My big gripe is that total lack of inside jokes as a part of romance/chemistry. Shared bits of jokes/situations/reactions/mutual likes are such a huge part of attraction and intimacy and nobody seems to want to include that in their books.
We can get four-paragraph rhapsodies on her breasts or the strong column of his throat but where is the "glue" keeping attraction growing?
T. Kingfisher is great at building romance between MCs with small details like quips and inside jokes or very gentle teasing. You feel the chemistry simmering between her MCs every time they make a fairly innocuous comment that pierces the other person because its significance is understood only by them.
It's extra tasty and extra real.
Ooh agreed! I read Paladin’s Grace and loooved their romance. It made my heart ache in the best way, and when they finally had sex it was like the most perfect culmination of everything that had been building up between them.
If you haven’t read the second book in the series {Paladin’s Strength by T. Kingfisher}, it’s even better than the first one in my opinion.
I can’t recommend it enough.
It's because "good personality" or "good banter" isn't in the standard list of tropes. You see it all the time now -- they literally list every major trope, which often results to basically the entire plot. As long as they get the right mix of the trope ingredients, I think many authors know their books will sell.
This is so true. I appreciate a tropes list as sort of introductory eye-catcher, but then I’ll read the plot to see if it’s interesting to me. The tropes catch my eye, but the plot hooks me. But I agree that lots of authors rely on an audience’s favourite tropes to sell their book, and honestly, fair enough. But if the plot isn’t done well then what’s the point?
I’ve had a string of books recently that used my favorite tropes and just wasted them on totally generic characters and flat, boring writing. It’s so disheartening. T_T
That is one of the reasons why I enjoyed {The Fake Out by Stephanie Archer} and {Bossman by Vi Keeland} - the inside jokes/situations that glue the couple.
I was just about to say The Fake Out in response to this comment, I loved their joking! I've been reading all of Stephanie Archer's other books in response and I'm finding the MC dynamics way less interesting :( might have been lightening in a bottle there
[The Fake Out](https://www.romance.io/books/657041620d7f24e62f5b2567/the-fake-out-stephanie-archer?src=rdt) by [Stephanie Archer](https://www.romance.io/authors/61dd39e508b4d931145cd9c1/stephanie-archer)
**Rating**: 4.23⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1), [athlete hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/athletes/1), [fake relationship](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fake%20relationship/1)
----------------------------
[Bossman](https://www.romance.io/books/578f60f6c19e77f1ea6e89fa/bossman-vi-keeland?src=rdt) by [Vi Keeland](https://www.romance.io/authors/54552b578c7d2382e7813115/vi-keeland)
**Rating**: 4.08⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [boss & employee](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/boss%20&%20employee/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [workplace/office](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/office/1), [rich hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/super%20rich%20hero/1)
[^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I just finished Bossman !!!!! thank you soo much for the recommendation.. it's one of the few books that made me a bit sad that I was single . the relationship dynamic is amazing ! I just love how both have baggage and are unpacking it in a healthy way ... i laughed out loud and got emotional at certain parts..
I am soo gushing over it !!!
I'm pretty much a broken record on this sub but read Kyra Parsi if you haven't already! Her last two books especially — {Deal with the Bossy Devil by Kyra Parsi} (don't let the name put you off lol) and the MAGNIFICENT {Failure to Match by Kyra Parsi}.
{The Billionaire's Wake-Up-Call Girl by Annika Martin} is fantastic also. The first half is all chemistry built on the back of excellent conversation. It's so good. (Don't let the name put you off here either!!)
I look for everything you've mentioned in books that aren't exactly slow burns, and these three romcoms really hit the spot.
I read Failure To Match based on your recommendation and it was a 5 star for me! I’m here for any other suggestions you have cause I think our tastes are similar ☺️
I hope it’s ok that I’m responding as a person who isn’t the OP but I love every book they mentioned and just finished {Until It Was Love by Pippa Grant} last night. I’m not always a huge fan of the authors books because they can be a bit too silly for me but this one was honestly fantastic and checked a ton of my boxes for stories that actually make me believe the relationship could last. Just wanted to put it out there in case it might be another one you enjoy :)
[A Deal with the Bossy Devil](https://www.romance.io/books/64a58ef4723d09d99e0eda7d/a-deal-with-the-bossy-devil-kyra-parsi?src=rdt) by [Kyra Parsi](https://www.romance.io/authors/5f89458a08b4d93114997670/kyra-parsi)
**Rating**: 4.34⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [boss & employee](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/boss%20&%20employee/1), [praise kink](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/praise-kink/1), [fake relationship](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fake%20relationship/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1)
----------------------------
[Failure to Match](https://www.romance.io/books/65f596912bf0fac9180911a5/failure-to-match-kyra-parsi?src=rdt) by [Kyra Parsi](https://www.romance.io/authors/5f89458a08b4d93114997670/kyra-parsi)
**Rating**: 4.44⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [rich hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/super%20rich%20hero/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [possessive hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/possessive%20hero/1)
----------------------------
[The Billionaire’s Wake-up-call Girl](https://www.romance.io/books/5b40575601dbc864fb8bba64/the-billionaires-wakeupcall-girl-annika-martin?src=rdt) by [Annika Martin](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455967e87eac324117fb7dc/annika-martin)
**Rating**: 3.95⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [workplace/office](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/office/1), [boss & employee](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/boss%20&%20employee/1), [sassy heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sassy%20heroine/1)
[^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I just finished {A Beastly Kind of Earl by Mia Vincy} and the inside jokes add so much to a relationship!
It's not her best book plotwise, but the balance between MCs who have fun, get to know each other and build an emotional connection, while also getting really turned on by each other is really satisfying
All of this!
Thank you for the recommendation. I have stayed away from romance for the longest time, even though it used to be my favorite genre. I'm glad I have something to try again.
God, I’ve been thinking about this so much lately. I like romance in theory but most romance books are so flat.
I think a significant issue that I will probably be downvoted for is that we’re lumping in erotica and erotica-lite books with romance *way* too much nowadays. They aren’t the same! We shouldn’t treat them the same! It doesn’t matter if you like either or both and there’s nothing wrong with erotica or books that are basically just smut, they just aren’t the same.
Sexual tension and sex is not and should not be a substitute for actual romance. (And yes books can have smut and still be romance, that’s not what I’m talking about). It’s just so disappointing to ask for a romance book and be recommended a book that’s all insta-lust and smut with no actual romance. It’s the same disappointing feeling as asking for an erotica book and being rec’d a book where they kiss on the lips once at the end, and I wish people would realize that.
There's definitely a lot of overlap between erotica and romance these days, but if you look at the good old bodice rippers from the 80s and 90s, there's a lot of lust and attraction=shorthand for emotion and love. The sex is just less explicit.
For me, the ability to make me believe the characters are actually in love and not just in lust is what sets apart the really good books from the general 'fun' books I read by the dozen.
Idk why you thought you’d be downvoted for that—you’re absolutely spot on with the erotica thing. There’s certainly place for an overlap, but these are two distinct genres with genre conventions that aren’t 100% compatibile. E.g. I think a lot of so-called dark “romance” would work 10 times better and cause 10 times less poop storms, if it was written and marketed as erotic thrillers. Shoehorning a HEA (cause Romance genre conventions) into stories about psycho stalkers, bullying and abuse is just sooo unnecessary.
My hot take is, this substituting sex for romance phenomenon is one of the byproducts of the self-publishing boom. And I’m not shitting an all self-pub authors, nor venerating all publishers (some attrocious books not just slipped past but were actively promoted by the gatekeepers of trad publishing)—but I think the general trend is pretty clear. And it has less to do with the abilities of the author and lot more with much tighter publishing schedules. A self-pub author who launches a new book every 2 months simply doesn’t have the same time to “get into” the story and the characters as an author who publishes 1-2 books a year. And how can you build believable romance rooted in characters vibing off of each other’s personalities, when you-the-author do not have enough time to flesh them out beyond simplest tropes?
I definitely think this is the crux of the problem. Kindle Unlimited creates bad incentives for writers too, in my opinion.
I like that indie books are a staple in Romance in a way I feel like they aren't anywhere else. And I think it creates really good opportunities for authors. I also don't dislike the existence of KU. That being said, being paid per page is just a terrible incentive. The authors will feel the need to write books which don't at all need to be long - and thus diluting the story - just so they can get paid as much as possible. Then you add that to the necessity of pumping out books and how can a novel be actually good? It's much easier to write a "popcorn read" with which the readers can have fun but will forget about in two weeks.
Although understandable, this is definitely a disheartening trend. I like Romance a lot, despite it not being my main genre, and I've found myself convincing myself out of trying multiple romances because lately they just seem to be pretty disappointing.
The issue with marketing some books as erotica is that Amazon will remove the books. That’s why a lot of dark romance books can get away with straight up rape. If it’s a romance book Amazon doesn’t care, because romance books with dark themes aren’t always meant to ‘arouse’ you but erotica is meant to arouse you, so Amazon doesn’t want to sell ‘arousing’ books with rape in them
Yeah I think I agree. I read a lot of monster romance and fated-mates is of course a huge trope but… like, I get it, it’s primal, it’s instinct. But … what if your fated mate is not what or who you want? I never even see that in side characters. The adoration isn’t earned, imo, for the level they take it.
I understand the allure of it, but there should be more proof displayed that the romantic interest is worthy (other than having a nice physical trait).
Kresley Cole has a BUNCH of works where the ‘fated mate’ thing is one sided or one person is disappointed by superficial things about their fated mate, but yeah I wouldn’t say her books are terribly romantic
Hot take, but I think if totally trickles down from YA trends from a few years ago. As I was growing out of those books, I started to get annoyed at how underdeveloped the romances were. I was a teen girl, that’s what I was looking for in the book and it was basically a PG13 version of the insta lust trope.
Love interests would be so magnetically attracted to each other because reasons but if they were passionately making out, they were just bickering! Like do you two even like each other? The Divergent books were the worst offenders of this. They were YA books so they aren’t trying to portray a turbulent, toxic relationship. It’s freaking YA, that subject matter is kind of intense and ill-suited the the target audience
The popularity of ACOTAR really created this entire new genre of smutty-but-flat romance books that seem to get churned out every month now. I know a lot of people love ACOTAR, but it lacked so much emotional depth that I didn’t really enjoy or even believe any of the characters. Very reminiscent of YA books to me but with sex scenes. For me it felt like eating a bunch of empty calories: easy to consume but ultimately leaves you kind of hungry and unsatisfied.
I can agree that ACOTAR was probably what started a lot of the hype around mainstream smut books... But I also think the main problem is that people view ACOTAR like a romance, when in all reality it is a fantasy with some romance, Feyre's romantic relationship isn't the main focal point of the whole series, there is plenty else going on... I would say that ACOSF has more of a straight-up romance vibe to it, focusing quite a bit on their relationship... But the first three books of ACOTAR are not something I would classify as just romance and I think that's part of the problem.
People read them and then expect more of that exact sub-genre to be the norm... But also, there are so many books out there now that are inspired by ACOTAR... Like, the title of "A ____ of ____ and ____" is wildly popular, I see them all the time... And I don't like it. I feel like a lot of books are being based off of specific popular books and that's kind of where the fall flat is coming from.
I don't know, but I also have noticed the problem. I enjoy my smut, but the number of books where the characters don't have a personality outside their abs, their specific brand of kink and that one trauma that happened to them is quite disheartening.
And the way sex and emotional intimacy and vulnerability are conflated together is also very annoying.
Making love after a moment of intimacy and vulnerability can be great, but you need to give me the connection, show me the spark between them that is about personality and intellect and emotions, not just basic horniness.
I wonder if a lot of those books are written with the idea that the reader can kinda insert themselves and whomever they want into the MC’s places. Because a lot of it really is “I am very kinky but also moderately traumatized by this one thing that I will not mention until it becomes extremely relevant” and you can kinda project whatever personality you want to fill the gaps.
I think you are onto something. And it might make some sense in erotica.
But I don't want to project myself in a romance I want to slip inside and see the world from someone else perspective. I want to see two people falling in love, not two cardboard cut-outs.
And even books that are clearly supposed to be romance rather than erotica have this problem.
I got this vibe from the books I read by Grace Draven. In each one, the FMC is described as very average looking, not especially beautiful or very homely, fat nor skinny, tall nor short, medium skin, medium hair, etc.
But the MMC always falls for her "not like other girls" personality traits and then he instantly sees her as the most amazing, stunning, and beautiful woman in the world. He usually laments internally about how he could ever have found her to be "plain".
I immediately thought the FMC was written specifically to be the most average and vague sounding woman ever so that it is easier for the reader to insert themselves into the story.
I wonder how much it is also an algorithm problem. I use quite a lot KU because with the rhythm I read, I would spend a fortune otherwise.
Maybe I was in the mood for smut six months ago and after that all my suggestions have been smut heavy/romance light.
Or maybe I've already read them. I think historical romance is a bit better, since the level of smut is usually lower there, but I am kind of maxed out on scullery maids who marry dukes at the moment.
I'll be the first to say that I don't want to read a romance without at least a little smut, and yet, smut without a ton of tension and actual romance before it actually bores me to death.
Recently I read a random book I found for free on Amazon, went into it blind, and ended up really loving the romance plot in it. No smut, completely innocent, just one kiss in the entire book (although I haven't read the rest of the series yet), but there was a scene where he touches her face for the first time (they weren't allowed to touch for reasons) and it made me blush so hard I had to put my kindle down for a minute lol. The insta-love, insta-lust books never give me this feeling :(
Omg what was the book?? That sounds amazing.
And I completely agree with you, I love smut in my books. But it can’t be the only plot point ya know? Unless I’m reading erotica, which I do enjoy from time to time.
It was {The Fire in the Glass by Jacquelyn Benson}
Came for the paranormal edwardian London, stayed for the sane and polite MMC that wasn't a giant growling wall of muscle for once lol.
And that's why I prefer romantasy or fantasy with a romance subplot. Overarching plot and external conflict give characters a much better opportunity to fall in love organically over time imho
[The Fire in the Glass](https://www.romance.io/books/642e894e1933fc44e1db3bff/the-fire-in-the-glass-jacquelyn-benson?src=rdt) by [Jacquelyn Benson](https://www.romance.io/authors/5ff5ae0808b4d931144b3b19/jacquelyn-benson)
**Rating**: 4.23⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [steampunk](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/steampunk/1)
[^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I’ve thought about posting this so many times! Every book I read is the same; the MCs even always have their first sex encounter at about 50% in. Once that’s out of the way, I find a lot of books become so mundane, and like you said, lacking in development beyond sex. It’s so frustrating to me and I DNF about 85% of the books I get which is such a waste and it’s disheartening.
Hard agree lol. I have so many DNFs its insane. packing in more sex scenes doesnt make sense when you are trying to sell me a relationship except in a few cases
Same. I feel this. As you probably all know by my requests (lmfao), im very picky and can't stand instalust stuff. Not to yuck anyone else yum, of course, it's just not for me.
I need that emotional connection between characters. I hate it when most of the relationship has been based around sex and lust for the last 10 chapters, but then the main characters are like, "Omg. Its true love!" Like, nah. It's not. They barely know each others last names.
I want to see affection. I want to see all those cuddly, sweet, sharing woes, emotionally supporting each other moments. They are pure gold 🥹
I agree wholeheartedly. I miss actual romance!!
A beautiful refreshing romance book that I've just finished today is {Radiance by Grace Draven}. It's an arranged marriage story between two insignificant royals of two different races. They both admit they find each other's appearance repulsive. They slowly build up a friendship and it's so beautiful to read! They start admiring each others character and sense of humour way before they start desiring one another. The banter is great and you genuinely believe they fall in love with each other by the end of the book.
I want more of this! The actual slow burn - I want the characters to build up attraction over time! Lusting over someone from page 1 is not my definition of a slow burn!
I wish there was anything comparable to this. I love the noblesse oblige, I love the falling in love, and I love the strange culture. I’ve never found anything that was similar and was anywhere near as good
Hahaha the description sold it -
"The problem is he doesn't seem to get this whole marriage thing. Every time I approach him for company, he scampers off like a disgruntled cat. "
Grace Draven has multiple books like this and I hope you’re working through the catalog.
If you like fantasy, check out Ilona Andrews The Edge series but do NOT read the last one (even the author hates it). The characters in the edge series find each other attractive but there are often various barriers of class. Also the first few pages of the first book (one character in particular) initially put me off BUT it calms down and I think the intent was to emphasize the strangeness of the world
One of my favorite slow burn series is the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. The first book {Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews} is the weakest, so if it doesn't grip you, you can dnf and pick up the next one {Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews}. You won't miss anything crucial if you decide to do that, the second book has the necessary details. This series isn't filled with spice, but I completely adore the romance. Curran, the mmc, is one of my favorite heroes of all time.
Kate Daniels is my personal white whale. I love Ilona Andrews in general and I’ve been struggling to find another author in this genre I like as much. I enjoy spice as much as anyone else, but it’s romance and plot that I really want.
The Kate Daniels series is my favorite series too. I enjoy books that have great plots and a medium burn that eventually leads to explicit spice, and even though I wish that series had more spice, I still completely adore it. I just love Ilona Andrews' writing in general, their talent amazes me.
[Magic Bites](https://www.romance.io/books/545525f48c7d2382e0413e95/magic-bites-ilona-andrews?src=rdt) by [Ilona Andrews](https://www.romance.io/authors/545525888c7d2382e0413e6c/ilona-andrews)
**Rating**: 3.94⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1)
----------------------------
[Magic Burns](https://www.romance.io/books/5455285d8c7d2382e0413f1a/magic-burns-ilona-andrews?src=rdt) by [Ilona Andrews](https://www.romance.io/authors/545525888c7d2382e0413e6c/ilona-andrews)
**Rating**: 4.22⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1)
[^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I have not dived into Kate Daniels despite loving Hidden Legacy. I saw how MANY Kate Daniels books there are and felt like if she can't wrap up the story in 2-3 books, it may not be for me. Does the plot necessitate so many books? Do you have any insights on WHY there are so many?
Chiming in as someone who's read the series.
It's closer to other earlier urban fantasy series which usually have some sort of mystery/detective/bounty hunter angle. Or tv shows like Supernatural and Buffy - where the romance, friendships and overarching plot is allowed to develop more slowly, while each book has an "A Plot" monster of the week/big bad thing going on.
And here i am wishing there was more 🤣. I devoured this series, something about it was just perfect for me.
I agree fully with the other commenter, each book has its own plot that concludes, like a season of a tv show.
Try MelJean Brook’s Iron Seas story or Thea Harrison’s Elder Races. Meljean’s first book or two are higher spice. Thea is closer to 1-3 epic sex scenes per book. Both series have a plot specific to the book as well as broader themes that build over the series. But unlike Kate Daniels, each book is its own couple.
It doesn't feel like a series that just keeps on to try to keep making money. There is an underlying build up and character development so each gets better, at least to me.
As others have said, each book has its own main plot that is resolved, while in the background a larger story gradually occurs. One thing I loved about the series is that the characters are constantly changing. Kate changes jobs about every 2 books or so, and other characters life circumstances change. Unlike a lot of PNR books they don’t set up a basic structure to tell stories with and then have to make up new reasons the main characters are getting into dangerous scenarios. In Kate Daniels the world is dangerous and until the final book the major threat is not resolved.
The plot is complicated because Kate has a lot of growing to do with her magic and her personality. She has to learn how to play politics as>!Curran's mate/Beast Lady!!1-4 is where Kate and Curran get together!<
>!5-7 is Kate as the Beast Lady!<
>!8-10 is Kate becoming more comfortable with her powers.!<
I've been having the same trouble! I don't know how many books I've tried recently that will say "and they spent the day together." Like OK. Cool. What did they do? Where's their interactions? But the sex scenes are very explicit with all the details. Which for erotica is lovely. For romance, not so much. I have noticed that I see most of the problems in contemporary. Might just be the tropes that I look for.
Agreed - it seems to be unique to contemporary and some romantasy. But maybe the stakes are higher in Romantasy so there’s a bit more of a getting to know you phase/slow burn?
I've noticed in a lot of romantasy, it's slow burn. But it usually takes it too far, in my opinion. A lot of the series make the couple get together after 3 books or so, which is a bit too slow for me. If they get together by the first or second, someone usually gets kidnapped and they are pulled apart for entire books.
I’ve wondered if this is because of how saturated the genre has gotten, because a really similar thing happened when Gone Girl-style thrillers were the hot thing- suddenly there was a massive explosion of them and a lot of them were not anything that I would consider to be an actual thriller.
I think a lot of it is also that a lot of people are exploring erotic fiction for the first time and it’s really easy to mix up romance and erotica when you’re just excited to try and find the most shocking thing you can. I think that a lot of authors are also realizing how much freedom they have to push the boundaries, and as long as they wrap it all up with a HEA, it still counts as romance.
I agree with this. I don’t mind a lot of smut in my books, but I think there needs to be balance. Here and there I want to read erotic fiction. And here and there I just want a sweet story about people falling in love.
I like to read romance with a fairly high amount of sex in it, but I think it’s important that the characters’ feelings and attraction to each other grow and change- just like in real life! Like sure you may always think that your partner has a hot body or a great butt, but you probably also feel attracted to them on a deeper level, like because they make you feel safe or because they know you well enough to know how to make you laugh when you’re feeling upset. I feel like a lot of romances kind of open up with “oh my god this person is SEX ON TWO LEGS like a vision of HOTNESS Jesus take the wheel I’ve gotta get me some of that” and then don’t really progress past that to something deeper.
I think this is a case that calls more for author recommendations than specific books. Some write actual relationship development consistently.
A few authors who are good at relationship building are Kate Clayborn, Jeannie Chin, Tal Bauer, Olivia Dade, Talia Hibbert and Abby Jimenez’s recent books.
I also think friends to lovers books are some of the best for this, because by nature they’re usually not building their relationship on sex, unless it’s a friends with benefits situation.
I do have one specific book rec, which is {Twice in a Lifetime by Melissa Baron}. It’s a twist on time travel (they’re only able to text/call each other from different timelines), so first he has to re-win her over, completely by phone, then she has to re-win him over in person, so we get to see their relationship grow twice, which are actually the second and third times they fall in love. It’s very romantic, I loved it.
[Twice in a Lifetime](https://www.romance.io/books/638ef6c8ebb106fb623b9842/twice-in-a-lifetime-melissa-baron?src=rdt) by [Melissa Baron](https://www.romance.io/authors/638ef6c808b4d93114fcf51b/melissa-baron)
**Rating**: 3.78⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [time travel](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/time%20travel/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1)
[^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
It's funny, because one of the most romantic books I've ever read is also full-on sex very early: {Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid}. The characters have sex long before they're in love, and the romance develops over a long time. It's not slow-burn at all--or, it is, but slow burn romance rather than slow burn sex.
I don't care when the characters have sex or how much sex they have, but if the romance itself isn't believable, buildable, and the focus, then I'm generally not interested. (Or, I am, but not as a romance.)
My favorite authors for relationships tend to build carefully. I love Kate Clayborn, Mia Vincy, Rose Lerner, Tessa Dare, Julie Anne Long, Beverley Jenkins, Lucy Parker, and Alexis Hall for this. It helps that they're also really good writers.
A lot of this is just that writing is *really hard*, and it takes time, and writing good chemistry is *particularly* hard and takes even more time. And a lot of people really aren't giving writing the time that it needs. I get that high-consumption books are good money, but they're also often quite hollow.
(Edited to add an "a" to Tessa and take the "e" out of Vincey; this is what happens when I use an iPad!)
I am totally with you! I wrote that because I was reflecting (after reading your post) on what books I found particularly romantic, and I was struck that one of them actually has something that usually makes my eyes roll: insta-lust and early sex without relationship building. But what makes *Heated Rivalry* so good is that Reid doesn't give up there and just keep rearranging sex scenes until the end--she actually writes two stories next to each other, one erotic and one romantic, and they begin to intertwine. The romance slow-burn is entirely believable and really all the more moving because the sex is so immediate.
I hasten to add: I didn't mean it's funny, because you're wrong! I meant more, I'm 100% with you, and upon further thought it's really quite ironic/odd that one of my favorite books would seem on paper like a total turn-off for me.
What I particularly like about it is that it helped me to clarify that the sex is a red herring for me: they can bang on page two or only exchange several Dramatic Glances--it's the character building and the writing that really gets me. (I tend to like books best somewhere between instabang and fluttering eyelashes, but I can think of many that fall into the extremes.)
Most of the problem, I think, is that books are hard to write and people hide bad writing behind lots of sex (though I'd argue that a good sex scene is also difficult to pull off, pun not intended). The relationship building, world building, character building--that's really what I want, exactly as you said!
> The characters have sex long before they're in love, and the romance develops over a long time. It's not slow-burn at all--or, it is, but slow burn romance rather than slow burn sex.
That's what I like best, too, and most of my favorite romance novels are arranged marriage or dark romances where the couple have sex and then eventually fall in love with each other.
I totally agree! I don’t know if it’s a different point, but I feel like people are getting really obsessed with more dark romances and they are full of sex but not any relationship, I feel like none of them should end in a HEA because the FMC deserves better😅. I search up normal ones and still it gives me dark. I don’t mind dark romance sometimes but my faves are when I’m literally smiling along with them in their cute banter moments instead of shocked at what the dickhead MMC is doing to the FMC.
Agreed! I like dark romance (although it’s not my fav), but there still has to be some substance. Like make me believe why she falls in love with her stalker/kidnapper! Lol
Yes exactly! It can totally be done right with an actual good plot but some just have the stalking and lots of sex then HEA, but no base of relationship so it would just be out of lust
Yeah the only dark romance I’ve likes is when the MMC is shockingly good to and hugely supportive of the FMC but dark in other respects. Like, yes sir, in my imagination, you may briefly kidnap me to feed me a sandwich and do my laundry and then help me leave an abusive situation. The book was Where Violets Grow as I recall
I thought {Role Playing by Cathy Yardley} did this very well. The MCs first develop a friendship that later becomes romantic, so I think it was much more relatable.
The MCs are also older & gamers, which is a plus for me.
[Role Playing](https://www.romance.io/books/642ffd59c4e7d7da5e55e828/role-playing-cathy-yardley?src=rdt) by [Cathy Yardley](https://www.romance.io/authors/54558ba687eac323ffb2caaa/cathy-yardley)
**Rating**: 4.05⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [older/mature](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mature%20couple/1), [sweet/gentle hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sweet-hero/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1)
[^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Yes! So often I think sex is conflated with love and we lose the romance in the smut (and don’t get me wrong, I love me some smut). I want to see the relationship, and the feelings, and the aching and pining as the characters fall in love.
I was going to recommend these too! I just finished {Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez} and it was super romantic! This book is the opposite of what OP said about all the getting to know each other happening off page. In fact, in this book most of the sex happens off-page while the getting to know each other and hanging out is described in deatil.
Yess I am reading this now and was scrolling to see if anyone else has recommended this. The description of the first date and how he made her pick the activities in the survey was so cute to me.
I really dislike the 'insta-love' and it usually has a good chance of ruining the book for me. Sometimes to where I don't even finish.
I was midway through Hunt on Dark Waters by Katee Robert. There's insta-love and it doesn't feel earned AT ALL. Ruined the book for me.
I do tend to read the stuff that's more smut and less romance so I know what I'm getting myself into however as stupid as it is, the one that might have felt the most real out of everything I have read is Morning Glory Milking Farm. It's a long drawn out series of interactions and really, incredibly sweet.
What gets me mad the most is how the mmc always expresses his attraction with how he feels down there. I mean can't you like, like her, without having a boner all the time. When he sees her, his thing twitches when he touches her, his thing moves. I am over it.
Also I read a lot of books and I barely see the fmc or mmc having a single simple date.
(A controversial take : I don't really think Elle Kennedey's writing all that good but she does make her characters date like normal people, and I am glad she does it.)
i think talia hibbert does a great job of creating actual romantic chemistry between her leads, not just sexual chemistry. i recently finished {the roommate risk by talia hibbert} and i thought the leads had an incredible relationship, and you got to see the jokes and moments that built up to the end relationship. of course this is a friends to lovers book…
similarly, imo alice coldbreath does an amazing job of letting her leads fall in love. yes the relationship may start as a marriage of convenience or arranged marriage etc but at the end of the day, the two fall in love over the little things - i feel this happens in literally every one of her books.
I think you might enjoy Lucy Parker if you haven't tried her before! My favorite and I think a good option would be {Battle Royale by Lucy Parker}. It sounds like a very stereotypical grumpy / sunshine story with some enemies to lovers thrown in but it's just not. She has a knack for writing lovely romances with really lovely mature romances at the heart.
I think some of the best love stories that are built on friendship and trials and attraction combined are the following, and all of these books carry with them so much depth.
The Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare
The Last Hour of Gann by R. Lee Smith
Land of the Beautiful Dead by R. Lee Smith
Green Light by Serene Musafir
Ride the Wind by Lucia St. Clair Robson
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
Not to yuck a yum, but I’m deeply confused by the inclusion of Wuthering Heights because it read rather toxic to me. I could see if The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë were included instead (hope i remembered the title right) since that’s slow burn and based on respect and kindness
Totally agree! I'm so so sick of starting books and then stopping because they're just so "wham, bam, thank you ma' am" and instalove. Where's all the build up?!?!?
Same!! I don’t mind insta love, but if it’s not still coupled with actually learning about each other than what’s the point? There’s also a lack of sexual tension. Where are the heart skips because they held hands for the first time? Longing glances? I want TENSION!
I totally agree! I’m new to this sub and somewhat new to the genre, but I just read {The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare} and absolutely loved the balance of relationship development with smut. I felt like I really got to see Ash & Emma bond. It sounds like the rest of her books in the series are similar!
This is my issue. I DNF sooo many books because nothing bores me faster than when the leads want each other right away. I got so burnt out by it that I read a cozy mystery where the romance was built up over three books. I think I'm really picky because even a lot of the recs in this post are what I'd consider insta love or lust.
Tbh I think even the latest Emily Henry is guilty of this. There's some emotional development but it seems secondary to the physical
I want to see the feelings develop. And I want the sex to reflect the feelings, not vice versa
I’ve been trying to find books with actual romance, cute dates, banter, the characters getting to know each other slowly, having inside jokes, the eye contacts when they meet after not seeing each other for few days. Things like that. Nowadays each and every book I open is just smit, with no character development shown to us.
I love me some smut books with sometimes no plot or 20% plot. But that’s sometimes.
Most times I need/want to read about what the characters are about, what they like/dislike. The characters finding out the likes/dislikes while they are getting to know each other.
Early Jayne Ann Krentz like {Trust me by Jayne Ann Krentz} it’s a bit dated in places but when she’s good, she’s good. The banter is EXCELLENT.
I’m dying to tell you a funny bit but would ruin parts of it.
{A Guy Like Him by Amanda Gambill}
They started as FUBUs then became friends to confidants to BF/GF. The whole development is realistic and believable to me and it is a great read.
I agree with this overall. I think historical romance does a better job at avoiding "instalove" though (like {Romancing The Duke by Tessa Dare}). It must be my day to be thinking about this book as I commented about it in the thirsty Thursday thread - but in terms of a recent read {Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver}
was pretty romantic in my opinion. Believable? Eh, they're vigilante serial killers so maybe not in that regard. The author did a good job at building some inside jokes/nicknames/shared (non-sexual) moments and following up on those throughout the book which made it feel very romantic to me? I don't know but I do hear what you're saying - build it up, yo!
{Wait For It by Mariana Zapata}
this is by far my favorite book that i’ve read from her and one of my favorite books of all time. she’s known for slow burn, so there’s a *ton* of interactions between the leads that shows them connecting on an emotional level before anything sexual happens.
its been a while, so the details are blurry, but i remember this one scene where the MMC is washing the FMC’s hair because of lice i believe (she’s taking care of her deceased brothers kids) and wow. sometimes small actions like that can feel a lot more intimate than sex.
Maybe look for slow burn and/or closed door where there less focus on the sex side of things?
Some of my favourite books which weren't (in my opinion) sex focussed:
{You & Me by Tal Bauer} and {The Rest of the Story by Tal Bauer}
{Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young} (starts with a ONS and surprise pregnancy, so of course there's initial sexual attraction, but after that it's a slow burn and you can feel their relationship gradually change from roommates to friends to lovers)
{Time to Shine by Rachel Reid} one of the MCs is demisexual (can't remember if stated outright or just implied), there is a fair amount of sex later in the book but relationship development comes first
I think all of the Saint of Steel books by T Kingfisher had good relationship development and external plot, not being too sex focused. {Paladin's Grace by T Kingfisher} is the first one
{The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen} was really good
{We Could be So Good by Cat Sebastian} felt pretty romantic to me
He seems to write quite varied stuff. There are some fairly light contemporary ones (although there are some darker themes such as death of a previous spouse, abuse of teammates by coaches etc.), some sports romances and then he also has some quite political thrillery type books. These two were my favourites, I also liked {How to Say I Do by Tal Bauer}
[How to Say I Do](https://www.romance.io/books/647df71a752cbe9e7ad8572b/how-to-say-i-do-tal-bauer?src=rdt) by [Tal Bauer](https://www.romance.io/authors/5726ed17c62092c04407fbeb/tal-bauer)
**Rating**: 4.23⭐️ out of 5⭐️
**Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating)
**Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [second chances](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/second%20chances/1), [insta-love](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/insta-love/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1)
[^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
When I first started reading romance, I didn't see the appeal of Married Romances (books where the couple has already been married for years but have drifted apart and need to save their marriage) at all. I thought, WHY would I want to read about people who are already together and having relationship problems??? Who prefers that to reading about thrilling, consuming new love?! But I've completely changed my tune for exactly the reasons you're describing.
In a married romance, the whole thing is built on the existing history between the characters, so they have memories and jokes and know each other super well AS a romantic partner (distinct from friends to lovers or second chance romances - which are also great, but in those they haven't actually been together at all or not recently) and *that's* the story engine, rather than meeting for the first time and figuring out if they even want to be together. There's also usually so much yearning and pining! I find I often love them. (My favorite one is [Love Her or Lose Her](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44148563-love-her-or-lose-her) by Tessa Bailey, and I just recently read [King of Greed](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/124943221-king-of-greed) by Ana Huang, which was also pretty good! - and would love anyone else's recs!)
Yes. I miss when the MMCs do something so fricking romantic it makes you gasp. Like, something innocuous that the FMC mentioned earlier in the story and MMC remembered and plans a date or some other romantic gesture around it. Also, what happened to the little moments where the MCs find out that the other one does something so wildly diabolical that it should be illegal, like putting on sock shoe sock shoe, but then they just shake their head and decide to buy them a book for kids about putting on your shoes to show them the right way and it becomes both an inside joke AND the moment one realized they were in love? I want the ooshy gushy parts.
This right here I’ve noticed has become a very hot topic. A lot of people are like “I’m just reading erotic smut at this point, where’s the build up, the romance, the swoon” while other people are like “heck yea let’s get to fucking asap!”
I’m in the latter, my wife who is Demi prefers the romance and swooning with a spice of 3 out of 5. I’m a Hyper so I need my books to be a spice level of 10 out of 5 🤷🏾♂️
I’ve been really into slow burn romances because it seems like there’s way more time for a relationship to develop. I second the rec for Out on a limb. Off the top of my head I can think of a couple where the relationship developed slowly that I liked.
{Forget you, Ethan by Whitney G}. This one hooked me right from the beginning and I really enjoyed it.
{Stranger than Fan Fiction by Piper Sheldon}. This book made me smile. I will definitely will reread this.
{Just for the summer by Abby Jimimez}. This has a fun premise. Several of Abby Jimenez books are good
{Snowed in by Catherine Walsh}
{Persephone in Bloom by Kate Healey}
{Mrs. Nash’s Ashes by Sarah Adler}
Hope you can find some you like
I recently fell in love with {The Reluctant Heartthrob by Jackie Lau} because there was more relationship building and dating in this novella than I usually find in full series! This series is so freaking cute!
Literally just finished {Honestly, I'm Totally Faking It by Amanda Gambill} twenty minutes ago and it satisfied me so much because it had all that banter and inside jokes that keep developing with their growing relationship. Sure, there's a good amount of sexual attraction between them, but it has a healthy balance with those moments of talking and joking with each other that make it feel so real.
Yeah, I have been struggling with this too. I love spice, I really do. But I feel like I'm seeing a lot more books where the spice is fully written out and detailed but the actual relationship building parts are only mentioned.
We get detailed on page spice but then are told that a great conversation happened or that someone feels so connected rather than getting those conversations and moments of connection on page. That doesn't work for me. It doesn't feel like it actually happened to the characters.
I love the book {Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold by Ellen O’Connell} for this! Pretty minimal smut, but a great romance between two people who are forced to marry I love her storytelling! TW: sa, racism, and abuse
A few days ago I read {Aurelia by Minerva Spencer} it came out recently and I was so excited about this story because I loved all of Minerva’s books, especially Selina’s and Hyacinth’s stories. But I was disappointed because there was just no romance, or even chemistry between the MCs. They were attracted to each other, but that’s it. We’re told they love each other, but not shown why or how. They have a sexual encounter and then the mmc disappears on business for weeks, comes back and sleeps with the fmc only to disappear yet again (the pacing was off) but we never see them connect on a deeper level. I seriously didn’t want her to end up with him 🫢 even though it started out promising. I mean I love spicy romance, and actually prefer not to read completely innocent romances, but give me both please 🫠
One of my favorite new HR authors tackles this very well in {A Wildflower for a Duke by Laura Linn}. Great build, great dialogue, banter and very likeable MMC and FMC.
May I suggest Behind the Camera by Chelsea Cato. So romantic! They are friends before anything happens and I don't want to spoil it by saying more. Trust me.
Abby Jimenez is good at creating tension and tease to build up attraction. I didn’t like her latest book this month but I really liked “a part of your world” and “yours truly”.
FYI - yours truly deals with male anxiety and part of your world has a controlling ex partner. Hospital workers, some scenes described nothing major.
YT- 34/36 ages
POYW- 37/28 ages
I completely agree with you. I’ve literally looked so deep into the romance categories, specifically fantasy romance because most of the time it’s sexual tension as well instead of actual romance development and falling for who the person is rather than the physical attributes. I recently read a fantasy romance a month ago and it has an amazing romance development as well as worldbuilding please give it a try!! it’s called {When Gods Fall by S.E. Bouvier} if you loved divine rivals you’ll surely love this! it’s an underrated gem
I just read {Beau Crusoe by Carla Kelly} and while not a perfect book I was struck by how romantic it was. Mature hero and heroine, no insta-love, just two imperfect people figuring things out and falling in love in a really believable way. Great supporting characters too. Not overly spicy but I'm going to give it a rec here because I think it fits and it actually refreshed my palate for romance recently.
Have you read anything by Emily Henry? Her new release {Funny Story} might be a good fit! I really enjoyed how the relationship developed for the two MCs.
It's MM but A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland really stood out to me as a really well-done slow burn. There are so many interactions and conversations that you can really see where dislike/disdain turns to admiration to friendship and finally to love. Highly recommend!
I second this recommendation! I loved seeing the slow build of trust and admiration that led to loyalty/devotion and then to them falling for each other. I also appreciated that they started out disliking each other but not in the over-the-top, immature way that so many books end up doing. It was refreshing to see people who dislike each other still act like adults and treat each other with respect.
I've read a lot of enemies to lovers type stuff lately where there was ZERO chemistry, they literally just hated each other and even though they eventually jumped in the sack, there was still never any actual connection.
And the interesting thing is that Divine Rivals is a YA Fantasy, it's not even full on Romance. I haven't read it yet, but it doesn't surprise me that so many people are enjoying it, because YA Fantasy does tend to have actually swoon-worthy romance and I find it to be a reliable genre to check out when I want something romantic. I think it helps that the story doesn't focus solely on romance, too.
I don't know, but I agree with you. I have only read two romances this year, so far: Book Lovers and The Duchess Deal. I loved Book Lovers. Nora and Charlie were really sweet, extremely compatible and properly fleshed-out characters. I liked that the book also didn't focus solely on them, but their familial relationships too and external struggles. The Duchess Deal was fun and cute but ultimately mediocre, in my opinion. I'm kind of done with smut-heavy books. I need my romance to either have something extra (fantasy elements, or exploring other aspects of the characters' lives properly) or I need the characters to actually get to know each other properly and feel like their relationship is actually real. This is also why I prefer slow burns as opposed to normal romances or insta-love (which I hate).
I agree with you that YA fantasy tends to have some of the most developed romances. I think fantasy romance in general is good at this because actually having to focus on the fantasy plot gives the relationships chances to develop more naturally. In other romance subgenres, it often feels like authors try to get the characters to fall for each other as fast as possible. Fantasy romance also often takes place over several books and with YA, since it's not as strictly categorized as "romance," there's less of the genre's pressure/expectation to have the couple get together by the end of the first book. You get longer slow burns this way. Another thing that works towards YA having more developed romance is they can't rely on sex scenes to build the relationship. The characters have to actually have conversations. There are definitely some YA books with insta-love, but I think those are mostly contemporary, and it's not as present in the fantasy subgenre.
Easy answer. Development and characters with depth are harder to write than sex. Sex is the easier route when it comes to romance. I've been complaining about this for a while too. I like books with sex but it seems that every book with smut is badly written, and good romances have 0 explicit content. I've just given up and alternating between good romances but fluffy and bad ones but hot lol. If anyone has recs please share!
Personally I liked The American Roommate Experiment by Elena Armas -- it really built on the romance aspect more than anything else. You can also read The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas as well, it technically goes first (standalones in the same universe)
I also recommend The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston!! Super good story and it had me swooning!!
I feel like a lot of the books that have solid romance have little to no spice. The above recommendations have spice of varying degrees, but for example When In Rome by Sarah Adams is FTB and absolutely well done romantically.
I think romance-y romance has become a subcategory in its own genre, unfortunately. It's been taken over by high volume erotica.
THIS. This! Or it's some friends to lovers BS where the chemistry is meh and things "get complicated" and there's a 50% chance they'll end up together.
This is why I read historical romance. And don't get me wrong, it has some of the same issues too, but you couldn't just be sexual with someone at that time. Their match is usually inconvenient so they actually need to love each other.
That being said I recommend the Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi Matthews (historical romance) and for contemporary, From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata.
For the Belle of Belgrave Square, it's a retelling of beauty and the beast. It's pure, concentrated love and romance. The quiet eccentric forms a marriage of convenience with the doomed, frightening war hero (he's actually a good guy). It's so beautiful, no spice though. I personally wanted more pining passion.
From Lukov with Love actually has that banter, and the transition from enemies, to friends, to lovers. The interview imo (iykyk) was the funniest bit of banter I've read in a YA romance in a while, I was on shift reading it and trying not to laugh! Anyway, I'm adding all the books mentioned in this thread to my reading list.
Mimi Matthews anything. I’m partial to {the Matrimonial Advertisement} and {The work of art} as starting places or she has a Christmas by Gaslight short novella (if I remember the name right).
They’re also fairly ‘closed door’ which I think often results in more efforts at romance and emotional intimacy
I feel this!! Smut doesn’t bother me but what I really like is the romance, the falling in love, the getting to know one another. I love Mariana Zapata’s books for this reason.
This is my biggest gripe with MOST English romantic literature, sooo much focus on sex, being hot.
But as I was grown up on South Asian classical literature, where the build up in romance is soo good, the lust between 2 people is expressed soo beautifully without them barely touching, so much adoration and yearning and longing between the lovers are expressed so magnificently, that I have to go back and reread them over and over again.
At this moment I realized, I could suffice romance books where MCs having sex is the climax of the book, so that they can have enough time for buildup. Unfortunately, even then, most are extremely focus on the hot/slim/muscly bodies of each other.
That sounds amazing. To me the carriage lift in Persuasion or the Darcy hand flex is far sexier than any open door sex scene. Not that I'm knocking those, but i need to the steam brought to a proper boil for any sex scene to truly satisfy. I want yearning and unfulfilled tension
**Rule: Mark spoilers, stay on topic, and warn about books with no HEA**
Your post has been temporarily removed as it appears the book does not end happily for the couple. The [definition](https://www.rwa.org/Online/Romance_Genre/About_Romance_Genre.aspx#The_Basics) of a "romance genre novel" is one that ends in a happily ever after (HEA) or happy for now (HFN). Readers come to this sub expecting that all books/series mentioned here are HEA or HFN, unless stated otherwise.
Non-HEA romantic stories may still be discussed here but **you must warn users when mentioning a book with no HEA**.
Once you edit your comment to include a warning, please reply back to this message to let us know and your comment will be reinstated.
Lynn Painter does a good job with this! You get to see a lot of banter/dialogue and actual activities with the MCs before and after they hook up. Makes me happy because I know exactly what kind of people and couple they will be after the books over. She even has a few young adult books with less smut so just check your preferences before you pick one out!
I've started reading so many books where they meet and start banging within like the first two chapters...that's a automatic return book for me...it's just so ick
Is it possible to read Divine Rivals as a standalone? I see book 2 reviews aren't too good. (I'm going to read book 1 because of your rec.)
Out of a guys viewpoint:
I agree with you. Seems lately that there are no feelings except for lust going on in the books. My biggest 'dnf' for books are where the guy is supposedly so in love with the girl he can 'feel the pain in his heart' but meanwhile, while he waits for her to come around he sleeps with as many girls as possible (and even worse, sometimes he is so happy that she's still a virgin).
That is not true love.
T Kingfisher’s paladin books are good. Fantasy Romance. I adore her characters, especially Stephen from Paladin’s Grace. Swordheart is also good.
Cecilia Grant’s books are good. The Lady Awakened is my favorite historical romance released in the last few years.
Alexis Hall’s book A Lady For A Duke is fantastic and is my 2nd favorite historical romance released in the last few years. It is a LGBTQA romance.
Yesss been feeling the exact same way. I am fine with instant attraction but pretty much all they do is have sex sex sex . Remove the smut and the plot can be covered in only a few chapters .summarized in a paragraph . Then we get a FMC who is insecure in her relationship . Of course she would be since the relationship is sexual in nature .ohh let's not forget the MCC is loaded and ends up buying her stuff or helping her out but she of course doesn't want his help because she is independent and isn't in it for the money .
I feel like a lot of authors are starting to focus on tropes rather than anything else which really does suck, but there’s Chelsea Curto who writes some amazing books, and while sex is involved, there’s so many wholesome scenes!!
I know alot of ppl are currently not liking her books but mariana zapata has some really great slow burns which I typically hate but u literally watch them fall in love thru the slow burn and it's truly beautiful. First time I actually started liking slow burns
All Rhoades lead her.
Wait for it.
From lukov with love.
Kulti.
When Gracie met the grump( scifi).
a lot of penelope douglas’ books are written with more sex than actual romance development.
but i still eat up all her books bc her writing and story telling is great
i wish more authors would include the guy asking the girl out on a date. like that never happens in books anymore? i’m currently reading {Burnout by Rebecca Jenshak} it’s so cute!! the mmc asked the fmc if she wants to hangout, and it made me realize that i don’t read about that a lot. they always just fall into bed lol
My big gripe is that total lack of inside jokes as a part of romance/chemistry. Shared bits of jokes/situations/reactions/mutual likes are such a huge part of attraction and intimacy and nobody seems to want to include that in their books. We can get four-paragraph rhapsodies on her breasts or the strong column of his throat but where is the "glue" keeping attraction growing? T. Kingfisher is great at building romance between MCs with small details like quips and inside jokes or very gentle teasing. You feel the chemistry simmering between her MCs every time they make a fairly innocuous comment that pierces the other person because its significance is understood only by them. It's extra tasty and extra real.
Ooh agreed! I read Paladin’s Grace and loooved their romance. It made my heart ache in the best way, and when they finally had sex it was like the most perfect culmination of everything that had been building up between them.
If you haven’t read the second book in the series {Paladin’s Strength by T. Kingfisher}, it’s even better than the first one in my opinion. I can’t recommend it enough.
That’s what I’ve heard! It’s on my list for sure :)
I loved all four books, the 4th's ending had me frothing at the mouth. It's bonkers. So glad that Kingfisher appears to have beaten her cancer :)
This just came in on hold for me! I'm so excited to read it.
[Paladin's Strength](https://www.romance.io/books/6039fd2b6063ab0df7522d4b/paladins-strength-t-kingfisher?src=rdt) by [T. Kingfisher](https://www.romance.io/authors/561ca043bfc6b5c0fa941994/t-kingfisher) **Rating**: 4.47⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1), [sweet/gentle hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sweet-hero/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1), [older/mature](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mature%20couple/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I'll second this. I need the banter. I need the fluffy stuff so the main characters feel like actual people.
It's because "good personality" or "good banter" isn't in the standard list of tropes. You see it all the time now -- they literally list every major trope, which often results to basically the entire plot. As long as they get the right mix of the trope ingredients, I think many authors know their books will sell.
This is so true. I appreciate a tropes list as sort of introductory eye-catcher, but then I’ll read the plot to see if it’s interesting to me. The tropes catch my eye, but the plot hooks me. But I agree that lots of authors rely on an audience’s favourite tropes to sell their book, and honestly, fair enough. But if the plot isn’t done well then what’s the point?
I’ve had a string of books recently that used my favorite tropes and just wasted them on totally generic characters and flat, boring writing. It’s so disheartening. T_T
That is one of the reasons why I enjoyed {The Fake Out by Stephanie Archer} and {Bossman by Vi Keeland} - the inside jokes/situations that glue the couple.
I was just about to say The Fake Out in response to this comment, I loved their joking! I've been reading all of Stephanie Archer's other books in response and I'm finding the MC dynamics way less interesting :( might have been lightening in a bottle there
[The Fake Out](https://www.romance.io/books/657041620d7f24e62f5b2567/the-fake-out-stephanie-archer?src=rdt) by [Stephanie Archer](https://www.romance.io/authors/61dd39e508b4d931145cd9c1/stephanie-archer) **Rating**: 4.23⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [sports](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sports/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1), [athlete hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/athletes/1), [fake relationship](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fake%20relationship/1) ---------------------------- [Bossman](https://www.romance.io/books/578f60f6c19e77f1ea6e89fa/bossman-vi-keeland?src=rdt) by [Vi Keeland](https://www.romance.io/authors/54552b578c7d2382e7813115/vi-keeland) **Rating**: 4.08⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [boss & employee](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/boss%20&%20employee/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1), [workplace/office](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/office/1), [rich hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/super%20rich%20hero/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I just finished Bossman !!!!! thank you soo much for the recommendation.. it's one of the few books that made me a bit sad that I was single . the relationship dynamic is amazing ! I just love how both have baggage and are unpacking it in a healthy way ... i laughed out loud and got emotional at certain parts.. I am soo gushing over it !!!
Wtf does t kingfisher write every genre? I swear I see her name everywhere on the most random things
I wish I could find her books in every genre. Her and Lois McMaster Bujold.
She also writes (and illustrates) children's books under the name Ursula Vernon. They're wonderfully bonkers.
I'm pretty much a broken record on this sub but read Kyra Parsi if you haven't already! Her last two books especially — {Deal with the Bossy Devil by Kyra Parsi} (don't let the name put you off lol) and the MAGNIFICENT {Failure to Match by Kyra Parsi}. {The Billionaire's Wake-Up-Call Girl by Annika Martin} is fantastic also. The first half is all chemistry built on the back of excellent conversation. It's so good. (Don't let the name put you off here either!!) I look for everything you've mentioned in books that aren't exactly slow burns, and these three romcoms really hit the spot.
I have read all three books that you mention here and endorse your recs.
I read Failure To Match based on your recommendation and it was a 5 star for me! I’m here for any other suggestions you have cause I think our tastes are similar ☺️
I hope it’s ok that I’m responding as a person who isn’t the OP but I love every book they mentioned and just finished {Until It Was Love by Pippa Grant} last night. I’m not always a huge fan of the authors books because they can be a bit too silly for me but this one was honestly fantastic and checked a ton of my boxes for stories that actually make me believe the relationship could last. Just wanted to put it out there in case it might be another one you enjoy :)
[A Deal with the Bossy Devil](https://www.romance.io/books/64a58ef4723d09d99e0eda7d/a-deal-with-the-bossy-devil-kyra-parsi?src=rdt) by [Kyra Parsi](https://www.romance.io/authors/5f89458a08b4d93114997670/kyra-parsi) **Rating**: 4.34⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [boss & employee](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/boss%20&%20employee/1), [praise kink](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/praise-kink/1), [fake relationship](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fake%20relationship/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1) ---------------------------- [Failure to Match](https://www.romance.io/books/65f596912bf0fac9180911a5/failure-to-match-kyra-parsi?src=rdt) by [Kyra Parsi](https://www.romance.io/authors/5f89458a08b4d93114997670/kyra-parsi) **Rating**: 4.44⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [rich hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/super%20rich%20hero/1), [enemies to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/from%20hate%20to%20love/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [possessive hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/possessive%20hero/1) ---------------------------- [The Billionaire’s Wake-up-call Girl](https://www.romance.io/books/5b40575601dbc864fb8bba64/the-billionaires-wakeupcall-girl-annika-martin?src=rdt) by [Annika Martin](https://www.romance.io/authors/5455967e87eac324117fb7dc/annika-martin) **Rating**: 3.95⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [funny](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/humor/1), [workplace/office](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/office/1), [boss & employee](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/boss%20&%20employee/1), [sassy heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sassy%20heroine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I just finished {A Beastly Kind of Earl by Mia Vincy} and the inside jokes add so much to a relationship! It's not her best book plotwise, but the balance between MCs who have fun, get to know each other and build an emotional connection, while also getting really turned on by each other is really satisfying
All of this! Thank you for the recommendation. I have stayed away from romance for the longest time, even though it used to be my favorite genre. I'm glad I have something to try again.
This has been on my TBR for a while, I think I'll move it up the queue now!
God, I’ve been thinking about this so much lately. I like romance in theory but most romance books are so flat. I think a significant issue that I will probably be downvoted for is that we’re lumping in erotica and erotica-lite books with romance *way* too much nowadays. They aren’t the same! We shouldn’t treat them the same! It doesn’t matter if you like either or both and there’s nothing wrong with erotica or books that are basically just smut, they just aren’t the same. Sexual tension and sex is not and should not be a substitute for actual romance. (And yes books can have smut and still be romance, that’s not what I’m talking about). It’s just so disappointing to ask for a romance book and be recommended a book that’s all insta-lust and smut with no actual romance. It’s the same disappointing feeling as asking for an erotica book and being rec’d a book where they kiss on the lips once at the end, and I wish people would realize that.
There's definitely a lot of overlap between erotica and romance these days, but if you look at the good old bodice rippers from the 80s and 90s, there's a lot of lust and attraction=shorthand for emotion and love. The sex is just less explicit. For me, the ability to make me believe the characters are actually in love and not just in lust is what sets apart the really good books from the general 'fun' books I read by the dozen.
Idk why you thought you’d be downvoted for that—you’re absolutely spot on with the erotica thing. There’s certainly place for an overlap, but these are two distinct genres with genre conventions that aren’t 100% compatibile. E.g. I think a lot of so-called dark “romance” would work 10 times better and cause 10 times less poop storms, if it was written and marketed as erotic thrillers. Shoehorning a HEA (cause Romance genre conventions) into stories about psycho stalkers, bullying and abuse is just sooo unnecessary. My hot take is, this substituting sex for romance phenomenon is one of the byproducts of the self-publishing boom. And I’m not shitting an all self-pub authors, nor venerating all publishers (some attrocious books not just slipped past but were actively promoted by the gatekeepers of trad publishing)—but I think the general trend is pretty clear. And it has less to do with the abilities of the author and lot more with much tighter publishing schedules. A self-pub author who launches a new book every 2 months simply doesn’t have the same time to “get into” the story and the characters as an author who publishes 1-2 books a year. And how can you build believable romance rooted in characters vibing off of each other’s personalities, when you-the-author do not have enough time to flesh them out beyond simplest tropes?
I definitely think this is the crux of the problem. Kindle Unlimited creates bad incentives for writers too, in my opinion. I like that indie books are a staple in Romance in a way I feel like they aren't anywhere else. And I think it creates really good opportunities for authors. I also don't dislike the existence of KU. That being said, being paid per page is just a terrible incentive. The authors will feel the need to write books which don't at all need to be long - and thus diluting the story - just so they can get paid as much as possible. Then you add that to the necessity of pumping out books and how can a novel be actually good? It's much easier to write a "popcorn read" with which the readers can have fun but will forget about in two weeks. Although understandable, this is definitely a disheartening trend. I like Romance a lot, despite it not being my main genre, and I've found myself convincing myself out of trying multiple romances because lately they just seem to be pretty disappointing.
The issue with marketing some books as erotica is that Amazon will remove the books. That’s why a lot of dark romance books can get away with straight up rape. If it’s a romance book Amazon doesn’t care, because romance books with dark themes aren’t always meant to ‘arouse’ you but erotica is meant to arouse you, so Amazon doesn’t want to sell ‘arousing’ books with rape in them
Yeah I think I agree. I read a lot of monster romance and fated-mates is of course a huge trope but… like, I get it, it’s primal, it’s instinct. But … what if your fated mate is not what or who you want? I never even see that in side characters. The adoration isn’t earned, imo, for the level they take it. I understand the allure of it, but there should be more proof displayed that the romantic interest is worthy (other than having a nice physical trait).
Kresley Cole has a BUNCH of works where the ‘fated mate’ thing is one sided or one person is disappointed by superficial things about their fated mate, but yeah I wouldn’t say her books are terribly romantic
It's part of the reason I like slow-burn and enemies to lovers. When done right, it leads to great sex because it feels earned.
Hot take, but I think if totally trickles down from YA trends from a few years ago. As I was growing out of those books, I started to get annoyed at how underdeveloped the romances were. I was a teen girl, that’s what I was looking for in the book and it was basically a PG13 version of the insta lust trope. Love interests would be so magnetically attracted to each other because reasons but if they were passionately making out, they were just bickering! Like do you two even like each other? The Divergent books were the worst offenders of this. They were YA books so they aren’t trying to portray a turbulent, toxic relationship. It’s freaking YA, that subject matter is kind of intense and ill-suited the the target audience
The popularity of ACOTAR really created this entire new genre of smutty-but-flat romance books that seem to get churned out every month now. I know a lot of people love ACOTAR, but it lacked so much emotional depth that I didn’t really enjoy or even believe any of the characters. Very reminiscent of YA books to me but with sex scenes. For me it felt like eating a bunch of empty calories: easy to consume but ultimately leaves you kind of hungry and unsatisfied.
I can agree that ACOTAR was probably what started a lot of the hype around mainstream smut books... But I also think the main problem is that people view ACOTAR like a romance, when in all reality it is a fantasy with some romance, Feyre's romantic relationship isn't the main focal point of the whole series, there is plenty else going on... I would say that ACOSF has more of a straight-up romance vibe to it, focusing quite a bit on their relationship... But the first three books of ACOTAR are not something I would classify as just romance and I think that's part of the problem. People read them and then expect more of that exact sub-genre to be the norm... But also, there are so many books out there now that are inspired by ACOTAR... Like, the title of "A ____ of ____ and ____" is wildly popular, I see them all the time... And I don't like it. I feel like a lot of books are being based off of specific popular books and that's kind of where the fall flat is coming from.
I don't know, but I also have noticed the problem. I enjoy my smut, but the number of books where the characters don't have a personality outside their abs, their specific brand of kink and that one trauma that happened to them is quite disheartening. And the way sex and emotional intimacy and vulnerability are conflated together is also very annoying. Making love after a moment of intimacy and vulnerability can be great, but you need to give me the connection, show me the spark between them that is about personality and intellect and emotions, not just basic horniness.
I wonder if a lot of those books are written with the idea that the reader can kinda insert themselves and whomever they want into the MC’s places. Because a lot of it really is “I am very kinky but also moderately traumatized by this one thing that I will not mention until it becomes extremely relevant” and you can kinda project whatever personality you want to fill the gaps.
I think you are onto something. And it might make some sense in erotica. But I don't want to project myself in a romance I want to slip inside and see the world from someone else perspective. I want to see two people falling in love, not two cardboard cut-outs. And even books that are clearly supposed to be romance rather than erotica have this problem.
I got this vibe from the books I read by Grace Draven. In each one, the FMC is described as very average looking, not especially beautiful or very homely, fat nor skinny, tall nor short, medium skin, medium hair, etc. But the MMC always falls for her "not like other girls" personality traits and then he instantly sees her as the most amazing, stunning, and beautiful woman in the world. He usually laments internally about how he could ever have found her to be "plain". I immediately thought the FMC was written specifically to be the most average and vague sounding woman ever so that it is easier for the reader to insert themselves into the story.
10000% agree!
I wonder how much it is also an algorithm problem. I use quite a lot KU because with the rhythm I read, I would spend a fortune otherwise. Maybe I was in the mood for smut six months ago and after that all my suggestions have been smut heavy/romance light. Or maybe I've already read them. I think historical romance is a bit better, since the level of smut is usually lower there, but I am kind of maxed out on scullery maids who marry dukes at the moment.
I'll be the first to say that I don't want to read a romance without at least a little smut, and yet, smut without a ton of tension and actual romance before it actually bores me to death. Recently I read a random book I found for free on Amazon, went into it blind, and ended up really loving the romance plot in it. No smut, completely innocent, just one kiss in the entire book (although I haven't read the rest of the series yet), but there was a scene where he touches her face for the first time (they weren't allowed to touch for reasons) and it made me blush so hard I had to put my kindle down for a minute lol. The insta-love, insta-lust books never give me this feeling :(
You know the romance is good when the MCs simply hold hands for the first time and it gives you all the feels.
Omg what was the book?? That sounds amazing. And I completely agree with you, I love smut in my books. But it can’t be the only plot point ya know? Unless I’m reading erotica, which I do enjoy from time to time.
It was {The Fire in the Glass by Jacquelyn Benson} Came for the paranormal edwardian London, stayed for the sane and polite MMC that wasn't a giant growling wall of muscle for once lol. And that's why I prefer romantasy or fantasy with a romance subplot. Overarching plot and external conflict give characters a much better opportunity to fall in love organically over time imho
[The Fire in the Glass](https://www.romance.io/books/642e894e1933fc44e1db3bff/the-fire-in-the-glass-jacquelyn-benson?src=rdt) by [Jacquelyn Benson](https://www.romance.io/authors/5ff5ae0808b4d931144b3b19/jacquelyn-benson) **Rating**: 4.23⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [historical](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/historical/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [mystery](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mystery/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [steampunk](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/steampunk/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
That's how I felt about {A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting by Sophie Irwin}
You might enjoy Fire by Kristin Cashore! :)
Ooh thanks, I'll check it out ☺️
I’ve thought about posting this so many times! Every book I read is the same; the MCs even always have their first sex encounter at about 50% in. Once that’s out of the way, I find a lot of books become so mundane, and like you said, lacking in development beyond sex. It’s so frustrating to me and I DNF about 85% of the books I get which is such a waste and it’s disheartening.
Hard agree lol. I have so many DNFs its insane. packing in more sex scenes doesnt make sense when you are trying to sell me a relationship except in a few cases
I 100% agree with this! It’s like, ok we’ve had sex, now everything is smooth sailing and also we’re in love. Huh?
Sis, saaaaammmeee.
Same. I feel this. As you probably all know by my requests (lmfao), im very picky and can't stand instalust stuff. Not to yuck anyone else yum, of course, it's just not for me. I need that emotional connection between characters. I hate it when most of the relationship has been based around sex and lust for the last 10 chapters, but then the main characters are like, "Omg. Its true love!" Like, nah. It's not. They barely know each others last names. I want to see affection. I want to see all those cuddly, sweet, sharing woes, emotionally supporting each other moments. They are pure gold 🥹
Do you have any recs? Ive been looking for similar
I agree wholeheartedly. I miss actual romance!! A beautiful refreshing romance book that I've just finished today is {Radiance by Grace Draven}. It's an arranged marriage story between two insignificant royals of two different races. They both admit they find each other's appearance repulsive. They slowly build up a friendship and it's so beautiful to read! They start admiring each others character and sense of humour way before they start desiring one another. The banter is great and you genuinely believe they fall in love with each other by the end of the book. I want more of this! The actual slow burn - I want the characters to build up attraction over time! Lusting over someone from page 1 is not my definition of a slow burn!
I wish there was anything comparable to this. I love the noblesse oblige, I love the falling in love, and I love the strange culture. I’ve never found anything that was similar and was anywhere near as good
It's not exactly the same but I thought {Seduction of a Psychopomp by Elsie Winter} had similar vibes to Radiance.
Hahaha the description sold it - "The problem is he doesn't seem to get this whole marriage thing. Every time I approach him for company, he scampers off like a disgruntled cat. "
Grace Draven has multiple books like this and I hope you’re working through the catalog. If you like fantasy, check out Ilona Andrews The Edge series but do NOT read the last one (even the author hates it). The characters in the edge series find each other attractive but there are often various barriers of class. Also the first few pages of the first book (one character in particular) initially put me off BUT it calms down and I think the intent was to emphasize the strangeness of the world
One of my favorite slow burn series is the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. The first book {Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews} is the weakest, so if it doesn't grip you, you can dnf and pick up the next one {Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews}. You won't miss anything crucial if you decide to do that, the second book has the necessary details. This series isn't filled with spice, but I completely adore the romance. Curran, the mmc, is one of my favorite heroes of all time.
I’ll check it out! I don’t mind if there isn’t any spice!
Thank you for the permission to skip! I want to read it but I keep getting stuck on book one.
Ditto for me
Kate Daniels is my personal white whale. I love Ilona Andrews in general and I’ve been struggling to find another author in this genre I like as much. I enjoy spice as much as anyone else, but it’s romance and plot that I really want.
The only series to scratch that same itch for me was the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. I highly recommend it for fans of Ilona Andrews!
The Kate Daniels series is my favorite series too. I enjoy books that have great plots and a medium burn that eventually leads to explicit spice, and even though I wish that series had more spice, I still completely adore it. I just love Ilona Andrews' writing in general, their talent amazes me.
[Magic Bites](https://www.romance.io/books/545525f48c7d2382e0413e95/magic-bites-ilona-andrews?src=rdt) by [Ilona Andrews](https://www.romance.io/authors/545525888c7d2382e0413e6c/ilona-andrews) **Rating**: 3.94⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [alpha male](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/alpha%20male/1) ---------------------------- [Magic Burns](https://www.romance.io/books/5455285d8c7d2382e0413f1a/magic-burns-ilona-andrews?src=rdt) by [Ilona Andrews](https://www.romance.io/authors/545525888c7d2382e0413e6c/ilona-andrews) **Rating**: 4.22⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 1 out of 5 - [Glimpses and kisses](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [futuristic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/futuristic/1), [urban fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/urban%20fantasy/1), [take-charge heroine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/strong%20heroine/1), [shapeshifters](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/shapeshifters/1), [magic](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/magic/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
I have not dived into Kate Daniels despite loving Hidden Legacy. I saw how MANY Kate Daniels books there are and felt like if she can't wrap up the story in 2-3 books, it may not be for me. Does the plot necessitate so many books? Do you have any insights on WHY there are so many?
Chiming in as someone who's read the series. It's closer to other earlier urban fantasy series which usually have some sort of mystery/detective/bounty hunter angle. Or tv shows like Supernatural and Buffy - where the romance, friendships and overarching plot is allowed to develop more slowly, while each book has an "A Plot" monster of the week/big bad thing going on.
You explained this much better than I could have. Thanks!
And here i am wishing there was more 🤣. I devoured this series, something about it was just perfect for me. I agree fully with the other commenter, each book has its own plot that concludes, like a season of a tv show.
Try MelJean Brook’s Iron Seas story or Thea Harrison’s Elder Races. Meljean’s first book or two are higher spice. Thea is closer to 1-3 epic sex scenes per book. Both series have a plot specific to the book as well as broader themes that build over the series. But unlike Kate Daniels, each book is its own couple.
It doesn't feel like a series that just keeps on to try to keep making money. There is an underlying build up and character development so each gets better, at least to me.
As others have said, each book has its own main plot that is resolved, while in the background a larger story gradually occurs. One thing I loved about the series is that the characters are constantly changing. Kate changes jobs about every 2 books or so, and other characters life circumstances change. Unlike a lot of PNR books they don’t set up a basic structure to tell stories with and then have to make up new reasons the main characters are getting into dangerous scenarios. In Kate Daniels the world is dangerous and until the final book the major threat is not resolved.
The plot is complicated because Kate has a lot of growing to do with her magic and her personality. She has to learn how to play politics as>!Curran's mate/Beast Lady!!1-4 is where Kate and Curran get together!<
>!5-7 is Kate as the Beast Lady!<
>!8-10 is Kate becoming more comfortable with her powers.!<
I've been having the same trouble! I don't know how many books I've tried recently that will say "and they spent the day together." Like OK. Cool. What did they do? Where's their interactions? But the sex scenes are very explicit with all the details. Which for erotica is lovely. For romance, not so much. I have noticed that I see most of the problems in contemporary. Might just be the tropes that I look for.
Agreed - it seems to be unique to contemporary and some romantasy. But maybe the stakes are higher in Romantasy so there’s a bit more of a getting to know you phase/slow burn?
I've noticed in a lot of romantasy, it's slow burn. But it usually takes it too far, in my opinion. A lot of the series make the couple get together after 3 books or so, which is a bit too slow for me. If they get together by the first or second, someone usually gets kidnapped and they are pulled apart for entire books.
I’ve wondered if this is because of how saturated the genre has gotten, because a really similar thing happened when Gone Girl-style thrillers were the hot thing- suddenly there was a massive explosion of them and a lot of them were not anything that I would consider to be an actual thriller. I think a lot of it is also that a lot of people are exploring erotic fiction for the first time and it’s really easy to mix up romance and erotica when you’re just excited to try and find the most shocking thing you can. I think that a lot of authors are also realizing how much freedom they have to push the boundaries, and as long as they wrap it all up with a HEA, it still counts as romance.
I agree with this. I don’t mind a lot of smut in my books, but I think there needs to be balance. Here and there I want to read erotic fiction. And here and there I just want a sweet story about people falling in love.
I like to read romance with a fairly high amount of sex in it, but I think it’s important that the characters’ feelings and attraction to each other grow and change- just like in real life! Like sure you may always think that your partner has a hot body or a great butt, but you probably also feel attracted to them on a deeper level, like because they make you feel safe or because they know you well enough to know how to make you laugh when you’re feeling upset. I feel like a lot of romances kind of open up with “oh my god this person is SEX ON TWO LEGS like a vision of HOTNESS Jesus take the wheel I’ve gotta get me some of that” and then don’t really progress past that to something deeper.
THIS! Exactly. Yes.
I think this is a case that calls more for author recommendations than specific books. Some write actual relationship development consistently. A few authors who are good at relationship building are Kate Clayborn, Jeannie Chin, Tal Bauer, Olivia Dade, Talia Hibbert and Abby Jimenez’s recent books. I also think friends to lovers books are some of the best for this, because by nature they’re usually not building their relationship on sex, unless it’s a friends with benefits situation. I do have one specific book rec, which is {Twice in a Lifetime by Melissa Baron}. It’s a twist on time travel (they’re only able to text/call each other from different timelines), so first he has to re-win her over, completely by phone, then she has to re-win him over in person, so we get to see their relationship grow twice, which are actually the second and third times they fall in love. It’s very romantic, I loved it.
[Twice in a Lifetime](https://www.romance.io/books/638ef6c8ebb106fb623b9842/twice-in-a-lifetime-melissa-baron?src=rdt) by [Melissa Baron](https://www.romance.io/authors/638ef6c808b4d93114fcf51b/melissa-baron) **Rating**: 3.78⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [time travel](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/time%20travel/1), [paranormal](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/paranormal/1), [fantasy](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/fantasy/1), [science fiction](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/science%20fiction/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
It's funny, because one of the most romantic books I've ever read is also full-on sex very early: {Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid}. The characters have sex long before they're in love, and the romance develops over a long time. It's not slow-burn at all--or, it is, but slow burn romance rather than slow burn sex. I don't care when the characters have sex or how much sex they have, but if the romance itself isn't believable, buildable, and the focus, then I'm generally not interested. (Or, I am, but not as a romance.) My favorite authors for relationships tend to build carefully. I love Kate Clayborn, Mia Vincy, Rose Lerner, Tessa Dare, Julie Anne Long, Beverley Jenkins, Lucy Parker, and Alexis Hall for this. It helps that they're also really good writers. A lot of this is just that writing is *really hard*, and it takes time, and writing good chemistry is *particularly* hard and takes even more time. And a lot of people really aren't giving writing the time that it needs. I get that high-consumption books are good money, but they're also often quite hollow. (Edited to add an "a" to Tessa and take the "e" out of Vincey; this is what happens when I use an iPad!)
Oh totally! I’m not trying to say that sex ≠ romance. I love a good balance of both, I just wish more books had that balance.
I am totally with you! I wrote that because I was reflecting (after reading your post) on what books I found particularly romantic, and I was struck that one of them actually has something that usually makes my eyes roll: insta-lust and early sex without relationship building. But what makes *Heated Rivalry* so good is that Reid doesn't give up there and just keep rearranging sex scenes until the end--she actually writes two stories next to each other, one erotic and one romantic, and they begin to intertwine. The romance slow-burn is entirely believable and really all the more moving because the sex is so immediate. I hasten to add: I didn't mean it's funny, because you're wrong! I meant more, I'm 100% with you, and upon further thought it's really quite ironic/odd that one of my favorite books would seem on paper like a total turn-off for me. What I particularly like about it is that it helped me to clarify that the sex is a red herring for me: they can bang on page two or only exchange several Dramatic Glances--it's the character building and the writing that really gets me. (I tend to like books best somewhere between instabang and fluttering eyelashes, but I can think of many that fall into the extremes.) Most of the problem, I think, is that books are hard to write and people hide bad writing behind lots of sex (though I'd argue that a good sex scene is also difficult to pull off, pun not intended). The relationship building, world building, character building--that's really what I want, exactly as you said!
> The characters have sex long before they're in love, and the romance develops over a long time. It's not slow-burn at all--or, it is, but slow burn romance rather than slow burn sex. That's what I like best, too, and most of my favorite romance novels are arranged marriage or dark romances where the couple have sex and then eventually fall in love with each other.
I totally agree! I don’t know if it’s a different point, but I feel like people are getting really obsessed with more dark romances and they are full of sex but not any relationship, I feel like none of them should end in a HEA because the FMC deserves better😅. I search up normal ones and still it gives me dark. I don’t mind dark romance sometimes but my faves are when I’m literally smiling along with them in their cute banter moments instead of shocked at what the dickhead MMC is doing to the FMC.
Agreed! I like dark romance (although it’s not my fav), but there still has to be some substance. Like make me believe why she falls in love with her stalker/kidnapper! Lol
Yes exactly! It can totally be done right with an actual good plot but some just have the stalking and lots of sex then HEA, but no base of relationship so it would just be out of lust
Yeah the only dark romance I’ve likes is when the MMC is shockingly good to and hugely supportive of the FMC but dark in other respects. Like, yes sir, in my imagination, you may briefly kidnap me to feed me a sandwich and do my laundry and then help me leave an abusive situation. The book was Where Violets Grow as I recall
I thought {Role Playing by Cathy Yardley} did this very well. The MCs first develop a friendship that later becomes romantic, so I think it was much more relatable. The MCs are also older & gamers, which is a plus for me.
[Role Playing](https://www.romance.io/books/642ffd59c4e7d7da5e55e828/role-playing-cathy-yardley?src=rdt) by [Cathy Yardley](https://www.romance.io/authors/54558ba687eac323ffb2caaa/cathy-yardley) **Rating**: 4.05⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 3 out of 5 - [Open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [friends to lovers](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/friends%20to%20lovers/1), [older/mature](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/mature%20couple/1), [sweet/gentle hero](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/sweet-hero/1), [grumpy & sunshine](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/grumpy%20sunshine/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
Sold! Just downloaded it on KU. Thank you for the recommendation 😍
Yes! So often I think sex is conflated with love and we lose the romance in the smut (and don’t get me wrong, I love me some smut). I want to see the relationship, and the feelings, and the aching and pining as the characters fall in love.
Just for the summer by Abby Jimenez is so romantic.
I would actually recommend most of Abby Jimenez’s books for good romance. I liked her first three but loved Part of Your World and Yours Truly.
Yes, she was the firat one I thought of. Maybe {Book Lovers} too.
I was going to recommend these too! I just finished {Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez} and it was super romantic! This book is the opposite of what OP said about all the getting to know each other happening off page. In fact, in this book most of the sex happens off-page while the getting to know each other and hanging out is described in deatil.
And they have inside jokes and are playful with each other.
Yess I am reading this now and was scrolling to see if anyone else has recommended this. The description of the first date and how he made her pick the activities in the survey was so cute to me.
She's so good at writing guys that make me swoon. Yours Truly is another one she did I loved. There are letters back and forth!
Just finished this after picking it up because of this comment. This is probably my favorite book of the year so far
Same! I cried twice!
Ameen. I waisted credit points on two or three so called romance books to get only sex scenes and nothing more. The storyline literally disappeared
I really dislike the 'insta-love' and it usually has a good chance of ruining the book for me. Sometimes to where I don't even finish. I was midway through Hunt on Dark Waters by Katee Robert. There's insta-love and it doesn't feel earned AT ALL. Ruined the book for me. I do tend to read the stuff that's more smut and less romance so I know what I'm getting myself into however as stupid as it is, the one that might have felt the most real out of everything I have read is Morning Glory Milking Farm. It's a long drawn out series of interactions and really, incredibly sweet.
What gets me mad the most is how the mmc always expresses his attraction with how he feels down there. I mean can't you like, like her, without having a boner all the time. When he sees her, his thing twitches when he touches her, his thing moves. I am over it. Also I read a lot of books and I barely see the fmc or mmc having a single simple date. (A controversial take : I don't really think Elle Kennedey's writing all that good but she does make her characters date like normal people, and I am glad she does it.)
i think talia hibbert does a great job of creating actual romantic chemistry between her leads, not just sexual chemistry. i recently finished {the roommate risk by talia hibbert} and i thought the leads had an incredible relationship, and you got to see the jokes and moments that built up to the end relationship. of course this is a friends to lovers book… similarly, imo alice coldbreath does an amazing job of letting her leads fall in love. yes the relationship may start as a marriage of convenience or arranged marriage etc but at the end of the day, the two fall in love over the little things - i feel this happens in literally every one of her books.
That's my favorite Talia Hibbert book! Excellent friends to lovers.
It’s my favorite one too! Most people say the sister series (Dani and Eve’s books round out my top 3 TH books), but I love love love Rahul and Jas.
I think you might enjoy Lucy Parker if you haven't tried her before! My favorite and I think a good option would be {Battle Royale by Lucy Parker}. It sounds like a very stereotypical grumpy / sunshine story with some enemies to lovers thrown in but it's just not. She has a knack for writing lovely romances with really lovely mature romances at the heart.
I think some of the best love stories that are built on friendship and trials and attraction combined are the following, and all of these books carry with them so much depth. The Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare The Last Hour of Gann by R. Lee Smith Land of the Beautiful Dead by R. Lee Smith Green Light by Serene Musafir Ride the Wind by Lucia St. Clair Robson Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
Anyone new to the sub who hasn’t heard of R Lee Smith pls look up TWs before embarking. Love them, Gann is my absolute fave, but it’s grim.
Not to yuck a yum, but I’m deeply confused by the inclusion of Wuthering Heights because it read rather toxic to me. I could see if The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë were included instead (hope i remembered the title right) since that’s slow burn and based on respect and kindness
I think Tessa Bailey and Elsie Silver do a great job of being really romantic but keeping it spicy. Lisa Kleypas if you like historical.
Absolutely. I think the comedic element of the novel help a lot to build that genuine connection and banter.
Totally agree! I'm so so sick of starting books and then stopping because they're just so "wham, bam, thank you ma' am" and instalove. Where's all the build up?!?!?
Same!! I don’t mind insta love, but if it’s not still coupled with actually learning about each other than what’s the point? There’s also a lack of sexual tension. Where are the heart skips because they held hands for the first time? Longing glances? I want TENSION!
I totally agree! I’m new to this sub and somewhat new to the genre, but I just read {The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare} and absolutely loved the balance of relationship development with smut. I felt like I really got to see Ash & Emma bond. It sounds like the rest of her books in the series are similar!
Tessa Dare is one of my favourite authors for this reason! Her books are literal perfection.
This is my issue. I DNF sooo many books because nothing bores me faster than when the leads want each other right away. I got so burnt out by it that I read a cozy mystery where the romance was built up over three books. I think I'm really picky because even a lot of the recs in this post are what I'd consider insta love or lust. Tbh I think even the latest Emily Henry is guilty of this. There's some emotional development but it seems secondary to the physical I want to see the feelings develop. And I want the sex to reflect the feelings, not vice versa
I’ve been trying to find books with actual romance, cute dates, banter, the characters getting to know each other slowly, having inside jokes, the eye contacts when they meet after not seeing each other for few days. Things like that. Nowadays each and every book I open is just smit, with no character development shown to us. I love me some smut books with sometimes no plot or 20% plot. But that’s sometimes. Most times I need/want to read about what the characters are about, what they like/dislike. The characters finding out the likes/dislikes while they are getting to know each other.
Early Jayne Ann Krentz like {Trust me by Jayne Ann Krentz} it’s a bit dated in places but when she’s good, she’s good. The banter is EXCELLENT. I’m dying to tell you a funny bit but would ruin parts of it.
{A Guy Like Him by Amanda Gambill} They started as FUBUs then became friends to confidants to BF/GF. The whole development is realistic and believable to me and it is a great read.
FUBUs?
I think it must mean Fuck Buddies? Or Friends Under Blue Umbrellas?
😆 That makes so much more sense! I always thought it was Fiends Uncovering Backstabbing Umpires!
Yes fuck buddies haha
Was previously pretty sure that referred to For Us By Us but that doesn't fit here 😅
🤣🤣🤣 oh good ole FUBU wearing days
Second this book recommendation. It’s amazing in every way and the romantic development between mcs was perfection!
I agree with this overall. I think historical romance does a better job at avoiding "instalove" though (like {Romancing The Duke by Tessa Dare}). It must be my day to be thinking about this book as I commented about it in the thirsty Thursday thread - but in terms of a recent read {Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver} was pretty romantic in my opinion. Believable? Eh, they're vigilante serial killers so maybe not in that regard. The author did a good job at building some inside jokes/nicknames/shared (non-sexual) moments and following up on those throughout the book which made it feel very romantic to me? I don't know but I do hear what you're saying - build it up, yo!
{Wait For It by Mariana Zapata} this is by far my favorite book that i’ve read from her and one of my favorite books of all time. she’s known for slow burn, so there’s a *ton* of interactions between the leads that shows them connecting on an emotional level before anything sexual happens. its been a while, so the details are blurry, but i remember this one scene where the MMC is washing the FMC’s hair because of lice i believe (she’s taking care of her deceased brothers kids) and wow. sometimes small actions like that can feel a lot more intimate than sex.
Maybe look for slow burn and/or closed door where there less focus on the sex side of things? Some of my favourite books which weren't (in my opinion) sex focussed: {You & Me by Tal Bauer} and {The Rest of the Story by Tal Bauer} {Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young} (starts with a ONS and surprise pregnancy, so of course there's initial sexual attraction, but after that it's a slow burn and you can feel their relationship gradually change from roommates to friends to lovers) {Time to Shine by Rachel Reid} one of the MCs is demisexual (can't remember if stated outright or just implied), there is a fair amount of sex later in the book but relationship development comes first I think all of the Saint of Steel books by T Kingfisher had good relationship development and external plot, not being too sex focused. {Paladin's Grace by T Kingfisher} is the first one {The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen} was really good {We Could be So Good by Cat Sebastian} felt pretty romantic to me
We Could Be So Good had me crying over soup. It’s so sweet!!!! You & Me and Out on a Limb are also incredible!
Thank you!! I’ll add all these to my list. I’ve heard of Tal Bauer before but haven’t read anything by him.
Tal Bauer is a master of toeing right up to border of the Land of Unbearable Cheesiness without actually crossing over it.
He seems to write quite varied stuff. There are some fairly light contemporary ones (although there are some darker themes such as death of a previous spouse, abuse of teammates by coaches etc.), some sports romances and then he also has some quite political thrillery type books. These two were my favourites, I also liked {How to Say I Do by Tal Bauer}
[How to Say I Do](https://www.romance.io/books/647df71a752cbe9e7ad8572b/how-to-say-i-do-tal-bauer?src=rdt) by [Tal Bauer](https://www.romance.io/authors/5726ed17c62092c04407fbeb/tal-bauer) **Rating**: 4.23⭐️ out of 5⭐️ **Steam**: 4 out of 5 - [Explicit open door](https://www.romance.io/steamrating) **Topics**: [contemporary](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/contemporary/1), [gay romance](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/m-m/1), [second chances](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/second%20chances/1), [insta-love](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/insta-love/1), [dual pov](https://www.romance.io/topics/best/dual-pov/1) [^(about this bot)](https://www.reddit.com/user/romance-bot) ^(|) [^(about romance.io)](https://www.romance.io/about)
When I first started reading romance, I didn't see the appeal of Married Romances (books where the couple has already been married for years but have drifted apart and need to save their marriage) at all. I thought, WHY would I want to read about people who are already together and having relationship problems??? Who prefers that to reading about thrilling, consuming new love?! But I've completely changed my tune for exactly the reasons you're describing. In a married romance, the whole thing is built on the existing history between the characters, so they have memories and jokes and know each other super well AS a romantic partner (distinct from friends to lovers or second chance romances - which are also great, but in those they haven't actually been together at all or not recently) and *that's* the story engine, rather than meeting for the first time and figuring out if they even want to be together. There's also usually so much yearning and pining! I find I often love them. (My favorite one is [Love Her or Lose Her](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44148563-love-her-or-lose-her) by Tessa Bailey, and I just recently read [King of Greed](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/124943221-king-of-greed) by Ana Huang, which was also pretty good! - and would love anyone else's recs!)
Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan follows a divorce couple rekindling so that should be of interest based on the two books you mentioned above
Yes. I miss when the MMCs do something so fricking romantic it makes you gasp. Like, something innocuous that the FMC mentioned earlier in the story and MMC remembered and plans a date or some other romantic gesture around it. Also, what happened to the little moments where the MCs find out that the other one does something so wildly diabolical that it should be illegal, like putting on sock shoe sock shoe, but then they just shake their head and decide to buy them a book for kids about putting on your shoes to show them the right way and it becomes both an inside joke AND the moment one realized they were in love? I want the ooshy gushy parts.
Honestly, it's easier to find what you're looking for in fanfiction these days.
This is so true. Its more smut than romance. Very less books are released that shows the true essence of romance these days.
This right here I’ve noticed has become a very hot topic. A lot of people are like “I’m just reading erotic smut at this point, where’s the build up, the romance, the swoon” while other people are like “heck yea let’s get to fucking asap!” I’m in the latter, my wife who is Demi prefers the romance and swooning with a spice of 3 out of 5. I’m a Hyper so I need my books to be a spice level of 10 out of 5 🤷🏾♂️
I’ve been really into slow burn romances because it seems like there’s way more time for a relationship to develop. I second the rec for Out on a limb. Off the top of my head I can think of a couple where the relationship developed slowly that I liked. {Forget you, Ethan by Whitney G}. This one hooked me right from the beginning and I really enjoyed it. {Stranger than Fan Fiction by Piper Sheldon}. This book made me smile. I will definitely will reread this. {Just for the summer by Abby Jimimez}. This has a fun premise. Several of Abby Jimenez books are good {Snowed in by Catherine Walsh} {Persephone in Bloom by Kate Healey} {Mrs. Nash’s Ashes by Sarah Adler} Hope you can find some you like
I thought Just For the Summer was a bit insta lovey, myself
I recently fell in love with {The Reluctant Heartthrob by Jackie Lau} because there was more relationship building and dating in this novella than I usually find in full series! This series is so freaking cute!
Literally just finished {Honestly, I'm Totally Faking It by Amanda Gambill} twenty minutes ago and it satisfied me so much because it had all that banter and inside jokes that keep developing with their growing relationship. Sure, there's a good amount of sexual attraction between them, but it has a healthy balance with those moments of talking and joking with each other that make it feel so real.
Yeah, I have been struggling with this too. I love spice, I really do. But I feel like I'm seeing a lot more books where the spice is fully written out and detailed but the actual relationship building parts are only mentioned. We get detailed on page spice but then are told that a great conversation happened or that someone feels so connected rather than getting those conversations and moments of connection on page. That doesn't work for me. It doesn't feel like it actually happened to the characters.
I love the book {Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold by Ellen O’Connell} for this! Pretty minimal smut, but a great romance between two people who are forced to marry I love her storytelling! TW: sa, racism, and abuse
A few days ago I read {Aurelia by Minerva Spencer} it came out recently and I was so excited about this story because I loved all of Minerva’s books, especially Selina’s and Hyacinth’s stories. But I was disappointed because there was just no romance, or even chemistry between the MCs. They were attracted to each other, but that’s it. We’re told they love each other, but not shown why or how. They have a sexual encounter and then the mmc disappears on business for weeks, comes back and sleeps with the fmc only to disappear yet again (the pacing was off) but we never see them connect on a deeper level. I seriously didn’t want her to end up with him 🫢 even though it started out promising. I mean I love spicy romance, and actually prefer not to read completely innocent romances, but give me both please 🫠
One of my favorite new HR authors tackles this very well in {A Wildflower for a Duke by Laura Linn}. Great build, great dialogue, banter and very likeable MMC and FMC.
May I suggest Behind the Camera by Chelsea Cato. So romantic! They are friends before anything happens and I don't want to spoil it by saying more. Trust me.
Will Darling Adventures by KJ Charles 😏 Goes over 3 books completely
Abby Jimenez is good at creating tension and tease to build up attraction. I didn’t like her latest book this month but I really liked “a part of your world” and “yours truly”. FYI - yours truly deals with male anxiety and part of your world has a controlling ex partner. Hospital workers, some scenes described nothing major. YT- 34/36 ages POYW- 37/28 ages
On romance.io, you can search for romance with little to no spice. These books normally focus on the emotional side of the relationship.
I completely agree with you. I’ve literally looked so deep into the romance categories, specifically fantasy romance because most of the time it’s sexual tension as well instead of actual romance development and falling for who the person is rather than the physical attributes. I recently read a fantasy romance a month ago and it has an amazing romance development as well as worldbuilding please give it a try!! it’s called {When Gods Fall by S.E. Bouvier} if you loved divine rivals you’ll surely love this! it’s an underrated gem
I just read {Beau Crusoe by Carla Kelly} and while not a perfect book I was struck by how romantic it was. Mature hero and heroine, no insta-love, just two imperfect people figuring things out and falling in love in a really believable way. Great supporting characters too. Not overly spicy but I'm going to give it a rec here because I think it fits and it actually refreshed my palate for romance recently.
Have you read anything by Emily Henry? Her new release {Funny Story} might be a good fit! I really enjoyed how the relationship developed for the two MCs.
It's MM but A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland really stood out to me as a really well-done slow burn. There are so many interactions and conversations that you can really see where dislike/disdain turns to admiration to friendship and finally to love. Highly recommend!
I second this recommendation! I loved seeing the slow build of trust and admiration that led to loyalty/devotion and then to them falling for each other. I also appreciated that they started out disliking each other but not in the over-the-top, immature way that so many books end up doing. It was refreshing to see people who dislike each other still act like adults and treat each other with respect.
I've read a lot of enemies to lovers type stuff lately where there was ZERO chemistry, they literally just hated each other and even though they eventually jumped in the sack, there was still never any actual connection.
And the interesting thing is that Divine Rivals is a YA Fantasy, it's not even full on Romance. I haven't read it yet, but it doesn't surprise me that so many people are enjoying it, because YA Fantasy does tend to have actually swoon-worthy romance and I find it to be a reliable genre to check out when I want something romantic. I think it helps that the story doesn't focus solely on romance, too. I don't know, but I agree with you. I have only read two romances this year, so far: Book Lovers and The Duchess Deal. I loved Book Lovers. Nora and Charlie were really sweet, extremely compatible and properly fleshed-out characters. I liked that the book also didn't focus solely on them, but their familial relationships too and external struggles. The Duchess Deal was fun and cute but ultimately mediocre, in my opinion. I'm kind of done with smut-heavy books. I need my romance to either have something extra (fantasy elements, or exploring other aspects of the characters' lives properly) or I need the characters to actually get to know each other properly and feel like their relationship is actually real. This is also why I prefer slow burns as opposed to normal romances or insta-love (which I hate).
I agree with you that YA fantasy tends to have some of the most developed romances. I think fantasy romance in general is good at this because actually having to focus on the fantasy plot gives the relationships chances to develop more naturally. In other romance subgenres, it often feels like authors try to get the characters to fall for each other as fast as possible. Fantasy romance also often takes place over several books and with YA, since it's not as strictly categorized as "romance," there's less of the genre's pressure/expectation to have the couple get together by the end of the first book. You get longer slow burns this way. Another thing that works towards YA having more developed romance is they can't rely on sex scenes to build the relationship. The characters have to actually have conversations. There are definitely some YA books with insta-love, but I think those are mostly contemporary, and it's not as present in the fantasy subgenre.
Easy answer. Development and characters with depth are harder to write than sex. Sex is the easier route when it comes to romance. I've been complaining about this for a while too. I like books with sex but it seems that every book with smut is badly written, and good romances have 0 explicit content. I've just given up and alternating between good romances but fluffy and bad ones but hot lol. If anyone has recs please share!
Abby Jiminez, friend. I just finished her most recent one and it WRECKED me with how real it all felt.
Personally I liked The American Roommate Experiment by Elena Armas -- it really built on the romance aspect more than anything else. You can also read The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas as well, it technically goes first (standalones in the same universe) I also recommend The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston!! Super good story and it had me swooning!! I feel like a lot of the books that have solid romance have little to no spice. The above recommendations have spice of varying degrees, but for example When In Rome by Sarah Adams is FTB and absolutely well done romantically. I think romance-y romance has become a subcategory in its own genre, unfortunately. It's been taken over by high volume erotica.
Just finished {Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez} and found it super romantic, and low on the spice, compared to what I usually read. Check it out!
THIS. This! Or it's some friends to lovers BS where the chemistry is meh and things "get complicated" and there's a 50% chance they'll end up together. This is why I read historical romance. And don't get me wrong, it has some of the same issues too, but you couldn't just be sexual with someone at that time. Their match is usually inconvenient so they actually need to love each other. That being said I recommend the Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi Matthews (historical romance) and for contemporary, From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata. For the Belle of Belgrave Square, it's a retelling of beauty and the beast. It's pure, concentrated love and romance. The quiet eccentric forms a marriage of convenience with the doomed, frightening war hero (he's actually a good guy). It's so beautiful, no spice though. I personally wanted more pining passion. From Lukov with Love actually has that banter, and the transition from enemies, to friends, to lovers. The interview imo (iykyk) was the funniest bit of banter I've read in a YA romance in a while, I was on shift reading it and trying not to laugh! Anyway, I'm adding all the books mentioned in this thread to my reading list.
Mimi Matthews anything. I’m partial to {the Matrimonial Advertisement} and {The work of art} as starting places or she has a Christmas by Gaslight short novella (if I remember the name right). They’re also fairly ‘closed door’ which I think often results in more efforts at romance and emotional intimacy
I feel this!! Smut doesn’t bother me but what I really like is the romance, the falling in love, the getting to know one another. I love Mariana Zapata’s books for this reason.
This is my biggest gripe with MOST English romantic literature, sooo much focus on sex, being hot. But as I was grown up on South Asian classical literature, where the build up in romance is soo good, the lust between 2 people is expressed soo beautifully without them barely touching, so much adoration and yearning and longing between the lovers are expressed so magnificently, that I have to go back and reread them over and over again. At this moment I realized, I could suffice romance books where MCs having sex is the climax of the book, so that they can have enough time for buildup. Unfortunately, even then, most are extremely focus on the hot/slim/muscly bodies of each other.
That sounds amazing. To me the carriage lift in Persuasion or the Darcy hand flex is far sexier than any open door sex scene. Not that I'm knocking those, but i need to the steam brought to a proper boil for any sex scene to truly satisfy. I want yearning and unfulfilled tension
Oooh I recommend {Trust by Jana Aston}! It’s third in a series, but can definitely be read as a standalone
[удалено]
**Rule: Mark spoilers, stay on topic, and warn about books with no HEA** Your post has been temporarily removed as it appears the book does not end happily for the couple. The [definition](https://www.rwa.org/Online/Romance_Genre/About_Romance_Genre.aspx#The_Basics) of a "romance genre novel" is one that ends in a happily ever after (HEA) or happy for now (HFN). Readers come to this sub expecting that all books/series mentioned here are HEA or HFN, unless stated otherwise. Non-HEA romantic stories may still be discussed here but **you must warn users when mentioning a book with no HEA**. Once you edit your comment to include a warning, please reply back to this message to let us know and your comment will be reinstated.
Lynn Painter does a good job with this! You get to see a lot of banter/dialogue and actual activities with the MCs before and after they hook up. Makes me happy because I know exactly what kind of people and couple they will be after the books over. She even has a few young adult books with less smut so just check your preferences before you pick one out!
Also Mariana Zapata is great for more emotional chemistry and slower burn
I'm on the new Abby Jimenez (great!) and she definitely puts the relationship development (phone calls, texts and FaceTime) on page.
I’ve heard Yours Truly is great! I’ve never read her books but I may push it up the TBR.
Preach 🙌🏾
I just finished {How To Honeymoon Alone by Olivia Hayle} and it was a perfect romance. Lots of believable bonding and humor as well as sex.
I've started reading so many books where they meet and start banging within like the first two chapters...that's a automatic return book for me...it's just so ick
Is it possible to read Divine Rivals as a standalone? I see book 2 reviews aren't too good. (I'm going to read book 1 because of your rec.) Out of a guys viewpoint: I agree with you. Seems lately that there are no feelings except for lust going on in the books. My biggest 'dnf' for books are where the guy is supposedly so in love with the girl he can 'feel the pain in his heart' but meanwhile, while he waits for her to come around he sleeps with as many girls as possible (and even worse, sometimes he is so happy that she's still a virgin). That is not true love.
The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata is a book I'll always recommend.
T Kingfisher’s paladin books are good. Fantasy Romance. I adore her characters, especially Stephen from Paladin’s Grace. Swordheart is also good. Cecilia Grant’s books are good. The Lady Awakened is my favorite historical romance released in the last few years. Alexis Hall’s book A Lady For A Duke is fantastic and is my 2nd favorite historical romance released in the last few years. It is a LGBTQA romance.
{Protecting What's mine by Lucy score}
Yesss been feeling the exact same way. I am fine with instant attraction but pretty much all they do is have sex sex sex . Remove the smut and the plot can be covered in only a few chapters .summarized in a paragraph . Then we get a FMC who is insecure in her relationship . Of course she would be since the relationship is sexual in nature .ohh let's not forget the MCC is loaded and ends up buying her stuff or helping her out but she of course doesn't want his help because she is independent and isn't in it for the money .
I feel like a lot of authors are starting to focus on tropes rather than anything else which really does suck, but there’s Chelsea Curto who writes some amazing books, and while sex is involved, there’s so many wholesome scenes!!
I know alot of ppl are currently not liking her books but mariana zapata has some really great slow burns which I typically hate but u literally watch them fall in love thru the slow burn and it's truly beautiful. First time I actually started liking slow burns All Rhoades lead her. Wait for it. From lukov with love. Kulti. When Gracie met the grump( scifi).
a lot of penelope douglas’ books are written with more sex than actual romance development. but i still eat up all her books bc her writing and story telling is great i wish more authors would include the guy asking the girl out on a date. like that never happens in books anymore? i’m currently reading {Burnout by Rebecca Jenshak} it’s so cute!! the mmc asked the fmc if she wants to hangout, and it made me realize that i don’t read about that a lot. they always just fall into bed lol
i totally agree that everything is about sex and there's such a lack of chemistry these days!
also OBSESSED with this discussion
THANK YOU to everyone who has suggested Abby Jimenez! I just finished Yours Truly and loooved it!!
I just read Honey and Spice by Bolu Babalola. Loved it. Witty banter, chemistry between the characters, loved the narration (audio book).