Why Choose (Reverse Harem): A Rec List

Why Choose (Reverse Harem): A Rec List 

Why Choose or Reverse Harem (RH) trope seems to have taken off in the romance genre based on certain Japanese anime where one heroine could pair off romantically with 3 or more guys, without having to choose. 

Within the same finalized group, they are faithful and no further straying without Serious Consequences. They can be mixed gender groups, though most commonly these are framed around one woman with multiple men. Sometimes, the books can also have MM (male/ male) themes even while having a female protagonist as the group centre. 

If this trope does not work for you, stop here. But if you are OK to run with this trope, then carry on reading this rec list. 

My own favorites stem from the paranormal/ supernatural romance category, because otherwise RH can be difficult to pull off believably, esp. if you are a firm believer in Happily Ever After for romantic fiction. Have added reading notes where I could. 

Keep in mind again that this is a personalized list, and is by no means the final say on the subject matter. 

PARANORMAL

1. The Bonds that Tie Series by J. Bree (This is THE series to read if you are new to RH. ) - initially set in supernatural academy. Girl's fated mates are angry with her because she rejected them and ran from them and ruined their lives.

2. All The Pretty Monsters Series by Kristy Cunning (New witch appears in town ruled by various supernatural creatures, and her ascendants have all been enemies of these supernatural creatures. Zany, funny but also smexy.)

3. Academy of Assassins series by Stacey Brutger (academy settings, VERY slow burn)

4. Knightfall by Ann Denton (can be read as standalone though part of series. Princess on the run returns to her kingdom and bridegroom(s).)

5. Gifted Academy by Michelle Hercules (Class struggle between magical haves and magical have-nots, academy settings. Superb pacing and plot.)

6. Curse of the Gods series by Jaymin Eve (academy settings, heroine is a clumsy klutz, laugh out loud scenes)

7. Cruel Shifterverse series by Jasmine Mas (Badass FMC has to join superhero gang, has some MM themes)

8. The Evelyn Maynard Trilogy by Kaydence Snow (Scifi series, heroine is a conduit / superconductor for the guys, good plotting too)

9.  Nephilim's Destiny series by Tessa Cole (action-packed Urban Fantasy with angels! and other mythical creatures and a relatable heroine with a martyr complex)

10. Their Vampire Queen series by Joely Sue Burkhart (Super hot, can be read as standalone. human heroines finds she is queen of vampires.)

11. Reaper's Pack by Rhea Watson (Grim reaper recruits unwilling guys. Super hot and standalone.)

12. Harem of Hearts by C.M. Stunich (A trifle volatile retelling of Alice in Wonderland.)

13. Void by Raven Kennedy (Most hated girl in school has a lot of magical powers. Standalone.)

14. Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac series by Caroline Peckham (Academy settings, girl searching for lost brother. Many alpha type heroes but girl is badass on her own too.)

15. Chronicles of Arcana series by Debbie Cassidy (Heroine is a badass PI, Urban Fantasy settings)

16. The Dead Ringer by Michaela Haze (Standalone. Wraith-like heroine asked to impersonate a dead girl by supernatural military.)

17. Order of Scorpions by Ivy Asher (Gladiator/ Hunger Games type themes. Limited PNR elements. Superbly written standalone.)

18. The Grimm Cases series by Lyla Oweds (Clueless heroine joins ghostbuster gang. Laugh out loud, smexy but VERY VERY SLOW BURN. Series still not complete.) 

19. For the Blood series by Debbie Cassidy (zombie/ vampire (?) dystopian settings)

20. Arcane Mage series by T.S. Snow (Clever but disowned engineer heroine meets different magical clan scions... Surprisingly smexy.) 

21. Stoneraven Alphas seroes by Essie Suter (Cozy RH with fated mates and interesting character/ world building.)

22. A Daughter of Triton series by Aleera Anaya Ceres (Feminist tale of heroine proving herself in an academy typically reserved for mermen, unexpectedly hot.)

23. The Academy Of Spirits And Shadows series by C.M. Stunich (Girl can see spirits and may try to bind them back to physical reality. Super hot series, though not yet complete.)

24. Wild Hunt by Michaela Haze (Standalone with fae lore elements, excellent dynamics)

25. All “Fifth Circle” series books (incl. Wild Rose, Spit and Fireheart) by Michaela Haze (Humans, witches and demons coexist in this world. Each can be read as standalone)

26.  The Fifth Nicnevin series by Marie Mistry

27. Daughter of Cain series by Marie Mistry (Heroine is a powerful vampire caged for centuries by her own father, heroes rescue her for ulterior motives)

28. Wilde Fae series by Kate King (Promising RH with Sarah J. Maas readalike themes, not yet complete though)

29. Fractured Shadows by K.A. Knight (Girl steps into dark forest in place of her sister and meets monster heroes. Very hot, standalone.)

30. Larkwood Academy series by Jayce Carter (Forced imprisonment settings with high level angst.)

31. Rebels and Psychos series by Leigh Kelsey (demented heroine and even more demented heroes. Dark.)

32. Silverlight by Laken Cane (badass heroine hunts monsters, more plot than romance in the initial books)

33. Academy of Souls by C.R. Jane (academy settings. The mystery is to discover exactly what are the magical powers of unsuspecting heroine)

34. Power of Five series by Alex Lidell (Retelling of Arthurian lore, smexy but has plotholes)

35. Her Elemental Dragons series by Elizabeth Briggs (fated dragons to get together to activate their powers against enemy)

36. The Caelum Academy Trilogy by Serena Akeroyd (A bit vanilla/ YA standard academy settings, very slow burn)

37. The JAK2 Cycle series by V.E.S. Pullen (scifi RH with horror elements, heroine has a “strange” bloodline)

38. Viking Omegaverse series by Lyx Robinson (Old folklore elements, well written but more generalized poly-amorous than RH, not for everyone)

39. The Feral Souls Trilogy by Erica Woods (heroine on the run but won’t tell why to her guys. Very good first book, the other books were frustrating)

40. Night of the Wild Stags by Golden Angel (standalone about deer/ stag pack. Smexy and standalone)

41. Dragon Dojo Brotherhood series by Olivia Ash (dragons! And fated mates, heroine on the run to sanctuary after triggering magical war by mistake)

CONTEMPORARY

Devil's Day Party by C.M. Stunich (New Adult/ academy settings with reformed bully trope, standalone)

Madison Kate series by Tate James (Highly hormonal series about heiress being stalked, attacked repeatedly and falsely imprisoned, dark.)

Hannaford Prep series by J. Bree (Academy settings with reformed bully trope, may have to pretend the characters are older than depicted, dark.)

The Havoc Boys series by C.M. Stunich (Academy settings with reformed bully gang trope, dark.)

Den of Vipers by K.A. Knight (Darker themes. Standalone.)

WITSEC series by Ashley N. Rostek (Girl on the run meets protective heroes.)

The Bullets series by Coralee June (The group used to be old childhood friends, mafia vs. cop themes, dark.)

Ruthless Games series by Callie Rose (Heroine saves hero and wins devotion of his gang, gang wars, dark.)

A Knight's Revenge series by Elizabeth Dear (Alternative Universe, heroine takes revenge for death of her parents against her childhood friends. Dark.)

The Guild series by Tate James (Assassins / gang war trope. Dark. More menage than RH, but worth putting on this list)

Sick Boys series by Lucy Smoke (academy settings with reformed bully trope, though not quite clear whether RH)

Last Update: September 10, 2023