Best John Irving Book Novels & Stories

I never expected to fall for him, my best friend's father. From the moment I saw Marcus stride across the deck, water dripping from his shoulders, I knew this summer would change everything. I was eighteen now, no longer the little girl who used to play in his backyard. But to him, I was still just Lily's friend. Still off-limits. Still invisible. One vacation. One chance. I'd make him see me differently, even if it meant playing a dangerous game. Because some desires are too strong to ignore, and some men are worth every risk.

It was the third year of my secret relationship with Garrett, my Alpha brother's best friend. Marcus laughed and nudged Garrett playfully. "You've been with that little mate of yours for three years now. When are you going to introduce her to the pack?" I pressed myself against the doorframe, my heart racing. Had my brother figured out our secret? Garrett just laughed it off. "What mate? Just some crazy she-wolf who won't leave me alone." Marcus caught sight of me and grinned. "Sage, you see this? Never pick a mate like Garrett here." "Takes everything a female offers but won't even acknowledge the bond." Just then, more of Marcus's friends arrived, and they joined in the teasing. "Your brother's right, but Garrett's had his heart set on someone for years." "What was her name again? Oh right, Aria. She's returning to the pack soon." I'd heard that name before - Aria. But Garrett had never told me she was his true love.

When Sylvia lost her last family and thought this was where her life as a rogue began, the most powerful Alpha dragged her to his mansion. "I owe your father a debt," he said to her. "Anything you desire, I’ll give it." But as he leaned closer—cedar and danger swirling in the air—all she wanted was: His teeth on her neck. His kiss like a brand.

Onyx is a powerful, young warrior vampire of pure-blood decent and daughter of her clan’s leader. Against her wishes she has been betrothed to Elijah, the soon-to-be leader of a fellow clan in hopes of creating a union between the two as the continuing feud between vampires, werewolves, and witches rages on. She despises Elijah remembering how he treated her as a child, but now they are both adults and he has changed in a way that she can’t explain. She has always followed the rules and known her place and wants nothing more than to eliminate the werewolf species.. well, until she met him. Atlas will be the next alpha of his pack. Although she despises wolves, something is different about him. Her once cold, heartless, and vicious demeanor is being softened. She never believed in destiny, but how can you fight something you can’t control? How do you choose between your heart and your commitment?

A fresh out college mess decided to have a few harmless drinks before going to see her father. Well, a very irresistible stranger wasn't so harmless so why not risk it. Little did she know that he was someone close to her father. Her father's best friend. *********** “Tell me what you want,” he demanded. “You,” I gasped. “Harder. Please.” He gave it to me. Relentless. Possessive. One hand pinned my wrists above my head; the other gripped my hip, angling me exactly how he wanted. “You’re mine tonight,” he said against my throat, teeth grazing skin. “Say it.” “I’m yours,” I breathed, lost in him.

“So tell me Zinnia, what do you want?” He asked, his hands slipping between my legs, fingers finding me soaked and desperate. “Please please…” I cried out as he teased me deliberately while watching my face twist with need. “Please what baby? Use your words.” My head fell back, my thoughts scattering as heat pooled deep inside me. “I want…” My voice trembled. “I want to break the rule.” “Good girl.” He whispered, his breath brushing against my skin, and just like that… every rule I swore to keep shattered. …………. Zinnia Carter has no time for distractions. With her late father’s debts closing in, landing a life-changing contract is her only goal, until she crosses paths with Dylan Reed. Dylan is a global music star, billionaire heir, and her best friend’s completely off-limits brother. So, when she’s forced to work as his personal concierge for thirty days, she makes one promise: no feelings, no mistakes, no crossing the line. But Dylan doesn’t follow rules. And with every glance, every touch, every challenge… the line between right and wrong disappears. One mistake turns into something far more dangerous. Now, Zinnia risks losing everything, her career, her best friend… and the future she’s been fighting for. Because Dylan Reed isn’t just a temptation…He’s a man who takes what he wants. And once he decides he wants her…walking away is no longer an option. But how long can they keep their secret… before it destroys everything?

In my past life, my best friend and I married twins at the same time. We shared secrets, complained about our husbands, and teamed up to outsmart our overbearing mother-in-law—it was truly enjoyable. Until the day I nearly died giving birth to twins. As I lay on the brink of death, my best friend cradled my newborns and revealed the cruel truth. “Thank you, Bianca, for giving me such adorable twins. You had no idea, did you? The twins only ever loved me. If I had the ability to give birth, we wouldn't have used you as a tool to have kids. "You’re poor and have never been loved, so it was far too easy to manipulate you. Even the way your husband loved you? It was all my idea—I planned every move he made. “Oh, and every time you two were intimate, I was watching through the cameras—every single time!" When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day I met my best friend.

I have dated my girlfriend, Brenda Townsend, for eight years. She finally agrees to marry me. Filled with excitement, I head to the city hall. But to my surprise, I discover that the person waiting for me at the entrance is her best friend, Megan Cunningham. It turns out Brenda is on her way to her childhood sweetheart's house to take care of him. So I go along with it and marry Megan instead. Brenda loses her mind and breaks down. She cries hysterically while telling me that she has her reasons.

She's my best friend's sister, which meant she was off-limits. But I could never keep my distance, because I had always wanted Mia. I tried hard to resist my feelings for her, yet, I couldn't. So, I walked away, thinking it was the right thing to do. Now, ten years later, I've made a name for myself. I’m a billionaire with everything I ever dreamed of—except for one thing: Mia. When I see her again, she’s not the shy girl I once knew. No, she’s confident, strong, and still the one person who has the power to make me lose control. However, she’s also cold and distant, treating me like just another client, a stranger. She has every reason to hate me. But this time, I’m not walking away.

On her 18th birthday, Tina Rodriguez will be the CEO of her deceased parents' corporation. It's what she's been working towards her whole young life. But it's not the only thing she was bound to inherit. Soon enough, Tina finds herself stuck between two worlds, both claiming her as their own. The only one she can rely on is Haneul, the handsome angel who has secrets of his own.