This HaBO comes from Sarah, who wants to find this contemporary romance:
I am looking for a romance where a curvy heroine moves in to a new apartment complex. She meets her neighbor, who turns out to be a porn star, and he falls in love with her.
It was an e-book, but I cannot remember the title or author at all.
I’ve read a few contemporary romances with a sex worker hero (all were rather disappointing with lots of internalized misogyny on behalf of the heroine), but this one doesn’t sound familiar to me.
I’m reminded of Fallen from Grace by Laura Leone, but the male lead is a prostitute rather than a porn star.
Mariana Zapata’s novel Lingus features a male porn star as the MMC, but he’s not a neighbor of the MFC. She’s an adult film fan who attends a porn conference with her friend and meets Lingus there. Could that be the book?
Reminds me a bit of THE ROOMMATE by Rosie Danan but the details don’t quite match.
@Mzcue: Just chiming in to say I absolutely hated Lingus and I will never miss an opportunity to tell people.
@Amanda—what’s wrong with Lingus? (I may feel similarly about SEVEN YEARS TO SIN and NO GOOD DUKE GOES UNPUNISHED).
@Amanda (chuckling) Lingus is far from my favorite Zapata, but I’m a hopeless fan of her signature Long Burn. Wall of Winnipeg is an all time favorite of mine. Completely coincidentally several Mariana Zapata’s are on sale today at Kindle. Still ahead for me is her latest, The Things We Water. At 718 pages, it’s daunting even me.
My main Lingus gripes are mainly with the heroine. She has a “not like other girls” personality and I remember a lot of negative opinions and comments from her about women who work in the adult film industry (i.e. the internalized misogyny I mentioned in the HaBO closing). Which is kind of a shame as I always like to try out romances with main characters in sex work. I did enjoy Rosie Danan’s books when they came out.
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@Mzcue
I also am a fan of The Wall of Winnipeg and Me as well as Kulti and From Lukov with Love–none of them tiny books. I read The Things We Water and although I had some issues with the MMC (I dislike characters who run hot and cold with no explanation), the book itself was not too much of a slog. It does have paranormal elements if that’s your thing–or not, as the case may be.
I also live Mariana Zapata and hated Lingus. The heroine’s attitude of superiority and somewhat her condescension toward the hero were off putting. I loved the Things We Water – I was a bit suspicious because l didn’t like Gracie and the Grump which also has magical elements, but l enjoyed the community feel of the Things We Water.
I also love Mariana Zapata and hated Lingus. The heroine’s attitude of superiority and somewhat her condescension toward the hero were off putting. I loved the Things We Water – I was a bit suspicious because l didn’t like Gracie and the Grump which also has magical elements, but l enjoyed the community feel of the Things We Water.
Charlotte Stein perhaps?
It appears that the problem with recent replies not displaying is also on this post.
It is SO WEIRD when that happens. I’m on it – thanks for the heads up.
I’m totally writing a book somewhat like this, heh.
I haven’t read this book, but I’m searching through the plot summaries from goodreads lists of “Male Sex Workers In Romance” and “Strippers, Prostitutes, and Porn Stars. Oh My!” to see what I can find that has male porn stars and neighbors. I doubt I’ll find anything that you haven’t already found for yourself, but just in case.
Changing His Game by Justine Elvira
Fluffer by Shae York
Gabriel’s Rule by Sloane Kennedy (professional escort)
My Neighbor’s Secret by Lauren Rowe (top comment doesn’t reveal his secret, but it’s on the list…)
Porn Princess by Lynn Pope is supposed to be about a curvy woman and her porn star neighbor, says reddit. There’s a Goodreads page for the title, but no summary. I can’t find it anywhere else.
Stripped by Zoey Castile