33 Books like Acts of Desperation

Diary of an Oxygen Thief

by Anonymous

A man who savors breaking women meets Aisling, whose own cruelty might outmatch his.

2.71

77k+

🖤 Toxic Relationship 🕸️ Love As Control 🥀 Self-Destructive Lead 🥃 Addiction And Recovery 🌅 Redemption Arc

Diary of an Oxygen Thief 95%

A man who savors breaking women meets Aisling, whose own cruelty might outmatch his.

by Anonymous 2006

2.71

77k+ ratings

🖤 Toxic Relationship 🕸️ Love As Control 🥀 Self-Destructive Lead 🥃 Addiction And Recovery 🌅 Redemption Arc

Diary of an Oxygen Thief

by Anonymous

An Irish ad man who emotionally destroyed women meets a New York artist determined to destroy him.

2.69

511

🖤 Transgressive Fiction 📓 Confessional Narrative ☣️ Toxic Protagonist 🎭 Emotional Manipulation 🌀 Unreliable Narrator

Diary of an Oxygen Thief 95%

An Irish ad man who emotionally destroyed women meets a New York artist determined to destroy him.

by Anonymous

2.69

511 ratings

🖤 Transgressive Fiction 📓 Confessional Narrative ☣️ Toxic Protagonist 🎭 Emotional Manipulation 🌀 Unreliable Narrator

Kiss Me Like You Mean It

by J.R. Rogue • 2018

A poet torn between her husband and a younger lover can't stop sabotaging the love she craves.

3.95

641

🌀 Self-Sabotage In Love 🔁 Toxic Love Cycles 🛋️ Healing Through Therapy 💔 Trauma And Intimacy 🔄 Second Chance Love

Kiss Me Like You Mean It 94%

A poet torn between her husband and a younger lover can't stop sabotaging the love she craves.

by J.R. Rogue 2018

3.95

641 ratings

🌀 Self-Sabotage In Love 🔁 Toxic Love Cycles 🛋️ Healing Through Therapy 💔 Trauma And Intimacy 🔄 Second Chance Love

Magnolia Parks

by Jessa Hastings • 2021

A London socialite can't quit her first love, a charming cheat whose betrayals are legendary.

3.64

274k+

🖤 Toxic Love Story 🥂 Elite Social Circle 💔 First Love Obsession 🔄 On Again Off Again 💀 Best Friend Betrayal

Magnolia Parks 91%

A London socialite can't quit her first love, a charming cheat whose betrayals are legendary.

by Jessa Hastings 2021

3.64

274k+ ratings

🖤 Toxic Love Story 🥂 Elite Social Circle 💔 First Love Obsession 🔄 On Again Off Again 💀 Best Friend Betrayal

Queenie

by Candice Carty-Williams • 2019

A Black journalist unravels after a breakup, numbing the pain with casual sex and toxic encounters.

3.85

158k+

🏙️ Contemporary London 🧠 Mental Health Journey 👩🏾 Black Womanhood 💔 Self-Destructive Spiral 👩‍💼 Workplace Racism

Queenie 91%

A Black journalist unravels after a breakup, numbing the pain with casual sex and toxic encounters.

by Candice Carty-Williams 2019

3.85

158k+ ratings

🏙️ Contemporary London 🧠 Mental Health Journey 👩🏾 Black Womanhood 💔 Self-Destructive Spiral 👩‍💼 Workplace Racism

Bitter Sweet

by Hattie Williams • 2025

A grieving assistant falls for her married literary idol, and the secret affair nearly destroys her.

3.82

15k+

🕰️ Age Gap Relationship ⚖️ Power Imbalance 🤫 Secret Affair 🫂 Found Family 😢 Mother Loss

Bitter Sweet 91%

A grieving assistant falls for her married literary idol, and the secret affair nearly destroys her.

by Hattie Williams 2025

3.82

15k+ ratings

🕰️ Age Gap Relationship ⚖️ Power Imbalance 🤫 Secret Affair 🫂 Found Family 😢 Mother Loss

All-Night Pharmacy

by Ruth Madievsky • 2023

When her wild sister vanishes, a young woman claws toward sobriety and a long-buried self.

3.50

8k+

🏳️‍🌈 Sapphic Literary Fiction 💊 Addiction And Recovery 👯 Toxic Sisterhood 🔍 Missing Sister 🌀 Unreliable Narrator

All-Night Pharmacy 91%

When her wild sister vanishes, a young woman claws toward sobriety and a long-buried self.

by Ruth Madievsky 2023

3.50

8k+ ratings

🏳️‍🌈 Sapphic Literary Fiction 💊 Addiction And Recovery 👯 Toxic Sisterhood 🔍 Missing Sister 🌀 Unreliable Narrator

Normal People

by Sally Rooney • 2018

A popular boy and a wealthy outcast girl hide their magnetic connection in small-town Ireland.

3.81

1.9M+

📚 Literary Coming Of Age 🤫 Secret Relationship 💷 Class Difference 😶‍🌫️ Emotional Repression 🏘️ Small Town Ireland

Normal People 93%

A popular boy and a wealthy outcast girl hide their magnetic connection in small-town Ireland.

by Sally Rooney 2018

3.81

1.9M+ ratings

📚 Literary Coming Of Age 🤫 Secret Relationship 💷 Class Difference 😶‍🌫️ Emotional Repression 🏘️ Small Town Ireland

Adelaide

by Genevieve Wheeler • 2023

An American woman in London pours herself into a man who cannot love her back.

3.93

49k+

🖤 Sad Girl Fiction 🥀 Toxic Relationship 💔 Emotionally Unavailable 👭 Chosen Family 🌧️ Melancholy

Adelaide 92%

An American woman in London pours herself into a man who cannot love her back.

by Genevieve Wheeler 2023

3.93

49k+ ratings

🖤 Sad Girl Fiction 🥀 Toxic Relationship 💔 Emotionally Unavailable 👭 Chosen Family 🌧️ Melancholy

Saving 6

by Chloe Walsh

She was the boss's daughter. He was a boy falling apart. Loving her could destroy them both.

4.46

298k+

🏑 Sports Romance 💕 Friends To Lovers 💖 First Love 🔥 Slow Burn 🇮🇪 Small Town Ireland

Saving 6 91%

She was the boss's daughter. He was a boy falling apart. Loving her could destroy them both.

by Chloe Walsh 2023

4.46

298k+ ratings

🏑 Sports Romance 💕 Friends To Lovers 💖 First Love 🔥 Slow Burn 🇮🇪 Small Town Ireland

Tell Me Lies

by Carola Lovering • 2018

Her charming college ex returns, still lying, and her New York life unravels.

3.45

99k+

🎓 College Romance 🖤 Toxic Relationship 🗽 New York Setting ⏳ Dual Timelines 🧩 Unreliable Narrator

Tell Me Lies 91%

Her charming college ex returns, still lying, and her New York life unravels.

by Carola Lovering 2018

3.45

99k+ ratings

🎓 College Romance 🖤 Toxic Relationship 🗽 New York Setting ⏳ Dual Timelines 🧩 Unreliable Narrator

Shattering Her Illusion

by Mackenzie Madden • 2026

Curvy Charlie trusts her boyfriend, but his silence when his friends mock her shatters her world.

3.81

1k+

🔁 Second Chance Love ☣️ Toxic Family 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Chosen Family 💪 Plus-Size Heroine 🐍 Toxic Friend Group

Shattering Her Illusion 91%

Curvy Charlie trusts her boyfriend, but his silence when his friends mock her shatters her world.

by Mackenzie Madden 2026

3.81

1k+ ratings

🔁 Second Chance Love ☣️ Toxic Family 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Chosen Family 💪 Plus-Size Heroine 🐍 Toxic Friend Group

It Ends with Us

by Colleen Hoover

A florist falls for a neurosurgeon and slowly recognizes the violence her mother never escaped.

4.08

4.7M+

🖤 Toxic Relationship 💌 First Love Returns 💍 Marriage In Crisis ⏳ Dual Timeline 💔 Heartbreaking Romance

It Ends with Us 91%

A florist falls for a neurosurgeon and slowly recognizes the violence her mother never escaped.

by Colleen Hoover 2016

4.08

4.7M+ ratings

🖤 Toxic Relationship 💌 First Love Returns 💍 Marriage In Crisis ⏳ Dual Timeline 💔 Heartbreaking Romance

Comerás flores

by Lucía Solla Sobral • 2025

After her father dies, she mistakes an older man's obsession for the love she desperately craves.

4.13

49k+

🖤 Emotional Abuse 🔒 Coercive Control ⏳ Age Gap Relationship 🍽️ Eating Disorder 🥀 Grief And Loss

Comerás flores 92%

After her father dies, she mistakes an older man's obsession for the love she desperately craves.

by Lucía Solla Sobral 2025

4.13

49k+ ratings

🖤 Emotional Abuse 🔒 Coercive Control ⏳ Age Gap Relationship 🍽️ Eating Disorder 🥀 Grief And Loss

A Hue of Blu

by Marie-France Léger • 2023

Blue hair and silence are their shields, but their connection becomes a wound they cannot escape.

3.63

20k+

🖤 Toxic Relationship 🫂 Found Family 🍾 Alcoholic Parent 🛋️ Therapy Journey 💖 Self Love

A Hue of Blu 92%

Blue hair and silence are their shields, but their connection becomes a wound they cannot escape.

by Marie-France Léger 2023

3.63

20k+ ratings

🖤 Toxic Relationship 🫂 Found Family 🍾 Alcoholic Parent 🛋️ Therapy Journey 💖 Self Love

Kid

by Jescie Hall

An addict falls for his best friend's sister, and their bond threatens to destroy them both.

4.16

14k+

🧲 Toxic Love 💊 Addiction Struggle 🌱 Trauma Healing 🖤 Angsty Romance 🩹 Self-Harm Recovery

Kid 91%

An addict falls for his best friend's sister, and their bond threatens to destroy them both.

by Jescie Hall

4.16

14k+ ratings

🧲 Toxic Love 💊 Addiction Struggle 🌱 Trauma Healing 🖤 Angsty Romance 🩹 Self-Harm Recovery

El tiempo que tuvimos

by Cherry Chic • 2023

Ten years after leaving Ireland, she returns to the boy she left under the fairy tree.

4.31

10k+

🫂 Friends To Lovers 💔 Second Chance Romance 🏡 Small Town Romance 💛 Eating Disorder 🔥 Slow Burn Romance

El tiempo que tuvimos 91%

Ten years after leaving Ireland, she returns to the boy she left under the fairy tree.

by Cherry Chic 2023

4.31

10k+ ratings

🫂 Friends To Lovers 💔 Second Chance Romance 🏡 Small Town Romance 💛 Eating Disorder 🔥 Slow Burn Romance

The Happy Couple

by Naoise Dolan • 2023

Neither could admit their doubts, so they got engaged instead. The wedding is months away.

3.32

20k+

🔍 Relationship Autopsy 💜 Bisexual Protagonist 😏 Dark Humor 🖤 Melancholy Romance 🕸️ Entangled Exes

The Happy Couple 92%

Neither could admit their doubts, so they got engaged instead. The wedding is months away.

by Naoise Dolan 2023

3.32

20k+ ratings

🔍 Relationship Autopsy 💜 Bisexual Protagonist 😏 Dark Humor 🖤 Melancholy Romance 🕸️ Entangled Exes

The Women Behind the Door

by Roddy Doyle • 2024

A recovering alcoholic in pandemic Dublin opens her door to find her capable daughter falling apart.

3.48

2k+

🖤 Generational Trauma 💔 Mother-Daughter Conflict 🍵 Recovering Alcoholic 😷 Covid Pandemic 🇮🇪 Contemporary Dublin

The Women Behind the Door 92%

A recovering alcoholic in pandemic Dublin opens her door to find her capable daughter falling apart.

by Roddy Doyle 2024

3.48

2k+ ratings

🖤 Generational Trauma 💔 Mother-Daughter Conflict 🍵 Recovering Alcoholic 😷 Covid Pandemic 🇮🇪 Contemporary Dublin

The Elements

by John Boyne

On a remote Irish island, a disgraced woman searches for the truth behind her daughter's drowning.

4.43

26k+

🧬 Intergenerational Trauma 🔄 Cycles Of Abuse 💔 Estranged Parent 😔 Survivor's Guilt 🏝️ Island Isolation

The Elements 91%

On a remote Irish island, a disgraced woman searches for the truth behind her daughter's drowning.

by John Boyne 2025

4.43

26k+ ratings

🧬 Intergenerational Trauma 🔄 Cycles Of Abuse 💔 Estranged Parent 😔 Survivor's Guilt 🏝️ Island Isolation

The Coin

by Yasmin Zaher • 2024

A Palestinian woman scrubs New York clean while a childhood coin remains inside her.

3.42

16k+

🧳 Diasporic Alienation 🧼 Obsessive Rituals ✂️ Caustic Voice 🗽 Contemporary NYC 🇵🇸 Palestinian Diaspora

The Coin 91%

A Palestinian woman scrubs New York clean while a childhood coin remains inside her.

by Yasmin Zaher 2024

3.42

16k+ ratings

🧳 Diasporic Alienation 🧼 Obsessive Rituals ✂️ Caustic Voice 🗽 Contemporary NYC 🇵🇸 Palestinian Diaspora

God Hates Us All

by Hank Moody • 2009

A cynical young man deals pot from the Chelsea Hotel, chasing love while avoiding adulthood.

3.46

5k+

🗽 Bohemian New York 💔 Toxic Love 😈 Dark Comedy 🌱 Coming Of Age 💊 Drug Dealing

God Hates Us All 90%

A cynical young man deals pot from the Chelsea Hotel, chasing love while avoiding adulthood.

by Hank Moody 2009

3.46

5k+ ratings

🗽 Bohemian New York 💔 Toxic Love 😈 Dark Comedy 🌱 Coming Of Age 💊 Drug Dealing

Releasing 10

by Chloe Walsh

At seven, he falls for the silent girl. At seventeen, her mind shatters. He's still falling.

4.53

152k+

🫶 Friends To Lovers 🧠 Bipolar Rep 💗 Childhood Sweethearts 🩹 Trauma Survivor 🔥 Boy Obsessed

Releasing 10 91%

At seven, he falls for the silent girl. At seventeen, her mind shatters. He's still falling.

by Chloe Walsh 2025

4.53

152k+ ratings

🫶 Friends To Lovers 🧠 Bipolar Rep 💗 Childhood Sweethearts 🩹 Trauma Survivor 🔥 Boy Obsessed

Normal People

by Sally Rooney • 2021

A popular boy and a lonely girl hide a bond that follows them to university.

4.58

3k+

🤫 Secret Relationship 💰 Class Divide 🎓 Campus Novel 🔄 On-Again Off-Again 🧠 Mental Health Rep

Normal People 92%

A popular boy and a lonely girl hide a bond that follows them to university.

by Sally Rooney 2021

4.58

3k+ ratings

🤫 Secret Relationship 💰 Class Divide 🎓 Campus Novel 🔄 On-Again Off-Again 🧠 Mental Health Rep

Antes de diciembre

by Joana Marcús • 2021

Her boyfriend demanded freedom. The boy next door made her want to close every door.

4.36

138k+

🎓 College Romance 💔 Toxic First Love 🩹 Addiction Recovery 💕 Friends To Lovers 🏚️ Family Trauma

Antes de diciembre 91%

Her boyfriend demanded freedom. The boy next door made her want to close every door.

by Joana Marcús 2021

4.36

138k+ ratings

🎓 College Romance 💔 Toxic First Love 🩹 Addiction Recovery 💕 Friends To Lovers 🏚️ Family Trauma

Saoirse

by Charleen Hurtubise • 2026

An American mother in Donegal has a stolen name. Her past is painted into every canvas.

3.96

5k+

📖 Trauma Narrative 🎭 Stolen Identity 🫂 Found Family 💔 Abusive Relationship 🎨 Artist Protagonist

Saoirse 90%

An American mother in Donegal has a stolen name. Her past is painted into every canvas.

by Charleen Hurtubise 2026

3.96

5k+ ratings

📖 Trauma Narrative 🎭 Stolen Identity 🫂 Found Family 💔 Abusive Relationship 🎨 Artist Protagonist

Black Iris

by Leah Raeder • 2015

Reeling from her mother's suicide, Laney meets two strangers who feed her darkest craving: revenge.

3.71

6k+

🖤 Unreliable Narrator 🔺 Love Triangle ⚔️ Revenge Quest 💋 Sapphic Dark Romance 🥀 Morally Grey Heroine

Black Iris 90%

Reeling from her mother's suicide, Laney meets two strangers who feed her darkest craving: revenge.

by Leah Raeder 2015

3.71

6k+ ratings

🖤 Unreliable Narrator 🔺 Love Triangle ⚔️ Revenge Quest 💋 Sapphic Dark Romance 🥀 Morally Grey Heroine

So Damn Sketchy

by Bonnie Kent • 2020

A girl loses her parents, then herself, in the arms of her brother's best friend.

3.93

218

🔥 Dark Coming Of Age 💔 Parental Abandonment ⚠️ Blurred Boundaries 💀 Self Destruction 🏚️ Homelessness

So Damn Sketchy 91%

A girl loses her parents, then herself, in the arms of her brother's best friend.

by Bonnie Kent 2020

3.93

218 ratings

🔥 Dark Coming Of Age 💔 Parental Abandonment ⚠️ Blurred Boundaries 💀 Self Destruction 🏚️ Homelessness

Thirst Trap

by Gráinne O'Hare • 2025

Three women, held together by a Belfast house and the ghost of the friend they lost.

3.62

9k+

🫂 Female Friendship 🖤 Grieving A Friend 🏠 Found Family 🌈 Queer Coming Of Age 🌧️ Belfast

Thirst Trap 91%

Three women, held together by a Belfast house and the ghost of the friend they lost.

by Gráinne O'Hare 2025

3.62

9k+ ratings

🫂 Female Friendship 🖤 Grieving A Friend 🏠 Found Family 🌈 Queer Coming Of Age 🌧️ Belfast

Girl in Pieces

by Kathleen Glasgow

Charlie leaves a psych ward with scars, silence, and a bus ticket to nowhere she knows.

3.93

274k+

🩹 Self-Harm Recovery 🤝 Found Family 🎨 Art As Survival 🏥 Psychiatric Hospital 💔 Brutal And Tender

Girl in Pieces 91%

Charlie leaves a psych ward with scars, silence, and a bus ticket to nowhere she knows.

by Kathleen Glasgow 2016

3.93

274k+ ratings

🩹 Self-Harm Recovery 🤝 Found Family 🎨 Art As Survival 🏥 Psychiatric Hospital 💔 Brutal And Tender

Addicted to You

by Krista Ritchie • 2013

A fake romance hides her sex addiction and his alcoholism, but their lies are destroying them.

3.70

197k+

🎭 Fake Relationship 🩷 Friends To Lovers 💔 Codependent Love 🖤 Gritty Romance 🩹 Addiction And Recovery

Addicted to You 90%

A fake romance hides her sex addiction and his alcoholism, but their lies are destroying them.

by Krista Ritchie 2013

3.70

197k+ ratings

🎭 Fake Relationship 🩷 Friends To Lovers 💔 Codependent Love 🖤 Gritty Romance 🩹 Addiction And Recovery

Cleopatra and Frankenstein

by Coco Mellors • 2022

An elevator meeting, a spontaneous wedding, and the long slow work of walking away.

3.68

241k+

🕰️ Age Gap Relationship 🎨 Art World 💍 Impulsive Marriage 🍸 Alcoholism 🌅 Bittersweet

Cleopatra and Frankenstein 90%

An elevator meeting, a spontaneous wedding, and the long slow work of walking away.

by Coco Mellors 2022

3.68

241k+ ratings

🕰️ Age Gap Relationship 🎨 Art World 💍 Impulsive Marriage 🍸 Alcoholism 🌅 Bittersweet

My Year of Rest and Relaxation

by Ottessa Moshfegh • 2018

She's young, rich, and so empty she plans to drug herself into a year-long hibernation.

3.60

580k+

👤 Female Misanthrope 🗣️ Toxic Friendship 🎭 Unreliable Narrator 😐 Deadpan Satire 🌫️ Eerie Calm

My Year of Rest and Relaxation 90%

She's young, rich, and so empty she plans to drug herself into a year-long hibernation.

by Ottessa Moshfegh 2018

3.60

580k+ ratings

👤 Female Misanthrope 🗣️ Toxic Friendship 🎭 Unreliable Narrator 😐 Deadpan Satire 🌫️ Eerie Calm

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