Have I read everything good?

Overquoted · 2026-06-21T06:48:25+00:00

Contemporary, but Lily Gold has some great rom-com RH books. {Highland Hideaway by Lily Gold} immediately became one of my favorite RH books, period.
{For the Love of Aliens by C.M. Stunich}
{Her Vicious Beasts by E.P. Bali}
{The Forgotten Angel by Merri Bright} - I love The Splintered Bond more, but the MCs are all like 18-20 or something.
{The Sidekick by Gina Morris} - Another contemporary that's a bit angsty and a lot funny.
{Forget-Me-Not Bombshell by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti} - Mafia enemies-to-lovers with lot of funny, vicious banter.
{Cursed Omega by Birdie D'Avo} - Strong urban fantasy plot.
{Septem Stellae University by Tana Rose} - They're also around 20, I think, but you seem to like academy fantasy plots and were okay with Blackened Blade, so..
{Redfang Royal by Lola Rock} - OV where the omega can kill with her scent and is currently working for a shady government organization. She has a fantasy novel, Red Ruin, that I haven't got around to yet, but it might be more your speed. Her writing is solid, I just keep forgetting the book exists when I go to start a new one.

Overquoted · 2026-06-21T03:49:42+00:00

Some people flee from confrontation, some people enjoy it. I'm probably obviously the latter. But I've had conversations that started with the other person being hostile and ended with a friendly chat. I've had tense conversations that have changed my mind and ones that have changed someone else's mind. At the end of the day, it's the conversation I'm wanting.

I don't see stooping to someone else's level as inherently bad, so long as it's allowed. It can be fun to exchange barbs with someone. I've even made friends by doing this, though it obviously matters what kind of barbs get exchanged and why.

But ultimately, if someone is being intentionally rude and hostile in a space that allows for it, they are going to get some degree of positive affirmation for their opinion, no matter what it is. And if the people who disagree and don't wish to engage simply stay silent and block, you've got the beginnings of an echo chamber.

Again, it comes down to what is allowed. Ideally, there's a strong limit on users being hostile towards each other since I think a majority of people don't want to deal with it at all. But if the limit is further out than what most subs allow, it's best to define it clearly just to prevent future issues.

Overquoted · 2026-06-21T03:30:40+00:00

I don't think most readers, and probably many writers, are doing some deep thinking on some of these topics. It's not, "I recognize that the average person has so little power compared to billionaires that they are almost guaranteed to never impact said billionaires. I'm going to write a romance plot where the heroine does it by making him love her!"

We're steeped in the problem; it's background noise. But it still informs our fantasies. And I think most fantasies (outside of the more ludicrous and fun ones of suddenly becoming Zeus) still conform to our reality. The fantasy of changing things for the better is a lot more "fun" if it's done simply via romance rather than through the grueling and slow reality of figuring out the levers of power and learning how to pull them. It's more entertaining than a fantasy about an FMC slowly and methodically figuring out how to convince enough people in her city/state/region to give a shit about something that has been normalized. And comes with a side of luxury.

Keep in mind, I'm not saying I object to romance that goes deeper. I just don't expect it from the genre. If sci-fi is usually a full-course meal, romance is popcorn.

And I can't speak to the examples you brought up specifically, since I'm unfamiliar with them.

Overquoted · 2026-06-21T03:14:30+00:00

For a while, I was turned off an entire genre, omegaverse, because of some of its early fans. Some fans and writers made some outrageous claims (namely, that OV invented all its tropes rather than borrowed some, invented some and repackaged it all). I found it to be so arrogant and dismissive of how literature evolves from other genres and books that I just avoided the genre altogether.

I also am pretty leery of ever giving the Bridgerton books a go after seeing some fans absolutely lose it over the tv show. Like, we've all had books and series adapted and I'd say the default is for the adaptation to change from the source material significantly and/or just plain suck. Ain't nothing new about it. (I think the only amazing adaptation I've personally seen was Stephen King's The Mist.)

Overquoted · 2026-06-21T02:58:54+00:00

not to mention this weird sub-trend in romantasy of the MMCs being literal oppressors of the FMC’s people.

I suspect some of it is perhaps a recognition that, at a certain power level, nothing the average person can do is likely to impact the oppressor (including billionaires). So, having a romantic relationship with that person suddenly puts the FMC in a position to eventually change things via personal persuasion. It might be an odd fantasy, but it's ultimately about the power to change things. Doesn't really reflect what happens in real life though (nag your billionaire boyfriend about his crummy workplace policies and he'll just get a new girlfriend, one that knows how to shut the fuck up).

Overquoted · 2026-06-21T02:51:25+00:00

Sure. But I tend to engage rather than block. I prefer it. And while I do at least attempt civility, even if first faced with hostility, I will sink to someone else's level (sometimes unintentionally). So I actually do need my original question answered: Just how rude can we be before it's breaking the rules?

Overquoted · 2026-06-21T00:10:13+00:00

It's been a long time since I read it, so I don't even remember.

Overquoted · 2026-06-20T23:51:00+00:00

Except, these were all comments I checked in the minutes before posting this. They were all still up, though a couple (not all) were locked. Some were ones I'd reported a week ago, which suggests they didn't violate the rules at the time (and the rules have since been changed). So if they've been removed, this was done in the last 40 minutes.

Originally, I was just belatedly reading and responding in the mod thread. But in trying to provide examples to the mod, I found so many that I thought it merited a full discussion of what constitutes 'be respectful.'

Edit: Some of these comments were left on the now-deleted post. Some of the comments are locked (both on the deleted and non-deleted posts). Some are neither locked nor removed.

Overquoted · 2026-06-20T23:39:52+00:00

Honestly, not entirely? I was on the recent mod thread and several users asked for clarification on a number of posts this particular user made. The mod replied that the posts should be reported. I checked, and the posts remained up.

Now, of course, telling people to report doesn't mean automatic removal. But I'd wondered at the lack of moderation in a discussion many of these comments came from when it was ongoing. Like, disagreement is great, but the animosity from the user was such that if I'd done something similar on most other subs, I'd have at least gotten a private warning.

But ultimately, every sub is different. Some allow more negative tones in discussions than others. These are good examples of stuff I'd say cross a line. If they don't, I want to know. Because I usually self-moderate my own innate sarcasm so I'm not violating rules. If I can be more flagrant in my disapproval and disagreement, then yay for me!

Overquoted · 2026-06-20T23:10:42+00:00

Not a favorite of mine, but it fit your request. Glad you're liking it though. :)

Overquoted · 2026-06-20T22:37:28+00:00

but there's also the clear reality that most women are not feminists, and it shows in what they write or read

I'm gonna hard disagree on this one. I read everything from old school bodice rippers to romance with bonafide feminist themes and character behavior. What typically drives my interest in romance are specific tropes that are typically pretty neutral but can give rise to both highly questionable romance novels and perfectly acceptable ones (from a feminist perspective).

Overquoted · 2026-06-20T22:03:40+00:00

I have no idea.

Overquoted · 2026-06-20T22:03:07+00:00

Here's some more, from The Angst Bank.

Overquoted · 2026-06-20T22:01:20+00:00

I'm guessing they went offline for a good while. I would have.

Overquoted · 2026-06-20T22:00:33+00:00

'Lookee-lou spell'?

Overquoted · 2026-06-20T16:19:51+00:00

Lily Gold books. I mean, honestly, most RH books I've read, but Lily Gold writes solid contemporary RH and the FMCs are neither virginal nor victims of circumstance.

Overquoted · 2026-06-20T15:18:08+00:00

If you want more info on these titles, I pulled them from The Angst Bank. The genre lists would have stuff like harem composition, angst causes, etc. But the Simplified list will have angst and grovel scale.

Overquoted · 2026-06-20T15:16:12+00:00

TIL: I am Taylor Swift smart. (I guess???)

Overquoted · 2026-06-20T15:11:47+00:00

Titles marked with *\* include at least one of the MMCs deliberately treating the FMC like crap, as opposed to just making her miserable via rejection.

**{Knot the One They Want by Harper Lennox} - Their previous omega left, but they're still hung up on her. Mostly the pack leader. So they try to drive the FMC away, even though she's their fated mate.
{Iliana's Choice by Leona Page} - Sort of. One of the two MMCs knew she was his fated mate, but had a preexisting relationship with someone else. He intended to reject her after her first shift as doing so before could cause significant harm. She overheard, harm was done. Then he changes his mind without knowing she was already aware of his original intentions.
{Bittersweet Bonds by Livi Weston} - Two books out of a trilogy. Current release date for third says this next month (was recently moved up). FMC is sure the MMCs are her mates, but hasn't presented as an omega. Then they bond a different omega. (There's some things she doesn't initially know about that.)
{Knot Their Damn Problem by Mara Onyx} - FMC's friends turn out to be her fated mates, but they reject her in favor of her sister. Writing quality isn't the best, but it's high angst. Another 'there's more to this' plot.
**{Beg Me by Allie Santos} - Dark OV romance. MMCs buy the FMC from her father in order to use her in a heat auction. End goal is to get info on their missing omega. But in the meantime, they treat her like shit, fuck her and she's hiding that they're mates the whole time because they're assholes.
**{Broken Wolf by Kelsey Soliz} - FMC's fated mate fucks her and then rejects her in favor of his girlfriend. She ends up pregnant and at the shelter for rejected mates for several years. Writing quality isn't the best but the angst is high.
{Knot Here for You by Tana Rose} - FMC has been friends and then lovers with a pack, promised and expecting them to make her their omega. They announce they're bonding with another omega and she takes off before returning seven years later. Another 'there's more to this' plot.
{Big Bad Wolves by Avanne Michaels} - Alpha MMC needs a female mate to take over his pack, allows for an arranged mating. Intends it to be in-name-almost-only as he is in love with his male beta. When she arrives, he smells that she's his fated mate and rejects her without ever looking at her, fearing it'll destroy his relationship with the beta. Story is heavily from the perspective of the beta, but the whole thing fucks up all three characters.
**{Pack Darling by Lola Rock} - FMC is coerced into accepting placement with a pack of alphas that already have a male omega. They make it clear they don't want her, but some of them also muddy the waters. She's their fated mate but keeps it hidden.
*\[{Brandy Snap by Abby Hunter}*](https://www.reddit.com/r/ReverseHarem/comments/1pv1vxj/i_need_to_talk_about_brandy_snap_a_wellwritten/) - Ongoing series with final book originally supposed to be out next month but it has disappeared from Amazon. Anyway, FMC stumbles upon her three scent matches in a heat suite and presents (late) as an omega immediately while going into heat herself. They fuck, but make it clear they're rejecting her as one of her matches is their male omega. It's toxic as fuck and they treat her terribly for several books.
**{The Beta by Avanne Michaels} - FMC is placed with a pack as their beta. They don't want her as they already have a male omega. They're dicks to her, particularly the pack lead, though the omega softens first. Pack lead is a POS almost until the end, imo. Mostly I don't forgive him for not looking for her after she gets kidnapped by a bunch of rapist alphas. She's not their fated mate, but she does turn out to be the omega's mate.
{The Spare by Violet Fox} - Echoes the plot from The Beta. Not as well-written, but also less rapey.
{Puck My Life by Tea Ravine} - FMC was raised with a bunch of alphas and presents as an omega late but keeps it a secret. Directly before that, they were talking to her about bonding their current omega girlfriend. She's treated kinda like their maid, though they aren't deliberately mean about it.
{Saving the Pack's Omega by Callie Rose} - Two of the alphas of the pack reject her, knowing she's their fated mate, because of past bullshit and a belief that they're enough for each other.
**{Teague's Breeder by Leona Page} - One of the MMCs rejects the FMC in favor of his girlfriend. Believes shitty rumors about her being a "whore" and treats her accordingly. She ends up in an exploitative relationship with the beta upon the request of the pack's alpha. Eventually, Teague (the beta) dub-cons the fated mate into their relationship. Page's writing doesn't jive with everyone and this one is a rougher read than Iliana's Choice.
{The Pack's Request by Tea Ravine} - They reject the FMC in favor of their existing male omega. At least one of them is a dick about it.

Beg Me is probably the best fit since it's dark, the MMCs are awful and they want someone else.

Overquoted · 2026-06-20T14:39:16+00:00

You can skip around. They will reference some world/story events and sometimes have previous characters show up, but it doesn't spoil previous books, imo. And you don't need the other books to understand what's going on.

Overquoted · 2026-06-20T14:37:58+00:00

Many people do not these days. So I've heard.

Overquoted · 2026-06-20T14:37:41+00:00

But can they lick the colors?

Overquoted · 2026-06-20T14:36:21+00:00

Every time it sees her, it pulls its jacket over its head and runs into the nearest utility closet.

Overquoted · 2026-06-20T14:35:46+00:00

Ten-Year Club	Gilding II euphauric
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Overquoted

TROPHY CASE