r/RomanceBooks

Looking for books where the FMC realizes the MMC still loves another woman and walks away

Hi everyone! I'm looking for books where the FMC realizes that the MMC still loves another woman and decides to walk away.

Honestly, it was really difficult to come up with a title that actually describes what I'm looking for, but recently I was reading a manhwa (Korean comic) and there was a scene where the FMC was dancing with a guy she was genuinely open to having something more with. However, while they were dancing, she noticed that he kept looking at another woman.

That's when the FMC realizes that, this whole time, she was always the second choice and that he was using her to try to forget the other woman, the one he actually loved.

Obviously, this was a huge emotional blow for her, so she distances herself and decides to leave everything behind.

And even though she doesn't end up with him in the manhwa, I genuinely thought: "Damn, I would read a 300-page book about this." 😂

So I decided to come to this sub, where you can find pretty much anything and there's always a kind soul willing to help. ❤️ I really love this sub.

So, here we go:

I'm looking for books where the FMC eventually realizes that the MMC still loves another woman, or that he's using her to get over the woman he actually loves, which makes her pull away. Then the MMC only realizes what a huge mistake he made after the FMC has already given up on him and moved on.

Here are a few examples of what I'm looking for:

First example: The FMC knows from the beginning that he likes another woman, but she falls in love with him anyway. Eventually, she becomes deeply disillusioned with him and realizes she can't keep putting herself through that, so she walks away.

Second example: The MMC uses the FMC to try to forget another woman, but the FMC doesn't know about it. When she eventually finds out the truth, she's emotionally devastated and decides to leave him.

Third example: The FMC decides to help the MMC win over another woman, but ends up falling in love with him herself. Eventually, she realizes that she's only hurting herself and decides to walk away.

Fourth example: The MMC is a widower who still loves and constantly thinks about his late wife. The FMC realizes that she'll never be able to make him love her more than he loved his wife, so she decides to move on.

A few important things: I REJECT CHEATING PLOTS. 😭

Also, I don't want the FMC to make her entire life revolve around the MMC. I want her to be strong despite everything and have some self-respect. She can suffer, be heartbroken, and even be emotionally devastated, but I don't want her spending the entire book humiliating herself over him.

Basically, I want the FMC to realize that she was never truly chosen, walk away and move on with her life, while the MMC realizes too late that he screwed up and that, in the end, she was actually the woman he truly wanted. 😭

Alright. Straight to the point. I keep getting recommendations and seeing reviews about Abby Jimenez books and how great they are. I read Just for the Summer and it was ok , at the moment I thought it was not that good, but not terrible. Now after reading {The night we met } and {Yours Truly} im starting to think {Just for the Summer } was peak and the better to be. All characters seem to be the same. Same exact boyfriend. Same girl. That by the way why is she so winy ? Many pages where nothing happens being overly descriptive without actually describing anything. Same family issues and internal conflicts as well. Now im not sure if im just burnt out on her for reading them back to back, if her books are just over hyped, not for me or simply Just for the Summer is as good as it gets. Please let me know your opinions.
This is not meant to make anyone feel bad or to talk about the author itself , it’s just my opinion and thoughts at the moment.
Thanks for reading.

There's too many boss - employee romances. But I don't remember reading anything like this. I want to enjoy a book without all the power imbalances. Make em equals. Even better, enemies or rivals...

Thank you❤️✨️

He, fellow lewd enjoyers. I'm looking for something very specific, that I can't really get out of my mind. I saw a.. picture 👀 basically I want the FMC to catch the MMC enjoying some fun Anal alone time and the FMC then joining in for his pleasure. Is this too specific? I actually think so, but nevertheless hope dies last. So ist there any book like this? Big bonus points if it's more on the cozy, wholesome side of things 💕

Looking for romance books where they play a game. Either “never have i ever”, “put a finger down”, “truth or dare” or even “spin the bottle”. Something with this as part of the plot of sounds so fun!

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 !

Looking for a second-chance romance or marriage in crisis that isn't due to miscommunication, please.

It drives me insane when one conversation or confrontation could have resolved the issue. Examples include secondary characters making up lies about one of the MCs, MCs overhearing half a conversation, or hiding the truth on purpose.

S.T. Moore is a good example of complex feelings and angst. Frayed Images and Barron's Second Chance hit the feelings hard.

What I am looking for:

1. Gut punch (can be due to revenge, betrayal, cheating, emotional affair or neglect)

2. This is the plot of the book, not the last 10%

3. High angst; I want to cry. Or at least feel sad

4. FMC must be strong enough to leave MMC

5. Need MMC to panic, regret and grovel

6. Dual POV or third POV so I know that he is struggling

7. HEA

What I do not want:

1. Silly miscommunication that could have been resolved easily

2. MCs pushing each other away because they are not "good enough" (looking at you, Catherine Maura)

3. Serial cheater. Cheating once or twice is one thing, but I could never believe that a serial cheater has mended his ways and now will never cheat

4. Annoying friends pushing forgiveness or OTT evil characters

5. Maya Alden

Many thanks!

Hi guys 😭 looking for recs where the MMC & FMC genuinely love each other, but life/work stress or some major life disruption breaks them up.

They get back together, THEN the same issue comes back but this time they actually communicate and figure out how to make it work.

I need that angst. I want to feel 👹 the heartbreak and the happy ending. I want to actually lose my mind while reading this book.
Tkyyyyyyy

My favourite trope in the world is a down- bad obsessed man, but I feel like I keep seeing the same books recommended so I’m curious to hear your guys’ underrated/ less- recommended books for this trope.

This can be within any sub genre; historical, why choose, fantasy, paranormal, dark, athlete etc, the only thing that matters is that he falls in love quickly and harder than she does or that he’s just plainly OBSESSED with her.

The whole nine yards: aggressive and pathetic yearning, wet smitten puppy MMC, FMC who walks him like a dog and he’s happily offering the leash etc.

My personal recs:

{playing Defense by Lyssa lemire} black cat fmc, golden retriever mmc, sports romance

{it’s a win for me by Clarissa mae} fake dating, childhood best friends, sports romance

{burnout by Tessa vane} novella, she saves his life, he becomes obsessed, BWWM

{ocean of ink by A R Conwell} fantasy, history, academy (more casual but kicks off in the second book)

{seduced by a selkie Lauren Connolly} obsessed MMC, reluctant fmc

{heart eyes by effie Campbell} stalker MMC, childhood friends

{little lies by elena m. Reyes} giving a recap would be a big spoiler, rich MMC

{wicked sanctuary by Jane Henry} stalker, dark romance, forced proximity

{with visions of red by trisha Wolfe} detective FMC, suspect MMC

Most importantly - the FMC is NOT rude to him.

I can’t stand second chance romances when the characters act like they are still just as angry as they were 10 years ago and start fighting off the bat. It’s so unrealistic to me because once you grow into adulthood the more trivial any drama from your younger years seems. I have been able to exchange polite greetings upon running into an ex that completely destroyed my heart as a girl with zero feelings on the matter 6+ years later. It feels like you are greeting a stranger by that point - especially if you were both kids when it ended and you see each other again as adults. You’re both different people now.

I can understand lingering bitterness or anger if it’s only been 1-2years but it’s weird to me if they are still extremely upset longer than that (unless the betrayal flat out ruined her life permanently or something).

I prefer the FMC to be mostly healed but with walls of steel up to him. He can’t get her to open up to him now. She keeps distance between them. Maybe they end up having sex but for her it’s “just sex - no feelings”. The more he realizes he ruined their chances, the more he breaks. He is devastated.

I am basically describing {Broken by the Horde King by Zoey Draven}

I NEED MORE OF THIS PLEASE 🙏

I’d really like to read about an FMC that demonstrates other types of trauma besides the common depictions (flinching, avoiding eye contact, “ice queen” coping mechanism) etc.

I’m specifically interested in an FMC who hides her interests/hobbies or “louder” aspects of her personality (like getting openly excited about things) because of past trauma. The trauma can be anything: a nit-picky ex, growing up in a family that teased her for anything and everything, being bullied by her peers for being “too much” or “too weird” etc.

What’s important is that we can see and understand why she’s ashamed of her interests even if they’re perfectly normal and even common, but to her, the thought of someone seeing her enjoying something triggers that panic/trauma response and makes her want to hide.

I think it would be interesting to see how this dynamic would play out in a romance, especially if the MMC is OBSESSED and desperate to learn more about her.

What I don’t want:

🚫Historical, Western

🚫 RH, poly, love triangle, cheating

🚫insta-love, insta-lust

🚫 “curvy” FMC or overly gorgeous FMC, I feel like they’re rarely well done and the physical descriptions of her super womanly woman curves are often repeated over and over and it fucks with my body dysmorphic disorder tbh

Bonus:

✅ stoic MMC that’s goo candy only for the FMC. So cute

✅mafia, MC romance, fantasy, paranormal, and Dark Romance are all good!

✅plain/unconventionally attractive FMC. I feel like these tend to force the MMC to fall in love with her and not just her body

✅ no triggers besides religious MCs or religious environments, and heavy gore (a little blood is fine, just not crazy levels of blood and viscera pls)

Looking for an MF Pet Play books, where FMC is the pet and MMC is the master, or owner?

I want it to be a bit consensual, like FMC is not forced into it, but instead emotionally manipulated or gaslighted into it, or she's simply interested in it(bdsm club scenario?)

Like in the book {Pretty Little Tease by AJ Miller} (though she was already interested in it). It's MMF, and I liked the book very much, including the >!Professor x student trpe. Just not the murder spree thing. Loved the kidnapping part. And the way one MMC was condescendingly sweet to her!<

I want a similar vibe, but okay with MF, FF, MMF, MFF,.

I have seen posts related to this, but it was basically too hardcore, and FMC were either sold or forced into it physically. And I'm not into that. I'm more into emotional manipulation and gaslighting.

I have read Collar Promises forever, but did not like it.

So please recommend me books, so that I can scratch this itch. Appreciate it!!!

Hi I’m looking for a book I read on kindle unlimited sometime in the last 5 years, it’s contemporary romance and what I can remember is - a couple are in a relationship, I think he is the only person she’s ever slept with and they are long term, talking forever when he decides they should go on a break before they commit to each other forever, she doesn’t really want too but she goes along with it for him. I think it had been a while and he was seeing other people but she hadn’t and then he saw her out with another man (MMC) and he decides he’s made a mistake and wants her back. They don’t end up back together. I can’t remember anything else, hope someone can help.

Hi !! Im looking for a forbidden contemporary small-town romance with a REAL slow burn (well written please) with tension, angsty and not too much of spice !! I really wanna feel the small-town setting, with gossip, the "everybody knows each other", etc..

Would not like :

- doormat fmc
- insta-love trope
- romantasy, historical or paranormal romance
- second chance, fake dating or arranged marriage trope.
- MCs in their 30s
- reverse harem, why choose, poly romance
- kidnapping or stalking
- YA

Would like :

- Contemporary romance or dark romance
- MCs in their 20s
- M/F romance
- slooooow burn
- enemies to lovers, forced proximity, the MMC/FMC is with someone else
- girly, feminine, confident FMC
- book released after 2021/2022

Some books with these kinds of tropes that I loved :

- {The Highlight by Alyssa Wilde} !!!
- {Bad Cruz by Lj Shen}
- {Sunday Morning by Jewel E. Ann} !!!
- {The Apple Tree by Jewel E. Ann} !!!
- {Small Town Smokeshow by Holly Renee} !!!
- {Kiss now, lie later by C.W Farnsworth}
- {The summer i first saw you by Elizabeth O’Roark}
- {Older by Jennifer Hartmann} {Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas} (not really small town romances but i loved these books sm)
- {The Confidence of Wildflowers by Micalea Smeltzer}

Thanks!!!!

A rather specific request but I want to read a book where the FMC is quite timid and sweet while the MMC is gruff. There should be a scene or something similar where the MMC raises his voice and then apologizes once he realized his tone. Just want something where FMC sort of softens the MMC around the edges and keeps him on his toes.

I’m open to anything but HR and books where FMC is SA’ed are hard nos for me. Strictly no love triangles or cheating as well.

I don’t mind insta-love and I’m quite fond of alien and mafia romance.

Anyone know any good romance books with dramatic male leads and independent female leads like Tamaki and Haruhi from Ouran Host Club, Jinshi and Maomao from Apothecary Diaries, and Frieren and Himmel from Frieren? 🥲🙏

By dramatic I meant flamboyant, expressive male leads who wear their hearts on their sleeves; while the female leads just mind their business and are tired of the male leads’ nonsense, but lets them and listens to their musings anyway. 😩

I think some books I’ve read with this similar vibe are in:
{The Favourite by Alice Coldbreath}
{Play Along by Liz Timforde}
{It Happened One Wedding by Julie James} - tho mmc is not particularly dramatic, but he was very obvious with his attraction to fmc.

Only CR and HR titles! I’ve tried fantasy and it doesn’t work with me rn, but I AM planning to read The Cruel Prince alongside a romcom.

I’m not fond of dark romance nor billionaire male leads. Especially the alpha, grumpy ones.

Thank you so much in advance! 🤍

I’ve noticed that a new element that Kristen Ashley has been adding to a lot of her books recently is the FMC who does way too much when she finds out about some trauma or negative experiences from the MMC’s past. I just started reading her latest book (Sky’s Edge) and I’m considering DNFing it because instead of expressing sympathy/empathy at normal volumes the FMC keeps yelling and shrieking (the book literally uses those words) in people’s faces about it. I think this is the author’s way of showing how deeply the FMC is capable of feeling but I always find it so cringe and I can’t take the character seriously once that happens.

When one of the MCs leaves their small town to pursue a career or education in another city or country, they promise to make long distance work. But as life gets busier and the distance grows harder to bridge, they slowly find themselves drifting apart despite still caring deeply for each other.

For example:
-Someone forgot to celebrate anniversaries or birthdays

Of course I want a HEA for them.
CR only
Thank you

Hi!! I’m looking for a romance where the FMC is genuinely weirded out by sex/intimacy. Not because of sexual abuse or some traumatic backstory, she just… finds the whole thing kind of weird and off-putting. Like “you want to put your WHAT where?? yuuuk 😭” levels of why are people doing this? Do they like it?

But I also want her to slowly discover her own sexuality over the course of the romance. So she can start out genuinely uncomfortable with the idea of sex and not really understand the appeal, while still being capable of attraction and eventually discovering that, with the right person and on her own terms, she actually *does* want it.

Basically I want that progression from “ew, why would I ever want to do that?” → “okay, kissing is actually nice” → “wait… why do I want him to touch me?” → “OH. So this is what everyone has been talking about.”

I’d especially love an MMC who is incredibly patient with her. He’s attracted to her, but he doesn’t pressure her or treat her discomfort like a problem he needs to fix. He takes things slowly, lets her set the pace, and gives her enough time and space to figure out what she actually likes. I want him to be more interested in making her comfortable than getting her into bed.

I’m totally fine with spice eventually! In fact, I’d prefer it. I just want the transition to feel gradual and believable, rather than her going from “sex is gross” to suddenly being obsessed with it because the MMC kissed her twice 😂

And I’d really prefer if she isn’t portrayed as broken or traumatised. She just genuinely hasn’t discovered that side of herself yet, and the romance lets her explore it at her own pace.

I know this is VERY specific, but does anyone have recs for this?? I’m desperate for the “she thought sex was weird until she slowly discovered that actually, she has a sexuality” experience 😭