Embracing the Shadows: The Best Dark Romance Audiobooks
Any romance reader can tell you that “romance” is too broad of a term to accurately describe their reading habits.
Just like IRL romance can’t be cleanly defined, stories about love and sensuality can’t be constrained. For every relationship dynamic, kink, and fantasy, there’s most likely a subgenre exploring it. But of all those subgenres—romantasy, sports, paranormal, Amish, to name a few—dark romance might be the most scandalous. Full of books that come with long lists of content warnings, it’s an acquired taste. It’s also wildly popular. These are steamy stories about obsession, manipulation, violence, revenge, and (literally) ghosts. Below are some of our bookseller partners’ favorite dark romance audiobooks—from dark romantasy to sexy mafia stories and more.
New releases and coming-soon dark romance audiobooks
Shy Girl
“SICK AND TWISTED. Gia is broke and depressed. Looking for a way to make some quick cash, she decides to get a sugar daddy. Nathan is not a normal sugar daddy, and once she agrees to his terms, she finds out they are more dark and feral than she ever imagined. A short, but terrifying tale of twisted men and entrapment.”
— Anna • The Underground Bookshop
The Poet Empress
”I’m shocked this is a debut. Deeply layered and flawed characters riddle this magically political world. The depth of emotion unleashed on the reader is phenomenal; hunger, longing, sadness, hatred, powerlessness, vengeance, the list goes on. While this is not a novel I would recommend to every reader, it IS one I recommend to those with tougher skin and a penchant for great literature.“
— Ashley • Whale’s Tale Books & Gifts
How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates
”This is for the girlies who watch horror movies and yell at the screen when someone opens the door without looking to see who it is, drops their weapon prematurely or fails to see the 37 red flags that the man they’re dating is only interested in one thing: murder. This delightfully macabre romance plays into all your favorite tropes while still keeping you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out whodunnit. Read if you’re down for guts, gore and a whole lot of heart.”
— Emily • The Yakima Book Co & The Traveling Book Bus
Popular dark romance audiobooks
Mexican Gothic
”Creepy and romantic, Mexican Gothic is easily one of my favorite books of 2020! Upon receiving a strange letter from her cousin, Noemi Taboada goes to investigate the happenings of High Place, a decaying manor filled with secrets, and is plagued by terrifying dreams and visions. Moreno-Garcia delivers a fresh take on a classic gothic novel that will grab your attention from the very first chapter!“
— Tyrinne Lewis • Rakestraw Books
Lights Out
”Oh. My. God. Not only was this book extremely smutty, I absolutely loved the humor in it. From the moment I started the audiobook, I knew that I never wanted it to end. It read like a dark romance without ever crossing too far and was so insanely fun. Despite being a stalker, Josh was SUCH A GOOD GUY (yes I laughed writing this). I loved everything about his and Aly’s relationship, these two characters were written so perfectly for one another. Enjoy!“
— Meghan • Lark & Owl
Twisted Love
”Ava and Alex’s love story captivated me from the outset, leaving an impression on my heart. Witnessing their relationship evolve and ultimately culminate in a well-deserved happily ever after was truly gratifying. I commend the author for expertly navigating the complexities of trust-building, allowing for a realistic portrayal of the challenges faced by the protagonists. The narrative unfolds with an adept balance of twists and turns, ensuring sustained engagement without overshadowing the central romance.The intimate scenes were tastefully rendered, enhancing the emotional depth of the story. I eagerly anticipate delving into future installments to further explore the rich tapestry of characters introduced in this enchanting novel.”
— Alycia • Books on Main
Shades of dark: subgenres and tropes
Dark academia: An Arcane Inheritance
”This book made me feel like I wanted to punch someone. Ellory was so entrapped, I wanted to scream. I didn’t trust anyone; I had no clue who to trust. It was crazy. I couldn’t figure out what her lost memories had to do with it, and the ending made me go, ‘Ah! Duh! Of course!’ The twist had me twisted. 8.5/10.“
— Mandy • Aber Stoat Books
Captor/captive: Sweet Obsession
”10/10, Katee Robert at their best. The narrators were flawless and gave their all with the emotion they put into every word; I genuinely was so enamored by their performance. I was left craving more between Poseidon and Icarus. The love was so tender and heart touching, and the explicit scenes were hot and truly beautiful! It was a wonderful BDSM dynamic that truly showcased how sex can be healing. Absolutely wonderful!“
— Jenna • Steamy Lit
Psychological thriller: So Happy Together
”I picked this up expecting a light romance, but this book delivered so much more than I anticipated. What starts as a seemingly straightforward story quickly unravels into a layered psychological thriller that had me second-guessing everything and everyone. The twists kept coming, and each one landed perfectly. I genuinely enjoyed every page and was surprised-in the best way-by the depth and suspense. If you’re in the mood for something unexpected and gripping, this is a fantastic read.“
— Kristia • The Burrow Bookstore
Gothic romance: The Poisoner
”Alina, our gorgeous heroine, is a poisoner. She helps women get rid of their abusers through…. unsuspicious means. At a ball, she finds Silas, who appears to be in the middle of hurting another young woman. Plot twist! He’s a vampire(esque creature)! Drinking her blood! Later on, he confronts Alina, but she’s prepared! Normally, poison does nothing to these creatures, but Silas is affected. Naturally, he becomes obsessed with her and must know all of her secrets, control her, have her be as obsessed with him, etc., etc. Expect drama! Expect betrayal! Expect love and lust and heartbreak all wrapped up in an enticing Victorian gothic package that you will not be able to put down. Not only are all of the characters extremely hot, they’re all so complex—the development in this book is INSANE!!“
— Melanie, Lovestruck Books
Voices of the dark: narrators who master the intensity
Joe Arden
No matter the subgenre, Joe Arden is a reliable go-to for depth and (often dangerous) passion. It’s no surprise, then, that some of the most popular romance writers return to him again and again. Reviewing Elle Kennedy’s One Night of Sin, AudioFile gave Arden the “award for best sexy Boston accent.” They also praised his “gravelly” narration for its ability to bring the main character’s “rough upbringing and relationship-averse personality” to life.
Aiden Snow
With close to 500 romance books under his belt, Aiden Snow can’t be contained to a single category, but he’s definitely a fan favorite among dark romance readers. Redditors in r/darkromance give him lots of love (one user raved about his ability to “make [her] melt into a puddle of masculine auditory bliss”) but critics praise him, too. In their review of Gina L. Maxwell’s The Dark King, AudioFile called his performance “riveting as he provides vocal variations and intensity that connect with each scene.”
Samantha Brentmoor
Of course, there’s no dark romance without the male main character’s counterpart. Samantha Brentmoor is unbeatable when it comes to balancing vulnerability and strength. She’s especially adept at romantasy, whether dark or not. In their review of Devney Perry’s recently released Shield of Sparrows, AudioFile notes her “standout performance, skillfully portraying Odessa’s transformation from hesitant princess to strong and determined warrior.”
Why reading on audio is the best choice for dark romance
There’s one clear reason that audio is the best choice for romance audiobooks: you can enjoy them anywhere, while doing anything, and no one around you is the wiser. The book is exciting and so is the secret. But dark romance in particular is made for headphones. The characters are so intense and the circumstances are so extreme that these stories are (hopefully) nothing like the reader’s life, meaning trained actors and narrators are able to tap into all of the depth that might be foreign to anyone else. And if you’re into danger and depravity, nothing heightens the intensity like having the characters right in your ears—especially when it’s dual narration.
Support your local bookstore with every listen
Steamy audiobook reading sessions are great but you know what makes them even better? Getting to support your favorite indie bookstore while listening. Every purchase you make on Libro.fm goes toward the indie bookshop of your choice. Whether you’re buying a membership, a credit bundle, or a single audiobook, you can feel happy knowing that a local shop dedicated to putting the best romance books in readers’ hands gets to share in the profit.
