Romance fans: recommend a romance series for someone who hasn't read much romance?
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Anonymous
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I'd like to read a romance series this summer but I don't want to engage in any trial and error finding one I like. And I don't know enough about the genre to know what I might like. So I'm hoping some of you who are more familiar with the genre can help me find something right for me.
I read the Outlander books some years ago and they were great for this purpose. So something similar (historical, some scifi or mystical element, love triangle, very romantic setting) would be great. But really dies not have to be historical as long as it's high romance like that-- I want to be transported, not to read a romance in a familiar setting like an office or grad program. I've also read a bunch of the Phillipa Gregory books and really liked those too. So I guess I have a thing for historical romance! But maybe there is something set in a contemporary setting that feels very far away and romantic, like the Paris Opera or the aristocracy in Buenos Aires or something? I want to be *swept away.* What do my romance fans recommend? |
Anonymous
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The Bridgerton books are a little bit more cute than "high romance" - but she does a good job pulling you into the world.
If you like high fantasy I strongly recommend C.L. Wilson's Tairen Soul series - I've read a million romances and this is my go-to reread series. |
Anonymous
Thanks! I'm aware of Bridgerton of course but having seen the show was hoping for something new. Will definitely check out that fantasy series. |
Anonymous
| Forsythe Saga. Sweeping British drama written btw the wars. Very engaging. |
Anonymous
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The Bridgerton books are pretty problematic with their toxic men.
OP, how much spice do you like? Some of the greats: Beverly Jenkins Lisa Kleypas Tessa Dare (more humor) Elizabeth Lowell (women in science in the 1800s) Joanna Shupe (gilded age NY, more recent series is great) Courtney Milan Sherry Thomas (for very complex storylines) Alyssa Cole (US based and diverse characters!) Mimi Matthews (closed door/fade-to-black, beautiful character development) I could go on and on… |
Anonymous
| I learned about Sarah Maclean from this forum and think her books would fit the bill for you. I like all of them aside from the Bareknuckle bastards series, which is just not my cup of tea. Favorite series is probably the Hells belles |
Anonymous
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Courtney Milan's Brothers Sinister or Wedgeford Trials are a great place to start. The Chance Sisters series by Anne Gracie is excellent. Helles Belles by Sarah McLean is also great.
I really liked Deborah Harkness' A Discovery of Witches, which is a contemporary ... with witches. I absolutely love Grace Burrowes historicals but her characters have an older-style, more serious voice that might be harder to get into. The Rogues to Riches series is probably the best entry point. The Lord Julian Mysteries are not strictly a romance but they're fun. |
Anonymous
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If you really liked the adventure side and like longer series, you might like Jo Beverley. She has a long series, the Company of Rogues, set in Regency, starting with The Arraigned Marriage. She has another Georgian Series that starts with My Lady Notorious. Be warned that it's a bit Old School, so there is some assault and alpha-hole heroes (although nothing as bad as Outlander).
Beverly Jenkin's (mentioned above) writes great historicals featuring parts of African-American history that are not as well known. I like the series starting with Forbidden. If espionage during the Napoleonic Wars sounds intriguing, Joanna Bourne has a really compelling series starting with The Spymaster's Lady. If you want totally different world, I ripped through Bec McMaster's London Steampunk series, starting with Kiss of Steel. She does an excellent job of world building. Although the setting is pretty dark, the books didn't feel dark to me. Ilona Andrew's has a number of series that I love. Almost all of them are set in a contemporary world with magic. I would start with the Hidden Legacy series. The first book is Burn for Me. Unlike the other series mentioned here, multiple books follow the same couple and there is no happily ever after at the end of book 1. I would read the phone book if Ilona Andrews wrote it. If you want sexy dystopia set in a post-apocalyptic hellscape, check out Kit Rocha's Beyond Series- it's very, very explicit. Starts with Beyond Shame. (They also have another dystopian series that is shorter and not nearly as explicit that starts with Deal with the Devil. For sci-fi romance, I really liked Jessie Mihalik series that starts with Polaris Rising, but it's only 3 books. I want to second the suggestion of Grace Burrowes. I love her books but she has a very distinctive voice and is pretty angsty- especially her earlier books. She is very prolific and a lot of her books are interconnected, so it can be a bit of a rabbit hole. One other historical writer that I really like is Mary Balogh. My favorite is the Bedwyn series, starting with Slightly Married. The books are well written but in a quieter way than some of the other series I mentioned here. Good luck, and let us know what you choose! |
Anonymous
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I’m sorry, but Joanna Byrne would send a new romance reader running. Didn’t the book you mentioned have the MMC putting the FMC in a laudanum-induced stupor for a portion of the book?
Balough is a good one - sweet and low angst historicals. |
Anonymous
I think anyone who liked Outlander, could handle Joanna Bourne. But you are right- it’s good to go in warned. I was going for long series with good world building, since that was what OP seemed to want. |
Anonymous
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For contemporary I really like Emily Henry's books. I like historical romance a lot but I encourage everyone to be open to contemporary as well!
For historical, I like Tessa Dare. It can be pretty sexy, but I like that, and I like books that make me laugh. |
Anonymous
Same! I feel the same way about T. Kingfisher. The world building is excellent and I love her voice. OP would like the Paladin series. Kingfisher's worlds remind me a little bit of Robin McKinley (but funnier). McKinley's The Blue Sword, Rose Daughter, and Sunshine are all good romances, but heads up there's little or no sex. |
Anonymous
sarah maclean and KJ Jackson. Both authors write historical romance stories with strong female characters. I've read a lot of historical romance novels. |
Anonymous
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One of my favorite series ever is Mary Balogh's Survivor Series. Each book and all the characters are fully developed plus have romance. The stories aren't just about romance; they are about overcoming internal obstacles in life (but yet the books are entertaining and not emotionally heavy). I also have enjoyed the Bedwyn and Westcott series from Balogh.
https://marybalogh.com/series/ I appreciate the other recommendations...I'm always looking for new romance authors to read! And I'll second Robin McKinley's Sunshine, it's one of my favorite books. I've also read some Anne Gracie and Gracie Burrowes and enjoyed them. |
Anonymous
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For contemporary, you might try Susan Elizabeth Phillips. My 2 favorites are Catching Me If You Can and Nobody's Baby But Mine.
For historical, definitely Lisa Kleypas and Tessa Dare. |