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Best Forbidden Love Romance Books

The heart wants what it shouldn't. Forbidden love romance books explore connections that defy expectations, break rules, and cross lines that were never meant to be crossed. Discover our curated picks of the most compelling forbidden love stories, where the stakes are as high as the chemistry.

Everything says they shouldn't be together -- family, society, duty, the law. They pursue it anyway, because some connections can't be denied.

Showing 133 Forbidden Love books
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It Ends with Us book cover

It Ends with Us

Colleen Hoover

Second Chance Forbidden Love Emotional / Tearjerker
Confess book cover

Confess

Colleen Hoover

Secret Relationship Forbidden Love Forced Proximity
Verity book cover

Verity

Colleen Hoover

Morally Gray Dark Suspenseful
A Court of Thorns and Roses book cover

A Court of Thorns and Roses

Sarah J. Maas

Enemies to Lovers Forced Proximity Slow Burn
A Court of Mist and Fury book cover

A Court of Mist and Fury

Sarah J. Maas

Forbidden Love Slow Burn Second Chance
From Blood and Ash book cover

From Blood and Ash

Jennifer L. Armentrout

Forbidden Love Bodyguard Protector Secret Relationship
Powerless book cover

Powerless

Lauren Roberts

Enemies to Lovers Forbidden Love Competition
The Serpent and the Wings of Night book cover

The Serpent and the Wings of Night

Carissa Broadbent

Enemies to Lovers Forbidden Love Competition
Kingdom of the Wicked book cover

Kingdom of the Wicked

Kerri Maniscalco

Enemies to Lovers Forbidden Love Slow Burn
The Bridge Kingdom book cover

The Bridge Kingdom

Danielle L. Jensen

Enemies to Lovers Arranged Marriage Forbidden Love
Twisted Games book cover

Twisted Games

Ana Huang

Bodyguard Protector Royalty Forbidden Love
King of Pride book cover

King of Pride

Ana Huang

Forbidden Love Billionaire Opposites Attract
Corrupt book cover

Corrupt

Penelope Douglas

Enemies to Lovers Forced Proximity Morally Gray
Tears of Tess book cover

Tears of Tess

Pepper Winters

Kidnapping Captive Forbidden Love Forced Proximity
The Graham Effect book cover

The Graham Effect

Elle Kennedy

Enemies to Lovers Forbidden Love Age Gap
A Touch of Darkness book cover

A Touch of Darkness

Scarlett St. Clair

Forbidden Love Dark Morally Gray
Neon Gods book cover

Neon Gods

Katee Robert

Forbidden Love Forced Proximity Morally Gray
Electric Idol book cover

Electric Idol

Katee Robert

Arranged Marriage Enemies to Lovers Forbidden Love
Rhapsodic book cover

Rhapsodic

Laura Thalassa

Fantasy / Fae Forbidden Love Strangers to Lovers
Outlander book cover

Outlander

Diana Gabaldon

Time Travel Scottish Highlands Strangers to Lovers
Bringing Down the Duke book cover

Bringing Down the Duke

Evie Dunmore

Forbidden Love Opposites Attract Enemies to Lovers
Seduce Me at Sunrise book cover

Seduce Me at Sunrise

Lisa Kleypas

Forbidden Love Slow Burn Second Chance
Sweetest Oblivion book cover

Sweetest Oblivion

Danielle Lori

Arranged Marriage Forbidden Love Alpha Male
Flock book cover

Flock

Kate Stewart

Love Triangle Small Town Dark
Exodus book cover

Exodus

Kate Stewart

Love Triangle Dark Emotional / Tearjerker
Birthday Girl book cover

Birthday Girl

Penelope Douglas

Age Gap Forbidden Love Forced Proximity
Reminders of Him book cover

Reminders of Him

Colleen Hoover

Second Chance Single Parent Redemption Arc
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo book cover

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Taylor Jenkins Reid

Forbidden Love Sapphic Secret Relationship
Red, White & Royal Blue book cover

Red, White & Royal Blue

Casey McQuiston

Enemies to Lovers Secret Relationship Forced Proximity
Hopeless book cover

Hopeless

Elsie Silver

Cowboy Age Gap Forbidden Love
Scandalous book cover

Scandalous

L.J. Shen

Age Gap Forbidden Love Dark
Twilight book cover

Twilight

Stephenie Meyer

Forbidden Love Slow Burn Brooding Hero
Midnight Sun book cover

Midnight Sun

Stephenie Meyer

Forbidden Love Strangers to Lovers Slow Burn
A Discovery of Witches book cover

A Discovery of Witches

Deborah Harkness

Forbidden Love Slow Burn Enemies to Lovers
Fall of Ruin and Wrath book cover

Fall of Ruin and Wrath

Jennifer L. Armentrout

Morally Gray Forbidden Love Strangers to Lovers
Throne of the Fallen book cover

Throne of the Fallen

Kerri Maniscalco

Enemies to Lovers Forbidden Love Slow Burn
Ruthless Vows book cover

Ruthless Vows

Rebecca Ross

Pen Pals to Lovers Second Chance Forbidden Love
The Jasmine Throne book cover

The Jasmine Throne

Tasha Suri

Enemies to Lovers Sapphic Forbidden Love
The Cruel Prince book cover

The Cruel Prince

Holly Black

Enemies to Lovers Forbidden Love Slow Burn
A Fate of Wrath and Flame book cover

A Fate of Wrath and Flame

K.A. Tucker

Enemies to Lovers Slow Burn Forbidden Love
Slave to Sensation book cover

Slave to Sensation

Nalini Singh

Forbidden Love Enemies to Lovers Slow Burn
Daisy Jones & The Six book cover

Daisy Jones & The Six

Taylor Jenkins Reid

Found Family Forbidden Love Secret Relationship
Shatter Me book cover

Shatter Me

Tahereh Mafi

Forbidden Love Enemies to Lovers Slow Burn
The Atlas Six book cover

The Atlas Six

Olivie Blake

Morally Gray Found Family Dark
Once Upon a Broken Heart book cover

Once Upon a Broken Heart

Stephanie Garber

Enemies to Lovers Forbidden Love Slow Burn
This Summer Will Be Different book cover

This Summer Will Be Different

Carley Fortune

Forbidden Love Brother's Best Friend Slow Burn
The Song of Achilles book cover

The Song of Achilles

Madeline Miller

M/M Romance Childhood Sweethearts Forbidden Love
Circe book cover

Circe

Madeline Miller

Slow Burn Forbidden Love Redemption Arc
Shadow Legacy book cover

Shadow Legacy

COLLEEN. MITCHELL

Fantasy / Fae Forbidden Love Redemption Arc
Mercy book cover

Mercy

Kc Decker

Taboo Forbidden Love Doctor
Man Of Bliss book cover

Man Of Bliss

Sandra Cole

Boss Employee Second Chance Forbidden Love
Out of Bounds book cover

Out of Bounds

Jenna Payne

Boss Employee Second Chance Forbidden Love
Boss Me Dirty book cover

Boss Me Dirty

Parker Grey

Boss Employee Forbidden Love Workplace Romance
Royally Complicated (A Stand-alone Royal Commoner Romance) book cover

Royally Complicated (A Stand-alone Royal Commoner Romance)

Gwyn McNamee, Christy Anderson

Royalty Commoner Forbidden Love One Night Stand to More
The Professor book cover

The Professor

Skye Warren

Teacher Student Second Chance Forbidden Love
Silent Love book cover

Silent Love

Solver Publishing

Teacher Student Forbidden Love Age Gap
Your Gravity 1 book cover

Your Gravity 1

L.G. Castillo

Teacher Student Forbidden Love Time Travel
Because You're Mine book cover

Because You're Mine

Nikita Slater

Kidnapping Captive Forbidden Love Possessive Hero
Captive Legacy book cover

Captive Legacy

Theresa Scott

Kidnapping Captive Forbidden Love Possessive Hero
Captive Bride book cover

Captive Bride

Johanna Lindsey

Kidnapping Captive Forbidden Love Possessive Hero
Claimed book cover

Claimed

Sara Noona

Kidnapping Captive Forbidden Love Possessive Hero
Captive book cover

Captive

Julia Sykes

Kidnapping Captive Forbidden Love Possessive Hero
His Pretty Prisoner: A Captive Romance book cover

His Pretty Prisoner: A Captive Romance

Isla Chiu

Kidnapping Captive Forbidden Love Possessive Hero
She's MINE book cover

She's MINE

Ellie Masters

Kidnapping Captive Forbidden Love Possessive Hero
His Captive Virgin: Her Most Prized Possession book cover

His Captive Virgin: Her Most Prized Possession

Sylvia Tara Dye

Alpha Male Kidnapping Captive Forbidden Love
Claimed by an Alpha book cover

Claimed by an Alpha

Emma Taylor, J.K.Hudson

Sci-Fi Kidnapping Captive Forbidden Love
Longing for Her Forbidden Viking book cover

Longing for Her Forbidden Viking

Harper St. George

Forbidden Love Viking Historical
Kidnapped by the Viking book cover

Kidnapped by the Viking

Caitlin Crews

Viking Kidnapping Captive Forbidden Love
The Viking's Captive Princess book cover

The Viking's Captive Princess

Michelle Styles

Viking Kidnapping Captive Forbidden Love
Viking's Captive: A Steamy Enemies to Lovers Romance book cover

Viking's Captive: A Steamy Enemies to Lovers Romance

Mariah Stone

Enemies to Lovers Viking Kidnapping Captive
Conflict of Interest - A Brother's Best Friend Romance Novel book cover

Conflict of Interest - A Brother's Best Friend Romance Novel

A. M. Kusi

Brother's Best Friend Forbidden Love
A Love Song for Liars book cover

A Love Song for Liars

Piper Lawson

Musician Friends to Lovers Second Chance
Wicked: A Steamy Rockstar Romance Series book cover

Wicked: A Steamy Rockstar Romance Series

Piper Lawson

Musician Friends to Lovers Forbidden Love
Joker book cover

Joker

Jayne Blue

MC / Biker Second Chance Forbidden Love
Kase book cover

Kase

Jayne Blue

MC / Biker Friends to Lovers Forbidden Love
Shadows book cover

Shadows

Terri Lane

MC / Biker Second Chance Forbidden Love
Gunnar book cover

Gunnar

Nina Levine

MC / Biker Enemies to Lovers Second Chance
Steel Infidels MC Romance Complete Series book cover

Steel Infidels MC Romance Complete Series

Dez Burke

MC / Biker Second Chance Forbidden Love
Angel book cover

Angel

Jayne Blue

MC / Biker Forbidden Love Opposites Attract
Stuck book cover

Stuck

Kelly Cusson

MC / Biker Forbidden Love Rivals to Lovers
Pirate's Treasure book cover

Pirate's Treasure

Stephanie Flynn

Pirate Forbidden Love Rescue
Hidden Truths book cover

Hidden Truths

Alison Reid

Secret Identity Forbidden Love Forced Proximity
Confession book cover

Confession

Angel Devlin

Secret Identity Forbidden Love Undercover
Princess's Forbidden Holiday Fling book cover

Princess's Forbidden Holiday Fling

Jennifer Faye

Vacation Romance Forbidden Love Royalty Commoner
Heat Exchange book cover

Heat Exchange

Shannon Stacey

Firefighter Friends to Lovers Forbidden Love
His Dark Intentions book cover

His Dark Intentions

Felicity Brandon

Dystopian Forbidden Love Rescue
Their Hybrid book cover

Their Hybrid

Skye MacKinnon

Steampunk Friends to Lovers Forbidden Love
Bewitched by a Vampire: An Enemies-to-Lovers Fated Mates Vampire / Witch Paranormal Romance book cover

Bewitched by a Vampire: An Enemies-to-Lovers Fated Mates Vampire / Witch Paranormal Romance

Felicity Heaton

Fated Mates Enemies to Lovers Forbidden Love
Possessed by a Dark Warrior: A Second Chance Fated Mates Dark Fae / Dragon Shifter Paranormal Romance book cover

Possessed by a Dark Warrior: A Second Chance Fated Mates Dark Fae / Dragon Shifter Paranormal Romance

Felicity Heaton

Fated Mates Enemies to Lovers Forbidden Love
Inflamed by an Incubus: A Second Chance Fated Mates Fae / Phoenix Shifter Paranormal Romance book cover

Inflamed by an Incubus: A Second Chance Fated Mates Fae / Phoenix Shifter Paranormal Romance

Felicity Heaton

Fated Mates Werewolf / Shifter Second Chance
Marked by an Assassin: A Second Chance Fated Mates Feline Shifter Paranormal Romance book cover

Marked by an Assassin: A Second Chance Fated Mates Feline Shifter Paranormal Romance

Felicity Heaton

Fated Mates Enemies to Lovers Second Chance
Scorched by Darkness: An Enemies-to-Lovers Fated Mates Dark Elf / Shifter Paranormal Romance book cover

Scorched by Darkness: An Enemies-to-Lovers Fated Mates Dark Elf / Shifter Paranormal Romance

Felicity Heaton

Fated Mates Enemies to Lovers Forbidden Love
Craved by an Alpha: A Forbidden Lovers Fated Mates Feline Shifter Paranormal Romance book cover

Craved by an Alpha: A Forbidden Lovers Fated Mates Feline Shifter Paranormal Romance

Felicity Heaton

Fated Mates Friends to Lovers Second Chance
Unchained by a Forbidden Love: A Second Chance Fated Mates Dark Elf Paranormal Romance book cover

Unchained by a Forbidden Love: A Second Chance Fated Mates Dark Elf Paranormal Romance

Felicity Heaton

Fated Mates Second Chance Forbidden Love
Taken by a Dragon: A Forced Proximity Fated Mates Dragon Shifter Paranormal Romance book cover

Taken by a Dragon: A Forced Proximity Fated Mates Dragon Shifter Paranormal Romance

Felicity Heaton

Fated Mates Forbidden Love Royalty Commoner
Claimed by a Demon King: A Fated Mates Demon Paranormal Romance book cover

Claimed by a Demon King: A Fated Mates Demon Paranormal Romance

Felicity Heaton

Fated Mates Forbidden Love Rivals to Lovers
Curveball book cover

Curveball

Kate Angell

Baseball Forbidden Love Teacher Student
Curveball book cover

Curveball

Jillian Quinn

Baseball Forbidden Love Teacher Student
Blackmailing Benjamin book cover

Blackmailing Benjamin

Ophelia Bell

Taboo Forbidden Love Love Triangle
Pounded by Alex book cover

Pounded by Alex

Emilia Jade

Taboo Forbidden Love One Night Stand to More
DNA of Desire: A Forbidden Scientist Fantasy book cover

DNA of Desire: A Forbidden Scientist Fantasy

KELAKKIYAR SIDDHAR

Taboo Forbidden Love Brooding Hero
His Secret Virgin: A Forbidden Romance book cover

His Secret Virgin: A Forbidden Romance

Michelle Love

Taboo Forbidden Love Bodyguard Protector
Masterson book cover

Masterson

Lisa Lang Blakeney

Taboo Enemies to Lovers Second Chance
Why Don't You Stay? ... Forever: A Contemporary Office / Workplace Romance book cover

Why Don't You Stay? ... Forever: A Contemporary Office / Workplace Romance

Jennifer Ashley

Workplace Romance Forbidden Love Boss Employee
Go With It book cover

Go With It

Scarlett Finn

Possessive Hero Friends to Lovers Forbidden Love
Dak book cover

Dak

Lisa Lang Blakeney

Football Enemies to Lovers Friends to Lovers
BRICK book cover

BRICK

Lisa Lang Blakeney

Football Enemies to Lovers Friends to Lovers
Hunter's Moon: A Forbidden Lovers Vampire / Wolf Shifter Paranormal Romance book cover

Hunter's Moon: A Forbidden Lovers Vampire / Wolf Shifter Paranormal Romance

Felicity Heaton

Werewolf / Shifter Enemies to Lovers Second Chance
The Witch and the Werewolf book cover

The Witch and the Werewolf

C.D. Gorri

Werewolf / Shifter Second Chance Forbidden Love
Forbidden Love book cover

Forbidden Love

Cara Wade

Werewolf / Shifter Second Chance Forbidden Love
Turned by a Tiger: A Forced Proximity Fated Mates Tiger Shifter Paranormal Romance book cover

Turned by a Tiger: A Forced Proximity Fated Mates Tiger Shifter Paranormal Romance

Felicity Heaton

Werewolf / Shifter Forbidden Love Boss Employee
Take a Chance book cover

Take a Chance

S. J. Rosalie

Love Triangle Forbidden Love Boss Employee
Curating a Billionaire book cover

Curating a Billionaire

Jenna Payne

Love Triangle Second Chance Forbidden Love
An Irresistible Chance book cover

An Irresistible Chance

Kim Loraine

Single Parent Forbidden Love Royalty
Accidental Neighbor book cover

Accidental Neighbor

Sharon Woods

Single Parent Forbidden Love Strangers to Lovers
Hired by the Single Dad book cover

Hired by the Single Dad

Whitley Cox

Single Parent Forbidden Love Strangers to Lovers
My Forbidden Royal Fling book cover

My Forbidden Royal Fling

Clare Connelly

Royalty Royalty Commoner Forbidden Love
Wild, Crazy Hearts (The Bradens & Montgomerys #4) Love in Bloom Contemporary Romance book cover

Wild, Crazy Hearts (The Bradens & Montgomerys #4) Love in Bloom Contemporary Romance

Melissa Foster

College / New Adult Friends to Lovers Forbidden Love
The Prize (Enemies-to-Lovers Romance) book cover

The Prize (Enemies-to-Lovers Romance)

K.L. Middleton, Cassie Alexandra

College / New Adult Friends to Lovers Forbidden Love
A Mafia Romance: Never Been Caught book cover

A Mafia Romance: Never Been Caught

Michelle Love, Ivy Wonder

Mafia Forbidden Love Boss Employee
Vicious book cover

Vicious

L.J. Shen

Enemies to Lovers Opposites Attract Slow Burn
Vicious book cover

Vicious

Vi Carter

Enemies to Lovers Opposites Attract Slow Burn
Endgame: A Dark Mafia Romance book cover

Endgame: A Dark Mafia Romance

Ivy Wonder

Mafia Second Chance Forbidden Love
The Last Bout: A Dark Mafia Romance book cover

The Last Bout: A Dark Mafia Romance

Ivy Wonder

Mafia Second Chance Forbidden Love
Obsessed book cover

Obsessed

Arabella Black

Age Gap Forbidden Love Neighbors to Lovers
Home Wrecker book cover

Home Wrecker

Jody Kaye

Age Gap Friends to Lovers Second Chance
Twisted Love book cover

Twisted Love

Ana Huang

Brother's Best Friend Forbidden Love Age Gap
Twisted Love book cover

Twisted Love

Evie Ellis

Brother's Best Friend Forbidden Love Age Gap
His to Love: An Arranged Marriage Romance book cover

His to Love: An Arranged Marriage Romance

Michelle Love, Scarlett King

Arranged Marriage Friends to Lovers Second Chance
Night Fall book cover

Night Fall

Melissa Cummins

Vampire Second Chance Forbidden Love
The Vampire Who Loved Me book cover

The Vampire Who Loved Me

Teresa Medeiros

Vampire Second Chance Forbidden Love
Prophecy: Child of Light: A FREE Epic Enemies-to-Lovers Vampire Paranormal Romance book cover

Prophecy: Child of Light: A FREE Epic Enemies-to-Lovers Vampire Paranormal Romance

Felicity Heaton

Vampire Second Chance Forbidden Love
Irresistible book cover

Irresistible

Tara Vasser

Vampire Forbidden Love Kidnapping Captive

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything says they shouldn't be together — family, society, duty, the law. They pursue it anyway, because some connections can't be denied. Forbidden Love romance is one of the most searched-for tropes in the genre, loved for its unique emotional arc and satisfying payoffs.

Ana Huang, Penelope Douglas, and Rina Kent push boundaries in forbidden love romance. Their books explore the irresistible pull of connections that shouldn't exist.

Forbidden Love romance and secret relationship romance share some DNA but deliver different emotional experiences. Forbidden Love centers on everything says they shouldn't be together — family, society, duty, the law. Secret Relationship romance, by contrast, they're together, but nobody can know. Both are beloved in the genre, and many readers enjoy pairing them together.