Take a Trip to Romancelandia

What, you thought I’d let February go by without talking about romance novels? Better late than never!

I love romance novels. I could sit and read them for hours (and I have!). Romance authors who know how to convey emotions craft novels that are easy to sink into. Plus, they’re a nice palate cleanser after reading books for academia or a thick fantasy novel. 

I hate the notion that romance novels are “trashy” or a “guilty pleasure.” I don’t feel guilty reading them, and some of the best stories I’ve read are classified as romance! They allow me to escape the current world and let me live vicariously through people who get their Happily Ever After, even though the journey is a messy one. 

Some of my favorite romance books include Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, The O’Malleys series by Katee Robert, the Dollar series by Pepper Winters, and the Brutal Birthright series by Sophie Lark. And some of my favorite books that include romance are Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen (or any book by Dessen), Time's Daughter by Anya Breton, and The Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassandra Clare. 

As you can imagine, my To Be Read list is a mile long, but some books and series I plan on reading in the near future include The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood, The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar, the Bridgertons series by Julia Quinn, the Knitting in the City series by Penny Reid, the On Dublin Street series by Samantha Young, and many, many more. 

This is not an exaggeration: romance novels are the backbone of the publishing industry. They bring in millions of dollars a year. So next time you go to the bookstore, maybe look for a romance novel. There’s always something for everyone!

“You have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on.” -Mr. Darcy to Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen