Closed Door Romance Recs

Because you don't always want to spice up your life

As last week’s newsletter demonstrated, I’ve been thinking a lot about steaminess in romance novels, in all its different iterations. (There are some excellent comments on that post, by the way, in case you want to take a gander through the comments section.) I don’t necessarily seek out closed door romance but I want to read widely across the genre and like to have some dependable recommendations for the readers I know who prefer it. Luckily, I feel like there’s been an uptick in closed door romance that isn’t inspirational over the last few years, including across multiple sub-genres.

What makes for a good closed door romance? For me, it’s a delicate balancing act. The chemistry between the two main characters has to be palpable but the book also has to set the tone early and consistently and show me how the closed-door choice is the right one for this story and these characters. I often find books that have more of a rom-com vibe or a lighter tone succeed with this. If emotions and tensions are running high, I can’t help wanting to see how that plays out in the characters’ physical connection but if everything is fizzy fun, I can be satisfied with a well-written climactic kiss.

I have a few more books and authors on my radar to investigate, so there might be another closed door round up in the future, but here are some of my go-to closed door romance recs:

• Snowspelled by Stephanie Burgis: This fantasy romance novella set in an alternate England ruled by pragmatic lady politicians features an emotional and swoony second-chance romance, elf-human politics, a fascinating magical system, and some marvelous family dynamics. I was so impressed by the amount of subtle world-building Burgis does and especially enjoyed the gender-swapped dynamics: in Angland, it’s gentlemen who can be compromised by being caught alone with a lady. Such a delight from start to finish.

• Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall: Quasi-famous child of rock stars Luc has to acquire a fake boyfriend to clean up his public image. Enter buttoned-up barrister Oliver Blackwood. This book is hardly under the radar but it’s still a go-to rec for me, especially for friends who are just dipping their toe into the romance genre. Boyfriend Material feels like the book equivalent of a really good 90’s romantic comedy, complete with quirky friend group, disastrous first dates, crackling banter, and a deeply moving ending. I believe Hall has said this one was influenced by the romantic comedies of Richard Curtis and those vibes are very much present. (Note that not all of Hall’s books are closed door—and some get quite spicy—but this one and its sequel are.)

• Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle: A shy daydreamer and a grumpy groundskeeper discover that they’ve both inherited—and will have to share— a falling apart house in the Smokies. Twice Shy is a candy-colored dream of a book with the softest heart. Hogle crafts a deeply endearing hero in Wes and a quiet heroine coming into her own in Maybell and they feel evenly matched in a way books with this kind of shy heroine don’t always succeed in doing. Pick this one up if you want an adorable and cozy read.

• The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary: I’ve reread this multiple times, because it’s essentially a warm bath for the soul. (At least one of those times was May 2020, which really says it all.) The Flatshare does deal with some difficult topics, but it brims over with compassion for its two protagonists. Sometimes I just want to read about two lovely people finding their way to each other, by the way of the apartment they share while never seeing each other and a whole lot of Post-It notes. I also adored O’Leary’s The Switch, which may be more on the women’s fiction side, but features my favorite quirky grandmother of all time.

• If I Never Met You by Mhairi MacFarlane: A slow burn romance about a woman rediscovering herself after a brutal breakup who begins fake dating the office flirt in a strategically staged romance that turns very real. (Oh, I love fake dating so much.) This is one of those books where I believe so wholeheartedly in the main characters' connection and love story, from their beginning in a stuck elevator to their rom-com worthy ending. I also appreciate this one for the power of Laurie’s coming into her own and the thoughtful rendering of all the secondary relationships, including with Laurie’s mother and her best friend Emily.

• Belles of London series by Mimi Matthews: I’ve decided that, when it comes to gushing about these books, I simply have no limit. This series and Matthews’ writing is one of my favorite bookish discoveries of the year. If you want impeccably written, thoroughly researched historical romance with pitch-perfect chemistry and characters who leap off the page, look no further. I plan on reading through her backlist and not so patiently waiting for the third book in this series to come out in January 2024 (!).

• Very Sincerely Yours by Kerry Winfrey: This book is cute. Grinning ear to ear while reading it cute. The hero and heroine initially fall for each other while exchanging emails, which is one of my favorite romance tropes of all time, and they’re so endearing together. Also, the hero is the host of a Mr. Rogers-esque children’s show, and I’ll take that over a billionaire any day. I wanted to hug both the book and the characters when I was done.

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Currently reading: Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez. I just started and I’m already so excited. As previously discussed, I go weak in the knees for a really good letter.

What’s bringing me joy this week:

• A plethora of author events happening this spring. I went to see both Abby Jimenez at Books are Magic and Alexandria Bellefleur at the Strand this week and it was so fun to hear them discuss their creative process, viral dog videos (Abby Jimenez), and deep love for Taylor Swift (Alexandria Bellefleur).

• I’m very late to the party on this one, but the podcast Normal Gossip, where the host and her guest discuss comedic gossip submitted by her listeners. As someone who has on occasion avidly eavesdropped on a particularly juicy conversation at a restaurant, I can’t believe it took me this long to start listening.

• The watermelon agave popsicles I bought on a whim and that taste just like summer.