Anonymous
Post 08/28/2024 15:16     Subject: Fun *well-written* escapism?
Anonymous wrote:Nobody's Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. A nerdy college professor tricks a dumb NFL quarterback into having a baby. Except he's not so dumb...

Very escapist, it takes a nice, empowering frontier-ladies-feminist turn toward the middle of the book.

For the classic in escapism that is fantasy-ish, Beauty: a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, by Robin McKinley


Ok I just read this, based on this recommendation, and FWIW I hated it. The two main characters are just self-centered jerks and I didn't want either one to "win", and I didn't really buy their change of heart once they did. I usually love romcoms of all stripes but none of these jokes landed for me. Blergh. Approach with caution.
Anonymous
Post 08/25/2024 00:04     Subject: Fun *well-written* escapism?
Anonymous wrote:Nobody's Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. A nerdy college professor tricks a dumb NFL quarterback into having a baby. Except he's not so dumb...

Very escapist, it takes a nice, empowering frontier-ladies-feminist turn toward the middle of the book.



Her books are light but not dumb. And the ones I’ve read were just the right amount of raunchy. 😊
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2024 23:34     Subject: Fun *well-written* escapism?
Agree w NK Jemisin Inheritance trilogy; I found the 5th Season too depressing though very well written. Also Mary Robinette Kowal (Lady Astronauts series or Shades of Milk and Honey series) and Lois McMaster Bujold (Warriors Apprentice/Vorkosigan series or The Sharing Knife series). I also enjoyed Nine Tailed by Jayci Lee.
Anonymous
Post 08/24/2024 21:24     Subject: Fun *well-written* escapism?
1Q84
Anonymous
Post 08/23/2024 22:07     Subject: Fun *well-written* escapism?
You mentioned the Daevabad Trilogy, but have you read the Adventures of Amina Al-Sarafi? It fits the bill perfectly. A middle-aged mom who is a pirate! There is magic! It is funny and sort of sexy. It is not the sort of thing I usually read at all and I loved it. Piranesi also occurs to me, though it is more eerie, less rollicking fun.
Anonymous
Post 08/20/2024 16:43     Subject: Fun *well-written* escapism?
Jack Reacher series. Tightly written, generally well plotted, and total escapism. I do find that they get repetitive after you've read a dozen or so.

Here's the first chapter of one book. You should be able to get a sense of whether it's your cup of tea quickly: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/27127/the-hard-way-a-jack-reacher-novel-by-lee-child/9780440246008/excerpt