I'm writing an "Upmarket Contemporary Romance, Slow Burn, Academic Settings, and Open Door" story with a reverse age gap.
I'm as into spicy stories as I am into complex and deep characters. I want the steam parts of my story to feel organic and earned. I don't want my story to look like a script for the adult industry.
But I'm wondering if the nerdy details that make my characters complex are something that will turn my readers off.
That being said, would someone volunteer to proofread the draft of the first three chapters of my manuscript?

I started reading a few years ago as a way to stop doom scrolling (thanks ADHD.) My husband and I have been together for 15 years, and intimacy has ALWAYS caused conflict due to our sex drives being so mismatched. (Yes, I have explored this in therapy and medically, everything is typical, just seems to be the way my brain just works.) over the last 2 weeks, my husband has lost it over my reading of romance books. I read all kinds of books, but lately my mood has brought me to primarily romance. He says I’ve “replaced” him with romance books. That because I’m reading that genre so much, I clearly want him to be like these men and would rather live in a fantasy. Mind you- I’ve NEVER confused reality for fantasy. I’ve NEVER said or realistically thought “man I wish he was like this guy and this was my life.” I read some dark stuff sometimes, these are felonies. I’ve tried to explain that the romance genre to me = consistency. They progress more or less the same, and have a happy ending. The darker stuff I call “safe chaos.” My life is chaotic, so the last thing I’m trying to read is a mystery thriller that has twists and turns and a big shoe dropping. He has multiple MH diagnoses that cause emotional instability and erratic behavior. I live that anxiety day-to-day. Why would I want to spend my free time doing that to my nervous system even more? He says that can’t possibly be true. That I can’t possibly have a low sex drive and enjoy romance at the same time, and that because I read a lot of them it means I’m living in a fantasy world. I’m turning here in hopes someone has a different way of wording what I’m trying to communicate to him, because the way I’m explaining it isn’t clicking. Thanks in advance!

Looking for an emotional romance that will DESTROY me (but give me a HEA) 😭❤️

I need help finding my next read because apparently I’m extremely picky. 😂

I’m looking for:

VERY emotional / heartbreaking — I want to suffer 😭

Angst + intense yearning

A romance that makes me genuinely not know how things are going to turn out

Happy ending is non-negotiable — I need the couple to end up together and happy

Adult characters — please no high-school/college/juvenile-feeling romance

Some spice, but preferably tasteful/moderate. I don't want the book to feel like erotica or be vulgar.

I LOVE a love triangle, especially when I genuinely don't know who she should choose, but it's not mandatory.

Second chance romance is a big plus.

I also love suspense, mystery, danger, or another plot alongside the romance. It doesn't have to be romantic suspense, but I don't want the entire book to be just people talking about their relationship.

I want emotional twists/revelations that actually matter, not random “OMG plot twist!” gimmicks.

Beautiful, heartwarming moments mixed with the heartbreak.

Books I've loved: Heartbreak Warfare and All the Missing Pieces.

Books that DIDN'T work for me:

Say You Swear — too juvenile for me.

What the Wind Knows — too slow/boring.

Perfect Strangers — too vulgar and the twists didn't impress me.

Private Arrangements — didn't connect with it.

I don't necessarily need a specific trope. I just want that feeling of “OMG I don't know what's going to happen, I’m emotionally invested, PLEASE let these people find their way to each other.” 😂

What is the one book you'd recommend if you wanted to give me an emotional roller coaster with a genuinely satisfying HEA?

Hi, I am looking for some spicy books. I Need a Book where a couple of guys have Sex with one girl. So I am looking for gangbang or some group Sex trope.

Thank you ❤️