Books Like Haunting Adeline: What to Read Next

Quick note before we dive in: this list of dark romance books is for readers who’ve read Haunting Adeline and want a bit of a lighter read next. There’s no romance quite as dark on this list, but this isn’t an “avoid Haunting Adeline” list. I read it myself and enjoyed it! H.D. Carlton is a talented storyteller, and the hook sucks you right in. I also loved the gothic mystery elements and the ghostly subplot about Adeline’s grandmother.

So if you want a similar dangerous romance with a morally gray hero but without on-page nonconsensual sex, this list is for you. These recommendations still do lean dark, so check out each book’s content warnings before diving in.

Start with this twisty, dangerous romance

• You’re Overthinking This (mine!). A woman on the run from her stalker ex crashes her car in a blizzard and takes shelter with a handsome, rugged stranger… then finds a dead woman in his freezer and decides to seduce him so he won’t kill her, too. Hailey is nerdy and relatable with a wry sense of humor as she navigates this cat-and-mouse game with Cameron, but when she falls for him for real, it could destroy her. It’s steamy, forbidden, and dangerous in that “should I trust this man” way Haunting Adeline readers will love, with a ghostly mystery and shocking twists. But the darkness stays in the murder mystery, not the sexy bits—even the *spoiler alert* bondage scene, which I’d actually consider “consent kink.”

More obsessive, stalker-ish romance

• Twisted Love by Ana Huang. The FMC has a broken past and absolutely shouldn’t want her brother’s best friend, who’s cold and guarded and has been obsessed with her for years. But she does, and it could destroy them both. BookTokers often recommend this as a dark romance entry point; there’s a possessive hero who exhibits toxic and controlling behavior, but there’s no on-page rape like there is in Haunting Adeline.
• Lights Out by Navessa Allen. A trauma nurse who’s into masked-men thirst traps online realizes the anonymous man she’s been watching has been watching her, too. It’s a stalker-romance with surveillance and a hero who won’t stay away, but the MMC stalks the FMC with her full consent, and it’s thrilling for both of them. It has lots of banter and dark comedy, too—great for readers want something a bit less intense than Haunting Adeline next.
• Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas. A years-long pen-pal romance between two teens who’ve never met in person becomes a real-world enemies-to-lovers reunion with manipulation, revenge, and slow-burn obsession. While there isn’t exactly stalking in this one, it’s more “the person who knows you best knows exactly how to hurt you.” There are threats of rape but no on-page non-con.
• Neon Gods by Katee Robert. A modern Hades and Persephone retelling where a runaway society darling strikes a bargain with the reclusive, terrifying man who rules the city’s underworld. It’s dark and kink-forward with a power imbalance, but Robert deliberately writes consent between her leads even in all that dark danger. (Something I appreciate and strive to do as well!)

A note on content warnings

I can’t tell you these are 100% “safe” reads across the board. Dark romance as a genre often includes violence and heavy themes even when it doesn’t have explicit sexual assault. Always check the content warnings for whichever book you pick up. Most authors list them on their website or the book’s first page. Here’s my content advisories page.

Remember, everyone’s threshold for darkness in romance is different. The on-page sexual assault in Haunting Adeline is a hard line for some readers, whether it’s a trigger, personal preference, or just not what they’re in the mood for. But it also helps other people deal with trauma they live with. Everyone comes into a book like this with their own unique perspective, and there’s no wrong opinion here. 🫶