Whether it starts with an intimidating interview or an “I didn’t know he was the CEO!” moment, there is something so charming about a story where a powerful and almost always brooding CEO falls for someone who challenges everything they’ve come to know. These ten books are not your typical workplace romances; they bring heavy tension and a forbidden dynamic that’ll make you understand why so many come back for more!
Falling for the CEO by Audra North
Meredith Klause is a woman who’d rather spend time with numbers and spreadsheets than people at a holiday party. But when a suspicious amount of the company’s money accounts disappears, she takes it upon herself to investigate the cause. In the midst of her search, her tempting boss, Andrew Stanton, teams up with her to save the company and Christmas. With sparks flying and a high-stakes investigation, this story captures the tone of an unexpected swoon-worthy romance!
The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang
This novel follows Anna Sun, a rising violinist, who finds herself amidst burnout from the pressure of doing more of the same thing. What happens when her long-term boyfriend asks for an open relationship? Anna decides to embark on her own journey of one-night stands with men, specifically aiming for those who are more unacceptable. Here enters Quan Diep, the striking and tattooed CEO, who has a spark that Anna cannot deny. When she is suddenly pulled into a family crisis, she balances the expectations, burnout, and her perception of love.
The Merger by Adriana Locke
When ambitious plant-shop owner, Carys Johnson, has her sights set on the large Brewer Group, the biggest obstacle in her way is her best friend’s brother and CEO, Gannon Brewer. When she discovers the plants in his office are wilting, she takes on the responsibility of rehabilitating them. What starts as a strictly business, yet awkward plant rescue, quickly turns into a forbidden casual fling that was never supposed to happen. As secrets and long-suppressed emotions pile over, the strict boundary set between their hearts and business begins to blur in ways they couldn’t have guessed.
Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren
Smart and hardworking Chloe Mills’ biggest hurdle isn’t the workload in her MBA program or her finances; it’s her blunt perfectionist boss, Bennett Ryan. When Chloe finds herself taking up the position as his assistant at Ryan Media Group, their strictly professional relationship quickly shifts to an explosive and steamy affair. Their forced proximity forces them to face their fears with their careers, pride, and hearts on the line.
Terms and Conditions by Lauren Asher
Delcan Kane, a man raised to be the next CEO of his family’s media company, is stunted by one major thing: his grandfather’s inheritance clause requires him to marry and produce an heir. When his arranged bride suddenly backs out, his trusted assistant, Iris, offers her hand to help him out. What starts as a contract marriage snowballs into something far more complex than they or anyone around them could have known. Though their chemistry is for public appearances, the more time they spend together, the clearer these forbidden feelings become. This book is perfect for fans of the marriage of convenience trope!
The Stopover by T.L. Swan
What starts as an unforgettable night of passion with a mysterious blue-eyed man amidst a snowy stopover becomes something super unexpected. A year has passed since that night, and Emily Foster has finally landed a position at her dream job. The catch? Those familiar blue eyes belong to none other than the CEO of the company she now works for. Jameson Miles is a man known to be ruthless and not easily deterred from a challenge. So when Emily decides to keep a distance from him to not risk her job, Jameson decides not to let it slide. No CEO title would stop him from pursuing what he wants.
Twisted Lies by Ana Huang
The story follows the budding romance between Christian Harper, a morally gray CEO with many secrets, and Stella Alonso, a reserved yet popular social media influencer. When an incident from her past resurfaces, she finds herself at the door of the man she should stay away from. Christian takes this opportunity to learn more about her by striking a fake-dating contract to guarantee her protection. Though it began as an improvised contract of sorts, living with him has led to growing tensions and the unraveling of lies, mysteries, and attraction!
The Temporary Wife by Catharina Maura
If you’re craving a slow-burning marriage of convenience with lots of tension, this book may be what you’ve been looking for! When the detached Luca Windsor is suddenly handed a resignation letter from his long-time assistant, Valentina, he makes a bold decision: ask her to enter into a contract marriage with him. The only conditions? Keep it under wraps, sleep in the same bed, and absolutely no falling in love. As they spend more time together and navigate a variety of family and company expectations, Luca must decide whether to prioritize his obligations or his heart.
A Ticking Time Boss by Olivia Hayle
After being rescued from her hell of a first date by the charming and handsome Carter Kingsley, Audry spends the next two weeks actively talking to him and sharing laughs, only to find out he is the same cruel man who has taken over the newspaper she works for. When he threatens laying employees off and dismantling the company she has come to love, her perception of him as her boss and friend clashes dangerously as their attraction for each other grows with each encounter. Though they try to keep things casual and friendly, the tension becomes something they can no longer ignore.
The Billionaire’s Wake-Up-Call Girl by Annika Martin
When Lizzy, a sarcastic and scrappy assistant, finds herself in charge of hiring a wake-up caller for her grumpy CEO, Theo, it quickly becomes clear how difficult he actually is. After finding zero companies to deal with his reputation, she secretly takes over the position and calls him herself at 4:30 am each day, delivering an early and not-so-sugarcoated message. The more calls they shared, the longer and more frequent they became. Theo, not knowing the girl he’s been talking to is one of the assistants at his company, asks her on a date, even making the effort to conduct a widespread search for her throughout the city. Lizzy, reluctant to reveal herself, decides to see how long she can keep herself hidden.
At the core of each CEO or workplace romance is one commonality: no matter how closed-off, successful, or grumpy someone may come across as, love will always shine through. So, next time you decide to take a breather from everyday life, pick one of these books up and prepare to have your heart captured after the first page!
If you’re leaning towards more coworker workplace romances, check out these lovely recommendations here.
Find books like this and more on our Bookshop bookshelf Love is in the Air: Contemporary Romance.
