Friends to Lovers Romance Books
The friends to lovers romance books trope is one of the most fulfilling tropes in romance novels. There is something about two friends realizing they have feelings for one another and using their trust and past to navigate the transition to a happily-ever-after ending. I wanted to make a list of my favorite books for you to read.
Of course, there will be obstacles along the way because the novel would have no story to tell otherwise. But the road to a happy ending is always the best part. Often there will be unrequited love along with internal and external obstacles. If you love an enemies-to-lovers romance, I have that for you as well on a different post.
Kirsten and I have chosen our absolute favorite friends-to-lovers books so that you don’t have to scour anywhere else for the best books.
The Best Friends to Lovers Romance Books
Each colorful block below represents the best book in a subgenre. Click on the arrow to reveal my “best” pick in any category. You’ll also be able to use a page jump to see more books in that section.
The Best Spicy Friends to Lovers Romance Book
Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes- Jump to Section
The Best Sweet Friends to Lovers Romance Book
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry- Jump to Section
The Best YA Friends to Lovers Romance Book
Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louise – Jump to Section
*Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
Spicy Friends to Lovers Romance Books
Evvie Drake Starts Over
Author: Linda Holmes
Year: 2019
Genre: Romance
More info: July 2019 Read with Jenna Book List Pick
Spice Rating: 💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
When Evvie’s husband dies unexpectedly in a car crash, she is still staying in her house a year later. Everyone in her small town thinks that she is overcome with grief but in actuality, it is guilt.
Dean is a retired major league baseball pitcher who woke up one day and was unable to throw the ball over the plate. When he moves into the apartment in the back of Evvie’s house the two become friends and agree to never talk about baseball or her husband.
Trigger Warnings
Emotional Abuse
Why Jackie loves it
I just adored this celebrity romance book. It was such a sweet and light romance, easily read on the beach.
Find this book in: Sports Romances / Celebrity Romance Books / Friends-to-Lovers Romance Books / Books About Sports / Books Set in Maine / Read with Jenn Book Club List 2019
Hook, Line, and Sinker
Author: Tessa Bailey
Year: 2022
Genre: Romance
More info: Instant #1 NY Times Bestseller
Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
This is such a cute romance. Fox Thorton is a player who has never had a relationship. The last thing he needs is to fall for his best friend, Hannah, while trying to help her get her crush. And to make matters worse, she has moved into his spare room for the next few weeks while she is filming a movie.
Why Jackie loves it
I wish there was a soundtrack to go with this book. It was such a cute and quick read.
Find this book in: Friends to Lovers Romance Books
Plot
Brynn is sick of being single, but when she makes a wish to find her happy ending on her 30th birthday, she’s shocked to find out that she’s landed in the town from her favorite TV show (picture Dawson’s Creek) with her surly roommate, Josh.
The town knows her as Sloan, the heroine of Carson’s Cove, and her job is to give Sloan the happy ending she never got on the show, with leading man Spencer. But as Brynn’s feelings for Josh begin to grow, she’s not sure she can fake the ending with Spencer and get them back home.
Why Kirsten likes it
This story is for anyone who’s ever wanted to be in their favorite TV show. The chemistry between the characters was great and I loved all the ’90s CW show vibes! #gifted by Penguin Random House
Find this book in: Friends to Lovers Romance Books / Cozy Fantasy Romance Books
The Emma Project
Author: Sonali Dev
Year: 2022
Genre: Romance, Classic Retelling
More info: The Rajes Series book 4 of 4
Spice Rating:💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
I love that Emma gets a different twist with this adaptation. Vansh Raje takes on the role of Emma in this fresh new perspective.
Why Jackie loves it
If you have read Dev’s other books, these characters will be familiar to you by now. I liked this book, and I love the way Dev changes the story while staying true to the heart of it. I do not love Naina, and this story involves her a lot.
While we get to see things from her perspective, which makes her more likable, Dev did too good of a job making me dislike her in the last book.
Find this book in: Jane Austen retellings / Friends to Lovers Romance Books
Sweet Friends to Lovers Romance Books
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
Author: Emily Henry
Year: 2021
Genre: Romance
More info: #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range:18+
Plot
Do you believe Harry (from When Harry Met Sally) when he said “Women and men can’t be friends”?
We are sure think he’s wrong, but one of our favorite tropes is friends to lovers. People We Met on Vacation is the latest beach read from Emily Henry and it’s addicting.
Poppy has been best friends with Alex since a car ride home from college a decade ago. Since then, they’ve gone on vacation together every year until 2 years ago when it all came crashing down.
Will they recover their friendship with one more trip or will their relationship be irrevocably ruined? This is the perfect beach, poolside read, or vacation read. You should be sure to add it to your summer reading romance books list. And if you are looking for the best friends-to-lovers romance novel, this is it.
Why Jackie loves it
This is one of the best friends to lovers romances I have read. I love the way Emily Henry’s books. The stories are so relatable and utterly charming
Adaptation Information
Tom Blythe and Emily Bader are set to star in the Netflix movie adaptation which will be out on January 9, 2026. Sarah Catherine Hook, Lukas Gage, Lucien Laviscount, and Jameela Jamil have also joined the cast.
Find this book in: Friends to Lovers Romance Books / Books Like People We Meet on Vacation / Books Becoming Movies / Emily Henry Books Ranked / The Best Audiobooks of All Time
In a Holidaze
Author: Christina Lauren
Year: 2020
Genre: Holiday Romance
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Do you love Christmas movies? Are you obsessed with Christmas Romance books? Do you need to swoon? If you answered yes to any of those questions, stop everything and order In a Holidaze. This is possibly my favorite Christmas novel of all time and was a must for best holiday books.
I adored Mae and Andrew’s love story. It’s set up like Groundhog’s Day with Mae repeating the same Christmas vacation until she gets it right.
Why Kirsten loves it
This is a time-travel romance at its best. And man… does she get it right. Peppermint kisses, sexy sledding, snowball fights, Christmas Tree trimming… this book oozes cheer-filled holiday goodness with a few scenes that are steamier than a cup of cocoa.
Why Jackie loves it
I thought a time loop book would become repetitive and this book was definitely not repetitive! I could not get enough of the Christmas cheer and the sweet moments in this book. I was rooting for the characters!
Find this book in: Best Books of 2020 / Magical Realism / Time Loop Books / Fantasy Christmas Books / Best Holiday Books / Best Christmas Books of All Time / Christmas Romance Books
To Marry and To Meddle
Author: Martha Waters
Year: 2022
Genre: Romance
More info: Regency Vows Book #3
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Lady Emily and Lord Julian have come to an arrangement. He needs a wife to help his theater appear more legitimate in the eyes of society, and she needs to escape the strain of living under her parents’ thumb.
So they decided on a quick wedding whilst staying with friends in the country. But when they get back to London, Julian realizes he might not want the perfect wife, and Emily might just want to explore her freedom by finding her backbone.
Why Jackie loves it
Adorable and charming, this historical romance novel is full of charm and wit.
Find this book in: Books like Bridgerton / Friends to Lovers Romance Books
Duke, Actually
Author: Jenny Holiday
Year: 2021
Genre: Romance
More info: Christmas in Eldovia #2
Spice Rating:💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
The sequel to A Princess for Christmas is the love story of Leo and Marie’s man of honor (Max) and best woman (Dani). Dani is going through a divorce and Max begins to help her get over her ex in a strictly platonic way. But as their friendship grows, their feelings for each other deepen.
Why Kirsten loves it
The beginning and end of the story feature lots of Christmas scenes in NYC and Eldovia. Plus we get to see Leo and Marie’s wedding! I also loved the bi-racial relationship portrayed. It was fun to learn about Christmas traditions from Mexico.
Find this book in: Christmas Novels for 2021 / Friends to Lovers Romance Books
YA Friends to Lovers Romance
Plot
When 16-year-old Emmie sends her name and email address attached to a red balloon, it travels over 100 miles and leads her to Lucas. This one gesture sparks a friendship that lasts for 14 years.
Now, Emmie and Lucas are best friends and he surprises her with the fact that he is getting married. The problem? Emmie is in love with Lucas
Trigger Warnings
Sexual assault, bullying
Why Jackie loves it
This YA romance is a best friends-to-lovers in the best possible way. This is an underappreciated book and I enjoyed every minute of it. The characters are relatable.
Find this book in: Books with Colors in the Title / Friends to Lovers Romance Books
The Summer I Turned Pretty
Author: Jenny Han
Year: 2009
Genre: YA Romance
More info: The Summer I Turned Pretty #1,
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 12+
Plot
The series starts when Belly turns 15, at the beach house she visits every summer with her mom, her brother, and her mother’s best friend’s family, this coming-of-age is geared towards 15-year-olds. Throughout the summer, she learns about her dear friend’s illness and finds herself in a love triangle with the Fisher boys.
Trigger Warnings
Cancer
Why Kirsten loves it
Ok, so I adored To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, but this YA romance felt like it was geared toward a younger crowd. This is a perfect friends-to-lovers romance for teens. It is filled with a love triangle teenage antics. I read it for the reading challenge, and while I didn’t love it as I read, I really loved the Amazon adaptation!
Adaptation Information
Amazon Prime Video has adapted this book series for TV. It stars Lola Tung as Belly, Christopher Briney as Conrad, and Gavin Caslegno as Jeremiah. While the three book series has been fully adapted to the screen, a movie was recently announced set to come out in 2027.
Find this book in: Books Becoming TV Series / Friends-to-Lovers Romance Books / Book Adaptations on Amazon Prime / Best YA Romance Books / Books with Summer in the Title
Expert Tip
The friends-to-lovers romance tropes in books have become very popular over the last few years and for good reason. This romance trope involves two individuals who start as close friends and slowly realize their feelings for each other are not just platonic. Here are some tips to choose a book you will love.
- Check trigger warnings for these stories – some parents are single because of divorce, but others are widows or widowers, and that might be a trigger for you.
- Look at the spicy rating! Our spice goes up to level 5, but anything with 3 lips or more has at least one open-door scene.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Friends to Lovers Romance Trope?
The friends-to-lovers romance tropes in books have become very popular over the last few years and for good reason. This romance trope involves two individuals who start as close friends and slowly realize their feelings for each other are not just platonic. The shift from friendship to romance is a central theme, often highlighting the strength of their bond and the discovery of a deeper connection between them. These romances are often slow-burn romances as well.
What Do We Love About Friends to Lovers Romances?
A great friends-to-lovers romance offers the ultimate chance for a happy ending. These romance books often give the underdog a chance. Often in this romance trope, one of the friends is harboring unrequited love, which makes the moment of realization for the other character that much sweeter. The road to HEA in these romance novels is that much more fulfilling at the end of the novel.
Related Content
Epilogue:
What are your favorite friends-to-lovers romance books?
