Sweet romantic comedy series built around a family or friend group are my jam, and I really enjoyed the Tate Brothers series by Deb Goodman. By the end of the series, you’ve fallen in love with the whole family. You learn more about all the characters with each book, and you see different situations where each character shines.
I’d like to share some information about author Deb Goodman and overviews of the books in the series. They’re all clean and sweet. Strongly recommend!
Meet the author
Deb Goodman has been in love with stories for as long as she can remember. She wrote her first book back in first grade (a sweet little story about friends learning to share), and she’s been crafting new ones ever since. Books and imagination were her favorite escape growing up, and that love of storytelling never faded.
A graduate of Brigham Young University with a degree in English, Deb now calls Utah home. She and her husband have four kids. Family life is filled with movie nights, Sunday baking, football games, and plenty of playful voices for their shorkie, Mavis.
Writing sweet romance feels like second nature to Deb. She believes that there’s nothing quite like watching two people find their happily ever after.
Book 1: Just a Friend
Just a Friend kicks off the Tate Brothers series by Deb Goodman with a sweet, small-town friends-to-lovers story full of heart and humor. Every summer, Sophie Lawson shares a standing milkshake date with her longtime friend Oliver Tate. No romance, no drama, just banter and a touch of heartbreak she keeps carefully hidden. When Oliver comes back to town for more than just a visit, those easy-going traditions start to feel complicated.
Sophie’s busy keeping her little mobile library running while Oliver’s juggling his family’s resort business. Neither one seems ready to admit what’s been brewing between them. With a lovable dog named Wilford, a well-meaning but meddling aunt, and the entire Tate clan making appearances, Just a Friend delivers the perfect mix of laughter, longing, and small-town charm.
Book 2: Just a Football Star
Just a Football Star brings a heartfelt twist to the Tate Brothers series by Deb Goodman with a story about second chances, healing, and unexpected connection. When a burned-out sports trainer escapes to a luxurious mountain resort after her career and relationship both fall apart, the last thing she expects is to meet Alec Tate, a former pro athlete nursing both a knee injury and a bruised spirit.
What starts as a reluctant offer to help him recover turns into something deeper as sparks fly and old wounds mend. Between Alec’s guarded heart, her own doubts, and the ever-present antics of Aunt Stella (plus an irresistible puppy named Jerry), this story blends humor, heart, and a slow-burn romance that’s equal parts tender and hopeful.
Book 3: Just a Grumpy Boss
Just a Grumpy Boss adds a delightful workplace twist to the Tate Brothers series by Deb Goodman, pairing a determined dreamer with a brooding businessman who’s sworn off love. When a theater historian loses her job and ends up as Sebastian Tate’s temporary assistant, she expects spreadsheets, not sparks. As the two spend long hours together, she discovers there’s more to her gruff new boss than his intimidating reputation.
Behind Sebastian’s sharp focus and grumpy exterior is a loyal heart and a deep sense of family, qualities that make it harder and harder to resist him. Set against the backdrop of the Tate family’s charming Colorado resort, Just a Grumpy Boss blends humor, warmth, and slow-burn chemistry in a story that proves love can find its way even in the most unexpected office. My favorite in the series!
Book 4: Just My Ex
Just My Ex delivers a heartfelt, second-chance romance full of emotion, family ties, and a touch of chaos. When a single mom returns to the Tate family resort to escape a scheming relative, she’s determined to avoid her ex-husband, Henry Tate. He’s the man who once broke her heart and the father of her little girl. But Henry’s back too, and this time, he’s not keeping his distance.
As protective instincts turn into something deeper, old wounds begin to heal and new sparks fly. With a spunky toddler, a scene-stealing donkey named Maverick, and Aunt Stella’s not-so-subtle matchmaking, Just My Ex combines humor, healing, and hope in a moving story about love that just might deserve a second chance.
Book 5: Just My Fake Husband
Just My Fake Husband brings a fun twist to the Tate Brothers series by Deb Goodman with a fake marriage, a dash of redemption, and a whole lot of heart. Gabriel Tate’s picture-perfect reputation crashes after one bad night, and he needs help fast. Enter River, the PR pro who wants nothing to do with him, especially since he doesn’t remember their awkward shared past.
When Gabriel suggests a temporary marriage arrangement to repair his image, River reluctantly agrees for the sake of her sister, who depends on her. What starts as a business deal soon turns tender as Gabriel’s kindness and devotion to her sister win her over. Between fake kisses that feel too real, a cozy cottage (with one bed, of course), and a loyal dog at their feet, Just My Fake Husband proves that sometimes love shows up right in the middle of a scheme.
Book 6: Just a Distraction
Just a Distraction is a tender, feel-good story about love showing up when you least expect it. Rose is a single mom determined to build a better life for herself and her son. When a harmless prank at work leads to an unforgettable night with a handsome stranger, she figures it’s a one-time thing. Until that same man, Milo Tate, turns out to be her boss’s brother.
Milo falls first and fast, but Rose is guarded, convinced that love only leads to heartbreak. As their worlds collide again, flirtation turns to friendship and something much deeper. With secret letters, workplace laughs, and a golden retriever or two, Just a Distraction is a sweet reminder that even the most careful plans can make room for love.
Book 7: Just a Plot Twist
Just a Plot Twist delivers the heartwarming finale to the Tate Brothers series by Deb Goodman with an opposites-attract romance full of humor, family, and unexpected sparks. After a clumsy accident on Longdale Mountain, a determined woman finds herself being rescued by her sister’s brother-in-law, Benson, a man convinced he can’t fall in love again.
Between her grandparents’ high expectations, Benson’s guarded heart, and all the hilarious mishaps along the way, these two can’t seem to stay out of each other’s path. But as reluctant favors turn into tender moments, they discover that love often shows up where you least expect it. With laugh-out-loud banter, off-limits attraction, and a saucy, geriatric bulldog, Just a Plot Twist wraps up the series with charm, warmth, and a happily ever after that’s worth the wait.
Please let me know if you try the series!
This series is full of heart, humor, and swoon-worthy moments. From friends-to-lovers sparks to second-chance love, each brother finds his own path to happily ever after. You can’t help but cheer them on along the way. Grab a cozy blanket, a cup of something warm, and get ready to fall in love with Longdale, Colorado (and all of the Tate brothers) one story at a time.
I encourage you to read anything you find by author Deb Goodman. I’ll be checking out other books of hers too. Sometimes it’s nice to escape with a lighthearted story. 🙂
Other posts about sweet romantic comedies:
- author Annah Conwell: read, swoon repeat
- authors Jenny Proctor and Emma St. Clair: romance magic that’s sweet, swoony, and laugh-out-loud
- Hail Marry by Martha Keyes: grumpy-sunshine perfection!
- the best holiday romance books for comfy and cozy reading
- book review: She Likes It, Hey Michah
- book review: The Chad Next Door
- book review: Crossing the Brooklyn Briggs
- book review: Houston, We Have a Problem
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Fondly,
Crysti
Thanks for sharing about the Tate Brothers series by Deb Goodman. It sounds like great stories about charm, courage, and second chances. I love how you introduce us to different authors and books.
I tend to post a lot about books, Hadassah! 🙂
Thank you for letting me know about the Tate Brothers series by Deb Goodman. I’ll have to add it to my TBR list and look for it at the library. You always share great reading suggestions, and this one looks like fun.
I hope you like it, Lisa!
Thank you for introducing me to the Tate Brothers series and the author, Deb Goodman. I’m a huge fan of reading series books (instead of stand alone) with delightful characters to really get to know them across multiple books. I’m excited to add this to my must read list!
Sounds good, Debbie!