Normally, three’s a crowd. But in these romance novels, it’s the perfect number. That’s right—we’re talking menage romance.
The only thing better than two people falling in love is three, and these popular romance books have that in spades.
What is menage romance?
Menage romance is a polyamorous relationship between three people. Different from a love triangle, which is two people vying for the affections of one person, as well as a threesome, which is solely what happens in the bedroom, the three people in a menage romance are all in love with each other and get their HEA, or happily ever after.
And just like with any other relationship, each menage romance is unique! Here’s some lingo that may be helpful as you browse book summaries:
MMF—male/male/female: This refers to scenarios where the men are bisexual, either having had a relationship with each other before meeting the woman or developing an MM connection while involved with the woman.
MFM—male/female/male: This situation is where both men are straight, with the romantic focus solely on the woman.
MFF—male/female/female: Here, the women are bisexual, with the possibility of having had relationships before meeting the man or forming a connection with each other while they are with him.
FMF—female /male/female: Here, the women do not have a romantic connection with each other, and the storyline revolves solely around the man.
MMM—male/male/male: Here, the romance is exclusively between men.
FFF—female/female/female: In this situation, the romance is solely among the women.
While these are some common makeups for menage relationships, some characters may identify elsewhere on the LGBTQ+ spectrum and/or non-binary spectrum!
8 spicy menage romances you’ll fall in love with
From cowboys on a ranch to Greek gods on Olympus, each of these novels feature a trio as they explore everything that a menage romance has to offer...and we do mean everything. Add these recommendations to your TBR!
1. “Wicked Beauty” by Katee Robert
From beloved BookTok author Katee Robert comes the third book in her Dark Olympus series. In this Helen of Troy retelling, the positions of the Olympians are hard-fought and won. When the title of Ares becomes available, longtime lovers Achilles and Patroclus enter the competition, hoping to double their chances of winning. It doesn’t hurt that the beautiful Helen Kasios is part of the prize.
But to the shock of everyone on Olympus, Helen enters the competition herself, hoping to win her own hand in marriage and break free from being a pawn to powerful gods.
She forms an unexpected alliance with Achilles and Patroclus, who have an unwritten rule amongst themselves: Neither of them can sleep with Helen. But when each one does and the other finds out, they decide to skip the secret-keeping and have their fun out in the open—all three of them.
According to Goodreads users, this MMF Greek mythology menage will have you shouting “Oh my gods!” with every page.
2. “American Queen” by Sierra Simone
Ranked as one of the #BestofBookTok by Amazon, this menage romance book follows Greer Galloway, the granddaughter of a former vice president who’s skilled in the subtle art of politics.
When she’s just 15, she meets and shares her first kiss with Maxen Ashley "Ash" Colcheste, a war hero more than a decade her senior. Years later, after they’ve gone their separate ways, she shares her second kiss with a man named Embry. Greer never expects to encounter them again—least of all together...in the Oval Office.
Now, Ash is the President of the United States and Embry is his vice president. Greer is the woman who loves them both in different ways, and the feeling is mutual. The three of them share many things: history, secrets, and desire. With the fate of the country in their hands, they encounter more problems than one...but their unique bond may be the solution.
“American Queen” is the first book in New Camelot, a steamy ménage à trois romance series.
3. “Spurred” by Vanessa Vale
The first book in a menage-themed cowboy romance series, “Spurred” follows Kady Parks, a teacher from Philadelphia who learns she’s inherited a ranch from the father she never knew. Soon, she finds herself on Steele Ranch in Barlow, Montana alongside Riley, the lawyer for the estate, and Cord, the private investigator who tracked her down.
Riley and Cord team up to find the five daughters of a billionaire ranch owner who are set to inherit his fortune, as dictated in his will. When they locate Kady, the first daughter on their list, they’re both instantly smitten. A break-in and an attempted murder plot push the trio together as they work to keep Kady safe. Their shared spark only grows from the forced proximity and twinge of danger.
Kady knew moving out west meant getting a ranch, but she never imagined she’d lasso not one, but two hot cowboys.
4. “Team Players” by Dipsea
Noelle is doing her best to keep up with her professional footballer boyfriend, Darius, but it’s not easy. When she asks to join one of her handsome Brit’s training sessions, she’s surprised when he says yes. She’s even more surprised when he invites his teammate, Bryce, to join them. The trio are running up and down the field, but it’s the heat between them that has them breaking a sweat. And just like that, it’s game on.
From spicy pre-game rituals to private victory parties, the threesome start scoring more than goals. This original MFM menage romance audiobook is diverse, fun, and steamier than a locker room shower.
5. “Double Pucked” by Lauren Blakely
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely comes book 1 of a new menage hockey romance series. When 25-year-old bookstore manager Trina discovers that her boyfriend is cheating on her, she grabs her dog and moves out of their San Francisco home—but not before swiping his recently-won VIP hockey tickets as a small act of revenge. Not only does she get a front-row seat to the game, but she also wins a night out with the biggest star from each team.
Rivals on the ice and best friends off, Ryker Samuels is the grump to Chase Weston’s sunshine. When they hit the town with Trina, they invite her back to their place for a nightcap...and more.
Their steamy threesome is supposed to be a one-night stand, but when Chase and Ryker learn about Trina’s breakup, they invite her to be their temporary roomie. As Trina helps Ryker with his reputation and accompanies Chase to a wedding, their casual group dynamic gets complicated by real feelings. Trina never thought she’d find herself in this situation, but her reverse harem rebound may just be her HEA.
You can read “Double Pucked” as a contemporary romance standalone or follow it up with its three (wink, wink) sequels.
6. “Sugar Daddies” by Jade West
Carl Brooks and Rick Warner are two men in a happy, loving relationship. Still, they feel as though something is missing and seek out a female partner to take them from happy couple to happy throuple. After signing up on a sugar daddy match site, they meet Katie Smith, a small town girl with dreams of opening her own horse riding school—a dream that’ll cost a lot of money.
The three enter into a profitable and satisfying arrangement, but Carl and Rick want more. They want Katie to be a permanent part of their lives. When Katie’s past comes back to complicate her present, Carl and Rick come to her aid. With time, their connection deepens and suddenly a future together sure looks sweet.
7. “In the Dark” by Dipsea
Lexi has been friends with Jada and Mateo forever. When a power outage curbs their plan to attend a party, they change course and stay in instead. Huddled in the dark with nothing but candlelight, they decide to play “Truth or Dare” to pass the time. After a few innocent rounds, the dares start to get bolder...and spicier. Even with the lights out, there’s no denying that their chemistry is electric.
After an unexpected, but steamy, night, Lexi resumes her normal life and doesn’t speak to Jada and Mateo for a few weeks. She accepts an invitation from her college friends to join them for a weekend getaway upstate, not knowing that Jada and Mateo would be there as well.
Reunited for the first time since their hookup, Lexi realizes that the sparks between them are still very much alive. After everyone else has gone to sleep, the threesome sneak out of the cabin for an adventure of their own. Could their friendship become a love story? Find out in this MFF menage romance audiobook.
8. “Triple Sec” by TJ Alexander
Mel is a jaded bartender at a swanky New York lounge. After her divorce—not to mention witnessing her share of cringeworthy first dates from behind the bar—she has no interest in dating.
But when a funny, vivacious whiskey enthusiast named Bebe comes in for a drink one night, Mel feels her icy exterior start to thaw. When she learns that Bebe is married, she’s braced for disappointment. Only, Bebe reveals that she’s in an open marriage...and asks Mel out.
Soon, Mel discovers a whole new side to herself. One that involves grand romantic gestures, steamy rendezvous, and even an unexpected connection to Bebe’s spouse, Kade. As her world gets shaken, and real feelings begin to stir, she must decide if her happily ever after can include two true loves.
Menage romance is triple the fun
Sure, a relationship involving three people can be complicated. But it can also be the path to more love, more romance, and more steam than you thought possible.
To explore all that menage has to offer, sign up for a 30-day free trial of Dipsea. You’ll get personalized and curated audiobooks that have steamy storylines, hot voices, and moments that will give you goosebumps!
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