I stumbled on this trope while looking for a cozy read without any third act break ups and I’ve been so happy to find more! Sometimes I just want to read a cute romance about a monster who looks like he would kill you but is the sweetest awkward guy you’ve ever met.
Berries and Greed by Lily Mayne has to be top of my list! It’s like a whole story that embodies a paranormal “Netflix and Chill.” Our MMC Greid just wants a roomie to spend a little of his free time hanging out with, but his ex made it really hard for him to keep any of his demiurgus friends after the split.
Beryl might have grown up in a demiurgus loving cult but only because her Aunt worked there and it kept them from a life of homelessness. She had never even met a demiurgus until Greed came looking for a friend.
Adorable sweet interactions, friends to lovers, some kinky D/s fun (with Greid having the submissive tendencies). Such a great cozy read!!!
Space for Love by Emily Antoinette is a cozy sci-fi romance featuring a plus-size FMC, a monstrous alien MMC, and enough spice to keep you warm even in the coldness of space.
Fina is starting a new life as one of the few humans on a space station. She has one friend, the bubbly, four armed Mezli (who will get her own book next!) and affirmations to be badass babe. Breks is recovering from a break up, spending time working in a Sim lab to keep himself busy and stop brooding over his ex. He doesn’t feel he fits in, too scary for most aliens and feeling he’ll never find love again.
Our MCs meet when Mezli sends Fina to the SimLab for a little kinky fun and Breks has to try and stop himself from being so turned on by our FMC. Its spicy from the get-go and these two are so adorable!
Strange Love by Ann Aguirre was so unexpected I read it in one sitting.
He’s awkward. He’s adorable. He’s alien as hell.
Zylar of Kith Balak is a four-time loser in the annual Choosing. If he fails to find a nest guardian this time, he’ll lose his chance to have a mate for all time. Desperation drives him to try a matching service but due to a freak solar flare and a severely malfunctioning ship AI, things go way off course. This ‘human being’ is not the Tiralan match he was looking for.
She’s frazzled. She’s fierce. She’s from St. Louis.
Beryl Bowman’s mother always said she’d never get married. She should have added a rider about the husband being human. Who would have ever thought that working at the Sunshine Angel daycare center would offer such interstellar prestige? She doesn’t know what the hell’s going on, but a new life awaits on Barath Colony, where she can have any alien bachelor she wants.
Catherine Croft 