pls give me recs for novels that center romance that are actually well written with a strong storyline outside of ridiculous and unrealistic inconveniences.
when i look up romances, i tend to see books like emily henry so i tried beach read and it wasnt outright offensive, just not for me. idk. it didnt completely disgust me like some booktok books i see, but i think id not read by that author again and id like suggestions for great love stories that are different
i have a hard time taking present time romances seriously because often the characters are so obnoxious (like why is the girl always insecure and i love characters being driven by their personal struggle but its so obnoxious when they make the girl worship the guy in a way where shes like ‘oh my god i cant believe he likes me hes so chiseled i dont deserve him’) and/or theres no real plot outside of ‘these two are not getting together based on some ridiculous hurdle and unrealistic misunderstandings/reactions for the sake of driving the plot’
if i read modern romances im mostly likely to read lgbt ones bc theres a little bit less internalized misogyny. im not even saying they have to be confident but why is it always some obviously conventionally attractive woman seeing a big buff man and being shy and weak and insecure and just generally the woman being a symbol to live vicariously through rather than real storytelling. i also hate like in fourth wing for example where shes kinda obnoxiously confident almost defensively? like the author was overcompensating and its like. God. No self respecting adult woman thinks this way pls be normal
like sometimes these books are less love stories and theyre more like, to satisfy a fantasy because so many authors miss the mark as far as making the reader become invested in the romance rather than just expressing the physical attraction
im not hating on these kinds of books bc i get it, its fun and i dont think it has to meet my interests to have a right to exist but i do want something else right now. The last romances i enjoyed were song of achilles, seven husbands of evelyn hugo, captive prince if thats what u can categorize them as (i realize these are all lgbt but that is not a requirement)
it can be M/F,F/F,M/M,etc modern, time piece, tragedy, scifi, fantasy, etc. my only requirement is that it be well written . just good
by SubstantialHat2091
6 Comments
Courtney Milan writes romances with extremely well-developed characters.
i guess i tend to enjoy ones that have another plot involved that shapes and drives the relationship instead of just like,, ‘oh two really hot people who are very obviously attracted to each other are just gonna say casually predatory and/or corny shit while they refuse to get together bc like idk he drives a motorcycle and is sarcastic so hes not like the other boys hes different and her grown woman ass worships him despite the narration offering nothing to establish interest in the characters or their relationship together’
I like Lauren Blakely a lot, though her MCs are typically conventionally attractive. I started with Kismet and thought the chemistry between the MCs was very nice.
If you have Audible Plus, A Murder to Remember by Brynn Kelly is included with membership and was a very enjoyable listen for me.
I also liked If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy, Muffin Top by Avery Flynn (even though I kinda hate the title), and Fake it Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley, and Seven Days in June by Tia Williams.
Amy Harmon would be a good author to look into. I particularly loved “where the lost wander”
Attachments by Rainbow Rowell would be good as well
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
I like Mhairi McFarlane and Talia Hibbert I feel like Mhairi’s characters feel very real and flawed in real ways and Talia writes amazing neurodivergent characters.
Butcher & Blackbird by Brynn Weaver? Audrey Niffenegger? Time Travel romance