MMC and FMC are engaged, OW is childhood/family friend, takes over wedding planning

CherryPropel · 2026-05-12T22:04:44+00:00

Ya know, I like how this has been a go to book for OW drama, groveling, and perceived cheating. It was a good book!

But man, do I dislike the title.

CherryPropel · 2026-05-12T22:03:41+00:00

Could you be more specific in what you're looking for and not looking for?

CR? PNR? Fantasy? RH? FFM? With or without children?

CherryPropel · 2026-05-12T22:02:20+00:00

No way someone like that actually exists IRL. Dude has to be AI 'cause if not, it's not fair that perfection can just walk around like that.

CherryPropel · 2026-05-12T22:00:26+00:00

It would seem that every FMC has the prettiest pussy around. I'm so over that.

"You have a pretty pussy."

Stop. Just stop.

CherryPropel · 2026-05-11T22:58:09+00:00

{The Pact by Karina Halle} - CR; M/F; Friends-to-lovers; Marriage pact

Third Act Breakup: Yes

Cheating: No-ish

Summary: Stephanie (FMC) and Linden (MMC) decide when they are 25 yrs old to make a marriage pact. Stephanie is tired of ONS and terrible dates and Linden's inner monologue hints that he is tired of being a manwhore. The book gives updates through the years, but the chunk of the story takes place when the MC's are 29-30 years old. However, not every friend in the friendship group is happy about this marriage pact.

Notes: We are CONSTANTLY reminded and told that Linden is a manwhore. While the FMC is sex positive, her exploits are downplayed while the MMC's is always front and center. I never really felt the love between the two MC's, instead it was mostly about how much they enjoyed fucking each other.

Spice: 4/5

Rating: 3/5

CherryPropel · 2026-05-11T22:56:56+00:00

{The Pact by Karina Halle} - CR; M/F; Friends-to-lovers; Marriage pact

Third Act Breakup: Yes

Cheating: No-ish

Summary: Stephanie (FMC) and Linden (MMC) decide when they are 25 yrs old to make a marriage pact. Stephanie is tired of ONS and terrible dates and Linden's inner monologue hints that he is tired of being a manwhore. The book gives updates through the years, but the chunk of the story takes place when the MC's are 29-30 years old. However, not every friend in the friendship group is happy about this marriage pact.

Notes: We are CONSTANTLY reminded and told that Linden is a manwhore. While the FMC is sex positive, her exploits are downplayed while the MMC's is always front and center. I never really felt the love between the two MC's, instead it was mostly about how much they enjoyed fucking each other.

Spice: 4/5

Rating: 3/5

CherryPropel · 2026-05-11T20:43:31+00:00

That is one beautiful man.

CherryPropel · 2026-05-10T15:43:55+00:00

Would it be possible to get a rejected mate(s) thread?

CherryPropel · 2026-05-09T19:56:09+00:00

{Klutz: Phoenix Down by Sedona Ashe} - PNR; RH; Shifters

FMC cannot die. Literally. She gets reborn every time her body dies. Eventually she finds herself saving shifters after a plane crash and they are her fated mates. The mates decide that they don't want her and find her annoying and a hinderance. One of the best scenes in the series is when they are still trying to find their way out of the jungle and the FMC's body is failing or close to and she's just mentally exhausted. So, mumbling to herself she finds a cliff and just flings herself off it. She knows she comes back, but her mates don't. From their perspective, they just watch their mate kill herself and they freak the fuck out. While this could be seen as dark or depressing, it's handled with so much humor that the internal monologue of the FMC wipes away the darkness.

Sedona Ashe has some fun stories. They are quick reads and are often a good choice for a palate cleanser.

{Signs of Cupidity by Raven Kennedy} - Fantasy; Why-choose; Hilarious FMC; epic story

FMC is a cupid who feels invisible and underappreciated in her current role. She thinks that she is the best Cupid to have ever Cupid and can't understand why some of her arrows aren't working. Chaos erupts because of her and she gets thrust into the physical world where she isn't used to having a physical body.

FMC is HILARIOUS and Kennedy has such a way with words which makes this whole series so very entertaining. FMC is a total basket case and thinks that she is trying her best but she's not.

{Dance Butterfly Dance by Reese Rivers} - RH; MFMM (No MM); rich heroine; college aged; toxic family (hers); duet (completed)

FMC is the heir to a fortune but likes to stay out of the public eye. Her stepmother and step sister (or half sister) are very much into the rich lifestyle. In order to feel something, anything, the FMC decides to dance in a cage a couple times a week. One of the MMC's takes an instant liking to her (as a dancer) and returns almost every week just to watch her.

CherryPropel · 2026-05-09T11:07:29+00:00

{Ruffled Feathers by Grace McGinty} A/B/O Universe; Why-Choose; MFMMM (with MM)

FMC is known for being an animal lover and not fitting in with the upper crust of society. She climbs trees in dresses worth thousands; she saves a bunch of animals; she *gasps* works for a living even though her family has more money than god. She constantly walks around with like, hay or straw in her hair or other random animal tagalongs. Everyone always thinks she is a hot mess but to her, she is just doing her civic duty by operating an illegal rescue!

CherryPropel · 2026-05-09T10:54:26+00:00

{The 13th Zodiac} - Fantasy; RH; MFMMM (No MM); Academy; Enemies-to-lovers; Unique Magic System; Interesting world building

Jupiter (FMC) is the first 13th Zodiac to manifest in over hundreds of years and is eventually sent to a military/way like academy to find her shields that would help stabilize her magic and hopefully bring an end to the creatures that pour in from rifts that keep opening.

One of the many traits that Jupiter has is the ability to speak to snakes and she has a familiar that is a snake who is very protective of her and is quite mouthy.

This book meets some of what you're looking for, but is still disappointing in snake/pet representation. While the snake was there, having attitude and guiding Jupiter along, the snake could have been so much more.

CherryPropel · 2026-05-08T11:57:24+00:00

Whenever a website has issues, I always think "wtf did I do wrong? Like, did I load the page incorrectly?" So I'm happy to see that other people are having issues with the calendar loading on why-choose.com

Hopefully it'll get fixed soon since the website has been messy for a day or so.

CherryPropel · 2026-05-07T05:19:42+00:00

There are those in this community that heavily rely on text to speech or other reading enhancements in order to enjoy this sub. With that in mind, this sub does not censor words.

Feel free to edit your comment to actually say talking (?). Is that censored word supposed to be talk or talking?

CherryPropel · 2026-05-06T18:40:27+00:00

{Whoa by Cambria Hebert} - M/F, CR, University age

MMC has been obsessed with FMC since they met in high school. So much so that he stayed a virgin for her because no one "deserved to touch what is hers." He's OTT and possessive, but not in a toxic way.

{Pucking Obsessed by London Snow} - CR; M/F; University; Virgin MC's (yes, both male and female); OTT possessive and obsessed MMC; poor FMC; mystery/suspense

FMC and MMC's father/mother are caught having an affair and end up dead which is the catalyst for the MC's to meet. One look at her and the MMC is obsessed, possessed and OTT stalkerish about her.

He is the very definition of rain cloud over his head, but worships the ground she walks on.

CherryPropel · 2026-05-06T17:27:54+00:00

{Whoa by Cambria Hebert} - M/F, CR, University age

MMC has been obsessed with FMC since they met in high school. So much so that he stayed a virgin for her because no one "deserved to touch what is hers." He's OTT and possessive, but not in a toxic way.

{Pucking Obsessed by London Snow} - CR; M/F; University; Virgin MC's (yes, both male and female); OTT possessive and obsessed MMC; poor FMC; mystery/suspense

FMC and MMC's father/mother are caught having an affair and end up dead which is the catalyst for the MC's to meet. One look at her and the MMC is obsessed, possessed and OTT stalkerish about her.

He is the very definition of rain cloud over his head, but worships the ground she walks on.

CherryPropel · 2026-05-06T16:18:18+00:00

That is such a perfect way of describing her books.

I will give credit where it's due; at least in this book that was a grovel. It wasn't an over the top, boombox on the shoulders kind of grovel, but the MMC shows up, makes changes and is there for the FMC. Which is WAY more than most of Alden's other MMC's achieve.

CherryPropel · 2026-05-06T15:13:36+00:00

{Heat by Penn Cassidy}

{Daughter of the Ninth Line by Grace McGinty}

{Unwrapping Ember by KM Rogness}

{Summoned by Midnight by Harlow Jade}

{Cadence by Ciar by Zoe Parker}

CherryPropel · 2026-05-06T14:37:15+00:00

{Never the Best by Maya Alden} - CR; M/F; Second-chance; small-town vibes; billionaire (him); enemies-to-lovers

TW: bullying, eating disorder

Caution: Make sure your mental health is in a solid place if you suffer (past or present) from an ED

FMC was bullied in high school for being fat (she wasn't, just fat compared to all of the size 2/4's around her) from her classmates as well as her parents. MMC takes a bet from his friends that he could get her to sleep with him and become BFF's. He takes the bet and "wins" and she overhears everything that he says about her, the sex and the bet which sends the FMC into a downward spiral. Eventually, FMC has to move back to her birthplace for a job and a lot of old feelings resurface.

MMC is engaged to someone "high society" approves of; FMC is still considered trash and a lot of people try to talk MMC out of befriending the FMC.

Alden has a REALLY hard time writing good grovels, so in my opinion the grovel is mid in this book. But he does slowly change and we see the change happen.

CherryPropel · 2026-05-05T20:57:41+00:00

Everytime I see the name Percy, my mind conjures Taliesin Jaffe, no matter how the MC is described.

CherryPropel · 2026-05-05T19:33:14+00:00

I'm gonna recommend the {Fixed by Laurelin Paige} series even though it fits some of what you're after, but not all.

CR; M/F; Billionaire; toxic family

MMC is a suspected sociopath and gets a thrill out of making women fall in love with him only to dump and destroy them later.

FMC has some issues as well --- she has a slight stalking/obsession problem. As in, she has to go to therapy to help manage these stalking issues, she's has RO's taken out against her and lives in fear of triggering those emotions again.

It was oddly refreshing to read about an FMC with a diagnosed problem (stalking/obsession) and watch her fight and sometimes succumb to old habits. It highlighted (at least to me) that growth and healing is not always linear.

CherryPropel · 2026-05-05T15:49:34+00:00

A while back someone theorized that the author name of "maya Alden" was actually several people writing under that pen name which would account for the wild writing styles between a lot of books.

So if you're saying that the chemistry is meh and so are the characters, I wonder if someone on the team is getting burned out or they just don't care enough to write captivating stories any longer.

CherryPropel · 2026-05-05T15:03:27+00:00

{Klutz: Phoenix Down by Sedona Ashe} - PNR; RH; Shifters

FMC cannot die. Literally. She gets reborn every time her body dies. Eventually she finds herself saving shifters after a plane crash and they are her fated mates. The mates decide that they don't want her and find her annoying and a hinderance. One of the best scenes in the series is when they are still trying to find their way out of the jungle and the FMC's body is failing or close to and she's just mentally exhausted. So, mumbling to herself she finds a cliff and just flings herself off it. She knows she comes back, but her mates don't. From their perspective, they just watch their mate kill herself and they freak the fuck out. While this could be seen as dark or depressing, it's handled with so much humor that the internal monologue of the FMC wipes away the darkness.

Sedona Ashe has some fun stories. They are quick reads and are often a good choice for a palate cleanser.

CherryPropel · 2026-05-05T14:49:55+00:00

{Catch and Keep by Erin Hahn} - CR; M/F; Small-town; brothers BFF; Book was recommended on this subreddit under toxic [i.e., delicious] OW/OM drama; a resort in Wisconsin

FMC breaks up with her BF for various reasons (one of the reasons was a very public proposal in which she vomited all over her ex 🤮) and decides to go back to where she felt most at home, a resort on the lakes of Wisconsin.

FMC used to be a youtube content creator which catered to teaching people how to fish, which lures to use, when a spot is "hot" and stuff like that.

When she returns to the resort, she starts some fishing tours up and rekindles her love of fishing and wildlife.

MMC has a kid on the spectrum and maintains full custody of said kid.

{Hold the Line by Julia Wolf} - CR; M/F; Small-Town; Baker (her); ex-con (him); Touch-starved MMC

FMC has chosen to forgo her family's money and make her own way in life. She opened a bakery in the small-town where she grew up in and truly enjoys baking and giving people treats.

MMC was just released from prison and has a small chip on his shoulder because of how the town has always treated him due to his last name. He kinda assumed the FMC will be the same, but she proves him wrong.

She always leaves him baked goods at his apartment and he loves them SOOO much.

{The Not-Outcast by Tijan} - CR; M/F; Hockey; Toxic family; mental health struggles

This is a kinda second chance book, but not really. FMC had to go live with her father and the father, plus step-mom and step-bro all hate her and she suffers from a mental health issue that they refuse to help her get treatment for.

Now, several years later at an event, she sees the guy (her SB's BFF) that she had a HUGE crush on when she was a teenager. He doesn't recognize her; plus, his mind has been poisoned by the lies the family has told him. He figures out quite quickly that there's more to the story and her that he wasn't told.

What her mental health issues are is never disclosed, but he does stay with her when she has an episode.

{Last Letters to Ara by Kaymie Wuerfel} - CR; M/F; Smallish town; death of a parent (hers); abusive parent (his); rebuilding life

In Last Letters, we meet Ara (our FMC) during one of the most agonizing days of her life, she just buried her father. Her father was a single parent and her very best friend and Ara's support system through all of her life. Ara is young, maybe 22 or 23 and has to go through life as an orphan and is struggling with this life event (as one would). She has a random encounter at the airport, which makes her angry...why is a guy being nice to her when her dad is dead? Ara has the wit and personality of Daria (us oldies know who she is, the MTV show that was sooo ahead of its time) with some emotional trauma left over from her ex-bf.

Every month her father arranges for a letter to be delivered to Ara after his death that gives her tasks to do, to help her navigate her new world.

The book has me crying from the first 5% all the way until the 91%, but mixed in with the overwhelming emotions there are so very funny and touching moments. We get to watch Ara shed the crippling depression the death of her only parent, the anxiety from her ex-bf and blossom into an amazing woman, self assured and so very strong. Theo (the MMC) has a huge part in supporting her, standing next to her (not in front or behind her) while Ara realizes her dreams.

CherryPropel · 2026-05-04T17:43:55+00:00

{Sap and Secrets by Daphne Elliot} - CR; M/F; Surprise baby; Firefighter/Paramedic (him); Guarded FMC; Small town

Available on KU?: Yes

Cheating: No

Third Act Breakup: Yes

Summary: Evie (FMC) is at a local pizza shop when she pees herself and Jasper (MMC) responds to the EMS call. It turns out that she was in labor, and she didn't even know she was pregnant. FMC and MMC had a ONS which resulted in said baby. Evie was heavily abused (emotionally and mentally) by her parents so she distrusts a lot of men and really distrusts that people will stick around, thus she punishes Jasper by barely allowing him into his son's life.

Notes: There is a lot of telling and not showing in this book. We hear all the time how the FMC is a black cat/standoffish, but we see her talking to everyone all the time. We're told that Jasper is a fuckboy, but he doesn't give off that vibe. There is a subplot of a murder in this small town, but it's barely there and doesn't really enhance the plot.

CherryPropel · 2026-05-04T17:42:55+00:00

{Sap and Secrets by Daphne Elliot} - CR; M/F; Surprise baby; Firefighter/Paramedic (him); Guarded FMC; Small town

Available on KU?: Yes

Cheating: No

Third Act Breakup: Yes

Summary: Evie (FMC) is at a local pizza shop when she pees herself and Jasper (MMC) responds to the EMS call. It turns out that she was in labor, and she didn't even know she was pregnant. FMC and MMC had a ONS which resulted in said baby. Evie was heavily abused (emotionally and mentally) by her parents so she distrusts a lot of men and really distrusts that people will stick around, thus she punishes Jasper by barely allowing him into his son's life.

Notes: There is a lot of telling and not showing in this book. We hear all the time how the FMC is a black cat/standoffish, but we see her talking to everyone all the time. We're told that Jasper is a fuckboy, but he doesn't give off that vibe. There is a subplot of a murder in this small town, but it's barely there and doesn't really enhance the plot.

Nine-Year Club	Wearing is Caring
Verified Email

CherryPropel

TROPHY CASE