by DNA. Jess gets paired with the company's grumpy, arrogant founder. Their compatibility score is the highest ever recorded. She hates him.
Love on the Brain
Ali Hazelwood · 2022
Bee gets her dream job at NASA. Her nemesis Levi also gets the job. They have to co-lead. He's been secretly in love with her for years. More Hazelwood Reylo energy and it works every time.
The Wall of Winnipeg and Me
Mariana Zapata · 2016
Vanessa quits her job as assistant to NFL player Aiden Graves. Then he shows up at her door asking her to marry him — for a green card. The SLOWEST burn in romance. Worth every page.
Things We Never Got Over
Lucy Score · 2022
Naomi's twin sister strands her in a small town with a baby that isn't hers. Knox Morgan is the grumpy bar owner next door who absolutely does not want to help. Spoiler: he helps.
Kulti
Mariana Zapata · 2015
Sal's childhood soccer idol becomes her team's new coach. He's retired, rude, and impossibly attractive. Another Zapata slow burn that makes you feral by page 400.
Part of Your World
Abby Jimenez · 2022
Big-city ER doctor Alexis crashes into small-town carpenter Daniel's life. He's younger, he's earnest, he's perfect. The class difference drama is real but the love is realer.
Love, Theoretically
Ali Hazelwood · 2023
Elsie is a fake girlfriend for hire. Jack is the theoretical physicist who keeps ruining her academic career. The hate is electric. The Reylo energy is unmatched.
Icebreaker
Hannah Grace · 2023
Figure skater Anastasia has to share ice time with hockey captain Nathan. He's golden retriever personified. She's focused. The rink romance to end all rink romances.
The Dead Romantics
Ashley Poston · 2022
Florence can see ghosts. Her new book editor dies and shows up as one. A romance where one half is literally dead. Somehow the most charming thing ever.
Yours Truly
Abby Jimenez · 2023
Dr. Briana hates the new ER doctor. Then he writes her a letter. Then another. The pen pal romance you didn't know you needed. Jacob is the sweetest cinnamon roll in contemporary romance.
The Bride Test
Helen Hoang · 2019
Khai doesn't think he can feel love. His mom flies a woman from Vietnam to prove him wrong. Esme is sunshine incarnate. The autistic rep is beautiful and nuanced.
The Flatshare
Beth O'Leary · 2019
Tiffy and Leon share an apartment but never meet — she has it at night, he has it during the day. They communicate through Post-it notes. The cutest premise. The coziest vibes.
Funny Story
Emily Henry · 2024
Daphne's fiancé leaves her for his childhood best friend. She ends up living with Miles — her ex's ex's best friend. The revenge-dating energy is immaculate. Emily Henry keeps winning.
Just for the Summer
Abby Jimenez · 2024
Justin and Emma are both cursed — every person they date finds their soulmate right after. They team up to break the curse by dating each other. The premise is chef's kiss.
The Paradise Problem
Christina Lauren · 2024
Anna and Liam got married for his trust fund, then never spoke again. Now his family wants to meet his wife. One tropical island, one week, one bed. The fake marriage trope done perfectly.
Wild Love
Elsie Silver · 2024
Ford Grant returns to Rose Hill after a public scandal. Rosalie is the single mom who doesn't have time for his drama. Small-town second chance with a kid who steals every scene.
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries
Heather Fawcett · 2023
Emily is a grumpy, antisocial faerie researcher. Wendell Bambleby is her infuriating, charming colleague who may be more than he seems. Cozy academic fantasy with fae vibes and slow-burn tension.
Assistant to the Villain
Hannah Nicole Maehrer · 2023
Evie Sage is the administrative assistant to the most feared villain in the kingdom. He's terrifying. She brings him coffee. The workplace comedy meets dark fantasy energy is perfection.
Love, Theoretically
Ali Hazelwood · 2023
Elsie is a theoretical physicist who moonlights as a fake girlfriend. Jack is the one man she can't fake around. The STEM banter is immaculate and the 'he knows she's pretending with everyone else but him' energy is chef's kiss.
The Kiss Quotient
Helen Hoang · 2018
Stella hires an escort to practice kissing because she's autistic and dates overwhelm her. Michael is Vietnamese-Swedish and way too good at his job. The tenderness in this book will ruin you for all other romances.
The Soulmate Equation
Christina Lauren · 2021
A dating app uses DNA compatibility scores. Jess scores a 98 with the company's annoyingly handsome founder. She hates him. The science is goofy. The feelings are real.
The Flatshare
Beth O'Leary · 2019
Tiffy and Leon share an apartment but never meet — she has it at night, he has it during the day. They communicate through Post-it notes. The slow reveal of each other through notes is the most romantic thing ever.
Remain Nameless
HeyJude19 · 2020
Post-war. Ministry coworkers. Draco is trying to be better. Hermione doesn't trust him yet. The banter in this fic is *chef's kiss*. Fluffy with just enough angst to keep you hooked.
The Commoner's Guide to Bedding a Royal
olivieblake · 2019
Modern AU where Draco is a prince and Hermione is a commoner journalist. Olivie Blake (Atlas Six author) wrote this before she was famous.
The Deadline
Lena Phoria · 2021
When Hermione needs a fake boyfriend for her high school reunion, she never expected Draco Malfoy to volunteer. What could possibly go wrong?
Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love
isthisselfcare · 2020
Draco falls hard for Hermione and has no idea how to handle feelings. The inner monologue is peak comedy gold.
Tea and No Sympathy
who_la_hoop · 2018
Harry needs a fake boyfriend for a work event. Draco volunteers out of spite. Neither expected to actually enjoy it.
The Commoner's Guide to Bedding a Royal
olivieblake · 2018
Modern royalty AU where Draco is a literal prince and Hermione accidentally becomes his fake girlfriend. olivieblake (yes, THAT olivieblake from Atlas Six) wrote this gem.
Mental
Sara Holmes · 2013
Harry and Draco accidentally develop a telepathic link. Hearing each other's thoughts when you're supposed to hate each other? Comedy gold that turns into real feelings.
Text Talk
merlywhirls · 2014
Modern AU told entirely through texts, social media, and group chats. Remus and Sirius meet by accident and it's the most charming thing you'll ever read.
Commentarius
B.C Daily · 2010
Lily Evans' diary during her Hogwarts years. James Potter is infuriating and she will NOT fall for him. (She does.) The definitive Jily fic — funnier than most published novels.
The Proposal
Reylomami · 2019
Modern AU based on the Sandra Bullock movie. Ben Solo is the demanding boss, Rey is the assistant he fake-proposes to. The romcom vibes are immaculate.
The Jasmine Dragon
Lisht · 2020
Modern coffee shop AU but make it Zutara. Katara needs a fake boyfriend, Zuko needs to not be awkward. Iroh is the best wingman. Cozy perfection.
The Proposal
Reylocalligraphy · 2018
Based on the movie. Ben is the demanding boss. Rey is the assistant. Green card marriage needed. You know how this goes and you love every second of it. Perfect romcom energy.
Stars and Flowers
the_bookish_soul · 2017
Modern AU Feysand. Feyre runs a flower shop. Rhys runs the nightclub next door. Modern-day enemies-to-lovers with all the SJM tropes transplanted perfectly into a contemporary setting.
The Proposal
Savvy_Sav · 2019
The Proposal movie AU. Ben is the horrible boss. Rey is his assistant. He needs to marry her to avoid deportation. Sandra Bullock/Ryan Reynolds energy translated perfectly to Reylo.
An Unexpected Journey Home
DetermamFidd · 2012
Bilbo survives the Battle of Five Armies AU. Everyone lives. The Company goes to the Shire. Thorin discovers gardening. One of the warmest, funniest Tolkien fics ever written. Pure comfort.
The Proposal
Reylocalligraphy · 2017
Modern AU based on the movie. Ben Solo needs a fake fiancée to avoid deportation. Rey needs a promotion. Sandra Bullock energy meets Reylo tension. Pure serotonin.
The House of Wind
julesherondalex · 2021
ACOSF rewrite that gives Nesta the development she deserves. The training scenes? The bridge scene? This version hits harder. Nessian stans' definitive fix-it.
The Proposal
Sage_McMae · 2018
Modern AU. Ben is Rey's nightmare boss. He's about to be deported. Solution: fake engagement. Yes, it's the Sandra Bullock movie but make it Reylo. The office enemies energy is immaculate.
A Court of Frost and Flowers
acotartrash · 2017
Modern AU. Feyre is an art student. Rhysand is the infuriating CEO next door. The ACOTAR gang in a contemporary setting with coffee shops, gallery openings, and the same devastating chemistry. Pure comfort reading.
The Lizzie Bennet Diaries: Extended Universe
QueenOfTheDorkside · 2015
A novelization and expansion of the LBD web series. All the scenes we didn't get on camera. Darcy's perspective chapters are everything — watching him fall apart over a woman in a cardigan is peak romance.
The Flatshare
Beth O'Leary · 2019
Tiffy and Leon share a flat but never meet — she works days, he works nights. They communicate through Post-it notes. The slow reveal of who Leon really is? Perfection.
Things We Never Got Over
Lucy Score · 2022
Naomi shows up in Knockemout to save her twin sister and gets stranded. Knox is the grumpy bar owner who definitely doesn't care about her. Except he does. SO much.
The Dead Romantics
Ashley Poston · 2022
Florence can see ghosts. Her new book editor shows up as one. A romance where your love interest is literally dead shouldn't work this well, and yet.
Part of Your World
Abby Jimenez · 2022
She's an ER doctor from a wealthy family. He's a small-town carpenter ten years younger. The class difference angst is real and Daniel is the ultimate book boyfriend.
Funny Story
Emily Henry · 2024
Daphne's fiancé left her for his childhood best friend. Now she's roommates with the other ex. Revenge-dating your roommate to make your exes jealous? Chaotic and brilliant.
Icebreaker
Hannah Grace · 2022
A figure skater and hockey captain forced to share ice time. Nate is the most wholesome book boyfriend — big, protective, and absolutely gone for Stassie from day one.
The Fine Print
Lauren Asher · 2021
Rowan inherits a theme park and must make it profitable. Zahra is his employee with big ideas. Boss-employee romance done right — he slowly dismantles every wall he's built.
Done and Dusted
Lyla Sage · 2023
Emmy comes home after a panic attack derails her rodeo career. Luke, her brother's best friend, has been waiting. Cowboy romance with actual emotional depth.
Just for the Summer
Abby Jimenez · 2024
Justin and Emma are both cursed — their exes always find their soulmate right after dating them. They date to break the curse. It works for everyone except them.
Assistant to the Villain
Hannah Nicole Maehrer · 2023
Evie gets a job as assistant to the most feared villain in the kingdom. He's dark and brooding. She brings snacks and asks about his feelings. Corporate fantasy comedy at its finest.
The Proposal
AquaWolfGirl · 2018
Modern AU based on the Sandra Bullock movie. Ben is the demanding editor. Rey is his assistant. He needs a fake fiancée. The bickering-to-yearning pipeline is *immaculate*.
Bring Me to Life
Celia_and · 2020
Modern AU. Ben is a grieving widower. Rey is the nanny he hires. If you love 'softening the hard man' trope, this will wreck you. The domesticity and healing are gorgeous.
City of Starlight
velaris_dreams · 2021
Modern AU where Feyre is a struggling artist and Rhysand runs a nightclub. The ACOTAR characters translated to modern day work shockingly well. The chemistry is volcanic.
The Great Pretender
LoversAntiquities · 2020
Human AU. Dean needs a fake boyfriend for a wedding. Cas is available. The 'performing relationship that becomes real' pipeline has never been done better. Warm, funny, and deeply romantic.
Just for the Summer
Abby Jimenez · 2024
Justin and Emma are both cursed — every person they date finds their soulmate right after. They team up to break the curse by dating each other. The foster care subplot will wreck you.
Wildfire
Hannah Grace · 2024
Aurora is stuck at a summer camp as a counselor. Russ, the outdoorsy camp director, is patient, steady, and completely enamored. Enemies who share a cabin in the woods energy.
Yours Truly
Abby Jimenez · 2023
Briana needs a kidney donor for her brother. Jacob writes her the most beautiful letter. They fake date to help each other but Jacob's quiet devotion is the real thing from the start.
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries
Heather Fawcett · 2023
A curmudgeonly faerie scholar travels to a remote village to study the folk. Her annoyingly charming colleague follows. Cozy academia meets dangerous fae courts.
The Flatshare
Beth O'Leary · 2019
Tiffy and Leon share an apartment but never meet — she sleeps in the bed at night, he sleeps in it during the day. They communicate through Post-it notes. The sweetest slow burn.
The Proposal
Reylocalligraphy · 2018
The Proposal movie AU. Ben Solo is the demanding boss, Rey is his assistant, and he needs a green card. Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds energy with Force-user chemistry.
Funny Story
Emily Henry · 2024
Daphne's fiancé leaves her for his childhood best friend. She ends up roommates with the other woman's ex. The petty revenge-turned-real-feelings pipeline is elite.
Love on the Brain
Ali Hazelwood · 2022
Bee and Levi are rival neuroscientists forced to co-lead a NASA project. He's grumpy, she's chaos, and he's been in love with her since grad school. Another Reylo retelling done right.
The Deal
Elle Kennedy · 2015
Hannah needs a music tutor. Garrett needs her to date him so his crush gets jealous. College hockey romance that launched a thousand trope obsessions.
Things We Never Got Over
Lucy Score · 2022
Naomi's twin sister strands her in a small town with a baby. Knox is the grumpy bar owner who reluctantly helps. 573 pages and you'll wish it was longer.
The Flatshare
Beth O'Leary · 2019
Tiffy and Leon share a flat but never meet — she has it days, he has it nights. They communicate through Post-it notes. The notes become flirting. The flirting becomes feelings.
Intermission
Politicalmamaduck · 2019
Broadway AU where Rey and Ben are rival theater directors forced to collaborate. The theatrical setting is perfect for their dramatic dynamic. Banter-heavy and delightful.
The Proposal
Reylocalligraphy · 2018
Based on the Sandra Bullock movie. Ben forces his assistant Rey to pretend they're engaged so he doesn't get deported. The movie plot + Reylo energy = perfection.
Sunshine and Shadows
leahchar · 2019
Nico and Will navigate being together at Camp Half-Blood. The grumpy-sunshine dynamic is perfect. Will brings light — literally and figuratively. Nico learns to let it in.
The Graham Effect
Elle Kennedy · 2023
Gigi Graham is hockey royalty. Luke Ryder is the brooding transfer who can't stand her sunshine energy. Forced to work together on the ice, the tension is unbearable in the best way.
Check & Mate
Ali Hazelwood · 2023
Mallory swore off chess. Then she accidentally beats the reigning US champion and gets pulled back into the world she left behind. The rivals-to-more pipeline is immaculate.
Yours Truly
Abby Jimenez · 2023
Briana is a tough ER doctor with a crumbling personal life. Jacob is the quiet new doctor she hates on sight. Then he writes her a letter. The pen-pal-to-fake-dating pipeline is perfection.
Things We Never Got Over
Lucy Score · 2022
Naomi's twin sister strands her in a tiny town with a baby that isn't hers. Knox is the town grump who doesn't want to care. He cares so much. The slow-burn payoff is legendary.
Assistant to the Villain
Hannah Nicole Maehrer · 2023
Evie gets a job as the personal assistant to the kingdom's most notorious villain. He's terrifying. She brings him coffee and names his evil plants. The vibes are immaculate.
Legends & Lattes
Travis Baldree · 2022
An orc barbarian retires from adventuring to open a coffee shop. That's it. That's the book. And it's the coziest, most wholesome fantasy you'll ever read.
Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands
Heather Fawcett · 2024
Emily and Wendell continue their academic adventures into faerie lands. She's still gloriously antisocial. He's still annoyingly charming. The cozy academia vibes are unmatched.
The Proposal
Reylocalligraphy · 2018
Based on the Sandra Bullock movie. Ben is the tyrannical boss. Rey is his assistant. He needs a green card marriage. You know exactly where this goes and you'll love every second.
Funny Story
Emily Henry · 2024
Daphne's fiancé leaves her for his childhood best friend. So she moves in with her ex's ex and they hatch a plot to make their exes jealous. Emily Henry doing what she does best — razor banter and real feelings.
The Dead Romantics
Ashley Poston · 2022
A romance ghostwriter who doesn't believe in love anymore meets her new editor — who's a ghost. Somehow it's the most alive love story you'll read. The ending had me sobbing.
Things We Hide from the Light
Lucy Score · 2023
Nash Morgan, the police chief shot in the line of duty, is brooding and broken. Lina is sunshine in leather boots. She barges into his recovery and refuses to leave. Peak grumpy-sunshine energy.
Things We Never Got Over
Lucy Score · 2022
Naomi shows up in Knockemout after her twin sister steals her car and abandons a kid. Knox is the grumpy bar owner who wants nothing to do with her drama. Too bad she's impossible to ignore.
The Spanish Love Deception
Elena Armas · 2021
Lina needs a fake date for a wedding in Spain. Aaron — her annoying coworker — volunteers. The 'I've been in love with you this whole time' reveal is devastating in the best way.
Love on the Brain
Ali Hazelwood · 2022
Bee gets her dream NASA project but has to co-lead it with Levi Ward — the man she's convinced hates her. Plot twist: he's been silently in love with her for years. More Reylo DNA in the best way.
The Flatshare
Beth O'Leary · 2019
Tiffy and Leon share an apartment but never meet — she has it at night, he has it during the day. They communicate through Post-it notes. When they finally meet, it's everything.
The Soulmate Equation
Christina Lauren · 2021
A geneticist creates a DNA-based matchmaking company. Jess's results say she's a 98% match with the cold, arrogant founder. Spoiler: he's not actually cold. He's just terrible at feelings.
The Proposal
Reylocalligraphy · 2018
Modern AU based on the Sandra Bullock movie. Ben is Rey's nightmare boss. He's also about to be deported. Cue fake engagement. The Reylo fandom's answer to every fake-dating romance novel.
The Kiss Quotient
Helen Hoang · 2018
Stella Lane is a brilliant econometrician with Asperger's who hires escort Michael Phan to teach her about intimacy. What starts as lessons becomes something neither of them expected.
The Flatshare
Beth O'Leary · 2019
Tiffy and Leon share an apartment but have never met—she has it during the day, he has it at night. They communicate through Post-it notes, and slowly fall for each other.
Part of Your World
Abby Jimenez · 2022
Alexis is an ER doctor from a wealthy family. Daniel is a carpenter in a tiny Minnesota town. Their worlds couldn't be more different, but the pull between them is undeniable.
Icebreaker
Hannah Grace · 2022
Figure skater Anastasia and hockey captain Nate are forced to share a rink. She thinks he's arrogant. He can't stop staring. A college sports romance that sizzles from the first chapter.
The Love Hypothesis
Ali Hazelwood · 2021
Olive Smith, a PhD candidate, fake-dates brooding professor Adam Carlsen to convince her best friend she's moved on. He's not supposed to be this perfect for real.
Twice Shy
Sarah Hogle · 2021
Maybell inherits a house from her great-aunt, only to discover she shares it with the reclusive groundskeeper Wesley. He's grumpy, she's anxious sunshine. Cozy perfection.
Things We Never Got Over
Lucy Score · 2022
Naomi arrives in Knockemout, Virginia, gets stranded by her twin sister, and ends up raising her niece. Knox Morgan is the grumpy bar owner who wants nothing to do with her. Sure, Knox.
Yours Truly
Abby Jimenez · 2023
Briana is competing for a promotion with Dr. Jacob Maddox. Then he writes her a letter. The enemies-to-pen-pals-to-lovers pipeline is REAL. Also tackles anxiety and chronic illness beautifully.
The Deal
Elle Kennedy · 2015
Hannah needs a tutor. Garrett needs her to date him to make another girl jealous. Neither expects what happens next. The OG college sports romance that launched a thousand tropes.
Remain Nameless
HeyJude19 · 2020
Draco is Hermione's new neighbor in Muggle London. Enemies who share a wall. The banter is legendary, the slow burn is agonizing, and the payoff is perfect.
Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love
isthisselfcare · 2021
Draco's POV. He's in love with Granger and absolutely FURIOUS about it. The internal monologue is comedy gold. If you want to laugh and swoon simultaneously, this is your fic.
The Proposal
Reylomami · 2019
Based on the Sandra Bullock movie. Ben Kylo Solo forces his assistant Rey to pretend to be his fiancée. The power dynamic flip when they visit her family is *chef's kiss*.
The Love Hypothesis
Ali Hazelwood · 2021
A PhD candidate kisses a brooding professor to convince her friend she's moved on. He agrees to fake-date her. The internet lost its mind over Adam Carlsen for good reason.
Remain Nameless
HeyJude19 · 2020
Hermione and Draco are forced to work together at the Ministry. Their bickering is legendary. The slow transition from hatred to something more is absolute perfection.
Mental
Saras_Girl · 2010
Harry is a trainee Healer. Draco runs the Janus Thickey Ward. They clash. They bond. They fall. Saras_Girl's humor is unmatched in HP fandom.
The Spanish Love Deception
Elena Armas · 2021
Catalina needs a fake date for her sister's wedding in Spain. Aaron Blackford, the colleague she can't stand, volunteers. What could possibly go wrong? Everything.
The Deal
Elle Kennedy · 2015
Hannah needs help with music theory. Garrett needs a date. They strike a deal. The OG college romance that launched a thousand tropes.
Well Met
Jen DeLuca · 2019
Emily gets roped into volunteering at a Renaissance Faire by the grumpiest man alive. He's insufferable in doublet and hose. She hates him. Sure she does.
Things We Never Got Over
Lucy Score · 2022
Naomi shows up in Knockemout to rescue her twin sister, gets stranded with a baby, and meets Knox — the grumpiest bar owner in Virginia. He wants nothing to do with her. His actions say otherwise.
The Proposal
Reylocalligraphy · 2018
Based on the movie. Ben Solo, publishing CEO, forces his assistant Rey to pretend to be his fiancée. The Reylo version of the Sandra Bullock classic we deserved.
The Kiss Quotient
Helen Hoang · 2018
Stella Lane hires an escort to teach her about intimacy. Michael is way more than she bargained for. Autistic heroine rep done beautifully.
The Flatshare
Beth O'Leary · 2019
They share an apartment but never meet — she has the bed at night, he has it during the day. They communicate via Post-it notes. It's as adorable as it sounds.
The Soulmate Equation
Christina Lauren · 2021
A geneticist discovers she's a 98% match with the annoyingly hot founder of a DNA matchmaking company. Science says they're soulmates. She says absolutely not.
One Last Stop
Casey McQuiston · 2021
August meets Jane on the subway. Jane is a time-displaced punk girl stuck in the 2020s from 1970s Brooklyn. Queer romance meets time-slip mystery meets found family.
The Bromance Book Club
Lyssa Kay Adams · 2019
A baseball player's wife kicks him out. His teammates invite him to a secret book club where they read romance novels to save their marriages. Peak comfort.
The Dead Romantics
Ashley Poston · 2022
Florence can see ghosts. Her new book editor shows up dead — as a ghost. Now she has to help him figure out how he died while also finishing her romance novel. It's funnier than it sounds.
Reckless
Elsie Silver · 2023
Winter is sunshine personified. Theo is her dad's brooding best friend. The age gap. The forbidden tension. The small town that sees everything. Absolutely unputdownable.
The Proposal
Huttslayer · 2018
Based on the Sandra Bullock movie. Rey's boss Kylo needs a fake fiancée to avoid deportation. She hates him. Obviously. The modern AU that converts non-Reylo readers.
The Deal
Elle Kennedy · 2015
Hannah needs a fake boyfriend to make her crush jealous. Garrett needs a tutor. Their deal is simple — until it isn't. THE college romance that started it all.
Things We Never Got Over
Lucy Score · 2022
Naomi shows up in Knockemout to rescue her twin sister and ends up stranded with a grumpy bar owner named Knox. He wants nothing to do with her. His actions say otherwise.
The Spanish Love Deception
Elena Armas · 2021
Catalina needs a fake boyfriend for her sister's wedding in Spain. Aaron Blackford — her tall, infuriating colleague — volunteers. He is SO in love with her and she has NO idea.
The Fine Print
Lauren Asher · 2021
Rowan inherits a theme park he hates. Zahra is a park designer who challenges him at every turn. He's cold, calculating, and completely gone for her.
Well Met
Jen DeLuca · 2019
Emily's stuck in a small town and forced to volunteer at the local Renaissance Faire. The organizer Simon is insufferable. The sexual tension in doublets and corsets is unreal.
Legends & Lattes
Travis Baldree · 2022
An orc barbarian retires from adventuring to open a coffee shop. It's as cozy as it sounds. Gentle sapphic romance, found family, and the revolutionary act of choosing peace.
The Flatshare
Beth O'Leary · 2019
Tiffy and Leon share an apartment but never meet — she sleeps in the bed at night, he sleeps in it during the day. They communicate through Post-it notes. The sweetest setup ever.
Puppy Love
hollybu · 2021
Modern AU where Remus is a vet and Sirius keeps bringing in his disaster dog. It's fluffy (literally), it's charming, and Sirius's golden retriever energy is at maximum.
A Proposal by Candlelight
Ariel_Sojourner · 2018
Modern AU where Rey needs a date for a wedding and Ben Solo reluctantly agrees. He's tall, grumpy, and absolutely terrible at pretending he doesn't care. Fluffy perfection.
Act Your Age, Eve Brown
Talia Hibbert · 2021
Eve hits Jacob with her car, then accidentally gets hired at his B&B. He's rigid and grumpy, she's chaotic and sunny. The neurodivergent rep is beautiful and the chemistry is fire.
The Soulmate Equation
Christina Lauren · 2021
A dating app uses DNA to find soulmates. Jess's perfect match is the cold, arrogant scientist who runs the company. Their 98% compatibility score doesn't mean they have to like each other.
Part of Your World
Abby Jimenez · 2022
A high-powered surgeon falls for a small-town carpenter ten years her junior. He's everything she shouldn't want. Their worlds couldn't be more different. The angst is exquisite.
The Proposal
ReyloWrites · 2019
The Proposal movie AU. Ben is Rey's nightmare boss. He needs a fake fiancée to avoid deportation. She needs a promotion. You know exactly where this is going and you'll love every second.
Book Lovers
Emily Henry · 2022
A cutthroat literary agent keeps bumping into a brooding editor in a tiny NC town. Hallmark-movie setup, razor-sharp execution.
The Love Hypothesis
Ali Hazelwood · 2021
A PhD student fake-dates a hot, grumpy professor. Reylo-fic-turned-original, now a phenomenon.
The Deal
Elle Kennedy · 2015
Hockey captain needs a tutor. Music student needs a fake boyfriend. The deal is simple. The feelings are not.
Part of Your World
Abby Jimenez · 2022
A big-city ER doctor falls for a small-town carpenter. Their worlds don't fit. But they do.
Things We Never Got Over
Lucy Score · 2022
Naomi shows up in Knockemout, VA looking for her twin sister. Instead she finds Knox—the grumpiest man alive. Who hates her. Until he doesn't.
The Wall of Winnipeg and Me
Mariana Zapata · 2016
Vanessa quits her job as a football player's assistant. He shows up at her door asking her to marry him. For a green card. The slowest of slow burns.
The Proposal
Reylocalligraphy · 2019
The Proposal movie retelling. Ben is the demanding boss. Rey is the assistant. Green card marriage. It's as good as it sounds.
The Roommate Agreement
ERamos9696 · 2018
Modern AU. Ben and Rey become roommates. He's a grump. She's chaotic sunshine. The apartment gets smaller every chapter.
Things We Never Got Over
Lucy Score · 2022
Naomi shows up in Knockemout looking for her twin sister and ends up stuck with a cranky bar owner and an abandoned niece.
Funny Story
Emily Henry · 2024
Daphne's fiancé left her for his best friend. So she moves in with the best friend's ex. Revenge-posting turns into something real.
Just Like Magic
Sarah Hogle · 2022
Bettie wishes for happiness and accidentally summons the literal embodiment of holiday cheer. He's hot. He cooks. He grants wishes.
The Proposal
inthegarden · 2019
Modern AU based on the movie. Ben is the horrible boss. Rey is the assistant. He needs a fake fiancée for immigration. Chemistry ensues.
When in Rome
Sarah Adams · 2023
Pop star Amelia breaks down in a small town. The very grumpy mechanic is her only option for help. He doesn't know who she is. She loves it.
Second First Impressions
Sally Thorne · 2021
Ruthie Midona has been assistant at a retirement community for years. Then Teddy Prescott arrives and everything gets complicated. Classic Sally Thorne charm.
Boyfriend Material
Alexis Hall · 2020
Luc needs a fake boyfriend to fix his tabloid image. Oliver needs to advance his career. Truly the funniest fake-dating book you'll read this year.
The Flatshare
Beth O'Leary · 2019
Tiffy and Leon share a flat — but never meet. She takes it during the day; he works nights. They communicate through Post-it notes. Absolutely charming.
The Roommate
Rosie Danan · 2020
Clara moves in with her childhood crush's best friend — who is a porn star. It's a romance about female desire, feminism, and getting over the idea of who you're supposed to want.
The Ballad of the White Wolf
pineapplebread · 2020
Jaskier writes songs about a grumpy witcher who definitely doesn't want company. Geralt keeps accepting it anyway. The long slow domesticity of two people who choose each other.