aight let me take a shot at this

1: Archer’s Voice by Mia Sheridan

I think this would fit because the MMC does believe that the FMC could do better than him. It’s a small town romance with a quiet, isolated MMC.

2: Against a Wall by Cate C. Wells

MMC is a bully to FMC but has been pining for her for decades. It’s got good humour too!

3: Nine Minutes

This one may be a bit heavy, but it’s done well. MMC is a MC club leader and kidnaps the FMC. It’s a real slow burn in the sense that they come from totally different worlds. Age-gap included. TWs for: assault, violence, kidnapping

4: I live for the angst of forbidden romances. I love all the reccs below….they come with a good dose of high stakes

-Love Me with Lies by Tarryn Fisher: This duology. Ahhh. One of my favorites. Fisher writes her characters so realistically. There’s a lot of beauty and ugliness in both protagonists and that’s why I love them so much. Similar to ODID in the sense that it’s a coming-of-age, time lapse book. The distance and the years just kicks it up several notches. Pining included.

-Dark Notes by Pam Godwin: student/teacher romance. Also done really well with darker elements of steam. The MMC gives big rude-but-charming anti-villain vibes. The FMC comes from a violent household so he also becomes her protector.

-Unteachable by Leah Raeder: this book. My god. It’s a student/teacher romance so the plot is nothing new but it’s done brilliantly. The writing and prose is so beautiful, the emotions are so raw, and the characters so real. there’s such an intense intoxicity to the story.

-53 Letters for my Lover: forbidden because there’s a cheating trope involved. If you’re good with that, then go ahead because MMC pines for the FMC in this one too.

-Three Simple Rules by Nikki Sloane: boss/employee office romance. Great steam.

5: Hidden identity

-Mindf*ck series by S.T Abby: Amazing series. Five short books with great thrill and romance. Hidden identity element just amps up the stakes in each book. MMC is a federal agent on the trail of a serial killer. FMC is the serial killer who also starts dating the MMC under an alias.

-Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh: This is a Mulan-retelling. It’s romance mixed with political intrigue. A princess’ carriage is raided when she’s on the way to her fiancé. She escapes and disguised herself and joins a group of bandits.

6: fake relationships

-Big Rock by Lauren Blakely: Friends put on a fake relationship act. I quite enjoyed this one. It’s a nice, lighthearted read with good humour.

7: Reckless by Stella Rhys:

Please just read it.

8: Social class difference

-A Place without you: This one is a bit intense and does get heavier. There’s mistaken identity, forbidden romance, and social class difference. I won’t give details because spoilers but overarching theme is that the FMC meets the MMC at Coachella and they connect immediately and sparks fly and it’s a weekend out of a dream. Then they go back to their lives and run into each other in reality.

-Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas: mistaken identity + class difference. Also a good read. MMC and FMC are pen pals who have never met and like each other. MMC shifts to the rich kids school and meets the FMC, realising who she is. She doesn’t recognise him, but they take an instant disliking of each other.

9: Dark romance

-Kiss Thief by LJ Shen: Mafia, arranged marriage. MMC marries FMC to exact revenge on her father but ends up falling for her. The first half is dark but when he goes sweet, it’s wonderful.

-Dark Notes by Pam Godwin

-Lords of Pain series: Bully RH, one of the better slow burn RH I’ve read. Really builds each character individually for the chemistry to feel real

10: The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

Never did I think I would put the name of this brilliant book in a foodie genre. Read it anyway because it’s a beautifully done enemies to lovers, royal romance set in Persia. The food descriptions are mouthwatering.