This Rec League came from our own Sarah! It was a tough one:
What do you think about a Rec League of escape books: stories, esp romance, that are so absorbing, you disappear into the book for a long while. And the catch is, no one can rec a book they’ve rec’d before?
Sarah: Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan, but this is not a cozy kind of fantasy. A young woman with cancer is swept into the world of her and her sister’s favorite fantasy series and finds herself as the villain.
So there’s plots and fighting and violence and rage and grief and frustration and did I mention rage? If you’re looking for fierce cathartic feels this is a good choice.
You will lose track of time. Also if you’re me, you’ll forget you need to reapply sunscreen.
Amanda: I’m throwing it back to one of favorite comforting and cozy novels (and authors!). Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. ( A | BN | K | G | AB ) There’s something that is both gentle and very chaotic about the book. While I’m not a re-reader, I will re-visit this one every few years. I have an old beat-up mass market that has made it through many moves.
Also as a bonus, you get a lovely Studio Ghibli film to watch afterward!
Shana: Octavia Butler’s last book, Fledgling, ( A | BN | K | AB ) is a dark vampire story that totally sucks me in every time I read it. The heroine wakes up injured, with amnesia, and spends most of book piecing together what’s happened. It’s just suspenseful enough to hook me without actually stressing me out. It’s not a romance, although there’s a poly HFN of sorts.
For a romance, my pick is A Prince on Paper by Alyssa Cole. The main couple is compulsively adorable.
Elyse: See if I liked it I already recommended it here because I don’t have inside thoughts when it comes to books.
Sneezy: Aaaaaaaargh!!!! I’m like Elyse, I can’t think of one I haven’t already said.
What books would you recommend, especially ones that you may not have recommended before on the site?
“Bound to Fall” by A.K. Caggiano. It is a standalone spin-off of the author’s Villains & Virtues series but I read it just fine without having read the other books. The characters kind of start off as enemies but it is resolved in a chapter or two and then they go from tentative friends to lovers. The FMC is cursed with dark magic and staying at a disgraced temple where here evil sister died. The MMC is a Holy Knight on a mission to vanquish evil from said temple and thinks that means killing the FMC. When they find out that the FMC accidentally unleashed an evil entity on the town they reluctantly agree on a truce and this is when their friendship/relationship starts to form. While the synopsis sounds dramatic I cannot stress enough how funny and sweet and wholesome this book is. I was kicking my little feet with joy the whole time. What I appreciated the most was the humourous tone of the narration and how nice and genuine the characters were (personally I’m over snarky main characters). Honestly it felt a little like a Dungeons & Dragons campaign.
Speaking of Dungeons & Dragons I’ll also rec “Dungeons and Drama” by Kristy Boyce. It is a YA contemporary romance which isn’t my usual cup of tea but I was SO invested in everything that happened to these characters – their romance, their D & D campaign, saving their school musical, fixing Riley’s relationship with her dad. I didn’t think I’d get so lost in this story but I did. Kristy Boyce is releasing a second YA contemporary romance surrounding D & D players at the end of the year (“Dating and Dragons”) and I cannot wait. Also I want to kiss the cover artist/designer for both of these books.
It’s such a coincidence that you should request books to escape into because for the last few days I have been spending every available bit of free time disappearing into the world created by Mhairi McFarlane’s JUST LAST NIGHT (published in 2021, and languishing—why? why?—for almost as long on my kindle). It’s a brilliantly-written book about a foursome of thirty-something friends and what happens to them when tragedy strikes. Yes, the book does deal with some heavy topics (loss, grief, uncovering secrets, moving on), but there’s also humor, love, growth, self-awareness, and eventual self-acceptance as narrator Eve (whose inner voice is both snarky and tender) must come to terms with the shifting dynamics in her friends group. I loved everything about JUST LAST NIGHT—and it will definitely be on my list of favorite reads of the year. If you’re looking for a book that is both relatable and escape-into-able, this is it.
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson has the same wizard Darcy with a strong female character vibes as Howl’s Moving Castle, which I also loved.
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree has a battle-weary orc opening a coffee shop with a found family. And you should have coffee and pastries nearby or you’ll get really hungry.
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson has a strong female character without any magical powers trying to find and save her beloved while making her way on a pirate ship across dangerous, spore-filled oceans. Sanderson said the book came out of his wife asking “What if Buttercup hadn’t stayed home when Westley was kidnapped by pirates?” in The Princess Bride.
These should be available at most libraries in book, ebook and audiobook form.
I recently re-read the new Connie Willis ROAD TO ROSWELL and I highly recommend.
Road tripping with an alien and some colorful characters across the American southwest. Willis really leans into the silliness of it all. There’s a sweet romance that’s typical of her books. And if you want more of her stuff, there’s always TO SAY NOTHING OF THE DOG.
No book reccos except to say that over at Reactor Mag (formerly tor.com), Jo Walton had same idea for a post. There’s tons of good reccos there too. Not all of it romance.
https://reactormag.com/books-to-read-when-you-need-an-escape/
She mentions this and I will too for a book that you cannot put down— not a romance—Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City by KJ Parker.
Carla Kelly’s Wedding Ring Quest was unputdownable as well.
Sherry Thomas’s Lady Sherlock series (not primarily a romance)
Victoria Godard’s The Return of Fitzroy Angursell (not a romance)
Kate DiCamillo’s The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (not a romance)
Will add more later
(Ok I did end up recommending!)
Miles Vorsokigan!!!
Oh my source—anything with Vorsokigan in it is unputdownable!!
Lois MacMaster Bujold is the author for anyone who doesn’t know. I am going to go get me some Miles!
Highly recommend The Wedding People and also going to reread the Pink Carnation series.
This might be kind of an obvious one but if anyone is looking for “fluffy” historical, the Spinster Cove series by Tessa Dare. Rebellious and misfit women have a tiny town they can go to figure stuff out. Very feel good with good audiobooks. I listened to them over and over again in almost continuous loop during the pandemic.
Another obvious one, The Thursday Night Murder Club. Cozy mystery with a bit more of a sarcastic edge than you find it cozies. There’s a strong sense of justice and an community of oddballs that look out for each other and love each other.
What a timely rec league! I escape into fantasy easier than romance because the world is often different. The first four have a romantic element. If I’ve recommended any before, they’re worth repeating.
The Spellshop (Durst)
Emily Wilde series (Fawcett)
After the Forest (Woods)
Ten Thousand Stitches (Atwater)
Wild Things (Kay) (romance)
The Husbands (Gramazio)
The Westing Game (Raskin)
The heart feature is down for me but I second Legends & Lattes! High sensory detail, that.
Yes, to Howl’s Moving Castle! The audio is really good, as well.
Anything by Diana Wynne Jones; there are actually three books in the Howl series, the original, Castles In The Air, and The House of Many Ways. I also recommend her Chrestomanci series, which has I think 6 books at last count, starting with The Lives of Christopher Chant.
Also Spinning Silver and Uprooted by Naomi Novik, which are magical and unputdownable and have some of the strongest and most determined female characters ever. And a little bit of romance between the lines.
One more all time favorite, To Say Nothing Of The Dog by Connie Willis. It has everything – romance, humor, a mystery, a treasure hunt, and wild time-traveling shenanigans.
I escaped last week into Michelle Diener’s Class 5 sci-fi romance series. I read the newest book, COLLISION COURSE, and that triggered a reread of 3 of the older books in the series, DARK HORSE, DARK DEEDS and DARK CLASS. Not a lot of explicit sexy times, but the books pair human females with alien heroes who are hunky and sensitive and more emotionally evolved than the ones on this planet. These books are action packed. There is lots of peril for the MCs, violence inflicted on them, and by them, lots of spaceship battles and pew!pew!pew! shoot-em-ups. You will notice after 2 or 3 that the tropes and plots are quite repetitive, but that predictability is part of what makes them such a great escape, and soothing in spite of the violence.
“The Montague Siblings” series by Mackenzi Lee is marketed as Teen/YA, but all 3 of these queer teen 18th century historical adventures were great fun to read. Start with THE GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO VICE AND VIRTUE, then move on to THE LADY’S GUIDE TO PETTICOATS AND PIRACY and wrap up the interrelated stories with a series HEA in THE NOBLEMAN’S GUIDE TO SCANDAL AND SHIPWRECKS. (Even the titles are fun!)
I just blew through THE CALCULATING STARS by Mary Robinette Kowal. I believe I read it in under 3 days.
I’ve never read alternative history before, and boy-howdy this was the escape/alternative timeline I so desperately needed. Seeing people grapple with, confront and overcome bigotry, fear and science deniers for the sake of a better future was deeply satisfying.
Plus, the supportive relationship between Elma and her husband Nathaniel was the infusion of “not all men are trash” which really helped my heart. The way Nathaniel validates and encourages Elma was beautiful to read about
SBTB is one of my top online sanctuaries right now. Please take care of yourselves and sending you all the hugs!!!
It has to be something I haven’t already rec’d? Why? It’s not like I am holding out on y’all. I’m with Elyse and Sneezy on this.
Besides, I am not recommending a specific book anyway, but an author. It’s KJ Charles, because of course it is. I might have mentioned her here once or twice over the years? But it’s the best advice available.
@kkw: I think it’s more about the challenge, especially in terms of suggesting books or authors that don’t already get a ton of love on the site. If you’ve been here a while, I can understand if it might feel disappointing that every comfort read or escape reading post has the same books/authors, especially if you’ve already exhausted those options. I definitely told Sarah that she can’t pick Penric or Murderbot lol.
I second both Tessa Dare’s Spindle Cove series, and also The Calculating Stars and the entire Lady Astronaut series by Mary Robinette Kowal.
I love to escape into cozy gaslamp fantasy most of all. Some of my faves that fall into or close to that genre but don’t get as much rec time:
The Extraordinaires series by Melissa McShane
The Glamourist Histories series by Mary Robinette Kowal
The Harwood Spellbook series by Stephanie Burgis
Good Neighbors by Stephanie Burgis
A few months ago someone commented that they really enjoyed AJ Sherwood when one of their books was free that day. I picked that one up & have now picked up & read about 30 more. And reread a couple. It’s sexy banter & fluff & all the bad guys get what they deserve. I’m finding this very soothing. Thank you very much to whoever mentioned it here!
Oh, I just went back and read LittyN’s post and it reminded me of one more – Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
I don’t even know how to succinctly describe this book… a magic system based on controlling color, where the second sister goes off to marry the seemingly awful God King in her older sister’s place. The older sister follows to rescue her but gets caught up with a mysterious rogue of sorts instead, and turns out to be quite a badass. There is a romance and political intrigue and action and magic.
I totally escaped into that book for a few days and should recommend it more.
James Collins, BEGINNERS GREEK. The author was quoted and the book mentioned in a recent article in the NY Times about what we remember about the books we’ve read. Got it from the library and as soon as I finished I bought myself a copy and another to give as a gift. From the original NY Times review: “This is a deeply strange book. In fact, it is, to the best of my knowledge, a nonesuch: a 400-plus-page first novel by a 49-year-old American male, dedicated to the highly dubious proposition that such a thing as perfect romantic love is possible in these doomy, gloomy, over-psychologized, terminally ironic, post-humanist, post-postmodern times. Part comedy of manners, part chick lit in male drag, James Collins’s “Beginner’s Greek” is a great big sunny lemon chiffon pie of a novel. . . . What is wrong with this Mr. Collins? Doesn’t he know that first novels are written by very young people, that first fiction should be agonized and autobiographical, and that a first novel by a middle-aged man should, by all that is right and reasonable, contain some sour meditation on mortality and failing powers?” Not a romance but a love story with a HEA, poetry, references to P&P and Rocky & Bullwinkle – totally engrossing and I loved it.
I do not know why it has not gotten more attention, but Cicadas by Avery Cockburn has the right mix of pining, sexy-times and humor and I do not understand why more people are not loving on it. The Android/I-Phone text humor had me giggling uncontrollably.
:::plops down:::
The Fated Mates podcast just did a good episode on comfort reads, so there’s some good suggestions in there. For myself, I tend to go two ways when I’m angry/anxious/sad/disgusted. One is that I like the angry, burn it all down reads: Heart of Blood and Ashes, Killers of a Certain Age, Island Witch, Such Sharp Teeth, The Cruel Prince, Her Radiant Curse, Shelly Laurenston Badger books. Or I go books that I find comforting: Devil’s Daughter, a lot of Beverly Jenkins, a lot of Tessa Dare, Role Playing by Cathy Yardley.
I’m having a hard time getting a lot to stick right now, but I will say that Sabaa Tahir’s new one is working great for me at the moment. It’s angry, and there have been a few lines that hit hard (“No one can manipulate those with faith like a person who has none”), but it’s definitely speaking to that part of it me right now that would like nothing more than to set some villains on fire.
This was haaaarrrrrrrd. Did I convey the whine there? The problem is not simply that I can’t remember what I’ve recommended before; it’s also that I’ve discovered so many much loved books through SB-TB.
So, rec one: Sherwood Smith. Smith was recommended to me by my brilliant & kindly friend, Faye, many years ago. Specifically, Coronets and Steel. C & S is an old school swashbuckler set in the 20th century with a vibe that alternates between Ruritanian adventure and Mary Stewart style romantic suspense, all seasoned with a touch of paranormal lite. It’s the second book I was ever moved to review on the mega-site that shall not be named. It is not by any means a perfect book, but it totally sucked me in, and when I recall it, I do so visually in specific vivid scenes, e.g., the heroine fencing her way down a grand staircase with villains in hot pursuit. Full disclosure: it does not end in an HEA, nor is it a cliffhanger or a tragedy. However, there is a sequel called Blood Spirits for those who wish to revisit Dobrenica and continue Kim’s adventures. Smith also has a high fantasy series (Inda 1-4) and numerous YA novels and series.
My friend also recommended Madeleine Robins’s Sarah Tolerance series–another heroine with a blade. These are historical mysteries set in an alt-Regency. The first is Point of Honor, and there are three altogether. Well-written with an interesting take on the time period.
Finally, the most recent read that took me out of this less than stellar reality was Jen Comfort’s take on a romance sprung from an intense quiz show rivalry, What Is Love? Clearly an homage to Jeopardy, I found the main characters edgy and intense and the story gripping and often funny. Also, contrary to the cerebral vibe of the inspiration, the sexytimes sizzle.
Mallory Dublin is a new author to me. Her series Monsters of the Faery starting with CAPTURED BY THE FAE BEAST is set in a world where faery and mundane worlds exist side by side. When a person is on the brink of death, if they ask for help they can be saved, and then are taken to the other world and bound to whoever saved them. There are fated mates, but they can be lovers, enemies, have a filial bond, there are no guarantees what the relationship will be. There are wars, court politics, magic and vengeful gods. And the series is 5 books long.
I don’t think I have rec’d K.L. Noone before? The Character Bleed series is AMAZING (2 actors playing opposite each other in a gay historical rom movie fall in love IRL while filming – the writing style, and the kindness towards and consideration/protection of each other is just beautiful), but I have enjoyed everything else I have read so far. If you have a library that has Hoopla you can get them there too, but I like them so much I now own kindle copies.
K. N. Banet “Oath Sworn” series, or her “Servant of the Blood” series- both urban fantasy. I keep forgetting to rec her books here, as I really enjoy them, so good timing! Also don’t think I’ve mentioned Vanessa Nelson here before, I started with her Taellaneth series and never looked back. They’re easy, enjoyable fantasy with strong romance element although closed door.
@Vivi: This sounds right up my alley! Buying it immediately and thank you for the recommendation.
Late to the party but I liked Love You A Latke quite a bit. Good fluffy romance with all the food
Well, drats! I’ve doubtless already recommended many of my favorites. If I think of a possible title, I’ll be back.
@SBSarah: Like @Nicolette, I am also unable to use the heart feature.
I read A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang in two sittings last weekend and it was really what I needed. It’s a historical fantasy about a woman who agrees to be trained as a spy so that she can use her beauty and her skills to help topple the kingdom that conquered her people. There is a romance element as well, although I’m not sure that everyone would say that it has an HEA, and I would say it is more of a historical fantasy than a romance. It’s inspired by/based on the story of Xishi, which was not a story was familiar with prior to reading this book. The writing is very gripping and beautiful and I’m probably going to reread again soon.
I find myself retreating to fantasy and sci fi in particularly difficult times.
For a completely bonkers and fun read, try Alexandra Rowland’s RUNNING CLOSE TO THE WIND. Queer romantasy with pirates and magic. It’s filthy in its talk, but there’s never any actual action in that regard (just stuff that’s referenced as having happened, or things people say that they want to do) so I guess it’s technically closed door? I found it diverting and unique. The audiobook is superb. I’m now reading (and listening to) A TASTE OF GOLD AND IRON by Rowland, which takes place in the same universe but is more of a conventional plot line and is also excellent. I’m also very much enjoying THE SAPLING CAGE by Margaret Killjoy and CAN’T SPELL TREASON WITHOUT TEA by Rebecca Thorne. And TJ Klune’s HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA and new sequel SOMEWHERE BEYOND THE SEA are very comforting (with amazing audiobooks – his voicing of the kids, including the 7-year-old Anti-Christ Lucy is amazing. And the outro of the sequel, where Klune burns down the TERF-who-shall-not-be-named is an absolute classic!)
Two of my favorite books for this year will be Kaliane Bradley’s THE MINISTRY OF TIME (sci fi plus M/F romance), and another will be THE SHABTI by Megeara C. Lorenz (mystery plus M/M historical romance – with an amazing audiobook). I read both of those from the library and then bought myself my own keeper copies. Both would fit the bill here.
In traditional romance, I have a few absolute favorites that I listen to and/or read again and again when I need to get lost with some beloved characters — those include Kate Canterbary’s PRESERVATION, BEFORE GIRL and WORST GUY, Kate Meader’s IRRESTIBLE YOU and INSTACRUSH, Rainbow Rowell’s FANGIRL (including the manga and related Simon Snow books), Jay Hogan’s ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, Chloe Liese’s IF ONLY YOU, and Julie Kriss’ TAKE ME DOWN. Those are all parts of series that I revisit with some frequency – sometimes I just read a few scenes and I feel comforted.
And sometimes I just need to get lost in all the flowery language and emotion of LM Montgomery’s ANNE OF GREEN GABLES.
Set aside a bit of time and dive into the Mistborn Series by Brandon Sanderson. Of all his books these were the ones I got most lost in. That is, DH would see me come home from the library sigh and take over making sure I ate. At one point he said “you know you are YELLING at characters in a book who can’t hear you”. Good advice that.
I am in the middle of the comfort/escapism of the Jayne Ann Krentz/Jayne Castle/Amanda Quick series. It’s super formulaic but light and fun still makes for great re-reads.
I just reread some of the Spindle Cove books because I needed something fluffy and didn’t have the brain power for understanding new worlds.
I recently found Ally Carter a lot of fun – plenty of action in her romantic suspense stories, and while the stakes may be high, it doesn’t feel stressful.
I had a friend whose company got bought by another, so things were getting very stressful. She told me, “I’m just rereading your Cat Cafe stories over and over” because she needed something light and cozy. (Those are my sweet romances set around a cat cafe.)
KJ Charles and Cat Sebastian are absolute comfort read authors to me. Less mentioned here, but just as good, is Joanna Chambers IMHO. Her Enlightenment series has five books to dive into and should appeal to anyone who likes Charles and Sebastian. The first three books, Provoked, Beguiled and Enlightened, are about the same couple. The HEA only comes in book three – so these need to be treated as one story. There are two free codas, to be found on Chambers’ website. They are definitely part of the story, but must be read only after these three books (spoilers ahoi!). The next two books, Unnatural and Restored, are loosely connected to the others and they are ok to be read on their own. It’s not all fluff, there are politics, off-page deaths and more in these 1820s books set in Edinburgh and London, but the payoff at the end for each couple is just so good! They all still make me tear up at some point. There’s a quite a bit of real history in these, which also appeals to me.
For lighter fare, Chambers also has the Winterbourne series, Introducing Mr. Winterbourne (novella), Mr. Winterbourne’s Christmas (these two are about the same couple) and The Labours of Lord Perry Cavendish. These are also m/m Regency, but fluffier, lighter.
Chambers has also written three contemporaries together with Sally Malcolm, Total Creative Control, Home Grown Talent and Best Supporting Actor, which are m/m contemporary, set in the TV/film/theater industry. Each is about a different couple, they are ok on their own but it’s more fun to read them in sequence, as some of the events happening in the books overlap and we get to see them from different viewpoints. There’s snark, but also a ton of feels. I love these for all that and they also feature high on my comfort read list. My favourite though is book one. So much pining….
Hey y’all! I *think* I have figured out the hearts issue, which took me a hot minute. They should be round with a little animation when you click them, with a number alongside. I went with a different design for troubleshooting purposes, but please let me know here or via email (Sarah at smart bitches trashy books dot com) if they aren’t working for you? Sorry about that!
Ooh, the heart feature is working again! Thank you, @SB Sarah.