I was inspired by Dahlia Adler’s tweetstream about books that are escapist fun when the news is too much. She’s the author of Under the Lights and several other YA romances.
https://twitter.com/MissDahlELama/status/925021815491178496
https://twitter.com/MissDahlELama/status/925022624773824512
https://twitter.com/MissDahlELama/status/925025583897202688
First, how lovely and kind, and what good recs.
Second, GOOD GRAVY WHEN IS THE NEWS NOT TOO MUCH RIGHT NOW. We need these safe book places twice a day, I should think. So, inspired by Dahlia, I asked the Bitches this question:
What are your recommended “Ok, this is a bit much and I need to check out for awhile” books?
For me, my top solace reads, with humor and comedy and adorableness and comfort, are (to absolutely no one’s surprise whatsoever) both Lucy Parker books, Pretty Face ( A | BN | K | AB ) and Act Like It. I may have re-read Act Like It a few times since January 2017.
I’ve also visited my literary happy place in the Call of Crows series (again, surprising absolutely no one ever) by Shelly Laurenston. Superpowers driven by rage and a sisterhood of support without question or judgement? Yeah, totally a happy place for me.
Finally, I didn’t expect to re-read this one as much as I have, but Destiny’s Embrace by Beverly Jenkins is another I’ve re-visited when I needed solace. This is particularly true of the scene where the heroine, Mariah, travels from Philadelphia to pre-statehood California to escape her abusive mother.
One more! Speaking of traveling: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins is definitely one of my “happy place” books.
RedHeadedGirl: Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake: by Sarah MacLean ( A | K | G | AB | Scribd ).
Elyse: Pride & Prejudice.
Sarah: My comfort movie on long plane rides is the Joe Wright version of P&P, or better yet, the soundtrack by Dario Marianelli. Marianelli soundtracks are my auditory happy place.
Amanda: The Wallflowers series by Lisa Kleypas. I remember having so many happy sighs while reading.
Sarah: Oh, gosh, me as well.
What about you? What are your happy place romance recommendations? What books do you turn to again and again when the world is a bit too much and you need a break?
Re: “Hot Vanilla” from Cara at 45.
I was looking for something similar and picked up Vanilla Comoro tea by Harney & Sons. Give it a try! Great calming decaf vanilla tea.
Late to the party, agree with many above such as Heyer and Stewart and Neels. I like some of Nora’s stand-alones such as The Obsession, The Search, Chasing Fire. I find some of Carol Goodman’s stuff comforting. I also re-read a lot Someone Else’s Fairy Tale by E.M. Tippets. A Memory of Morning by Susan Sizemore – I just find it so soothing, somehow. Shalador’s Lady by Anne Bishop has carried me through a few bad times, a queen who in not necessarily seen as queenly and has self-esteem issues finding her feet – for some reason I just love it. Weirdly, John Buchan – The Thirty-Nine Steps, and Greenmantle are my favorites, with Prester John coming in a close third (some of the attitudes are dated when I re-read as an adult and I still love them anyway). Madeleine Brent (yeah, I know, not the real name), especially Golden Urchin and Moonraker’s Bride.
I love some of the recs so far, but can’t re-read them right now. The #METOO campaign has been rather triggering; and, while I respect those that share their story, I don’t cope that way. It’s heightened my paranoia and suspicion (which have both been proven valid). My current comfort re-reads are all about EXPLICIT CONSENT. Talking about what you want to do is sexy; when someone listens and does it = panty dropper.
Recommendations (particularly Lesbian and/or POC) appreciated!
Grace Draven’s King of Wraiths Series (2 books;my current re-read)
KJ Charles’ A Charm of Magpies Series (3 books with 2 linked)
Alisha Rai’s A Gentleman in the Streets
Joey W Hill’s Natural Law
Most of my comfort reads have been mentioned already. Lisa Kleypas (historicals—I’m not super fond of her contemporary books); Tessa Dare; Sustained by Emma Chase; Julie James (Something About You is the most re-read); Laura Florand fiction (I’ve never read her memoir); Tiger Eye by Marjory Liu; Julia Quinn; Linnea Sinclair; and recently I’ve been binging all of Penny Reid’s books.