Bullies To Love – The Ultimate List of Bully Romance Books!

UPDATED 04-30-2019 (scroll down about halfway until you see the updated date notice). 😀 !!!

And also, here are all the posts tagged “Bossy Bullies” on the blog.

Ahhhh so many of us are not just fans of bad boys, but of book-guys that are absolutely horrid in the beginning. To us… er… I mean HER. You know why I think that is? ‘Cause it’s so much fun to uncover what makes him such a jerk in the first place, and also even more fun when the one person that we couldn’t stand (or that we feared most, in whatever way…), becomes our very best friend… and more.

Tessa: Finding a good bully book is hard. It has to emotionally go there, without being the I hate you, but now I love you romance.

I blame Twilight for my love of mean-angry bullies that become uber protective once they finally let someone in. And Zsadist. *sigh* That whole first scene when he first met Bella, and she saw how scarred and scary he looked?

“Zsadist! Let her go!” Another male, this one with a long head of hair, jogged across the vast floor. “Let her go, Z.”

The scarred male leaned down to her, putting that misshapen mouth close to her ear.

Something pressed into her sternum, over her heart. His fingertip.

“You just got saved, female.”

Eeeeep!!!! GAH!! Z is my ultimate book bully. But I have more to recommend (below + reader recommendations too!).

Now of course, I think in real-life, the animosity would be too great (the resentments, bad memories and what not), that it would be unlikely for our biggest enemy to become our favorite person in the world. But then again, it’s not out of the realm of possibility. After all, I’ll never forget when I was in college, a guy in our “entourage” was so loud and kind of mean and obnoxious. To me, and to anyone, really.

You know, the typical jock-bully, even with his own crew? Well anyway, he once told me a couple of years later when we ran in to each other in other social circles, that he always thought I was cute. OMG! Whaaaaaat? LOL! I avoided him like the plague every time we at the same party together, ’cause I didn’t want to be the next target of his ridicule, and he though I was cute? Seriously? Maybe the maturity kicked in? Or maybe a girl kneed him you-know-where and set him straight? *snort* 😛 Either way, that’s my own personal “bully-story” and so I truly LOVE these “love stories”.

And I’ve been getting requests lately for a Bully List!

Kylie: What I am writing to you for is to ask if you have a list at all with books about “bullys”? I do have Bully by Penelope Douglas, but I haven’t gotten around to reading it yet. Fear Me was actually my first “bully” read and I’m almost ashamed to admit that I LOVED every word of it! … Anyway, I looked at your website and squirreled through the forums, but I can’t seem to find a list specifically for bullys 🙁 I would love to know if you or your readers/followers know of any other bully books (as I think I have found a new genre addiction for the moment) and I would love to have some suggestions/recommendations. Perhaps there’s not enough of them out there for a list, but still…

Anne: I’ve got a hankering to read a book (or three) where the couple initially hate each other before working through whatever problems/misunderstanding they have to reach their HEA. Hopefully lots of angst and plenty of passion thrown in for good measure!  A bad boy / alpha / biker wouldn’t go amiss either! I’ve read a few books that fit the brief, but Bully stands out as a favourite.   Any suggestions would be welcome, and, dare I say it, maybe a top 10

Kristina: I love your complete list but I would love it if you could add a enemies that fall in love like “bully”

Dyan: I was bullied when I was in grade school so I love books that has a bullied theme.

Amy: …all of those bully jerk-face books up there have me ready to squirrel.

Tessa: I like jerks…

Melinda: I’ve just clicked 4 books. Tessa your recommendation. I love bully books.

MichelleS: This is my absolute FAVORITE kind of reading, so I have a bazillion of these guys in my “rolodex” of books….

GREAT IDEA!!! Now of course, I have a ton of alpha-jerks that come to mind (you know, like Tate from Sweet Dreams) but he’s not so much a bully, you know? He still has that dignity and protective care-of-a-woman thing going on. He’s just a big ol’ jerk at first (which I LOVED ’cause I was appalled, that the guy she – and we- were crushing on didn’t even look twice at her and was happy to say so)!

But for this list, what we’re looking for is full on bully-buttholes (or at least obvious bully-characteristics to ’em). Those that purposely infuriate, terrorize (in whatever way) alienate and humiliate the heroine. I love when a heroine sees him and immediately runs for cover, or does her best not to be noticed. And of course that never works. LOL! I especially love when we find out it’s just ’cause he’s hurt, or scared to let someone in, or thinks it’s “for her own good” to stay away from him… or maybe even just ’cause he’s just a plain ol’ ass, and doesn’t know any better! But I want the whole ride getting there, and he really needs to be a tough nut to crack. 😉

Here are a few of my own personal favorites!

Wild Reckless by Ginger Scott <— My own personal recommendation! It gives me a feel between Beautiful Disaster and Bully. And it doesn’t have a high school feel. It doesn’t read like one… if you’re thinking “young feel”, you know? I’m still in the first part but he is a JERK!!!!! And she has his scary-mean down really well. It doesn’t feel like he’s just play-acting the hateful mean jerk… he’s got that darkness to him and he makes me nervous which is SO fun! (my review)

Surviving Raine: Surviving Raine Book 1 by Shay Savage <— This guy is the ultimate JERK-FACED BULLY! I loved every single second of it. Being stuck on a floating dingy, and then an island… sharing “survival” space with a hot but hateful guy struggling with his own SERIOUS personal demons. He’s not just grumbly, my friends. He’s downright horrible. At times. Often. 😉 And Jean agrees! “I love this dirty talking, moody jerk!!!” MichelleS too! “Surviving Raine is absolutely a bully book… well… more of that total alpha male. He’s such a JERK… and alcoholic to boot…. and it’s Shay Savage… so YES…. that was a 5 star read for me.” (my review)

Twilight (The Twilight Saga Book 1) by Stephenie Meyer <— My VERY FIRST book bully ever. The idea that a hot classmate hated her SO much? THAT sucked me right in and I never put it down once. MY GOD I LOVED THIS BOOK! I blame it for my love of mean guys that are uber protective once they finally let someone in. (my review)

Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 3) by J.R. Ward <— Zsadist’s “bully” status and meanest guy in this mean-guy group starts from book #1, so to get the full effect of just how mean he is, I’d of course, recommend starting from the beginning. It’s the slow buildup of how scary he is, and how ALL must avoid him, especially women, that makes HIS book the absolute best for me. Yes I know… you see this book on so many of my own personal recommendations. What can I say? It’s one the my absolute favorites, if not, my ABSOLUTE favorite of ’em all. And if you haven’t read it yet, and you’re looking for a hateful bully type that especially appears to reject one woman, this is for YOU! (my review)

And of course Christian Grey… (he’s got some bully tendencies… oh yes!!)

and Barrons from Karen Marie Moning’s Fever Series. You know? Barron’s is the BIGGEST BULLY of them all, hands down. Yep… maybe even worse than Z. OH GOD I melted when we finally got a deeper look at Barrons and sure enough… he had a heart! Sorta. 😉 *sigh* But he’s pure 100% jerk-faced bully!

Amy: …oh, that delightfully frustrating mass of hotness called Barrons…

Tessa: KMM is full on Swoon. If you aren’t in love with Barrons… How can you not love Barrons? He’s a jerkface guy who’s bossy and you want to slap him, but is super hot and and and… Seriously, BARRONS!!

➔ BULLIES TO LOVE BOOKS ❤️❤️❤️❤️ READER RECOMMENDATIONS – UPDATED 04-30-2019

P.S. Tessa & Grey are our resident bully-book lovers, so you’ll see a ton of new recommendations from them.

Tessa: I love being the guinea pig for bully books. *happy dance*

Laura: Untouchable: A Bully Romance by Sam Mariano, is a deliciously dark bully romance. Easily my top read of 2018! The book begins with a sexual assault in a classroom so be warned and this theme of non-consent carries through most of the book. The main character, Carter, is aware that he is a genuinely bad guy but doesn’t care. Zoey’s boundaries don’t mean anything to him. The storyline will keep you hooked until the very last chapter when you find out how much Zoey means to Carter. Highly recommended.

Ashley: Omg I’m reading Untouchable and I just don’t know! It all feels so wrong! I don’t think I’ve ever read such a dark romance.

Northernstar: One of my last top reads of 2018 was Untouchable by Sam Marino. The first 10% was a tough read but after that I couldn’t put it down. I really enjoyed the push and pull of the two main characters and by the end I believed in their story. That’s all I’ll say about that one…

Cheryl: I did read the first chapter of Untouchable. WOW. And not a good wow. I’m not sure how he could redeem himself or whether he even will and overall how I feel about this book right now. Thinking about it. For now…

Robyn: I’m just finishing up Untouchable by Sam Mariano. It’s a great bully book. It has kept me on my toes as to what the H will do next. He’s naughty and I mean naughty,but he also has a nice side if you can just get on it.

Tessa: Untouchable by Sam Mariano. GAH! This book! GAH! THIS is why the best of 2018 is waiting until the end. It’s so good and evil and OMG, I want to punch him and adore him and GAH! He reminds me of Mateo in all the bad and good ways.

Anna: Dare Series by Shantel Tessier. The h hides behind a tree and watches a group of boys murder someone. She tries to be sneaky but they catch her! The first two books are with the same h and H. I couldn’t put these books down!

Tessa: GAH! I can’t stop thinking about it, especially that ending. It doesn’t end on a CH, but it’s the end of her first year at the academy, but that end. Filthy Rich Boys: A High School Bully Romance (Rich Boys of Burberry Prep Book 1) by CM Stunich. If Grey read RH, I’d be pushing this book so much. The bullying and the story and then that ending. GAH! SOOOO GOOOD!

Grey: Dirty Filthy Rich Men! Yep, I had an ARC of this one and the prologue earlier this month and really enjoyed them. A mean ol’ bully and dark (not quite black, but greyish) undertones … Certainly was creeping up on my book catnip!!

Tessa: Do I need to say I adore the bully set up? *grins* I noticed it’s JUST starting to be a trope for writers to write. FINALLY. 😛 Bad Bad Bluebloods (seriously, the name sucks!) by CM Stunich kept the drama running after her last book. 5*d it. 🙂 It’s the second to Filthy Rich Boys which was so good, with a seriously SHOCKING ending that had me gasping irl. You see why I’m torn? BR with a book that everyone is praising or figuring out what’s going on after THAT ENDING!

Mharis: Maryse! Ohmigosh. Wanna know something crazy? You know the guess on my ask? The Filthy Boys? I finished it and I just finished book 2 now. What the hell right? I was supposed to be working. Haha Just thought to share 🙂

Maryse: Wow they must have been awesome for you to tear through them so fast!!! I’m going to post a reading order for the series. Tessa and a few others are crazy for it too. 🙂

Mharis: It is. It was! Gotta warn you though, both books end in a cliffy!!! The third book’s release is on May 1st! And it’s a four-part series. ️

The Peer and the Puppet (When Rivals Play Book 1) by B.B. Reid <— Jamie & Tessa (and more!!) loved this one!!

Jamie: I’m recommending this to you. Bully romance with dark tones, the characters are still in school. The H and his brothers are major jerks and the h doesn’t take his or his brothers crap she fights back. I’m so excited for the second one to come out😘😘

Tessa: BB Reid’s Peer and the Puppet, OMG, it was awesome. If you liked Fear Me, you’ll love this. It’s not as violent as Fear Me. …ANGST! 🙂 Tons of it.

Tessa: Broken Wings: A Dark High School Romance (Dark Legacy Book 1) by Jaymin Eve and Tate James – OMG this book was my fantasy mix. Bully book with James’ great plot and story telling with Eve’s wonderful character writing. *thunks* Not reverse harem! Just bully book with great characters. GREY! FYI! It’s KU!

Jackie: I looooved Broken Wings. Never thought I would find a book similar to Paper Princess by Erin Watt or the Silver Swan by Amo Jones ever again. But here it is. It has similar features (four protective guys, elite in a school, bullying etc.) but the story line itself is completely different. The level of angst was beyond scale. I adored everything about this book. Riley was hilarious and Beck is definitely my new book crush. Also.. mother of all cliffhangers. Couldn’t put it down and I now have a book hangover. I don’t know how I’m supposed to wait until June for the next book..

Tessa: OMG. I started reading Boys of Brayshaw High last night and am loving it so much I was gonna jump on here and tell y’all to read it! I haven’t gotten to more FC yet, but total bully book. But if it comes out also FC like? *squeeees* I can see that happening because Raven is awesome and well, so far the boys are jerks. Lol

Tessa: Alright, Boys of Brayshaw was AWESOME! I have to wait for spring for the next book, but OMG. It’s everything i love in a NA. Bullies, great secondary characters, and the familial feelings. (so right about the Fallen Crest type) SQUEEEE!

Tasha J: Tessa, reading Brayshaw now, eeek!!! Thank you for the rec! I’m loving it more than FC, actually! 🙂

Jenn: Tessa-Just wanted you to know as I believe you are the one that went crazy for it on here…I am reading “Boys of Brayshaw High” I was hooked just in the first few chapters.

Tasha J: I didn’t want Brayshaw to end and when it did…*glares*

Lisa M: Omg I just finished Boys of Brayshaw High!! So good total Fallen Crest & Elite series feel. Such a cliffy can wait for the next one!!! I want it now!!!

D.G. Soooooo….I started reading The Kiss Thief earlier today and I am HOOKED!!! My catnip…bully and arranged marriage. Not too far in yet but that Wolfe is a big ole meanie!

Mona: I totally agree with D.G., The Kiss Thief was unputdownable (is that a word??) for me! Sooo good!!

MichelleS: I second the love for The Kiss Thief. Woo-eee-mama. Just started, but I’m hooked. 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”.

MichelleS: Y’all I just finished The Kiss Thief. Another 5 star read! I’m on a roll here. Could not put it down.

Tessa: Best YA fantasy was The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air Book 1). *swoons* EVERYTHING I love in a book, including a huge bully. 🙂 FAE! BULLY! FANTASY WORLD! So, just pure catnip written really well with an awesome plotline.

…you have to read Cruel Prince, unless a bully is something you detest. 🙂

Robyn: I also finished Cruel Prince. I have to say that this book is absolutely one of my best of 2018 reads. It was so well written. It took me there on every page. I can’t wait to see how everything unfolds…

Ash: Cruel Prince by Holly Black. Book 2 just released and it will be a trilogy. Awesome writing and unique story!!

Michele G: So, I started Elite (Eagle Elite Book 1) by Rachel Van Dyken last night and am totally hooked!

Tessa: *gives huge grin* MichelleG. Please, please, please tell Grey how awesome that book is. 🙂 Thank you for reading it! I swear, it’s one of the few books that I keep going back to and re-reading over and over. *sighs* Now I want to read it again.

Tessa: OH and please, tell her how much you just wanted to punch Nixon at first. Like, break his nose punch. I kinda went into recluse mode but am back. 🙂 What a way to come back though.

Michele G: I lovvved Elite and yes I absolutely hated Nixon! There are some great and fun twists in that book!!! I can totally see you re-reading it!

Tessa: YES! Nixon is just… OMG. Such an a**!

MichelleG… *squeeeeee* He’s such a bully. Like, pure snobby elitest type of bully which makes it my favorite type. I still havent read the whole series because I’m stuck on one book and I know what happens because I read the book after, a side book, first. *sighs*

Melinda: I just finished reading Be the Girl by K.A Tucker anything written by her is an instant one click. It’s a Bully book about a teenage girl. It is so good. Def 5 stars for me.

Amena: try The Contract (The Contract Series Book 1) by Melanie Moreland. I loved the bullying in it 😀

Carla: The contract by Melanie Moreland (I never expected it to be so so good)

Jamie: Alpha Bully (The Alpha Shifter Collection Book 5) by Sam Crescent. Just discovered this site and your lists! Love it!!! Thank you!

Cindy: The latest one i read was A Pound of Flesh. Such a great book but Wes Carter definitely starts out as a bully!! It’s a must read… Great story, writing, angst… The whole package!! Another great super angry prison book that I thought was very very good..

Julie O: A Pound Of Flesh: really enjoyed how well the characters were thought out. Will definitely read sequel.

Grey: Maryse, have *YOU* read Until You (The Fall Away Series)?? because girl, it’s an experience! I’m back here… because this is my home base. I love my jerk face bullies. Eenie, meenie, miney, moe… I should be embarrassed about how many times I have read Bully and Until You (Jared’s POV).

Maryse: Grey I LOVE bully books… they are one of my favorite genres. How someone could hate someone else so much, dread seeing them, and a twist of fate makes it so that they become SO close. WOW I LOVE that change in dynamic. It has an even greater effect though, if the bullying is realistic and lasts nice and long in the story. P.S. I haven’t read it yet…

Jean: Grey, I loved Bully but haven’t read Until You yet, but have had it for a long time!

Grey: OMG Jean!!! Read it!!! I’m abusing exclamation points right now, and I don’t even care! I loved Until You even more than Bully! Bully actually only got a 4.5 star rating from me, but Until You got a full 5 star rating!!! Oh hell, now I am going to have to go and read it again! Oh you simply have to read it!!! Jared’s take on everything… it’s… pretzel tummy jerkface angsty brilliance at it’s best!!!

Jackie: Another book to add to this list: Paper Princess: A Novel (The Royals Book 1) by Erin Watt and Elle Kennedy. I loved loved this book so much. It reminded me of the Made Men series (Nero & Vincent), the Eagle Elite series and Cruel intentions all mixed together in one book = Pure Bliss.

“Ella Harper is 17 years old with no parents so Callum Royal takes on the role of her guardian and moves Ella into his house with his 5 sons. The Royal guys are immediately not a fan of Ella. She comes from a different world and upbringing, barely able to make ends meet and seeming less savory than what their prestigious staus grants them. They plan to make sure Ella is reminded of this at all times. Reed, the leader of the Royal pack, has the influence to make her life miserable.”

The book is AMAZING. I loved it!

Jenn: I finished Paper Princess-Erin Watts and immediately went on to Broken Prince, I am telling you these books are crack to me. So freaking addicting!

Michele G: I read Paper Princess yesterday by Erin Watt. It was a good bully book with some angst…reminds me a little of Elite by Rachel Van Dyken. I moved immediately to the sequel, Broken Prince because it leaves you with a doozie of a CH.

Victoria: Corrupt (Devil’s Night Book 1) by Penelope Douglas is really great, the book has literally everything but I hated that Erika, the main heroine, didn’t stand up for herself at times.

Grey: Oh, I’ve read Corrupt. It was SOOOO good! …definitely read Corrupt!!! 4.5 star read for me. Dark, twisted, pretzel tummy, yummy mind f*ck! Loved it!

Tessa: BULLY JERK!   …Seriously, this twisted stuff is what I adore the most. Just pure twisted jerks. Dirty Filthy Rich Men (Dirty Duet Book 1) did not disappoint. Anyone who loves the darker, bully type hero, READ THIS! Seriously, I can’t believe how much I loved it. Thank you Grey for recommending it!

…Seriously, CATNIP!! This is not for everyone but I’m so glad Grey brought it to my attention. *huggles Grey* My bully buddy.  

Janet: I just wrote this in your What to Read After Fifty Shades of Grey comments but then thought I’d throw it here too. i really recommend Laurelin Paige’s’ duet series, Dirty Filthy Rich Men and Dirty Filthy Rich Love – the story of Donovan and Sabrina! A good roller coaster ride through hot obsession, with some angst, some heart wrench and a buffet of good characters to love and loathe.

Grey: Dirty Filthy Rich Men! Yep, I had an ARC of this one and the prologue earlier this month and really enjoyed them. A mean ol’ bully and dark (not quite black, but greyish) undertones … Certainly was creeping up on my book catnip!!

BBR: Maybe Tangled by Em Wolf should be included in this list. He is bully for sure and the heroine in this book is not spineless at all 🙂 I hate spineless heroines!

Maryse: YESSSSSSS!! I absolutely LOVED that book!! Agreed! 😀 P.S. Here’s my 4.5 STAR Book Review.

Lisa: Tangled by Em Wolf. Adonis Benoit. First class bully. Megalomanic narcissist is how he’s described!! …Great bully book.

Brenda: Tangled by Em Wolf. Such a great bully type book! Em Wolf just released another great book recently. 30 Days. Great too!

Lisa M: Sunday’s could not put down book of the day Tangled by Em Wolf. Started this morning n finished just in time to watch The Walking Dead!!! Loved loved loved it!! So conflicted & torn throughout the book on who’s side to be on!! Angst or what?? Anyone else read it yet?

Kylie I have just finished reading Fear Me by B.B. Reid, and all I can say is WOW! Is was dark and twisted, HOT, nasty and kept me thinking the whole way through! Although the heroine in Fear Me did aggravate me at times – I felt she should/could have stood up for herself more.

Tessa: If you want bully, Fear Me is the best bet… The difference between Fear Me and Bully is Jared is horrid, but he’s a BBF horrid for me. Keiran… if I met him irl, I’d run the other way. *grins*… Fear Me is hot, but dark. To me, it’s not as good as Bully, but again, Bully stole my heart. That classroom scene where she’s giving a speech just makes me choke up every time. Fear Me makes me gasp and hide my head, and it’s well, hot. 😛 If BB Reid always writes this well, with such well developed characters, she’ll be an auto buy author.”

Deborah: …it’s like Bully met fiftyshadish….it’s my top favorite for this year….and it a little on the dark side…..I actually liked it better than Bully and I looooooved Bully…… I did like Fear me better than Bully but it’s quite different very dark (dubious consent) if you can handle things like that………let’s just say Fear me makes Bully look like sesame street 😉

Victoria: Also Broken Love series by B. B. Reid is pretty good but even though it was already mentioned, I gotta say – it is really dark and I loved it and hated it at the same time.

Sidenote from Maryse: I was actually half way through it, and I did put it down ’cause OMG he is so much of a Bully and so are his friends, I was tooooooo furious. LOL! But that might be a good thing depending on what you’re in the mood for… 😉

• The Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout <— Ann-Theres: Oh, think I must add The Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Daemon Black is kind of a Bully and an #%^hole at the beginning, and then some others are too…..

Victoria: The Lux series is EVERYTHING. If you are searching for a book that has a bully, like Keiran, from Broken Love, then it ain’t gonna do it for ya. Daemon is kind of a bully but mostly for the first bigger part of the first book.