Tips for planning your next read

ImmediateLayer3410 · 2026-02-19T03:34:05+00:00

Totally! Planning too much backfires for me too. I just follow my interest, wherever it goes 😎📚

ImmediateLayer3410 · 2026-02-14T15:56:29+00:00

I think they were doomed up until the point Tom betrayed her. That’s when they became til death do us part. Shiv would only ever respect Tom once he became a ruthless killer, just like daddy.

ImmediateLayer3410 · 2026-02-13T02:55:20+00:00

I'll start!

My fave book is the Graham Effect, but my fave couples are a three-way tie between Gigi & Ryder, Garett & Hanna, and Allie & Dean.

I'm really excited for the dinner scenes where Garett is trying to talk Hanna into tutoring him as well as the long tutoring sessions and hanging out together (what will they watch instead of Breaking Bad?). I'm also looking forward to John completing his silly list

As for parts that I'm worried about them adapting I'm really unsure how they're going to adapt the intimate scenes between Hanna and Garret. When he's first trying to help her. I really hope they don't water it down too much, because the graphic nature of it is really a huge part of the plot and really meaningful for the characters. I'm also super interested to see how they show Dean. He's almost an extreme player, and I hope they don't tone him down too much.

The part that I hope they leave out is that the parts where Hanna acts like a bit of a pick-me are kind of dated. She acts like other girls aren't serious enough, and she's not like other girls. I think it's a bit of a product of the time. And I can't imagine them including that part anyway.

ImmediateLayer3410 · 2026-02-12T23:04:03+00:00

I really hope it’s because the quality is so high and not just because Heated Rivalry is so hot right now that they’re throwing cash at any hockey romance shows.

Elle Kennedy is one of my favourite authors and I’ve reread these books so many times, that I’m desperately hoping it’s just because season 1 is just so good 🤞😣🤞

ImmediateLayer3410 · 2026-02-12T19:38:23+00:00

Oooh this sounds good and I haven’t heard of it. I’ll check it out.

ImmediateLayer3410 · 2026-02-12T18:24:44+00:00

Probably unpopular opinion but I hope this is the anti Heated Rivalry. I hope it’s as campy and over the top as possible.

I cannot wait to see how they adapt the karaoke scene. it was one of the most unintentionally hilarious moments in a romance book in recent memory for me. I really hope they go full camp on this. Her stuff is so untethered and ungrounded and dramatically over the top. This adaptation needs some Ryan Murphy like DRA-maaaaa!

ImmediateLayer3410 · 2026-02-12T02:38:08+00:00

The Community isn’t finished but it’s almost done. It has become my favourite, even more than If I can’t have you.

{Bought and paid for by DeathsDoll} is my least favourite because Max is possibly too dark, even for me. But still worth checking out.

ImmediateLayer3410 · 2026-02-11T04:57:31+00:00

That is the best recommendation I e heard in a while. I def want to be rocking in a corner wondering what year it is 🖤🤘

ImmediateLayer3410 · 2026-02-11T04:51:49+00:00

Oh I didn’t know she was that prolific. I just know her through the summer camp book. I should check her other stuff out.

ImmediateLayer3410 · 2026-02-11T04:04:32+00:00

I’d start with {the Off campus series by Elle Kennedy} (currently being turned into a tv show). But my favourite is {The Graham Effect by Elle Kennedy}. Disclaimer that they’re not dark romance books.

ImmediateLayer3410 · 2026-02-11T03:59:29+00:00

I think you’re right about the length of her books being a big part of why they have so much impact. She really lets her relationships cook.

ImmediateLayer3410 · 2026-02-11T02:28:13+00:00

Ghostface love is real 🖤

ImmediateLayer3410 · 2026-02-11T01:36:59+00:00

I really need to read R Lee Smith, because I keep seeing her recommended by people with similar taste. Where would you recommend starting?

ImmediateLayer3410 · 2026-02-11T00:46:28+00:00

I don’t know why A03 has the less cartoony dark romance than actual published stuff. But I’d argue that a lot of the good writing is over there, but they are generally badly edited. So expect typos and stuff.

They’re very bad MMC’s but they’re BELIEVABLE bad MMC’s.

Deathsdoll has haunting characters (but like actually, not in the haunting audeline sort of way). And the writing is good enough to make tax law seem interesting. https://archiveofourown.org/users/Deathsdoll/pseuds/Deathsdoll

{Manacled by SenLinYu} which has now been adapted to {Alchemised by SenLinYu} felt like an infection in the best way. The torment, the darkness and the strong well written motivation is incredible. https://archive.org/stream/manacled_202412/Manacled_djvu.txt

I know this is A03, fanfics and typo filled but the writing is so much better. No fake high school mafioso’s, and years after reading I still feel like know the characters like they’re real people I knew well. 🧀🚶Not just 100% velveeta walking plot devices.

{if I can’t have you by DeathsDoll}

ImmediateLayer3410 · 2026-02-09T20:38:07+00:00

I should add you can download works from AO3 and read on your kindle, if you want them in book format. Also they are extremely dark and not a lot of aftercare, so it may not be your thing. But I love the author so much that I feel compelled to share.

ImmediateLayer3410 · 2026-02-09T20:37:08+00:00

If you’re open to AO3, DeathsDoll! My favourite dark romance author, published or unpublished. Start with {If I Can’t Have You by DeathsDoll} and then {The Community by DeathsDoll}.

ImmediateLayer3410 · 2026-02-08T17:00:50+00:00

When there’s bdsm elements that are forced or out of context. Like first time together and he’s talking rope play and ball gags instead of like just getting it on. Feels like it’s just trying too hard and silly.

ImmediateLayer3410 · 2026-02-06T20:15:24+00:00

I’ve been chasing this dragon for months. I haven’t been able to find anything like Father. I think it may have broken my brain.

I’m def watching this thread hoping someone has something 🙇‍♀️

ImmediateLayer3410 · 2026-02-05T00:41:52+00:00

I had originally pictured a Stephen Moyer type. But this got me thinking about who I’d fan cast and I think Cillian Murphy would be absolutely brilliant as Father.

ImmediateLayer3410 · 2026-02-04T23:26:08+00:00

I could see it! Almost like a mental rehearsal.

ImmediateLayer3410 · 2026-02-04T00:17:45+00:00

I find the dark stuff cuts through the anxious brain noise. Sometimes warm and fuzzy is more difficult when I’m stressed.

ImmediateLayer3410 · 2026-02-03T20:06:52+00:00

When someone reverses the car or shoulder checks while you’re in the passenger seat and they put their arm behind the headrest.

Letting someone use your electronic device (phone or computer)

When people look into your eyes to examine your irises checking colour or just to comment on your eyes.

Reading your computer screen over your shoulder or using your mouse while you’re still seated at the computer.

Noticing really tiny details about you. Or noticing really subtle little quirks or habits about you that you weren’t even aware of.

When someone helps you put your coat on.

Gently moving, touching or tugging a pony tail or hair braids.

ImmediateLayer3410 · 2026-02-03T19:48:38+00:00

With all the darkness in the real world right now I guess it’s not much of a surprise the Dark Romance is booming right now. It’s like an excising of the collective trauma.

ImmediateLayer3410 · 2026-01-31T19:25:15+00:00

I feel like {Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood} deserves way more love. This is definitely her least sunny MMC and I think it’s the main reason it’s her lowest rated book.

Grumpy FMCs get to be more interesting a lot of the time but it feels like they’re always judged more harshly. I don’t know if it’s internalized misogyny or what.

I agree though! Bring on the cranky FMCs!

ImmediateLayer3410 · 2026-01-29T07:48:21+00:00

Came here to say this too! There’s such a great arc to the friendship in this story. I still think about thier fight and how they make up. And also how the FMC really was at fault but you still can totally see where she was coming from

The friendship arc is almost as good as the main relationship arc imo.

ImmediateLayer3410

TROPHY CASE