9 Romance Books like Tarzan

Photo by Thomas de LUZE on Unsplash

He’s wild, he’s feral, he’s strong and protective, he only has eyes for one woman… is it just me, or is Tarzan the stuff of romance hero dreams?

Reader, it isn’t just me.

When I first started writing what would eventually become my book Down to Ursa, my original plan was to write a retelling of Tarzan but from Jane’s perspective, with lots more romance. Over time that evolved into something much different (when did space pirates show up to this story??) but the core of the story was always a love story between a woman and a wildman.

As I’ve researched my own story and put Down to Ursa out into the world, I’ve started to come across so many other fantastic stories with a love story centered around a Tarzan-like character. So clearly, I’m not the only one who was looking for this kind of story!

In case you’re someone who also enjoys a little wild in your man, here’s a list of some of the Tarzan retellings/romances that have come out in the last few years:

1. **Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon**

When human Georgie is abducted by aliens, things go from bad to worse when she crash lands on an ice planet. But there she meets the giant, blue, wild, and very sexy Vektal, who decides he’ll stop at nothing to make her his. This book sounds absolutely bonkers — and it is! — but in a very funny, highly entertaining way. Note — please check the trigger warnings for the beginning of this book.

2. Rowe by Dylan Page

In 1973, Kate goes kayaking with three of her friends and accidentally goes off the marked route. After her boat capsizes and she loses track of her friends, Kate finds a group of caveman-like people living in the wilderness and gets claimed by one of their men. As above, please read the trigger warnings for this one at the beginning of the book!

3. Wild Life by Victoria Woods

Aleki has been living on his own on an island since the age of ten. When wildlife scientist Maris washes up on shore, it isn’t exactly love at first sight, but the chemistry between the two is undeniable.

4. **Transcendence by Shay Savage**

Ehd is a caveman living on his own after disease has wiped out his tribe. After a modern-day girl named “Beh” mysteriously appears near his home, Ehd takes her in, and the two overcome barriers to forge a new life together.

5. Fall by Claire Kent

When smuggler Lenna is sentenced to exile on a stone-age planet, she has to ingratiate herself with a tribe of cavepeople to survive. That includes becoming a mate to caveman Rone, who takes her under his wing.

6. The Wild Man by Alex Grayson

Reporter Everlee goes into the forest to write a story about “Wild Man,” a man living on his own in the wilderness. She gets much more than she bargained for when he takes her captive and refuses to let her go. Again, read the trigger warnings for this one first!

7. Love in the Wild by Emma Castle

When Eden stumbles across some trouble in the wilds of Africa, she is saved by a wildman living among the gorillas. Thorne has kept himself apart from other humans, but he can’t keep away from Eden.

8. **Beast of the Bayou by CJ North**

In the Louisiana bayou, Mag goes questing for ghost stories but finds much more when she’s taken captive by wildman Henri. This one is listed as being a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but I think there’s a healthy dash of Tarzan in there, too!

9. **Down to Ursa by Lissa Sharpe**

Last but not least, my book! When scientist Mina gets a chance to take a research expedition to a long-abandoned Earth, she plans to use it as a chance to escape her sadistic fiance. If she can escape into the wild and live on her own for a few weeks, she can rendezvous with her smuggler friend. But Mina soon finds that Earth isn’t as abandoned as she thought when she meets the enigmatic wildman Ursa, who quickly derails all of her plans. Slowly the two learn to understand each other and survive together, all while they’re being hunted by Mina’s fiance, who is determined not to let them escape…

I hope you feel inspired by this list to get a little wild with your reading. ;) Did I leave any Tarzan retellings off my list? Let me know in the comments!