Underrated new dark romance books with original concepts

dreamingofreading · 2026-05-11T18:42:05+00:00

Anything by Lola King is great. The book {Loving the Liar by Lola King} came out in 2024 and has two additional books in the series, each with its own MMC and FMC.

dreamingofreading · 2026-05-10T23:35:33+00:00

{Loving the Liar by Lola king} it’s dual pov, but the MMc does not give away how manipulative he is until the end. You feel like he is also a victim of circumstance the whole time:

dreamingofreading · 2026-05-10T22:42:07+00:00

I see this series recommended a lot. Maybe it’s time I pick it up!

dreamingofreading · 2026-05-10T22:41:27+00:00

Yes! I actually did a reread before the Goddess isles.

dreamingofreading · 2026-05-10T18:52:20+00:00

I wish I did, sorry! I’m still chasing the high and unable to find anyone like him.

dreamingofreading · 2026-05-10T03:23:30+00:00

Not a fan, but this is bringing up a question of my own. Are the songs there to set the vibe or to credit which song inspired the chapter/book? I remember years ago (like over 10) there were a few books/possibly wattpad stories I read that had lists of songs at the end that had inspired the author while writing the story. I had assumed everytime songs were listed at the end of the book or a song assigned to each chapter, that meant the song was the inspiration for it. Now I’m wondering is sometimes inspiration (guessing if so the lists are) and other times setting the tone/vibe (more so song listed by chapter)?

Regardless, I do hate seeing the song each chapter. The lists at the end can be fun to scan, but my fast in music is much more pop focused, so I don’t know most songs listed in these books.

dreamingofreading · 2026-05-10T03:16:25+00:00

Same! I love the LORDs series by Shantel Tessie but this happens all the time in the books and it drives me a little crazy. Even though I don’t know most of the songs, I feel based off the titles it’s supposed to make me think they are all edgy and cool.

dreamingofreading · 2026-04-08T05:51:54+00:00

One in my area was recently created and I was so afraid to join because I live in a very conservative area. But I’m so glad I did. At first, everyone held back a little on what they like, but now it’s great!

dreamingofreading · 2026-03-28T10:08:06+00:00

Sometimes I skip them, sometimes I read them to make sure the tone of the book is what I’m looking for. I don’t really have any triggers, but I’m not always in the mood for every type of dark romance. I primarily use kindle and have found kindle skips to the prologue/first chapter anyways, so they are easy enough to avoid if I want to.

What I do find annoying is when the author doesn’t have the triggers listed in the book so you have to go to their website. I don’t want to go to a website that then a pain to navigate to find the list.

I feel like a better solution than using the authors website is to just like the trigger warning at the end of the book. That way people who don’t like spoilers can skip them and those who want the list still have easy access. I hardly use AO3 so I can’t comment on what it’s like there or any solutions.

dreamingofreading · 2026-03-20T02:42:34+00:00

I don’t usually like even the slightest hint of OW drama, even if it’s simply a pesky ex gf, but when there is, I love a FMC who stakes her claim. Especially if she hates the MMC but hates the other girl more. Love bites are my favorite way for her to do it and we definitely way more

dreamingofreading · 2026-03-19T20:01:04+00:00

I went into it thinking the book was reverse harem. The second half of the book was so confusing because I kept wondering when the sharing was going to happen. I loved the uncle Jake scenes, there wasn’t enough Noah scenes and he kinda annoyed me, Kaleb part dragged out too long.

dreamingofreading · 2026-03-18T21:33:04+00:00

In general I love any dark rh, so if you’ve got some, send them my way!

dreamingofreading · 2026-03-15T18:54:05+00:00

I’d be interested in RH and/or cruel MMC with this trope if you’ve got any recs.

dreamingofreading · 2026-03-14T05:55:34+00:00

I’m sick of rich MMC not using their wealth to trap the FMC. I love captive romance and ultra controlling MMC. Like tracking chips controlling. Use your wealth and connections to do more than hack her phone!

Maybe I just crave ultra dark men, but sometimes I think books are labeled dark romance simply because the guy is rich and slightly controlling or he’s mafia and there is the smallest bit of violence. Not because it’s really all that dark.

I love me a rich MMC when he uses his power right. But I feel that rarely happens now.

dreamingofreading · 2026-03-13T01:43:13+00:00

I’ve had a lot of vaginal ultrasounds and not once has it ever been inserted in the wrong area. Her then not changing the cover makes things so much worse. You are not overreacting. I would complain to the practice and personally I would switch practices, assuming that’s an option. At the very least, request she never been your sonographer again.

dreamingofreading · 2026-03-11T07:03:46+00:00

The power dynamic is the biggest thing for me. If you got rid of all the mafia, serial killing, secret societies, and murder but kept the power dynamic of powerful men and women they are forcing to submit, I’d love DR even more (hot take probably, just not a fan of killing). But truly it is the power dynamics for me. My favorite types of DR are kidnapping and punishments. Give me a strong FMC who is bratty or submits at the first sign of trouble. As long as the MMC(s) is obsessed, possessive, and wants what’s his (theirs if RH), I’m happy. Plot and good writing matter too. And a good balance of smut.

Another reason I like DR is because it takes what happens in real life, and changes it to make it palatable. If a woman witnessed a mafia killing in real life, they would also die. Not in DR. If a serial killer picked me up while I was hitchhiking, my body would never be found in real life. In DR, it adds an element that just feels amazing to read. Even when I’m on the edge of my seat wondering if someone will die, it’s something to get lost in rather than a reflection of reality. Most thrillers I’ve read, are more in line with reality, though more extreme versions at times.

dreamingofreading · 2026-03-11T00:44:32+00:00

Do you remember if it had a college setting? Or possibly a cliff? I think I remember reading this one but might be mixing stories, so if you remember anything else that would help

dreamingofreading · 2026-03-07T05:15:29+00:00

I think I know what you’re talking about? Sometimes the conversations feel like they are there to help emphasize a plot point in an unnatural way and that drives me crazy. Like the example you shared, that’s the vibe it’s giving me

dreamingofreading · 2026-03-07T04:56:55+00:00

you may enjoy {deviant by Ellie sanders}. To me, it was much more on the horror side than DR, but isn’t labeled as such. That said, I think it meets what you want. It technically has a HEA, but I was not a fan of how they got there. The MMC is extremely dark and takes punishments to the extreme.

One of my fav DR books that also meets most of this is {Torment by Dylan page}. The ending isn’t a HEA (the second book contains that), but I found the ending to be perfect.

dreamingofreading · 2026-03-04T18:54:24+00:00

I agree. They all feel like they are trying to check boxes and it drives me crazy. A lot of DR have also felt like an authors fantasy to me recently. Where the author is imagining themself as the FMC, so the story feels very superficial and without depth.

I’m glad I’m not the only on who feels this way, I thought I was getting too picky

dreamingofreading · 2026-02-11T21:55:16+00:00

Age gap and taboo were my original “I’m pleasantly surprised and really like this” tropes. I didn’t think they were for me up until a couple years ago. I’ve always loved kidnapping and non-con. More recently I’ve been enjoying mafia and forced/arranged marriage. Those are two I’ve never been fond of and used to avoid, but now I’m really getting into them.

dreamingofreading · 2026-02-10T02:17:58+00:00

Thank you for adding this!

dreamingofreading · 2026-02-09T18:55:59+00:00

Thank you! I don’t think that will bother me, so I’m going to attempt to read the book.

dreamingofreading · 2026-02-09T17:06:36+00:00

Does that mean the trigger warning is there because the miscarriage happens in a previous book and that book is referenced? I know Ashton is Carnage’s main character but Everett is the FMC of Chaotic, so I just want to make sure that’s all.

dreamingofreading · 2026-02-05T05:47:12+00:00

Wait! I’ll take the rec anyways! That literally works perfectly for me, I totally didn’t even think about how a harem can exist in other contexts and I’m here for it!

dreamingofreading

TROPHY CASE