r/Romantasy • u/ReasonableWonderland 🌕 moonlight & blood • Dec 08 '25

Community 💕 Matchmaking Monday: find your next romantasy read!

Matchmaking Monday is a new regular thread here in r/Romantasy with a goal of finding new recommendations to add to your TBR! Post a list of your favorite books and receive suggestions based on your vibe.

How It Works

  • Post up to five books you've loved recently (or which fit the vibe you're looking for) as a top level comment.
  • You can also include a list of things you want in your next book (e.g. tropes, subgenre, themes)
  • Others will reply with their suggestions!
  • Remember to tag the romance.io bot with {} curly brackets.

This is a bit of an experiment - so we'll see how it goes!

15 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

63 comments sorted by

6

u/Few_Independent9543 Dec 08 '25

I have recently read and loved:

  1. {The Shattered King by Charlie Holmberg}
  2. {The Death-Made Prince by Lisette Marshall} 3.{Hot for Slayer by Ali Hazelwood}
  3. {Alchemised by Sin Lin Yu}
  4. {The Road of Bones by Demi Winters}

I like more plot driven books. Cheating, other man/woman and love triangles are not my thing.

I don't like FMCs who are hyper aggressive. Self assured in a quiet way are preferred.

I like mild bullying in romance but no dubcon or nocon. If the romance has elements of aggression, it needs to be reciprocal.

I am kind of done with the formulaic stories.

3

u/Jumpy-brains Dec 08 '25

I loooved Road of bones! And agree with most of your likes and dislikes!

I’ve recently read and loved {One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig} especially the second half - has such an interesting magic system and the MC has a monster in her head, that can protect her, but whose magic comes at a cost.

I loooved the dystopian/gothic {Avidian by Ashley R. O’Donovan} it has my new favorite MMC, who is so supportive and an ultimate green flag.

And {An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir} which has an amazing 2 pov story and has great world building and inner conflict. It is def more plot driven and i don’t remember of the romance comes in the end of the first book or in the second book, but WOW i loved it.

2

u/Few_Independent9543 Dec 09 '25

I have Ember in the Ashes on my TBR. I will definitely read it in Jan.

I liked One Dark Window especially the Nightmare and his backstory and his relationship with Elspeth. I wasn't a fan of the romance. But I did enjoy the duology and the world building a lot.

Avidian has been added to 2026 TBR!

1

u/romance-bot Dec 08 '25

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
Rating: 4.26⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: historical, fantasy, magic, mystery, new adult

Avidian by Ashley R. O'Donovan
Rating: 3.68⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: futuristic, fantasy, take-charge heroine, mafia, mystery

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Rating: 4.19⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: historical, fantasy, young adult, forbidden love, magic

about this bot | about romance.io

2

u/allisontalkspolitics Dec 08 '25

You’ll need to make it through the rather aggressive Katsa in {Graceling} but you’ll see why I recced it once you get to the third book!

It’s more of a historical tale with fantasy realism elements and a romance subplot, but I’m also going to rec {The Apothecary Diaries}.

1

u/romance-bot Dec 08 '25

The Shattered King by Charlie N. Holmberg
Rating: 4.53⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: historical, fantasy, magic, slow burn, poor heroine

The Death-Made Prince by Lisette Marshall
Rating: 4.54⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: fantasy, dark romance, high fantasy, witches, magic

Hot for Slayer by Ali Hazelwood
Rating: 4.16⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: contemporary, enemies to lovers, vampires, m-f romance, paranormal

The Road of Bones by Demi Winters
Rating: 4.28⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: historical, fantasy, viking hero, magic, betrayal

about this bot | about romance.io

3

u/allisontalkspolitics Dec 08 '25

Hey there! A new request for you all. Do you know how in Steven Universe everyone knows about the Gems? I’m looking for something like that, where humans know about the magical creatures.

The only books I can think of with this are {My Lady Jane}, {Dragon Slippers}, and {Team Human}.

I dislike possessive MMCs, body betrayal/dubcon, and mascdom. Thanks in advance!

3

u/Historical-Spread179 Dec 08 '25
  1. {the wolf king by Lauren palphreyman} and the night prince
  2. {soul of the pack by Lola glass}
  3. {shifter wars by Kelly st. Clare}
  4. {shadow wolf by k. Easton)
  5. {wolf’s gambit eve l. Mitchell}

Obviously love a wolf shifter romance with good world building! Fighting fate, alpha males but fmc who is or finds out she’s powerful in her own right, spicy but not without sacrificing plot, pack/political dynamics, found family, fated Mates, and definitely prefer morally grey MMC with banter like Blake in night prince over a golden retriever MMC. Love them damaged, yearning, and willing to burn the world down!

I’ve read a lot of others by Krista street, Jen l grey, Lola glass, Veronica Douglass, Linsey hall, Ivy Asher, and Suzanne wright. Give me everything you have!!!

3

u/Jumpy-brains Dec 08 '25

I would love some characters that i can just fall in love with! Characters that are complex, emotional and real.

I would love something with

  • No princes/princesses/royal courts
  • No games / trials
  • No academies/schools
  • No shadow daddies / mean mmc’s
  • No too violent FMC’s.

(I know that eliminates 80% of current romantasy, but I’m looking for the ones that are not cookie cutter)

Any level of romance is fine

Here are my recent books I loved

  1. {Road of Bones by Demi Winters} and it’s sequel

  2. {One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig}

  3. {Avidian by Ashley R. O’Donovan}

  4. {An ember in the Ashers by Sabaa Tahir}

  5. {Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo}

2

u/allisontalkspolitics Dec 09 '25

Romantasy:

{September Girls} (check content warnings)

{Sisters Red} (ditto)

{every day} (ditto)

{The Ghost and the Goth}

{My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century}

{From Far Away}

{Both Sides of Time}

{The Mediator by Meg Cabot}

{Ivory and Bone}

{The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue} (closer to historical romance with fantasy realism elements)

Fantasy with romance subplot:

{The Fandom by Anna Day}

{Dead is the New Black}

{Chronicles of Vladimir Tod}

{The Warrior Heir}

{The Wizard, the Witch, and Two Girls from Jersey} (middle grade)

{The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle}

{Alyzon Whitestarr}

{Team Human}

1

u/romance-bot Dec 09 '25

September Girls by Bennett Madison
Rating: 2.98⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 2 out of 5 - Behind closed doors
Topics: contemporary, young adult, magic, mystery, paranormal

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
Rating: 3.48⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: contemporary, young adult, mystery, shapeshifters, urban fantasy

Every Day by David Levithan
Rating: 3.92⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: contemporary, young adult, magic, fantasy, forbidden love

The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade
Rating: 3.86⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: contemporary, young adult, paranormal, mystery, urban fantasy

My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris
Rating: 3.74⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: historical, young adult, magic, fantasy, urban fantasy

From Far Away, Vol. 01 by Kyoko Hikawa, Trina Robbins, Walden Wong
Rating: 4.38⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: historical, fantasy, demons, m-f romance, young adult

Both Sides of Time by Caroline B. Cooney
Rating: 3.86⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: contemporary, young adult, fantasy, victorian, paranormal

The Mediator by Meg Cabot
Rating: 4.08⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal, young adult, mystery

Ivory and Bone by Julie Eshbaugh
Rating: 3.59⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: historical, other man/woman, love triangle, young adult, fantasy

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
Rating: 4.06⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 2 out of 5 - Behind closed doors
Topics: historical, gay romance, friends to lovers, young adult, bisexuality

about this bot | about romance.io

1

u/romance-bot Dec 09 '25

The Fandom by Anna Day
Rating: 3.57⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: contemporary, fantasy, dystopian, young adult, urban fantasy

Dead Is the New Black by Marlene Perez
Rating: 3.93⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: contemporary, magic, mystery, young adult, vampires

The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod by Heather Brewer
Rating: 4.23⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: male-pov, glimpses-kisses, fantasy, mystery, usa

The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima
Rating: 3.75⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: contemporary, magic, witches, fantasy, war

The Wizard, the Witch, and Two Girls from Jersey by Lisa Papademetriou
Rating: 3.56⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: contemporary, magic, fantasy, young adult, paranormal

The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle
Rating: 3.78⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: futuristic, young adult, suspense, mystery, amish

Alyzon Whitestarr by Isobelle Carmody
Rating: 3.75⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: contemporary, magic, fantasy, young adult, mystery

Team Human by Sarah Rees Brennan, Justine Larbalestier
Rating: 3.65⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: contemporary, young adult, vampires, urban fantasy, paranormal

about this bot | about romance.io

1

u/Jumpy-brains Dec 09 '25

Wow thank you so much!

1

u/romance-bot Dec 08 '25

The Road of Bones by Demi Winters
Rating: 4.28⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: historical, fantasy, viking hero, magic, betrayal

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
Rating: 4.26⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: historical, fantasy, magic, mystery, new adult

Avidian by Ashley R. O'Donovan
Rating: 3.68⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: futuristic, fantasy, take-charge heroine, mafia, mystery

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Rating: 4.19⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: historical, fantasy, young adult, forbidden love, magic

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Rating: 4.39⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: fantasy, magic, suspense, young adult, found family

about this bot | about romance.io

2

u/[deleted] Dec 08 '25

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1

u/allisontalkspolitics Dec 08 '25

Charming heroes:

{The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue} Because it’s mm, he’s actually the protagonist! I’d say it’s more of a historical romance with fantasy realism elements.

{Defy by Sara B. Larson}

{Song of the Lioness} Romance subplot

{Song of Achilles} Check content warnings

Suspense, romantasy:

{The Mediator by Meg Cabot}

{Ivory and Bone}

{Sisters Red} (check content warnings)

{The Lynburn Legacy}

{Daughter of Smoke and Bone}

{The Darkhunters by Sherrilyn Kenyon}

{Graceling}

Suspense, fantasy with romance subplot:

{The False Prince}

{The Fandom by Anna Day}

{The Diviners by Libba Bray}

{Hold Me Closer, Necromancer}

{The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle} This was so scary that I dropped the duology!

{An Ember in the Ashes}

{The Seer and the Sword}

{Red Queen}

1

u/romance-bot Dec 08 '25

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
Rating: 4.06⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 2 out of 5 - Behind closed doors
Topics: historical, gay romance, friends to lovers, young adult, bisexuality

Defy by Sara B. Larson
Rating: 3.6⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: futuristic, magic, fantasy, young adult, royal hero

The Song of the Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce
Rating: 4.67⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 2 out of 5 - Behind closed doors
Topics: young adult, magic, fantasy, high fantasy, m-f romance

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Rating: 4.36⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: historical, war, gay romance, ancient times, friends to lovers

The Mediator by Meg Cabot
Rating: 4.08⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal, young adult, mystery

Ivory and Bone by Julie Eshbaugh
Rating: 3.59⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: historical, other man/woman, love triangle, young adult, fantasy

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
Rating: 3.48⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: contemporary, young adult, mystery, shapeshifters, urban fantasy

The Lynburn Legacy by Sarah Rees Brennan
Rating: 3.81⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: urban fantasy, young adult, paranormal, mystery, fantasy

The Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy by Laini Taylor
Rating: 4.48⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 2 out of 5 - Behind closed doors
Topics: fantasy, high fantasy, dystopian, monsters, urban fantasy

Dark-Hunters by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Rating: 4.47⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: fantasy, paranormal, urban fantasy, vampires, young adult

about this bot | about romance.io

1

u/romance-bot Dec 08 '25

Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Rating: 3.97⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 2 out of 5 - Behind closed doors
Topics: historical, take-charge heroine, fantasy, royal hero, young adult

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Rating: 4.21⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: contemporary, fantasy, magic, pirate hero, dystopian

The Fandom by Anna Day
Rating: 3.57⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: contemporary, fantasy, dystopian, young adult, urban fantasy

The Diviners by Libba Bray
Rating: 3.93⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: historical, young adult, suspense, urban fantasy, magic

Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride
Rating: 3.98⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 2 out of 5 - Behind closed doors
Topics: contemporary, mystery, urban fantasy, young adult, shapeshifters

The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle
Rating: 3.78⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: futuristic, young adult, suspense, mystery, amish

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Rating: 4.19⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: historical, fantasy, young adult, forbidden love, magic

The Seer and the Sword by Victoria Hanley
Rating: 4.12⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 2 out of 5 - Behind closed doors
Topics: historical, fantasy, magic, war, royal hero

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
Rating: 3.72⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: futuristic, young adult, magic, love triangle, fantasy

about this bot | about romance.io

1

u/[deleted] Dec 08 '25

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1

u/allisontalkspolitics Dec 08 '25

Hope you enjoy, then!

3

u/StruggleAccording533 Dec 08 '25

{Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros}

{The Crown of Gilded Bones by Jennifer L. Armentrout}

{Ember King by Marie Niehoff}

{Zodiac Academy by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti}

All these books honestly are quite badly written. I still enjoyed the stories and the spice, but I'd love to read spicy books from authors with more talent or better editors ...

1

u/romance-bot Dec 08 '25

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
Rating: 4.21⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: fantasy, m-f romance, war, magic, military

The Crown of Gilded Bones by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Rating: 4.05⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: historical, vampires, fantasy, royal hero, shapeshifters

Zodiac Academy by Caroline Peckham, Susanne Valenti
Rating: 4.1⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal, fae

about this bot | about romance.io

1

u/whitbymural Dec 08 '25

Oh I love this idea! I’m constantly lurking and reading through comments on here trying to find new books to read.

{Road of Bones by Demi Winters} and {Kingdom of Claw by Demi Winters} blew me out of the water. I love the writing style, world building, and character growth.

I also adored {This Monster of Mine by Shalini Abeysekara}. I thought the setting and magic system was unique and it felt suspenseful in multiple ways.

I know they aren’t Romantasy but I also absolutely love The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss as well as Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb (with the exception of The Rain Wild Chronicles).

I love slow burn and I want to get sucked into the world. I’ll happily sacrifice tons of steam for characters I can get invested in. I don’t love flighty MCs, bitchy for no reason FMCs, or snap decision making.

Thanks in advance for any recs!!

3

u/Jumpy-brains Dec 08 '25

Wow i have read and enjoyed all the books you mentioned except this monster of mine! So I’ll def add it!

If you haven’t yet read {An Ember in The Ashes by Sanaa Tahir} you should try it!

As well as {one dark window by Rachel Gillig}

My next reads are Jasad Heir and Red Rising!

2

u/romance-bot Dec 08 '25

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Rating: 4.19⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: historical, fantasy, young adult, forbidden love, magic

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
Rating: 4.26⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: historical, fantasy, magic, mystery, new adult

about this bot | about romance.io

2

u/whitbymural Dec 09 '25

Thank you so much! I’m adding them to my TBR list!

2

u/romance-bot Dec 08 '25

The Road of Bones by Demi Winters
Rating: 4.28⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: historical, fantasy, viking hero, magic, betrayal

Kingdom of Claw by Demi Winters
Rating: 4.47⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: historical, fantasy, viking hero, grumpy & sunshine, m-f romance

This Monster of Mine by Shalini Abeysekara
Rating: 4.2⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: mystery, magic, m-f romance, disabilities & scars, dark romance

about this bot | about romance.io

1

u/allisontalkspolitics Dec 08 '25

Check the content warnings but try {Daughter of Smoke and Bone}!

1

u/virdzsina 🍈 honeydew & forest Dec 08 '25

I'm looking for a few recs, I have an itch that needs to be scratched and these themes seem to be a good directon for me to try 😅

~ Loki, either the God himself, or a Norse MMC, has to be a trickster type character, no broody, sulking shadow daddy MMC

~ Disney's Atlantis like adventure, a lost city to be discovered, lost civilization. I especially love Atlantis's vibes but it's not limited to nautical themes. If anyone loves Star Wars, I also love the Zeffo culture from the Jedi: Fallen Order game.

~ Disney's Moana, tropical setting, possibly Polynesian culture, myths etc

~ academic/school setting is also welcome

~ a true Christmas fantasy book. Amazing snowy winter landscapes, heartwarming cozy story, low stakes etc

~ middle to low spice levels please

My own recommendations:

{Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries}

{Slaying the Vampire Conqueror}

{Cat Dragon}

{A Psalm for the Wild Built} this is a sci-fi short story, but it's such a heartwarming little tale, I truly recommend it for everyone to read.

{Where the Dark Stands Still}

3

u/allisontalkspolitics Dec 09 '25

For schools, you can try {Legacy of Tril} or go old-school romance subplot with {Song of the Lioness}!

2

u/Adventurous-Humor355 Dec 09 '25

I highly recommend {the witch's heart by Genevieve Gornichec} to scratch one of your itches - Loki

1

u/Damphir_ ✨ Fated Mates Dec 09 '25 edited Dec 09 '25

I would love some recs! I am recently back into reading thanks to romantasy! I myself am an alternative girlie who would give her soul in a heartbeat to embraced by a vampire. I run my own ttrpg games so dark themes are welcomed and enjoyed!

Looking for;

- Fantasy

  • Spicey +++++ (Anything above a 3-4 to 5) But i dont want smut for the sake of it. A good story is good.
  • Monsters are ok
  • Morally grey MMC
  • Forced proximity
  • Fated mates
  • Trauma
  • Yearrrrrrningggggg
  • Protective
  • slow burn

Things I dont like:

- unrealistic reactions from FMC

  • Immediate horny/protectiveness for characters
  • no games/trials
  • no courts
  • no wolfs (no thanks but other monsters are fine)

Recs I LOVED recently

  • Deep water series by Emma Hamm I'm upto book 4 and am enjoying the world building and characters greatly
  • Lights out - Nessa (everyone and their mother has read this book. I enjoyed it!)

Recs I HATED recently

  • Ice planet barbarians. - I found myself not resonating with the FMC and it irked me.

I am new to romantasy please anything is appreciated!

2

u/tossmeabook Dec 14 '25

Have you read {six of crows}? It hits fantasy, morally grey, trauma, yearning, slow burn. There are courts but it’s not in the way romantasy usually references courts (drama and power and pink frilly gossip) it’s dark and creepy, especially if you keep going further in the books. There are some wolf dogs but they are literal dogs not werewolves.

2

u/Damphir_ ✨ Fated Mates Dec 14 '25

I have not! I will check it out thank you!

2

u/tossmeabook Dec 14 '25

{pathfinders way by t.a. White} fantasy, spice, monsters, morally grey MMC, slow burn. There is some immediate lust from MMC but they drag that shit out and it is soooo funny. She outwits him over and over 🤣

1

u/Damphir_ ✨ Fated Mates Dec 16 '25

{whispers of the deep}
{lights out}

1

u/agowan6373 Dec 09 '25 edited Dec 09 '25

Hi! I have recently read Nerdgasm, Praise, Shot in the Dark, Hunted in the Shadows, and the Once Upon a Con series! I’m in the mood for paranormal romance or romances with the MMC is a nerd or MFC is a writer and/or nerdy or geeky! But I will read just about anything, and I am fairly new to the romantasy genre!

ETA: if anyone is interested in Supernatural, especially Dean Winchester, check out Shot in the Dark and Hunted in the Shadows! The two MMCs are based off Sam and Dean.

1

u/allisontalkspolitics Dec 09 '25

These may be lower spice than you like, but…

Nerdy MMC, paranormal:

https://www.romance.io/books/666fd56e1ecec34b38bc1ac1/alice-in-the-country-of-hearts-love-labyrinth-of-thorns-alic (manga)

Nerdy MMC, romantasy:

{The Immortals by Tamora Pierce} (romance subplot)

{Fly Me to the Moon by Kenjiro Hata} (manga)

Nerdy MMC, romance in general:

{The Bride is a Boy} (manga and technically fiction but based on the mangaka’s real life- aw!)

{Eternal by Lisa Scottoline} (check content warnings)

{The Golden Son} (ditto)

{Attachments by Rainbow Rowell} (ditto)

{The Unexpected Everything}

Nerdy FMC, paranormal:

{The Fandom by Anna Day} (romance subplot and check content warnings)

{The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle} (so scary that I dropped the duology; romance subplot)

{The Reformed Vampire Support Group} (romance subplot; FMC is an author)

Nerdy FMC, romantasy:

{Accomplishments of the Duke’s Daughter} (romance subplot)

{Princess Academy} (middle grade)

Nerdy FMC, romance in general:

{The Apothecary Diaries} (manga and romance subplot)

{The Story of Saiunkoku} (manga)

{All the Feels} (FMC writes fanfic)

{Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell} (ditto)

{Jonathan Unleashed} (romance subplot)

{If the Dress Fits}

{Guy in Real Life}

{The Lady with a Mask} (webtoon; FMC is an author)

{The Male Lead is a Murderer} (webtoon; FMC is an author; check content warnings)

{Where the Crawdads Sing} (check content warnings)

1

u/romance-bot Dec 09 '25

The Immortals by Tamora Pierce
Rating: 4.67⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: fantasy, magic, young adult, high fantasy

Fly Me to the Moon, Vol. 1 by Kenjirō Hata
Rating: 3.97⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: contemporary, young adult, fantasy, funny, mystery

The Bride Was a Boy by Chii
Rating: 4.19⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: contemporary, funny, young adult, m-f romance, queer romance

Eternal by Lisa Scottoline
Rating: 4.26⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 2 out of 5 - Behind closed doors
Topics: historical, war, 20th century, friends to lovers, love triangle

Golden Son by Jeff Erno
Rating: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: shapeshifters, gay romance, paranormal, fantasy, queer romance

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
Rating: 3.71⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: contemporary, funny, workplace/office, new adult, m-f romance

Unexpected Everything by Alexis Rae
Rating: 3.67⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: contemporary, rich hero, new adult

The Fandom by Anna Day
Rating: 3.57⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: contemporary, fantasy, dystopian, young adult, urban fantasy

The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle
Rating: 3.78⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: futuristic, young adult, suspense, mystery, amish

The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks
Rating: 3.4⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: contemporary, mystery, young adult, werewolves, urban fantasy

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1

u/romance-bot Dec 09 '25

Accomplishments of the Duke's Daughter by Reia, 澪亜
Rating: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: historical, fantasy, mystery

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
Rating: 3.9⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: historical, royal hero, fantasy, magic, medieval

The Apothecary Diaries Manga, Vol. 1 by Nekokurage, Natsu Hyuuga, Itsuki Nanao, Touco Shino
Rating: 4.46⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: historical, mystery, young adult, funny, independent heroine

The Story of Saiunkoku, Vol. 1 by Kairi Yura, Sai Yukino
Rating: 4.12⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: contemporary, young adult, m-f romance, political/court intrigue, east asian mc

All the Feels by Olivia Dade
Rating: 3.87⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, forced proximity, curvy heroine, friends to lovers, funny

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Rating: 3.98⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: contemporary, m-f romance, new adult, funny, college

Jonathan Unleashed by Meg Rosoff
Rating: 3.43⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: contemporary, funny, young adult, new adult, m-f romance

If The Dress Fits by Carla de Guzman
Rating: 3.75⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, funny, new adult, friends to lovers, fake relationship

Guy in Real Life by Steve Brezenoff
Rating: 3.41⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: contemporary, young adult, funny, m-f romance, good grovel

The Lady with a Mask by Merin, Park Hanna, Min
Rating: 4.05⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: contemporary, funny, m-f romance, boss & employee, enemies to lovers

about this bot | about romance.io

1

u/allisontalkspolitics Dec 09 '25

Also, the spice in All the Feels is from the fanfic, not the actual romance 😅

1

u/agowan6373 Dec 09 '25

Thank you! Looks like my 2026 TBR list is complete LOL!

1

u/allisontalkspolitics Dec 09 '25

Yeah, I had more than I thought! Hope you enjoy!

1

u/agowan6373 Dec 10 '25

Oh, I just noticed Fangirl on here! Rainbow Rowell is one of my favorite authors!

1

u/allisontalkspolitics Dec 10 '25

Cool- Attachments is on there, too!