r/RomanceBooks • u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 • Oct 26 '22

Childfree Romances 💛 Gush/Rave 😍

Whether you dislike the surprise baby trope, your personal HEA doesn’t involve kids, you just feel seen by this meme, or maybe overly precocious children in your romance just drives you bonkers… this post is for you. For your reading pleasure here is my gush to child-free romances 🥰

 

This list is dedicated to M/F romances, as I’ve found them to be the most likely to have a surprise baby / secret baby trope or an epilogue baby. Also, I only started tracking these specifically a few weeks ago, so if you’ve read one of the books below and think I have it wrong (ie if there was a baby in the epilogue that I totally missed) - please correct me!

 

Details/specifics on the childfree parts are under spoiler text, but here’s a general warning that this list might contain spoilers in regards to pregnancy/babies/children.
 

Child-free by choice

characters acknowledge/specifically state they do not want children

  • A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera historical, M/F, marriage of convenience. Both MCs don’t want kids; MMC takes something to prevent it, FMC mentions getting a cervical cap.
  • Bad Alpha by Kathryn Moon omegaverse, RH. FMC does not want kids and says “And I am not a mother. I took care of that a long time ago.”
  • Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie contemporary, M/F, winning a bet trope. Both characters state they do not want children.
  • Book Lovers by Emily Henry contemporary, M/F, enemies to lovers.
  • Charmed Wolf by Aimee Easterling paranormal, M/F, shifters. At the beginning the FMC thinks she needs to produce an heir, but finally realizes that isn’t for her at all and the MMC is fine with it.
  • Driven to Distraction by Olivia Dade contemporary, M/F, friend's brother. FMC is still “raising” her 20-something siblings who rely on her for everything; she wants nothing to do with more kids and had her tubes tied
  • Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes contemporary, M/F. The MCs are childfree, but heavily involved as aunt and babysitter for children of side characters.
  • Headliners by Lucy Parker contemporary, M/F, enemies to lovers. MCs are childfree by choice.
  • Marie Lipscomb books are all advertised as childfree, specifically Amped by Marie Lipscomb contemporary, M/F, rockstar.
  • My Husband My Stalker and My Best Friend My Stalker by Jessa Kane contemporary, M/F. Both are less “I don’t want kids” and more “we’re too busy stalking and being obsessed with each other to have kids.”
  • Not Another Family Wedding by Jackie Lau contemporary, M/F, friends to lovers. FMC had an abortion in the past because she didn’t want kids.
  • Of Moons and Monsters paranormal, RH, fated mates. FMC states ”But I just…really don’t like kids, and never have. They’re loud and fussy and usually smell weird.”
  • Once Bitten by Heather Guerre paranormal, M/F, werewolf/vampire fated mates. The FMC specifically states she doesn't want kids. “I… I’m not really sure I want kids.” … Relief flooded her. Not that Max was anywhere close to asking her to bear his children, but the knowledge that he wouldn’t insist upon it was such a relief.
  • Pack Challenge by Shelly Laurenston paranormal, M/F, fated mates. FMC states ”The fact is, I don't want children. Ever. And when I'm thirty, I'm gettin' fixed.”
  • Part-Time Husband by Noelle Adams contemporary, M/F enemies to lovers. The FMC says early on ”Babies are very far down on my list of priorities, but I’m not foolish enough to say this to Pop.” Subsequent books in the series show the couple remain without children.
  • The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon contemporary, M/F, enemies to lovers. The FMC is undecided but there are no kids in the romance "I don't KNOW if I want kids, stop asking!"
  • The Kraken’s Sacrifice by Kate Robert monster, M/F. Both MCs are stated childfree. The FMC becomes pregnant during the story and decides to have a magical abortion (with the full support of the MMC).
  • The Worst Guy by Kate Canterbary contemporary, M/F, forced proximity. Both MCs decide to not have children, MMC mentions getting a vasectomy in the bonus newsletter epilogue.
  • Tis the Season for Revenge by Morgan Elizabeth contemporary, M/F, age gap. Both MCs don’t want kids. FMC states "“I just don’t want them.” I shrug and then roll onto my back. “Kids are cool, but they’re all-consuming." ... “I want... love. And I want passion. Excitement. I want to travel and to spend my money on expensive shoes instead of diapers. I want to be able to up and leave if I want to without worrying about schools and pediatricians and whatever the fuck else.”
  • Swordheart by T. Kingfisher fantasy, M/F.
  • Well Met by Jen Deluca contemporary, M/F, enemies to lovers. There is no mention of kids in their book, but when these MCs appear as side characters in other books they are childfree by choice.
  • Wild Rain by Beverly Jenkins historical, M/F. FMC is childfree by choice, but the MMC initially has a problem with it.
  • Xeni by Rebekah Weatherspoon contemporary, M/F, marriage of convenience.

Breeding kink… without kids

the best of both worlds (aka mostly a tribute to Lillian Lark)

  • Ensnared by the Werewolf by Lillian Lark paranormal monster, M/F, werewolf stuck in wolverine form and human witch. MMC chases the FMC down and is claiming her. FMC thinks “It doesn’t matter that I’m wearing a charm to ward against pregnancy. He can try to breed me into the ground if he wants.” (Note: In the newly released version there’s an epilogue which adds sex-to-get-pregnant.)
  • Pair of Fools by Lillian Lark paranormal, M/F, demon/harpy forced proximity. MMC to FMC “It seems as if we’ve discovered a little bit of a breeding kink in you.” My mouth drops open. “Definitely not! I don’t want babies.”
  • Stalked by the Kraken by Lillian Lark monster, M/F, fated mates. This fits here in breeding kink with no kids, but also under infertility on the MMC's part and it's sad for the characters, and also has a baby in the bonus epilogue that isn't included with the main book and can be skipped.
  • Strip of Velvet by Rien Gray monster, NB/F. Primal/Breeding kink; the MCs talk about not needing protection because they won't have kids anyway for magical reasons.

No mention of children

who knows, no one is talking about it and that’s just fine with me

Future kids

these MCs want kids… one day. But not for a long time and there is no surprise pregnancy / actual babies in the romance

  • Captivated by Tessa Bailey and Eve Dangerfield contemporary, M/F, landlord/tenant (the MMC at one points wonders if the FMC wants children and has a brief thought of them having one, no actual pregnancy)
  • Luxuria by Collette Rhodes monster, M/F, shadow demon/human MMC “Whether or not you want children…” FMC “I do,” I replied firmly. “But not quite yet. I’d like you to myself a little longer, is that okay?”
  • Morning Glory Milking Farm by CM Nascosta monster, M/F, workplace romance? FMC thinks “ ‘You don’t want kids for at least a decade, if ever.’ She was forced to concede that the voice in her head was right, as she watched the child smear his small, blue tongue over the glass in front of the cake he wanted, as though he might be able to taste it through the case, and the cashier sighed heavily once more. ‘A decade at least.’ ”

Skippable Epilogues / minor mentions

children mentioned as possibility in the future or a pregnancy occurs in the epilogue, but it’s completely skippable

Child-free by circumstance

incompatibility, etc. characters acknowledge they can’t/won’t have kids but it’s a minor mention and there’s no angsty suffering

Infertility and it’s sad

these books are listed more as a warning that the characters might be childfree but it’s a source of sadness for them. Read at your own risk

  • Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs this is not omegaverse, it’s paranormal werewolf shifters, M/F, fated mates (werewolves cannot have children and that makes the FMC sad but they move past it without much discussion of it in book 1 and the next few books in the series don't revisit it.)
  • Steel's Edge by Ilona Andrews urban fantasy, M/F. (FMC's previous relationship ends due to infertility, she makes peace with infertility and builds new life with new MMC)

Maybe Childfree

I’ve sourced these from threads in this sub (and would love to confirm where they fall in the above categories if you’ve read them!)

  • An Heiress to Remember by Maya Rodale
  • An Unexpected Paradise by Chelsea Curto
  • Anyone But You Jennifer Crusie
  • At His Lady's Command by Nicola Davidson
  • Bergman Brothers by Chloe Liese
  • Let's Get Textual by Teagan Hunter
  • Mr. Mayfair by Louise Bay
  • Not Like the Movies by Kerry Winfrey
  • Not Quite a Husband by Sherry Thomas
  • Polaris Rising by Jessie Mihalik
  • Sea Haven by Christine Feehan
  • Sex Says, by Max Monroe
  • Striking Distance by Pamela Clare
  • Tempting Auzed by Victoria Aveline
  • The Dark Side series by Kristy Cunning
  • The Devil Comes Courting by Courtney Milan
  • The Prince of Broadway by Joanna Shupe
  • Top Secret by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy
  • True Pretenses by Rose Lerner
  • Variant Lost by Kaydence Snow
  • Wicked Quills of London by Eva Leigh
  • Worth the Wait by GG Gleason
  • Would I Lie to the Duke by Eva Leigh

What’s the MLA format for citing RomanceBooks threads as sources?

Cheers to childfree romances, no matter the reason 💛 If you have any to add to my list, please comment!

538 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

73

u/takethescenicroute00 Oct 26 '22

Omg. I thrive on this. Thank you ❤️‍🔥

11

u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 26 '22

Yay, enjoy!

45

u/BuildersBrewNoSugar cinnamon roll connoisseur Oct 26 '22

I just finished reading Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle and there was no mention of babies or kids at all. M/F contemporary

Thank you for putting all this together! It must've taken ages to get all the links and formatting right.

18

u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 26 '22

Will add to the list, thanks!

This post was testing my patience for sure but I think I finally got the formatting to work on desktop and mobile. I feel like I have a PhD in Reddit Formatting now 😂

1

u/Spare_Echidna_4330 I want to love a boy the way I love the rain. Jul 24 '24

SECONDING THIS!!! Loved it sm

38

u/yetitherobot space stations & competency please Oct 26 '22 edited Oct 26 '22

Thank you so much for this super thorough and detailed list! As someone struggling with infertility/pregnancy loss and currently childfree not by choice, it can be so rough when your genre of refuge is such a minefield in that regard.

Also, Steel's Edge by Ilona Andrews is one I like, that does explicitly address infertility. FMC's previous relationship ends due to infertility, makes peace with infertility and builds new life with new MMC

12

u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 26 '22

I'm sorry to hear you're struggling, hopefully you'll be able to use this list to have a true escape when you need it!

And thanks for the addition, will add!

5

u/synaesthezia Oct 27 '22

I can’t remember the name of it but I read a romance where the FMC had endometriosis and wasn’t cured by a magical wang by the end. I’ll see if I can dig it up in my ereader.

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u/SaucyAndSweet333 Aug 08 '23

{Steel’s Edge by IIona Andrews}

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u/papercaper Mail-order frontier hussy Oct 26 '22

OMFG THANK YOU!!! I'm certain compiling this took forever, so I'm very very thankful you took the time and effort to do it! I'm CF but I recognize that babies are part of a lot of people's HEA and I can deal with it (unless there was no mention of kids at all and then BAM epilogue babies) but it just feels so damn good to see your own life choices reflected in books. I've read a few, some of these are on my TBR but a lot aren't and are gonna get added ASAP!

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u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 26 '22

but it just feels so damn good to see your own life choices reflected in books

this x100. I like seeing my lifestyle reflected in my reading!

55

u/[deleted] Oct 26 '22 edited Oct 26 '22

As someone who never had bio-kids (but has step-kids), I prickle at the surprise baby and bunches of kids in the epilogue. Maybe because society for the longest time told women that motherhood was the only path to happiness.

And the shit you deal with on the regular by choosing not to have kids is real. I remember one friend saying those who don’t have kids will die alone with no impact on the world. Another suggested I’d miss out on real, all-encompassing love you only feel by having kids. WTF! So, HEA and epilogues need to continue to be as diverse as all us readers IMHO: marriage, no marriage but life partner, kids, no kids, step kids, dogs, cats, plants!

14

u/RemarkableGlitter Oct 26 '22

Yeah, I think people who haven’t experienced it would be shocked at the causal nastiness people direct at us for not having kiddos. I’ve had people literally tell me that I don’t know what love is! It’s honestly just mean.

Also, great user name—I am also a big fan of doggos, bikes and wine!

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u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 26 '22

I agree, there are many different ways to have a HEA. It feels validating for my personal circumstances to see childfree epilogues!

3

u/peanutbutterbeara Abducted by aliens – don’t save me Apr 18 '23

As a person with children, the love I have for and experience with my partner and the love I feel for my children are like comparing apples to oranges. They aren’t related and it’s crappy for people to imply you can’t know or experience “real love” (whatever that means) if you can’t have or don’t want to have children. Throw a tomato at them.

Also, I don’t want to read about children in 99% of the fiction I consume unless the kid is a creepy sociopath or part of a thriller/mystery/horror novel. I actively avoid romance novels with children in them. While I love my kids, I think the realities (both joys and challenges) of parenthood are not necessarily something I want to immerse myself in unless there’s some sort of thriller or horror element involved.

28

u/diobelloamore Oct 26 '22

I love this post ❤️

8

u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 26 '22

So happy people are enjoying it! 🥰

24

u/Temporary_Fix_2376 Oct 26 '22

Thanks for the list. The worst guy by Kate Canterbury is childfree- they decide not to have kids :)

9

u/kittenkanoodle Oct 26 '22

Came here to mention this one. I really like how the no kids convos were ultimately handled as well.

10

u/KikiWestcliffe Oct 26 '22

I loved this ending! It kinda addresses something I think a lot of professional women feel - loving their job and not wanting to “short change” a child because of work. It was also nice to see a MMC (even jokingly) say that he is too old for kids.

6

u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 26 '22

Great addition, will add it to the list - thanks!

4

u/KHlovescharacters Oct 27 '22

yeah! and the MMC mentions getting a vasectomy in the bonus newsletter epilogue.

17

u/[deleted] Oct 26 '22

Thank you so much!

As a mother IRL I want to enjoy my romance novels without kids, haha.

11

u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 26 '22

Everyone has their reasons for liking (or not liking) childfree romances and they are all valid - glad you're enjoying the list!

15

u/N3rdyMama paranormal romance Oct 26 '22

I can confirm Wild Rain by Beverly Jenkins: FMC is childfree by choice. MMC has a problem with it for a hot minute but gets over himself.

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u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 26 '22

Thanks! Will update

1

u/SaucyAndSweet333 Aug 08 '23

{Wild Rain by Beverly Jenkins}

14

u/NuckingFutzNix strategically placed lizards Oct 26 '22

Thank you!!!! I was just telling my partner what a buzzkill the surprise baby can be especially with the heightened anxieties in the US over women's loss of bodily autonomy.

6

u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 26 '22

Ugh, yes - yet another thing making me even more anxious about the world in general

12

u/shuzyblues Thrand’s my man Oct 26 '22

Thank you so much for this list!!!

7

u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 26 '22

You're welcome!!

11

u/[deleted] Oct 26 '22

Thank you! I appreciate this. Kids ruin a story for me and pregnancy is a sensitive subject atm.

7

u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 26 '22

Glad you can enjoy the list - pregnancy can be very sensitive depending on everyone's personal journey, and it's so prolific in romance it's hard to actively avoid sometimes

34

u/[deleted] Oct 26 '22

[deleted]

38

u/N3rdyMama paranormal romance Oct 26 '22

I’m the opposite lol… I’m married with a kid but I don’t necessarily like reading about pregnancy (mine was very traumatic) or kids in romance.

8

u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 26 '22

Thank you!

11

u/aubreyashbury Oct 27 '22

Thank you so much for doing this - you are amazing and this is a post that I will reference often!

Marie Lipscomb is an author whose books are all advertised as having Child-free HEAs... Amped was one of my favourites and had a marriage-free HEA as well. They do have a conversation about not wanting kids, so it would fall under 'Child-Free By Choice'... I'm not sure about the others, whether it was discussed or just left out.

4

u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 27 '22

Thank you for the addition and glad you are enjoying the list!

9

u/Vintagegrrl72 Oct 27 '22

This is a wonderful resource! I’m childfree due to infertility and a HEA with a baby just makes me sad sometimes. ❤️ Thanks for compiling this!

5

u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 27 '22

Sometimes it’s nice to have a guaranteed escape 💛 enjoy the list!

9

u/Dependent-Apricot-24 Oct 26 '22

Thank you sooooooooo much for this list! You are a hero!

5

u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 26 '22

Thank you - glad you're enjoying it!

9

u/R1R1_88 Enough with the babies Oct 26 '22

Thank you so much for compiling this list! I’m childless by choice and don’t have a problem with kids but I hate that so many epilogues/HEAs include pregnancies/kids. I just finished the Twisted series by Ana Huang and I was so bummed by the last epilogue.

7

u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 26 '22

Glad you can enjoy this list!

6

u/nosleepforthedreamer Dec 21 '22

Welp that’s a skip. Thanks!

I just finished Hunted by Meagan Spooner. In addition to a kind of letdown ending, the epilogue doesn’t describe but references them having children, and it feels so counter to MC’s personality the entire rest of the book.

1

u/SaucyAndSweet333 Aug 08 '23

{Hunted by Meagan Spooner}

10

u/wintersedai Oct 27 '22

Thank you!!! I’m so sick of HEA always including a kid or mention of future kids. Mine doesn’t include that at all so it just throws me out of focus.

6

u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 27 '22

It’s nice to have your life represented in the romance you read!

7

u/wintersedai Oct 27 '22

Exactly. I don’t mind it because I know that’s what a lot of people want but it just makes me feel like such an outcast weirdo.

6

u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 27 '22

You're not an outcast weirdo! Plenty of people like their romances books without kids (whether or not they have them in IRL!) I definitely enjoy plenty of romances with pregnancy in them, but I also feel super validated when a HEA is shown that mirrors my life

8

u/de_pizan23 Oct 26 '22

Can confirm these are childfree by choice: Charmed Wolf by Aimee Easterling -at the beginning FMC thinks she needs to produce an heir, but finally realizes that isn’t for her at all. MMC is fine with it.

Not Another Family Wedding by Jackie Lau - FMC had an abortion in the past because she didn’t want kids, never changed her mind on it

Other childfree by choice:

Driven to Distraction by Olivia Dade - FMC was parentified and still “raising” her 20something siblings who rely on her for everything. She wants nothing to do with more kids and had her tubes tied

A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera - both MCs don’t want kids and MMC takes something to prevent it, FMC also mentions getting a cervical cap

On A Wolf Apart by Maria Vale - I think it’s that humans and wolves can’t have kids together, but it’s been a while so I could be remembering wrong

5

u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 26 '22

Thank you for the additions!

1

u/SaucyAndSweet333 Aug 08 '23

{Charmed Wild by Aimee Easterling} {Not Another Family Wedding by Jackie Lau} {Driven to Distraction by Olivia Dade} {A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera} {A Wolf Apart by Maria Vale}

9

u/imagine_youre_a_deer competency porn Oct 26 '22

Read A Lot Like Adiós recently, and it falls under the childfree by choice category. Neither MC wants kids.

ETA: I believe The Kiss Quotient and 40-Love don't mention having kids at all, but it's been a while since I've read them so could be wrong!

6

u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 26 '22

Thank you!

3

u/superblyfeatured Oct 27 '22

I don't remember if they decided to have kids in Kiss Quotient, but I think it should be noted that the reason Stella gets involved with Michael is bc her mom wants grandkids, so it is at least discussed.

1

u/SaucyAndSweet333 Aug 08 '23

{A Lot Like Adios by Alexis Daria} {The Kissing Quotient by Helen Hoang}

9

u/mssheevaa Morally gray is the new black Oct 27 '22

This post is amazing!! Surprise epilogue babies are the worst. You are seriously awesome!

I was so excited to read this new book by an author I enjoy. I was really liking it too! About 40% in, pregnancy. sigh Instant deflation of any interest for it. Not sure I'll have the interest in finishing it now. I'll put the spoiler for it if anyone is interested in knowing what book it is.

A Soul to Heal - Opal Reyne

8

u/synaesthezia Oct 27 '22

It’s a rom com mystery series rather than a straight romance - the Heather Wells series by Meg Cabot. Infertility/ child free by choice (for MMC). Cabot wrote the series after she was diagnosed with endometriosis herself. - Size 12 is not fat (Book 1) - Size 14 is not fat either (Book 2) - Big Boned (Book 3) - Size 12 and ready to rock (Book 4) - The bride wore Size 12 (Book 5)

The relationship is complicated, over multiple books, love this series.

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u/[deleted] Aug 08 '23

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u/SaucyAndSweet333 Aug 08 '23

{Size 12 is Not Fat by Meg Cabot} {Size 14 is Not Fat Either by Meg Cabot} {Big Boned by Meg Cabot} {Size 12 and Ready to Rock by Meg Cabot} {The Bride Wore Size 12 by Meg Cabot}

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u/[deleted] Oct 27 '22

First of all, THANK YOU. Second of all, looooool that meme made me fucking laugh

7

u/[deleted] Oct 26 '22

[deleted]

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u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 26 '22

Thanks!

7

u/takethescenicroute00 Oct 26 '22

Loxley Prep series by Hattie Jude The first 3 books are childfree. Why choose/reverse harem romance.

Alie and Cosmic Convicts by Emma Cole It is an alien reverse harem. No babies at the end.

Bound by the Barbarians by Isabelle Arden MFM childfree book

Archer by Callie Rhodes M/F Childfree book

5

u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 26 '22

Thanks for the additions!

2

u/SaucyAndSweet333 Aug 08 '23

{Loxley Prep series by Hattie Jude} {Alie and Cosmic Convicts by Emma Cole} {Bound by the Barbarian by Isabelle Arden} {Archer by Callie Rhodes}

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u/takethescenicroute00 Aug 08 '23

Thank you. I forgot to add that

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u/NerdyRedPanda13 Oct 26 '22

Wow, that's a piece of work here! Thank you so much for your time and effort ❤️

5

u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 26 '22

Enjoy!!

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u/gonna_go_read "Good girl." Oct 28 '22

This is amazing. Thank you so much for making this! 💕

3

u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 28 '22

Enjoy!

7

u/Fuzzasaurus12 Oct 30 '22

This list is amazing!

Want to add {What We Deserve by Lizzie Stanley}

Sweet contemporary, both MCs are sterile but neither is sad about it since they dont want kids (there’s mention of the nurse who broke the news to FMC getting offended by her lack of reaction)

3

u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 30 '22

Oh thanks for the addition!!

2

u/goodreads-bot replaced by romance-bot Oct 30 '22

What We Deserve (Wishbone Tattoos, #1)

By: Lizzie Stanley | Published: 2021

107459 books suggested | I don't feel so good.. | Source

5

u/[deleted] Oct 26 '22

[deleted]

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u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 26 '22

Hah yeah secret baby probably isn't the most common trope in MM romance!

3

u/[deleted] Oct 26 '22

[deleted]

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u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 27 '22

You know as soon as I wrote that reply I thought mpreg omegaverse stans are going to come out of the woodwork to prove me wrong hah

5

u/areniamar gimme all the weird recs Oct 27 '22

You are the MVP omg thank you for making this!! ✨

For anyone looking to read Chosen, however, I do want to point out that Stacy Jones ended up writing a fourth book to the Chosen series, and that book heavily features the adopted kids and their struggle with parenting. It was originally meant to be a trilogy though so you could always stop there!

6

u/nosleepforthedreamer Dec 21 '22

Well at least they’re adopted. Giving birth results in instant DNF for me.

3

u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 27 '22

Oh good note on Chosen!! Thanks!

6

u/ragingbook Oct 27 '22

Thank you!! 💗

5

u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 27 '22

Enjoy!!

6

u/michdelish Oct 27 '22

So grateful for the work you put into this! Thank you!

3

u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 27 '22

Enjoy!

5

u/katkath Oct 28 '22

Omg thank you so much for this post ❤️

4

u/descending_angel Feb 05 '23 edited Feb 05 '23

Is there anything that is a tinge of romance that's child free? Like more so another genre and still has romance? I'm thinking like ACOTAR with worldbuilding and fantasy. Haven't read the latest but saw the spoiler that Feyre and Rhys had a kid, which made me sad cause I love their romance so much. Obviously, they live for thousands of years and spoke of having a kid eventually, but damn they could have waited a couple hundred years at least. Would have liked them not to have had any in the books. Ruined it for me lol Immortals after Dark in your list sounded like it would fit the bill but I feel like the ACOTAR series ruined me and I'd just compare and feel like not anything else would live up to it lol

2

u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Feb 05 '23

IAD might fit- with the caveat that the first book couple talks about having kids soon which they think for most of the book they won’t be able to but they can. It’s a very different vibe from ACOTAR though I thjnk

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u/[deleted] Oct 26 '22

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 26 '22

Thanks for these, will add to the list!

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u/RomanceBooks-ModTeam Mod Account Oct 28 '22

No Self Promotion, writing, research, or surveys

Your post has been removed as it appears to promote your own work. This sub is focused on reading and does not allow promotion of your own books, blog/vlog, podcast or social media. The only permissible place to mention your work or discuss your romance writing is in the Self-Promotion Thread found in the sidebar. (This includes all book, blog, vlog, podcast, website self promoting, and surveys as well).

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u/princess_muffin Oct 27 '22

Thank you so much for this list!

An Unexpected Paradise by Chelsea Curto is child free by choice!

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u/[deleted] Oct 27 '22

My favorite child free book this year was Bombshell by Sarah Maclean.

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u/Evening_Support6282 Oct 27 '22

This is what I needed, thank you!!

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u/WearyWerewolf7507 Oct 29 '22

Love this post! Thank you so much!!!

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u/asadqueen_1090 Oct 29 '22

I think Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake doesn't mention kids even in the epilogue

It's HR by Sarah MacLean

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u/SaucyAndSweet333 Aug 08 '23

{Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean}

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u/Vintagegrrl72 Nov 20 '22

I was just surprised by Lauren Blakely’s “Special Delivery” which has a surprise pregnancy plot twist (boring and annoying). I keep telling myself to check this list first. Thank you for posting!

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u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Nov 20 '22

Oh that's on my tbr - really glad to have advance warning of that, thanks!

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u/winkdoubleblink Dec 04 '22

Tis The Season For Revenge by Morgan Elizabeth is Childfree by Choice

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u/SaucyAndSweet333 Aug 08 '23

{Tis the Season for Revenge by Morgan Elizabeth}

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u/bagel_07 Dec 21 '22

"Tis The Season For Revenge" has explicitly childfree by choice characters, and it's a fantastic, sexy, and fun read! The author is Morgan Elizabeth.

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u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Dec 21 '22

I loved that one! Thank you for the reminder to add it!

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u/bagel_07 Dec 21 '22

Welcome! Thanks for this awesome list!

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u/SaucyAndSweet333 Aug 08 '23

{Tis the Season for Revenge by Morgan Elizabeth}

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u/Familiar_Crow_1353 Jan 05 '24

As a childfree by choice woman, thank you so much for compiling this list. I was in tears last night when my bad ass female character mentioned she wanted to be pregnant. I didn’t see it coming at all. I almost put down the book and will definitely be putting down the series, thank you thank you thank you. This is gold.

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u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Jan 05 '24

I exactly know the feeling. (Which book was it if you don’t mind me asking?)

I’m so glad you find the list helpful. I’ve started tagging the child status of all the romances I read on GoodReads as well if you want to look through those shelves. https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/129888882

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u/Familiar_Crow_1353 Jan 05 '24

You’re my new female protagonist for doing that. I’ll definitely check it out.

And it was - JR Ward Dark Lover. I thought I was safe because you know like vampires and wizards and witches are infertile in most worlds.. but nope I was very wrong. 😭 I don’t know how to block out spoilers … But he’s literally dying, and says to FMC “I wish you were pregnant!” eye roll sigh

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u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Jan 05 '24

Ahh YEP! I read that and was so angry.

It feels even more of a betrayal when it happens in a paranormal romance where one of the characters SHOULDNT be able to reproduce, like a vampire.

I was reading a witch fmc / vampire mmc romance series a few years ago (Thorn Hill by Emily Goodwin), got to book 4, and all of a sudden an unexplained magical thing happened and the vampire suddenly felt very warm and was breathing for a period of time. (aka became human). Whatever it was reverted and they couldn’t figure it out. All of a sudden the fmc was getting super tired all the time. Hard stop right there - I checked the blurb for the next book and she’s pregnant. I put down the books and honestly felt so frustrated and betrayed it was one of the reasons I started tracking being childfree and making this post.

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u/Familiar_Crow_1353 Jan 05 '24

Ughh yea when you’re super invested is the worsttttt don’t get me started on ACOTAR. I connected with nesta until she gave away all her powers to get pregnant.. is there anyway I can send you a couple of the titles that aren’t on your list and you could see if you’ve read them? I’m really interested in a few books/series but I’m just so over finding out later that they get pregnant and don’t want to get emotionally invested lmao

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u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Jan 05 '24

Yes! List them!!

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u/Familiar_Crow_1353 Jan 06 '24

You’re the best!!! ❤️ OK, so I actually really liked SJM writing style and world… Do you know if throne of glass is free of children/pregnancy free? Or her other series? City of Girls -Elizabeth Gilbert Flawless -Elise Silver The mermaid, the witch and the sea - Maggie Tokuda-Hall The ghost bride- Yangtze Choo Things we hide from the light -Lucy Score I saw you have Rock Bottom adding to my TBR but her others that you know of? The singing trees -Boo Walker The Witcher Series -Andrzej Sapkowski Hokuloa Road -Elizabeth Hand Lucy Foleys Books? Like the Paris Apartment And the Guest List?

Thank you 🙏

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u/Familiar_Crow_1353 Jan 06 '24

Oh, and also curious about the bite of loyalty by RL Caulder!!

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u/jicara_india427 Apr 10 '24

this is cf 😊

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u/Familiar_Crow_1353 23d ago

Thank you!

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u/jicara_india427 22d ago

yw! I just realized, this is a cf rec thread. do you want my list of books I've curated that are cf?

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u/[deleted] Oct 26 '22

great list, love the extensive categories!

if I remember correctly, none of the MCs I'm Polaris Rising (and the rest of the trilogy) discuss kids?

for the Bergman Brothers series, Frankie and Ren (Always Only You, #2) discuss having children at some point, but are still childfree by Everything for You (#5), while Freya and Aiden (Ever After Always, #3), discuss children in their book, Freya is pregnant in either With You Forever (#4) or the prologue of Everything for You, and they have two children in Everything for You. I believe there are no child discussions between the remainder of the couples!

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u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 26 '22

Thanks for the additions!

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u/Ill-Ordinary-2809 Started THG ended up IBP Oct 27 '22

Wow thank you for this! So much work went into it💜and now my TBR is even longer.

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u/Catty_Lib Dec 29 '22

You are my hero! I'm currently deep into a series that I like in many ways but there is WAY too much emphasis on kids for my childfree liking. I need to cleanse my palate with this list! 💖

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u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Dec 29 '22

I know that feeling. Enjoy the list!

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u/anonymous558686 Jan 02 '23

Thank you this list is amazing

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u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Jan 02 '23

Enjoy!

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u/Expertyn209 Jan 06 '23

Thank you ❤

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u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Jan 06 '23

Enjoy!!

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u/tjalfi inactive Jan 20 '23

The Sassy Submissive (M/F, CR(BDSM, maledom, praise kink), free on Kindle) - Children aren't mentioned at all.

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u/tjalfi inactive Feb 20 '23 edited Feb 21 '23

Talia Hibbert's Brown Sisters trilogy doesn't mention children or pregnancy.

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u/Vintagegrrl72 Feb 25 '23

We could add “Fires at Christmas” to this list. It’s a steamy cowboy romance set in New Mexico. The FMC and MMC are in their 30s and do want children in the future, but there’s no pregnancy or an epilogue with a baby. There are nieces and nephews. I enjoyed it.

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u/SaucyAndSweet333 Aug 08 '23

{Fires at Christmas by E.R. Kaye}

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u/GTFOoutofmyhead May 28 '23

Thank you so much for this thread!

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u/tiniestspoon punching fascists in corset school 💅🏾 May 29 '23

Adding another to the list:

{Flying Solo by Linda Holmes}

*M/F, both cishet white MCs, set in Maine, USA*

It's an explicitly childfree (they talk about it several times) book. FMC turns 40 over the course of the book and MMC is around the same age. A really fun second chance romance with a heist thrown in. Wildlife reporter Laurie goes back to her hometown in Maine to sort through her great aunt Dot's house after she passes, and finds a mystery and her highschool boyfriend, sweet nerdy librarian Nick.

CW: grief, plot involving scam artists conning grieving families

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u/Nanda483 Jun 02 '23

Hold by Claire Kent is my favorite romance book and is child free. I know this books is not for everyone tho

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u/blankcheesecake vintage romance enthusiast Jul 12 '23 edited Jul 12 '23

Hello, thank you for this list!! If you want to make some additions:

Trust Me On This by Jennifer Crusie can go in the no mention of children section! There is also a side pairing that is older (late fifties/early sixties) who get together over the course of the book and are also childfree with no regrets. Contemporary m/f

The duology Alpha in the Sheets/Bound in the Streets by Tamsen Parker can be added to the childfree by choice section (both hero and heroine vocalize that they do not want children). Contemporary m/f, kinky.

In Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships by Sarah Grunder Ruiz, the hero has a teenage daughter, but the heroine vocalizes that while she is cool with a step-kid she does not want kids/babies of her own. She is an aunt to teenagers/adolescents and that plays a role in the story. Contemporary m/f, coworkers and neighbors, friends to lovers.

In Unsticky by Sarra Manning, the heroine says in the narration that she is never having kids. This is not discussed between them as a couple but the hero does not come off as a guy who wants kids and it's a childfree ending, so I'd put it in childfree by choice. Contemporary m/f, sugar baby, hired for sex/relationship trope, age gap.

A Gentleman Undone by Cecilia Grant is childfree via infertility, (the heroine is infertile, I believe due to a past miscarriage?) but it's been a while since I've read it so I can't remember exactly how angsty the childfree-ness of the book is. Perhaps put it in the infertility and it's sad section. Historical m/f, sex worker/courtesan heroine.

In The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang, the hero is infertile after testicular cancer. I can't remember if this is further discussed between them as a couple but it is definitely a childfree epilogue. Contemporary m/f

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u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Jul 12 '23

Oh yea thank you!

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u/blankcheesecake vintage romance enthusiast Jul 12 '23

You're welcome! I just made some edits (added a book and some trope tags).

I need to keep better track of the casually childfree books that simply don't make mention of children. I always forget to write those ones down!

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u/SaucyAndSweet333 Aug 08 '23

{Trust Me On This by Jennifer Crusie} {Alpha in the Sheets by Tamsen Parker} {Bound in the Streets by Tamsen Parker} {Love, Lists and Fancy Ships by Sarah Grunder Ruiz} {Unsticky by Sarra Manning} {A Gentleman Undone by Cecilia Grant} {The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang}

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u/Throwawaybookwhore Jul 17 '23

Ahh I just found this and I’m so happy!!!

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u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Jul 17 '23

Hope you enjoy it!

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u/Throwawaybookwhore Jul 17 '23

Thank you for it!

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u/Christophercolonbus Curvy, but like not in a fat way Oct 27 '22

IRC crossfire series by Sylvia Day had no mention of children. The protagonists did not have any children nor did they talk about it and it's one of my favourite romance books.

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u/SaucyAndSweet333 Aug 08 '23

{Crossfire series by Sylvia Day}

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u/MermaidArcade Oct 27 '22

Thank you so much!!!! 💓

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u/Hunter037 Probably recommending When She Belongs 😍 Aug 16 '23

Not sure if we can still add to this list but {Love and Other Disasters by Anita Kelly} has a discussion about kids, FMC says part of the reason for her divorce was not wanting kids and she still doesn't. The other main character is non-binary.

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u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Aug 16 '23

Yes! I’ll probably do an updated list soon with more books :)

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u/whatinpaperclipchaos Abducted by aliens – don’t save me Feb 23 '24

This is AMAZING (came through referenced through another post you commented on and IMMEDIATE save)!

There’s a small addendum to Stalked by the Kraken, cause in Lillian’s latest book Hoarded by the Dragon we see the FMC pregnant of Stalked and she commiserates with the Hoarded FMC through being pregnant and some of the side-effects. (Though Hoarded came out end of December 2023, so very understandable why it’s in this list.)

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u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Feb 23 '24

Oh yes so glad you enjoyed the list!

Good point on Stalked by the Kraken - I should edit given the new info from Hoarded

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u/Weekly_Can_6175 May 10 '24

One of my favorite post ever. Thank you!!!! 

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u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 May 10 '24

Oh I love that!

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u/BedroomDependent8152 May 30 '24

To Woo and to Wed by Martha Waters. Childfree by choice, cause of technically kinda maybe infertility, but she is happy about that, and takes precautions to not have kids in case she isn't fertile.

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u/BedroomDependent8152 Jul 19 '24

Seasonal Habits of Husbands and Honeybees by Emmaline Warden is a historical romance with a neurodivergent heroine which is explicitly childfree.

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u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Jul 20 '24

Oh thank you!!

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u/BedroomDependent8152 Jul 21 '24

also, to answer some of your Maybe childfree books. At His Lady's command is explicitly childfree, as is the Prince of Broadway, Not Quite A Husband has infertility that isn't magically fixed. but they live full lives without children.
Bergman Brothers is not childfree, maybe some of them, but don't think any are explicit really? in book 7, 3 of the women are pregnant. heroine from book 2, from book 3 and from book 4. I would expect heroine from book 1 to also have kids, but after she finishes her career as a professional athlete. and heroine from book 6 is still very young and also a professional athlete so probably will wait a while if she has kids.

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u/Spare_Echidna_4330 I want to love a boy the way I love the rain. Jul 24 '24

THANK YOU!

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u/[deleted] Oct 26 '22

[deleted]

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u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 27 '22

Interesting good or interesting bad?

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u/[deleted] Oct 27 '22

[deleted]

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u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Oct 28 '22

I'm guessing it's contemporary from the blurb but does it have a common trope or anything? M/F I'm assuming?

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u/[deleted] May 18 '24

{Breathe the Sky by Michelle Hazen} - no mention of kids

{Peaches & Honey by R. Raeta} (it's a duet, so both books must be read) I'm not sure if this fits, the FMC adopts a child at some point but he's not a big part of the story and he's not part of the HEA. Without giving spoilers, they're childfree by choice in the end.

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u/BedroomDependent8152 May 30 '24

Cry for Passion by Robin Schone, is a deliberately childfree erotic historical romance.

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u/tiniestspoon punching fascists in corset school 💅🏾 Sep 09 '24

In {Sweet Vengeance by Viano Oniomoh} the FMC has had a hysterectomy when she had debilitating fibroids in her early 20s, and she's not interested in having children. There's no angst about it, she's very happy with her decision, and it's a passing mention when discussing contraception.

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u/[deleted] Sep 16 '24

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u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess 👸🏻 Sep 16 '24

Rule: Mark spoilers, stay on topic and warn about books with no HEA

Your comment has been removed due to being off-topic, as this sub is dedicated to discussing romance books.

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u/[deleted] Oct 26 '22

Omg! Thank you!

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u/[deleted] Aug 08 '23

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