Help Wanted: Looking for Forced Proximity, Slow Burn, Mates… Amongst Other Things. In a SLUMP!

TLDR at the bottom 🫶🏼

Hi, all. Like the title suggests, I’m in a deep reading slump due to an unlucky streak of reading several bad books right after some pretty great ones. I could really use some help.

For context: This all started this previous summer when I read {Whispers of the Deep by Emma Hamm}. It’s not for everyone but, it WAS for me. I enjoyed it so much, I picked up the sequel as soon as I finished the first. The third one is out now and while I want to read it, that means I’ll have to start the series over again and I just don’t want to do a reread right now.

As a result, I picked up {Faraway by Abigail Kelly} and I ended up really enjoying that book as well. Turns out mermen do it for me... but it’s also more than that.

I’m now feeling a bit listless because I’ve picked up a few books and had to subsequently DNF them because they just weren’t what I was looking for.

✅ Here’s what I’m looking for: ✅

  • Forced Proximity,

  • Barbarian MMC and/or cultural barrier,

  • MMC is aware FMC is his mate but FMC doesn’t understand, hence the barriers/barbarian aspect,

  • Dating/mating rituals; e.g. MMC giving “gifts” to the FMC to woo her but she doesn’t understand that’s what’s happening (this is in the beginning of Faraway and I LOVED it),

  • SLOW BURN!! I like longer books where the relationship develops from indifferent/dislike —> friends —> lovers,

  • non-human MMC,

  • Relationship heavy plot; e.g. story focuses most on the characters with less emphasis on outside forces,

  • Less important to me because I read light and dark stuff but, I’d prefer a lighter book although I’ll take all suggestions.

🛑 Here’s what I want to avoid: 🛑

  • Insta-lust on FMC’s side; e.g. “Ugh, I hate him but, also, why do I want to have crazy animal sex with him?” or “Why can’t I control myself?”

  • Other woman

  • FMC who’s stupid stubborn. Please, none of this. Just tried to read a book where the FMC tried to rebel against her mate by putting him, herself, and his whole clan in danger WHILE completely alienating herself.

That about does it. Thank you all for reading!

TLDR: Looking for books with the themes listed above. Thanks!