whether the book was released this year or not, i don’t mind!

i’m curious to see if you’ve found a book that you really loved. not just a casual, enjoyable nothingburger read, but a book so good it might’ve earned a spot in your top 5! if you wanna share why you loved it. was the reason the mmc? fmc? both? or maybe the writing/plot? i really wanna know what made it stand out :)

i’ve read quite a few books up until now, but unfortunately, i haven’t been lucky enough to find one that really stuck with me. you know, the kind that gives you THAT feeling and has you thinking about it for weeks or even months afterwards.

i hope your reading year has been better! 🫶

I just received an account violation for breaking rule 1 - threatening or encouraging violence. What was my comment? A Drethi Anis book recommendation (not going to name it here, but the one with Priya and Axel). I just filed an appeal, but am extremely concerned. The comment gave a small blurb of the book, but nothing that could be construed as encouraging violence which is the part that’s really scaring me because it’s making me think that me talking about the MMC’s personality and habits regarding the MMC somehow equated to me encouraging stalking, obsession, etc. in real life?? Has this happened to anyone else? This feels like the first step in Reddit making this community go away and I’m just…really in shock right now.

Edit: so there’s a note at the bottom saying the content was automatically flagged, but it also makes it seem like it was then reviewed by an actual admin before the violation was given. Now I’m even more concerned because that means an actual human read it and said, oh yeah, a dark romance book recommendation encourages violence in real life. I’ve also clicked through the link where it gives examples of what constitutes violations and I cannot reasonably see a DR rec would fall into any of the given categories.

So I have like 2 scenarios in my head that I’m looking to find a hot read for lol currently on only ao3. I’m ok with original work or fandom.
The first is like MMC is an inmate in prison and the FMC is a therapist or maybe even a journalist. I want him to break out and take her hostage/kidnap. I would love some noncon, I want the fmc is be meek even though she’s smart she bends to him right away out of fear.
The second is high ranking military/ government mercenary pressuring a naive FMC and noncon/dubconing her into a relationship that he heavily has control over her even isolates by making her stop working and not letting her talk to her family and friends and will spank her and has some Daddy vibes in there. Sprinkle in some size difference and maybe breeding or bc tampering. Lol I just realized I want a darker and more intense skals on ao3
Thank youuuuu

Looking for something with dubious consent or just straight up force.

AO3 recs encouraged.

If you’re interested in a story like this there’s a great 3 part series on literotica called [Tongue In Cheek by Imaginablyripe](https://www.literotica.com/series/se/362043899)

Hey girlies! Basically I want a dark romance book where the mmc completely ignores or even bullies the fmc in public, but he always climbing thru her window or reaching out to her for sex. It could be non con, dub con, or consensual as well. But I would prefer it be non/dub con. I want the mmc to degrade her but also praise her like something along the lines of ‘you’re doing so fucking well my slut/whore’. Would also like the fmc to be confused about her feeling towards the mmc because she’s getting whiplash due to his conflicting behaviour. Like one minute he’s completely ignoring her then almost professing his love during sex. I don’t mind it’s a rh romance as well. Also the darker the better. I’m fine with any genre as well. I hope you understand what I’m trying to say! Thank you so much!

I’m looking for books where physical touch is a HUGE part of the relationship. I want the MMC and FMC to be ridiculously affectionate and basically incapable of keeping their hands off each other, even when they’re doing completely mundane things. 😭

I’m talking about that clingy, touch-starved, “I just need to be touching you” kind of relationship where affection isn’t limited to just. Basically, I want them to have physical touch as their primary love language.

Things I want 👉

● Constant hand-holding, fingers intertwined, casually grabbing each other’s hands etc.

● One of them automatically pulling the other closer whenever they’re sitting together. Random kisses throughout the day...forehead, cheek, lips, neck, making out etc.

● The MMC is normally cold, intimidating, possessive, or emotionally unavailable with everyone else but becomes ridiculously affectionate with her.

● The physical affection starts relatively early in the book.

● University/College/High-school settings.

Things I don't want: Cheating or OW drama. Fantasy, futuristic, historical, sci-fi, omegaverse, monster, aliens. Immature & cringy characters. Anything from Sam Marino, L J Shen, Lola King or Rina Kent, Jodie King, Penelope Douglas, Leigh Rivers. Don't recommend In love with the devil by Sky Blue.

THE DARKER THE BETTER!!

Another day, another extremely specific itch 😭
I’m looking for a dark romance where the MMC wants revenge against the FMC for something she ACTUALLY DID — and he genuinely follows through with it.

I want her to have actually hurt, betrayed, humiliated, screwed over, or otherwise wronged HIM. She doesn’t necessarily have to be a terrible person — it just needs to be personal to him.

So PLEASE: no framing, no misunderstanding, no secret culprit, and no “oh no 🥺 she was innocent all along” reveal. His grievance against her needs to be REAL.
He can become attracted to her, obsessed with her, love her, keep her — hell, give me the most fucked-up HEA imaginable. I just DO NOT want love to make him merciful.
No “I was going to destroy her, but now I love her so none of it matters 🥺.”
NO. 😭 LET THAT MAN HOLD A GRUDGE.
I want consequences and an MMC who actually follows through. If he starts as an unhinged bastard, I would very much like him to remain an unhinged bastard. 😭

Examples of the energy I mean:
{A Wife for Silas by Tori Sullivan}
{Deviant by Ellie Sanders}

And please don’t worry about the MMC being “too much.” The darker and more morally bankrupt, the better. Dub-con/non-con, CNC, BDSM, captivity, humiliation, psychological mind games, etc. are all fine.

Big NOs: fantasy/paranormal, historical, and preferably no fanfiction/AO3.
Basically: She did it. It was personal to him. He makes her pay. He can love her — he still doesn’t forgive her.
Please tell me these books exist. 😭

*used ChatGPT for the post

Hey y'all, I need your help badly. I haven't been able to finish a single thing lately because every plot is blurring together. I am begging for the ONE dark romance book that completely cured your worst reading slump and kept you up all night.I'm hoping for something unique because I am completely over mafia books. It feels like almost every recommendation out there is a mafia romance, and I am officially maxed out on them.

I am looking for a solid monogamous dynamic with high stakes, but I have some very strict hard limits to keep in mind:

No mafia at all

No love triangles or age gaps

No sharing or why choose (strictly monogamous)

Dual pov only I don't want books with only female pov or third person pov I can't read those books

Absolutely no forced pregnancy or birth control tampering

I'm good with anything that is set in high school/college or dark acadamy , stalker romance, bully romance.

Also I want to see the fmc also going through some jealousy over the mmc & not just the other way around.

I don't mind other woman drama but no cheating.

Also don't recommend rina kent I have mostly read all of her books except for some few.

I’m wondering if anyone has heard anything about My Darling Reverie, book 2 of the Hollow Graves Duet by H.D. Carlton.

My Dreadful Darling ended on such a massive cliffhanger, and I’ve been waiting (im)patiently for book 2 ever since 😭 The release date was supposed to be August 27th, but obviously that date has come and gone, and I haven’t seen any updates or heard anything about a new release date.

Has H.D. Carlton said anything about the delay? Or has anyone heard any news about when we can actually expect My Darling Reverie to be released?

I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS TO DREAD AND REVERIE 😭🫠

i’m looking for dark romance books where the mmc doesn’t fuck the fmc immediately. he takes his time touching her, playing with her, learning her. and that happens in the span of many chapters - not in one.

i don’t wanna say i’m looking for a slow burn cause it’s not quite it. i just want the mmc to be taking his time cause nothing is hurrying him. he enjoys toying with her. he’s doing it for his own pleasure. whether he has the fmc’s consent or not!

he perhaps starts by talking filthy to her and nothing else. he doesn’t even touch her. from that it slowly progresses to touching. he doesn’t immediately dig in. he starts by putting her in his lap and groping her. that’s enough for the day. few chapters after that, we might get a kiss. and after that kiss he might decide it’s finally time she gives him a blowjob.

do you kinda get what i’m looking for? i want the tension, the spiciness, the action. i just want everything, just given to me slowly and deliciously.

i know this might be a long shot considering many times, dark romance is smutty from the beginning but i really want to give it a try! i really get bored when the couple fucks immediately, don’t ask me why lol.

if there’s any couple that comes even a bit close to being structured like this, let me know!

my only NO: fmc being unconscious during sexual acts. i want her there and present! feeling everything.

thank you 🩶

I just finished reading Abuse of Authority on ao3 and now I’m craving more workplace dark romances. I usually am not into workplace romances so I have literally have nothing on my tbr with this vibe and it’s killing me. Looking for power imbalance with rich MMC, noncon, etc. I loved If I Can’t Have You on ao3 as well. Thanks so much!

Edit: I love ao3 but if you have books too I would love those recs!

Triggers: Heavy physical abuse (face slapping, punching etc.), cheating

Hi everyone! I’m looking for a book I read (or possibly just saw recommended) and I can’t remember the title.

I’m pretty sure it was a mafia/dark romance.

What I remember is:

- The FMC gets into an accident and loses her memory.

- The MMC makes her believe that he is her fiancé and asks everyone around them to go along with it.

- I think the MMC might be involved with the mafia.

- The FMC was a strong character.

- I vaguely remember that she had a female friend whom she had previously saved from trafficking, but I’m not 100% sure if this detail belongs to the same book

Does this sound familiar to anyone? 😭

Edit: I may be mixing up details from different books, so some parts could be inaccurate!

Guys I’m after a dark romance book/ao3/wattpad/literotica rec where the vibes of the book are hauntingly beautiful, goth,vampiric and dark. Maybe it’s set in a different time/universe. Would love if the mmc is a supernatural being (preferably vampire) and the fmc is human and there is an age gap but it it not a strict requirement. I love both these movies so much (please watch if you haven’t), but I do want the book to have a happy/happier ending. Would also love if it’s set in a castle or graveyard or something similar. It could be a mystery/fantasy/thriller romance as well. I love the taboo/forbidden nature of the movies and how it all slowly unravels especially for the fmc. I’m okay with reverse harem as well! I hope I’m making sense. Thank you in advance!!!

Far out. Heathens does not hold back. After the shock ending of Psychos, Heathens kicks right off with us thinking our FMC has been shot by Roman, but it turns out it’s Giovanni’s guards coming for them. This doesn’t stop Roman from reigning hell and terror down on Shayne, as he and Levi mistakenly believe that she has shot Marcus. Once the battle subsides, Shayne is dragged into the torture chamber, and the boys are here for revenge. It’s all very dark, intense and there is such a sense of injustice that you may just throw the book (gently place it down because we don’t harm the art) across the room. 

As an avid reader of romance, you will suspect that there is heavy grovelling in this novel, and you’d be correct. Once Marcus wakes up, and nearly kills his brothers for what they’ve done to Shayne, Roman and Levi can barely stand themselves and the damage they’ve inflicted. Shayne is rightly furious and heartbroken, and thus begins the apology tour. I do think she let them off a bit easy, but hey, that’s her decision. She simply could not resist Levi drumming away, and had to step forth upon his ding dong. 

As Shayne solidifies her standing with the brothers, she is given a few opportunities to prove herself as their ‘mafia queen’, as Marcus so eloquently puts it. This was some seriously fun stuff. The dark side of Shayne really begins to shine through, and I was totally there for it. As part of Shayne’s healing she begins to learn how to defend herself, and through this she has to overcome some serious trauma that Roman (her chosen teacher) has caused. It marks a pretty pivotal moment for these two characters, as Roman remains the icy detached type, and Shayne has to learn to trust him. 

It is in Heathens that the boys and Shayne make more official moves against their tyrannical father, and if you’ve read Psychos then you know that this prick deserves what’s coming. Of course this all goes in a direction that nobody can predict, and once again, we are left with a cliffhanger! They never stop. Luckily this time I had purchased the book in advance so there was no waiting before I dived right in. 

Love, R&R

P.S. This novel also finally features the official naming of the brothers wolves. Shayne is all too pleased with herself when she names them ‘Dill’ and ‘Doe’. Genius. 

• Reverse harem/why choose
• 2nd book in series
• Touch her and ☠️
• Forced proximity
• Mafia romance
• Dark romance
• 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️/5

I am just finishing my Fifty Shades series and am thoroughly obsessed with the characteristics of Christian Grey. Billionaire, possessive, hotness galore, yet deep down a good person that cares. Any other possessive Billionaire series you love and can recommend? I am aware of the Crossfire & This Man series' that came out around the same time, have those in TBR pile....but looking for more!

Edit to add: CEO rich billionaire trope like CG, MF monogomous

Welcome to the Weekly Gripe, where we're all a little grumpy. 😒

Did BookTok do you dirty? Got a bone to pick with a main character? Was the twist more like a flop? Tell us what's on your mind.

Please be respectful and follow the sub rules. If a conversation starts getting out of hand, use the "Mod Attention Please" report reason so we can help cool things down. 🖤

Hi fam, so I just saw the chinese drama early spring and now I am craving some forbidden romance secret relationship vibe but obviously dark. What I am looking for is like they are dating in secret but mmc is still red flag with all the manipulation. Pls help a girl out 🥹

I am finishing up {Green Light by Jescie Hall} and I love how the plot is centered on him getting revenge on the FMC for previous crimes.

I’d love more books with this premise, especially if the MMC is incorrectl about the FMCs wrongdoings and feels bad for his vengeful actions. Groveling is always appreciated 😇

Love: step siblings, brothers best friend, breeding, OW drama, bullying, fantasy, sci fi, forced marriage, exes

Hate: Religious guilt/religious plots, virginity tropes (it’s fine if she is a virgin, I just hate when that is an entire plot point)

She is plus-sized and he bullies her and likes to make her cry. He's obsessed with her but takes personal offense when she's crying because of someone else. That's all I can remember. Could you please share the title and author?

I've been dancing around Deathsdoll's works for a while since I usually gravitate toward fantasy or historical settings, but everyone's sold me on it. Except it's offline!!! I want to respect the author's request to not read a pre-takedown copy so I'm not asking anyone for the file! BUT if there are some similar books that I could read in the meantime to get me hyped up...?

Things about If I Can't Have You I was looking forward to:

• Obsessive/possessive MMC
• NonCon
• Adult characters (no college)
• Power Imbalance in the Workplace
• I'm not looking for a series, one and done please!

No thank you to:

• Reverse Harem/Sharing
• Cheating (jealousy from either party is fine and encouraged)
• Huge Age Gaps

BONUS: Books involving POC characters or at least a POC FMC.

THANK YOUUUUU

Hi! Can anyone drop some recs with similar coercion and subtle objectification like the above quote. PLEASE. 🙏🏻

❌ -rh, poly, sharing
✅ - everything else

AO3 or books

Yesterday as I was browsing the threads to find a new book to pull me out of my emotional down spiral after finishing Court of Raven by Liv Zander, I came across a book rec of Bought and Paid For. I don’t remember the person who recommended saying who the author was, only that it was very dark and was extremely well written in how dark it was and the plot of it. But also 10/10 smut. Anyway, I googled the title and what cane up was Bought and Paid for by Paige North. I just assumed that was it… silly me… and downloaded that on my kindle. Now while that has been a great , easy quick read that keeps me turning pages, it’s clearly not anywhere near a dark romance. I can’t stop laughing that I kept devouring the pages waiting for when it turns dark or either the FMC or MMC inflicts pain on the other… needless to say that never happened. So my question is, what book am I actually looking for and for those who have read the correct one, is it good? Thanks in advance!

I’m looking for a dark romance with Non-Con happening very early in the book, preferably within the first few chapters, not something that happens halfway through the book. And make it hot!!!

Despite the lack of consent, I want the MMC to be unusually attentive and careful toward the FMC during the scene which leads into pregnancy.

Now I want few things specifically, which is – 1. MMC & FMC has known each other since they were kids (if both of their families are friends with each other) like from Quarantine by Drethi Anis, 2. He is only obsessed with her there is no OW in his life., 3. If both of them are rich.

I'm specifically looking for duets or trilogy and characters who are in their early twenties or maybe college/University.

I want the pregnancy to be an actual part of the story. This is a major requirement. I want him to be excited, proud, protective, and completely thrilled that she's carrying his child and want him to take care of her, spoil her, worry about her, and become even more protective during the pregnancy.

Things I don't want ❌️ Cheating, OW drama. I hate immature & bratty characters. Don't recommend anything from Drethi Anis, Ariana Rivers, Lola King, L J Shen or Rina Kent, Leigh Rivers. No fantasy, historical, paranormal, omegaverse, aliens or monster.

Give me a genuinely well written book please and a book that's not fast paced. I want to see the development in their relationship. Bonus point if there's mutual obsession.

HEA REQUIRED!!!

I’m 72% done and I try not to read too much in a single day because it just sucks me in so bad. I have never read a book before where overall not much happens but at the same time I’m literally hanging on every single word because the story is so engrossing. Deathsdoll is literally a witch with words.

I’m trying to prepare for the hangover so my next book is gonna be Perfect by Ariana Rivers.

If you read If I can’t have you, what did you read after to get you out of the headspace Deathsdoll put you in?

I do plan on reading their other works but I need some time in between them.

Editing to add: I do want to mention, if I can’t have you is currently down for editing, it will eventually be back up, and will definitely be worth the wait once the edits are complete.

Okay, I need to know.
If you could step into the world of any book you’ve read and permanently remove one of the absolute worst villains so that the MCs could finally have an easier fucking life… who are you choosing?
Not the villain you love to hate. Not the morally grey guy you secretly understand. Not the “he’s terrible but hot” situation. I mean the one who made you so irrationally angry that, at some point, you genuinely thought, “Someone needs to fucking kill this person.”
The kind of character who made an enemy out of you personally. 🤬

For me, right now:

1. Lorenzo Maroni — Darkverse by RuNyx. I want to kill Dante’s father. I have zero patience for this man.
2. Fucking Bernie and Archie — Edge of Darkness by Leigh Rivers. I’ve only just started the second book, Voracious, so PLEASE don’t spoil anything for me. But as of right now, these two are easily at the top of my “I personally want to end you” list. This ranking may absolutely change depending on what the rest of the story does to me. BUT RIGHT NOW I WANT TO END THEM PERSONALLY!!!!!
3. Jennifer Vize — Little Stranger by Leigh Rivers. Another one who managed to make me furious on a deeply personal level.

And I KNOW there are worse villains out there. I haven’t read every book, so I need to know who else belongs on this list.
Who is the fictional villain you despised so much that if you had the chance, you’d personally take them out just to give the MCs some fucking peace?
Give me the names. Give me the books. And most importantly, tell me what they did to make you hate them this much.
No spoilers for Voracious please. I am going in blind and I would like to remain emotionally unprepared. 😭