Bully romance is piping up the heat, and it deserves all the attention it’s getting … but let me recap this spicy subgenre so we’re all on the same page! Once you begin your bully romance journey, there is absolutely no turning back. The irresistible slow burn, dominating power trips, dramatic conflict, and subtle flirting all create the perfect enemies-to-lovers book. But there’s something special about the bully romance trope. Let’s dive deeper and reveal bully romance’s uniqueness.
Bully romance can easily be categorized into the broad enemies-to-lovers trope. But since it has its own flair, it should be considered a subgenre. I’m sure the little voice in the back of your head is asking, “What makes bully romance … Bully romance?” So, hold on tight because we’re heading down the rabbit hole!
Trigger Warning: The mention of abuse may be triggering for some readers. Please exercise personal care when reading.
Bully Romance VS Enemies-to-Lovers
A bully romance storyline usually features a slow-burn relationship between a character who bullies and another character who faces bullying. About 95% of bully romance books involve a man being the bully and a woman being on the receiving end of his behavior. The most critical trait of bully romance is the power trip. One character must have power and dominance over the other for the storyline to fit into the bully romance trope.
In addition, bully romance tends to be a bit harsher than enemies-to-lovers. For example, competitive behavior and bickering are common factors in enemies-to-lovers. However, bully romance is likely to include taunting, cruel, and humiliating characteristics. It is important to note that some books in this subgenre can involve abusive traits as well. Mental, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse can be prevalent in certain bully romance books.
Expectations
Going into a bully romance, you need to expect everything to revolve around status. Since one character requires power over another, there needs to be a setting where that is (somewhat) possible. Therefore, many bully romance books highlight an educational environment. You already know it! High school is an undeniable social hierarchy, so it creates the ideal setting for a bully romance to take place. College settings can also be featured but are not as popular as high school environments. Another common quality in this subgenre is royalty. A kingdom with built-in status levels is a perfect place for authors to spice things up. Who wouldn’t want to read the slow-burn romance between a royal and someone outside the bloodline?
Most importantly, as I explained above, various types of abuse are common in bully romance books. So, expect tons of content and trigger warnings. Most bully romance books contain Content and Trigger Warnings due to the intense actions and behavior that come with the bullying.
History
The bully romance trope has always had some prevalence in pop culture, just in a more subtle manner. For example, all the movies feature a popular high school boy who falls for a shy, nerdy girl. And yes, I’m talking about She’s All That, A Walk to Remember, and even The Breakfast Club. These types of storylines captured our attention decades ago, and they still do. So, it makes perfect sense that authors took this trope and ran with it. Instead of the subtle bully romance storyline, we now have the hot and heavy versions right at our fingertips!
Although bully romance has always kind of been around, we didn’t have a book that featured the trope until pretty recently. Penelope Douglas published Bully on June 17, 2013. Sure, it might’ve been eleven years ago, but that still meant waiting around for a solid bully romance storyline! It took a while for this subgenre to fully take off, but it was well worth the wait. Now, we are in the thick of the bully romance trend as these books are flying off bookshelves left and right. Since Bully was published in 2013, authors have been turning up bully romance’s heat and intensity. Penelope Douglas successfully paved the way for readers to indulge in this steamy trope.
Bully Romance’s Popularity
Bully romance is getting rather popular; we can’t deny that! But why is this subgenre so addicting? Let’s face it … we love the build-up, drama, and intensity in an enemies-to-lover storyline. However, bully romance features all of these traits times ten! This subgenre revolves around the build-up, is overflowing with drama, and the intensity is through the roof. If you are looking for an enemies-to-lovers thrill, then bully romance is the way to go.
Where to Start or Continue
Now that you’ve got the 411 on this spicy subgenre, let me showcase some books that may start or continue your bully romance spiral!
The Royal Elite Series by Rina Kent
There are eight books in this series, and they give high school plus royalty. AKA the perfect recipe for sultry bully romance books. Please be sure to check out Rina Kent’s content and trigger warnings before making this series an addition to your bookshelf!
The first book in the Royal Elite Series, Deviant King, features Elsa Quinn and Aiden King. Elsa is a new student at the Royal Elite High School, and Aiden immediately targets her the minute he lays eyes on her. Since Aiden is the popular jock, his impression of Elsa runs rampant through the school halls. Everyone joins in on Aiden’s bullying, and Elsa battles with the social status she has been pushed into. With the support of her best friend, Kim, Elsa does her best to stand up for herself against Aiden. This is when things begin to change, and feelings start to develop!
If You Dare by Harmony West
Harmony West delivered a thick bully romance plot by incorporating a sporty college background filled with drama. Please be sure to check out Harmony West’s content and trigger warnings before adding this book to your bookshelf!
If You Dare introduces two college students, Violet and Wes, who have plenty of history. One drunken night, Violet and her best friend Chloe were in the middle of a dare. However, it went terribly wrong, and Chloe lost her life. Chloe’s brother, Wes, used to have a crush on Violet, but that quickly changed once she got blamed for his sister’s death. Now, all Wes is driven by his revenge. Since they both play hockey and he is captain of the team, he utilizes the sport and his position to torment her.
Stoneview Stories Series by Lola King
This series of three books will ensure you feel all the revenge and drama you didn’t experience in high school. The Stoneview Stories features a lighter version of the bully romance trope. It’s still hot and steamy but not as intense as other bully romance books.
Jamie Williams and Jake White are front and center in Giving In, the first book in the Stoneview Stories. Jake is the popular boy at Stoneview Preparatory all the other students look up to. Jamie, on the other hand, is your classic goody-two-shoes that go under the radar. However, Jamie became suspicious of Jake’s status and did some digging. She uncovers secrets from his past, and Jake inevitably freaks out. This is when he decides to make Jamie’s life miserable.
Bully by Penelope Douglas
The original bully romance book! If you have always wondered what falling for your next-door neighbor feels like, you need to read Bully. Penelope Douglas serves friends-to-enemies-to-lovers, all while spicing things up with bullying! This book is another lighthearted bully romance; the bullying behavior is not as intense.
Bully features Tate and Jared, who were childhood best friends due to their close proximity as neighbors. However, the dynamic of their relationship changed in an instant. Jared began bullying Tate and kept up the behavior for years. Tate tries her best to uncover the friendship that they once had but fails. Jared’s new personality is built around dominating and tormenting her. Tate decides to study abroad in France for a year in hopes of escaping him, but it simply doesn’t work. She quickly loses her patience and realizes it’s time to fight back. She makes it her goal to treat him the same way he has been treating her.
Coastal Elite Series by Sam Mariano
Sam Mariano served us the four books in this series on a silver platter. Another high school bully romance that amplifies the tension with a villain. Please be sure to check out Sam Mariano’s content and trigger warnings before making this series an addition to your bookshelf!
Even If It Hurts, the first book in the Coastal Elite Series, depicts a super dark romance between Aubrey and Dare. Dare is in a relationship with another woman, but Dare and his girlfriend bet that he could make Aubrey fall in love with him. As he works to accomplish this bet, he uses his psychopathic behavior to manipulate and torment Aubrey. However, as Aubrey falls for him, Dare also begins to develop feelings for her. This creates the perfect dramatic and addicting love triangle.
As the bully romance subgenre is cranking up the angst and spice, I hope you and your bookshelf also feel the heat of these intense storylines!
Interested in a female bullying a male storyline? Click here.
Find these books and more bully romance on Bookshop.org.
