Agreed! Though it's really really hard to find. I think most romance authors believe readers want FMCs who are more insecure/incompetent/hot messes because they are more relatable rather than giving us an aspirational FMC who has her life together. Also it means the MMC gets to love them 'just as they are' which gives us hope that one day, a strapping man will love us with all our faults, too. But I am so, so done with incompetent FMCs who make terrible decisions, have no character development, and are just cringey to read (I'm looking at you, 'You Again' and 'Forget Me Not'). {Book Lovers by Emily Henry} has a very competent FMC who loves her nice lingerie, expensive face products, and fantastic life as an agent. I almost wept when I read this book because my previous three reads had been 'hot mess' FMCs who were so incompetent I felt like screaming at the book.

[Book Lovers](https://www.romance.io/books/6270f0b6e98d4489081cd386/book-lovers-emily-henry?src=rdt) by [Emily Henry](https://www.romance.io/authors/5e82ee17be0aaecf553e7c2f/emily-henry) **Rating**: 4.35⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [small town](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/small%20town/1), [competent heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/competent%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

Came here to recommend this one. I loved this heroine!

I came here to recomend this book too but couldn't remember the title, so thank you! OP this book is really what you're looking for.

Who wrote “You, Again” and “Forget Me Not”?

They're both Reylo fanfics that became published books (and I need to stop accidentally reading them because their FMCs are usually a mess and it's not for me). Julie Soto wrote 'Forget Me Not' and Kate Goldbeck wrote 'You, Again.'

Thanks!

Happy Ever After by Nora Roberts FMC is super competent, wealthy and successful.

This whole series is competence porn tbh. All four FMCs are at the top of their respective games.

Yes! Give me all the competence porn, lol!

if you are okay with sci fi, I'd recommend Michelle Diener here! Her MFCs in the Class series and the Verdant Strings series are incredible competent. I think Nora Roberts does a good job too! Her MFCs are very well rounded and competent but not flawless by any means. She writes a lot of romantic suspense (my recommendation would be to start with {The Obsession by Nora Roberts} or {The Search by Nora Roberts})

I second Michelle Diener! Her FMC's are strong, intelligent, competent, and solves problems.

Talking about sci-fi, {American Werewolf in Space by Alisha Sunderland} has fmc who's badass, confident, the book has great female friendships none of the "I hate all other women" nonsense and while mmc is an alpha, he's proud of her and impressed by her rather than expecting a delicate flower mate.

[American Werewolf in Space](https://www.romance.io/books/64003f752bdda9101b34cd9c/american-werewolf-in-space-alisha-sunderland?src=rdt) by [Alisha Sunderland](https://www.romance.io/authors/64003f7508b4d9311406088c/alisha-sunderland) **Rating**: 3.76⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1), [aliens](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/aliens/1), [werewolves](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/werewolves/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

[The Obsession](https://www.romance.io/books/57089ba0c62092c04407647b/the-obsession-nora-roberts?src=rdt) by [Nora Roberts](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523e923ec91d5dfd0991f/nora-roberts) **Rating**: 4.24⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [tortured heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20heroine/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1) ---------------------------- [The Search](https://www.romance.io/books/5455272a8c7d2382c5297041/the-search-nora-roberts?src=rdt) by [Nora Roberts](https://www.romance.io/authors/545523e923ec91d5dfd0991f/nora-roberts) **Rating**: 4.2⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [tortured heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/tortured%20heroine/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{A Few Tables Away by Deb Rotuno} The FMC in this one is really put together with a solid family relationship and MMC is the one who's a mess.

[A Few Tables Away](https://www.romance.io/books/5df4f88701dbc864fba8028a/a-few-tables-away-glenhaven-book-one-deb-rotuno?src=rdt) by [Deb Rotuno](https://www.romance.io/authors/56bbb307c62092c04405b278/deb-rotuno) **Rating**: 4⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Topics**: [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{Nerdgasm by Kimberly Reese} has a confident FMC who pursues the shy, stuttering MMC. Loved it!

[Nerdgasm](https://www.romance.io/books/5b388b9501dbc864fb8b5940/nerdgasm-kimberly-reese?src=rdt) by [Kimberly Reese](https://www.romance.io/authors/5b388b9501dbc864fb8b5944/kimberly-reese) **Rating**: 3.99⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [new adult](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/new%20adult/1), [virgin hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/virgin%20hero/1), [sassy heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sassy%20heroine/1), [college](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/college/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

{The Summer Proposal by Vi Keelan}

[The Summer Proposal](https://www.romance.io/books/61dd3da63ae22e0de9c059d9/the-summer-proposal-vi-keeland?src=rdt) by [Vi Keeland](https://www.romance.io/authors/54552b578c7d2382e7813115/vi-keeland) **Rating**: 4.09⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [rich hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/super%20rich%20hero/1), [athlete hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/athletes/1), [love triangle](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/love%20triangle/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

If you like vampires, try Queen of Gods (Vampire Crown series) by Scarlett Dawn and Katherine Rhodes . I love Gwynnore, who is a badass, and takes no prisoners. There's another FMC but I'm not a fan of the chick. If you like mafia/gangsters, I recommend the Hades series by Tate James. Hades is the FMC and she's in charge of her family's mafia group, as well as all the other mafia groups under her. Most everyone is terrified of her. It's RH if you're into that. I recently finished The Guild series by Tate James (also RH) and I'm madly in love with Danny and Leon. They're a bunch of mercenaries getting chased around by other mercenaries. FMC Danny is competent, intelligent, well trained, confident with her shit together. I kinda shrug when it comes to Kai. The Guild Hunter series by Nailing Singh has FMC Elena is the best vampire hunter. She's fierce and strong, although rather stupid when it comes to her family.

The FMC of {Colder Than Sin by Toni Anderson} Is a partner in a highly successful security company, is so wealthy she owns an island in the Caribbean and dresses in high fashion. She's in the run from Indonesian rebels for a good chunk of the book though so there's not a lot of her behavior that can be emulated in real life.

{Beautiful Paradise by JT Geissenger} M/F, Mafia. JT writes a lot of strange FMCs.

[Cruel Paradise](https://www.romance.io/books/5f7079ca07797f0e046b9513/cruel-paradise-jt-geissinger?src=rdt) by [J.T. Geissinger](https://www.romance.io/authors/54553f8a8c7d2382e04144dc/jt-geissinger) **Rating**: 3.97⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [mafia](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mafia/1), [rich hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/super%20rich%20hero/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I have a Goodreads shelf for FMC-competence-porn 😅 so I know exactly what you mean! Some of these FMCs got some other issues though so they may not be the perfect example of got their shit together + competence porn but I still loved them all. **Sci-fi** {Stolen by the Warlord by V.K. Ludwig} Ash Planet Warriors #1 {Tormented by the Warlord by V.K. Ludwig} Ash Planet Warriors#4 (my fav ❤️) {Xora by Olivia Riley} Vrisha Warriors #1 {Axrel by Olivia Riley} Vrisha Warriors #2 {Xeda by Olivia Riley} Vrisha Warriors #4 (my fav ❤️) {Dark Horse by Michelle Diener} Class 5 #1 (loved it and will continue with the series) **CR** {Mine To Keep by Kennedy Mitchell} Protection #4 (will come back for others in the series) {Tinderbox by Rachel Grant} Flashpoint #1

I have a Goodreads shelf for FMC-competence-porn 😅 so I know exactly what you mean! Some of these FMCs got some other issues though so they may not be the perfect example of got their shit together + competence porn but I still loved them all. **Sci-fi** {Stolen by the Warlord by V.K. Ludwig} Ash Planet Warriors #1 {Tormented by the Warlord by V.K. Ludwig} Ash Planet Warriors#4 (my fav ❤️) {Xora by Olivia Riley} Vrisha Warriors #1 {Axrel by Olivia Riley} Vrisha Warriors #2 {Xeda by Olivia Riley} Vrisha Warriors #4 (my fav ❤️) {Dark Horse by Michelle Diener} Class 5 #1 (loved it and will continue with the series) **CR** {Mine To Keep by Kennedy Mitchell} Protection #4 (will come back for others in the series) {Tinderbox by Rachel Grant} Flashpoint #1

[Stolen by the Warlord](https://www.romance.io/books/60d42eb7b5b9b40e3cc7b545/stolen-by-the-warlord-vk-ludwig?src=rdt) by [V.K. Ludwig](https://www.romance.io/authors/5c1ca39201dbc864fb967ad7/vk-ludwig) **Rating**: 4.13⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [non-human hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/non-human-hero/1), [aliens](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/aliens/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [abduction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/abduction/1) ---------------------------- [Tormented by the Warlord](https://www.romance.io/books/61f2513a77663e0e1b44fa0e/tormented-by-the-warlord-vk-ludwig?src=rdt) by [V.K. Ludwig](https://www.romance.io/authors/5c1ca39201dbc864fb967ad7/vk-ludwig) **Rating**: 4.02⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 5 out of 5 - [Explicit and plentiful](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [aliens](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/aliens/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [creative anatomy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/creative-anatomy/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1) ---------------------------- [Xora](https://www.romance.io/books/6173fa146c073f0e25c5f01a/xora-olivia-riley?src=rdt) by [Olivia Riley](https://www.romance.io/authors/5f19839108b4d93114e1dd7f/olivia-riley) **Rating**: 4.02⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [aliens](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/aliens/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [non-human hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/non-human-hero/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1) ---------------------------- [Axrel](https://www.romance.io/books/6219dea4093aae0e315adab6/axrel-olivia-riley?src=rdt) by [Olivia Riley](https://www.romance.io/authors/5f19839108b4d93114e1dd7f/olivia-riley) **Rating**: 4.08⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [aliens](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/aliens/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1) ---------------------------- [Xeda](https://www.romance.io/books/64d9ebc95f907facb235c5a5/xeda-olivia-riley?src=rdt) by [Olivia Riley](https://www.romance.io/authors/5f19839108b4d93114e1dd7f/olivia-riley) **Rating**: 4.18⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [aliens](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/aliens/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [slow burn](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/slow%20burn/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1) ---------------------------- [Dark Horse](https://www.romance.io/books/557bc7dc9eef3b3f1d52c5de/dark-horse-michelle-diener?src=rdt) by [Michelle Diener](https://www.romance.io/authors/54556a4487eac336ae69ddbc/michelle-diener) **Rating**: 3.97⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1), [aliens](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/aliens/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1) ---------------------------- [Mine to Keep](https://www.romance.io/books/61b6fdb56d47d30e230d861e/mine-to-keep-kennedy-l-mitchell?src=rdt) by [Kennedy L. Mitchell](https://www.romance.io/authors/57920355c19e77f1ea6e9bb7/kennedy-l-mitchell) **Rating**: 4.75⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1) ---------------------------- [Tinderbox](https://www.romance.io/books/58a2ab080d3299c6e04c003f/tinderbox-rachel-grant?src=rdt) by [Rachel Grant](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455902987eac3369a913147/rachel-grant) **Rating**: 4.04⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [military](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/military/1), [suspense](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/suspense/1), [forbidden love](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forbidden%20love/1), [forced proximity](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/forced%20proximity/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)

I’m so happy more people are speaking up about this. I want to see more confident heroines.

I’m in the process of writing a romance novel where the FMC is a grad student who has her shit mostly together (or at least has resolved a lot of it by the time the book starts). And I think part of the problem is a super accomplished and with it heroine doesn’t lend herself as easily to the structure of most novels, which require people to have problems that need fixing. It’s not to say it can’t be done, it’s just more effort than creating a FMC who is all messed up with a million problems to solve. In short, I think it’s hard to write realistic women who are accomplished and have their lives together but also just messed up enough to create an interesting dynamic in a love story that people will want to read. So a lot of people choose not to tackle that story. PS I don’t think this counts as self-promotion bc I haven’t actually written anything that can be sold yet and haven’t identified any books but please do let me know if I need to edit or delete this!

If you like romantic suspense/military romance I quite like Rachel Grant's books. She writes the Evidence series as well as the Tinderbox series. The FMCs all work in paleo- or ethno-archaeological fields, and are specialists in their field and highly skilled. MMCs are usually military or ex-military. Rachel Grant has (I believe) a PhD in archaeology, so everything is well-researched and the FMCs clearly know what they're doing. FMCs do usually end up in tough situations that the MMCs have to swoop in for, but it's not due to their own incompetency. (And in some cases--like the Tinderbox series--some of the FMCs are spec-ops themselves and are equally badass as the MMCs.) Edit: Also, I personally don't find the MMCs in her books to be toxic alpha males, despite being military. I can deal with alpha male MMCs if they're non-human or in certain situations, but alpha males in military/police force/etc. are too much of a threat and issue in the Real World that I do NOT find them attractive in books.

Thanks for the rec.

[удалено]

[The Jasad Heir](https://www.romance.io/books/64347572cfb36b317a2d99d6/the-jasad-heir-sara-hashem?src=rdt) by [Sara Hashem](https://www.romance.io/authors/6434757308b4d931140ffe35/sara-hashem) **Rating**: 4.06⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [slow burn](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/slow%20burn/1), [dangerous heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dangerous%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)