Books like 'These Dark Hearts'
Readers who enjoyed These Dark Hearts by L.A. Cotton also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary dark romance young adult high-school mystery new adult sports friends to lovers angst cliffhanger
-
Mafiosa by Catherine Doyle
A blood war rages on the streets of Chicago. Protected by an infamous mafia family, Sophie is living a dangerous lie, pretending to lead a normal life. But the deceit can’t last for ever. Her heart belongs to a killer and Sophie’s the prime target of a rival clan... -
![Dark Legacy by Tracy Lorraine]()
Dark Legacy by Tracy Lorraine
USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Tracy Lorraine brings you a new dark mafia, high school bully romance story set in the Knight's Ridge Empire world. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. That our love could start a war. .. Dear reader,. Dark Legacy is the twelfth book in my Knight's Ridge Empire series, and the third book of Calli and Batman's story...Categorized as:
new adult angst high-school friends to lovers mystery cliffhanger contemporary young adult -
![]()
![]()
Sponsored links / Remove ads -
![You'd Be Home Now by Kathleen Glasgow]()
You'd Be Home Now by Kathleen Glasgow
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 50 ratingsFrom the New York Times bestselling author of Girl in Pieces comes a breathtaking story about a town, its tragedies, and the quiet beauty of everyday life. For all of Emory's life she's been told who she is. In town she's the rich one--the great-great-granddaughter of the mill's founder. At school she's hot Maddie Ward's younger sister...Categorized as:
mystery high-school young adult contemporary mental illness substance abuse dark death -
![Almost Broken by Portia Moore]()
Almost Broken by Portia Moore
Lauren Brooks fell in love with Cal Scott at 21, married him at 22 and had her heart broken at 23 when he walked out of their marriage. At 25, though raising his daughter on her own, Lauren was finally moving on with her life. Until, she learned the reason for Cal's abandonment, the walls she’d carefully built around her collapsed. -
-
![Speed by B.B. Easton]()
Speed by B.B. Easton
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsWith Netflix adapting BB's 44 CHAPTERS ABOUT 4 MEN into a new series, you're going to want the full story behind her outrageous adventures. Because BB Easton had so much fun writing her bestselling, award-winning memoir, she decided to give each of her four men his own steamy standalone...Categorized as:
angst new adult high-school cliffhanger contemporary bad boys love triangle military -
![More Than We Can Tell by Brigid Kemmerer]()
More Than We Can Tell by Brigid Kemmerer
Rev Fletcher is battling the demons of his past. But with loving adoptive parents by his side, he’s managed to keep them at bay. .. until he gets a letter from his abusive father and the trauma of his childhood comes hurtling back. Emma Blue spends her time perfecting the computer game she built from scratch, rather than facing her parents’ crumbling marriage...Categorized as:
high-school friends to lovers mystery new adult young adult contemporary abuse mental illness -
![Real Girl by Sheridan Anne]()
Real Girl by Sheridan Anne
Lucien Valentine must die. It’s the thought that’s kept me going for four long years. I’ve imagined it, dreamed about it, relished in it. I want it so bad, but the question is, do I have what it takes to make it happen? Taking a life isn’t for the faint-hearted. Just ask Lucien, he knows. He’s taken me back to where it all started and I know exactly how it’s going to go... -
![Always Crew by Tijan]()
Always Crew by Tijan
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsFor the longest time, I was Bren Monroe. I lived in Roussou, California. I had no parents, no brother, but I had a crew. Then things started to change. I never planned for any of it. I didn’t think I’d fall in love. I didn’t think I’d have a relationship with my brother again. I didn’t think that he’d come back. Now I’m in Cain. My crew is in college... -
![Foxes by Suki Fleet]()
Foxes by Suki Fleet
Rated: 4.54 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsWhen Dashiel's body is found dumped on an East London wasteland, his best friend Danny sets out to find the killer. But Danny finds interaction difficult and must keep his world small in order to survive...Categorized as:
new adult angst friends to lovers mystery m-m contemporary young adult mental illness -
![Lost Girl by Sheridan Anne]()
Lost Girl by Sheridan Anne
Who the f&*k gave Slade Cruz this kind of power over me? I don’t know how it happened. One minute he was the guy I loathed and the next thing I knew, I was waking up beside him desperate to get out of there. When secrets are revealed, Slade and I realize that we are more connected than we could have ever known...Categorized as:
sports high-school cliffhanger young adult cruel hero dark from hate to love contemporary -
![Taint Her by Caitlyn Dare]()
Taint Her by Caitlyn Dare
He wants to ruin her. She wants to save him. Hadley Rexford was a distraction I didn’t need. But when she discovers me with blood on my hands, I know I can’t walk away without demanding her silence. I’ll taint her. Torment her. In the end, I’ll ruin her. Cole Jagger was a puzzle I wanted to solve. But he refuses to let me in, and now I’m ensnared in his trap. He’s cold. Immoral...Categorized as:
new adult sports high-school cliffhanger contemporary young adult suspense cruel hero -
![Drowning in Stars by Debra Anastasia]()
Drowning in Stars by Debra Anastasia
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 33 ratings… he walked a tightrope five stories up just to hold my hand. Gaze: I moved into the building next to Pixie when I was eleven. She blew bubbles through my window. I shot my Nerf gun through hers. We both had secrets, but one of us was fated to get hurt. I wanted it to be me. Pixie: When I was afraid of the dark, he would shine a light in my window... -
![Reckless Dynasty by Tracy Lorraine]()
Reckless Dynasty by Tracy Lorraine
USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Tracy Lorraine brings you the next installment of her dark mafia, high school bully romance story set in the Knight's Ridge Empire world. My life has been full of half-truths tangled in lies—I’d been to hell and back more times than I could count... -
![Out of the Dark by Danah Logan]()
Out of the Dark by Danah Logan
Lilly. My name is the only truth they didn’t take from me. Betrayed by my family, my desperate need for answers put me back on his radar. The one person who was never supposed to find me. Again. I was unprepared for the world I got thrust into—the connection we shared. The deeper I dug, the more unstable my future became. With Rhys as my anchor, I will fight to bring my past out of the dark. Rhys... -
-
![Elite by Ivy Smoak]()
Elite by Ivy Smoak
Welcome to the world of the elite. My mom fell in love with a monster. I know he’s dangerous. And I know my mom never wanted him in my life. I don’t want him in mine either. But I’m being forced to live with him. I’m stuck in his haunting apartment in a world where I don’t belong. A world full of beautiful people with ugly souls. A world filled with secrets...Categorized as:
new adult sports high-school cliffhanger contemporary cruel hero young adult super rich hero -
![The Resolution of Callie & Kayden by Jessica Sorensen]()
The Resolution of Callie & Kayden by Jessica Sorensen
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 37 ratingsThings are well for Callie and Kayden. They’re still dealing with their past and the pain connected to it, but for the most part they’ve moved on. The biggest decision they have at the moment is what they want to do with their lives in the future. Eventually, though, the past catches up with them and they’re left facing tough choices... -
![Wild Girl by Sheridan Anne]()
Wild Girl by Sheridan Anne
Have you ever known what it feels like to die? It’s not great. Trust me, I don’t recommend it. I’ve always said that my life is about surviving, but I didn’t realize how true that was until the devil sent me soaring off a bridge with the love of my life and lodged a bullet through my thigh. It’s not my time to die... -
![If You Dare by Shantel Tessier]()
If You Dare by Shantel Tessier
The game was over. The dares were getting old, and the secrets were piling up faster than the bodies. But someone had other plans. They wanted to play a new game. Becky Holt was the love of his life until he found out what she was hiding. Now he wants to seek his revenge in the most daring way. Deke Biggs has always been a shark... -
![Where All Paths Meet by Gregory Ashe]()
Where All Paths Meet by Gregory Ashe
Holmeses. Moriartys. Adlers. What’s a Watson to do? When Jack Moreno receives an anonymous invitation to the Zodiac anniversary gala, he’s inclined to ignore it. His best friend (and more), Holloway Holmes, vanished from his life five months ago, and Jack has no desire to bump into Holloway’s terrifying father, Blackfriar... -
![Crashing Waves by Kelsey Kingsley]()
Crashing Waves by Kelsey Kingsley
Rated: 4.59 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsEvery child deserves to be loved. Every child deserves parents who love them. Yet, for as long as I can remember, I’ve harbored an insatiable craving for that one simple thing. Love. I was desperate for it. Through years of mistreatment and degradation, I longed for the affection I saw others receive...Categorized as:
angst friends to lovers cliffhanger contemporary military abuse found-family young adult -
![Ghostgirl by J.B. Salsbury]()
Ghostgirl by J.B. Salsbury
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsShe was brainwashed into believing she could save mankind. Now, she’s the one who needs saving. Abandoned with his two younger brothers, Milo Vega was placed in foster care. Now a twenty-year-old high-school senior covered in gang tattoos and working as the school’s janitor, he is living a life vastly different from the one he was destined for...Categorized as:
new adult friends to lovers mystery cliffhanger young adult contemporary dark bad boys -
![Now Is Everything by Amy Giles]()
Now Is Everything by Amy Giles
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsThis is a previously published edition of ISBN 0062495739. The McCauleys look perfect on the outside. But nothing is ever as it seems, and this family is hiding a dark secret. Hadley McCauley will do anything to keep her sister safe from their father... -
![Boys of Oak Park Prep by Callie Rose]()
Boys of Oak Park Prep by Callie Rose
A long time ago, I was one of them. Now I’m back, and they hate me for it. Plucked out of the harsh life I was living and thrust into a world of unimaginable wealth, power, and privilege, all I want to do is keep my head down and survive until graduation. But they have other plans—Mason, Finn, Elijah, and Cole...Categorized as:
high-school mystery new adult reverse harem contemporary dark cruel hero from hate to love -
![The Next Flame by Penelope Douglas]()
The Next Flame by Penelope Douglas
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsNew York Times bestseller Penelope Douglas introduces the next generation in her Fall Away series in Next to Never, together for the first time with her bestselling novella, Aflame. .. . Next to Never... -
-
![Barely Breathing by Rebecca Donovan]()
Barely Breathing by Rebecca Donovan
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 84 ratingsEmma’s struggle with an abusive home life came to a heart pounding conclusion in the final chapters of "Reason to Breathe". Now everyone in Weslyn knows Emma’s secret, but Carol can’t hurt Emma anymore. Some are still haunted by the horror of that night, and some must face the repercussions of their choices... -
![Before I Break by Portia Moore]()
Before I Break by Portia Moore
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 32 ratingsOut of the past six years of my life, I only remember about half of it. After a dozen doctors and thousands in medical bills, I was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder--one that causes me to lose track of time. Sometimes it’s hours, days or even weeks with no recollection of anything. The good thing is it's been almost two years since I had my last ‘black out’... -
![Foxes by Suki Fleet]()
Foxes by Suki Fleet
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWhen Dashiel’s body is found dumped on an East London wasteland, his best friend Danny sets out to find the killer. But Danny finds interaction difficult and must keep his world small in order to survive...Categorized as:
angst friends to lovers new adult m-m disabilities and marks suspense dark young adult -
![Forever Golden by Rachel Jonas, Lessa Lamb]()
Forever Golden by Rachel Jonas, Lessa Lamb
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 33 ratingsWest Golden—Fierce protector. The one. The cocky jock I once wanted to kill with my bare hands is now the only one I trust with my heart. In a city full of corruption and dark secrets, knowing who’s on your side gets harder to determine every day. Especially now that Vin’s on the warpath, passing out threats he fully intends to see through to the end... -
![Broken Hate by Thandiwe Mpofu]()
Broken Hate by Thandiwe Mpofu
What’s wrong Baby Blue? Did you mistake his forced sincerity for love? Every kiss will fade in time. Every memory will fade in time. Every smile, every teardrop, every wound—it’ll all dry up—in time. But every lie? That shit only gets bigger and more devastating with time. In time. . -
![Underneath the Sycamore Tree by B. Celeste]()
Underneath the Sycamore Tree by B. Celeste
It happened in stages. . My father left. . My twin sister died of an incurable autoimmune disease. . My mother started breaking down. . Then I was diagnosed with the very thing that took my other half from me. . That was when I realized Mama’s eyes turned gold when she cried. . So I moved in with my father and his new family—new wife, new son, new stepbrother. ...Categorized as:
new adult angst high-school friends to lovers sports contemporary young adult stepsibling -
![The End Game by Kate McCarthy]()
The End Game by Kate McCarthy
“Professional athletes are pillars of their respective communities. They are heroes in the eyes of boys and girls and are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that positively represents their community. ”. The public loves a good scandal. Seeing someone fall from the pinnacle of success makes a great headline. No one knows that better than I do... -
![The Girl in the Hoodie by SarcasticallyWitty]()
The Girl in the Hoodie by SarcasticallyWitty
A girl moved to California two years ago. No one knows what she looks like. All they know is that she wears a hoodie.Categorized as:
mystery high-school friends to lovers angst contemporary young adult dark found-family -
![Reckless Lies by Nikki J. Summers]()
Reckless Lies by Nikki J. Summers
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThey say when you die, your whole life plays over in your mind like a Hallmark movie. A rose-tinted reflection to remind you what a great life you’ve led. But for me, that wasn’t the case. There was no romantic, nostalgic ending for me. All I had was pain, darkness, and despair on the day I died, dragged by fire into the depths of hell. That’s where I live now. A shadow of the man I used to be...Categorized as:
new adult friends to lovers angst suspense contemporary young adult fated-mates grumpy sunshine -
![In Her Wake by K.A. Tucker]()
In Her Wake by K.A. Tucker
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 40 ratingsBefore you knew him as Trent in Ten Tiny Breaths , he was Cole Reynolds—and he had it all. Until one night when he makes a fatal, wrong decision…and loses everything. When a drunken night out at a Michigan State college party results in the death of six people, Cole must come to terms with his part in the tragedy... -
-
![Unraveling You by Jessica Sorensen]()
Unraveling You by Jessica Sorensen
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 37 ratingsLyric Scott has always had a good life. Outgoing, spunky, and musically talented, she’s constantly surrounded by family and friends, yet she still feels there’s something missing. Then she meets her new next-door neighbor Ayden Gregory. Mysterious, sweet, and sad, Ayden is the exact opposite of Lyric and exactly what she needs to fill the void in her life...Categorized as:
mystery friends to lovers new adult high-school cliffhanger contemporary young adult musicians -
![A Deal with the Devil by Angel Lawson, Samantha Rue]()
A Deal with the Devil by Angel Lawson, Samantha Rue
Sometimes The Devil Hides in Plain Sight. .. One fateful night. Two lives forever changed. Sometimes the bonds of tragedy are stronger than blood. When Vandy Hall got into a stolen car with Reynolds McAllister-her brother's best friend, her childhood crush-she had no idea the lifetime of pain it would cause her...Categorized as:
high-school new adult sports friends to lovers angst dark contemporary from hate to love -
![Perfectly Flawed by Nessa Morgan]()
Perfectly Flawed by Nessa Morgan
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsI thought I was okay. I mean, I went through my days just fine, pushing toward a goal I could easily achieve. I had friends that loved me, an aunt who adored me, and everything was just okay. But what I thought was okay and fine, all of that changed... -
![In Chaos by K.G. Reuss]()
In Chaos by K.G. Reuss
A Dark High School Bully Romance. Some things are better left unsaid. Others demand chaos. Good thing I excel at both. Everything fell apart before we were able to pull ourselves together. When tragedy demands my silence, I have no choice but to give it because losing a life also means saving so many more. I finally have everything I want. Having my best friend back is a dream come true... -
![The Golden Boys by Rachel Jonas, Nikki Thorne]()
The Golden Boys by Rachel Jonas, Nikki Thorne
Listening Length: 10 hours and 33 minutes. West Golden - so easy to hate, yet so hard to resist. Don’t let that pretty face of his fool you. He isn’t the boy next door, or the kind you trust with your heart. He’s the devil in designer jeans, with all the charm of a bona fide psycho. Trust me. He swears I did something to cross him before I even stepped foot inside Cypress Prep, but it’s a lie... -
![Without you by Ashlyn Montgomery]()
Without you by Ashlyn Montgomery
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsAubrey Wilson has the heart of an angel. As the type of person to always trust in others, she's admirable to peers. A total darling, but with a sadness that encases her heart. Anyone could shrink down in fright at the receiving end of Luke Taylor's infamous glare. Tall, muscular, dark-haired, and handsome, he's no stranger on or off the field. Not a kind stranger either...Categorized as:
sports high-school new adult young adult contemporary grumpy sunshine from hate to love dark -
![Finding the Light by C.A. Rene]()
Finding the Light by C.A. Rene
Travis Greene has lived most of his life shrouded in fear and shadows. Fear of a father’s wrath, a mother’s disdain, and a coach’s attention. Love and intimacy came hand in hand with pain and disappointment, but he hid all of it deep inside the shadows of his damaged heart. Adrianna Hinton was the one bright light in his pitiful childhood, the sunshine to his cloudy days...Categorized as:
high-school friends to lovers new adult sports dark vengeance praise-kink from hate to love -
![Wicked Promises by S. Massery]()
Wicked Promises by S. Massery
I made a promise to Caleb, and I intended to keep it. I just didn’t anticipate the aftermath. One betrayal. One lie. One devastating cover up. It’s all out in the open now, and this time, I’m not running away. The secrets I hold are enough to destroy us. The truth is supposed to set us free—but we aren’t destined for freedom. This is a dark high school bully romance with mature content and themes... -
![Ryan's Bed by Tijan]()
Ryan's Bed by Tijan
I crawled into Ryan Jensen’s bed that first night by accident. I barely knew him. I thought it was his sister’s bed—her room. It took seconds to realize my error, and I should've left. .. I didn’t. I didn’t jump out. I didn’t get embarrassed. I relaxed. And that night, in that moment, it was the only thing I craved. I asked to stay. He let me, and I slept...Categorized as:
sports angst friends to lovers new adult high-school contemporary young adult virgin heroine -
![Law of Attraction by Raeesah Ambarker]()
Law of Attraction by Raeesah Ambarker
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsNyx just can't seem to escape her eternal night, the very darkness she was named after. Angry at the world, her hatred is ravenous for none other than Beckham Hunt, captain of the ice hockey team. Beckham loathes Nyx Taylor, that much he is certain of...Categorized as:
new adult sports friends to lovers contemporary young adult from hate to love dark abuse -
-
![Dear Adam by Jaclyn Osborn]()
Dear Adam by Jaclyn Osborn
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratings**WARNING: This story contains suicidal material that may be sensitive to some readers. **. Things weren’t supposed to turn out this way. My story should have been different. Happier. Maybe in another life, it would’ve been. But, life isn’t a fairy tale, and the good guys don’t always win. I didn’t mean to cause anyone pain. I just wanted to end my own. The letter, his words—crushed me... -
![Echoes by Dylan Page]()
Echoes by Dylan Page
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsBlurb & cover to come! ! Release date is a placeholder.Categorized as:
high-school new adult angst friends to lovers dark young adult strong heroine contemporary -
![The Vengeance You Crave by Tracy Lorraine]()
The Vengeance You Crave by Tracy Lorraine
It’s been almost six years since she ruined what we had. Her lies shattered years of friendship and ripped apart the future we planned. After I called her a liar and revoked my trust, she left town and never looked back. In a cruel twist of fate, she’s returned. But I’m not the wounded boy she left behind. I’m a man now. A man full of anger, resentment and loss... -
![In Silence by K.G. Reuss]()
In Silence by K.G. Reuss
We’re all playing a dangerous game. One where there are no winners. Only survivors. I’m in love with my enemies, but obviously they don’t feel the same way. When their lies and betrayal surface, I have no choice but to leave. They’ve broken my heart, but not my spirit. They think they’ve won. They think they’ve ruined me. The only thing they’ve done is made me stronger... -
![Never His Girl by Rachel Jonas, Nikki Thorne]()
Never His Girl by Rachel Jonas, Nikki Thorne
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsWest Golden--Football star. Playboy. Dead to me. Nothing puts the final bullet in a girl’s rep like a leaked sex tape. Especially one starring her and the cocky quarterback who’s had it out for her since day one. Yep, you guessed it. That girl is me. At Cypress Prep, West is king, but all I see when I look at him is the wicked prick who gets off on trying to break me. His plaything. Go ahead... -
![Pained by Vera Micic, Vera Hollins]()
Pained by Vera Micic, Vera Hollins
Two months have passed since the day I pushed Hayden away. Two months since I found out he loved me and wanted to be with me. I’ve been trying to move on and forget about him, but my heart refuses to listen. Hayden had almost died saving me. Half of me wants to forgive him for everything and give him another chance...Categorized as:
new adult cliffhanger young adult from hate to love cruel hero dark contemporary cold hero
Fantastic book recommendations by romance book lovers for romance book lovers.
Find out more about romance.io.
Find out more about romance.io.
Get recommendations by genres & tropes
Use the romance book finder to mix and match over 100 content keywords to find the books that match your preferences
Or - use our amazing romance book finder to get recommendations based on your favorite content tropes and themes. Mix and match at will.
