u/goody153

I just honestly feel like reading this kind of angst like feeling undesirable and unloved with MMC changing that perspective of her and MMC being baffled why she even thinks that.

The common denominator is “this particular visible trait has affected how she sees her own desirability.” which can be any of the following below:

• prominent facial/body scars
• a permanent limp from an old injury
• burns
• a damaged eye
• noticeable facial asymmetry from an injury
• missing fingers or other small visible injuries (but no like missing limbs)
• a birthmark or genetic physical feature that she was mocked for
• a visible condition that she has been made to feel unattractive because of
• pockmarks

A great example I have would be: { Unlovely Bride by Alice Coldbreath } where basically FMC has red pockmarks from like some widespread illness like while the pockmarks are probably nothing but she was like the reigning beauty of the court so it is quite visible she lost that societal title which got her really insecure

Also no plus-size insecurity cause honestly i've read and encountered many of that concept which is usually how the "physical undesirability" is presented. I'm looking for other examples.

Another example I could think of which is pretty great for this would be { Despised & Desired: The Marquess' Passionate Wife by Bree Wolf } like this might be my best example. She's insecure of her desirability and she has both limp, nerve damage and burnscars

Preferably a more wholesome rather than darker romance books.

Contemporary is exactly what i'm looking for here it's more interesting in modern social context. No cheating and of course HEA !

Basically FMC could be whatever she is in his life but it has to be she is like always around she begins to visibly affect his life for the better. So constant presence is a given.

Like honestly it could even be just as simple as cause she reminds him to eat and sleep on time. Or he could even be just something like a real calming presence in his life. Could be she does household chores. It could be really anything but has to be constant and visible.

Examples of this that I read are:

1. { The Sleeping Arrangement by Neva Bell } - she's basically a slumber buddy for him (literal sleeping together) for contract cause he has a hard time sleeping and apparently their accidental nap sesh together helped him sleep better. It literally improved his life just cause he is sleeping better.
2. { Delayed Penalty by Teagan Hunter } - she's a baby sitter for his niece that he is now responsible for. Like his life improves drastically just cause she's such a good babysitter and it let him focus on his other aspects of his life.
3. { Short Straw Bride by Dallas Schulze } - this is historical so basically just the housekeeping skills of FMC literally improved not just MMC's life but his brother and including the many many ranchers under them. It was literal in this case
4. { crossing the lines by s.j. hooks } - this is a more darker version since FMC is an escort for MMC but she absolutely did improve his life tho more on the warm body style cause he's a lonely man. So yeah initially mostly sex and affection.
5. { Wed by Proxy by Alice Coldbreath } - bro here is a bitter grumpy lord who was in the losing side of the war. Basically she kinda fixed that including the aspect that he wasnt really aligned with the new king. I believe this is more a subtle improvement cause without her involvement likely he'll be part of the attempted rebellion again cause he was so bitter and still grieving about it.
6. { Her Bridegroom, Bought and Paid For by Alice Coldbreath } - FMC literally brought money, wealth and lands to MMC. She literally had her father bribe him to marry her and he became rich and settled because of it lmao not just that but his poor relatives also benefitted from it with the new comfy life. So this is more the direct wealth infusion in his life.
7. { The Consolation Prize by Alice Coldbreath } - like MMC here had properties and responsibilities he was dodging but basically because he had to settle her he actually ended up doing his responsibilities as a landlord. Because of her not only suddenly the wandering lifestyle of the MMC ended but half the town got employed because of him cause he had to have workers.
8. { civil contract by georgette heyer } - same as example #6 essentially she brought money into his life ! also she basically actually openly supported him in his agricultural and farming aspects like she openly stated at one point she is a "farmer's wife" why she is dressed like one. They are kinda cute
9. { night in eden by candice proctor } - this is a darker example cause this happens in penal colony australia and FMC was a prisoner there and he hired her to become a wetnurse for his infant. She did chores here too
10. { dark wizard by jeffe kennedy } - basically he's a country bumpkin with no idea about the magical society that he has become a lord. So he needed somebody to guide him on how to be a "lord" which this is the case for him marrying FMC is literally necessary for like knowledge, understanding, politics and so many things. Literal direct improvement in life and many in their region

Although alot of my examples are basically domestic cause they are the more obvious examples to this but hell it could be as simple as she organizes his life or could even be she's his tutor or something.

I know this seems to be in any book but honestly half of them like whether FMC is there or not like their life is already for the better or doesnt really improve.

I prefer contemporary here but I dont mind historical. No cheating and of course HEA !

Anyways recommendations ?

This is highly inspired from { In A Rush by Kate Canterbary } like this book did it mostly.

Like it was so unbelievably fun to read cause the MMC and FMC kinda have an escalating affection and intimacy treatment with each other. Like started for forehead kisses and side hugs to random quick kisses on the lips. Like the anticipation, the getting closer and closer and step by step growth in the relationship aligning with the physical aspect of it.

Like they start with small gestures and touches, then progress into hanging on the arm, hand on the back, hugs, kisses, more intimate kisses, deeper intimacy, and eventually a deeper physical relationship.

So instalust is a nono here. It's not traditional slow burn either cause they have an escalating affection and intimacy rather than nothing happens for long periods into suddenly leaps in intimacy/affection so there is a clear development in affection

Like I can remember some manga/anime does this like fairly common for more juvenile cast in that medium. And some IRL experience actually LOL. Idk why western romance novels don't generally have this.

I have to be clear this aint just the usual slowburn cause some slowburn just EXPLODES in intimacy sometimes like nothing then suddenly at 70% of the book they tear each other's clothes off. SO THIS IS NOT THE CASE FOR THIS.

Contemporary would be best here tho I dont mind historical. No cheating of course. And HEA please !

Yes I used the search button (checked the examples but none that I liked enough). Nothing specifically on how I want the secret marriage book in mind came where at best they only show to be "friends " or acquaintance in public or social groups and at worst they pretend they dont know each other but goes home to the same house and sleeps in the same bed. They are keeping the marriage a secret for whatever reason it might be

So SPECIFICALLY something similar to Hapimari: Happy Marriage!? (manga or anime or live adaptation) where basically they intentionally keep it from their friends/coworkers. I think another example would be from an actual play (so like DND campaigns on youtube) called Critical Role (first season) where basically two of the players secretly got married and kept it from their companions

And I want big reveal scene which shocks everybody.

Contemporary would be best here. No cheating and HEA !

I don’t know if this is just me, but I’ve noticed that a lot of fantasy romance books royalty/nobility protagonists eventually fall into the same pattern: the FMC or MMC is effectively the most powerful person in the room, and if they decide something in the name of love, nobody can realistically oppose them. The power can be political, social, financial, magical, or simply based on status, but after a while the lack of meaningful resistance starts to make the political worldbuilding feel less convincing.

What I’m looking for instead is a fantasy romance where the FMC is royalty or high nobility and genuinely exists within a wider political landscape. She can be important, influential, and powerful, but she should still have peers, rivals, competing houses, councils, monarchs, or factions that can challenge her. I want the sense that her decisions have consequences and that she cannot simply override everyone else because she is the protagonist.

It was refreshing like for example reading from { Dark Wizard by Jeffe Kennedy } (bonds of magic series), { A Winter's Promise Book by Christelle Dabos } (mirror visitor series) and a few of the fake historical books from the Kadarok franchise of Alice Coldbreath maybe like { an ill-made match by alice coldbreath }. Those books felt like the political world actually continued to exist around the protagonists rather than collapsing into their personal authority.

So I’m looking for fantasy romance with strong political worldbuilding, multiple competing powers, real rivals and equals, and protagonists whose status matters without making them untouchable.

Some preferences:

1. Enjoyable romance without disregarding the political aspect. Similar to Dark Wizard
2. Straight Romance
3. HEA

Recommendations ? Thanks

Like seems to be alot of the books I read that MMC and FMC have like natural oozing chemistry with each other and all that lust even if it was the first time they've met which should not always be the case.

So i'm looking for specifically EITHER they live together and they are awkward with each other OR they are arranged married/marriage of convenience and they have the early-mid stages of the story actually spending adjusting to one another and spending awkward moments together. And I am specifically looking for them in a forced proximity (so either they are married for whatever reason OR they have to live together in one place)

Like the important part is that MMC and FMC actually spend time to get to know each other and are not magically suddenly have the greatest chemistry and all that.

Closest example I found that is like this would be {inconvenient vow by alice coldbreath} with Sabina and Jeffre are hilariously awkward with each other about their forced marriage.

The exact type of awkwardness i'm looking for would be similar to {three little words by meghan quinn} like around a quarter into that story where the MMC and FMC there basically is so awkward with one another they kinda are fumbling while living together

I just wanna enjoy the awkwardness and the development of their relationship and understanding with another for that sweet sweet payoff !

Contemporary would be best here tho I don't mind historical or fantasy. No cheating and of course HEA !

I want some dangerous woman as the FMC of the story. She could potentially be a former villain from previous books if it was a story but the most important part is that she is still the problem even in the current story.

I'm not looking for a redemption story either like it could be a redemption story for her or not but the more important thing is that the MMC is the stabilizing influence in her life. And MMC is NOT a villain either

Like the examples i'm looking for is like I suppose would be like Wanda from MCU, or Sarah Kerrigan from Starcraft franchise, Yennefer from Witcher franchise or maybe somebody like Lanfear from Wheel of Time or like Medusa from Soul Eater. Like I think you already get it they dont even have to be the villain just anti hero they have to be not one of those conventional sweet and good FMC.

So long FMC is not a good person or has hurt people before and can be dangerous manipulative etc.

There is a perfect example in recent media but i cant say cause spoilers and it's rude to tell people here (but pm me if you want to say which one be warned about spoiling it)

I'm not looking for fairy tale stories either I dont really enjoy them. But anything that has HEA would be fine !

I want some dangerous woman as the FMC of the story. She could potentially be a former villain from previous books if it was a story but the most important part is that she is still the problem even in the current story.

I'm not looking for a redemption story either like it could be a redemption story for her or not but the more important thing is that the MMC is the stabilizing influence in her life. And MMC is NOT a villain either

Like the examples i'm looking for is like I suppose would be like Wanda from MCU, or Sarah Kerrigan from Starcraft franchise, Yennefer from Witcher franchise or maybe somebody like Lanfear from Wheel of Time or like Medusa from Soul Eater. Like I think you already get it they dont even have to be the villain just anti hero they have to be not one of those conventional sweet and good FMC.

So long FMC is not a good person or has hurt people before and can be dangerous manipulative etc.

There is a perfect example in recent media but i cant say cause spoilers and it's rude to tell people here (but pm me if you want to say which one be warned about spoiling it)

I'm not looking for fairy tale stories either I dont really enjoy them. But anything that has HEA would be fine !

Exactly the title. That kind of dynamic like one is crazy and unpredictable while the other is the sane one trying to keep up.

One example I could think of would be the female lead from the korean drama called "Marriage not Dating" which basically had one of the most entertaining female lead i';ve seen mainly cause she's a little unpredictable and temperamental.

Best example I have of this would be { Shadow Wizard by Jeffe Kennedy } from the Renegades of magic series where she is legitimately kinda nutsy but no fault of hers. She literally shot an arrow at MMC at one point which was pretty funny.

I suppose another example I could think of would be { Call Me Irresistable by Susan Elizabeth Phillips } I don't think she's actually crazy in this case but she's definitely irrational and eccentric who isnt bound by societal expectations which made her really fun to read about. This example had the stable mmc.

Contemporary would be what i'm looking for mostly (tho i'll take fantasy or historical). No cheating and ofc HEA !

I've been looking for similar books for a long time but honestly nobody has given me good recommendations regarding this that i'm starting to think there is nothing like it. So i'm hoping since i'm in the right sub somebody gives me something like this.

SPECIFICALLY it cant be like shifter or like fae books cause I honestly dont enjoy them and unfortunately most of the fated mates troupe seems to be set on shifter romances.

Other examples I have in mind would that does what i'm looking for would be (keep in mind these examples are not romance stories but just fantasy stories)

1. Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan - they have the warder-aes sedai magical bond where they sense what each other feels and basically they are more or less binded by mortality. It's one great example of this
2. Soul Eater (manga/anime) - they have the maester-weapon bond where basically one becomes the weapon for the other and they have the bond thing going on. Tho in this story it is not always romantic

The spicier the better (opendoor)

Of course give me HEA ! Any recommendations ? Thanks

I have to stress the "non-violent" part like invasion of privacy is given, lack of understanding of personal space is also given for this but not violent (or if there was just minor dose of it and the other MC is remorseful about it then it is fine).

It would even be better if the non-stalker MC doesn't like what the stalker MC is doing at the starts but it kinda grew on them that eventually they just kinda accepted it and may even the stalking issue endearing.

I know irl it is insane but this is fiction after all lol

Guess the only example I know that is actually this would be Twilight ? Edward is both non-violent towards Bela and also a stalker to her.

Preferably contemporary. No cheating and HEA !

This is less cat-woman coded (she was more a nuance and a mystery than a villain) and more Queen of Blades (starcraft) coded kind of female villain/antagonist. Meaning this is not one of those they dislike each other no she is previously the roadblock or even better straightup villain of the story

So this assumes that this is a series and the villain gets her book and becomes the heroine this time around. If there is nothing else i'll take if this isnt a series but she's a nasty person.

The best example of this would be { Duke of Sin by Elizabeth Hoyt } for books tho this for the MMC instead of FMC but they played it straight for this one since he was apparently a previously villain in the other books and he is the love interest in the book i mentioned. I just want a FMC version of this

I'm not necessarily looking for a redemption story mind you but a romance story. She could simply be toned down by the end of the story and not truly change but what i'm looking for is the romance. To be clear the villainy doesnt even have to be really evil it could just be they are the asshole rival love interest in the previous books or straightup asshole lol

This time around I do prefer Fantasy Romance for this cause there are alot more opportunities for this kind of theme but i'll take historical and contemporary too. No cheating and of course HEA !

Thanks

So i've listened to We Dont Talk Anymore song many times but i haven’t actually seen the music video so earlier while resting from a jog I watched it and OHHH the last 30 seconds of the song where it was a montage of them looking at their pictures/videos together HITS UNEXPECTEDLY HARD.

Unlike IRL where sometimes estranged people don't reconnect anymore ever again but can you give me romance books where they reconnect again and find love with each other

Not looking for "exes" specifically like they could've have had a fling/chemistry before but they are not exes but rather good friends. And they they havent talked in a long time because of a falling out with each other.

Basically what i'm looking for is what if we found each other again?

Any recommendations ? I prefer contemporary for this one cause modern technology makes communication accessible intentional cutoff of communication can hit harder. No cheating and ofc HEA

P.S

The only example I know that fits this would be {A Foolish Flirtation by Alice Coldbreath }. It's historical but it is the closest that fits

Like she tempered her expectations even she fell for him knowing his reputation and perhaps her experience with playboy like men (or even better if her entire experience in love is getting dumped or used only) BUT it turns out the MMC is not doing that to her cause he finds being with her worth it.

So what i'm looking for is that she falls for the temptation with him and maybe falls inlove first so she's readying herself when he leaves except he doesnt leave at all

Contemporary would be good here. No cheating and HEA !

Very specific I know but this came from a bit from the Modern Family (tv show) in the later seasons where Luke was dating one of Claire's friends and while it was for humor but I thought "hey i dont think I read something like this" but I also specific the "mmc's friend's mom" cause i'll take that recommendation too that's a different dynamic but similar theme.

Yes I expect age gap. Yes I expect power imbalance if there is. Yes I don't mind they have known each other since they are MMC was a kid (i don't care this is fiction after all)

I prefer contemporary for this cause the age gap is more pronounced than HR or fantasy romance.

And of course no cheating and HEA !

Yes I used the search function. And yes I have read examples of this but I wanna see if people have hidden gems I haven't read or heard of. Or even better if there are new books with this premise cause alot of posts similar to this are years ago. Also I just enjoy reading this theme so I want more.

So it's kinda maybe breeding(?) theme but the key here is that MMC specifically wants to have children with FMC. Whether he wants longterm relationship with her or wants her affection and what not are another matter entirely. His main goal is having specifically children with her and she agrees to it.

So i'll start by giving my example which would be: { Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare }

NO DARK ROMANCE and no Noncon PLEASE not what i'm looking for that kind of tone currently.

Contemporary would be best but i'll take historical or fantasy romance. No cheating and HEA !

Since Teor got cooked. What's people are betting as Travis new character.

I hear popular opinion is a einfasen cause it's one we dont have from the cast (cormoray too but idk if travis wants to play some spellcaster)

My bet is that he goes for a monk. Dont think we have a monk in the party yet tho idk what kind of background he will have.

Thoughts ?

This is very specific cause I REALLY REALLY liked it when this happened on {Call Me Irresistable by Susan Elizabeth Phillips} and oh boy was it executed well which I really enjoyed.

Like it was done in public and the reactions was fun to read about including the FMC going "wow that was stupid

So yes something like this. My only example is the call me irresistable book

Contemporary is preferred but historical or fantasy romance is fine. No cheating and HEA !

PS. if it has 3rd act breakup just let me know.

I just wanna talk more about the potential longterm threats in the story.

Between the Sundered houses I have a feeling by threat assessment as villains Halovar/Cormoray > Tachonis > Einfasen (royce dont even count lol)

I have a feeling that Tachonis threat might be more a earlystory threat rather than the longterm one like just now they are already on the edge. Einfasen could've potentially been a major villain but honestly the event kinda moved them away from direct villain roles due to Azune and the schemers work.

The biggest threat among them feels like either the Halovar or the Cormoray. Being the tachonis are massively outplayed and Primus being on the edge of desperation tho they do have Nihil Tachonis which is a massive creature beyond the veil. Meanwhile Yanessa Halovar seems to be all going well for her and she seems far less visible than Tachonis despite the threat levels of their house kinda growing more and more. The only reason Cormoray counts cause we have a crazy mask who is merged with the Lady Cormoray who plans to turn somebody into a deity which they were probably already looking at.

Argosia is also a wildcard who seems to be a foreign threat.

And my own wild theory that one of the gods are not dead aka Rauwyn the Trickster is not dead and the masks have failed in killing him and he is manipulating behind the scenes OR EVEN BETTER he made it seem like historically that the masks killed him even tho it was his creation.

Likely the Big Bad of the story has not yet appeared. I think a new deity will rise that will be the big bad. Although likely it wont be Thajzi as Marisha Ray's character was like theorycrafting that a big beefy orc deity would come out as Thajzi.

Thoughts ?