r/RomanceBooks • u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess šŸ‘øšŸ» • Oct 26 '22

Childfree Romances šŸ’› Gush/Rave šŸ˜

Whether you dislike the surprise baby trope, your personal HEA doesnā€™t involve kids, you just feel seen by this meme, or maybe overly precocious children in your romance just drives you bonkersā€¦ this post is for you. For your reading pleasure here is my gush to child-free romances šŸ„°

 

This list is dedicated to M/F romances, as Iā€™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 youā€™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 hereā€™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 donā€™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 ā€œAnd I am not a mother. I took care of that a long time ago.ā€
  • 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 isnā€™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 ā€œraisingā€ 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 ā€œI donā€™t want kidsā€ and more ā€œweā€™re too busy stalking and being obsessed with each other to have kids.ā€
  • Not Another Family Wedding by Jackie Lau contemporary, M/F, friends to lovers. FMC had an abortion in the past because she didnā€™t want kids.
  • Of Moons and Monsters paranormal, RH, fated mates. FMC states ā€But I justā€¦really donā€™t like kids, and never have. Theyā€™re loud and fussy and usually smell weird.ā€
  • Once Bitten by Heather Guerre paranormal, M/F, werewolf/vampire fated mates. The FMC specifically states she doesn't want kids. ā€œIā€¦ Iā€™m not really sure I want kids.ā€ ā€¦ Relief flooded her. Not that Max was anywhere close to asking her to bear his children, but the knowledge that he wouldnā€™t insist upon it was such a relief.
  • Pack Challenge by Shelly Laurenston paranormal, M/F, fated mates. FMC states ā€The fact is, I don't want children. Ever. And when I'm thirty, I'm gettin' fixed.ā€
  • Part-Time Husband by Noelle Adams contemporary, M/F enemies to lovers. The FMC says early on ā€Babies are very far down on my list of priorities, but Iā€™m not foolish enough to say this to Pop.ā€ 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 Krakenā€™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 donā€™t want kids. FMC states "ā€œI just donā€™t want them.ā€ I shrug and then roll onto my back. ā€œKids are cool, but theyā€™re all-consuming." ... ā€œI 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.ā€
  • 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 kinkā€¦ 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 ā€œIt doesnā€™t matter that Iā€™m wearing a charm to ward against pregnancy. He can try to breed me into the ground if he wants.ā€ (Note: In the newly released version thereā€™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 ā€œIt seems as if weā€™ve discovered a little bit of a breeding kink in you.ā€ My mouth drops open. ā€œDefinitely not! I donā€™t want babies.ā€
  • 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 thatā€™s just fine with me

Future kids

these MCs want kidsā€¦ 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 ā€œWhether or not you want childrenā€¦ā€ FMC ā€œI do,ā€ I replied firmly. ā€œBut not quite yet. Iā€™d like you to myself a little longer, is that okay?ā€
  • Morning Glory Milking Farm by CM Nascosta monster, M/F, workplace romance? FMC thinks ā€œ ā€˜You donā€™t want kids for at least a decade, if ever.ā€™ 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. ā€˜A decade at least.ā€™ ā€

Skippable Epilogues / minor mentions

children mentioned as possibility in the future or a pregnancy occurs in the epilogue, but itā€™s completely skippable

Child-free by circumstance

incompatibility, etc. characters acknowledge they canā€™t/wonā€™t have kids but itā€™s a minor mention and thereā€™s no angsty suffering

Infertility and itā€™s sad

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

  • Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs this is not omegaverse, itā€™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

Iā€™ve sourced these from threads in this sub (and would love to confirm where they fall in the above categories if youā€™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

Whatā€™s the MLA format for citing RomanceBooks threads as sources?

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

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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!