Forced proximity in romance novels refers to a scenario where the main characters are compelled to spend significant time together in close quarters due to external circumstances. This setup is a popular trope in romance storytelling because it creates an environment where the characters can develop a relationship, overcoming initial dislike or indifference towards each other.
In these stories, the characters are trapped together due to situations like being stranded in a remote location, sharing a workplace, or being involved in a fake relationship that requires them to be in close contact. The forced proximity allows for a buildup of romantic and sexual tension as the characters face their feelings while being in each other’s constant presence.
The appeal of these books lies in the way characters interact and evolve. Being forced to deal with one another in such close quarters leads to a deeper understanding, emotional development, and a romantic connection. This trope is found in various romance sub-genres, including contemporary, historical, fantasy, and others.
15 Forced Proximity Romance Books
Forced proximity can occur in countless scenarios (stranded together, fake relationships, working closely on a project, etc.), offering various stories within the same overarching theme. Being in close proximity can bring out vulnerabilities, fears, and desires, leading to a rich emotional narrative.
Like many romance novels, forced proximity stories offer escapism. The unique and high-stakes scenarios are thrilling and entertaining, providing a break from the mundanities of everyday life. This tension isn’t just romantic; it involves clashes of personalities, values, or goals, adding depth to the narrative.
Forced proximity romance leads to the trope of only one bed, which people like. There’s more of a mixture of different scenarios with people staying together, whether tragedies or fake situations where people have to disguise what they’re doing. Maybe they are colleagues or friends, or it’s a road trip.
I will talk about 15 forced proximity romance books to read anytime. These books explore trust, vulnerability, personal growth, and the power of circumstances in shaping relationships. They showcase how people can find common ground and understanding despite differences. Let’s read!
| Name | Storyline | Tropes |
|---|---|---|
| In Bed with Mr. Wrong by Katee Robert | An unexpected and fiery romance that ignites between a tough military man and a woman who initially seems to be his complete opposite. | Opposites attract, military romance, small-town setting, sizzling chemistry, emotional baggage, protective hero, feisty heroine, mistaken assumptions, slow burn romance, hidden vulnerabilities. |
| Lovewrecked by Karina Halle | A passionate and tumultuous love story set on a tropical island, where unexpected romance blooms between a woman and a man she rescues from a shipwreck. | Stranded together, island romance, rescue scenario, emotional healing, forbidden attraction, survivor’s guilt, strong-willed heroine, mysterious hero, nature’s backdrop, transformative love journey, overcoming past traumas. |
| The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren | A lighthearted and humorous romance about two sworn enemies who find themselves on an unexpected, pretend honeymoon together, leading to unexpected feelings. | Enemies-to-lovers, fake relationship, forced proximity, comedy of errors, luck and misfortune, sibling rivalry, opposite attracts, wedding chaos, mistaken identities, romantic escapades, personal growth, feel-good romance. |
| Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare | A spirited young woman’s journey to claim her inheritance, leads to unexpected romance with a brooding Duke. | Enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, hidden identity, beauty and the beast theme, inheritance conflict, wounded hero, spunky heroine, romantic transformation, regency setting, Cinderella story elements, unconventional courtship, damsel in distress with a twist. |
| The Bride Test by Helen Hoang | A journey of an autistic man finding love with a Vietnamese woman who comes to America hoping for a better life, challenging both to understand and accept each other’s worlds. | Cross-cultural romance, arranged marriage setup, neurodiversity representation (autism), immigrant experience, emotional growth, fish-out-of-water, rich hero-poor heroine dynamic, family dynamics, overcoming personal barriers, love triangle elements, self-discovery, and unconventional love story. |
| On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves | An unexpected and intense romantic relationship develops between a woman and a younger man as they struggle to survive after being stranded on a deserted island. | Age-gap romance, survival scenario, stranded on a desert island, student-teacher dynamic (initially), slow-burn romance, forced proximity, overcoming adversity together, transformation through hardship, isolation leading to intimacy, nature as a backdrop for romance, survivalist challenges, and emotional and physical dependency. |
| Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett | Two former best friends turned enemies who rediscover each other and find love during a camping trip, amidst family feuds and personal secrets. | Enemies-to-lovers, friends-to-lovers, outdoor adventure setting, teenage romance, second-chance romance, family drama, secrets and revelations, forced proximity (camping together), reconnecting with nature, overcoming past misunderstandings, rich-poor dynamic, and self-discovery journey. |
| Anything You Can Do by R.S. Grey | A lighthearted romantic comedy about two childhood rivals who are now competing doctors in their hometown, realizing their animosity might actually be unresolved romantic tension. | Enemies-to-lovers, workplace romance, small-town setting, childhood rivals, romantic comedy, professional competition, love-hate dynamic, returning to hometown, playful banter, strong female lead, alpha male protagonist, and romantic pranks. |
| Shipped by Angie Hockman | A captivating story of two workplace rivals competing for the same promotion, embarking on a company cruise that leads to unexpected romantic sparks and self-discovery. | Enemies-to-lovers, workplace romance, travel and adventure setting, competition for promotion, forced proximity (on a cruise), romantic comedy, professional rivalry, strong female lead, empowerment and career growth, office politics, scenic backdrops, and personal growth journeys. |
| Rafe by Rebekah Weatherspoon | A steamy romance about a tattooed, motorcycle-riding male nanny who develops a passionate and tender relationship with a successful single mother-surgeon. | Male nanny (manny), single mother, opposites attract, steamy romance, professional woman, unconventional male lead, family dynamics, children as secondary characters, emotional vulnerability, contemporary setting, strong female protagonist, and nurturing male character. |
| The Rogue Not Taken by Sarah MacLean | A historical romance about a young woman fleeing scandal who stumbles upon an adventure and unexpected love with a notorious Marquess, known for his rakish behavior. | Road trip romance, enemies-to-lovers, regency era, scandal and reputation, rakish hero, strong-willed heroine, hidden identities, societal norms and rebellion, family dynamics, humorous banter, carriage travel, and class differences. |
| Hooked on the Game by C.M. Owens | A contemporary romance about the evolving relationship between a college student and a wealthy, mysterious man involved in a risky, underground world. | College romance, bad boy billionaire, hidden secrets, opposites attract, risky lifestyles, underground world, mysterious past, emotional growth, suspense elements, wealth and poverty contrast, strong female lead, and intense romantic development. |
| Whiteout by Adriana Anders | A thrilling romantic suspense novel set in the harsh, isolated environment of Antarctica, where a chef and a glaciologist must survive against nature and human threats while uncovering a deep conspiracy. | Survival romance, forced proximity in extreme conditions, Antarctica setting, adventure and suspense, opposites attract, dangerous expedition, conspiracy and intrigue, fight for survival, isolation as a backdrop, gradual building of trust, mystery and action. |
| When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare | A charming historical romance about a shy young woman who invents a Scottish fiancé to avoid society’s pressures, only to face chaos when the fictional soldier appears in person, demanding her hand in marriage. | Fake engagement, unexpected arrival of a fictional lover, Scottish highlander, historical Regency setting, socially awkward heroine, humor and wit, love letters, battle-scarred hero, societal expectations, family dynamics, and gradual romance development. |
| Bratva Sinner by B. B. Hamel | A dark romance novel that delves into the dangerous and seductive world of the Russian mafia, where a young woman becomes entangled with a powerful and enigmatic mob boss. | Mafia romance, dark hero, organized crime setting, forbidden love, power dynamics, intense and gritty storyline, dangerous liaisons, protective alpha male, criminal underworld, suspense and danger, moral complexity, and passionate romance. |
1. In Bed with Mr. Wrong (Out of Uniform)
This book is about Bri and Ryan, and they have an instant miscommunication with each other. It becomes an instant hate situation because people misunderstand each other and miscommunicate so much. However, in this book, we’re dealing with two people, that miscommunication is ripe for it to happen, and here’s why we’re dealing with Bri.
She is a mousy town librarian, and she’s run away from some boring situations in her life. Some of her friends try to set her up on a blind date. It so happens that one of her friend’s brothers, Ryan, who is home for leave for two weeks, is coming to town. So his brother and her friend set her up with each other.
Ryan is not in the special forces. But in this special sniper unit, He has a lot of baggage. He has a seemingly bad reputation around the town, which is a key point. So, everyone he sees feels like they’re judging him for things that happen because back when he was a kid, many things went wrong, and he ended up burning down the high school at one point.
When these two meet for their first blind date, they instantly get the wrong idea about each other. Ryan thinks that she has heard all these horrible things about him. Its force proximity is because they have a horrible first date, but they still end up banging, and there is intense sexual chemistry. Then, there is a party they go to, and they end up having sex in his car.
So their friends hear them saying they hate each other but see their sexual chemistry. There’s also only one bed, but there’s a fireplace. They get along well whenever they can stop arguing, but they have problems doing that, and it’s adorable.
Author: Katee Robert
Average Rating: 4.1/5
Category: Contemporary Romance Fiction
Available: Audiobook | Kindle | MP3 CD
2. Lovewrecked
This is another hate-to-love situation and forced proximity romance. If people hate each other, you need that pressure cooker of the time alone. So this one is a shipwrecked love story, but it’s also set us up in this situation, and our couples aren’t in danger. The story is about four people. Daisy travels to New Zealand for her older sister’s wedding and is superficial. She’s flighty, and her sister’s future brother-in-law, Tai, comes to pick her up at the airport.
They have instant likes and don’t get along right away. Tai thinks she’s flighty and immature. So they get off to these bad perceptions about each other. But this all works because the honeymoon for the couple getting married and the boat they were supposed to take ends up double booked.
Tai owns a small sailing vessel, and he’s always wanted to take it on a farther trip than he gets to. So he agrees to take this newly married couple to their honeymoon destination. Then the sister goes to Daisy to come because Daisy is afraid of many things, and her sister goes with her in the coming with. So there’s a lot of time spent on the boat, and the chemistry is crazy between them. So they end up being on this island together for two months, waiting for someone to come and get them.
It’s about our journey, but it’s a classic disaster scenario. So it became more about the romance and the sister relationships that needed to be worked on because there’s a lot of jealousy and problems.
Author: Karina Halle
Average Rating: 4.3/5
Category: Women’s Action & Adventure Fiction, Inspirational Romance
Available: Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
3. The Unhoneymooners
This is forced proximity because Olive and Ethan hate each other. Olive’s sister and Ethan’s brother got married to each other, and they have these bad perceptions of each other. But the entire wedding party gets a horrible stomach bug because of a buffet. Olive and Ethan didn’t eat it. So only they are out of danger.
They take this honeymoon for their sister and brother because Olive is her sister’s twin, and Ethan uses his name like his brother’s because he is on vacation. So they end up taking this honeymoon to go to Hawaii. There’s only one bed, even though it’s a huge suite and other comfortable sleeping places. But they also have to fake a date so that the hotel thinks that they’re together and runs into Olive’s future boss at this place. So, it was a good mix of fake dating and forced proximity.
Author: Christina Lauren
Average Rating: 4.5/5
Category: Humorous American Literature
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
4. Romancing the Duke (Castles Ever After)
This is about a girl named Isolde Ophelia. An old relative has gifted her a castle. A duke wanted to ensure these women had something that belonged to them. He needs this castle very badly because her father left a lot of debts, but he also left her the titles of the novels he’d written. Now, he’d written these fun adventure romance novels.
Ophelia’s been left destitute by her father, and then she gets given this castle. So she’s determined to fix, sell, and get a small home somewhere else to maintain and live out her days. She meets Ransom, a scarred hero, when she gets to this castle. He is mostly blind as well. He has been injured badly and still believes he owns this castle. So they end up living in the same place, and she awakes his heart again.
Author: Tessa Dare
Average Rating: 4.4/5
Category: Historical Romance
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Mass Market Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
5. The Bride Test (The Kiss Quotient)
This one is about Chi, who thinks he has no feelings. He’s on the autism spectrum, and his mother wants him to have a wife. So she goes to Ho Chi Minh City and finds Esme Tran, who wants to come to America and bring her daughter. She meets Chi’s mother through reason, and his mother offers to bring her to America if she tries to meet his son and fall in love with him.
So this becomes forced proximity romance because this woman is living in his space. For Chi, that upset his world because he organizes things in a certain way. He has plans for his life, like how things are supposed to go, which throws that all up in the air. Esme is trying to win him over. She’s also frightened that she’ll get sent back if she doesn’t. Chi doesn’t think he has feelings, but he’s catching feelings for her. It makes me cry.
Author: Helen Hoang
Average Rating: 4.4/5
Category: Asian American Literature & Fiction
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Audio CD
6. On the Island
This book is about Anna and Callahan. Anna is Callahan’s tutor, so he was held back in school. He’s behind because he had cancer as a kid. So, at the start of this story, he is almost 17. Anna will stay with the family for the summer vacation while she helps Callahan catch up on his schooling.
So she and Callahan are on a charter flight together, and the pilot has a heart attack. It’s very hatchet; that’s what happens, and they go down and are stuck on an island for three years. So, there eventually is an age-gap romance between the two of them. Anna is more than ten years older than him. This isn’t a viable situation, and why does it make it a fantasy? They almost die together so many times. There’s so much forced proximity, and it is a survival story.
Author: Tracey Garvis Graves
Average Rating: 4.5/5
Category: Romantic Action & Adventure
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle
7. Starry Eyes
This book is about Zorie and Lennon, who used to be best friends, and they were on the brink of something more happening between them. On the night of homecoming, something goes wrong. They hate each other, and they don’t talk to each other. But a year or so later, they both end up on a camping trip together. The rest of the people they’re with aren’t people they completely associate with.
When you read it, you’ll see the reasoning for how they end up in the same place anyway. The reasons are interesting, but they end up stuck together camping. Now Zorie is into astronomy. That’s why this is called Starry Eyes; they’re not far away. There’s this cool conservatory that she wants to go to see Lennon.
Through that, they work out why they got stuck together and not how they worked out, why their relationship fell apart. It wasn’t a miscommunication between the two of them. Should they stick with their friends this time because they love their friendship? What are they going to do?
Author: Jenn Bennett
Average Rating: 4.5/5
Category: Young Adult Fiction about Dating & Sex
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Audio CD
8. Anything You Can Do
This follows Daisy and Lucas. They were in high school enemies but were always rivals, always competing against one another. Then, they both went to college. They both ended up going to medical school and becoming doctors. Now they’re both back in their hometown and competing for the same job.
So they’re competing for the same job at the same clinic they always like in each other’s ways. There’s a lot of sexual tension with one another. They have to spend the night together because they are locked in at some point.
Author: R.S. Grey
Average Rating: 4.4/5
Category: Medical Romance
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | MP3 CD
9. Shipped
This is a great romance as well because it is frenemies to lovers. They’re not enemies, and they have frenemies. So, in this appalling, Henley Evans works at a cruise company and does management for them in marketing. She’s mocking them for a while and is finally up for a promotion. Also, another candidate, Graeme, deserves the same promotion.
You have to compete to see who will get the promotion. Evans is pissed because Graeme started early a little bit ago. He’s a remote social media manager. He doesn’t even turn up to the office. One day, he took credit for her work, and she’s hated him ever since.
Graeme doesn’t understand why she hates him because a huge miscommunication happened. But they both end up being forced to go on one of their cruise ships to the Galapagos to develop a pitch, a marketing idea for how they can increase their sales.
So it’s forced proximity romance because they’re both stuck on this cruise ship together for a week. Also, it is frenemies to love because the miscommunication that made her hate him in the beginning gets dealt with very quickly.
Author: Angie Hockman
Average Rating: 4.1/5
Category: Contemporary Romance
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Library Binding | Kindle | Audio CD
10. Rafe: A Buff Male Nanny (Loose Ends)
This book is about Rafe, who is a buff male nanny. Sloan is a doctor and has a nasty divorce. So she and her two twin daughters moved to Los Angeles, and she’s scrambling to find a nanny. That’s where Rafe comes in. So the forced proximity part is he’s the nanny. He’s always there, and they’re always together.
They have sexual tension and also for us to be together. It’s a steamy sexual tension between them as they’re in the house all the time. You don’t see a lot of male nanny romances out there, so this is one for the points.
Author: Rebekah Weatherspoon
Average Rating: 4.3/5
Category: Multicultural Romance
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
11. The Rogue Not Taken (Scandal & Scoundrel)
In this book, we follow Sophie Talbot and her sister, notorious for being scandalous. One day, something happens, and she has to play London. Then we have Kingscote, the Marquess of Evilly, and he’s known around for being a bit of a lady charmer. He has a reputation, even though it does not accurately represent who he is. But he gets a summons that he has to go back home. His house is on the border of the Scottish border. So he’s in his carriage going there and is reluctant about this.
It’s not a happy camper. Then Kingscote realizes that a beautiful lady is stowing away in his carriage. He’s on what is going on. Is this woman trying to do this to ruin herself, to force him to marry? It’s so great because the characters are traveling together. Kingscote can’t go back because Sophie is in there.
Author: Sarah MacLean
Average Rating: 4.4/5
Category: Regency Romance
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Mass Market Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
12. Hooked on the Game (Sterling Shore)
We have Kate and Raya, and they are in college. They both live off-campus. Kate lives in his house with his other four frat brothers. His dad owns his house, so no one pays rent. On the other hand, Raya lives next door. She had two roommates who would help her pay rent until her two roommates got expelled.
One night, her neighbor Kate was throwing a party. A bulldozer got involved, and her house got ruined. Raya is going to live with Kate while people fix her house. So it’s a forced proximity relationship because they live together in this house.
Author: C.M. Owens
Average Rating: 4.5/5
Category: Women’s New Adult & College Fiction
Available: Paperback | Kindle
13. Whiteout (Survival Instincts)
This is a survival force proximity romance. Angel is working at a research station in Antarctica. Only a couple of days are left before they’re done, and they can leave. What ends up happening is that on the final days, a group of people attacks the research station. So she and one of the glaciologists, Ford, narrowly escaped these attackers. The only problem is that they now find themselves in the Antarctican wilderness.
They must find a way to return to safety in these awful conditions. So they are trying to survive in the outlines of Antarctica with these people pursuing them, trying to attack them. Also, it is very high stakes; there is a lot of steamy tension with one another. How do you stay warm in Antarctica, guys? So it’s a great suspense novel. It’s a unique premise that you don’t hear about.
Author: Adriana Anders
Average Rating: 4.3/5
Category: Mystery & Suspense
Available: Audiobook | Mass Market Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
14. When a Scot Ties the Knot (Castles Ever After)
We have the next historical romance, and this one is hilarious. In this one, Madeline has no desire to get married and doesn’t want to go into society. So she will create a fake person who is going to court her. Then she creates this fake man, Captain MacKenzie, a Scottish Highlander. He writes beautiful letters, so she ends up quoting him for a few years through this fake relationship.
Madeline ends up sending it out to the camps. But there’s an actual Captain MacKenzie out there. After four years, she will kill him off by the story because it’s gone on for too long. She has been in a mourning period for a couple of years now. One day, MacKenzie turns on her doorstep and expresses himself as her fiance. So, the forced proximity is that the fiance says they got to bed together.
Author: Tessa Dare
Average Rating: 4.5/5
Category: American Historical Romance
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Mass Market Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
15. Bratva Sinner
This book is about Cara and Luke. Luke is part of the Mars rovers. He does have his group of men that he looks over and runs. They do their illegal stuff. Then, one day, this hit is put out on this person, who makes a ton of money. So he goes to go, do that. When he kills the guy, his daughter walks out of the bar. Then other rival mafias come in, looking to take the daughter as reparations for the father’s actions.
So even though his dad and everyone wanted him dead, the sins carry over to the door. This becomes hot and attractive, so Luke kidnaps Cara and brings it back to his place so she can stay safe. He forcibly kidnaps her and brings her to one of his safe houses.
Cara’s dad stole sensitive secret information from other mafia groups. They’re going to keep trying to kill her unless they figure this stuff out. Cra hates her dad anyway but agrees to help Luke, and she ultimately falls for him. You learn more about the mafia, realize she has a place, and become a kickass woman.
Author: B. B. Hamel
Average Rating: 4.4/5
Category: Women’s Action & Adventure Fiction
Available: Kindle
5 Forced Proximity Enemies To Lovers Books
“The Hating Game” by Sally Thorne: This novel features Lucy and Joshua, two executive assistants thrown into a rivalry in a shared office. Their constant bickering and competitive antics take a turn when they are forced to compete for the same promotion, leading to an unexpected romantic tension.
“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen: A classic example, this novel explores the dynamic between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, who initially dislike each other. Forced into each other’s company by social circumstances and family connections, their relationship evolves into one of literature’s most beloved romances.
“The Unhoneymooners” by Christina Lauren: Olive and Ethan, who can’t stand each other, end up on a forced honeymoon together when their respective siblings, the bride and groom, fall ill. This romantic comedy takes them on a journey from animosity to something more.
“Enemies” by Tijan: This book features Dusty and Stone, two people with a complicated past who end up as neighbors. Their mutual dislike turns into a complicated relationship full of tension and unresolved feelings, leading them to reevaluate their perceptions of each other.
“Beach Read” by Emily Henry: January and Gus are rival authors living next door to each other. Forced into a creative challenge, they spend more time together, shifting their dynamic from rivals to lovers.
5 Spicy Forced Proximity Romance Books
“From Lukov with Love” by Mariana Zapata: This book follows Jasmine Santos and Ivan Lukov, figure skaters who can’t stand each other but are forced to pair up for a year. The close proximity in training and their fiery interactions lead to a slow-burn romance filled with tension and passion.
“It Happened One Summer” by Tessa Bailey: Piper Bellinger, a socialite, is cut off from her glamorous life and sent to a small fishing town, where she meets gruff sea captain Brendan. Their initial antagonism turns into a fiery relationship, full of heat and heart.
“Marriage for One” by Ella Maise: Jack and Rose enter a marriage of convenience with clear rules and boundaries. However, living together in close quarters, their relationship shifts into something deeper and more intimate, with plenty of steamy moments.
“The Deal” by Elle Kennedy: Hannah, a talented music student, finds herself making a deal with the college hockey star Garrett Graham. As they spend more time together, their relationship evolves into a passionate connection, blending sweet and spicy elements seamlessly.
“Credence” by Penelope Douglas: This novel takes the trope to a more intense level. After losing her family, Tiernan lives with her new guardians in a remote cabin. The close proximity and isolation lead to complex and steamy dynamics between the characters.
5 Forced Proximity Fantasy Books
“A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas: Feyre, a huntress, is taken to a magical land to punish her crime. She lives with her captor, Tamlin, an enigmatic faerie lord. Their forced proximity to the mystical world leads to a complex and evolving relationship.
“Uprooted” by Naomi Novik: Agnieszka is chosen to serve the Dragon, a powerful wizard who keeps her village safe from the corrupt Wood. Forced to live with him in his tower, Agnieszka discovers her magical abilities and the complicated nature of the Dragon, leading to a unique bond.
“Cruel Beauty” by Rosamund Hodge: This book is a fantasy retelling of “Beauty and the Beast”. Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom since birth. When she finally meets him, her hatred is challenged by her captor’s complex and enigmatic nature.
“Serpent & Dove” by Shelby Mahurin: Lou, a witch, and Reid, a witch hunter, are forced into a marriage due to circumstances. Their proximity creates a tense but intriguing dynamic as they navigate their prejudices and the secrets between them.
“The Bridge Kingdom” by Danielle L. Jensen: Lara is sent to marry the king of the Bridge Kingdom under pretenses, intending to bring it down from within. However, living in close quarters with her husband in a land full of secrets and unexpected challenges, she starts questioning her loyalties and feelings.
These books are a wonderful way to enjoy romance with a twist of intense situational dynamics, deep character exploration, and emotional depth.
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