Reluctant Romance Reader Recommendations
While we are solidly in the midst of Romance Week, I have to admit my reluctance to read anything categorized as romance. It just conjures the image of Fabio, shirtless with a lusty young maiden, on the cover of a 1990s supermarket potboiler. As much as I love a guilty pleasure (though I hate that phrase), I’ve avoided the entire genre for being too unserious.
Recent reads, however, have shown me that I’ve been far too rash about dismissing the entire genre. I’ll admit to not being as gung ho as my pals Shannon and Elizabeth, but I’ve read some excellent romances in the past year or so. If you, like me, are reluctant to read (or admit you read) romance, I hope some of these will excite you (not like that, don’t be gross…or maybe exactly like that)!
Red, White, and Royal Blue: Ok, I think this was universally loved. See my review here. Just a really lovely (and steamy) story about a romance between the Prince of Wales and POTUS’ son. It is funny, charming, and has enough drama to keep you hooked without making you anxious!
Get a Life, Chloe Brown (EE’s review here): I really, really enjoyed this book and am very grateful for its portrayal of an interracial relationship, as well as a man who has been emotionally abused, which is super rare to see in writing. I did find its portrayal of chronic illness a little overwrought (don’t @ me, I live with chronic illness), but otherwise loved reading about a non-skinny, non-white heroine getting hers.
The Unhoneymooners: Christina Lauren really takes the cake for romances that are sweet, funny, have just enough drama to hook you, and enough literary merit for you to not feel your brain melting out your ears. This tale of star-crossed lovers could be completely predictable, but the writing is clever enough to keep you guessing.
Autoboyography: Another Christina Lauren fave, this is a lovely, wholesome romance between a very religious Mormon young man and a Californian transplant who meet in a writing class. Though I have reservations about heterosexual women writing gay romances (we’ll talk it out another day), this is sweet from beginning to end.
Meg and Jo: This Little Women modern retelling is just adorable. Elizabeth described it as “reading a hug.” While I had minor issues with the book (omg why would you name Laurie ‘Trey,’ everyone thinks they can write New York…), I raced through it and finished feeling warm and fuzzy. I’m excited for the follow-up, Beth and Amy!
Forever: This perennial Judy Blume favorite still made me blush when I picked it up again a few years ago, and that’s a tall order for me! This tale of first love and of a sexual debut where no one gets AIDS, pregnant, or ruins their life, was revolutionary for its time, and even now.
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