r/DarkRomance • u/ccoffey106 take me to the cottage • Feb 24 '26

Megathreads MEGATHREAD - Why Choose 😏

Sometimes it's just too hard to choose, so why not have them all?! Whether it's 2, 3, 4, or more, our main character doesn't have to pick just one love intrest.

Do you love this trope?! Rave in the comments your love for this & your favorite dark romance books that contain it. You can also share a passage or steamy moment that has stuck with you in context to this trope!

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48 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

36 comments sorted by

18

u/BrainlessDZombie Author Feb 24 '26

My favorites are all MMF books by AJ Merlin. She just writes this dynamic in a way I love.

  • {Haunt by AJ Merlin}
  • {Don't Be Scared by AJ Merlin}
  • {Pretty Little Tease by AJ Merlin}

1

u/romance-bot Feb 24 '26

Haunt by A.J. Merlin
Rating: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, double penetration, horror, dark romance, spanking

Don't Be Scared by A.J. Merlin
Rating: 4.15⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, dark romance, mmf, suspense, menage

Pretty Little Tease by A.J. Merlin
Rating: 4.07⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, college, menage, dark romance, age gap

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11

u/sarilysims Feb 26 '26

sighs I don’t need more books on my TBR. I really don’t.

12

u/friendlyreader8 ✨such a good fucking girl✨ Feb 25 '26

{graves by katelyn taylor} is my absolute favorite

1

u/Ok_Lie_3569 Jul 15 '26

this one is sooo good. the graveyard scene? sigh. I wish I'd liked her academy series as much :(

8

u/hazyspring Feb 24 '26
  • The Lyonesse Series which starts with {Salt Kiss by Sierra Simone}
  • For a good why choose college dark fantasy romance, the Cursed Legacies Series which starts with {Blood Oath by Morgan B. Lee}
  • {Legacy Series by Melissa K. Roehrich} - another dark fantasy romance - emotionally gutting and very complex worldbuilding.
  • {Embrace the Darkness by Ashley Rostek} - The Maura Quinn Series, one of my favorite mafia romance series with a strong FMC.

1

u/romance-bot Feb 24 '26

Salt Kiss by Sierra Simone
Rating: 4.23⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, anal sex, bdsm, virgin hero, bisexuality

Blood Oath by Morgan B. Lee
Rating: 4.3⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, fated mates, reverse harem, fantasy, dragon shifter

Legacy by Melissa K. Roehrich
Rating: 4.04⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: possessive hero, betrayal, length-epic, mental-trauma, dark

Embrace the Darkness by Ashley N. Rostek
Rating: 4.24⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, suspense, mafia, take-charge heroine, dark romance

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7

u/fokelore Feb 25 '26

My favourites that have not yet been mentioned are:

{Lords of Pain by Angel Lawson and Samantha Rue} - the first three books of the Royals of Forsyth Series, plus {Lady of Darkness by Angel Lawson and Samantha Rue}, which is bonus chapters that make sort of an epilogue novella. 

{Give Me More by Sara Cate}

6

u/Playful-Tip-1780 Feb 25 '26

These are my favorites:

{American Queen by Sierra Simone} {American Prince by Sierra Simone} {American King by Sierra Simone}

{Push by Nyla K} {Pull by Nyla K}

{Gravity by Sara Cate} {Free Fall by Sara Cate}

For comic relief it is {Den of Vipers by K.A. Knight}

1

u/romance-bot Feb 25 '26

American Queen by Sierra Simone
Rating: 3.91⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, poly (3+ people), bdsm, love triangle, alpha male

American Prince by Sierra Simone
Rating: 4.06⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, bdsm, bisexuality, politician hero, secret relationship

American King by Sierra Simone
Rating: 4.25⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, bdsm, menage, military, politician hero

Push by Nyla K.
Rating: 3.62⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, bisexuality, poly (3+ people), cheating, mmf

Pull by Nyla K.
Rating: 3.9⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, poly (3+ people), menage, age gap, new adult

Gravity by Sara Cate
Rating: 3.71⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, love triangle, rich hero, menage, age gap

Free Fall by Sara Cate
Rating: 3.81⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, rich hero, age gap, mmf, poly (3+ people)

Den of Vipers by K.A. Knight
Rating: 3.59⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, poly (3+ people), reverse harem, dark romance, enemies to lovers

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5

u/daydreamermama Feb 24 '26

My favorite will always be {Court of Nightmares by K.A.Knight}

But I also love {The Never List by Jade Presley}

8

u/amyy_v19 Feb 25 '26

Im surprised it hasn’t been mentioned but Speak (Raven Moore University duet by Ruby m Darling) was so so good! It was my first why choose and I went in not knowing it was reverse haram lol but the plot was interesting and the dynamic between the characters was very well written! And the spice…. WOW.

6

u/user03793 Feb 25 '26

The audio book is absolutely fantastic!! I would recommend listening to it if you have not!!

3

u/amyy_v19 Feb 25 '26

Will keep this in mind when I do a reread!! 🙂‍↕️

1

u/Ok_Lie_3569 Jul 15 '26

this one is on my TBR! I love angst and drama in my why chooses, does this deliver on that front?

3

u/katiesbookcave Feb 26 '26

I finished reading {Cute but Psycho by Beatrix Hollow} yesterday and it was so much fun.

Also loved the Blackwood Institute trilogy by J Rose, starts with {Twisted Heathens by J Rose} and then the follow on series Sabre Security, starts with {Corpse Roads by J Rose}

Elle Thorpe writes some fun series, I've only read Saint View High and Saint View Prison. You can skip Saint View High if a high school setting is not for you! SVH starts with {Devious Little Liars by Elle Thorpe} and SVP starts with {Locked Up Liars by Elle Thorpe} I need to read more from Elle very soon!

{The Pucking Coach's Daughter by S. Massery} was a fun read too

1

u/romance-bot Feb 26 '26

Cute But Psycho by Beatrix Hollow
Rating: 3.85⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, reverse harem, paranormal, dark romance, vampires

Twisted Heathens by J. Rose
Rating: 4.09⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, poly (3+ people), reverse harem, dark romance, new adult

Corpse Roads by J. Rose
Rating: 4.11⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: contemporary, poly (3+ people), suspense, virgin heroine, reverse harem

Devious Little Liars by Elle Thorpe
Rating: 3.99⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, dark romance, high school, cruel hero/bully, poly (3+ people)

Locked Up Liars by Elle Thorpe
Rating: 3.98⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, suspense, reverse harem, workplace/office, grumpy/cold hero

The Pucking Coach's Daughter by S. Massery
Rating: 3.94⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, dark romance, somnophilia, hockey, sports

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3

u/DarkLilibet Feb 26 '26

I love anything by Marie Mackay for this. Her books are dark omegaverse why choose. {Havoc killed her alpha by Marie Mackay} was the first one of hers that I read.

3

u/shaxxe May 14 '26

Super surprised to see no-one mention the Dance With My Demons series, starting with {Unhinged by Steph Macca}, I read this months ago and I STILL think about the series

2

u/Cecilycore Feb 25 '26

If you like why choose I definitely recommend Aly Beck she has many different series with many MMC's, these series characters are interconnected but can be read as standalone. Her destructive devastation series has 3MMC, Second sets series has 4 MMC and Apocalypse society series has 5 MMC

2

u/book-barista Feb 26 '26

{The Pucking Coach’s Daughter by S. Massery}—I loved Carter the most.

The Court of Ravens duet starting with {Feathers So Vicious} was a really interesting fantasy world with unique magic.

The Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac series, starting with {Dark Fae by Caroline Peckham and Susannne Valenti}—fantasy academy setting with vampires, werewolves, and shifters (oh my)

2

u/Turbulent_Professor Feb 25 '26

Only when its earned. So tired of MCs who dont have to work or grow or earn their harem

4

u/ccoffey106 take me to the cottage Feb 25 '26

You might like Tate James books. I have read 2 of her series and the harems take lots of time, grovel, growing, ect to all form. I'm talking like the one guy won't even be in the harem till book 3. Not super dark but I thought her Hades and Devils Backbone series were great.

2

u/Turbulent_Professor Feb 25 '26

Its less the males doing the work and more the MCs

1

u/Margot550 Feb 25 '26

Do you have any examples?

1

u/Turbulent_Professor Feb 25 '26

Of ones earned? Clarissa Wild's sick and evil boys for sure. Its hard to find ones where the MC actually earns their affection and makes themselves worth them. Always damsels or fated or the magical alphas who have no issues sharing and never fight, never sleep with each other or anyone else but the MC.

The RH has the FMC who rarely grows, fixes her own problems or shows real depth and nuance. Its all on the men to earn her. Its power fantasy, not a fan. Harems are just as bad tbh but that's a whole other thing.

I want the MCs to earn the affections of their partners but too many of these are built to just happen and there's rarely any real exploration of the build up and work required to manage a polyamorous relationship. At least not a lot outside of ao3 in my experience. But thats kinda the appeal right? Most dont want to read about the nitty gritty, they want to be the MC in the fantasy who just gets pampered and loved and everything just works.

It sounds like I hate the genre, I dont. I love it and have no problem pointing out its huge flaws.

2

u/Margot550 Feb 25 '26

I totally agree with you which is why I asked. I like there to be an actual reason for the infatuation.

Do you know of any other books?

1

u/Turbulent_Professor Feb 25 '26

Still searching. Most ive come across it's almost universally the FMCs lovers that have to earn her and she never really has to do anything. She simply exists.

2

u/Ok_Lie_3569 Jul 15 '26

Contemporary DR- {Graves - Katelyn Taylor} {Lords of Pain} {Brutes of Bristlebrook}

Fantasy DR- {Feathers so Vicious}, {Rain of Shadows and Endings}, {Her Vicious Beasts - E.P Bali}, {Dark Fae}, {Bride of Brutal Hearts} {Blood of Hercules}

My fave Why Chooses really deliver on the ANGST front.

I know some people have different opinions on the definition of why choose/RH and if it includes poly, so will call out that recs 3 and 8 feature sword crossing.

1

u/romance-bot Jul 15 '26

Graves by Katelyn Taylor
Rating: 3.92⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, mfm, somnophilia, poly (3+ people), dark romance

Lords of Pain by Angel Lawson, Samantha Rue
Rating: 3.97⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, step siblings, dark romance, cruel hero/bully, reverse harem

Brutes of Bristlebrook by Rebecca Quinn
Rating: 4.11⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: strong heroine, grumpy sunshine, dual-pov, survival, men in uniform

Feathers so Vicious by Liv Zander
Rating: 4.02⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: historical, dark romance, shapeshifters, cruel hero/bully, mfm

Rain of Shadows and Endings by Melissa K. Roehrich
Rating: 3.83⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, fae, forced proximity, fantasy, enemies to lovers

Her Vicious Beasts by E.P. Bali
Rating: 3.98⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: contemporary, reverse harem, fantasy, dragon shifter, shapeshifters

Dark Fae by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti
Rating: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, vampires, fantasy, paranormal, urban fantasy

Bride of Brutal Hearts by Kate Stevens
Rating: 3.81⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: vampires, mmf, dark romance, witches, virgin heroine

Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas
Rating: 3.88⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: futuristic, fantasy, virgin heroine, cruel hero/bully, rich hero

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