20+ Must-Read Workplace Romances
Not Safe For Work
The office break room offers more than gross coffee. It provides the perfect stage for forced proximity and high-tension romance. Workplace romance can be shown through several different dynamics.
Here are a few examples of workplace romance:
Shared goals - they are forced to work together for a specific goal.
Office dynamics - the characters work for the same company
Boss & employee - this explores the power dynamics that can happen in the workplace.
A workplace romance can also include some forbidden, forced proximity, and rivals to lovers tropes.
Not feeling this trope? Check out the Massive Roundup of 70+ Romance Tropes with a recommendation for each.
*Buying through these links helps keep my bookshelves overflowing and the smut coming. I appreciate the support.
1. Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
From the Description: When brooding security guard Zafir Ansari rescues Dani from a workplace fire drill gone wrong, it’s an obvious sign: PhD student Dani and ex-rugby player Zaf are destined to sleep together. But before she can explain that fact, a video of the heroic rescue goes viral. Now half the internet is shipping #DrRugbae—and Zaf is begging Dani to play along. Turns out, his sports charity for kids could really use the publicity. Lying to help children? Who on earth would refuse?
The Tropes: Former Rugby Pro, Fake Dating, Academia
The Representation: Anxiety and Panic Attacks, Bisexual rep, Curvy FMC
The Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
2. Love Is A War Song by Danica Nava
From the Description: Pop star Avery Fox is at rock bottom after a PR disaster leaves her career in tatters. Seeking refuge, she heads to her estranged grandmother’s ranch in Oklahoma. There, she meets Lucas Iron Eyes, a stoic cowboy who lives by a strict set of rules and has zero patience for Avery’s celebrity status. To save the struggling ranch, they strike a deal: Avery will use her platform to raise funds, and Lucas will help her reconnect with the Muscogee heritage she’s lost touch with.
The Tropes: Opposites Attract, Small Town Ranch, Slow Burn, Hate to Love
The Representation: Indigenous (Muscogee)
The Heat: 🌶️🌶️
3. From the Top Rope by Tamara Lemus
From the Description:In the world of pro wrestling, legacy is everything, and Amaya Acosta knows the pressure of living up to that legacy well. Ravyn has never had it easy. Growing up with a mother who chose addiction over being a parent, she was dumped into the foster system and learned to fight for everything she has. Trust, respect, survival. Despite it all, she worked hard and made it onto the main roster of the EWC. She’ll be damn if someone takes what’s rightfully hers. Not without a fight. Even if it means teaming up with the one person she can’t stand and maybe, just maybe, can’t stop thinking about
The Tropes: Slow Burn, Rivals to Lovers, Hate to Love You, Legacy Family
The Representation: Black MC, Latinx MC, Lesbian FMC, Bisexual Awakening,
The Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tamara Lemus on the We Read Smut Podcast (Coming in Season 4)
4. Sweethand by N.G. Peltier
From the Description: Turns out for the first time in ages, she and Keiran King, the most annoying man ever, are on the island at the same time. Avoiding him is impossible, especially when Keiran’s close friend is the one marrying her sister, and he’s the best man to her maid of honour. When things turn heated after a rainy night of bedroom fun, they both have to figure out if they can survive the countdown to wedding day, without this turning into a recipe for disaster.
The Tropes: Forced Proximity, Musician MC, Baker MC, Grew Up Together
The Representation: Black MCs, Bisexual Rep
The Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
5. Bedlam by Jack Whitney
From the Description: Life as the Young Decay drummer has its traveling the world, beautiful fans in every city, living out my rockstar dreams. Still, no glamorous life ever came without its pitfalls—namely, addiction, jealousy, and stalkers. Lucky for me, I ended up on the losing side of all three. I’m torn between exploring the growing feelings I have for the band’s new bodyguard and sabotaging everything for a glimpse of my stalker’s face.
The Tropes: Stalker, Rockstar (Drummer), Bodyguard
The Representation: Saphic, AuDHD Author
The Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Jack Whitney on the We Read Smut Podcast
6. Roaming Holiday by Marina Hill
From the Description: A secret princess and her hitman-turned-bodyguard... what could possibly go wrong? She’s given the summer to decide if she wants to be the queen, to live her Roman Holiday fantasy and explore this quaint island and all its beauty—including her surly bodyguard whose empty eyes she’s determined to fill. When his mistakes come looking for revenge, Wesley must find a way to control his darkness without letting it poison his light.
The Tropes: Age Gap, Bodyguard, Slow Burn, Royalty
The Representation: Black FMC
The Heat: 🌶️🌶️
Marina Hill on the We Read Smut Podcast
7. Bossed by the Orc by Saam King
From the Description: When danger finds its way to Penelope’s door, Dristan will do anything to protect her. But when all is said and done, will it be enough to convince her to take a shot at happily ever after? Or will their love story end before it ever truly begins?
The Tropes: Grumpy / Sunshine, Slow Burn, Size Difference, Fated Mates, Billionaire
The Representation: Brown FMC
The Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Saam King on the We Read Smut Podcast
8. Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley
From the Description: Donovan Dell is a football player who likes to bake. Understanding that football won’t last forever, Donovan and two of his teammates opened Sugar Blitz, San Diego’s newest cupcake bakery. After a heated exchange with a customer who says the store’s décor is stale, he doesn’t expect the same bold woman to be the solution to his problem. Jada Townsend-Matthews is the most reviled woman in America after turning down a proposal on a reality dating show. When a reporter mistakenly believes Jada and Donovan are an item, they realize they can use the misunderstanding to their advantage to help the bakery and rehabilitate Jada’s image. Faking a relationship should be simple, but real feelings are always the most unexpected ingredient.
The Tropes: Opposites Attract, Fake Dating, Former Football Pro
The Representation: Black MCs, Dyslexia
The Heat: 🌶️🌶️
9. Tempted by Danger by Endiya Carter
From the Description: Rule #1 ‘No Fraternizing’ That was the main rule you had to follow if you wanted to stay employed at Danger Inc. For four years, Dymon Danger never worried about breaking that rule until the day his new assistant, Quinci Everly, walked in his office. Withstanding Dymon’s tactics to make her quit, he realizes that neither Quinci nor his intrusive thoughts were going anywhere anytime soon.
The Tropes: Forbidden, Millionaire, Grumpy / Sunshine, Secret Relationship
The Representation: Black MC, Curvy FMC
The Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
10. Work Song by Danielle Allen
From the Description: At twenty-seven years old, I’ve never been in love. I date a lot, yet sparks never fly. But when I experienced the heart-pounding, skin tingling feeling for the first time, I didn’t think it would be caused by a guy I’ve never met. And I damn sure didn’t think he would end up holding my future in his hands in more ways than one.
The Tropes: Friends to Lovers
The Representation: Black MCs, Curvy FMC
The Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Danielle Allen on the We Read Smut Podcast
11. Going Public by Hudson Lin
From the Description: Elvin Goh has been Raymond Chao’s assistant for years, and he’s been in love with the charming, ruthless playboy for just as long. There’s very little that Elvin won’t do—or hasn’t done—for Raymond. Impossible crush aside, it’s his job. But this time, even Elvin can’t see a way out. When long nights in the office lead to whispered confessions and a newfound intimacy, it seems like a dream come true—for both of them. But with the prospect of failure on the horizon, can this dream team beat the odds and come out the victors in the office and in their hearts?
The Tropes: Opposite Sides of the Track, Only One Bed
The Representation: AAPI MC, Demisexual Rep, Pansexual Rep
The Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
12. Outdrawn by Deanna Grey
From the Description: Sage and Noah have to work as a team — or, at least appear to work as a team. They thought the hardest part of the relaunch would be drawing together. But that’s easy in comparison to falling in love.
The Tropes: Rivals to Lovers, Slow Burn, Creatives, Opposites Attract
The Representation: Sapphic, Black MCs, Dysfunctional Family Dynamics
The Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Deanna Grey on the We Read Smut Podcast
13. Yours, Finally by Leonor Soliz
From the Description: For years we resisted. He’s too loyal to my brother and my parents, who treat him like a son. To make matters worse, I’m his boss, so we shouldn’t pursue it. Until too many hours alone planning his upcoming promotion and a family event make us forget all about rules. Soon we can’t keep our hands off each other. When I hear the songs he wrote about me? I’m done for.
The Tropes: Secret Relationship, Found Family, Rich MCs, Brother’s Best Friend
The Representation: Plus Size MCs (Both), Latinx FMC
The Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Leonor Soliz on the We Read Smut Podcast
14. Memphis by Alexandria House
From the Description: MEMPHIS I’ve been a fighter all my life. I never back down.
I don’t fold. But him? One touch from him and my resolve instantly disintegrates. BO You might call me mean, evil, maybe even diabolical. I’ll take all that because I only care about her. Nothing and no one else. She’s all that matters, and I’ll do anything to make her mine…again.
The Tropes: Badass FMC, Assassin MCs, Second Chance, Forced Proximity
The Representation: Black MCs, Curvy FMC
The Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Alexandria House on the We Read Smut Podcast
15. Single Player by Tara Tai
From the Description: Cat Li cares about two things: video games and swoony romances. The former means there hasn’t been much of the latter in her (real) life, but when she lands her dream job writing the love storylines for Compass Hollow—the next big thing in games—she knows it’s all been worth it. Then she meets her boss: the infamous Andi Zhang, who’s not only an arrogant hater of happily-ever-afters determined to keep Cat from doing her job but also impossibly, annoyingly hot.
The Tropes: Rivals to Lovers, Enemies (Hate) to Lovers,
The Representation: Asian MCs, Sapphic Rep
The Heat: 🌶️🌶️
16. Mickey Chambers Shakes it Up by Charish Reid
From the Description: Mickey Chambers is an expert at analyzing modern literature. But when it comes to figuring out her own story, she’s feeling a little lost. At thirty-three, she’s an adjunct instructor with a meager summer class schedule and too many medical bills, courtesy of her chronic illness. Picking up a bartending gig seems perfect. Sure, Mickey’s never done this before, but the gorgeous, grumpy bar owner, Diego Acosta, might be the perfect man to teach the teacher...if he wasn’t so stressed. It’s not long before Mickey starts re-energizing The Saloon with cocktails, karaoke and an optimism even Diego can’t ignore. They need to fight their feelings if they want to keep things professional, but all it takes is one sip, one kiss, to shake both their worlds forever...
The Tropes: Grumpy Sunshine, Professor, Boss, Age Gap
The Representation: Black FMC, Latinx MC, Curvy FMC, Chronic Illness, Widower MC
The Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Charish Reid on the We Read Smut Podcast.
17. When I Think of You by Myah Ariel
From the Description: It’s been seven years since Kaliya’s whirlwind college romance with Danny Prescott went up in flames. While her passions have stalled, his career is taking off. So when the hotshot director reappears to offer her a job on his next production, it’s a shock to the system. Working with Danny may recapture the intensity of their film school days, but trusting him again won’t come as easily.
The Tropes: Slow Burn, Second Chance, Hollywood, Dual Timeline
The Representation: Black FMC, Mixed Black MMC
The Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
18. Andre by Jayce Ellis
From the Description: After a week filled with nonstop work, André Ellison heads to the club to blow off some steam. One night off is the perfect distraction from the project that’s about to make his career—or tank it completely. A few drinks in and he leaves with a smoking-hot stranger for some scorching, burn-the-sheets-up sex. Marcus Thompson is going places, so he can’t think of a bigger waste of time than being put on loan to a two-bit firm to prepare some small-time report. The last thing he wants—or needs—is his impeccably dressed, hot-as-hell one-night stand as his boss. As they work side by side, their attraction grows to a fever pitch, but there will be no kissing, no touching, and absolutely no sex until the project is over—if they can wait that long.
The Tropes: One Night Stand, Low Angst, Size Difference
The Representation: Acchilean (MM), Black MCs
The Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
19. The Fake Dating War by Sookh Kaur
From the Description: Jake Coleman is the infuriatingly hot nemesis I’d stomp over for a promotion until he’s the fake boyfriend I need to survive my sister’s wedding. But maybe I take it too far by pretending to have an amazing boyfriend… that my family wants to meet at my sister’s wedding! Out of nowhere, Satan offers to fake-date me for a week. He’s up to something, but I can’t figure out what. Especially when he’s kissing me dizzy in front of guests. I’m sitting on his lap on a party bus. And there’s only one bed…
The Tropes: Rivals to Lovers, Fake Dating, Wedding Week Shenanigans
The Representation: Indian FMC, Divorcee
The Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
20. Office Hours by Katrina Jackson
From the Description: What’s life like on the tenure track? For Assistant Professor of Sociology, Dr. Deja Evans, it sucks. Hard. Every day. Over the course of a hectic academic year, Deja tries to survive her classes, help her students, prepare for her third-year review, and, most importantly, learn to get out of her own way and just let Alejandro love her.
The Tropes: No third act breakup, Academia, Tenure vs Not Tenure
The Representation: Black FMC, Latinx MMC
The Heat: 🌶️🌶️
21. The Due Date by Iesha Bree
From the Description: Airyon has always lived according to her parents’ strict expectations, relentlessly pursuing academic success. But one fateful night shatters her carefully constructed world when a passionate encounter with Zayne, a brilliant tech wiz, ignites an undeniable spark between them.
The Tropes: One Night Stand, Secret Pregnancy, Virgin FMC
The Representation: Black MCs
The Heat: 🌶️🌶️
22. Down South Bayou by Aricka Alexander
From the Description: After some mild flirting on both of their parts, Cheyenne and Harley begin a steamy friends-with-benefits relationship that was meant to be just that. However, when they start catching feelings for one another, things start to get a bit complicated. From annoying exes to traumatic past experiences to unwanted surprises, will their relationship withstand the chaos? Or will their worst fears of heartbreak be reinforced?
The Tropes: Professional Football, Friends to Lovers,
The Representation: Sapphic, Black MCs, Lesbian Rep, Pansexual Rep, Curvy FMC
The Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Aricka Alexander on the We Read Smut Podcast
23. Corrupted Chaos by Shain Rose
From the Description: My enemy doesn’t make the rules behind closed doors… Even if he’s my boss. Enemy number one. Unfortunately, he’s also number one in tatted, dark, and dangerous. I quickly come to find that not only are his hacking skills perfection, but so is his performance in the bedroom. Not that it matters. I have a job to keep, a heart to protect, and our nation’s data to secure. Cade can’t help me with any of that. He’s a distraction. One I have to avoid… Even if it means I’m spray painting a red line down our bed and keeping my boss on his side.
The Tropes: Only One Bed, Hacker, Enemies (Or Hate) to Lovers, Billionaire
The Representation: Mixed Race MC
The Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
24. One and Done by Frederick Smith
From the Description: One night of passion and possibly one more chance at love… One chance encounter. One night of passion. Will Taylor and Dustin leave it at one and done?
The Tropes: One Night Stand, Toxic Ex, Academia
The Representation: Black MCs, Very Diverse Cast
The Heat: 🌶️
Frederick Smith on the We Read Smut Podcast (Coming Season 4)
If you are looking for that next perfect book, remember to prioritize titles that resonate with your current mood, and always check the triggers to protect your peace.
I want to know: which of these workplace dynamics is your favorite—boss/employee or shared goals?
*Buying through these links helps keep my bookshelves overflowing and the smut coming. I appreciate the support.
Thanks for the list, love the shoutout to Bookshop!
I’ve read Take A Hint, Dani Brown (and her sisters) and Memphis (and her sisters) and, yes, certified hot.