Unrequited love has to be one of the most favorite tropes in romance novels. Pinning is the biggest reason. Whether the pinning lasts a few years or more than fifteen, the poor souls keep quiet about their feelings until it’s too late. Or is it too late? With many coincidental and convenient circumstances, love may finally blossom between the pinner and their love interest in these next slow burns. Filled with unnecessary and painful angst to go along with the slow burn, you’ll be screeching like frantic fangirls wanting the same kind of warm romance during the cold season.
The Wrong Bride by Catherina Maura
Raven has been in love with her billionaire best friend Ares Windsor for the longest time. The only reason he’s never known or seen Raven as anything but a friend is because he’s in love with Raven’s sister. Set in an arranged marriage by Ares’s grandmother, Raven’s sister was supposed to marry Ares but never showed up for their wedding day. “Forced” to marry Ares in her sister’s place, Raven takes this as an opportunity to win Ares over and finally declare her love for him. Messy and full of angst, can this married couple make their situation work? Does Ares still love Raven’s sister?
Homecoming King by Penny Reid
If anyone has it bad in the love pinning department, it’s bartender Abigail. After one failed romance she called dating quits. Although, her real love has been Rex “TW” MccMurty since preschool. Luckily, fate brings them together years later with a tempting proposition. Not remembering Abigail from their school days, the Chicago Squallers football player can only drown himself in his sorrows as the best man but never the groom. With all these friends marrying off to Rex’s ex-girlfriends, this trend is not let down by the media. Pleading Abigail with a desperate favor, sparks will fly between the two as their fake marriage commences with a lot of pinning courtesy of Abigail.
Before We Were Strangers by Renée Carlino
Guys falling hard first is its own swoon-worthy trope we want in real life. From the way the book’s summary describes how fallen in love Matt is with his friend Grace, the story is delicately written as the softest of love stories. Matt wonders if he should’ve let his feelings known for Grace since they have not seen each other since college fifteen years ago. Coincidently finding each other at a train station, Matt craves to know what Grace’s life’s been like and wishes to be part of it again. Matt’s filled with the memories and love he still has for Grace when he invites her for a drink. A cute rekindling between friends, Matt hopes it’ll lead to something more.
In Which Margo Halifax Earns Her Shocking Reputation by Alexandra Vasti
The Halifax Hellions, or twins sisters Matilda and Margo, are the rascals frowned upon by London society. During their debut into society as full-grown ladies, Matilda smoked and Margo used her tongue to tie a cherry stem into a knot. Oh, how scandalous! The true scandal is Matilda eloping and running to Scotland with an unfavorable aristocrat. With the help of Henry Mortimer, a man who’s been in love with Margo for seven long years, heads on to Scotland to stop Matilda from getting married to that dangerous man. Stuck in a carriage for a week, can Henry survive being alone with the object of his affection?
In a Jam by Kate Canterbary
The angst is high with this one. Shay Zucconi owns a tulip farm or at least she will until she meets the conditions laid out by her recently deceased step-grandmother. One of them is having to marry within one year. Too bad Shay was just left in the alter by her now ex-finace. Recuperating from the heartbreak back to Rhode Island, Shay reconnects with Noah Bardenm, a high school classmate. She proposes a fake marriage between the two so that Shay can own her farm and Noah’s business can flourish in return — not knowing that Noah had a thing for Shay all these years. With Noah’s feelings for Shay resurfacing in full force, his simple life as a single father will become complicated.
Unrequired love and slow burns are the best kinds of tropes in romance. Slow and agonizing, we crave the simple moments between the one pinning and the oblivious numbskull who never notices. Which book will have you wanting this type of romance? Will you search for someone to keep you company for the holidays?
For more guys falling in love first, take a look at Male Characters We Love To See Plummet Hard in Love!
Look through more romance novels in Love is in the Air: Contemporary Romance at Bookshop.org!
