The harem genre has long been a staple of Japanese fiction, popular in manga, anime, light novels, and video game dating simulators. The set-up is simple: a protagonist (usually male) finds themselves surrounded by multiple love interests or sexual partners, and shenanigans ensue. Harem stories are often very sexual or comedic and happily play upon self-insert fantasies for the consumer.
In modern romance, the reverse harem genre, which focuses on a female protagonist being courted by multiple individuals, has exploded in popularity over the past few years. You can find these stories in basically every category of romance, from paranormal to contemporary to historical and beyond.
Like the heroines, readers certainly aren’t short of options when it comes to the reverse harem! We’re selected a few stories to help you get started with this fun genre.
Introductions
Sang is used to staying in the shadows, overlooked by the world as she tries to care for her agoraphobic mother. She's hoping that a fresh start in a new area, complete with a new school, will be exactly what she needs.
She soon finds herself part of a group of boys who are gorgeous, fascinating, and seemingly perfect. Only the boys have secrets of their own and they’ll do anything to keep her safe from the knowledge of the mysterious Academy that they've sworn allegiance to. The seven young men—Kota, Victor, Silas, Nathan, Gabriel, Luke and North—vow to protect Sang at all costs.
Groupie
Lilith Goode's life is not going well. With five dollars in her pocket, and everything she owns stuffed in the back of her car, there's little hope for her. So, it's kind of a miracle when she ends up with a crumpled ticket for a rock concert and finds herself face to face with one of her favorite bands, Beauty in Lies.
There’s Paxton, Ransom, Muse, and Cope, gorgeous men who understand Lilith's pain all too well. But then there's Michael, the unavailable band member. Can they heal one another and find salvation through love, music, and empathy?
Den of Vipers
Ryder, Garrett, Kenzo, and Diesel are The Vipers. They run their small town and everything in it, as well as everyone. Nobody dares to cross this gang, not when they're infamous for having grown men begging on their knees for mercy. Run up a debt with them and you'll probably not survive for long.
Alas, Roxy's in deep. Her father is in dire straits to the Vipers and, to cover the costs, he's sold his own daughter to this gang. She won't go down without a fight, no matter how ferociously enticing these snakes are.
Queen Takes Knights
Ever since her mother was murdered by monsters five years ago, Shara Isador has been on the run. Alone, scared, and exhausted, she's finally cornered in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, only to be saved by two mysterious men who make a shocking claim.
Shara, they say, is a lost queen and these men are her Blood, vampire knights sworn to protect her. A lot of people want to get their hands on Shara, who now must struggle with her newfound powers, thirst for blood, and hunger for the men who are her saviors.
Torn Apart
Ashton Carter is a bad boy, a troublemaker who gets way too much joy out of terrorizing the college dean, who also happens to be his father. But even he realizes he's in over his head with his love life.
He's falling for his best friend Mia. He's desperate to sleep with Brayden, his sworn enemy. He's trying to get Drew, his new roommate and the school's hockey coach, into his bed. Soon, all four of them are risking far more than their reputations to explore the taboo pleasures of their attraction.
Second Chances
Emmy is on a dark path, one that culminated in her stealing cash from her workplace, then trying to outrun the cops. Now, the judge has given her a choice: go to juvie for 18 months or spend two years at a prep school for misguided kids. She takes the latter, but the trouble's only just beginning.
At Emerald Lake Prep, she bumps into her ex-best friend Oliver and his equally as sexy best friends Talon and Ben. What else is there to do but keep being bad? But Emmy isn’t really that bad, and like her new classmates, she’s just hoping for someone to hold onto and believe in as the rest of the world thinks the worst of her.
A Kiss of Shadows
Before the reverse harem exploded in popularity, paranormal romance pioneer Laurel K Hamilton introduced the world to Merry Gentry. Working as a paranormal investigator, Merry lives among the humans and tries to stay out of the worlds of the faeries.
As Princess Meredith NicEssus, she is the number one enemy of her aunt, the Queen of Air and Darkness. Now, she's wanted back in the fey court but to go alone would be suicide. Fortunately, there are many men who are eager to serve Merry, both in the political realm and in her bed.
Distrust
The Hallowed Crows MC aren't just a motorcycle gang. They're the most feared and merciless club in the country. Cross their path and you can only pray to come out alive on the other side. The Crows aren't known for being forgiving or understanding, which doesn't bode well for Rebecca.
Yet, once upon a time, she called the Crows her family. They loved her, cared for her, then abandoned her. Now, they want her back and Rebecca's not going to roll over and do what they say. For Aiden, Ezra, and Killian, love doesn't come as easy as hurt. For Rebecca, the need for revenge is strong. Can they move beyond the pain or do some scars just run too deep?
