Book picks similar to
Before It's Love by Michelle Pennington


romance
contemporary
clean-romance
new-adult

A Work in Progress


Staci Stallings - 2010
    With less than fashion-plate looks and an off-beat, quirky style to living life, she has been relegated to finding “alone” activities to fill her time throughout high school. Unfortunately, college hasn’t changed that. Then she meets Eric Barnett, a nice guy who seems a little quirky himself. The only problem is, he’s in love with her roommate—one of the truly beautiful people. When Rebecca finds herself falling for him, she must find a way to break out of her shell or risk losing him forever. Who will win out in this mixed up jumble of feelings and loyalties?

Dear Jane


Rachel Ward - 2016
    But all of that changed when Quinn got a Dear Jane email. Now she's stuck at home with no boyfriend, no job, no major, and absolutely no social life. Will Quinn ever find the path that leads to her eternal happiness?

Only a Date with a Billionaire (The Only Us Billionaire Romance Series #1)


Ellie Hall - 2019
    He’s a boxer. Their businesses are side by side and completely incompatible. But are they? Sophie Johansson moves to New York City to be free of entanglements from the past and to prove to herself she can make it on her own. She also wants to fulfill her dream of opening a bakery. Unfortunately, the business next door disturbs the peace she desires. The infamous boxer, Teagh Coyle, pounded his way to the top then found himself back at the bottom after an ugly divorce. He starts over in a new city and opens a boxing gym in an effort to remake his life. Then he meets the total knockout next door. Soon they’re rivals in business, but it also turns out they live in the same building and keep crossing paths—including with his ex who starts to make life difficult. When Sophie has a close call in the alley behind her bakery, Teagh steps in...and sweeps her off her feet. Literally. But when he needs her help in a time of crisis, a secret from her past comes to the surface, making her feel fragile and unsure if she can trust what’s heating up between them. Can they make it through the challenges facing their relationship and win the fight for each other? This is book .75 in the Only Us Billionaire Romance series. Each book stands alone but reading them in order provides a deeper, richer experience. It is a sweet, “clean and wholesome” romance without swearing or mature content and contains a HEA. If you like opposites-attract love, sweet chemistry, and a dash of clever suspense, then you’ll adore this heartwarming romance.

My Best Friend's Brother


Eliza Ellis - 2018
    He's her best friend's brother. Falling for him could ruin his future. Keighly Kaye is on her way to LA for the audition of a lifetime. When her BFF Bertie asks her to stop by home and help out at the Headley Family Campground, what are friends for? A week at home with friends and family might also help Keighly heal from a past wrong. Peter Headley has a decision to make: attend his father's choice of college or go after the dream job. One will help his family not lose their camp, and the other gets Pete kicked out of the house in a week. When Keighly sees the nerd she remembers is now an easy-on-the-eyes man, she finds the childhood pact to never fall for your best friend's brother needs a revision. The more time they spend together, the harder it is for Keighly to keep her promise, especially when a secret she knows could break his heart. Can Keighly risk her friendship for a chance at love? And will Pete finally get a kiss from his childhood crush? My Best Friend's Brother is a standalone novel in the Best Friend's series, a trio of sweet, clean romances. If you enjoy slow-burning chemistry, simmering kisses, and a touch of humor, then you'll fall in love with romances by Eliza Ellis.

Falling for Sydney


Heather B. Moore - 2016
    Moore: FALLING FOR SYDNEY Sydney has been the perfect friend, the perfect daughter, and Rian checks off on her perfect fiancé list. But when Sydney notices a strange truck parked in her fiancé’s parking spot, she’s in for the surprise of her life. Not only is Rian not who she thought he was, but his brother Jake is about to turn her life upside down. Other books in the FALLING SERIES: Falling for Sydney Falling for Maria (coming February 2017) Falling for June (coming Summer 2017)

Always You


Lucinda Whitney - 2019
    He wishes he could tell her it’s him. Can they come to the truth before it’s too late? Simon Ackerley arrives in Lisbon for his temporary job as a consultant, not expecting to find his secret penpal easily. After all, he doesn’t know what she looks like or what her real name is. But when a biking accident reveals that Simon’s prickly co-worker Isabel is the elusive Amélie, he has to win her trust before he can confess his true identity. Isabel Antunes is content with her life as director of the English Academy in Lisbon, until the chairman hires a consultant without her knowledge. Despite Simon Ackerley’s repeated assurances to the contrary, Isabel believes he’s after her position, and she won’t hand it over without a fight. As if dealing with him at work isn’t enough, he shows up at her book club as well. Her only solace is writing to the penpal she knows simply as Elliot. As they work together, Isabel realizes Simon is nothing like her first impression and a tentative friendship grows between them. But how can she explore the possibilities when her heart belongs to Elliot? Always You is a sweet secret relationship romance and it can be read as a standalone. *Part of this story was previously published as One Small Chance. It has been rewritten and expanded to include new content and a swoony epilogue.* Falling For You Romance series: Book 1— Always You Book 2— Truly You Book 3— Only You A companion series to the Romano Family series.

No More Maybes


Elizabeth Stevens - 2019
    Maybe life had other plans. Maybe I shouldn’t be drawn to Cole; the new guy who gets into fights and smokes. Maybe I should want to date Jaime; the nice, steady guy who’s always been there. Maybe you can’t help who you fall for, whether they’re good for you or not. Maybe it shouldn’t matter as long as you’re happy. Maybe each new bruise on Cole’s face is a reason to walk away. Maybe there’s more to the secrets he hides and that’s a reason to be there for him. Maybe a lifetime of pain can’t be washed away by anyone else but you. Maybe finally proving that someone else isn’t going to walk away is enough. Or, maybe it’s time I got out of my own head and stopped wondering. Maybe it’s time I just live by my own rules and find out the answers to all those maybes. It’s time for no more maybes. A sweet YA romance about first love and learning to understand different experiences, this is Cole’s story from Aurora’s point of view. The companion novel, Gray’s Blade, is from Cole’s point of view; much like the characters themselves, Cole’s version is darker, dirtier, and rougher. Read through to the end of No More Maybes for a sneak peek at chapter one of Cole’s side. Please be aware that this story is set in Australia and therefore uses Australian English spelling and syntax.

From the Wreckage


Michele G. Miller - 2014
    When disaster strikes, their labels become irrelevant.“In a matter of minutes on a Friday night, I lost my school, my identity, the security of my first love, the personality of my sweet fearless brother, my best friend, my town, everything as I knew it. Everything changed.”"Minutes—that’s all it takes to change your entire life. How do you deal with that?”For high school senior Jules Blacklin surviving the storm is only the beginning. Faced with her life's new reality, she must find a way to rise from the wreckage and answer the question—how do you get back to normal when everything normal is gone?The From The Wreckage series is a Young Adult to New Adult series with one trilogy and multiple character spin-offs. Please see the reading order below:Jules and West's trilogy1. From the Wreckage2. Out of Ruins3. All that RemainsSpin-offs best read in order but CAN be read alone4. West: A male POV novel of From The Wreckage5. Into the Fire: Dani's story6. After the Fall: Austin's story7. Until We Crash: Jess and Carter's story

The Right Guy


Kate O'Keeffe - 2019
    Can she see what's been in front of her all this time? When city girl Taylor Jennings reluctantly visits a psychic one sunny San Francisco morning, she gets a whole lot more than she bargains for--like a prediction she will "lock eyes" with The One within the next two weeks. So, when she looks up into a pair of green eyes belonging to her best friend's big brother, Taylor's running scared. She can't fall for ladies' man, Jake, not if she wants to keep what she holds most dear. Jake Harrison is the successful head chef of the hottest new restaurant in San Francisco. He's got everything he could want: a great job, good friends, and women falling over themselves to be with him. Problem is, he's always had a "thing" for his kid sister's best friend--ever since that one incredible kiss they shared as teenagers. When the two are thrown together on a joint bachelor-bachelorette weekend in Cabo San Lucas, Taylor goes in search of The One, and Jake tries his best to deny what he's felt for Taylor for far too long. The Right Guy is a sweet and sexy friends to lovers contemporary romance for fans of Lauren Layne. This book is a little sexier than my other titles, but with my same light-hearted, feel-good tone, and that all important happily ever after. I hope you love it!

The Royal's Best Friend: A Magnolia Bay Sweet Romance


Brenna Jacobs - 2021
    

A Beautiful Struggle


Lilliana Anderson - 2012
    She has a very full life attending university to study a law degree, training for triathlons and now she is working part time as well. She couldn't possibly find time for a relationship, especially after her last one ended so catastrophically.Right now she is content focusing on work, study and training while hanging out with her best friend David Taylor, a womanizer with a heart of gold that would do anything for Katrina – except watch her get hurt again.That is, until the dashing Elliot Roberts, a junior solicitor from her work, shows an interest in her despite their office’s ‘No Dating’ policy. Katrina struggles with following her heart or following her mind and has trouble seeing where her heart truly lies in this gripping romantic drama.

Law #1: Never Bet on Love


Agnes Canestri - 2021
    What everyone seems to doubt, however, is my ability to have a life outside of work that includes a loving relationship. So when my brother bets that I can’t connect deeply enough with a woman to win her heart—and my mother makes winning that bet a condition of my promotion—I accept the challenge. Too bad I never considered what would happen if I was the one to fall in love when all is said and done. EVA The walls around my heart have always been impenetrable. But the gorgeous billionaire who suddenly seems so interested in me doesn’t seem to mind. I’d like to say I’m not flattered. Or tempted by him. But…I am. And for the first time in my life, I’m wondering what it would be like to let my guard down and truly take a shot at happily ever after. If only I could shake this feeling that he’s keeping something from me …The bet was simple. The aftermath? Well, that could be the best—or worst—thing that ever happened to them…

Annette Lyon Collection: Our Song / Golden Sunrise / Firsts and Lasts


Annette Lyon - 2015
    Readers will love this selection of three contemporary and three historical romance novellas. In OUR SONG, a charming romance novella, Cassie and Matt have been dating in the Yellowstone area for two years, and things are, well, average. When Cassie meets up with two college friends who are visiting, their love lives like sound like fairy tales: rose petals, chocolates, candles on the beach… Cassie goes home feeling like she’s missing out. After all, repeatedly watching Old Faithful erupt and walking through sulfur-smelling gases at Fountain Paint Pot don’t exactly say “romance.” Maybe things with Matt aren’t going anywhere, and it’s time to move on. Then she discovers that perception and reality are completely different things. Now she can only hope it isn’t too late to show Matt how much she really cares.In the sweet novella GOLDEN SUNRISE, Natalie takes time out of her crazy schedule to fly to Vegas for her best friend’s wedding. Sierra and Jason, high-school sweethearts, are finally getting married. Fortunately for Natalie, her old high-school flame, Adam, has a work commitment and can’t be there as best man. But when she arrives at the wedding rehearsal—late and ragged—Adam is there. When Adam makes a wild suggestion, Natalie just may take him up on it, even though she knows he’s moved on. A single choice may mean Natalie is taking a shot at reclaiming the past—or that she's putting her heart in harm’s way a second time.FIRSTS AND LASTS, an enchanting novella, begins with Dani’s last week in New York. She’s failed in her dreams to catch a break as an actress and is now ready to return home and dust herself off. As she visits the places on her final to-see list, she meets Mark, another New York City transplant with big dreams. Except Mark hasn’t given up on his. As they spend the day together, Dani realizes that even though she hasn’t hit the “big time” she might be living her dream after all. Only problem: she has a one-way ticket back home.In the compelling novella WAR OF HEARTS, Anna, a journalist, is desperate to escape the magazine where Pete, her now-former boyfriend, also works. Heartbroken and still in love with him, Anna snags an assignment to cover the Winter War in Finland. She arrives at a snowy Finnish battlefront only to discover that Pete is already there—as her photographer. She’s determined to be professional about the situation until a battle breaks out in camp, putting her and Pete in harm’s way and putting their love to the test.The captivating novella BETWEEN THE LINES follows Jane Martin, who is intelligent but extremely shy, especially around men. When the Aid and Cultural Society proposes a letter-writing program, Jane signs up, hoping she can find true friendship. The program doesn’t run as smoothly as expected, and unknown to Jane, one of the men in her city becomes her writing friend. Thomas Allred has always known shy and quiet Jane, but reading her letters written to his secret persona, opens his eyes to what an amazing woman she is. The only trouble is, Jane doesn’t know that the man who she is falling in love with through letters is also Thomas, the man who is falling in love with her in person.In the charming novella A TASTE OF HOME, we meet Claire Jennings, who’s on her way to spend Christmas with her family. As she rides the train with William Rhodes, who grew up across the street, memories of Christmases past flood her mind. He may be twenty-one now, but she can’t forget his torturous teasing from their school years. At the rail station, Claire discovers that her home is under quarantine because her little brother has measles. She's stuck in town, away from her family, on her favorite holiday. William stays behind with her, and as Christmas Day approaches and her homesickness deepens, she discovers that perhaps he has changed in more ways than one.

While You Were Skiing


Lucy McConnell - 2018
     Worried about a head injury, Mia plays along, making him lunch, kissing in the front entryway and planning a future together; a future Mia wants with all of her heart. Things become all the more complicated when Ryder’s estranged family gets involved. Caught up in the fantasy and romance, Mia has to tell the truth or risk losing a part of herself and the man she loves forever.

Never Never: The Complete Series


Colleen Hoover - 2016
    Together, they have created a gripping, romantic tale unlike any other. "How odd to be made of flesh, balanced on bone, and filled with a soul you've never met." Charlize Wynwood and Silas Nash have been best friends since they could walk. They've been in love since the age of fourteen. But as of this morning...they are complete strangers. Their first kiss, their first fight, the moment they fell in love...every memory has vanished. "I don't care what our real first kiss was," he says. "That's the one I want to remember." Charlize and Silas must work together to uncover the truth about what happened to them and why. But the more they learn about the couple they used to be...the more they question why they were ever together to begin with. "I want to remember what it feels like to love someone like that. And not just anyone. I want to know what it feels like to love Charlie."