Ah, men in real life. The human equivalent of a “check engine” light—constantly on, kind of useless, and guaranteed to cost you time and sanity. If you’re spending this weekend blissfully unattached, congrats—you’ve dodged the species that thinks foreplay is texting “You up?” like a caveman at 1 a.m. Honestly, there’s no point listing their flaws; we’d run out of Wi-Fi before we ran out of material. Instead, let’s escape into a better world—a fictional one, where men are hot, less complicated, and, most importantly, not real.
From chaotic Vegas weddings to brooding hockey players with enough emotional baggage to sink a ship, these stories will make you laugh, swoon, and scream, “Why are real men like this?” Spoiler: because they’re too busy Googling, “Can protein powder or tattoos replace a personality?”
Ready to immerse yourself in a fantasy where the only irritating thing about men is how much you’ll adore them? Pour a glass of wine, grab your coziest blanket, and prepare to side-eye reality while falling for fictional perfection.
Scroll down for our suggestions:
1. Play Along by Liz Tomforde
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas? Not when you wake up with a ring on your finger and the team shortstop as your new husband. Kennedy Kay, the ultimate professional, finds herself hitched to Isaiah Rhodes—a man who’s frustratingly hot and determined to prove he’s husband material. It’s baseball meets banter in this laugh-out-loud romance. Spoiler alert: Isaiah’s charm is the kind you can’t bench, no matter how hard you try.
For readers who: Love a little chaos with their chemistry and believe that persistence (and abs) can win the day.
2. Honey Cut by Sierra Simone
If you’re looking for something darker and deliciously twisted, this one’s for you. Think arranged marriage, religious intrigue, and a bodyguard who complicates everything. Add a sharp knife, a sharper wit, and a heroine who’s too clever for her own good, and you’ve got a recipe for a sinful weekend read.
For readers who: Want a love triangle with a side of betrayal and aren’t afraid of their books being a little…wicked.
3. Meegan by Rebekah Weatherspoon
What do you get when you combine a tech genius with social anxiety and a sunny kindergarten teacher who just happens to be into submission? Magic, apparently. Olin and Meegan’s fake-dating escapade turns into a real-deal romance that’s as sweet as it is spicy. Bonus: it’s a heartwarming portrayal of neurodivergence wrapped in a steamy package.
For readers who: Want their romance to be a little kinky but still heart-meltingly tender.
4. Stand and Defend by Sloane St. James
Jordana Landry is ditching her toxic fiancé and finding herself…in the arms of his bad-boy best friend. Camden Teller is everything Bryan wasn’t—fun, wild, and completely irresistible. Sure, he’s got a “corruption kink,” but Jordana’s no saint either. This one’s for anyone who’s ever fantasized about escaping their ex and running straight into a rom-com-level rebound.
For readers who: Appreciate a redemption arc and know that “nice guys finish last” is a motto, not a complaint.
5. Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood
Science may be logical, but love? Not so much. Rue and Eli’s affair is strictly no-strings-attached—until it isn’t. Corporate espionage, biotech brilliance, and off-the-charts chemistry collide in this forbidden workplace romance. Warning: you’ll start rooting for hostile takeovers if they come with this much tension.
For readers who: Like their romance with a side of nerdy banter and power struggles.