I'll be honest with you. I didn't expect to fall down the rabbit hole of dark romance. But here I am. Years into my career as a literary critic, and I'm still discovering new corners of fiction that make me question everything I thought I knew about the genre.
Haunting Adeline did that. H.D. Carlton's stalker romance — because let's call it what it is — has readers either completely obsessed or utterly repulsed. There's rarely an in-between. The book follows Adeline, a reclusive writer who discovers she's being stalked by Zade, a vigilante hacker with a moral code as twisted as his methods of "courtship." It's dark. It's controversial. And it's spawned an entire subgenre of readers hungry for more morally gray antiheroes, psychological mind games, and relationships that exist somewhere between terror and desire.
If you loved it — or even if you're just morbidly curious about what else is out there in this particular corner of BookTok — I've compiled a list of reads that capture that same unhinged energy. These books aren't for everyone, and that's okay. They feature obsessive love interests, morally questionable (or straight-up immoral) behavior, and relationships that would send any therapist running for the hills. But they're also compelling as hell, with antiheroes you can't help but root for even when you absolutely shouldn't.
Fair warning: many of these contain dark themes, dubious consent, and situations that are fantasy only. Please check trigger warnings before diving in.
Let's start with the author herself. If you haven't read Carlton's other work, Does It Hurt? is a must. This revenge tale features Sawyer, a woman on a mission to find her father's killer, who ends up on a cruise ship where she crosses paths with Enzo — a tattooed, dangerous man with secrets of his own. Their connection is immediate. Volatile. Absolutely unhinged in the best way. Carlton excels at writing antiheroes who toe the line between protector and predator, and Enzo is no exception. The banter crackles. The tension is suffocating. And the revenge plot? Chef's kiss. If you loved Zade's particular brand of obsessive devotion in Haunting Adeline, Enzo will scratch that same itch.
Gothic academia meets stalker romance in this moody, atmospheric novel set at a remote university in the mountains. Corvina, our heroine, arrives at Verenmore University trying to escape her past, only to find herself drawn into the mystery of missing students and the campus's dark history. Enter Vad Deverell. Brooding. Dangerous. Watching her from the shadows. RuNyx creates a world dripping with atmosphere — think Haunting Adeline's creepy manor vibes but with a university setting. The romance is obsessive, the mystery compelling, and Vad's brand of "I'll burn the world down for you" devotion will appeal to anyone who loved Zade's intensity. Plus, the gothic setting adds an extra layer of delicious unease to the whole thing.
Welcome to the world of the Lords, a secret society at a prestigious university where the wealthy and powerful play dangerous games with each other's lives. Ryat is a Lord. Barrington is his obsession. Their connection was forged years ago, and now he's claiming what he believes is his — whether she wants it or not. This is dark romance at its most unapologetic. Tessier doesn't pull punches. The power dynamics are skewed, the consent is murky at best, and Ryat's methods are absolutely unhinged. But if you're looking for that same obsessive, "you're mine and I'll prove it" energy that Zade brought to Haunting Adeline, this delivers. Just... maybe don't recommend it to your book club. Unless your book club is really cool.
A serial killer rom-com. Yes, you read that right. Sloane is a serial killer who only targets other killers. Rowan is... also a serial killer who only targets other killers. When they meet, it's murder at first sight. This book is Dexter meets You've Got Mail, with two antiheroes who bond over their shared hobby of dispatching bad guys in creative ways. The banter is phenomenal, the chemistry is off the charts, and the gore is plentiful. If you loved the vigilante justice aspect of Haunting Adeline — Zade's mission to save trafficked women — then Sloane and Rowan's murderous partnership will appeal to you. Plus, Weaver manages to make you root for two people who definitely belong in prison, which is no small feat.
The Devil's Night series is a staple of dark romance, and Corrupt is where it all begins. Erika returns to her hometown after being away for years, only to find herself targeted by Michael Crist and his crew — the same people who tormented her before she left. Michael's obsession with Erika is the driving force of the story, and Douglas crafts a tale of revenge, power games, and a relationship built on a foundation of hatred that slowly transforms into something more twisted. The Devil's Night crew engages in elaborate, cruel games, and Erika finds herself caught in the middle. If you enjoyed the cat-and-mouse dynamic between Zade and Adeline, Michael and Erika's push-pull will feel familiar.
Speaking of Douglas, if you want to go really dark, Credence is her most controversial work. After a tragedy, Tiernan is sent to live with her estranged father and his two sons in the remote mountains of Colorado. What follows is... well, it's a lot. The relationship dynamics are unconventional, to put it mildly, and the isolation of the setting mirrors the trapped feeling Adeline experiences in her manor. Douglas doesn't shy away from taboo themes, and this book has sparked intense debate in the romance community. It's not for everyone — hell, it's not for most people — but if you're looking for something that pushes boundaries the way Haunting Adeline does, this might be your jam.
Okay, this one's a little different — it's fantasy rather than contemporary dark romance — but hear me out. The Dance of Thieves duology features Kazi and Jase, whose relationship begins with kidnapping and evolves into a partnership built on mutual respect and obsessive devotion. The second book, Vow of Thieves, amps up the intensity as Jase becomes absolutely feral in his determination to protect Kazi and get her back after they're separated. If you're looking for that "I'll burn the world down for you" energy but in a fantasy setting with slightly healthier relationship dynamics (slightly), this is a good option. Plus, Pearson writes tension like nobody's business.
Fair warning: this is dark. Like, potentially too dark for some readers, even those who enjoyed Haunting Adeline. Tess is kidnapped and sold into sexual slavery, where she meets Q, a man as damaged as he is dangerous. Their relationship is... complicated doesn't even begin to cover it. Winters writes trauma and obsession in a way that's unflinching and raw. The power dynamics are heavily skewed, the consent is often questionable, and Q's methods of "caring" for Tess are deeply problematic. But if you're looking for dark romance that doesn't pull punches and features an antihero even more morally gray than Zade, this series delivers. Just check all the trigger warnings first. Seriously.
This is biker romance meets dark obsession. Posy is on the run from a dangerous past when she crosses paths with Ronan, the president of a motorcycle club who decides she's his. And when Ronan decides something, that's pretty much the end of the discussion. Wells writes possessive antiheroes well, and Ronan's brand of "protection" is as smothering as it is intense. The power imbalance is significant, with Ronan using his resources and connections to essentially trap Posy in his world, but the chemistry between them is undeniable. If you enjoyed the feeling of inevitability in Haunting Adeline — Adeline's gradual acceptance that Zade isn't going anywhere — you'll recognize it here.
What if your stalker was a Catholic priest? That's the unconventional premise of Simone's controversial romance, featuring Tyler, a young woman who confesses her desires to Father Bell, only to discover that he's just as consumed by forbidden attraction as she is. This isn't stalking in the traditional sense, but Bell's obsession with Tyler and his internal struggle between his vows and his desire creates a similar tension to what we see in Haunting Adeline. Simone writes steam like nobody's business, and the taboo element adds an extra layer of forbidden appeal. If you're intrigued by relationships that exist in morally gray areas, this delivers.
A third Douglas book on this list? What can I say, she knows her way around a problematic relationship. Birthday Girl features Jordan, a college student who moves in with her fiancé and his father, Pike. The age gap is significant. The living situation is awkward. And the attraction between Jordan and Pike is immediate and absolutely inappropriate. Douglas handles the taboo elements with care, building tension slowly as Jordan and Pike try (and fail) to resist their connection. If you appreciated the forbidden aspect of Zade and Adeline's relationship — the sense that they shouldn't be together but can't stay apart — you'll find similar themes here.
Look. I get it. These books aren't everyone's cup of tea. The relationships are messy. The consent is often dubious. The heroes (and sometimes heroines) do things that would be absolutely unacceptable in real life. But that's kind of the point of dark romance, isn't it? It's fantasy. It's exploring the forbidden. It's experiencing intensity and obsession and danger from the safety of your couch.
Haunting Adeline opened the door for a lot of readers to explore darker themes in romance. If you walked through that door and want more, these books will take you deeper down the rabbit hole. Just remember to check trigger warnings, take breaks when you need them, and maybe keep a palate cleanser nearby. (I recommend cozy mysteries. Nothing says "emotional reset" like a murder solved by a cat.)
And hey, if anyone judges you for reading these? That's their problem. You're not hurting anyone. You're reading fiction. Enjoy your morally gray antiheroes and their questionable courtship methods. I certainly am.
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