15 Cheating Romance Books With Groveling Trope

Like many forms of fiction, cheating romance has intense emotions associated with infidelity, which make for a gripping, page-turning read. We are drawn to the romance’s tumultuous, sometimes scandalous storylines. If there’s cheating in a book, it serves a purpose to teach a moral lesson. It’s there for shock value, which doesn’t push the story further.

There are many stories about a girl in a love triangle or a love hexagon. They open up physically, emotionally, whatever, to other people, and it’s very common. People have their first relationships and learn the rules of relationships. So they’re not going to be perfect.

Whether you’re a fan of dramatic love triangles, soul-searching journeys, or tales of redemption, cheating romance promises to engage and provoke thought. So, let’s go on this emotionally charged journey through some of the most compelling romance novels that have captivated readers’ hearts and minds.

15 Cheating Romance Books

Cheating in romance books puts characters in moral and ethical dilemmas, allowing readers to explore their values and beliefs about fidelity, loyalty, and the nature of love. Infidelity in these stories acts as a catalyst for character development. It forces characters to confront aspects of themselves and their relationships, leading to growth or change.

For some, reading about cheating is a form of catharsis, especially if they have experienced similar emotions or situations in their own lives. It can provide relief or understanding through the character’s experiences. Here are the top 15 cheating romance books to experience and learn something new. Let’s go!

1. The Truth about Heartbreak (The Truth About)

This book is about a foster child (River). She is in the wrong place and gets adopted by a family. She now has an older brother. Their relationship blossoms, and they grow close together. He has a best friend named Everett. He’s the same age as him, and he likes River. The relationship transforms into deeper and more sexual. This push and pull that they go through for years.

Everett moves on, gets a new partner, and continues his relationship on the day low. It is one of those books that hurt you with the main character. It is because Everett was so in love with her, and she was so in love with him. But he cheated on her. Also, He kept it in the dark. You want to feel the feels.

Author: B. Celeste
Average Rating: 4.4/5
Category: Romantic Suspense
Number Of Pages: 482
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD

2. What He Doesn’t Know (Best Kept Secrets)

This is about a married couple (Charlie & Cameron). There’s been some stuff that’s happened, and Charlie has changed a lot. She’s healing and going through a lot of trauma. Her partner is very absent. Cameron’s not doing what he used to do. So, the way that their life used to be is so different, and their relationship has lost the spark.

Charlie’s a primary school teacher. She goes to school one day for work, and she bumps into one of the new teachers, who was the first love of her life when she was a young teen. So this is a love triangle romance. Charlie is trying to decide who to love more. She needs a strong man who always cares and loves her. The new teacher is caring and lovable, so she wants to take the chance.

Their relationship develops strongly, and Charlie keeps it secret from his husband. You can say that she cheats on her husband. If you consider the overall situation, then you feel something else. So it’s all of your opinions.

Author: Kandi Steiner
Average Rating: 4.4/5
Category: Marriage Fiction
Number Of Pages: 320
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle

3. Something in the Way (Something in the Way)

The story is about a young girl (Lake Kaplan) who is 15, and she meets this construction worker (Manning) who’s working next door to her house. Manning is a lot older than her. There is a connection; you can feel it on the pages while reading it. But he knows he’s older, so he doesn’t look at her like that. Then he starts looking at her as a little sister, even though he knows he has feelings for her.

Lake has an older sister (Tiffany) around the same age as Manning. Tiffany is very much the underachiever of the family, and everyone’s obsessed with her. She’s so smart and going to go to an Ivy League school. She knows that her sister has a crush on this guy.

So, Tiffany decides to date. Manning goes along with it. Then, Lake feels very sad and angry with her cheater sister. After some years, when Lake becomes an adult, she looks hot, and Manning can not keep himself from getting in touch with her.

Author: Jessica Hawkins
Average Rating: 4.4/5
Category: Family Saga Fiction
Number Of Pages: 410
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle

4. Balance (Off Balance)

Lucia Franco loves to put a little bit of cheating in her books. So, obviously, this is very taboo and dark. Kova is a Russian male coach in the gymnastics world, training for the Olympics. He’s in his thirties and has a Russian girlfriend (Katija). Our heroine, Adrianna Rossi, is a sixteen-year-old with an Olympic dream. So her coach is Kova, and he treats her very badly.

Katija and Kova had been together when they were kids in Russia, and both their mums were prostitutes. It’s a whole situation and their back story. So, she’s very protective over Kova. But he is not in love with her. Kova cheated not only Katija but also Rossi. So it is heartbreaking for both of them and exciting to see what happened with Kova.

Author: Lucia Franco
Average Rating: 4.5/5
Category: Erotic Literature & Fiction
Number Of Pages: 610
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle

5. Even If It Hurts

This book is about an American girl, Chloe. She goes to the UK for a semester to study at university and meets Oliver. She rocks her world, makes her fall in love with him, and he falls in love with her. They have a fantastic semester together, but the sad thing is that she has to return to the States once the semester ends, and there’s no way out of it. So that in itself broke my heart.

Years down the track, Chloe marries and falls in love again. Her husband (Lance) is beautiful, and their romance is fantastic. She ends up getting a job in Amsterdam years later. Also, it’s one of those jobs where she has to work for three months. Then she can go back home for three months.

So she’s in between the states and Amsterdam every three months. This situation helps her to meet Oliver, and their romance develops. Chloe loves both Oliver and Lance. So, it is a love triangle with a cheating wife trope.

Author: Marni Mann
Average Rating: 4.3/5
Category: College Romance
Number Of Pages: 289
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle

6. The Day of the Duchess (Scandal & Scoundrel)

This book is the third book in the Scandal & Scoundrel series. It is set up in the first chapter of the first book, where the Duke of Haven (Malcolm Bevingstoke) has not been into his wife. He has been cheating on her. So she is sick of it and ready to live her life. At the beginning of this book, after seeing how he’s treated her a bit in the past, we see that she wants a divorce. She makes a Big Bang on the floor of Parliament, and she wants a divorce.

Malcolm agrees to divorce her if she can find her replacement, the person to be his next duchess before she goes. He plans to win her back throughout this. So, this book is a very emotional cheating romance. It’s very powerful, especially if you have read through the story’s arc, because you have a dark picture of Malcolm going into this book.

Author: Sarah MacLean
Average Rating: 4.4/5
Category: Regency Romance
Number Of Pages: 400
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Mass Market Paperback

7. Wicked Abyss (Immortals After Dark)

The book’s story is about Abyssian and Princess Calliope, who goes by Lila. They were fated mates through time. Lila’s a reincarnation of that woman, and he is angry towards his previous mate because she cheated him. So Abyssian takes it out on her. Now, she’s been sent to his keeping by some people to try to get her redemption, to bring her back into her community.

Lila’s a fairy princess, but as she spends time as his captive, he begins to see that she’s completely different from that woman of the past. Even if she may be a reincarnation, she is a much different woman from men. He has the gravel in this book when he realizes he has messed up. This book doesn’t get brought up as much as other Kresley Cole books.

Author: Kresley Cole
Average Rating: 4.7/5
Category: Paranormal Romance
Number Of Pages: 400
Available: Audiobook | Hardcover | Kindle | Mass Market Paperback

8. Never Sweeter (Dark Obsession)

This book is a tough one. If you have body issues or plus-size characters who are a little bit tough on themselves, be cautioned. The heroine (Letty) doesn’t do that too much. But she does reflect on some bullying she’s been through, particularly an event caused by the hero (Tate) of this book. It left her in pretty bad straits. Now they’re running back into each other.

A few years later, they’re at the same college. Tate wants to make it up to her, and Letty avoids him. Her mental health went through the wringer. All of these things, there’s no way she will ever trust him again. So he begins his epic grovel. The bullying in this book, though some of it, is unrealistic. A lot of it felt more real than a lot of bullying. It’s not the everyday bullying that people deal with when they’re overweight or in school. It still hurts you when it’s happening.

Author: Charlotte Stein
Average Rating: 4.1/5
Category: Women’s Friendship Fiction
Number Of Pages: 237
Available: Kindle

9. Filthy Dark (Five Points’ Mob Collection)

This is book three in the Five Points’ Mob Collection series. The story has a secret baby trope. It has some flashbacks, and these two (Aela and Declan) were lovers when they were young. But Declan was with her quote-unquote best friend. For some reason, he was having an affair with her. Then, some crazy thing goes down, and her friend dies. Declan says that he never wants to see her again because he’s trying to rescue her and send her away, and Aela happens to be pregnant at that time.

So that’s what happened in the past. The way that this heroine comes back into our hero’s life is pretty amazing. It’s been 16 years. Her son is a teenager, and she raised his kid. In a non-typical fashion, he isn’t even mad for a second. He immediately plans how to woo this woman back and tells his family. So these people in their late 30s realize how they have made mistakes and wouldn’t have done them back then.

Author: Serena Akeroyd
Average Rating: 4.6/5
Category: Romantic Suspense
Number Of Pages: 378
Available: Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle

10. The Ugly Duchess (Fairy Tales)

We have Theodora Saxby, who married James Ryburn, a pirate. She is not the prettiest girl then, but he needs her money. So he ends up wooing her, and then he goes away but returns. Saxby is who everyone wants around her, and she wants away from James.

So James needs to apologize and win his duchess before he loses the greatest thing ever. This book has a beautiful grovel, steamy scene, and beauty awfulness. Also, it is part of a fairy tale retelling series, which is so exciting. Try this book if you like a historical time frame with fairy tales and cheating romance.

Author: Eloisa James
Average Rating: 4.3/5
Category: British & Irish Literary Fiction
Number Of Pages: 237
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Mass Market Paperback

11. A Heart of Blood and Ashes (A Gathering of Dragons)

This is one where we see all of the horrible things that the hero (Maddek) does to our heroine (Yvenne) from the first time they’re on the page together. When we start to see things unravel, we understand our hero’s perspective and know why he’s doing this. Yvenne is the best heroine who has ever existed for romance. She’s amazing, and she gives him a chance after chance until a certain point. At that time, Maddek strikes.

There are some particular moments because even when Maddek is trying to cringe, he’s never had to grovel before, and he’s not doing a great job. It’s poor magic. But how he pledges his love and proves himself ultimately is unique. This is a man who is humbled by his stupidity and cruelty.

Author: Milla Vane
Average Rating: 4.4/5
Category: Action & Adventure Romance
Number Of Pages: 555
Available: Audiobook | Mass Market Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD

12. Target on Our Backs (Monster in His Eyes)

This is the third book in the Monster in His Eyes trilogy. The heroine (Karissa) is cheating/groveling in this one. Also, it is a mafia story with an age-gap romance. There’s a little bit of a captor captive, and there are some things that the hero (Naz) has done that the heroine can’t imagine. He doesn’t know how she could ever forgive.

Later on time, Naz proves that he would ruin everything for her. So much of this series is the hero’s groveling, but he is slightly exasperated when we see that. That’s a bit of a twist. Also, Karissa did some groveling, too.

Author: J.M. Darhower
Average Rating: 4.7/5
Category: Organized Crime Thrillers
Number Of Pages: 332
Available: Paperback | Kindle

13. Prince of Dreams (The Stokehursts)

The story takes place in London in the 1870s. So it’s the late Victorian era that is about a Russian prince named Nikolas. He has had a thing for a while, and Emma is about to be proposed to someone else. So he makes a move, does a little bit of a slimy maneuver, and positions himself as the one to be with her. Also, he does a bit of wooing of her, but everyone warns her to stay away from him.

Emma is a little bit of a fool. So, Nikolas can manipulate her without too much work. It’s hard to respect her in the very beginning because of him. This book is broken into three parts. So the first part is him wooing her and then getting married, which happens early on. Then the second part of this book is about their marriage, and it becomes clear that Emma is starting to fall for him now. But he never married her with plans to love her because he was too broken.

So he’s tricked his way into her life to become her husband. It is painful to watch, but then something happens. He shows that he’s changed because he has fully ruined things with Emma and that it will take more than some smiles.

Author: Lisa Kleypas
Average Rating: 4.5/5
Category: Victorian Erotica
Number Of Pages: 416
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Mass Market Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD

14. Lessons in Corruption (The Fallen Men)

This is an MC student-teacher romance. So, if that’s something you are not into, let you be warned. Our hero, King, is known as a big shot. His family is a part of this motorcycle gang. So he’s a bad boy but also has a sweet side. He’s in high school, and his teacher is Cressida Irons, who’s gotten out of a bad marriage. She is older than this boy character. So, there is a bit of an age gap relationship as well.

Somehow, they end up having this relationship, and it’s interesting because, again, it’s a dynamic we don’t see a ton. Cressida has a sweet husband, so her romance with students is cheating and forbidden. The series has three books, and the first two have the bad boy good girl context. So look into it if you’re interested.

Author: Giana Darling
Average Rating: 4.5/5
Category: Contemporary Romance
Number Of Pages: 380
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle

15. Bad Habit (Bad Love)

This one follows a girl (Bry) obsessed with her brother’s older best friend, and he’s (Asher) the ultimate bad boy with a tortured past. He’s broody and mean, but she grows up utterly obsessed with him. However, he’s totally out of her league and older than her. Then, one day, he disappears from her life, leaving.

Asher comes back, and he’s so horrible to Bry. Bry has no idea why, and she’s trying to figure it out while also battling to hurt herself. She’s still obsessed with him and has loved him since she was younger. But he’s horrible to her, and you get to find out why, and it’s great. It’s a fast read, but it’s an enjoyable one.

Author: Charleigh Rose
Average Rating: 4.4/5
Category: Coming of Age Fiction
Number Of Pages: 348
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD

5 Hero Caught Cheating Romance Novels

“Thoughtless” by S.C. Stephens – This novel centers around Kiera, who finds herself torn between her loyal and loving boyfriend, Denny, and the irresistibly charming lead singer of a band, Kellan. Kiera’s emotional and physical betrayal forms a central part of the story, leading to a tumultuous love triangle.

“Archer’s Voice” by Mia Sheridan – While the main hero, Archer, is not typically portrayed as a cheater, the novel shows complex emotional themes and relationship dynamics, where past experiences and misunderstandings challenge the characters’ journey towards love and understanding.

“Slammed” by Colleen Hoover – In this novel, the complications in the relationship do not directly involve cheating but rather focus on the struggles and ethical dilemmas faced by the main characters, Layken and Will, which test their relationship in various ways.

“On the Island” by Tracey Garvis Graves – This novel tells the story of Anna and T.J., who are stranded on a deserted island. Their relationship evolves unexpectedly, but it’s more about survival and emotional connection than cheating.

“Ugly Love” by Colleen Hoover – This novel focuses on Tate and Miles, and while it explores the complexities and pains of past relationships, the central theme is more about overcoming past traumas and fears rather than dealing with infidelity.

5 Second Chance Cheating Romance Books

“After I Do” by Taylor Jenkins Reid – This novel explores the story of a married couple, Lauren and Ryan, who decide to take a year off from their marriage after reaching a breaking point. During this time, they confront infidelity and personal growth, leading to insights about love and commitment.

“It Ends with Us” by Colleen Hoover – While not a traditional ‘cheating’ romance, this novel covers a complex relationship fraught with difficult choices. It’s about breaking cycles and finding strength, with themes of love, heartbreak, and self-discovery.

“Maybe Someday” by Colleen Hoover – This book tells the story of Sydney, who finds out her boyfriend is cheating. The novel explores the themes of betrayal, love, and the hardships of moving forward from a broken relationship.

“The Ground Rules” by Roya Carmen – The novel revolves around a unique arrangement between two married couples. It explores the boundaries of marriage, infidelity, and the consequences of breaking rules in relationships.

“Before We Were Strangers” by Renée Carlino – A story of lost love and second chances. The novel spans fifteen years, capturing the complexities of a relationship that endures various challenges, including separation and misunderstandings.

5 Angst Cheating Romance Books

“Thoughtless” by S.C. Stephens – Central to this story is a love triangle involving Kiera, her boyfriend Denny, and the irresistible rock star Kellan Kyle. Kiera’s infidelity and the resulting emotional turmoil make this a quintessential angst-filled cheating romance.

“Ugly Love” by Colleen Hoover – While the primary focus isn’t on cheating, the novel is rife with emotional angst. It tells the story of Tate and Miles, where past traumas significantly affect their relationship, leading to a tumultuous and tragic love story.

“Arsen: A Broken Love Story” by Mia Asher – This novel is a heart-wrenching story of a woman torn between her devoted husband and the excitement and passion she finds with Arsen. The ensuing affair leads to a deeply emotional and tragic narrative.

“Unfaithful” by Elisa Ellen – This book explores the story of a married woman who, feeling neglected and unloved in her marriage, goes on an affair. The story focuses on the emotional fallout and guilt that accompanies infidelity.

“Torn” by Carian Cole – This novel tells the story of a young woman who falls in love with an older man, only to discover that he’s married. The ensuing relationship involves moral dilemmas, heartache, and intense emotional conflict.

5 Cheating Husband Second Chance Romance Books

“The Unwanted Wife” by Natasha Anders – This story follows a woman in a loveless marriage who discovers her husband’s infidelity. It’s about her journey towards self-empowerment and possibly a second chance at love within her marriage.

“Leave Me Breathless” by Cherrie Lynn – The book tells the story of a woman who finds out about her husband’s affair. It explores the aftermath of the betrayal and the potential for healing and rebuilding their relationship.

“This Man” by Jodi Ellen Malpas – While not primarily about cheating, this book explores a complex relationship filled with secrets and intense emotions, where the possibility of betrayal and forgiveness plays a significant role in the couple’s journey.

“White-Hot Hack” by Tracey Garvis Graves – Part of the “Kate and Ian” series, this book shows the complexities of marriage, trust, and forgiveness, with themes of infidelity and the challenges of giving a relationship a second chance.

“After I Do” by Taylor Jenkins Reid – In this novel, a couple decides to take a year off from their marriage to rediscover themselves. The story navigates through themes of infidelity, self-discovery, and the possibility of falling back in love after a betrayal.

5 Cheating MC Romance Books

“Reaper’s Property” by Joanna Wylde – This novel, part of the “Reapers Motorcycle Club” series, isn’t centered on cheating but offers a gritty depiction of MC life, with complex relationship dynamics that include betrayal and loyalty.

“Undeniable” by Madeline Sheehan – In the “Undeniable” series, the story follows a tumultuous love affair over several years, set against the backdrop of MC culture. While not exclusively focused on cheating, the novel explores intense and sometimes destructive romantic relationships within the MC world.

“Motorcycle Man” by Kristen Ashley – Part of the “Dream Man” series, this book covers the life and relationships within a motorcycle club. It offers a blend of romance, drama, and the intensity associated with MC culture, including complex dynamics that sometimes border on infidelity.

“It Ain’t Me, Babe” by Tillie Cole – This novel, the first in the “Hades Hangmen” series, focuses on a woman escaping a cult and finding refuge with a motorcycle club. The themes of loyalty, betrayal, and redemption are central to the narrative, focusing on intense relationships.

“Fearless” by Lauren Gilley – Part of the “Dartmoor” series, this novel offers a deep dive into MC culture and explores various relationship dynamics, including the challenges and complexities of loyalty and betrayal in a close-knit community like an MC.

These novels challenge us to think deeply about what it means to be in a relationship, the nature of commitment, and the consequences of our choices. While they may not offer the conventional ‘happily ever after,’ they provide rich, nuanced narratives that resonate with the realities of life and love.

We hope this exploration has opened your eyes to new perspectives and that the stories have left a lasting impression. The beauty of reading lies in its ability to transport us into different worlds, allowing us to experience the myriad shades of human emotions and relationships.

Read More Similar Books:

Cheating Husband Romance Books

7 Groveling Romance Books

15 Love Triangles Books

15 Second Chance Romance Books