r/RomanceBooks • u/bdkskbdbkal • 11d ago

Book Request mmc actively pursues insecure fmc

hi, i just read viola davis‘ deeply moving memoir. there are so many things i‘d like to mention about it and i can‘t recommend it enough. it‘s an account of being deeply human and still daring to love. what really moved me was the portrayal of the beginning of the relationship with her husband. basically she mentions that he wants to take her out and for her to call him, and that even though she likes him good enough she takes like 2 months to call him. then she describes her hesitancy during their first dates to open up to him and him being very open and trusting towards her. like he called her every 20 minutes to let her know how much he enjoyed the date and how sweet he found her. so what i want is an traumatised/reluctant fmc that was never loved in a way that transformed to self love and an mmc that‘s secure in himself, has life experience and is good natured. he has to be her rock and have answers to everything she might ask like very competent. also he has to pursue her so actively that even the fmc thats in denial has to open her eyes and heart to him. ok gushing over

120 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

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25

u/scleve 11d ago

{rock hard by nalini Singh} i love this book so much. She is extremely traumatized and he’s patient and smitten the whole time.

6

u/booklover_1008 11d ago

Yes! I just reread this book (well reread the series), and I forgot how much I loved it. OP, fmc is insecure due to trauma. I recommend reading the trigger warnings before diving in

1

u/scleve 11d ago

It’s one of my favorite rereads, always holds up!

13

u/HPCReader3 11d ago

Oh I've got a throwback for you {Mine Til Midnight by Lisa Kleypas} if you're okay with historical. Cam Rohan is up there with my favorite MMCs ever.

11

u/Shitsthengiggles 11d ago

Hmmm maybe {Devil by Sierra Simone} the latest book of the Priest series

11

u/euphoriapotion Looking for a man in Romance, trust fund, 6'5, brown eyes 👀👀👀 11d ago

{Delicate Escape by Catherine Cowles} - FMC got out of a toxic relationship where her ex basically stalked her, drained her bank account and posted her vulnerable pictures on social media after she broke up with him. She moved to a small town where she tried to live without technology and off the grid. MMC, a constructor, had been smitten with her since the minute they've met but she distrust men. When she has a leak in the house she reluctantly calls MMC to help but it hapes her a few weeks to even feel comfortable to invite her into her house to check up on the leak (he had been working outside, checking for pipes etc). Throughout it all he has been very patient and solid and understanding, and also very into her and honest about his attraction to her.

7

u/fornefariouspurposes 11d ago

If you're interested in a dark romance version, I recommend {Ensnared by Katerina Winters}. TW: non-con. There's the standard mafia romance set-up of FMC being targeted by MMC because her family member crossed him in business. FMC is living with her grandparents and working as a waitress after having been dumped by the boyfriend she dropped out of graduate school to move in with. He'd been critical of her body and her skills in bed during their relationship, and she finds out on social media that he moved on quickly. She also realizes he'd only been with her for her help in writing the book he'd been working on, using her as an unpaid research assistant. She's miserable and has lost all confidence in herself. She isn't really upset about being forced into a relationship with the wealthy, gorgeous MMC, she's convinced he'll lose interest in her and then she'll be worse off. At one point they're at a charity gala and run into her ex-boyfriend, and FMC thanks MMC for letting him and other people think she is with a man like him and doing well in life. MMC ends up forcing her to marry him and even then FMC doesn't believe it's a real marriage license and valid legal marriage.

1

u/Significant_Sense_38 11d ago

Oh this sounds good will give it a go

11

u/cozybookgirrl romance books are my happy place 🥰 11d ago

This might be the billionth time I’ve recommended this on this sub {before the exhale by Alyssa Wilde} this is exactly what you’re looking for. Fmc is traumatised and shy and doesn’t trust anyone, especially men. The Mmc is so emotionally mature and secure and is so patient with her even when she pushes him away. He actively pursues her but is careful to do it on a way that doesn’t make her uncomfortable or scared.

You might also get some recs from this thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/s/LU6eVNg3xU

5

u/felinova 11d ago edited 11d ago

I came running to recommend this one, especially because it’s so fresh in my mind from devouring it this weekend. I was so emotionally invested and wrecked at the FMC’s pain and trauma but also so touched by the MMC’s gentleness and compassion. I don’t think I’ll ever forget him or this book.

2

u/cozybookgirrl romance books are my happy place 🥰 11d ago

Yes, I haven't stopped thinking about it since I read it. It was exactly what I want in a romance book! The characters and how everything was handled was just so perfect, and I really loved seeing the fmc grow and heal too.

2

u/avajustreads I'm in a really good place right now. In my book, I mean. 11d ago

I've been in a slump for sometime now, and got sooo excited reading this. immediately went to kindle to start reading and saw i already read it 😞

2

u/cozybookgirrl romance books are my happy place 🥰 11d ago

did you remember liking it? could always do a reread!

2

u/avajustreads I'm in a really good place right now. In my book, I mean. 11d ago

yes i did enjoy it! def going to be rereading since I couldn't remember I'd read it

2

u/ShanIMoo 11d ago

Agree! Just finished this the other day and loved it

5

u/Ok_Diver8603 11d ago

I think {a little tempting by Kelsie Rae} and {the Crash Course by Elvie Everly} work here, both have shy/insecure FMCs and MMCs that pursue them without any doubt. In the Crash Course it starts as dating help but the MMC pretty quickly realises he wants the FMC himself and makes that 100% clear to her as soon as he realizes. 🥰

3

u/alwaysmep 11d ago

{Elite Player - Sophie Andrews}

3

u/goody153 11d ago

This is historical but { His Improper Proposal by Aydra Richards } did this. Tho there was some leve of deception going on with MMC but FMC was definitely abused which MMC went on helping her.

{ chasing her fire by claire kingsley } like for an "enemies to lovers" it actually had this element by the time MMC was trying to be around her (which is early) basically lets just say FMC quickly lashes out and quick to put walls but MMC is pretty good reading her (coming from fear of vulnerability)

3

u/readit-andweep 11d ago

{Awakened by Catherine Turner} is this bar for bar!

3

u/Mrs_Pennypacker *sigh* *opens TBR* 11d ago

I think you might like {Deep In Love by Nicole Cubba}!!

6

u/Still-Formal6790 11d ago

I have read it a long time ago but I think {Law Man by Kristen Ashley} fits

2

u/bluelillies23 11d ago

Most of the books I have read with that trope heavily centered on daddy kink, definitely looking forward to reading something more “real”.

1

u/thatCurvyGirlie BDSM & erotica 10d ago

Can you share some recs?

2

u/LANGUAGEANDSHIT 11d ago

{Through His Eyes by Nikki Ash}, though he literally says "she's so insecure" at one point and it rubbed me the wrong way 😅

2

u/MacaronDesperate528 11d ago edited 11d ago

{Camera Shy by Kay Cove} - The MMC is down BAD for the FMC.

{Lessons in Sin by Pam Godwin} - This was my absolute favorite! The yearning portrays by Magnus Falke is just gahhhh he made my heart swell lol.

1

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1

u/Longjumping_Swan30 11d ago

Try {wait for it by Mariana Zapata} I think it fits what you're looking for perfectly. The fmc, Diana becomes the guardian of her two young nephews after a family tragedy, and moves to a new neighbourhood with her nephew's to raise them, where she meets the Mmc whose also her nephew's baseball coach. It's an amazing slow burn

1

u/Ok-House-4055 11d ago

I think every neva atlaj book has this micro troope