Our Favorite "Brother’s Best Friend" Romance Books

Let’s make a new “forbiddeny” list!! A best of “Brother’s Best Friend” book list! Forbidden? Well… not on the level of some of our favorite tropes, but certainly ’cause for secretive behavior in many cases (protective brothers and all that). 😉

Also that whole “treated me like a little sister” or “saw me as a bratty tag-along”, that just so happened to morph into something else later on is just so exciting!! That crush that you’ve always had becomes something so much more when those feelings are reciprocated. Fantasy come to life…

Chrissy inspired this one asking:

Chrissy: …I’m obsessed with the brothers best friend story line… do you have any other favorites? Thanks so much!

We’re on it, Chrissy!! 😀

And also… a few of our fellow readers have shared their OWN REAL LIFE stories of falling for their brother’s best friends!! So I figured I’d start us off with some of those for our “love story” pleasure (and some… pain):

Dawn: I had a huge crush on one of my brother’s best friends…sadly, he knew it and treated my like a “little sister”…heartbreak!!!

Lauren: My ex-husband was my brother’s best friend & we didn’t handle our relationship the right way, sneaking around & lying to everyone. At the time it was fun & exciting but later I realized it was just sneaky & sleazy & in a way doomed our marriage before it even started.

Carrie: I actually do have a crushing on a sibling’s best friend story… My little brother’s best friend is actually closer in age to me than my brother. Never really thought about him when we were kids, but as adults, I had a crush. Turns out he had one, too. He’d always come over to hang out (with ME?!) & then we went out (baaad date, tho. We saw the 9/11 movie – great movie, NOT a great movie for a first date). And then… pfffft. Nothing for a few years. Then we ended up reconnecting & hooking up for a bit before pfffft… So, it did NOT work out, but it was a fun ride!

Sarah: I have a pretty good brothers best friend story for you. My brothers best friend and I have essentially loved each other since 13 years old. I’m 26 and he 27 now. We just admitted our feelings to each other 4 months ago and have already moved in together and we are planning our wedding. It took 13 years, a combo of 3 kids and his divorce for us to quit being stubborn for us to admit our feelings.

Jan: Your brother’s best friend is ‘taboo’? Since when? I’m sure that’s how many couples have actually met LOL. Hey, my grandmother met my grandfather when her brother brought home his best mate from the trenches in WW1. And the rest is history.

AND NOW… Our favorite “Brother’s Best Friend” Romance Books:
Maryse: A.L. Jackson’s Come to Me Quietly (Closer to You Book 1)? I 4.5 star LOVED it!! In fact, here’s my review. She comes home to find her brother’s best friend asleep on the couch, and she hasn’t seen him in YEARS!!

Deanna: Come To Me Quietly. When u ask what books puts u in a fog and u dream of for days later. That is this book for me. I downloaded “Stay” by Rhianna because that song works so well for this book. You’ll see. 5++++++ stars. Obsessed.

Megan: Come to Me Quietly….WOW, it will break your heart and put it back together. 

Mertxe: “Come to me quietly” is breathtaking, Jared will break your heart and you will love him. 5 ++ stars

Maryse: Ugly Love: A Novel by Colleen Hoover <— ANOTHER HUGE FAVORITE of mine and super-angsty!!!! Here’s my 4.5 star review.

matka: Favorite Colleen Hoover book is Ugly love. Such a beautiful and amazing book about love, heartbreak and loss

Amber: …“Ugly Love” by Colleen Hoover???! It will NOT disappoint! I sh!t you not, I had to re read more that twice!

Anne: Finished Ugly Love and yep its still a 5 star read for me. Just 2 words for you: Miles Archer. Enough said 

Fran: The other one I recently read is Happiness for Beginners: A Novel by Katherine Center. That book is her most angsty one and it also has the younger guy older woman theme in it 

Woman in her thirties goes on a survival trip with her younger brother’s best friend. He is madly in love with her and she fights it and has to watch how he meets a beautiful girl his age at the camp 

Sadie: Happiness for Beginners. It’s really good and has great romantic tension while also being laugh out loud funny at times. Just trust me.

MichelleS: I just finished The Silent Waters and it’s a 5 star read for me! Not sure everyone else would feel the same, but I have personal reasons for loving it. It was sooooo angsty. Does that make it a potential Marmy book?

Maggie may and Brooks just broke my heart. I love stories that start out in childhood. Her father marries a woman when she is 6 and they join that family. The world is wonderful and she has a new sister and brother – and the bonus of her brother’s best friend. She decides she is going to marry him. He’s beyond annoyed. She is full of love and laughter and joy.

At some point, things happen and she is no longer that girl. But he wants to still be that boy. But can he? Can she ever be again? I don’t want to possibly put any spoilers, but dang, this story is heartbreaking. A true love story. I am going to recommend it to anyone who wants that achy book.

Jean: MichelleS, I loved Silent Waters too! I think it doesn’t get the credit it deserves!

Cheryl: Just finished The Silent Waters. A 5 star read! Awww, the feels. Thanks for the great rec Jean!!! … So beautiful, so painful, so many if only’s, what ifs… laughing, crying. *sigh*

Michelle: Gina Maxwells first book, I think Seducing Cinderella. …he’s going to her for PT, and then he teaches her to be sexy and get a guys attention. He is her brothers best friend. The guy who’s attention she wants works with her.

Angie: let it be known that her Reid Andrews (Seducing Cinderella) is my #1 Book Boyfriend, sooooo…

Jen: I just read Seducing Cinderella last night… It was good, UFC fighter with tattoos and earrings… yum! Not as heartwrenching and angtsy as some but it was a nice read…

Jill: it is very, very good and steamy!!! One hot, tattooed, oh, and a tad possessive  MMA star = yummy! One to add to your TBR list. 

Jaimie: I recommend Remedy and Southern Pleasure (Southern Heart Book 1) by Kaylee Ryan. Love them
Mister McHottie: A Billionaire Boss / Brother’s Best Friend / Enemies to Lovers Romantic Comedy by Pippa Grant <— SHE HATES HER NEW BOSS ALERT!! “…There are three things I hate: Bratwurst in any form, my neighbors boinking like farm animals at 3 AM, and Chase Jett. Mostly I hate Chase Jett. It’s been ten years since he took my virginity—I’d make a bratwurst joke, but the unfortunate truth is that it would have to be a bratbest joke, and yes, it kills me to admit that—and now he’s not only a billionaire, he’s also my new boss. Turns out our hate is mutual…“

Jean: guys, that book my friend begged me to read, Mister McHottie, is so freaking funny! Hysterical! These two hate each other and the pranks? They’re great! And it has glitter bombs galore so there you go! …Highly recommend!

Cheryl: Jean, I read Mister McHottie based on your rec. It was hysterical! Loved it. …Pure, LOL entertainment. Did you get the bonus epilogues too? Hilarious. Great break from flat tires and angsty reads.

LisafromDFW: I read Mister McHottie yesterday per your recommendation. It was funny in an over the top way! Perfect light read. Thanks!

OTHER BOOKS IN THIS TROPE (no specific recommendations yet for these, but they could very well be exactly what you’re looking for 🙂 ):

Once Upon A Wild Fling by Lauren Blakely <— HE’S A SINGLE FATHER/HER BROTHER’S BEST FRIEND/ROCK STAR ALERT!!!! “…He’s friends with my brother, he’s a single dad, and he’s a sexy, in-demand rock star. He might as well wear an off-limits, totally unavailable, and don’t-even-attempt-to-ride-this-ride sign. Then he asks me to be his plus-one when his band plays at his high school reunion, and the night unfolds in ways I never expect...”

Coming Unplugged (Welcome to Carson Book 6) by Renee Harless <— ROCK STAR WANTS HIS BROTHER’S FEMALE BEST FRIEND…“Ryker always felt that he lived in the shadows of his genius twin brother, Jameson; no amount of platinum records or devoted fans can change that. Especially when the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen crashes his sister’s wedding and rushes into his brother’s arms...”

Hot Sexy Desire by Nadia Lee <— BROTHER’S BEST FRIEND!! “...It isn’t easy falling for your older brother’s best friend, especially when he’s a sexy as hell, hard-headed, over-protective alpha male. Unfortunately, he still treats me like the little sister he never had…”

Sweet-Loving Cowboy: A Kinky Spurs Novel by Stacey Kennedy <— SHE’S IN LOVE WITH HER BROTHER’S BEST FRIEND… “Harper McKinney finished culinary school with big dreams. Right now, she’s a bartender at Kinky Spurs. While she’s content with her life, her brother is determined that she make a name for herself, because he wants her far away from what he deems a trashy bar. But Harper refuses to go anywhere. She’s in love with her brother’s best friend, Chase Blackshaw, and that love is keeping her in River Rock…”

Make You Mine: A Brother’s Best Friend Standalone Romance by Tia Louise <— HE JUST CAME BACK FROM THE MILITARY & SHE’S HIS BEST FRIEND’S LITTLE SISTER…“…Drew Harris was just a kid, a senior in high school, my best friend’s little sister. They said she was too young to know her feelings. I was too old to have them, so I left to join the military. Four years passed. Loss, injury, angry words I can never take back. I’m home, but I’m not the same. Neither is she…”

One Week to Score (Tall, Dark, and Texan) by Kate Meader <— HER BROTHER’S BEST FRIEND ALERT! The blurb says “…the taboo they’re breaking” but I don’t consider a sibling’s best friend “taboo” (unless there’s a secret taboo thingie that will be discovered along the way – ohhh maybe that’s it!). Okay that’s all. I just wanted to make that known. Taboo love stories can be so much fun, but “best friends” don’t fall into that category for me.  Oh boy… I think I’m a cranky pants today. I need more coffee. *snort* 

Well Played by J. S. Scott & Ruth Cardello <— FOOTBALL STAR ALERT!! He’s her brother’s best friend and she walked in on something… “...I graduated from college, Graham got engaged and signed with a pro football team, and my brother landed his dream job. It should have been the best time of our lives. Except that the weekend started with me walking in on Graham’s fiancée going down on my brother. I complicated the situation by having sex with Graham after that, but I wanted to comfort him and, damn, when I saw desire in his eyes—for me—I couldn’t say no. I’ve wanted him for so long. Now he doesn’t want to see me. He says he has a darker side he needs to protect me from…”

Silent Love: Part 1 (Forbidden Series) by Kenadee Bryant <— LOVE TRIANGLE?? She wants her brother’s best friend to notice her… but then there’s also the bad boy on campus… “…I plan on using this opportunity to make Ethan see me as a woman, and not just his best friend’s little sister. That’s if Gage, the campus bad boy, doesn’t interfere. The last thing I need is an arrogant, cocky playboy whose sole purpose seems to be to complicate my life. The only thing he’s good at is showing up at the wrong place at the wrong time. He’s rude, obnoxious, and I need to avoid him at all costs...”

Silent Love: Part 2 (Forbidden Series) by Kenadee Bryant <— HER BROTHER’S BEST FRIEND… AND THE BAD BOY she uses to make him notice her…“...I’ll do anything to make Ethan realize I’m the girl for him—even if it means using Gage to stir a little jealousy. But once Gage agrees to play his part in this game of make-believe, lines start to blur, and the one thing I desperately tried to avoid happens…”

Love Again (Cowboys and Angels Book 4) by Kelly Elliott <— HER BROTHER’S BEST FRIEND… “It’s more than physical. He’s breaking through an impenetrable wall. There’s a problem though—he’s younger than me. Six. Years. Younger. Let’s not forget he’s also one of my brother’s best friends.Oh, the other problem I forgot to mention… I never wanted to fall in love again. But you know what they say….never say never.”

Too Much Information (Awkward Love Book 3) by Missy Johnson <— EMBARRASSING SITUATION IN THE ER…“…So there you are, lying in cubicle nine, hoping like hell that the doctor about to examine you isn’t young, sexy or male. Of course he’s all three. Telling him about the clitmaster7000 I have lodged inside me is by far the single most embarrassing moment of my life. Discovering he’s my brother’s new roommate is even worse…”

Finding Our Course: Collision Course Duet by Ahren Sanders <— SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH HER BROTHER’S BEST FRIEND & HE SHATTERED HER HEART!! “…Bryce shattered my heart into a million pieces, leaving me devastated beyond repair. I took the only choice I had, leaving behind my dreams of him and any chance at a future together. Time and distance did little to heal my heartache, but I forced myself to move on. Right when my life starts to make sense, Bryce returns…”

Love in C Minor: a Backroads Duet (Volume One) by Mindy Michele <—HER BROTHER’S BEST FRIEND ALERT!! “…When you’re the daughter of the mayor and the police chief in a sleepy Kansas town, toeing the line is easier than the alternative. That is, until her brother’s best friend changes the rules…”

Gray’s Girl by Mina Carter <— HER BROTHER’S BEST FRIEND IS NOW A HOT RUGBY PLAYER… “…When her brother wants to set her up on a blind date with the skinny little runt he befriended years ago, she’s not interested. But one look at the tall, muscular Adonis standing in her doorway changes her mind. Little Leighton is all grown up, and Frankie is having some very naughty thoughts about the man he has become...”
P.S. For your request of more “Brother’s Best Friend” stories, here’s the tag on my blog linking to all of them so far: “Brother’s Best Friend”

➔➔➔  Love this trope? Browse more brother’s best friend romance OR best friend’s brother features and reviews on my blog. 😀

➔➔➔  Looking for more of our favorite recommendations? Browse our “Ultimate Favorites Lists” here. Are you in the mood for a certain kind of story? Browse our favorite “genre/trope categories” here and our reader favorites lists too.