FOrbidden Love M/M Romance Books That Will Leave You Blushing
Forbidden love! Rivals! Princes from warring nations! Professors and students! Brothers! Bosses and employees! Parole officers and probationers!
Whatever the situation, these books are about two men who have no business being together.
Society and/or the law try to keep these men apart, but they just can’t help themselves. They have no choice but to be together.
I understand everyone has books that they consider too taboo to read. Maybe you won’t love every book on this list, but I think you will find something you will enjoy!
I did leave most stepbrother romance books off of this list. However, many readers consider them to be taboo and forbidden, so you can find my list of stepbrother M/M romance books here!
What are you waiting for? Let’s read something a little wild.
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Forbidden Love M/M Romance Books
Damen is a warrior hero to his people, and the rightful heir to the throne of Akielos, but when his half brother seizes power, Damen is captured, stripped of his identity, and sent to serve the prince of an enemy nation as a pleasure slave.
Beautiful, manipulative and deadly, his new master Prince Laurent epitomizes the worst of the court at Vere. But in the lethal political web of the Veretian court, nothing is as it seems, and when Damen finds himself caught up in a play for the throne, he must work together with Laurent to survive and save his country.
For Damen, there is just one rule: never, ever reveal his true identity. Because the one man Damen needs is the one man who has more reason to hate him than anyone else…
Captive is classic forbidden love!
Damen and Laurent are the crown princes of two warring nations. Additionally, Damen, after a series of betrayals, is stuck as Laurent’s slave.
It does take a few books for these two to end up together, but if you are looking for forbidden love, this is a great place to start!
He’s the most precious human being Adam has ever seen. Too bad he isn’t human.
Banished by his parents to the third planet in the Sol system, Prince Harht’ngh’chaali of the Second Grand Clan is completely fascinated by its inhabitants. Assuming the human name “Harry,” he tries to pass for a human to survive, but being human is so much harder than Harry expected. Humans are so confusing.
Adam Crawford isn’t looking for love. Financially secure and good-looking, he’s in a good place in his life. He doesn’t mean to fall in love with the quirky guy working at the coffee shop near his office. Harry is ridiculous—and ridiculously endearing. He wears ugly shirts and flowers in his hair, and he has a kind word for everyone. Adam falls hard and fast.
Little does he know that Harry isn’t what he seems and anything between them is impossible.
Star-crossed love between a human man and an alien prince from a world half a galaxy away.
Alessandra Hazard is one of the best at forbidden love. Honestly, most of her books could fit this category in some way or another.
That Alien Feeling is forbidden love between a human named Adam and an alien prince named ‘Harry.’
These two make no sense on paper, but somehow they have an undeniable connection. Unfortunately, Harry isn’t meant to stay on earth and is definitely not supposed to fall in love with a human while he is there.
While the premise may seem super sci-fi and out there, this book felt like a super cute rom-com book the entire time. I seriously enjoyed this forbidden romance, and I think you will too!
President Brennan Walker captivated me from the moment I walked into his Oval Office.
He’s a mystery I’m determined to unlock. I don’t know what’s hiding inside Brennan’s gaze when he looks my way, or why black lightning keeps crashing between us. He’s a storm at midnight, a dark moon rising, trouble on the horizon.
I’m on the verge of sliding into discoveries and truths that maybe I’m not ready for.
I’ve never been with a man, but now? I’m dreaming about his bleu clair eyes and wondering what it would feel like if his lips touched mine. There’s something here, something between us, like the oxygen we’re breathing is igniting before each inhale.
But he’s the president. I’m his Secret Service agent. He’s the job.
He’s forbidden.
If we cross this line, Brennan could lose everything.
I know I have to walk away.
But I can’t.
How much are we willing to risk?
And how badly will this go up in flames?
What’s more forbidden than the president and his body guard?
I loved the maturity of the relationship between Brennan and Reese. These two are very aware of the pressure and sensitivity of their relationship.
The only kind of odd hitch in this book is that it almost seems like the book is going to go M/M/M with another body guard that is in love with Reese. By the end of the book, I was a little sad and disappointed it didn’t happen, and, to be honest, I would love if Tal dropped a sequel with the three of them.
All of that aside, I love Tal Bauer. He is the author of one of my favorite books of all time, You & Me, and if you like his other political drama books, you will eat this book up!
Nearing the end of a suspended jail sentence should unlock a brighter future for CJ Davis, only the chip on his shoulder is as hard to shift as his bad reputation. Born into a family of career criminals who live down Davis Road, an address the cops have dubbed Davis Row, his name alone is like a rap sheet that makes optimism impossible.
Brand-new parole officer Noah Huxley is determined to see the good in men like CJ. After all, he knows firsthand that bad things can happen to good people. His colleagues mock his doe-eyed optimism, but Noah soon sees CJ’s bad attitude and bravado are weapons he uses to keep people at a distance.
Both men know one simple mistake can change a life forever. At first glance, they might seem to be polar opposites. Yet underneath, they’re not that different at all.
Have I made a list without N.R. Walker on it yet?
On Davis Row features forbidden love between a parole officer and one of his probationers. CJ and Noah are great together and have super compelling back stories.
This story has depth and grit and evolution and love. If you are looking for a sweeter forbidden romance, this is your winner!
In a small town like ours, you’re either straight or you keep your mouth shut.
Being gay would be dirty.
Touching the guy who’s been your little brother since you were three would be dirty.
Falling in love with him would be even worse.
I protect him because it’s my job.
I resist him because I have to.
But when one night leads to two and two nights lead to more, lines are blurred and morals are tossed and my sanity takes a walk.
Now we’re risking everything we have for something we know we shouldn’t want.
And the only thing we’ll have left is each other.
Okay, we are solidly into some wild stuff with Dirty Love.
While Nicky and Kade are stepbrothers, they weren’t raised as stepbrothers. Since a very young age, these two have, essentially, been brothers. They even refer to each other as brother.
This might not be your thing! That’s okay! It is well-written (taboo) forbidden love, so it had to be on the list.
For Jacob and Daniel, two young gay men aboard a Navy ship in WWII, the risks were high. Not just the risks of injury and death from Japanese planes and submarines, but the risk of discovery, of discharge, imprisonment or worse. Only a special kind of love was worth taking that chance. But from the moment Daniel met Jacob’s eyes across a battle-scarred deck, he knew he had to try.
Being together required figuring out what it meant to be gay and in love with another man, in an era when they could be jailed or committed for admitting the desires of their hearts. On a ship at war, their relationship was measured in stolen moments and rare days of precious leave, with no guarantees there would be a tomorrow. And if they survived the war, they would need even more luck to keep their love alive through all the years to come.
Into Deep Waters is easily my favorite book by Kaje Harper.
This book deals with forbidden love in the sense that any gay love was forbidden love for far too long in the United States. Especially when in the military.
As a cover snob, I avoided this book for far too long. Do not let it stop you from enjoying this book!
Read this one for an epic and deeply emotional romance that follows a couple over the course of their lives.
Professor Derek Rutledge is hated and feared by all of his students. Strict, reserved, and ruthless, he doesn’t tolerate mistakes and has little patience for his students.
Shawn Wyatt is a twenty-year-old struggling to provide for his younger sisters after the death of their parents. On the verge of losing his scholarship, Shawn becomes desperate enough to go to Professor Rutledge.
Everyone says Rutledge doesn’t have a heart. Everyone says he’s a ruthless bastard. Shawn finds out that everyone is right. He strikes a deal with Rutledge, but unexpectedly, the deal turns into something so much more.
Something all-consuming and addictive. Something neither of them wants.
Like I said, there could easily be a lot of Alessandra Hazard books on this list. I had to narrow it down to my favorite two.
Just a Bit Twisted contains the most prevalent and popular forbidden love trope: student/teacher romance.
This is a big personal squick of mine. You will not find me recommending these books often at all. The reason Just a Bit Twisted works for me is because this couple is made up of a professor and a twenty-year-old student.
There is still a very clear and present power imbalance, but at least everyone is of age.
What’s interesting is that I still am not sure that I like Rutledge. He is a great example of a morally grey character with more flaws than most people are comfortable with.
That being said, I’ve reread this book a few times, and it hasn’t failed me yet!
Nothing interferes with pro hockey star Shane Hollander’s game.
Now that he’s captain of the Montreal Voyageurs, he won’t let anything jeopardize that—definitely not the sexy rival he loves to hate.
Boston Bears captain Ilya Rozanov is everything Shane’s not. The self-proclaimed king of the ice, he’s as cocky as he is talented. No one can beat him—except Shane. Publicly, they’re enemies. Privately, they can’t stop touching each other.
The smart thing to do? Walk away, once a few secret hookups turn into a struggle to keep their relationship out of the press. The truth could ruin them both. But for Shane and Ilya, secrecy is soon no longer an option…
Heated Rivalry is on quite a few of my book lists at this point.
Why? Because it’s an amazing book that checks a ton of boxes.
In this book we meet Ilya and Shane. Two men who are captains for rival hockey teams. Not only are they supposed to be enemies, they also play a notoriously homophobic sport.
Ilya and Shane are incredibly aware that their love is forbidden and ridiculously inconvenient. They just can’t help themselves.
This book is a must read!
Be obedient. Be grateful. As the neglected illegitimate son of a powerful family, Corin is expected to follow his magic-gifted brother to the palace as a servant. He’s unwilling but resigned—and allows himself one night of distraction in a stranger’s arms.
Corin never knew pleasure and pain could be so exhilarating. So comforting. Corin only regrets he’ll never again see the anonymous man who ruined him for anyone else.
Until the next morning, when Corin meets his brother’s new arranged fiancé.
Prince Audric doesn’t want a loveless political betrothal, but he’ll do anything for his kingdom. His last night of freedom is a rare indulgence—and a terrible mistake. Corin is sweet, beautiful, and sees Audric like nobody else does.
He’s also Audric’s fiancé’s younger brother. Audric’s arranged betrothal might be a relationship in name only, but he can’t touch Corin again.
Constant proximity hurts when they can’t be together. But avoidance is impossible when Corin might be the key to unraveling the conspiracy behind Audric’s betrothal—
And when Corin keeps fainting into Audric’s arms.
Tavia Lark has knocked my socks off with her Perilous Courts series. Prince and Pawn is no exception.
Audric and Corin can’t be together. Audric has to marry Corin’s brother. The problem is that Audric and Corin are perfect together. After a chance (and ridiculously steamy) encounter, these two are unable to stay apart.
There is mystery and action and a bit of rough sex. What’s not to like?
Atticus Charming’s spectacular announcement of his sexuality backfired, leaving him penniless, crashing in his friend’s basement, working a part-time job at a local gas station for minimum wage, and without the funds to pay for his last year of university.
This hard dose of reality after having lived a spoiled rich-kid lifestyle leaves Atticus grasping at straws to fix his precarious and unappealing situation.
When a job opportunity presents itself, Atticus knows he can’t turn it down. The money is too enticing. It’s the answer to all his problems.
It’s just a some racy pictures and a few suggestive videos, right? No big deal.
But there is a catch. This job can’t be done solo, and the one other person who needs to be involved might not agree with Atticus’s desperate plan.
Morals and ethics go out the window. Real and fake start blending together.
Can Atticus fulfill the obligations of the job without crossing too many boundaries?
And what happens when the scene ends and the feelings don’t?
Did I save the book with actual incest for last? Yes, yes I did.
If you felt like the books I picked for this list haven’t be forbidden enough or taboo enough, I offer you End Scene.
This book contains what those of us in the fanficiton community refer to as ‘twincest.’
Yes, the whole premise is ridiculous and implausible. But it is also surprisingly deep and heartfelt. And, yeah, it’s pretty hot.
I hope you guys enjoyed this list! Let me know if there are any books that you would have wanted to see on this list!
Hey, I’m Heather!
I read M/M romance books exclusively, and I help other readers find their next great M/M romance read.
2 thoughts on “Forbidden Love M/M Romance Books that Will Leave You Blushing”
Hey , I’m here to ask you if you have a book like Dirty love by Bethany , it’s my favourite that’s why I’m looking for a book with dark forbidden relationship either brothers, Stepbrothers or twins , i need any recommendations please and thank you so much
Hey, Errell!
I also love Dirty Love by Bethany Winters! I can definitely recommend a few more books more like it! I know it is already on the list, but I have to recommend End Scene by Nicky James. That is a twins-to-lovers book that I think you will enjoy. Also, Sinfully Mine by Nicky James is a brothers-to-lovers romance you may like. There are also a few I haven’t read, but people who love M/M taboo books tend to enjoy: My Brother’s Love by Chara Croft, Brother by Marina Vivancos, Too Close to Love by M.A. Innes, Forever Ours by A.T. Brennan, and Twisted Together by Odessa Hywell.
Thanks for checking out my blog! I hope that you find a few good reads from this list!
Heather