There are a few things that are guaranteed to pique my interest when I encounter them in a romance. Romantic letter writing, for one. Anything to do with the theater, for another. And the pairing of a cool, prickly, barbed wire fence around her heart heroine and a sunshiney, human golden retriever, certified soft boy hero. (Or heroine. One of my favorite things about Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur is the delicious contrast between Darcy’s cool reserve and Elle’s warm exuberance.)
There’s something so refreshing about a book where the heroine gets to be grumpy. I’ve read a lot of romances that pair a sunny, quirky heroine with a brooding, sarcastic hero and enjoyed quite a few of them (Mrs. Nash’s Ashes by Sarah Adler was a stand-out this year). But there’s something about reading a heroine who gets to be difficult and still get a happy ending that speaks to me. I want to read about women who are reluctant to get into relationships, who have walls they need to let down, and who maybe even get to execute the climactic grand gesture to win their love back. I’m interested in anything that swaps traditional gender dynamics in romance and this is one of my favorite ways for authors to play with them.
Here are three of my favorites:
Teach Me by Olivia Dade
Rose Owens believes in keeping her distance and when Martin Krause arrives at her school—and winds up taking some of her beloved world history classes, thanks to a vindictive administrator—she’s determined to politely ice him out. But the more she gets to know him and see his deep kindness and care, the more she can’t help falling for him. Dade is one of my go-to authors for funny, thoughtful love stories between mature characters and I just loved Rose and Martin together so much. Interestingly, this is a romance where it’s clear what both main characters have to do to make their relationship work—there’s not many external obstacles in their way—but it’s so satisfying watching them do it and grow anyway. These are two people who deeply appreciate each other for who they are, from Rose’s all-black wardrobe to Martin’s naturally solemn facial expressions. That this book also happens to be a love letter to teaching is just the cherry on top. (Open door, moderate steam.)
The Intimacy Experiment by Rosie Danan
A former adult performer and founder of a sex-positive start-up teams up with the rabbi of a crumbling synagogue to teach a course on modern intimacy. (I’m duty-bound to note here that I also call this the hot rabbi book.) This was my favorite romance of 2021, that I loved for its exploration of Judaism and faith, for the wonderful specificity Danan brings to these characters, for the grace she gives them, and for Naomi and Ethan’s sparkling, sizzling chemistry. He’s the one who tries to gently reason with a drunk jerk who harasses Naomi and she’s the one who punches the lobster shorts-wearing jerk when said gentle reasoning doesn’t work. Their dynamic is so good that it makes me flail about in awe a little. This is one of those romances that makes me excited about the future of the genre, as it continues to expand and take on new shapes, and that I think you might enjoy even if you’re not a frequent romance reader. (Open door, high steam.)
The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes by Cat Sebastian
Marin Hayes has just shot her husband—for very good reasons—and the only person she can turn to for help is the cheerful con artist who she left tied up a few hours ago, after a blackmail campaign that somehow turned into a series of love letters. This book is a charm hurricane and I could have read about these characters for ages. Marian is a champion schemer, all sharp edges and bossiness, and Rob is probably the most soft-hearted highwayman in all of fiction, complete with a tendency to rescue wounded animals. Together they have the perfect balance of witty banter and tender, loving moments. There’s also a road trip, 1750’s-style. Note that this is the second in a series and while your experience would probably be enhanced by reading the delightful first installment, there’s enough background information to dive into this one straight away. (Open door, high steam.)
I’ll be back next week with my favorite reads of 2023!
Currently reading: I’m about halfway through my reread of Hogfather by Terry Pratchett, who is one of my all-time favorite authors. I wouldn’t recommend starting his sprawling Discworld series with this one—try Small Gods, Wyrd Sisters, or Guards, Guards! instead—but as always, it feels so good to be back on the Disc.
What’s bringing me joy lately:
Burning all the woodsy candles to make my apartment smell like a pine forest.
Seeing the wonderfully silly, surprisingly sweet Shucked! on Broadway with a friend before it closes in January. Such a fun time.
The very pink, very sparkly garland currently draped over the top of my bookshelves in a nod to the festive season. I’m seriously considering keeping it up through January.