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Gothic romance, to me, has always felt like the perfect blend of eerie charm and swoon-worthy love.
If you’ve ever enjoyed stories where misty landscapes, mysterious mansions, and a touch of danger swirl around a blossoming romance, then you’re already familiar with the genre!
Gothic romance usually includes a gloomy, sometimes haunted setting, filled with brooding heroes, strong-willed heroines, and twists that keep you on edge.
There’s something about that delicate balance of love and suspense that makes it so easy to get lost in.
Whether it’s the sweeping drama, the slow burn romance, or the chilling atmosphere, gothic romance is all about setting a mood that makes your heart race.
In this article, I’m sharing some of my personal favorites that have totally sucked me into their dark, romantic worlds.
So if you’re ready for a few chills and lots of heart-fluttering moments, keep reading!
1. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Catherine Morland, a sweet and slightly naive 17-year-old, loves Gothic novels and has a wild imagination.
When she’s invited to Northanger Abbey, she starts seeing sinister plots everywhere—especially when she learns about the mysterious death of Henry Tilney’s mother.
But not everything is as dramatic as Catherine thinks.
This fun, satirical classic story explores love, growing up, and what happens when you let your imagination run away with you.
2. Too Wicked to Kiss by Erica Ridley
Evangeline Pemberton finds herself at Blackberry Manor, an eerie estate filled with secrets, danger, and its brooding owner, Gavin Lioncroft.
He’s rumored to be a murderer, and though she’s terrified of him at first, his softer, vulnerable side starts to pull her in.
Things take a dark turn when a guest is murdered, and Evangeline is left wondering if Gavin is the dangerous killer everyone says he is—or the man she’s starting to fall for.
3. The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller
Alva Webster, a young widow trying to escape her scandalous past, buys a run-down mansion to fix up and start over.
But rumors of ghosts and creepy happenings make her new home anything but peaceful.
When quirky inventor Sam Moore offers to help investigate the hauntings, Alva reluctantly accepts.
Sparks fly between them as they unravel the house’s mysteries and confront their own hidden scars.
4. The Master of Phoenix Hall by Jennifer Wilde
Angela Todd’s life takes a turn when she inherits a cute little cottage on the Phoenix Hall estate.
But things get complicated fast when the moody, handsome owner, Roderick Mellory, wants it back—and Angela finds herself caught between him and another charming suitor.
As tensions rise and danger creeps in, Angela realizes there’s more at stake than just her heart.
Someone wants her gone, and she’ll need to figure out who to trust before it’s too late.
5. Winterwood by Dorothy Eden
Lavinia Hurst takes a job as a companion to young Flora Meryon at Winterwood, a creepy estate by the sea.
When Flora unexpectedly inherits a fortune, Lavinia realizes her charge is in serious danger.
Strange letters, mysterious accidents, and dark family secrets make Winterwood a deadly place.
Lavinia has to protect Flora and herself while fighting her growing feelings for Flora’s troubled father, Daniel.
6. A Stitch in Time by Kelley Armstrong
Bronwyn Dale inherits Thorne Manor, the house she used to visit as a child through a mysterious time slip.
She reconnects with William Thorne, her childhood friend from two centuries ago—only now he’s a brooding, scandal-plagued man.
As they rekindle their bond, Bronwyn realizes the manor is still haunted, and the ghosts are tied to William’s tragic past.
Together, they have to face the secrets of the house and figure out if their love can span time.
7. The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jamie Jo Wright
In 1865, Daisy Francois takes a maid job at Castle Moreau, where women keep disappearing and creepy Gothic vibes are everywhere.
She starts to suspect that the mysterious author living there knows more than she’s letting on.
In the present day, Cleo Clemmons is hired to help clean out the castle’s hoarded mess but finds herself tangled in a 100-year-old mystery.
Past and present collide in this suspenseful story full of secrets, romance, and redemption.
9. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Jane Eyre is an orphan who grows up in a cold, loveless household.
Despite her rough start, she becomes a governess at Thornfield Hall and falls for the mysterious and brooding Mr. Rochester.
But Thornfield hides a dark secret that threatens their love.
Jane is torn between her heart and her morals in this iconic Gothic tale about love, independence, and self-respect.
10. Thunder on the Right by Mary Stewart
Jennifer Silver travels to the French Pyrenees to visit her cousin, only to learn she’s died in a car accident—or so she’s told.
Suspicious of the story, Jennifer starts digging for the truth.
What she finds is a web of lies and danger in a secluded convent. If she’s not careful, Jennifer might end up a victim herself.
11. Lord of Bones by Aiden and R.K. Pierce
Rayven, a thief, steals from Death himself and ends up imprisoned in his eerie castle.
She’s given three days to escape, or she’ll belong to the Lord of Bones forever.
Belial, Death incarnate, is determined to break her and claim her as his queen.
This dark, twisted romance inspired by Beauty and the Beast is filled with passion, danger, and deadly secrets.
12. Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles
Kallia, a daring magician, competes in a dangerous contest to prove she’s the best.
But the city’s icy ruins hide an unseen danger, and magicians are disappearing.
With secrets unraveling, Kallia, her enigmatic mentor Jack, and a brooding judge named Demarco must face the dark forces threatening them all.
It’s a glamorous yet chilling tale of ambition and mystery.
13. Lakesedge by Lyndall Clipstone
When Violeta arrives at the haunting Lakesedge estate, she expects to find a monster in its master, Rowan.
Instead, she uncovers a connection to the Lord Under, a death god tied to the cursed lake.
To save Rowan and herself, Leta must face her darkest fears and untangle the sinister secrets lurking in the shadows. This is a Gothic fantasy full of magic and monsters.
14. Down Comes the Night by Allison Saft
Wren Southerland is desperate for redemption after losing her place in the Queen’s Guard.
She takes a mysterious job at a crumbling mansion to heal a supposed servant.
But her patient turns out to be Hal, her kingdom’s enemy.
As dark forces close in, Wren and Hal must team up to survive while grappling with their growing feelings and the truth about the mansion.
15. Dragonwyck by Anya Seton
Miranda Wells dreams of a glamorous life, so when she’s invited to her cousin Nicholas Van Ryn’s estate, Dragonwyck, she eagerly accepts.
The mansion is beautiful, but its dark secrets soon emerge.
As Miranda falls under Nicholas’s spell, she discovers the price of wealth and power.
This Gothic romance is filled with passion, suspense, and tragedy.
16. The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
Dr. Faraday visits the crumbling Hundreds Hall to treat its eccentric residents, the Ayres family.
The once-grand home is falling apart, but something darker seems to be haunting it.
As strange events unfold, Faraday becomes entangled in the family’s struggles, and the lines between reality and the supernatural are blurred in this chilling postwar Gothic story.
There you have it—the best gothic romance books to read, each one perfect for when you’re in the mood for a little danger, mystery, and heart-thumping romance.
If you’ve found your next read (or maybe a few!), I’d love to know which one caught your eye.
Drop a comment or share your thoughts in the comment section—I’m always looking for new gothic tales to add to my list!
Happy reading, and may your love stories be as dark and beautiful as these!
