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iamalasagnagirl · 1 year ago

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Pls, pls, pls I need more WLW book recommendations!!!

Adults, YA, spicy, soft, I don’t care. I just need wlw books because I want to switch from fanfics only to actual books as well

Okay, here we are, enjoy :)

Bright Falls Series by Ashley Herring Blake: 1. Delilah Green Doesn't Care -> Delilah Green swore she would never go back to Bright Falls - nothing is there for her except memories of a lonely childhood - but when Delilah's stepsister pressures her into photographing her wedding with a guilt trip and a large check, Delilah finds herself back in Bright Falls once more. She plans to breeze in and out, but then she sees Claire Sutherland, one of Astrid's stuck-up besties, and decides that maybe there's some fun (and a little retribution) to be had, after all. 2. Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail -> For Astrid Parker failure is unacceptable. When Pru Everwood asks her to be the designer for the Everwood Inn's renovation, which will be featured on a hugely popular home makeover show, Astrid is thrilled. However, Astrid never planned on Jordan Everwood, Pru's granddaughter and the lead carpenter for the renovation, who despises every modern design decision Astrid makes. Is she going to pursue the life that she's expected to lead or the one that she really wants? 3. Iris Kelly doesn't date -> Everyone around Iris Kelly is in love and she’s happy for all of them, truly. Iris doesn’t want any of that—dating, love, romance. She’ll stick to her commitment-free hookups. There’s only one problem—Iris is a romance author facing an imminent deadline for her second book, and she’s completely out of ideas. Perfectly happy to ignore her problems as per usual, Iris goes to a bar and meets a sexy stranger, Stefania, and a night of dancing and making out turns into the worst one-night stand Iris has had in her life. To get her mind off everything, Iris tries out for the lead role in a local play, a queer retelling of Much Ado About Nothing, but comes face-to-face with Stefania, whose real name turns out to be Stevie. Desperate to save face in front of her friends, Stevie asks Iris to play along as her girlfriend. Iris is shocked, but when she realizes the arrangement might provide her with some much-needed romantic content for her book, she agrees. As the two women play the part of a happy couple, lines start to blur.

Falls from grace by Ruby Landers -> Savannah Grace and her band were huge stars in Nashville. Now enlists Noah Lyman - an indie musician - to help her break out of country music and make a name for herself for once and for all. They have to spend the winter in Savannah secluded vacation home in the woods of Vermont, and Noah brings along his best friend Brynn Marshall and pretend she’s his wife? After all, what could possibly go wrong?

The secret of you and me by Melissa Lenhardt -> Nora hasn’t looked back. Not since she fled Texas to start a new life. Now she can live—and love—however she wants. The only problem is that she also left behind the one woman she can’t forget. Now tragedy calls her back home to confront her past—and reconcile her future.

Books by Haley Cass: - Those Who Wait and the follow-up Forever and A Day -> Spencer Sutton, the daughter of a congressman, and Charlotte Thompson, New York City’s youngest deputy mayor, meet on SapphicSpark, a women-seeking-women dating app. Sutton isn’t built for casual, and Charlotte needs to keep a low profile as the race heats up. In spite of that, a friendship blossoms as Charlotte helps Sutton navigate the dating world. - Down to A Science -> Ellie Beckett is a scientific genius finishing a Ph.D. at MIT, sitting on her stool at her favorite bar, putting the final touches on her thesis - her life is predictable and comfortable enough, until the night Mia Sharpe walks in to play pool with some friends and things are never the same again. and On the same Page -> Riley Beckett met Gianna Mäkinen their first year at Boston University, and it changed everything for the both of them. She knows Gianna doesn't do romance or relationships, and she knows nothing could ever come between them. But when a holiday party mix-up sets in motion a domino effect of changes, Riley has to question everything she thought she knew about their relationship. What, exactly, does Gianna mean to her after all? - In the Long Run -> Taylor Vandenberg is busy running a successful travel blog. Brooke Watson and Taylor’s younger brother have been best friends for the majority of their lives. It means that even if Taylor isn’t physically present, she’s always been a part of Brooke’s most monumental life experiences. When Taylor lands back in Faircombe for an extended stay, it leads to more run-ins than Brooke would like. And more feelings than either may want to admit. - When You Least Expect It & Better Than Expected (I haven't had a chance to read them yet, but I have seen them recommended a lot)

If tomorrow doesn't come by Jen St. Jude -> On the morning Avery Byrne plans to end her life, the world discovers there are only nine days left to live: an asteroid is headed for Earth, and no one can stop it. As time runs out and secrets slowly come to light, Avery fights her way home to save the girl she has been in love with her whole life. But can Avery also learn to save herself and find hope again in the tomorrows she has left?

Kiss her once for me by Alison Cochrun -> Ellie had a Christmas Eve meet-cute with a woman at a bookstore that led her to fall in love over the course of a single night. The next year, Andrew, the shop’s landlord where Ellie works, proposes a shocking, drunken plan: a marriage of convenience that will benefit both of them. They make a plan to spend the holidays together at his family cabin to keep up the ruse. But when Andrew introduces his new fiancée to his sister, Ellie is shocked to discover is the mysterious woman she fell for over the year before.

6 times we almost kissed (and one time we did) by Tess Sharpe -> Penny and Tate keep almost kissing. It’s just this confusing thing that keeps happening. You know, from time to time. For basically their entire teenaged existence. They’ve never talked about it. They’ve always ignored it in the aftermath. But now they’re living across the hall from each other. And some things—like their kisses—can’t be almosts forever.

Nottingham: the true story of Robin Hood by Anna Burke -> (A retelling of Robin Hood's story with a Female Robin and wlw couples) After a fateful hunting accident sends her on the run from the law, Robyn finds herself deep in the heart of Sherwood Forest. All she really wants to do is provide for her family and stay out of trouble, but when the Sheriff of Nottingham levies the largest tax in the history of England, she’s forced to take matters into her own hands. Relying on the help of her band of merry women and the Sheriff’s intriguing—and off limits—daughter, Marian, Robyn must find a way to pull off the biggest heist Sherwood has ever seen.

Forget me not by Alyson Derrick -> Stevie has a terrible fall. And when she comes to, she can remember nothing of the last two years—not California, not coming to terms with her sexuality, not even her girlfriend Nora. Suddenly, Stevie finds herself in a life she doesn’t quite understand. And Nora finds herself…forgotten.

It goes like this by Miel Moreland -> Eva, Celeste, Gina, and Steph used to play in world-famous queer pop band called Moonlight Overthrow. But after a sudden falling out leads to the dissolution of the teens' band, their friendship, and Eva and Celeste's starry-eyed romance, nothing is the same. Until a storm devastates their hometown, bringing the four ex-best-friends back together. As they prepare for one last show, they'll discover whether growing up always means growing apart.

Dominion Series by J J Arias: 1. Losing Control -> Talent agent Adriana Ortiz’s world is rocked when she’s thrust into the tumultuous orbit of Roxy, the raw, enigmatic pop rebel with a notorious edge and a guarded heart. Tasked with steering the wild Roxy on a whirlwind tour, Adriana boards Roxy’s opulent tour bus. The nights are filled with roaring crowds, but it’s the electric tension between Roxy and Adriana that sets the air on fire. A forbidden connection that threatens to consume them. Is the wild, unbridled Roxy worth the risk to Adriana’s career, or is she just another woman falling victim to Roxy’s charms? 2. Fighting for Control -> Lola Barros is a rising talent agent burning with ambition. Carmen Vargas is a dedicated lawyer poised to conquer the legal field. Their shared high-rise is the only thing these two powerhouses have in common. After a trivial parking mishap snowballs onto a full-blown feud, Lola and Carmen are thrust into unconventional anger management sessions and their fiery rivalry gives way to smoldering desire. But yielding to desire isn't straightforward. Between the shadows of demanding careers and familial expectations, their love is tested. Can Lola and Carmen find a balance between ambition and affection? 3. Relinquishing Control -> Natalia Flores rules her exclusive talent agency with an iron fist, brokering blockbuster deals while keeping everyone at arm’s length. But beneath the cold exterior lies a heart that yearns to be understood. Enter Professor Samantha Reyes—brilliant, fierce, and unwilling to let Natalia manipulate her way into the film rights to her book. Their encounters spark with tension and undeniable chemistry. In a world where control is everything, can two powerful women let go of their fears to find a love that’s worth the risk?

11:59 by Erica Lee -> TJ Edmonds has created a whole brand around not getting attached to other people. She has a best-selling novel and a popular phone app both dedicated to helping people stay detached from their significant others, so they don't get hurt. But the only reason she can move on so quickly now is because she still hasn't let go of someone from her past. It's easy to guard her heart when she no longer has it to give away. TJ texts Brooke everyday at 11:59 pm with no answers. What happens when, in a moment of weakness, this someone reaches out to TJ?

Price and Prejudice and the city by Rachel Lippincott -> Seventeen-year-old Audrey Cameron has lost her spark. After an embarrassing run-in with her ex-boyfriend, she’s told that she needs to get back out there and take risks. What she doesn't expect is to be transported to Regency England! Lucy Sinclair has her own problems when Audrey lands into her life, claiming to be from two hundred years in the future, it's a welcome distraction.

Never ever getting back together by Sophie Gonzales -> Maya and Skye are invited to star on the reality dating show Second-Chance Romance, to compete for their now famous ex-boyfriend's affections while the whole world watches. Skye wonders if she and Jordy can recapture the spark she knows they had, but Maya has other plans.

The art of us by KL Hughes -> Charlee and Alex fell in love at nineteen and dated for four years. Theirs was an enviable love — evergreen and growing. Unbreakable…Until it broke. Alex’s job now brings her back to Boston, after five years. When, by chance, they meet again, Charlee and Alex are swept up in a whirlwind of heart-rending history, tossed between past and present, and lovers old and new. Will their lingering connection be enough to convince them that some loves are meant to last? Or should the past remain in the past?

That secret something by Emily Wright -> Rebecca Lawson is off-limits. Jess knows this, but Rebecca has captured her heart for as long as she can remember. She’s sporty, tall and confident—all the things Jess is not—but most of all…she’s her best friend Lily’s sister. But when Jess and Rebecca are forced to spend time together the forbidden feelings intensify and sparks begin to fly. Amidst the chaos of raging bridezillas and other wedding disasters, can Jess resist temptation for the sake of her friendship?

The seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid -> Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. Summoned to Evelyn's luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the '80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way

That summer feeling by Bridget Morrissey -> Turns out you're never too old for a summer camp romance. Or a change of heart. When a divorced woman attends a sleepaway camp for adults only, she reconnects with a man from her past - only to catch feelings for his sister instead.

Some of these are my absolute favourites, I've lost count of how many times I've read them. I cannot get enough of "the bright falls series", "One the same page", "Those who wait", "The secret of you and me" and the last entry "Falls From Grace". No matter how many times I read them. And sometimes I wish I could read them again, as if for the first time, if that makes sense. Anyway, I have a lot more titles. Let me know if you want them or not. Enjoy the reading

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auroralwriting · 1 month ago

Text

𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭

pairing: billy dunne x reader

summary: you could never really get over billy dunne, just as he couldn't you

warnings: no warnings for this story

: ̗̀➛ masterlist

Billy Dunne was yours. Mind, body, and soul. There was no doubt that Billy Dunne was yours in every single way possible.

You had been head over heels for the boy since high school. You fawned over him like the rest of the girls, but there was something about you that drew Billy in deeper and deeper. You had been together for a long time before Billy and the band decided to make the move to L.A.

Of course, when he told you about their decision, you were skeptical. You had no doubts the band was amazing and could make it far, but the issue wasn’t if they were good or not; it was if anyone would take their chances on a little band from Pittsburgh. That meant, at least temporarily, a life of uncertainty. Who knew how long that would even last?

So, you said no.

Billy was heartbroken, of course, and so were you. He begged you to come with him, said it wouldn’t be the same without you. That the band might be his dream, but you were his home. But you knew yourself too well. You didn’t want to be the girlfriend waiting around in a shitty apartment in a city that didn’t care about either of you, while he chased something that might never happen. You didn’t want to watch him burn himself out on hope. So, you stayed behind.

And for a while, you convinced yourself it was the right choice. You tried to move on. You worked. You dated. You told your friends you were fine. You weren’t fine, not at all. Billy Dunne was your one and only. He was the one for you.

You were thankful Graham had called you once to check in because that meant you still had their number. When you picked up the phone on one very sad day, one filled with missing Billy, you had no hesitation. You dialed the number Graham had given you with ease.

The phone rang once. Then twice. A third time. It made your heart beat out of your chest. Finally, the ringing ended. You heard the call connect.

“Hello?”

“Eddie, hey,” you said softly. “How’s it been?”

Eddie hesitated, “Oh–hey, hi. It’s–yeah, it’s good. Good. You good?”

“I’m good,” you answered. “I was wondering if Billy was home. If.. I could talk to him, actually.”

He chuckled, “Yeah, he’s home alright.” You could hear Eddie pull the phone away, his voice a distant yell. “Billy! I got your girl on the line!” Your girl. Did he still refer to you as his girl? It made your stomach tighten hopefully.

Loud footsteps pounded against the floor in the background. A second later and there was a little bit of muffled movement through the phone. Finally, Billy spoke. “Hi.”

“Hi,” you breathed, and for a second, neither of you said anything.

You could hear his breathing. Steady. Uneven. Like he couldn’t believe you were real. “I didn’t think I’d ever hear your voice again,” he finally said, voice scratchy like he hadn’t spoken in hours, or maybe like your name had been stuck in his throat for months.

“I wasn’t sure I should call,” you admitted, biting your lip. “I just... I don’t know. I guess I missed you.”

Billy let out a breath, half-laugh, half-sigh. “Yeah? Well, I’ve been missing you since the minute I walked out of your driveway.”

Your throat tightened. You could picture it perfectly. That night. His duffel bag slung over his shoulder, the way he kissed your forehead before turning away. You hadn’t even cried until he was out of sight.

“I thought you’d be too busy to take a call from the girl who broke your heart,” you said, trying to keep your voice light, but it cracked at the edges.

Billy was quiet for a moment, then said softly, “You didn’t break my heart. You were my heart.” Tears slipped down your cheek before you could stop them. “I listen to our song sometimes,” he said. “The one you used to play in the car, remember? The Mamas & the Papas. Dedicated to the One I Love. Every damn time it comes on, I see you. Hair up, singing like nobody could hear you but me.”

You pressed the heel of your palm to your chest, as if it could quiet the thudding there. “I still play it too.”

Another silence. This one heavier. More loaded.

Then Billy said, “You ever think about what would’ve happened if you’d said yes?”

“Every day.”

The silence that followed was thick. Like it held everything you both had left unsaid for years. All the I miss you’s. All the I’m sorry’s. All the quiet moments that should’ve belonged to the two of you but didn’t.

Billy didn’t say anything for a second. You could picture him—standing in the middle of whatever crappy kitchen or studio apartment they were holed up in, hand clenched around the phone, trying to breathe through all the feelings that were probably crashing over him.

“I still wear that bracelet,” he finally said. “The one you made. The stupid red one with the little music note charm.”

Your breath caught. You hadn’t thought about that bracelet in years. “You still have it?”

“I never took it off,” he said. “Even when I should’ve. Even when it hurt too much.”

You pressed your fingers to your lips, trying to keep the sob in your chest from escaping. “I thought you forgot about me.”

“Forget you?” he laughed, but it was broken. “You’re everywhere. Every lyric, every guitar riff, every goddamn song that ever meant anything to me. You think I could just forget that?”

“I guess I hoped,” you said softly. “Hoped that maybe, somehow, you still thought of me.”

“I never stopped,” he said. “But I didn’t know if I had the right to call. I didn’t know if I was still someone you could love.”

You closed your eyes. “You always were. Even when I tried to forget you. You still were.”

There was a long pause. You could hear him breathing, shaky and quiet. “I don’t know where we go from here,” he admitted. “But I know I still want you in my life.”

You didn’t even hesitate. “Then I’ll be there.”

Billy paused, stuttering over his words for a moment. “W-What do you mean?”

“I mean I’ll be there. I’ll come to California.” Your voice shook as you continued, “I want you in my life. You’re the only one for me. You’re my rockstar.”

“I’ve dreamed about those words for months,” Billy’s voice shook the same way as yours did as you let out a laugh, almost a sob. “You’ll really come?”

You nodded even if he couldn’t see you. “I’ll pack right now. I’ll be on the next flight over.”

Billy laughed. “You’re really fucking coming. I–God, okay. I’ll let the band know. They’re gonna be pumped to see you again.” He paused, “But not more than I am.”

“I’ll see you soon.” The words felt so foreign coming from your lips, but they were real. They were the most real thing you’d said in months.

You barely slept that night. Your suitcase sat open on the floor as you tossed in whatever clothes felt right—your favorite denim jacket he used to steal, the faded T-shirt he left in your drawer one summer, and a few polaroids you couldn’t bear to leave behind.

The flight was early. Too early for the nerves bubbling in your chest to settle. Every second that passed on the plane, you felt more like the girl he left behind and less like the woman boarding a new chapter. But then you remembered his voice, shaky, soft, I still want you in my life, and it grounded you like nothing else could.

By the time the cab dropped you off at the house the band shared, your hands were trembling. The door opened before you even knocked.

Billy.

He stood there, wild-haired and breathless like he’d sprinted to the door. His eyes met yours and for a long moment, neither of you moved. Then he stepped out onto the porch and pulled you into him like a lifeline.

You melted into his arms. It was the kind of hug that stitched things back together—the kind that said I missed you, I love you, I never stopped all in one.

“I thought maybe I dreamed this,” he murmured into your hair.

You tilted your head back just enough to look at him. “You didn’t. I’m really here.”

He smiled then, and it wasn’t the showbiz grin you remembered so fondly. It was the one he used to give you when you snuck out to meet him by the bleachers. Soft. Private. Just yours. “I missed your face,” he whispered, brushing his thumb across your cheek.

“I missed everything,” you breathed. “Your face. Your voice. Even your terrible taste in cereal.”

Billy laughed—really laughed—and pulled you in again, tighter this time.

“I can’t believe you’re actually here,” he said. “Come inside. The guys are dying to see you. But first—” he paused, leaning in, “—I need to kiss you.” And God, when he did, it was like no time had passed at all.

His lips hovered over yours for a second too long, like he was scared you’d disappear if he blinked. And when he finally kissed you, it wasn’t rough, or rushed, or fiery. It was soft. Like a prayer. Like he couldn’t believe you were real and was scared he’d wake up if he kissed too hard.

“I thought about you every single day,” he rushed out, like it had been trapped in his chest and he couldn’t hold it back anymore. “Every morning I’d wake up and reach for you. And every morning I remembered you weren’t there and it fucking wrecked me.”

His hands were trembling as they settled on your waist. “I—I wrote songs about you, y’know. So many it got embarrassing. The guys teased me. Karen said I was pathetic.”

You smiled, even as your heart broke a little at the truth in his voice. “Were you?”

He let out a breathy laugh. “Yeah,” he admitted, without hesitation. “So fucking pathetic. I’d sit there in the studio staring at the door, just hoping—like a lunatic—that you’d walk in. Even after months. Even after I knew better.”

You wrapped your arms around him, anchoring him to you. “You weren’t pathetic. You loved me.”

“I love you,” he corrected, fierce now. “Not past tense. Still. Always.”

Your breath hitched at the certainty in his voice. He said it like he needed you to know. Like it was the truest thing he’d ever spoken.

“I don’t care if you stay in L.A. for a week or forever,” he went on, voice desperate in that quiet, raw way. “I’ll take whatever you’re willing to give. You could come live with us or get your own place or just crash on our couch for a while, fuck, I’ll sleep on the floor if you want the bed. Just.. don’t go again.”

You smiled through the tears, hands sliding up into his hair, holding him like you were afraid he’d vanish again. “I’m not going anywhere,” you whispered. “I want to stay. I want forever.”

Billy blinked like he hadn’t fully processed it. Then his face crumbled, beautifully, emotionally, like you’d just handed him the rest of his life. “You mean it?” he asked, his voice small, like a kid asking for something he wasn’t sure he deserved.

“I mean it,” you said. “Yes, Billy. Yes to everything.”

He didn’t kiss you right away. Instead, he just stared, eyes searching your face like he was trying to memorize it all over again. Then his arms were around you, tight and trembling, and his lips were in your hair, on your cheeks, your forehead, your mouth, like he was kissing away the years he’d missed.

“God, I love you,” he kept murmuring, again and again, like he was making up for lost time. “I love you, I love you..”

That first day back together wasn’t wild or dramatic or full of grand gestures. It was simple. Soft. Intimate in the way only time and old love could make it. Billy refused to let go of your hand. Not for a second. He tugged you into the kitchen where the band was scattered around, half-eating breakfast, half-dozing off coffee highs. When they saw you, really saw you, Karen was the first to squeal, pulling you into a hug that nearly knocked you over.

“You came,” she said, eyes bright. “God, it’s about time.”

Graham smiled. “Told you he was pathetic without you.” You laughed, but Billy just tightened his grip on your waist like he was never letting go again.

After the greetings and a round of you being passed around like a long-lost sibling, Billy whispered, “C’mon. Let’s get outta here.”

He took you on a walk around the neighborhood, even though it was nothing special. Just a few blocks of half-dead grass and chain-link fences and barking dogs. But he kept looking over at you like you were the view he came for.

“I kept thinking about showing you this street,” he said at one point, nodding toward an old diner. “It’s crap. But they have these milkshakes with the little whipped cream swirls on top, like the ones you used to make me share with you back home.”

You grinned. “Billy Dunne, are you offering to split a milkshake with me right now?”

He looked at you like you’d just proposed. “I’d split every milkshake for the rest of my life if it meant sitting across from you again.” You shared one. Chocolate. With two straws. And he watched you like you were some kind of miracle.

Back at the house, he showed you his room--small, cluttered, guitar picks everywhere. There was a photo of you, old and creased, still tucked into the corner of his mirror. “You kept this?”

“I looked at it every night,” he whispered. “Even when it hurt too much.”

He sat on the edge of his bed, pulling you into his lap like he couldn’t stand the distance. His fingers threaded through yours as he pressed his forehead to yours. “You smell the same,” he whispered. “Like home.”

Later, you both laid on his narrow bed, tangled together, shoes still on. You listened to the quiet rise and fall of his breathing, the hum of life outside the window, and the soft confession that followed. “I prayed for this,” he said. “Didn’t even know I believed in anything. But I prayed.”

You kissed his shoulder. “Your prayers worked.”

He rolled onto his side, cupping your cheek, just staring again. “Promise me something?”

“Anything.”

“Don’t ever let me leave you again,” he said, barely a whisper.

You pressed your forehead to his, sealing the vow with another kiss. “Never.”

Billy exhaled, finally, finally, like the ache had gone quiet. And when he pulled you tighter, burying his face in your neck, he whispered again, like it was a secret just for you:

“You’re my always.”

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