Relationships have various turns to take, and one of them is toxicity. Toxicity is the world where love is tangled, depressing, painful, and full of doubts. If you have experienced this toxicity, whether in the form of abuse, manipulation, or unreciprocated love, we understand you. It can be overwhelming and isolating.
It’s during these times when you seek understanding. Your heart desires for stories you can relate to, make you feel understood, and act as a ray of hope in the darkness. That’s where literature comes in, it acts as an escape and is full of empathy and enlightenment.
So, we have compiled a list of 30 books about toxic relationships that will help you understand the red flags and dive into the highs and lows of human relations. Whether you are coping with your toxic relationship or trying to understand the patterns, these books are for you. Let’s explore the different dimensions of a relationship.
Table of Contents
30 Books About Toxic Relationships
These stories aren’t only about heartbreak, they are about growth, power, overcoming repetitive patterns, and self-discovery.
1. It Ends With Us – Colleen Hoover
Colleen Hoover the author of the book “It Ends With Us” is one of the best-selling novelists in the United States.
This book has the power to keep you hooked throughout the story. It takes you along the journey of Lily Bloom, who wants to live her life on her own terms.
Despite coming from a small town, she started her own business. Things turn upside down when she encounters Ryle Kincaid, a neurosurgeon. Lily is undoubtedly in love with him despite his stubbornness and arrogance. But he is also a brilliant and sensitive person.
At a point, she gets caught up between her past and future when Atlas Corrigan shows up. Now, who is he? Well, you need to get your hands on the book to know that.
2. After – Anna Todd
Anna Todd, with After, walks you through the journey of Tessa. Tessa is a sweet and ambitious girl. She also has a perfect boyfriend who cares about her. As soon as she moves to her freshman dorm, she meets Hardin.
He appears to be the most handsome man alive but he is also impolite. As much as Tessa should hate him, she starts to fall for him. Their journey together becomes a roller coaster ride when she learns about Hardin’s past and the secrets he has kept from her. Who knew Tessa’s life would take a complete 360-degree turn after this?
AFTER: ANNA TODD: Amazon.in: Books
Also Read: 69 Dirty Pickup Lines For Him
3. Twilight – Stephenie Meyer
Twilight introduces us to a seventeen-year-old girl, Bella. She moves to Washington where she discovers and experiences a world different from what she is used to. Well, who is used to vampires and werewolves anyway?
She meets a boy named Edward Cullen and as they take their relationship forward, they come across various challenges and uncertainties that Edward brings. In this book, you will come across an unconventional love story, suspense, and whatnot.
Buy TWILIGHT Book Online at Low Prices in India | TWILIGHT Reviews & Ratings – Amazon. in
4. My Dark Vanessa – Kate Elizabeth Russell
Kate Elizabeth Russell talks about the story of Vanessa Wye. She is a fifteen-year-old girl who is stuck in an abusive relationship with Jacob Strane. Jacob Strane is a forty-year-old man who happens to be Vanessa’s English teacher.
She is in dilemma now as a former student of Jacob accuses him of sexual abuse and talks about it with Vanessa. Now what will she do? Will she speak up? Will she turn her back on her first love? Who knows?
5. Ugly Love – Colleen Hoover
Ugly Love is about Tate and Miles. They are attracted to each other, but it isn’t love at first sight. Tate is a nurse and Miles is a pilot who hides his feelings. He has serious commitment issues and isn’t ready for anything serious.
As Tate learns about Miles’s disturbing past, it makes their relationship difficult. Ugly Love deals with a variety of emotions. You’ll experience love, hope, longing, and heartache in this book. It will show you the complex side of relationships, and how the traumas we have experienced in the past affect our present.
Ugly Love: Hoover, Colleen: Amazon.in: Books
6. After Ever Happy – Anna Todd
After Ever Happy is the fourth book in the Afterr series. In this book, the story of Tessa and Hardin continues. They have made many mistakes in the past, but despite that, they try to find happiness in their lives.
They have a lot of trust issues and insecurities related to each other. This book will take you through the feelings of love, passion, vulnerability, pain, betrayal, and heartache.
AFTER EVER HAPPY: Todd, Anna: Amazon.in: Books
Also Read: Top 31 Best Long-Distance Relationship Songs
7. After We Collided – Anna Todd
After is the second book in the After series. Tessa finds out that Hardin is just messing with her and probably playing with her feelings. She is completely shattered and leaves him. She starts working and falls for another guy in her office.
A lot happens after, Hardin tries to fix himself, and Tessa drunk calls Hardin. There are a lot of arguments, conflicts, passion, desire, and betrayal. Now, you need to read for yourself how they get through this situation.
After We Collided (The After Series Book 2) eBook: Todd, Anna: Amazon.in: Kindle Store
8. Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me – Marika Tamaki
Laura Dean is a popular girl and Freddy Riley is in love with her. The good news here is, they got together. But things don’t seem to fall into place after they were together. Laura is famous, smart, charming, confident, and cute. But she can also be mean.
Laura keeps breaking up with Freddy and can’t get her head around why she keeps doing that. Freddy tries to seek help from Seek-Her, a local medium for help. The advice she got from there was a little out of the box, but she went for it anyway. Will the situation get any better after this? Or will they get apart forever? This book will take you through the journey of self-discovery with Freddy.
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me: Tamaki, Mariko: Amazon.in: Books
9. Bully – Penelope Douglas
How does it feel like to be bullied and shattered by your own best friend? That’s what Tate felt.
Bully is a popular YA novel that explores the story of two best friends, Tate and Jared. Jared has turned his back on Tate and started bullying her. Tate returns to her hometown after years and finds herself in this situation. Jared’s actions are inspired by a lot of unresolved feelings and issues related to his past. Tate is running from Jared and his behavior but eventually decides not to do it anymore.
This book is filled with feelings of anger, resentment, frustration, and fear. And it will make you feel the same way.
10. Magnolia Parks – Jessa Hastings
Magnolia Parks follows a very dysfunctional and codependent couple. This is not like a typical romance. It follows this couple, BJ and Magnolia. They are a part of Londen’s high society. They grew together as childhood friends and eventually became lovers. But BJ ends up cheating on Magnolia and breaks her heart.
Now, they have been separated for three years, and even though they have broken up, they just can not stay away from each other. Magnolia tries to date other people to get BJ off her mind, but can not see anyone other than her. Now what will this constant cycle of loving and hurting each other lead up to?
Also Read: How To Punish A Cheating Boyfriend Emotionally: 12 Solid Ways
11. Acts of Desperation – Megan Nolan
Acts of Desperation is about a woman who is engaging in very self-destructive acts in terms of her trying to discover herself. She is engaged in substance abuse and ends up falling in love with a man who is much older than her and certainly not good for her.
In this book, you’ll see power dynamics in an abusive way and she doesn’t see that because she is isolated, gaslit, and abused. This scenario completely shifts her personality from what it was before. Megan Nolan throws these very sharp gutting insights about desperation and longing in this book.
12. Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte
Wuthering Heights begins with a man called Mr. Lockwood who is venturing out from London and ends up on the moors of Yorkshire. There are two houses separated from one another, Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange. Wuthering Heights is run by a broken, horrible, and narcissistic man called Heathcliff.
In the house, Mr. Lockwood has a haunting experience where he experiences a ghost of a woman trying to get through the window of his room. He talks about this experience with the housekeeper, Nelly. Nelly tells him the story about what happened years back and it is nothing but disturbing. There was an abusive and haunting love story that led up to this situation.
Well, can we call it a love story? Who is the ghost? Why is it haunting Mr. Lockwood? Only the book can answer that.
13. After We Fell – Anna Todd
After We Fell is the third book in the After series. It starts exactly from where the second book is left. Tessa makes a big decision and everything seems to change. You will get introduced to Tessa’s father and the disturbing things he does.
There is a lot of back-and-forth between the characters. Brutal truths will be told and people will be hurt. But the one thing that remains constant is the heartache and pain.
14. Beautiful Disaster – Jamie McGuire
Beautiful Disaster follows two students, Travis and Abby. Travis is a sophomore and Abby is a freshman in college. Travis is a basement fighter and is undefeatable. They meet at one of Travis’s fights. He is attracted to her and unlike him, she needs to avoid him as he doesn’t have a good reputation.
One night they make this bet, if Travis wins then Abby has to live at his apartment for one month, and if Abby wins, he has to remain abstinent for a month. Either way, Travis has no idea what he’s getting into.
How the bet ends up? Now it is for you to figure out by reading the book.
BEAUTIFUL DISASTER: McGuire, Jamie: Amazon.in: Books
15. Credence – Penelope Douglas
Credence follows a girl named Tiernan de Hass, the daughter of two celebrities. She has grown up very rich and spoiled in a way that she could have possibly everything she needs. But her parents have always been ignorant of her and had no interest in her. They were just about each other.
Tiernan parents have passed away and her uncle Jake, calls her to stay with him. She learns to be a part of the family and find her place. All the characters living in the house now have some sort of attraction to her. Toxic right? It is a scandalous and spicy romance novel filled with passion, desire, fear, and uncertainty.
Credence: Douglas, Penelope: Amazon.in: Books
16. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo follows the life of Evelyn Hugo who is a Hollywood star. The story is told from Monique Grant’s point of view. She is a journalist who is writing the biography of Evelyn.
Evelyn is finally ready to share her story with the world. She shares her glamorous life and how she got there, her struggles, and most importantly her seven husbands. But why does she want Monique to share her story? Shes not even as famous as her. Why not someone else? Is there something that Evelyn is hiding?
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo: A Novel: TAYLOR JENKINS REID: Amazon.in: Books
17. Twisted Love – Ana Huang
Twisted Love is the first book in the Twisted series. It tells the story of Ava and Alex. This is a grumpy meet-sunshine and enemies-to-lovers trope. Ava is the younger sister of Josh, who is best friends with Alex.
Josh asks Alex to look over Ava while he is gone. Ava and Alex have never gotten along too much. Alex’s feelings about Ava have changed over time and he feels ownership of her. From there this entire story is filled with tension and angst. Both Alex and Ava have some traumatic experiences that have happened in their past and will open up to each other about them over time. It’s an easy read and hard to put down.
TWISTED LOVE: the must-read brother’s best friend romance: Huang, Ana: Amazon.in: Books
Also Read: 220 Must-Ask Long Distance Relationship Questions To Nurture Your Bond
18. In the Dream House – Carmen Maria Machado
In the Dream House is a memoir and it’s about an emotionally abusive relationship that the author has with her ex-girlfriend. It’s a book about her identity and sexuality. The author uses the metaphor of the dream house as a placeholder for her relationship with her ex.
Machado speaks very openly about a lot of raw moments in her life. She shows the different ways domestic abuse and violence can present itself. It is a story of her relationship with a woman that slowly degrades into something horrible and terrifying. You will see how complexities and domestic abuse take shape in this LGBTQ+ relationship.
19. A Court of Mist and Fury – Sarah J. Maas
A Court of Mist and Fury is a sequel to A Court of Thorns and Roses. The plot of A Court of Mist and Fury takes you into the spring court where Feyre is recovering from her time under the mountain. She is going through traumatic PTSD and having horrible nightmares.
You will see Feyre and Tamlin’s relationship is unsteady. She is supposed to get married to Tamlin and maybe she’s about to say no. There are other characters involved who will make the story take a turn.
20. The Wicker King – K. Ancrum
The Wicker King is about two teen male characters, August and Jack. They are best friends, and Jack lives with August because his parents are always at work. Jack is having hallucinations, and it’s about the time when they were kids. They used to play the Wicker King game in their childhood, and the whole story revolves around that.
Now august is determined to help his friend get out of this situation. There are other characters involved who tell him to get help. Eventually, things will go crazy and break loose.
The Wicker King: Ancrum, K.: Amazon.in: Books
21. Flowers in the Attic – V.C. Andrews
In Flowers in the Attic, you follow a girl named Cathy. The book opens up with a description of the Dollanganger family. The family comprises six members, father – Christopher, mother – Corrine, Chris, Cathy, and 5-year-old twins Carrie and Cory.
One day Christopher dies in a car accident, and Corrine is left in debt. They eventually went to Corrine’s parent’s house to live. But they have to keep a little secret from her dying father. He doesn’t know that she has kids, and he shouldn’t. So they kept the children in an unused attic for a little while. Who knew the little while would turn into years of suffering?
Will they ever get out of this loop? Will they ever get to see their mother?
22. But I Love Him – Amanda Grace
But I Love Him is about an eighteen-year-old girl named Ann. The story begins with a one-year mark, where Ann and her boyfriend Conner have completed one year of togetherness. Conner is abusive and toxic, but Ann is trapped. Ann is captivated by her love for Connor and believes she can change him to make their relationship work, despite the warning flags and the worry of her friends and family.
As the situation gets worse Ann gets surrounded by emotions of confusion, love, fear, and guilt. Ann is helpless and in self-doubt. But I Love Him also shows you signs of a toxic and abusive relationship and when to seek help.
But I Love Him: Grace, Amanda: Amazon.in: Books
23. Lolita – Vladimir Nabokov
Lolita follows the plot where the protagonist, Humbert Humbert is attracted to underage girls. He falls for Annabel, but she dies of typhus. Now he is obsessed with girls between the ages of 9 to 14. He refers to those girls as Nymphets. He also projects the blame onto these young girls that he is attracted to them, and releases himself of guilt.
Now he is in his late 30s and moves to the US. there he comes across the 12-year-old daughter of the landlady, Dolores. He lives in the house and fuels his desires. What will happen when the landlady gets to know about Humbert’s intentions about her daughter? How will Humbert manipulate them?
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24. Haunting Adeline – H.D. Carlton
Haunting Adeline follows a girl named Adeline. She is in her mid-20s and a popular indie author. As the story progresses, she inherits a mansion from her grandmother. Her mother doesn’t approve of her living in the mansion that is in the middle of nowhere.
There is a history related to the mansion, Adeline’s great-grandmother was murdered in the house. But things don’t feel right right after she moves in, and they will never be the same. She is not alone in this house, though she thinks she is.
She finds out that her great-grandmother had a stalker, and the history seems to repeat itself. Adeline has a stalker too. He wants Adeline to fall in love with him, and he is certain that she will. And Adeline wants everything except him. How will she get rid of this stalker? Or will she start to fall for him?
25. The Writing Retreat – Julia Bartz
The writing retreat follows people who end up going to a writing retreat with an esteemed famous author Roza Vallo. She invites these people to her estate which is in the middle of nowhere, creepy, and old.
The main character Alex, is one of those people. When they arrive at the estate, they learn that they need to write a complete book by the end of this retreat. To make things spicy and interesting, Roza declared that the person who wrote the best book was going to win a seven-figure book deal. And now this has turned into a competition. Stuff starts to get weird, the house has a dark energy to it.
One of the girls disappears and everyone starts to get suspicious. Things will get weirder and creepier.
The Writing Retreat: A New York Times bestseller eBook: Bartz, Julia: Amazon.in: Books
26. The Reaper – RuNyx
The Reaper is the sequel to the book” predator”. This book follows the story of The Predator as Morana goes to enemy territory with Tristan. Now her former enemy has become her protector. The Tenebrae Outfit doesn’t seem to be happy to have her.
Tristan decides to break his vow of revenge. Now he is protecting Morana from her family. But the codes are still not hers, but someone on the internet is providing her with hints. But who is this reaper? And how do they know so much?
27. The Predator – RuNyx
The Predator is the first book in the Dark Verse series. Morana belongs to a mafia family and is extremely smart. Her dream is to run away from her life and lead a completely different one. One day she creates software that could bring down the mobs. Unfortunately, someone runs away with the software, and she is on the hunt for it.
She is ready for everything that’s about to come, even if that means killing a mob – Tristan Cane. He is loaded with weapons and is dangerous. He caught Morana seeking into his room but still let her go. But is he really done with her? Is he the one to steal the software? Well, the mystery is yet to be figured.
THE PREDATOR BY RUNYX PAPERBACK ENGLISH EDITION 2023: Amazon.in: Books
28. Birthday Girl – Penelope Douglas
Birthday Girl follows the story of a girl named Jordan. She is in a relationship with a guy named Cole and they live in a small town. Jordan comes from a poor background and is working at a bar. At one point, they end up getting kicked out of their apartment and this leaves them with no place to live. Now they decide to move in with Cole’s dad, Pike until they get back on their feet.
Jordan and Pike have met each other before. They shared a connection and now are living under the same roof. Eventually, you will see Jordan’s and Pike’s relationship evolve. Jordan finds Pike attractive and they get along quite well. As Cole is rarely home and doesn’t treat her right, she is enjoying his father’s company. Now you have to see what happens between the three of them. Will Jordan and Pike end up getting together? What does Colw has to say about the situation?
Birthday Girl: Douglas, Penelope: Amazon.in: Books
29. It Starts With Us – Colleen Hoover
It Starts With Us picks up right where the book It Ends With Us left off. At the end of the first book It Ends With Us, you are left thinking that Lily and Atlas are going to have a happy ending.
The story of It Starts With Us alternates between Lily’s and Atlas’s points of view. They are trying to figure their way out of their confusing situation. They find each other wanting to get back together as they were right for each other but the timing was never right. But Lily is in a tough situation because she has recently gotten divorced and is learning to co-parent with Rile. There is more trauma, more drama, more painful anxiety-inducing moments, and moments of revisiting the past.
It Starts With Us: Kunex, Kunex, Kunex, Kunex: Amazon.in: Books
Also Read: Who Is More Loyal Male Or Female In A Relationship (& WHY)
30. Verity – Colleen Hoover
Verity follows a girl named Lowen Ashleigh. She is a struggling writer with poor financial conditions. Her life flips upside down when she receives an offer to complete a book series. The author of the series is Verity Crawford who has gotten into an accident and now she is unable to complete the series.
Lowen ends up staying at Verity’s house. Now she is going through the author’s office, looking through her manuscripts, and trying to figure out the best way to finish the series. Things start to get weird as she comes across a manuscript that is the start of an autobiography. Lowen finds out some disturbing stuff in the autobiography and is struggling to keep things from Verity’s husband, Jeremy. There are going to be plot twists after plot twists and an emotional rollercoaster ride.
VERITY [Paperback] Hoover, Colleen: Hoover, Colleen: Amazon.in: Books
Conclusion
These are a few of the many books that talk about toxic relationships. These stories have the power to get into your mind and provoke thought. They are the proof that relationships are not always roses and unicorns, sometimes you have to go through rough patches as well. Through these stories, we also find growth and strength to get out of such situations.
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