The Nora Theory

Why Choose romance is one of my favorite subgeneres in the world of romance. The main character doesn’t have to choose between love interests, and the dynamics are always an interesting ride.

All of these are at least duets. I tend to gravitate towards multiple book stories with why choose, because I feel like standalone books don’t usually give the reader enough time to get to know all the characters involved. (If there is a book that proves me wrong please school me in the comments. I always love having a new book to read!)

Of all the why choose series I have read, these are the ones that stuck with me, with character and plot that match the smut. Here are the best why choose romance series I have read so far, and remember to always check the content warnings before you buy!

The Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti

The Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep is a four book, high school/new adult romance with enemies-to-lovers themes and lots of action.

This series was one of the most interesting why choose novels I’ve ever read simply because it was such a creative use of a pandemic storyline. I put off reading these for so long because I just couldn’t deal with putting a pandemic into my escapist land while an actual pandemic was raging outside, but I regret it because these books are so much fun.

I loved all the characters, and the tension between them was absolutely off the charts. Sometimes with why choose, you get a very formulaic cast of characters, and sometimes that works really well. These books, however, took some of that, featuring the jock, the wild card and the moody professor, classic why choose archetypes, but added in Saint Memphis. Saint is such a unique and eccentric character that he really just makes the whole series worth reading.

Spice: 3

Writing: 4.5

The Harlequin Crew by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti

The same author team that brought us the Kings of Quarantine came back to grace us with The Harlequin Crew, a six book why choose series. This series is an enemies-to-lovers romance featuring gangs, surfing, and so much angst and sexual tension. Six books seems like a huge commitment, but once you get started these books just fly by.

There are lots of characters to keep track of in this series, but they each play an essential role and once you figure it out the payoff is completely worth it. With six books and so many cliffhangers and twists and turns to work with, these authors truly make the characters work for their happily ever after.

The California girl in me loves the setting of these books, although it’s not explicitly stated as California, in this fictional world it seems like it to me. All the drama and violence and spice takes place on the ocean with sun and sand and surfing and it’s a juxtaposition that works so beautifully. There is such a rich history between the characters in this series, and the complicated dynamics and all the subsequent feelings really tugs at the heartstrings.

Spice: 3.5

Writing: 4

Madison Kate Series by Tate James

I first read the Madison Kate series several years ago, but I find myself thinking about it all the time. This series was my first true entrance into not only James’ Shadow Grove universe, but why choose as a whole. And I fell in love with it all.

Madison Kate is a four book series featuring an MMA fighter, his two best friends and the title character, Madison Kate, a privileged girl with a dark past. These dreamy but decidedly morally grey boys set Madison Kate up for a crime she did not commit, and when she returns from her exile, she finds out that she’ll be living with them.

It’s a bully, enemies-to-lovers romance with a touch of some mafia stuff happening. Madison Kate is one of my all time favorites and will always hold a special place in my heart for introducing me to the wonderland that is why choose romance.

Spice: 3.5

Writing: 5

Hades Series by Tate James

Madison Kate shares three best friends, but the heroine in the next series in the Shadow Grove universe manages to unite her second in command, a rival gang leader, and a nineteen year old virginal male stripper in a way that is truly iconic.

This four book series is a gangland romance with an incredibly badass heroine and three men who are devoted to her against all odds. The dynamics in this why choose relationship are just so much fun. I love it.

I tore through this series so quickly. It’s easy to read, the perfect length, and while there’s plenty of drama, there is also just such an entertaining story and premise. This series is a wild ride that’s worth every page.

Spice: 4

Writing: 5

Dirty Broken Savages by Eva Ashwood

Okay, the title of this series is not my favorite, but the series itself has so much more depth than the title implies. Dirty Broken Savages is a four book enemies-to-lovers series with four love interests.

River is a very traumatized bad bitch on a revenge mission that brings her to a nightclub owned by four super hot guys who are less than pleased that her mess has wound up on their doorstep.

These books lean heavily into the classic why choose dynamics: the leader, the psycho, the flirty playboy, and the damaged strong silent one. It’s formulaic, but while they fit into these well established molds, these characters undeniably work. Every single one is an absolute psychotic mess, but so lovable. The little details infused in each of their characters is so well thought out that it’s impossible to resist them.

The series is a perfect length and reads so quickly. All the twists and turns will keep you hooked and loving it until the last page.

Spice: 4.5

Writing: 3.5

Four Horsemen by Sarah Bailey

These books are dark. So dark. But also so interesting. This series gives Den of Vipers energy (a standalone why choose well known on BookTok for being insanely spicy) but with the character development to back up all the smut.

The Four Horsemen is a four book series in which the main character, Scarlett, starts working for four very wealthy best friends at their successful company. All the main characters grew up together, until Scarlett disappeared from their lives, turning up to work for them years later with no memory of them.

This is a rich, layered story with lots of flashbacks and a very intriguing way of revealing information to the reader, along with heavy kink and polyamory. Read the content warnings for this one because it is a lot. Like so much. But if you can handle it, it will be a read to remember.

Spice: 5

Writing: 4

The Dark Duet by Rosie Alice

The Dark Duet is a two book set, and it delivers everything you get from a longer series in a perfect little package. Sage moves to a small town when her parents die and gets wrapped up in a whole world of secrets with three very dark, very mysterious, and very sexy boys. Sword crossing abounds.

These books, especially the second one, had truly shocking twists the likes of which I have never seen before. I thought I knew exactly what was coming and then was metaphorically slapped with something else entirely, and I loved it. It’s hard to really surprise me, but these books pulled it off in spades.

The Hallows Boys is extremely, wildly spicy. The Hallows Queen has a little less spice and is more plot focused. Between the two books, it strikes a great balance. These books have such a great creepy, Halloween vibe but don’t compromise the intense emotion needed for a successful romance novel.

Spice: 5

Writing: 4

Losers by Harley LaRoux

I love these books. They are so filthy that I actually fully blushed while reading them and I can’t stress enough how rare that is. When you read enough romance, kinks that would be shocking to some are utterly normalized, and in my little universe most of it ceases to be new, but, wow. This book really took it to a new level, and does it incredibly well.

It’s easy with extremely spicy books to focus so much on the sex that the characters and plot fall way behind, but that is not the case with Losers. The characters are very well developed, and their dynamics really make sense. The plot is mostly insular, surrounding their relationships with each other, but it’s there and it works. Expect a ton of MM content, enemies-to-lovers dynamics, and a lot of wild kinks that are damn fun to read about.

Spice: 5

Writing: 4

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