How how about these for powerful women - I haven’t read them in years but I think they fit!
The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai (dating apps! Tech world)
Grin and Beard It by Penny Reid (female movie star + male park ranger)
The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon (tech scene)
Cherish Hard by Nalini Singh (corporate VP and landscaper)
A Thorn in the Saddle by Rebekah Weatherspoon (politician and consultant)
But HERE is your professional female soccer player book I forgot about last time! Yes the guy is rich and she needs his help, but she’s the athlete and he’s not.
Scoring a Spouse by Liz Lincoln - the first in the Milwaukee Wolfpack series!
Yessss, adding this one and the Wetherspoon to my list! And I think The Right Swipe definitely fits. I remember *loving* the heroine and the friendships in The Boyfriend Project and side-eyeing the hero a little bit.
Charm City Rocks came to mind as one that has the power dynamic you were talking about. And When in Rome as well. Both are female musicians… is that for some reason considered more believable? I struggled to think of other examples and it’s interesting that the two examples were the same profession where the woman is successful.
I loved your thoughts on this and think The True Love Experiment might fit here. Fizzy is super successful and gets to be in charge, has connections that give her agency and options (I'm thinking of the free concert tickets that she is able to gift to Connor and Stevie). Fizzy is also definitely doing the choosing, but that it has to take place within the dating show context diminishes the argument somewhat. That book is perfect IMO.
The Rakess by Scarlett Peckham does exactly what it says on the tin! And I think maybe the first book in the Hell's Belles series by Sarah Maclean - I seem to remember the (bar owner) MMC trailing after the FMC, who is a lady, saying "Sesily no" an awful lot while her and her squad save the day!
I love your thoughts on this topic. I've only really started reading more books that focus on romance and have found your thoughts echo my own. I'm definitely taking the recommendations from your piece and the comments, because I'd love to read more romances where the woman is more successful/powerful.
Would love to read a romance with the female protagonist being more powerful than the male. I refuse to read any more of the billionaire trope romances.
I did not expect this to be so hard, but I found a few in my recent Goodreads list:
- One Last Shot, by Betty Cayouette: she's a famous supermodel; he's a successful but not-famous photographer.
- Just Like You, by Nick Hornby: not exactly romance but she's more educated and wealthier
- Match Me If You Can, by Swati Hegde: an Emma retelling, but he's broke and in love while she's rich and aloof.
Match Me If You Can is on my tbr! I love an Emma retelling.
What a FUN assignment!
How how about these for powerful women - I haven’t read them in years but I think they fit!
The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai (dating apps! Tech world)
Grin and Beard It by Penny Reid (female movie star + male park ranger)
The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon (tech scene)
Cherish Hard by Nalini Singh (corporate VP and landscaper)
A Thorn in the Saddle by Rebekah Weatherspoon (politician and consultant)
But HERE is your professional female soccer player book I forgot about last time! Yes the guy is rich and she needs his help, but she’s the athlete and he’s not.
Scoring a Spouse by Liz Lincoln - the first in the Milwaukee Wolfpack series!
Yessss, adding this one and the Wetherspoon to my list! And I think The Right Swipe definitely fits. I remember *loving* the heroine and the friendships in The Boyfriend Project and side-eyeing the hero a little bit.
Charm City Rocks came to mind as one that has the power dynamic you were talking about. And When in Rome as well. Both are female musicians… is that for some reason considered more believable? I struggled to think of other examples and it’s interesting that the two examples were the same profession where the woman is successful.
I think we're a bit more comfortable with a powerful female musician, especially coming off a year of Beyonce and Taylor Swift dominating the culture?
Was just going to recommend When in Rome!
I loved your thoughts on this and think The True Love Experiment might fit here. Fizzy is super successful and gets to be in charge, has connections that give her agency and options (I'm thinking of the free concert tickets that she is able to gift to Connor and Stevie). Fizzy is also definitely doing the choosing, but that it has to take place within the dating show context diminishes the argument somewhat. That book is perfect IMO.
Yes, I love The True Love Experiment so much! Fizzy might be my all-time favorite Christina Lauren heroine?
I loved Charm City Rocks! Did you know that the author has a playlist on Spotify to go along with the book? So fun.
Agreed!
The Rakess by Scarlett Peckham does exactly what it says on the tin! And I think maybe the first book in the Hell's Belles series by Sarah Maclean - I seem to remember the (bar owner) MMC trailing after the FMC, who is a lady, saying "Sesily no" an awful lot while her and her squad save the day!
Oooh, I think both of those fit! My favorite Sarah MacLean mode is when the heroine is just a force of nature and the hero is totally in awe of her.
I love your thoughts on this topic. I've only really started reading more books that focus on romance and have found your thoughts echo my own. I'm definitely taking the recommendations from your piece and the comments, because I'd love to read more romances where the woman is more successful/powerful.
We need more! I've definitely added a few to my list from the comments already.
Would love to read a romance with the female protagonist being more powerful than the male. I refuse to read any more of the billionaire trope romances.
Yes, I am quite over the billionaires...I think powerful heroine romances can be harder to find but are definitely out there.