No half naked men with long hair on the cover
July 6, 2016 10:00 AM Subscribe
I'm looking for romance novels, but actually good ones. Satisfying ones. Well written ones. Details of what I'm looking for within.
My last question for books got me some absolutely incredible recommendations, many of which I have already read. Actually one of the books in that question I just finished (1Q84) and found it very good but the love storyline between Tengo and Aomame was outstandingly unsatisfying and just a huge let down. It has left me wanting a bit of actual romance. I'm hoping people can come to my rescue again.
I'm looking for truly romantic novels, but nothing cheesy. I'm fine with sex and whatnot in the books, but it isn't a main driver here.
- I really like it when someone doesn't realize they are in love
- I also like when they are in love but try to deny it for reasons
- I like the chest-hurty ache you get when you want so hard for two people to just get together already
- I want the moment where they finally "realize" their love to be really awesome, either due to them getting it in or just the emotion and passion etc.
- I need a satisfying conclusion. It can't end in an anti-climax or "They both died before they got together, the end."
- I need the book to be readable and well written.
- I'd prefer it to not have a tragic ending.
Examples of romance storylines that I have loved:
- Pacey and Joey in Dawson's Creek
- Elle and Emmit in Legally Blonde (especially how they made it in the musical)
- Guinevere and Lancelot in First Night (mostly for the "I'm asking" kiss moment, the ending was a disappointment)
- Hermione and Ron in Harry Potter (though it took an insane amount of time for it all to come to a head)
- You've Got Mail
My last question for books got me some absolutely incredible recommendations, many of which I have already read. Actually one of the books in that question I just finished (1Q84) and found it very good but the love storyline between Tengo and Aomame was outstandingly unsatisfying and just a huge let down. It has left me wanting a bit of actual romance. I'm hoping people can come to my rescue again.
I'm looking for truly romantic novels, but nothing cheesy. I'm fine with sex and whatnot in the books, but it isn't a main driver here.
- I really like it when someone doesn't realize they are in love
- I also like when they are in love but try to deny it for reasons
- I like the chest-hurty ache you get when you want so hard for two people to just get together already
- I want the moment where they finally "realize" their love to be really awesome, either due to them getting it in or just the emotion and passion etc.
- I need a satisfying conclusion. It can't end in an anti-climax or "They both died before they got together, the end."
- I need the book to be readable and well written.
- I'd prefer it to not have a tragic ending.
Examples of romance storylines that I have loved:
- Pacey and Joey in Dawson's Creek
- Elle and Emmit in Legally Blonde (especially how they made it in the musical)
- Guinevere and Lancelot in First Night (mostly for the "I'm asking" kiss moment, the ending was a disappointment)
- Hermione and Ron in Harry Potter (though it took an insane amount of time for it all to come to a head)
- You've Got Mail
Best answer: Have you been to smartbitchestrashybooks? They rate romance novels and I have found them reliable.
posted by pearshaped at 10:12 AM on July 6, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by pearshaped at 10:12 AM on July 6, 2016 [12 favorites]
Best answer: I strongly recommend following the Smart Bitches Trashy Books blog - their reviews are well-tagged so you can browse around by genre and theme/trope. Romance reviewers are obsessively picky about series/cliffhangers versus HEA (happy ever after) vs HFN (happy for now) and always indicate any deviation from HEA. Commenters there are top-notch too. They also have a great podcast, and their podcast blog entries link every book they discussed in the audio.
[One exception, they have a thing going on right now/every year, tagged as "RITA Reader Challenge", it's all guest reviews, they're not very good and contradictory and not in the house style, I suggest avoiding them or skimming at best.]
There's really no other review blog I like and respect as much as that one. You will almost certainly find stuff that's right up your alley (I suspect you would really like Courtney Millan, Elouisa James, and Tessa Dare (I loved her Spindle Cove books and I don't even really like historicals - very sharp and funny and Strong Female Charactery)).
posted by Lyn Never at 10:15 AM on July 6, 2016 [9 favorites]
[One exception, they have a thing going on right now/every year, tagged as "RITA Reader Challenge", it's all guest reviews, they're not very good and contradictory and not in the house style, I suggest avoiding them or skimming at best.]
There's really no other review blog I like and respect as much as that one. You will almost certainly find stuff that's right up your alley (I suspect you would really like Courtney Millan, Elouisa James, and Tessa Dare (I loved her Spindle Cove books and I don't even really like historicals - very sharp and funny and Strong Female Charactery)).
posted by Lyn Never at 10:15 AM on July 6, 2016 [9 favorites]
I liked The Time Traveler's Wife, although it doesn't have a happily-ever-after feel, exactly.
posted by cabingirl at 10:17 AM on July 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by cabingirl at 10:17 AM on July 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Best answer: There is a lot a bad romance out there, for sure, but do understand that within the romance genre, the writing quality varies WILDLY but it will always be formulaic in that the couple will get together at the end, and there will be obstacles along the way, and that variation happens in what kind of obstacles and the temperament of the characters (but if you like You've Got Mail, that's basically where you're at with a standard romance novel). It's important, I think, not to dismiss the entire genre based on stereotyping--if you like romantic stories, it is possible that you will like romance novels, even the ones with awful pictures on the cover (they are there to sell books and do not always reflect the content well).
I like historicals, specifically regencies (so, mostly ladies in pretty dresses and scenery on the covers), and I can recommend these folks:
1. Julia Quinn, specifically her Bridgerton series (I'd skip a few of her early books--this particular series is where she gets magnificent).
2. Mary Balogh, specifically the Bedwyn series.
3. Eloisa James, the Desperate Duchesses series.
Of these three, I think Quinn is who I'd recommend most broadly, though I probably like all three equally for different reasons (Quinn is best at characterization and conversation, Balogh is best at simple romance, and James is best at tension and style).
Another book I often think of as an excellent romance is A Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold, but that is smack in the middle of a long series and I have no idea how it plays without having read all of the (non romance, but excellent) novels leading up to it.
posted by hought20 at 10:23 AM on July 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
I like historicals, specifically regencies (so, mostly ladies in pretty dresses and scenery on the covers), and I can recommend these folks:
1. Julia Quinn, specifically her Bridgerton series (I'd skip a few of her early books--this particular series is where she gets magnificent).
2. Mary Balogh, specifically the Bedwyn series.
3. Eloisa James, the Desperate Duchesses series.
Of these three, I think Quinn is who I'd recommend most broadly, though I probably like all three equally for different reasons (Quinn is best at characterization and conversation, Balogh is best at simple romance, and James is best at tension and style).
Another book I often think of as an excellent romance is A Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold, but that is smack in the middle of a long series and I have no idea how it plays without having read all of the (non romance, but excellent) novels leading up to it.
posted by hought20 at 10:23 AM on July 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
Best answer: Agree on Smart Bitches, they are great.
In addition to the authors Lyn Never mentions, I very very highly recommend Cecilia Grant. She only has four books and they are all great (historicals, 19th-century England). Some of them DO have half-naked men on the cover but fear not, they are really wonderful.
ETA: I also endorse hought20's recs, though I sometimes get exasperated by some of those authors.
Oh and Sarah MacLean!
posted by mskyle at 10:23 AM on July 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
In addition to the authors Lyn Never mentions, I very very highly recommend Cecilia Grant. She only has four books and they are all great (historicals, 19th-century England). Some of them DO have half-naked men on the cover but fear not, they are really wonderful.
ETA: I also endorse hought20's recs, though I sometimes get exasperated by some of those authors.
Oh and Sarah MacLean!
posted by mskyle at 10:23 AM on July 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Back to recommend Radiance, probably the best fantasy I've read in several years, though it is also has strong romance features*. I haven't had a good free afternoon to sit down and read the second book in one gulp yet.
*In a more-fantasy-than-romance way, this one is more centered on a couple as joint protagonist struggling against magic and politics and stuff. But the book starts the day they meet/get married for political purposes, so there's that happening too.
posted by Lyn Never at 10:28 AM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
*In a more-fantasy-than-romance way, this one is more centered on a couple as joint protagonist struggling against magic and politics and stuff. But the book starts the day they meet/get married for political purposes, so there's that happening too.
posted by Lyn Never at 10:28 AM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Mhairi Mcfarlane is excellent for this! She has a new one coming out soon but I think three pre-existing novels, all of which I have read and can recommend for your smart funny heart-fulfilling romance needs. I'm always looking for books like this and am sure I'll have more recs once I get a chance to trawl through my Goodreads account, but she's who springs to mind off the top of my head.
posted by theseldomseenkid at 10:30 AM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by theseldomseenkid at 10:30 AM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Jennifer Crusie is IMHO about the best romance writer around particularly If you, like me, enjoy snappy dialogue, wit and humor. If you are looking for something heavier (I never thought I would encounter Murakami in a thread looking for romances!) then maybe All the Light We Cannot see? I haven't read it but I hear good things (I work in a bookstore.) My other favorite romance writer is Georgette Heyer, a classic from the 1920s, nobody has ever done it better. In the fantasy vein I recommend Gail Carriger and Tanya Huff's Enchantment Emporium books.
posted by mygothlaundry at 10:30 AM on July 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by mygothlaundry at 10:30 AM on July 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
Courtney Milan and Jennifer Crusie are both quite good. Milan mostly writes historicals, Crusie writes contemporaries, they're both overtly feminist and witty and fun.
I'm partial to a slow build for romance, so I like the payoff in long book or tv series like Dorothy Dunnett's Lymond Chronicles, or John & Aeryn in Farscape.
Kate Elliott's Jaran is a space opera with planetary romance & Cossacks, with a strong romantic thread in it. It's very enjoyable, and I thought the emotional payoff was great.
posted by suelac at 10:35 AM on July 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
I'm partial to a slow build for romance, so I like the payoff in long book or tv series like Dorothy Dunnett's Lymond Chronicles, or John & Aeryn in Farscape.
Kate Elliott's Jaran is a space opera with planetary romance & Cossacks, with a strong romantic thread in it. It's very enjoyable, and I thought the emotional payoff was great.
posted by suelac at 10:35 AM on July 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
In addition to good suggestions above, Sarah Jio writes very sexy books, especially The Bungalow.
Do you read mystery? Tasha Alexander's Lady Emily series starts off (first two or three books) with a strong romantic plotline. I'm not going to link to Goodreads because there are spoilers galore. This is the kind of series where you can probably tell within one chapter how you are going to feel about it.
posted by BibiRose at 10:38 AM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Do you read mystery? Tasha Alexander's Lady Emily series starts off (first two or three books) with a strong romantic plotline. I'm not going to link to Goodreads because there are spoilers galore. This is the kind of series where you can probably tell within one chapter how you are going to feel about it.
posted by BibiRose at 10:38 AM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Naomi Novik's Uprooted
And yeah, Eloisa James is great.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 10:39 AM on July 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
And yeah, Eloisa James is great.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 10:39 AM on July 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Outlander (and sequels) by Diana Gabaldon. Nurse accidentally travels back in time to Scotland in the 1700s, meets wonderful man in kilt, adventure and romance ensue. Only caveats: she starts out married before she meets real romance guy, and there's quite a bit of explicit stuff, not only sex but also violence, rape, torture, etc., over the course of the 10 or however many books in the series so far. But they are amazing books if those things won't trigger you, and really, really well written. Diana Gabaldon has said they're more about a marriage than a romance.
Uprooted by Naomi Novik - girl in magical historical Eastern Europe gets taken by the local wizard to be his servant, adventure and romance and magic ensue. There's less actual romance in this one, but oh man, if you like it if they take a while to *just get on with it already!* you'll like this book. The ending isn't completely ride off into the sunset, but I still found it satisfying. Really well written, couldn't put it down.
The Sharing Knife quartet by Lois McMaster Bujold - the first one is Beguilement. Girl in possibly alternate-history/magical Midwest stumbles onto scary monster and handsome man whose life's work is to hunt scary monsters, adventure and romance and magic ensue. Definitely completely satisfying ending, and it's four books with the same romance in all four, so more to read. Really well-written.
Shards of Honor, also by Lois McMaster Bujold - super competent spacefaring lady captain gets embroiled in a war on a newly discovered planet and captured by handsome guy from the opposing side, romance and adventure ensue. Very happy ending, but also a very graphic torture/near-rape in the middle, in case that's a trigger for you. I also couldn't put this down, and it's very well written. Just maybe don't go straight to Barrayar afterwards - it's a great book, but the transition from the ending of Shards of Honor to the newly fraught beginning of Barrayar is a little jarring.
Trickster's Choice and Trickster's Queen by Tamora Pierce (YA). Actually, all her Tortall books are great for this, but these Aly books are probably the most adult in terms of the romance. Smart but non-ambitious girl gets kidnapped by a minor deity to go solve some problems on some islands, where she meets a handsome man. Adventure, magic, and romance ensue. So good. I also love the Daine books (the first one is Wild Magic) though they read a little younger to me. But they do take *FOREVER* for the romance to get sorted out, while both people are denying their feelings, etc. etc., if that's a plus :)
On preview, A Civil Campaign is also amazing, but Shards of Honor might be a more natural place to start for a romance in that series. If you do want to start with Miles' love life instead of Cordelia's, you might read Komarr (which LMB has also said is a valid entry to the series) and then A Civil Campaign. That sets up the relationship, and also Miles' character, before getting to the actual (awesome!) romancing in A Civil Campaign. If you get hooked on the Vorkosigan Saga, Falling Free, the quasi-prequel to the whole series, also has a great romance and great adventure. I also loved times a million Captain Vorpatril's Alliance, but I think that's one place where you might want to get to know Ivan through the other books first.
Also, I really hated The Time Traveler's Wife. I see why people love it - truly beautiful writing and characterization - but the ending made me really sad. I'd skip it if you specifically want happily ever after rather than lovely but heartbreaking.
posted by bananacabana at 10:40 AM on July 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
Uprooted by Naomi Novik - girl in magical historical Eastern Europe gets taken by the local wizard to be his servant, adventure and romance and magic ensue. There's less actual romance in this one, but oh man, if you like it if they take a while to *just get on with it already!* you'll like this book. The ending isn't completely ride off into the sunset, but I still found it satisfying. Really well written, couldn't put it down.
The Sharing Knife quartet by Lois McMaster Bujold - the first one is Beguilement. Girl in possibly alternate-history/magical Midwest stumbles onto scary monster and handsome man whose life's work is to hunt scary monsters, adventure and romance and magic ensue. Definitely completely satisfying ending, and it's four books with the same romance in all four, so more to read. Really well-written.
Shards of Honor, also by Lois McMaster Bujold - super competent spacefaring lady captain gets embroiled in a war on a newly discovered planet and captured by handsome guy from the opposing side, romance and adventure ensue. Very happy ending, but also a very graphic torture/near-rape in the middle, in case that's a trigger for you. I also couldn't put this down, and it's very well written. Just maybe don't go straight to Barrayar afterwards - it's a great book, but the transition from the ending of Shards of Honor to the newly fraught beginning of Barrayar is a little jarring.
Trickster's Choice and Trickster's Queen by Tamora Pierce (YA). Actually, all her Tortall books are great for this, but these Aly books are probably the most adult in terms of the romance. Smart but non-ambitious girl gets kidnapped by a minor deity to go solve some problems on some islands, where she meets a handsome man. Adventure, magic, and romance ensue. So good. I also love the Daine books (the first one is Wild Magic) though they read a little younger to me. But they do take *FOREVER* for the romance to get sorted out, while both people are denying their feelings, etc. etc., if that's a plus :)
On preview, A Civil Campaign is also amazing, but Shards of Honor might be a more natural place to start for a romance in that series. If you do want to start with Miles' love life instead of Cordelia's, you might read Komarr (which LMB has also said is a valid entry to the series) and then A Civil Campaign. That sets up the relationship, and also Miles' character, before getting to the actual (awesome!) romancing in A Civil Campaign. If you get hooked on the Vorkosigan Saga, Falling Free, the quasi-prequel to the whole series, also has a great romance and great adventure. I also loved times a million Captain Vorpatril's Alliance, but I think that's one place where you might want to get to know Ivan through the other books first.
Also, I really hated The Time Traveler's Wife. I see why people love it - truly beautiful writing and characterization - but the ending made me really sad. I'd skip it if you specifically want happily ever after rather than lovely but heartbreaking.
posted by bananacabana at 10:40 AM on July 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
Are you looking for heterosexual romance only then? There's a lot of great stuff in the male/male romance genre that would fit your requirements (I just recently read C. S. Pascat's "Captive Prince" trilogy, and it was perfection.)
posted by oh yeah! at 10:41 AM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by oh yeah! at 10:41 AM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Are you looking for heterosexual romance only then?
Nope, not at all. Totally down for same sex romance.
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 10:43 AM on July 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Nope, not at all. Totally down for same sex romance.
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 10:43 AM on July 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
I don't really like romances in general but I would recommend the J.R. Ward Black Dagger Brotherhood series, which is an urban fantasy series about vampires and the women who love them, basically. I really like the worldbuilding in the series, and the plotting is usually quite good as well. The books have their flaws -- the sex (of which there is a lot) is pretty repetitive and very male-focused, but not in a gross exploitative way. If you don't like the first one, I'd stop there.
I did say it's a series and each book leaves some plot threads open for the next one, but I really feel like you could read most of them as stand-alones, as each focuses on a different couple and has a satisfying ending.
posted by possibilityleft at 10:43 AM on July 6, 2016
I did say it's a series and each book leaves some plot threads open for the next one, but I really feel like you could read most of them as stand-alones, as each focuses on a different couple and has a satisfying ending.
posted by possibilityleft at 10:43 AM on July 6, 2016
Best answer: Alright, I'm back! Seconding Courtney Milan and Georgette Heyer.
Meg Cabot's adult-oriented romances (as opposed to the YA princess books) are fluffy and the protagonists can be a bit annoying but they're very comforting and funny.
Rainbow Rowell maybe, if you haven't read her stuff already?
Sarra Manning - maybe sometimes a bit harrowing but not always! Lots of her characters appear in her other books - I started with Nine Uses for an Ex-Boyfriend, and the only one of hers I wouldn't necessarily recommend is It Felt Like A Kiss - it's still good, it just wasn't as enjoyable.
The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets by Eva Rice is lovely.
And I like a bit of Judith Krantz for properly glorious ridiculous wish-fulfilment romance!
posted by theseldomseenkid at 10:45 AM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Meg Cabot's adult-oriented romances (as opposed to the YA princess books) are fluffy and the protagonists can be a bit annoying but they're very comforting and funny.
Rainbow Rowell maybe, if you haven't read her stuff already?
Sarra Manning - maybe sometimes a bit harrowing but not always! Lots of her characters appear in her other books - I started with Nine Uses for an Ex-Boyfriend, and the only one of hers I wouldn't necessarily recommend is It Felt Like A Kiss - it's still good, it just wasn't as enjoyable.
The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets by Eva Rice is lovely.
And I like a bit of Judith Krantz for properly glorious ridiculous wish-fulfilment romance!
posted by theseldomseenkid at 10:45 AM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
The long-journey-to-find-eachother-then-awkwarding-into-true-love arc is pretty much the entire narrative backbone of The Valley Of Horses but with a shed load of fascinating palaeolithic-era doings en-route. It's the second (and best IMO) of a series of six but can totally be read as a standalone.
posted by freya_lamb at 11:10 AM on July 6, 2016
posted by freya_lamb at 11:10 AM on July 6, 2016
Winston Graham's Poldark series (recently remade as a BBC series) is very good for this sort of thing. And there's lots of it if you like it.
posted by merocet at 11:14 AM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by merocet at 11:14 AM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Helen Fielding: Bridget Jones' Diary
Elinor Lipman: The Way Men Act, Isobel's Bed, The Ladies' Man
Marian Keyes: Watermelon, Sushi for Beginners, Last Chance Saloon
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 11:18 AM on July 6, 2016
Elinor Lipman: The Way Men Act, Isobel's Bed, The Ladies' Man
Marian Keyes: Watermelon, Sushi for Beginners, Last Chance Saloon
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 11:18 AM on July 6, 2016
maybe as byatt's possession? it's been 30 years since i read it though, so my memory may be off.
posted by andrewcooke at 11:18 AM on July 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by andrewcooke at 11:18 AM on July 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
Looking for romance that happens in a single book, or over a series?
In case you'd be up for a series, I just sped through the October Daye series by Seanan McGuire. The first book, Rosemary and Rue, is $1.99 for Kindle right now. Lots of characters, adventures, heroism, and a very slow burn romance.
Since I'm a sucker for a tough chick who builds a found family and finds a guy to be her love and back-up, I also like to recommend the Greywalker series by Kat Richardson.
posted by Squeak Attack at 11:18 AM on July 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
In case you'd be up for a series, I just sped through the October Daye series by Seanan McGuire. The first book, Rosemary and Rue, is $1.99 for Kindle right now. Lots of characters, adventures, heroism, and a very slow burn romance.
Since I'm a sucker for a tough chick who builds a found family and finds a guy to be her love and back-up, I also like to recommend the Greywalker series by Kat Richardson.
posted by Squeak Attack at 11:18 AM on July 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
Best answer: These are repeats of some of the above, but here are my favourite Romance Authors:
Mary Jo Putney -- master of the slightly tortured hero.
Julia Quinn -- her books are light and amusing, perhaps you might find them cheesy, but they are airy and full of the kind of charming bickering that real people engage in.
Courtney Milan -- an amazing author who deals with a broader spectrum of heroes and heroines than most.
Elizabeth Hoyt -- these are kind of dark and adventuring, heavy on the sex in most of the books.
Lauren Willig -- impeccably researched historical novels, each of which is both a spy novel and a romance, and fits with the larger arch of the many books in the series. These are the most obviously literary of my suggestions, though they get a little more genre as the books go on, in my opinion.
posted by jacquilynne at 11:27 AM on July 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Mary Jo Putney -- master of the slightly tortured hero.
Julia Quinn -- her books are light and amusing, perhaps you might find them cheesy, but they are airy and full of the kind of charming bickering that real people engage in.
Courtney Milan -- an amazing author who deals with a broader spectrum of heroes and heroines than most.
Elizabeth Hoyt -- these are kind of dark and adventuring, heavy on the sex in most of the books.
Lauren Willig -- impeccably researched historical novels, each of which is both a spy novel and a romance, and fits with the larger arch of the many books in the series. These are the most obviously literary of my suggestions, though they get a little more genre as the books go on, in my opinion.
posted by jacquilynne at 11:27 AM on July 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Best answer: What a great question!
I second many of the recs above, particularly Tessa Dare, Georgette Heyer, Courtney Milan, Jennifer Crusie, Diana Gabaldon, and the first Bridget Jones's Diary.
If you somehow haven't read either Pride and Prejudice or Persuasion yet, drop everything and definitely go read you some Jane Austen!
I recently asked a related question on Ask lately that might be of interest to you as well - I asked for suggestions of multi-book series in any genre with strong slow burn romances. I specifically asked for series where the romance floats in the background of multiple books, and changes and grows over time, as I've loved multiple series like this and find them infinitely and crazily satisfying when characters actually get together.
A couple recommendations of multi-book series that I've read with longterm romances that I think meet your other criteria above are:
The Queen's Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner. The central romance in this one starts out particularly rocky in the second book, but by the third book I was swooning. Definitely gives you that chest-achy feeling, and there's lots of interesting fantasy world building and politics as well, if that's your thing.
The Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. If you like urban fantasy, this is a fun, action-filled series with an overarching romance that grows over time.
The Peter Wimsey series by Dorothy L. Sayers. More particularly, the Wimsey books that also include Harriet Vane (in order, they are: Strong Poison, Have His Carcase, Gaudy Night, and Busman's Honeymoon). The Peter/Harriet relationship deepens in this incredibly satisfying way over time, and ends up being RIDICULOUSLY romantic. One of my favorite romance arcs ever.
posted by warble at 11:29 AM on July 6, 2016 [10 favorites]
I second many of the recs above, particularly Tessa Dare, Georgette Heyer, Courtney Milan, Jennifer Crusie, Diana Gabaldon, and the first Bridget Jones's Diary.
If you somehow haven't read either Pride and Prejudice or Persuasion yet, drop everything and definitely go read you some Jane Austen!
I recently asked a related question on Ask lately that might be of interest to you as well - I asked for suggestions of multi-book series in any genre with strong slow burn romances. I specifically asked for series where the romance floats in the background of multiple books, and changes and grows over time, as I've loved multiple series like this and find them infinitely and crazily satisfying when characters actually get together.
A couple recommendations of multi-book series that I've read with longterm romances that I think meet your other criteria above are:
The Queen's Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner. The central romance in this one starts out particularly rocky in the second book, but by the third book I was swooning. Definitely gives you that chest-achy feeling, and there's lots of interesting fantasy world building and politics as well, if that's your thing.
The Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. If you like urban fantasy, this is a fun, action-filled series with an overarching romance that grows over time.
The Peter Wimsey series by Dorothy L. Sayers. More particularly, the Wimsey books that also include Harriet Vane (in order, they are: Strong Poison, Have His Carcase, Gaudy Night, and Busman's Honeymoon). The Peter/Harriet relationship deepens in this incredibly satisfying way over time, and ends up being RIDICULOUSLY romantic. One of my favorite romance arcs ever.
posted by warble at 11:29 AM on July 6, 2016 [10 favorites]
Best answer: Oh I am so fucking happy that I get to be the first one to recommend Katherine by Anya Seton. Katherine is based on (a) the true story of Chaucer's sister-in-law, the third wife of John of Gaunt and the mother of dragons, oh I mean of various antecedents in the Tudor line, and (b) Anya Seton's own thoughts and some of her own personal history, but (i) it is also the book credited with the beginning of the genre of historical romance and (ii) so popular that most people (not just readers of the book) take it to be true.
If you like Katherine, also consider Green Darkness. I read that one when I was like THIRTEEN and I still love it and read it every damn decade or so. Green Darkness makes me pant a little harder than Katherine, but neither one has a whole ton of sex. For a touchpoint, I found Outlander to be unreadable.
posted by janey47 at 11:34 AM on July 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
If you like Katherine, also consider Green Darkness. I read that one when I was like THIRTEEN and I still love it and read it every damn decade or so. Green Darkness makes me pant a little harder than Katherine, but neither one has a whole ton of sex. For a touchpoint, I found Outlander to be unreadable.
posted by janey47 at 11:34 AM on July 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
I read an obscene amount of Nora Roberts for that well-written, formulaic, just-get-together-already feel good romance. Her late 90's to early '00 family-centered trilogies are probably the closest to what you're asking for, but because she is so prolific, there is also supernatural and suspense, plus some mystery if you want to check out her JD Robb stuff. The Ardmore, Born In, and the Quinns are solid series recommendations within your constraints.
Rainbow Rowell is great for less dated romance, but it's also a little tragic, and the romance is not as prominent, and can be a bit bittersweet. (Still, she writes really great books, and they're worth checking out.)
I like Mercedes Lackey for fantasy/romance. Her Tales of 100 Kingdoms series is a good mix of romance and re-imagined fairy tales. The first one, The Fairy Godmother, is an excellent romantic read.
posted by PearlRose at 11:42 AM on July 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Rainbow Rowell is great for less dated romance, but it's also a little tragic, and the romance is not as prominent, and can be a bit bittersweet. (Still, she writes really great books, and they're worth checking out.)
I like Mercedes Lackey for fantasy/romance. Her Tales of 100 Kingdoms series is a good mix of romance and re-imagined fairy tales. The first one, The Fairy Godmother, is an excellent romantic read.
posted by PearlRose at 11:42 AM on July 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Best answer: My two favorite M/M romance writers:
KJ Charles writes mostly historical romance. One series, The Magpie Lord, is set in a 19th Century England where magic is real. Her other major series, Society of Gentlemen, does not include magic. I like her for her good writing, interesting characters, well-done smolder, decent and varied sex, and actual attention to history—one of her books, for instance, includes a character who is a radical pamphleteer and bookseller who is peripherally involved with an actual ill-fated plot to take over the government. In The Magpie Lord series, it takes the two main characters at least two books to fully work out their relationship so, since you like "I like the chest-hurty ache you get when you want so hard for two people to just get together already" [very well put, by the way], you will enjoy this.
The other is Josh Lanyon. She is prolific and the quality varies. My favorite of hers is the five-book Adrien English series, which is a mystery series featuring a gay man who owns a mystery-themed bookstore. It takes five books for him and the hot cop he meets in Book One to really get things worked out. You have to have patience for plot lines in which one of the obstacles to love is internalized homophobia, but the tension and payoff are worth it, in my view.
posted by not that girl at 11:43 AM on July 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
KJ Charles writes mostly historical romance. One series, The Magpie Lord, is set in a 19th Century England where magic is real. Her other major series, Society of Gentlemen, does not include magic. I like her for her good writing, interesting characters, well-done smolder, decent and varied sex, and actual attention to history—one of her books, for instance, includes a character who is a radical pamphleteer and bookseller who is peripherally involved with an actual ill-fated plot to take over the government. In The Magpie Lord series, it takes the two main characters at least two books to fully work out their relationship so, since you like "I like the chest-hurty ache you get when you want so hard for two people to just get together already" [very well put, by the way], you will enjoy this.
The other is Josh Lanyon. She is prolific and the quality varies. My favorite of hers is the five-book Adrien English series, which is a mystery series featuring a gay man who owns a mystery-themed bookstore. It takes five books for him and the hot cop he meets in Book One to really get things worked out. You have to have patience for plot lines in which one of the obstacles to love is internalized homophobia, but the tension and payoff are worth it, in my view.
posted by not that girl at 11:43 AM on July 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Might I suggest fanfiction? (I'll try to come back in a bit with specific keywords for you). It's a haystack, but there are actually quite a few needles.
posted by sazerac at 11:46 AM on July 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by sazerac at 11:46 AM on July 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
If you're interested in sci-fi/fantasy, I highly recommend:
Nalini Singh's Psy/Changeling series starting with Slave to Sensation. (The book is actually good, despite the title, I promise!)
And Ilona Andrews' The Edge series. They also wrote the Kate Daniels series, which has a really slow romance, which I did not have the patience for, but is actually a more popular series.
posted by ethidda at 11:47 AM on July 6, 2016
Nalini Singh's Psy/Changeling series starting with Slave to Sensation. (The book is actually good, despite the title, I promise!)
And Ilona Andrews' The Edge series. They also wrote the Kate Daniels series, which has a really slow romance, which I did not have the patience for, but is actually a more popular series.
posted by ethidda at 11:47 AM on July 6, 2016
I patiently wait for every Susan Elizabeth Phillips book. Many of the authors listed here list her as very influential in their writing.
She's gold.
posted by 26.2 at 11:49 AM on July 6, 2016
She's gold.
posted by 26.2 at 11:49 AM on July 6, 2016
Response by poster: Might I suggest fanfiction?
I used to be crazy into fanfic (Dawson's Creek, Harry Potter, Lost, and Supernatural primarily) but have ultimately moved away from that because there is so much crap, and while I hit upon some properly good ones from time to time, more often than not they were crap. Horribly written crap. However, if you know of some secret cache of well written fanfic, please let me know...
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 11:58 AM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
I used to be crazy into fanfic (Dawson's Creek, Harry Potter, Lost, and Supernatural primarily) but have ultimately moved away from that because there is so much crap, and while I hit upon some properly good ones from time to time, more often than not they were crap. Horribly written crap. However, if you know of some secret cache of well written fanfic, please let me know...
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 11:58 AM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
However, if you know of some secret cache of well written fanfic, please let me know...
A non-trivial number of women currently writing professional romance started out in fanfic.
Wanted to second the recommendation for Lauren Willig (not one of that group, as far as I know!).
In the m/m realm, while I haven't read it myself, I know a lot of people like the Captive Prince books.
posted by praemunire at 12:09 PM on July 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
A non-trivial number of women currently writing professional romance started out in fanfic.
Wanted to second the recommendation for Lauren Willig (not one of that group, as far as I know!).
In the m/m realm, while I haven't read it myself, I know a lot of people like the Captive Prince books.
posted by praemunire at 12:09 PM on July 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Rainbow Rowell - Attachments
Landline by the same author is good, too, but it doesn't fit your criteria.
posted by soelo at 12:12 PM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Landline by the same author is good, too, but it doesn't fit your criteria.
posted by soelo at 12:12 PM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
If you're up for tv recommendations, the first season of Veronica Mars (which has many things to recommend it besides romance) has a hot hot HOT push/pull love/hate relationship twist which, in the one moment it resolves, is totally satisfying. Just sayin'
posted by janey47 at 12:16 PM on July 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by janey47 at 12:16 PM on July 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
Best answer: I liked all the fanfic I've read by A. J. Hall, especially Lust over Pendle (Potterverse, mostly same-sex) but including the only Gondal fanfic I know of (Holmesian).
posted by clew at 12:38 PM on July 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by clew at 12:38 PM on July 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Two films that spring to mind are Children of a Lesser God and The Piano.
posted by effluvia at 12:57 PM on July 6, 2016
posted by effluvia at 12:57 PM on July 6, 2016
Came in to recommend Gail Carringer (Moffat with Souless) and Georgette Heyer.
posted by BoscosMom at 1:21 PM on July 6, 2016
posted by BoscosMom at 1:21 PM on July 6, 2016
Best answer: She's already been recommended, but Rainbow Rowell's Carry On (which is different from her other books in that it's a fantasy setting, if a slightly meta one) sounds perfect for what you are looking for.
posted by yarrow at 1:21 PM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by yarrow at 1:21 PM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Also, I'm totally fine with fantasy/historical/sci-fi settings. The book does not need to take place in present day earth.
OH. I think I found all of these series on MeFi, ages ago, but they are my absolute favourites for historical and fantasy romances, which I didn't even know I liked until MeFi broke my literary fiction snobbery and utterly ruined me for life. FOR LIFE.
Kushiel's Dart: Oh my God, the love story between Phèdre and Joscelin is literally epic - this is a three book series, with another three companion novels if you want them. This is a relationship that really deepens and matures and overcomes and breaks and rushes back and just oh my God. The historical fantasy setting is superb.
The Elemental Series: This is a series with rabid fans, of which I am one. Many readers are understandably put off by the vampire theme and I swear I have literally never liked another vampire book ever, but in this series an overworked trope become magic and the attraction between them is engrossing.
And my favourite contemporary fiction romance is The Nothing Girl, which features a young woman who decides to get a life and inadvertently ends up with a husband. And a horse. Who talks. Lighthearted but very well written and ticks absolutely all of your boxes.
posted by DarlingBri at 1:28 PM on July 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
OH. I think I found all of these series on MeFi, ages ago, but they are my absolute favourites for historical and fantasy romances, which I didn't even know I liked until MeFi broke my literary fiction snobbery and utterly ruined me for life. FOR LIFE.
Kushiel's Dart: Oh my God, the love story between Phèdre and Joscelin is literally epic - this is a three book series, with another three companion novels if you want them. This is a relationship that really deepens and matures and overcomes and breaks and rushes back and just oh my God. The historical fantasy setting is superb.
The Elemental Series: This is a series with rabid fans, of which I am one. Many readers are understandably put off by the vampire theme and I swear I have literally never liked another vampire book ever, but in this series an overworked trope become magic and the attraction between them is engrossing.
And my favourite contemporary fiction romance is The Nothing Girl, which features a young woman who decides to get a life and inadvertently ends up with a husband. And a horse. Who talks. Lighthearted but very well written and ticks absolutely all of your boxes.
posted by DarlingBri at 1:28 PM on July 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Lisa Kleypas writes some amazing books. She went a bit off the rails for a few books (I'm looking at you, Friday Harbor series), but by and large she writes one satisfying romance after another. The Wallflower series and the Hathaway series are my favorites.
posted by cecic at 1:47 PM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by cecic at 1:47 PM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Seconding Heyer, Sayers, and Roberts.
Adding Roberta Gellis for the Roselynde Chronicles, historical fiction with romance. It's six books of a family saga that follows the women. Set in medieval England with Kings John, Henry, etc (12th century?). Roselynde
posted by MovableBookLady at 1:56 PM on July 6, 2016
Adding Roberta Gellis for the Roselynde Chronicles, historical fiction with romance. It's six books of a family saga that follows the women. Set in medieval England with Kings John, Henry, etc (12th century?). Roselynde
posted by MovableBookLady at 1:56 PM on July 6, 2016
Eleanor Kos has written a number of M/M romances. She is also a well-regarded fanfiction author (emungere). I, personally, have only read her work in the Hannibal fandom, but it's of sufficient quality that I feel super comfortable making this recommendation.
posted by fancyoats at 2:02 PM on July 6, 2016
posted by fancyoats at 2:02 PM on July 6, 2016
I strongly recommend Mary Robinette Kowal:
posted by krieghund at 2:24 PM on July 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by krieghund at 2:24 PM on July 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Lots of good recommendations above. Here are a few more recommendations.
Mary Stewart's books set in Greece: The Moon-Spinners, My Brother Michael, and This Rough Magic (slightly dated but still fun romances).
Precious Bane by Mary Webb (spoilers: lots of sad stuff, but the central couple do get together at the end in a satisfying way).
Try Linnea Sinclair.
Wreck of the Nebula Dream by Veronica Scott.
The Outsider by Penelope Williamson.
Rosy Thornton, try The Tapestry of Love.
posted by gudrun at 2:29 PM on July 6, 2016
Mary Stewart's books set in Greece: The Moon-Spinners, My Brother Michael, and This Rough Magic (slightly dated but still fun romances).
Precious Bane by Mary Webb (spoilers: lots of sad stuff, but the central couple do get together at the end in a satisfying way).
Try Linnea Sinclair.
Wreck of the Nebula Dream by Veronica Scott.
The Outsider by Penelope Williamson.
Rosy Thornton, try The Tapestry of Love.
posted by gudrun at 2:29 PM on July 6, 2016
Anything by Sharon Shinn, but especially the Twelve Houses series.
And the His Fair Assassin series by Robin LaFevers.
All very satisfying, well written, romatic, with happy endings.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 3:05 PM on July 6, 2016
And the His Fair Assassin series by Robin LaFevers.
All very satisfying, well written, romatic, with happy endings.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 3:05 PM on July 6, 2016
Best answer: Courtney Milan is great as already noted. The Brothers Sinister books are her best - start off with the novella The Governess Affair which sets up the rest.
I don't see Meredith Duran mentioned which is a shame. The Duke of Shadows is an awful title with a dubious cover - but it is a devastatingly good book. Historical, set in India. It actually addresses a lot of political issues and has real, serious reasons why the hero and heroine cannot be together (none of this 'oh, the ton would frown upon us!'). I've read it several times and still gasp out loud. And it's just Duran's first book. She is so good.
Georgette Heyer is a classic (my favourite is Venetia) but how about Dorothy L Sayer's Wimsey/Vane books? Slow-burn but then again.
posted by kariebookish at 3:13 PM on July 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
I don't see Meredith Duran mentioned which is a shame. The Duke of Shadows is an awful title with a dubious cover - but it is a devastatingly good book. Historical, set in India. It actually addresses a lot of political issues and has real, serious reasons why the hero and heroine cannot be together (none of this 'oh, the ton would frown upon us!'). I've read it several times and still gasp out loud. And it's just Duran's first book. She is so good.
Georgette Heyer is a classic (my favourite is Venetia) but how about Dorothy L Sayer's Wimsey/Vane books? Slow-burn but then again.
posted by kariebookish at 3:13 PM on July 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Oh yeah, Wimsey/Vane! Such an incredible payoff, too.
Also Courtney Milan, Georgette Heyer, and Eloisa James.
posted by corb at 3:23 PM on July 6, 2016
Also Courtney Milan, Georgette Heyer, and Eloisa James.
posted by corb at 3:23 PM on July 6, 2016
My hack for avoiding crap fanfic is to sort by kudos on Archive of Our Own. There are still some clunkers, but a much more acceptable ratio.
I also recommend Nora Roberts, Julia Quinn, Elizabeth Hoyt, and Jennifer Crusie. The thing I love about Nora Roberts is that her characters always have interesting jobs.
posted by epj at 4:06 PM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
I also recommend Nora Roberts, Julia Quinn, Elizabeth Hoyt, and Jennifer Crusie. The thing I love about Nora Roberts is that her characters always have interesting jobs.
posted by epj at 4:06 PM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Nthing the reccomendation for Georgette Heyer. Given your criteria, Cotillion and The Grand Sophy are probably exactly what you're looking for.
posted by Ahniya at 5:10 PM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Ahniya at 5:10 PM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
In response to haught20, the first book in the Vorkogsian series that I read was "A Civil Campaign," and it was fine jumping in there. I've read all of them multiple times since. I agree that Captain Vorpatril's Alliance would loose some of it's punch without knowing the characters.
I'd like to add my recommendation of Georgette Heyer to the chorus above. However, I've discovered that she wrote three types of books. I first read her mysteries, which are great, and accidentally picked up one of the regency romances, thinking it was going to be a mystery. The romances also turned out to be great fun (Cotillion and Masqueraders are my favs.), but I then mistakenly read some of her historical fiction that contains neither detectives, romance, nor (in my opinion) fun. The historical fiction would be fun relative to reading a text book.
posted by SandiBeech at 5:12 PM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'd like to add my recommendation of Georgette Heyer to the chorus above. However, I've discovered that she wrote three types of books. I first read her mysteries, which are great, and accidentally picked up one of the regency romances, thinking it was going to be a mystery. The romances also turned out to be great fun (Cotillion and Masqueraders are my favs.), but I then mistakenly read some of her historical fiction that contains neither detectives, romance, nor (in my opinion) fun. The historical fiction would be fun relative to reading a text book.
posted by SandiBeech at 5:12 PM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
SandiBeech, that's a good note about Heyer - she writes 3 different kinds of books, and her biographical stuff is really good historically but not so entertaining. That said, 90% of her output is romantic comedy gold.
I would very heavily qualify any suggestion of Mercedes Lackey - her latest 500 Kingdoms books are fine, but earlier works were full of wildly inconsistent characters and cheesy, incoherent plots that were clearly ticking boxes off a list of her pet issues. I don't think she's what OP is looking for.
A Civil Campaign is a great rom-com, but it can be a bit opaque without understanding the background from the other Vorkosigan books.
posted by Ahniya at 5:22 PM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
I would very heavily qualify any suggestion of Mercedes Lackey - her latest 500 Kingdoms books are fine, but earlier works were full of wildly inconsistent characters and cheesy, incoherent plots that were clearly ticking boxes off a list of her pet issues. I don't think she's what OP is looking for.
A Civil Campaign is a great rom-com, but it can be a bit opaque without understanding the background from the other Vorkosigan books.
posted by Ahniya at 5:22 PM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
2nding Katherine and Green Darkness by Anya Seton mentioned above. Also recommend The Mistletoe and the Sword by same author. Wonderful books.
posted by pushing paper and bottoming chairs at 6:23 PM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by pushing paper and bottoming chairs at 6:23 PM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
You didn't mention her, but just in case you haven't read her: Jane Austen. All of her books meet your criteria.
posted by a strong female character at 7:44 PM on July 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by a strong female character at 7:44 PM on July 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
I wanted to second and third Courtney Milan, who writes really intelligent and caring heroines and heroes. The Duchess War is free on Amazon US and presumably other places.
posted by puddledork at 7:53 PM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by puddledork at 7:53 PM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Last post, I promise! For fantasy romances I suggest Andre Norton. She specializes in excellent fantasy romance-adventures full of people not realizing they're in love, denying love because *reasons*, realizing they've been foolish and planning a life together. My special reccommendations are:
Scent of Magic
The Gryphon trilogy (The Crystal Gryphon, Gryphon in Glory, Gryphon's Eyrie)
Year of the Unicorn
Mirror of Destiny
Key of the Keplian - this is a 'maybe'. I like it a lot, but it's more about the woman's journey, which includes falling in love with and rescuing her best friend's brother.
Witch World and Web of the Witch World - also a 'maybe'. The main romances are great, but this really is an epic fantasy duology. But, props to Norton for including the woman's career as a major concern! That's not universal in romances even now, and these books were written in the 1960s.
posted by Ahniya at 8:55 PM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Scent of Magic
The Gryphon trilogy (The Crystal Gryphon, Gryphon in Glory, Gryphon's Eyrie)
Year of the Unicorn
Mirror of Destiny
Key of the Keplian - this is a 'maybe'. I like it a lot, but it's more about the woman's journey, which includes falling in love with and rescuing her best friend's brother.
Witch World and Web of the Witch World - also a 'maybe'. The main romances are great, but this really is an epic fantasy duology. But, props to Norton for including the woman's career as a major concern! That's not universal in romances even now, and these books were written in the 1960s.
posted by Ahniya at 8:55 PM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
A couple more classics - the obvious one is Jane Eyre, which is still swooningly romantic and has all the stuff you mention in your bullet points. Also, The Blue Castle which has a slow start but pays off massively.
More of a YA one but Robin McKinley's Beauty is a lovely romance too, and beautifully written.
posted by low_horrible_immoral at 4:39 AM on July 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
More of a YA one but Robin McKinley's Beauty is a lovely romance too, and beautifully written.
posted by low_horrible_immoral at 4:39 AM on July 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'll third Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation series -- she does a great job of keeping the characters and romance styles different in each book, while still mostly being amazing and swoony.
Second the rec for the His Fair Assassin series by Robin LaFevers.
Highly, highly recommend the Daughter of Smoke & Bone series by Laini Taylor. She has such a beautiful way with words, and the main romance is incredibly satisfying in that "omg I'm dying for them to get together already" way.
posted by saturngirl at 8:00 AM on July 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Second the rec for the His Fair Assassin series by Robin LaFevers.
Highly, highly recommend the Daughter of Smoke & Bone series by Laini Taylor. She has such a beautiful way with words, and the main romance is incredibly satisfying in that "omg I'm dying for them to get together already" way.
posted by saturngirl at 8:00 AM on July 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I love love love a truly well-written romance novel and will second some of the suggestions above, with specifics ... but caveat that they definitely have Romance Novel covers (maybe not half-naked men, but women with awkwardly prom-esque gowns sliding coyly down their shoulders, and/or hugely curly title fonts ... but that's what eBooks are for, right?):
Meredith Duran has some wonderful books. Fool Me Twice and A Lady's Lesson in Scandal are two of my very favorites -- smart, sharp heroines facing tough situations, intriguing heroes who aren't simply Alpha Males Changed By Instalust, and nary a TSTL moment in sight. Most of her books are Regency historicals but aren't solely confined to members of the upper crust, which is a nice change (and her portrayals feel well-researched and realistic).
Joanne Bourne's Spymaster series is also great, particularly The Spymaster's Lady. The main character is a Frenchwoman and Bourne's ability to convey the little linguistic quirks of a nonnative English speaker is wonderful. Sorry about the cover though.
Mary Balogh's Slightly series, specifically the two about the eldest brothers, Slightly Married and Slightly Dangerous. Both are well-written and period appropriate (... I mean, except for the sex; but her attention to detail and period accuracy is spot-on) and full of people yearning for each other but not being able to have each other for Reasons. (Warning that some of her more recent stuff has been getting suuuuuuper talky and the slow burn is so slow that it's ... nearly nonexistent, but those books are excellent.)
Courtney Milan's work is on auto-purchase for me; her most recent contemporary wasn't my favorite but her Brothers Sinister series is nearly uniformly excellent.
KJ Charles does great M/M work--the Magpie Lord series mentioned above is set in a really well-realized fantasy world. (If you're not up for fantasy I also liked her Think of England, set after WWII, and NonStop to Tokyo which has a M/F pairing and is more a thriller than a romance.)
Sara Manning's Unsticky and You Don't Have to Say You Love Me were surprise contemporary hits for me. Both feature characters who definitely do not have their sh*t together and the stakes feel higher for it. In other contemporaries, Jennifer Cruisie's Bet Me and Susan Elizabeth Phillip's Match Me If You Can had sharp modern heroines with personality and funny plots with lots of biting repartee (but also! heartache. YAY).
OK so all the books above are wonderfully full of believable angst (and hawt sex), but I also wanted to say that given your examples of well-liked storylines, I'm wondering if maybe you'd enjoy some stuff that's a little less specifically romance-y?
If so, in YA I might recommend Kristin Cashore's Graceling and Fire, both of which have a lot of that chest-achey feeling you're talking about and very satisfying romances, but also have plots that aren't solely driven by will-they-or-won't-they-get-together question. The heroine in Fire is just slightly Mary Sueish, but I sort of didn't care because the book was so devour-able.
Also in YA, I thought the Fair Assassin series was just so-so ... I liked some of Juliet Marillier's Sevenwaters series better, particularly Daughter of the Forest (a retelling of the seven swans fairytale).
posted by alleycat01 at 2:31 PM on July 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
Meredith Duran has some wonderful books. Fool Me Twice and A Lady's Lesson in Scandal are two of my very favorites -- smart, sharp heroines facing tough situations, intriguing heroes who aren't simply Alpha Males Changed By Instalust, and nary a TSTL moment in sight. Most of her books are Regency historicals but aren't solely confined to members of the upper crust, which is a nice change (and her portrayals feel well-researched and realistic).
Joanne Bourne's Spymaster series is also great, particularly The Spymaster's Lady. The main character is a Frenchwoman and Bourne's ability to convey the little linguistic quirks of a nonnative English speaker is wonderful. Sorry about the cover though.
Mary Balogh's Slightly series, specifically the two about the eldest brothers, Slightly Married and Slightly Dangerous. Both are well-written and period appropriate (... I mean, except for the sex; but her attention to detail and period accuracy is spot-on) and full of people yearning for each other but not being able to have each other for Reasons. (Warning that some of her more recent stuff has been getting suuuuuuper talky and the slow burn is so slow that it's ... nearly nonexistent, but those books are excellent.)
Courtney Milan's work is on auto-purchase for me; her most recent contemporary wasn't my favorite but her Brothers Sinister series is nearly uniformly excellent.
KJ Charles does great M/M work--the Magpie Lord series mentioned above is set in a really well-realized fantasy world. (If you're not up for fantasy I also liked her Think of England, set after WWII, and NonStop to Tokyo which has a M/F pairing and is more a thriller than a romance.)
Sara Manning's Unsticky and You Don't Have to Say You Love Me were surprise contemporary hits for me. Both feature characters who definitely do not have their sh*t together and the stakes feel higher for it. In other contemporaries, Jennifer Cruisie's Bet Me and Susan Elizabeth Phillip's Match Me If You Can had sharp modern heroines with personality and funny plots with lots of biting repartee (but also! heartache. YAY).
OK so all the books above are wonderfully full of believable angst (and hawt sex), but I also wanted to say that given your examples of well-liked storylines, I'm wondering if maybe you'd enjoy some stuff that's a little less specifically romance-y?
If so, in YA I might recommend Kristin Cashore's Graceling and Fire, both of which have a lot of that chest-achey feeling you're talking about and very satisfying romances, but also have plots that aren't solely driven by will-they-or-won't-they-get-together question. The heroine in Fire is just slightly Mary Sueish, but I sort of didn't care because the book was so devour-able.
Also in YA, I thought the Fair Assassin series was just so-so ... I liked some of Juliet Marillier's Sevenwaters series better, particularly Daughter of the Forest (a retelling of the seven swans fairytale).
posted by alleycat01 at 2:31 PM on July 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: Okay, this is incredible. You guys provided me with a TON of books/authors to look for. I favourited the ones that I feel most hit on what I am looking for, but frankly every answer was pretty great. Thank you so much everyone!!
I'm going to keep checking back to see if anyone else has anything to suggest. And if anyone has any same sex romance novels to recommend, feel free to add to the list!
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 7:33 AM on July 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
I'm going to keep checking back to see if anyone else has anything to suggest. And if anyone has any same sex romance novels to recommend, feel free to add to the list!
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 7:33 AM on July 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
For heterosexual historical romance, my all-time favorite is Judith Ivory. She hasn't written in many years, but her backlist is uniformly good. She has a very distinct, lush writing style, and her books are really character driven.
For m/m romance I am really into Avon Gale and the two m/m romances done by Sarina Bowen as part of a larger series. Oddly enough, both of those are about hockey players, but you don't need to know anything about hockey to like them.
posted by megancita at 8:28 AM on July 9, 2016
For m/m romance I am really into Avon Gale and the two m/m romances done by Sarina Bowen as part of a larger series. Oddly enough, both of those are about hockey players, but you don't need to know anything about hockey to like them.
posted by megancita at 8:28 AM on July 9, 2016
Thanks for this thread, PuppetMcSockerson! Added some new names to my TBR list.
not that girl: And can i just tell you that since I read this question 2 days ago, I picked up and read the entire 5-book Adrien English series by Josh Lanyon you recommended? (They are shortish and ... apparently sleep is unnecessary to my daily function, so, yeah.) Thanks for the rec! If you're a diehard mystery fan I don't know how surprising you'd find the mystery resolutions, but I was there for the good writing and the wonderfully-anguished, long-haul love story and whew baby it SATISFIED.
posted by alleycat01 at 8:30 AM on July 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
not that girl: And can i just tell you that since I read this question 2 days ago, I picked up and read the entire 5-book Adrien English series by Josh Lanyon you recommended? (They are shortish and ... apparently sleep is unnecessary to my daily function, so, yeah.) Thanks for the rec! If you're a diehard mystery fan I don't know how surprising you'd find the mystery resolutions, but I was there for the good writing and the wonderfully-anguished, long-haul love story and whew baby it SATISFIED.
posted by alleycat01 at 8:30 AM on July 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 10:04 AM on July 6, 2016