Modern Library's 100 Best Novels Novels & Stories

Getting drunk on the night of her graduation was never a part of Andrea Dale’s plan. She was supposed to be finishing the designs for her new clothing line before the deadline. She had only planned to make a quick appearance at the party before getting back to work...but instead, she ended up drunk and dragged into her crush’s room. It was a trap. What should have been one night of celebration spiralled into something else when she realised she wasn't the one that woke up on his bed, but her step sister... Amelia, who later found out she was pregnant for him.

He is supposed to be my best friend—at least I have been seeing him as one—doing a lot of things with him together. We go to school together, share the same hobbies, and love the same sports. He is my day one, my buddy. Up until after the summer vacation when we started a new life in the same college as freshmen. That is when I discover that I have developed a soft spot for him, which accounts for the way I missed him during the summer vacation. I have never missed Liam like that. I mean, I do miss him but not compared to last summer. I wanted him around me and his image occupied my mind's eye. Starting college with a crush on my best friend is not an ideal way to begin the academic year. No matter how I try to suppress it by going on dates and accepting relationship proposals from guys, instead of it going away, it doubles. Worse still, he sees me as his buddy. He has never looked at me the way he looks at other girls. I know I am a bit of a tomboy. My other friends tell me that my dress sense is a bit masculine. I try changing my fashion sense but to no avail. Sadly, all I am to Liam is his day one bestie and buddy. I do not want to tell him about the feelings I have because I do not want to put our friendship in jeopardy. I had already given up hope Until the dare at one of my other friend's parties _ Evie. The dare for Liam to kiss me. The kiss opens another chapter; I would never have believed in my entire life to be possible—Liam actually likes me!

"Shut down for rectification, fined $500,000, plus $300 compensation per customer. That’s the penalty from the Food Safety Bureau. Let’s see if you dare serve us gutter oil again!” Yves Larson, a part-timer at a construction site, sends me a provocative text purposefully, as though he's worried that I don't know what's going on. I just stare at the sign that says "closed for renovation", which is hung on the front door of my eatery. Never would I expect that the budget eatery that I've opened for the sake of the workers will be transformed into a blade that's aimed at me, thanks to the very same workers. That night, I sit in the apartment that my dad has left to me before his death. There, I spend the whole night smoking. Early the next morning, I head over to the bank and withdraw the money left behind by my dad, which is 260 million dollars. Half a month later, my eatery is open for business again. Work resumes at the construction site as well. Yves leads the construction workers to the restaurant at lunch. "I've taught him a good lesson last time. This time, I'm very sure that he won't have the guts to serve us cheap food made of shitty ingredients!" What he doesn't know is that the original eatery is already demolished. In its place stands a luxurious five-star restaurant. I stand in front of the main entrance as I perform a welcoming gesture to the workers. "This is a five-star restaurant that offers a private dining experience to you. The minimum bill for each table is 4000 dollars. You're welcome to dine here."

Ethan Cole is a billionaire tech heir who needs a relationship as soon as possible. Not for love, but to secure a powerful merger and win control of his family's empire. Desperate, he turns to the most unexpected person: Jamie Rivera, his charming, openly gay best friend with dreams of owning an art gallery. What begins as a harmless fake romance soon turns into real emotions, with stolen glances, strange desires and forbidden kisses. But with jealous exes, ruthless family rivals, and the media watching their every move, pretending to be in love might destroy everything, unless they’re brave enough to make it real. A swoon-worthy, slow-burn romance where fake love turns dangerously real and one kiss was all it took.

Eighteen-year-old Eunice secretly loves Denver, her brother Paulo’s best friend. Before he leaves for U.S. medical school, their passion culminates in her losing her virginity; he vows to return and seek Paulo’s blessing. Scared of Paulo’s reaction and pressured by parents to focus on studies, immature Denver panics and ghosts her, believing distance is best. Years later, hearing of her pregnancy via a friend and getting shut down by Paulo (protecting her secret), he misinterprets it as her moving on and stays away. Eunice, feeling abandoned, raises son Leo alone in silence. After ten years, Denver returned, now a pediatrician engaged to another, treats Devon and spots the uncanny resemblance and timeline. Confrontation reveals Devon is his son; misunderstandings unravel. Denver ends his engagement and pleads for forgiveness . Eunice must choose: reclaim their love or safeguard her heart after a decade of pain from fear and miscommunication. A tense second-chance romance on the misunderstanding trope, delving into regret, pride, and enduring love.

He stepped closer to me, his breath hot against my neck. “Say it Miss Taylor, and I will make you forget my brother ever existed.” His low husky voice vibrated through my core, my body shivered. The way his intimidating eyes burned into my soul, I knew he meant every word he said. He was yet to touch me, yet my legs wobbled under his mere gaze, my knees too weak to carry my body. That's when it dawned on me; Jaxon West was not a man, he was a walking seduction. Just a single glance from those eyes, and I could feel the wetness between my thighs. ** Ava Taylor has always been in love with her childhood best friend, Liam West, the charming, golden boy who could do no wrong. It was her secret, sadly he didn’t feel the same way for her. After a devastating break up, Ava hopes he could finally notice her. When he receives an invitation to his Ex’s engagement ceremony with his Cousin, he pleads with Ava to be his pretend girlfriend so as to make her jealous. But when she arrives at his Family’s old house, she meets his Magnetic older brother Jax, and things spiral out of control.  Finding her in his brother’s bed, Liam is jealous and realizes his own desire for Ava. Now the two brothers want her, and she must choose between them. But what if she can’t make a choice? What if she wants both of them? The sexy masculine cowboy and the football icon! Sounds like the beginning of a reverse harem. Note: This book contains mature/controversial content. It's not your regular romance book, it might just take a very dark turn! (⁠◠⁠‿⁠◕⁠)

Selene, the loyal best friend, accidentally has a wild one-night stand with a tall, bearded stranger in a motel during a snowstorm—raw, unforgettable sex she thinks she’ll never repeat. The next day at Gwen’s family dinner, the stranger walks in: it’s CK—Gwen’s lifelong childhood crush and family friend, now their new roommate. Guilt crashes in as Selene realizes she slept with her best friend’s obsession. But the chemistry is too strong to resist. Secret hookups ignite in their shared apartment (kitchen counters, shared bathroom risks, late-night motel dates). They agree to date in hiding—Gwen can never know. Every stolen moment is hotter because it’s wrong. Close calls multiply. CK’s quiet depression cracks around Selene. External pressure builds from ex Megan at his new law firm job. When Gwen starts noticing marks, deleted texts, weird vibes, and the growing distance between her two closest people—the secret begins to crack. The truth explodes at Gwen’s surprise birthday party (puppy reveal, friends, cake). After fallout and healing, Selene and CK reunite months later—no lies, just honest love. Hopeful but scarred ending.

Catherine Young has it all—cheer captain, the perfect body, and the hottest boyfriend in school, Asher Davies, the soccer star everyone wants. But her perfect life shatters when gossip explodes across campus: Asher cheated with the new transfer blonde, Jennifer White.Heartbroken and humiliated, Catherine drowns her pain at a bar and somehow ends up at her best friend Alice’s house… only Alice isn’t home. Her nerdy, quiet younger brother, Dominic Marion, is.One night of vulnerability turns into the biggest scandal of the year. When Alice finds out—and the rumors spread like wildfire—Catherine is forced to face Dominic in public and pretend to be his girlfriend.But the more time she spends with him, the more she begins to see that the shy, awkward boy she once ignored might just be hiding something rare… something real.Maybe diamonds really do come from the rough.

I was working as a stunt double for a fight scene when a rising idol actor stabbed me with a real knife and sent me straight to the hospital. My actress girlfriend rushed over in a panic, fussing over me with endless concern. Before I could even feel touched, a floating comment suddenly appeared above her head. [When is Scott finally going to realize that the Best Actress linked him and Francis through a Beauty System?] [The more Scott cares about a certain part of his body, the more perfect that same part becomes on Francis!] The next second, my manager of five years hurried into the room as well. Another barrage of comments floated up. [The manager's no better. She tied them to an Achievement System. The harder Scott works, the more achievements Francis gets!] I stared at the two women in front of me and fell silent. So… my only option was to give up and do nothing?

This Christmas was supposed to be quiet. My boyfriend cheated earlier, bluntly, and I was left with nothing but heartbreak and resentment which now reeked from within me. I planned to spend the holidays curled on my couch, watching Tik Tok, scrolling through my social media accounts, anything that wouldn't make me cry. But then Chloe, my best friend, invited me over. Her family's place was warm, full of life and exactly the escape I needed. I never expected anything. Definitely not him. Dominic Callahan. Chloe's father. I've always noticed him, strong, distant, way too captivating for someone his age though he never looked twice at me.... until now. I noticed the change. His eyes lingered longer. His words slower, even his stare. The air between us became tighter. I assured my self it was greif.... My emotions were taking a better part of me. But when he kissed me, I didn't refuse. When he pulled me into his room, I didn't say no. And then it became a normal thing. Everything in me flagged it wrong. Chloe didn't deserve this betrayal. But my desires didn't care about rules. And neither does her elder brother. Now, before Christmas lights go down...I'm with child. I only came for peace. But I found obsession, dirty secrets and something way too dangerous to name. This was supposed to be my holiday escape....so why does it feel like the beginning of my doom? Find out what happens next!