It seems like every time we turn around, there are half a dozen new voices proclaiming all of the reasons why reading and enjoying romance novels is “bad” for women. Upon closer analysis, the reasoning given is often misogynistic, not based in science, or just downright bizarre. The romance genre—and its readers—have been much maligned since the invention of romantic novels, but we are of the opinion that romance novels, particularly those being published now and in recent years, are some of the most empowering and uplifting entertainment someone of any gender can consume. So, do romance novels ruin relationships? Absolutely not. Here’s why. Continue ReadingDo Romance Novels Ruin Relationships? Quite the Opposite
It seems like every time we turn around, there are half a dozen new voices proclaiming all of the reasons why reading and enjoying romance novels is “bad” for women. Upon closer analysis, the reasoning given is often misogynistic, not based in science, or just downright bizarre. The romance genre—and its readers—have been much maligned since the invention of romantic novels, but we are of the opinion that romance novels, particularly those being published now and in recent years, are some of the most empowering and uplifting entertainment someone of any gender can consume. So, do romance novels ruin relationships? Absolutely not. Here’s why. Continue Reading
Murder, betrayal, dark secrets…all before the bell. One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus helped facilitate an explosion of new twisty murder mysteries that are set against the backdrop of social circles and high school life, and now there’s going to be a TV series on Peacock that you can stream if you can’t get enough! But in the meantime, get your fill of all things dark and twisty with these books like One of Us is Lying, from old favorites to the newest releases, all featuring twisty mysteries, dark secrets, and social groups or high school settings! They’ll make your high school experience look like a walk in the park!
There’s something about murder that draws us to the subject, making it so we can’t look away. If you’re curious about some of the darker true crime cases throughout history, pick up any of these ten new nonfiction books about murder, serial killers, and other atrocities.
War is messy. Oftentimes, it’s easy to talk about conflict in terms of one side vs. the other, of the good guys vs. the bad guys, but the truth is a lot more complicated than that. And some wars, such as World War II, saw so many different players and so much action that hundreds, if not thousands, of books have been written about the conflict that spanned the globe. If you find the concept of certain wars overwhelming, or want to dig into the history a bit more, we recommend picking up any one of these new military history books to help you make sense of various wars and conflicts that have unfolded in both the distant and near past.
If you’ve spent any time on BookTok lately, you might have seen Song of Achilles a lot. This backlist title by Madeline Miller has been making the rounds, and making readers feel all the feels while also giving them a new and interesting perspective on The Iliad. It is told from the perspective of Patroclus, who must follow Achilles to war and finds everything from his friendship to his courage tested in the events that follow. It’s a queer, atmospheric, and dramatic retelling that has certainly captured the hearts of readers around the world, and now you might be wondering–what should I read next? We’ve got 15 great recommendations of books like Song of Achilles for you! 
You might have ben living under a rock if you haven’t heard of Shadow and Bone–either the trilogy of books by Leigh Bardugo, or their TV series adaptation on Netflix! Shadow and Bone was originally released as a trilogy of YA fantasy novels, and then author Bardugo expanded her fantasy world with two more duologies set in the same world–Six of Crows and King of Scars. The Netflix TV series cleverly combines the plots and characters of the first Shadow and Bone book with the characters and backstory of Six of Crows to make for a fantastic TV show, with a second season on the way! If you came to these stories by the TV show, we highly recommend that you pick up Leigh Bardugo’s books! If you’ve already read the books and are dying for season two of the show, then we recommend these books like Shadow and Bone to tide you over!
Red Rising by Pierce Brown is an exciting dystopian novel about a young man named Darrow who is a Red, the lowest caste of society that has colonized Mars. They work long, hard days to make the surface of the planet habitable for humanity, believing that their work and sacrifice will benefit future generations. But when Darrow’s wife discovers that the surface of the planet has been habitable for decades and that the Reds toil as cheap labor for the ruling class, her discovery leads to her execution…and Darrow becomes a revolutionary. Red Rising is the first in the Red Rising Saga, and it is an exciting dystopian series that has massive appeal for adult and YA readers alike. If you’re looking for more great reads after marathoning the series, then pick up any of the these sci-fi, dystopian, and fantasy books like Red Rising!
Romance heroes often get pegged as the strong and silent type, or brooding and overprotective, but we love a good cinnamon roll hero! Cinnamon rolls heroes are kind, supportive, and unfailingly sweet, with lots of layers. They’re almost too good for this world…kind of like the cinnamon rolls they’re named after. Some of these characters’ cinnamon roll qualities might be a bit deceiving or hidden at first, but they’re there, we promise! If you love heroes who are soft and squishy on the inside, then check out this list!
Long Bright River by Liz Moore has been a popular pick with readers since it first released in 2020, even landing on Barack Obama’s favorite books of 2020 list! If your book club has decided to pick up this book, then we’ve got you covered with a Long Bright River book club questions, summary, and a reading guide to help your club have a great discussion!
Heading off to college can be a really exciting time full of firsts–first time on your own, first time in a new setting, first roommates, and for many, first loves and first time having sex. College romance books can be really tricky to find because they often fall in that nebulous age between adult and YA, and while New Adult was popular for a brief period, that age categories never really took off the way it should have. So this list is a nice mix of YA and adult books, all set in college, with some great romances that run the range from sweet to very sexy! Note: There is a notable lack of queer love stories set in college. Hopefully publishing will address this lack in the future.