I'm looking for a VERY specific cheating trope, and I'm hoping someone can help me find a book like this because I've been struggling to find one 😭

Basically, the MMC and FMC meet in college and start getting close. They flirt, develop feelings, have chemistry, maybe even start hooking up, and the FMC genuinely believes he's single. BUT what she doesn't know is that he's actually been dating his high school gf this whole time. His gf goes to a different college or lives far away, so they're in a long distance relationship, and he's been keeping her a secret from the FMC.

I want the angst that comes with the FMC eventually finding out that he's had a gf all along. Imagine finding out that the guy you've been falling for has been calling and texting his gf while also pursuing you. The feeling of betrayal when she realises she's unknowingly been the other woman is EXACTLY what I'm looking for.

AND I NEED THE GROVELLING! Once the FMC discovers the truth, I want her to be genuinely hurt and pull away from him. I don't want her to forgive him after one apology or immediately take him back just because he says he loves her. I want him to realise what he's done, regret his decisions, chase after her, and actually WORK to earn her trust again.

I'd also really like the MMC to show genuine remorse for cheating on his gf, not just regret getting caught or losing the FMC. Ideally, he comes clean to his girlfriend himself and takes responsibility for what he did instead of continuing to lie or blaming the circumstances. I'm also ok if the FMC finding out is what forces him to confront his actions, as long as he genuinely acknowledges that he hurt both women.

Basically, I want a messy situation where the MMC has to face the consequences of his own choices. I want him to feel guilty about the cheating, be honest about what happened, and then grovel for the FMC because he's genuinely in love with her and knows he messed everything up.

My preferences:

- M/F romance

- Contemporary setting, preferably college/university

- 🌶

- Lots of angst, betrayal, guilt, tension and yearning

- Full length novel

- First person dual POV

- HEA preferred

I just want that specific plot of him having a gf back home while getting involved with the FMC at college, the FMC eventually discovering the truth, and him desperately trying to make things right afterwards.

Please don't recommend books where he simply has an ex, where he breaks up with his gf before anything happens with the FMC, or where the cheating is the other way around. The secret gf, actual cheating, FMC's discovery, and MMC's grovelling are the main things I'm looking for.

If you know a book that matches this, please help a girl out! 🙏

I am so happy that we got a new Mariana Zapata book this year and especially that she announced the Release Date only a few weeks ago, really nice for us impatient people😅

And I have to say all in all I loved it! From the vibes it reminded me a bit of Wait for it with the wholesome Family vibes. I just love how Mariana creates these (found) Family vibes and how immersed I get.

Also kinda loved how it deviated a bit from her other Books in the sense that in this one the MMC was the more oblivious one (at least in the how to do life sense).

But this also leads me to my only Main critic, which is That the MMC is way too oblivious how to do life for a 30 year old especially because he fully trusted strangers to manage all of his Money after his own Family had already betrayed him which is why it took me a while to warm up to him, but after a while loved him as well!

And staying true to the Zapata Universe we had a cameo from Christian Delgado (iirc we know him from the wall of Winnipeg and me)

Can’t wait to reread it in a few months🥰

Ok just finished Fake Skating and loved the story all-in-all (even though miscommunication upsets me). The writing is good and you really get to know the characters. One thing that I am still thinking about is the Benji situation… why did she bring him to the secret shed? They never really explain it and they just breeze past it. I want to know. Even if my friend ghosted me, in this case her BEST childhood friend, but their parent got into a bad accident I would want to be with them and check in. But she brought him to the shed? THEIR SHED? Of course they are young but to me it just doesn’t make sense. I remember the beginning when we learned they talked on a plane I believe but it still feels weird. AND Ben suggests that they slept together there and she still is nice to him, did that happen??? In my head, no, it couldn’t have but they never explain. What’s y’all’s opinions and thoughts, did you notice this and did it bug you?

Not very well known but one of my favorite enemies to lovers books. The disdain felt real and earned. The space politics and found family just made it 10x better!

I really hate the trope where the MMC pushes away the FMC because he doesn’t think he’s good enough and she deserves better, blah blah blah 🙄 I want my MMC’s to be so obsessed with the FMC that even if he knows he’s not good enough, he’s like “too bad, because she’s stuck with me.”

One reason I hate this trope so much is that it usually leads to the FMC chasing after him with no self respect and looking like a pathetic doormat while he hurts her over and over. BUT I was thinking that I might like it if the FMC actually gets to the point of being like “you know what? You’re right. You’re not good enough for me if you’re willing to let someone else have me.”

Is there anything like this? Where the FMC sticks around for a bit trying to convince him, but then he hurts her one too many times and she’s just done. I want her to actually be done done too. She stops chasing him, she dates other men, I’d love it if she actually connected with another man and even had good sex. Not pining over the MMC or always comparing everyone to him.

Meanwhile the MMC is crashing out, realizing he can’t live without her. But she makes him woooork to get her back. No BBS, no immediate caving to him. I want her to be like “you said you weren’t good enough for me, that I deserved better. So why should I give you a chance?” And he has to prove he’s all in and is the best and only option for her.

The only book I can think of that even came close to this is {Nickel’ Story by Cate C Wells} but she didn’t really move on and she caved pretty quickly with the minimum of effort by him.

I prefer CR, M/F, no Reverse Harem or Reverse Age Gap, No cheating or real OW drama, OM drama is ok.

I’ve been rewatching Grey’s Anatomy’s earlier seasons after a long time and every time I restart I always have this craving for books where the FMC has a sad past, maybe neglectful parents, where she basically has no one but she is still very strong despite it. Like, she always rolls with the punches life throws at her, maybe gets depressed sometimes, but perseveres despite it. I don’t want her to be beaten down in monetary/career aspects.

The MMC could be a Derek (minus the cheating), or more caring if possible. He doesn’t have to be her knight in shining armor (but if he is I wouldn’t mind either), but I very much want her to be independently strong with a good career.

I am open to all genres (MF please). Contemporary, PNR, NA, Fantasy etc. all welcome!

I guess the requirements for the request sound a bit basic but when I searched with keywords I couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for. I basically want the gut punch moments to be from emotional situations, not because she is a doormat, if that makes sense. Spice level 🔥🔥++ (above closed door) please. Thank you in advance!

Some of my own recommendations with similar vibes:
- {guild hunter series by nalini singh} - Elena has a very sad past but she is a mega badass despite it, has horrible family but always perseveres

- {bride by ali hazelwood} - Misery has such shitty family she is literally named ‘Misery’, but she never stays down

- {the worst guy by kate canterbary} - Sara has a very similar parent as Meredith, they are even doctors to boot

Kinda imaging a story where a hardened criminal who made alot of mistakes in the past are finally out of prison and he's super determined to fix his life like go straight and cleanup his mess. While FMC is that law-abiding well-adjusted sweet person how is a complete opposite of MMC..

Then he meets FMC whatever the circumstances may be like whether she's his employee, tenant, maybe they had a ONS, maybe she's just helping out. I'd even take accidental pregnancy story. Whatever the plot cooks why they are interacting.

But regardless of the circumstances it's a story of a hardened ex-con determined to not repeat his mistakes in life after prison and a woman who is a sweet kind woman who did well in life and just the polar opposite of him.

I want the dynamics of the judgement and all that towards the MMC for obvious reasons he's a ex-con with terrible past. So FMC, her family and friends are not just gonna trust him immediately and that would be a great read for it.

Contemporary would be best here but i'm fine with historical too. HEA please !

Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjbGaoEKZdE

The name change makes sense, I don't mind that they changed the setting to Christmas, and Leighton Meester surprises me (in a good way), but looks like my fear about Jared Paladecki is confirmed. They have no chemistry whatsoever.

Hello! It is my birthday and I'm all in my feels. Looking for a book rec wherein the love interest goes all out for the MC's birthday. Maybe the MC has not previously been properly celebrated. Perhaps they are not all that excited about birthdays generally.
Preference for contemporary fiction, which I think would also fit this request better anyway. Thank you!!

Hi I’m searching for this book that I cannot for the life of me remember the name of! I haven’t actually read it but I remember Jen from The Book Refuge recommended it ages ago.

It’s a baseball romance set in a small town. The FMC is a single mum and I’m pretty sure she has a tween/teen child (not sure if boy or girl) that has joined their schools baseball team. The MMC is the teams coach and he might have been a professional player previously? Idk lol

I know the cover is yellow and that this book is part of a series.

Any help would be appreciated!!!💕

Lovely people of RomanceBooks, tell us what book scenes had you hot and bothered this week!

Did you read something spicy that had you fanning yourself or glancing over your shoulder? Anything that got you horny, lusty, or thirsty? Share it with your friends here! Help us tame our thirst or make us more thirsty! This post is all about sexy passages you've read.

Please give more than just the book name and author! Tell me why you think the book deserves to be highlighted in the Thirsty Thursday thread. Share those sexy passages that brought you to comment on the thread!

Love is love is love - all pairings and varieties of thirstiness are welcome here ❤️

[WWTBC]

I'm trying to find a romance novel I read a couple of years ago. I can't remember any character names or where the story takes place, but I remember some specific plot details.

What I remember:

- The FMC is an elementary school teacher.

- She meets the MMC through one of her students, who is his daughter. I think he comes to pick her up from school.

- The MMC is initially quite standoffish, but they eventually get to know each other and enter into a relationship.

- There is no mention of the daughter's mother, at least initially.

- At some point, the FMC is at the MMC's house and discovers a collection of tapes. She plays them and sees recordings of herself with the MMC, which leads to a major revelation about her past.

- The big reveal is that the little girl is actually her own daughter. The FMC has no memory of her previous life with the MMC and their child.

- I can't remember whether she had postpartum depression, suffered an accident, or experienced something else that caused her memory loss.

- One scene I remember very vividly takes place in a hospital. The FMC is handed her newborn baby, stares at the baby for a few seconds, and then physically throws the baby away from her.

- After this incident, the people around her apparently decide that it is safer for everyone if her husband and child are removed from the situation, allowing her to return to the life she remembers.

Unfortunately, I don't remember anything else, including the character names, author, or book cover.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? I'd really appreciate any help identifying this book!