5 Supernatural Romance Books Of The Past 10 Years That Rival Twilight

Twilight has been a worldwide phenomenon for 21 years, and these five supernatural romance books rival the beloved YA series. Vampire love stories were among the fantasy subgenres that led to the late 2000s and 2010s obsession with paranormal romances. Unlike the more recently popular romantasy subgenre, paranormal romances are almost always set in the real world, with the supernatural creatures existing in hiding. Additionally, romance is the driving force of the story rather than the fantasy.

While many paranormal romance books have fallen into obscurity, Twilight has experienced a resurgence in popularity over the past few years. Older fans are revisiting the series with appreciation and fresh eyes. Folks who wrote off the series back when it came out are enjoying it for the first time. Plus, Gen Z and older Gen Alpha have embraced The Twilight Saga. However, other paranormal romance books from the past decade capture the feeling of Twilight while also offering new story elements and characters that make them true rivals of Stephanie Meyer’s novels.

5

Shadow Touched By Becky Moynihan

Shadow Touched is the first of five vampire romance books, feeling familiar yet fresh. McKenna Belmont is on the verge of turning 18 when she moves in with her aunt Tess in Rosewood, Maine, hoping for some normalcy despite her big secret. However, her attempt to start anew is thwarted when two attractive but mysterious teens arrive at the school immediately after her, including the prickly guy, Lochlan D’Angelo.

The vampire romance book is marketed as a great choice for fans of Twilight and The Vampire Diaries, and the homage is clear, especially to Stephanie Meyer’s novels. Bella and McKenna are high school students thrust into the supernatural world. Twilight and Shadow Touched also feature a forbidden and fated romance between a human in peril and a fiercely overprotective love interest.

Despite the similarities, two things make it a true rival to Twilight. The book series feels more mature, making it ideal for OG Twilight fans who have now aged. Additionally, Becky Moynihan’s prose is more engaging and complex. There’s nothing inherently wrong with simple prose, but it does make Shadow Touched and the series feel meant for adults instead of teens.

4

Wicked Fox by Kat Cho

In Wicked Fox, a gumiho named Miyoung looks like a typical woman, but the nine-tailed fox is forced to feed on the life force of men to survive. Hating her supernatural curse, she only targets murderous men, seeing it as a punishment for their misdeeds. However, things get complicated when a demon targets her human classmate, Jihoon. After saving him, she struggles to keep her harmful side under control. The two must team up when she loses her soul bead.

Wicked Fox is what happens when you combine a Twilight-like premise and a K-drama. It has a young-adult premise in which a human and a dangerous supernatural entity are bound together. The story centers on a forbidden romance with potentially grave consequences, leading the supernatural love interest to push the human away. External threats bring Miyoung and Jihoon closer.

However, there are some key differences that make Wicked Fox a formidable alternative to Twilight. Rather than a small-town setting, the book is set in Seoul, incorporates Korean mythology, and features K-drama tropes. On top of that, there’s no love triangle to distract from Miyoung and Jihoon’s relationship.

3

Sunsets & Other Dangerous Things by Dani Frank

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The Sapphic book Sunsets & Other Dangerous Things is perfect for adult Twilight fans, especially folks who shipped Alice and Bella as a couple. In the book, a jobless millennial named Ashley was sold a romanticized vision of vampirism, and she’s now juggling student loans and avoiding vampire hunters. At the behest of her vampire family, she enrolls in undergrad with the goal of getting through a year without revealing she’s a vampire. However, she quickly finds herself head over heels for her human grad assistant, Esther. The two get paired up in one of their classes, and they concoct a plan to pretend to be a couple over Christmas. This threatens to reveal her undead status.

Sunsets & Other Dangerous Things is very different from Twilight in style and tone, but it also has similarities. The vampire-human relationship puts the human in serious danger. Both stories explore the theme of found family over biological family. The couple includes one broody loner and an awkward but sunnier person. However, it’s flipped in that the human is angsty while the vamp is friendly.

Dani Frank’s book even includes good-spirited, meta jokes about Twilight and The Vampire Diaries. The biggest difference between the two is that Sunsets & Other Dangerous Things is sapphic, campy, and spicy. Plus, Twilight is dramatic while the newer book is a rom-com.

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2

White by Angelina J. Steffort

After losing her family, an ordinary 18-year-old named Claire tries to get her life back on track. However, fate intervenes, introducing her to the handsome and mysterious young man named Adam. She cannot explain why she’s drawn to him, but she quickly falls for him. However, Adam has a big secret. He’s an angel stuck in the never-ending battle between good and evil.

Although it’s a bit slow to start, the book White is like Twilight if Edward were an angel instead of a vampire, and it’s well worth reading if you can get through the beginning. Claire is just getting started at a new high school, like Bella. Adam and Claire are absolutely fated lovers, with the dynamic between the human and supernatural being. On top of that, Claire gets pulled into a long-standing conflict in the paranormal world. With Bella, it’s the Volturi. With Claire, it’s the battle between good and evil.

Despite the similarities, White diverges from Twilight in its profound exploration of grief, even eliciting a few tears toward the end. The descriptions are vivid, tapping into multiple senses. On top of that, the angel-and-demon story will feel refreshing to those who want something a little different.

1

Love Immortal By Kit Vincent

On their social media, author Kit Vincent promotes Love Immortal as a gay Dracula retelling that’s perfect for Twilight fans. The story follows college sophomore Jonathan Evergreen, who attends an isolated college, navigates heartbreak, and copes with family ostracism. When his advisor goes missing, he’s left with no allies. However, everything changes when a mysterious new professor named Dacian Bathory shows up.

The vampire and human romance isn’t the only reason why the Twilight comparison is apt. The duo has a magnetic attraction that feels fated and larger-than-life. Their small-town setting heightens the mysterious, atmospheric ambiance. Dacian is a hot-and-cold love interest, much like Edward in the first Twilight. On top of that, Love Immortal features classic literature references, much like The Twilight Saga. The book also has an official curated playlist like the first Twilight book.

However, Love Immortal sets itself apart in a few big ways. Firstly, the age gap exists in both Twilight and Love Immortal. Jonathan is actually an adult, though, so it feels a little less weird. On top of that, it weaves in a compelling murder mystery. The good news is, now is the perfect time to read Love Immortal because the sequel, True Love Is Dead, comes out in Fall 2026.

Book(s)

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (2005)

Character(s)

Bella Swan, Edward Cullen, Jacob Black, Alice Cullen, Carlisle Cullen, Esme Cullen, Emmett Cullen, Rosalie Hale, Jasper Hale, Charlie Swan