There are several excellent friends-to-loversromancebooks that reign superior.Countless tropes have shaped today’s romance booksto the point where marketing teams have begun using tropes as selling points. Sports romance novels—or, more specifically,hockey romance books—have gained traction because of their marketing-the-tropes tactics. Some ofthe best romance moviesexist because of how well the tropes are executed, while some films have become well-known because ofpopular romance movie tropes. Regardless of the tropes, it is clear they have significantly changed the romance genre forever.
Friends-to-lovers is a popular trope, but it is often a hit or miss. There are some stellarfriends-to-lovers movie couples, and othermovie couples have great onscreen chemistrybecause the actors are good friends in real life.Friendship is a cornerstone to executing any great relationship, especially in romance novels.Friends-to-lovers is one of the best romance tropes when the narrative executes the relationship well because of the foundation of friendship, loyalty, trust, and history, followed by excellent pining and love confessions. Despite all the great romance novels with this trope, 10 friends-to-lovers books are better than any other.
10Josh & Hazel’s Guide To Not Dating By Christina Lauren
Hazel Camille Bradford & Josh Im (Standalone Novel)
Josh & Hazel’s Guide to Not Datingis one of Christina Lauren’s most popular books, and for a good reason.The novel revolves around the decade-long friendship between Hazel Camille Bradford and Josh Im.Although they have been great friends since college, they never saw each other as anything more because of their drastically different personalities. After Josh’s most recent girlfriend cheats on him, Josh and Hazel decide to set each other up on blind dates—which only results in seeing each other in a different light for the first time.
The novel is not particularly deep, but it hits all the right points for a perfect friends-to-lovers romance—pining, agonizing over developing feelings, and electrifying chemistry that sustains the narrative.
Josh & Hazel’s Guide to Not Datingis a sweet, joyful romance novelthat illustrates the best of friends-to-lovers, slow burn, and opposites attract. The novel is not particularly deep, but it hits all the right points for a perfect friends-to-lovers romance—pining, agonizing over developing feelings, and electrifying chemistry that sustains the narrative.
9Addicted Series By Krista & Becca Ritchie
Lily Calloway & Loren Hale (Five Installments In The 10-Book Addicted Series)
TheAddictedseries by Krista and Becca Ritchie follows the daughters of a billionaire CEO as they navigate life, love, and obstacles. The first romance depicts Lily Calloway and Loren Hale, two childhood best friends who pretend to date in front of their families to hide their secrets—Lily is addicted to sex, and Loren has alcoholism.Their romance is not just about two best friends falling in love, but about two flawed humans facing and overcoming their biggest demons while battling addiction.Lily and Loren’s relationship is an emotionally complex story that depicts the best parts of friends-to-lovers.
(Childhood) Friends to Lovers
Daisy Calloway & Ryke Meadows
September 2014–December 2014
Age Gap, Forbidden Romance, Friends to Lovers, Grumpy x Sunshine, Road Trip
June 2018–May 2028
All Of the Above
Lily Calloway and Loren Hale have seen each other at their worst points, but still portray unconditional love. Some of Krista and Becca Ritchie’s other couples also have the friends-to-lovers trope, such as Daisy and Ryke or Willow and Garrison, but it is difficult to measure up to the epic love story that started it all. Furthermore,Lily and Loren’s romance is the blueprint for friends-to-lovers, while Daisy and Ryke fit better for age gap and forbidden romance, while Willow and Garrison’s primary trope is good girl with bad boy.
8Romancing Mr. Bridgerton By Julia Quinn
Colin Bridgerton & Penelope Featherington (Book Four In The Bridgerton Series)
TheBridgertonbooksby Julia Quinn all contain different tropes, and Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington’s story depicts friends-to-lovers. However,Bridgerton’s Colin and Penelopeare still one of the best friends-to-lovers romances.Romancing Mr. Bridgertonillustrates how someone might develop romantic feelings for their best friend and see them in a different light for the first time.Colin and Penelope’s book chemistry is magic; when they finally get together, it is as if the last remaining piece of the puzzle has clicked into place.
I Don’t Think Bridgerton Season 3 Lived Up To The Book
Bridgerton season 3 had several highlights, but when it comes to Colin and Penelope’s romance, the season did not live up to its book counterpart.
Of course,Bridgertonseason 3 implemented many book changes, so Colin and Penelope’s relationship inRomancing Mr. Bridgertonhas a much bigger slow burn, but it is even more rewarding. Colin Bridgerton also has his own independent arc in the book, illustrating the importance of both characters in the narrative and why
7Hook, Line, & Sinker By Tessa Bailey
Hannah Bellinger & Fox Thornton (Book Two In Bellinger Sisters Duology)
Tessa Bailey is one of romance’s most popular authors today—a well-deserved title due to Bailey’s swoon-worthy heroes, complex heroines, and enticing romances.Hook, Line, & Sinkeris a perfect example of Tessa Bailey’s immense talent.The book revolves around the two protagonists, Hannah Bellinger and Fox Thornton, who unexpectedly become friends, something Fox rarely does with women. Fox decides to help Hannah land the person she has had a crush on, but the more time they spend and live together, the deeper they fall for each other.
Hannah and Fox’s friends-to-lovers romance is authentic. The progression of their relationship occurs so naturally that when they finally get together, it is gratifying.Hannah and Fox’s dynamic also has a will-they, won’t-they factor, raising the stakes and their chemistry.The angsty moments make the narrative even more delicious. Furthermore,Hook, Line & Sinkerwas a Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee for Romance and a Swoon Award Nominee for Contemporary Romance—both signifiers that Tessa Bailey’s novel is widely beloved.
6A Lady For A Duke By Alexis Hall
Justin De Vere & Viola Carroll (A Standalone Novel)
A Lady for a Dukeis a standalone historical romance novel about a woman named Viola Carroll who returns to society years after she faked her death to discover her childhood best friend, Justin de Vere, is not the same person she once knew. Justin has been devastated since losing his best friend years before, and he has become a shell of the person he was. Viola decides to help Justin return to himself again. Along the way,they rediscover old and new feelings they both harbor for each other while attempting to navigate personal obstacles.
A Lady for a Dukeis a profoundly moving novel about lost childhood love and friendship, identity and self-acceptance, and grief. Alexis Hall portrays these themes utilizing Viola and Justin’s electrifying chemistry and deeply entwined bond. Thebook’s historical fictionsetting complements this novel and enriches Viola and Justin’s story.
5Just One Night By Lauren Layne
Riley McKenna & Sam Compton (Book Three In Love, Sex, & Stiletto)
Just One Nightis the third installment inLove, Sex, & Stiletto, revolving around employees working at a high-end magazine. This book features sex columnist Riley McKenna and her brother’s best friend—also one of her close friends—Sam Compton. Riley asks Sam for a personal favor, which he eventually agrees to in order to help Riley. However, this favor turns into more than one occasion, and eventually, Riley and Sam are friends with benefits.The tension building up to Riley and Sam getting together is immaculate because of their shared history.
There are four books inLove, Sex, & Stiletto, but there is a spinoff series,Oxford, containing five books.
Sam and Riley’s brother have been best friends forever, while Riley and Sam have been good friends during that period. Although Riley had romantic feelings for Sam for several years, spending more time together allowed her to see him in an entirely new way. On the other hand, Sam sees Riley as forbidden, but as they grow closer, he sees Riley much differently because of their friendship.Although all the romances in this book series are incredibly well-written, Riley and Sam are on a whole different level because of their history.
4Daydream By Hannah Grace
Halle Jacobs & Henry Turner (Book Three In Maple Hills)
Daydreamis the third installment in Hannah Grace’sMaple Hillsseries, and it is easily the best one. The book revolves around Halle and Henry’s unexpected and surprising friendship that begins as an accident, turns into a tutoring gig, and ends with Halle and Henry falling in love.Their relationship exhibits why friends-to-lovers is such a rewarding trope.As they build their friendship, their trust and loyalty in each other also grow. Halle and Henry learn everything there is to know about each other, developing an understanding that neither has with anyone else.
Halle and Henry also take the time to get to know each other because they are genuinely invested.Their enriching friendship leads to a long-lasting, legendary romance that the others in theMaple Hillsseries do not live up to(although they are definitely worth reading). It is difficult to believe any future books in Hannah Grace’sMaple Hillsseries will beatDaydream. The novel hits all the right notes while providing a gratifying romance and complex characters.
3Take A Hint, Dani Brown By Talia Hibbert
Danika Brown & Zafir Ansari (Book Two In The Brown Sisters)
Take a Hint,Dani Brownis the second installment in Talia Hibbert’sThe Brown Sisters, revolving around Danika, who is looking for a friends-with-benefits partner, and Zafir, who unexpectedly rescues Danika from a fire drill accident. Their chaotic meeting leads to an unlikely friendship and eventual fake dating scenario, which Zafir needs to boost publicity for his sports charity. Danika and Zafir’s relationship is unique because they are not just friends-to-lovers;they also engage in a fake relationship that significantly raises the stakes of their friendship and chemistry.
Take a Hint, Dani Brownis the quintessential friends-to-lovers rom-com.The book is sweet and funny, with stellar protagonists with sensual chemistry.The fake dating aspect adds to Danika and Zafir’s romance rather than detracts. Danika and Zafir are also unique and diverse—Danika is a Black bisexual student working on her PhD and despises commitment, while Zafir is a Muslim Pakistani-British former rugby player turned security guard who adores romance novels.Take a Hint, Dani Brownis an excellent friends-to-lovers romance novel and one of Talia Hibbert’s best works.
2Count Your Lucky Stars By Alexandria Bellefleur
Margot Cooper & Olivia Grant (Book Three In Written In The Stars)
Count Your Lucky Starsis the final installment in Alexandria Bellefleur’sWritten in the Starstrilogy,featuring lost love, childhood friendship, and second chances. It revolves around Margot Cooper and Olivia Grant—two former childhood best friends who became each other’s first loveandfirst heartbreak. They unexpectedly run into each other after 10 years, leading to a temporary roommate scenario.Count Your Lucky Starsdepicts two troubled souls who manage to find a second chance with each other after a decade of silence.
Margot Cooper and Olivia Grant have endured a lot over the last decade, and coming together after all that time when they still have obstacles to overcome is not easy. However, their friendship is stronger than anything thrown at them, even if they lose touch over the years.Margot and Olivia fall in love because of their foundation of friendship, and they get back together because of their shared history.Count Your Lucky Starsis an excellentLGBTQ+ romance bookand the perfect example of why friends-to-lovers is even better when applied to sapphic romances.
1People We Meet On Vacation By Emily Henry
Alex Nilsen & Poppy Wright (A Standalone Novel)
Of course, the best friends-to-lovers romance novel is Emily Henry’s iconicPeople We Meet on Vacation.Alex Nilsen and Poppy Wright’s romance is a page-turning epic love story for the ages.They become unlikely friends and sustain a decade-long friendship until something happens on their most recent vacation that causes them to cut contact for two years. Then, Poppy reaches out to Alex and propositions him for one last vacation in an effort to rediscover her love for traveling and life.
One Of The Best Rom-Coms Of All Time Is Getting A Spiritual Successor Over 35 Years Later
A book written to serve as the spiritual successor to one of the greatest romantic comedies ever made is set to get its own movie adaptation.
Emily Henry writes complex romance novels with protagonists enduring their inner conflicts before coming together. Her books are much bigger than the romance aspect, but Alex and Poppy are still one of the best parts ofPeople We Meet on Vacation. Alex and Poppy’sromancehas become so popular thatNetflix is adaptingPeople We Meet on Vacation.Their romance also features the opposites attract trope, which cultivates a more intriguing dynamic.Emily Henry’s booksonly improve with each release, butPeople We Meet on Vacationwill remain one of her best because of Alex and Poppy.
