Since it launched back in 2011, Fifty Shades of Grey has had us hooked on dark romance.
In fact, the series was so successful that it sold more than 165 million copies worldwide!
With the series' last book coming out in 2021, however, many of us are left burning for more dark erotic romance books. After all, Christian Grey affected a lot more than miss Anna!
If you're ready to dive into more dark erotic romance novels, this guide is for you.
Here's a list of a few page-turning dark romance books that you simply have to check out.
What is a Dark Romance Book?
As always, there is no clear definition. However, in our understanding is a Dark Romance Story on in which at some point in the story you’re going to encounter something sinister or shocking.
Therefore for us, every Romance Story or Erotic Romance Story, in which horrific elements, non-heroic characters, and/or distressing situations are included, is a Dark Romance.
So if you like some really thrilling or chilling add-ons to you're Romance or Steamy Romance: these books are for you!
#1 Still Beating by Jennifer Hartman
First on our list of dark romance novels is Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann.
This book follows a girl named Corabelle, who is headed home after a night of partying.
When she leaves the club, however, she finds that her wallet has been stolen and she has to rely on her least favorite person to help her out.
What happens next is that she wakes up in chains in the basement of a monster, with her enemy, Dean, facing the same problem.
The two have to find a way out of their fate, which may just bring them together.
Pepper Winters' book Pennies is another novel that will keep you wanting more.
In this ultimate dark romance, a college student named Tasmin gets sold into sex slavery.
She gets purchased by a violent man but is later rescued by the dark and handsome Elder Prest. What follows is an adventure that takes her from one captor to another.
The only question is - does she resist or will she fall for her new captor?
To find out you'll just have to read the book.
Ecstasy is a book about three college students who struggle during their senior year.
Alex and Zara have been in a toxic relationship for months, while Eli is harboring his own dark secret.
The three get into a toxic, tangled mess that takes them down a dark path. The book is full of all sorts of interesting plot twists and is great for those looking for a gay romance novel to try out.
If you're up for a book that will keep you glued to the pages, this is a good one.
Just be prepared for some of the darker themes of murder, violence, and drug use that you'll find throughout the story.
Our special tip: How to read most of those books for free!
Did you know that you can get a free trial month from the Kindle Unlimited Program?
Just sign up for the free trial month and start your binge-reading month!
Nina G. Jones goes above and beyond in her erotic dark romance book, Debt.
This book follows a girl named Mia who has it all but is unsatisfied with her sex life.
In an effort to mix things up, Mia signs up for a service that recreates your darkest rape fantasies.
Readers are then taken on a wild ride as they discover whether Mia will end up enjoying her newfound sexual fantasy or not.
It's a dark and twisted journey that's sexy to the core.
Penelope Douglas takes us along for the ride with Rika, a girl heading to college in a new city.
When she arrives, she discovers that she's living next to her ex-boyfriend's older brother, who decides to get his revenge for what Rika did years earlier.
This intense book takes you through a whirlwind romance that involves tons of themes.
It's a dark bully romance that will make you question everything you know and leave you hooked on the book.
Raphael is a fallen angel who's obsessed with strangling his victims and is currently out to murder a sex trafficker.
However, while he's out hunting down the sex trafficker he comes across a girl who he simply can't help himself from stealing.
Once he has her in his clutches, he brings her back with him to Eden Manor, where the girl plans to try to bring her captor back to life.
The two find themselves trapped in forbidden love and faced with either the prospect of death together or death apart.
This romance novel is ideal for those who love tragedy. It centers around two individuals who are destined for a fate full of romance, yet also full of sorrow.
#7 Untouchable by Sam Mariano
If you like venturing out of your comfort zone you'll be captivated by Untouchable.
This novel features all sorts of depraved heroes and raunchy scenes, making it a great dark romance book if you're into that sort of thing.
In this novel, you'll follow the life of Zoey who seems to have attracted the attention of a football player. And, she quickly falls for him too.
However, it turns out that her golden boy is far from what she thought. Pretty soon, she discovers that she's trapped in the devil's snare and has to make tough choices about what she truly wants.
Periculum follows a girl named Liliana and her friends who are on a vacation for a week.
However, when she takes too many shots and wakes up aboard a shuttle that's taking them to what seems to be the Devil's lair, things take a surprising turn.
This dark romance is extremely violent, so enter at your own risk.
However, if you're prepared for a romp on the dark side of life, this is a fantastic novel that you won't be able to put down.
If you're a fan of the villain then you'll definitely love Vicous.
Vicous is a villain who taunts and torments the daughter of one of his hired servants.
Emilia, the girl he torments, eventually leaves town thanks to the way that Viscous treats her. It's only then when Viscious realizes that he truly loves Emilia and wants her back at all costs.
This dark bully romance is the perfect read for anyone who wants to see a villain come to redemption. It's a book with great plot twists that can be scarily true to life in some places.
#10 Born, Darkly by Trisha Wolfe
Borne, Darkly is a novel by Trisha Wolfe that mixes criminal mysteries with romance.
It's ideal for those who love action novels but also want a bit of steamy romance thrown in!
This book follows a criminal psychologist who takes on an infamous serial killer as her patient. As she works with him, she starts to become extremely invested in her newest patient.
However, Grayson has her figured out. And, he's using her to his advantage.
Read the book to find out what this devious serial killer has up his sleeve and how he plans to get what he wants with his psychologist at all costs.
Discover a New Way to enjoy your Romance!!
Did you know that the listening to steamy books is a completely different experience than reading?
You know: we love reading! But from time to time it we love to listen!
You should definitely give it at shot and enjoy this all-you-can-listen free trial that offers access to thousands of titles, including a vast array of audiobooks, podcasts and originals that span genres, lengths, and formats.
This novel follows the story of a girl who tries to infiltrate the Irish mafia to find her best friend who recently went missing.
However, she quickly catches the eye of one of the top mobsters in the pack.
Worse yet, the mobster suspects that she's up to something. And, as the two grow closer, the girl starts to wonder if her newfound lover may be to blame for her friend's disappearance.
If you're a fan of mob romances, this is definitely one to add to your reading list. We promise you won't be able to put it down!
#12 Deviant King by Rina Kent
Deviant King follows the King of the Royal Elite Academy and his will to destroy the life of a girl named Elsa Quinn.
However, at the end of the pair's senior year, Elsa challenges the deviant king to end their quarrel once and for all. What she didn't bargain for is that the king is infatuated with her and will do whatever it takes to win the challenge.
This romance is dark and twisted and is part of a trilogy series. That makes it perfect for those who don't want the story to end!
This book focuses on a criminal profiler who is good-natured and cheerful.
He's following a string of murders that are mysteriously appearing around his city.
Throughout the story, he runs into a girl named Lana Myers, who has taken justice into her own hands. When the two meet, they instantly find a connection despite the fact that Lana is destined for prison.
Will the couple find a way to be together or is the romance doomed from the start?
#14 In Peace Lies Havoc by Amo Jones
In Peace Lies Havoc follows a girl named Dove who is working as a stripper to keep herself afloat.
One night, Dove's past comes back to haunt her - literally - throwing her into the world of Midnight Mayhem. There, she finds herself taking over the stage next to four handsome brothers.
The more she works with the brothers, however, the more Dove realizes that she has eyes for only one of them: Kingston Axton.
If you want to hear the end of the story, you'll just have to pick up this addictive romance and see what happens next!
#15 Rough Edge by CD Reiss
In Rough Edge, we start by watching a psychiatrist retire from the army and head home to her husband. She's excited about the idea of leaving army life behind and living a quiet, civilian life.
However, when she comes home, the psychiatrist discovers that her husband isn't quite how she remembered him.
This book is dark and twisted and is a book that you won't want to put down. It's ideal for those who love BDSM and want more gripping stories that touch on this topic.
#16 The Sweetest Oblivion by Danielle Lori
Elena Abelli was once the princess of the mafia, but after a scandal, gets put under house arrest.
However, that all ends when she finds herself called to her sister's wedding to the king of another mafia group.
At the wedding, Elena discovers that she's drawn to her new brother-in-law in a way that she can't resist. The two soon become entangled in a doomed romance that will leave more than their reputations in tatters.
Another one for those who love mafia books, The Sweetest Oblivion is a great novel that you won't be able to put down. It's full of sexual tension and touches on unique themes such as arranged marriages to make for a book you can't stop reading.
Verity by Colleen Hoover made it to the list of most sold books on Amazon, and we can see why.
This book is a dark romance that's packed with plot twists that will keep you invested to the end.
This book follows Lowen Ashleigh, who is struggling with her finances when a young man hires him to finish his wife's book series.
Lowen heads to the man's home to look at the original author's notes, but when she does, comes across something interesting.
What she discovers is a confession of Verity's that has her questioning whether this housewife is injured at all or faking it...
#18 The Unrequited by Saffron A. Kent
Last on our list is The Unrequited by Saffron Kent.
This book follows a heroine named Layla, who's looking for a distraction from life.
The distraction she encounters is an artist named Thomas Abrams, who happens to be married. However, that doesn't stop her from pursuing her secret longings...
If you want to read a romance book about a teacher and a student, this one is perfect. It's a dark romance that features all the tragedy of forbidden love and gets you thinking about off-limits topics.
Do you need more thrilling and steamy reading ideas?
No worries! Of course we have more for you here on Filthybooks!
If you like to find more great book suggestions, which are not only steamy but give you some thrills and chills, have a look at our selection of the Best Mafia Romance Books or our Forbidden Love Section!
But maybe you like your reading to be varied? Then you definitely should check out ou Top List section, in which we present you a plethora of great steamy romance genres and the best stories to read!
And as a Thank You - have a look at the Free Stories available on Filthybooks!
We at Filthybooks are passionate about passion.
Dump guilt and shame over your desires in the trash!
At Filthy Books, we celebrate our love of sexy stories by shouting from the rooftops.
Did this list of the best dark romance books for adults leave you wanting more?
Perfect.
Why not read a steamy story right now?
Click here to subscribe to the Filthy Books newsletter, and get an exclusive free copy of Forbidden Complication - instantly. Or, if that's not your vibe, explore some of our FREE Erotic Stories online here at Filthy Books.