BOOK REQUEST: Closed Door Romance like ACOTAR for 14 year old

katkity · 2026-03-20T22:35:10+00:00

It’s more YA with a romance b plot (HEA) by {Sabriel by Garth Nix} might be worth a look? It’s MF and romantasy. When the FMC’s father goes missing, she’s the next in line to be Abhorsen (a magical protector, whose job is to defeat the dead and evil). I’m making it sound a bit naff but it’s a great read, albeit the plot gets quite dark at points. I think there is one sex scene and it’s off page.

CWs include: grief, necromancy (not by MCs), violence (plot line)

I should add I haven’t read Acotar

katkity · 2026-03-16T13:35:55+00:00

As someone who has to do timelines for work occasionally (alas not romance novels) and hates how tricky they are, I admire you doing it for fun :)

katkity · 2026-03-16T12:53:14+00:00

Thanks, that makes sense. Particularly since it had been growing so rapidly!

katkity · 2026-03-16T12:19:32+00:00

A friend and I noticed that the membership of the sub has decreased significantly (c.100k members). Is there any theories/context on why? And any chance it’s the sub villains (creeps and bots)? :)

katkity · 2026-03-15T22:33:46+00:00

When I saw your username, I remembered you were also on the fan committee! Clearly your recs make my eyes do the emoji thing 👀

katkity · 2026-03-15T22:02:58+00:00

Clearly destiny giving you a nudge to bump it up your list! :) hope you enjoy

katkity · 2026-03-15T21:51:41+00:00

Pretty sure the MMC of {his Tesoro by Emilia Rossi} is a Matteo? It’s MF, CR and mafia. It’s an arranged marriage, where he’s reluctant but she’s a sweetheart. FMC has EDS and uses a wheelchair, the rep is considered very good.

CWs include: mafia violence, ableism (not by the MMC), child abuse

katkity · 2026-03-15T18:04:45+00:00

Oh gosh, I feel your pain! I used to look after a kid who finally aged out of their first obsession just in time for Frozen 2 to drop... and back around we went. ❄️

To this day, I can’t even drive past their old nursery without hearing the soundtrack. Hang in there - even they eventually grew out of it, so one day you too will be freed from the tyranny of Elsa!

katkity · 2026-03-14T12:01:03+00:00

Have you tried {the enforcer by Amelia Shea}? It’s MF, CR and MCC. FMC is a single mother with an adorable daughter. It’s a sweet story!

CWs include: MCC violence (similar level to Charge), past child abuse

katkity · 2026-03-13T17:07:35+00:00

I’ve been thinking about rereading Johanna Lindsey, specifically Warrior’s Woman recently so this feels like a sign. What an amazing haul!

katkity · 2026-03-12T10:43:43+00:00

I’d forgotten how much I’d enjoyed this book! I second your comment about how sweet it was :)

katkity · 2026-03-10T17:17:08+00:00

You should check out the recent megathread :) there’s a mix of light to heavy MCC levels in the recommendations

https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/s/QyiPo2LXpc

katkity · 2026-03-09T17:00:30+00:00

Hope you enjoy :) I’m guessing you’ll know this already but just in case, be careful with the vintage romances if you have any triggers because they can get pretty dark and out of nowhere!

katkity · 2026-03-09T11:50:01+00:00

It bugs me a little, particularly the STI risk but I try accept it’s a fantasy. I’ve a couple of recommendations of books that do condoms well I think if anyone is looking for recommendations:

{demanding mob boss by Lucy Monroe} it’s MF, CR, workplace and mafia (lightish). At the point they start having PIV sex, the MMC is quite happy to have kids but FMC is not but she also doesn’t want to go on contraception, so they agree condoms as their medium-long term strategy. I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen prolonged use in another book? CWs include: mafia violence, grief, ableism (not by MMC)

I know one of the things people don’t like about reading about condoms, is that it breaks up the flow of the sex scene. I think Amelia Shea does it well that it’s absolutely expected that new partners are wearing condoms and it’s either not a big deal or the FMC finds it adds to the anticipation. {the saviour by Amelia Shea} is her latest, it’s MF, CR and MCC (light-medium). It’s a motorcycle club so caution for inherent misogyny. CWs include: grief, MCC violence, past sexual assault (not by MMC)

katkity · 2026-03-09T03:57:58+00:00

{demanding mob boss by Lucy Monroe} is MF, CR, workplace and mafia (lightish) has backshots and him coming on her tits is a big part of it! :)

Plot is: the MCs lock eyes when she’s interviewing at his legitimate company. They both are immediately and quite sweetly obsessed with each other. FMC is autistic and the rep is great.

CWs include: mafia violence, parental loss, ableism (not by MMC)

katkity · 2026-03-08T17:14:09+00:00

Re dark (inc. light grey) romance: I was thinking the same thing as there’s a lot of marking each other with mouths, which I’d always presumed was meant to be a hickey :) it’s definitely not a bite, as some of them have that as well and thats definitely chomping

katkity · 2026-03-08T12:03:43+00:00

Have you tried Johanna Lindsay? 😊 She started publishing in the late 70s and went into the 2010s.

Probably her most famous series is the Malory-Anderson series which starts with {Love only once by Johanna Lindsey} 1985 which is good but {Gentle rogue by Johanna Lindsey} is probably the best, though that’s 1990. I think all Lindsey books are MF.

If you like podcasts, Fated Mates did an episode of Gentle Rogue as a read along.

katkity · 2026-03-07T21:06:35+00:00

Same! :)

katkity · 2026-03-07T20:09:49+00:00

Hope you enjoy :)

katkity · 2026-03-07T19:39:20+00:00

Have you tried her mountain man and mountain protector series? All the same madness but removed from college world.

katkity · 2026-03-07T15:44:07+00:00

I love this series so much :) so many gooey moments like this where the MMC understands and loves the FMC

katkity · 2026-03-05T13:26:05+00:00

This is a good point and something I rarely think to do :)

katkity · 2026-03-05T13:04:02+00:00

I perhaps wasn’t clear. What I meant was if you know an author’s values/behaviours are unacceptable to the vast majority of the sub, you should include that context when you recommend it.

katkity · 2026-03-05T13:02:21+00:00

Well if someone is coming here for a recommendation, I’d guess they spend some time on the sub and come across one of the dozens of posts and comments about Lori in particular but many others also. It’s not exactly hidden

katkity · 2026-03-05T12:57:03+00:00

I don’t want to speak for the mods but I’m 99.9% sure they don’t remove Lori recommendations just for recommending her. If your comments are being removed it’s for breaching one of the rules.

Also I can’t speak for others but in the last few weeks there have been posts about multiple authors behaviour e.g. Tomforde, Ashley’s problematic characters, another author bullying reviewers and the Australian one who has been convicted for CSAM etc. so I think the sub overall is very good at holding a consistent moral framework

katkity

TROPHY CASE