r/RomanceBooks

i’ve noticed that i always finish books faster on kindle than physical copies.

at first i ignored it because i thought maybe it depends on the writing style, page formatting, font size, etc.

but then i noticed it even with the SAME book.

{Twisted Hate by Ana Huang} is one of my comfort rereads. the first time i read it was on kindle, and later i bought the physical copy and reread it. even though i already knew the story, i still took way longer reading the physical book.

and this keeps happening to me ,or do they remove some non-important chapters of pages from between?
The weird part is when I am reading 400 page books on Kindle I finish it within a day.(400 pages should at least last me two days.)

does this happen to anyone else or is my brain just wired differently with ebooks?

i do love a good prank war, but i specifically want it between the main couple 😭ON PAGE !!!

and i want the pranks to actually happen on page, not just be mentioned as something they used to do before the book started.

{The Devious Husband by Catharina Maura} kind of gave me this vibe. the mcs are rivals and throughout the interconnected standalone series people keep mentioning the insane pranks they pull on each other, and honestly it built them up SO well in my head before their actual book.

but what i really want is to SEE the prank war happen in their own story.

i’ve also read {Becoming a Vincent by C.M. Owens}, but that felt more like family chaos pranks. i want the pranks mainly between the couple.

would love:
• enemies to lovers / rivals to lovers
• lots of banter
• competitive energy

prefer standalone books, not long series.

hard no:
• historical
• huge age gaps (especially if they’re young)
• bdsm

fantasy isn’t a hard no, but i’m really more in the mood for contemporary romance right now.

any recs??

Edit : somebody is downvoting my comments, which is me thanking people for recommendation,
They did the same thing with my previous post.(my account is not even public. I don’t know how they’re finding my post alone.)
I don’t know what is happening. Let’s talk about it. Still no hard feelings.!

Edit: I’m not sure if someone is repeatedly downvoting and upvoting or if Reddit is just glitching, because the votes have changed multiple times within like 10 minutes and I refuse to believe someone is that jobless.

She’s going through some stuff and asked for some recs. She needs like zero angst, just funny and clean. I have clean recs or rom com recs but nothing that is both. Modern or romantsy are preferred. This subreddit never lets me down. Thank you!

If there's a reddit community that can help me with this, I know it's this one.

For some reason, I find it so hard to find books that 'feel smart'... and recently I've been finding myself getting sooo bored where the main story is solely about the pining, with nothing else going on... girl meets boy... they resist... they get together... story over. I want world building, stakes, books that 'feel smart,' I basically want to drown myself in competency.

Since I know this likely feels really vague, here are some examples of books that have scratched this itch:

1. Bringing down the duke by Evvie dunmore (I legit learned more about the suffragist movement from this book than I did from school lol, and loved how much of a hustler the FMC was.)
2. Match me if you can by SEP (Never thought I'd get so into the world of American football, but here we are - again, loved the FMC, and the power dynamics at play).
3. Love Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood (Loved her depiction of postgraduate degree life, and really enjoyed learning about the difference between theoretical physics vs experimental physics)
4. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne (ok, while her depiction of the publishing industry was kinda...unbelievable, I *did* believe the workplace culture and the stakes felt high!)
5. The Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning (I get that this series is absolutely unhinged, but the world building and the author's dedication to the insanity was 10/10 and I am obsessed, and again, super strong FMC).

Basically, i want smart female leads, a world the author really spent time building/learning, and EXTRA points if its enemies to lovers, but not required. Open to all genres, sci-fi romance, romantasy, contemporary...

I hope this is not too controversial but authors that I really cannot stand because they fall short of this "genre" (for lack of better words) are Tessa Bailey, Meghan Quinn, Emily Henry, Sarah Hogle, and Scarlett St. Claire... to me, they read as just too generic and cookie cutter romcom!!!

I’m basically looking for a contemporary version of {Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas} but I can’t seem to find a book with the right vibes, even though this is a pretty common trope.

For those who haven’t read it (highly recommend you do if you’re into HR) I’m looking for an MMC who’s flirty, sly, maybe a little morally gray, and who’s allergic to commitment/love.

What I particularly like about the book, and what I’m mainly looking for is the FMC, who’s shy and inexperienced, but also quietly strong. She’s really sweet and caring, and it’s that unwavering love for people that is one of her greatest strengths.
The MMC is obviously powerless against this even though he might try to fight against it for a bit. But once he’s falls, he falls hard.

I’m mainly looking for CR with a bit of spice, but I’d be open to other genres besides HR. The only other preference I have is no large age gaps or billionaire romances.

Been in a book slump, just got dumped by a man I loved and thought loved me, and I’m ovulating and crying 🫩

As the title states. Looking for a smutty 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ book where the FMC is dumped, and then shortly after, finds a man who absolutely fucks the breakup blues out of her. The smuttier the better. No pregnancy, everything must be consensual, but otherwise I am open to anything.

Off campus is finalllyyyyy showing people how awesome rom com books, even light CR college romance books are.

And with the new Boys of Tommen casting!!! Oooffff. Dare I say.. we are officially in the college sports romance era???

👉🏻👉🏻Tell me what is one book or series that you'd love to see get acquired and adapted on TV.

Honestly, I'm kinda suprised we haven't seen any news about {Icebreakers by Hannah Grace} I won't say it's my favourite, but it has almost same number of GR read reviews as The deal but it came out very recently. I'm sure the surge must have been huge, wonder what happened here. Almost all the recently released "peaked" books have been acquired already.

However, my all time favourite college Campus series is {#nerd by Cambria Hebert}.... and OMG is it sooo good! (Technically it has a trailer out which I think Cambria produced herself for fun).. but I wish it was picked up by booktok as well cuz its a really great series.

Oooooh to see Romeo and Rimmel on screen. 😭😭😭💗💗💗 and Braeden and Ivy.

It's one of those hidden gems from 2016-2018 era when great stories came out but most people don't know about them cuz they weren't picked up by Booktok. Thanks to whomever on this sub recommended it to me. 😅💗

Listening to an audiobook in my car parked outside my house around 9. Streets are empty and the book is playing because I wanted to finish the chapter. All seemed normal and then right when a man passes by with his two dogs on the sidewalk really close to my parked car, BAM! " while you were grinding all over me" LOUD AS HECK!

It's always when you don't expect it.

We have all read a lot of grumpy sunshine. Now gimme some grumpy grumpy love where both the mc's grump together. I would prefer MF only. No cheating or multiple partners.

Hi everyone. This thought randomly popped into my head and now I'm in bloodhound mode. I am looking for a book in which the FMC is having a panic attack, is super nervous, or all around having some severe anxiety concern and the MMC calms her down via hand necklace. Not a strong, intimidating grip, but more like just pressure on her throat to get her out of her head and ground her. And then to up the anty, I would loooove it if he tries to soothe FMC by saying calming words and maybe even adding a cute pet name. I'm not looking for any type of super dominant, aggressive type MMC, but more of a quiet, authoritative type.

It would be super cute if it kinda became their "thing" they did whenever she started getting worked up later in the book, too. But I have a feeling that would be harder to find.

Thanks so much!!

Essentially what the title says. Give me quotes from romance books that made you stop and clutch your heart. Words that evoked a feeling so deep, you keep revisiting it at random moments even though you're done with the book.

Hi everyone! I’m looking for books with a pretty specific dynamic:
The MMC is engaged to or expected to marry the “perfect” woman — classy, wealthy, good family, socially acceptable, calm temperament, etc. But instead he falls hard for the woman from the wrong side of the tracks so to speak, who comes with complications or “baggage.”

Maybe she:
- comes from a poor/broken family
- has addict parents
- is a single mom
- has a rough past/reputation
- struggles financially
- is considered “unsuitable” by his family/social circle

I want the contrast between the polished fiancée and the messy/imperfect FMC
I recently read {The Heir by Elodie Hart} >!The mmc is a modern day duke and has been engaged to a family friend since childhood, he has resigned himself to the marriage until he meets our fmc who is the complete opposite of his fiancée. No degree, struggling financially while taking care of her demented step mother and having custody of her younger half sister. His family doesn’t approve and he ends up walking away from his title and inheritance to be with her.!< I’m looking for more books with a similar vibe. He doesn’t have to be as extreme as to walk away from his family, a hot mafia man who tells everyone to fall in line or else would be hot too.

Bonus for:
- lots of angst/tension
- possessive or obsessed MMC
- emotional payoff/groveling
- rich/influential MMC

Please no poly or reverse harem.
MM and FF recommendations welcome

Open to contemporary, dark romance, mafia, billionaire, etc. Thank you!

Another book with this vibe {unraveling by Raegan Salander}

I just read {up the ladder by Ana d’arcy} which is supposedly going to be a series but I can’t find anything on a sequel. Does anyone know when to expect book 2? I loved the book (a search in this sub proved some loved it, some hated it), but I was itching to keep reading!!

looking for a very specific trope.

I want a book where FMC is accused by MMC that she is using him for Money, status, lifestyle, etc. But she is richer than God, shows him his place and walks away.

i want the mmc and fmc to be in some kind of romantic or sexual relationship by the time the big accusation happens, but they do NOT need to start that way. they can begin as enemies, coworkers, friends with benefits, enemies with benefits, or anything similar.

at some point (usually because of a pregnancy or another major event), the mmc accuses the fmc of trying to trap him for his money, lifestyle, or social status.

and then the fmc absolutely puts him in his place because she is actually much richer and more powerful than he is. she just keeps a low profile, so most people have no idea who she really is.

i read a book with a scene like this before where the mmc accused her of getting pregnant to trap him, only to find out she was wealthier than he could ever imagine, and i LOVED that gut punch.( cannot remember the book name.😩)

would love:
• confident, sassy, feisty fmc with a backbone
• enemies to lovers / enemies with benefits
• lots of banter
• satisfying grovel after he realizes how badly he messed up(not too much that it takes the whole Book)

hard no:
• historical romance
• fantasy
• bdsm
• huge age gaps (especially when the characters are young)

I don’t want maya alden books(I don’t know what it is, her book plots are something I usually like reading, but I don’t vibe with the books 😅)

any recs??

Edit : just remembered { his empress by Emilia rossi } fmc steels mmc money from his bank as a prank( which she returned it back like in seconds knowing she went to far)and he accused her of taking advantage and said pretty mean stuff later in realised her net worth is 10 times more.

Edit: I don’t know who is down voting My comments which are basically me thanking for recommendation.
Just send me a message so we can sort this out, no hard feelings

Please don't flame me!

It felt so freeing and refreshing when FMC wasn't locked in on a non-committal ship with an MMC who's famously known for sleeping around. He reaped what he sowed by not being taken seriously with that record especially now that it's come back to bite him. He kinda just realized he's falling and locking in but they're not official and it's too late. AND it eats him badly so now he has to work hard and prove that he's fr serious. It's delicious.

I searched "FMC hooking up with other man" but so far it's BEFORE MMC enters or BEFORE their situation not DURING the ONS/vagueship period.

The ONS with OM has to happen in between/during ONS/fubu/vagueship period with the MMC before any confessions happen. Yes I want MMC angsting yearning and suffering not FMC.

And like what the other post said, I prefer FMC doesn't get punished for sleeping with another man nor that the OM gets turned into a villain or something. I want her to genuinely have a good experience with the OM.

a role reversal, FMC in male dominated field. I love that.

This feels like a wish upon a star request. Like I'm asking for a made to order book with how ambitious my request is. But a girl can dream✨

Thank you for holding back the scathing side eyes over my request. Thank you for reading my delusions.

Edit: FUBU=fu k buddies. sry

Hey guys! I love the elements of chemistry trilogy from penny reid's hypothesis series and i have a few questions to ask

I noticed that the last few books in the series are of kaitlyn's best friend SAM. I am not particularly interested in her series but i read that kaitlyn was mentioned a lot in the Sam's series, and that kaitlyn was hospitalized for a illness

Can someone please spoil the storyline for me? What was kaitlyn's illness and does she get cured? Is she happily married and is her relationship with Martin going on well? Do Martin and kaitlyn get their HEA? Please tell me that kaitlyn isn't dying

Also, do they have kids? Please spoil as much as you can about kaitlyn and Martin, and their storyline in the series after the trilogy

All this talk of The Deal and Off Campus had me thinking about the trope and while the premise of fake dating only to fall for each other sounds really delicious, I find myself so tired of the trope of a conventionally attractive FMC with low self confidence or whatever somehow being “discovered” by a hot MMC and then they get together. She was hot all along, just didn’t know it, yada yada yada. While I loved Princess Diaries as a teen, this is not the vibe I’m looking for anymore.

I’m yearning for some unconventional FMCs in this trope! The black cats, the plain, maybe even “ugly” (I don’t like that word but ykwim) girls, the snarky, insecure, bitchy as a self defence ones… I’m pretty open, I just want it to not be a conventionally attractive woman with a good personality who society would not view as unconventional at all. Bonus points if she’s unconventional AND a WOC and/or smart.

Please give me your recs! I’m open to both books and AO3 stories. For books, I prefer KU but I’ll take anything at this point! TIA!!

So, I’m a big fan of villain/hero love stories, but I seem to be quite picky about the kind that I enjoy. So I consistently find myself endlessly looking for something that fits my tastes. 😅 

To give you an idea of my tastes, here three relationships that I enjoy, though most are not from strictly romance books: 

— Hannibal Lecter x Clarice Starling (books and movies. Honestly an all time OTP.)

— Francis Dolarhyde x Reba McClane (Red Dragon, book and movie.) 

— Erik x Christine Daae (from Phantom of the Opera. I ship them in the novel and in most adaptations.)

Here are some villain/hero romance books I tried that didn’t do it for me:

— There Are No Saints by Sophie Lark. DNF’d when >!there was a non-consensual tattoo scene. I also remember being generally annoyed by the villain love interest.!<

— Vicious by A.J. Merlin. Finished this, but I just didn’t find the leads interesting or believable.

— Born, Darkly by Trisha Wolfe. DNF’d because I was pretty meh on the villain character. I might be willing to give this a try again, though. 

One villain/hero series that sort of worked for me: Some of the Magpie Rhyme books by Louise Collins, but I ended up not finishing the series >!because the villain ended up trying to kill the hero character kinda out of nowhere in the third book, which, imo, didn’t make sense with their relationship dynamic up to that point.!<

So, yeah. I’m in a bind because I’m so damn picky. 😅 Does anyone have any recs for a villain/hero book I might like? Recs don’t even have to be romance — they can be thrillers or horror novels with a romance subplot. I’ll even take recs without a HEA, though, per the sub rules, do note if a rec doesn’t have an HEA. :)

Het and queer recs are equally welcome! I’m mostly looking for modern settings with this request, but since it’s so niche, I’m fine with fantasy, scifi, and historical recs if you think they fit. :)

Hard nos are outright noncon between the leads. Some dubcob is fine. Books focusing heavily on pregnancy are very uncomfortable for me, so I would prefer to avoid those. 

Thank you in advance!

Aka, People so rich and powerful that they control things behind the scenes.

And like, specifically that. Secret societies, can literally do anything they want money. Not just like, general millionaire..

Im thinking this is mostly possible in contemporary dark romance and perhaps paranormal stories. But to be honest, id love a golden retriever MMC! Just in the mood for it, not a requirement or anything.

The only things i require are a HEA and smut pls! 🙏💗