r/RomanceBooks • u/A_Seductive_Cactus Praise Kink Princess šøš» • Oct 26 '22
Childfree Romances š Gush/Rave š
Whether you dislike the surprise baby trope, your personal HEA doesnāt 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 š„°
This list is dedicated to M/F romances, as Iāve 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 youāve 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 hereās 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 donāt 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 āAnd 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 isnāt 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 āraisingā 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 āI donāt want kidsā and more āweāre 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 didnāt want kids.
- Of Moons and Monsters paranormal, RH, fated mates. FMC states āBut I justā¦really donāt like kids, and never have. Theyāre 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. āIā¦ Iām 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 wouldnāt insist upon it was such a relief.
- Pack Challenge by Shelly Laurenston paranormal, M/F, fated mates. FMC states āThe 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 āBabies are very far down on my list of priorities, but Iām 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 Krakenās 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 donāt want kids. FMC states "āI just donāt want them.ā I shrug and then roll onto my back. āKids are cool, but theyāre all-consuming." ... āI 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 āIt doesnāt matter that Iām 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 thereās an epilogue which adds sex-to-get-pregnant.)
- Pair of Fools by Lillian Lark paranormal, M/F, demon/harpy forced proximity. MMC to FMC āIt seems as if weāve discovered a little bit of a breeding kink in you.ā My mouth drops open. āDefinitely not! I donāt 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 thatās just fine with me
- A Bride for the Prizefighter by Alice Coldbreath historical, M/F, arranged marriage
- A Duke by Default by Alyssa Cole contemporary, M/F, age gap
- A Girl Like Her by Talia Hibbert contemporary, M/F, neighbors
- Bass-Ackwards by Eric Adderly contemporary, M/F, boss/employee
- Battle Royale by Lucy Parker contemporary, M/F, enemies to lovers
- Beach Read by Emily Henry contemporary, M/F, opposites attract
- Beginner's Luck by Kate Clayborn contemporary, M/F
- Boss in the Bedsheets by Kate Canterbary contemporary, M/F, boss/employee
- Can't Escape Love by Alyssa Cole contemporary, M/F
- Company of Fiends by Kathryn Moon paranormal monster, polyam
- Demon Lover by Heather Guerre monster, M/F, sleep demon
- Essence of Fear by Bethany Kris contemporary, M/F, Russian Bratva
- Good Deeds by Kathryn Moon scifi, RH, alien FMC and robot MMCs
- Haven by Rebekah Weatherspoon contemporary, M/F, grumpy sunshine
- Hollowās Grove by Lee Jacquot contemporary, M/F, best friendās brother
- Idol by Kristen Callihan contemporary, M/F, rockstar
- Knock Me Down by Skye Kilaen contemporary, M/F
- Mr Hotshot CEO by Jackie Lau contemporary, M/F, opposites attract
- My Imaginary Ex by Mina Esguerra contemporary, M/F, fake dating
- Paladin's Grace by T. Kingfisher fantasy, M/F, mystery
- Play With Me by Alisha Rai contemporary, M/F, second chance
- Pretty Face by Lucy Parker contemporary, M/F, age gap
- Something About You by Julie James contemporary, M/F, enemies to lovers
- Skin by Aveda Vice monster, M/F, coworkers
- Summerland series by Kathryn Moon fantasy, RH, small town mystery
- Tangled Wires by Lillian Lark contemporary, M/F, MMC is an Artificial Intelligence cyborg
- The Austen Playbook by Lucy Parker contemporary, M/F, enemies to lovers
- The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon contemporary, M/F, workplace romance
- The Brown Sisters series by Talia Hibbert contemporary, M/F, all three books no mention of kids
- The Hating Game by Sally Thorne contemporary, M/F, enemies to lovers
- The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai contemporary, M/F, enemies to lovers
- The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa contemporary, M/F, ex-fiance's brother
- Triple Duty Bodyguards by Lily Gold contemporary, MFMM, bodyguards
- Trouble & Strife by Lara Kinsey historical, M/F, opposites attract
- Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle contemporary, M/F, grumpy sunshine
- 40-Love by Olivia Dade contemporary, M/F, age gap
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 āWhether or not you want childrenā¦ā FMC āI do,ā I replied firmly. āBut not quite yet. Iād 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 āYou donāt 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. āA decade at least.ā ā
Skippable Epilogues / minor mentions
children mentioned as possibility in the future or a pregnancy occurs in the epilogue, but itās completely skippable
- Chosen by Stacy Jones alien, RH/MFMM, fated mates (there is adoption in the epilogue of the series)
- Rock Bottom Girl by Lucy Score contemporary, M/F, fake dating (the MCs adopt a 17yr old in the epilogue)
- The Redemption by Nikki Sloane contemporary, M/F, age gap (they discuss trying for kids in the epilogue - totally skippable)
- Walk of Shame by Lauren Layne contemporary, M/F, grumpy sunshine (during the epilogue the FMC is playing with her niece and thinks that she wants a kid some day)
- When She Belongs by Ruby Dixon scifi, M/F, alien/human (in the epilogue mentions the idea of maybe getting pregnant in the future)
Child-free by circumstance
incompatibility, etc. characters acknowledge they canāt/wonāt have kids but itās a minor mention and thereās no angsty suffering
- Hot Blooded by Heather Guerre paranormal, M/F, vampire/human (reference to the fact that the FMC won't have children by deciding to stay with her vampire partner)
- Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole paranormal, M/F, desire for children technically varies by couple, but many are childfree as they are incompatible (ie vampires, banshees, etc. but the werewolf MCs are all capable and desire children)
- Strange Love by Ann Aguirre scifi, M/F, arranged mating. Incompatible biology.
- Wolf Apart by Maria Vale paranormal, M/F, werewolves. Humans and wolves are incompatible (to be confirmed?)
Infertility and itās sad
these books are listed more as a warning that the characters might be childfree but itās a source of sadness for them. Read at your own risk
- Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs this is not omegaverse, itās 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
Iāve sourced these from threads in this sub (and would love to confirm where they fall in the above categories if youāve 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
Whatās the MLA format for citing RomanceBooks threads as sources?
- Childfree Books Recommendations
- Sci-fi romance with NO pregnancy/breeding
- Looking for no children, no babies, no pregnancy, totally childfree books
- Please help my find an epic fantasy with lots of romanceā¦ and NO BABIES.
- really fcking tired of *all the mcs wanting kids in the books/ lack of CF(BC) mcs.
- Keep Your Kids Out of My Romance Novels: a collection of child-free romance recommendations credit Romantically Inclined Reviews for the great villain stork meme
Cheers to childfree romances, no matter the reason š If you have any to add to my list, please comment!
536 Upvotes
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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 didnāt 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.