I'm the same way--I've never had any strong feelings towards Valentine's Day, whether I've been single or in a relationship. Great recommendations! I'll definitely have to check some of these out.
I stopped viewing romance as my "guilty pleasure" and started reading more romance books because of the psy-challeging series. Great videos as always, now I'll go read some of your recomendations for sure 😊
My legit mission in life is to get people reading that series so... YESSSSSS! Be warned, the first book is kind of confusing re:world building, but if you're at all intrigued, keep going to the second one!
I do not have a romantic bone in my body. In fact the most romantic thing my husband does is replace the bin liner when he takes out the trash. That said I love romance books and I don't care who sees me reading them. Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series is The Best. Netflix is turning it into a series and I can't wait. Also Mary Balogh's Survivors Club is wonderful. I can also highly recommend Eloisa James. I have a soft spot for 70s and 80s historical romances, they remind me of my mom and makes me feel like I still have a little of her with me.
This made me lol so hard because I completely identified with this! I think you would also love The Secret Diaries if Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn and Lisa Kleypass's 'the Hathaway' series (especially Seduce me at Sunrise). 🖤
This episode just came up so I hope you see it. I am just finishing “28 Summers” by Elin Hilderbrand. It was on The NY Times Best Sellers. The theme of the book follows the movie, “Same Time Next Year”. I loved the movie, many years ago, but still good. It’s about a couple who get together once a year in Nantucket on Labor Day weekend for 28 summers. It’s a great summer read with a romance filled with yearning, frustration, lots of love and a bittersweet ending. Highly recommend! FYI, I am not one to read romance books in general but Elin Hilderbrand seems to write in the genre that is not too drippy sweet where it’s hard to swallow. I have read a couple of other books from her and have enjoyed her. 🌵
Great video! I just ordered The Wolf in the Whale, and I have yet to read an Ilona Andrews book that I don't love. However, this video put me in mind of Jenn Bennett's Arcadia Bell urban fantasy series which I read a few years ago - and it just might be time for a reread.
I really liked The Witch of Willow Hall - I read it last year around Halloween time for some “witchy” vibes - personally, I would call it a historical slow burn romance with some magical realism/speculative elements.
Honestly, booktube needs more romance book channels and/or vids. Doesn't that genre make much more sales than any other genre? I read all genres and romance helps palette cleansing from true crime to high fantasy to lit to suspense to etc etc
I don't see myself as a romance reader. In fact most romance subplots annoy me A LOT (and it feels like every auther feels the obligation to put one in every damn book no matter if it fits or not ... or maybe I'm just very bad at picking books at the moment). However, sometimes I still end up liking those subplots so I guess I just haven't found the tropes I like yet. But getting there is kind of painful (I accidentally just read three romance books in a row due to false marketing -.-" and the male love interests kept getting worse and worse). I did like the Kate Daniels-series but the romance-part of it was what I enjoyed the least. I may give Radiance a shot though. Hmmm
Yeah, figuring out what you like in a new genre is a bumpy process- and I totally understand why a lot of people just don’t want to do that work. For me, it’s like a game, so I enjoy exploring new genres
I don't know why I have such an issue with reading romance novels myself and seeing them as "less than" in terms of literary quality, when I would take rom coms over all other movie genres every day of the week....contemporary romance novels are basically just rom-com scripts!
Exactly! As with any kind of media, it's mostly about finding the tropes/authors that work for you... I'd start with some rom-com type ones if you like those on film already. Christina Lauren is a great place to start with that one ;)
Do the Grave Draven books have a lot of violence/sexual violence in them? I’d like to try fantasy romance but I’m not keen on explicit violence in books.
Phoenix Unbound would have a big CW for all types of violence; Radiance I don’t remember having a lot of explicit violence, but it’s been a while since I’ve read it, so I maybe misremembering
@@bookslikewhoa I know!! I'm still grappling with my feelings for Hugh... I should hate him but I don't and that makes me uncomfortable... so conflicting! Great writing by the Gordons!!! I can't wait!!!!
Radiance is legit one of my favourite fantasy books, top 10 for sure. But yeah the front cover is kinda cutesy. I would say however it's not a greased-up fireman so you could read it at your work desk 😂
One of my all time favorite books-My Life in France. I may try a couple of your other recommendations as well. The Heartstone captured my attention; love dragons. The other intriguing book is the shaman raised as boy and girl. Thanks for ideas.
