Greetings, fellow book lovers and romantics at heart! We’re going on a delightful literary journey into the world of books, where the guy falls in love first. There’s something incredibly heartwarming and captivating about stories where we witness the male protagonist being struck by the arrow of love, facing his feelings, and the vulnerability that comes with it.
These tales offer a refreshing twist on traditional romance narratives, showcasing the depth of male emotion and the pursuit of love that defies societal expectations. So, let’s dive into these touching stories, where love takes the lead in unexpected ways, promising a voyage filled with hope, challenges, and the irresistible charm of first love realized.
7 Books Where The Guy Falls In Love First
When the male protagonist falls in love first, it allows for a portrayal of vulnerability and emotional depth that is overlooked in mainstream media. We witness the protagonist’s journey as he grapples with his feelings, confronts his fears, and ultimately embraces love, showcasing a more authentic portrayal of masculinity. It sets the stage for a relationship built on mutual respect, equality, and emotional intimacy. Both characters have the opportunity to grow and evolve together, fostering a deep and meaningful connection based on trust, communication, and understanding. Let’s go!
| Name | Key Focus | Rating (Goodreads) |
|---|---|---|
| Addicted to You by Krista Ritchie | A sex addict girl and alcoholic boy start fake dating to forget their past, but they form real feelings for each other. | 3.8/5 |
| Indigo Ridge by Devney Perry | A policewoman finds an exciting guy in a bar, and they make a one-night stand where the guy builds an emotion. | 4.2/5 |
| From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata | An ice skater guy finds his partner attractive and falls in love. | 4.3/5 |
| The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata | A football player is missing his assistant, who can not tolerate bad behavior, and he feels an attraction toward her. | 4.2/5 |
| Dear Ava by Ilsa Madden-Mills | A high school girl searches for the guy who assaults her, and she finds a boy who secretly loves her. | 4.1/5 |
| The Deal by Elle Kennedy | A hockey player tries to make a girl jealous and chooses a girl who can tutor him, but he starts to like his tutor. | 4.2/5 |
| Playing with Fire by L.J. Shen | A college girl struggles with her burning face and life, whereas a boy finds her attractive, and they form friendships. | 4.1/5 |
1. Addicted to You (Addicted)
Addicted is a collection of ten books, and you’re following six characters and three different romances. We have Lily and Lo and Connor and Rose, and both of them, the guy, fell first. In the first one, the story starts with Lily and Lo, who are both addicts.
Lily is a sex addict, and Lo is an alcoholic. They’re both fake dating each other so they can have their addictions and do what they want without their family on their backs or knowing what they’re going through. Then, throughout the series, they get over their addictions. They try to handle it, and at the same time, they fall in love.
Lily and Lo have been best friends since they were children, but they started fake dating in their senior year of high school. Then fake dating turns into real dating. Also, you will meet Connor, Rose, Daisy, and Ryan. Connor and Rose have known each other their whole lives also. One day, they’re going to start dating. It does feel like the guy fell first in that scenario, too. So, in this series, you will not be disappointed if you are willing to commit and be a fan of Guy Falls First.
Author: Krista Ritchie
Narrator: Erin Mallon
Publisher: Audible Studios
Tropes: Mental Health, Abuse, Shy-heroine, Childhood
Number Of Pages: 335
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
2. Indigo Ridge (The Edens)
Indigo Ridge is a small-town romantic suspense. The story follows a girl (Winn) who gets a job as the new police chief in a tiny town in the middle of Montana. One night, she goes to a bar and picks up a guy she thought was passing through. They have a one-night stand, and then it’s a week later, and they’re at lunch and realize that Griffin wasn’t passing through.
Griffin lives there, and they made a mistake because they didn’t want to sleep with anybody that would cause complications. After all, it’s a small-town vibe, but they liked each other. So they form a romance. Also, there is a mystery going on in the book.
A girl was killed on this guy’s property. Griffin owns a very big ranch. Then she will have to be on his property a lot to try and figure out the mystery because she’s the new chief of police who survives. The story, plot, theme, and dialogue are excellent, but the mystery confused me. If you like mystery-thriller romance, try it.
Author: Devney Perry
Narrator: Vanessa Edwin, Jason Clarke
Publisher: Devney Perry LLC
Tropes: Suspense, Thriller, Small-town, Insta-love
Number Of Pages: 324
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle
3. From Lukov with Love
From Lukov with Love is a slow-burn sports romance where the hero falls in love first. Jasmine and Lukov are professional ice skaters who’ve hated each other for a long time. Everybody knows they don’t get along. Then, one day, for some reason, they will end up getting partnered up with each other. Now, they have to work with each other, creating forced proximity vibes.
There’s going to be a romance, slowly but surely. It happens to be the guy who falls at first in the book, which is fantastic. Mariana Zapata is the queen of romance, and she can divert romance in any situation without hurting the plot or story. The way Lukov feels for Jasmine and tries to show his tension for Jasmine is fascinating. Don’t miss it!
Author: Mariana Zapata
Narrator: Callie Dalton, Teddy Hamilton
Tropes: Enemies-to-lovers, Sports, Toxic-relationship
Number Of Pages: 493
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
4. The Wall of Winnipeg and Me
The Wall of Winnipeg And Me is a Goodreads Choice Award nominee for YA football romance. You’re following a grump guy (Aiden), a pro football player, and then a girl (Vanessa), his assistant. Vanessa hates her job because Aiden doesn’t appreciate her. So, one day, she finally decided to quit her job and start her own graphic design business.
Then, a month later, he shows up at her doorstep and proposes that she rejoin the job. Then, the story goes from there. Aiden, the guy, falls first in this book. I was emotional and happy at the same time while reading it. The story takes a long time to finish the banter and develop the chemistry. I highly recommend it if you are down for a very slow burn.
Author: Mariana Zapata
Narrator: Callie Dalton
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Tropes: Alpha-male, Slow-burn, Marriage-of-convenience
Number Of Pages: 537
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
5. Dear Ava
Dear Ava is a new adult book that takes place in high school. There are trigger warnings in this book for sexual assault. If you’re cool with that, then I recommend this. The story follows Ava, who a long time ago got sexually assaulted by one of the football players in her school, but she doesn’t know who it was. So she decides to return to school and find out who hurt her. When she gets there, she’s getting bullied by everybody there.
Then, one day, Ava gets a note in her locker that was privately read to her, “Dear Ava, I’ve liked you for a long time, but I’m not the one who did it. You’re also following the guy’s point of view, and then you watch him as he gets closer to her, and they slowly discover who did this to her. They will also have a romance where the boy falls in love fast. So it is a charming story.
Read it if you are cool with the trigger warning and a bit of the heavier topic vibe. Many readers found the bad quality issue of hardcover, but the paperback is awesome for font size, color, cover, binding, and page quality.
Author: Ilsa Madden-Mills
Narrator: Savannah Peachwood, Zachary Webber
Tropes: Slow-burn, Bully, Mental-issues
Number Of Pages: 376
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle
6. The Deal (Off-Campus)
The Deal is the first book in the Off-Campus series. There are eight books within this series and its spinoff series, specifically Garrett and Hannah’s story. It’s a fake dating romance where the guy (Garrett) is on the hockey team in his college, and he’s not doing well in class.
So Garrett decides to ask one of the girls doing well in this class to tutor him. He’ll do something in exchange, and she’s not interested in doing that. She doesn’t want anything to do with him because she has a crush on somebody else.
So Garrett will promise to fake date her to get her crush jealous, and in exchange, she will tutor him, and then they will do all of this. Then, he will fall in love with her before she falls for him. They can not hold their physical tension so long as they grow emotional feelings. The romance was smutty, where you could feel their breath and feelings.
Author: Elle Kennedy
Narrator: Christian Fox, Lorelei Avalon
Publisher: Audible Studios
Tropes: Enemies-to-lovers, Fun, Hockey
Number Of Pages: 342
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
7. Playing with Fire
Playing with Fire is a college romance where the main male character falls in love first. Our heroine, Grace, has a lot of burns on her. She used to be very beautiful, and then she was in a fire. So, half of her face is full of scars. She is extremely self-conscious about that. She works at a food truck, and she’s also in college. One day, a very popular guy in her college who happens to be an underground fighter comes to her at a food truck and asks for a job.
Then they’re going to start to work together, and they’re slowly going to become friends. It will become a romance, and the guy falls first before the girl falls for him. This book has a more serious tone to it. The only negative side of the book is that the story shows a double standard, confusing for some readers in the BookTube community! If you’ve read November Nine by Colleen Hoover, you probably enjoy it. I recommend looking up trigger warnings before you pick it up.
Author: L.J. Shen
Narrator: Desireé Ketchum, Christian Fox
Tropes: Fighters, Slow-burn, Small-town
Number Of Pages: 436
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Audio CD
5 Books Where The Guy Is Obsessed With The Girl
Here are five books across various genres where the male protagonist’s obsession plays a central role in the story:
- “You” by Caroline Kepnes
In this psychological thriller, Joe Goldberg, a bookstore manager in New York, becomes instantly obsessed with Guinevere Beck, an aspiring writer who walks into his store. Told from Joe’s perspective, the novel explores the dark and twisted lengths to which he will go to insert himself into Beck’s life, blurring the lines between love and obsession, protection and control. Kepnes masterfully crafts a chilling narrative that shows the dangers of modern dating and social media.
- “Lolita” by Vladimir Nabokov
Nabokov’s controversial classic tells the story of Humbert Humbert, a middle-aged literature professor, and his obsessive and destructive love for Dolores Haze, a twelve-year-old girl he nicknames Lolita. The novel explores Humbert’s manipulative narration, showing themes of obsession, morality, and the consequences of desire. Despite its dark subject matter, “Lolita” is acclaimed for its rich prose and critical examination of obsession and perversion.
- “Twilight” by Stephenie Meyer
In this young adult paranormal romance, Edward Cullen, a vampire, becomes deeply fascinated and protective of Bella Swan, a human girl who moves to his town. Edward’s obsession with Bella drives much of the narrative, exploring themes of forbidden love, danger, and the lengths one will go to for the person they believe is their soulmate. Meyer’s novel sparked a cultural phenomenon, highlighting the allure of intense, all-consuming love.
- “Endless Love” by Scott Spencer
This novel centers around the passionate and obsessive love of David Axelrod for Jade Butterfield, which burns too brightly and destroys both their lives. Spencer’s exploration of teenage love, obsession, and the consequences of actions taken in the name of love is both poignant and disturbing. “Endless Love” examines the fine line between devotion and obsession, offering a deep dive into the psyche of a young man consumed by love.
- “The Collector” by John Fowles
Frederick Clegg is a socially awkward young man who becomes infatuated with Miranda Grey, an art student. His obsession leads him to kidnap her, believing that by keeping her captive, she will grow to love him. Fowles’s novel is a psychological thriller that examines themes of isolation, power, and the dark side of obsessive love. Through the dual perspectives of Frederick and Miranda, “The Collector” offers a chilling look into the mind of an obsessed individual and the impact of his actions on his victim.
5 Fantasy Books Where The Guy Falls In Love First
- “A Court of Mist and Fury” by Sarah J. Maas
In the second book of the “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, the evolving relationship between Feyre and Rhysand takes center stage. Rhysand, the High Lord of the Night Court, demonstrates a deep and selfless love for Feyre long before she acknowledges her feelings for him. Maas skillfully explores themes of healing, growth, and mutual respect set against a backdrop of political intrigue and war, making the development of their relationship all the more compelling.
- “Uprooted” by Naomi Novik
“Uprooted” follows Agnieszka, a young woman chosen to serve the mysterious and brooding Dragon, a powerful wizard who protects her village from the corrupted Wood. Though the Dragon’s initial feelings are subtle and complex, his affection and admiration for Agnieszka’s spirit and innate magical talent become apparent early in the story. Novik weaves a tale of magic, discovery, and an unlikely love that grows from companionship and mutual respect.
- “The Wrath & the Dawn” by Renée Ahdieh
Inspired by “One Thousand and One Nights,” this novel reimagines the story of Shahrzad, who volunteers to marry Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan, known for killing his wives at sunrise. Khalid falls deeply for Shahrzad’s bravery and storytelling prowess, marking the beginning of his transformation and unraveling the curse that haunts him. Ahdieh crafts a richly layered story of love, revenge, and redemption, where the male protagonist’s love catalyzes change.
- “Shadow and Bone” by Leigh Bardugo
In the Grishaverse, Darkling, a powerful and enigmatic Grisha leader, shows a particular interest in Alina Starkov from their first meeting. His fascination and complex feelings for Alina set the stage for their complicated relationship throughout the series. Bardugo’s narrative explores the fine line between attraction and manipulation, set against the backdrop of a richly imagined fantasy world brimming with magic and conflict.
- “Seraphina” by Rachel Hartman
In this unique take on dragon lore, Prince Lucian Kiggs demonstrates an early and keen interest in Seraphina, a gifted musician with a dangerous secret. As they collaborate to investigate a royal murder, Kiggs’s respect and affection for Seraphina grow, even as she struggles with her feelings and the fear of revealing her true identity. Hartman delivers a story of intrigue, identity, and forbidden love, with the male protagonist’s steadfast support highlighting the depth of his feelings.
Last Words
Through these narratives, we’ve journeyed alongside heroes who wear their hearts on their sleeves, offering us a tender and profound look at love from a perspective that’s both refreshing and deeply moving. It’s been an absolute joy to share this adventure with you, discovering stories that entertain and enrich our understanding of love’s many facets.
We hope these tales inspire you to continue seeking romances that challenge conventions and celebrate the beauty of heartfelt emotion. Until our next literary rendezvous, may your shelves be filled with stories touching your heart and awakening the dreamer within. Happy reading, and here’s to the magic of love in all its glorious forms!
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