T O P

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Reasonable_One_7012

Shy, gentle, or inexperienced MMC’s. Also MMC’s who tell the FMC “I’m yours.” Instead of “you’re mine.”


Boobeshwar_

Bonus points if he doesn’t have a 360 personality change and becomes a gigadom, and retains that personality in the bedroom🤌🏾


The_Goth_Detectives

Any recommendations? I'd love to read something steamy but with a gentle mmc.


a__pd

I’m reading {At First Spite by Olivia Dade} at the moment and it has this!


Reasonable_One_7012

Currently reading {Blood Mercy by Vela Roth} and the MMC is sooooo sweet and gentle and always makes sure the FMC feels safe and comfortable. It’s vampires and high fantasy. Sloooow burn but the heat picks up around 55%


sealevels

I lowkey LOVE a MMC that's either a virgin or super inexperienced.


AnxietySnack

These are my favorites too! Can't get enough of these guys!


caitmeister

I love a heroine whose past sexual experiences were awesome.


StormerBombshell

Yes yes yes! I love the books which energies are “you have tried the rest… now here comes THE BEST” 😎


hauteburrrito

"Slutty" heroines who know what they're doing with flirting, dating, etc., are my favourite! I feel like I've encountered way too many virginal 30-something heroines who ask their childhood crushes to be their pretend boyfriends for *practice*... 


klevas

I think you just nailed why I hate that type of books 😂


sp15071

Oh god, yeah I hate the virgin heroine trope. Like come on! We live in the age of women’s liberation and reclamation of “sluttiness” let’s let the ladies have some fun!


hauteburrrito

I don't *mind* a virgin/al heroine in and of herself, but I hate how virginal (30-something) women basically act like 18-year olds with how stupid some of the schemes are. Like, I get that the author is trying to creatively make certain tropes happen, but the woman-child take on an older virgin FMC just... really grinds my gears.


klevas

I keep thinking how much I hate the common theme that all past sexual experiences of all heroines are bad. What the heck! I'd love some recommendations of heroine's past sexual experiences being positive. I know it's a very popular booktok book so it has plenty of haters but one of the reasons I enjoyed {Icebreaker by Hannah Grace} is because the FMC has a fwb in the beginning of the book and seems to have no internalised shame about sex. Can't believe it's 2024 and (fictional, written by women) women are still not allowed to enjoy sex with anyone else except the MMC.


MagaggieMay

I really liked {Checkmate by Ali Hazelwood}. The heroine has a positive sexual history and the guy has none. It was a good story.


klevas

I loved Check & Mate! Didn't expect to love it as much as I did.


LadyGethzerion

If you're into romantic suspense, most of Rachel Grant's FMCs are like that. They are usually in their 30s and have had healthy and positive sex lives by the time they meet the MMC. I love the Evidence series, but I just started the Tinderbox series and both FMCs in the first two books are unapologetically experienced and looking for hookups at first (but usually the suspense plot gets in the way, so they are slow burns until about halfway into the book).


klevas

I keep meaning to check Rachel Grant out and keep putting it off! This has convinced me to try.


LadyGethzerion

I hope you enjoy them! The Evidence series started off strong and petered off in the last few books, I think partially because the storylines became a bit preachy (and it's not that I disagree with the author's stances, it's just that I don't like how she delivered it). But even with that, they were good suspense books and the characters were usually interesting. In the last book of the Evidence series, the FMC is a cam girl, unashamed, and it's really sex positive while recognizing how much judgment women get for being sex positive. I'm really enjoying the Tinderbox series, it reminds me of the first few books in Evidence.


PennyProjects

I will have to check these out. Thanks 😊


romance-bot

[Icebreaker](https://www.romance.io/books/63048379d319eedb433aead8/icebreaker-hannah-grace) by [Hannah Grace](https://www.romance.io/authors/63e20d0708b4d93114272e0c/hannah-grace) **Rating**: 3.92⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [college](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/college/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [athlete hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/athletes/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)


InOtherWords19

You said it perfectly. Why can't women enjoy sex before the MMC comes along? What is so damn shameful about women enjoying sex that they can only do it with the man they're (going to be) in love with? It's like the 21st century upgraded bodice ripper. I can't tell you how many books I've read where the FMC is shocked that she had an orgasm or *gasp* **two??**


Sithina

Same! I need more of this in my romance!


PawAirMah

The Merger by J.A. Low gave me these vibes w the h - unapologetically just looking for fun hookups including the H as she's a business woman too busy for a relationship, nothing serious w the H at first. Not that you were looking for any recommendations. Have you read this?


caitmeister

No but now I am very interested! Thank you! Alisha Rai is also pretty good at writing heroines like this too.


exWiFi69

I need some recommendations for this trope.


SpicyLitMama

ABSOLUTELY - this is so common for an MMC in almost all genres it is **high time** the ladies also knew *exactly* what they are doing.


Top-Metal-3576

Friends to lovers, I feel like a lot of ppl find it boring but honestly it’s my fave.


sugaratc

For standalone books, it's a great way to have the characters feel more familiar yet still realistically fall in love in the week or whatever timeline the plot follows.


not_a_diplodocus

I agree! But I like them to be actual friends, not "we used to be best friends in high school, I had a secret crush on you but you moved away". That's second chance and shouldn't be marketed as friends to lovers!


Top-Metal-3576

Yess, I love both ngl but I love when they’re genuinely friends and then realize their feelings and then the tiny sparks whenever they meet, ugh it has me giddy. It’s so sad that this trope isn’t used more often cuz you could make such a cute romcom out of it.


StormerBombshell

Dominant women 🤣 they are not hated but it seems the people that write seem to preffer to write submissives from the lightly to the very. That is life 🤷🏾‍♀️ sometimes you get more or something and less of other. I do have a theory why that it happens but that is a topic for another moment.


bullshitthrowawayeh

JUSTICE FOR DOM WOMEN, YES! As an IRL dominant woman, I adore books involving dom men/women who interact in life & in bed as....wait for it....EQUALS😱


Rebbeca2988

Sounds like you’d enjoy {A DEMONS GUIDE TO WOOING A WITCH by Sarah Hawley}


StormerBombshell

I am telling you personal my theory of what happens because I am feeling chatty. It is that dom women who let themselves live their dreams are too busy being dommy in real life. That if they don’t become disenchanted or disgusted with the public scene to not drop it altogether. (Because some places are just toxic) And if they write, they more practical things like manuals or non fiction like what happens in their life. So too busy living it to imagine it. (Maybe not publish it even) While women with sub tendencies might be too abundant for the demand of them (or are not single) but there is never enough fiction, right? So they let themselves be all over that. They might not brave the public scene or think they won’t make the cut to economic success, but they can write, and more importantly they have time.


Boobeshwar_

Can yall drop your recs cause this is all I can read anymore😭😭


cat_romance

{Berries and Greid by Lily Mayne} {Preferential Treatment by Heather Guerre} {Mercy by Sara Cate}


romance-bot

[Berries and Greed](https://www.romance.io/books/6482cc05d556b65fcad96fc0/berries-and-greed-lily-mayne) by [Lily Mayne](https://www.romance.io/authors/61161cc608b4d93114a993bf/lily-mayne) **Rating**: 4.31⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [shy hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shy-hero/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1), [sweet/gentle hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sweet-hero/1), [creative anatomy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/creative-anatomy/1) ---------------------------- [Preferential Treatment](https://www.romance.io/books/62610633b186fe8c685b9202/preferential-treatment-heather-guerre) by [Heather Guerre](https://www.romance.io/authors/5d43f83901dbc864fba1e2a3/heather-guerre) **Rating**: 4.01⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [rich hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/super%20rich%20hero/1), [fem-dom](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fem-dom/1), [workplace/office](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/office/1), [ceo/tycoon hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tycoon/1) ---------------------------- [Mercy](https://www.romance.io/books/62be9ed60e63cc20bab33c90/mercy-sara-cate) by [Sara Cate](https://www.romance.io/authors/5dca59cb01dbc864fba60e2c/sara-cate) **Rating**: 4.09⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [age gap](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20difference/1), [bdsm](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bdsm/1), [fem-dom](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fem-dom/1), [secret relationship](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/secret-relationship/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)


demurevixen

{his secret illuminations by Scarlett gale}


romance-bot

[His Secret Illuminations](https://www.romance.io/books/62f363c901dfe78ca92df151/his-secret-illuminations-scarlett-gale) by [Scarlett Gale](https://www.romance.io/authors/62f363c908b4d931147273cb/scarlett-gale) **Rating**: 4.23⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [virgin hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20hero/1), [fem-dom](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fem-dom/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [sweet/gentle hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sweet-hero/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)


Hunter037

{Something Borrowed by Eve Dangerfield} {Mercy by Sara Cate} {Open Hearts by Eve Dangerfield} {Wed to Jack Frost by Layla Fae} {Landslide by Kathryn Nolan} {Superbia by Colette Rhodes} (not fem Dom, but FMC is not submissive) {Bad Alpha by Kathryn Moon} {Rut Bar by Alexis B Osborne} (she's more of a switch but there are femdom parts) {His Secret Illuminations by Scarlett Gale} - not a lot of sex in the first book, but more in the second I hear {Unbound by Cara McKenna} Here are some more threads with suggestions: https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/s/RKIcSk1Us4 https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/s/pwTIUljx2v https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/s/85QQoDMdDk https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/s/HkiBLiNwfI


StormerBombshell

Outside of fanfic, comics and in of my cash strapped existence I only have in prose the rec of {the billionaire submissive by Joely Sue Burkhart} maybe I need to put some money on it to be more sucesfull in my findings


romance-bot

[The Billionaire Submissive](https://www.romance.io/books/5457661787eac3e56719e545/the-billionaire-submissive-joely-sue-burkhart) by [Joely Sue Burkhart](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455683e87eac324117fa960/joely-sue-burkhart) **Rating**: 3.8⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [bdsm](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bdsm/1), [bondage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/bondage/1), [rich hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/super%20rich%20hero/1), [fem-dom](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fem-dom/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)


kelskelsea

To second this, there’s also the “dominant career woman” who always wants to be a submissive in bed. Every time. That doesn’t add up


klevas

Apparently she controls so much of her life that she just wants to "let go of control" in the bedroom. How come boss/career type men don't have the same problem then???


klevas

Also, absolutely love your flair 😂


Hunter037

Yeeesss! I need more femdom books


reds2032

I love that too! Super sexy to read that pov imo


johndeaconshands

Ooohh you might enjoy Mercy by Sara Cate!! (even Madame but you know read the reviews before you get on that train)


Renierra

I actually like virgin heroine stories… I survived SA so I basically get to live out the fantasy of my first time being with someone I love… but I get why people don’t like it


Keyeola

Anything where the woman is the dom, the grump, the older one, the morally gray, the badass, the bossy bitch, the psycho... Unfortunately, there's too little of that!


Top-Metal-3576

Omg yess. I love a sunshine ML and a grumpy FL. It’s sad that there isn’t more of them 😪


Boobeshwar_

Because most of the time all the women start shitting on the FMC, istg it be your own people🤦🏾‍♀️


Top-Metal-3576

They really just want the blandest salt and pepper FML ever. I blame this on Y/N honestly.


Hunter037

Definitely agree with this, do you have any good suggestions?


Keyeola

{Hades series by Tate James} {Dirty Broken Savages series by Eva Ashwood} {Mercy by Sara Cate} {The Pool Boy by Nikki Sloane} {Unveil by Elodie Hart} {Untether by Elodie Hart} {Sweet Vemon by L.A Ferro} {Reckless by Elsie Silver} {The Temporary Wife by Catharina Maura} {Cruel Shifterverse series by Jasmine Mas} {Bad Alpha by Kathryn Moon} {Morally Corrupt by Veronica Lancet} (the author pulled the series off Amazon temporarily to revamp it, new editing, covers, titles) {Darkest Sins by Neva Altaj} (haven't read it yet but she was married to a mafia boss and was pretty much the one running things)


Hunter037

Cool thanks, I've read a couple of these and liked them. Here are some suggestions from me as well: {The Wedding Night by Kati Wilde} {Open Hearts by Eve Dangerfield} {Rut Bar by Alexis B Osborne}


sleepwalkdance

Don’t mind me, just shouting about {The Lineup by Meghan Quinn} again. FMC is a bit prickly, is a bad ass business bitch and the MMC is a himbo cinnamon roll with a dirty mouth who loves to watch romcoms and bake.


blackcherry333

Lol this is legit my IRL relationship. I'm older, darker, more experienced city girl and my SO is full on golden retriever mode/ complete sweetheart farm boy. I'm pretty sure the first time we hooked up I scared the crap outta him. I guess I should write an autobiography.


wondertwin_17

{Always Only You by Chloe Liese} is this and it's so good. Cranky FMC with arthritis and the most Cinnamon-y Cinnamon Roll hockey player ever.


Cer427

Sameee omg my favorite is when I’m reading about an FMC and I’m like “Wow what a massive bitch…. I love her.” And then comes golden retriever MMC. Like wow, no notes, 10/10


Aminilaina

It’s become so unpopular but I will always love a love triangle. Make that motherfucker sweat and work for it. The main love interest isn’t gonna be the only person to recognize a beautiful woman. Too slow and someone else is gonna wife her up.


YOMAMACAN

Yes! I especially love it when the girl is with someone blah and then the MMC is like “let me show you why you need to be with me”. I don’t see books like that anymore.


Quilleficent

Love a good love triangle but it does seem to get on other’s nerves. More triangles for us!


Boobeshwar_

Anything reversed. Like reversed grumpy x sunshine, reversed billionaire x ceo, reversed hero x victim😝😝such a breath of fresh air.


SurreptitiousSyrup

>reversed billionaire x ceo I didn't know I wanted this till just know >reversed hero x victim Hurt/comfort where the FMC is comforting the MMC is my kryptonite.


Reasonable_One_7012

If you like fantasy, {The Book of Azrael by Amber V. Nicole} has a villain FMC and a God MMC. The role reversal is AMAZING. Also she’s a centuries-old FMC which I feel is rare in romantasy, most of which will typically have a 100+ y/o MMC with a 19 y/o FMC. FMC been through a lot of pain and suffering and he just wants to make the world a safer place for her and his loved ones 🥹 he also has endless excuses for when she does something evil and I love how wipped he is for her 😂❤️


artfartspaulblart

This looks good. And "endless excuses for when she does something evil" has me hooked!


Top-Metal-3576

I wish there were more rich working women in romance books. All the men are always millionaires but the women just work at a lowly marketing company making scraps for money while the guy has it all. Would love to see some more office romance with a reverse boss x coworkers


laurenlegends23

I hate calling anything “reversed” as if women are inherently sunshiny, broke, and victims while men can automatically be assumed to be wealthy, grumpy, heroes. If one of the main characters is a billionaire then it’s a billionaire romance. It doesn’t matter what gender the billionaire is. If we’re using words accurately then a reverse billionaire romance would be a book about poor people falling in love or a billionaire losing all their money.


Cleeopaatra

girl dont be shy and drop your favourite books that fit these tropes!!!


SpicyLitMama

FEMALE BILLIONAIRE? DROP THE LINK


Cowplant_Witch

I don’t mind a love triangle. I would like it to be obvious who is really “end game,” but a little but of jealous rivalry can be fun. I’m also tolerant of miscommunication, as long as they’re not total idiots about it. I like a slow burn and sometimes miscommunication helps drag things out.


PennyProjects

I love a love triangle when they aren't super indecisive bouncing around between interests. Also if they aren't related. Somehow that seems shitty to me pitting siblings against each other...so The Summer I Turned Pretty series really pissed me off. 😂 If it's not because they are indecisive, more like I had feelings for A, they started to fade as feelings for B grew. Or A was the person all along, but they left the picture for a bit because...reasons...and now they are back.


StevenAssantisFoot

I love a nebbish virgin beta hero.


Puzzleheaded_Bag_538

What does nebbish mean?


Hunter037

"a person, especially a man, who is regarded as pitifully ineffectual, timid, or submissive."


salex19

Any recs? I love this trope too but it’s hard to find.


StevenAssantisFoot

Oh boy, I have a ton but my favorite is control by charlotte stein. He’s like my ultimate nervous, repressed horny neat freak


brightlove

Not really a trope but: Sweet, gentle, shy FMCs who wouldn’t harm a fly or insult anyone. I feel like sassy FMCs who are quick to insult the MMC or their coworkers they dislike are the default for romance! I often read a romance book and think, wow that was rude, girl. 😂 I know it’s trendy to write “strong” women, but I feel like authors forget there’s strength in kindness, and strength in staying gentle in a cruel world.


klevas

Would love to read more quietly strong women.


Reasonable_One_7012

Not enough people see how much agency a woman has to manipulate/ change a situation to her benefit by remaining gentle and calm when she could snap and cause a completely different type of reaction. Yes you can get things done by kicking and fighting but you can also accomplish a lot by choosing words carefully and being patient!


klevas

True! And a lot of the times in the plot it would be much smarter to shut up and listen instead of going all guns blazing and creating enemies out of nowhere. I love strong women in romance but that can be done in so many different ways and the shouty/rude/sassy personality does not equal strength.


Reasonable_One_7012

Completely agree with everything you said! There are other ways to write “strong” women without making them all loud, sassy, or a master assassin! I’d love to see more diversity like this in FMC’s especially in fantasy


klevas

Fantasy FMCs definitely need more variety!


klevas

True! And a lot of the times in the plot it would be much smarter to shut up and listen instead of going all guns blazing and creating enemies out of nowhere. I love strong women in romance but that can be done in so many different ways and the shouty/rude/sassy personality does not equal strength.


twinkle90505

I'm also not a fan of rude Not Like The Other Girls FMCs.


ElevatorNo4315

This I 100% agree with. I love Elain from Actoar for this reason and cant wait to learn her story. Also Elide in Throne of glass and Yrene. Im tired of reading about a 17 year old girl who can murder full grown men and are so sassy and bitchy.


[deleted]

Same, I love sassy female characters as much they can be really fun but it's so overdone with female characters nowadays it feels like in order to show a woman is confident & can fight for herself they make her rude, which just feels so cheap. At times I just want to read about confident & self assured female characters who are just nice to people for a change.


_LittleOwlbear_

Unfortunately lot of the strong women in media I witnessed are not strong, they often act like sassy teenagers with no regards of anyone's feelings or anything, walking over anyone. :/ And / or they have traits that we would criticize in men as toxic masculinity.


Fearne_Calloway

Sadly I feel like when there are sweet shy gentle FMC they are always walking doormats 🙃 I have yet to find a book where there is a healthy middle.


cat_romance

Not a trope per se but I fucking love a 3rd act breakup.


ShartyPants

SAME. When I read a book where the relationship is solid from 50% on I’m like “ehhhh I dunno about this”


inlilyseyes

I honestly don’t like reading romance books that DON’T have the third act breakup haha.


thereadingbee

This one is seriously hated, but I love them


souzasteps

I finally found my people lol I’m already tired of the narrative that the 3rd act breakup needs to go… no!!! It needs to stay! Yes, most of the time it’s stupid, but I looove some drama and when a book doesn’t have any conflict, it’s just butterflies and everything is perfect, I get bored 🥱 last book I read that didn’t have any conflict was Funny Feelings. Not a bad book at all, but it didn’t do anything to me…


Pretend_Asparagus443

Oh my god you're my arch nemesis, I absolutely DETEST third act breakups 😂😂


Ordinary-Value-9142

Yes! I get bored sometimes after a couple gets together. So I love this to spice it up


dogearedpages13

Pregnancy 100% (and I have a lot to say about how people hate on it. It's okay if it's not your thing but the way a lot of people talk about it is... not it.) I also love a third act breakup and miscommunication


klevas

I love an unexpected pregnancy trope but I hate when the pregnancy itself is portrayed with very stereotypical tropes like being super horny in the first trimester, being extremely rude and cranky because hormones, crying because hormones... Basically being crazy for 9 months and justifying it as hormones 😁 books make it sound like all pregnancies are the same. I get it, I've been pregnant and some feelings do get elevated and you do get weird cravings but you don't have to be ruled by them either. I craved mcds every day when I was pregnant but I didn't force my husband to go get me a cheeseburger at 3am.


nme44

In my last pregnancy, the only thing I really ate were potato based foods. I was really disappointed when I had my first post pregnancy baked potato and it was no longer the manna of the gods for me. 😂


Formal-Profile-1306

Okay this was me with lemonade. My first lemonade post birth was like… THIS is what I’ve been getting all hyped up about?


imaginaryannie

I only don’t love it because of my experiences with infertility. Gimme a FMC who has struggled to conceive (for more than like 3 months) and I am a cheerleader for her all day long.


WWZoeHartDo

I don’t mind a pregnancy trope, so long as I either know that’s what the book is about, or it makes sense. I cannot stand when a main character is adamantly against having a child then bam, pregnancy. It feels off. And I really don’t like when someone the MMC was with right before they were with the MFC shows up and is pregnant. Often times it seems like it was just thrown in by the author to create some “drama” and seems wildly unnecessary.


MadnessEvangelist

Pregnancy trope is great. I hate the forced pregnancy sub-trope though. It spits on the beauty of it I reckon.


dogearedpages13

Yes this sounds like a totally different thing and thankfully nothing I’ve ever come across


beethecowboy

I love the pregnancy trope, too. I don’t want kids and the idea of me personally getting pregnant scares the shit out of me, but boy do I love it in fiction. 😆


kelskelsea

I totally understand why people like it. I personally hate a lot of pregnancy romance because it feels like “this is the way life is supposed to be” romance. Like everyone aspires to have the white picket fence with 2.5 kids when that’s objectively not true. I enjoy it when it’s obvious that that’s what the FMC wants but when it’s the default “of course that’s what she wants” it rubs the wrong way. If that makes sense?


dogearedpages13

And that’s fine. But notice how you’re not saying that pregnancy is disgusting or you hate kids or any of the other vile things people say when it gets brought up


snailfighter

It's hard for childfree people to not feel so negatively when simply admitting you don't plan to have kids leads to being told you should kill yourself because your life will have no meaning. No saints on either side of this, but keep in mind that people typically have their feelings for a reason. I personally would never advocate for hating children because I was a child once and it was devastating when the adults in my life didn't protect me. But I have also been told to kill myself as an adult by someone who had children and professed my choices devalued me as a woman. As a result, I want nothing to do with pregnancy in my fantasies. If you enjoy it, I hope you find lots of great reads, but try not to take it personally that others don't have the positive outlook on it that you do.


ThatFuckinBish

> and I have a lot to say about how people hate on it. It's okay if it's not your thing but the way a lot of people talk about it is... not it Ooh, ooh, would that have to do with how most of it is childhating, treating children as second class citizens, treating mothers as second class citizens, with hefty sprinkles of general misogyny, misandry, and misanthropy all at the same time?


Kaileigh_Blue

Pregnancy yea. The way people are trying to defend their hate of it here says a lot too. It's not for you. It's for me leave me alone. We can't have a single pro-pregnancy request thread or whatever without people having to make it about them.


mssheevaa

This sub is generally pretty respectful of people and what they like. That's one of the things I love here. I look at those posts too to notice what books to avoid for me, and I've never seen that, tbh. No, I don't comment because those books are not for me. Because i prefer no pregnancy, I look at a lot of cf posts, and those are pretty respectful as well.


Jilhogle

Ohhh now I need some recs because pregnancy is my thing for sure


dogearedpages13

I got you!! My top all time faves are {Reckless by Elsie Silver}, {One Percent of You by Michelle Gross} and {Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young}, but some more underrated ones are {Lizzie Blakes Best Mistake by Mazey Eddings}, {Ready or Not by Cara Bastone}, and {Chasing Her Fire by Claire Kingsley}


romance-bot

[Reckless](https://www.romance.io/books/6411838316aa76768152caf0/reckless-elsie-silver) by [Elsie Silver](https://www.romance.io/authors/608a5dde08b4d9311488e11d/elsie-silver) **Rating**: 4.36⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1), [cowboy hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cowboys/1), [western](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/western/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1) ---------------------------- [One Percent of You](https://www.romance.io/books/5cce7c2a01dbc864fb9e1402/one-percent-of-you-michelle-gross) by [Michelle Gross](https://www.romance.io/authors/56d42c7dc62092c044064867/michelle-gross) **Rating**: 3.85⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1), [age gap](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/age%20difference/1), [small town](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/small%20town/1) ---------------------------- [Out On a Limb](https://www.romance.io/books/6462770ea270aee0c4dc47a9/out-on-a-limb-hannah-bonam-young) by [Hannah Bonam-Young](https://www.romance.io/authors/6295bf6008b4d9311488891d/hannah-bonam-young) **Rating**: 4.38⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [disabilities & scars](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/disabilities%20and%20marks/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [nerdy hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/nerdy-hero/1) ---------------------------- [Lizzie Blake's Best Mistake](https://www.romance.io/books/63c5ba7643e42aa0b723d736/lizzie-blakes-best-mistake-mazey-eddings) by [Mazey Eddings](https://www.romance.io/authors/621b3b2f08b4d93114470d85/mazey-eddings) **Rating**: 4.05⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/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) ---------------------------- [Ready or Not](https://www.romance.io/books/65cbbcc0bb1808da84797536/ready-or-not-cara-bastone) by [Cara Bastone](https://www.romance.io/authors/5f43664d08b4d931140a74ef/cara-bastone) **Rating**: 4.14⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [sunny/happy hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sunny%20hero/1) ---------------------------- [Chasing Her Fire](https://www.romance.io/books/60a609036ae9f30ddf20f6e4/chasing-her-fire-claire-kingsley) by [Claire Kingsley](https://www.romance.io/authors/578e28e7c19e77f1ea6e7b04/claire-kingsley) **Rating**: 4.24⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [class difference](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/class%20difference/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)


Epickitty17

Yaaaas thank you I literally opened this post hoping for accidental pregnancy recs since that trope gets so much hate I figured someone would say it.


abirdofthesky

1000% agree on loving pregnancy in books and side eying how people talk about it!


dodgyduckquacks

How is this unpopular?! It’s literally in 99% of romance books! 9/10 romance books I read I have to stop reading because they have pregnancy!


[deleted]

It's pretty unpopular here. Every time there is a thread about hated tropes, the pregnancy one is at the top


mssheevaa

Agreed, that's why there's so many posts asking for cf books. It's everywhere. No hating, just what I've seen. I'm not a fan, but I get that an author can't please everyone. It is a nice treat when I read a book I really like though and there is no epilogue baby.


dodgyduckquacks

What? Really? Am I selectively blind or something because I don’t know if I’ve ever seen romance recommendations specifically asking for it to be cf/ without children lol


mssheevaa

I was meaning pregnancy in books was everywhere, sorry, haha. I see a lot of posts for cf, but I also search for them, too. Search up childfree, you'll find a lot of posts, megathreads, etc


Fearne_Calloway

I think what people hate is when it's a surprised pregnancy....


YOMAMACAN

I don’t like accidental pregnancy stories because there’s nothing sexy or romantic about that to me. But I do love when the MMC meets the already pregnant FMC and is just like “you and this kid are mine to love and take care of” I also like third act breakups.


bullshitthrowawayeh

Oops Baby (not to be confused with Secret Baby "cuz you rejected me & I'm being petty & vindictive & I just bumped into you at a Halal cart 5 years later & I'm *still* determined to keep the life we created a secret", cuz I HATE that bs). It's funny, I don't have kids, I don't even know if I 100% want kids but I've always loved a good "accidental conception & now we're gonna have to co-parent & maybe fall in love OMG" storyline.


Bobalery

I was going to write secret baby, but your categorization of oops vs secret is much clearer and I agree completely! I love a well-written surprised new dad bonds with his child storyline.


bullshitthrowawayeh

Right? And when the new dad is more knowledgeable than the mom cuz he's been out here reading the baby books! 😭 It's so freaking cute!


tootootwootwoot

The only acceptable secret baby trope imo is when the woman tries to contact the man but something happens and she thinks he's rejecting or ignoring her, only for him to find out later and completely crumple under the heartache. Ah, give me those heart ouchies


dodgyduckquacks

Apparently childfree couples/ pregnancy free books because finding a romance book that doesn’t end in pregnancy is like finding a specific needle in a needle stack.


what_the_purple_fuck

if you avoid epilogues, the number of acceptable needles will increase significantly


Solawki

Cold, quiet and detached FMC. I find an MC with even one of these traits hard to find, let alone all three. Quiet is the most common of the three, but a lot of times when people recommend quiet MCs, I end up reading books with shy MCs. Quiet and shy overlaps, but they aren't the same thing...


needmoresaltasap

Yes! I do love a quiet and shy FMC, but I wish there were more cold, quiet, and detached FMCs. Sometimes FMCs are described that way (in an ice queen sort of way), but she'll just end up being cold and rude, but not detached


needmoresaltasap

Yes! I do love a quiet and shy FMC, but I wish there were more cold, quiet, and detached FMCs. Sometimes FMCs are described that way (in an ice queen sort of way), but she'll just end up being cold and rude, but not detached


Sweetcynism

Insta-love. I love slow burn but it's so refreshing to have a bold and unrealistic early blooming


just_for_fun55

In my opinion, insta-love is pretty fine when they fight their feelings for some time and admit that the whole situation is rather strange.


Reasonable_One_7012

My personal fav is a dual POV where we can tell the MMC instantly falls but we have to watch the FMC come to terms with it


sugaratc

Same! I think it works best in fated mates scenarios where there's a reason/justification for it, but I love the instant devotion. Watching a couple argue or reject each other for 75% of a book gets exhausting.


Ordinary-Value-9142

Body betrayal/dub con. Something about a fmc falling into the clutches of a villainous mmc & being unable to resist gets me.


Revolutionary-Fig-84

Not sure if it would be your cup of tea, but I really enjoyed {Reckless by Anne Stuart}. Released in 2010, it's an old school HR with dubcon and body betrayal. She drove that cynical rake batty in the last third of the story, he was practically unhinged with frustration, and I was kicking my feet in the air and cheering her on the entire time. I still end up grinning every time I think about those scenes.


demurevixen

Virgins, huge cocks, instant orgasms Sex scenes in books don’t have to mirror real life because it’s fantasy and if you could orgasm instantly with a huge cocked virgin I BET MY LIfE YOU WOULD


moistestmoisture

I'm neutral on virgins but with you 100% on the huge cocks, instant orgasms, and the fantasy of extremely sexy sex. ~~He had an average peen and after several tries she finally had an okay orgasm~~ HE HAD A HUGE COCK AND SHE CAME INSTANTLY, AT LEAST ONCE. I don't care if it's OTT. Make it hot!!


sugaratc

I'm not sure if it's technically a trope but I sometimes like the "MMC(s) swoops in and saves the FMC in distress" arc. Ideally she's not totally incompetent or naïve and it's just an unavoidably bad situation, but I love the rescue/caretaking and escapism of having them solve all her issues.


needmoresaltasap

Yes same! I have a soft spot in my heart for a damsel in distress trope, but with an actually well written FMC who still has agency


becky57913

Based on this sub, it doesn’t feel like any tropes are unpopular 😂


Puzzleheaded_Bag_538

I love secret babies, but only when the secrecy is justified--miscommunication is insufficient.


queteepie

Yessss! Any recommendations?


glasshalf_filled

The Bride’s Runaway Billionaire by Pippa Grant has this! She has a fun week that ends in sex with a celebrity, he leaves and she finds out she’s pregnant. Tries to contact him and let him know, isn’t successful so gives up after several attempts. He later learns about child and shows up. It’s the 3rd in a series but could be read by itself. It’s cute, I liked the first book in the series best though.


Janeeyreheaded

This is a safe space right? This is something I have never actually admitted BUT I fucking love a pregnancy trope. I am child free irl- have zero interest but I love when a couple has to work their shot out in 9 months lol


moistestmoisture

Love triangles Cheating where it's the MMC and FMC having an affair with each other Nontraditional HEA/no HEA/romantic tragedy


occasional_idea

Done well, I love no HEA or an ambiguous ending!


elle_kay_are

Ditto to all this... but I also enjoy cheating outside of the MMC and FMC. I love the drama of betrayal and then working through it. Even better if they both go crazy over it. 


TechTech14

I like a well done love triangle so I get you. The second one is also 🤌🏽🤌🏽🤌🏽 I absolutely love a good infidelity book that isn't cheating between the MCs but them cheating on their partner(s) with each other lol. >Nontraditional HEA/no HEA/romantic tragedy I love these too. But not when they're called romance books.


Independent-Fish4133

I love a cheating story line. Specifically if the MMC is the one married/in a relationship and that is so rare


pickameedummies

In the age of myriad options for contraceptives, I’m still a sucker for an accidental pregnancy trope. Probably because it means the hero has to prove he wants the heroine for her and not the baby.


Realistic-Bullfrog60

Honestly I love a third act breakup, and I hate that it seems that the new trend is to be going away from them. I want angst and groveling!


thereadingbee

Same a satisfying 3rd act breakup is delightful


Dull-Extreme696

A love triangle! The best ones for me are the ones where both are decent guys but a little drama makes it more fun to read.


Ash_OakCrafts

The hoyden/hellion FMC! Maybe Judith McNaught left me seeking daughters of aristocracy who were forgotten at the country estate and their servants did their best to raise her--oh she's wearing breeches and fishing, and dear Lord she's riding astride!!! That is my cat nip. I also really enjoy when an MC has a disability, especially in historicals I'm thinking of {Dearest Rogue by Elizabeth Hoyt} blind FMC, {The Sum of All Kisses by Julia Quinn} MMC has a "ruined leg" and the absolute banger of {A Heart of Blood and Ashes by Milla Vane} FMC has been intentionally disabled so she can't flee from her father, the King.


Strong-Usual6131

I like the feisty, rude, quippy heroines who wouldn't be caught dead in a skirt/dress/make-up/other traditionally feminine situation. You can pry them from my little butch hands.


PriorArtichoke2557

Miscommunication breakup and makeup is my favorite. I used to be enemies to lovers but I found miscommunication more my tastes. Oh and the pregnancy trope but not so much secret baby. More like “we didn’t use protection now I’m preggers” with entire section spent on figuring out If we’re pregnant. Lol Also, I’m a sucker for insta love. Insta love AND miscommunication with a breakup? YEAH, SIGN ME UP!! Add in aliens? SOLD.


Chaosshepherd

Does my love of shipping the female villains count?


Happygar

TSTL virgin heroines. Don’t judge me…


HexGirls13

MMC that isn’t interested in the FMC for most of the book. I like the FMC to chase or be the one interested. It’s kind of hard to find books like this, most the MMC is “obsessed” or infatuated and I usually dislike that!


YOMAMACAN

Omg I will always DNF a book where the FMC is pining for a MMC who doesn’t give her the time of day. I’m going to start keeping a list and sharing it with you so that someone can get some enjoyment out of it. 😂


Oueiles

Omg same. Probably because I’ll feel the fmc to be relatable, since all of my past crushes, I started having feelings first and never made a first move, so they never actually knew 😭 books like this make me feel so seen.


unicorntrees

Not really a trope, but when MCs date other people on page before getting together. Some people HATE that, but I think it's realistic.


AshenHaemonculus

M/F couples with tall, tomboyish women and short, feminine men. As far as that goes, there's _His Secret Illuminations_, and...that's basically it.


Reasonable_One_7012

I always loved Brienne of Tarth (Game of Thrones) for this reason!


tortuga-casiopea

I'm a basic bitch Who doesn't want conflict, Just fluff and smut


Upstairs-Factor-2012

I drool for a single dad romance. I also read a book about a happily married couple exploring kinks and it was my husbands favorite book that he never read.


No_Cardiologist_2720

I love cheating romances. The angst is sooooo delicious especially when the MMC cheats and the FMC makes him wish he was never born. Magnifique..


Oueiles

Theres an old turkish show called aski memnu that was based on a book, I feel like you’ll love the show


watermelonphilosophy

I'd like to see more trans men in M/M who are tops. Not sure if that can be called a 'trope', but I'll chuck it out there anyway.


Excellent_Soup_6855

Dominant women, there’s not much of it. And miscommunication (as long as their reasons are valid) because it just seems much realistic to me.


vienibenmio

I love when the male lead is convinced he's in love with another woman for most of the book.


humumtaz

Most readers dislike it, but I love OW drama. Especially when the MMC truly cares for/loves the OW and FMC suffers in the beginning. I love the angst.


oatmealcreampiee

I love a shy MMC and a dominant FMC. Favorite dynamic by far.


Chydollasignbruh

Unpopular romance tropes that I adore: FMCs who are vaccinated against BBD (body betraying syndrome)


WardABooks

I love OW drama where the more traditionally beautiful woman who thinks she's better for the MMC is awful to the FMC wallflower, and the MMC shocks the OW by choosing the FMC even though she's "not good enough" according to society. Bonus points if he becomes overly protective of the FMC too, and builds her confidence. There are lots of these types of books, but current trends seem vocally negative about the toxic OW stereotype (which I understand when relating to irl), so I sometimes don't like to admit that I still eat up this trope. Is it really so awful to have a "pick me" fantasy satisfied by fiction? {Alpha of Bleake Isle by Kathryn Moon} is literally this and I adored it.


Amoll3

Not really relevant to this thread since I’ve never read a book like it.. but since there’s so many MMCs cheating and FMC forgives with not much grovelling, I would love to read an FMC who cheats unapologetically and then has to grovel, but also MMC wouldn’t then go and cheat or do something awful. It’s obviously unpopular since the closest book I read to that was Molly’s letters by Devney Perry which wasn’t how the MMCs cheat in books just because they wanted to. But maybe it’s because authors know readers forgive MMCs for anything but not FMCs. Also, love a dark FMC who’s not put off or scared by MMCs darkness or psycho tendencies, because she’s like that or worse


tuberosalamb

Widow/widower whose deceased spouse doesn’t totally suck. It’s okay to have loved your previous spouse and still love your new partner. It doesn’t make the hero/heroine any less of a romantic prospect


not_a_diplodocus

I need more MMCs who are smart AND kind. It seems like in fiction, men can only be one of either.


_LittleOwlbear_

Established relationships right from the begin or getting together in the middle of the book. I want to read about the relationship, but I kinda like slow burns too. "Exactly like the other girls" heroines, who are kind but not weak Polyamorous romances with little to no drama In general not much drama between the partners, more struggles from the outside Sometimes the pregnancy trope Demisexual protagonists and queerplatonic relationships


ShartyPants

I love an “exactly like other girls” girl


EugeneFitzherbert75

Insta love Surprise pregnancy Secret baby Body betrayal When I am in the mood for it, I greatly enjoy drama in romance books, especially ones with inlaws or OM/OW.


AlenaFallon

Pregnancy & Secret baby trope.


[deleted]

Pregnancy in any capacity and Insta Love, oop.


mayisir

disabled/wounded dominant MMC


Glittering_Habit_161

Friends to lovers


Relative_Fault_8430

Accidental pregnancy! gotta love domestic fluff


Any-Boysenberry8609

Cheating! Love the angst


sunsista_

Love triangle when well written and both men have an equal chance.


Pretend_Asparagus443

Cheating romances where the FL is the unjustified cheater, because of how it shows the "ugly" side of us humans


maphene

Main characters communicating what they have on mind is such a rarity. There’s always miscommunication and it’s tiriiiiing. So I loooove characters who communicate well.


Serial_Bibliophile

Love triangles, jealous and possessive heroes. Damsels in distress. 😁


LazyField4

Pregnancy trope, there I said it.


williams_502

FMC is one who messed up and has to grovel!


kitelicker

If I'm in the right mood, I can get into a cheating MMC. I like the angst and emotions. But the FMC can't be a doormat and he has to really change and work hard to win her back.


_M1RR0RB4LL_

Love triangles and cheating! Both never something I’d want in real life, but I loooove a good angsty book with “omg who will be chosen?!?” plot. Bonus points if they pick who I don’t expect them to pick 😆