u/justforfunlol_652

Don’t get me wrong. I love dark romance. Give me non con/dubcon, OTT MMCs, naive virgin fmcs, stalking, obsession, everything. But lately, every book I try ends up giving me the ick.

Starting with Drethi Anis. Let me tell you, I DEVOURED {Unapologetic Obsession by Drethi Anis}. My sleep schedule was ruined. I couldn’t put my Kindle down. I was hooked to the screen for hours. It had been so long since I found an MMC and FMC that were exactly what I wanted.
I was so addicted that I immediately started {Quarantined by Drethi Anis}. Again, I was hooked by the writing and completely into the book. Then my heart dropped when I found out that the >!FMC was not celibate during their separation.!<

I was sooo disappointed. It’s totally fine if you like that trope, but personally I need an MMC who’s obsessive enough that he won’t let any other guy touch the FMC, even when they’re separated, like secretly scaring them off or something. This happened in {Quid Pro Quo by Nenia Campbell} too, and just like that, another book that had been sitting on my TBR for so long got scratched off. like authors claim they won’t let other guys touch her, and then i see shit like this that really doesn’t meet my standard for ott mmcs. like caden from unapologetic obsession >!wouldn’t even keep a male bodyguard for rose and not allow a single man on the ENTIRE FLOOR where she was staying in the ship.!< i genuinely need a high like this book again

Then I tried {Heartless Beloved by Lola King}. I was really into it too, and then halfway through I found out that >!the MMC used to be in love with his stepsister before the FMC came into his life I genuinely can’t tolerate an MMC being in love with another girl before the FMC. I want the FMC to be his first love. You know, the classic dark romance standard of “I’ve never felt anything like this before her.” Not only that, but he was even possessive over his stepsister before Yuck.!<

Then I read {Even If It Hurts by Sam Mariano}, and again the >!MMC is obsessed with both the FMC and her best friend.!<

Ugh. I’m honestly just tired. It’s crazy, but the only author who feels “safe” to me is actually Rina Kent. 😭 I know some people think her books are amateurish, except {Monster Trilogy Series by Rina Kent} because that shit is Shakespeare, but at least her MMCs never have past lovers, her characters stay celibate after meeting each other, and all her mmcs are unhinged and obsessed with their fmc who won’t let them go even for her happiness. now that is my type of dr.

I know I’m ridiculously nitpicky about my hard nos in dark romance, especially considering they’re… well, dark romances. But I just needed to rant because I’m so done with getting invested in a book only to be blindsided by one of my dealbreakers. i don’t even think my hard nos is that specific and something most readers would prefer.

Oh well.

edit: it’s absolutely fine anyone likes these tropes like i’m not judging. i’m just ranting about how my standards is ruining my tbr and i wish i was not this nitpicky😭 i def need help

can someone recommend me a book with:

-an obsessed MMC who would rather keep the FMC captive than let her go. He can trap her physically, manipulate, blackmail, or coerce her. I just want an MMC whose instinct is to keep her, not set her free because he loves her.

-slow burn (doesn’t have to be super slow, just no insta-love). I prefer plenty of tension and buildup.

-FMC must be a virgin

-FMC resists his obsession and doesn’t easily give in.

Hard no’s:
•either MC being with anyone else during a separation.
•OW/OM drama (unless the MCs have absolutely no feelings for the third party).
•reverse harem or sharing.
•MMC having an ex he loved. The FMC should be his first love.

Bonus points (not required):
•enemies to lovers (strangers/friends to lovers is fine too, just no insta-love).
•strong FMC.
•rich MMC.
•birth control tampering.
•MMC puts a tracker on her.
•MMC blackmails/manipulates the FMC into staying.
•physically aggressive MMC in certain situations (no torture).

If it’s a bully romance, I don’t want groveling. I’d rather the MMC be like, “I messed up, but she’s still mine, and I’m not letting her go.”

The only book that’s really scratched this itch is {Monster Trilogy Series by Rina Kent}. It had a medium-paced slow burn, enemies with benefits, a virgin FMC, a strong assassin heroine, and an unhinged, possessive MMC who wanted to kill her “secret lover” (it was actually her cousin), choked her out of jealousy, held her captive when she tried to leave, blackmailed her with her brother’s life, put a tracker on her, and even considered tampering with her birth control. He did this all just so she wouldn’t divorce him.