This Rec League request comes from Sasha:
I’m a recent (since the pandemic started) but voracious HR reader, but have also really enjoyed what I think is probably labeled as sci-fi-lite/space opera romance. I LOVED Everina Maxwell’s Winter’s Orbit and also really liked Edge of Nowhere (Felicia Davin) and Dark Space (Lisa Henry). I still need to read the rest of those series but would love other similar books. When I search sci-fi romance I seem to find a lot of series that include a lot of violence or battles or assassins, not necessarily my thing. I don’t mind some world building but I really like character driven romance. Also, despite the fact that all my examples are, doesn’t have to be MM romance, I’m up for anyone falling in love.
Editor’s note: It’s been over two months of the HarperCollins Union strike, and there is still no agreement. At the Union’s request, we have not been promoting, featuring, or reviewing HarperCollins titles. Because there has been no movement, we will now be indicating where we would have mentioned a HarperCollins title in the content we produce. So if you see [Redacted HarperCollins title due to strike] this is why: HarperCollins needs to go to the bargaining table with the Union and reach an agreement. The people who make the books we love should have a fair wage for the work that they do.
Update, Feb 17: The strike has ended and the union reached an agreement with HarperCollins. Hooray!
Sarah: All of Becky Chambers’ books, especially A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet.
EllenM: On A Sunbeam by Tillie Walden is a graphic novel that I think fits – it’s a cozy sort of melancholy found family sci-fi with a romance
Amanda: I feel like Rory Thorne is a little on the cozy fun, rompy side.
Sarah: I think that Murderbot can be somewhat cozy, though there is some violence and fighting, the characters are what drive the story
Do you think Linnea Sinclair’s books would fit?
Amanda: It’s been so long since I’ve read them, so I can’t remember how cozy-ish they are.
Tara: I think Fletcher DeLancey’s Chronicles of Alsea series might fit. It starts with The Caphenon. ( A | BN | K | G | AB )
What about This Is How You Lose the Time War?
Shana: It’s definitely got the sci fi romance part down
Lara: I’ve only read one space opera – Only Bad Options by Jennifer Estep and I loved it. Some violence but nothing that stuck with me. Lovely suspense and slow burn romance.
But I am going to be reading all your recs!
Susan: On a Sunbeam was my first thought too!
Space Battle Lunchtime by Natalie Reiss ( A | BN ) is about a baker who has to has to short-notice fill in on a bake-off show IN SPACE, that might work. The second volume has a lot more peril, but the first one is pretty cozy.
Iona Datt Sharma, THAT’S the author I was trying to remember! They primarily write short fiction, but their stuff sounds very like what’s being asked for – I feel like I recommend “Archana and Chandni” at every opportunity, but it’s my favourite story about weddings and family.
Which books would you recommend? Let us know below!
My recommendations that I haven’t seen anyone else post:
Kate Elliott’s The Keeper’s Six is a short, subtle romance/space opera. The main character is trying to save her son, who has been kidnapped by a dragon. Romance is not the point but there are two main couples.
Aliette de Bodard’s The Red Scholar’s Wake might count! It’s an arranged marriage between a pirate ship and someone who’s been captured, and they both fall in love and actually try to solve the piracy problem.
K.B. Wagers’ NeoG series. Space version of the coast guard with great characterization and some romance.
Max Gladstone’s Empress of Forever. More SF than romance but the romance is there!
Check out Julia Huni’s Space Janitor series! It’s essentially a cozy mystery on a space station and it’s fantastic!
I just remembered there is a free anthology of short stories by 8 different sci-fi romance authors on Kindle, it’s called Tales From the SFR Brigade. A good way to check if any of those authors take your fancy.
And thanks everybody for all the recs!
Jenny Schwartz Uncertain Sanctuary series is pretty much a definition of a super cozy sci-fi. Plus there’s space elves and a sentient house so I was enjoying myself big time. Those are slow character driven books so if a lot of action is need, better to keep away 😀
I don’t exactly get what “cozy” means in this context, but for character-driven, “soft” SF (as opposed to tech-heavey hard SF), I would definitely recommend:
– Pauling Baird Jones’ Project Enterprise series,
– Rosemary Kirstein’s Steerswoman series
– Robin Owens’ Celta series.
The latter 2 are set on a planet, respectively, so they are not exactly space-faring SF.
Also I support the recs for the Mageworld series, Liaden and anything by Bujold.
Guilty pleasures are also Nancey Cummings Warriors of Sangrin and Tail and Claw series, as well as Ruby Dixon’s Ice Planet Barbarians and Risdaverse. All of these lean more to the erotic.
Late but Gun Brooke’s f/f “Supreme Constellations” series might fit the bill!
Any chance of un-redacting Sarah’s recommendation now that there’s good news? Please?
Sure thing. Done and done!
I’m seconding all of the Liaden Universe by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller and M.C.A Hogarth’s Peltverse (Especially the Dreamhealer’s section). Some additional space opera that I haven’t seen mentioned here:
Beryll and Osiris Brackhaus – the Sir Yaden series (M/M adventure)
Lyn Gala – Claimings series (M/Alien) and Turbulence series (M/M, M/F)
And for light and quick M/F Sci-Fi romance, who can beat Viola Grace, especially her Sector Guard and Terran Times series. They’re like sugary cereal: bright colors, not nutritious, but somewhat addictive.
I hadn’t heard of the Sir Yaden series so I looked it up, and I have to say I really like the authors’ Promise to readers.
https://www.brackhaus.com/the-authors/the-brackhaus-promise/
Definitely late to the party, but things I haven’t seen recommended yet are:
Amanda Bouchet’s series that starts with Nightchaser and perhaps The Rule of Luck Trilogy by Cerveny though it’s planet bound mostly (they do move to Mars and I’ve only read 2/3)