The best romance books with heroes you’ll love to hate

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m an author who always finds something redeemable in the most chaotic characters. I not only love to write broken characters, but I search them out while reading. There’s something beautiful in their redemption and their growth. It’s simple to fall in love with the easy heroes, the ones that can do no wrong. The ones that make you stop reading because you don’t think you can take it anymore and cause your heart to race in the middle of the night as you devour their story, those are the heroes that I love. They usually end up being the ones you love to hate.


I wrote...

Glass Heart Savage

By Lindsey Iler, Katie Mac (editor),

Book cover of Glass Heart Savage

What is my book about?

After her sister is murdered, Palmer Weston spends an entire year blending in. That is until Marek Hawthorne and his crew of friends decide being silent is no longer an option. They want answers, and they will stop at nothing to find out what is happening on campus. Only problem is Palmer can’t seem to stop falling for Marek’s charm, even when she suspects he has played a part in her sister’s death.

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Untouchable

Lindsey Iler Why did I love this book?

I often wonder what made Sam write a character like Carter Mahoney, but all I can say is I’m so happy she did. This is not the book to go into with sunshine and rainbows on the brain because you will get the exact opposite, but in the best way possible. If you love cruel heroes that make you question your own sanity while reading like I do, this is the perfect read for you.

By Sam Mariano,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Untouchable as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

AN AMAZON TOP 100 BESTSELLER

The bully isn't supposed to win...

Senior year was off to a rough start: lube in my locker, panties on my front porch, unimaginative name-calling. See, I got a player suspended from the football team for harassing me, and in my small Texas town, you don't mess with the football players—even if they mess with you first.

I didn't care if it was an unpopular thing to do; I stood up for myself... and in doing so, opened Pandora's Box.

I never dreamed I would attract the attention of locally worshipped star quarterback, Carter Mahoney.…


Book cover of Trick Me Twice: An Enemies to Lovers High School Bully Romance

Lindsey Iler Why did I love this book?

Becca Steele can do no wrong in my eyes. She has a way of twisting a story into this perfectly addicting, delicious tale that you don’t want to end. In Trick Me Twice, we meet Raine and Carter. She’s the loner, the quiet type. He’s… well, he’s not, which only makes this story that much more intriguing. You get this push and pull between them that feels like coming up for a breath you didn’t know you were desperate for.

By Becca Steele,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Trick Me Twice as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Keep my head down and make it through my final year of school without attracting any attention. That was my plan.
The thing about plans? They change.
One day, I was an invisible loner, the next, my name was on everyone’s lips.
Why?
I caught the attention of the wrong person.
I tricked Carter Blackthorne, the king of Alstone High.
He found out.
And now?
Now, he’s making me pay.


It’s time for you to pay the price.
You tricked me once, but you won’t trick me twice.


Ready or not, here I come...



Trick Me Twice is a standalone…


Book cover of Boys of Brayshaw High

Lindsey Iler Why did I love this book?

Meagan Brandy changed an entire trope with this book (and series), in my opinion. She took something that we thought had already been done and made it something readers want to devour, repeatedly. Every character on the page manages to grip ahold of your heart and pull you in for the ride. This is a must-read for those who love an assembled cast of characters.

By Meagan Brandy,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Boys of Brayshaw High as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In the world of morally corrupt teenagers, only the strongest survive...

"Simply UNPUTDOWNABLE ... all the feels cranked up to eleven. Five stars for this delicious page-turner!" - BB Easton, bestselling author of the Netflix adaption Sex/Life

 
From USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Meagan Brandy comes an enemies-to-lovers, New Adult romance full of morally corrupt and power-driven teenagers.

"Girls like you aren't exactly welcomed at a place like this, so keep your head down and look the other way."

Those were the exact words of my social worker when she dropped me in my newest hellhole, a…


Book cover of Bully

Lindsey Iler Why did I love this book?

Jared quickly leaps onto the pages and makes you want to root for him. This has everything to do with Penelope’s undeniable ability to weave a story so beautifully that even when you should hate the hero, you find yourself willing him into the type of character that is worthy of our heroine, Tate. This is an oldie, but a goodie. Personally, this is the original bully romance for me and has set the steppingstones for all the rest.

By Penelope Douglas,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Bully as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Penelope Douglas delivers an unforgettable romance that toes the fine line between love and hate…. 
 
My name is Tate. He doesn’t call me that, though. He would never refer to me by a friendly nickname. No, he’ll barely even speak to me. But he still won’t leave me alone.

We were best friends once. Then he turned on me and made it his mission to ruin my life. I was humiliated, shut out, and gossiped about all through high school. His pranks and rumors got worse as time wore on, and I…


Book cover of I Dare You

Lindsey Iler Why did I love this book?

Delicious. Sexy. I Dare You is… honestly, I don’t know how to describe it. I think that’s why I love it so much. From the first page, you are immediately transported to this world full of chaos and depravity. Cole Reynolds is the ultimate book boyfriend with edge and a healthy dose of mystery to keep you enthralled until the middle of the night reading.

By Shantel Tessier,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked I Dare You as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

What do you do when the devil has you in his sights? You show him that you can play his game. Austin Lowes is new to town. She's running from a mom who hates her to her dad who cares nothing about her. Only a few months and she will be free, or at least, that's what she hopes ... until she meets him.

Cole Reynolds is the devil disguised as a man. He wants her fear, he wants her blood, and he wants her soul. Just a little game, he says, I dare you. Will Austin survive him, or…


You might also like...

Ferry to Cooperation Island

By Carol Newman Cronin,

Book cover of Ferry to Cooperation Island

Carol Newman Cronin Author Of Ferry to Cooperation Island

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Sailor Olympian Editor New Englander Rum drinker

Carol's 3 favorite reads in 2023

What is my book about?

James Malloy is a ferry captain--or used to be, until he was unceremoniously fired and replaced by a "girl" named Courtney Farris. Now, instead of piloting Brenton Island’s daily lifeline to the glitzy docks of Newport, Rhode Island, James spends his days beached, bitter, and bored.

When he discovers a plan for a private golf course on wilderness sacred to his dying best friend, James is determined to stop such "improvements." But despite Brenton's nickname as "Cooperation Island," he's used to working solo. To keep historic trees and ocean shoreline open to all, he'll have to learn to cooperate with other islanders--including Captain Courtney, who might just morph from irritant to irresistible once James learns a secret that's been kept from him for years.

Ferry to Cooperation Island

By Carol Newman Cronin,

What is this book about?

Loner James Malloy is a ferry captain-or used to be, until he was unceremoniously fired and replaced by a girl named Courtney Farris. Now, instead of piloting Brenton Island's daily lifeline to the glitzy docks of Newport, Rhode Island, James spends his days beached, bitter, and bored.

When he discovers a private golf course staked out across wilderness sacred to his dying best friend, a Narragansett Indian, James is determined to stop such "improvements." But despite Brenton's nickname as "Cooperation Island," he's used to working solo. To keep rocky bluffs, historic trees, and ocean shoreline open to all, he'll have…


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