Oh WOW!! I love this question… and we’re always weighing the pros and cons of the latest and greatest reads. Some really connect with us and we’re trying to figure out what it is about the ones that we love, that make us love them so hard.
While we all have different books tastes, or book “catnip” (books with a subject that we just can’t resist), and maybe even just different moods, it’s always fun to pin down exactly what we want. What we’re looking for, or what we’ve realized about the books that we just… LOVE.
bev started us off!
“Ok, so I know everyone is off reading or hiding or reading and hiding but curious. I have seen post about what trends, sub genre etc people want to see in romance this yr.
For myself, as we talked about, different eras in historical.
More true blue collar h & h.
More mature characters in NA.
More slow burn.What about you?”
That’s easy for me!! For awhile, what I wanted was obviously “bad boys and rock stars” which is what got me hooked on NA and contemporary romance. I loved the social rebel that didn’t have the “look” that was perfect for our parents, our families, our employers. And usually those guys… had that unattainable feel, so to finally break through their barriers and have them love us as much as we loved them (no matter the personal price of such a connection)? Priceless. I LOVED that! Having read a few traditional, dare I say… formulaic contemporary romance novels, bad-boy and even “bad guy” characters, like vampires and other paranormals gave me that jolt of adrenaline. That touch of forbidden. The ultimate thrill.
But even some of the paranormals ended up having that “formulaic”feel to ’em, when it seemed to be the only thing everyone was reading. Suddenly these “bad guys” became perfect heroes in their paranormal mold. Disguised as bad (via the author’s descriptions), or unacceptable (for book-thrill and genre purposes), but so obviously… not.
I didn’t want the good guy, or the perfect guy. I didn’t want a knight in shining armor. I wanted a REAL guy. Someone that had his own set of life issues, “damages” and social struggles and scars inflicted on him from a dark past. Maybe even not so “dark”… but the things real people struggle with, that I could relate to (or suffer through it, with him). I wanted him to be a protector, a good guy in his own right (maybe even if he is a bad guy in everyone else’s eyes) sure, but i didn’t want him to be “the perfect man” because while I read for escape, I escape best, when I can believe it. When I can live it. When I can truly feel it.
Mostly? I wanted something out of the ordinary. Either someone out of the ordinary, or a love story that was out of the ordinary. Unconventional. And that STILL does it for me. I want struggle. I want real. I want an intense love that simply starts off as a connection (maybe even starts off as hate) that can overcome all of the turmoil and trauma. Eventually soothing and healing the very characters that never thought they could feel this kind of peace again. I want love, but I want the struggle before we get the peace. Because most everyone in real life? True love and peace doesn’t come easy. We have to work for it… but even better? We have to WANT to work for it. THAT is the payoff.
Other things I still look for? A thrill. An adrenaline rush. A socially unacceptable love story that defies all logic and all reason. Falling in love with someone that should be completely off limits. A priest, a teacher, or… well. You get the picture (we’ve read and loved a bunch of ’em already). An unpredictable plot… and maybe even the lack of an HEA. Clever and ingenious twists and turns that make us gasp in delight or outrage but that make sense (no matter how outrageous). That don’t feel in the least bit contrived. A book that manipulates itself… not the reader.
And most of all? I still prefer only ONE POV (at least for the book I’m reading). Especially hers, because it allows me to become her, and stress (or delight) over misperceptions, just like she is. P.S. I’m plenty happy to get the “other’s” POV in his own book… just let me live like her for awhile, before I “know” I didn’t have to worry through all of those times I totally thought he was being an ass. LOL!!!
Right now, my secret thrills include psych thrillers (best with a love story – even if it’s not a “romance”) and risqué love stories. Stuff that makes us cringe and makes us hope we never have to go through any of that in real life, but that we delight in the book-version nonetheless. 😛 You’ll get to see a ton of the best, right here: Maryse’s Ultimate List of Book Lists!
Well, that’s it for me. I’m still totally into the guilty pleasures… I just like ’em guiltier than most. 😉
Now let’s see what out fellow readers want…
Tessa: I think all books starting blending as a type. That’s where the really good ones stand out. Or, in my case, I was too young to buy a lot so I read them way too many times. *grins* I have Something Wonderful practically memorized!
You know, I rarely find a good recent past one, unless it’s paranormal. I’d love a good romance from the twenties or thirties. People either living large, or suffering trying to survive. Twenties has that “fun” that hides what’s really going on, and the thirties… depression! Both could have exciting stories.
I do still read them, though not as intensely as before. I just tried to read a book called Threads: The Reincarnation of Anne Boleyn, but after her life, the fiction stuff seemed ridiculous. *sighs* What I really need to do is read that Mallory book and fall in love with James Mallory all over again.
My favorite era is between two. The Tudor era or Regency. I’ve loved medieval romance since I picked up my very first Julie Garwood at 13. That’s why Skye O’Malley was mentioned as a book that influenced me. Beyond the OMG of the drama in the book, it was so rich with details and history, it was like being transported to Queen Elizabeth’s court.
Regency is a thrill for all that the time really was. Pre-Victorian morals, with the rules and nicety of the upper class. The juxtaposition just fascinated me.
Michelle: Hmm what subgenres I want more of this year…more dystopian (like romance in a dystopian setting not the more common dystopian with some romance), more realism in stories (haha think the opposite of Black Lies), more western romances (I like my cowboys!), and on the paranormal end I always want more well written fae/elf romances (Laura, I need more Trent like characters!).
MichelleS: What sub-genre do I want to read more of this year? Maybe some cool sc-fi? I know Fabi has a few that she loves, and even you Maryse mentioned the Dan Koontz one? right? Have never actually clicked on that specific genre. I also wish I could find a good Arthurian legends book. When I was a teen, I was obsessed with that genre. Someone said Genevieve Chronicles was good? And maybe one good “futuristic” novel that’s not dystopian! Why does everyone want the zombies to rule, and electricity to be obsolete, for crying out loud??? And one super hot shifter book please!!!
Amy: Why does everyone want the zombies to rule, and electricity to be obsolete, for crying out loud??? <——– *snicker* Can you imagine that kind of postapocalyptic life with no tampons, no body wash, wearing the same panties…good lord, there would be an epidemic of…
Maryse: Tee hee!!!! 😛
How about you guys? It’s your turn. Tell me what you love, and tell me what you want more of… what you’re CRAVING.
I can take the forbidden, fractured souls, damaged and broken, recluse scarred physically & mentally, tortured minds & bodies, but I can not stand a cliffhanger or no HEA.
Survival stories- with romance of course.
And I would love to read an inter-racial couple’s love story.
You kill me with the no HEA, lol. Well in anything I consider “romance”.
I can’t remember why you all were hiding, except maybe from Amy & MichelleS discussion, that I remember. (eek).
I also want fleshed out side characters. And not just slow burn (love) but also build the story, please. Let me know the characters and connect with them. Feel their sad or joy.
Michelle, yes I want some really well written dystopian BUT with great romance. I feel like SOA was copied and ran with but not WD.
I’m not sure why but I love werewolf romances. Some of them are a bit dinky, but the well-written ones really touch a nerve for me. I agree that the guys disguised as bad boys doesn’t really do it for me either.
I love the stories about 2nd chances at love as well as sports and rock star books. However, I am so tired of all of the step brother books currently out there. I think every angle has had to be written about by now!
Not sure if others feel this way but I am weirdly torn between wanting to read more ‘epic’ stories that span many books (think Outlander or even BDB)…but of course the huge drawback to that is that we have to WAIT for the next book to come out! I love to read any good book, even if it is a one-shot, but I really love to fall into a story over time by connecting with characters and then being a part of their journeys. I would read maybe ONE book a year prior to Twilight and then my love of reading really grabbed hold and I could not stop finding series of books and devouring them…..any series recommendations out there that other readers have loved? I just started the “Argeneau” series but has started out a bit slow for me (?)
I want more twisty topsy turvy books that make you keep flipping the pages and guessing the ending just to be side swept completely!
I want realistic books. Where the female enjoys sex just as sex. And books where every guy isn’t a man whore.
I honestly just want something real whether it’s happy or not (Taryyn Fisher type). I want something surprising and different that keeps me hooked. I’m bored with the same old story lines.
Any suggestions?
Kat!!!!! BADGER!!! NOW!!!!!!!!!
https://www.maryse.net/books/book-review-badger-by-c-m-mckenna.html
Ashley- paranormal wise I loved the Elemental Mysteries series by Elizabeth Hunter & the Experiment in Terror series by Karina Halle
I’m sure there’s others I’ll keep thinking
Okay Maryse I rarely spend that much on a book. But I just 1 clicked! Gonna dive in immediately thanks to your recommendation. Where can I contact you with my updates?
Ashley, finally, someone who doesn’t hate CH. I love epic stories. That’s why I’m drawing a blank. Have you read:
Chicagoland Vampires by Chloe Neill
Sherilyn Kenyon – Dark Hunter series
Sarah J Maas – Throne of Glass series
Ilona Andrews – Kate Daniels series
Kim Harrison – Hollows series
Ashley, have you read Written in Red??
Maryse will love it, when she reads it. (Or politely say nothing). 😉
Lately, I have been getting side tracked by mystery novels. However, I still love my slow burn romance novels. I would love to read a mystery with a great plot as well as the slow burn romance. There must be room for both elements… right?
OMG. *facepalms* I forgot Written in Red. Big recommendations on that one.
Cindy have you read C.S. Harris Sebastian St. Cyr series. Really enjoy.
Deborah Crombie Duncan Kincaid series. Romance does play a part, though they are mystery first.
Earlene Fowler’s Bennie Harper series. A touch on the inspirational side.
Elizabeth George’s Inspector Lynley series. This has some romance but not always happy.
These last three I have fallen behind on but really enjoyed. And plan to catch up sometime.
And of course some uf series fit the romance/mystery too.
Thanks for all the recommendations; I will definitely have to check these out!
I also love every series that Kristen Ashley has out; I will be sad until the next book comes out
I haven’t read any of those… Will check them out for sure! Thx bev
Cindy, have to mention one more. Even though I have not read them, lol. But she also writes as Jennifer Ashley. Under that name wrote a wonderful historical The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie. Based on that I bought a couple of her mystery books, on sale, when I found out her pen name.
https://www.amazon.com/Ashley-Gardner/e/B001ITTPPS
right here or on Facebook Kat. I can’t wait to find out what you think!!!!
Or you can email me. 😀
bev… *snort*
LOL!!! I know I’ll be kicking myself when I do read it… for waiting so long.
I want what Beautiful Disaster made me feel. I miss that, actually. I also want the angst of a second chance romance. I want the roller coaster of feels but in the end I want HEA.
This time last year I was burnt out on formulaic contemporary romance and NA. They were all the same, had the same trope, been done to death. My New Years resolution was to try diverse genre’s, and I have been absolutely loving what I’ve read this year. Mind you, I close a lot of books too, that are same same. I’m reading more romantic suspense, YA, fantasy romance, a bit of paranormal romance again. Dystopian. I want to start adding Sci Fi. I’m willing to explore historical, just no bodice ripping! In fact, I don’t really want to be genre driven, need the story to be something different, even in contemporary romance. I like originality in the plot, characters. I don’t want to read another ” book that is similar to”. I also love the taboo. I am reading more traditional published, because they seem more fleshed out, developed, different to he trope. I would like to see Indie authors take heir time in making their books authentic, well rounded, fleshed out story And characters, And secondary characters And world developement/sense of place. Maybe I’ve become more discerning.
I like where Kat was going with edgy, twisty, plots that will blindside me. I’ve been reading way too many safe and predictable ones lately. I want heroines who aren’t afraid to own their sexuality, and multi-dimensional heros. Basically I’m anticipating the huge vacuum left behind once Tiffany Reisz’s series is done and what is going to tide me over.
I’m not a huge fan of instalove…. preferring a slow burny build. I quite like books where H and h don’t like each other initially or when the H is rude and dismissive to start with. I love a book where the h is not the perfect beauty but H falls for her anyway. And the story has to have great banter between the protagonists or a sassy attitude that gives me a laugh. And lastly the best books have well fleshed out supporting characters and create a world that you miss when the story ends……not asking for much eh?? *snickers*
At the moment if a book has ‘step brother’ or ‘billionaire’ in the title I’ll pass….over it.
Oh…and while I’m on a roll….it frustrates me that all epilogues involve marriage and babies. Some of us would be fine with a good shag and a half healthy relationship as the HEA!
I want Stephanie Plum with sex. That’s not too much to ask, is it?
I want more realistic character details and stronger, smarter female protagonists.
Heroine should have a great job preferably with a STEM degree or she should own her own company other than a bakery. These are the jobs that pay well. I get tired of the h always having what I would consider a dead-end job and financially struggling. This is fantasy right?
The heroine should exercise if she is thin. How many people do you know that look great and don’t work for it? I also prefer the h to be taller than average and can she please NOT have green eyes. I think that 80% of books have a H or h with green eyes. Maybe this is an exaggeration.
I prefer slow burn as I have never experienced insta-LOVE, just insta-LUST. Who gets married after knowing the person for 24 hours in real life or even 2 weeks? Stupid people.
I prefer neither H or h to be excessively “tortured or fractured.” While rape and incest are a reality, I don’t want to read about it in any detail or for any length. I also don’t want to read about mental illness. This is just too much reality for me in a fiction novel.
Another no go is a plot centered around a lie. I’m not talking about a white lie or even a lie of omission. I don’t tolerate people who lie to me so why would I want to read about a liar? This is a major character flaw.
I would be willing to read about couples of different races but please don’t center the plot around it. It’s not a big deal.
Most authors do a great job with the H. It’s the h that makes or breaks the book for me. How realistic is a unbalanced couple where the H is wonderful and the h is exceedingly average? I am also curious at to how a person (ie H) in their twenties becomes a billionaire. Are millionaires not rich enough for the reader?
I love the single parent romances
Hey everybody. I’m ALIVE. I’ve been MIA for at least a week (which was the week from he## if you know what I mean), but I’m back and so happy to see this post. I remember writing that a while back, and I still agree with myself (??) I want exactly those things.
I feel like I missed a bunch, but I AM READING BADGER right now, so I can get caught up on that goodness. It’s crazy good in a very C. McKenna quiet kind of way. Just like After Hours – it just sneaks up on you with the “complicatedness” told in a simple way.
What else did I miss?
And as far as EPIC goes, yay, one more chance to plug Tairen Soul Series (for epic fantasy) and Bronze Horseman Trilogy (for epic love story).
I CAN’T STAND ALL THESE SERIES WHERE WE HAVE TO WAIT YEARS FOR THE SEQUELS TO COME OUT!
Jessie – SNORT! Green eyes! Exactly!!!! Why all the focus on the eyes? Sheesh. Everyone has to have exotic eyes – with a rim around the iris and flecks of gold and they “flash” all the time when they get hot and bothered. What is that? I have never seen anyone’s eyes flash. Or the eyebrow thing. I really don’t mind this at all in a paranormal or fantasy, but in contemporary romances I absolutely hate that people have to have extraordinary looks. He’s an Adonis and she’s a pixie. Over it.
This is why I love love loved Eleanor and Park. They were so REAL.
Ela – you mean like Outlander? I think I’ll be retired when that thing finally ends. It kills me, but I just keep on reading it. I’m okay with it if they didn’t do cliffhangers. Gabaldon jumped on that, and he leaves us hanging. At least with this last one it isn’t too bad. Not like the one before that with Jamie and John! OMG. I was a nut job after that scene.
I haven’t read any of the Outlander books *gasp* yep! Someday!
Oh and I hate hate hate how the billionaire falls for the virgin and he can’t see anyone but her and her innocence! What the fleck is that? Does she have a magical diamond encrusted “flower” (I would prefer to use the c word here)
Oooooh!! Great question!! What do I want more of?? I love historical, but many of them are too politically correct – they end up being less realistic for the time. Readers don’t seem to want to read what life might have really been like back then (medieval era, regency era or whatever historical time period), they want people to interact the way they do today set in a different historical setting. So I would like to see more historical romances that push boundaries.
I want more epic fantasy romance stories and paranormal/urban fantasy with romance. I love series that build characters over time, both MC and SC and enjoy interactions between the characters.
I LOVED LOVED LOVED Tairen Soul, Warprize, WIR, and Kate Daniels series. Books that I try to avoid are those with cheating or love triangle relationships, and no HEA.
I would like to see older characters, once in a while. We all want to get lost in feeling younger. But a hero/heroine in their 40 is a nice change.
Also since Judith McNaught was mentioned. Does anyone know what happened to her? She fell off the book radar and I have been searching. She wrote some remarkable books, and is the author that got me back into reading. her book Perfect, is my reread and is in pretty tattered shape because of it. She was suppose to have another one with different characters but it never came out.
I’d like to add one more. I’m really tired of books that all h beautiful and gorgeous. Why not books that have h that looks normal like most of us. Not all h need to be beautiful and gorgeous to be desirable to H, right? I love to read books that h that has interesting character — funny, witty, or kick-ass, etc.
Judith McNaught stopped writing for a while because her mom got so sick and she was taking care of her.
Tessa, I’m pretty sure I have Whitney, My Love memorized. Once upon a time, before Travis or Christian or Gideon, there was Clayton Westmoreland….my first BFF.
Great post topic. I want characters that make me FEEL. Maybe I can relate to them, or they’re vulnerable in some way. I prefer characters with integrity to bad boys. Like mentioned above, I want heroines with smarts. And I prefer the romance to be slow-burn since that seems more realistic. I also enjoy learning about different cultures when I read.
Ok….here goes. I’m sick of the “misunderstanding” between the H & H ESPECIALLY if it lasts for years. Throw in a baby that the H never tells the H about & you have an unreadable book for me. Unreadable AND implausible because really….who doesn’t stalk their ex-love of their life on Facebook? “Huh, that kid looks an awful lot like me”. Next…the manwhore with a heart of gold. I love bad boys just as much as you do but why can’t they be bad AND not f**k everything that moves? I’ve been reading a lot of books lately where the H is a badass (usually mafia…love those mafia guys) & they honestly have too much going on in their mob lives to even think about tapping lots of random ass. Which leads me to….the guy trying desperately to get the girl to go out with him or get the girl back BUT in the meantime….he’s gonna f**k around with as many girls as he can….you know, until he gets the love of his life back. Now, anyone that knows me knows that cheating by a main character is a hard limit for me. Hate it. Won’t waste my time reading it. And then there’s the horribly vicious and oftentimes homicidal ex-GF that will do anything & everything to get the guy back, including but not limited to drugging the guy to get him in bed (pics are usually taken once in bed), faking a pregnancy OR getting pregnant on purpose, stalking the new GF & making her life hell, stalking the guy & making HIS life hell. This is why restraining orders are made!!! Oh, but the guy won’t take out a restraining order because I’m pretty sure all guys are afraid they may have to turn in their man card if they do. Another problem I have…..the heroine that gets pregnant the first month of dating the hero. This happens way too much….even with birth control. I’m pretty sure BFFs have super sperm, but don’t quote me on that. I will skip over the billionaire and the virgin storyline because that has already been mentioned. No. Actually I am gonna go there. How many hot, young billionaires are there in the U.S.? I’m gonna go out on a limb & say NOT MANY, if ANY. Also, raise your hand if you have a hot, young stepbrother. No hands? Didn’t think so. I have a stepbrother. He’s 28. He plays in Yu-Gi-Oh tournaments on the weekends. What DO I like? I like real heroines. Real heroes. Real life. Real situations. Sure, I’ll take the angst because really, a story would be kinda boring without it. But I hate it when authors throw 11 different angst filled situations at us just to see what sticks. Give me an Archer’s Voice or a Beautiful Disaster or hell, even a Twilight. A simple love story without all the bells & whistles. I just want authors to realize that a good solid story doesn’t NEED all the unnecessary drama. It gets tiring for me to read….I read to escape, not feel like I’ve been ridden hard & put up wet (that’s not a sexual thing….it’s a horse thing). And off the soapbox I go.
More:
Strong, likeable female leads
Anti-heroes, Rockers, Sports Stars (emphasis on Hockey Players)
Colleen Hoover
Less:
Cliffhangers where the follow up is not released
Serials unless there is a bundle available
Novellas that cost more than $1
Wow Lauren! So it looks like 46 billionaires are available as reported on April, statistics probably changed, oh and I wouldn’t mind a little DiCaprio or Eastwood….
https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/celebrity/celebrity-galleries/2013/02/eligible-bachelors-hot-men#viewgallery/1392236
Cindy – if you want romance and mystery, try the In Death series by J.D. Robb. I am on book 25 and the romance is still not old, but you follow the growth in Roarke’s and Eve’s relatiionship as well as their friends. It is set about 50 years in the future, but it does not have a sci fi feel. Really good!
OMG! Kim – that is exactly what I want! All of that! Novellas that cost no more than a dollar! Exactly! 120 pages? seriously? That’s not a book. I’ll go to the used book store in that case. HA! Love that list.
Right, MichelleS!?! Such a cash grab!! I have Kindle Unlimited so thankfully a lot of them show up on there. Otherwise, total rip off when more than $1!
Lauren, Clay pissed me off. I read it a few times, but nothing like Something Wonderful. That pissed me off part, I had to skip over it.
The novella thing, OMG yes. That’s why I didn’t read Callie Hart until it was bundled. Three or four dollars for eighty pages? NOPE. I’m with you, Kim. Kindle Unlimited makes novella’s better.
I really don’t want to bash authors but this one lost me as a reader…H.M. Ward. Her Arrangement serials are up to book 20 at a pop of 2.99 a piece….So for a long ass book we are looking at $59.80!!!!!!!!!!!! She lost me at book 7, when I saw no end to the serials, which were supposed to have stopped around 8….so yeah Nope not doing it!
My preferences have changed quite a bit over the last couple of years or so, and where I once *loved* dual POV and series, I am now at a point where I am just about done with both of those. (The exception to the series aversion is PNR/UF series. If I’m reading those sort of books then I actually prefer a series so I can stay in that world as long as possible.) I pretty much want only single-POV stories in “her” POV, although an occasional chapter in his POV is okay, as long as it is done well. Like with Arsen…it was all in her POV with only one chapter in Ben’s POV, and that chapter was perfectly timed to enhance the devastation in the story. THAT part still stands out for me.
So, what I want are more single-POV standalones with unique premises which don’t have the same storyline details that have been reused and recycled TO DEATH. I want to be blindsided by the twist or the turn of events. I want something to happen that will knock me on my a$$ and make my tummy eat itself. I want a simultaneous kick to the gut and heart. I want to FEEL every possible emotion because the realness of the story is forcing me to do so. There need to be more books like Rainfall, Badger, Jezebel, Forbidden and Drowning Instinct. I don’t want to be able to predict what is going to happen. Give me something where I have NO idea if there is going to be a HEA, and don’t give me a perfect HEA every time (even though sometimes I *will* need one of those after a heavy read ;)).
Okay, sometimes I actually crave a certain storyline (love triangle, forbidden relationships, cheating, teacher-student, etc.), but there needs to be something that ends up setting it apart from the rest. And for the love of all things unpredictable, just KNOCK IT OFF with the questions and overused phrases in blurbs…”will he break down the walls she has built around her heart?” Blech!
Holy. Crap.
That post was huge.
Sorry. 😕
LMAO Amy!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You got it nailed with that damn question…..will he will he will he or will she will she will she?????????????????? No! his/her heart is gonna grow a stone wall around it dammit!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh and I have to add One of my all time favorites to the list of awesome sauce books Transcendence by Shey Savage!!!!!!!!!!!!! Beh and Ehd
ROFL No, he won’t Amy! Therefore, it’s not an HEA. He tries and gets rejected until she kills him because he’s actually a stalker!
*grins* Overactive imagination strikes again. Though, honestly, let’s not get started on blurbs. *shudders* In the end, I just want a quick summary in a blurb. You know how hard that is to find?
Ela…you want something to laugh at, look at Lauren’s rant. I snorted my hot green tea through my nose (freaking painful, by the way) when I got to the stepbrother who plays Yu-Gi-Oh, LOL!!!!!
Tessa…whew! *wipes forehead* Thanks for answering that worrisome blurb question…I was beginning to think “oh dear” while wringing my hands! *snort*
And yes, short blurbs…don’t tell me in the blurb she’s going to get pregnant or he’s going to leave or whatever, and don’t tell me in the blurb an event that is going to take place in the middle!
Um…we managed to turn this from a “what do you want” discussion to a “what p!sses you off” conversation. Sorry, Maryse. 😛
It’s all good, Amy (and crew). LOL!!! 😛
I did see Lauren’s rant, hence my “wow” and Google search for singe billionaires….
Ooopsie Maryse! Can I add how Every Wrong Reason is really NOT MAKING ME HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I DON’T REALLY CARE FOR THIS CHICK……
YES ADD THAT TO THE LIST ANNOYING HEROINES WITH MAGIC DIAMOND ENCRUSTED PLATINUM VAGINAS!
You know what I am getting sick of? All the sexual abuse as the basis for why a hero or heroine is the way he is or she is. I am not insensitive to this, but I can hardly stomach it anymore. I don’t want to get numb to it, and I fear that I might, if it shows up so much in so many books. Okay, I get it – with Acheron and Zhadist and the like, but does it have to be in all the contemporary and young adult books now? It’s hurting my head and my heart. Can’t the guy just be a jerk? Or a hot head? Or a flirt? Or hard to get? Does he have to be THAT broken??? Okay – I admit, Badger may have put me over the edge with this rant. Sigh…… too much brokenness.
I am loving these rants! They pretty much sum up how we may have all felt at one time or another while reading books with the same storylines….read one not too long ago with a 28 year old billionaire. It was so formulaic that I have already forgotten the title.
I HIGHLY recommend “The Five Stages of Falling in Love”, it has a lot of the attributes that everyone has been touching on above 🙂
Thanks Jeannie… Ill check it out. I have heard of this series by J.D? Robb but haven’t gotten around to reading any. Sounds good!
I’ve been following this site for a couple of years now, since Beautiful Disaster came out, and have yet to post anything. Today however, I just got the urge. I like books that make me think psychologically. Characters with psychological disorders are particularly interesting. I forget what it’s called, but I think it had something to do with Rain. The main character had multiple personalities, and I was fascinated. Then Therapy by Catherine Parez. Even the ones with sociopaths and psychopaths interest me a lot. I would love more psychological disorders in books. The forbidden love stories are a favorite of mine as well. I love teacher student, but I would like more where the teacher is the female. It’s usually the opposite for some reason. Also, M/M books are on the rise in popularity, but what about F/F. I think some of those would be interesting. I just really like reading from unique viewpoints.
Brianna…it was Rainfall! I loved that book, and I LOVED what it did to me. And Therapy…oh man, that book made me feel SO many strong emotions. Ugh, some parts were absolutely infuriating.
Glad you gave in to the urge to post. 😉
*snicker* I know what Ela wants more of in books…
Cheating.
😛
If we are going with what makes us made..
.then ditto on all the abused backgrounds. Totally agree MichelleS.
STOP THE SLUT SHAMING!!! Listen I do not mind a horrible ex or mean girl on occasion and I love the good girl/ bad boy. BUT not every other female is a slut, or bitch or any other derogatory name. And don’t give me the well they shouldn’t act like that. Grrrr.
And the best friend. What the heck are with these best friends. Most of them are horrible and not very friendly.
I can enjoy a Mary Sue (see good girl) but not a special snowflake. There is a difference.
Another 5 start recommendation from Maryse! The Badger was amazing. Now to write a review… And now I’m thirsty for more reading. What’s next?
I want more of the chase!!! I’ve read too many books lately where I felt like the h gave in too quickly. I want more push and pull between the H and h. More time spent resisting and not resisting for any dark reason but just resistance because the h wants what she wants or some other reaso that’s not like sinister or damaging. Do y’all know what I’m talking about? Any suggestions? I like alpha heroes A LOT but I really like when the h takes a lot of convincing. I want some feisty banter and a slow burn!
Oh me? Ahhh I love some unrequited love stories. But I want something very real and deep like experiment in terror, fever series, Heller… You know when she’s pining for him but he just doesn’t see her that way or he doesn’t see her at al… He can even be an ass. I want that deep ache. I haven’t read one like this in ages… Oh I really miss them!
“because while I read for escape, I escape best, when I can believe it. When I can live it. When I can truly feel it”
You just couldn’t have said it any better.
Wow and I forgot to say, I don’t like to read the male pov at all. I don’t like to know what he feels and what he think. Because that’s exactly the fun part… when we are inside her head and like her we don’t have a clue about him. It makes things more interesting and intriguing… I don’t even like to read a book when it’s exclusive told by his pov. I only want to be inside her head.
*grins at Amy* Cheating???? Who me????? Why would you think that??? But it has to be the Arsen type cheating where one of the characters is just THAT broken to seek outside comfort and not the kind where oh my husband doesn’t LOOK AT ME THAT WAY ANYMORE so I’m gonna give in to my attraction of the guy in the office….
Wait, I might like that type of cheating too cause I did like the City Scape series and even though Ian Sterling was a total ass I still like a True Love Story…Hmmmmmmmmmmm
I have a problem with reading books that involve mental illness and self-harm so I try to stay clear from them….Religion sometimes is even a trigger like those books with the priest being a DOM….if I could only remember the author!!!!!!!!
“Until I didn’t know where he ended and I began”….nothing makes me toss a book across the room faster than seeing that overused, and frankly, stupid phrase.
I do love kind of quirky,original stories, like “Beauty and the Mustache”, and real people-type stuff that Cara McKenna does so well, like “After Hours”.
Like others have said before, I love a slow-burn. It’s about the lead up and the feelings…not the explicit description of the mechanics.
And I agree with everything that Lauren said in her 11:47 post.
Archer’s Voice, yes!!
I’m going to sneak in here at the tail end of this and add my simple, but recently hard to find “wants” in a book.
1. A beginning, middle, and end in a single book.
2. Educated writing (write to me as if I’m smart – come on – just pretend I am).
3. Good editting before publishing.
*crawls back into grouchy cave*
I think; Jessie, Lauren and Amy have pretty much summed up exactly how I feel about reading books these days.
Every single one of their suggestions for books, is the type of book I am desperate to read!
Thanks Ladies!
I agree with you Fabi – no matter what the book is about, I want good editing. Nothing is worse than being constantly pulled out of a story because you need to keep re-reading a sentence to understand what the heck it means. Too many commas, not enough, poor sentence structure, it drives me insane!
I love Paranormal everything. Started with BDB (best) and moved to Fever (competing for best) LOTU, Lara Adrian, Kresley Cole, Larissa Ione, Sherrilyn Kenyon and Lynsay Sands just to name a few. I’d love a best paranormal list.
I also am in total love with Kristen Ashley and am almost finished with every book.