I’ve been an avid reader for all my life, but I’ve always avoided romance novels. I held tight to all the stereotypes and turned up my nose. That is until the pandemic made me desperate for something light, happy, and distracting. I needed a light read in an unpredictable world to distract me from the 2020 dumpster fire and remind me that all was not lost. I discovered that romance novels were the perfect thing to keep me off social media and also add a little fun and spice to my life.
The best thing about romance novels today is that they’re not just about damsels in distress waiting to be rescued by a 6-packed Prince Charming with long blonde hair. If you know where to look, you can find romance novels that are feminist, inclusive, and empowering…and still deliver the happy, joyous ending we all need these days.
You are reading: Open door scenes in books
if you want to immerse yourself in romance novels, know that they are generally classified as “open doors” or “closed doors”. “open door” means that you, the reader, can “see” most of what goes on in the bedroom. on the other hand, most of the action in a behind closed doors romance happens “behind closed doors”, as the name implies. I’d consider every book on this list an open door, but some are racier than others. i like my romance novels better when they are racy enough to make me want to put down my kindle and wake up my husband.
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When I’m exhausted by the demands of raising three young children and feel absolutely “touched”, the spice of a good romance novel puts me absolutely in the mood. My husband may think it’s funny that he’s reading romance novels, but I don’t hear him complain.
If you need some suggestions, here are five romance novel recommendations to add some fun and spice to your life:
- reading on the beach by emily henry: reading on the beach was the first romance book I read that really made me fall in love with the genre. tells the story of January, a novelist with a looming deadline and massive writer’s block. Meanwhile, he inherits his father’s Michigan beach house, where he discovers that his next-door neighbor is also his college rival and best-selling author, Augustus. they challenge each other to try to write the other person’s gender, and along the way, they have to deal with hurts from their own past and questions about their relationship. An excellent introduction to romance, and bonus: Emily Henry’s next book has just been published! I love this book for its setting, writing themes, and emotional depth.
2. The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang:The Kiss Quotient tells the story of Stella, a woman with Asbergers who is desperate to learn how to be in a relationship and have sex without freaking out. she hires michael, a chaperone of hers, to help her practice. This book is about consent, intimacy, and the things we’re willing to do for the people we love. it’s racy and poignant, and just one book in a trilogy. I also loved the second book, bride test, and the third book in the trilogy will be released later this year. I love these books for the inclusion of characters who are racially, economically, and neurologically diverse.
3. Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert: My most recent romance novel, Take a Hint, Dani Brown, is also part of a trilogy about the brown sisters. (note: this is probably the raunchiest book on my list, with sex scenes that are long, hot, and explicit.) dani brown is a workaholic academic who has closed herself off from romance but not satisfying her sexual needs. When a video of Dani and Ella Zaf’s friend goes viral, she agrees to a fake relationship with him to increase publicity for her nonprofit. you see where this is going. i love this book for its raunchy sex scenes, inclusion of the lgbtq community, and conversations about grief, emotional intelligence, and vulnerability.
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4. The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez: The Friend Zone is a great foe to lover story about Kristen and Josh, maid of honor and best man at her friends’ upcoming wedding. They’re attracted to each other from the start, but Kristen has a secret that makes her want to keep Josh at arm’s length. let the headache begin. this book is probably the least spicy on this list, but it’s good for a slow burn. I love it for the honest and refreshing way it talks about women’s health and the examination of her strong friendships. I enjoyed the sequel even more, but I think you should read this one first! The third book in this trilogy has just been published.
5. the idea of you by robinne lee: fans of harry style, rejoice. This was one of my favorite reads of 2020. It tells the story of a 40-year-old divorcee named Soléne, who takes her pre-teen daughter to a concert by her favorite boy band. Soléne ends up meeting the leader of the gang, Hayes Campbell, and the two begin a hot, passionate, passionate relationship. Hayes was inspired by Harry Styles and comparisons abound. i love this one because of his biggest heroine, and did i mention harry styles? spoiler alert: this doesn’t have the ending you’d expect from a typical romance novel, so be careful.
I’m so, so happy to have found romance novels this year. and my husband is also happy. I hope these novels will also bring some fun and spice to your life!
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