The Clitorides are open for voting. [ Dismiss ]
Home ยป Forum ยป Story Recommendations

Forum: Story Recommendations

Romance with insecure male protagonist

Eldof ๐Ÿšซ
Updated:

Title pretty much says it all. I'm looking for some romance where the protagonist is insecure or atleast start out insecure, such as in Reginald by Gordon Johnson or New Magus by TechnicDragon.
I'm not looking for "wimp husband" kind of stories where everyone just run over the protagonist, just stories where the protagonist has reservations and self-doubt about starting up a relationship, like in Reginald where he starts out as a loner because of his poor and loveless homelife.

I prefer longer stories, usually 300kb+ unless it's part of a series. I'll read it if it's shorter if you think it's really good, but short stories with about one chapter doesn't do much for me.

tendertouch ๐Ÿšซ

@Eldof

That description could certainly apply to Don Lockwood's "Finding a Place", and probably to "Dance of a Lifetime" as well. Neither Brendan or Warren are completely insecure (they're comfortable with their intelligence, for example) but they are in their relationships with women. dotB's "Portrait of Need" isn't finished (and likely won't be) but it might fit as well. Trybble's "Geek Goddess" is a good fit but has gone premier.

Eldof ๐Ÿšซ

Thanks for your suggestions. I've read Finding a Place already, and I've always avoided Dance of a Lifetime after reading somewhere that there was cheating or swinging (I don't recall which one it was) and that kind of drama isn't my thing really. I'll check out the other 2 you suggested.

Replies:   tendertouch
tendertouch ๐Ÿšซ

@Eldof

Alko,

Not cheating (at least not that I remember) but some swinging. IIRC the author said that he tried to pack pretty much everything into the one story as he wasn't sure he'd have another one.

Michael Loucks ๐Ÿšซ

@Eldof

At the risk of a bit of self-promotion, my A Well-Lived Life series has about 6,000,000 words in 17 books of the story of an insecure protagonist who grows up...eventually.

Replies:   Eldof
Eldof ๐Ÿšซ
Updated:

@Michael Loucks

At the risk of a bit of self-promotion, my A Well-Lived Life series has about 6,000,000 words in 17 books of the story of an insecure protagonist who grows up...eventually.

I've read the first book in the series, and while I liked it and will probably get around to continue the series, I have to be in a certain mood to get into tear jerkers. And 12 of your 17 are tagged as such so I find it kind of daunting to get into that.

Replies:   Michael Loucks
Michael Loucks ๐Ÿšซ

@Eldof

I've read the first book in the series, and while I liked it and will probably get around to continue the series, I have to be in a certain mood to get into tear jerkers. And 12 of your 17 are tagged as such so I find it kind of daunting to get into that.

Perhaps I should change some of those tags, but there isn't one that says 'emotional'. :-)

Replies:   Dominions Son
Dominions Son ๐Ÿšซ

@Michael Loucks

Perhaps I should change some of those tags, but there isn't one that says 'emotional'. :-)

Isn't romance inherently 'emotional'?

Tear Jerker by definition denotes a sad story or containing sad moments. Sad stories generally have unhappy endings.

Replies:   Michael Loucks
Michael Loucks ๐Ÿšซ

@Dominions Son

Isn't romance inherently 'emotional'?

Tear Jerker by definition denotes a sad story or containing sad moments. Sad stories generally have unhappy endings.

I actually re-thought this and went back and remove the 'tear jerker' tag from the stories which were merely very, very emotional, but didn't have 'sad' endings.

Replies:   Peterspeter
Peterspeter ๐Ÿšซ

@Michael Loucks

I've read my way through every post that Michael Loucks has made in the Well Lived Life series. The goodly amount of introspection and angst is both scene-setting and real life. There is a reason he's been voted on so favorably in the last couple of awards cycles. Personally, I found it hit home was too often, of which I approve.

uncross ๐Ÿšซ

In the dance of a lifetime cheating occured. Not sure whether they were in relationship or not but female lead literally started ignore at one point main character and slept with other man.

Replies:   AmigaClone
AmigaClone ๐Ÿšซ
Updated:

@uncross

The closest to cheating I remember in Dance of a Lifetime involved the female lead being seduced into breaking up with the male lead. A few days later, she accepted a date with that seducer and ended up being raped.

While they were broken up the male lead discovered he could be a gigolo.

There is some swinging in the story.

Replies:   Eldof
Eldof ๐Ÿšซ
Updated:

@AmigaClone

How long are they broken up for? I mean, do they break up, do their own thing for a chapter, and then get together again, or is it the kind of thing where they spend a third of the story apart to learn how much they need each other?

Also does the swinging involve the female lead, or is this something he does while they're broken up and he discovers he can be a gigolo like you say?

If it does, I'll just not read this. I'm sure it's a great story, but when the female lead in stories consensually sleep with other men, it just triggers me.

Replies:   AmigaClone
AmigaClone ๐Ÿšซ

@Eldof

They are broken up for about 10 chapters in a story that has 170. Timewise, it was for about two months in a story that covers ten years (except for the .

The male lead has sex with five other females and the female lead has sex with three other males (once while so drunk she doesn't remember anything that happened) during their breakup.

Two times there was swinging involving the lead couple it included another couple and the lead female had sex with the other male involved. While not swapping, the lead couple added a second female to their sexual relationship a couple of times.

Eldof ๐Ÿšซ

Ok thanks

mcguy101 ๐Ÿšซ
Updated:

My story, The Consequences and Rewards of Playing Hooky has a protagonist who fits your definition. The story features some mind control, but the protagonist is not responsible and it's really more of a plot device than a major thing that drives the romance.

https://storiesonline.net/s/72724/the-consequences-and-rewards-of-playing-hooky

Also, pretty much anything by Jay Cantrell, lol (but his stories are better written than mine).

https://storiesonline.net/a/Jay_Cantrell

I would particularly recommend A Flawed Diamond (and its sequel) and Unending Night (and its sequel too).

Replies:   richardshagrin
richardshagrin ๐Ÿšซ
Updated:

@mcguy101

The Consequences and Rewards of Playing Hooky

Change hooky to hockey, you get The Defenseman. By Cold Creek, several different books.

Replies:   awnlee jawking
awnlee jawking ๐Ÿšซ

@richardshagrin

One for the laydeez - any man not wearing a chastity belt is insecure ;-)

AJ

Replies:   joyR
joyR ๐Ÿšซ

@awnlee jawking

One for the laydeez - any man not wearing a chastity belt is insecure ;-)

Nope. A guy wearing a CB-3000 is pretty secure... ;)

Replies:   bk69  awnlee jawking
bk69 ๐Ÿšซ

@joyR

I wouldn't use the term 'pretty'.

'Tiny', maybe.

Replies:   joyR
joyR ๐Ÿšซ

@bk69

'Tiny', maybe.

"Tiny secure...." Nope, not working for me. Then again it wouldn't, I don't have the right 'equipment'...

:)

awnlee jawking ๐Ÿšซ

@joyR

Hmmm, looks unhygienic to me. But then I wasn't butchered to satisfy a thousands-of-years-old religious superstition.

AJ

Replies:   joyR
joyR ๐Ÿšซ

@awnlee jawking

Hmmm, looks unhygienic to me. But then I wasn't butchered to satisfy a thousands-of-years-old religious superstition.

Ok, you are officially weird. I post a link to a plastic cock lock and your first thoughts are hygiene and circumcision... Yet we are told that guys think about sex every seven seconds... Did you formulate your thoughts in a spare few seconds? Or do I really need to work on getting you laid. Again..

:)

Replies:   awnlee jawking
awnlee jawking ๐Ÿšซ

@joyR

getting you laid

Hell no! I ain't climbing back inside no clucking chicken again.

AJ

Replies:   joyR
joyR ๐Ÿšซ

@awnlee jawking

I ain't climbing back inside no clucking chicken again.

Promise..??

I still cannot go back to that particular KFC without having to apologise again..!! Mostly because they had to close the kids play slide for a week just to get it cleaned up...

Replies:   karactr  awnlee jawking
karactr ๐Ÿšซ

@joyR

Sounds like AJ had some bowel related issues, there. Biological can be so...messy.

Replies:   bk69
bk69 ๐Ÿšซ

@karactr

More like the chicken had bowel AND AJ-related issues. If it had occurred anywhere other than arkansas, AJ would've had legal issues.
;p

awnlee jawking ๐Ÿšซ

@joyR

The worst part was being stuffed inside an egg. That was no yolk.

AJ

Replies:   joyR
joyR ๐Ÿšซ

@awnlee jawking

The worst part was being stuffed inside an egg. That was no yolk.

So that's why you looked shellshocked...!!

All that and you still didn't get laid... eggasperating..!!

Replies:   awnlee jawking
awnlee jawking ๐Ÿšซ

@joyR

All that and you still didn't get laid

My size was incompatible with her henatomy.

AJ

Baltimore Rogers ๐Ÿšซ

The Bitch, an incomplete story by Mister NiceGuy certainly qualifies.

https://storiesonline.net/s/10990/the-bitch-romantic-sex-story

Replies:   Eldof  kungfufool45
Eldof ๐Ÿšซ

@Baltimore Rogers

The Bitch, an incomplete story by Mister NiceGuy certainly qualifies.

https://storiesonline.net/s/10990/the-bitch-romantic-sex-story

Thanks, loved the story, I hope that he will finish it!

Replies:   Beteez
Beteez ๐Ÿšซ

@Eldof

He has posted 2 updates in past 2 weeks.

kungfufool45 ๐Ÿšซ

@Baltimore Rogers

The Bitch, an incomplete story by Mister NiceGuy certainly qualifies.

Thank you

Replies:   bk69
bk69 ๐Ÿšซ

@kungfufool45

What's with the necroposting?

Ernest Bywater ๐Ÿšซ

@Eldof

not sure if it's what you want, but I'm currently reading DotBs Car 54 where the main character is a strong character except where females are concerned, thus they often take advantage of him in different ways he learns to give into them until he gets what he wants.

https://storiesonline.net/s/46723/car-54

Replies:   Eldof
Eldof ๐Ÿšซ
Updated:

@Ernest Bywater

not sure if it's what you want, but I'm currently reading DotBs Car 54 where the main character is a strong character except where females are concerned, thus they often take advantage of him in different ways he learns to give into them until he gets what he wants.

https://storiesonline.net/s/46723/car-54

I'll bookmark it for now. I tried reading AfterShock by dotB earlier, but I thought that the protagonist acted in weird and unnatural ways, and it made it really hard to relate to him when you have to stop reading and ask "Why the hell did he do that? That doesn't make any sense!". So I've been hesitant to pick up his other work after that. I'll save it for a rainy day though.

Replies:   Ernest Bywater
Ernest Bywater ๐Ÿšซ
Updated:

@Eldof

I tried reading AfterShock by dotB earlier, but I thought that the protagonist acted in weird and unnatural ways,

That's one of his stories I've not even looked at yet. I came across Beyond the Mirror at his own site and loved it, as well as several other stories and only just recently started on Car 54.

http://www.grynenbayritpublications.com/index/tales/Mirror/_default.html

edit to add: in both of theses stories I can very easily relate to the main character and their actions.

silver.trask ๐Ÿšซ

One story I had to think of immediately is A. King and His Queen by Lazlo Zalezac. Be aware, it contains elements of prostitution, but it's not in the traditional sense. I'm providing that spoiler because you previously mentioned that you didn't like the female love interest sleeping with other men throughout the story. That and the multiple partners tag are entirely centered around the male protagonist who is an insecure (and oblivious) nerd. I think the story is more humorous than dramatic overall, the author understands how to inject levity and positive emotion to keep it generally light-hearted but is able to tone it down in the serious parts.

Replies:   Eldof
Eldof ๐Ÿšซ
Updated:

@silver.trask

That and the multiple partners tag are entirely centered around the male protagonist

I'm a bit confused. First you tell me to be aware that there's prostitution since I don't like female love interests having sex with others, then you say that the prostitution tag is entirely centered around the male.

So did you mean to warn me that the female love interest sleeps with others, or did you mean to reassure me that even though there is a prostitution tag, the female love interest will only be with MC and the tag refers to something MC is doing rather than the girl?

All you said about it was that it's not prostitution in the traditional sense, and that could mean a bunch of different scenarios really.

Nizzgrrl ๐Ÿšซ
Updated:

@Eldof

Take a look at The Wimp and the Deb by Clansman. Just remember calling someone a wimp does not make it so.

https://storiesonline.net/s/68038/the-wimp-and-the-deb

Dinsdale ๐Ÿšซ

https://storiesonline.net/s/22004/suddenly-rich-kid by Argon.

Back to Top

Close
 

WARNING! ADULT CONTENT...

Storiesonline is for adult entertainment only. By accessing this site you declare that you are of legal age and that you agree with our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.