The Best Brother’s Best Friend Romances

There’s something about the brother’s best friend trope that just hits different. Maybe it’s the forbidden temptation, the fact that he’s always been right there but just out of reach. Maybe it’s the built-in tension—the secret glances, the shared history, the knowledge that crossing the line means risking everything.

Whatever the reason, this trope is irresistible, and some of the best romances bring that delicious slow-burn, off-limits energy we crave.

Here are some of my favorite brother’s best friend romances that absolutely deliver:

1. Twisted Games by Ana Huang

🔥 This one isn’t just brother’s best friend—it’s bodyguard romance, too. Rhys is forbidden, protective, and brooding, and the tension between him and Bridget simmers until it explodes.

2. The Off-Limits Rule by Sarah Adams

🔥 Lighthearted but packed with tension! Lucy falls for her brother’s best friend, Cooper, but her brother explicitly tells him to stay away. Sweet, swoony, and addictive.

3. The Deal by Elle Kennedy

🔥 Garrett might be her brother’s hockey teammate, but that doesn’t stop the slow-burn attraction between him and Hannah from turning scorching hot. Flirty, fun, and full of chemistry.

4. Consider Me by Becka Mack

🔥 Carter Beckett is a cocky, flirty hockey player who falls hard for his best friend’s little sister but she’s not making it easy. Playful banter, insane chemistry, and all the tension.

5. The Sweetest Oblivion by Danielle Lori

🔥 Mafia + Brother’s Best Friend = Deadly tension. Nico is dark, dominant, and completely off-limits, but Elena? She cannot stay away. Possessive hero, high stakes, and pure angst.

6. Summer’s Last Kiss by LS Phoenix

🔥 This one delivers achingly slow-burn tension, keeping you on edge as the heroine fights her feelings for her brother’s best friend. Every glance, every near-touch builds the anticipation until the moment they finally give in—and when they do, it’s utterly explosive. A forbidden romance that makes you hold your breath, knowing once they cross the line, there’s no turning back. 

From long-time crushes finally breaking the rules to unexpected heat that neither of them saw coming, this trope never lets us down.

📖 What’s your favorite brother’s best friend romance? Drop it in the comments!