Fantasy Romance
Adventure, dragons, brooding heroes, and love that always finds a way. Romantasy the everyday human brain couldn’t begin to dream up.
Fantasy Romance
🔥 🔥
Read-&-Rated Favorites (⭐ 3.5+)
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A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
⭐ 4.75
MEDIUM, HEA
“WOW. This read is <300 pages and you'll be riveted for each one. Not graphic, but implied. The writing is so descriptive and touching, you feel everything Constanta feels.” - Cardigan B
Vampire, Age Gap Romance, Regency/Georgian/Victorian Period, Story Told in Past and Present, Revenge
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A Thorn in Every Heart by Kate King
⭐ 4.5
HOT, HEA
“Brilliant and spicy ‘Beauty and the Beast’ retelling, with a twist. Couldn’t put it down.” - Cardigan B
Fairytale Retelling, Fae/Fairies, Royalty, Hidden Powers, Cursed MMC, Soulmates, Separated/Divorcing
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The Alpha of Bleake Isle by Kathryn Moon
⭐ 4.5
HOT, HEA
“She’s the awkward, unlikely choice to rule the isle with the only dragon alpha around. He’s not excited for a wife, but he wants someone with a sturdy constitution.” - Cardigan B
Commoner/Aristocrat, Dragons, Virgin FMC, Age Gap, Praise Kink, Creative Anatomy, Class Differences, Breeding Kink, Magic, Fated Mates, Marriage of Convenience, Forced Proximity
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Bride by Ali Hazelwood
⭐ 4.5
MEDIUM, HEA
“Loved this book! So much discovery before the two main characters got together.” - Penelope Black
Arranged Marriage, Blood Play, Cute Cat(s), Fated Mates, Enemies to Lovers, Knotting, Touch her and die, Vampire-Werewolf Triangle, Forced Proximity, Slow Burn, Different Worlds, Werewolf Mate, Interracial Overcoming Past Trauma, Opposites Attract, Dirty Talker
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Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love by ISTHISSELFCARE
⭐ 4.5
MEDIUM, HEA
“This is the feel-good fanfic for Dramonione. A wonderful take on Hermione and Draco in the professional world, post-Hogwarts. This is pure sunshine.” - Cardigan B
Dramione Fanfic, Playboy/Rake, Possessive MMC, Witty Banter, Slow Burn, Opposites Attract, Redemption, Dirty Talker, Magic, Class Differences, Social Class Divide, Flashbacks
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The Awakening by Nora Roberts
⭐ 4.5
MEDIUM, HEA
“The blog was the least believable part of this story.” - Cardigan B
Portal to Another World, Chosen One, Power Struggle, Hidden Royalty, Slow Burn, Found Family, Family Rivalry, Personal Growth Journey
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Fourth Wing (Book 1) by Rebecca Yarros
⭐ 4.5
MEDIUM, HEA
“I couldn't put this down - such a great world, unexpected likeability of all the characters, and spiiiicy chemistry.. I had to look up fan art for her hair. Odd descriptions.” - Cardigan B
Academic Setting, Love Triangle, Overcoming Past Trauma, Enemies to Lovers, Dragons, Magic, Hidden Powers, Politics, Family Rivalry
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Iron Flame (Book 2) by Rebecca Yarros
⭐ 3.5
MILD, TO BE CONTINUED
“Boring for about 85% of the book. And Violet was so indecisive. She undid all the character work laid in Fourth Wing. I loved the plot around the fliers and forces combining. Violet's torture and losing Liam were physically heartbreaking.” - Cardigan B
Dragons, Academic Setting, Enemies to Lovers, Found Family, Betrayal & Secrets, Shadow Daddy, Independent FMC, Silver Hair (FMC), Resistance
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Onyx Storm (Book 3) by Rebecca Yarros
⭐ 3.75
HOT, TO BE CONTINUED
“WAY better than book 2, but really? Ending a book with THAT cliffhanger is horseshit. I'm pissed.” - Cardigan B
Dragons, Academic Setting, Age Gap, Cliffhanger
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Key of Light (Book 1) by Nora Roberts
⭐ 4.5
MEDIUM, HEA
“I love this series - read it 6 times at least. Nora Roberts is at her best. The first book is world building, but it sets up the relationships of 6 interconnected, likable people and the fate that brought them together. It's magical without being over-the-top.” - Cardigan B
Magic, Time Travel, Opposites Attract, Mythological Beings, Personal Growth Journey, Found Family, Female Friendship Group
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Key of Knowledge (Book 2) by Nora Roberts
⭐ 4.0
MEDIUM, HEA
“Still a great read but I didn't connect with Dana and Jordan the way I did with the others. But they did have the most volatile and tangible passion. She holds a grudge—that part is fun to watch.” - Cardigan B
Enemies to Lovers, Second Chance, Small Town, Best Friend's Ex, Friendship Group, Female Friendship Group, Forced Proximity, Magic, Involved in a Rebellion/Resistance, Survival, Down on Her Luck FMC
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Key of Valor (Book 3) by Nora Roberts
⭐ 4.5
MEDIUM, HEA
“Zoe has so major baggage—she doesn’t do a great job of managing her judgement of Brad, since he’s wealthy and she’s always struggled. But the more she trusts him, the more she sees the goodness. So sweet and a perfect finale. Hearts to Nora.” - Cardigan B
Enemies to Lovers, Small Town, Friendship Group, Female Friendship Group, Forced Proximity, Magic, MMC/FMC Involved in a Rebellion/Resistance, Survival, Class Differences
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The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig
⭐ 4.5
MILD, TO BE CONTINUED
“The gargoyle steals the show. What a treasure. He’s told to bow to the king…instead he ‘made a crude sound of flatulence and didn’t get up.’” - Cardigan B
Hidden Identity, Royalty, Loss of Faith, MC has a Secret Past, MC is trapped, Loss of Sibling (Death), FMC is blind
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Rose in Chains by Julie Soto
⭐ 4.5
MILD, TO BE CONTINUED
“Dark, mysterious, so heartbreaking I had to look away. I’m not okay.” - Cardigan B
Royalty, Dramione Fanfic, Enemies to Lovers, Hidden Powers, Auction, Human Trafficking, MC is a Bully (at the start), Slow Burn Due to Past Trauma
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Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry
⭐ 4.5
MILD, TO BE CONTINUED
“Lots of world-building, but doesn’t get lost in the details. Loaded with a ton of “who done it vibes” and mystery with a romance sub-plot. It was a ride and I’m here for book #2” ~ PB
Arranged Marriage, Mysterious MMC, Curious FMC, Monsters, Grumpy MMC, Royalty, Enemies to Lovers, Slow Burn, Touch Her & Die
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Apprentice to the Villain (Book 1) by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
⭐ 4.25
MILD, TO BE CONTINUED
“She is rescued from death. He continues to be the Villain doing villain things. They dance around their growing attraction and it's hitting a fever pitch. For all of us.” - Cardigan B
Slow Burn, Workplace, Forced Proximity, Magic, Age Gap Romance, MC has a Missing Parent, MMC/FMC Involved in a Rebellion/Resistance, MMC/FMC is back from the dead, Rescue, Revenge, Kidnapping, MC is Shunned by Family, Dragons, Found Family
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Assistant to the Villain (Book 2) by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
⭐ 4.25
MILD, TO BE CONTINUED
“She's an employee to the bad man in town. He's the bad man in town. Their hijinx are absurd and adorable. Love is on the table...but no one is taking the first bite.” - Cardigan B
Workplace Romance, Boss/Employee, Loss of Sibling (Death), Grumpy/Sunshine, Magic, Forbidden Love Interest, Secret Identity, Spy
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Broken by the Horde King by Zoey Draven
⭐ 4.25
MEDIUM, HEA
“This was my favorite one in the series. They met as children, he broke her heart, she grew up and became a healer, he became a king. They met again as adults, she never forgot him, he finally allowed himself to see her. and begged for a second chance” - Penelope Black
GOT, Second Chance, Redemption, Caretaker/Nursed Back to Health, Breakup Due to Misunderstanding, Alien/Human, Royalty, Creative Anatomy, Pregnancy, MCs were Childhood Friends
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Charming Your Dad by Sarah Blue
⭐ 4.25
HOT, HEA
“Huh, I didn't mean to enjoy this. Books with "daddy" make me nauseous, but for some reason, this was hilarious. Maybe it was the truth truffles?” - Cardigan B
Age 25+ FMC, Age 40+ MMC, Age Gap Romance, Ex-Boyfriends Father, What the hell did I just read and why can't I stop, Witch/Warlock/Wizard, Angel/Demon, Dom/Sub, Sex Club, Kidnapping, Creative Anatomy
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Deadwood by Karley Brenna
⭐ 4.25
MILD, TO BE CONTINUED
“Not what I thought I was getting, in a great way. Sheltered woman finds her freedom in a secluded ghost town ruled by criminals and rejects. A little slow to start, but a lot of set up was needed to enjoy the story.” - Cardigan B
Fantasy, Arranged Marriage, Royalty, Bad boy-good girl, Hidden Powers
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The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson
⭐ 4.25
MEDIUM, HEA
“Cute story, read the audio book (Joe Arden).” - Penelope Black
Doctor, Workplace Romance, MCs are Fake Dating, Touch Her and Die Vibes, Scenting, Short FMC/Tall MMC, Hidden Relationship, Grumpy/Sunshine, MMC Falls First, Opposites Attract, Witty Banter, Mating/Bonding, Dirty Talker, Magic, Shifters, Wolf/Shifter, Omegaverse
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Radiance by Grace Draven
⭐ 4.25
MILD, HEA
“A marriage of convenience to secure two kingdoms, an interspecies relationship, and two MCs just doing their best.” - Cardigan B
Marriage of Convenience, Slow Burn, Friends to Lovers, Politics, Royalty, Found Family, Forbidden Love Interest
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Spicy Little Curses by J.T. Geissinger
⭐ 4.25
MEDIUM, HEA
“Creepy, mysterious, and so much chemistry. She's a skeptical reporter looking for a spooky scoop. He's actually cursed. Together they track down the mystical details and save the day.” - Cardigan B
Cursed MMC, Fated Mates, Short/Novella, Seasonal, Forced Proximity, Slow Burn, Hate to Love You, Tattoos, MC has a Tragic Past
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When Gracie Met the Grump by Mariana Zapata
⭐ 4.25
LOW, HEA
“I really enjoyed this book. First time I have ever read a superhero romance book! The whole virgin thing was a little weird and I was like "yea right", but it is what it is. I had fun with this one” - Penelope Black
Alien/Human, Enemies to Lovers, MMC/FMC is/are on the Run, Superhero, FMC Nurses the MMC Back to Life, Forced Proximity, Virgin MMC, Grumpy/Sunshine, Down on Her Luck FMC, Slow Burn, Fated Mates, Virgin FMC, Found Family, Age Gap Romance
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A Cage of Crimson (Part 1) by K.F. Breene
⭐ 4.0
HOT, TO BE CONTINUED
“Red Riding Hood retelling where a trapped girl meets her fated mate in the woods, only to find that he’s there to take her and her employer down for drug trafficking. Unique, interesting.” - Cardigan B
Folklore Romance, MC is trapped, Fated Mates, Shifters, Enemies to Lovers
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Cage of Kingdoms (Part 2) by K.F. Breene
⭐ 4.25
HOT, HEA
“Great story resolution. A finale that left me satisfied. "Dicks with wings" is my new favorite pattern design and "guard my asshole" is my new favorite friend moniker. Aurelia was alone for so long but her pack took care of her from day one. Witty, charming, warm.” - Cardigan B
Folklore Romance, Fated Mates, Enemies to Lovers, Dragons, MC has a Tragic Past, Survival, MC has Interfering Family, Magic, Captive Falls for Captor), Abusive Parent(s), FMC previous abused (not by MMC), Emotional Abuse, Fairytale Retelling
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Anathema by Keri Lake
⭐ 4.0
MILD, HEA
“Major world building in the first half, action in the second. She’s banished to the magical woods from which no one returns. He’s a cursed assassin in another realm drawn to her by duty and fate.” - Cardigan B
Enemies to Lovers, Portal to Another World, Slow Burn, Forced Proximity, Only One Bed, Touch Her and Die Vibes, Cursed Love, Magical Binding
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Bound by Iron by Emily Sarratt
⭐ 4.0
MEDIUM, TO BE CONTINUED
“She's a lost, small town girl who is repairing from trauma. He's a world stepper, crossing between human and fae lands just to see her. She lands in Faery and her sad story...gets dark.” - Cardigan B
Fae/Fairies, Portal to Another World, Learning a New World, Slow Burn, MC has Interfering Family, Loss of Parent (Death), Cliffhanger Ending, MMC/FMC have to stop the end of the world
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Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews
⭐ 4.0
MILD, HEA
“An inherited intergalactic inn that serves as a stopover on Earth for aliens? Really cool.” - Cardigan B
Magic, Innkeeper/Hotel/Concierge, MC has a Missing Parent, Monster MMC, World Building, Werewolves, Vampire, Mythological Beings, Alien, Different Worlds, Portal to Another World, Hidden Powers, Hidden Identity, Protective MMC, Slow Burn, Texas, Sci-Fi, Witty Banter, Haunted, Isolated, Mysterious Land
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Compound 26 by Krista Street
⭐ 4.0
MILD, TO BE CONTINUED
“Found this free on Kindle and I should have known I’d love it. It’s Krista Street. She can write the shit out of a series. This is a dystopian mystery, neat concept.” - Cardigan B
Rescue, Dystopian, Loss of Sibling (Death), Mysterious Illness, Hidden Powers, Enemies to Lovers, Slow Burn, Found Family, MMC/FMC has been to Prison, Age 20+ FMC
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The Consulate by Allison Carr Waechter
⭐ 4.0
MEDIUM, HEA
“She's an immortal abandoned by her coven and her tools. He's the head of a rival paranormal entity. They team up to take down the government, make friends with sea monsters, and find love they never expected.” - Cardigan B
Enemies to Lovers, Paranormal Protection, MC is trapped, MMC/FMC Involved in a Rebellion/Resistance, Rescue, MC has/is Escaped/Escaping a Cult/Sect, MC has a Tragic Past, MC has a Missing Sibling, Kidnapping
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Court of Winter (Book 1) by Krista Street
⭐ 4.0
MEDIUM, TO BE CONTINUED
“This series packs a punch. Ilara is a nobody with no magic, kidnapped by the Prince whose magic is death. Unique story.” - Cardigan B
Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity, Fated Mates, Morally Grey MMC, Royal/Commoner, Fae/Fairies, Only One Bed, MMC Falls First, Hidden Powers, Cliffhanger Ending, Politics
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Thorns of Frost (Book 2) by Krista Street
⭐ 3.75
HOT, TO BE CONTINUED
“OOOOOO Book 1 set up some great shit for book 2. I liked this one, but it was way more predictable than book 1. The end is a lovely crescendo of Ilara taking her life into her own hands.” - Cardigan B
Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity, Fated Mates, Morally Grey MMC, Royal/Commoner, Fae/Fairies, Only One Bed, MMC Falls First, Hidden Powers, Cliffhanger Ending, Politics
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Wings of Snow (Book 3) by Krista Street
⭐ 4.0
MEDIUM, TO BE CONTINUED
“This series packs a punch. Ilara is a nobody with no magic, kidnapped by the Prince whose magic is LITERAL death. He also killed her family. But things aren’t always what they seem. Really unique story.” - Cardigan B
Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity, Fated Mates, Morally Grey MMC, Royal/Commoner, Fae/Fairies, Only One Bed, MMC Falls First, Hidden Powers, Cliffhanger Ending, Politics
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Crowns of Ice (Book 4) by Krista Street
⭐ 4.0
HOT, HEA
“Oh hell yeah. What I like about this series is that problems keep arising, but they keep getting resolved. This author doesn't make me hate her. That feels nice. Ilara and Norivun get their shit together, take on a warlock, and make friends with Earth.” - Cardigan B
Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity, Fated Mates, Morally Grey MMC, Royal/Commoner, Fae/Fairies, Only One Bed, MMC Falls First, Hidden Powers, Cliffhanger Ending, Politics
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Faeling (Book 4) by S.E. Wendel
⭐ 4.0
MEDIUM, HEA
“Book 4 of ‘Halfling’ and so good. She's hiding in plain sight, actively avoiding a prophecy. He's uniting the orc clans under his reign. They're fated mates who take on the greatest enemy of the land.: A near-immortal fae queen who’s over-stayed her welcome.” - Cardigan B
Fae/Fairies, Fated Mates, Orcs, Revenge, Loss of Parent (Death), Prophecy
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Her Soul to Take by Harley Laroux
⭐ 4.0
HOT, HEA
“I would have given this more stars, but Rae was an idiot. I was ready to throw her into the mines myself.” - Cardigan B
“Rae was so dumb. I couldn't handle it. She ruined it for me.” - Penelope Black
Ghost Hunter, Monster MMC, Monster/Human Romance, Nerdy FMC, Academic Setting, Cult/Sect, Demons, Human/Demon Relationship, BDSM, MMC/FMC has a Cute Cat, Enemies to Lovers, Magic, Age Gap Romance, Witch/Warlock/Wizard, Touch Her and Die Vibes, Paranormal Protection
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Love Bites by Lola Glass
⭐ 4.0
HOT, HEA
“SHUT UP THIS WAS SO FUN. I couldn’t stop reading this series. I read it two days. I love the underlying story which is about survival versus really living. It’s less than 300 pages. Try it.” - Cardigan B
Protection, Vampires, Mythological Creatures, Fated Mates, Overcoming Emotional Trauma
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Loving a Vampire is Total Chaos by Aura Hayes
⭐ 4.0
MILD, HEA
Reverse grumpy/sunshine with a fancy free vampire MMC and a serious police detective FMC. The traitorous cat that needs more story time.” - Cardigan B
Vampire, Police Officer/Detective, MC has a Missing Parent, MC has a Sick Parent, Murder Mystery, Fated Mates, Slow Burn, MMC/FMC has a Traitorous Cat
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Mate by Ali Hazelwood
⭐ 4.0
HOT, HEA
“LOVED the story of "maybe" mates, Serena's sickness, her life as a hybrid. I would have loved for the epilogue to solve some of her hybrid biology questions. The cult plot...felt like a reach.” - Cardigan B
Werewolf Mate, Werewolves, Vampire, Fated Mates, Hybrid, In-Heat, Touch Her and Die Vibes, Enemies to Lovers, Alpha MMC, "Smart, Strong, Independent FMC", Shifters, Wolf/Shifter
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The Mating Game by Lana Ferguson
⭐ 4.0
“We've located the ultimate Grump - Hunter is so perfectly written, it's astounding. Hard exterior, absolutely oozey center.” - Cardigan B
Lumberjack Vibes, Small Town, Grumpy/Sunshine, Loss of Parent (Death), MC has a Sick Parent, Shifters, Overcoming Past Breakups, In-Heat, Touch Her and Die Vibes, Possessive MMC, Friends to Lovers, Trapped in a Cabin
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Metal Slinger by Rachel Schneider
⭐ 4.0
LOW, TO BE CONTINUED
“Ooo this is an epic cliffhanger. FINE. I’ll read the next one.” - Cardigan B
Slow Burn, Magic, MMC/FMC Involved in a Rebellion/Resistance, Forbidden Love Interest, Hidden Royalty, Enemies to Lovers
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Once Upon a Demon's Heart by K.M. Moronova
⭐ 4.0
MEDIUM, TO BE CONTINUED
“Ooo this one hurts. In a good way. Gods and demons are warring. An arranged marriage is made to save both sides. There’s so much hate.” - Cardigan B
Enemies to Lovers, FMC & MMC Enter Into A Contract, Arranged Marriage, Cliffhanger Ending, Dub-Con, God/Demon
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Once Upon a Pack by Ari Wright
⭐ 4.0
HOT, HEA
“This was a cozy retelling of Cinderella. Stepsisters who don't respect her, she has no family left, she was abandoned by the boy she loved, and he doesn't recognize her as his maid. When they realized, they embraced her wholly.” - Cardigan B
Omegaverse, Destitute FMC, Rags to Royalty, Royal/Commoner, Age 20+ FMC, Childhood Sweethearts
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Rejected (Book 1) by Jaymin Eve
⭐ 4.0
MILD, TO BE CONTINUED
“She's the offspring shifter of a PACK traitor who never fit in. He's the creator of shifters and really pissed off. She's not afraid of him and he's into that. This story evolves into a totally different one than you expect. Well done.” - Cardigan B
Wolf/Shifter, Forbidden Love Interest, Kidnapping, Fated Mates, "Smart, Strong, Independent FMC", Age Gap Romance, God/Human, FMC & MMC Enter Into A Contract, Grumpy/Sunshine, Sweet & Spicy Banter, Loss of Parent (Death), Virgin FMC, Shunned FMC
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Smoke and Scar by Gretchen Powell Fox
⭐ 4.0
MILD, TO BE CONTINUED
“Ooo this was fun. Enter these games. Win a crown. Also don’t die. Okay, maybe die, too.” - Cardigan B
Enemies to Lovers, Age Gap Romance, Fae/Fairies, Rescue, MC is trapped, Hunger Games Vibes, Loss of Spouse/Partner (Death), Childhood Friends Reunion
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Sweetling (Book 3) by S.E. Wendel
⭐ 4.0
MEDIUM, HEA
“Best #3 book in a series you could ever want. Precious. What a rebound from a boring #2. Read book 1 ‘Halfling’ if you haven’t.” - Cardigan B
Age Gap Romance, Fae/Fairies, Fated Mates, Different Worlds, Loss of Parent (Death), MC has a Tragic Past
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Viciously Yours by Jamie Applegate Hunter
⭐ 4.0
HOT, HEA
“She's an orphan in the human lands. He's a fae king and her fated mate. They spend 10 years learning about each other through letters and finally meet. Easy love, fuck Ora, and long live the king.” - Cardigan B
Fae/Fairies, Fated Mates, MMC/FMC has a Cute Cat, Loss of Parent (Death), MC has a Missing Sibling, Happily Ever After (HEA), Mistaken Identity, MC is a Twin, MC is/has a Foster Kid, Virgin MMC, Childhood Promise Fulfilled, Female Friendship Group, MC Loves to Read, Touch Her and Die Vibes, Age 20+ FMC
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Xantera by Mariah Montoya & Grace Pearce
⭐ 4.0
MILD, TO BE CONTINUED
“Reminded me of Anthem by Ayn Rand - a Dystopian settlement and rules that stifle existence. She's a sheltered, rule-following plebe. He's a roaring monster outside the city. She starts asking questions she shouldn’t.” - Cardigan B
Vampire, Werewolves, Age Gap Romance, MC has a Missing Parent, Rescue, FMC Involved in a Rebellion/Resistance, MC has/is Escaped/Escaping a Cult/Sect, Survival, Kidnapping, Hidden Identity, Arranged Marriage, Cliffhanger Ending
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Behooved by M. Stevenson
⭐ 3.75
MEDIUM, HEA
“This took me by surprise. The first ¼ of the book was dry. But when the horsing around happens, it's so ridiculous that it breaks the tension and just lets you enjoy the rest. It’s a fun one.” - Cardigan B
MMC/FMC has a Cute Horse, Royalty, Arranged Marriage, Magic, Strong Sister Bond
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Black & Silver by Gwendolyn Harper
⭐ 3.75
HOT, HEA
“This book is fun and hot. A witch is hired by an incubus to do witchy things. They fall in love. I have a hot take, though. It has too much consent. Especially for a being from Hell to be so concerned about friendly touches.” - Cardigan B
Witch/Warlock/Wizard, BDSM, Morally Grey MMC, Immortal/Mortal, Forbidden Love Interest, Opposites Attract
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Blackthorn by J.T. Geissinger
⭐ 3.75
HOT, HEA
“What in the everloving mind games was that? The last 10% was a roller coaster of awesome. Maven was a pain in the ass. So hardheaded and stubborn. And did she or did she not get railed in the greenhouse??” - Cardigan B
Return to Hometown, Second Chance, Accidental/Surprise Pregnancy, MC has Interfering Family, Hate to Love You, Family Rivalry, Witch/Warlock/Wizard, Demons, Small Town, Murder Mystery, Loss of Parent (Death), Rich/Wealthy MMC, Rescue, Shunned FMC, Billionaire
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Caraval by Stephanie Garber
⭐ 3.75
MILD, TO BE CONTINUED
“Similar to world to Phantasma. Two sisters enter Caraval to gain a favor to avoid an unwanted marriage. Cool world, clever, fun.” - Cardigan B
Young Adult, Strong Sister Bond, Competition Romance, Rescue, MC has a Missing Sibling, Hidden Identity, Secret Identity, Arranged Marriage, Witty Banter, Circus, Hidden Powers, Magic, Portal to Another World, Secret/Elite Society
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City of Thorns (Book 1) by C.N. Crawford
⭐ 3.75
MILD, TO BE CONTINUED
“She's just a human trying to avenge her mother's murder. But the murderer is probably a god. Oh and she's definitely more than she seems. From underdog to survivor, Rowan is a fun FMC to read. And Orion, bastard that he is, sounds like her perfect match.” - Cardigan B
Age Gap Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Magic, Royalty, Hidden Identity, Loss of Parent (Death), FMC & MMC Enter Into A Contract, Immortal/Mortal, God/Goddess, Murder Mystery
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Lord of Embers (Book 2) by C.N. Crawford
⭐ 3.75
MEDIUM, TO BE CONTINUED
“Confirmed: Orion is a bastard. Rowan now has two missions: Kill her mother's murderer and prevent Orion from ruling the kingdom. She's unprepared, but not undeterred. Being part of her journey toward greatness is such fun.” - Cardigan B
Age Gap Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Magic, Royalty, Hidden Identity, Loss of Parent (Death), FMC & MMC Enter Into A Contract, Immortal/Mortal, God/Goddess, Murder Mystery
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A Court of Thorns and Roses (Book 1) by Sarah J. Maas
⭐ 3.75
MEDIUM, TO BE CONTINUED
“This book was fine as a world building introduction, but not nearly as good as books 2 and 3.” - Cardigan B
Fae/Fairies, Monster/Human Romance, Magic, Learning a New World, Shapeshifter Romance, Cursed MMC, Rich/Wealthy MMC, Forced Proximity, Kidnapping, Captive Falls for Captor (Not Stockholm Syndrome), Beauty & The Beast Vibes, Fairytale Retelling, FMC Gives Herself as Payment, Loss of Parent (Death)
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A Court of Mist and Fury (Book 2) by Sarah. J. Maas
⭐ 4.5
MEDIUM, HEA
“My God, is there a better Shadow Daddy than Rhys? No. I'll fight you. This is the best book in the series. No question.” - Cardigan B
Fae/Fairies, Enemies to Lovers, Fated Mates, MMC/FMC Involved in a Rebellion/Resistance, MMC Falls First, Found Family, Slow Burn, Strong Sister Bond, Age Gap Romance, Shadow Daddy, FMC & MMC Enter Into A Contract, Survival, Cursed MMC, Learning a New World, Overcoming Past Trauma
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A Court of Wings and Ruin (Book 3) by Sarah J. Maas
⭐ 4.0
MEDIUM, HEA
“I enjoyed the story and world development I fucking hate Nesta so this will be the last book I read in the series.” - Cardigan B
Fated Mates, MMC/FMC Involved in a Rebellion/Resistance, Touch Her and Die Vibes, Shadow Daddy, Loss of Parent (Death), Politics, MMC/FMC have to stop the end of the world, Power Struggle, Rescue, MMC Previously Abused
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A Court of Frost and Starlight (Book 4) by Sarah J. Maas
⭐ 2.75
MEDIUM, HEA
“This was more like a novella; pointless to the the larger story.” - Penelope Black
“Nothingburger.” - Cardigan B
Healing Together, Found Family, Fated Mates, Fae/Fairies, Friendship Group
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Dark Prince's Captive by Anna Zaires & Charmaine Pauls
⭐ 3.75
MEDIUM, HEA
“I read this because I saw it on Instagram and it's 240 pages. It was much more interesting than I expected. A sick woman is portaled to another world...and cured. And betrothed. And talks to dragons.” - Cardigan B
Fated Mates, Dragons, Portal to Another World, Different Worlds, Royal/Commoner, Alien/Human, Mysterious Illness, Magic
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Dating After the End of the World by Jeneva Rose
⭐ 3.75
MILD, HEA
“Civilization collapses and two people with childhood history must find a way to coexist with each other and other survivors. She is the forgiving type, but there's not enough grovelling.” - Cardigan B
Dystopian, Enemies to Lovers, MC is a Bully, FMC is back from the dead, Rescue, Loss of Parent, Survival, Military, Slow Burn
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The Deathless One by Emma Hamm
⭐ 3.75
MEDIUM, TO BE CONTINUED
“She's the soul of a princess murdered at her wedding and betrayed by the people she trusted. He's the god of death chillin in a pocket world where he was banished by witches. He resurrects her to seek both of their revenges. Multiple revenges.” - Cardigan B
Loss of Parent (Death), Revenge, MMC/FMC has a Cute Cat, MMC/FMC is back from the dead, Slow Burn
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Empire of Flame and Thorns by Marion Blackwood
⭐ 3.75
MEDIUM, HEA
“I’m here for the dryads and that crazy cliffhanger.” - Cardigan B
Fae/Fairies, Shifters, Dragons, MMC/FMC Involved in a Rebellion/Resistance, Hunger Games Vibes
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Feathers So Vicious (Book 1) by Liv Zander
⭐ 3.75
HOT, HEA
“‘My asshole winking in greeting at him!’ Bahaha. Well that's a new one.” - Penelope Black
Time Travel, Regency/Georgian/Victorian Period, Scottish MMC, English FMC, Slow Burn, Marriage of Convenience, Tortured MMC, Politics
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Shadows So Cruel (Book 2) by Liv Zander
⭐ 3.5
HOT, HEA
“This book was deflating compared to the first. It was the same book, but just less of everything: darkness, twists, intrigue.” - Cardigan B
Love Triangle, Slow Burn, MFM, Enemies to Lovers, Reverse Harem, Shapeshifter Romance, Shifters, Fated Mates, Forced Proximity, Shadow Daddy, Revenge, Arranged Marriage, Marriage of Convenience, Age 20+ FMC, Age 20+ MMC, Dub-Con, Virgin FMC, Possessive MMC, Tortured MMC, BDSM, Blood Play, Cliffhanger Ending, To-Be Continued, Redemption
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Forged in Blood by Sadie Kincaid
⭐ 3.75
HOT, TO BE CONTINUED
“This is a dark, bully romance that’s pretty good, but be warned: Book 2 isn’t as good.” - Cardigan B
Vampire, Hidden Powers, Hidden Identity, Dark Academia, Academic Setting, Age Gap Romance, Learning a New World, Why Choose
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Forsaken Mate by Vasilisa Drake
⭐ 3.75
MILD, TO BE CONTINUED
“Heartbroken by chapter 3. She’s a wolf shifter who finds her fated mate. He kills her. She finds herself in purgatory with an unlikely ally who helps her understand her place in the world.” - Cardigan B
Fated Mates, Wolf/Shifter, MMC/FMC is back from the dead, Murder Mystery, Mentor/Protege
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Given by Amy Pennza
⭐ 3.75
HOT, TO BE CONTINUED
“Her name is Given. sigh. She’s sold to the enemy to avoid war because she’s part vampire and her human realm despises her. The vampires take her, but she’s not ready for the king…and his general.” - Cardigan B
Vampire, Reverse Harem, Arranged Marriage, Hidden Powers, MMF
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Kingdom of Stars and Shadows by Holly Renee
⭐ 3.75
HOT, TO BE CONTINUED
“I don’t fully understand ‘Starblessed’ but I enjoyed the book. It’s hot. Lots of chemistry.” - Cardigan B
Royal/Commoner, Fated Mates, Vampire, Hidden Powers, Loss of Parent (Death), Different Worlds
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Kings and Bones by Juliette Cross
⭐ 3.75
MILD, HEA
“There’s something to be said for an FMC who sees her world and accepts her circumstances. Murgha is a positive, class act.” - Cardigan B
Fae/Fairies, Fated Mates, Age Gap Romance, Rescue, Strong Sister Bond, Hidden Identity, Hidden Powers
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Magical Midlife Madness by K.F. Breene
⭐ 3.75
MILD, TO BE CONTINUED
“I loved a 40+ FMC and they did her right. She moves into a magical house and meets the magical caretakers of the property who are her neighbors.” - Cardigan B
Hidden Powers, Age 40+ FMC, Separated/Divorcing/Divorced, Haunted, Isolated, Mysterious Land, Slow Burn, Shifter, Paranormal Protection
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Phantasma by Kaylie Smith
⭐ 3.75
MEDIUM, HEA
“Oooo this was a fun one. I'm still confused about why she would just...sign up for Phantasma on a whim (she's not a whim lady) but the trials were cool and I liked Blackwell.” - Cardigan B
Competition/Trials, Ghost Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Morally Grey MMC, Forced Proximity, Haunted, Isolated, Mysterious Land, Forbidden Love Interest, Mental Health, Time Travel, Portal to Another World
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The Queen's Line by Kathryn Moon
⭐ 3.75
HOT, TO BE CONTINUED
“Suspend belief. The plot is about how when royalty orgasms, it grows crops and repairs buildings. It’s a story about the second sister who feels inept and brings her supporters together to prove she can rule the kingdom. With helpful orgasms.” - Cardigan B
Royalty, Why Choose, Forced Proximity, Politics, Slow Burn, Age Gap Romance
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River of Shadows by Karina Halle
⭐ 3.75
HOT, TO BE CONTINUED
“She travels to the underworld to find her father. She’s kidnapped and kept by Hades. It’s a cool Persephone and Hades retelling.” - Cardigan B
Folklore Romance, Kidnapping, MC is trapped, Loss of Parent (Death), Cliffhanger Ending
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Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
⭐ 3.75
MEDIUM, TO BE CONTINUED
“She is the king’s daughter. He’s from an enemy race of vampires. They ally together and find that their differences aren’t that profound. Also, that cave scene.” - Cardigan B
Vampire, Enemies to Lovers, Slow Burn, Forced Proximity, Forbidden Love Interest, Political Opponents, FMC & MMC Enter Into A Contract
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Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
⭐ 3.75
MILD, TO BE CONTINUED
“Waited too long to read this. It’s good. We’ll read the series.” - Cardigan B
Royalty, Assassin, FMC & MMC Enter Into A Contract, Contract Killer, MMC/FMC has been to Prison, Loss of Parent (Death)
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All's Fair in Love and Magic by Lola Glass
⭐ 3.5
MEDIUM, HEA
“I love Lola Glass because her books are quick palette cleansers. Cute story about a witch seeking asylum and ending up married.” - Cardigan B
Witch/Warlock/Wizard, Dragons, FMC & MMC Enter Into A Contract, Arranged Marriage, Power Struggle, MMC/FMC is/are on the Run, MC is trapped
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Blue Moon by Lori Handeland
⭐ 3.5
MILD, HEA
“She’s a deputy sheriff investigating unexplained attacks. He’s a mysterious local lecturer who hates wearing shirts. They find themselves at the center of a global conspiracy.” - Cardigan B
Wolf/Shifter, Police Officer/Detective, Indigenous MMC, Mysterious Illness, MMC/FMC have to stop the end of the world
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Fated to the Wolf Prince by April L. Moon
⭐ 3.5
LOW, HEA
“Good book, the second one is even better. Start this series if you like shifters and fated mates.” - Cardigan B
Wolf/Shifter, Fated Mates, Overcoming Past Trauma, Protective MMC, Hidden Powers
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Hot for Slayer by Ali Hazelwood
⭐ 3.5
MEDIUM, HEA
“Lazlo’s voice on the audiobook wasn’t as sexy as it was…gruff. The story was fun: a vampire and her slayer in a centuries-long standoff. Fun, but not as immersive as her usual work.” - Cardigan B
Vampire, Enemies to Lovers, Folklore Romance, Story Told in Past and Present, Slow Burn, MMC/FMC has Amnesia, Short/Novella
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Lightlark by Alex Aster
⭐ 3.5
MILD, TO BE CONTINUED
“The first three-fourths of the book is world building, so beware. Once the plot begins to turn, things move quickly. It’s clever” - Cardigan B
Competition/Trials, Love Triangle, Enemies to Lovers, Forgotten Past/Loss of Time, Chosen One, Betrayal & Secrets, Morally Grey (MMC), Hidden Past
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Mate Hunt (Books 1-4) by Lola Glass
⭐ 3.5
MEDIUM, HEA
“Shifters shifters everywhere. The FMCs are all a little odd, but the HEAs are nice.” - Cardigan B
Shifters, Fated Mates, Band of Brothers, Virgin MMC, Down on Her Luck FMC, Kidnapping
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The Right Thing to Do by LovesBitca8
⭐ 3.5
MILD, HEA
“A Harry Potter fan fic? F*ck yes. This ones has Hermione’s first time so…just know that.” - Cardigan B
Harry Potter Vibes, Dramione Fanfic, Age 20+ FMC, Age 20+ MMC, Magic, Enemies to Lovers, Second Chance
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The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
⭐ 3.5
MILD, HEA
“Well-written and interesting plot. It's a bit...dry. She makes and sells jam. Uses some spells. Worries A LOT about people interacting with her. She's brusque unnecessarily and spends so many pages justifying her prickly attitude. You'd think a story about rebellion would be higher octane.” - Cardigan B
Small Town Return, Magic, MMC/FMC is/are on the Run, Loss of Parent (Death), Down on Her Luck FMC, Female Friendship Group, Food is Love, MC Loves to Read, Age 20+ FMC
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Taken by Fate by Shannon Mayer
⭐ 3.5
MILD, TO BE CONTINUED
“She got herself captured on purpose to save her friend. He leads the vampire army she’s sold to and makes an unlikely ally in Sienna.” - Cardigan B
Vampire, Kidnapping, Auction, Enemies to Lovers, "Mysterious, Brooding (MMC)", Slow Burn, Cliffhanger Ending
@35CARDIGANS @BLACKCAT100
Find us on The StoryGraph
Join The StoryGraph, our romance book tracking app of choice. Scope out our TBRs, see which titles we’ve read, and watch us rate in real time. Just more proof that we’re humans.
(Yea, we also use goodreads…but so do our families. Who we’re connected to).
Sizzle Scale
HOT
(Blazing & Explicit): This is the full five-alarm fire. Bedroom doors are flung wide open, and the scenes are DETAILED, EXPLICIT, and SCORCHING HOT.
MEDIUM
(Simmering & Steamy): Expect passionate kisses that don't always fade to black. Could be graphic, but probably one scene that goes full throttle.
MILD
(Sweet & Tender): Expect sweet sighs, maybe a stolen, chaste kiss or two, and plenty of heartwarming moments that make you go "awww." If things get more intimate, the bedroom door gently clicks shut (fade-to-black).
FLOUR
(Platonic, if anything): Rare to find around here. This is a book that has…no romance at all. We probably read this by accident.
FAQs
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A guide to romance novels of all heats and sizes. We’re recommending books we’ve read (we’ve read 1,000s) and telling you what to expect. We’ll help you do your research - your time and money will be happy.
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‘Happily Ever After’ - nearly every book you find on The Velvet Pages has an ‘HEA’. It means that the story reached a satisfying conclusion. It might say “To Be Continued” which means there’s probably an HEA in the series, but that particular title didn’t resolve the relationship.
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This is how sexual or sexy a book is. There’s a range: Hot, Medium, Mild, and Flour.
Hot is ‘“holy Hell I’m sweating.”
Medium is steamy.
Mild is tender and sweet.
Flour means there’s nothing romantic here.
We label each book so you know what to expect and you can choose what you’re comfortable reading.
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We rate each book out of 5. Cardigan B and Penelope Black can rate a book the same score on occasion, but usually the rating you see is an average of their scores.
The ratings are pretty subjective, but include things like:
Did the story make sense?
How did the characters measure up?
Was the writing literate?
Was the premise or were the plot points memorable?
Were the mysteries solved? Did the questions get answered? Did you leave me on ANOTHER CLIFFHANGER, ONYX STORM?
Did the book make us feel something?
Was there a cute cat?
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We recommend starting with Historical Romance, Fantasy Romance, or Sports Romance. They’re the most popular and you’ll find recognizable tropes.
Start with Mild to Medium heat and definitely choose an HEA.
If you’re still stuck, email us and we can give you some recs!
Heyyyvelvetpages@gmail.com
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We’ll read pretty much anything. Each month, Penelope and Cardigan select a list of about 20 books to read together. There’s at least one book from each genre and some popular titles that have been recently released.
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We sure do! It’s called ‘The Velvet Edit’. You can sign up at the top or on the ‘Contact Us’ page. We send out a themed list of recommendations each month and a ‘Quickie’ (a single title spotlight) two weeks later. We won’t spam you.
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That’s the section of the site where we share what we’re reading this month for our book club. You can check out our other reading lists from the past few months of 2025, too.
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Nope, not even close. The books on the site are generally the ones we enjoyed the most. Or hit on different trends we see coming up.
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They are! If you buy from a button click on the site, we might earn a commission. You’re not paying more for the product, though. We’re all about ‘pay less for smut’ around here.
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We use Storygraph. It has a friendly app interface and has every book we’ve read. It also shows your reading stats, which is unique.
We have separate Goodreads accounts, but they’re connected to our friends and family and…I don’t want them to see that I read the first and second book in a series about a merman with two dicks.
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MMC is Male Main Character. FMC is female main character.
There are typically one of each, but there can be multiple in genres like Omegaverse or Reverse Harem.
Or, like in the case of Court of Thorns and Roses, the MMC could be one person in one book and another person in another book.
Don’t come at me about ‘spoilers’ - these books were published in 2015.
Email us
Looking for a book recommendation? Want to give us a recommendation you’ve read? Need to yell into the void?

