14 Forced Proximity Trope Romance Books
Forced proximity trope books put characters in situations where they are forced to spend time together in very close situations. Often this is due to external circumstances such as being stranded together or sharing living spaces. You can see this in books where people are forced to share the same bed!
The proximity creates emotional intimacy that can lead to the development of romantic feelings.
At Beyond the Bookends, we love, forced proximity romances because it feels like good karma when the two protagonists finally get together. Who doesn’t crave a story where the universe seems to intervene on behalf of love?
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Best Forced Proximity Trope Romance Books
What are Forced Proximity Trope Romances?
The forced proximity romance trope places characters in situations where they are forced to spend time together in very close situations due to external circumstances such as being stranded or sharing living spaces. Often this can be seen as sharing the same bed! The proximity creates emotional intimacy that can lead to the development of romantic feelings.
Why Do We Love Forced Proximity Romance Books
We love, forced proximity romances because it feels like good karma when the two protagonists finally get together. Who doesn’t crave a story where the universe seems to intervene on behalf of love?
Contemporary Forced Proximity Books
The Name Curse by Brooke Burroughs
Bernie is nothing like her great aunt Bernice. Bernice was adventurous and spontaneous while Bernie has not taken a vacation in years.
When her friends and family convince her to go on a hike to Alaska, Bernie can’t find an excuse not to go. When she meets Matthew on the trailhead and discovers that the two will be required to share a tent, he is annoyed and she questions her choices.
This forced proximity romance was such a fun read. Bernie and Matthew are funny and sweet and I loved every minute.
Lockdown on London Lane by Beth Reekles
This story is so adorable! It’s Love Actually, Quarantine edition. It’s not a scary pandemic read AT ALL. Instead, it’s an interwoven tale of various couples stuck together for a week-long lockdown.
There is a group of bachelorettes, a new couple who have only shown their good sides to each other, an established couple struggling, a man separated from his girlfriend, and my personal favorite – a one-night stand turned week-long visit.
Charming and hysterical, this contemporary fiction book lifted my spirits and had me laughing out loud which is amazing for a quarantine fiction.
Find this book in isolation novels / forced proximity trope
The Roughest Draft
Author: Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegmind Broka
Year: 2022
Genre: Romance
Spice Rating:đź’‹đź’‹
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Katrina and Nathan are cowriting literary darlings that have not spoken since the release of their last book, three years ago. It also happens to be their greatest success.
Now, they have one more book in their contract and they are forced to come together and write it. Stuck together in a small house and writing a romance with someone you never wanted to see again…that can be stressful enough without feelings getting involved.
Why Jackie like it
This is an adorable romance about writers. What could be better for a book lover?
Find this book in: Celebrity Romance / Forced Proximity Trope / Poolside Reads
Float Plan by Trish Doller
This forced proximity romance follows the romance script with perfect predictability which means that it is perfect if you are looking for a romance. Note: there is a suicide in this book that might be a trigger for some people and you should avoid this book if that is the case for you.
Even though there are some heavier elements, I didn’t feel that the book ventured too much from the typical romance path. I enjoyed it.
Spicy Forced Proximity Romance Books
No Judgments by Meg Cabot
This is one of the novels about weather that uses a hurricane as a major plot focus. Bree has gotten over her ex, so she thinks riding out a hurricane will be no problem until she learns about all the pets separated from their owners on her little island.
It was so easy to read with the perfect amount of love story and animal rescue.
The writing isn’t deep but has more to it than I thought it would when I picked it up. This book is the perfect “rom-com” and is a perfect example of a forced proximity trope.Â
The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas
Catalina is a fiercely independent woman who ran away from her past but now she has to face it at her sister’s wedding where her former fiance is the best man.
She needs a fake boyfriend – and fast! Enter Aaron her annoying and grumpy co-worker who offers to help her with her ruse. As they put their differences aside to help each other out, their love begins to grow. This is the forced proximity trope at its best.
While I enjoyed the romance in this book, at over 500 pages this novel was just a bit too long.
Find this book in Grumpy Sunshine / Enemies-to-Lovers / Office Romance
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
This enemies-to-lovers office romance book was recently adapted to Netflix. After two publishing houses merge, executive assistants for the two owners are in fierce competition with each other for a promotion.
These office enemies quickly realize that the tension is an attraction as well. But, is the attraction real, or is it a ploy to get the promotion? This grumpy sunshine romance book is now on Netflix and we hope it is as steamy as the book. The forced proximity trope is at its best in this steamy romance
By the Book by Jasmine Guillory
Isabelle was overjoyed when she landed her dream job in publishing as an editorial assistant. She is also the only Black employee. She has been waiting for a promotion for two years and decides she will earn that by going to the mansion of a celebrity with an overdue memoir. All she has to do is give him the right pep talk to encourage him to write the book.
This task is not as easy as it seems. Beau is standoffish, stubborn, and difficult. Soon Izzy finds herself living in his house and helping him with his book. The forced proximity helps her find something that she needs as well- the confidence to ask for what she wants. You’ll love this fairy tale retelling of Beauty and the Beast!
Find this book in Grumpy Sunshine / Jasmine Guillory Books/ Fairy Tale Retellings
Act your Age Eve Brown
Author: Talia Hibbert
Year: 2021
Genre: Romance
More info: The Brown Sisters #3
Instant New York Times Bestseller
Spice Rating:đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹
Age Range: 18+
Plot
This is the third book in the Brown Sisters trilogy and I adored this forced proximity romance. Eve Brown is a mess. She switches jobs and careers on a whim and can’t seem to do anything right. When her parents cut her off and tell her to find a job, she finds herself at a bed and breakfast interviewing for a chef position.
After Eve accidentally hits the owner of the B&B with her car, she begins the job helping Jacob, the reluctant owner. This hilarious and steamy romance was a perfect one-sitting read. These two have a lot standing in their way before they can reach their happily ever after.
Why Jackie loves it
While this book is a romance at its finest, it is also so much more. As Eve comes to learn more about herself, the reader gets to take the emotional journey with her.
Find this book in: Enemies-to-Lovers Romance / Books Like the Kiss Quotient / Books With Neurodivergent Characters / Forced Proximity Romance Books / Complete List of Romance Tropes / Office Romances
Historical Forced Proximity Romance Books
The Devil and the Heiress by Harper St. George
The follow-up to Harper St. George’s Gilded Age romance series was another fun pick featuring the younger Crenshaw heiress. This time, the book is set in Scotland!
This time, Violet Crenshaw, looking to escape an arranged marriage to an odious man, looks to the Earl of Leigh to help her escape to Scotland. But the Earl has a different plan with the bubbly lady he wishes to call his own. This is a perfect pick for our list of books like Outlander and is a fun forced proximity romance.
Romancing The Duke by Tessa Dare
Tessa Dare’s stories are some of my favorite historical romances. She always finds ways to inject humor into her books. This particular book is the first in a series in which a man dies and leaves a castle to each of our heroines, who are known spinsters.
In this story, Izzy wants to be a writer so she retreats to her castle to write her novels. Meanwhile, Ransom shows up at the castle he still believes is rightfully his. Hilarity and romance ensue. I loved this forced proximity trope romance novel based on Beauty and the Beast and it is another perfect pick for books like Bridgerton.
The Gentleman’s Gambit by Evie Dunmore
We love Evie Dunmore and cannot wait for this This is the fourth book in “A League of Extraordinary Women” series. Catriona Campbell is a suffragist who is content working at Oxford and is determined to write a book. When Elias Khoury arrives at Oxford to help classify old artifacts, Cat quickly realizes that he is not honest with his reasons for being at Oxford. He is determined to take the stolen artifacts back to his homeland where they belong.
Now, these two must travel together in this forced proximity romance that quickly becomes something resembling a game of chess.
This romance is a funny and light-hearted historical romance that will leave you smiling.
YA Forced Proximity Romance Books
10 Things I Hate About Pinky
Author: Sandhya Menon
Year: 2020
Genre: YA Romance
More info: When Dimple Met Rishi #3
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range: 12+
Plot
Samir and Pinky are complete opposites. Pinky is a wild child who is tired of her family thinking the worst of her. Samir is the type of guy that all parents love. When his internship at a law firm falls through and Pinky lies to her family and tells them she has a new boyfriend, a scheme is hatched.
Samir comes to stay with Pinky’s family for the summer at their Cape Cod house and Samir does not have to go home to his over-protective mother. Of course, with the forced proximity, they both start to develop real feelings in their fake relationship.
Why Jackie likes it
This fake dating book was a fun read that didn’t quite have the same chemistry as Dimple and Rishi. It may be that I related less because Samir and Pinky are high school students.
Find this book in: Books with Colors in the Title / Forced Proximity Trope Books / Fake Dating Books / Fun Books for Teens
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Year: 2020
Genre: Fantasy Romance
More info: #1 Bestselling series
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range: 18+
Plot
This book has a cult-like following for a reason. The first book in the series is a loose fairy tale retelling of Beauty and the Beast set in the world of Prythian. Magical creatures, humans, and fae are all prominent in the book.
When Feyre kills a wolf in the words, a creature arrives at her house to drag her to a magical land that she has only heard about in stories told to terrify children. Now, she must remain a captor of Tamlin, a fae, as retribution.
This is a fast-paced, addicting, fantasy romance series with a love triangle that develops by the end of the novel. Book two is jaw-dropping! This series is on its way to becoming a classic that you will want to binge in one week.
While this book is technically the first book in a YA fantasy series, the later books become very steamy. The first book is appropriate for YA but Jackie and I agree that the later books in the series are strictly for 18 and up. We are so excited this is going to be one of the Hulu book adaptations.
Why Kirsten loves it
I love a Beauty and the Beast retelling and love a good fantasy romance. Put them together in a book written by Sarah J. Maas and you get a fantastic story.
Why Jackie loves it
The first book is just a warm-up for the rest of the series. Initially, you think you know where this story is headed, but I promise that it will take so many twists and turns, that you will not want to put this book (and the rest of the series) down.
Find this book in: Popular Fantasy Book Series for Young Adults / Forced Proximity Trope Romance Books / Sarah J Maas Books in Order / Fairy Tale Retellings / Best Books by Jewish Writers / Best Adult Fantasy Novels / ACOTAR Books in order
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