You are here: Home / My Book Reviews / Book Recommendations / Reader Recommendations – Arranged marriage books where he’s indifferent to her so she tries to break off the engagement…
June 5, 2025 By Maryse Leave a Comment
Adrianna has a craving for books like this. Think we can make a list that will satisfy? I think we can! Arranged marriage, unrequited love (or at least an eagerness for a love connection not returned), and a hero that changes his tune quick! Maybe even a groveling Hero?
YES PLEASE!! 😃
She asks:
don’t know if this trope exists but this is what I’m craving!
I’d like an arranged marriage where they been betrothed for a few years (at least).
The MMC is probably indifferent or just doing his own thing but is essentially taking her for granted. FMC would be tired of the what ifs and waiting… so try’s to break off the engagement. MMC is like WTH, that’s not going to happen and pursues the relationship.
It can be anything, contemporary, HR, whatever.
I really hope this exists.
Thanks in advance!
Have a recommendation?
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE:
The Kiss Thief: An Arranged Marriage Romance by L.J. Shen <— ARRANGED MARRIAGE!! HER HEART FOR TWO RIVALS!! “...They say the vows you take on your wedding day are sacred. Mine were broken before we left church. They say your heart only beats for one man. Mine split and bled for two rivals who fought for it until the bitter end. I was promised to Angelo Bandini, the heir to one of the most powerful families in the Chicago Outfit. Then taken by Senator Wolfe Keaton, who held my father’s sins over his head to force me into marriage. They say that all great love stories have a happy ending. I, Francesca Rossi, found myself erasing and rewriting mine until the very last chapter. One kiss. Two men. Three lives. Entwined together. And somewhere between these two men, I had to find my forever…”
Shawna: The Kiss Thief by LJ Shen. I love me some Wolfe Keaton!
Dennishiel: The Kiss Thief by L. J. Shen is a must read! Frankie & Wolf were true celebrities in my eyes on a more Bonnie and Clyde but classy level! It’s more of a suspense romance! It’s hard to explain plz go read it if you haven’t!
MichelleS: Y’all I just finished The Kiss Thief. Another 5 star read! I’m on a roll here. Could not put it down. …Woo-eee-mama. …That Wolfe is a big bad alpha. And everyone has secrets. Every page has me saying, “he did NOT just do that” or “he did NOT just say that”.
HISTORICAL ROMANCE:
“The Bride” by Julie Garwood <— Maybe something along the lines of what she’s looking for. “...An arranged marriage leads to passionate love in this classic Scottish historical romance from #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Garwood. By edict of the king, the mighty Scottish laird Alec Kincaid must take an English bride. His choice is Jamie, youngest daughter of Baron Jamison—a feisty, violet-eyed beauty...”
Robyn: OMG!!! The Bride by Julie Garwood!! I loved this book soooo much I named my son after the H.
Tessa: The Bride by Julie Garwood! *squee* My first romance! That will always have a special spot in my heart.
JBetts: My favorite book of all time was The Bride by Julie Garwood! I’ve re-read that book about 20 times and I fall more and more in love with Alec each time. 🙂
FANTASY ROMANCE
Radiance (Wraith Kings Book 1) by Grace Draven <— POLITICAL ARRANGED MARRIAGE “...Brishen Khaskem, prince of the Kai, has lived content as the nonessential spare heir to a throne secured many times over. A trade and political alliance between the human kingdom of Gaur and the Kai kingdom of Bast-Haradis requires that he marry a Gauri woman to seal the treaty. Always a dutiful son, Brishen agrees to the marriage and discovers his bride is as ugly as he expected and more beautiful than he could have imagined...”
Alexandra: Radiance by Grace Draven is my favorite fantasy romance. Ildiko and Brishen are just the best ♥️.
Frankie: I couldn’t believe how much I liked Radiance.
Bev: Radiance was a lovely romantic read.
Grace: RADIANCE!!!! …Wow! I am not going to be able to move on to a new story now. That is far too interesting. I’m like a little fishy on a hook my fate is sealed by the pretty, shiny, glittering, shocking new storyline. Did you move on? Eidolon is happening now for me. Nothing else will do.
HER HEART WAS SPLIT BETWEEN TWO RIVALS...
The Kiss Thief: An Arranged Marriage Romance
HER HEART WAS SPLIT BETWEEN TWO RIVALS...
"...I was promised to Angelo Bandini, the heir to one of the most powerful families in the Chicago Outfit. Then taken by Senator Wolfe Keaton, who held my father’s sins over his head to force me into marriage.
They say that all great love stories have a happy ending. I, Francesca Rossi, found myself erasing and rewriting mine until the very last chapter. One kiss. Two men. Three lives. Entwined together..."
Shawna: The Kiss Thief by LJ Shen. I love me some Wolfe Keaton!
Dennishiel: The Kiss Thief by L. J. Shen is a must read! Frankie & Wolf were true celebrities in my eyes on a more Bonnie and Clyde but classy level! It’s more of a suspense romance! It’s hard to explain plz go read it if you haven’t!
MichelleS: Y’all I just finished The Kiss Thief. Another 5 star read! I’m on a roll here. Could not put it down. ...Woo-eee-mama. ...That Wolfe is a big bad alpha. And everyone has secrets. Every page has me saying, “he did NOT just do that” or “he did NOT just say that”.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
HISTORICAL ROMANCE!!
The Bride (Lairds' Fiancees Book 1)
ARRANGED MARRIAGE HISTORICAL ROMANCE!!
"...An arranged marriage leads to passionate love in this classic Scottish historical romance from #1 New York Timesbestselling author Julie Garwood.
...By edict of the king, the mighty Scottish laird Alec Kincaid must take an English bride. His choice is Jamie, youngest daughter of Baron Jamison—a feisty, violet-eyed beauty..."
Robyn: OMG!!! The Bride by Julie Garwood!! I loved this book soooo much I named my son after the H.Tessa: The Bride by Julie Garwood! *squee* My first romance! That will always have a special spot in my heart.JBetts: My favorite book of all time was The Bride by Julie Garwood! I’ve re-read that book about 20 times and I fall more and more in love with Alec each time. 🙂
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
FANTASY ROMANCE/SUPER-BARGAIN PRICED TODAY!!
FANTASY ROMANCE/ARRANGED MARRIAGE & HE'S NOT EVEN HUMAN!
HE'S THE SPARE HEIR & SHE HAS NO WORTH TO THE ROYAL FAMILY...
"...Always a dutiful son, Brishen agrees to the marriage and discovers his bride is as ugly as he expected and more beautiful than he could have imagined...
...her only worth to the royal family lay in a strategic marriage. Resigned to her fate, she is horrified to learn that her intended groom isn’t just a foreign aristocrat but the younger prince of a people neither familiar nor human. Bound to her new husband, Ildiko will leave behind all she’s known to embrace a man shrouded in darkness but with a soul forged by light..."
MichelleS: RADIANCE!!!! One of my favorites this year!!! It was awesome. Awesome writing and an amazing story. So good. I loved Radiance. That was a 5 star for me, because I would re-read it and I still remember almost everything. Just such great story telling there, and I always love a beauty and the beast kind of story. Still laugh about “the potato” scene. LOL.
Tessa: Radiance, all I have to say is, potatoes. 🙂 I’ve been laughing a lot through it and I’m only at 36%.
Eliza: Radiance (Wraith Kings, Book 1) by Grace Draven…not a cliff hanger. She is a writer who has a lyrical bent. This particular book is wonderful right from the start. Check out her other books they have a similar bent, two people who are very different finding each other.
Anne: Finished Radiance and loved it! 5+ stars! Love Brishen and Ildiko. Can’t wait for book # 2.
Anne: Re-reading Radiance and yup its just as good as I remembered. I just love Brishen and Ildiko together!
Fabi: I’m at 19% and can’t believe how good it is. I mean, right from page 1 it’s interesting and intriguing. Just…just.. fantastic. *knocks self upside the head* I know better than to put off your recs. I sometimes think I suffer from book induced ADD, I have a hard a hard time staying focused and am easily distracted by new shinies. I’m loving the heck outta Radiance...
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
➔➔➔ Browse more reader questions (solved & unsolved) here. 😀 Maybe you’ll find a solved one to read or have a guess for us for one that’s still unsolved.
Have a reader question for us to solve? Send it to me here.
➔➔➔ Love this genre? Browse more unrequited love and/or Arranged Marriage romance on my blog.
English (US) · 