Here are 14 books that Happily Ever Homicide fans have personally recommended once you finish the Happily Ever Homicide series.
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I don’t read books with explicit scenes, and I don’t write them either. I’ve read hundreds of novels in this genre and written several of my own. I believe closed-door romances can be just as tension-filled and fun as those with spice. I love the closed-door romance community and have a passion for sharing books that make me laugh, cry, and swoon.
I adored how cozy this book was. All of Hailey’s books feel like a warm hug, but this one being set in fall made it all the more homey and wonderful. I’m not usually a fan of the friends-to-lovers trope, but I loved how Hailey portrayed their relationship. I recommend reading with a warm drink in the cold months.
Thou shalt not lie, steal, cheat, or…fall in love with your best friend.
When my best friend, Hunter Ward, offers me the opportunity to star alongside him as the lead love interest in a music video he’s directing, I’m torn between taking the gig and risking my heart. My job? To look and act like I’m in love with Hunter…without revealing my true feelings for him.
I’ve seen the man in action and watched him work the room. I’ve witnessed countless women fawn over him and practically swoon in his presence. And now that the full force of his charm…
I don’t read books with explicit scenes, and I don’t write them either. I’ve read hundreds of novels in this genre and written several of my own. I believe closed-door romances can be just as tension-filled and fun as those with spice. I love the closed-door romance community and have a passion for sharing books that make me laugh, cry, and swoon.
The banter in this book is unmatched. I could say more about this book, but really, the only thing that you need to know is that the banter is perfection. Every line of dialogue elevated the humor and the tension. I’m certain I binged this whole book in less than a day.
When I woke up this morning, I became aware of two things: One, I felt hungover, and I knew I hadn’t had a drop of liquor.A nd two, I was pretty sure I had accidentally married someone.
I, Olivia Sutton, have a Ten Year Plan. It’s air-tight and written in permanent ink. You know what’s not on the plan? Getting married to the man I used to love to hate. But when my sister’s pre-wedding trip goes horribly wrong, I find myself legally bound to my old nemesis, tech sensation Lachlan Hayes. Lachlan pitches a plan to temporarily stay married.…
I don’t read books with explicit scenes, and I don’t write them either. I’ve read hundreds of novels in this genre and written several of my own. I believe closed-door romances can be just as tension-filled and fun as those with spice. I love the closed-door romance community and have a passion for sharing books that make me laugh, cry, and swoon.
This is my favorite grumpy/sunshine book. I recommend it to everyone I know all the time. Ty is such a well-written, layered character, and June is the perfect match-up for his stubborn self. There’s depth but also humor, and wow, was there heat. The tension is killer and will have you screaming, "Just kiss her!"
I’m going to help this grumpy rancher whether he likes it or not
As Maid of Honor, I’ll do anything to make my cousin’s dream wedding a reality, including playing nice with the grumpy Best Man. Ty Hardy is big, rugged, gorgeous—and my cheating ex’s older brother.
When my fumbled attempt to make peace leaves Ty with broken ribs, I volunteer to help him out around his ranch until the wedding. Just ignore the fact that he would never admit he needs my help, and I haven’t been around horses in years.
I don’t read books with explicit scenes, and I don’t write them either. I’ve read hundreds of novels in this genre and written several of my own. I believe closed-door romances can be just as tension-filled and fun as those with spice. I love the closed-door romance community and have a passion for sharing books that make me laugh, cry, and swoon.
I absolutely loved the way that Emma wrote these characters. I related to Seraphina and fell for Rafe’s charm time and time again. They’re a couple that’s perfect for each other.
Some book couples you read and think they may not make it past the last page, but I could see these two together forever. The whole book made me swoon and laugh.
I spent years only reading the old, great classics because I couldn’t find any general market books without spicy scenes I didn’t care to read and couldn’t recommend. It was horrible to think, as an avid, eclectic reader, that I was running out of books to read. I thought wholesome romance books didn’t exist in today’s world (and that my own books wouldn’t have a space to belong), but they do. Now that I know where to look, these love stories give me joy in a dark world. I hope this list gives you some new favorites to brighten your days as they have mine.
I’m a sucker for enemies-to-lovers and marriage-of-convenience tropes, and this one plays them both off each other perfectly.
It’s hard to find a logical marriage of convenience plot line for the 21st century, but Mitchell managed it well with a grandmother’s will and a scam that wiped out a bank account. The pranks and banter are an incredibly fun facade for the fraught, emotional subtext running beneath because of their painful history and backstories.
I love that combo - top-notch banter with emotional, romantic tension behind every word and look. I laughed through their antics, and my toes curled with the romance.
Phoenix Park is the man I fantasize about...hitting with my car, that is.He's rich. He's sexy. He's the absolute worst. But after I fall prey to an internet scam and lose every last penny in my account (please don’t ask), it’s Phoenix who swoops in with an offer I can’t refuse. I’ll marry him for the summer so he can inherit the family company from his dying grandmother, and in return, he’ll drop a hefty sum of money into my bank account.Buy me a pair of sweatpants with GOLD DIGGER across the butt, because I’m just desperate enough to agree.Our…
I spent years only reading the old, great classics because I couldn’t find any general market books without spicy scenes I didn’t care to read and couldn’t recommend. It was horrible to think, as an avid, eclectic reader, that I was running out of books to read. I thought wholesome romance books didn’t exist in today’s world (and that my own books wouldn’t have a space to belong), but they do. Now that I know where to look, these love stories give me joy in a dark world. I hope this list gives you some new favorites to brighten your days as they have mine.
I love books about writers, so this cozy mystery rom-com genre blend was right up my alley.
When a famous author invites two mystery writers to her mansion, the story becomes a locked-room escape mystery to solve before someone dies. Imagine if the Clue game were a rom-com with somuch romantic tension, banter, and lots of insightful, poignant lines.
I love it when books are clever on top of everything else they offer, and Carter’s book was so smart, without detracting from the romance. *A bit of language, but still closed door.
USA Today Bestseller! "Full of tongue-in-cheek humor, excellent dialogue, and fantastic characters, this expertly crafted story from Carter (The Blonde Identity) is a heart-melting rivals-to-lovers romance combined with a delightful locked-room mystery." — Library Journal (starred review)
Knives Out gets a holiday rom-com twist in this rivals-to-lovers romance-mystery from New York Times bestselling author Ally Carter.
The bridge is out. The phones are down. And the most famous mystery writer in the world just disappeared out of a locked room two days before Christmas.
I spent years only reading the old, great classics because I couldn’t find any general market books without spicy scenes I didn’t care to read and couldn’t recommend. It was horrible to think, as an avid, eclectic reader, that I was running out of books to read. I thought wholesome romance books didn’t exist in today’s world (and that my own books wouldn’t have a space to belong), but they do. Now that I know where to look, these love stories give me joy in a dark world. I hope this list gives you some new favorites to brighten your days as they have mine.
I read this whole book in one sitting on a plane across the ocean (even with all the movies on demand!)
I loved the plot of a ghost-writer for a difficult-to-please author and friendship-to-romance with her literary agent, who is put in the middle of the tension. The slow burn and subtext in this one made me love every minute.
And when I find a He-Falls-First book with so much fun banter? Sign. Me. Up. Ferguson is a master at swoony character tension in a tight plot with lots of clever humor. I wished it hadn’t been over so soon.
"Another sparkling, laugh-out-loud romance!" --RaeAnne Thayne, New York Times bestselling author
She's written dozens of smash hit romance novels. Too bad no one knows it.
Aspiring author Bryony Page attends her first writers conference bursting with optimism and ready to sell her manuscript with long-shot dreams of raising awareness for her grandmother's financially struggling organization where she teaches ESL full-time. What she doesn't expect is to get tangled up with Jack Sterling, a jaded literary agent who will change everything. Their partnership begins with a devil's bargain: Bryony will ghostwrite for his talentless bestselling client if Jack will represent her…
I spent years only reading the old, great classics because I couldn’t find any general market books without spicy scenes I didn’t care to read and couldn’t recommend. It was horrible to think, as an avid, eclectic reader, that I was running out of books to read. I thought wholesome romance books didn’t exist in today’s world (and that my own books wouldn’t have a space to belong), but they do. Now that I know where to look, these love stories give me joy in a dark world. I hope this list gives you some new favorites to brighten your days as they have mine.
I read this book in less than twenty hours—not that I had time for it, but this book demanded it.
The main characters’ emotional and tangible goals are set up so well, I felt drawn in immediately. There was so much push and pull between the two as they learned to open up and work together to write a rom-com, so much (clashing) personality and voice (I always love Center’s voicy characters).
I loved the romantic sizzle on every page, the perfectly paced plot of her helping her idol fix his writing, and the incredible banter. *While the book contains some language, there wasn’t a hint or even an implied spicy scene.
'A big hit of dopamine' EMILY GIFFIN *The instant New York Times bestseller!*
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She's rewriting his love story. But can she rewrite her own?
Emma has big dreams, though she hasn't let herself think about them in years. Until her big break comes along: she's offered the chance to write a screenplay with none other than her hero, Charlie-freaking-Yates! And it's a rom-com! It's the dream... Until reality sets in.
Charlie is a bonafide Hollywood movie-writing legend. He's also, as it turns out, kind of a jerk. He's only writing this movie to get a Mafia movie that he…
I spent years only reading the old, great classics because I couldn’t find any general market books without spicy scenes I didn’t care to read and couldn’t recommend. It was horrible to think, as an avid, eclectic reader, that I was running out of books to read. I thought wholesome romance books didn’t exist in today’s world (and that my own books wouldn’t have a space to belong), but they do. Now that I know where to look, these love stories give me joy in a dark world. I hope this list gives you some new favorites to brighten your days as they have mine.
From the first page, I knew I wasn’t going to put down Cindy Steel’s rom-com to eat or sleep until the ride was over.
The characters shine vividly, the plot set-up of being with the wrong blind date at a basketball game while a quiet, thoughtful guy takes her attention is so much fun, and the witty banter is unreal. Steel’s writing is easy to devour, and I don’t think I stopped grinning until way after the last page.
This is a yearly reread for me and the measuring stick for all banter-and-swoon books I read.
My friend told me I needed more fun in my life, so I reluctantly said yes. Fun wasn’t exactly in my wheelhouse. After watching my own mother’s love life implode time and time again it’s only natural that I have a few rules to protect myself.
Actually, it’s just one rule…
Avoid relationships with men so I don’t get attached.
I wasn’t worried. Getting attached has never been a problem for me. This guy was just a warm body in a chair. I was here for the basketball game. I was absolutely NOT here for…
I started writing sweet romance during the COVID pandemic. At the time, it was the perfect antidote to all of the heaviness, grief, and sadness that everyone was experiencing around the world. When I began publishing my stories, and eventually moved into the sweet romcom genre, I was beyond happy to learn that my books were bringing smiles to peoples’ faces during these challenging times. I’ve always loved romcom movies, and discovering romcom books–not to mention beginning to write these stories myself–opened an entirely new world of possibilities. I pretty much only read romcoms now, and I hope you enjoy the books I’ve recommended here as much as I have!
I love both of these authors so much, and so I was thrilled when I discovered that they’re co-writing a romcom series together.
This was such a fun, light-hearted read with a grumpy/sunshine twist that was full of laughs and tension. The small-town island setting is also so perfect for the story; I only wish I could visit!
I’ve always loved small-town love stories for the hilarious side characters, the meaningful sense of community, and the whole “everyone knows everything about everyone” that can be such a drive to the story.
