I have a love for toxic relationships and angsty romance! However, I have a hard time finding books that are in the particular niche I’m looking for. In part, it’s because I know that I’m looking for different tropes that fall under the same category in my head, but don’t know what they would be called or are too specific to be labeled.
I’ll try to list books that I’ve read that at least partially hit the mark (when it applies) and describe the tropes as coherently as possible.
Books with HEA + spice preferred! Love me some fantasy, but all recommendations are welcome!
1.) Dark romance where the ML and FL are/ become co-dependent or fully dependent on each other. Think, “they’re so obsessed they feel like they’re dying”. It could be that just one or the other is obsessive or possessive at first and then it becomes mutual. Trauma bonding is often present in this trope- can also include the trope of loving to hate each other. Can be slow burn, where MCs don’t admit their feelings. ML and/or FL is often morally grey or irredeemable but they revel in it.
The best examples of things I’ve read in this type of trope are actually fanfiction- off the top of my head I think ‘Manacled’ by SenLinYu and ‘Love in a Time of the Zombie Apocalypse’ by RizzleWrites (IYKYK!).
2.) Romance where either the FL or ML falls first and supports the other until they learn to love themselves, or awakens them from their denial/grief/other issue etc. Could be mutual could be one-sided, almost always one prefers to keep their relationship a secret or undefined for an extended period of time. This one can vary from toxic to wholesome but WE LOVE ANGST IN THIS HOUSEHOLD.
Best examples from me include: ‘Fae Isles’ series by Lisette Marshall, ‘The Plated Prisoner’ series by Raven Kennedy, ‘Fourth Wing’ by Rebecca Yarros, and ‘Powerless’ by Lauren Roberts.
3.) Romance where the ML (specifically) is all over FL. Like, showing FL off, princess treatment type pampering, being possessive and clingy in public, etc. Overall, ML is down bad for FL and isn’t afraid to show it! Love this when it’s a morally grey ML and a goody-goody FL who might not be so good. I don’t care how we get there I just need some of this!
Examples from me: (fanfic again) ‘Bloody, Slutty, and Pathetic’ by WhatMurdah and (actual book) ‘Neon Gods’ by Katee Roberts.
Thanks so much for reading and please try and blow this up so we can get as many recommendations as possible!
by m_vplaayer