Howdy to the new folks!
I've noticed an increase in visitors who are new to the Hot Pink Palace of Bitchery – nice to meet you! We're all about romance here, both the books that are amazingly good and the books that are howlingly awful. We like romance novels – a LOT.
I've noticed an increase in articles about romance lately as well, likely due to the popularity of 50 Shades of Grey, because many, many people are trying to figure out why this book is so popular. I wrote about that a few months ago, but, as I said last week, this sort of super-saturation happens with books every now and again. It happened with Twilight, it happened with Harry Potter, and the Hunger Games. This time the book is not YA by a long shot (heh), but it happens. It'll happen again, but it's hard to predict why and how this type of hyper exposure and saturation occurs.
But folks are still talking about 50 Shades and reading it and writing about it, and with that comes a slight increase in the number of articles proclaiming the romance genre as bad because that reader found 50 Shades to be bad.
Hold up a minute. It is ok if romance isn't for you. It's ok if you don't like it. I totally get that. I don't like romantic suspense and thriller-mysteries with lots of entrails.
But condemning the whole genre as “bad” because you don't like the romances you've read isn't right, nor does it elevate your discourse and highlight your extensively intelligent mind. It just makes you look judgmental.
To quote Jennifer Armintrout on Twitter “It's also not founded in sound logic. 'It's bad because I hate it,' is not a strong argument.”
As we wrote in Beyond Heaving Bosoms (and for the life of me I can't remember which one of us, myself or Candy, wrote this):
“Smart Bitch Law 1:
Avoid the easy pitfall of violating Smart Bitch Law 1: Thou shalt not diss the reading material of another person merely to elevate one's own. By slapping at someone else's love of true crime novels, thou art not defending romance. Thou are passing the buck, and by doing so, verily thou are being a douche bag.”
When we wrote that, we were talking about the defense of romance that attempted to place romances above other genre fiction – i.e. “At least it's not true crime novels!”
But the douchery works both ways: proclaiming the genre as bad because what you've read of it hasn't appealed to you, and smacking down romance to elevate something else or elevate yourself doth verily make thee somewhat douchey (that's pronounced Doo-Shay, much like Target is Tar-Zhey).
Romance isn't by default bad. But if you're reading this page, you probably knew that. Either way: welcome! Glad you're here – and if you'd like recommendations, we're happy to help.
Thank you to BigStock for the image!
Thank You for the welcome as I am one that is new to your blog. I love my romances and read everything in the genre from contempoary to historicals. I just finished the first 50 shades book and will be starting book 2 today. I read for enjoyment and sorry for those who don’t like what I read. It’s for my pleasure and if you don’t like my choices, too bad. If you don’t like something, don’t read it , eat it, watch it, etc.etc. Just don’t tell me my choices are beneath yours because you don’t agree.
Wow. Guess that’s enough ranting from me this morning. Better go get some tea and start over.
Thanks for the recommendations on books. I like hearing others thoughts on books and I have found seveal new authors because of it.
I love how you are such a champion for the genre! As a reader, I love knowing I’m settling in for a good sexy romp with a happy ending. As a writer, I don’t feel restricted by the romance genre conventions, I feel empowered by them.
I don’t read much in other genres (I wish I had time enough to love them all the way I love romance!) but I hope they all have a site like this one that encourages them to embrace what’s great about them.
Perhaps it’s my lack of caffeine today but every time I see “douche” used I keep picturing the actual product. Which leads me to visualizing that in your words. And I have to say… it’s hysterical. If I could project what I’m seeing we’d all need a new set of pants.
Either way, I shall never never give up my undying loathing and hatred for Fromer’s guides. I don’t care what you say! I will spit on them!@ PTOOEY! Any Romance > Fromer! That is all.
Well, I love the website. There’s always something fun to look or comment at! 😀 Speaking personally, it wasn’t 50 shades of grey that brought me here.. more like just got tired of being a peeping tom ; ) The discussions are always thoughtful and interesting even if I don’t always agree.
What did it say on the old homepage used to say? “Come for the coffee and stay for the mantitty!”
Welcome!
Actually, I think it was “Come for the Dominican bitches, stay for the mantitty,” and if I’m remembering correctly, it was based on early search terms that led internet trawlers to the site. 😀 (But Sarah would know for sure.)
I’m one of those n00bs who has started hanging out on SBTB, DA, and other romance blogs in the past few months. My book club reads a different genre each month and I’ve been scouring the Internet to compile a shortlist of must-read romance titles. If non-romance readers only ever read one romance book that best represents the genre, what should that title be? That’s the question I’ve been trying to answer!
Justine, I’m sure you’ll get plenty of different answers to your question… but I would argue for Lord of Scoundrels or The Windflower, personally. Though The Windflower is perhaps better representative of the best of the more “old school” romance, with uber-alpha-males, innocent wilting heroines, and lots of crazysauce.
Hi Justine. That’s some mission you’ve taken on! I suspect you’ll get a lot of recommendations for Flowers In The Storm by Laura Kinsale. It’s lovely and very moving. I would also like to plug Lisa Kleypas’s Blue Eyed Devil and Smooth Talking Stranger. Both awesome, sexy, romantic contemporary romances with fantastic heroes and interesting, courageous heroines. And some meaty emotional stuff to sink your teeth into. Good luck! The best bit is you’ll have to taste-test all these fantastic recommendations. It’s sure to be an awesome short list.
I’m new too! Read about you on the Globe and Mail. Love the blog!
@Justine—Try this site:
http://likesbooks.com/top10020…
That the Top 100 Romances according to polling done by romance book review site, All About Romance. No two people will ever completely agree on a list of “must reads”, but this is a pretty good start.
Yup, that’s exactly it. When we started the site in 2005, one of the earliest Google search results that brought someone to the site was “Dominican bitches.” I have NO idea why. It may have been one vacation I took to the Dominican Republic and must have mentioned at some point, but that’s my best guess.
Either way, whoever it was searching “Dominican bitches” came back every day for WEEKS. We had no idea what it was, but we figured that he was coming for the Dominican bitches, and staying for the man-titty, and that became the title banner at the top of the site.
It really depends on what books your book club has read and enjoyed. If you read a lot of historical fiction, then historical romance might appeal. But if you’ve read more contemporary fiction, then contemporary romance or romantic suspense might work. What have you guys read recently that folks really enjoyed?
Thanks to everybody for the detailed suggestions! After looking at the 5 All About Romance polls, I will preview Lord of Scoundrels (Scoundrels #3) by Loretta Chase and Outlander (#1) by Diana Gabaldon for my book club. I’ll also try to preview Dreaming of You (Gamblers #2) by Lisa Kleypas, Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale, and Welcome to Temptation (Dempseys #1) by Jennifer Crusie. For myself, I eventually want to read Naked in Death (#1) by J.D. Robb, The Iron Duke (Iron Seas #1) by Meljean Brook, at least one Sherry Thomas, and a bunch of Save the Contemporary authors.
My book club wants to read the must-read, classic, or best representation of each genre. It’s difficult to decide on a monthly selection when there are so many subgenres within the many genres. The members are open to historical or contemporary romances. Romantic suspense might be a harder sell because one member can’t stomach violence.
I’ve been visiting/lurking for years – at least a year since before the Cassie Edwards brouhaha at least – and I’ve never known where that slogan came from. For a long time, I actually thought at least one of you was in the Dominican. Huh. Learn something new everyday.
Here’s an angle regarding romance novels. A thirty-something (hot) male friend of mine read a couple of my books on the Tube (the London underground train) on his way to work and found he got a lot of interested looks from young women. Presumably, they all wanted to know what he was doing reading a book with a pink cover but he said, whatever … he just likes getting attention from young women.
Justine, it looks like you have a pretty fantastic list to start out with. But I will say this, if you end up hating Welcome to Temptation (I did) don’t give up on Jennifer Crusie—her other stuff is absolutely amazing! =D (This from the woman who re-reads Crusie’s Bet Me every time she has a particularly awful day.)
Sue, that’s hilarious! In grad school, I had a genre class and our teacher challenged us to read our romance novel somewhere in public so we could experience people’s reactions to it. One of the guys in the class picked a novel with a crazy old-school cover and brought it on the bus to see what other people thought of it… but that was the day someone on the bus started getting really loud and violent and no one paid any attention to my classmate and his book at all. He was quite upset about it.
You know how gmail shows you ads based on the content of your emails? Whenever my brother and I correspond, the ads are all for douches and other feminine hygiene products, possibly indicating a slight overuse of the term douchebag. Also illustrated in the fact that my young nephews have taken to calling one another juicebugs.
I’m with Jenny. Lord of Scoundrels is one of my all time favs! What ever you read I hope you fall in love with the romance genre like we all have. Happy Sunday all.
@Justine. I would add an endorsement for Meljean Brooks. There are writers that make words sing, true wordsmiths, and she’s one of them. Story and style in one package with the Iron Seas series.
Many years ago, I read a Kathleen Woodewise (sp?) that I loved. She is now considered a pioneer by some, a hack by others. I remember my s-i-l and I looking at each other with surprised expressions. “I loved that!” “So did I!”
You guys are swell. J. Crusie was a pleasant surprise.
Just started reading this site last year. Sorta newish to romance. LOVE this blog! My reading list is HEEEUUUGE now!
I hate it when people think romance (or any genre) sucks because they read ONE bad or mediocre book.
I’d just like to say that although everyone always recommends Lord of Scoundrels to newbies, I really loathed it when I finally got around to reading it after 10 years of filching my mom’s and gram’s romances.
I have been a romance reader for ..33 years now? And after looking at that All About Romance list, I’ve added 10 new books. How did I miss some of these?
I just started lurking here after mostly lurking at DA for the past few months.
Yes! Lord of Scoundrels is my favorite romance novels list too. I haven’t read 50 Shades of Grey and I have no plans to. I just think it’s not for me. And this is NOT the book to introduce hesitant readers to the wonderful world of romance literature.
Thank you for your warm welcome. I’ve been a lurker for a long time.
I have been lurking around your site off and on for a couple of years now. I love looking through your site because you always highlight some of the best books. I am a huge fan of romance, especially historical romance. For instance, I just finished reading “The Romanov Stone” by Robert C. Yeager- a fabulous historical romance that takes place in Russia during the Romanov Era. I am always on the look out for these sorts of books, and you guys usually give me what I need. Thanks for letting me lurk around as well.
http://www.robertcyeager.com/