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ELEMENT-MATCHED RECOMMENDATIONS · 12 BOOKS · AFFILIATE LINKS MARKED

Books Like This Could Be Us: 12 reads that hit the same way

Contemporary Romance 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5 EmotionalSteamyFun

So This Could Be Us wrecked you. Welcome to the club. Whether it was the emotional vibes, the friends to lovers, or Kennedy Ryan's ability to make you forget you have a life outside these pages — we've been there. These aren't random "if you liked X" picks. Every book on this page was matched element by element against what made This Could Be Us hit different. Same energy, new stories.

This Could Be Us
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5 464 pages
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MATCHED BY ELEMENT

What did you love most?

We broke down This Could Be Us into the elements that made it hit — and found books that match each one.

The Heat That Left You Breathless

Hook, Line, and Sinker

You loved This Could Be Us for the emotional and steamy and friends to lovers? Hook, Line, and Sinker is your next obsession. Same emotional frequency, different story — and Tessa Bailey might just become your new auto-buy author.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5 384 pages Contemporary RomanceSmall Town

Business or Pleasure

If This Could Be Us's emotional and steamy energy had you one-clicking at midnight, Business or Pleasure delivers the same rush. Rachel Lynn Solomon knows exactly what you're craving.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5 368 pages Contemporary Romance

Caught Up

Looking for more emotional and steamy after This Could Be Us? Caught Up by Liz Tomforde is the book your TBR has been begging you for. Fair warning: it's spicier.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5 464 pages Sports RomanceContemporary Romance
OUR TOP PICK

If you read one book from this list, make it this one

Hook, Line, and Sinker

You loved This Could Be Us for the emotional and steamy and friends to lovers? Hook, Line, and Sinker is your next obsession. Same emotional frequency, different story — and Tessa Bailey might just become your new auto-buy author.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5 384 pages SteamyEmotionalSweet
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FAQ

Common questions

What books are similar to This Could Be Us?

Based on mood, trope, and pacing analysis, the most similar books to This Could Be Us include Hook, Line, and Sinker, Business or Pleasure, Caught Up. Each matches on specific elements like emotional and steamy that made This Could Be Us resonate with readers.

What should I read after This Could Be Us?

We recommend starting with Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey — it shares This Could Be Us's core Emotional energy while bringing something fresh to the table.

Is This Could Be Us part of a series?

This Could Be Us is a standalone novel. You can jump right in without reading anything else first.

What is the spice level of books like This Could Be Us?

This Could Be Us has a spice level of 4/5. The recommendations on this page range across spice levels — each one is labeled so you can find your comfort zone.

Are there books like This Could Be Us but with less spice?

Yes — several recommendations on this page have lower spice levels while keeping the same Emotional energy. Look for the ❄️ or 🌶️ (1/5) tags.

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How these recommendations were matched

Every "Books Like" page on Sort By Cravings is built from element-level matching — not surface genre tags. We compare mood profiles, trope density, pacing, heat levels, and emotional tone across our entire library of 12 profiled books to find reads that match on the things that actually matter to readers. Read our editorial standards.

📚 Updated: March 2026 12 recommendations matched