Office Romance Books

If I Never Met You

Author: Mhairi McFarlane

Year: 2020

Genre: Romance

Spice Rating:💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

In this romance, Laurie is completely blind-sided when her partner of 18 years leaves her without warning.  When her ex’s new girlfriend becomes pregnant within months of the breakup, Laurie is devastated. 

When Laurie gets stuck in an elevator with Jamie (the office ladies’ man), they devise a plan.  Laurie can get back at her ex and Jamie can get a promotion by showing he has a respectable girlfriend.  But, as time goes by, it is harder to draw the line between fake and real.

Why Jackie loves it

I really enjoyed this story and how their love develops.

Find this book in: Office Romances Books

The Cafe by the Sea

Author: Jenny Colgan

Year: 2017

Genre: Fiction

More info: Mure Island #1

Spice Rating:💋

Age Range: 16+

Plot

Jenny Colgan churns out another light beach read with heart. Cafe by the Sea is set on the gorgeous island of Mure in Scotland. Scotland shines in this story about life in a town set in its ways and trying to resist the pull of modern life. Flora has returned home because her boss, Joel – who she is secretly in love with – asks her to. She thought she needed to leave Mure to be who she was destined to be, but being back and reconnecting with her family has her questioning who she really wants to be.

Why Kirsten loves it

There is a romance in this story, but the pull was also on the heroine reconnecting with her old life and family.

Find this book in: Bakery Romance Novels / Office Romances / Best Jenny Colgan Books / Books About Food

Starry-Eyed Love

Author: Helena Hunting

Year: 2022

Genre: Romance

More info: Spark House #2

Spice Rating:💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

London Spark will do anything for her sisters, including some sides of the business that do not come easily to her. When a huge company wants to meet with London for a partnership, she cannot say no. When the CEO turns out to be a man that London turned down for a date, things become more complicated.

Why Jackie loves it

I read the first book in this series last summer and I loved it. There is something about these sisters and the Spark Hotel that is so easy to read. Gifted by St. Martin’s Press.

The Boyfriend Project

Author: Farrah Rochon

Year: 2020

Genre: Romance

More info: The Boyfriend Project #1

Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Samiah Brooks becomes an unwilling internet sensation when she discovers her boyfriend is dating two other women. Instead of drama or fighting, Samiah, Taylor, and London form an instant tight bond of strong, smart, independent women and I absolutely loved their relationship with each other. The three women make a pact to spend the next six months bettering themselves and perusing their dreams and supporting each other.

Samiah has been thinking about developing a new app for years. Cue: a gorgeous, smart, and thoughtful new co-worker whose chemistry with Samiah is undeniable.

Trigger Warnings

Racism

Why Jackie loves it

I loved so many things about this book especially the candid discussions about the struggles of a black woman in the workplace and the strong, supportive women in the book.

Find this book in: Books Like the Kiss Quotient / Office Romance Books

The Ex-Talk

Author: Rachel Lynn Solomon

Year: 2021

Genre: Romance

Spice Rating:💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

The concept of this story was cute – two radio show hosts fake a relationship to try to get ratings. Except they are pretending they already dated and broke up… which eventually leads to them actually dating.

Why Kirsten loves it

I picked up The Ex-Talk because I wanted to read a romance by a Jewish author. I loved that this one featured a biracial, interfaith couple. This fake dating book was a cute, easy read.

Find this book in: Fake Dating Books / Office Romance Books / Books Like the Love Hypothesis / Beach Reads 2021

The Spanish Love Deception

Author: Elena Armas

Year: 2021

Genre: Romance

More info: New York Times Bestseller

Spice Rating:💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Catalina is a fiercely independent woman who ran away from her past but now she has to face it at her sister’s wedding where her former fiance is the best man.

She needs a fake boyfriend – and fast! Enter Aaron her annoying and grumpy co-worker who offers to help her with her ruse. As they put their differences aside to help each other out, their love begins to grow. This is the fake dating trope at its best.

Why Kirsten loves it

While I enjoyed the enemies-to-lovers romance in this book, at over 500 pages this office romance novel was just a bit too long

Find this book in: Grumpy Sunshine / Enemies-to-Lovers / Office Romance / Forced Proximity Trope Romance

The Love Hypothesis

Author: Ali Hazelwood

Year: 2021

Genre: Romance

More info: New York Times Bestseller and TikTok Sensation

Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Olive Smith is a Ph.D. student who does not believe in her ability to be in love. When her best friend develops a crush on someone she dated briefly, she decides to kiss the first man she sees to prove she is over him.

That one kiss happens to be with THE Adam Carlsen, an academic genius, who is also very standoffish. The two decide to fake-date and what starts as pretend, becomes something more- for Olive.

Trigger Warnings

Strong sexual content

Why Jackie loves it

I loved this fake dating book/office romance novel that is also a perfect example of the grumpy sunshine trope. I love reading about a strong and smart female protagonist rather than a damsel in distress.

Adaptation

A movie is being made of the book for Amazon starring Lili Reinhart (Olive Smith) and Tom Bateman (Adam Carlsen). Filming is currently underway but the release timeline is not yet known.

Find this book in: The Complete List of Romance Tropes / Fake Dating Books / Grumpy Sunshine Books / Books Like the Kiss Quotient / Hot Office Romance Books / Ali Hazelwood Books Ranked / Books Becoming Movies

On Location

Author: Sarah Smith

Year: 2021

Genre: Romance

Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Alia has finally received the break that she has been waiting for: a chance to produce her own show about Utah’s national parks. Everything should be perfect until the new crew member turns out to be Drew.

Drew is the man that Alia met and had an amazing date with who then ghosted her. Now, they are together in the wilderness with nowhere to escape. To make matters worse, the host of the show is MIA most of the time which is leading to disaster.

Why Jackie loves it

I love that Alia is a strong woman who is a problem-solving powerhouse. This light novel was a fun read for our rom-com books list.

Find this book in: Office Romance Books / Rom-Com Books

Things You Save in A Fire

Author: Katherine Center

Year: 2019

Genre: Romance

Spice Rating:💋💋

Age Range: 16+

Plot

This book is a romance that takes place in a very unlikely setting.  Cassie is a firefighter who has spent her life doing what she loves while blocking out personal relationships.  When she decides to go live with her estranged mother to help her, her perspective on life starts to change.

Why Jackie loves it

I was pleasantly surprised by this book.  I read How to Walk Away and enjoyed it but I did not feel as strongly about it as so many people did. 

Find this book in: Office Romance Books

Act your Age Eve Brown

Author: Talia Hibbert

Year: 2021

Genre: Romance

More info: The Brown Sisters #3
Instant New York Times Bestseller

Spice Rating:💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

This is the third book in the Brown Sisters trilogy and I adored this forced proximity romance. Eve Brown is a mess. She switches jobs and careers on a whim and can’t seem to do anything right. When her parents cut her off and tell her to find a job, she finds herself at a bed and breakfast interviewing for a chef position.

After Eve accidentally hits the owner of the B&B with her car, she begins the job helping Jacob, the reluctant owner. This hilarious and steamy romance was a perfect one-sitting read. These two have a lot standing in their way before they can reach their happily ever after.

Why Jackie loves it

While this book is a romance at its finest, it is also so much more. As Eve comes to learn more about herself, the reader gets to take the emotional journey with her.

Find this book in: Enemies-to-Lovers Romance / Books Like the Kiss Quotient / Books With Neurodivergent Characters / Forced Proximity Romance Books / Complete List of Romance Tropes / Office Romances

Tangled

Author: Emma Chase

Year: 2013

Genre: Romance

More info: Tangled #1

Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Drew is used to getting the ladies of New York City to fall into his bed with ease. But when smart and beautiful Katherine joins his father’s firm, she doesn’t fall as easily. Which of course means he wants her more!

Why Kirsten loves it

If you like your steamy billionaire romance books with a side of humor, you will love Emma Chase’s Tangled series. It was predictable but fun and is the first in a series.

Find this book in: Hot Office Romance Books / Books Like Fifty Shades of Grey

Weather Girl

Author: Rachel Lynn Solomon

Year: 2022

Genre: Romance

Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

In this romance novel, weather girl Ari teams up with sports anchor Russ to get their feuding bosses back together Parent-Trap style. Along the way, they kindle sparks of their own! There are lots of fun weather puns, adorable scenarios for both romantic pairs, and love scenes that aren’t for the faint of heart🔥🔥🔥.

Trigger Warnings

Mental Illness, Fatphobia

Why Kirsten loves it

The best part of all is that the book deals with REAL life issues like depression, body image, teen pregnancy, and complex families. 

Find this book in: Novels About Weather / Books Like Love Hypothesis / Office Romance

Tools of Engagement

Author: Tessa Bailey

Year: 2020

Genre: Romance

More info: Hot & Hammered #3

Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

Bethany Castle has always been perfectly put together and organized on the outside. The inside is a different story but nobody ever sees that part of her.

When she decides to step away from the family construction business and branch out on her own, she finds herself in a “Flip off” with her older brother. Her only help is Wes Daniels who has jumped ship to come and help her.

Why Jackie loves it

Since I read the first two renovation romances in this series, I knew I could not go wrong with this romance. It was a quick and easy read that I really enjoyed.

Find this book in: Office Romance Books / Renovation Romances

The Hating Game: A Novel

Author: Sally Thorne

Year: 2016

Genre: Romance

More info: Movie starring Lucy HAle and Austen Stowell

Spice Rating:💋💋💋💋

Age Range: 18+

Plot

This enemies-to-lovers office romance book was recently adapted and we hope it is as steamy as the book. After two publishing houses merge, executive assistants for the two owners are in fierce competition with each other for a promotion.

These office enemies quickly realize that the tension is an attraction as well. But, is the attraction real, or is it a ploy to get the promotion? The forced proximity trope is at its best in this steamy romance

Why Jackie loves it

This is a romance book that has a little bit of everything. I loved the competition netween the two and the fact that it takes place in a publishing house is even better!

Find this book in: Forced Proximity Trope Romance Books /Complete List of Romance Tropes / Grumpy Sunshine Trope Books / Enemies to Lovers Books / Hot Office Romances