Ah, forbidden romance. Which kind will it be this time? The brother’s best friend? The boss? An age gap? We don’t know yet.
All that we know is that their love is destined not to be, their feelings pushed away and ignored because their relationship is forbidden.
But with the usual tension and sensuality that’s sizzling hot, our dreamy protagonists simply can’t keep their hands off each other.
And this makes for a super interesting read. Will it be a slow burn or will it all happen at once? Will they defy the bounds that forbid them? Will they get their happy ever after?
My 15 Favorite Forbidden Romance Novels
1. Hook, Line, And Sinker – Tessa Bailey
Book 2 of 2 – follow up to ‘It Happened One Summer’
Notorious ladies’ man, Fox Thornton is shocked when stunning Hannah Bellinger is immune to his charms and wants to be platonic pals.
Hannah has her sights already set on a colleague that doesn’t know she exists so she enquires the help from her flirtatious friend. But as the lines of friendship and flirtation begin to blur they both start to fall.
But with Hannah resigned not to become another notch in the bedpost, and another man on the scene, it seems that fox might not get the girl after all.
2. Torn – Carian Cole
When it comes to the list of people that you should never ever date, your dad’s best friend who is 15 years your elder is probably one of them. Kenzi knows this. But she can’t help it.
He’s one of the good guys, the kind of person that sees right through you. Dependable, caring, and brave. But after one unexpected kiss, their lives are instantly knocked on their axis. It’s clear that from this moment on, life will never be the same again.
But to be true to their love means betraying a kind and caring father and best friend, is that a sacrifice either of them can make?
3. Destined – Susana Mohel
Destinee is a nurse practitioner who has finally begun to make a new life for herself in the city. Her last breakup left her with wounds that she thought would never heal, but here she is picking herself back up again.
That is until she bumps into her ex’s brother Martin. Everything in her screams to run away, but there’s something about this alluring billionaire that stops her from making her escape.
Martin would happily lay the whole world at Destinee’s feet, all she need do is ask. But if there’s one rule you can’t ignore it’s that you can’t date your brother’s girl. Even if it is an ex.
4. The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo – Emily Griffin
Everyone knew the name of Everyln Hugo, so no one was more surprised than unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant herself when she was requested to write Hugo’s upcoming biography.
Given an offer she can’t refuse, Monique sets on a journey of learning about the many ups and downs of Hugo’s career. And it soon becomes apparent that movie star life may not always be as glamorous as it seems.
Especially when she learns of Hugo’s great love that was always forbidden.
5. The Sweetest Oblivion – Danielle Lori
Made – book 1
Imagine West Side Story except with mafia billionaires. That is the life of Elena.
Elena’s sister is set to marry Nico, and Elena’s not happy about it one bit. Nico is everything that is wrong with the world. He’s rude, arrogant, a boss, a cheat, even by mafia standards he’s as rough and dark as they come.
Oh, and he’s also devilishly handsome and there’s palpable tension between them.
But Nico is no good, and he’s already promised to her sister. This is a love that could not, and should not ever be, so why then does it feel so right?
6. Birthday Girl – Penelope Douglas
Jordan and Cole are two young teenagers in love. They deal with the typical perils of young-adult life, but when the pair are forced to move in with Cole’s estranged father things will take a turn that no one saw coming.
Pike Lawson is unlike anyone Jordan has ever met, and despite dating his son, she can’t help but start to fall. And it doesn’t take Pike long to notice.
With a fair age gap between them and a romance blooming between her and her boyfriend’s dad, this relationship is all kinds of forbidden, all kinds of wrong, and all kinds of oh-so-right.
7. Scandalous – L. J. Shen
Book 3 of 5: Sinners of Saint
Trent Rexroth only hires Edie Van der Zee as an intern because his arch-nemesis stuck him in a non-refusable blackmail deal. As the offspring of his mortal enemy, she is without a doubt beyond off-limits, which shouldn’t be a problem for this cold and calculating individual.
But there’s just something about Edie that draws Trent in no matter how much he tries to resist. And after discovering the softer inside of her father’s business partner, it doesn’t take long for those feelings to be reciprocated.
It goes against all the rules but can love this strong be stopped?
8. Hot Under His Collar – Andie J. Christopher
Fulfilling his late mother’s final wish, Father Patrick Dooley joined the clergy. However, as time passes he feels pulled to go in another direction. He finds himself hesitant, though, as he has no idea what to expect should he leave, and how would he reconcile his faith.
But these questions will have to be addressed at a later date as his church is desperate for funding. Sasha Finerghty would be just the girl to solve the problems but his crush threatens to complicate things.
But as Father of the church and being work partners, a relationship seems like a fate never destined to be.
9. The Professor’s Wife – Marina DelVecchio
Camilla is utterly besotted with her Poetry Professor the moment she lays eyes on him. And it doesn’t take Professor Carl Bingham long to fall for her charms. However, student-professor relationships are forbidden, and it’s not as if Bingham is a young teacher.
Despite this, the pair marry and the professor never mentions how he met his betrothed. But with a previous former relationship in his past, a new one in his present, and a whole bounty of secrets ready to be spilled, it seems not only his job, but his relationship and whole life are on the line.
10. The Fall Before Flight – L.M. Halloran
Amelia finds herself at a place known as the Oasis. She’s been brought here by her brother after a suspicious accident. It is here where she meets none other than Dr. Leo Chastain, the main psychiatrist in charge.
She soon becomes irritated with his pushing to ‘save her’ – she knows she cannot be saved. And so begins her fun new game, enticing the handsome doctor into something strictly off-bounds.
The question will Dr. Chastain fall for her seduction?
11. Collared – Nicole Williams
The whole community is in bits when it hears of the disappearance of seventeen-year-old Jade Childs. Everyone comes together to create a search party for the girl, but as the months go by the numbers slowly dwindle down until only one individual remains. Torrin Costigan, Jade’s long-term boyfriend.
It takes a decade for the couple to finally reunite and the transition is not an easy one, and as more obstacles are thrown their way, it becomes unlikely that the relationship will survive.
Please note – this is a forbidden romance but to describe how is a spoiler, you’ll just have to trust me.
12. Stepbrother Dearest – Penelope Ward
When her stepbrother Elec moved in, Greta couldn’t think of anything worse. He was rude, arrogant, and downright mean. But none of that annoyed her as much as the fact that she couldn’t help the way her body responded to him.
And after it all came to a head one night, Elec disappeared back to California. Years later when a family tragedy strikes, the pair are brought back together and Greta is surprised to see her feelings are still as strong as ever.
13. The Unrequited – Saffron A. Kent
Layla Robison is suffering from a case of unrequited love. She needs a distraction, and she can’t think of a better one than the handsome poetry professor. But not only is she his student…he’s also married.
Regardless, Layla knows that her professor is lonely, and she’s determined to fill that hole.
14. Scoring Wilder – R. S. Grey
With Olympic tryouts around the corner, Kinsley Bryant needs to keep her head in the game. AKA not falling for professional soccer star Liam Wilder. He’s a bad boy and besides, he is strictly off-limits. She’ll lose her place on the team if she does.
And, of course, that only makes her want to do it more.
15. Lessons In Corruption
After spending years in a loveless marriage, Cassida Irons leaves her ex-husband and family behind to start a new life in a new town. This is where she meets King Kyle Garro, a man who stops at nothing to get what he wants.
And what he wants is Cassida. The only problem? He’s her student.
Final Thoughts
Forbidden romances are great, they’re full of tension, attraction, and frustration. There’s something about these books that make them real page-turners. I guarantee, regardless of which book you choose, it’ll be impossible to put down.
