Must-Read Dark Why Choose Romances
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I first stumbled into the why choose genre by accident. I picked up a book, expecting an MF romance, and was pleasantly surprised when the female main character ended up getting with the MC and his friends. Ever since, the why choose genre has had me in a chokehold—and, of course, the darker the romance book, the better.
This list is a mix of my favorites, my own books, and some why choose dark romances that are at the top of my TBR.
The Four Horsemen Series by Sarah Bailey
Trigger Warnings: noncon, abuse, graphic violence, infertility, and more. Read all warnings here.
Tropes: friends to strangers to lovers, amnesia, revenge, kidnapping, very kinky, protective MMCs (also, they’re assholes)
The Four Horsemen is a four-book why choose dark romance series. It follows five friends—Drake, Prescott, West, Francis, and Scarlett. The problem is, when they were all teenagers, there was a horrible accident, and Scarlett was severely injured. While she was recovering in the hospital, she was kidnapped, and the guys haven’t heard from her since (they’re in their twenties when the books happen).
I can’t give away the details of why that all happened (spoilers and all that), but the story picks up when Scarlett comes to work for the Four Horsemen at their finance company. Upon re-meeting her, the guys realize she doesn’t remember them.
But no worries—they have a way to take down the man who kidnapped Scarlett and took her away from them, and she’s an integral part of their plan. They just have to get her to remember them.
I absolutely INHALED this series. My only frustration with the books is that I wanted the guys to have more tender moments with Scarlett (there are some, no worries) because they literally used to be BEST FRIENDS. But that’s more of a personal preference than anything else. It’s still one of my all-time favorite why choose romances.
Details: complete series, happy ending, multi-POV, in Kindle Unlimited
Reading Order: Carnage, Chaos, Corrode, Cataclysm
Cindered Glass by Chalan Johnson
Trigger Warnings: SA, dubcon, infertility/miscarriage, classism, abuse, and more. Read all warnings here.
Tropes: Cinderella reimagining, more coming soon
(For honesty’s sake, I’m mutuals with this author on social media, but that’s not why I’ve been obsessing over this book’s release. It’s because it sounds SO GOOD.)
Cindered Glass is the first in a trilogy of a dark fantasy why choose romance. I discovered Chalan Johnson on TikTok (probably because I LOOOVE princess retellings), and this book quickly became one of my most anticipated releases of 2023.
Obviously it’s not an exact Cinderella retelling because, you know, there are multiple love interests. But that sounds like it just makes it better. Also, there’s magic! And it’s more than a fairy godmother and some talking animals.
I, unfortunately, haven’t read this one yet. But I’m hoping to in the next couple weeks, and then I’ll update this with my thoughts and with more tropes and details.
Details: incomplete series, single-POV, in Kindle Unlimited, magic guide in the back of the book
Ruthless Desires Series by Elira Firethorn
Trigger Warnings: graphic violence, emotional abuse, and more. Read first book’s warnings here.
Tropes: hitmen, nightmare comfort, protective MMCs, kidnapping, touch her and die, revenge, wound tending
(In case you missed it, I’m the author of this series.)
Ruthless Desires started out as one smutty, kinky novella that turned into a polyamorous series full of suspense, revenge, characters who’ll tug at your heartstrings, and… a lot more (consent-based) smut.
As the series goes on, you watch as Wren falls deeply in love with three hitmen—Elliot, Rhett, and Oliver—who’re on a mission to avenge the murder of Rhett’s little sister. They have to wade through secrets, lies, and heartbreaking grief, but no matter what, they can always count on each other.
The first book in the series isn’t terribly dark, but they do get darker as they go on. Also, I purposefully left out descriptions of most of the characters so you can imagine them however you want!
Details: incomplete series, multi-POV, in Kobo Plus
Bloodshed by Molly Doyle
Trigger Warnings: attempted SA, childhood abuse, bullying, self harm, suicide. Read full list of trigger warnings in the Look Inside option on Amazon.
Tropes: touch her and die, revenge, protective MMCS, more coming soon
Bloodshed is part of the Order of the Unseen Series. If you’ve heard of Scream for Us and Melt for Us, surprise! Molly wrote a full-length novel with the same characters.
This is pretty close to the top of my TBR, but I haven’t read it yet. I read Scream for Us and was disappointed because I was expecting more than I got, and I’ve been told that this will satisfy the parts of me that were left wanting more.
Quinn seemed like a compelling character, and the fact that the guys have been stalking her to protect her from a cult? Also intriguing. I’m hoping to get to this one in early 2023, and I’ll come back to update with my thoughts.
Details: complete series, multi-POV, in Kindle Unlimited, audiobook coming soon
Queen of Nothing by Santana Knox
Trigger Warnings: dubcon, abuse, murder, human trafficking, and a LOT more. Read all warnings here.
Tropes: badass FMC, asshole MMCs, forced proximity, organized crime, revenge
(For honesty’s sake, I’m mutuals/friends with this author, but again, that doesn’t change how much I’m currently enjoying this book.)
Queen of Nothing is the first in a why choose cártel dark romance series. It’s the first book by Santana I read (as well as her debut, I believe).
The story follows Cecilia as she crashes into the lives of three men—her ex, an old friend, and someone she’s never met before. She may not want it, but she needs their protection.
She’s hiding the secret of who she really is—she has been her whole life. That won’t stop the guys (specifically her ex, Ronan) from trying to force it out of her by whatever means necessary.
I love this book, but please keep in mind it’s quite dark. If you’re just dipping into dark romance, I recommend starting with something a little lighter. And as always, check your trigger warnings.
Details: first in series, multi-POV, in Kindle Unlimited
Losers Duet by Harley Laroux
Trigger Warnings: CNC, childhood abuse, bullying, body shaming, homophobia, biphobia, and more. Read full list of warnings in the Look Inside feature on Amazon.
Tropes: protective MMCs, punk characters, found family, touch her/him you die
The Losers Duet is a dark, contemporary, why choose/polyamorous romance. The Dare novella is sort of a prequel to Losers pt. 1 & 2, but you don’t have to read it (you want to, trust me).
These books. THESE BOOKS. I haven’t found a lot of stories that feature punk characters, but these ones DELIVER. At least, The Dare and Losers pt. 1 do. Part 2 is still on my TBR because I’m not ready for the series to be over.
Normally when I’m reading, I can’t wait to get to the smut. But with these books, I was SO invested in the characters that I almost wanted to skip the smut scenes so I could get back to the plot. That very, very rarely happens for me.
And it’s NOT because the smut isn’t good. The smut is fantastic, and it’s very kinky (and consent-based). Seriously, I loved it so much. It’s just that the characters mean so, so much to me.
Harley Laroux is one of the only authors I trust to write a redemption arc like Jess’s. And the guys? Gah. I’ve never related to ever single character in a polyamorous romance before, but with these ones, I do. And I can’t recommend this series enough.
Details: complete series, multi-POV, NOT in Kindle Unlimited
Queenie & the Krakens by Aleera Anaya Ceres
Trigger Warnings: dubcon, child abuse, forced prostitution (backstory), violence, murder
Tropes: he saves her, she saves herself, kidnapping, secrets and lies, motorcycle club, shifters, over the top possessive MMC
Queenie & the Krakens is a dark (not very, but some) motorcycle club romance. It was my first-ever MC romance, and it didn’t disappoint! Queenie is an icon—a scientist, a quick thinker, and a fighter.
There are five guys in this one. My favorites are probably Rock (the president), and Slug (the sweetheart). But I love Scorp and Delfin too, and how can you not love Box?
I loved the twists and turns in this book, and I loved how each of the guys had their own personality traits instead of them all blending in together.
One thing disappointed me about this book, and that was the climax. Without getting into spoilers, I just felt like the guys could’ve done more to save Queenie. She didn’t need their help, but the fact that they didn’t even try (and did things that they knew would be pointless) bugged me.
Still, I loved the story, and it was only a minor disappointment. I’m excited to pick up other books by Aleera, specifically her book about Lourdes and her Fae Elemental Series.
Details: standalone, multi-POV, in Kindle Unlimited
Ruthless Games Series by Callie Rose
Trigger Warnings: abuse, violence and murder, noncon, self harm, stalking, and more. Read all warnings here.
Tropes: stalking, guy saves girl, kidnapping, corruption arc, obsessed MMC, organized crime
Ruthless Games is a dark, suspenseful why choose trilogy. It has an intriguing premise: the FMC, Ayla, takes a bullet (or two? I don’t quite remember) for a stranger. He (Marcus) and his two friends (Theo and Ryland) end up watching her and protecting her from a distance, paying for her hospital bills anonymously, etc.
One night, they save her from getting robbed, and from there, it’s a whirlwind of secrets, obsession, and romance. It turns out, the guys are involved in a game they can’t get out of, and only a few people will end up alive at the end of it.
Adding Ayla to the mix puts her in danger, but it’s too late to turn back now. She has a target on her back, and the guys will stop at nothing to keep her safe and make it out of this game alive.
This series is dramatic, but I love dramatic things. My reading tastes have changed since when I read this in 2021, but I absolutely adored it then, and I’ve come back to it to reread my favorite smutty scenes at least twice. You can read the first book here, or use the link below to read the whole book in one volume (both options are in KU).
Details: completed series, single-POV, in Kindle Unlimited
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