books like

books that (probably) started as fanfic

[books-like]

A published book that either started as a fanfic or is based on a fandom:

Leather and Lace by Megan Cubed

Pairing: Castiel Novak x Dean Winchester

Fandom: Supernatural

Link: Barnes & Noble

Blurb: Falling in love with a vampire bites--and sometimes loving a human bites back.

Dorian Villeneuve is an unlucky vampire from the slums of Devil's Row. He makes ends meet for himself and his emotional support Chihuahua by working sleazy bars and nightclubs, doing what it takes to get by. Cash Leroy is a monster hunter from East Texas with a golden voice and an unrivaled devotion to Stevie Nicks. Hunting does not leave time for friends, let alone love.

When their paths cross during a bloody run-in with the vampire mob, Cash upends Dorian's life--and takes Dorian under his wing to teach how to hunt monsters.

The unlikely pair become partners, and soon, best friends. However, their deepening bond grows complicated when Dorian falls in love with Cash. Their friendship is too important to throw away over an interspecies attraction, especially in a career that is already nasty, brutish, and short.

And things become even more complicated when Cash finds himself returning the vampire's affections.

When an unusually deadly case lands in the hunters' laps, their ill-fated affair takes a backseat. A pair of man-eating weredeer are on the loose taking victims' hearts. With the pressure on to end the killing spree, Dorian and Cash must set aside their feelings and hunt down the blood-thirsty deer.

Can Dorian and Cash's friendship survive this monstrous romance, or will they lose their hearts in the process?

[books-like]

A published book that either started as a fanfic or is based on a fandom:

A Rival Most Vial - Potioneering For Love and Profit by R.K. Ashwick

Pairing: Harry Potter x Draco Malfoy

Fandom: Harry Potter

Link: Waterstones

Blurb: Two potion shops, one heated rivalry…until hate bubbles over into something else.

Any adventurer worth their sword knows about Ambrose Beake. The proud, quiet half-elf sells the best—and only—potions in the city.

Until a handsome new shopkeeper named Eli opens another potion shop across the street, throwing Ambrose’s peace and ledgers far off balance.

Within weeks, they’re locked in a war of price tags and products—Ambrose’s expertise against Eli’s effortless charm. Toil leads to trouble, the safety gloves come off, and right as their rivalry reaches a boiling point…

The mayor commissions them to brew a potion together.

The task is as complex as it is lucrative, pushing both men to the limits of their abilities and patience. Yet as the fires burn and cauldrons bubble…they find a different sort of chemistry brewing.

[books-like]

A published book that either started as a fanfic or is based on a fandom:

All The Feels by Olivia Dade

Pairing: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau x Reader

Fandom: RPF

Link: Waterstones

Blurb: Alexander Woodroe has it all. Charm. Wealth. A starring role on the biggest show on TV. But the showrunners have wrecked his character, he's hounded by old demons and his future remains uncertain. When all that reckless emotion explodes into a bar fight, the tabloids and public agree: his star is falling.

Enter Lauren, the former therapist hired to keep him in line. Compared to her previous work, watching over a handsome but impulsive actor shouldn't be especially difficult. But the more time she spends with Alex, the harder it is to hold on to her professionalism, and her heart . . .

When another scandal lands him in major hot water, and costs Lauren her job, Alex becomes determined to keep his impossibly stubborn and extremely endearing minder in his life any way he can. On a road trip up the California coast together, he intends to show her exactly what a falling star will do to catch the woman he loves . . .

[books-like]

A published book that either started as a fanfic or is based on a fandom:

A Fashionable Indulgence by K J Charles

Pairing: Harry Potter x Draco Malfoy

Fandom: Harry Potter

Link: Kobo

Blurb: When he learns that he could be the heir to an unexpected fortune, Harry Vane rejects his past as a Radical fighting for government reform and sets about wooing his lovely cousin. But his heart is captured instead by the most beautiful, chic man he’s ever met: the dandy tasked with instructing him in the manners and style of the ton. Harry’s new station demands conformity—and yet the one thing he desires is a taste of the wrong pair of lips.

After witnessing firsthand the horrors of Waterloo, Julius Norreys sought refuge behind the luxurious facade of the upper crust. Now he concerns himself exclusively with the cut of his coat and the quality of his boots. And yet his protégé is so unblemished by cynicism that he inspires the first flare of genuine desire Julius has felt in years. He cannot protect Harry from the worst excesses of society. But together they can withstand the high price of passion.

[books-like]

A published book that either started as a fanfic or is based on a fandom:

Peter Darling by Austin Chant

Pairing: Peter Pan x Captain Hook

Fandom: Peter Pan

Link: Barnes & Noble

Blurb: A queer, transgender retelling of Peter Pan in which Pan returns to Neverland after a decade in the real world.

The Lost Boys say that Peter Pan went back to England because of Wendy Darling, but Wendy is just an old life he left behind. Neverland is his real home. So when Peter returns to it after ten years in the real world, he's surprised to find a Neverland that no longer seems to need him.

The only person who truly missed Peter is Captain James Hook, who is delighted to have his old rival back. But when a new war ignites between the Lost Boys and Hook's pirates, the ensuing bloodshed becomes all too real - and Peter's rivalry with Hook starts to blur into something far more complicated, sensual, and deadly.

[books-like]

like real people do is kent parson x oc! not eric bittle

If you've got a link to the author confirming that I can update the post. If it's just your opinion do you not think that Eli has a lot in common with Bittle? Obviously Connor is also a version of Bittle but Eli:

Is a figure skater.

Is short/slim built.

Loves Beyonce (or at least Single Ladies).

Has a baking YouTube channel.

Has a southern accent.

Wears tiny shorts.

Uses pet names.

Feeds the hockey team.

Adds domestic touches.

Chastises and cherishes his love interest in equal measure.

Basically if he's OC I'm struggling to see the O.

[books-like]

A published book that either started as a fanfic or is based on a fandom:

Kick At The Darkness by Keira Andrews

Pairing: Derek Hale x Stiles Stilinski

Fandom: Teen Wolf

Link: Barnes & Noble

Blurb: To live through the zombie apocalypse they have to survive each other first.

College freshman Parker Osborne is having the worst day ever. He humiliated himself trying to pick up a cute guy, he hasn't made any friends at school, and his stupidly hot jerk of a TA gave him a crappy grade on his paper. He's going to drop Adam Hawkins' film class and start fresh tomorrow after he's had a good sulk.

But Parker's about to find out what a bad day really looks like-if he can survive the night.

A virus is unleashed, transforming infected people into zombie-like killers. After these quick and deadly creepers swarm campus, Parker only escapes thanks to Adam swooping him onto the back of his trusty motorcycle. Now they're on the run-and stuck with each other.

When they're not bickering, they're fighting off the infected in a bloody battle for survival. Their only hope is to head east to Parker's family, but orphaned Adam has a secret he's not sure Parker will accept: he's a werewolf. Can they trust each other enough to find some light in these dark days?

[books-like]

A published book that either started as fanfic or is based on a fandom:

Like Real People Do by E L Massey

Fandom: Check Please!

Pairing: Kent Parson x OC (here is a link to the author talking about adapting canon)

Link: Barnes & Noble

Blurb: Nineteen-year-old hockey phenom Alexander Price is the youngest-ever captain in the NHL. With a polarizing social media presence and a predilection for dirty play, he typifies the stereotype of young, out-of-control athlete. But away from the cameras, Alex is a kid with an anxiety disorder and the expectations of an expansion franchise on his shoulders. And maybe he tries too hard to fit the part of asshole playboy, but it's better than the alternative; in his line of work, gay is the punchline of an insult, not something he can be.

Eighteen-year-old vlogger Elijah Rodriguez is a freshman in college recovering from an injury that derailed his Olympic figure-skating dreams. Mixed-race, disabled, and out of the closet since he was fourteen, Eli is unapologetically himself. He has no qualms about voicing his disapproval of celebrity jocks who make homophobic jokes on Twitter and park their flashy cars in the handicapped spaces outside of ice rinks.

After an antagonistic introduction, Alex and Eli's inexplicable friendship both baffles and charms the internet. But navigating relationships is hard enough for normal teenagers. It's a lot harder when the world-much of it disapproving-is watching you fall in love with your best friend.

[books-like]

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Plot (spoiler free)

Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen. That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right.

Half the time, Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon's face.

Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here — it's their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't even bother to show up.

Ship/fandom

Drarry - Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter.

Rainbow Rowell has been very open about how much she loved reading Harry Potter fanfic (especially Drarry). She's never said that SnowBaz started as HP fanfic but the magic school, mysterious headmaster, enemies-to-lovers, they-were-roommates, cosy-gothic vibes are all there.

Links

Don't buy books on Amazon! Instead get it from a bookstore, Kobo or from your local library.

[books-like]

Whistling in the Dark by Tamara Allen

Plot (spoiler-free)

New York City, 1919

His career as a concert pianist ended by a war injury, Sutton Albright returns to college, only to be expelled after a scandalous affair with a teacher. Unable to face his family, Sutton heads to Manhattan with no plans and little money in his pocket but with a desire to call his life his own.

Jack Bailey lost his parents to influenza and now hopes to save the family novelty shop by advertising on the radio, a medium barely more than a novelty, itself. His nights are spent in a careless and debauched romp through the gayer sections of Manhattan.

When these two men cross paths, despite a world of differences separating them, their attraction cannot be denied. Sutton finds himself drawn to the piano, playing for Jack. But can his music heal them both, or will sudden prosperity jeopardize their chance at love?

Ship/fandom

Captain America: The First Avenger and Stucky, also known as Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes

Sutton (Steve) is an artistic, fair-haired, ex-soldier who has problems with his health and is very gay for Jack (Bucky). Jack not only share initals with James Buchanan, he is also a working class New York boy who is charming, socially gregarious and very gay for Sutton.

Disclaimer: I've not spoken to the author or read any confirmation that this started off as Stucky fic… although please just look at that cover and tell me different...

Links

Don't buy books on Amazon! Instead get it from a bookstore, Kobo or from your local library.

[books-like]

Matchmaking Beyond the Veil by Mara Townsend

Plot (spoiler free)

Emery Belmont is a snarky, uptight realist who likes his life ordinary. Like any skeptic, he’s content using mundane explanations to write off signs of paranormal activity. That’s no longer an option when the spirit haunting his house wrecks his new kitchen, forcing Emery closer to facing the supernatural truth.

Desperate for a new handyman, he unknowingly hires his hot ex-rival from high school to fix it. Paxton Santos, Emery’s former lacrosse team captain, followed in his father’s footsteps to take over the family business. Annoyingly, Emery requires his talented hands more than he needs to keep Paxton out of his life.

However, getting Paxton to leave after the repairs may prove difficult with the meddlesome ghost taking a shine to him, which Paxton seems to take in his grating, good-natured stride, remaining irritatingly unruffled by numerous weird occurrences.

Ship/fandom

Drarry - Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter.

Even if the gorgeous cover didn't tip you off (snarky-yet-soft Draco vibes for days), the author is active in the Drarry fandom and has spoken about how fanfic inspired her first attempt at trad-pub fic.

She also uses a lot of Drarry fandom elements like sentient houses, childhood rivals, found family, magic spells and scalding smut.

Links

Buy the book (sorry about the Amazon link) and follow the author's fandom tumblr at @carpemermaidtales

[books-like]

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

Plot (spoiler-free)

As a third-year Ph.D. candidate, Olive Smith kisses the first man she sees for *reasons*. That man is none other than Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor - and well-known ass. But he still agrees to be Olive's fake boyfriend for *reasons*.

When a big science conference goes haywire, putting Olive's career on the Bunsen burner, Adam surprises her again with his unyielding support and even more unyielding… six-pack abs.

Suddenly their little experiment feels dangerously close to combustion. And Olive discovers that the only thing more complicated than a hypothesis on love is putting her own heart under the microscope.

Ship/fandom

Starwars and Reylo, also know as Kylo Ren and Rey.

The author has given multiple interviews where she mentions that this is a republished Reylo fic. She even thanks the Reylo community in the acknowledgement.

Here's an interview where Hazelwood talks about making the jump from fic to trad-pub.

Links

Don't buy books on Amazon! Instead get it from an indie bookstore, Kobo or from your local library.

[books-like]

Conventionally Yours by Annabeth Albert

Plot (spoiler-free)

Charming, charismatic, and effortlessly popular, Conrad Stewart seems to have it all…but in reality, he's scrambling to keep his life from tumbling out of control.

Brilliant, guarded, and endlessly driven, Alden Roth may as well be the poster boy for perfection…but even he can't help but feel a little broken inside.

When these mortal enemies are stuck together on a cross-country road trip to the biggest fan convention of their lives, their infamous rivalry takes a backseat as an unexpected connection is forged.

Ship/fandom

Spirk! What? Captain Kirk and Mister Spock? Cool!

Conrad is Kirk (handsome playboy, gets on with everyone, loves teasing/butting heads with his uptight colleague). Alden is Spock (uptight, neurodivergent, doesn't like the loosey-goosey attitude of his colleague but is also fiercely loyal).

Disclaimer: I've not spoken to the author or read any confirmation that this started off as Spirk fic... although the illustrator Lauren Dombrowski does mention using Leonard Nimoy as inspiration for drawing Alden...

Links

Don't buy books on Amazon! Instead get it from an indie bookstore, Kobo or from your local library.