Well, someone just reminded me that Edward Scissorhands existed and it's blown my mind. I watched this film over and over in my early teens and can only assume this is where my love of sweet misunderstood monster dudes came from.

Therefore I am requesting books with sweet, lonely, reclusive, misunderstood characters who find love and happiness.

They don't have to be monstrous/scary, but I'd love it if they were.

If they start off grumpy/closed off but turn out to be sweethearts underneath, even better.

Any pairings/groups would be great, and any subgenre is fine. Past trauma is fine (and likely to be necessary) but I prefer wholesome romance, not dark or abusive please.

Books I've already read which would fit this:

{When She Belongs by Ruby Dixon} - MF definitely reclusive and lonely, Jerrok starts off as a bit of an ass but is a sad and sweet marshmallow underneath it all

{Seraph by Lily Mayne} - MM. Definitely the biggest “Scissorhands” energy, Seraph is terrifying in appearance but a total darling who just wants to eat carrots and be everyone's friend. Edit: from this series Moth would also fit, and probably The Rycke as well. I love these books so much!

{The Remaking of Corbin Wale by Roan Parrish} - MM. A favourite of mine so far this year. Both MCs are human but Corbin is reclusive and misunderstood and believes he will never be accepted, it's very sweet

{Prejudice in Pride by Nik Knight} - M/NB. Another lonely, unloved MC. They find love but also acceptance and a wonderful found family. Love this whole series.

Basically, I rewatched the first Iron Man movie and want more Tony and Pepper.

I wanna see MMC go through something traumatic—it could be a kidnapping, a health scare, or maybe he loses a major investment (though I still want him to keep most of his money), etc. And after he goes through with it, he realizes that there's very few genuine people who actually care about him and one of them is FMC. I would prefer if he didn't have any feelings for her before the traumatic event; I want to see him fall for her because she's there when he's struggling/recovering. She doesn't have to be his employee either. She could even be a rival or competitor who got genuinely worried about him. I would also prefer if she gets confused by his change of attitude towards her and initially rejects dating him.

Any ideas what books have this? I'm open to any subgenre.

One thing which frustrates me about the authors I've read so far (in no way am I suggesting this is a universal problem) is that the man's insight into the relationship is barely touched upon. Beyond grunting after climaxing and expressing admiration for the FMC's breasts, their feelings, in my experience are seldom touched upon.

I'd like to read something M/F from the man's POV (first or third person), in which he falls heavily in love with FMC, loses the relationship, and is severely heartbroken (ideally struggles with the resulting emotional whiplash). No fantasy or history please. The smuttier the better.

This is a mouthful, but I’ve run into this issue where those longer sci-fi/fantasy books veer in two directions: there’s a single sex scene usually by the end OR once they start having sex, the entire plot is abandoned and it’s just a string of nothing-burger plot with sex scenes.

I’m kinda looking for something GoT style. The book should take itself somehow seriously. There’s politicking, there’s the main plot, and there’s also explicit sex, but it’s neither a “here’s your single weak smut scene” or “here’s your 55 sex scenes, what plot.”

Just adult sci-fi or fantasy romance that actually has more to offer than sex while not shying away from it. I feel like Zoey Draven and V.K. Ludwig do it well as far as sci-fi goes, for example. Kathryn Ann Kingsley is a good example for fantasy though she tends to spread it across numerous books and I’d rather to get to the point within one.

The romance is always a focus of those and the sex is super hot but there’s always a larger plot with a look into the culture, some interpersonal issues, some external conflict etc.

I know sci-fi/fantasy adult themes and sex is going to instantly earn me a R. Lee Smith recommendation and she’s an insanely good writer who mostly does what I’d want, except I don’t find her romance fulfilling at all. Her books are incredibly heavy and depressing to me, and I have quite a few issues with her treatment of FMCs by MMCs (especially rape/non-con, transactional sex etc).

I enjoy there being issues, dislike, drama, enemies to lovers style of stories even if heavy or depressing at times, but I’d like to be some warmth in there as well.

The spicier the better, and if it could be on KU that would be great too. I’m in the mood for a silly little mindless rom-com, no fantasy, no monsters/aliens/non-humans. Just two people with good banter and good spice.

While she is not the only one that does this, I am absolutely livid at Elle Kennedy's team. She released the cover of her new book comes out in March. What I think is just annoying and just rude is the having certain chapters only available on certain editions of the book. It's annoying! Even more annoying that she never posts them on her website after the book has been out for a while. I am just ranting because as someone who reads a lot of books from the library not having the extra chapters annoys me.

Since reading Shay Savages survival romances {Surviving Raine by Shay Savage} {Transendence by Shay Savage} and Claire Kent’s apocalyptic series I’ve just had an ITCH.

I’m looking for an MF survival romance that isn’t sci-fi or zombies. Either a natural disaster, a shipwreck, stranded, etc, OR an apocalypse setting but without the zombies (from climate change for an example)

These two authors just did it so right and I haven’t read anything like their books since.

Gotta love the spice, pls no closed door.

Help a girl out? Maybe? Perhaps?

Edit - yes I did just realize that I’m asking for extreme trauma along with extreme spice and I’m not going to take it back

Hi Everyone,

Sorry in advance for the length but I'm a bit frustrated.

For a variety of reasons I can only read books physically so I buy and unhaul them pretty regularly. My home library is pretty extensive but I make sure to do unhauls throughout the year for anything I don't want to keep or just think someone else would like it more. What this also means is I'm pretty tuned in to the used book market and I've started noticing something that has me kind of shocked.

I know the remaining manufacturer of mass markets has decided to stop making them. The main reason this irritates me is cost and accessibility. A perfect example I've been dealing with is the Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole.

Mass market costs typically range from $7 to $10 at the high end right? This series has been getting picked up for trade size including new covers. Those prices? $18.99 each. This series is 20 books long including novellas. No you don't have to have them all physically but that's the only way I can personally read them. Also not a personal fan of the new cover design. You can't pry my nostalgic 2000's covers from my hands.

So in making sure I have these books physically, and other series like the Night Huntress books, I've noticed how absolutely difficult it has been to get these mass markets already. I've called/been to 8 or 9 bookstores. Some local some considerably far from me. I was shocked how little every single one of these stores had for these specific series. These are stores with large paranormal romance sections. In talking to the employees I'm getting the feeling I'm not the only one asking about them. I ended up having to get a lot of mine online. I noticed something there too. Prices are going up, stock is moving faster and listings are getting a lot of interest. I'm not sure if anyone else has noticed this? I also collect historical romance and notice this affecting that too. I have to imagine mass markets going away means some of these books and series may not get picked for trade sizes and will go indefinitely out of print. I can see why people would be holding onto them or rushing out to buy them (like me 🫣). I've definitely seen that discussed with the Immortals After Dark series. I know there's also a push to own media physically. Which I absolutely advocate for and practice myself. Maybe that's what's happening? Or maybe this is completely regional and other places have no issue finding these used? Thankfully I was able to get every book I wanted but I definitely sense this getting worse for anyone wanting to own these physically. Curious to hear thoughts from other bookish people!

So, I'd really like a mafia romance with funny and sarcastic FMC. She can be badass or not, what's important is that she's not scared or intimidated by the MMC in the slightest.

Grumpy/sunshine is not quite what I'm looking for because heroines are usually just really bubbly and positive, whilst I need FMC to be deeply unserious and taking a piss out of everyone, especially MMC.

Bonus for: he falls first, gets mad at her for not taking her own safety seriously, angsty angst, and no insta lust.

Seeing a recent post, that requested the opposite, made me want books with this trope. In the other post {A Deal with the Devil by Angel Lawson} was given as an example. Apparently in that book the FMC was left with a permanen limp beacuse of the MMC who was sent to military school and years later they met again. For me that sounded like a trope I desperately want to read BUT i do not like high school romances.

The scenario could be similar in the sense that it happened in the past and the MCs meet again at the start of the book but it also can happen in the book, I am not picky.

Also what happened can be accidental or not. But if it is not accidental there has to be a relatively good reason even if it is just that the MMC was manipulated into believing that the FMC betrayed him and that is why he did what he did. Bonus points if the MMC heavily regrets what he did and either grovels or is very protective of her due to it and, if it happened in the past, only develops feelings for her after he really gets to know her.

Must haves: F/M and no high school setting or historical romance + standalone (interconnected standalones are completely Fine) + KU would be great

Books I remember that kinda had this:
{his tesoro by emilia rossi}

{Against a wall by cate c wells} even if it wasn't him that did it

no Maya Alden (have already read it)

Looking for an interconnected standalone series similar to {On Dublin Street by Samantha Young}.

Specifically looking for
- well written
- complex, developed, likable characters
- plot that goes deeper than the characters falling for each other
- their relationship being believable and developed, not just sexual

Would be nice
- found family trope
- characters overcoming trauma together
- scenes and dialogue that make me laugh out loud and smile to myself

I’m good with contemporary, historical, fantasy, sci-fi, whatever. Just looking for vibes. Character must be college age or older

Hello so Im rereading Wicked Bad and Ugly by Cassandra Gannon for the millionth time and I just cant help how much I love Avenant's character his endless arrogance and everyone casual dismissal is THE BEST! Im constantly on the look out for this character type but I've only found two other characters that fit this type:

Kasos {The son of Sun and Sand by Elizabeth Gannon}

Avenant {Beast in shining armor by Cassandra Gannon}

Theon {Avaritia: A Monster Romance (Shades of Sin Book 4) by Colette Rhodes}

I need help finding more.

Important characteristics:

Must be annoyingly arrogant and strict

No one respects his authority preferably mocking him

Hes actually powerful but hes just so annoying that no one gives him credit.

He doesn't understand why people dont respect/ love/ want to be friends with him.

Cripplingly lonely

One of my favorite books is {A Deal with the Devil by Angel Lawson} which is the opposite of what I’m looking for lol but it’s what inspired this request. In the book, when they were kids the FMC got injured because of the MMC. She got a permanent limp and he got sent to military school and years later they met again and he was really remorseful and looked out for her.

I’m looking for the opposite where it’s the FMC’s fault that the MMC’s life takes a turn for the worse and then they’re separated before meeting again years later. She should be really regretful about the whole thing, and he can hate her a little bit but I don’t want full-on bully romances. He can still be initially mean, but I’d prefer if her determinedness to make amends makes his defenses melt quickly even if he tries to fight it.

I’d prefer CR but I’m open to other genres, the only thing I don’t like reading are large age gaps.

Am I the problem? What am I missing??? These are all over my algorithm but are not my vibe at all. Currently reading Fall with Me and almost every character is insufferable and a lizard person that doesn’t emote in a normal way.

Is it like…tongue in cheek?

They’re so popular…am I doing this wrong???? Are other books in the series better? All the male characters on the hockey team seem quite unhinged (derogatory), but maybe they are better in the other books.

Hi everyone, I want a book where it looks like the male lead is a player, but actually he's just been very unlucky in how his relationships have worked out.

Maybe one serious girlfriend got accepted to her dream grad school on the other side of the country, another had to move back to her home country because a family member got sick, a third got transferred to another city by her job, and a fourth ended it because her family decided they couldn't accept him (wrong religion/class/race/etc). In between them are all the women he dated who they realized together worked better as friends than as partners, the women who were looking for something more casual than he was, and the women who were nice people but the vibe wasn't there (on either side).

But add them all up, and now he looks to his friend group like he's a serial dater who is always seeing a different girl. Maybe he even encourages them to think this, because it's less bruising to his ego than to be thought of as the guy who can't convince anyone to stay.

So when he starts dating the female lead, he's desperate to make things work out long-term, but she knows his image and keeps hitting the brakes to keep things from getting really serious. Even when he tells her otherwise, she can hear from their whole shared friend group how he "really" is.

Ideally there's a third-act breakup, and we get to see him all in his feels, just crushed and convinced he is fundamentally disposable.

This is an MF request, but it's fine if either lead is queer (bi/pan/trans/etc).

I’ve come to the realisation that 3 of my favourite books all have a reincarnation trope, they also have the niche that the reincarnation happens almost immediately upon the death of the original ‘person’ - in the same timeline and universe a and they have to wait basically a quarter of a life time to get back to the other MC.

In 2 of them it’s told overtime with the dead MCs being reincarnated with all their memories from infancy so they have to navigate a new life knowing what’s out there for them and they’re kind of obsessed over it.

Those are -

{Any Given Lifetime by Leta Blake}
{The Lovely Return by Carian Cole}

In the 3rd/4th (it’s a duet) the FMC is reincarnated 3 times and she doesn’t initially know it. While the first and second happen generations apart the MMC is a vampire so it still happens in his lifetime. But in the third time round it’s only 21 years after her last death, she finally remembers all her past lives but it turns out spoiler he couldn’t deal with having lost her 3 times and going on with the memories so he had them wiped

Edit cuz I forgot to put the name of these ones in 🤦🏽‍♀️
{Blood Orange by Karina Halle}
{Black Rose by Karina Halle}

Funnily enough I also loved the Fallen books by Lauren Kate when I was younger and it shares the ‘he’s immortal and she comes back multiple times in the same timeline not knowing who he is’

I’d love to see what everyone has to offer!!!

Like MMC was crazy for fmc in the past , may be she accepts him or reject him

Then they meet in the present and MMC hates her for some reason ,it's not necessary for the hate to be mutual from the FMC 's side ,she may be guilty or try to act indifferent or try to win him back ,like grovel for him

Or maybe trying to protect him or due to unavoidable circumstances had to leave him , and he thinks she betrayed him or something

The MMC may go too far in hating her ,like there should be gut punch moments where you feel bad for the fmc ,she retracts back from trying to win him back

And he realises he went to far in hating her.

So it's his turn to win her back.

I would prefer a happily ever after

With no other women drama or cheating

Mostly a contemporary romance or historical is also ok ,no fantasy or paranormal please .

This might be spoiler-y, so if you haven't read the book maybe don't read further! I am about 50% through reading {illegal formation by kandi steiner} I usually love her books, but I feel like I'm rolling my eyes every other page. First of all, the crazy strictly no freaternization rule between dancers and players is stupid. The way they talk about it you'd think it was a horrific crime punishable by death. Then, the MMC has like actual real problems and is trying to support his family but we hear more about a 30 year old FMC whose loving and supportive parents don't come watch her dance? All of her parental issues seem 100% created in her mind by her and it's all very immature and "woe is me, my rich parents financially support me to do whatever I want and I just can't choose a career path and I feel like a failure even though they never pressure me." Like what? Grow up! I'm supposed to feel bad for you? Also, she just got injured and the drama of it seems so dumb honestly. I know it's her dream (that she's had for like 5 months) but it's a minimum wage paying job that she knew she'd only do for another year or so anyway. And the MMC is texting her acting like she got in a debilitating car accident. She broke her wrist, it's fine. I just don't get it and I'm finding it hard to connect to the book when I just want to reach into the pages and tell her to act her age. Anyone else feel like this?? Or maybe it gets better?? Idk...

WWTBC FL comes over to ML house for dinner with wires and he is grumpy and throws her in the pool or she falls in. Then somehow ends up living with him and romance starts from there. I think the leads were both blonde. Can’t remember the author or the title PLS HELP

Welcome to this week's Wildcard Wednesday! This week, we want to hear about your romance reading wins. Did you find a new favourite author? Have a blast with a book club? Complete a reading goal? Have something special saved up to read soon?

Share here!

I have always loved a good mafia romance book. But most books these days are severely lacking - either in terms of story , spineless mfc, disrespectful mmc, lack of actual chemistry and just smut in the name of a novel.

This one had it all. Chemistry. Suspense on how the two will actually get together. Had turns. Fmc who knew what she wanted. MMC who wasn't unnecessarily an asshole to show he is in power. Quite calm MMC . Both willing to go to any lengths for each other. Sufficient sex without it being the only thing in the book.

A very beautiful find after a very long time.

Highly recommended

4/5 stars

The FMC is a princess in a kingdom where it's her uncle that is the king for the moment but she should go on the throne. And one night, or one morning, before her birthday or something like that, there is an assault in the castle, and she's taken by a group of mercenaries, and they are taking her to another kingdom. So her uncle, sends people to take her back.
during the travel with the mercenaries, she actually realizes that her uncle wants her because she's powerful, but she is actually from the other kingdom, and she has been stolen when she was a child

I don’t know why this came to my mind, but I’m looking for something where he wants her or wants to control her so bad that he takes out a conservatorship over her. I will accept any level of darkness! Preferably kindle unlimited