Emily Silver

Readers who enjoy friends-to-lovers romances will appreciate the Holiday Friend Zones anthology. Sweet, spicy, and humorous, these stories are also emotionally engaging. They deliver a satisfying mix of warmth, charm, and heartfelt moments.

Snowed in with My Best Friend by Carrie Ann Ryan

Snowed in with My Best Friend by Carrie Ann Ryan follows Posey and Cullen’s journey from long-time friends to something much deeper. Readers familiar with the Montgomery Ink Legacy series will recognize the show more pair from previous installments, where their chemistry quietly simmered beneath the surface.

Recently, Cullen’s feelings for Posey have shifted beyond friendship, yet fear of jeopardizing their bond kept him silent. A well-timed mistletoe, however, created the perfect moment for their first kiss. While that spark set everything in motion, it was the snowed-in road trip that allowed their connection to ignite and their passion to burn hot.

A short, spicy, and sweet read.

Tequila and Cowboys by Emily Silver

Meet Rylee and Chase. Chase is a bartender—and the brother of Rylee’s best friend. Rylee has been crushing on him for a long time but kept her feelings hidden out of concern for her best friend. After being away for a while, she’s finally back, determined to take a chance on what she truly wants. What she doesn’t realize is that she won’t have to try very hard.

Let the fun and sexy times begin.

My Kind of Trouble by Claire Hastings

My Kind of Trouble by Claire Hastings delivers a charming blend of the friends-to-lovers and marriage-of-convenience tropes. Davis and Kyra have been inseparable since childhood, bound by a deep trust that has always defined their relationship. So, when Davis calls and tells Kyra they need to get married to protect her investment, she does not hesitate. She has always loved him and marrying him would hardly be a burden. However, the interference of a meddling sibling soon has Kyra questioning his true motives.

This was an absolutely adorable story from beginning to end. Kyra and Davis share an authentic, heartfelt connection that makes their journey compelling and easy to root for. Readers will find themselves fully invested and cheering for their happily-ever-after.

Mistletoe Match by Lilly Miller

Ava returned home hoping to heal from a broken heart, and waiting in the wings was Liam, her childhood best friend. When a broken thermostat and frozen pipes rendered Ava’s house unlivable, Liam quickly convinced her to stay with him. Soon after, he persuaded her to pretend to be his girlfriend so they could enter the Mistletoe Match game together.

What follows is a warm, engaging story in which both characters discover that transitioning from friends to lovers is nothing to fear—especially when they have been in love with each other all along.

From Friends to Forever by Claudia Burgoa

From Friends to Forever was an absolutely adorable read. Willow and Roman’s twenty-year friendship is pushed to its ultimate test, and watching it unfold is both heartwarming and entertaining. These two have been quietly crazy about each other for years, but the fear of ruining their bond kept them from ever taking that leap.

Determined to finally go after what she wants; Willow embarks on a mission to flirt her way into Roman’s attention. Her attempts are often hilarious—sweet, awkward, and completely transparent to Roman, who sees right through every one of them. Still, her efforts make their slow-burn chemistry even more enjoyable.

What truly shines in this story is how genuine their love is. Every interaction reflects a deep connection built over decades. All that stands in their way is the fear of losing the most important relationship either of them has ever had.

If only they could conquer those fears, they might finally discover the future that has been waiting for them all along.

Something About Yule by Gia Stevens

Lauren is the Assistant Coordinator for the Holly Jolly Festival, and she’s determined to make sure everything goes according to plan. When a plumbing disaster leaves her without water and essentially homeless for a while, her best friend Eli immediately steps in and offers her a place to stay. With Lauren settling into his home, the two find themselves spending a lot more time together and diving into all the holiday activities—even though Eli isn’t the festive type and Lauren brings enough holiday cheer for them both.

This is a sweet friends-to-lovers story with just the right amount of spice to keep things interesting.

Chasing Christmas by Piper Rayne

Chasing Christmas gives readers Saylor and Luke’s story. These two grew up as neighbors and best friends, inseparable throughout childhood. Everything changed when Saylor moved away with Luke’s best friend, Tyler. Now she’s back home, nursing a broken heart after Tyler dumps her. Luke steps in immediately, offering the kind of comfort only a best friend can give. But when an unexpected kiss shifts everything between them, Saylor panics and starts avoiding him altogether.

Their friends and coworkers decide they’ve had enough and play matchmaker, determined to push Saylor and Luke to confront their feelings. Their efforts don’t quite break through the pair’s stubbornness—at least not until a blizzard and a power outage trap Saylor and Luke under the same roof. With nowhere to hide, their long-buried chemistry finally comes to the surface.

An enjoyable, cozy read that will be a hit for fans of friends-to-lovers romance.

This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading show less

What you'll get:
Pro diver x journalist
Gay rep

Setting: California

Bless romance because no one has ever gotten aroused in a bowling alley.

Swimming romances are so hard because it’s a solitary sport and they don’t have enough interaction with other characters.