What Books Are Similar To 'Like Real People Do'?

Maria Walker has spent her entire life under the weight of expectations in a world where reputation trumps happiness. As the daughter of the respected Walker family, every choice—including her relationship with kind, loyal Noah Bennett—is judged by high society, who see him as far beneath her standing. Daniel Rothfield faces a different pressure. The powerful, emotionally guarded CEO of Rothfield Holdings has avoided relationships since a devastating breakup left him unwilling to risk love again. Yet his parents and business partners insist a man of his status needs to project stability—and a serious relationship is the perfect image. When Maria and Daniel unexpectedly arrive together at a prestigious charity auction, a fleeting moment ignites rampant speculation. Within hours, social media explodes with rumors that the billionaire CEO and the Walker heiress are secretly dating. Rather than deny it, Daniel proposes a solution: pretend the rumors are true. A fake relationship solves both dilemmas. Maria’s parents would stop pressuring her about Noah, while Daniel’s family and associates would see him finally settling down. It’s meant to be simple, temporary, and strictly controlled. Rules are set: No real feelings. No crossing boundaries. No forgetting it’s just an act. But pretending to be in love proves far more complicated than planned. As they appear together at events, family gatherings, and public functions, undeniable chemistry emerges—shifting from performance to something dangerously authentic. Meanwhile, Noah grapples with quiet jealousy fueled by headlines and photos, Daniel’s past resurfaces to threaten the facade, and their carefully built lie begins to crumble. In a society that measures love by status and appearances, Maria and Daniel face an undeniable truth: the relationship they pretended to have may be the most real thing either of them has ever felt.

“I’ve tried so much to hate you, to forget you… I couldn’t. I know it’s hard to tell, but I’m not doing well. And not because Ari isn’t here, with me. I’m not alright without you, Alex. Even if I know there’s no way back from this for us, I still feel the need to tell you what you denied me three years ago… There was no other man… I’m yours… only yours… Always have, always will be.” He was suddenly looming over her, his face dark with passion, mouth full and moist from the mayhem he had just been creating with his tongue. “You’re mine… All mine…” They’ve never stopped being married… Hailee Baroni loves her husband more than anything. But when Alessandro started accusing her of being a cheater, when he started thinking of Ariana, their daughter, as the result of an extramarital affair, Hailee decided it was time to leave him. They lived separate lives for three long years, cutting every direct communication. But when Ariana gets abducted, the silence between them is forcibly broken. One quick glance into her deep, sad, desperate eyes and Alex knows he is the only one who can secure the little girl’s safe return, even if it means he must go back to Hailee. After all, his 'piccola' still wears his ring.

Callista Everett seems to have it all- looks, money and status. But despite her accomplishments , there's one glaring thing that she doesn't have: love and family is also a quick to point this out. When she meets Alexander Hudson, the universe seems to present a solution to both of them. Callie needs some to pretend to be her boyfriend so that her family can stop asking her why she is alone. And Xander needs someone to pretend to be his fiancee, so people stop labelling him as a player. However, the lines of 'real' and 'pretend' becomes blurry as Xander and Callie navigate the water of business, love and family. Between growing, feelings, will they still remember to play pretend.

Three years into her marriage, Claire finally asks for a divorce. She admits it—she got the better end of the deal. From nothing to something, she's the one who leveled up. And that's exactly why Ethan has been cold, distant, almost wishing she'd just walk away. She's human, not iron. This loveless marriage has left her drained, and the idea of ending it should feel freeing—but then he starts showing up. Every day, sharp, confident, strutting around like he owns the place. Clattering in the kitchen, attempting to cook. Even bringing home a Samoyed puppy she's always adored. Claire watches, equal parts exasperated and fascinated. Every time the divorce seems inevitable, he finds an excuse—sick, busy, a last-minute trip. Everyone assumes his heart belongs to someone else. But all along, it's been hers. A stubborn, prideful man, completely undone by the one woman he can't let go.

She loved him until she lost herself. Now, behind locked doors and shattered glass, she must learn to breathe again. When she first met Lloyd, he was magnetic and intoxicating. The kind of man who turned every head when he entered a room, who spoke in promises sweet enough to taste. With him, she felt chosen, cherished, and safe. But safety was an illusion, and love became a weapon. And slowly, piece by piece, he dismantled her until nothing of the woman she once was remained. Now institutionalized after a breakdown, she begins to piece together the brutal truth of what really happened in the shadows of their love story. Memories sting like open wounds: the manipulation disguised as tenderness, the apologies that blurred into threats, the desperate hope that tomorrow he'd be the man she fell for again. Yet beneath the grief and the shame, a quiet rebellion stirs, a vow to reclaim her voice, her freedom, and her life. Because this is not just a story of how she fell apart. It is a story of how she rises. Haunting, raw, and achingly intimate, Boys like him peels back the glittering mask of a toxic love affair to reveal the kind of darkness that hides in plain sight, and the unbreakable strength it takes to escape it.

“It was supposed to be fake… until it wasn’t.” Elena Ramirez was never supposed to catch Adrian Harrington’s attention — billionaire CEO, untouchable, and dangerously charming. One moment, she’s a struggling intern juggling bills and caring for her younger sister, Maya… the next, she’s signing a contract that turns her entire world upside down. The deal is simple: pretend to be his girlfriend. No feelings. No complications. No lines crossed. But Adrian Harrington doesn’t do simple. One gala. One stolen glance. One soft touch that lingers too long… and suddenly, the line between pretend and real begins to blur. The media calls her a gold digger. Socialites like Clara Vance want her gone. Paparazzi stalk her every move, and Elena finds herself drowning in a world of secrets, lies, and scandals she never asked for. And then — the contract leaks. Every signature. Every clause. Every proof that her “relationship” with Adrian is nothing more than a carefully staged performance. Now the entire city is watching, waiting for her to break. But Elena refuses to be their victim. Because somewhere between the chaos and the cameras, Adrian’s cold walls are cracking… and the one thing more dangerous than pretending to love him is realizing she actually might. Fake dating. Real feelings. Endless betrayal. Some lies build empires. Others break hearts.