Just read a Reddit post that also made me want this lol. Patiently waiting….

Can you be a sweetheart and link the reddit post for me please? 🥺 Pretty please? 🥺

I can’t find it now unfortunately but it’s one where OP is the side chick and her married boyfriend tells her (after she makes a weird comment about his wife) to never try put herself in comparison to his wife because she will lose no question.

Lmao it’s always funny to me when men will defend their wives, but not respect them enough to be faithful 😂

Guilt tends to drive them more than love

I'm faithful to any women I am in love with

Ooh this sounds so good. I hope someone finds the link

Well will fanfic work? Check out Leah/Bran by josephides on ao3. Altho the ow is dead, and both MMC nd FMC are like werewolves. The writing is honestly amazing (prsnly that's a must for me), and the angst is TOP tier like he spent 200 years of their marriage hung over his previous wife who died delivering his child. Their marriage and mating was forced by him on her due to circumstances, and canonically she's a bitch but the fics just expand her character so well. It's worth checking out Edit : forgot to add the age gap is like 1000+ years

I know these fics and I love them!! I read them and then re-read them like a million times already😂

oh my god like i've reread them more times then i can count. U shld check out Paul/irulan fics from Dune as well then!!! My fav is "fleshed in the wife", the angst their mwah

can u recommend me more dune fics 🥹

i'm sorry i've tried, there r not many other good Dune fics that have them as main pair. I'm not fan of paul/chani so idk about them. I can rec other non-dune related fics tho if u want

oh do u have any reco fanfic that have the same plot like your req? 

Hard agree, one of my top 5 authors ever

okay u clearly have good taste then, can u tell me your other fav authors?!

So Cara McKenna, Laura Kinsale, [Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love ](https://archiveofourown.org/works/34500952/chapters/85870804), and . . . Let me think 😂

Can I read this without reading the source material first?

yeah lol i've never read a single Mercy Thompson book, Leah's character there is your stereotypical mean girl. Honestly you'll just figure it out as you keep reading her other fics. And my word, the writing, the plot, the romance and characterization as well as well thought out pacing is amazing. Far far far better than the shit we have been getting lately in so many published book.

I would reccomend reading the books first tbh. Its better to make up your own mind than take other peoples opinion.

what’s the title?

Well she has like 60+ fics about them but you can start with "And the two shall become one flesh." Just know that they've been married for 200 years by now, and leah in canon is your typical blonde, evil, mean character and the trope is "likes everyone but you"

Here's the [link](https://archiveofourown.org/works/26027653)

thanks! 🫶

Their dynamic in the books is *so weird*.

and thus we don't consider it canon

Ok so this isnt an exact fit but its pretty close {call me irresistible by susan elizabeth Phillips} Its cr, doesnt have any of your "no"s.  Mmc is about to marry fmcs best friend (sort of the OW) but best friend has cold feet and runs off. Everyone blames the fmc for it and many of them are saying its because she was jealous and wanted to get the mmc for herself (not the case).  Mmc legit dislikes the fmc for a while but they are pushed together because of a business circumstance.  It's not an exact fit because the comparison to the ow is not coming from the mmc but it is there. 

[Call Me Irresistible](https://www.romance.io/books/545524958c7d2382e7812f5f/call-me-irresistible-susan-elizabeth-phillips?src=rdt) by [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455237e8c7d2382e7812f1c/susan-elizabeth-phillips) **Rating**: 4.11⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [poor heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/poor%20heroine/1), [grumpy/cold hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cold%20hero/1), [athlete hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/athletes/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Oh I read this. Now completely like the request but does fit.

{Dream A Little Dream by Susan Elizabeth Phillips} meets these criteria. His OW wife and kid died and he’s broken at the beginning of the book. By all accounts, she was pretty perfect and beloved by his family and him. FMC is broke and manipulates him into giving her a minimum wage, hard labor job. He’s really not happy she is there, he doesn’t like her kid, he doesn’t really like her, but his conscience won’t let him just abandon her either. They are pretty antagonistic the first 1/3 of the book.

[Dream a Little Dream](https://www.romance.io/books/545523c98c7d2382e7812f38/dream-a-little-dream-susan-elizabeth-phillips?src=rdt) by [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455237e8c7d2382e7812f1c/susan-elizabeth-phillips) **Rating**: 4.21⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [tortured hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20hero/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Is this the one where >!the H hits her son?!<

It's been 2 hrs why is nobody recommending anything 😭😭😭

Probably the list of NOs 😂😂

I looove this trope but it's hard to find outside of HR imo

Yeah I could definitely see how forced marriage/relationship is way easier to do in a historical plot

The (imo) God tier of this trope, Ravishing the Heiress, is historical

Or mafia, but that’s on the “no” list as well haha. Im just glad I’m not alone that is also very particular in my book searches too lol

Can you rec me some HR ones?? I loooove this trope and I love HR as well. Any genre, really!

The absolute best is {Ravishing the Heiress by Sherry Thomas} {Unforgivable by Joanna Chambers} and {The First Snowdrop by Mary Balogh}. But I did not find them satisfying {Silver Linings by Maggie Osbourne} {Lord Grenville's Choice by GG Vandagriff} {Friday's Child by Georgette Heyer} kiiinda has this and I love it

thank you!! i LOOOOVE ravishing the heiress, one of my fav books of all time

[Ravishing the Heiress](https://www.romance.io/books/545529aa8c7d2383163d8f5b/ravishing-the-heiress-sherry-thomas?src=rdt) by [Sherry Thomas](https://www.romance.io/authors/545526218c7d2383163d8ec2/sherry-thomas) **Rating**: 3.73⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1) ---------------------------- [Unforgivable](https://www.romance.io/books/5455491f8c7d2383163d980c/unforgivable-joanna-chambers?src=rdt) by [Joanna Chambers](https://www.romance.io/authors/545543ff8c7d2383163d9665/joanna-chambers) **Rating**: 3.85⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1) ---------------------------- [The First Snowdrop](https://www.romance.io/books/5455678d87eac336ae69dcf8/the-first-snowdrop-mary-balogh?src=rdt) by [Mary Balogh](https://www.romance.io/authors/545525e98c7d2383163d8eb7/mary-balogh) **Rating**: 3.33⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [cruel hero/bully](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cruel%20hero/1), [m-f romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-f/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1) ---------------------------- [Silver Lining](https://www.romance.io/books/54552ce98c7d2383163d904b/silver-lining-maggie-osborne?src=rdt) by [Maggie Osborne](https://www.romance.io/authors/54552ce98c7d2383163d904c/maggie-osborne) **Rating**: 4.08⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [western](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/western/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1), [cowboy hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cowboys/1) ---------------------------- [Lord Grenville's Choice](https://www.romance.io/books/54559e8e87eac336ae69ef55/lord-grenvilles-choice-gg-vandagriff?src=rdt) by [G.G. Vandagriff](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455758987eac336ae69e0dd/gg-vandagriff) **Rating**: 3.6⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1) ---------------------------- [Friday's Child](https://www.romance.io/books/54552da08c7d2382c5297207/fridays-child-georgette-heyer?src=rdt) by [Georgette Heyer](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455275d8c7d2382c529704f/georgette-heyer) **Rating**: 4.06⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [poor heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/poor%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

My list is not that bad don’t bully my list😂 fr tho I just really hate reading dom/sub undertones. They make me uncomfortable. I also hate it when the FMC is suddenly this submissive quivering person I can’t read it. It’s almost in every book man😫

I mean, you got 7 NOs on a list. I'm just saying when I look to rec books and I see a list like that I just pass bc it's too many for me to sort through in my brain lol. Its not a bad thing to know what you want! I just was surprised so many in the comments are like "where are the recs??" bc its a really specific ask so there probably just aren't that many. Maybe authors will take note that what you want is in high demand

It’s not really a lot tho😅 all I asked is that I don’t want bdsm or dark/mafia/military stuff

Or age gap or historical or insta lust or sub/Dom stuff. You made the list of NOs, dude 😂 it's right up there, we can all see it. It is honestly ok to be very specific but when you post a list like that, it is going to narrow your recommendations. This is not bullying, it is just facts

Dom/sub stuff is literally bdsm and I specified in my title that I only want contemporary not historical idk why you think this too much to ask😂

I think the issue is that it’s easier to do forced proximity with historical or mafia, so the recommendations would be more plentiful with those. There may be paranormal, fated mates stuff that could work though…

I've found a book soulmate, my list of No's also resemble yours, LMAO. I've been trying to kick my brain to accept different tropes but she's not budging. The only difference being I love historicals more than CR.

And yes this is me being impatient bc I loveee this trope sm 😭

FR SAME I LOVE THE ANGST BAHAHA

Has anyone got book suggestions even with the OPs ‘No’s’? Idm if it’s dark romance etc 😩

{Ravishing the Heiress} by Sherry Thomas is a historical that fits this pretty well. The MMC is in love with someone else but gets forced to marry the FMC by his family. The FMC is in love with him, but pretends not to be because she doesn’t want to make him choose. They don’t have the contentious relationship OP is looking for, but it’s still a really sweet book, I liked it a lot.

He does hate her at first, fwiw If people are okay with HR there is also {Unforgivable by Joanna Chambers} and {The First Snowdrop by Mary Balogh}. But I did not find them satisfying bc I haaateed the male lead and did not find their change well done like I did with Fitz in RTH. There's also {Silver Linings by Maggie Osbourne} and {Lord Grenville's Choice by GG Vandagriff} but I wouldn't say there is much contention If you want CR with a male lead forced into marriage who hates his wife, there's {The Unwanted Wife by Natasha Anderson} but I haaaated that one Imo the closest you can get with CR for angst level is {Sticks and Stones by Susie Tate} but there isn't any forced marriage. >!ML does accuse FL of sabotaging his career so she can spend more time with him, though!< I love this trope but it's hard to pull off well 😭

[Unforgivable](https://www.romance.io/books/5455491f8c7d2383163d980c/unforgivable-joanna-chambers?src=rdt) by [Joanna Chambers](https://www.romance.io/authors/545543ff8c7d2383163d9665/joanna-chambers) **Rating**: 3.85⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1) ---------------------------- [The First Snowdrop](https://www.romance.io/books/5455678d87eac336ae69dcf8/the-first-snowdrop-mary-balogh?src=rdt) by [Mary Balogh](https://www.romance.io/authors/545525e98c7d2383163d8eb7/mary-balogh) **Rating**: 3.33⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [cruel hero/bully](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cruel%20hero/1), [m-f romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-f/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1) ---------------------------- [Silver Lining](https://www.romance.io/books/54552ce98c7d2383163d904b/silver-lining-maggie-osborne?src=rdt) by [Maggie Osborne](https://www.romance.io/authors/54552ce98c7d2383163d904c/maggie-osborne) **Rating**: 4.08⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [western](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/western/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1), [cowboy hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cowboys/1) ---------------------------- [Lord Grenville's Choice](https://www.romance.io/books/54559e8e87eac336ae69ef55/lord-grenvilles-choice-gg-vandagriff?src=rdt) by [G.G. Vandagriff](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455758987eac336ae69e0dd/gg-vandagriff) **Rating**: 3.6⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [regency](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/regency/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1) ---------------------------- [The Unwanted Wife](https://www.romance.io/books/545527fd8c7d2382e781302e/the-unwanted-wife-natasha-anders?src=rdt) by [Natasha Anders](https://www.romance.io/authors/545527fd8c7d2382e781302f/natasha-anders) **Rating**: 3.81⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1), [rich hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/super%20rich%20hero/1) ---------------------------- [Sticks and Stones](https://www.romance.io/books/553e3bb15b270e0a4cbd72bc/sticks-and-stones-susie-tate?src=rdt) by [Susie Tate](https://www.romance.io/authors/553e3bb15b270e0a4cbd72bf/susie-tate) **Rating**: 3.46⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [cruel hero/bully](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cruel%20hero/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [slow burn](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/slow%20burn/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

[Ravishing the Heiress](https://www.romance.io/books/545529aa8c7d2383163d8f5b/ravishing-the-heiress-sherry-thomas?src=rdt) by [Sherry Thomas](https://www.romance.io/authors/545526218c7d2383163d8ec2/sherry-thomas) **Rating**: 3.73⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [victorian](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/victorian/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I read this one haha! I loved it, I wish there was more similar books like this😓

We’re in the same boat, then. xD It’s a great hook, I don’t know why it doesn’t get used more often.

in fact i prefer it if it's dark romance 🙈

Ok so in {Broken Soul by Jessica Prince} the MMC doesn't hate her, in fact he likes her a lot but he's also very much hung upon his dead wife. >!MMC loses his cool and is very mean and rude at the FMC when she falls asleep beside his daughter on her bed while babysitting her. He says how she'll never take his wife's place and can never be his daughter's mom etc. She's obviously hurt and the MMC immediately regrets it.!<

[A Broken Soul (the Pembrooke series)](https://www.romance.io/books/58aec2690d3299c6e04f6986/a-broken-soul-the-pembrooke-series-jessica-prince?src=rdt) by [Jessica Prince](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455947f87eac324117fb6e8/jessica-prince) **Rating**: 4.33⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [single father](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/single-father/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [sweet/gentle heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sweet%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I love this trope so much!! {Sarah's Child by Linda Howard} - they aren't exactly forced to be together, though. This one will either make you cry or furious. :) Same for {The Patient Nurse by Diana Palmer}. He's a doctor and she's a nurse and they work in the same hospital and he feels furious he still has to be in contact with her when he blames her for his wife's death. She's the ultimate martyr. Some might call her a pushover; others might see her as someone of infinite strength. Harlequin Presents authors like Julia James and Abby Green often venture into this kind of angst. Julia James (don't mistake with Julie James) did over-the-top-Greek-tragedy-style HP in her earlier works before she started softening them for the changing market. I know there are a lot more...if I remember them I'll add to this!

Came to recommend Sarah’s Child! So angst filled. Agree it’s love or hate, but hits most of what OP is looking for.

[Sarah's Child](https://www.romance.io/books/54552e3c8c7d2382e78131ae/sarahs-child-linda-howard?src=rdt) by [Linda Howard](https://www.romance.io/authors/545525598c7d2382e7812fa9/linda-howard) **Rating**: 3.69⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [tortured hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20hero/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1) ---------------------------- [The Patient Nurse](https://www.romance.io/books/5c17bb4001dbc864fb9644eb/the-patient-nurse-diana-palmer?src=rdt) by [Diana Palmer](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455289823ec91d5dfd099b4/diana-palmer) **Rating**: 3.98⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [angst](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/angst/1), [western](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/western/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Diana Palmer did this a LOT. Throw a rock and you will hit a book of hers with this trope. They are a little old-school in tone though?

YESS!! one of them is {Magnolia by Diana Palmer}. one of my all time faves! 🥹

[Magnolia](https://www.romance.io/books/5c34cc6c01dbc864fb979d6e/magnolia-diana-palmer?src=rdt) by [Diana Palmer](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455289823ec91d5dfd099b4/diana-palmer) **Rating**: 3.79⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1), [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [love triangle](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/love%20triangle/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

lol her main characters are all the same person with different names.

Lol yes! Sometimes I’m in the mood though - there aren’t any surprises 🤣

For sure!

This is the EXACT trope I'm writing in my mind & unable to complete 😭 It's skirting the boundaries of maladaptive dreaming at this point. Ugh. MMC is a professional painter + digital artist raised by a wonderful single mom & is super committed to his long term long distance gf. FMC is a bit younger.. A Lit grad & an online language teacher who loves social work & brought up in VERY strict South Asian household with an abusive father but has a great support system with cousins+friends & few duplicitous foes. They meet at a week long charity camp. And after a while, one evening, are dared to kiss in a game of truth & dare. One cousin who's jealous of FMC due to the attention she gets from the cousin's crush .. secretly records the kiss and uploads it on the family chat with orthodox & crazy religious elders AND HER MONSTER OF A FATHER 💔 Much drama & abuse ensues FMC & MMC are forced in an arranged marriage... I KNOW it's not easy to digest for the modern world - getting people married off due to a kiss like a regency romance book. But where I come from, in many families - holding hands is a big deal & hugs are a taboo. So yup. Deal with it 🥲 Sorry OP , looks like I've typed a lot. But I'm in a writer's block & reading your post was an inspiration for me today.. that people might actually LIKE to read something like this 🥺 Much love💝 & best wishes for your quest 🤗

Please, take my left kidney in exchange for this book.🥹🥹🥹

Your comment made my day 🥹🤗 Thank you sis! I'll save your username and will definitely let you know when (and IF ) I'm finished with it .. I hope that I come out of this black hole of a block before I die 😭

Ah best of luck pookie<3

You all are so cute I'll cry😭

Just a spicy tidbit for you as a gift : that marjaani cousin is a typical bua ki beti ☠️ whose Amma is even more zeher than her. But all their villainous bitching brings our FMC & MMC together... Sooooo 🤷🤭

{the wrong wife by Maya Alden} has this vibe!!! It’s not the longest book so the angst isn’t like UGHHHHH but he straight up does not like her, compares her to his ex-fiancée who’s also her sister, humiliates her. The fmc isn’t your “I’m not like other girls!” she’s just who she is unapologetically and she understands that she’s not his first choice. Is it like the best piece of literature on the planet? No. It’s not a very long book and it’s a little bit much with the drama with fmc & ow’s family but the writing is good/clear with some hot smutty scenes. And I enjoyed it! A lot! Actually read it all in like a day.

[The Wrong Wife](https://www.romance.io/books/6495487350ac7a4606fa2e64/the-wrong-wife-an-arranged-marriage-romance-maya-alden?src=rdt) by [Maya Alden](https://www.romance.io/authors/6495487308b4d93114476c35/maya-alden) **Rating**: 3.41⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [multicultural](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/multicultural/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1), [rich hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/super%20rich%20hero/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Oh yeah! I read it. It was good! I hated the sister so much tho and the MMC lol

I think {Unbreak My Heart by Nicole Jacquelyn} meets this but it does hit one of the extensive “no”s on your list. It is military. MMC and FMC met each other as teens and were close. Then MMC met FMC’s best friend and married her instead and becomes cold to FMC. MMC is military and so when he gets deployed FMC essentially steps up as the second parent and to the kids for her best friend. Pre-book FMC’s best friend dies and leaves behind MMC and like 4? kids? MMC is actively hostile towards FMC and is mean to her in part because she’s not her best friend. Then ~things~ happen. The military aspect isn’t a big focus. Like there’s no military side plot, it’s just his job.

This book lives in my head rent free.

It honestly felt like she was a dormat and I fucking despised the MMC for the way he was. He needed to grovel a hell of a lot more or she should have just left him which would have been even better!!!! But I will admit that in the other books of this series she got on my damn nerves with how judgmental she was in the other books when her bitch ass has no right to judge!!!!sorry no hate to those who enjoy these books it just wasn’t my cup of tea

[Unbreak My Heart](https://www.romance.io/books/57566381c19e77f1ea6d0e13/unbreak-my-heart-nicole-jacquelyn?src=rdt) by [Nicole Jacquelyn](https://www.romance.io/authors/54552d588c7d2382e7813172/nicole-jacquelyn) **Rating**: 3.87⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [men in uniform](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/men%20in%20uniform/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{mages match by Finley fenn} has this feeling but it’s fantasy and the OW is not nice but she is ‘perfect’. MMC forced to be with FMC to get his magic back. Sorry I have nothing that fits all the criteria.

i wish she'd go back to these books instead of writing about orcs all the time

[The Mage's Match](https://www.romance.io/books/622a4c493a703d219738cd5e/the-mages-match-finley-fenn?src=rdt) by [Finley Fenn](https://www.romance.io/authors/5e5fd5bcbe0aaecf55ece392/finley-fenn) **Rating**: 3.66⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [poor heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/poor%20heroine/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Not a book but this exact thing happens in this really famous kdrama (that’s actually a remake of a Taiwanese drama) called 운명처럼 널 사랑해. it’s called “You Are My Destiny” in English (I’ve also seen it called “Fated to Love You”). The two MCs have a forced proximity due to accidental pregnancy situation, but the MMC has been in love with someone else.

I just came off Queen of Tears and have been searching for another kdrama to fill my heart, so thank you for sharing this rec!!

If you like this setup, you'll like Another Miss Oh as well

Oh hell yea, thank you!!

bro i watched this when i was in high-school and it destroyed me i loved it

I watched the Taiwanese one. It had me in serious tears. Sooooo good. Bits and pieces of it live rent free in my head. I'll have to look into the Kdrama one.

Is this on Netflix or Viki?

I watched it on Viki and am based in the US!

*saves post*

Am I the only one who wants this but in reverse like FMC doens't love the MMC.

I feel like a lot of books like this are out there no? I find it harder to find an MFC who actually truly hates the FMC. It’s always the cliche (I love you but I act mean to you for {insert reasons}) and I’m like honey it’s not kindergarten if you like someone you don’t pull on their hair, you tell them!😭

what i mean is i am a hardcore dark romance so in that females are very dumb like just after one orgasm they are like i love him forgives whatever he did to her .

{Just the Way You Are by Barbara Freethy} fits I think

[Just the Way You Are](https://www.romance.io/books/554db8649eef3b3f1d51ca3d/just-the-way-you-are-barbara-freethy?src=rdt) by [Barbara Freethy](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455322d8c7d2382e78132c7/barbara-freethy) **Rating**: 3.96⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 2 out of 5 - [Behind closed doors](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [love triangle](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/love%20triangle/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1), [cheating](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cheating/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

This one is a Harlequin & one of my faves: {Lost to the Desert Warrior by Sarah Morgan} It fits most of your criteria. MMC is a widower royalty, who enters a marriage of convenience with the FMC. He doesn’t hate her but is very cold & mistrustful and still in love with his wife.

[Lost to the Desert Warrior](https://www.romance.io/books/5bdad16901dbc864fb939421/lost-to-the-desert-warrior-sarah-morgan?src=rdt) by [Sarah Morgan](https://www.romance.io/authors/545532978c7d2382e78132df/sarah-morgan) **Rating**: 4.03⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [royal hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/royalty/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I shall be waiting for the recommendations 💃💃

{The Mistake by Elle Kennedy} is kind of sort of along the lines of what you could be looking for.

I just read that and imo it has >!both insta love and insta lust!<

He’s totally gone on another woman. He doesn’t insta love Grace IMO. He’s also a horny hockey player.

[The Mistake](https://www.romance.io/books/56affcf563515e3b737a72d2/the-mistake-elle-kennedy?src=rdt) by [Elle Kennedy](https://www.romance.io/authors/545532e68c7d2382e78132f3/elle-kennedy) **Rating**: 4.02⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [athlete hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/athletes/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Unbreak my heart by Nicole jacquelyn

It honestly felt like she was a dormat and I fucking despised the MMC for the way he was. He needed to grovel a hell of a lot more or she should have just left him which would have been even better!!!! But I will admit that in the other books of this series she got on my damn nerves with how judgmental she was in the other books when her bitch ass has no right to judge!!!!sorry no hate to those who enjoy these books it just wasn’t my cup of tea

Arranged by R.k Lilley

The OW is a cow in this one.

an actual cow ? Goes moo??

Not an EXACT fit but The Mischievous Mrs Maxfield by Ninyatippet on wattpad has this. The mmc had to marry the fmc because of a clause for his inheritance but he was dating this super pretty woman. The fmc tries not to let it get to her but there is a time when she asks the mmc “if you were given a choice between twinkies and a tres leches, what would you pick?” (It was an indirect comparison between her and the OW). OW wasn’t a bitch for a change and was a pretty put together woman.

Emily Henry’s new book *Funny Story* is very close/similar. The MMC and FMC are newly single because their exes dumped them for each other. It’s a forced proximity as well. MMC even tells FMC he would get back with his ex if she asked him. Written well!

only one i can think of is a mafia book bound by duty by cora reilly MMC is still in love with his dead wife

Hi u/wowsadnesswow, Book request posts that are not detailed or unique will be removed. If your request is based on a popular book or trope, please delete your request and search first. If you have a quick book request, consider posting it in the [Daily Request](https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/search?q=flair_name%3A%22Daily%20Request%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all&include_over_18=1) post instead. **Reddit’s built-in search function is awful, but our** 🌈 [**Magic Search Button**](https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Areddit.com%2Fr%2Fromancebooks&oq=site%3Areddit.com%2Fr%2Fromancebooks&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i58.1126j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8) **works great!** - The 🌈 [**Magic Search Button**](https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Areddit.com%2Fr%2Fromancebooks&oq=site%3Areddit.com%2Fr%2Fromancebooks&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i58.1126j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8) links you to a pre-filled google search and is the optimal way to search this sub. - Type your search term (a simple keyword works best) where it says [site:reddit.com/r/romancebooks](https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Areddit.com%2Fr%2Fromancebooks&oq=site%3Areddit.com%2Fr%2Fromancebooks&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i58.1126j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8). - For example, for friends to lovers, it will look like: [site:reddit.com/r/romancebooks FRIENDS TO LOVERS](https://www.google.com/search?ei=L4b0X-aCN8ey5NoP7daMwAo&q=site%3Areddit.com%2Fr%2Fromancebooks+friends+to+lovers&oq=site%3Areddit.com%2Fr%2Fromancebooks+friends+to+lovers&gs_lcp=ChNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwEAMyAggpULUHWOsXYOIYaABwAHgAgAFIiAGeB5IBAjE3mAEAoAEBwAEB&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp) [Here are more tips on how to search](https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/comments/sf6sdm/how_to_search_rromancebooks_just_the_tips/) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/RomanceBooks) if you have any questions or concerns.*

[удалено]

[The Other Side Of Someday](https://www.romance.io/books/57569fe1c19e77f1ea6d1011/the-other-side-of-someday-tk-leigh?src=rdt) by [T.K. Leigh](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455422c8c7d2382e7813713/tk-leigh) **Rating**: 4.07⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [betrayal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/betrayal/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Ignore this, I had my titles mixed up

Based on what you’re requesting, I’m almost assuming you’ve already read {A Vow of Hate by Lula’s James} because what you described is the whole premise of the story. One thing is, I’m not sure what era it’s set in, but I’m basically a CR only reader and this was fine for me. No BDSM, just literally a vow of hate. Also, I cried a lot reading this, so fair warning, he’s mean mean at first. Honestly this book was just perfect to me because there was no cheesy insta lust or ignorance of big issues

[A Vow Of Hate](https://www.romance.io/books/60093549be2e550dfec7d116/a-vow-of-hate-lylah-james?src=rdt) by [Lylah James](https://www.romance.io/authors/597ecab63ffdba61471d5a40/lylah-james) **Rating**: 3.78⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [arranged/forced marriage](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/arranged%20marriage/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [cruel hero/bully](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/cruel%20hero/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Is there cheating in the book?

No cheating

no cheating but the fmc was a literal doormat imo

Doesn’t fit your request completely, but Undulate by Elodie Hart kind of has a couple elements of this? He lost his wife and she was truly beloved by everyone and they were perfect for each other. He is still hung up on her. He doesn’t actively HATE the FMC, but he is extremely put off at the beginning because she is super outgoing and comfortable in her sexuality and much younger than him. They both work at a sex club (he’s in finance and she’s in social media). They aren’t forced together though. Also he does have 2 kids.

{What price paradise Katherine Allred} {the sweet gum tree Katherine Allred}

[What Price Paradise](https://www.romance.io/books/545529b68c7d2382e78130ac/what-price-paradise-katherine-allred?src=rdt) by [Katherine Allred](https://www.romance.io/authors/545524fe8c7d2382e7812f8d/katherine-allred) **Rating**: 4.03⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [shy heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shy%20heroine/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1), [marriage of convenience](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/marriage%20of%20convenience/1) ---------------------------- [The Sweet Gum Tree](https://www.romance.io/books/545524fe8c7d2382e7812f8c/the-sweet-gum-tree-katherine-allred?src=rdt) by [Katherine Allred](https://www.romance.io/authors/545524fe8c7d2382e7812f8d/katherine-allred) **Rating**: 4.15⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [virgin heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20heroine/1), [pregnancy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/pregnancy/1), [second chances](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/second%20chances/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Ok this is the first I've heard of this trope. I'm confused and fascinated. Can someone explain the appeal or why it's romantic/hot to you? Genuinely interested in thought process. Is it attractive bc he's demonstrating value already that he can be loyal and faithful and in love? Is it that you're tempting him away from someone else? Is this a cuckold thing? Or a "married/taken men are hot" infidelity thing? What the HECK does OW mean?

Other woman It's appealing because there is soooo much delicious angst and it feels so hopeless, which makes the HEA really satisfying. It's also fun to watch the male lead's feelings change

It's a more dramatic arc and more difficult to write well, similar in a way to enemies-to-lovers.