We received this request from Amina! Thanks, Amina! I just watched the 1998 version of Dangerous Liasons ( and I love the 1999 film Cruel Intentions.) I wondered if there were recommendations for books that visited either the theme— seduction as a bet, or rake seducing innocent— or adaptations of it. Amanda: As someone whose favorite rom com is She’s All That, I am here for all the recs. Sarah: Bet Me is an obvious … Continue reading The Rec League: Seduction as a Bet→
This Rec League was sent into us by Deborah! Is there a good fantasy romance novel or series in which the heroine is normal and STAYS normal? I’m getting a bit tired of the Chosen One cliche and would like to read about a character who doesn’t have a billion hidden/latent talents and solves her problems like all us average plebs. Sarah: I think some of the Laurenston Pride books have heroines who are not … Continue reading The Rec League: “Normal” Heroines in Fantasy Romance→
A couple weeks ago, we ran a discussion post about what tropes would be the opposite of “friends to lovers.” Tara pointed out that a few of you mentioned “hookups to more,” where the couple enter into a sexual relationship as strangers and become friends over time. So this one’s for you commenters! Maya: OHHHHHHHH Beautiful by Christina Lauren . She lives in London and he lives somewhere in the US, but they start hooking … Continue reading The Rec League: Hookups→
Our latest Rec League comes from Frini. Thanks for sending it in! I’m looking for book recommendations that have a heroine struggling with something like impostor syndrome. Like, she needs validation about her life/work/looks. It can be a second chance romance, enemies to lovers…it’s all good 🙂 Anything on that front? Susan: Oh no, this is the character trait that most reduces me to gross sobbing. If you’ll excuse the fifteen volume manga: Library Wars: … Continue reading The Rec League: Imposter Syndrome→
Kiki and I are both based in the Boston area and we were lucky enough to attend an event with Beverly Jenkins. While waiting in the signing line, we discussed some of our favorite Jenkins’ books with mine being Night Hawk. I’m such a sucker for the cover (dark hat and a black duster without a shirt on underneath) and I told Kiki that the “sexy outlaw” archetype is my jam. She then had the brilliant … Continue reading The Rec League: Sexy Outlaws→
This Rec League came from our very own Sarah: What mystery series do you recommend that would also appeal to romance readers? Genre crossover is a lovely thing, and many, many romances feature a (delicious) mystery element. But for this Rec League, I’m looking for those books that are marketed and sold predominantly as mysteries that would also appeal to romance readers, especially books that romance fans might not be aware of. Amanda: Obvious options … Continue reading The Rec League: Mysteries with Romance Crossover Appeal→
We have a new monthly recommendation feature debuting today: READY, SET, GO! Here are the rules: We pick a specific sub-genre, trope, or type of romance, and we have to make ONE recommendation for that type. ONE. ONLY ONE. And no more than two sentences as to why. Yes, just one. Which one book do you pick to fill that rec? Our first one: What do you think is the best SHIFTER ROMANCE you’d recommend? … Continue reading Ready, Set, Go! Best Shifter Romance?→
This request was sent in by Maggie. Thanks, Maggie! Hey ladies, I’ve looked through past reader recs but haven’t seen this topic so I thought I’d ask for it. Do you have any recs for books where couples from different countries/cultures meet? I recently read The Mother-in-Law Cure by Katherine Wilson (a memoir, not a novel) about how she met her Italian husband while studying in Naples and now I’m on the look out for … Continue reading The Rec League: Cross-Cultural Romances→
I swear this request came through my email. Can I find it? Absolutely not. For those who are unfamiliar, Jim and Pam are two characters from The Office and they have a romance that spans several seasons. They started off as really good work friends. For a long time, they could never get the timing right on their relationship. Until they did. And it was wonderful. When I’m having a bad day, I like to watch … Continue reading The Rec League: Jim & Pam→
Thank you to Daniela for sending this request in, as I know many members of the Bitchery will be both interested in this one and have some great recommendations: I was hoping you could help me in my quest to find a solid novel (or ten) featuring thruples (m,m,f). I recently read Heart and Hand by Rebel Carter and was really taken by the idea of exploring the dynamics of three people in a relationship. … Continue reading The Rec League: Throuples→
After Ellen’s lamenting about The Bride of the Water God and the search for a Midnight Secretary replacement, we wanted to do another Rec League. We’ve done requests in the past on webcomics, WebToons, and my very own search for something similar. But new books are being published and discovered every day. Give Ellen’s review a read and see if you have something to recommend! Susan: I’ve not read Midnight Secretary so if you want … Continue reading The Rec League: More Romantic & Potentially Smutty Manga→
