My favorite kind of romance books
Good Morning!
Of course, You guys should know that I LOVE a good YA book that make me feel that kind of “teenage love” and freedom mixed together like nobody’s business. However, some of more adult books have been appealing lately; first with “Steeped in Love” (GR), and now with “Very Nearly Normal” (GR).
Related; Fave Tropes / What I like to see in my Romances
Now that’s i’m back on my own, romance books hits home in a different way than it did just last year – You see; when I was with him, he was the person I would see in every. guy. that acted as the “love interest”. I obviously can’t do that anymore, so i’m back on my wishful dreamy way of reading romance — wishing something like this could happen to me, in real life, and right now with one of my favorite customer at work *aherm* that I potentially may have a crush on.
What changed, however, from that said “wishful and dreamy” way of the BEFORE he came into my life, is that I no longer feel like i’m unlovable anymore. My depressed and anxious brain doesn’t try to make me think that the love I so adore to read in my books is my only way of getting it anymore.
So, what does books like “Steeped in Love” and “Very Nearly Normal” has in common that I love about them?
❤︎ Being more adults books, the characters are my age or OLDER — because yes, 25 years old is NOT. Too. late. to get started on having your ever ever after. Love has no age limit (yes, I do need that reminder)
❤︎ Because thoses doesn’t apply to me, I like that the romance isn’t based off a friendship (as I got none- well, not that I could love anyway) or long lost first love.. thoses are pure strangers that our MC meets either in a coffee shop, or in a restaurent after a flopped tinder date. Showing us that yes, it can happen anywhere; not just from friends, or coworkers, or friends from friends.. this can happen too!
❤︎ I specially LOVE the touch of “dating on the side” intertwined with the one true love interrest. Because nowadays, that’s how it works! You don’t always fall on the right potential one of the first go, you can get MANY odds and horrible ones beforehand.
❤︎ Often, it seems like natural little things about ourselves are just so much more accepted in thoses older romances; per exemple, not being perfectly perfect like being a clumsy duck, aswell as still living with your parents despite being an adult. I gotta say I struggle with accepting that i’m not “less cool” because i’m still living with my parents, which saves me quite lots in term of rent/food/gas/etc.
What about you? Share some with me in the comments xx
I have never been in a relationship, so I never really look for so called “realistic” romances. I love enemies to lovers, few friends to lovers (because I usually avoid these kind of books but Addicted series for example is awesome), insta love, slow burn,… It doesn’t really matter as long as I’m hooked into the plot. I even have a weakness for alien romance for some reason and I’ve even read few of those “I sold my virginity” stories since I’m weird like that. What’s most important to me is that I connect with the couple and that they have some “aww” moments and not just sex. I might enjoy some insta love but I don’t like it if they move on too fast.
I see! Oh wow alien romance.. i’m a tad curious xd
Yep I agree! I don’t mind a few sex scenes.. but there’s gotta have a cute story involved too!
I love it when the relationships progress naturally, they don’t get together and are instantly getting engaged/married/having kids and even the ones where it’s a couple working through their issues, getting back together or maybe learning to love themselves away from the couple
Yess!! I love that too
I love reading romances! I love all sorts of them but I mostly like reading them in fantasy.
Yes! Romance in everything is good by me, ahaha! I can read something without one but I mean., it’s always better when it does. 😅
I like the ones that incorporate Fantasy like Kingdom of Exiles and the Gothic Gaslamp series. Something where the romance isn’t too much at the forefront but still important! And Slowburns!
yes! Romance in everything is always good, but I particularly loved them in the two only fantasies i’ve read. Sometimes it’s nice to have it mixed with something else
I love that you say 25 is not too old to find love, because I’m 28 and that’s actually still really young, but sometimes I feel like I should have had a significant other for years and I should have plans to get married and have kids. And that’s not necessary. But I have to admit that I would really like to find that special someone and not get weird dating experiences before hand :’)
The girl in the novel im reading is 28 too! But yes.. i get ya 🤦🏽♀️ we’re in the age where all you see around you is people getting married and pregnant.. meanwhile I struggle to even get a guy to not quit talking to me! Ahahah
Really great post! I agree with you here and especially like your point about accepting parts of ourselves, like living at home, despite being an adult.
Thank you!
I can’t help but feel “less of” because I’m still living with my parents.. although it’s a great thing for both my parents and I — I get to save, I get a babysitter for my weeins when I work, mom get to never be truly alone when dad leaves for work, etc.
The downside is not being able to bring random guys home ahah (not that I would be into one night stands anyway XD) and well – you can’t skip the meeting the parents too too long because well, my stuff and weeins LIVE THERE.