This Rec League was sent in by Kim. Thanks, Kim! I’d love to see a Rec League about celebrity crush romances—where one MC is the celeb crush of the other MC, who is just a regular person. Strongly prefer MM, but I know that may be too niche. I’m really interested specifically in preexisting celeb crushes, not just “one character is a celebrity” plots. Open to actor crushes, sports, music, etc. This request is brought … Continue reading The Rec League: Celebrity Crush Romances→
This Rec League is from Rebecca from our podcast Patreon Discord: So I’m really enjoying the Below Stairs mysteries and wondered if anyone has any recs for other historical cosy mystery series. What I like about them is they generally resolve well and have that cosy mystery feel, but they also acknowledge some of the social justice issues of the time. I don’t really like high society stuff, so I like that they’re about working … Continue reading The Rec League: Cozy Historical Mysteries→
This request came from Varian in our SBTB podcast discord (another perk of joining the community!): Okay I’ve got a rather niche request. I don’t even know if this exists in romance novels. BDSM romances with no or very little sex, or where orgasms aren’t the main goal. I miss reading BDSM stories/books, but when I get to a sex scene in audio, the “skip 30 seconds” button gets a workout. Smut sounds very different … Continue reading The Rec League: BDSM Romances with Little to No Sex→
This Rec League was sent in by Anne: I’ve been re-reading Susanna Kearsley’s books about the Jacobites was reminded about how very unlucky the Stuarts were in their efforts to regain the throne in England. I am interested in books about what might have happened in the Stuarts were successful or if Queen Anne had named her half-brother as her successor instead of her German cousin. On a similar note, I’m also interested in books … Continue reading The Rec League: Alternate History→
This Rec League came from our staff reviewer Shana: Have we done a Rec League on books where the couple’s first time having sex is awkward or bad and they had to learn how to give each other pleasure? I feel like I remember us talking about those romances but I’m not sure what we might have called the Rec League. I love historical married couple romances, and this trope feels somewhat adjacent. Carrie: Jennifer … Continue reading The Rec League: Awkward Sex→
This Rec League comes from Juhi. Thanks, Juhi! I have found my way to c-dramas, and I need some recommendations! I started with a Perfect Match which is good, then found Love Like A Galaxy which I LOVE (and still have to watch all of, except I already saw the ending becauseI had to!) and then followed Wu Lei to Amidst A Snowstorm of Love which is hitting ALL MY SWEET SPOTS. I thought I … Continue reading The Rec League: C-Dramas→
This Rec League was sent in from Cassidy: I’m looking for a book recommendation (recommendations if I’m being honest) for a book with a reverse grumpy x sunshine relationship. As much as I appreciate the brooding, cold, grumpy hero, I prefer romance where it’s the woman who is the grumpy or closed off one while the guy is social, pleasant to be around, funny, and an overall ball of sunshine/ a golden retriever—but books with … Continue reading The Rec League: Grumpy/Sunshine with Grumpy Heroines→
This request came from Vicki. Thanks, Vicki! I was chatting with someone in India who is unhappy with their cricket team and remembering playing cricket as a kid. I’m wondering if there are any good cricket romances. Sarah: I am stumped! Amanda: Same! If any exist, they’re most certainly indie pubbed or not readily available in the US, given that Jodi McAlister’s reality TV romances were Aussie-only for a while, given that her publisher wasn’t … Continue reading The Rec League: Cricket Romances→
This Rec League is from Alex. Thanks, Alex! I’ve been on the hunt for sapphic historical romances that take place between the 1950s-80s. Outside of those date parameters is fine, but 20th century preferred. I just want historical happy queers that don’t die tragically. If it helps, I loved Lev AC Rosen’s Evander Mills series, and Cat Sebastian’s We Could Be So Good, I just need more lesbians (who doesn’t?) Amanda: Last Night at the … Continue reading The Rec League: 20th Century Sapphic Romance→
It appears that several of our SBTB Podcast Patreon Discord are planning for a vacay. In preparation, we’d like to compile some great vacation reading suggestions for the occasion. Sarah: On one memorable vacation, this book gave me an absurd good time: The Very Virile Viking by Sandra Hill Carrie: If you haven’t read The Windflower by Laura London on the beach then you haven’t lived. Lara: During my last holiday, my best friend introduced … Continue reading The Rec League: Vacation Reading→
This Rec League came in from Liz. Thanks, Liz! I’ve been on a romantic fantasy and sci-fi marathon lately and I’m looking for some recs, please. So, you know how in many fantasy novels, particularly urban/modern fantasy, there’s a lot of MC’s that go through a culture shock, fish out of water, “ZOMG! Vampires and shifters and magic!?!” phase that’s often at the start of a series? I would like the opposite of that. I’m … Continue reading The Rec League: Self-Aware Fantasy Main Characters→
