I know a lot of us are a sucker for love stories. At least a little bit anyway. But a lot of us want some darkness with the romance. Horror romance books are a great way to get the best of both worlds with a great love story mixed in with creepy and supernatural elements. Whether if you’re looking for a gothic tale, monster romance, or a dark love affair, there’s a book on this list that will torment your heart in a good way.
Why Horror Romance Books Are So Addictive
I know horror and romance might be a weird combination but I feel like they actually complement each other. The pressure between love and terror sometimes creates some of the best stories.
Must-Read Horror Romance Books
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
This is a book that I haven’t heard of before but by the sound of it, I might actually have to check it out soon.
I love a good story that revolves around haunted houses and ghosts. This one seems like a good start when it comes to horror romance books.
If you have read this one then let me know what you thought about it in the comments.
Here is what Rebecca is about.
Rebecca is a story that follows a woman who is swept off her feet by a handsome man named Maxim. He’s a widower who suddenly proposes marriage to her. She was orphaned and was working as a maid so she can’t believe her luck. It’s not until she arrives at his huge house that she realizes how much of an impact his dead wife will still have over their lives. Her evil is still lingering around the house threatening to destroy everything.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
So, I hate to admit it but I bought this book a while back but I still haven’t read it. I know there is a lot of hype around this one though. So, I know adding this to the best horror romance books was a given!
Here is what it’s about.
Noemi just received a frantic letter from her cousin. She just recently got married and she is begging for someone to save her from some doom. So, she heads to a distant house in the Mexican countryside. When she gets there she’s not sure what she will find especially since she doesn’t really know her cousin’s husband.
She’s not your typical rescuer but she’s also tough and smart. She’s still not afraid… Not of her cousin’s new husband who seems a little menacing and not of his father who seems to be a little fascinated by her. She’s not even scared of the house that’s starting to creep into her dreams revolving around blood and doom.
The only person on her side is the family’s youngest son. He’s gentle and seems to want to help her, but Noemi thinks he’s hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. Their wealth and faded mining empire have kept them from prying eyes for a while, but as she digs deep she discovers stories of violence and madness.
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
I haven’t heard of this one either but that’s mostly because usually romance isn’t my cup of tea. Maybe I’m wrong but this one seems more on the romance side compared to the horror side.
So that’s probably why this one has never come across my radar. It sounds like this one might be an interesting read!
Here is what The Dead Romantics is about.
Florence is a ghostwriter for one of the most popular romance authors out there but she has a problem. She just had a terrible breakup and she no longer believes in love.
Her new editor, who is really handsome, won’t give her an extension on the book deadline. So she prepares to say goodbye to her job. She then gets a phone call she wishes she had never received. She has to go back home for the first time in 10 years to help her family bury her father.
The past decade she has been on the run from the town that never really understood her. Even though there are some aspects that she misses about it she can’t push herself to stay. Even though she hasn’t been there in a long time and now her father is gone it still feels like nothing about the town has changed. She has always hated it.
That is until she sees a handsome ghost standing at the front door of the funeral parlor. He is completely confused about why he’s even there.
Romance is still dead, but so is her new editor. His unfinished business is going to have her second-guessing what she knows about love.
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
I have to admit that I have tried reading this one but I struggled with it. I have only read one other book by T. Kingfisher and I liked it. So, I was disappointed that I struggled with this one.
I know many of you have probably read this one. So let me know in the comments what you thought of it!
Here is what What Moves the Dead is about.
Alex is a retired soldier and she just found out her childhood friend, Madeline, is dying. In turn, she rushes back home.
What she finds is fungal growth and possessed wildlife. Madeline has been sleepwalking and talking in weird voices at night.
As she’s being helped by a doctor, she must find out the secrets of the house before it takes them all.
The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson
This is another one that I have bought and have been meaning to read. I’m pretty I bought this one too and I keep struggling to get to it.
When this one came out I know there was a lot of hype surrounding it and for good reason too. This is a horror romance book that I’m going to have to try and get to soon.
Here is what The Year of the Witching is about.
Immanuelle’s very existence is blasphemy. Her mother has made peace with an outsider of a different race. Now her once-proud family has been cast out into disgrace because of it.
Where she is from prophets are law and now she is being lured to the forbidden Darkwood where the first prophet once chased and killed some powerful witches. Their spirits are still lingering there and they give to Immanuelle. That gift just so happens to be the journal of her dead mother. She’s shocked that her mother went to the woods for sanctuary.
In the journal, there are loads of secrets her mother wrote down and she’s having a hard time understanding how her mom could have mingled with witches. But then she starts to learn the truth about the church and its history. She realizes that if there is going to be any change then it has to start with her.
Final Thoughts: Fall in Love with the Darkness
Horror romance books just make us realize that love isn’t always sweet but sometimes dark. No matter what grabs your attention, there’s a horror romance novel waiting to captivate you—and maybe give you chills as well.
Are you a fan of any horror romance books? Let me know what it is in the comments! I’m always looking for what good books I want to read next.
If you enjoyed this post then you might like my post on horror books for beginners.