u/pappitsonreed

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I need a romance that is PAINFULLY slow burn. Like, I want a whole series where the MCs start developing feelings for each other, realize they want each other really badly, but for whatever reason, they can’t act on it. And then I want to suffer. 😭

Give me:

- LOTS of sexual tension — lingering glances, charged silences, almost-touching, whispered conversations, etc.

- Forced proximity where they have to be physically close and it absolutely kills them because they want to touch each other for real.

- Accidental touches that feel more intimate than an actual kiss.

- That whole “we’re standing way too close and neither of us is moving away” thing.

- Mutual pining. I want BOTH of them wanting each other.

- The kind of tension where a hand brushing against someone’s waist has me kicking my feet and staring at the ceiling.

- No insta-love and preferably no insta-lust. I want the attraction and feelings to build gradually.

- Book 1 should have NO spice. Honestly, I want a kiss at most. I need the restraint and suffering.

- Ideally, the romance progresses throughout the series, so when they finally get together, it feels EARNED.

Basically, I want the kind of slow burn where they barely touch and I'm already blushing.

I want toe-curling, kick-my-feet, scream-into-my-pillow levels of tension. Please give me your best recommendations. 🫠

Looking for fantasy romance recs with MMCs who are already deeply in love/yearning for the FMC from the very beginning of the book. Like that intense “I’ve wanted her for years” energy, unresolved longing, devotion, emotional suffering, etc. Bonus points if they reunite after years apart or if he’s loved her long before he could actually have her.

Think Toven from Rose in Chains or Patrick from Forbidden Alchemy — if you’ve read them, you know EXACTLY the kind of yearning I mean. I want the book to really dwell on that ache and tension. Enemies to lovers is fine, but I specifically want the MMC to already be gone for her internally, even if she doesn’t know it yet.

YA recs are welcome too, but I do prefer at least a little spice.