Top Reads of 2021

2021 was supposed to be our year, and while it may not have turned out the way we all hoped it would, it still gifted us with plenty of amazing books that helped us make it through! 

I don't know about you guys, but I've never been as grateful for the books I read and the authors that write them as I have been these past two years. 

How these brilliant writers keep delivering us incredible stories even in the midst of this awful pandemic while dealing with their own worries and stresses, I'll never know! 

I'm just grateful they are. 

This post is a celebration of those phenomenal individuals that helped drag our asses through last year laughing, crying, falling in love, and fucking our minds the whole way through!

*DARK BOOKS ARE SEPARATED INTO OTHER SUBGENRES, BECAUSE IF NOT, HALF THE BOOKS WOULD BE UNDER THAT HEADING. MOST OF THE LIST FITS IN MORE THAN ONE CATEGORY. *

The Society Trilogy 

A. Zavarelli &

Natasha Knight

  

Dark Captive Romance

Beauty and the Beast Vibes, 

a Secret Society, 

Spice, & Suspense

Kingmakers Series 

Sophie Lark

My 2021 NA Mafia Obsession 

Favorite New to Me Author

Unique Storytelling Style

Amazing Cast

Perfect Soundtrack

Incredible Finale

Chained Hearts Duet

T.L. Smith

Captive Romance 

 Alphahole Antihero 

Fiesty Heroine 

Deception, Betrayal, 

& Mafia Drama

Kingdom Fall

A. Zavarelli 

Secret Society, Steam, 

Surprises & Suspense 

Nanny/Boss Romance

More than Meets the Eye

Favorite Mafia Standalone 

North of the Stars

In Love and War #1

Monica James

Infuriating & Violent 

Dark Viking Romance Perfection 

Heartbreak, Betrayal, 

& a Possible Love Triangle 

Malibu Rising

Taylor Jenkins Reid

Set in the 80's

Sun, Surf, a Cliffside Mansion,

Emotional, Heartwrenching,  

Multi-generational

Family Drama

One Night, One Party, 

& One Big Ass Fire

The Boy on the Bridge

Sam Mariano 

Angsty, Unconventional,

Messy, Steamy, 

Emotional, & Passionate 

Second Chance Romance

Start A Fire

The Savage Crew

J. Wolf

Passionate Artists

Angsty Teenage Love

Emotional 

DubCon/NonCon

Tryst Six Venom 

Penelope Douglas 

FF Romance

Opposites Attract

Enemies to Lovers

Best Blood Related Brood

Rain

A.L. Woods

Dark, Emotional, Raw,

Realistic Romance

Filled with

Trauma, Tragedy, 

& Painful Decisions 

Say I'm the One

All of Me Duet

Siobhan Davis

Captivating, Surprising, 

Angsty, Romantic, 

Absolutely Fucking Heart-wrenching,

  Masterfully Written,

Emotional Rollercoaster Ride

Wrong 

Stella Rhys

Stepbrother Romance

Drama, Angst,

& A Whole Lot of Steam

Torment: Part 1

The Bleeding Hearts #1

Dylan Page

Dark, MC, Stepbrother Romance

Brilliant Storytelling

Toxic Relationships

Psychotic "Hero"

Twisted, Intense, 

Insanely Frustrating, 

Captivating, Emotional,

Standout Debut 

Don't Kiss the Bride

Carian Cole

Age Gap

Marriage of Convenience 

Mutual Longing

Emotional Turmoil

Incredible Writing

Breathtaking Romance

Still Beating

Jennifer Hartmann 

Gripping, Emotional, 

Angsty, Complicated

& Absolutely Beautiful

 

I'm a Creep

Jaimie Roberts 

Animal Kingdom Level Wild

MF with FF Scenes

Dark, Dirty, & Depraved Age Gap

Batshit Crazy FMC 

Stepfather MMC

Manipulation, 

Violence, Murder,

& an All Around Good Time

Lost in the Affair 

E.K. Blair

Addictive, Intense,

 Enthralling, Emotional,

Anger Inducing,

Shocking, Scandalous, 

Cheating Romance/

Train Wreck 

Based on True Story

Gothikana 

RuNyx

Student/Teacher

Gothic Romance 

Dark Academia 

Spine-tingling, Atmospheric, 

Sexy, Macabre, 

 Spooky Smorgasbord 

of Preternatural Activity 

Or Madness

Twist & Dismount 

Off Balance #4 & #5

Lucia Franco 

Age Gap, Sports Romance

 Cheating, Scorching Hot Sex, 

Gymnastics, Passion, 

Drama, Heart Shredding,

Gut-wrenching Emotion,

Maddening Frustration,

& Spectacular Writing 

An Angst Whore's Wet Dream

Favorite Taboo Romance Series of All Time

Beneath the Stars 

Emily McIntire 

Best Friend's Brother

Sister's Best Friend

Second Chance Romance

Emotional, Angsty,

& Beautiful 

Rebellious 

Kristy Marie

Angsty, Emotional,

Childhood Best Friends to Lovers,

Second Gen Romance 

I Fucking Cried, Okay?

The Closer

Kristy Marie

Marriage of Convenience

Swoonworthy, Baseball Player Hero,

Quirky Heroine, 

a Wrench, a Plant,

and an Epic Grandpa 

Evidence of the Affair 

Taylor Jenkins Reid 

Most Memorable Novella

Set in the 70's

Told in Letter Format

I Gasped Out Loud

at the Plot Twist

Forever Ago 

J Rose

Gritty, Raw, Realistic, 

Agonizing, Devastating, 

Beautiful, Tragic 

Love Story

NO HEA

Ominous 

Ecstasy #2

K.V. Rose

Toxic, Twisted,

Intriguing, Disturbing,

Kinky & Melancholy

The Silent Patient 

Alex Michael ides

Mindfucking Masterpiece 

Favorite Thriller of the Year

Crimes of Cupidity &

 For the Love of Cupidity 

Heart Hassle #3 & #3.5

Raven Kennedy 

Creative, Original, 

& Laugh Out Loud

Paranormal Fantasy 

Hilarious Heroine

Hot Harem of Alphas

Fantastic Fantasy World

Spectacular Secondary Characters

Queen of Quarantine 

Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep 

Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti 

Favorite Contemporary NA RH Series

Favorite Contemporary NA Harem

Five Star Finale

Must Read for Bully Romance Fans

The Royals of Forsyth University 

#1- #3

Angel Lawson &

Samantha Rue

Dark & Dirty New Adult

Stepbrother Taboo

Filthy Fraternity 

DubCon/NonCon

Suspense, Shocking Twists, 

& Cum Galore 

Epic Ending 

Favorite New Contemporary NA RH

Spiteful Punks & Vicious Punks

Dolls and Douchebags #1 & #2

Madeline Fay

Dark & Twisted

Poly Romance

Brutal Violence, Torture,

Heartbreaking Trauma,

Suspense, Steam,

& A Stuffed Unicorn

Broken Bonds, Savage Bonds, 

& Blood Bonds

The Bonds that Tie #1-#3

J. Bree

Favorite New Series of the Year

Slowburn Paranormal 

Powerful Heroine 

Badass Alpha Harem 

Shadow Creatures 

Supernatural Powers

Possessive Bonds

Action, Suspense,

Intrigue, & Secrets

The Death Club

Dead Men Walking #1

Caroline Peckham & Suzanne Valenti 

All Aboard the Crazy Train

2 Psychotic Captives,

an Equally Psychotic Hitman,

A Basement,

& Some Really Fucking 

Good Chocolate Cereal

Warrior Fae

Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac #5

Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti 

Favorite RH Series of All Time

Paranormal 

Favorite Harem of All Time

Epic Bromance

Phenomenal Relationship/

Character Development 

Favorite RH Authors

Fantastic Finale 

The Reckoning 

Zodiac Academy #3

Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti 

Supernatural Badasses

Student Teacher Taboo

Love Triangle 

Magical Academy 

Twin Heroines

Twice the Romance, 

Angst, Steam, and Heartbreak

Ice Planet Barbarians 

Ice Planet Barbarians #1

Ruby Dixon

Biggest Surprise Favorite 

Blue Aliens

Human Women

Cold Planet 

Language Barrier

Textured Tongues & Cocks

Perfect Plot/Steam Balance

The Savage and the Swan

Ella Fields

Hades and Persephone, 

Rumpelstiltskin, 

and The Swan Princess 

Retelling Mashup

Vengeance, Seduction, 

Bloodshed,  Heartache,

Action, Suspense,

& Swoonworthy Romance

Shadow Beast Shifters Series

Jaymin Eve

Original Shifter World

Shadowbeast

Enough Said

The Plated Prisoners Series

Raven Kennedy 

Unique & Dark

King Midas Retelling

Super Slowburn

Action, Suspense,

& Shocking Plot Twists

 

War & Famine 

The Four Horsemen #3 & #4

Laura Thalassa 

Dark, Apocalyptic Romance 

Bingeworthy Fantasy Series

Darkness, Desperation, 

Violence, Pain,

Heartache, Humor, 

Hope, & Love

The Crown of Gilded Bones 

Blood and Ash #3

Jennifer L. Armentrout 

My Fantasy Obsession 

Favorite Book of the Year

Badass Heroine

Swoonworthy Hero

Incredible Fantasy World,

Action, Revelations, Love, 

Lust, Violence, Friendship, 

Magic, Mystery, and Murder

MUST READ for 

Fantasy Romance Fans

A Shadow in the Ember

Flesh and Fire #1

Jennifer L. Armentrout 

Spectacular Spin-Off

Tied for Favorite Book of the Year

Action, Angst, Humor, 

Betrayal, Intense Emotion, Violence, 

Sex, Perfect Pacing, Rich Fantasy World, 

Twists & Turns, Brilliant Writing, 

& Baby. Freaking. Draken.

There Are No Saints

Sinners Duet #1

Sophie Lark

That Revenge Scene Tho!

The Obsession 

Filthy Rich Americans #2

Nikki Sloane

Filthy, Fucked Up Rich People 

Addictive Series Binge

A Love Letter to Whiskey 

Kandi Steiner 

Cheating, Angst &

Beautiful Writing

The Mistakes You Make &

The Deception You Weave

Maddison Kings University 

Nikki Sloane

Drama & Dirty Talk

Highly Bingeable 

Anesthetic

Dazed #1

C.M. Radcliff

It's the Drugs & Toxicity for Me

The End 

Did you see any of your favorites on our list? 

Are there any books on your favorites list that you think we need to read?

Did you find any new books for your tbr? 

We would love to know! 

Feel free to tell us in the comments!

Thank you so much for reading! Until next time! 💋