What Does Forced Proximity Mean in Romance Novels?

What is the meaning of forced proximity?

Forced proximity is when two characters are forced to stay in an area together. Forced proximity is a common trope in romance novels and often features two main characters who either don’t like each other or don’t know each other. Over the course of the novel, the two characters gradually catch feelings for one another, and typically end up as a couple by the end of the novel.

Forced Proximity Books

Flawless by Elsie Silver Flawless follows Summer Hamilton, who works at her father’s public relations company after being assigned to a professional bull rider named Rhett Eaton. A PR controversy puts Eaton in hot water and Hamilton is responsible for pulling him out. Rhett is initially annoyed with Hamilton, but as the novel progresses, the two begin to develop a romantic relationship. Flawless is the first installment in Silver’s Chestnut Springs Series.

Heartless by Elsie Silver Heartless is a follow-up to Flawless and follows Rhett’s brother, Cade Eaton. Cade is a grumpy single dad who hires a live-in nanny named Willa. Throughout the course of the story, Cade and Willa get to know each other and form a deep, heartfelt connection. This story explores family dynamics, fatherhood as a single man, and finding love throughout it all.

Lease on Love by Falon Ballard Lease on Love is a slow-burn that follows Sadie, a hard-working woman who is forced to leave her dream apartment after being passed over for a promotion. After leaving, she becomes roommates with a man named Jack, who isn’t initially her type. As the two go from strangers to roommates, their friendship slowly develops into an intimate romance.

Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake Delilah Green Doesn’t Care is a steamy romantic comedy that follows Delilah Green as she returns to her hometown for her stepsister Astrid’s wedding. At the wedding, she sees Claire Sutherland, one of Astrid’s best friends, and pursues her for casual fun. As the novel progresses, Claire and Delilah develop a relationship that goes from frenemies to lovers.

The Godparent Trap by Rachel van Dyke In The Godparent Trap, the main character Colby is a popular food blogger who travels the globe. When an accident leaves her as the co-guardian to her best friend’s children, Colby finds herself staying in a house with Rip, an accountant and fellow co-guardian to the children. The two can’t stand each other, at first, but soon discover that they need each other if they want the children to have good lives.

When in Rome by Sarah Adams In When in Rome, Amelia (aka Rose Ray) is a pop megastar who is tired of her lifestyle. To clear her head, she drives to Rome, Kentucky, but her car dies 15 kilometers (9.32 miles) outside of town, and right in front of Noah’s house. Noah is a grump who just got out of a relationship. The last thing he wants is a superstar in his front lawn, but as he gets to know her, he begins to open up and their relationship starts to blossom.

The Right Move by Liz Tomforde The Right Move is the second installment in Liz Tomforde’s Windy City Series and follows Ryan Shay, an NBA player, and Indy Ivers, his sister’s best friend. The two are forced to live together and even pretend to date. Although Ivers disapproves of Shay, sparks begin to fly as their fake relationship develops into something full of uncovered emotions and secrets.

The Unhoneymooners by Lauren Billings and Christina Hobbs The Unhoneymooners centers around Olive Torres as she prepares for her sister’s wedding. During the wedding, Olive is forced to spend time with Ethan Thomas, the groom’s brother. He throws jabs at her during the wedding, but once everyone but them gets food poisoning, they are given two non-refundable honeymoon tickets, where they discover new sides of each other. This faux-honeymoon takes their relationship from one of adversaries to one of lovers.

Twisted Games by Ana Huang Twisted Games follows Princess Bridget von Ascheberg and her bodyguard, Rhys Larsen. The two initially start as enemies, but as they navigate their guilt, social expectations, and royal duties, they begin to develop a romance that’s forbidden, but blossoms into something special.

Unbound by Cara McKenna In Unbound, the main character Merry is struggling with the loss of her mother and goes on a hike in the Highlands to find new meaning. But disaster strikes and she is forced to seek refuge in the hands of Rob, who moved to the Highlands to escape his self-destructive tendencies. As Rob nurses Merry back to health, the two begin a flirtatious journey into a steamy, passionate relationship.

Last Light by Claire Kent Set in a post-apocalyptic future, Last Light follows Travis and Layne. Travis used to be Layne’s mechanic, now he’s her only companion. He’s a gruff, unfriendly guy who fights to protect Layne. Although their relationship starts as an unlikely partnership of acquaintances, it develops into something completely different by the end of the book.

Managed by Kristen Callihan Managed follows the manager of the rock band Kill John, Gabriel Scott. He’s handsome and arrogant, the last type of guy Sophie Darling would fall for. The two are sat next to each other on a plane, and although Gabriel complains to the airline about Sophie being in a seat he paid for, she still introduces herself. As they get to know each other over the course of the flight, an odd sense of intimacy begins to develop, taking them through an intense romantic journey.

Polaris Rising by Jessie Mihalik Set in the far future, Polaris Rising follows Princess Ada von Hasenburg and ex military fugitive Marcus Loch as they fight for their freedom from the oppressive Royal Consortium. What begins as a paid for alliance blossoms into a flirtatious relationship that dares to tow the line of a relationship, making for the perfect forced proximity read.

Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle In Twice Shy, Maybell Parish feels stuck in life. To cope, she leaves her life behind and moves into a mansion she inherited from her great-aunt for a fresh start. It’s at this mansion that she discovers Wesley Koehler, the mansion’s groundskeeper and co-inheritor. The two clash on what the property should become, but soon realize there are feelings beneath the surface that are bigger than their property dispute.

Closer Than You Think by Karen Rose Closer Than You Think follows Faith Corcoran, a psychologist who’s being stalked by a serial killer. When FBI Agent Deacon Novak is sent to track down the killer, he meets Corcoran and soon falls for her. The two realize that there’s more than meets the eye with this case and work together to solve it, developing feelings along the way.

Lord Dashwood Missed Out by Tessa Dare In Lord Dashwood Missed Out, Elinora grew up crushing on George. When George leaves the island, she resorts to writing to him. He eventually returns to find that Elinora has written him off, but once the two become trapped in a cabin during the winter storm, their hot tempers dare to boil over into passionate love.

Bollywood and the Beast by Suleikha Snyder Bollywood and the Beast follows Rakhee Varma, an outspoken bi-racial actress who doesn’t feel accepted by either of her cultures. She is filming a movie in Delhi and stays in the crumbling mansion of her leading co-star. Her co-star’s brother, Taj Ali Khan, haunts the mansion, and he doesn’t like Varma. But, as the novel progresses, the two become closer and closer.

An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole In Alyssa Cole’s An Extraordinary Union, former slave Elle Burns returns to a life of enslavement to spy for the Union Army. Malcolm McCall is a detective who is tasked with infiltrating a Rebel enclave in Virginia. McCall comes across Burns when they discover a plot that could lead to a Confederate victory, and the two develop a romantic relationship as they fight to preserve the Union. A fight that puts their relationship to the test.

From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata From Lukov with Love follows Jasmine Santos and Ivan Lukov. The two are talented figure skaters who start as enemies until Lukov offers Santos a chance to get back on the ice after a few rough years. Santos is eager to return to the ice, but has a hard time trusting Lukov. As the novel progresses, the two slowly develop an attachment to each other.

The American Roommate Experiment by Elena Armas The American Roommate Experiment follows Rosie Graham, a romance author who’s having a hard time writing her next book. It doesn’t help that her apartment is rendered uninhabitable after an accident. This accident takes Rosie to her friend’s place, where her friend’s cousin, Lucas, is also staying. The two agree to share the space and go on fake dates to inspire Rosie’s novel. But these fake dates soon blossom into something deeper.