Eboni’s Dark Romance Recommendations
As the resident Dark Romance lover of That's Novel Books, when Alyssa asked me to write this blog post, I couldn't help but jump with glee and accept.
I never expected to fall in love with the darkest romance books, but alas, here I am, and trying to convince you to fall just as hard. These books are not for the faint of heart, so if you're expecting to feel the warm and fuzzies and swoon after the morally gray hero, my recommendations aren't for you. No...some of these characters are so morally black, it'll have you questioning your own morals, ethics, and will probably (more than likely) awaken some hidden desires in you that lay dormant. You're welcome .
I've listed a few of my favorites below, along with a meter so you'll be prepared for JUST how dark it gets, as well as a meter for how spicy it is. A lot of these books come with trigger warnings as well, so please check those before you read. I promise, I had a lot of fun reading them, but please protect your mental health first.
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Dark: 1/5
Spice: 3/5
Even though this book is super popular and I try to read books that aren't so hyped up in the book community, I can't deny my sheer enjoyment of it. It's about a nurse who fantasizes about her favorite masked social media star...who just so happens to be a genius hacker who ends up stalking her. There are a LOT of stalker romances out there, but what I loved about this was the humor. The MMC was so funny and not at all what you'd expect a "masked stalker" to be. Also, there's some knife play in this and...well...just prepare yourself for it.
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Dark: 2/5
Spice: 4/5
This may be a slight cheat because there are some fantasy elements, but this series is categorized as Dark Romance so I've decided they were appropriate for this list. I also couldn't choose just one of these books because they're all fantastic. It's about three demons who fall for three very different women while trying to beat the "Devil". These are some of my favorite books of all time because of the various types of kink representation. BDSM, Dom/sub, Switch, Voyeurism, and of course a little bit of stalking. They're also LGBTQ+ (especially the second book, Her Revenge To Take). They're less about the smut and more plot driven, with complicated subjects of grief, rage, revenge, and what that looks like for the three FMC's. Also? Each girl is so badass that it's hard not to fall in love with them.
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Dark: 2/5
Spice: 4/5
I really liked this book because it was plot heavy, was written beautifully, and the dangerous elements really felt real. It's a mafia romance book about a notorious, coldblooded killer who takes his enemies lover as security for a deal. It has all the tropes I love (forced proximity, enemies to lovers, "touch her and die") and a few we hate (the dreaded miscommunication trope), but was well-paced. Both main characters are super complicated but their connection is undeniable. Written in Dual POV, we get to see how they overcome their own dark pasts, while reconciling their feelings for each other in a dangerous world. Jodi did an excellent job pacing it out.
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Dark: 2/5
Spice: 4/5
He's a quiet killer who scares the shit out of everyone. She's a beautiful, brown skinned model who steals his breath away. King of Envy is a part of a series of standalones, and even though I recommend reading all of them, this one is by far my favorite. The FMC, Ayana, has an arrangement to marry her friend in order to help her out of a bad modeling contract and to help him gain his inheritance. But the MMC, Vuk, obsesses and desires her while struggling with his thoughts and feelings. The issue? One, he's her fiance's close friend, and two...he's being hunted. It's SUCH a great book with a yearn to rival your favorite fantasy book.
We have copies of the first book of this series on the way. If you’d like to order any others through us, please reach out!
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Dark: 3/5
Spice: 4/5
I was debating on whether to include this entry with The Brit or not, but they're technically standalones that could (and should) be read in succession. This book was AMAZING. The two main characters, out for revenge for the murders of their parents, are drawn to each other through pain, grief, and a chemistry that's off the CHARTS. They're both written so complexly, but Beau, the FMC, is riddled with so much grief that you could feel her anguish and pain through the pages. Their love story isn't pretty, but what Jodi managed to do was paint a clear picture of how falling for someone could look, even when you're at your absolute worst.
Need other recommendations? Ask me for some ideas!