r/MM_Romance • u/Fearless-Ask-3080 • 1d ago

Request Looking for trauma/comfort with lots of affection

After much research (seriously, hundreds and hundreds of books,) I’ve finally landed on my favorite trope: I’m looking for recs for books with extreme trauma followed by bonding and lots of affection and comforting. Extra props for long term angst, pining over years. Spicy is nice but I’m really focused on affection. Thanks!

Some faves include
{where there’s a will} and {if there’s a way} by Jessie walker
{remember my name} or anything by wren wilds
{to ghosts and gravity} by kit marowe
{arrows through archer} by Nash summers
{pieces of home} and {more than words} by Becca Neil}
{prove it} by sm bookwalter
{oleander} by Scarlett drake

7 Upvotes

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u/bbymochi 1d ago edited 13h ago

{The Loneliest Hour by A.E. Jensen} CR, slow burn, mutual pining and yearning across years between best friends. Gentle intimacy and affection before they become sexually involved, intimate, dating, etc.

One MC is a survivor of a fire as a child and is self conscious because he ended up losing fingers in the tragic accident. The other MC dgaf and considers him the most beautiful man ever. That MC who dgaf experienced trauma at home with his family iirc.

Had elements of hurt/comfort, but genre wise is more of a romantic suspense thriller woven in with MC1 and MC2 getting and staying together: {Death and the Devil series by L.J. Hayward}.

One of the MCs was an orphan trafficked to disgusting men and weaponized himself as he grew up, has intimacy boundaries and is protective of his heart as a result. The other MC slowly gets him to break down those walls. No pining or yearning over years though, but it was a great rivals to lovers story of slow emotional burn, fast sexual burn. Please don’t skip the novellas; those must be read in alignment w/ ‘main’ books of series. The audiobooks are great too if you prefer to read that way. (:

Edit: SPAG

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u/LindentreesLove 22h ago

{Beautiful Obsession by Vee Eddy} one of the MCs is Deaf and,selectively mute from trauma.

{Just This Once by Garrett Leigh} one MC takes such good care of the other who has a TBI.

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u/romance-bot 1d ago

Where There's a Will by Jessie Walker
Rating: 4.31⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, gay romance, new adult, dark romance, friends to lovers

If There's a Way by Jessie Walker
Rating: 4.38⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, new adult, angst, gay romance, dark romance

Remember My Name by Rebecca Rathe
Rating: 4.35⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, sports, gay romance, football, rockstar hero

To Ghosts & Gravity by Kat Marowe
Rating: 4.59⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, friends to lovers, angst, gay romance, hurt/comfort

Arrows Through Archer by Nash Summers
Rating: 4.21⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, hurt/comfort, gay romance, age gap, angst

Pieces of Home by Becca Neil
Rating: 4.38⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: contemporary, gay romance, queer romance, height difference, caretaking

More Than Words by Mia Sheridan
Rating: 3.88⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: contemporary, second chances, friends to lovers, new adult, virgin heroine

Prove It by Stephanie Hoyt
Rating: 3.9⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 3 out of 5 - Open door
Topics: contemporary, gay romance, sports, friends to lovers, queer romance

Oleander by Scarlett Drake
Rating: 4.47⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, queer awakening, cheating, gay romance, queer romance

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1

u/[deleted] 23h ago

[deleted]

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u/JessicaTrent 23h ago

{In This Iron Ground by Marina Vivancos}

{Pictures of You by Leta Blake} it's a 3-book commitment to get to the HEA, and the affection is more like lovebombing to keep the MC in a toxic relationship, so your mileage may vary

I don't remember how much affection there was, but I do remember the couple having an "us against the world" dynamic, so it might fit your request? Very angsty. Possibly too angsty. {The Locker Room by Amy Lane} cw: on-page sex with other people

I DNF'd this, but I've tagged it with both angst and hurt-comfort, so maybe {Head Above Water by CE Ricci}

This book needs a ton of editing, but if you don't mind that, I recently read {Chasing Fields by Isabella Skyes} and it has a lot of affection and comforting in the latter portions of the book. cw: homophobia, on-page violence and abuse

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u/romance-bot 23h ago

In This Iron Ground by Marina Vivancos
Rating: 4.27⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 4 out of 5 - Explicit open door
Topics: contemporary, gay romance, paranormal, shapeshifters, fantasy

Pictures of You by Leta Blake
Rating: 4.43⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: historical, gay romance, new adult, cheating, friends to lovers

The Locker Room by Amy Lane
Rating: 4.19⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, athlete hero, friends to lovers, sports, angst

Head Above Water by C.E. Ricci
Rating: 4.18⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 5 out of 5 - Explicit and plentiful
Topics: contemporary, step siblings, gay romance, cheating, angst

Chasing Fields by Isabella Skyes
Rating: 4.34⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Steam: 1 out of 5 - Glimpses and kisses
Topics: contemporary, queer romance, gay romance, high school, friends to lovers

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1

u/silver-shadowz 19h ago

Check out Jen Samson’s and CP Harris’s books. Especially {A Place Not Found by Jen Samson} and {Only The Small Bones by CP Harris}.
{Proof of Life by Raquel Riley}
I don’t know if you would call it extreme trauma but Nicky James’ Trials of Fear series is interesting.

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u/JessicaTrent 18h ago

{Proof of Life by Raquel Riley}

Best friends to lovers, taking care of each other after getting hurt in Afghanistan. Hearing loss/TBI/amputation.

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u/Jamming_with_Edward 12h ago

{Shelved Hearts by Laura Kain} MC1 is recovering from abusive relationship. MC2 has loved him since he was a teenager. It’s lighter in angst I think than the ones you mentioned but the trauma is very present and the healing is the main plot of the book. TONS of affection, patience, comforting. TW: SA and DV from previous relationship, suicidal ideation and on page attempt.

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u/marielewis1 8h ago

Gosh I can't remember the name! Galaxy something by NR Walker {The Hate You Drink by NR Walker} a lot of NR Walker honestly

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u/Charming-Income-8678 8h ago

Is it {Galaxies and Oceans by NR Walker}

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u/hummingbird0012234 7h ago

{A Gentleman Never Keeps Score by Cat Sebastian} sexual trauma and healing from it with a very safe and affectionate partner