(Posting on here because i don’t have enough karma to post in other communities)
I’m looking for a romance book (preferably MM, but I’m open to MF as well) that will absolutely tear my heart out, stomp on it, then gently put it back together. I want to sob, feel gut-punched, and ache while reading. Something raw, painful, and emotionally intense.
Here’s the exact dynamic I’m craving:
• One of the MCs is a player — someone who sleeps around, maybe a little emotionally detached, but then they meet the other MC and suddenly… they’re obsessed. They can’t stop thinking about them, and start genuinely trying to get their attention and win them over.
• The second MC acts like they’re not interested, brushes them off, and tries to seem cold or unaffected — but deep down, they’re just scared and secretly feel the same way.
• I want emotional tension, yearning, push and pull, unresolved feelings, and a slow unraveling of both characters.
• Bonus points if it’s a forbidden romance — the second MC is scared of being with the first openly because they’re worried about what their family (or society, or anyone important) will think. Maybe they don’t even come out until the end.
• HEA or HFN preferred, but I’m okay with pain as long as there’s some kind of emotional payoff.
If you’ve ever read a book that made you ugly cry and clutch your chest while rooting for two deeply flawed, messy people to somehow make it work — please give me that title.
by HookedONbookss
1 Comment
Ok well this one fits your title but maybe not the full prompt…
Recommending it anyway because I think it deserves more recognition than it gets: the Binding by Bridget Collins