Let’s be real—being the “nice girl” all the time is exhausting. The villain era isn’t about being bad, it’s about finally being bold. It’s saying “no” without guilt, choosing yourself first, and not shrinking to make others comfortable. This book stack is full of fierce main characters who are done with people-pleasing and ready to live life on their own terms. Whether they’re chasing dreams, cutting toxic ties, or just having their main character moment, these stories are here to hype you up while you step into your power.
My Name Is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende, Frances Riddle (translator)
Born to an abandoned Irish nun in Gold Rush-era San Francisco, Emilia Valle transforms hardship into independence. Under her devoted stepfather’s wing, she nurtures her rebellious spirit and literary talents, ultimately securing a coveted newspaper position despite gender barriers. When revolution erupts in her ancestral Chile, Emilia and colleague Eric chase the dangerous story south. Amid bullets and political chaos, she uncovers more than headlines—she discovers her aristocratic father’s legacy and her own divided heritage. As war intensifies, Emilia must choose between the life she’s built and the blood ties newly revealed, while battling threats from all sides.
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All We Lost Was Everything by Sloan Harlow
When grief-stricken waitress River Santos discovers her father’s deadly house fire wasn’t accidental, her world implodes. Caught between charming Logan’s sudden attention, her ex Noah’s lingering presence, and best friend Tawny’s protective warnings, River finds romance overshadowed by sinister revelations. As she unravels a web of hometown deception, River’s innocent facade crumbles, replaced by calculated suspicion. This thriller showcases the quintessential villain era transformation—a young woman abandoning her people-pleasing instincts to embrace ruthless determination. When she is betrayed by those closest to her, her survival requires becoming the dangerous force others would fear.
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King Of Envy by Ana Huang
In Manhattan’s elite circles, scarred recluse Vuk Markovic watches from shadows as supermodel Ayana Kidane—his secret obsession—prepares to marry his best friend in a convenient arrangement. Their perfectly crafted facades crack when forbidden attraction ignites between them, blurring loyalty lines and awakening dangerous desires. When wedding plans unravel, Ayana finds unexpected refuge in Vuk’s protective embrace. But as his dark past resurfaces, threatening their forbidden connection, both must decide whether to maintain their carefully constructed lives or surrender to the primal instinct that binds them. Perfect for your villain era—when you realize sometimes the most delicious choice is choosing yourself over others’ expectations.
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One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune
Behind her camera, Alice has safely observed life rather than living it. When her grandmother’s injury brings them back to Barry’s Bay—where one fateful photo changed everything—Alice expects healing, not disruption. Then Charlie Florek roars back into her world in his yellow speedboat, all grown from the teenage subject she once photographed into a man who sees through her carefully constructed barriers. As lakeside days reawaken her buried desires, Alice must decide: remain safely invisible or step unapologetically into the frame of her own life. This summer romance validates your villain era mindset that sometimes the most rebellious act is choosing yourself after a lifetime of hiding.
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Audre & Bash Are Just Friends by Tia Williams
At prestigious Cheshire Prep, perfectionist Audre Mercy-Moore’s summer plans implode when her father cancels her Malibu escape, leaving her trapped in Brooklyn with her blended family and a Stanford application. Enter enigmatic Bash Henry—jewelry-adorned, universally adored, and professionally fun. When Audre hires him as her “fun consultant” to complete five wild dares for her self-help book, their business arrangement promises clear boundaries: experiences for her, payment for him. But as Brooklyn’s summer heat intensifies, their chemistry complicates their contract, challenging Audre’s carefully constructed world. The ultimate villain era read for overachievers learning that breaking your own rules might be the most strategic move of all.
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Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan
Power-player Hendrix Barry has conquered the entertainment industry with her sharp mind and unstoppable drive, balancing career success with eldercare responsibilities. Romance? A luxury she can’t afford—until tech billionaire Maverick Bell locks eyes with her at summer’s elite gathering. Their instant connection defies logic: he sees beyond her carefully curated image, appreciating the woman beneath the ambition. Despite their electrifying chemistry, Maverick represents the ultimate forbidden temptation—a distraction from the meticulously planned path she’s determined to follow. As he persistently courts her with unexpected understanding and indulgent attention, Hendrix faces her villain era’s ultimate question: is protecting your established empire worth sacrificing the one person who makes you feel truly powerful?
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Courtroom Drama by Neely Tubati Alexander
For Sydney Parks, jury duty is her escape from mundane reality—especially when selected for the sensational murder trial of reality star Margot Kitsch. Her courtroom fantasy transforms into personal drama when childhood friend Damon appears in the jury box beside her, their decade-long silence now impossible to maintain. As evidence mounts in the celebrity case, so does Sydney’s forbidden attraction to the rule-breaking man she once almost loved. Trapped between judicial duty and rekindled desire, Sydney navigates courthouse politics by day and dangerous temptation by night, risking not only their shared verdict but confronting unresolved emotions that threaten both justice and her heart. Your villain era thrives in this story of a woman choosing personal fulfillment over institutional expectations, consequences be damned.
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Knife In The Back by Karen Rose
Framed for drug theft and silenced by threats to her son, former officer Naomi Cranston served five years for crimes she never committed. Now free but far from safe, the same criminals demand she distribute narcotics through her flower shop. This time, Naomi refuses victimhood. She hires skeptical investigator Burke Broussard, who quickly finds himself captivated by both her case and her unwavering resilience. As they expose a dangerous NOPD conspiracy, professional boundaries blur into forbidden attraction. Their fragile bond faces the ultimate test when enemies close in, threatening not only her son but their chance at justice and redemption. The ultimate villain era narrative where a wronged woman transforms from prisoner to architect of her enemies’ spectacular downfall.
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What Hunger by Catherine Dang
In the limbo summer before high school, Ronny Nguyen drifts through suburban boredom while her golden-child brother Tommy prepares for college. Their Vietnamese immigrant parents, who communicate love through meticulously prepared meals rather than stories of their war-torn homeland, have instilled in their children that meat represents both survival and privilege. When unexpected tragedy shatters Ronny’s world and her understanding of her family— a predatory encounter at her first high school party awakens something primal within her. Suddenly possessing a terrifying new power and an uncontrollable craving for raw meat, Ronny must reconcile her newfound strength with its potential to destroy everything she loves. This coming-of-age horror embodies the villain era’s darkest truth: sometimes embracing your most dangerous instincts is the only path to authentic power.
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It Was Her House First by Cherie Priest
Silent film star Venita Rost’s vengeful spirit haunts her cliffside mansion, keeping Inspector Sloan’s ghost captive to witness her eternal wrath. When grieving Ronnie Mitchell inherits the blood-soaked property, her renovation plans disturb more than dust. A mysterious visitor arrives with dangerous secrets and hidden connections to the house, awakening Venita’s supernatural fury. Caught between a malevolent spirit and human threats, Ronnie’s skepticism crumbles as reality blurs. The boundary between living and dead dissolves, forcing her to confront the mansion’s horrific past before joining its ghostly inhabitants. This supernatural thriller embodies the villain era’s ultimate truth: sometimes the most terrifying monsters are created by those who wronged them.
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