Recs please?: He's been carrying that torch a while

[Erin]

I'd LOVE some recommendations on books where the hero has been in love with the heroine, probably secretly, for ages. She can either know or not, but preferably loves him back pretty quickly... I don't want the poor guy to suffer once he confesses... much. Double bonus points if they were childhood friends and he never really loved anyone but her all those years. I'm a sucker for that.

But I'm not sure how to word Google searches or even searches here on the forum to find such books.

According to my beloved tvtrops.org, some of the appropriate mythemes might include the following:
- Longing Look
- Dogged Nice Guy
- Cannot Spit It Out
- I Want My Beloved to Be Happy
- Everyone Can See It
- Oblivious to Love
- Like Brother and Sister
- Chaste Hero
- Relationship Upgrade (aka “Friends to Lovers”)

That "Chaste Hero" even ties into my other favorite, the knights in shining armor who are just too darn noble for their own good. Alistair in Dragon Age: Origins, anyone?

Or even Wounded Warrior and Hideously Scarred. :D

[Ty]

Are you seeking recommendations or...?

[Erin]

Yes, I am seeking recommendations! I'll edit my first post to make that clearer. :) Thank you!

[❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Daryl Dixonღ♥ღ]

I don't read this type of theme but here are some listopia lists for Friends to lovers book.

Don't know what main type of genre you were going for so here is 3 types hope they help.

Best Friends to Lovers Contemporary Romance
Best Friends to Lovers Historical Romance
Best Friends to Lovers Paranormal Romance

[Erin]

❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Lothaire Dacianoღ♥ღ wrote: "I don't read this type of theme but here are some listopia lists for Friends to lovers book.

Don't know what main type of genre you were going for so here is 3 types hope they help.

Best Friends ..."

Thank you! Those should help a lot; I'm sorry I overlooked those lists! I'd found a couple but had read most of them already.

[Ty]

several more unrequited love lists:

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...