Greetings, intrepid readers! Are you drawn to the shadowy corners of romance where the lines between love and hate blur? If so, you’re in for a treat. Today, we’re venturing into the compelling world of dark bully romance books, a genre that challenges our notions of desire, redemption, and the power dynamics of love. These tales are not for the faint of heart—they’re intense, controversial, and packed with emotion that can swing from deep despair to passionate love.
So, if you’re ready to explore love stories that push boundaries and provoke thought, come along as we go with some of the most gripping and heart-wrenching narratives the dark romance genre has to offer.
7 Dark Bully Romance Books
Dark bully romance features intense emotions, including angst, passion, and vulnerability. The power dynamics between the characters create a heightened sense of tension and drama, drawing readers into the story. Despite the dark themes, well-written dark bully romance features multi-dimensional characters with depth and complexity.
Whether it’s due to societal expectations, personal histories, or external obstacles, the sense of forbidden attraction adds an element of danger and excitement to the story. Here are seven dark bully romance books for you. They explore taboo or controversial themes such as bullying, manipulation, and coercion within romantic relationships. Let’s begin!
| Name | Key Focus | Rating (Goodreads) |
|---|---|---|
| The Bad Guy by Celia Aaron | A man deals with Asperger’s, and he starts feeling for his worker’s girlfriend and kidnaps her. | 4.1/5 |
| Corrupt by Penelope Douglas | A college girl falls in love with her ex-boyfriend’s brother, who bullies and avoids her. | 3.8/5 |
| Craving by Helen Hardt | The heroine lives with her friend’s brother, and one of them bullies her, which turns into a romantic relationship and suspense. | 3.9/5 |
| The Pawn by Skye Warren | To save her father, the heroine is trying to earn money by selling her virginity to her father’s friend, and it’s their dark romance. | 4/5 |
| They The Pretty Stars by Eden O’Neill | To find her sister, a girl is investigating where she meets a bully boy who bullies her sister. | 3.7/5 |
| Wicked Dreams by S. Massery | A high school girl is dealing with her broken family, and she finds her ex-best friend who bullies her. | 3.9/5 |
| Stolen Soulmate by Mary Catherine Gebhard | In a love triangle, a man mistakenly kisses her servant, and his fiance sees that where the romance turns into more. | 4.2/5 |
1. The Bad Guy
The Bad Guy is an erotic suspense story about Sebastian and Camille. Camille goes to her boyfriend’s work that they’re hosting, and it’s there that she meets Sebastian. Sebastian is her boyfriend’s boss. When she first meets him, she realizes something about him is off. He’s socially awkward. It is because he was diagnosed with Asperger’s and is borderline psychotic.
So when Sebastian first meets Camille, it’s strange. He’s holding her hand for too long. He keeps staring at her, and Camille gets this weird feeling. But then her boyfriend tells her that that’s the way Sebastian is. He’s a very awkward and bullying guy but also very smart. Then, after the gala, Camille keeps running into him, and she’s never seen this guy before. All of a sudden, he keeps popping up everywhere. She is a science teacher. Suddenly, Sebastian shows up at the school and wants to donate money to the science building.
Camille gets offered a position at Amazon, and she accepts that job. It’s at that point that Sebastian kidnaps her. So the reason Sebastian kidnaps her is that when he first meets her, he feels some strange emotions going through his body that he doesn’t understand. As he has Asperger’s, he has trouble understanding his emotions or displaying certain emotions in certain situations. So when he feels these unfamiliar emotions, he must get to the bottom.
So Sebastian figures that the best way for him to understand better what’s going on is to kidnap her and use that time he has with her to get a better understanding of what’s going on inside of him. He’s obsessed with her when she’s in his house. Camille doesn’t want to be there, but she’s also starting to understand why he is the way he is. Then Sebastian doesn’t understand how to woo a girl. So, he realizes what those emotions are. So, dark bully love, mental health, and kidnapping tropes make the story more exciting.
Author: Celia Aaron
Narrator: Stephen Dexter, Lance Greenfield
Publisher: Audible Studios
Tropes: Suspense, Pregnant-heroine, Love-triangle, Psychopath, Grumpy-hero
Number Of Pages: 414
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
2. Corrupt (Devil’s Night)
Corrupt is a dark college romance with a bullying aspect. It is about Michael Crist, and the book starts with Erika at a family party at her ex-boyfriend’s house. While there, she sees her ex-boyfriend’s older brother, Michael, and the reader doesn’t understand why. But there’s a tension between them, and you get the vibe that Michael hates and bullies her, but she’s in love with him.
You don’t understand why Michael hates her if she grew up with that family because she was dating his younger brother. But as the book continues, it jumps from the present to the past. The reason that they have this weird relationship is all because of one night. So, every time it jumps to the past, it returns to that night. You’re discovering what happened that night to make their relationship like this. Without giving away what happened that night, I’ll tell you that Erika has always had a crush on Michael.
His younger brother was more his dad’s favorite, and he was very distant from their family because she felt this vibe. Erika didn’t spend as much time with him as she did with his younger brother. She and the younger brother were best friends in the beginning.
After spending so much time together, she realized the brother had romantic feelings for her. She knew that nothing was going to happen between her and Michael. So she went ahead and started dating him. But nothing would ever happen between Michael and Erika, and it was because of that specific night. Something happened that night, and there was a chance of them getting together, and something went wrong.
Erika ruined his life and his three best friend’s life. Because of that, Michael can’t forgive her and can never be with her. He and his friends want to get revenge for her ruining their lives. So they torment her that night to the one she keeps remembering. But there are a lot of secrets.
A lot happened that night that Michael doesn’t know of, and not everybody is on the same page. They all have different recollections of what happened that night. The characters are mentally unstable, so they are not likable. The story and writing style were average for me, but the smut level was so high. If you like dark, bully, steamy romance, try it.
Author: Penelope Douglas
Narrator: Tatiana Sokolov, Jeremy York
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Tropes: Suspense, College, Anti-hero, Mystery, Sports
Number Of Pages: 516
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle
3. Craving (Steel Brothers Saga)
Three books come first in the Steel Brothers Saga series. The first two books are a dark bully romance and mystery because a crime happens. As the book continues, they start unveiling secrets and understanding who committed those crimes. I want to let you know that this book should have a trigger warning. I don’t recommend reading this book if it’s hard for you to read books about sexual assault.
The crime would be solved, and justice would be served. The relationship in the book is good, but it is hard to read at times because some of the scenes are explained in detail. So, I would also get past certain scenes. Craving is about telling in Jade. So Jade decides to visit her friend. The majority lives with her three older brothers. She goes to live with her friend’s brothers. One of her brothers is Talon, and Talon picks up Jade from the airport immediately. Jade is attracted to Talon, but he’s also dark and mysterious.
As the days go on, there’s sexual tension between her and Talon. But Talon is hard to understand, and the book keeps going on. Then you realize that Talon is hard to understand because, at one point during his childhood, he was kidnapped and was gone by many problems. So, he has significant trust issues and difficulty opening up to others. His family also has difficulty understanding him because they don’t know what happened while he is gone. They have an idea of what happened and then lose their parents.
Talon doesn’t feel comfortable telling his brothers what happened. Jade starts working at a courthouse and can pull up records and information about his disappearance while she’s there. That’s when she realized that a lot of stuff was being covered. The family wants to know why these things were covered up. Who paid who to cover them up? Are they covering it up? So, much suspense and mystery make this dark romance more thrilling.
Author: Helen Hardt
Narrator: Sebastian York, Neva Navarre
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Tropes: Westerns, Arc, Bad-boy
Number Of Pages: 288
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Audio CD
4. The Pawn (Endgame)
The Pawn is another dark crime suspense romance from New York Times bestselling author Skye Warren. The story is about Avery and Gabriel. Avery grew up rich, but then her father got ill. During this time, he loses all of his money. So Avery is left poor, and she now has to take care of her dying father and can’t even pay for his medical treatments. Then, she decides to visit the criminal underground. She’s thinking about the best way to make money quickly because her dad is sick.
Then, Avery comes up with the idea that she will sell her virginity for money. So, while she’s down there, she meets a man. His name is Gabriel, and she’s seen him around her house sometimes. So she thinks he must be friends with her dad. They do a little auction thing, and Gabriel buys her. He paid, so he wants the card. You find out that Gabriel isn’t who he says he is.
When Gabriel pays for her, Avery realizes that if anybody is going to pay for her, she’s happy that it is Gabriel. So then, when she finds out, he’s not who he says he is. Their romance was very dark, and the bully scene was very light. There was much suspense that made you cliffhanger. Avoid the hardcover because of the bad quality issue. The paperback is fantastic for font size, color combination, cover, binding, and paper quality.
Author: Skye Warren
Narrator: Kylie Stewart
Publisher: Book Beautiful
Tropes: Crime, Twists, Alpha-male
Number Of Pages: 304
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle
5. They The Pretty Stars (Court High)
They The Pretty Stars is a high school, dark bully romance. The story is about Royal Prinze and December. She has an older sister, but her older sister lives with her dad. Her dad distanced himself from the two girls when her mom passed away. December couldn’t do it anymore. So she moved in with her aunt. They agree to live in separate homes. That way, the dad had somebody to pick on in December since she was the younger sister.
December is living with her aunt, and her sister visits her often. Months go by, and her sister’s still not back. She’s usually there all of summer December, texting her, and she can’t get a hold of her. So she decides to go to her if her sister’s not coming back. Then she moves in with her dad, hoping her sister will return because she feels bad for her. She enrolls in the school that her sister used to go to, and when she’s there, she meets a group.
The group is the popular kids, but they’re bully boys, and she doesn’t like them. Then she finds out that her sister is best friends with them. Royal is the leader of that group. They don’t get along in the beginning. But as the book goes on, they have to work together to get answers because Royal does care about her sister, and he also wants to know what happened. So they start working together. Secrets get unveiled! Every chapter of this book is fascinating and suspenseful. I recommend reading the whole series.
Author: Eden O’Neill
Narrator: Kasi Hollowell
Publisher: Pink Flamingo Productions LLC
Tropes: Mystery-thriller, Academia, Disability, Banter
Number Of Pages: 167
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle
6. Wicked Dreams (Fallen Royals)
Wicked Dreams is a dark high school romance with the bully trope. We follow two main characters, Caleb and Margo. Margo is the foster kid. Her mom lost her mind when she was younger, and her dad was arrested. She never understood why he was arrested, but he’s been in prison. Her mom’s been out of the picture because she’s a drug addict. But Margo’s in the foster system, and she keeps moving from house to house because nobody wants to adopt her. Eventually, she finds herself in the same town she grew up in when all this happened.
So when her dad was arrested, and her mom became a drug addict, she returned to that town. When she’s there, she runs into her ex-best friend, Caleb. So she hasn’t seen him since then, but she’s always thought about him and wondered what he’s up to. They didn’t have a way of staying in contact with each other. So she’s happy to be back now.
Caleb hates and bullies her when she returns, and she doesn’t understand why. She also does not have her full memories. As the story continued, she had to think, why would he possibly hate me? It all has to do with how her dad got arrested in the first place. Her dad got arrested for something that changed Caleb’s life, so he hates her. The book has many negative sides: a lack of chemistry between the main characters, a boring story, and average writing. But I enjoyed the mystery and banter between the characters.
Author: S. Massery
Narrator: Stephanie Rose, Troy Duran
Tropes: Dark-theme, Bully, Jealous-possessive, Mystery-thriller
Number Of Pages: 340
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
7. Stolen Soulmate (Crowne Point)
Stolen Soulmate is about Story and Gray. Story is a servant at Grayson’s castle. It seems like a big mansion, and they call it Crowne Hall. So Story is a servant at Crown Hall, Grayson’s home, walking through the house and doing her duties. Then somebody yanks her into a closet, and she’s making out with somebody. She doesn’t know who this person is, but they’re making out.
Things are getting steamy. Then the door opens and works in Charlotte. Charlotte is shocked but even more shocked when the person she’s kissing realizes that Grayson’s made a mistake. Grayson thought he was kissing Charlotte, but he was actually kissing Story.
So when Grayson finds out that he’s kissing Charlotte, he’s upset, and you find out that he’s upset because he and Charlotte are engaged to be married. They’re young, and they haven’t announced their engagement yet. So, it’s an arranged marriage. When they are little, they’re supposed to get married. Grayson finds out that Story stole his first kiss.
When Charlotte sees him kissing Story, she gets upset because she thinks he’s been playing games this whole time and hasn’t been saving himself for her. So she leaves, and she’s crying. Grayson bullies Story throughout the entire book. But it’s not Story’s fault that this is happening because he yanked her into the closet. Then, Grayson and Story fall in love with each other.
The book is sad because Story and Grayson are now in love, which does not change the fact that Grayson is still supposed to marry Charlotte. It has been planned since they were little. So he can’t believe all of a sudden say, I don’t want to marry her anymore. That does cause problems for them. The main obstacle is that they can’t stay together.
This book has a lot of angst because of all the obstacles they face due to their family. The writing style, plot, and characters are excellent, and the author successfully adds many tropes without force. I recommend this dark-bullying love story.
Author: Mary Catherine Gebhard
Publisher: Unglued Books
Tropes: Multicultural, Arranged-marriage, Arc
Number Of Pages: 434
Available: Paperback | Kindle
5 Dark High School Bully Romance Books
“Paper Princess” by Erin Watt (The Royals Series) – This series opener introduces us to Ella Harper, a survivor and a loner thrust into the world of the wealthy Royal family. The Royal boys are determined to break her, especially Reed Royal, who instantly dislikes Ella. The push and pull between them, set against high school drama and family secrets, makes for a riveting read.
“Bully” by Penelope Douglas (Fall Away Series) – Told from the perspective of Tate, this novel explores her tumultuous relationship with her former best friend, Jared, who turned on her, making her high school life miserable. The transformation of their relationship from friends to enemies to something more is both intense and emotional, showcasing the thin line between love and hate.
“Punk 57” by Penelope Douglas – In a unique twist on the bully romance genre, Misha and Ryen are pen pals who’ve never met but have been writing to each other for years. When Misha discovers who Ryen really is, the dynamic changes drastically. The story dives deep into themes of identity, acceptance, and the facades people maintain, all while building a complicated romance between the protagonists.
“Fear Me” by B.B. Reid (Broken Love Series) – This book follows Lake and Keiran, whose relationship is marked by obsession, blackmail, and a dark history. Keiran is the ultimate bad boy who has tormented Lake for years, and their story is a complex dance of power and desire. Reid’s narrative is known for pushing boundaries, offering a darker take on the high school romance trope.
“Deviant King” by Rina Kent (Royal Elite Series) – The story of Aiden King and Elsa Quinn begins with intense hatred and a cruel power play in the elite Royal Elite School. Aiden’s obsession with Elsa is as mysterious as it is dark, leading to a dangerous game of love and dominance. Kent crafts a world of intrigue, secrets, and a romance that blurs the lines between love and obsession.
5 Alpha Bully Romance Books
“Vicious” by L.J. Shen (Sinners of Saint Series) – Emilia LeBlanc never expected that Vicious, the boy she used to know, would become her worst nightmare—and her most irresistible desire. Vicious epitomizes an alpha male; he’s ruthless, possessive, and driven by deep, unacknowledged emotions. Shen crafts a world where love is a battlefield, making readers root for a romance that defies the odds.
“Bully” by Penelope Douglas (Fall Away Series) – Tate and Jared were childhood friends turned enemies, with Jared embodying the alpha bully archetype to perfection. His return from a summer away marks the beginning of an intense campaign against Tate, but the reasons behind his actions are as complex as the evolving relationship between them. This novel expertly faces the thin line between love and hate, making it a standout in the genre.
“Fear Me” by B.B. Reid (Broken Love Series) – Keiran Masters takes the alpha bully role to an extreme, tormenting Lake Monroe in ways that push the boundaries of their past and the secrets that bind them. Reid delves deep into themes of power, revenge, and redemption, creating a storyline that’s as provocative as it is captivating.
“Untouchable” by Sam Mariano – This book follows the story of Zoe and Carter, whose relationship begins under dubious circumstances and evolves into a complex web of desire, power, and secrets. Carter’s relentless pursuit and dominant personality mark him as a classic alpha male, challenging Zoe—and readers—to see the man behind the mask.
“Brutal Prince” by Sophie Lark (Brutal Birthright Series) – This novel introduces readers to Aida and Callum, two individuals from rival mafia families. Their forced proximity turns into an intense game of power, seduction, and control. Lark combines the elements of alpha bully romance with a compelling mafia setting, ensuring a story filled with danger, passion, and unexpected alliances.
5 Possessive Bully Romance Novels
“Den of Vipers” by K.A. Knight – Ryder, Kenzo, Garrett, and Diesel are feared and ruthless leaders of a gang, and when they decide to make Roxie their own, the dynamics of power, possession, and protection reach new heights. This novel is not for the faint-hearted; it’s raw and intense and showcases an unconventional relationship dynamic that defines the essence of a possessive bully romance with a strong female protagonist who holds her own.
“Stepbrother Dearest” by Penelope Ward – Greta and Elec’s story begins when they’re thrust into a step-sibling relationship, marked by Elec’s initial hatred and overt possessiveness. The novel explores the evolution of their complex relationship, characterized by intense emotions and a forbidden longing that challenges societal norms and personal barriers.
“Fear You” by B.B. Reid (Broken Love Series) – The sequel to “Fear Me,” this novel continues the tumultuous relationship between Lake and Keiran. Keiran’s possessiveness and dark past play central roles in their evolving relationship, pushing the boundaries of what it means to love and be owned. Reid delves deeper into the psychology of her characters, making for a compelling and intense read.
“Cruel Intentions” by Siobhan Davis (Rydeville Elite Series) – Abby and Kai’s story is set against the backdrop of a high school ruled by the elite and dangerous. Kai’s possessive behavior towards Abby, amid the twisted games and secrets of the elite, drives this dark bully romance. Davis crafts a captivating and unsettling narrative, exploring the power dynamics and dark themes with a deft hand.
“Ruthless People” by J.J. McAvoy – This novel introduces Melody Giovanni and Liam Callahan, heirs to rival mafia dynasties, forced into marriage to unite their families. Their relationship is defined by fierce possessiveness and mutual respect cruelty. McAvoy blends the elements of a possessive bully romance with the intrigue and danger of the mafia world, creating a story as violent as it is passionate.
5 Dark Bully Reverse Harem Books
“Den of Vipers” by K.A. Knight – The book introduces readers to Ryder, Kenzo, Garrett, and Diesel, the feared leaders of a gang who decide to claim Roxie as their own. The dynamic between Roxie and the men is intense, dangerous, and ultimately transformative. This novel stands out for its raw portrayal of power, survival, and unconventional relationships, making it a quintessential read in the dark bully reverse harem genre.
“Hate” by Tate James (Madison Kate Series) – After being falsely accused and sent away, Madison Kate returns to find her life upended and herself the target of hatred and obsession by Kody, Steele, and Archer. The relationship dynamics evolve from intense animosity to complex emotional bonds set against mystery and intrigue. James crafts a story where lines are blurred, and love and hate intertwine.
“Broken Wings” by Tate James and Jaymin Eve (Dark Legacy Series) – This novel follows Riley, a girl with a mysterious past, and the four heirs of a prestigious academy who initially make her life a living hell. The story shows revenge, power, and hidden secrets, with a strong female lead who navigates the complexities of her relationships with the heirs. It’s a gripping tale of resilience, betrayal, and unexpected alliances.
“Boys of Oak Park Prep” by Callie Rose – The series starts with a bang as the protagonist, Talia, finds herself at odds with the Kings of Oak Park Prep. What begins as a battle of wills evolves into a complicated mesh of attraction, loyalty, and dark secrets. Rose expertly balances the tension and chemistry between Talia and her bullies, creating a dark and irresistibly engaging narrative.
“Brutal Boys on Devil’s Night” by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti – This series introduces a dark and twisted world where the female protagonist must face her way through a maze of danger, desire, and deceit, surrounded by a group of men who are as captivating as they are dangerous. The authors create a vivid, immersive world filled with intense emotions, complex characters, and a storyline that keeps readers on the edge.
5 Dark MM Bully Romance Books
“The Elite” by Brooke Blaine and Ella Frank – This series starts with a powerful story set in a prestigious academy where secrets and power play a significant role. The relationship between the protagonists is marked by intense rivalry, deep-seated hate, and a compelling attraction that neither can deny. Blaine and Frank masterfully describe the fine line between love and hate, crafting a story that’s as dark as it is passionate.
“Bully & Exit” by Brigham Vaughn – Situated in a college setting, this novel explores the relationship between Nathan and Caleb, former high school friends turned enemies. The story covers forgiveness, the impact of the past on the present, and the possibility of a second chance at love. Vaughn’s portrayal of emotional vulnerability and the complexity of the characters’ journey from hate to affection is both poignant and compelling.
“Blackmail Boy” by Parker Avrile – A dark romance that explores the consequences of a blackmail scheme gone too far. The protagonist finds himself caught in a web of desire, manipulation, and betrayal, forcing him to confront his fears and desires. Avrile skillfully blends suspense, erotic tension, and emotional depth, creating a narrative that keeps readers guessing until the end.
“Heathens” by Britt Andrews – Set in a world where power and danger lurk everywhere, this story follows characters’ lives bound by a dark past and an even more uncertain future. The intense dynamics and the struggle for dominance and control make for a riveting read. Andrews crafts a gritty, emotional tale that explores the darker aspects of love and loyalty.
“Just a Bit Ruthless” by Alessandra Hazard – A captivating story about a young man who finds himself at the mercy of a powerful, ruthless businessman. The relationship that unfolds is fraught with tension, power struggles, and an undeniable attraction that challenges both characters’ understanding of love and control. Hazard’s writing vividly captures the emotional turmoil and passionate encounters that define this dark MM bully romance.
Last Words
These stories challenge us, shake us to our core, and sometimes leave us questioning the nature of love and redemption. They’re not easy reads, but they are undeniably compelling, offering a glimpse into the complexities of human emotion and the transformative power of love, even in its darkest forms.
As you ponder these tales and perhaps brave their pages, remember to care for your heart and mind. The world of dark romance is vast, and each story offers a unique perspective on the themes of power, resilience, and the indomitable spirit of love. Until we meet again, keep your reading light bright and your imagination open. Who knows what other worlds we’ll explore next?
Read More:
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Writing Tips: 10 Tips To Write Dark Romance
Table of Contents
