25 Best Dark Romance Books to read in 2026
By Brittni Bliss / / No Comments / Recommendations
I’ve always loved books that make my heart race, and dark romance does that like nothing else. I remember one stormy night, curled up on the couch, completely unable to put down a story that was equal parts intoxicating and terrifying.
If you’ve ever stayed up way past your bedtime because you had to know what happens next, you get it. Dark romance isn’t for the faint of heart, but for those who dive in, it delivers unforgettable, intense reads.
In this post, I’ve rounded up some of the best dark romance books that will keep you hooked from the first page. Grab a blanket, maybe a cup of tea, and let’s get started.
1. Take Me With You by Nina G. Jones (2016)
In this dark and intense stand-alone, a disturbed prowler named Sam lives by a strict code of stalking and taking victims, until he fixates on a nursing student, Vesper, whose caring nature and “different” kind of vulnerability draw him in. What begins as his worst nightmare for her becomes a twisted game of survival, obsession and blurred power, leaving Vesper’s world (and sense of self) irrevocably changed.
Themes & Highlights
Power and control: Sam, the stalker, exerts total control over Vesper. He kidnaps her, manipulates her, and uses threats not just for dominance but to fulfill his sadistic “rules,” he’s playing a cat-and-mouse game on his terms.
Psychological manipulation: He oscillates between cruelty and unexpected kindness, creating a confusing emotional space for Vesper. She depends on him for her basic needs at times, which warps her understanding of care and danger.
Obsession over genuine affection: Sam’s fixation isn’t love in a healthy sense, it’s rooted in his obsession, and his “protective” moments only deepen his control, not mutual respect.
Survival’s cost: For Vesper, survival isn’t just physical, she must navigate the trauma of her captivity, the moral compromises he forces, and an internal struggle where she can’t fully despise or trust him.
Blurred identity: Over time, Vesper begins to question her own emotions (is she playing him, or is he playing her?), and Sam’s “rules” start breaking down, the hunter becomes complicated, and she must decide what survival even means in that twisted bond.
2. Pretty Little Doll Series by Ker Dukey & K Webster (2026)
The Pretty Little Dolls series by Ker Dukey and K. Webster is a dark, erotic psychological thriller centered on Benny, a disturbed man who collects his “dollies” and demands absolute obedience, and on the women he both torments and obsesses over. Over the course of the series, themes of power, possession, betrayal, and redemption emerge as the dollies fight to reclaim their autonomy, confront past trauma, and survive Benny’s brutal, twisted games.
Themes & Highlights
Power, possession, and dehumanization: Benny’s obsession with turning women into his “dolls” explores how abuse strips victims of autonomy and identity.
Survival through sisterhood: The dollies’ bonds, especially the sisters, become a lifeline, showing how shared trauma can create fierce resilience.
The blurred line between victim and avenger: Characters wrestle with darkness within themselves as they seek justice, revenge, or escape.
Trauma’s long shadow: Even outside Benny’s grasp, the psychological damage lingers, shaping relationships, trust, and the struggle to reclaim a sense of self.
3. Sweet Jayne by K Webster (2016)
In this dark psychological thriller, Nadia Jayne is the only witness to a girl’s abduction, but she doesn’t remember what happened. A Colorado cop, haunted by his own sister’s disappearance, becomes obsessed with her. As he digs into her past, he uncovers twisted secrets, dangerous alliances, and a woman whose outward sweetness masks a deeply complicated, even sinister, inner agenda.
Themes & Highlights
Memory and trauma: Nadia’s fragmented recollections underscore how trauma can distort reality and complicate trust.
Obsession and control: The cop’s fixation mirrors the book’s exploration of power dynamics and the dangers of possessive attention.
Hidden darkness beneath innocence: Outward appearances are deceiving, highlighting how seemingly sweet personas can conceal manipulation or danger.
Moral ambiguity and survival: Characters navigate gray ethical territory, forced to make choices that blur the line between right, wrong, and self-preservation.
4. Dirty Ugly Toy by K. Webster (2016)
In this dark, steamy standalone, Braxton Kennedy (a filthy rich, morally complex billionaire) offers a woman named Jessica a contract: six months of his control in exchange for a fat paycheck. She agrees to be his “dirty, ugly toy,” playing twisted, degrading games and pretending to be someone she’s not. As the lines between their power dynamic blur, Jessica begins to feel more than she ever intended, but Braxton, accustomed to discarding his “toys,” may not be ready to keep her.
Themes & Highlights
Power, ownership, and objectification: The story digs into how control and desire intertwine when one person treats another as a disposable possession.
Reinvention and identity: Jessica’s attempt to survive by becoming who Braxton wants highlights the fluidity, and fragility, of self under pressure.
Redemption through connection: Both characters wrestle with buried wounds, suggesting that even toxic beginnings can spark unexpected emotional growth.
Beauty vs. worth: The book questions what makes someone “valuable,” challenging surface-level judgments tied to wealth, looks, and status.
5. Wanderlust by Skye Warren (2013)
Evie, a sheltered young woman desperate to break free from her restrictive past, is kidnapped by Hunter, a rugged trucker whose power over her is total, as they travel cross-country in his rig, she plots her escape, but the darkness of their twisted captivity forces her to confront complex feelings, dangerous secrets, and an unexpected, haunting bond.
Themes & Highlights
Captivity and control: Evie’s kidnapping forces her into a world where her freedom, choices, and safety are entirely in Hunter’s hands.
Innocence vs. corruption: The contrast between Evie’s sheltered upbringing and Hunter’s rough, dangerous lifestyle fuels the tension of their evolving dynamic.
Psychological survival: Evie must navigate fear, coercion, and shifting emotions, blurring the lines between coping, attachment, and resistance.
Road-trip as metamorphosis: The physical journey mirrors Evie’s internal transformation, pushing her toward self-discovery through trauma, desire, and danger.
6. Escape From Paradise by Gwendolyn Fields (2013)
Escape From Paradise by Gwendolyn Field follows Angela Birch, a college student whose carefree spring-break trip to Mexico spirals into a nightmare when she’s kidnapped and forced into sexual slavery in a lavish Spanish villa owned by a powerful billionaire. Meanwhile, Colin Douglas, an undercover agent with a haunted past, infiltrates this dangerous underworld to save her, leading to a tumultuous, emotionally charged confrontation between trauma, power, and redemption.
Themes & Highlights
Human trafficking and dehumanization: Angela’s captivity exposes the brutal realities of being treated as property within a violent underground world.
Rescue vs. agency: Colin’s mission to save her intersects with Angela’s own fight to reclaim power, blurring who is saving whom.
Trauma, coping, and resilience: The story explores how survivors adapt mentally and emotionally under extreme conditions, and how healing is never linear.
Love forged under fire: Amid violence and danger, the characters form an intense bond shaped as much by desperation as by genuine connection.
7. The Five by Lily White (2019)
The Five by Lily White is a dark, twisted psychological romance about Rainey, a woman with a past shaped by sex, drugs, and manipulation, whose life draws the attention of psychologist Justin Redding. As Justin investigates her traumatic history (filled with abuse, loss, and mystery) he becomes entangled in a deadly web of secrets and murder.
Themes & Highlights
Cycles of abuse: Rainey’s history reveals how trauma compounds over time, shaping identity and relationships in destructive ways.
Psychological manipulation: The story digs into how control, power, and influence can warp perceptions and push people toward dangerous choices.
Truth buried under trauma: Justin’s investigation highlights how memory, denial, and emotional survival obscure what really happened.
Violence as legacy: The narrative traces how past horrors ripple outward, affecting not just victims but everyone drawn into their orbit.
8. Wishing Well by Lily White (2018)
Wishing Well by Lily White follows journalist Meadow Graham, who’s granted a rare three-day interview with death-row inmate Vincent Mercier, a wealthy hotel owner convicted of killing four people, including her twin sister. As Vincent recounts his twisted manipulations and deceptions, Meadow must unravel a web of lies, confront her own grief, and decide how far she’s willing to go to uncover the truth.
Themes & Highlights
Truth vs. manipulation: Vincent’s seductive, unreliable storytelling forces Meadow to question every detail he shares, and her own assumptions.
Grief and obsession: Meadow’s pursuit of answers about her twin’s death blurs into fixation, driving her deeper into dangerous emotional territory.
Power in confinement: Even on death row, Vincent exerts psychological control, showing how dominance can persist without physical freedom.
Justice, guilt, and moral ambiguity: The story explores whether justice is ever clean, and how guilt can shape both the innocent and the condemned.
9. Debt by Nina Jones (2014)
Debt by Nina G. Jones is a dark, emotionally volatile romance about Mia, who hires someone to attack her just to feel alive, but her illusion of danger turns real in terrifying ways. As she becomes entangled with Tax, a man driven by long‑held vengeance, her “game” spirals into something deadly, complex, and deeply personal.
Themes & Highlights
Obsession and revenge: Tax’s long‑held vendetta drives much of the tension, exploring how past grudges warp the present.
Danger as thrill: Mia’s desire to feel alive through peril underscores the allure and risks of playing with fear.
Power and control: The story examines how manipulation and dominance shape relationships and personal boundaries.
Moral ambiguity and survival: Characters face choices that blur right and wrong, showing how survival often comes at ethical costs.
10. Never Let Go by Lauren Biel (2022)
Never Let Go by Lauren Biel is a dark, thriller/captive‑romance about Benjamin, a damaged and dangerous man, and Mackenzie, a woman he holds captive. As Benjamin’s past and violent nature come to light, Mackenzie’s presence forces him to confront his demons, while she struggles with her trauma, her dependence on him, and the terrifying question of whether she can truly escape.
Themes & Highlights
Captivity and control: Mackenzie’s struggle under Benjamin’s dominance explores power dynamics in extreme situations.
Trauma and survival: The story examines how victims navigate fear, dependence, and coping mechanisms.
Dark obsession: Benjamin’s dangerous fixation highlights the fine line between desire and destructive control.
Redemption and moral ambiguity: Characters confront past sins and ethical gray areas, questioning whether healing or justice is possible.
11. Untouchable by Sam Mariano (2018)
Untouchable by Sam Mariano is a dark, high‑school bully romance following Zoey, a quiet and vulnerable girl tormented by her peers, and Carter Mahoney, the charismatic but predatory star quarterback whose power and obsession soon become terrifyingly personal. As their relationship spirals into manipulation, abuse, and twisted desire, Zoey must decide how much she can take, and whether she can escape his dangerous games.
Themes & Highlights
Power and intimidation: Carter’s status and charisma mask a controlling, predatory nature over Zoey.
Psychological manipulation: The novel explores how fear, attraction, and dependency can blur emotional boundaries.
Survival under oppression: Zoey’s struggle highlights resilience and the strategies victims use to endure abusive dynamics.
Obsession and desire: The story examines how infatuation can become dangerous when intertwined with dominance and control.
12. If We Disappear Here by M. Hayes (2022)
If We Disappear Here by M. Hayes (aka Mindy Hayes) is a gripping psychological thriller in which Maeve Campbell wakes up trapped in a cold, concrete room beside a man she assumes is her husband, only to realize he’s not who she thinks, and there’s a sinister, unseen captor controlling them from a speaker. As the two strangers lean on each other to survive, they must unravel who brought them here, why, and whether they can trust one another amid their shared trauma.
Themes & Highlights
Captivity and control: Maeve and her companion face an unseen captor, exploring power and psychological manipulation.
Trust and dependency: Forced proximity to a stranger tests instinct, reliance, and emotional boundaries under extreme stress.
Survival and resilience: The characters must navigate fear, uncertainty, and moral choices to endure.
Identity and perception: The novel questions how well we know ourselves and others when normal life is stripped away.
13. I Know What Love Is by Whitney Bianca (2014)
I Know What Love Is by Whitney Bianca is a dark, erotic romance-thriller that begins with a chance meeting in a shady bar, a moment that irrevocably changes Joan’s life. Traumatized and furious, she becomes obsessed with the man who “broke” her, vowing both vengeance and a twisted kind of connection. As their volatile, morally grey relationship spirals over years, she wrestles with her desire for retribution and the disturbing realization that, despite everything, she might want him more than she wants to be free.
Themes & Highlights
Obsession and revenge: Joan’s desire for vengeance intertwines dangerously with attraction and emotional fixation.
Psychological manipulation: The story explores how trauma and power dynamics can warp perception and behavior.
Morally gray romance: Characters navigate love, hate, and desire in ethically complex, often destructive ways.
Trauma and survival: The narrative examines how past wounds shape choices, attachments, and the struggle to reclaim agency.
14. Nocticadia by Keri Lake (2023)
Nocticadia by Keri Lake is a dark‑academia gothic romance set at Dracadia University, a secluded, haunted campus on an island off the coast of Maine. The protagonist, driven by her mother’s mysterious illness, enrolls in the prestigious school in search of answers, but finds not just restless ghosts in the night, but the brooding Professor Devryck Bramwell, known as “Doctor Death.” His dark authority and forbidden kisses draw her in, even as they uncover rotten secrets buried beneath the university.
Themes & Highlights
Dark academia and mystery: The story immerses in a haunted, elite university filled with secrets and hidden histories.
Forbidden romance: The protagonist is drawn to Professor Devryck Bramwell, blending desire with danger and ethical tension.
Supernatural intrigue: Ghosts, curses, and unexplained phenomena heighten suspense and challenge the characters’ understanding of reality.
Secrets and legacy: The narrative explores family mysteries, inherited burdens, and the consequences of uncovering long-buried truths.
15. Brutal Obsession J. Massery (2022)
Brutal Obsession by S. Massery is a dark college hockey romance about Greyson Devereux, a privileged and ruthless hockey star, and Violet Reece, a ballerina whose life was derailed after a car accident he caused. As they reconnect at a new school, Greyson’s simmering resentment and twisted obsession grow, dragging Violet into his world of manipulation, power plays, and toxic attraction, all while Violet fights to protect what’s left of herself.
Themes & Highlights
Obsession and revenge: Greyson’s fixation on Violet fuels a toxic, emotionally charged dynamic.
Power and manipulation: The story examines how privilege and control can distort relationships.
Trauma and resilience: Violet navigates past injuries and emotional scars while trying to survive his games.
Morality and redemption: Characters confront ethical gray areas, questioning forgiveness, justice, and the consequences of obsession.
16. Shallow River H.D. Carlton (2023)
Shallow River by H. D. Carlton follows River McAllister, who has escaped a dark, broken past in a place called Shallow Hill, but left behind not just her innocence, but parts of her sanity. Now, in a seemingly perfect life alongside her new partner Ryan Fitzgerald, her world begins to crumble as Ryan’s possessiveness and temper surface. His estranged brother, Mako, sees the danger first, but River (hardened by her past) knows she doesn’t need saving.
Themes & Highlights
Trauma and survival: River’s past shapes her resilience and mistrust, influencing her choices in relationships.
Possession and control: Ryan’s jealousy and aggression explore the dangers of power imbalances in intimate dynamics.
Redemption and self-reliance: River’s journey emphasizes reclaiming agency and defining one’s own path after abuse.
Trust and perception: The story examines who can be trusted and how appearances can hide danger or protection.
17. Haunting Adeline H.D. Carlton (2022)
Haunting Adeline by H. D. Carlton is a dark, psychological thriller/romance that follows Adeline Reilly, a bestselling author who inherits her grandmother’s creepy, Gothic mansion, only to discover she’s being stalked by Zade Meadows, a mysterious and obsessive vigilante who fights human trafficking. As Adeline digs into her family’s violent past (including her great-grandmother’s unsolved murder), Zade’s dangerous devotion intensifies, blurring the lines between protection, possession, and love.
A lot of DR readers have already read this one; if you liked it, try books like Haunting Adeline next.
Themes & Highlights
Obsession and protection: Zade’s intense devotion explores the line between safeguarding and controlling someone.
Trauma and family secrets: Adeline confronts generational trauma and the dark legacies hidden within her family.
Power and psychological manipulation: The story examines control, fear, and influence in high-stakes, intimate dynamics.
Love and danger intertwined: Romantic attraction develops alongside threat, blurring the lines between passion, obsession, and survival.
18. Gothikana RuNyx (2025)
Gothikana by RuNyx is a dark, gothic‑romance set at the eerie University of Verenmore, housed in a secluded, castle‑like campus. Corvina Clemm, an outsider haunted by her past, receives a mysterious invitation to study there, only to discover centuries-old disappearances and a looming, sinister legacy. She becomes entangled with the enigmatic professor Vad Deverell, whose secrets run as deep as the walls of the castle. Their growing attraction collides with danger, deception, and a chilling mystery that may unravel them both.
Themes & Highlights
Dark academia and mystery: The story immerses in a gothic university filled with secrets and historical intrigue.
Forbidden romance: Corvina’s attraction to Professor Vad Deverell blends desire with danger and ethical tension.
Supernatural and suspense: Disappearances and eerie occurrences heighten suspense and challenge perceptions of reality.
Legacy and hidden truths: The narrative explores family and institutional secrets, and the consequences of uncovering them.
19. There Are No Saints Sophie Lark (2023)
There Are No Saints by Sophie Lark follows Cole Blackwell, a wealthy, charismatic sculptor in San Francisco who hides a deeply disturbing secret, he’s a predator with a dark impulse. When he meets Mara Eldritch, a struggling, broken artist juggling multiple jobs, he becomes obsessed with her in a way that goes beyond admiration. Their twisted connection forces him to decide whether to protect her or destroy her, and she must navigate her own vulnerabilities while drawn further into his dangerous world.
Themes & Highlights
Obsession and control: Cole’s fixation on Mara explores the dangers of possessive desire.
Psychological manipulation: The story delves into how charm and intimidation can distort perception and choice.
Survival and vulnerability: Mara navigates threats to her safety while confronting her own past traumas.
Moral ambiguity: The novel examines blurred lines between right and wrong, protection and destruction, in extreme circumstances.
20. Sinners Anonymous by Somme Sketcher (2023)
Sinners Anonymous by Somme Sketcher is a dark, mafia romance centered on Rory Carter, a woman hiding a “charred soul” beneath a polished exterior, who confesses her sins weekly to a secretive support line. To save her father, she agrees to marry the elderly head of the Cosa Nostra, but her fiancé’s nephew, Angelo “Vicious” Visconti, returns after years away, stepping into her world with sharp edges, dangerous charisma, and his own hidden sins.
Themes & Highlights
Crime and power dynamics: Mafia life drives tension, control, and danger throughout the story.
Obsession and attraction: Angelo’s fascination with Rory explores the pull of desire and risk.
Secrets and dual identities: Characters hide pasts and motives, challenging trust and honesty.
Survival and resilience: Rory navigates threats to her life, agency, and family while balancing love and duty.
21. Gods of Malice Rina Kent (2025)
God of Malice by Rina Kent is a brooding and intense dark‑college romance about Killian Carson, a dangerously charming predator with a cold, manipulative edge, and Glyndon King, a vulnerable art student who’s grappling with grief and inner demons. When their paths collide, Glyndon is one of the few who sees the monster beneath Killian’s polished exterior, and soon, her awareness draws her into a twisted power struggle with him that blurs the lines between obsession, control, and desire.
Themes & Highlights
Obsession and control: Killian’s manipulative nature drives a tense, power‑laden dynamic with Glyndon.
Trauma and vulnerability: Glyndon’s grief and personal struggles shape her responses and resilience.
Dangerous attraction: Desire and fear intertwine, blurring lines between seduction and threat.
Moral ambiguity: Characters navigate ethically gray situations, questioning trust, consent, and self-preservation.
22. The Bargainer Series Laura Thalassa (2020)
The Bargainer series by Laura Thalassa is a dark fantasy romance centered on Callypso “Callie” Lillis, a siren burdened by a magical bracelet of black beads representing countless favors she owes. The mysterious “Bargainer,” Desmond Flynn (also the fae King of Night), is a man who grants people anything … for a price. As Callie’s debts grow due to danger in the Otherworld, including disappearing fae warriors, she must rekindle her complicated history with Des and help him face a rising darkness that threatens his realm.
Themes & Highlights
Debt and consequence: Callie’s magical bracelet symbolizes the weight of favors and obligations.
Forbidden romance: Her relationship with Desmond blends desire, tension, and moral complexity.
Power and manipulation: The Bargainer’s dominion highlights themes of control, choice, and influence.
Sacrifice and loyalty: Characters face difficult decisions that test trust, courage, and allegiance in a dangerous magical world.
23. Her Soul to Take Harley Laroux (2022)
Her Soul to Take by Harley Laroux is a dark, paranormal romance‑horror about Rae, a ghosthunter who returns to her hometown in Washington and accidentally summons Leon, a dangerous demon bound to a sinister cult. As evil stirs in the woods and ancient powers awaken, Leon becomes obsessed, not just with Rae’s body, but her soul, and their deadly connection pulls them into a terrifying game of control, sacrifice, and survival.
Themes & Highlights
Obsession and possession: Leon’s fixation on Rae explores the boundaries of desire, control, and danger.
Supernatural horror: Ghosts, demons, and cults heighten suspense and threat throughout the story.
Survival and resilience: Rae must navigate life-threatening forces while asserting her own agency.
Dark romance: Love, attraction, and peril intertwine, blurring lines between passion and peril.
24. Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann (2023)
Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann is a dark, emotionally intense romance about Cora Lawson, who ends up stranded and vulnerable at her sister’s birthday party after her wallet is stolen, only to be kidnapped and wake up chained in a basement alongside Dean Asher, her long‑time nemesis and her sister’s fiancé. Forced into a horrifying situation, they must rely on each other to survive, and as their shared trauma forges a bond, they grapple with love, hate, and healing long after the chains are gone.
Themes & Highlights
Captivity and survival: Cora and Dean’s struggle highlights resilience under extreme, life-threatening circumstances.
Enemies-to-lovers tension: Shared trauma complicates existing animosity, fostering an unexpected and volatile connection.
Healing from trauma: Characters confront past and present wounds, learning trust and vulnerability in dangerous situations.
Power and control: The story examines dominance, dependence, and the shifting balance of agency between captor and captive.
25. Captive in the Dark by CJ Roberts (2024)
Captive in the Dark by C.J. Roberts is a dark, psychologically intense romance about Olivia “Livvie” Ruiz, a young woman who is kidnapped by Caleb, a deeply damaged man driven by revenge. He holds her captive, training her to become the kind of submissive she’s terrified of being, while she struggles to survive, process her trauma, and resist his control.
Themes & Highlights
Kidnapping and control: Caleb’s abduction of Livvie explores power, dominance, and fear in extreme circumstances.
Psychological manipulation: The story delves into coercion, obedience, and emotional influence in captivity.
Trauma and survival: Livvie’s resilience and coping mechanisms illustrate human endurance under psychological and physical stress.
Moral ambiguity and obsession: The novel examines blurred ethical lines, desire, and the complexity of relationships forged through violence.