Is it business or pleasure?
New Workplace Romance Books
We all know that workplace romances are a baaaad idea. Mixing your professional and personal lives can cause all kinds of chaos in both areas. Even if you think it is a secret, it isn’t – your coworkers ARE talking about you. Even if you think it isn’t affecting your work – your work is definitely affected. There can be legal issues and gray areas between relationships involving a supervisor/employee, between employees in different locations, and can cause tension anywhere at any time…especially when things head south. Which they most likely will (but not always!). However, why not live vicariously through someone else? Such as these amazing new workplace romance books!
Whether or not a workplace has an ironclad “no romance” policy or whether they “strongly advise against it,” we know that there is no stopping that attraction. And isn’t the danger half of the fun? Assuming that everyone is on equal footing and there is no power imbalance, a workplace romance can add a lot of spice to your shift. If you are intrigued by the idea, check out these books that will definitely affect your productivity at the office!
The 9-5 is never just 9-5! Check out these workplace romance books now!
Love Lessons by Sidney Halston
Abbott Elementary meets Ali Hazelwood in this spicy rivals-to-lovers rom-com starring two kindergarten teachers whose one night stand leads to an unexpected lesson in love.
I didn’t need to read much past the set-up in this book’s description to know that I would be all in: “Abbott Elementary meets Ali Hazelwood”?! Obviously I am going to love that book.
Valerie Marquez loves being a kindergarten teacher! She wants her classroom to be a fun place to learn, so she often plays music throughout the day to keep the kids motivated. Unfortunately, the teacher next door, Andrew Wexler does not enjoy the music. It is his worst nightmare and it often results in migraines. Unpleasant.
Valerie and Andrew both try to put the tension aside for the end-of-the-school-year party. And that truce leads to something completely unexpected. The two wind up sharing a night of wild sex, which has one very surprising consequence: a baby.
Valerie is hormonal. She’s hungry like ALL THE TIME. And when she learns that she and Andrew will be co-teachers in a single classroom, she’s afraid that she will fall in love with him. But what thoughts are hidden behind his way-too-handsome face? Could he be falling for her, too? After all, Valerie IS the mother of his child!
THE MEDIA’S THOUGHTS:
“Halston (The Valentine’s Hate) has a knack for banter and humor that will appeal to fans of Meg Cabot, with the cozy rom-com feel of Jenn McKinlay’s novels.” — Library Journal
“The only problem with this book was it was too short, I didn’t want it to end. It’s a good enemies to friends romance. It’s very well written with serious moments as well as rom-com hilarious moments.” – Carla B., B&N website
You Should Smile More by Anastasia Ryan
When Vanessa Blair is fired because of her resting bitch face, her friends help her launch a revenge plan that’ll bring down the whole company.
Vanessa Blair is not enthralled with her telemarketing job. It keeps a roof over her head and feeds her foster kittens, and there is the benefit of working with Jane and Trisha, her two best friends. But it is also boring, soul-sucking, and extremely dead-end.
Things get worse when her self-absorbed boss, Xavier Adams fires her due to her facial expressions. He specifically mentions her RBF (“resting bitch face” for those who are lucky enough to not have one), which is apparently more important than her sales numbers or the fact that she is the organizer of workplace and social events.
Determined to drink her pain away, Vanessa spends a boozy, schnappsy evening with Jane and Delaney. They drink, and plot, and come up with crazy revenge plans. And by the time Vanessa wakes up the following morning, she discovers that her friends have outlined a revenge strategy based on The Art of War by Sun Tzu. She wants nothing to do with it at first, she is ready to move on to something else. But when Vanessa attempts to file for unemployment, she learns that Xavier has contested her claim. And she is 100% in on The Plan.
THE MEDIA’S THOUGHTS:
“Reminiscent of The Office and 9 to 5, Ryan’s debut is a slapstick blend of comedy and heart, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and strong female heroines.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Ryan paints an ode to RBF owners and anyone slighted by a male boss ― you’ll be rooting for her the whole way.” ― Buzzfeed
“A fun and original workplace revenge fantasy, filled with kittens, glitter bombs, and friendship.” –Booklist
Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon
One of Amazon’s Best Romances of July
Named a Most Anticipated Summer Read by Buzzfeed, Glamour, Town & Country, BookRiot, and more!
This spicy book is a USA Today Best Seller and was named one of the New York Times’ best romances of the year, among other accolades past being an amazing workplace romance book.
Chandler Cohen is a ghostwriter. And she feels ghostly all right. When she attends a signing for a book she wrote, the “author” doesn’t even recognize her. She heads to the bar and falls into the most awkward one-night stand of all time. Chandler resolves to forget about that 24-hour period entirely and move on with her life. .
Her next project is ghostwriting a memoir for a C-list actor named Finn Walsh. He was on a cult classic werewolf show at some point, and he makes his living appearing at fan cons across the country. Chandler doesn’t even know what he looks like…until she recognizes him. From the awkward one-night stand.
Chandler wants to keep the partnership as professional as possible, but she does eventually tell Finn that their night together wasn’t as … mind-blowing as he thought it was. He is DEVASTATED and talks her into a bargain. When they aren’t working on his book, Chandler will school Finn in bedroom antics until he is the lover he’s always thought he was.
Things come to a breaking point and a decision must be made. Which is more important to them? Is it business or pleasure? They will have a hell of a time figuring it out!
THE MEDIA’S THOUGHTS:
“Intimate and unflinching.”—New York Times
“Both wisecracking and wise, edgy and vulnerable, Business or Pleasure skillfully balances everything that makes romance great. Simply put, it is an unputdownable, sexy riot! Rachel Lynn Solomon is a romance virtuoso and her readers have the best seats in the house.”—Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author
“Only Rachel Lynn Solomon could make a story about giving sex lessons to a celebrity feel this grounded and realistic. Chandler and Finn are equal parts smart and funny, charming and generous, thoughtful and endearing. Rachel takes the kind of risks that make romance as a genre so special and rewarding to read.”—Rosie Danan, author of The Roommate
Love Interest by Clare Gilmore
Love Interest is Clare Gilmore’s sparkling debut, a co-worker enemies-to-lovers rom-com that proves falling in love is the risk and the reward.
Shenanigans in the workplace. Involvement with a colleague. Enemies-to-lovers. This one checked all of my favorite boxes! We were surprised when we found out that Clare Gilmore is a debut author, the writing and character development are excellent.
Casey has always preferred numbers to people, but she’s bored. When an opportunity to apply for an open project manager presents itself, Casey considers it a sign from the universe that she should take career advancement seriously. Unfortunately, she is passed over for the job. Apparently, the ideal candidate also happens to be the son of a powerful board member. Nepotism at its finest.
Of course EVERYONE loves Alex Harrison. Of course he is handsome, smart, and just a little bit mysterious. And of course he makes Casey nuts.
The two of them find themselves working on the same project, and they make a pretty shocking discovery about the company. What they discover might change everything – will the discovery change the feelings they have for each other, too? Will the rewards outweigh the risks across the board?
THE MEDIA’S THOUGHTS:
“Love Interest is Nora Ephron for Gen Z.” ―Ashley Winstead, author of The Boyfriend Candidate
“Gilmore’s confident debut rom-com…adds some welcome realism to this workplace romance. This should earn the author many fans.” –– Publishers Weekly
“In this engaging enemies-to-lovers romance… The couple are likable, fully developed characters with believable, interesting backstories. Their steamy chemistry and witty banter will have readers cheering for their eventual happy ending.” –– Library Journal
Once Persuaded, Twice Shy by Melodie Edwards
This modern reimagining of Persuasion is full of witty banter, romantic angst, and compelling characters as it captures the heart of the classic Jane Austen novel.
I must say that I’m not a big fan of the cover of Once Persuaded, Twice Shy, and I almost put it down until I noticed the subtitle: “A Modern Reimagining of Persuasion”. I started reading immediately.
Eight years after their break up, Anne Elliot isn’t sure that dumping Ben Wentworth was in fact the right thing to do. She stays busy by being active on the town council, and directing a local theater company. Her life is fine. Its active! But it is also lonely. Always-responsible Anne, too busy cleaning up after other people for a personal life of her own, thinks that romance might have passed her by.
Ben crashes back into Anne’s life when his aunt and uncle purchase a nearby winery. When she sees him, it is clear that Ben is still angry at her for breaking his heart. A joint venture between the winery and the theater where Anne spends a lot of her time force the two together. It does not go well. At first. As they spend more time together and remember happier times, Anne can’t help but think that she and Ben just might have a future together after all of these years of separate lives! This book has all of the charm, banter, and escapades of Jane Austen’s Persuasion. It Is perfect for fans of her work!
THE MEDIA’S THOUGHTS:
“Perfectly captures the contemplative tone of Austen’s Persuasion and delivers a superbly nuanced heroine…. Combine this with a sublimely evoked Canadian small-town setting in all its autumnal glory, a charming plot that embraces everything from dealing with family expectations to the relationship wisdom embedded in Taylor Swift songs, and a bracing sense of wit, and you have the perfect read for Austen fans and every reader who enjoys artfully executed love stories.”
—Booklist (starred review)
“Edwards puts a 21st-century spin on Jane Austen’s Persuasion in this fast-paced second chance romance…. Edwards successfully captures some of the essence of Austen’s Anne, a woman who puts others’ needs ahead of her own, often to her detriment. Readers will have no trouble rooting for her to reunite with the one that got away.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Edwards is clever in the way she uses the main plot and themes of Persuasion to create her story without feeling like she must translate it directly to modern times… This artful novel keeps to the core of the Jane Austen source material, while allowing the updated story to soar on its own.”
—Library Journal
Just As You Are by Camille Kellogg
A LIBRARY JOURNAL BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
That’s right…a second Austen-inspired title on our list! Just As You Are is loosely based on Pride and Prejudice, with a lottttt more steamy action in this workplace romance book.
Liz and her roommates work at a queer magazine in New York that is on the verge of collapse. The paper (and Liz) are spared when two wealthy lesbians with money to burn. She knows that she’s lucky to still have a steady paycheck, but it is difficult to feel grateful since she overheard one of the minority investors, Daria Fitzgerald, mocking her organizational system. Liz knows that it is only a matter of time before her impulsive mouth gets her in trouble. Or fired. And as the budgets are slashed, Bagel Fridays are cancelled, and the color printer suddenly has a password to “prevent frivolous use”, Liz realizes that maybe moving on would be a good thing.
But Liz finds herself thrown together with Daria, and it turns out that the tough leader does have a gentle side. She’s thoughtful, funny, and she seems to like Liz more and more, too, especially the way her gender presentation varies between femme and butch.
Liz knows that she can’t really trust Daria, but the chemistry between them is undeniable. Is focusing on her career worth losing any chance they might have for a future together? Is throwing caution to the wind and embracing these new feelings the way to go? This book about falling in love against your wishes and celebrating your chosen family is a wonderful celebration of queer culture and a wonderful tribute to Jane Austen!
THE MEDIA’S THOUGHTS:
“Much more than the typical romance or retelling . . . It’s because of this urgency to fight and protect that makes queer joy all the more crucial. The book, for all its romance and drama, is also filled with fun. . . . It is a book, in many ways, about starting over and celebrating the small things.”—People
“Just As You Are is one of the most gloriously queer things I’ve ever read. While their romance is easy to root for, at its heart, this book is a tribute to queer friendships and being young in New York—like if The L Word had been about anxiety-ridden writers in Brooklyn. In other words: a delight.”—Anita Kelly, author of Love & Other Disasters
“A sincere, funny book that successfully uses Jane Austen’s characters and plot as a means to explore queer identity, gender expression, and the intersection of admiration and attraction . . . will charm readers looking for a queer spin on Pride and Prejudice and relatable stories about finding one’s place in the world.”—Library Journal (starred review)
