The Romance Daddy Kink, Explained

It was inevitable that, in covering the romance genre's favourite tropes and kinks, I would write a blog post about the daddy kink. However, I've waited to write this post until I was at a point with my TBR where I knew it could take the inevitable hit that the research for this post would give it. That day has finally come!

So today, we're focusing on Daddies.

But unlike most kinks, it's not immediately clear what the daddy kink is, just from reading it.

Does it mean being attracted to someone who is acting like a dad? Or attracted to someone who is a dad?

And is the daddy kink related to stern brunch daddies, or are those a different thing altogether?

Clearly, we need definitions, so let's start there.

Daddy is both a character trope and a kink, which is interesting, but also confusing, because they differ, but often get lumped together. And you need to know the difference so you market the right thing to readers, who are usually pretty opinionated about the daddy thing. Either they want a book with daddy kink, or they don't.

What is the daddy trope?

Trope-wise, Daddies are dominant, often alpha, male character with strong caretaking energy. They usually don't refer to themselves as Daddy; rather, the term is used by readers and authors to describe a character's vibe.

What is the daddy kink?

Kink-wise, a daddy gets turned on by being called "Daddy" (never "Dad"), is stern and loves to discipline, and is keenly attuned and attentive to their love interest's needs and wants in the bedroom. It's the fatherly monikier and the caretaking aspect of the kink that give it ist name—the kink has nothing to do with being attracted to a man acting like or being a dad.

I believe that is called "Dad kink," and the appeal of someone acting like a father figure is why we have so many single dad romances out there (though they are never labelled "Dad kink").

Does the male character in a daddy kink romance have to also be a daddy?

Not necessarily. Though daddy kink romance requires that the male character be stern and disciplinary in the bedroom, it isn't required outside the bedroom. Outside the bedroom, they might be a cinnamon roll, a golden retriever, or a sweet, gentle hero.

Are there specific sub-genres where the daddy kink pops up more than others?

While you'll naturally see the daddy kink more often in contemporary romance by virtue of the fact that it's the biggest sub-genre, this kink works well with all sub-genres, from historical to sci-fi.

That said, the kink mostly shows up in MF, MM, and MNbi; you don't see it much in sapphic romance for obvious reasons, and while there are a few sapphic books out there exploring the mommy kink, it's far less accepted than the daddy kink.

Does the the daddy romance kink often show up in combination with other kinks?

Oh yes. Daddy kink and praise kink go together like peanut butter and jelly, as do Daddies and Doms, aka Daddy Doms, as mentioned above. Age play, D/lg, D/lb (Daddy/little boy), brat, and breeding are also common kinks to see daddies and their love interests exploring.

What daddy kink romances do you recommend?

It's extremely easy to find romance novels with daddy kink to read for inspiration; there are lists upon lists with them. But be warned: your TBR will suffer. I know mine did when I was writing this post!

However, if you're okay with your TBR toppling, here are a few of my favourites:

Not All Himbos Wear Capes by C. Rochelle

A superhero-supervillain romance with a black cat-golden retriever (a play on the grumpy/sunshine trope) dynamic, this zany, delightful book is the first in an interconnected series, and perfect if you love your daddies protective and your golden retrievers with hidden depths AND hidden identities. The character development and sub-plot don't shy away from harsher realities like family trauma and environmental destruction, but the lightness of Butch, the golden retriever and superhero, and the way he subtly cares for Xander, the supervillain, adds a lightness to the darker moments that makes this the perfect book no matter your reading mood.

Charming Your Dad by Sarah Blue

Looking for a paranormal romance with a suspenseful sub-plot, superb world-building, and plenty of spice? Read the first in the 3-book Charming series, about a witch who bewitches her ex's demon dad to get revenge, only to end up actually falling for him. Blair is the best kinds of FMC: one who doesn't give a fig about societal norms and does what she wants. And Dax is the best kind of daddy—keen on praise, intent on consent, and happy to spoil his girl with a shopping spree.

Tangling with Trolls by Hazel Mack

This cozy fantasy romance book includes yet another type of daddy: a plant daddy, aka a daddy with a green thumb. And in this book, that plant daddy is also a Daddy Dom troll with a cinnamon roll-squishy center. His relationship with the curvy plant witch FMC starts out platonic when he agrees to teach her how to wield her green magic, but soon he's focused on wielding something else. This low-angst, spicy story includes an age gap, size-difference, and edging, and it's the second in a 7-book series, so if you love the fantasy world of Ever, you can stay there for 6 more books!

Until next blog post, happy reading and writing!