r/RomanceBooks • u/blue_trauma • 2d ago

Book Request Forbidden-ish, but no big age gap. All the angst.

I want to read something where both parties feel the attraction and interact/become friends but try to resist because of circumstances.

Could be that they're in relationships, or they're coworkers, or patient/doctor or some other dynamic where a romatic relationship would be frowned upon.

Cheating, or otherwise breaking the rules is fine, but I want to feel the angst first.

No age gap, because I'm trying to avoid the friend's/boyfriend's dad trope.

Would prefer CR, M/F.

Any recs would be appreciated :)

83 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

74 comments sorted by

29

u/Correct_Magician_799 2d ago

{Not in love by Ali Hazelwood} MMC and his friend do a takeover of a company FMC works for

{Waking Olivia by Elizabeth O’Roark} MMC is FMC’s coach in college

1

u/bluequila 2d ago

Second this one

1

u/Commercial_Rent_9170 13h ago

Def Not in love!! Such a comfort reread

26

u/hopingnottofail 2d ago

Let me scooch right here real quick.

5

u/Historical_Kick_3294 2d ago

Budge up 😉

4

u/Cookiesantheif 2d ago

Save me a spot too 😶

8

u/Key-Purple-4319 2d ago

{The Summer We Fell by Elizabeth O’Roark} The MMC is the best friend of FMC's boyfriend. The angst was so good!

24

u/lavendercloudy 2d ago

Highly recommend Kulti despite your no age gap requirement. Professional soccer player/her coach. Such a good slow burn, friends to lovers. It definitely didn’t give off friends dad trope!

3

u/observant_96 2d ago

I love Mariana’s works!

6

u/lavendercloudy 2d ago

I’m listening to from lukov with love right now and loving it!

1

u/motherofbears95 1d ago

omfg I had from lukov with love BLOCKED in my memories because it wRecKeD me - thanks for reminding me of that trauma 😅

6

u/bluequila 2d ago

{Overruled by Lana Ferguson} is an M-F CR with MCs who are divorce lawyers on opposing sides. It's not the best written on angst, but there's some angst and pining from the MMC. I wouldn't say it's my favourite, but I like competent white collar FMCs.

5

u/HolidaySun9862 2d ago edited 2d ago

Collide Series by Gail McHugh

The Carnage Series by Lesley Jones

Black Swan Affair by k.L.Kreig

Finding Me Series by K.L.Kreig

The Mighty Storm Series by Samantha Towle

-Not forbidden story but angst

Driven Series by K.bromberg

Grip Triology by Kennedy Ryan

All of them are my favorite stories but I don't wanna read it again...just so many angst😅

1

u/Madyachul81 2d ago

I just reread Driven by K. Bromberg 'cause it's one of my favorite, so much angst 🤣😍

4

u/iuliad94 Not like other girls 2d ago

{Hearts of Blue by L.H. Cosway} - He’s a thief, she’s a police constable.

{To Professor, with Love by Linda Kage} - She’s a professor, he’s her student. She’s a couple of years older, but it’s not a big age-gap.

{Lingus by Mariana Zapata} - He’s a sex worker so they decide not to date because of his job.

{Fighting Fate by Linda Kage} - He was involved in her brother’s death.

{Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens} - FMC has a boyfriend and MMC is her boyfriend’s friend.

I don’t remember these books enough to know if both MCs resist their feelings, but I know for sure at least one of them does. Other than that I think these match your request.

1

u/romance-bot 2d ago

Hearts of Blue by L.H. Cosway
Rating: 4.15⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, funny, suspense, bad boys, alpha male

To Professor, with Love by Linda Kage
Rating: 4.17⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, alpha male, athlete hero, forbidden love, new adult

Lingus by Mariana Zapata
Rating: 3.56⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, friends to lovers, funny, slow burn, sweet/gentle hero

Fighting Fate by Linda Kage
Rating: 4.11⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: contemporary, virgin heroine, enemies to lovers, second chances, forbidden love

Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens
Rating: 3.77⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, cheating, love triangle, tortured hero, forbidden love

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6

u/Far_Heat_3356 2d ago

{Priest by Sierra Simone}

8

u/Exciting-Support9190 2d ago

{How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang} They shared a traumatic event in high school and end up working on the same TV show as adults. Good angst between MMC and FMC, but also good angst between FMC and her mother.

1

u/mindfluxx 2d ago

Loved this book!

1

u/Exciting-Support9190 1d ago

Yes! It's probably in my top 3 for this year, it was so good.

1

u/mindfluxx 1d ago

Agreed!

3

u/kgtsunvv yes i like billionaires sorry not sorry🤠 1d ago

{failure to match}

2

u/1dasistfast2 2d ago

Well shit, I wanted to recommend {Chasing the wild by Elliott Rose}, then I saw your no age-gap. Srry.

1

u/No_Consideration3867 2d ago

How much is the age gap? I’m fine with up to 10 years 🤪

12

u/vodka_akdov 2d ago

He's her ex's dad so the age gap is gapping

1

u/Tall_Act_5997 Swiping left is how you read books 2d ago

Sameee lol

2

u/pantema 2d ago

{done and dusted by Lila sage} {wild love by Elsie silver}

2

u/ivewaitedforever 2d ago

I’m currently reading {My Favorite Lost Cause by Elizabeth O’Roarke}. MMC and FMC are step-siblings but didn’t grow up together.

2

u/Deep-List-5984 2d ago

I’m currently reading {The Hating Game by Sally Thorne}

Coworkers, enemy to lovers, but more forbidden due to HR and some of the enemy is fake.

2

u/Antique_Tie5504 2d ago

cmon peeps, the boss wants recommendations (and so do I😏)

2

u/_this_isnt_me_ 1d ago

{the hookup equation by Roxie Noir} professor & student at college. They hookup before they know that he is her professor this year. Cue loss of angst as they try to resist each other. There's great chemistry and it's well written.

2

u/somerandomlazygirl 2d ago

{Crash by Kathy Lockhart} may suit this. It's a doctor/patient romance. He's two years older and her brother's best friend too. I'm currently reading this..so far it's been good

3

u/Tall_Act_5997 Swiping left is how you read books 2d ago

Not to tag in but if anyone has any interracial ones like MF BWWM 1970s that would be great!

2

u/arcticvulpix88 slow burn and marinate or bust, baby! 1d ago

If you don't mind my camping supplies parking next to yours, thanks in advance!

3

u/smahira12 2d ago

⛺️

1

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3

u/princessgummybunz Editable Flair 2d ago

🏕️

1

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[deleted]

1

u/romance-bot 2d ago

Lovely Bad Things by Trisha Wolfe
Rating: 3.75⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, dark romance, mystery, enemies to lovers, suspense

Black Swan Affair by K.L. Kreig
Rating: 4.03⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, friends to lovers, love triangle, suspense, forbidden love

What He Doesn't Know by Kandi Steiner
Rating: 3.98⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: contemporary, second chances, friends to lovers, angst, cheating

about this bot | about romance.io

1

u/WardABooks 2d ago

{Sin Sessions by Octavia Jensen} FMC is in a failing marriage and finds a sex therapist, but they're drawn to each other and start having sex.

3

u/Tall_Act_5997 Swiping left is how you read books 2d ago

Oop not the uno reverse 🤣

1

u/cbmom2 2d ago

Age gap of 15 years but super angsty. {it seemed like a good idea at the time by Kylie Scott}. FMC is friends with MMC growing up (just friends no grooming). Buy FMC developed a crush and when she was 18 hit on MMC and flashed him. FMC dad sees it and thinks there is grooming so he is pissed at MMC. This all takes place before book starts but there are some flashbacks. 8 years later in the present FMC comes back home and there is longing on both sides.

1

u/No_Introduction_9358 I'm just here for the angst 2d ago

{Breakable by Tammara Webber}

1

u/Queer_Sky_B 2d ago

⛺ because too much of an age gap bothers me but I'm down for the other forbidden romance stuff 😂 This is the perfect rec thread!

1

u/Ill_Army7904 2d ago

Black Swan Affair by K L Kreig

The Mighty Storm Series by Samantha Towle

Grip Trilogy by Kennedy Ryan

1

u/DixieDoodle697 1d ago

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

1

u/Lovebooks44 1d ago

Want You by Jen Frederick. Both abandoned as kids. He’s like 11 or 12 when he finds her in an alley. She’s probably 4ish best I remember. Looks older for his age and raises her as his younger sister. I don’t want to give away the plot in the early years of the book when she’s a teenager but she is attracted to him and he resists because he thinks it’s wrong since he’s raised her. This is even though he considers himself hers and wouldn’t think of being with another woman because he knows she won’t like it and vice versa. Nothing happens until after she’s 18 or 19 and he definitely did not groom her. Very slow burn but still who’s in the tension build up. Love this book!

1

u/chatoyer0956 Just relax, Mr. Lots of Sex 1d ago

{Thin Ice by Cassie Mint}

{The Gravity of Us by Brittainy C Cherry}

2

u/romance-bot 1d ago

Thin Ice by Cassie Mint
Rating: 3.71⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, age gap, sports, ice/figure skating, new adult

The Gravity of Us by Brittainy C. Cherry
Rating: 4.2⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: contemporary, friends to lovers, new adult, angst, forbidden love

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1

u/carke 1d ago

{My Favourite Bad Decision by Elizabeth O’Roark} the MMC is the ex of the FMC’s sister

{One Night Only by Shann McPherson} the FMC works for the MMCs agent and there is a no fraternization policy

{Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey} this one is SUPER angsty, it made me cry from all the yearning. The FMC and MMC are soon to be step siblings

{Behind the Camera by Chelsea Curto} the FMC works for the MMC’s football team so they are not supposed to date

{Tempt by Melanie Harlow} this is my gold star forbidden, yearning romance

{The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Elizabeth O’Roark} the MMC is the FMC’s ex’s brother

{Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid} the MMCs are rival hockey players. mega yearning and angst

1

u/romance-bot 1d ago

My Favorite Bad Decision by Elizabeth O'Roark
Rating: 4.1⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, rich hero, competent heroine

One Night Only by Shann McPherson
Rating: 4.16⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, sports, age gap, forbidden love, hockey

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey
Rating: 3.49⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, hockey, m-f romance, step siblings, insta-love

Behind the Camera by Chelsea Curto
Rating: 4.2⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, sports, forced proximity, single father, football

Tempt by Melanie Harlow
Rating: 4.04⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, curvy heroine, age gap, alpha male, forbidden love

The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Elizabeth O'Roark
Rating: 4.04⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, forced proximity, famous heroine, forbidden love, enemies to lovers

Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid
Rating: 4.46⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, gay romance, enemies to lovers, sports, athlete hero

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1

u/justfiguringitout012 1d ago

{one day in December} by Josie Silver!

1

u/winterymix33 1d ago

{Over the Moon by Laura Pavlov} She’s the coach’s daughter & works for the team as a physical therapist. He’s a hockey player. They’re not allowed to date or she will lose her first post-college job. Also, the whole coach’s daughter thing. The premise is it’s the off season & he has an injury. She is to rehab him while he is home for the summer.

{The Faking Game by Olivia Hayle} Brother’s best friend. Fake relationship. This one is so good.

{Famous Last Words by CW Farnsworth} It’s new adult. FMC lost both her parents in a car accident and when not at college stays with her best friend’s family. Her best friend’s half brother has a very strained relationship with his their shared father and the family. Half brother is the MMC. FMC & MMC go to same college and he’s a star hockey player. They’ve avoided each other the whole time until their senior year. Sparks start flying but obviously complicated issues.

1

u/almitii 1d ago

If you’re into Romantasy, the Wolf King series 100% has amazing enemies to lovers arc