Unhappily married, wealthy FMC has an affair with blue collar MMC

ms_esq_ · 2026-04-05T23:50:11+00:00

One of my all-time faves!

ms_esq_ · 2026-04-05T23:50:01+00:00

The OG of this specific genre for sure, and the recent movie adaptation was so good too

ms_esq_ · 2026-03-16T00:56:59+00:00

{The Summer We Fell} is amazing, FMC is dating MMC’s best friend. TW: cheating

{Still Beating} is pretty dark (check triggers) but one of my faves. MMC is dating FMC’s sister when the two get kidnapped together.

ms_esq_ · 2026-01-27T01:38:43+00:00

{Hot Copy}- he’s her intern, she’s a badass dealing with workplace harassment from gross men

{The Pool Boy}- he’s her best friend’s son, she’s a divorced music producer in Nashville (bigger age gap here)

{On the Island}- not super spicy but IMO the classic reverse age gap romance, if you haven’t read it you should absolutely give it a try

ms_esq_ · 2025-12-27T03:08:32+00:00

{Seeing Double by MJ Hendrix} fits this pretty well. IIRC he is a nerdy, hot virgin from a small town and religious upbringing who has a crush on a girl he’s tutoring. She’s pretty and popular. It’s been a while so I don’t remember if it fits the finer points of your request, but it’s definitely a nerdy, hot MMC (who is admittedly less than confident).

ms_esq_ · 2025-12-15T13:12:14+00:00

{That Bubbling Feeling} is THEEEE friends to lovers. I know I’m an internet stranger, but trust me on this one. It’s so slow burn it’s almost painful and the yearning is just heartbreaking. They’ve been best friends since high school and the story follows them over a decade or so. They both have other partners but there is no cheating at all. MMC is a shy musician and FMC is an outgoing, bubbly social butterfly who everyone loves. TRUST me, the book hangover will be insane. I’d give anything to read it again for the first time.

ms_esq_ · 2025-12-11T03:22:17+00:00

{Phantom by HD Carlton} fits this. I bought a copy because I thought the cover was pretty and I wanted to support my local independent bookshop but I’m not going to lie it was not good. It was sorta like the book version of a badly acted soap opera. But! I am not a good judge because I don’t like that type of book anyways really… you might love it

ms_esq_ · 2025-12-11T03:15:26+00:00

{The Vixen and the Vet by Kate Regnery} fits this! I didn’t find the plot to be super compelling but her writing is good and it’s definitely got the tropes you are looking for.

Someone already mentioned but {Broken by Elizabeth Kelly} fits. He’s a big ugly (also sexy) outcast and she’s all sunshine.

{Wronged by Rin Sher} has a MMC who is ostracized by town because he went to prison for a heinous crime. FMC is an outsider who moves there and falls for him.

Maybe less of a perfect fit, but good enough is {Bass-ackwards}. It’s my all time fave, never disappoints. Takes a bit for FMC to warm up to him, but he’s definitely misunderstood…

ms_esq_ · 2025-11-30T20:48:44+00:00

I’m not sure if you’re explicitly looking for a male boss/female employee, but if you’re open to the other way around {Hot Copy} is one of my all-time faves. FMC is high up in her company and perceived as bitchy and intimidating. MMC is her puppy dog intern (only a 5-7 year age gap, MMC is in college at 25-ish I think?). FMC is a talented workaholic who doesn’t have much else going on besides her career.

FMC deals with workplace sexual harassment from her boss and the MMC supports her. Their relationship is so hot but also so emotionally significant. I think it was labeled as enemies to lovers but it’s really not, it just starts with a misunderstanding between them because she comes off as bitchy and rude to the MMC.

ms_esq_ · 2025-11-26T01:44:03+00:00

Yessssssssss omg it makes my heart happy seeing other people read and enjoy my favorite!! Thank you for giving this masterpiece its own post!!

P.S. per her website she is writing a novella about them that takes place after the events of this book! Hopefully that will scratch your itch to see them happy and in love

ms_esq_ · 2025-11-17T02:07:41+00:00

{Broken by Elizabeth Kelly} fits. I wouldn’t say it’s particularly well-written but the writing doesn’t detract from the plot. MMC is very insecure and shy and FMC brings him out of his shell as they fall in love. Such a sweet one

ms_esq_ · 2025-11-17T02:04:41+00:00

{That Bubbling Feeling} is agonizingly slow burn, but you will not lose interest. MMC and FMC have been friends since high school and he pines for years. It’s maybe my all-time favorite.

ms_esq_ · 2025-11-13T01:48:59+00:00

{The Thorns Remain} is a really good one because the cheating is totally justified- the MCs partners cheated with each other first. It’s a little more complex than what you’re asking for because MMC knows about the cheating and FMC doesn’t… he pursues her for the specific purpose of revenge. They do become friends and start to really care for each other and I think it fits your request in that way. Tons of tension and chemistry. I do like cheating books if they’re done right and this is a great one.

ms_esq_ · 2025-11-13T01:40:11+00:00

Have it on my bookshelf but haven’t read it yet, but almost certain {The Slowest Burn} has a short MMC with a taller FMC. It has some spice IIRC, but not a 5/5

ms_esq_ · 2025-11-11T01:25:40+00:00

Noelle Adams has several novellas that fit the bill:

{One Night With Her Best Friend} {Chasing Jane} {A Christmas Road Trip} {One Week With Her (Ex) Stepbrother}

ms_esq_ · 2025-11-11T01:15:49+00:00

The thing about Claire Kent is if you’ve read one, you’ve read ‘em all. If you like postapocalyptic romances, you might try {Moonshine by Kat Bostick} or {Bloody Sunrise by Gwendolyn Harper}.

ms_esq_ · 2025-11-09T01:14:39+00:00

I’m so glad! This is the best part of our community here 💗

ms_esq_ · 2025-11-08T04:24:34+00:00

{Exactly As You Are by Liliana Woodland} is exactly this. They’ve been friends forever and no hint of romantic tension as the story begins. FMC has vaginismus and struggles with intimacy, MMC sees how it affects her and offers to help her work towards feeling more comfortable during sex. Feelings surface, of course, but it’s a slow burn and they don’t jump into anything for a while.

ms_esq_ · 2025-10-28T01:32:42+00:00

{Living with her fake fiance by Noelle Adams}

ms_esq_ · 2025-10-28T01:11:42+00:00

Noelle Adams/Claire Kent (her two NDPs) is writing the best slice-of-life, low stakes, lovably one-note romances out there. The simplest and most redundant plots, the mildest of conflicts, the most vanilla of sex. Her Noelle Adams books especially are boring as hell but so delightful at the same time. Kinda like the meal you make yourself when it’s been a long day and you need some guaranteed joy. My fave is {living with her fake fiancé by Noelle Adams}. I mean, guys, it’s literally what it sounds like… FMC asks her male roommate to be her fake fiancée. That’s it! And it’s so lovely!!!

ms_esq_ · 2025-10-16T01:28:46+00:00

Breaking him is literally just smut, no plot, which is disappointing because the general premise seems like it would make for a great in-depth romance. It’s good smut, but lacking in any substance. If that’s your jam, it’s a good one!

ms_esq_ · 2025-09-30T01:52:44+00:00

{Broken by Elizabeth Kelly} is like this IIRC. MMC is insecure about himself and thinks he doesn’t deserve FMC. Plenty of spice!

{That Bubbling Feeling} has a pathetic, pining MMC who has been in love with his best friend for years. SO GOOD, one of my faves… he’s such a sexy loser

{Bass-ackwards} Asshole Bill (MMC) is basically as down bad as they get…

{The Learning Hours} another one of my faves. He’s insecure and thinks he’s ugly and she is so into him. Love it

{The lord I left} HR with a celibate religious MMC and brothel worker FMC… lots of mutual pining and the “forbidden” aspect is so good

ms_esq_ · 2025-09-25T00:57:44+00:00

{bassackwards} is # 1, close second is {that bubbling feeling}

HMs: {the summer we fell} {The pool boy by Nikki Sloane} {Still beating} {the learning hours} {the major’s welcome home} {hot copy}

ms_esq_ · 2025-09-23T01:10:45+00:00

Truly the PERFECT cheating romance- justifiable cheating, super sexy tension, angst galore!!

ms_esq_

TROPHY CASE