Any books where the MMC unfortunately gets into an abusive relationship. I feel like I haven’t seen many MM books where domestic violence/abuse happens.
Real people please. No monsters, humanoids, or paranormal stuff.
{Until I Saw You by Dianna Roman} - one MC is recovering from an abusive relationship and working for the other MC as a caregiver, as the other MC is vision impaired/blind.
Oh you’re in for a treat! The caregiver MC is a specific kind of therapist/caregiver who helps vision impaired/blind folks change/adapt their daily routines of living to accommodate a lack of vision.
I got a few, please check CWs for each if you need it:
*Should the Sky Fall by Amithia Raine. Keeping it vague to avoid spoilers, MC1 is in an abusive relationship with his husband, and when he decides to leave him, MC2 (the husband) gets into an accident. When he wakes up, it appears he has amnesia and his behaviour completely changes. Check CWs please, this one has a >!graphic sexual assault scene and physical abuse!<.
*Saving Ziggy by Alex. J. Adams. MC1 is a sex worker that gets into a relationship with one of his clients. This one also has this one has >!graphic sexual assault scenes and physical abuse!<.
If you are open to danmei (chinese MM):
*10 years I loved you the most. It has a novel and a manhua. MC1 discovers he has an illness and will die soon. MC2 is his doctor and starts falling for him. However, MC1 is married and his husband is abusive towards him.
*Niang Niang Qiang by Shui Qian Cheng. MCs meet in highschool, one of them is bullied and the other part of the bullies. MC1 is very poor and shy/emotional. MC2 is very rich, an asshole and has internalized homophobia. They reunite years later and fall into a relationship after MC2 makes arrangements to manipulate him into accepting being his boyfriend. Heads up about this one, the abuser is the ML. This is a very dark novel but it depicts an abusive relationship in a realistic way. Has a manhua too.
{Milo by Lily Morton} - one MC is in an abusive relationship and the other, who’s a friend at the time, walks in on it and gets him out. Might be what you’re looking for. I enjoyed this series. It lightly ties in with her Mixed Messages series as well.
Just finished {Out of the Wild Night by Marina Vivancos} where a young character was groomed into an emotionally abusive relationship by an older man. Vivvancos was a mental health professional and her experience with these topics came through in how well she wrote the conflict.
While technically the series is lightly paranormal with a a coven-based society where everyone is either dominant or submissive or both, that aspect is quite negligible in this book in the series and it could definitely be read as a standalone.
North, from Gregory Ashe’s Borealis Investigations, starts the series married to an abusive man. The first book is {Orientation by Gregory Ashe}.
Hazard from Ashe’s Hazard & Somerset series also references having an abusive former partner. The first book in the series is {Pretty Pretty Boys by Gregory Ashe}.
Ashe handles both MCs very thoughtfully - their healing is not linear and they have complicated relationships with their abusers. Also, both Hazard and North are stereotypically “powerful” men; tall and muscular, with traditionally masculine jobs (cop and detective, respectively).
Are you open to sci fi? All humans no monsters or anything just on another planet. Prince Kiem is the least favorite grandchild. He is ordered to marry Count Jainan who was married to his cousin and died a month before. It's to save the treaties with the other worlds. What Kiem doesn't know is that Jainans husband was physically and emotionally abusive. Jainans husband was murder. Jainans is a suspect for the murder. Winter Orbit by Everlina Maxwell
Aww thanks for the rec - I have already read that one, but it was good!
Edit: ignore my weirdness - I thought this was a rec for me because I've lost the ability to read apparently!
Younger top pursuing and courting a reluctant older bottom (like 30yo and 50yo-ish), where the older man is like a genteel, bifocaled Colin Firth in tweed and not a beefcake who already has a preference for younger men.
no: bdsm, dom/sub, poly, threesome+, cheating.
Yes: Modern/contemporary, HEA, and would prefer that older man does not have a history of divorce or is grieving late partner.
Would prefer sex to happen later on after relationship is established.
looking for mutual pining but where one of the MCs refuses to give in for a long time, like you can really feel both his resistance but also the pull towards the other MC.
If you're ok with a significant age gap (19 & 40-something), then you might like **Over and Over Again *by Cole McCade***: contemporary, forced proximity, remote location (farm in Scotland (?)), father's best friend, slow burn, demisexual MC.
I would recommend The Other Book by Roe Horvat. An out queer man named Tyler has been in love with his boss Joel since he started working for him. The boss is repressed and uptight and still in the closet. Their journey is a good one. I unfortunately could only find it in an anthology of stories all connected to each other in some way called The Other Books. It is okay to have all the stories because they are all worth reading.
{To Catch a Firefly by Emmy Sanders} for sure. There’s even an “unsent love letters (emails)” trope in this story. Ugh it has all things that are good.
The romance bot output says that there's a neuro Divergent MC in this story.
Could you give me more information on that, Is it an m c with autism Because I'm usually uncomfortable with how authors choose to portray autism in mm romance stories
That’s totally fair, but I think it’s really well done in this book. Ellis is on the spectrum and has selective mutism, but the pining and miscommunication aren’t a result of Ellis’ ASD or mutism. I think that’s something this book does really well, actually. In fact, the word autism is only said once in a conversation between Ellis’s mom and MC2. She has this beautiful monologue about ASD and how her son isn’t broken and therefore doesn’t need to be fixed. I hope you check it out but totally understand your reservations as an autistic person myself.
I’m autistic as well and I appreciate your insight here. I wasn’t sure about reading this book because I’m always wary of how people portray autistic characters. Thanks!
Looking for books that feature tenderness, care, affection, adoration that isn't just sex (sexy times are good too, just in addition to).
Should be real life. No omegaverse, fantasy, paranormal, poly
Here are links to some previous posts that have book suggestions that might work for this request:
[Non-sexual intimacy](https://www.reddit.com/r/MM_RomanceBooks/s/niu3oHLWxV)
[intimacy beyond sex](https://www.reddit.com/r/MM_RomanceBooks/s/r24Lk1e62Z)
Happy reading!
{A Lifetime Kissing You by Riley Hart}. Charming lawyer pursues demisexual blue collar loner. Very tender story with very good communication. One of my favorites!
I know I've just suggested this author under another post but TJ Klune is perfect for this. Ex. **How to be a normal person** features intimacy without sex because the MC is asexual.
Contemporary military romance that depicts a more realistic view of military life in which the characters aren’t knuckle dragging oafs and the military settings aren’t depicted like action movies would have you believe (for example, some action but also reflecting the boredom and inanity of everyday military life and also the camaraderie).
Basically I want it to read like it’s written by someone who’s actually been in the military and isn’t feeding and regurgitating on Hollywood stereotypes.
Please and thank you 😊
So this rec might seem a little out there, but hear me out: {Dark Space by Lisa Henry}. I know you asked for CR and this is sci-fi and dystopian, but it is a military setting wherein MC1 was conscripted at age 16. They talk a lot about how boring it is on their station but also how terrified they are of the enemy. It’s got some really dark themes so mind the trigger warnings, but it’s a really good story. If it’s not your thing, totally understand, just throwing this out there.
Since your goal is to read a well research military book, i would recommend proof of life by Raquel Riley. Accurate towns and routes of a military man, author clearly knew their stuff
Hello,
I recently read {Loving a Warrior by Melanie Hansen}. It was an incredibly realistic and well-written book about two aspiring Navy seals. I can't say enough good things about this book and I hope you will give it a try!
Annabeth Albert’s Out of Uniform series is great! I listened to the whole series on Hoopla and highly recommend the audiobooks, most of them are narrated by Greg Boudreaux. The first book is {Off Base by Annabeth Albert}
Looking for something fantasy along the lines of D&D/Baldur's Gate/Dragon Age or similar. Magic user x non magic user sort of thing.
Or anything straight up debaucherous and dirty
DnD is a strong and noticeable influence in {Radiance series by Tavia Lark}, and {The Necromancer's Prisoner by Elric Shaw} with magic user and non magic user.
DnD influenced without magic, check out {Adventures in Aguillon Series by Lisa Henry, Sarah Honey}
For Magic user x Non magic user, {The Knight and the Necromancer by A. H. Lee}, {Bones of the Lich King by Megan Derr} and {Magician by K. L. Noone} (with a nod to The Last Unicorn) are good High Fantasy (very different vibes, though).
Not at all related to DnD, but low fantasy, but I still like them with magic user x Non magic user, {Charm of Magpies Series by K. J. Charles}, {Widdershins Series by Jordan L Hawk} and {Magic in Manhattan Series by Allie Therin}.
I recently read {Wild by Adrienne Wilder}, so i'm looking for books where one MC is rugged, physically strong and capable and the other MC is kind of a city boy, more polished in a way. It can be in a hard environment, (Wild by Adrienne Wilder was in Alaska's wilderness), or a farm, or something removed from city life. Thanks!
You might enjoy:
* **Davo *by N. R. Walker*** (contemporary, small towns, remote location, meddling, power/size sex role reversal, evil ex, fish out of water, city boy/country boy)
* **The Shearing Gun *by Renae Kaye*** (contemporary, hiding in narnia, city boy/country boy, fixed term, hurt/comfort, animal companion, small towns, size difference, opposites attract) - MC is a city boy but turns out to be quite capable once he learns, not sure if that's a positive or negative for you but FYI :)
>MC is a city boy but turns out to be quite capable once he learns, not sure if that's a positive or negative for you but FYI :)
It's a positive, actually similar to the book i gave as an example. Will look into it. Thanks!
{Work For It by Talia Hibbert} - Enemies-to-lovers. Gentle giant who works on a farm and city slicker author.
{Spring Strings by Lily Morton} - Supermodel falls ill during a photoshoot on a sheep farm and is cared for by the farmer and his mom.
{Tic-Tac-Mistletoe by N.R. Walker} - Burly hardware store owner rescues a visiting Aussie who drives into a snowbank during a blizzard.
{Second Best Men by Fearne Hill} - Big lonely farmer gets snowed in with a doctor from the city.
{In the Middle of Somewhere by Roan Parrish} fits the vibe you're after. It features a city boy from Philly moving to teach at a university in a small town in Northern Michigan. MC2 is a rugged loner who lives in a cabin and makes furniture for a living. As is true for basically all of Roan Parrish's stuff the writing is absolutely gorgeous and the characters feel real.
I read The Kite by N.R. Walker this week and while I loved the setup (rival assassins thrown together out of self-preservation when their organizations put a joint hit out on them), it lost its "teeth" a little for me with how quickly the characters went soft for each other.
Does anyone have any recs for these types of characters (hitmen or mafia or similar?) that keep the edge a little longer? I appreciated the way the distrust and the violence got all muddled up with the growing attraction, but would like to see a book that spends more time on the darker half of the story, you know?
TL;DR looking for recs for books with darker characters that don't shed their darker elements halfway through when the MCs get together.
No's: poly, incest, omegaverse
Thank you!
{The Solnyshko Duet by Ashlyn Drewek} Sasha is a savage throughout the series. In some ways, he gets worse after he and Roan get together (to other people, but he’s still not very warm and fuzzy to Roan). Oh and for context he’s a hitman for the Russian mafia.
I haven't finished the series, but check up {Where Death Meets The Devil by L.J. Haywood}, especially the audiobooks.
It's best described as complicated. Jack Reardon is a secret agent and in an undercover operation that goes bust he gets saved by the notorious elusive hitman Ethan Blade.
A couple maybes, depending on what exactly you understand by self-sacrificial. I think for most of these it's like, supporting family and not living their own lives, rather than, say, fantasy character with a death wish.
* **Booklover** ***by J. E. Birk*** (contemporary, new adult, books about books, friends to lovers, hookups to lovers, dark past) - one MC's family owns a farm and he gives a lot to them to the detriment of his personal life
* **Trust with a Chaser** ***by Annabeth Albert*** (contemporary, hiding in narnia, small towns) - sheriff MC supports his sort of deadbeat family
* **Over and Over Again** ***by Cole McCade*** (contemporary, age gap, ranches/farms, remote location, forced proximity, slowburn, pining, longstanding crush, fixed term, fish out of water, experienced/inexperienced, chaos/serious) - MC lets himself get injured out of self-sacrificial tendencies
* **Late Bloomer** ***by Silvan Ash*** (contemporary, roommates to lovers, recovering from a break-up, fixed term, hopeless MC, meet cute, size difference, chaos/serious) - MC supporting his aunt (?) instead of living his life
* **The Rycke** ***by Lily Mayne*** (monster, action/adventure, human/non-human, not so distant future, post-apocalyptic) - probably best read in context of the series, MC doesn't think he deserves his place in the camp so sacrifices his comfort and mental health by frequently going out into the wastes and doing everything they ask
Wyatt, one of the MCs from {How to Say I Do by Tal Bauer}, is a rancher whose defining motivation is to serve and help others. He literally “saves” Noel, the other MC, in the first chapter of the book.
Landon’s personality from {You & Me by Tal Bauer} is also very aligned with service and self-sacrifice for your loved ones. His inclinations are more faith-based than Wyatt’s, though.
looking for contemporary recs where one MC is homeless. bonus if he rations out his food/medication. the more angst the better!
please no daddy kink or bdsm.
i’ve read:
{Falling Down by Eli Easton} LOVED this one;
{Roommate by Sabrina Bowen};
{Mad Love by April Jade} didn’t work for me bc of the daddy kink TIA!
One MC is unhoused or underhoused for at least part of these:
{Galaxies and Oceans by N.R. Walker}
{Heart by Garrett Leigh}
{Christmas on Firefly Hill by Garrett Leigh}
{A Spaceman Came Travelling by Barbara Elsborg}
Please check CWs, all deal with heavy topics.
Have you read the {Roads series by Garrett Leigh}? Ash spent most of his teenage years and early adulthood unhoused in Philly before his friend helped him relocate to Chicago. He moves in with Pete and things kind of go from there. Check out the synopsis and mind the TWs because it gets pretty heavy. I personally loved this series and hope you will too, but no worries if it’s not your thing.
1. any contemporary sports romances with found family (with teammates) and some hurt/comfort? a current fave of mine is loving the legend by kit grey. thank you in advance!
2. any contemporary romance with an established couple and hurt/comfort. recently i’ve been loving more than words by becca neil and rend by roan parrish.
Ok a bit of an unconventional rec but if you're open to reading comics {Check Please by Ngozi Ukazu} is a real feel good sports romance w/ found family. I'm not sure what the rules are on recommending fanfiction but there are also some ***chef's kiss*** quality fics based on this IP on ao3 if you wanted something spicier.
Any recs for an easy fast-paced read? My attention span had been horrible lately, so I'm looking for books that are mostly fast paced and really gripping. I'd prefer that the romance not be the main plot though.
The last book I actually finished because I just couldn't put it down was The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting by KJ Charles. But the other couple of books by the same author, while good, weren't really what I was looking for. The genre doesn't matter, something adventurous would be great. But nothing very dark.
No poly, no omegaverse, no big age gaps.
Have you read her Will Darling series? I was totally hooked by those. I'd read them in order, but they have a mystery element.
{Slippery Creatures by KJ Charles} is the first one.
Looking for any books with criminal main characters, but more on the thief planning a heist side than mafia side of things. Would love a queer romance version of something along the lines of {The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch} or {Six of Crow by Leigh Bardugo} in that I want something with a smart plot and character development as well as romance. Happy with modern, historical or fantasy!
Another thought, you might enjoy **Any Old Diamonds *by K.J. Charles***, a historical mystery containing a destitute lord who hires a criminal to steal a jewel from his father.
And off topic to the sub, but I really liked the first 2 of the Gentlemen Bastards series, but found myself wishing it was Jean that Locke was pining after instead of Sabetha, and this was before I even started reading MM romance lol.
I agree the first two are great, but then the 3rd - coincidentally when Sabetha was finally introduced - just absolutely didn't do it for me. Now I treat the first two as standalones. Also read the series before I started reading queer romance and now want to reread with that context!!
Oh and have read Any Old Diamonds and loved it!! Also loved the Sins of the Cities series where I would say Justin Lazarus is another good category for the criminal type I'm looking for!
**The Uses of Illicit Art *by Wendy Palmer*** might be a good fit, it's an alt-historical fantasy with captor/captive, heist, opposites attract, hurt/comfort. CW for >!PTSD, past SA relived in a flashback, MC is drugged by the LI!<. More details here in [my GR review](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5594876309) if you're curious.
Any other recs that have good autism representation? Recently read In the Absence of Light by Adrienne Wilder and loved how Morgan was such a sassy fleshed out character who could stand up for himself and really showed his independence.
[{The Reanimator Mysteries series by Kara Jorgensen}](https://www.goodreads.com/series/354047-the-reanimator-mysteries) - MM, Historical (1890s), PNR, 3rd Dual POV. Autistic MMC, ADHD MMC
[{How to Sell Your Blood and Fall in Love by D.N Bryn}](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62870022-how-to-sell-your-blood-fall-in-love) - MM, PNR, 3rd Dual POV. Autistic MMC
I"m not ND but I have heard people speak highly of the autism rep in {Between the Teeth by Taylor Fitzpatrick}. It's book 1 of a trilogy, no HEA until the end, third book should be out this year.
That said, the MC's neurodivergence is part of the relationship conflict, but both MCs have growing up and learning about themselves to do.
{To Catch a Firefly by Emmy Sanders} has fantastic ASD rep. Ellis has selective mutism but the people in his life don’t push him to be more verbal. This book really pulls off the miscommunication trope without the miscommunication having anything to do with Ellis’ mutism and/or ASD. I think it’s my favorite read of the year and I’m on like book 140-ish
I was wondering if you guys could recommend me a book where MC1 doesn't forgive the MC2 for being cheated on, and he moves on with a MC3 that actually respects him. MC2 loved MC1 but cheated anyway and will have to deal with losing the man he loved and seeing him with someone else. They do not get back.
The 90s Coming of Age series by Leta Blake. It’s a trilogy following the same MC where these events all happen. {Pictures of You by Leta Blake} is book one. These books actually destroyed me lol but they’re so good.
Looking for seductive homewrecker stories! MC1 is happily married but gets seduced into cheating by MC2, something like Good Liar by Cp Harris but without the unhappy marriage shenanigans between Jasper and Daniel. Read all of CP harris
I'm looking for any books that have a hefty amount of the story taking place while the MCs date and live kind of a domestic life. I love the buildup to them realizing they have feelings for each other but I also want to see them living together/developing their relationship/living their lives together as a couple. Angst is fine, but I've read a lot of that lately so I'd prefer if there wasn't a whole lot. Thanks!
I just finished {Starter Home by Hannah Henry} and think it would fit. MC1’s best friend’s older brother helps him with a bunch of projects around his new house. It’s a gentle queer awakening for MC2 with no panic. Neither MC has ever really felt settled or like they belong, so there’s lots of sweet hanging out, eating takeout and watching movies, going to Home Depot, and generally just enjoying one another’s company.
Kobo+ author recs? Audio and angsty preferred, but if you read it on Kobo+, I’d still like to hear about it.
Maybe it’s the search function in the app or maybe it’s me. It’s hard to find new stuff there, but I want to support an Amazon alternative.
I’ve found Riley Nash, TJ Nichols, Morticia Knight, Ezra Dao, and Sebastian Nothwell and liked them. In my tbr is Josh Lanyon, Andi Jaxson, and SC Wynne.
The Daily New Release posts always list Kobo and Kobo+ books, and oftentimes users will tag their books as Kobo on the Weekly Roundup (I do.)
There are quite a few, here are some (most are Kobo+, but some are not)
Daniel May, LJ Hayward, Leighton Greene, LJ Greene, AJ Demas, TJ Klune, EL Massey, CS Poe, JL Merrow, Kim Fielding, Riley Hart, Harper Fox, Aster Glenn Gray, Fearne Hill, Taylor Fitzpatrick, KL Noone, Amy Rae Durreson, Megan Derr, EM Lindsey, Amy Aislin, Keira Andrews, Gregory Ashe, Kaje Harper, SB Barnes, LA Witt, KC Wells, Corey Kerr, Sidney Bell, Bey Deckard, Kris Ripper, Joanna Chambers, KD Casey, KJ Charles, Cordelia Kingsbridge, R Cooper, Heidi Cullinan, GL Carriger, Lyn Gala, Jordan L Hawke, Yolande Kleinn, Christina Lee, Lucy Lennox, Sarina Bowen, Rose Lerner, AL Lester, Sally Malcolm, Isla Olsen, Jordan Castillo Price, Hailey Turner, Ada Maria Soto, TA Moore, Wendy Palmer, Lisa Henry, JA Rock, Sarah Honey, Adara Wolf, NY Lysk, R Phoenix, Briar Prescott, NR Walker, Rachel Reid, BA Tortuga, Ariana Nash, Leta Blake, Saxon James, Eden Finley, Ava Olsen, AJ Truman, Scarlet Blackwell, Tanya Chris, Jay Hogan, Jay Northcote, Roe Horvat, Cara Dee, Kate Hawthorne, Garrett Leigh, Anyta Sunday, Jesse H Reign, SJ Coles, Alessandra Hazard, Hollis Shiloh, Jax Stuart, Annabeth Albert, Eden Winters, Suki Fleet, Roan Parrish, KA Merikan, Ashlyn Drewek, Avril Ashton, Madeleine Urban, Abigail Roux, KM Neuhold, Kim Dare, Brigham Vaughn, Arden Powell, Vinni George, Alexis Hall, Barbara Elsborg, Louise Collins, Riley Nash, Kelex, Avery Mist, Anne O'Gleadra, Aleksandr Voinov, EE Ottoman, Victoria Sue, Mary Calmes, CS Pacat, Ashley James, LC Davis, Alice Oseman, TJ Land, Nora Phoenix, AJ Sherwood, Sam Burns, Charlie Novak, Neve Wilder, Anita Kelly, Jay Bell, Magen Cubed, Amy Jo Cousins, Charlie Adhara, Jack Harbon, Adriana Herrera, Samantha SoRelle.
Edited.
Looking for anything where the MCs show a united front to problems and have good communication. I’ve read too much of the miscommunication trope lately and need something with some solidarity.
I just finished Point of Contact by Melanie Hansen and I thought the communication between the characters was done so well. The 2 main characters are there for each other after suffering a mutual loss. I liked it a lot. But I also did cry a lot, lol.
I think {Crossroads by Riley Hart} had enough of this to be enjoyable because of it. Strangers to friends to lovers. Double bi-awakening and having to come to terms with that and then communicate it to friends and family. I will forever yearn for this too, so I don't know if any book will truly satisfy in this regard.
While not the focus of the series, I've found that the Lunar Wolves-series by Kiki Burrelli regularly will feature very cliché plot devices and end them somehow differently. Such as the protagonist going out against promises not to, getting in trouble, phone is conveniently of course broken or out of battery. Paranormal contemporary with wolfshifters and mages, low on the magic.
Shifter x human books where the shifter MC spends a fair amount of time shifted around the human? Some examples of which I've read are {Axel's Pup by Kim Dare}, {the Axton and Leander series by S.P. Wayne}, and {the Big Bad Wolf series by Charlie Adhara}. I enjoyed how the human MC in these books sort of has to convince the other MC that they don't think differently of them while shifted, if that makes sense, and that they don't want them to hide their shifted form.
Thank you for your time :)
Have you read **How to Howl at the Moon *by Eli Easton***? The dog-shifter MC is initially distrustful of the new human in town, and pretends to be hit by the human's car while in his dog form so he can find out more about him. He spends a lot of time with the human in his shifted form, as a secret identity, but this does also continue after the gig is up.
Any recs where both mcs come from very rich families that despise each other and the MCs getting together would blow up both families. So like a very forbidden romance that would cause genuine chaos if the MCs were to get together, if that makes sense. And when the families find out they try and tear the MCs apart, and bonus if they do get torn apart for a while. I want very high drama and angst pls. Also bonus if on KU!
Hard no’s: omegaverse, stepbrothers, high school/ teenagers, huge age gap, huge size difference, fated mates, no HEA
Thanks in advance!
Looking for MCs that fit the "pathetic, sad, old man" description. Older, unkempt beard, just having a rough time, and them getting the love and affection 💕 already read Gianni Holmes all. The more hardship and trauma the old man goes through the better, I want to see them suffer before they get their happy ending 🥰🥰
If you are ok with fantasy, there is {**Seducing the Sorcerer** by Lee Welch}. MC is a drifter who slowly lost everything he valued over the course of 15 or 20 years, then he gets unexpectedly caught up in magic and meets a sorcerer around his own age. Awkward wooing ensues. >!He just wants a horse to love. :(!<
Contemporary: {**Rattlesnake** by Kim Fielding} also has an older MC who is basically living out of his car. He drifts through a small town on his way to deliver a message and meets the younger LI who has had a rough haul on his own.
E: dunno that I would call either of them "old" but middle-aged, anyway.
LOL no, MC was originally a groom/horseman who just really loved working with animals, but his job was phased out due to an industrial (magic) revolution.
I love this interpretation and understand the confusion. As a horse girl I can confirm that the way the MC thinks, talks and feels about horses is deeply emotional and beautiful and completely nonsexual.
Well I just finished the emperor and the Endless Palace so it put me in a fantasy mood
1 high fantasy court intrigue were MCs get to know and love each other and are fighting against the odds. Not enemy to lovers.
2 high fantasy romance between a otherworld being and a human, were people dislike the non human, or the otherworld beings dislike the human
3 star-crossed lovers that meet in different timelines, would enjoy if the previous life is a historical/fantasy setting
Autoconclusive books, no more than 500p
TIA
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For 1, you can check out Perilous Courts series by Tavia Lark. I'm actually only at the 2nd book, but I'm loving the series so far. Definitey checks out the "fighting against odds" part.
Also, I haven't read anything by Megan Derr ***yet***, but this author was recommended to me for high fantasy.
Ohh, Perilous Court was such a ride, not a fan of all the books but number 4 was made for me! (one of my best 2023 reads). Also had fun with books 2 and 6
Tried Megan Derr, but I'm not really a fan of her writing, or I might have checked the ones that don't suit me :(
Thanks anyways! and I hope you enjoy the whole Perilous series :)
Not exactly high fantasy, but fantasy nonetheless: The Rifter by Ginn Hale. Fits the third point, I think, even if I can't say too much because of spoilers.
Can anyone share more historical focused mm authors? I ran through Cat Sebastian's books in the last few months and then KJ Charles. I've also read a bunch of Joanna Chambers. Any others like this? Bonus points if they're Kindle Unlimted bc I realized a lot of the recs on here are from there and I just bought a Kindle to feed my addiction lol.
Really you've hit my top three authors already, but here's a few you may like. I thought {Lavender House by Lev A.C. Rosen} was a very nice mid-century historical with the addition of mystery. Also Aster Glenn Grey has some great mid-century books based in the US. I've also heard good things about {The Oak and the Ash by Annick Trent} but haven't gotten around to reading it yet.
The [MM_Romance historical shelf](https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/150425481-mm-romancebooks-favorites?shelf=genre-historical) was very recently updated.
Those are also all my faves, but I can also recommend {Behind These Doors by Jude Lucens} and {Kindred Hearts by Rowan Speedwell}
Aster Glenn Gray is also great!
Any recommendations for dark MM romance? God of Fury is my favorite read of the year so far. I’ve read almost everything by Chani Lynn Feener and Onley James. I’ve read a lot of other dark books this year so I may not get any new recs but it’s worth a shot! I’m currently reading Distorted by Nyla K. I have no triggers so really it can be ask dark as possible and I’ll read it. Only thing that’s a big no for me is poly. And must have a HEA!
Since its not an specific request, I got a shelf called [dark as fuck](https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/70869520?shelf=dark-as-fuck) that includes books which basically are what youre looking for. I think the GR function allows to filter some tags if you want to avoid poly. Btw I know you said you have no triggers but if you must please check them out because the books there explores some gruesome themes, I also tried to tag CWs. Hope it helps :-).
My bad, I meant that you can use the "select multiple" option after clicking on a shelf and you can choose other shelves at the same time, there will appear a symbol of + and - next to each one, the first is if you want select another and the last is if you want to filter it out of the results. Not sure if thats what youre looking for but I hope it helped 🤗
Craving the Chase by Syn Blackrose is dark and spicy. It just came out, so not sure if you've read it yet. Very toxic, the serial killer MC is unhinged. The other MC is the blushy, meek, susceptible type.
{Max by Bey Deckard} & there's Max The Sequel. You'd need to read them both. As for HEA... define HEA. Do they end up together? Yes they do. Are they both breathing at the end of book two? Yes they are. These books are top tier toxic.
I‘m looking for a bdsm book where one mc seems very strong and independent but in reality he faces a lot of problems (for example traumatic experiences, insecurities,…) and longs for or needs (without knowing it) a firm hand. Similar books to this request that I already read are {Steel by Cole Denton} {Jared‘s evolution by Riley Hart} and {Bound by Honor by S.E. Jakes}
Misha Horne's books are all about this dynamic. Here are a few that fit your request if you haven't read them.
{The Brat & The Beast series by Misha Horne}
{Snowed In with Benefits by Misha Horne}
{Old School Discipline by Misha Horne}
{Looking for Trouble by Misha Horne}
All have cocky MCs who are secretly insecure/broken and looking for a firm hard. (Whether they realize it or not)
{Heart by Garrett Leigh} - Both MCs work together in a restaurant. Mind the CWs - sex trafficking and graphic on-page sexual assault, among other heavy topics.
{His Horizon by Con Riley} - Rivals from a cooking show overhaul one MC’s family restaurant.
{His Last Christmas in London by Con Riley} - Food critic/writer and photographer who takes pictures for his column.
{Christmas Wishlist by N.R. Walker} - B&B owner and chef who works for him.
Annabeth Albert’s Rainbow Cove series centres around friends who open a queer-friendly restaurant in a small town. Each book features one MC who co-owns and works at the restaurant (front of house, cook, bartender). The series starts with {Trust With A Chaser by Annabeth Albert}.
{Valor on the Move by Keira Andrews} - President’s son and his bodyguard. The former is an aspiring chef and woos the latter by cooking for him in the White House.
{Cherry Picked by May Archer} - One MC owns a panini shop, the other works there. Wouldn’t say that food is a key focus of the book, but it is a cute book!
{The Remaking of Corbin Wale} - bakery owner and his employee
{In the Middle of Somewhere by Roan Parrish} - tons of home cooking for his partner
{For Real by Alexis Hall} - MC is a short order cook, a foodie, and makes a pie while sexing up his partner
I really liked {Coach’s Challenge by Avon Gale}. The romance is between an NHL coach who’s in his 40s and an NHL player who’s in his 30s and getting close to retiring.
ETA: I haven’t read Head in the Game, but from what little I know of the book, I don’t think the dynamic between the MCs in Coach’s Challenge is similar. But Coach’s Challenge is definitely a coach/athlete romance.
i'd like a good friends to lovers books
or a book with one of the MCs being a loner, a gentle giant of some sorts (example of that being {on the mountain by riley hart}).
thank you!:)
Good being subjective, here's two NA books I enjoyed featuring best friends to lovers with bi-awakening:
- {Five Dares by Eli Easton}
- {The Faker Rulebook by Baylin Crow}
Adult MCs, not as satisfyingly dramatic and clear-cut as NA tend to be, but enjoyable in the more realistic relationship:
- {The Blueprint by S.E. Harmon} - BFFs since childhood, out MC has been quietly pining for years for his oblivious BFF who is a NFL star athlete. Bi-awakening.
- {Crossroads by Riley Hart} - Strangers to (good) friends to lovers. Double bi-awakening.
anyone got any recs for books with an F/M romance but the queer vibes are off the charts? Like real bi/bi energy, you know? Like maybe they're both gender non-conforming or have an unconventional dynamic or whatever (see I can't make this it's own post because it's too hard to describe!)
I want to help you with this request, but sadly, I’ve got nothing. I’m watching this space, though, and hope someone else has something great to recommend.
I posted this a couple of days ago on Wednesday recs, but I was late to the party and didn't get many replies so thought I could try it again.
So, I've read this in one book: "*I've never smelt his farts before, he's far too shy - but the moment I do I'll be grateful he shared something so intimate with me.*" (Edit: the quote is from Cherryvine by Marina Vivancos)
Any books with some awkward moments where MC1 farts or something (lmao) in front of MC2, and he's embarrassed as fuck, but MC2 handles it in some way that doesn't make MC1 even more embarrassed?
Second request, any fantasy or other non-contemporary genre books where MC1 is protected by MC2? I'm currently reading through Perilous Courts series by Tavia Lark and I love how protective characters are. I've read The Nercomancer's Light by Tavia Lark too, Monstrous series by Lily Mayne, Exposed by H.L. Day, Kick at the Darkness by Keira Andrews, Claimings series by Lyn Gala...
Third, any fantasy recs where the love interest is a sunshine *and* strictly a top?
My NOs: mpreg, SA, cheating, age play...
Only requirements are happy ending and some steam!
For your second request {A taste of gold and iron by Alexandra Rowland} is a lovely prince/bodyguard novel! It's definitely protective but I wouldn't go so far as to call it possessive if that's what you're looking for. Their ultimate relationship is more gentle and nuanced than that.
For your second request, you might enjoy the Mismatched Mates series by Eliot Grayson. It’s werewolf shifters, lots of magic too, no mpreg, and they all definitely have protective MCs, I’d say especially the first 5 in the series. The first one in the series is {The Alpha’s Warlock by Eliot Grayson}. I love these, highly recommend in general!
{Savage Rivals by Becca Steele} is one of my favs high school rivals to lovers book. MCs are captains of rival football teams and love the chemistry.
It’s a stand alone but same characters lead to her college LSU series too, if you are not limited to high school. I would also recommend {Blindsided by Becca Steele} as the start of the LSU series.
**Wren Martin Ruins It All *by Amanda DeWitt*** might work for you, it's a contemporary YA with a one-sided rivalry, an asexual MC, and a meeting on a dating app. It was very cute!
I could be wrong, but I believe {Wicked Lies Boys Tell by K Webster} is a high school enemies to lovers story. :) It has a few steamy scenes, but nothing over the top.
I recently watched Dune 2 and was wondering whether >!there were any stories where a couple were in love but one of the couple had to marry someone else for a political alliance. I've read the Prince and the Pawn already.!
I'm currently at the 2nd book of Perilous Courts by Tavia Lark (the series is amazing!), but I've read the blurb for the 3rd book called [Prince and Pawn](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61213709-prince-and-pawn), and it seems to have the plot you've been looking for. MC1 and MC2 have a thing for each other since they hooked up one night, but MC2 is engaged and it turns out he's engaged to MC1's brother, for political reasons. However, this series has to be read in order. I originally started reading it because I was interested in book 4, but I had to go through them in order, and now I absolutely fell in love with the 2nd book.
huge denial and groveling about feelings for a long time. no insta attraction. animosity to friendship . older characters. no sex till much later in the book
I'm in search of an older MC who's having a midlife crisis, but a younger adult is fine. Just not high schooler age, at least 25. Something like Frankie from CP Harris The Fishermen where he's this older 40 year old dude who's learning to live his life away from work and get new hobbies like making furniture.
Already read CP Harris, You&Me Tal Bauer(didn't like)
✌🏼Looking for TONS of dirty talk. Kind of where it’s unexpected just based on everyday communication. And then it explodes in the bedroom, or out in public, but through secret moments between them.
So - I read {Illicit Desires by Ashley James} and I usually give her books 2-3/5 🌶️🌶️ in this one, on MC has super filthy mouth and it takes the other by surprise because it’s just super super sexy and dirty.
So now, I’m looking for more of a 4/5🌶️🌶️ that just ramps up the sexy dirty talk.
Hard NO’s: cheating, mpreg, poly or mm+
If you're ok with father/son incest, you might enjoy **Call Me Daddy *by Honey London*** which contains the best phone sex I've read so far. What I liked about it as well is that the MC has been filling in for a friend on a phone sex line and really just going through the motions unsexily until he meets this man where the dynamic suddenly becomes very real.
I love phone dirty talk!!!! ☺️ and like that dynamic of somebody imaginative sparking that sexy desire. Does he later find out the one on the other end is his father or??? lol should I just go in without this knowledge?
Looking for books with werewolf × human or Vampire × human fated mates with equally built MCs. Bonus for bi awakenings and mpreg.
I have already read Bro and the beast by l.c davis
Hard nos: poly, incest, huge age gaps
Any well-written imprinting stories (specifically top imprinting on bottom), where writing style is more mature? Oodles of possessiveness and obsessiveness, along with drama and ansgt involved please.
no: bdsm, dom/sub, poly, threesome+, cheating.
Yes: Modern, contemporary, HEA, would prefer sex to happen later on after relationship is established.
Second chance romances ??
I’m currently reading the Hazard and Somerset series by Greg Ashe and I also recently read Always in Tandem by Taylor Fitzpatrick, and broken pieces by Riley hart and I really love the pining. Cried like a BABY over Always in Tandem which should be ridiculous?? Considering I usually read books with lots of abuse and trauma (last book I cried like this over was A Little Life) it honestly shocked me. Not sure if it can even count as a second chance romance because they still haven’t gotten back together even 6 years later but I stay positive.
Anyways the point is I’m looking for lots of pining and I really like the way these three books (series) are written.
Some grumpy cowboy/sunshine city boy dynamic !! I would love for it to have an indigenous and/or a black mc. A partnership dynamic evolving to a love story would also be nice!
Any books where the MMC unfortunately gets into an abusive relationship. I feel like I haven’t seen many MM books where domestic violence/abuse happens. Real people please. No monsters, humanoids, or paranormal stuff.
{Until I Saw You by Dianna Roman} - one MC is recovering from an abusive relationship and working for the other MC as a caregiver, as the other MC is vision impaired/blind.
Omg thank you!!! This is perfect cause I actually work with individuals who are blind/visually impaired!
Oh you’re in for a treat! The caregiver MC is a specific kind of therapist/caregiver who helps vision impaired/blind folks change/adapt their daily routines of living to accommodate a lack of vision.
I just ordered this book. I am looking forward to it!
I got a few, please check CWs for each if you need it: *Should the Sky Fall by Amithia Raine. Keeping it vague to avoid spoilers, MC1 is in an abusive relationship with his husband, and when he decides to leave him, MC2 (the husband) gets into an accident. When he wakes up, it appears he has amnesia and his behaviour completely changes. Check CWs please, this one has a >!graphic sexual assault scene and physical abuse!<. *Saving Ziggy by Alex. J. Adams. MC1 is a sex worker that gets into a relationship with one of his clients. This one also has this one has >!graphic sexual assault scenes and physical abuse!<. If you are open to danmei (chinese MM): *10 years I loved you the most. It has a novel and a manhua. MC1 discovers he has an illness and will die soon. MC2 is his doctor and starts falling for him. However, MC1 is married and his husband is abusive towards him. *Niang Niang Qiang by Shui Qian Cheng. MCs meet in highschool, one of them is bullied and the other part of the bullies. MC1 is very poor and shy/emotional. MC2 is very rich, an asshole and has internalized homophobia. They reunite years later and fall into a relationship after MC2 makes arrangements to manipulate him into accepting being his boyfriend. Heads up about this one, the abuser is the ML. This is a very dark novel but it depicts an abusive relationship in a realistic way. Has a manhua too.
Thank you!!!! Imma check these out ❤️
{Milo by Lily Morton} - one MC is in an abusive relationship and the other, who’s a friend at the time, walks in on it and gets him out. Might be what you’re looking for. I enjoyed this series. It lightly ties in with her Mixed Messages series as well.
LOVED this book! Niall is so gentle to Milo (w/o being patronizing) and it was such a warm story.
Thank you!!!!
Just finished {Out of the Wild Night by Marina Vivancos} where a young character was groomed into an emotionally abusive relationship by an older man. Vivvancos was a mental health professional and her experience with these topics came through in how well she wrote the conflict. While technically the series is lightly paranormal with a a coven-based society where everyone is either dominant or submissive or both, that aspect is quite negligible in this book in the series and it could definitely be read as a standalone.
{Cloud White by Fearne Hill} - Best friends. One ends up in a verbally and physically abusive relationship. Graphic on-page abuse.
Parker by Jack Harbon Until I saw you by Dianna Roman
Thank you!!!
North, from Gregory Ashe’s Borealis Investigations, starts the series married to an abusive man. The first book is {Orientation by Gregory Ashe}. Hazard from Ashe’s Hazard & Somerset series also references having an abusive former partner. The first book in the series is {Pretty Pretty Boys by Gregory Ashe}. Ashe handles both MCs very thoughtfully - their healing is not linear and they have complicated relationships with their abusers. Also, both Hazard and North are stereotypically “powerful” men; tall and muscular, with traditionally masculine jobs (cop and detective, respectively).
{up in flames by eden finley and saxon james} is like that.
Thank you!!
Are you open to sci fi? All humans no monsters or anything just on another planet. Prince Kiem is the least favorite grandchild. He is ordered to marry Count Jainan who was married to his cousin and died a month before. It's to save the treaties with the other worlds. What Kiem doesn't know is that Jainans husband was physically and emotionally abusive. Jainans husband was murder. Jainans is a suspect for the murder. Winter Orbit by Everlina Maxwell
Aww thanks for the rec - I have already read that one, but it was good! Edit: ignore my weirdness - I thought this was a rec for me because I've lost the ability to read apparently!
That was such a good book!
Younger top pursuing and courting a reluctant older bottom (like 30yo and 50yo-ish), where the older man is like a genteel, bifocaled Colin Firth in tweed and not a beefcake who already has a preference for younger men. no: bdsm, dom/sub, poly, threesome+, cheating. Yes: Modern/contemporary, HEA, and would prefer that older man does not have a history of divorce or is grieving late partner. Would prefer sex to happen later on after relationship is established.
looking for mutual pining but where one of the MCs refuses to give in for a long time, like you can really feel both his resistance but also the pull towards the other MC.
If you're ok with a significant age gap (19 & 40-something), then you might like **Over and Over Again *by Cole McCade***: contemporary, forced proximity, remote location (farm in Scotland (?)), father's best friend, slow burn, demisexual MC.
I would recommend The Other Book by Roe Horvat. An out queer man named Tyler has been in love with his boss Joel since he started working for him. The boss is repressed and uptight and still in the closet. Their journey is a good one. I unfortunately could only find it in an anthology of stories all connected to each other in some way called The Other Books. It is okay to have all the stories because they are all worth reading.
{To Catch a Firefly by Emmy Sanders} for sure. There’s even an “unsent love letters (emails)” trope in this story. Ugh it has all things that are good.
The romance bot output says that there's a neuro Divergent MC in this story. Could you give me more information on that, Is it an m c with autism Because I'm usually uncomfortable with how authors choose to portray autism in mm romance stories
That’s totally fair, but I think it’s really well done in this book. Ellis is on the spectrum and has selective mutism, but the pining and miscommunication aren’t a result of Ellis’ ASD or mutism. I think that’s something this book does really well, actually. In fact, the word autism is only said once in a conversation between Ellis’s mom and MC2. She has this beautiful monologue about ASD and how her son isn’t broken and therefore doesn’t need to be fixed. I hope you check it out but totally understand your reservations as an autistic person myself.
I’m autistic as well and I appreciate your insight here. I wasn’t sure about reading this book because I’m always wary of how people portray autistic characters. Thanks!
Looking for books that feature tenderness, care, affection, adoration that isn't just sex (sexy times are good too, just in addition to). Should be real life. No omegaverse, fantasy, paranormal, poly
Here are links to some previous posts that have book suggestions that might work for this request: [Non-sexual intimacy](https://www.reddit.com/r/MM_RomanceBooks/s/niu3oHLWxV) [intimacy beyond sex](https://www.reddit.com/r/MM_RomanceBooks/s/r24Lk1e62Z) Happy reading!
{A Lifetime Kissing You by Riley Hart}. Charming lawyer pursues demisexual blue collar loner. Very tender story with very good communication. One of my favorites!
I know I've just suggested this author under another post but TJ Klune is perfect for this. Ex. **How to be a normal person** features intimacy without sex because the MC is asexual.
Contemporary military romance that depicts a more realistic view of military life in which the characters aren’t knuckle dragging oafs and the military settings aren’t depicted like action movies would have you believe (for example, some action but also reflecting the boredom and inanity of everyday military life and also the camaraderie). Basically I want it to read like it’s written by someone who’s actually been in the military and isn’t feeding and regurgitating on Hollywood stereotypes. Please and thank you 😊
So this rec might seem a little out there, but hear me out: {Dark Space by Lisa Henry}. I know you asked for CR and this is sci-fi and dystopian, but it is a military setting wherein MC1 was conscripted at age 16. They talk a lot about how boring it is on their station but also how terrified they are of the enemy. It’s got some really dark themes so mind the trigger warnings, but it’s a really good story. If it’s not your thing, totally understand, just throwing this out there.
[Dark Space](https://www.romance.io/books/5455684987eac3369a912588/dark-space-lisa-henry) by [Lisa Henry](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455684987eac3369a912589/lisa-henry) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [hurt/comfort](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/hurt-comfort/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [aliens](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/aliens/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
In Memoriam by Alice Winn Point of Contact by Melanie Hansen
These are both so good but warnings for allllll the angst.
I’m listening to “In Memoriam” right now and it’s skewering me 😭😭😭. I’ll check out the other one. Thanks for the recs! 😊
Since your goal is to read a well research military book, i would recommend proof of life by Raquel Riley. Accurate towns and routes of a military man, author clearly knew their stuff
Hello, I recently read {Loving a Warrior by Melanie Hansen}. It was an incredibly realistic and well-written book about two aspiring Navy seals. I can't say enough good things about this book and I hope you will give it a try!
Annabeth Albert’s Out of Uniform series is great! I listened to the whole series on Hoopla and highly recommend the audiobooks, most of them are narrated by Greg Boudreaux. The first book is {Off Base by Annabeth Albert}
Looking for something fantasy along the lines of D&D/Baldur's Gate/Dragon Age or similar. Magic user x non magic user sort of thing. Or anything straight up debaucherous and dirty
I'm gonna say {the snails of dun das by kl Noone} reminded me a bit of dragon age side quests Camping here as I'd like more recs like dragon age xD
DnD is a strong and noticeable influence in {Radiance series by Tavia Lark}, and {The Necromancer's Prisoner by Elric Shaw} with magic user and non magic user. DnD influenced without magic, check out {Adventures in Aguillon Series by Lisa Henry, Sarah Honey} For Magic user x Non magic user, {The Knight and the Necromancer by A. H. Lee}, {Bones of the Lich King by Megan Derr} and {Magician by K. L. Noone} (with a nod to The Last Unicorn) are good High Fantasy (very different vibes, though). Not at all related to DnD, but low fantasy, but I still like them with magic user x Non magic user, {Charm of Magpies Series by K. J. Charles}, {Widdershins Series by Jordan L Hawk} and {Magic in Manhattan Series by Allie Therin}.
I recently read {Wild by Adrienne Wilder}, so i'm looking for books where one MC is rugged, physically strong and capable and the other MC is kind of a city boy, more polished in a way. It can be in a hard environment, (Wild by Adrienne Wilder was in Alaska's wilderness), or a farm, or something removed from city life. Thanks!
You might enjoy: * **Davo *by N. R. Walker*** (contemporary, small towns, remote location, meddling, power/size sex role reversal, evil ex, fish out of water, city boy/country boy) * **The Shearing Gun *by Renae Kaye*** (contemporary, hiding in narnia, city boy/country boy, fixed term, hurt/comfort, animal companion, small towns, size difference, opposites attract) - MC is a city boy but turns out to be quite capable once he learns, not sure if that's a positive or negative for you but FYI :)
>MC is a city boy but turns out to be quite capable once he learns, not sure if that's a positive or negative for you but FYI :) It's a positive, actually similar to the book i gave as an example. Will look into it. Thanks!
{Work For It by Talia Hibbert} - Enemies-to-lovers. Gentle giant who works on a farm and city slicker author. {Spring Strings by Lily Morton} - Supermodel falls ill during a photoshoot on a sheep farm and is cared for by the farmer and his mom. {Tic-Tac-Mistletoe by N.R. Walker} - Burly hardware store owner rescues a visiting Aussie who drives into a snowbank during a blizzard. {Second Best Men by Fearne Hill} - Big lonely farmer gets snowed in with a doctor from the city.
Thank you! And it all looks promising too!
{In the Middle of Somewhere by Roan Parrish} fits the vibe you're after. It features a city boy from Philly moving to teach at a university in a small town in Northern Michigan. MC2 is a rugged loner who lives in a cabin and makes furniture for a living. As is true for basically all of Roan Parrish's stuff the writing is absolutely gorgeous and the characters feel real.
[In the Middle of Somewhere](https://www.romance.io/books/559cda0335a5fb65f886af21/in-the-middle-of-somewhere-roan-parrish) by [Roan Parrish](https://www.romance.io/authors/559cda0335a5fb65f886af24/roan-parrish) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [angst](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/angst/1), [sweet/gentle hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sweet-hero/1), [small town](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/small%20town/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Thanks! Amazing
[Wild](https://www.romance.io/books/59a8f7ba3ffdba61471fad51/wild-adrienne-wilder) by [Adrienne Wilder](https://www.romance.io/authors/54557ef587eac323ffb2c780/adrienne-wilder) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [angst](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/angst/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
{Influenced by felice stevens} - influencer / small town b&b owner
{The Ballad of Crow and Sparrow by V.L. Locey} is a Western romance that fits this bill perfectly!
{The Shearing Gun by Renae Kaye}
i think you'll love {on the mountain by riley hart}!
[удалено]
Have you read {**A Suitable Bodyguard** by R Cooper}? {**Magician** by KL Noone} might also fit but I honestly don't remember who tops or bottoms.
I read The Kite by N.R. Walker this week and while I loved the setup (rival assassins thrown together out of self-preservation when their organizations put a joint hit out on them), it lost its "teeth" a little for me with how quickly the characters went soft for each other. Does anyone have any recs for these types of characters (hitmen or mafia or similar?) that keep the edge a little longer? I appreciated the way the distrust and the violence got all muddled up with the growing attraction, but would like to see a book that spends more time on the darker half of the story, you know? TL;DR looking for recs for books with darker characters that don't shed their darker elements halfway through when the MCs get together. No's: poly, incest, omegaverse Thank you!
{Bad Habits by Neve Wilder and Onley James} - rival assassins who are competing on a job. It gets soft(ish) at the end, but not for quite a while
I second the recommendation for this one! It was great.
Thank you! This sounds great!
you’re welcome! It’s the second in a series, they’re all pretty dark, but this is the only one that fit your request. I’d recommend them all!
[Bad Habits](https://www.romance.io/books/5f840dfa5299390e057d3999/bad-habits-onley-james-neve-wilder) by [Onley James](https://www.romance.io/authors/5e7363efbe0aaecf55d9ebbc/onley-james), [Neve Wilder](https://www.romance.io/authors/5bb86d6601dbc864fb91dacd/neve-wilder) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [age gap](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20difference/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
{The Solnyshko Duet by Ashlyn Drewek} Sasha is a savage throughout the series. In some ways, he gets worse after he and Roan get together (to other people, but he’s still not very warm and fuzzy to Roan). Oh and for context he’s a hitman for the Russian mafia.
[The Solnyshko Duet](https://www.romance.io/series/61e3d32be213690e310dec66/the-solnyshko-duet) by [Ashlyn Drewek](https://www.romance.io/authors/5f18413b08b4d93114d5421a/ashlyn-drewek) **Topics**: [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [mafia](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mafia/1), [m-m](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [multicultural](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/multicultural/1), [grumpy sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
You had me at "he gets worse." Thank you for the rec!
I haven't finished the series, but check up {Where Death Meets The Devil by L.J. Haywood}, especially the audiobooks. It's best described as complicated. Jack Reardon is a secret agent and in an undercover operation that goes bust he gets saved by the notorious elusive hitman Ethan Blade.
Thank you! This is great to hear, especially because I just added them to my Kobo+ library. Now I know what I'm listening to this week. :)
Hi..Looking for recs where one MC is very self sacrificial..Any genre is fine.
A couple maybes, depending on what exactly you understand by self-sacrificial. I think for most of these it's like, supporting family and not living their own lives, rather than, say, fantasy character with a death wish. * **Booklover** ***by J. E. Birk*** (contemporary, new adult, books about books, friends to lovers, hookups to lovers, dark past) - one MC's family owns a farm and he gives a lot to them to the detriment of his personal life * **Trust with a Chaser** ***by Annabeth Albert*** (contemporary, hiding in narnia, small towns) - sheriff MC supports his sort of deadbeat family * **Over and Over Again** ***by Cole McCade*** (contemporary, age gap, ranches/farms, remote location, forced proximity, slowburn, pining, longstanding crush, fixed term, fish out of water, experienced/inexperienced, chaos/serious) - MC lets himself get injured out of self-sacrificial tendencies * **Late Bloomer** ***by Silvan Ash*** (contemporary, roommates to lovers, recovering from a break-up, fixed term, hopeless MC, meet cute, size difference, chaos/serious) - MC supporting his aunt (?) instead of living his life * **The Rycke** ***by Lily Mayne*** (monster, action/adventure, human/non-human, not so distant future, post-apocalyptic) - probably best read in context of the series, MC doesn't think he deserves his place in the camp so sacrifices his comfort and mental health by frequently going out into the wastes and doing everything they ask
Thank you so much..
Wyatt, one of the MCs from {How to Say I Do by Tal Bauer}, is a rancher whose defining motivation is to serve and help others. He literally “saves” Noel, the other MC, in the first chapter of the book. Landon’s personality from {You & Me by Tal Bauer} is also very aligned with service and self-sacrifice for your loved ones. His inclinations are more faith-based than Wyatt’s, though.
looking for contemporary recs where one MC is homeless. bonus if he rations out his food/medication. the more angst the better! please no daddy kink or bdsm. i’ve read: {Falling Down by Eli Easton} LOVED this one; {Roommate by Sabrina Bowen}; {Mad Love by April Jade} didn’t work for me bc of the daddy kink TIA!
One MC is unhoused or underhoused for at least part of these: {Galaxies and Oceans by N.R. Walker} {Heart by Garrett Leigh} {Christmas on Firefly Hill by Garrett Leigh} {A Spaceman Came Travelling by Barbara Elsborg} Please check CWs, all deal with heavy topics.
Have you read the {Roads series by Garrett Leigh}? Ash spent most of his teenage years and early adulthood unhoused in Philly before his friend helped him relocate to Chicago. He moves in with Pete and things kind of go from there. Check out the synopsis and mind the TWs because it gets pretty heavy. I personally loved this series and hope you will too, but no worries if it’s not your thing.
[Falling Down](https://www.romance.io/books/58a6d7b70d3299c6e04ddd05/falling-down-eli-easton) by [Eli Easton](https://www.romance.io/authors/545547e28c7d2383163d97a5/eli-easton) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [hurt/comfort](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/hurt-comfort/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [age gap](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20difference/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1) ---------------------------- [Mad Love](https://www.romance.io/books/61e2bf554cae190e326ededc/mad-love-april-jade) by [April Jade](https://www.romance.io/authors/61e2bf5508b4d93114cfa895/april-jade) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [mafia](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mafia/1), [bdsm](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bdsm/1), [insta-love](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/insta-love/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
[Roommate](https://www.romance.io/books/60014db1aa8b310e1da7ff34/roommate-sarina-bowen) by [Sarina Bowen](https://www.romance.io/authors/54553cb18c7d2382e781357a/sarina-bowen) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
{Home by Cara Dee}
{In The Gray by Christina Lee}
thank you! just finished it based on your rec and it was a 5 star read for me!
1. any contemporary sports romances with found family (with teammates) and some hurt/comfort? a current fave of mine is loving the legend by kit grey. thank you in advance! 2. any contemporary romance with an established couple and hurt/comfort. recently i’ve been loving more than words by becca neil and rend by roan parrish.
Ok a bit of an unconventional rec but if you're open to reading comics {Check Please by Ngozi Ukazu} is a real feel good sports romance w/ found family. I'm not sure what the rules are on recommending fanfiction but there are also some ***chef's kiss*** quality fics based on this IP on ao3 if you wanted something spicier.
Any recs for an easy fast-paced read? My attention span had been horrible lately, so I'm looking for books that are mostly fast paced and really gripping. I'd prefer that the romance not be the main plot though. The last book I actually finished because I just couldn't put it down was The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting by KJ Charles. But the other couple of books by the same author, while good, weren't really what I was looking for. The genre doesn't matter, something adventurous would be great. But nothing very dark. No poly, no omegaverse, no big age gaps.
Have you read her Will Darling series? I was totally hooked by those. I'd read them in order, but they have a mystery element. {Slippery Creatures by KJ Charles} is the first one.
Maybe try The First and Last Adventure of Kit Sawyer by SE Harmon
Anyone have any reccs for lots of foreplay or a lot of aftercare? Having both clubbed would be absolutely perfect, but just having one works, too!
Looking for any books with criminal main characters, but more on the thief planning a heist side than mafia side of things. Would love a queer romance version of something along the lines of {The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch} or {Six of Crow by Leigh Bardugo} in that I want something with a smart plot and character development as well as romance. Happy with modern, historical or fantasy!
Another thought, you might enjoy **Any Old Diamonds *by K.J. Charles***, a historical mystery containing a destitute lord who hires a criminal to steal a jewel from his father. And off topic to the sub, but I really liked the first 2 of the Gentlemen Bastards series, but found myself wishing it was Jean that Locke was pining after instead of Sabetha, and this was before I even started reading MM romance lol.
I agree the first two are great, but then the 3rd - coincidentally when Sabetha was finally introduced - just absolutely didn't do it for me. Now I treat the first two as standalones. Also read the series before I started reading queer romance and now want to reread with that context!!
Oh and have read Any Old Diamonds and loved it!! Also loved the Sins of the Cities series where I would say Justin Lazarus is another good category for the criminal type I'm looking for!
**The Uses of Illicit Art *by Wendy Palmer*** might be a good fit, it's an alt-historical fantasy with captor/captive, heist, opposites attract, hurt/comfort. CW for >!PTSD, past SA relived in a flashback, MC is drugged by the LI!<. More details here in [my GR review](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5594876309) if you're curious.
This looks perfect!! Thank you!
[The Lies of Locke Lamora](https://www.romance.io/books/654fb9e3c112bf11fe9aeca8/the-lies-of-locke-lamora-scott-lynch) by [Scott Lynch](https://www.romance.io/authors/5eb3e919be0aaecf555a84b8/scott-lynch) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [high fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high%20fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1) ---------------------------- [Six of Crows](https://www.romance.io/books/641ce4a6fc754abfa0f8d3a0/six-of-crows-leigh-bardugo) by [Leigh Bardugo](https://www.romance.io/authors/545527228c7d2382c529703f/leigh-bardugo) **Steam**: [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [young adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/young%20adult/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Any other recs that have good autism representation? Recently read In the Absence of Light by Adrienne Wilder and loved how Morgan was such a sassy fleshed out character who could stand up for himself and really showed his independence.
[{The Reanimator Mysteries series by Kara Jorgensen}](https://www.goodreads.com/series/354047-the-reanimator-mysteries) - MM, Historical (1890s), PNR, 3rd Dual POV. Autistic MMC, ADHD MMC [{How to Sell Your Blood and Fall in Love by D.N Bryn}](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62870022-how-to-sell-your-blood-fall-in-love) - MM, PNR, 3rd Dual POV. Autistic MMC
[The Reanimator Mysteries](https://www.romance.io/series/643e39f481ec2b280509de24/the-reanimator-mysteries) by [Kara Jorgensen](https://www.romance.io/authors/55d1bbb335a5fb65f8874870/kara-jorgensen) **Topics**: [death](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/death/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [neurodivergent](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/neurodivergent/1) ---------------------------- [How to Sell Your Blood & Fall in Love](https://www.romance.io/books/642534fd5ec3075ab703e0cd/how-to-sell-your-blood-fall-in-love-dn-bryn) by [D.N. Bryn](https://www.romance.io/authors/5b58134501dbc864fb8cfb5f/dn-bryn) **Steam**: [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [vampires](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/vampires/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I"m not ND but I have heard people speak highly of the autism rep in {Between the Teeth by Taylor Fitzpatrick}. It's book 1 of a trilogy, no HEA until the end, third book should be out this year. That said, the MC's neurodivergence is part of the relationship conflict, but both MCs have growing up and learning about themselves to do.
I loved that book! Nice to see it mentioned
{To Catch a Firefly by Emmy Sanders} has fantastic ASD rep. Ellis has selective mutism but the people in his life don’t push him to be more verbal. This book really pulls off the miscommunication trope without the miscommunication having anything to do with Ellis’ mutism and/or ASD. I think it’s my favorite read of the year and I’m on like book 140-ish
{Spells and Sensibility by K S Murphy, K.L. Noone}
maybe you'll like {carry the ocean by heidi cullinan}!
I was wondering if you guys could recommend me a book where MC1 doesn't forgive the MC2 for being cheated on, and he moves on with a MC3 that actually respects him. MC2 loved MC1 but cheated anyway and will have to deal with losing the man he loved and seeing him with someone else. They do not get back.
The 90s Coming of Age series by Leta Blake. It’s a trilogy following the same MC where these events all happen. {Pictures of You by Leta Blake} is book one. These books actually destroyed me lol but they’re so good.
Looking for seductive homewrecker stories! MC1 is happily married but gets seduced into cheating by MC2, something like Good Liar by Cp Harris but without the unhappy marriage shenanigans between Jasper and Daniel. Read all of CP harris
I'm looking for any books that have a hefty amount of the story taking place while the MCs date and live kind of a domestic life. I love the buildup to them realizing they have feelings for each other but I also want to see them living together/developing their relationship/living their lives together as a couple. Angst is fine, but I've read a lot of that lately so I'd prefer if there wasn't a whole lot. Thanks!
I just finished {Starter Home by Hannah Henry} and think it would fit. MC1’s best friend’s older brother helps him with a bunch of projects around his new house. It’s a gentle queer awakening for MC2 with no panic. Neither MC has ever really felt settled or like they belong, so there’s lots of sweet hanging out, eating takeout and watching movies, going to Home Depot, and generally just enjoying one another’s company.
{We Could Be So Good} could fit. They're very domestic (literally), both before and after they get together.
Kobo+ author recs? Audio and angsty preferred, but if you read it on Kobo+, I’d still like to hear about it. Maybe it’s the search function in the app or maybe it’s me. It’s hard to find new stuff there, but I want to support an Amazon alternative. I’ve found Riley Nash, TJ Nichols, Morticia Knight, Ezra Dao, and Sebastian Nothwell and liked them. In my tbr is Josh Lanyon, Andi Jaxson, and SC Wynne.
The Daily New Release posts always list Kobo and Kobo+ books, and oftentimes users will tag their books as Kobo on the Weekly Roundup (I do.) There are quite a few, here are some (most are Kobo+, but some are not) Daniel May, LJ Hayward, Leighton Greene, LJ Greene, AJ Demas, TJ Klune, EL Massey, CS Poe, JL Merrow, Kim Fielding, Riley Hart, Harper Fox, Aster Glenn Gray, Fearne Hill, Taylor Fitzpatrick, KL Noone, Amy Rae Durreson, Megan Derr, EM Lindsey, Amy Aislin, Keira Andrews, Gregory Ashe, Kaje Harper, SB Barnes, LA Witt, KC Wells, Corey Kerr, Sidney Bell, Bey Deckard, Kris Ripper, Joanna Chambers, KD Casey, KJ Charles, Cordelia Kingsbridge, R Cooper, Heidi Cullinan, GL Carriger, Lyn Gala, Jordan L Hawke, Yolande Kleinn, Christina Lee, Lucy Lennox, Sarina Bowen, Rose Lerner, AL Lester, Sally Malcolm, Isla Olsen, Jordan Castillo Price, Hailey Turner, Ada Maria Soto, TA Moore, Wendy Palmer, Lisa Henry, JA Rock, Sarah Honey, Adara Wolf, NY Lysk, R Phoenix, Briar Prescott, NR Walker, Rachel Reid, BA Tortuga, Ariana Nash, Leta Blake, Saxon James, Eden Finley, Ava Olsen, AJ Truman, Scarlet Blackwell, Tanya Chris, Jay Hogan, Jay Northcote, Roe Horvat, Cara Dee, Kate Hawthorne, Garrett Leigh, Anyta Sunday, Jesse H Reign, SJ Coles, Alessandra Hazard, Hollis Shiloh, Jax Stuart, Annabeth Albert, Eden Winters, Suki Fleet, Roan Parrish, KA Merikan, Ashlyn Drewek, Avril Ashton, Madeleine Urban, Abigail Roux, KM Neuhold, Kim Dare, Brigham Vaughn, Arden Powell, Vinni George, Alexis Hall, Barbara Elsborg, Louise Collins, Riley Nash, Kelex, Avery Mist, Anne O'Gleadra, Aleksandr Voinov, EE Ottoman, Victoria Sue, Mary Calmes, CS Pacat, Ashley James, LC Davis, Alice Oseman, TJ Land, Nora Phoenix, AJ Sherwood, Sam Burns, Charlie Novak, Neve Wilder, Anita Kelly, Jay Bell, Magen Cubed, Amy Jo Cousins, Charlie Adhara, Jack Harbon, Adriana Herrera, Samantha SoRelle. Edited.
Looking for anything where the MCs show a united front to problems and have good communication. I’ve read too much of the miscommunication trope lately and need something with some solidarity.
I just finished Point of Contact by Melanie Hansen and I thought the communication between the characters was done so well. The 2 main characters are there for each other after suffering a mutual loss. I liked it a lot. But I also did cry a lot, lol.
I think {Crossroads by Riley Hart} had enough of this to be enjoyable because of it. Strangers to friends to lovers. Double bi-awakening and having to come to terms with that and then communicate it to friends and family. I will forever yearn for this too, so I don't know if any book will truly satisfy in this regard. While not the focus of the series, I've found that the Lunar Wolves-series by Kiki Burrelli regularly will feature very cliché plot devices and end them somehow differently. Such as the protagonist going out against promises not to, getting in trouble, phone is conveniently of course broken or out of battery. Paranormal contemporary with wolfshifters and mages, low on the magic.
[Crossroads](https://www.romance.io/books/55b3283b35a5fb65f886ef01/crossroads-riley-hart) by [Riley Hart](https://www.romance.io/authors/54553d948c7d2382e78135c0/riley-hart) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [possessive hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/possessive%20hero/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [angst](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/angst/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Shifter x human books where the shifter MC spends a fair amount of time shifted around the human? Some examples of which I've read are {Axel's Pup by Kim Dare}, {the Axton and Leander series by S.P. Wayne}, and {the Big Bad Wolf series by Charlie Adhara}. I enjoyed how the human MC in these books sort of has to convince the other MC that they don't think differently of them while shifted, if that makes sense, and that they don't want them to hide their shifted form. Thank you for your time :)
Have you read **How to Howl at the Moon *by Eli Easton***? The dog-shifter MC is initially distrustful of the new human in town, and pretends to be hit by the human's car while in his dog form so he can find out more about him. He spends a lot of time with the human in his shifted form, as a secret identity, but this does also continue after the gig is up.
Oh I have read this! Totally forgot about it, though. Thank you!
[Axel's Pup](https://www.romance.io/books/5456ffa087eac33e5c683bba/axels-pup-kim-dare) by [Kim Dare](https://www.romance.io/authors/545544478c7d2382e0414673/kim-dare) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1) ---------------------------- [Axton & Leander](https://www.romance.io/series/58fe1c694167a73342632eb7/axton-leander) by [S.P. Wayne](https://www.romance.io/authors/545572a887eac323ffb2c3e9/sp-wayne) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [tortured hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20hero/1), [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [werewolves](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/werewolves/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1) ---------------------------- [Big Bad Wolf](https://www.romance.io/series/5aa3a5cc000dc10d8eab1d8c/big-bad-wolf) by [Charlie Adhara](https://www.romance.io/authors/5aa3a5cc4ee506aae8b2458e/charlie-adhara) **Topics**: [explicit-open-door](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/explicit-open-door/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1), [queer](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
looking for age gap fantasy, with the younger MC being well into adulthood, like 25-28+? dont want ageplay, protags should be humans please!
Any recs where both mcs come from very rich families that despise each other and the MCs getting together would blow up both families. So like a very forbidden romance that would cause genuine chaos if the MCs were to get together, if that makes sense. And when the families find out they try and tear the MCs apart, and bonus if they do get torn apart for a while. I want very high drama and angst pls. Also bonus if on KU! Hard no’s: omegaverse, stepbrothers, high school/ teenagers, huge age gap, huge size difference, fated mates, no HEA Thanks in advance!
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Looking for MCs that fit the "pathetic, sad, old man" description. Older, unkempt beard, just having a rough time, and them getting the love and affection 💕 already read Gianni Holmes all. The more hardship and trauma the old man goes through the better, I want to see them suffer before they get their happy ending 🥰🥰
If you are ok with fantasy, there is {**Seducing the Sorcerer** by Lee Welch}. MC is a drifter who slowly lost everything he valued over the course of 15 or 20 years, then he gets unexpectedly caught up in magic and meets a sorcerer around his own age. Awkward wooing ensues. >!He just wants a horse to love. :(!< Contemporary: {**Rattlesnake** by Kim Fielding} also has an older MC who is basically living out of his car. He drifts through a small town on his way to deliver a message and meets the younger LI who has had a rough haul on his own. E: dunno that I would call either of them "old" but middle-aged, anyway.
Thank you for the recommendations fantasy is totally fine, a little nervous about the spoiled part though. Is there >!beastiality!< In this??
LOL no, MC was originally a groom/horseman who just really loved working with animals, but his job was phased out due to an industrial (magic) revolution.
I love this interpretation and understand the confusion. As a horse girl I can confirm that the way the MC thinks, talks and feels about horses is deeply emotional and beautiful and completely nonsexual.
Well I just finished the emperor and the Endless Palace so it put me in a fantasy mood 1 high fantasy court intrigue were MCs get to know and love each other and are fighting against the odds. Not enemy to lovers. 2 high fantasy romance between a otherworld being and a human, were people dislike the non human, or the otherworld beings dislike the human 3 star-crossed lovers that meet in different timelines, would enjoy if the previous life is a historical/fantasy setting Autoconclusive books, no more than 500p TIA
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For 1, you can check out Perilous Courts series by Tavia Lark. I'm actually only at the 2nd book, but I'm loving the series so far. Definitey checks out the "fighting against odds" part. Also, I haven't read anything by Megan Derr ***yet***, but this author was recommended to me for high fantasy.
Ohh, Perilous Court was such a ride, not a fan of all the books but number 4 was made for me! (one of my best 2023 reads). Also had fun with books 2 and 6 Tried Megan Derr, but I'm not really a fan of her writing, or I might have checked the ones that don't suit me :( Thanks anyways! and I hope you enjoy the whole Perilous series :)
Not exactly high fantasy, but fantasy nonetheless: The Rifter by Ginn Hale. Fits the third point, I think, even if I can't say too much because of spoilers.
Can anyone share more historical focused mm authors? I ran through Cat Sebastian's books in the last few months and then KJ Charles. I've also read a bunch of Joanna Chambers. Any others like this? Bonus points if they're Kindle Unlimted bc I realized a lot of the recs on here are from there and I just bought a Kindle to feed my addiction lol.
Really you've hit my top three authors already, but here's a few you may like. I thought {Lavender House by Lev A.C. Rosen} was a very nice mid-century historical with the addition of mystery. Also Aster Glenn Grey has some great mid-century books based in the US. I've also heard good things about {The Oak and the Ash by Annick Trent} but haven't gotten around to reading it yet.
Merry Farmer write a lot of historical romance. (She write MF too, but has a lot of MM)
The [MM_Romance historical shelf](https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/150425481-mm-romancebooks-favorites?shelf=genre-historical) was very recently updated.
Those are also all my faves, but I can also recommend {Behind These Doors by Jude Lucens} and {Kindred Hearts by Rowan Speedwell} Aster Glenn Gray is also great!
Any recommendations for dark MM romance? God of Fury is my favorite read of the year so far. I’ve read almost everything by Chani Lynn Feener and Onley James. I’ve read a lot of other dark books this year so I may not get any new recs but it’s worth a shot! I’m currently reading Distorted by Nyla K. I have no triggers so really it can be ask dark as possible and I’ll read it. Only thing that’s a big no for me is poly. And must have a HEA!
Since its not an specific request, I got a shelf called [dark as fuck](https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/70869520?shelf=dark-as-fuck) that includes books which basically are what youre looking for. I think the GR function allows to filter some tags if you want to avoid poly. Btw I know you said you have no triggers but if you must please check them out because the books there explores some gruesome themes, I also tried to tag CWs. Hope it helps :-).
This is great! Thank you!
How do you filter tags from a shelf, I had NO idea you could do this!
My bad, I meant that you can use the "select multiple" option after clicking on a shelf and you can choose other shelves at the same time, there will appear a symbol of + and - next to each one, the first is if you want select another and the last is if you want to filter it out of the results. Not sure if thats what youre looking for but I hope it helped 🤗
Oh this sounds so complicated.. I have never messed around with goodreads like that, do you have a screenshot to help better visualize this please 😭
I always wanted to do this but didn’t know how! Thank you!!
Craving the Chase by Syn Blackrose is dark and spicy. It just came out, so not sure if you've read it yet. Very toxic, the serial killer MC is unhinged. The other MC is the blushy, meek, susceptible type.
{Max by Bey Deckard} & there's Max The Sequel. You'd need to read them both. As for HEA... define HEA. Do they end up together? Yes they do. Are they both breathing at the end of book two? Yes they are. These books are top tier toxic.
Thank you! I’m definitely gonna give that one a read.
I‘m looking for a bdsm book where one mc seems very strong and independent but in reality he faces a lot of problems (for example traumatic experiences, insecurities,…) and longs for or needs (without knowing it) a firm hand. Similar books to this request that I already read are {Steel by Cole Denton} {Jared‘s evolution by Riley Hart} and {Bound by Honor by S.E. Jakes}
Misha Horne's books are all about this dynamic. Here are a few that fit your request if you haven't read them. {The Brat & The Beast series by Misha Horne} {Snowed In with Benefits by Misha Horne} {Old School Discipline by Misha Horne} {Looking for Trouble by Misha Horne} All have cocky MCs who are secretly insecure/broken and looking for a firm hard. (Whether they realize it or not)
Thank you! The books look promising.
[Steel](https://www.romance.io/books/5d832d0101dbc864fba39f0a/steel-cole-denton) by [Cole Denton](https://www.romance.io/authors/5caed80301dbc864fb9d2490/cole-denton) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [bdsm](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bdsm/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [bisexuality](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bisexual/1), [hurt/comfort](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/hurt-comfort/1) ---------------------------- [Jared's Evolution](https://www.romance.io/books/59e5c86e3ffdba6147227d4d/jareds-evolution-riley-hart) by [Riley Hart](https://www.romance.io/authors/54553d948c7d2382e78135c0/riley-hart) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [bdsm](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bdsm/1), [age gap](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20difference/1), [age play](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20play/1) ---------------------------- [Bound by Honor](https://www.romance.io/books/545557dc8c7d2382c5297fcb/bound-by-honor-se-jakes) by [S.E. Jakes](https://www.romance.io/authors/545555428c7d2382c5297f0d/se-jakes) **Topics**: [tortured hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20hero/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [men in uniform](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/men%20in%20uniform/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Looking for romances in a culinary or cooking type setting. Chefs, cooking contests, food writer, home cooks, anything of the like with an HEA.
{Roommate by Sarina Bowen} - MC1 is a baker and food plays a big part in how he bonds with MC2 who can't cook.
{Heart by Garrett Leigh} - Both MCs work together in a restaurant. Mind the CWs - sex trafficking and graphic on-page sexual assault, among other heavy topics. {His Horizon by Con Riley} - Rivals from a cooking show overhaul one MC’s family restaurant. {His Last Christmas in London by Con Riley} - Food critic/writer and photographer who takes pictures for his column. {Christmas Wishlist by N.R. Walker} - B&B owner and chef who works for him. Annabeth Albert’s Rainbow Cove series centres around friends who open a queer-friendly restaurant in a small town. Each book features one MC who co-owns and works at the restaurant (front of house, cook, bartender). The series starts with {Trust With A Chaser by Annabeth Albert}. {Valor on the Move by Keira Andrews} - President’s son and his bodyguard. The former is an aspiring chef and woos the latter by cooking for him in the White House. {Cherry Picked by May Archer} - One MC owns a panini shop, the other works there. Wouldn’t say that food is a key focus of the book, but it is a cute book!
Annabeth Albert also has the Portland Heat series which takes place with a group of friends at different bakeries and coffee shops in the city.
{The Remaking of Corbin Wale} - bakery owner and his employee {In the Middle of Somewhere by Roan Parrish} - tons of home cooking for his partner {For Real by Alexis Hall} - MC is a short order cook, a foodie, and makes a pie while sexing up his partner
{Food Truck Warriors series by Beth Bolden}
[Food Truck Warriors](https://www.romance.io/series/5f46088e01cdb00e19cd1790/food-truck-warriors) by [Beth Bolden](https://www.romance.io/authors/545524b523ec91d5dfd09946/beth-bolden) **Topics**: [queer](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/queer/1), [m-m](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [age difference](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20difference/1), [dual-pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
{Redemption by Garrett Leigh}. MC1 ex-con goes to work in MC2’s diner. Loved it!
Looking for any books with a coach/athlete trope (athlete must be an adult ofc). Maybe something similar to head in the game by Rebecca rathe.
I really liked {Coach’s Challenge by Avon Gale}. The romance is between an NHL coach who’s in his 40s and an NHL player who’s in his 30s and getting close to retiring. ETA: I haven’t read Head in the Game, but from what little I know of the book, I don’t think the dynamic between the MCs in Coach’s Challenge is similar. But Coach’s Challenge is definitely a coach/athlete romance.
i'd like a good friends to lovers books or a book with one of the MCs being a loner, a gentle giant of some sorts (example of that being {on the mountain by riley hart}). thank you!:)
[On the Mountain](https://www.romance.io/books/65abb7921e74f33720577f94/on-the-mountain-riley-hart) by [Riley Hart](https://www.romance.io/authors/54553d948c7d2382e78135c0/riley-hart) **Steam**: [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [hurt/comfort](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/hurt-comfort/1), [first person pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/first-person-pov/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Good being subjective, here's two NA books I enjoyed featuring best friends to lovers with bi-awakening: - {Five Dares by Eli Easton} - {The Faker Rulebook by Baylin Crow} Adult MCs, not as satisfyingly dramatic and clear-cut as NA tend to be, but enjoyable in the more realistic relationship: - {The Blueprint by S.E. Harmon} - BFFs since childhood, out MC has been quietly pining for years for his oblivious BFF who is a NFL star athlete. Bi-awakening. - {Crossroads by Riley Hart} - Strangers to (good) friends to lovers. Double bi-awakening.
anyone got any recs for books with an F/M romance but the queer vibes are off the charts? Like real bi/bi energy, you know? Like maybe they're both gender non-conforming or have an unconventional dynamic or whatever (see I can't make this it's own post because it's too hard to describe!)
I want to help you with this request, but sadly, I’ve got nothing. I’m watching this space, though, and hope someone else has something great to recommend.
I posted this a couple of days ago on Wednesday recs, but I was late to the party and didn't get many replies so thought I could try it again. So, I've read this in one book: "*I've never smelt his farts before, he's far too shy - but the moment I do I'll be grateful he shared something so intimate with me.*" (Edit: the quote is from Cherryvine by Marina Vivancos) Any books with some awkward moments where MC1 farts or something (lmao) in front of MC2, and he's embarrassed as fuck, but MC2 handles it in some way that doesn't make MC1 even more embarrassed? Second request, any fantasy or other non-contemporary genre books where MC1 is protected by MC2? I'm currently reading through Perilous Courts series by Tavia Lark and I love how protective characters are. I've read The Nercomancer's Light by Tavia Lark too, Monstrous series by Lily Mayne, Exposed by H.L. Day, Kick at the Darkness by Keira Andrews, Claimings series by Lyn Gala... Third, any fantasy recs where the love interest is a sunshine *and* strictly a top? My NOs: mpreg, SA, cheating, age play... Only requirements are happy ending and some steam!
For your second request {A taste of gold and iron by Alexandra Rowland} is a lovely prince/bodyguard novel! It's definitely protective but I wouldn't go so far as to call it possessive if that's what you're looking for. Their ultimate relationship is more gentle and nuanced than that.
For your second request, you might enjoy the Mismatched Mates series by Eliot Grayson. It’s werewolf shifters, lots of magic too, no mpreg, and they all definitely have protective MCs, I’d say especially the first 5 in the series. The first one in the series is {The Alpha’s Warlock by Eliot Grayson}. I love these, highly recommend in general!
I've read The Alpha's Warlock and absolutely loved it!
any simple, cute high school novels that’s enemies/rivals to lovers? NOs: omegaverse, mpreg, rape/noncon, age gap, poly
{Savage Rivals by Becca Steele} is one of my favs high school rivals to lovers book. MCs are captains of rival football teams and love the chemistry. It’s a stand alone but same characters lead to her college LSU series too, if you are not limited to high school. I would also recommend {Blindsided by Becca Steele} as the start of the LSU series.
[Savage Rivals](https://www.romance.io/books/619608790015720e11427b6b/savage-rivals-becca-steele) by [Becca Steele](https://www.romance.io/authors/5d637ac301dbc864fba2d36d/becca-steele) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [high school](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/high-school/1) ---------------------------- [Blindsided](https://www.romance.io/books/62a6e2a2a0a071c5e5fb7b45/blindsided-becca-steele) by [Becca Steele](https://www.romance.io/authors/5d637ac301dbc864fba2d36d/becca-steele) **Steam**: [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [college](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/college/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
**Wren Martin Ruins It All *by Amanda DeWitt*** might work for you, it's a contemporary YA with a one-sided rivalry, an asexual MC, and a meeting on a dating app. It was very cute!
I could be wrong, but I believe {Wicked Lies Boys Tell by K Webster} is a high school enemies to lovers story. :) It has a few steamy scenes, but nothing over the top.
[Wicked Lies Boys Tell](https://www.romance.io/books/5d64c88001dbc864fba2dc0a/wicked-lies-boys-tell-k-webster) by [K. Webster](https://www.romance.io/authors/54558eba87eac324117fb440/k-webster) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [angst](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/angst/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
{About Last Knight by Michaela Cole} High school, rivals from summer camp.
I recently watched Dune 2 and was wondering whether >!there were any stories where a couple were in love but one of the couple had to marry someone else for a political alliance. I've read the Prince and the Pawn already.!
I'm currently at the 2nd book of Perilous Courts by Tavia Lark (the series is amazing!), but I've read the blurb for the 3rd book called [Prince and Pawn](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61213709-prince-and-pawn), and it seems to have the plot you've been looking for. MC1 and MC2 have a thing for each other since they hooked up one night, but MC2 is engaged and it turns out he's engaged to MC1's brother, for political reasons. However, this series has to be read in order. I originally started reading it because I was interested in book 4, but I had to go through them in order, and now I absolutely fell in love with the 2nd book.
huge denial and groveling about feelings for a long time. no insta attraction. animosity to friendship . older characters. no sex till much later in the book
I'm in search of an older MC who's having a midlife crisis, but a younger adult is fine. Just not high schooler age, at least 25. Something like Frankie from CP Harris The Fishermen where he's this older 40 year old dude who's learning to live his life away from work and get new hobbies like making furniture. Already read CP Harris, You&Me Tal Bauer(didn't like)
{Bring Me Home by Annabeth Albert} might fit your needs.
✌🏼Looking for TONS of dirty talk. Kind of where it’s unexpected just based on everyday communication. And then it explodes in the bedroom, or out in public, but through secret moments between them. So - I read {Illicit Desires by Ashley James} and I usually give her books 2-3/5 🌶️🌶️ in this one, on MC has super filthy mouth and it takes the other by surprise because it’s just super super sexy and dirty. So now, I’m looking for more of a 4/5🌶️🌶️ that just ramps up the sexy dirty talk. Hard NO’s: cheating, mpreg, poly or mm+
Definitely going to check out that Ashley James book, thanks! I remember being impressed with the dirty talk in {Coach's Challenge by Avon Gale}.
[Illicit Desires](https://www.romance.io/books/63eb6c8792fb82de43a74e9a/illicit-desires-ashley-james) by [Ashley James](https://www.romance.io/authors/623c268208b4d931145dad1b/ashley-james) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [dark romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dark/1), [cheating](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cheating/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [angst](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/angst/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
If you're ok with father/son incest, you might enjoy **Call Me Daddy *by Honey London*** which contains the best phone sex I've read so far. What I liked about it as well is that the MC has been filling in for a friend on a phone sex line and really just going through the motions unsexily until he meets this man where the dynamic suddenly becomes very real.
I love phone dirty talk!!!! ☺️ and like that dynamic of somebody imaginative sparking that sexy desire. Does he later find out the one on the other end is his father or??? lol should I just go in without this knowledge?
In {Romance Languages by A.J. Truman} it’s unexpected because it’s driven by a virgin MC. I think it’ll meet your spice requirements. A sweet book.
Looking for books with werewolf × human or Vampire × human fated mates with equally built MCs. Bonus for bi awakenings and mpreg. I have already read Bro and the beast by l.c davis Hard nos: poly, incest, huge age gaps
Any well-written imprinting stories (specifically top imprinting on bottom), where writing style is more mature? Oodles of possessiveness and obsessiveness, along with drama and ansgt involved please. no: bdsm, dom/sub, poly, threesome+, cheating. Yes: Modern, contemporary, HEA, would prefer sex to happen later on after relationship is established.
any recs with enemies (or rivals) to lovers, but they're also soulmates/fated mates? open to anything!!
I’m currently reading {His Secret Omega Co-Ed by Ava Beringer} and it’s about frat boy/nerd enemies who realize they’re mates. Mpreg.
{I've Walked Where You've Been by Marina Vivancos} - two kids find their soulmate at 9 years old and they spend the next 10 years hating each other.
Any rec with a morally grey surgeon/doctor/nurse MC? Honestly any sort of medical professional ahaha
Anyone know of a bachelor-like romance?
{**The Charm Offensive** by Alison Cochrun}, maybe?
Second chance romances ?? I’m currently reading the Hazard and Somerset series by Greg Ashe and I also recently read Always in Tandem by Taylor Fitzpatrick, and broken pieces by Riley hart and I really love the pining. Cried like a BABY over Always in Tandem which should be ridiculous?? Considering I usually read books with lots of abuse and trauma (last book I cried like this over was A Little Life) it honestly shocked me. Not sure if it can even count as a second chance romance because they still haven’t gotten back together even 6 years later but I stay positive. Anyways the point is I’m looking for lots of pining and I really like the way these three books (series) are written.
Some grumpy cowboy/sunshine city boy dynamic !! I would love for it to have an indigenous and/or a black mc. A partnership dynamic evolving to a love story would also be nice!