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Steamy Romance Books That Feel Almost Forbidden (18+ Edition)
I’m not saying you shouldn’t read these books, but I am saying you might want to clear your browser history afterward.
Some of these romances are so forbidden, so morally questionable, that they feel like they belong in a locked vault rather than on your Kindle. If you’re the type of reader who accidentally devours an entire book in one sitting, knowing full well it’s filled with tension so thick it could be cut with a knife (or, you know, a very expensive leather whip), then welcome.
You’re in the right place. Here are 12 steamy romance books that feel almost illegal to read but in the best way possible.
Remote mountain town. A girl stuck with three insanely attractive men. Yeah, it’s as wild as it sounds.
Tiernan moves in with her late father’s best friend and his two sons after her parents pass away. What starts as a survival story in the mountains quickly turns into something much more complicated. If you love messy, forbidden, and insanely hot tension, this one’s a must-read.
2. Praise – Sara Cate
When your ex’s dad becomes your dominant…
Can YouTube marketing actually help you grow your real estate business? The book will answer your questions.
Charlie takes a job as a secretary, only to find out her new boss is none other than her ex-boyfriend’s dad. Oh, and he owns a very exclusive club where praise is the highest form of currency.If you love spice with a side of emotional drama, Praise delivers.
3. Dark Notes – Pam Godwin
Student. Teacher. Forbidden. Addictive.
Emeric Marceaux is a ruthless teacher who takes a special interest in his talented but struggling student, Ivory. Their relationship is dark, twisted, and completely taboo—but somehow, you can’t stop turning the pages. This book is not for the faint of heart.
4. Birthday Girl – Penelope Douglas
What happens when you fall for your boyfriend’s dad?
Jordan never meant to fall for Pike, but living under the same roof makes things complicated fast. Slow-burn tension turns into undeniable attraction, and suddenly, this age-gap romance is way too hot to handle.
5. The Ritual – Shantel Tessier
A secret society. A dominant hero. An initiation she never expected.
The Ritual is exactly what it sounds like. A dark, forbidden romance set in an elite secret society where rules don’t exist, and power is everything. If you love controlling, alpha male heroes with a possessive streak, this book is it.
6. Your Dad Will Do – Katee Robert
The title says it all.
After being cheated on, Lily decides revenge is the best therapy, by seducing her ex’s dad. This book is spicy, fast-paced, and exactly what you’d expect from Katee Robert (meaning, no brakes on the steam train).
7. Sinner – Sierra Simone
A priest, a best friend’s little sister, and an unholy amount of tension.
Tyler Bell has turned his back on religion, until he meets Poppy, his best friend’s little sister, who is about to become a nun. This is a book that makes you question everything while also being one of the most emotional and as the tile said, sinful reads out there.
There Are No Saints – Sophie Lark
A serial killer romance that you shouldn’t want… but do.
Cole and Shaw are rival artists in San Francisco, but there’s more to them than their art, one of them is a killer, and the other might be just as twisted. This book is dark, dangerous, and completely unhinged.
9. The Collector Book Series
Billionaire. Captive. Dangerous romance.
Mercy is taken by the man she was sent to destroy. Now, she has to navigate a world where she has no power, except for the effect she has on her captor. A steamy, enemies-to-lovers read with high stakes and even higher heat.
10. Does It Hurt? – H.D. Carlton
Enemies-to-lovers with a survival twist, super intense tension, and dark, steamy scenes.
The story follows a woman on the run who crosses paths with a mysterious and dangerously alluring man. Their initial tension is fueled by secrets and deception, but when circumstances force them to survive together in an isolated, eerie setting, the heat between them becomes undeniable.
If you made it this far, congrats, you clearly have excellent taste in questionable romance. These books might feel a little too hot to handle, a little too taboo, but that’s exactly what makes them so addictive.
That said, some of these books fall into the dark romance genre, so please read with your own comfort levels in mind. Always check trigger warnings and remember, fiction is meant to entertain, not to reflect real-life relationship standards.
Have a favorite too-good-it-feels-illegal read? Send me an email, I’m always looking for my next guilty pleasure!
