Instant To-Read

instant to-read; the romance edition

bookworm things

I thought I was running out of ideas for this feature (which, um, there is so much scope, how did I think that?) but talking to a friend reminded me that I had not talked about genres! I thought I had, but apparently not?

Which is probably a good thing, because a broad spectrum of what genres I read wouldn’t actually cover what I like about the genres. So instead, you get me breaking down the genres – like I’ve already done with the fairytale retelling editions.

instant to read

Romance is something I read when I need something a little lighter? I mean, of course, angst is well and good when it comes to romance, but in the end, it’s always a happily ever after, and sometimes I need that.

I’ve written a lot about tropes that I love. I mean, I have three posts and they overlap tropes, so I’m going to try not to repeat them here. But I may, because I love these tropes in romantic fiction a lot.

follow your heart

  • Slow burn romances, anyone? I mean, is there anything more delicious than reading about two characters fall slowly in love, with maybe a little angst and miscommunication thrown in? I’ve probably read so many fanfictions on this front, especially if we add in the next trope.
  • Add in some mutual pining – and oblivious characters to the fact that the pining is mutual – and I am sold. The equal part agony of the characters and wanting to smack them over the head as a reader to tell them that their feelings are requited is one of the best feelings in the world. At least, to me.
  • Most romance tropes work well layered together, so take the above two and add in either – fake dating, marriage of convenience, OR a comedy of errors whereby everyone is plotting to get our two oblivious protagonists together. I think I just described Much Ado About Nothing, but that is a GREAT BASIS for adaption.

8 - love

  • If we move away from tropes and go to writing style, things I look out for and adore simply add up to witty banter…
  • …and mutual respect. Power imbalances can be a thing in stories but I definitely prefer less of those and more of an equal ground between love interests. Sure, give me perceived imbalances, and a lot of snark. A lot of snark.

These past few weeks have seen me adding a lot of romance novels to my TBR thanks to wonderfully curated posts by Shealea @ Shut Up, Shealea, Vicky @ Vicky Who Reads and Kate @ Your Tita Kate, but I can always do with more! So if you have any recommendations that you think I will enjoy? Let me know!

ara

I’m Ara, a Southeast Asian writer who someday hopes to have published a novel, and who is currently losing herself in the worlds created by others. I love books and food and television and blogging and I get distracted and sidetracked easily.

4 Comments

  • Prags @ The Inked In Book Blog

    Ohhhh ! All the romance! I just read A Bollywood Affair by Sonali Dev a couple days ago and it is soooo good. Slow burn romance with this huge THING between them that’s stopping the hero from coming out with his feelings , and the heroine to supress hers . IT IS AWESOME.

  • Kristina

    Yesyes ! Feel-good, happy ending romances are the best !!

    I’ll add the one where one (or both) evidently start slowly to fall in love with the other BUT do not want to for X reason … and of course end up doing it anyway ..

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