I appreciate your reading and analysis of romance novels. As a long time reader of the genre, I think what might be the problem in your finding many good books to read in that genre is that, I've noticed, that you stick to the same authors and the same types of books. I know you said you like romance to be light and fluffy and a palate cleanser, but as such you're missing out on a lot of good new authors (to you) and good romances. They don't have to be too serious. I've read plenty of dramatic comedies that are very enjoyable. Just venturing out of the authors you usually read might open up the genre to you and be much more rewarding.
Levi is the superior book boyfriend of the year for me. Whenever Bee annoyed me a bit, I just fell back on how much I loved Levi. Also loved Charlie from Book Lovers but Levi has been to therapy! He has a cat named Schrodinger!
I feel that a lot of people hate on Ali Hazelwood because her books are very samey to her other books, but I feel that's why I will kinda love more of her books. I loved The Love Hypothesis and I can't wait to read more.
I had a hard time with You made a fool... It was a very stark feeling of "Yeah, there's nothing wrong here, but it's just not my fantasy." I agree that it was not true cheating, but certainly adjacent. Since the characters felt weird about, so did I...it became a bit icky. For some reason almost all of the romance books I read this year had and underlying grief/recover plot - this one being the most central and I think I just got exhausted by it. Glad that you liked it though!!
"Not my fantasy" is a great way to put it - It wasn't my fantasy for a romance, but once I got into that, I enjoyed it for what it was. But totally see why it's a divisive pick for folks!
Great list Mara. Some titles I’ve really enjoyed (You Made a Fool of Death, Book Lovers…) and others that I want to pick up (Go Hex Yourself and the Nalini Singh series). Happy reading.
I really want to try You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty! I'm not usually interested in 'finding love again' stories but this one sounds so interesting and yay for Lady's Guide!! one of my faves
Romance is by far my least favorite genre, but I enjoyed a whole 2 romance books this year. One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid made me cry and feel things. And The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams was cute.
This list was so interesting! I’m trying to find more romance that is my taste and your explanations of your own tastes helped 👍😊 I read two contemporary/rom com romances this month that were mentioned in booksandlala’s recent romance reading project that I loved- ‘The Wedding Crasher’ by Mia Sosa and ‘Fool Me Once’ by Ashley Winstead.
I need to read Ruby Dixon. I just read my first Ilona Andrews series, Innkeepers Chronicles and loved it. I wish there were more books. I love long series. Loved this video
I have read Emily Henry and Ali Hazelwood and am looking forward to their new releases. Go Hex Yourself was also a fun read and I am eagerly waiting the sequel.
I have issues with the direction that romance books, especially traditionally published books, took this year. That said, here are my top 5 for this year: 1. Something Fabulous, 2. Nettle & Bone, 3. Husband Material, 4: In a Jam, 5. Dating Dr Dil
Yes, Regine's "I married a ..." series has been really good. I liked the Minotaur installment a lot. Ruby Dixon ♥ I like the Risdaverse and Corsair stuff best. I think I liked Mathias' story the best, but the Risdaverse installments were good as well. I'm more of a guild hunter girl than psy-changling, but her last couple books in that series have Not been my favorites. Aodohan and Bluebell, you were done wrong. 😏 I just can't with Hazelwood and Henry. 🤨 Honestly, I'm Not someone who likes contemporary romance in general though as it pretty much all reads the same to me. It's like there's 3 "main stories" and then the characters get different names in different towns-like a Hallmark movie (which I also Do Not Watch) but in book form. 🤷♀️ I know Jessica Claire is another Dixon pseudonym, but her "Claire" alter ego is my least favorite. I do agree with you that it was slimmer pickings in the romance column this year. I would probably put Ruby Fever and Sweep of the Heart as my faves. I know, I know they also fit into the fantasy/sci-fi columns. That's what makes them so good though. They wear all the hats 🧢 👒🎩🎓 and they wear them well. 🤣😂
I read all of Emily Henry's romance books this year and really enjoyed Book Lovers And People We Meet On Vacation while I didn't love Beach Read which seems to be an unpopular opinion.Hard agree on Ali Hazelwood.Yeah they're all kinda samey but my fangirl fanfic heart really enjoys them.
If you’re looking for a historical romance that is serious but definitely doesn’t have the clear patriarchy problems of many historical romances, then I would recommend The Craft of Love by EE Ottoman. You have two craftspeople who fall in love with each other while working on projects in trade and some great queer rep with a trans male hero ❤
Moral of the Story: Ruby Dixon and Nora Roberts have you in a chokehold.
No lies detected
3:15 Portrait of a Lady on Fire but with Astronomy.
I appreciate your reading and analysis of romance novels. As a long time reader of the genre, I think what might be the problem in your finding many good books to read in that genre is that, I've noticed, that you stick to the same authors and the same types of books. I know you said you like romance to be light and fluffy and a palate cleanser, but as such you're missing out on a lot of good new authors (to you) and good romances. They don't have to be too serious. I've read plenty of dramatic comedies that are very enjoyable. Just venturing out of the authors you usually read might open up the genre to you and be much more rewarding.
Em-pha-sis on the syl-lables is too funny! Bingeing your content Mara, thanks for all the vids!
I love your lists because they are very “I just like this-it works for me!”
Go Hex Yourself gave me so much of those cozy Charmed vibes, I am so excited we're getting more in that series
YES very that!
Levi is the superior book boyfriend of the year for me. Whenever Bee annoyed me a bit, I just fell back on how much I loved Levi. Also loved Charlie from Book Lovers but Levi has been to therapy! He has a cat named Schrodinger!
Levi was a close runner up on Hazelwood heroes for the year - so good!
I feel that a lot of people hate on Ali Hazelwood because her books are very samey to her other books, but I feel that's why I will kinda love more of her books. I loved The Love Hypothesis and I can't wait to read more.
I had a hard time with You made a fool...
It was a very stark feeling of "Yeah, there's nothing wrong here, but it's just not my fantasy." I agree that it was not true cheating, but certainly adjacent. Since the characters felt weird about, so did I...it became a bit icky. For some reason almost all of the romance books I read this year had and underlying grief/recover plot - this one being the most central and I think I just got exhausted by it. Glad that you liked it though!!
"Not my fantasy" is a great way to put it - It wasn't my fantasy for a romance, but once I got into that, I enjoyed it for what it was. But totally see why it's a divisive pick for folks!
You had such a great Romance lineup. Great titles 👏🏽
Great list Mara. Some titles I’ve really enjoyed (You Made a Fool of Death, Book Lovers…) and others that I want to pick up (Go Hex Yourself and the Nalini Singh series). Happy reading.
Happy reading!
I really want to try You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty! I'm not usually interested in 'finding love again' stories but this one sounds so interesting
and yay for Lady's Guide!! one of my faves
The Half Orcs Maiden Bride is in my top of the year. It was also my first Ruby Dixon and now I'm starting on IPB
Yessss so glad you enjoyed!
Love, Love, Love this year end series from you! I have favorited quite a few for 2023. Looking forward to another New Year of content with you!
Yay! Thank you!
I love how much you love your favorite authors, I’m the same lol.
lol we are creatures of habit!
5:49 The Dongle Dilemma, as it were.
ListsLikeWhoa has entered the chat and we’re here for it 👏🏽
I would still like to read the half Orc one from Ruby Dixon.
It's really charming!
Romance is by far my least favorite genre, but I enjoyed a whole 2 romance books this year. One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid made me cry and feel things. And The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams was cute.
This list was so interesting! I’m trying to find more romance that is my taste and your explanations of your own tastes helped 👍😊 I read two contemporary/rom com romances this month that were mentioned in booksandlala’s recent romance reading project that I loved- ‘The Wedding Crasher’ by Mia Sosa and ‘Fool Me Once’ by Ashley Winstead.
Yessss Wedding Crasher was lovely!
I need to read Ruby Dixon. I just read my first Ilona Andrews series, Innkeepers Chronicles and loved it. I wish there were more books. I love long series. Loved this video
YAY! So glad you enjoyed it! I think their longest series is Kate Daniels, so that may be a good place to go next
8:15 I may have forgotten about it but have you read ‘The Flatshare’? There’s a TV Show Adaptation of it.
I have! Really enjoyed that one!
I loved You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty! One of my favourite books of the year and I appreciated all of the messiness!
I have read Emily Henry and Ali Hazelwood and am looking forward to their new releases.
Go Hex Yourself was also a fun read and I am eagerly waiting the sequel.
Been wanting to read D*ck fight island but that cover scares me 😂
I bought it and just a flip through had me clutching my pearls a bit lmao it's definitely erotic 🫥
lol if you're down for erotic camp, it is pretty fun!!
I have issues with the direction that romance books, especially traditionally published books, took this year. That said, here are my top 5 for this year: 1. Something Fabulous, 2. Nettle & Bone, 3. Husband Material, 4: In a Jam, 5. Dating Dr Dil
Would love to hear your thoughts on why the direction of romance books took a wrong turn in 2022 and what your thoughts are for 2023 so far :)
Ali Hazelwood is on my tbr and Go Hex Yourself is going on there too! This is gonna be the year I'll discover romance for myself!!
Yes, Regine's "I married a ..." series has been really good. I liked the Minotaur installment a lot. Ruby Dixon ♥ I like the Risdaverse and Corsair stuff best. I think I liked Mathias' story the best, but the Risdaverse installments were good as well. I'm more of a guild hunter girl than psy-changling, but her last couple books in that series have Not been my favorites. Aodohan and Bluebell, you were done wrong. 😏 I just can't with Hazelwood and Henry. 🤨 Honestly, I'm Not someone who likes contemporary romance in general though as it pretty much all reads the same to me. It's like there's 3 "main stories" and then the characters get different names in different towns-like a Hallmark movie (which I also Do Not Watch) but in book form. 🤷♀️ I know Jessica Claire is another Dixon pseudonym, but her "Claire" alter ego is my least favorite. I do agree with you that it was slimmer pickings in the romance column this year. I would probably put Ruby Fever and Sweep of the Heart as my faves. I know, I know they also fit into the fantasy/sci-fi columns. That's what makes them so good though. They wear all the hats 🧢 👒🎩🎓 and they wear them well. 🤣😂
I totally agree on Mathiras!! That was probably my runner up for Risdaverse stuff this year
Sold me on the half orc's maiden bride lmfao gonna give it a go
Hurrah! I hope you enjoy it!!
1:31 It’s artistic smut with a thinly veiled title. #TitularItems
I read all of Emily Henry's romance books this year and really enjoyed Book Lovers And People We Meet On Vacation while I didn't love Beach Read which seems to be an unpopular opinion.Hard agree on Ali Hazelwood.Yeah they're all kinda samey but my fangirl fanfic heart really enjoys them.
Same!! :)
I love how Dck Fight Island got an honorable mention 😂
Had to! 🍆😹
You might give Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez a try. I really liked that one and I've seen several positive reviews for it.
If you’re looking for a historical romance that is serious but definitely doesn’t have the clear patriarchy problems of many historical romances, then I would recommend The Craft of Love by EE Ottoman. You have two craftspeople who fall in love with each other while working on projects in trade and some great queer rep with a trans male hero ❤
YES I have EE Ottoman on my list of authors to check out! I've heard great things
@@bookslikewhoa awesome 😎 I hope you love it
Bah!!! Nonono!!! Strike out. So many UGHS and right now so desperate for happy reads. Sigh. OK. Dragging out the Hazelwood. Eyes Up. Forward.
Great comment. Lynn
A Lady for a Duke is a good historical romance with a Trans heroine! I really liked it, it was a little long but still good
Gay Culture is mostly erotic but also interestingly wholesome lol Jk
Deadddd :D