Caroline Peckham
Caroline Peckham is a romance and fantasy author who, with Susanne Valenti, writes dark fantasy romance and romantasy. She is best known for Zodiac Academy and Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac, and is a #1 Wall Street Journal and Amazon bestselling author with more than 7 million copies sold. ((https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Caroline-Peckham/222235043))
Biography & Author's Journey
Caroline Peckham is an English romance and fantasy author best known for the work she writes with her sister, Susanne Valenti. Public biographical detail about her early life and formal education is limited, but Peckham has referred to a period at university and has said that, before writing full time, she worked with her parents while trying to build a career through self-publishing. She began writing in 2014 and self-published separately through Amazon, spending several years learning marketing, audience-building, and the business side of independent publishing. A decisive turning point came when she left her job, spent six months in Costa Rica, and committed more seriously to fiction; another came at Christmas 2019, when she and Valenti formally teamed up as co-authors, a collaboration Peckham has described as transformative. ((https://carolinepeckham.com/about-2/))
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Popular Books
Kings of Anarchy
Caroline Peckham
Tribal legends clash with forbidden desire in pandemic-ravaged academy warfare.
The Awakening
Caroline Peckham
Zodiac powers unleash dark desires in academy's brutal, addictive romance.
Broken Fae
Caroline Peckham
Forbidden desires ignite as one woman navigates four supernatural loves.
Queen of Quarantine
Caroline Peckham
Blood immunity becomes power; her heart belongs to her captors.
Ruthless Fae
Caroline Peckham
Dark academy fantasy where bullies become forbidden, addictive lovers.
Kings of Anarchy
Caroline Peckham
Tribal legends clash with forbidden desire in pandemic-ravaged academy warfare.
The Awakening
Caroline Peckham
Zodiac powers unleash dark desires in academy's brutal, addictive romance.
Broken Fae
Caroline Peckham
Forbidden desires ignite as one woman navigates four supernatural loves.
Queen of Quarantine
Caroline Peckham
Blood immunity becomes power; her heart belongs to her captors.
Discover more
Become a dark romance author
Dark romance is one of the fastest-growing subgenres in publishing, with readers craving emotionally intense stories featuring morally grey characters and complex relationships. This learning plan is ideal for aspiring authors who want to break into this lucrative market, as well as existing romance writers looking to pivot into darker, more psychologically complex narratives that resonate with modern audiences.
Dark romance
Dark romance has emerged as one of the fastest-growing and most psychologically complex subgenres in contemporary fiction, attracting readers who crave emotionally intense stories that explore the shadowy side of desire and human connection. This learning plan is ideal for romance readers seeking more morally complex narratives, writers wanting to understand the genre's conventions and subversions, or anyone interested in how literature explores taboo themes, power dynamics, and the intersection of love with darkness.
Read romance and fantasy
This learning path serves readers seeking to explore two of the most popular and emotionally engaging literary genres, perfect for both newcomers wanting structured guidance and experienced readers looking to expand their horizons. By progressing from foundational works through hybrid and darker subgenres, learners gain both breadth and depth in understanding how romance and fantasy create powerful escapism, emotional resonance, and imaginative storytelling that has captivated millions of readers worldwide.
Mastering the Gothic Castle Romance
This plan is essential for novelists looking to elevate their romance writing with atmospheric depth and psychological complexity. It is specifically designed for authors who want to move beyond cliches to create immersive, haunting worlds and compellingly flawed leads.
The Chase Instinct: From Panic to Self-Possession
This plan is essential for anyone caught in reactive relationship cycles of pursuit and withdrawal. It provides the psychological tools needed to transform frantic impulses into calm, grounded self-possession.
The Evolution of Romantic Escapism
This learning plan is essential for aspiring writers and literary enthusiasts who want to understand the psychological and historical drivers of the romance genre. It offers a comprehensive journey from classic foundations to the high-stakes worlds of modern subgenres, making it perfect for anyone looking to master the art of romantic storytelling.
Enjoy romance novels
Romance is the highest-selling fiction genre worldwide, offering readers emotional journeys, relationship insights, and diverse perspectives on love. This learning plan helps both newcomers and seasoned readers develop a deeper appreciation for romance literature's craft, evolution, and cultural significance.
Break the Cycle of Unavailable Love
This plan is essential for anyone who feels stuck in a loop of chasing emotionally distant partners and mistaking instability for passion. It provides a roadmap for healing childhood wounds and shifting from anxious attachment toward secure, fulfilling relationships.
Community Voices
"Publishers Weekly called Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti's Zodiac Academy a BookTok-beloved romantasy series"
— Publishers Weekly
"Book Riot called Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti the duo behind the mega bestselling Zodiac Academy series"
— Book Riot
"Learn Self Publishing billed Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti as the Superstar Sisters of TikTok"
— Learn Self Publishing
"For The Writers said Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti have emerged as trailblazers for self-published authors"
— For The Writers
"Library Journal described Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti's Zodiac Academy as a BookTok-beloved self-published romantasy series"
— Library Journal
"Readers Entertainment called Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti the Twisted Sisters behind the BookTok phenomenon Zodiac Academy"
— Readers Entertainment
"LC W. Allingham called Caroline Peckham the bestselling author of the absolutely massive Zodiac Academy series"
— LC W. Allingham
"Jane Friedman called Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti the authors of the bestselling Zodiac Academy series"
— Jane Friedman
"James Blatch called Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti a fantastic pair of authors"
— James Blatch
"TUKO.co.ke said Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti's creative spark helped turn Zodiac Academy into a global bestseller"
— TUKO.co.ke
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
