Gothic romance is a subset of romance and horror, and one of my all-time-favorite genres. The creepy, haunting aesthetic matches perfectly with the psychological horror and obsessive passion that emanates from the characters. Crack open one of these books and you’ll experience a perfect execution of classic gothic tropes, like a haunted castle, intelligent heroine, and brooding/mysterious love interest. Side effects may include a fractured sense of reality, the revelation of hidden pasts, ghosts and demons, forbidden love, decay, and death. Ask your local bookseller about gothic romance today.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
This is probably the most infamous gothic romance novel, and for good reason. You want tortured and obsessive love? A non-linear storyline? A mysterious family? Ghosts? Well, you’ve got it! And for those who’ve seen the movie, After, this is the book that Hardin and Tessa quote in Hardin’s bedroom.
The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
Inspiring one of the most popular musicals of all time, The Phantom of the Opera explores the dark lore of the Paris Opera House and the secrets that rest in its vast and ornate halls. Its main appeal lies with the troubled but unbreakable bond that forms between a beautiful singer and the mysterious ghostly figure stalking her through the creaky halls.
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
This novel is actually a satire of gothic romance, parodying the public’s obsession with the genre. The main character — who reads a lot of gothic romance — gets the chance to spend weeks with her lover in his elegant yet mysterious mansion. It’s an awesome read, uncanny and dark and full of the most incredible gothic vibes.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
The basis of a lot of modern gothic romances, Jane Eyre is about a woman’s quest for freedom and independence. When she discovers a truly terrible secret about her new love, Jane must decide whether her life has become too dark and twisted or if she will stay in comfort and ignorance.
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
Similar to Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, Rebecca is a tale of love and obsession, haunted houses, and a lurking evil that threatens the heroine’s relationship with her dashing hero. Interestingly, our heroine is never actually named (spoiler alert, it’s not “Rebecca”).
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
“Hypnotic, shocking, and chillingly erotic,” this gorgeous book exposes the life and love of one of the original monster heartthrobs. It’s an aesthetically gothic and sensual novel that is sure to haunt each reader.
The Anatomist’s Wife by Anna Lee Huber
The Anatomist’s Wife is a newer gothic romance, but it never strays from what made old gothic romances great. The main character, ostracized from society due to her late (and very strange) husband, finds herself trapped at a party in a mysterious castle with an arrogant detective. Will she solve the murder or succumb to the castle’s dark and wicked past?
Heroes Are My Weakness by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
This novel somewhat lacks in the mystery-solving/murder aspect of traditional gothic romances, but it does feature two estranged lovers trapped on an estate during a harsh winter. It’s more of a romance with gothic elements, but it’s still a fun read for those who can appreciate the dark and twisty vibes!
House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
As an avid Barbie lover, this one immediately caught my eye. This novel is a remake of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, but much darker and more haunting. I don’t really think any of the princesses succumbed to mysteriously violent and tragic deaths in the Barbie movie, did they? In any case, this version is guaranteed to give you many more chills and thrills (and romance)!
Gothikana by RuNyx
One of the more erotic selections, Gothikana tells the story of a deep, old mystery haunting a secluded university. Chock-full of danger, death, and forbidden (teacher/student) romances, this novel delivers on its promise of a fun but disturbing dark romance.
Belladonna by Adalyn Grace
This novel follows a girl who makes an alliance with death himself — a shadow that has been with her for her whole life — to solve the mysteries of her new guardian family, who turn out to be far more dangerous than she thinks. This book is certainly worth the read.
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
A recent feature in gothic romance TikTok, One Dark Window tells of a girl who lives in a mysterious kingdom, unaware of its danger until she is suddenly thrust into an adventure (with a hot royal guilty of treason) trying to save it from a spreading dark magic. Oh, and there’s a literal monster living in her head that she calls “the Nightmare.” So, there’s that.
Nocticadia by Keri Lake
This novel is actually quite similar to Gothikana; the premise is the same with a troubled young girl attending a university in which nothing is as it seems. Though it has the added bonus of an old mental facility and a hot teacher nicknamed “Doctor Death.”
Where Ivy Dares to Grow by Marielle Thompson
The main draw of this book is the dark and haunted manor that warps thoughts into dreams and dreams into nightmares. Like a gothic Outlander, the main character accidentally travels back in time in this manor, where she meets her fiancé’s gorgeous ancestor. While she’s there, she starts to question what’s real and what isn’t, what’s past and what’s present.
Bonus: Crimson Peak dir. Guillermo del Toro
Crimson Peak is an amazing movie that can help get you started in the gothic romance genre! It’s startling, addictive, twisty — and stars Tom Hiddleston, Jessica Chastain, and Mia Wasikowska. The environment is charming and dark, and the castle it’s set in literally oozes blood (it’s not as weird as you might think). It honestly feels like an adaptation of a classic gothic romance book rather than an original (if you’d rather read it, however, there is a movie tie-in novel).
That’s all, folks! Be sure to check out those novels and let us know what you think! Have you found your new favorite genre? I know I have. There’s plenty of gothic stories that don’t feature romances, but I think the sensual escapades add a little heat to these chilling novels.
Want to read more gothic novels, but don’t know where to start? You can read our article on gothic fairytales!
For more dark romance, grab some books from our bookshelf.
