Time Magazine's 100 Best Novels Novels & Stories

“Are you crying?" She shook her head and wiped at her face as more tears were falling. “I’m so stupid.” she groaned. "Now I am truly and utterly alone. If I had just said yes to marrying him, none of this would’ve happened. I wouldn’t have dragged you into this mess.” Without warning, I turned sharp to the side, putting the car to a sudden stop close to the curb. “Don’t ever say that again. You think marrying a man you don’t love, a man who doesn’t care if he hurts you, just to please your family is the right thing to do?” I turned to her slowly. “That would’ve ruined you.” “But I would’ve had a home to go to, I would’ve been taken care of. Now I have nothing,” she looked away. I reached over and gently took her bruised hand in mine. “You did the hardest thing anyone in your position could have done. You saved yourself. That takes more guts than standing there and pretending to be happy.” I tucked a hair behind her ear. “You think you are alone? You’re not… you have me.” ___ Alina Etienne has always lived a life dictated by her parents. She is groomed to be an obedient daughter, a perfect public image, and now, a bride to a man she doesn’t know or love. On her wedding day, crushed by the weight of expectations, Alina does the unthinkable... she says “I don’t” and flees the altar. On the run and scared with nowhere to go, she crosses paths with Mikhail Antonov. A cold, guarded man with a past he doesn’t talk about. What began as a reluctant act of kindness turned into something neither of them expected.

After becoming a successful businesswoman, Chad Jennings’ wife wife threw him out and divorced him. Little did she know, that she would not have achieved her success if it were not for him. After the divorce, he made a comeback and shook the world!

He’s loved her since the 5th grade. She beat up his bullies, slapped his fears, and owned his heart—but never seemed to notice. Or did she? Punit Soni, a sensitive, lanky teen with big dreams and stage fright, has been hopelessly in love with his fierce, guitar-wielding best friend, Ankita Agarwal, for years. She's bold, brilliant, and has no clue how deeply she means to him—or so he thinks. From school fests to slapstick disasters, broken guitars to broken hearts, their bond survives every misunderstanding. But can friendship survive unspoken love?

She was his stepdaughter by law… but his temptation by fate. A contract marriage_ A stepfather who should be off limits. But when the sparks fly between them, pretending isn’t enough. She’s drawn to him in ways she can’t explain, and he’s trying hard to resist. But desire is a powerful thing—especially when tied to a past they never knew they shared. Can they keep their hands to themselves, or will their forbidden temptation destroy everything?

He was never supposed to notice her.She was never supposed to want him.Elena Paige has spent years playing the perfect role best friend, scholarship girl, grateful guest in a world of wealth that was never meant to be hers. Julian Vance is untouchable: powerful, controlled, devastatingly dangerous. He is also her best friend’s father.One snowstorm.One night trapped behind locked doors.One choice that can never be undone.What begins as a forbidden pull spirals into something darker an obsession built on secrets, silence, and possession. Julian doesn’t just want Elena. He claims her. And Elena quickly learns that desire is far more terrifying when it’s returned by a man who always gets what he wants.As guilt, power, and control blur into twisted intimacy, Elena must decide what frightens her more: losing everything she has, or surrendering completely to the man who could destroy her.

Lindsey Johnson asks her fiance's true love, Stephanie Sullivan, to repay her debt. The next day, Jacob Whitaker throws at her a ledger that she had never seen before. Every single expense from their five-year relationship is recorded inside. From small things like two-dollar ice cream to the expensive items like the luxury bags he gave her. Even the costs of hotel stays and condoms are recorded in the ledger. "I'll split half the hotel bills with you. After deducting the 100 grand Stephie owes you, you still owe me 2.08 million. You have one month to transfer the month to my account."

As the fiancée of the Alpha's son, Selene's life seemed destined for bliss until a devastating lie shattered her world, leading to the brutal murder of her family. Consumed by grief and a thirst for revenge, she finds solace in a drunken one-night stand with her best friend—only to wake up to the shocking revelation that he's an Alpha in a larger, covert pack only posing as a spy in the pack. He offers to help her get her revenge but in return, she has to give him one year as his fake bride. What begins as a strategic alliance soon blossoms into unexpected love amidst battles against formidable enemies.

When my ex-boyfriend leaks my sextape and my family expects me to die from shame, here’s what I do: I tell the old creep trying to buy me to fuck off, get myself thrown out, and fly across the country to my best friend’s mansion to figure out my next move. What I DON’T expect is to walk in on Knox Reid—my best friend’s ex-military billionaire father—stroking his cock to my viral sex tape. I should be horrified. Humiliated. Instead, I’m soaking wet and completely mesmerized. And for the first time since my life exploded, I feel powerful. He catches me staring. Doesn’t stop. Keeps stroking, harder, faster, his dark eyes locked on mine until he comes all over himself. That forbidden moment changes everything. Spending the holidays at Knox’s mansion was supposed to be my escape—a place to hide while the scandal blows over. Instead, it becomes my rebellion. Now I want him fucking me everywhere, against the frosted windows, on his desk, in front of the fire while my best friend party’s outside. I want to feel alive again, and Knox makes me burn in all the best ways. But he’s my best friend’s estranged father trying to fix their relationship. And I’m trying to rebuild my shattered life, not destroy it again. We should stop, but we can’t. He’s forbidden. He’s mine. And he’s all I want for the holidays…and maybe for the rest of my life.

Lena Clermont fell hard for her dad's friend, Andrew Rohan—twelve years older. The first time she saw him, he was all sharp suits and broad shoulders, effortlessly standing out. He smiled, patted her head, and handed her a princess dress. Fast forward to twenty. He got drugged at a banquet. She wore that same dress, offering herself as the cure.

Harrison Monroe has been secretly in love with his best friend, Rhett Langley since they had an "experimental" affair between their junior and senior year of high school. They agreed to remain best friends and not let anything change between them, but everything changed for Harrison. Now older and leading their own lives, Harrison is yet to forget that steamy summer they spent together. When he gets asked to be Rhett's best man in his wedding to a woman named Rebecca, Harrison is put in an awkward position and goes through a journey to put his personal feelings aside and support his best friend. Then comes the bachelor's party where Rhett pulls Harrison away and they share another steamy moment. Harrison asks himself if it was only the alcohol in his system or if Rhett truly has romantic feelings for him as well, and with the wedding just around the corner, he's too fearful to ask. Now Harrison has more questions than answers and has to decide whether to swallow his pride and let Rhett marry a woman he may not truly love or take his chance at his own happily ever after and object at the altar in front of everyone.