u/michailina

I am looking for published books or original stories on AO3 that do not require fandom knowledge and have the following:

• A cynical, ruthless, unapologetic MC.
• He falls so hard for the other MC that he becomes completely obsessed with him and can't live without him.
• Intense possessiveness, all-consuming need
• lots of explicit, hot sex (erotic romance would be ideal, but erotica recs are welcome too)

❌ What I'd like to avoid:

• Idiots and endless misunderstandings
• Cartoonishly OTT villains.
• Serial killers
• Endless depressive self-pity or constant "I'm such a monster" narration.
• A tragic childhood that's used to excuse or erase all of his actions. He can have a backstory, but I don't want him to turn out to be "just a misunderstood puppy."
• MC2 being an innocent lamb.

HARD NO: Kids of any kind (pregnancy, single parents, childcare, small siblings).

I’ve just read a very disturbing book and need something without angst, without third-act breakups, and without major conflicts, but also not cheesy or ridiculous.

I’m looking for something with cuddles, blushing, lots of love, intimate affection, and a generally relaxing, soothing vibe.

Hard no: children, single dads

I'm looking for a high-spice book or series where a group of friends meet the MC and all fall for him.

Important detail: I'd like the friends to also start having sex with each other, not just with the MC.

Whether it's in group scenes or separate scenes isn't important.

I read the Demons of Foxglove Grove series by Chani Lynn Feener, and that inspired this request. There were some really short glimpses of this, but I'd like MORE action between the friends.

Have you ever come across a book with a trope / setting / dynamic you thought you disliked, but something about that particular book was different and it changed your opinion about it?

Personally, I do have a set of preferred tropes and also a long list of hard no’s, but once in a while I come across a book that catches my interest despite containing themes I usually avoid. And sometimes those books end up being amazing.

Some examples for me:

1. paranormal: I avoided it, and I don’t even know why, but then I saw MateHub recommended everywhere. I was in a reading slump and nothing looked good enough to read, so I decided to try something I would normally rule out immediately, and I loved it! I still think about it very often. It was so funny, I laughed a lot, I loved the characters, and it was one of my highlights of last year.

2. historical / war: Unhinge the Universe by Aleksandr Voinov. I didn’t think I could enjoy something set during a war, but this one was so good.

3. omegaverse: I normally stay away from OV because of the strict roles and kids/pregnancies, but I actually liked His Snowbound Omega by Chani Lynn Feener and His Marked Omega by Chani Lynn Feener. They were childfree and had a perfect mix of dark and sweet.

Aside from HEA for guys who fall in love with each other, are there any other essential components a book needs to have to be considered romance?

I'm asking because I've had multiple situations where I read reviews for a book I thought was romance, but then there were reviews complaining that it wasn't romance, or not romantic enough, or unromantic. But... there were guys who met each other, had sex, fell in love, and got their happy ending.

So now I'm wondering where people actually draw the line between romance and not romance?