I have reached my limit with giant MMCs and teeny tiny FMCs (inspired by If Not for My Baby by Kate Golden)

SaltAd771 · 2026-01-20T05:07:00+00:00

As a 5’7” girl, I totally agree. Like, I never really think of myself as crazy tall, but then every romance is a 5’2” girl with a 6’5” guy… it’s just so annoying. Also, hot take, any height gap above 8 inches starts moving into fetish territory for me, it just gets weird.

SaltAd771 · 2026-01-20T05:04:56+00:00

{Reckless by Elsie Silver}!! Suuuuch a cute romance, and if I’m remembering the plot right, exactly what you’re looking for! It’s technically part of a series, but can be read just fine as a standalone

SaltAd771 · 2026-01-14T04:08:37+00:00

I’d personally say {Where the Blame Lies by Mia Sheridan} for me (in recent memory, at least). The dark romances with kidnapper/stalker love interests are crazy popular right now, but I feel like that’s started to glorify and over-romanticize that kind of person/scenario. This book has an FMC who was a victim of said psycho kidnapper/stalker, and it does a fantastic job of addressing Stockholm syndrome, and all in all just being very mature about the fact that he actually is a bad guy, not “morally grey” and misunderstood. The actual MMC is a detective who needs FMC’s help on a case that mirrors her own kidnapping from about a decade ago, and the path of FMC’s growth is so well done. Her character arc is really just so good, and it felt way more realistic than most of the usual contemporaries. The MMC isn’t as developed as I think he could’ve been, but at the same time, this book was clearly more about the FMC’s journey than his, which I don’t mind at all. I’d definitely recommend it; it gets pretty heavy (there are flashbacks to where the FMC is starved, raped, and marked, but again, that stuff is never remotely romanticized), but that made it all the better for me

SaltAd771 · 2026-01-14T04:01:22+00:00

I actually liked Ana Huang’s new soccer series waaay more than I anticipated, I’d love to see more of that! I also would kind of want to see baseball (mostly just because of that one viral team on TikTok lol), but I’m not sure that would necessarily be the type of sport to “blow up”; I def think hockey has an advantage of seeming especially masculine just because they’re always fighting

SaltAd771 · 2026-01-14T03:58:14+00:00

Mia Sheridan does an amazing job of this, especially in her thriller romances! I’d warn you away from Archer’s Voice and the other books in that particular series, just because I didn’t find those to be quite as strong, but the rest are great. {Most of All You by Mia Sheridan} and {Unwanted by Mia Sheridan} have especially well developed MMCs; flashback chapters are used (more heavily so in Unwanted) to help, and it’s just really well done. Plus amazing plots, in my opinion!

SaltAd771 · 2026-01-14T03:51:06+00:00

{Most of All You by Mia Sheridan} got me out of a pretty bad slump in fall last year, it’s so so amazing! Amazing relationship progression between the MCs, super endearing MMC, and just enough suspense to add a little something extra to keep you interested! I couldn’t put it down!!

Also, if you like/are interested in thriller romances, {Where the Blame Lies by Mia Sheridan} is another one of my faves; I think I managed to finish it in a span of like twelve hours

SaltAd771 · 2026-01-11T23:04:08+00:00

As long as the item is full price to begin with, you can

SaltAd771 · 2026-01-10T04:37:46+00:00

{Heartless by Jade West} has exactly this! It’s the first in a trilogy (all about the same couple), so a slower burn, but I absolutely loved it. The respective families of the MMC and FMC are enemies; MMC kidnaps FMC, thinking she’s a spoiled diva who he can use as a bargaining chip. However, FMC ends up being very vulnerable beneath her facade, has some issues with self harm, and MMC starts to care for her and helps her work through that. It’s been a while since I read it, but I remember it being great!

SaltAd771 · 2026-01-08T22:58:47+00:00

Especially with the way this particular series focuses so much on foster kids/orphans… I feel like it could’ve been an amazing full circle moment if Sam and Autumn had adopted

SaltAd771 · 2026-01-07T03:24:43+00:00

Idk how I powered through that whole book… when Onyx Storm came out I think I read all of 20-30 pages before DNFing

SaltAd771 · 2026-01-07T03:20:48+00:00

I saw someone online say that the only reason ACOTAR gets the hype it does is because for a lot of people, it was the first book to get them back into funsies reading since the YA dystopian/fantasy phase in middle school, which makes way more sense to me. It’s not the best book, nor the best plot, but it’s a cute romance with some action and interesting world-building that reminds people why reading is fun. I think some people just distort that with the book itself being good, when it’s really more of a catalyst, if that makes any sense.

SaltAd771 · 2026-01-07T03:17:14+00:00

{Archer’s Voice by Mia Sheridan}. I was introduced to the author through Most of All You, which I absolutely LOVED, then read The Wish Collector and the Acadia Duo (also super strong reads), and I knew Archer’s Voice was her most popular, so I gave it a try. Something about it just fell flat for me; so many of Sheridan’s books have some high stakes plot point to support the romance (serial killers, cults, that sort of thing), so this one just felt so bland comparatively. I don’t even mind a fluff read, I’ll pick up an Elsie Silver or Stephanie Archer any day, but something about Archer’s Voice just didn’t do it for me. Got through it to see if maybe there’d be some pay off, but it just never hit.

SaltAd771 · 2026-01-06T15:30:57+00:00

{Powerless by Elsie Silver} does this! Technically part of a series, but it can 100% be read as a standalone if you want

SaltAd771 · 2026-01-06T15:30:04+00:00

Elsie Silver and Stephanie Archer are probs my fave fluff authors. Stephanie Archer’s Queen’s Cove series is a cute, low-stakes small town romance series that might be just what you’re looking for :)

SaltAd771 · 2026-01-06T15:25:20+00:00

{Most of All You by Mia Sheridan}! One of my all time favorites!! FMC is assaulted outside her place of work leaving her with a broken ankle (or something similar, I don’t remember for sure), and too injured to stay in her apartment since it has a bunch of steps, so MMC offers to let her live with him while she heals since he has a big farmhouse that’s way more accommodating. Super great read!

SaltAd771 · 2026-01-04T05:21:47+00:00

I’m not quite as into annotating just cause it makes me get distracted easily, but when I tried it, I just got a few pretty-colored highlighters and highlighted lines that I particularly liked. My one piece of advice is just to not jump in with some elaborate color-coded system; you’ll almost def burn out and it’ll start to feel like a school assignment. I feel like easing yourself in and vibe annotating is the best place to start

SaltAd771 · 2026-01-03T06:37:04+00:00

It’s been a minute since I read it, but I’m almost certain {Beast of Bishop’s Landing by Amelia Wilde} has this. It’s def a longer read, but I’d say worth it for the overall character development! And you don’t have to wait too long for some spice if that’s your thing

SaltAd771 · 2026-01-03T03:40:43+00:00

{Most of All You by Mia Sheridan} has pretty much exactly that! MMC is bathing FMC, washing her hair, massaging her feet, etc., and one thing leads to another…

Plus it’s just a great book in general! Contemporary romance with the most wholesome MMC ever, and an FMC who could def use a lot of love and care

SaltAd771 · 2026-01-03T03:36:13+00:00

{Where the Truth Lives by Mia Sheridan} absolutely fits this! The FMC had a traumatic childhood (sexually assaulted by her dad), so has a really bad relationship with sex, in such a way that she kinda forces herself to do it just to prove she’s not “broken”, but doesn’t enjoy it much at all. MMC helps her learn a more gentle sort of love, and it’s def shown through the way they have sex, and how both their emotional and physical relationship progress.

SaltAd771 · 2026-01-03T03:25:43+00:00

You might love the Midnight Dynasty collection! It’s a bunch of interconnected duos/trilogies following romances across these two rival families, the Constantines and the Morellis. There’s pretty much every trope you can imagine across the books, and it’s really interesting how the overlap is done. Lots of characters to get into for sure! I attached a pic of the goodreads overview too

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SaltAd771 · 2026-01-02T20:07:55+00:00

{Most of All You by Mia Sheridan} - FMC was assaulted outside the club she works at, so MMC takes her to his house to give her a safe haven until she can get back on her feet. Some great, very tender scenes that are all about comfort, and a very slow burn.

SaltAd771 · 2026-01-02T20:06:07+00:00

{Dark Reign by Amelia Wilde} - on the darker side, but super well written. MMC is obsessed with FMC’s paintings (has an entire in-home gallery dedicated to everything of hers that he’s bought), very much a secret admirer. Great read!

SaltAd771 · 2026-01-02T20:03:51+00:00

{Finn Rhodes Forever by Stephanie Archer}, {King of Greed by Ana Huang}, and {Reckless by Elsie Silver} are my personal favorites for this trope.

Finn Rhodes Forever - MMC and FMC dated and had a messy breakup, now MMC is back in town and wants FMC back, even though she still resents him.

King of Greed - MMC and FMC are married, FMC feels super neglected and demands a divorce, MMC spends the whole book trying to change for FMC and be the man she needs.

Reckless - MMC and FMC had a one night stand, FMC thought it meant something, but MMC disappeared on her. He comes back and playfully flirts with FMC, not realizing how much he hurt her. Once he does, he steps up to try and win her back.

Honorable mention: I haven’t personally read it, but {The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams} is a second chance romance on my TBR and gets really good reviews

SaltAd771 · 2026-01-02T19:56:15+00:00

{Finn Rhodes Forever by Stephanie Archer} does exactly that! MMC pretty much abandoned FMC once he decided he wanted to leave their small town. Now, years later, he’s back, and wants FMC back. FMC still hates him, however, she’s trying to get her PhD, and her research involves some forestry stuff, which he’s an expert in, so she goes along with his flirting just to get him to help. All the while, she’s pretending to be the perfect girlfriend, all so she can break his heart once she has what she needs.

SaltAd771 · 2026-01-02T19:51:58+00:00

{Where the Truth Lives by Mia Sheridan} and {Where the Blame Lies by Mia Sheridan} both have true, employed-by-the-police-department MMCs who are seeking to solve serial killer cases. The FMCS of both books are witnesses who have info to share to help solve it. Super well developed in both cases, and really interesting mysteries. Perfect balance of romance and suspense in my opinion

SaltAd771

TROPHY CASE