From shared secrets to stolen glances, the friends to lovers trope is a heartwarming journey from comfort to connection. These stories celebrate emotional intimacy, deep-rooted trust, and the slow realisation that the person who’s always been there might just be the one...
If you’re craving romance that feels safe, sweet, and soul-deep, these are the best friends to lovers books to add to your reading list. Expect laughter, longing, and love that grows from the inside out.
Fall head over heels for this 3-book set of Abby Jimenez’s bestselling Part of Your World series! The perfect gift for romance readers. Includes: • Part of Your World • Yours Truly • Just for the Summer Product Information: • ISBN: 9780349446974 • Author: Abby Jimenez • Publisher: Little Brown • Format: Box Set
Releasing 10 is an epic and unforgettable love story in the international bestselling and TikTok-phenomenon The Boys of Tommen series, from Chloe Walsh. A love that couldn’t be broken, except by the truth. Lizzie Young has always felt she was too much everything. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder at a young age, she’s never fit in with her family, her friends, her community. Lizzie wants to be accepted and understood, but with few people in her corner, she’s carried her burdens and her trauma on her own. But when she meets a kind boy on the school bus, things start to look bright for the first time in her life . . . Hugh Biggs has an old soul and the wisdom of someone far beyond his years. A young man with a sharp mind and a firm code of ethics, he sees something in Lizzie Young that he can’t resist. He wants to be her everything and shoulder her burden. And Lizzie wants that too. Lizzie and Hugh’s bond seems unbreakable – their chemistry is electric, their love is potent, and their connection is soul deep – but even the truest love can be shaken by forces beyond control. Product Information: • ISBN: 9780349439341 • Author: Chloe Walsh • Publisher: Little Brown • Format: Paperback • Pages: 768 • Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.6 x 5.2 cm
“We’re all a little broken, Briana. We are a mosaic. We’re made up of all those we’ve met and all the things we’ve been through. There are parts of us that are colorful and dark and jagged and beautiful. And I love every piece of you. Even the ones you wish didn’t exist.”
Why we love it:
- Briana and Jacob’s friendship is built on empathy, humour, and emotional support, especially around anxiety and mental health.
- Their slow-burn romance feels earned, tender, and deeply personal.
In Yours Truly, Briana and Jacob start as colleagues exchanging light-hearted emails and emotional support during tough times. As their friendship deepens, so does their connection. With themes of anxiety, healing, and vulnerability, this story beautifully captures the moment when friendship quietly turns into love.
“There’s a man who will do everything for you. And then there’s a man who is secure enough to realise there are things you need to do for yourself — who steps back and revels in watching you soar. That’s the man who’s your biggest fan.”
Why we love it:
- Skylar and Weston’s relationship grows from cautious companionship into a deeply emotional bond, rooted in trust, healing, and mutual respect.
- The portrayal of anxiety, emotional vulnerability, and found family makes this a standout friends-to-lovers romance with heart and depth.
Skylar, a country music star in hiding, and Weston, a gruff single dad, start as cautious neighbours. But through quiet moments and shared struggles, their friendship deepens, until love quietly takes root in the most unexpected place.
“I still have a lot to figure out, but the one thing I know is, wherever you are, that’s where I belong. I’ll never belong anywhere like I belong with you.”
Why we love it:
- Poppy and Alex have a gorgeous friendship built on witty banter, emotional depth, and years of shared history.
- Their story echoes When Harry Met Sally. Two opposites who spend years dancing around their feelings until they finally collide in the most satisfying way.
Poppy and Alex have been best friends since college, despite being total opposites. Every summer, they take a trip together until one trip ruins everything. Two years later, Poppy convinces Alex to take one last vacation to fix what broke. As they revisit old memories and confront buried feelings, their friendship begins to shift into something deeper, proving that sometimes love is hiding in plain sight.
“Because I knew deep down inside that I would sit with Lizzie Young for the rest of my life if it kept the sadness out of her eyes. If it kept her safe.”
*Please look up trigger warnings before reading this book.*
Why we love it:
- The emotional intensity and raw vulnerability between the characters make their transition from friends to lovers feel powerful and real.
- It’s a story about healing, trust, and finding love in someone who’s always been there.
Releasing 10 follows two best friends who have weathered life’s storms side by side. As they confront past traumas and personal growth, their friendship becomes the foundation for a deeper, more passionate connection. It’s a slow-burn romance that proves love can be both safe and transformative.
To get the best experience out of reading the Boys of Tommen books, read our guide on what order to read Chloe Walsh books.
Whether it’s childhood companions, college roommates, or coworkers turned confidants, the friends to lovers trope proves that sometimes the best love stories begin with friendship. These books are full of warmth, chemistry, and the kind of romance that feels like coming home.
And if you're ready to turn up the tension again, don’t miss our list of the best enemies to lovers books — because sometimes love starts with a fight...
From fiery feuds to passionate romance, discover the best enemies to lovers books packed with tension, banter, and unforgettable chemistry.
Sports Romances are amongst the most popular modern romance books out there. The irresistible combination of high-stakes sports drama mixed in with all the ups and downs that love can entail makes them dizzying and utterly addictive.
There’s nothing that quite gets you into the mood for Valentine’s Day like a juicy romance novel. The type where the sexual tension builds with each page turn, as you try to find out whether they finally get together.