Wear A Different Perfume When You Commit Murder Fuckinamateurs

wear a different perfume when you commit murder fuckin amateurs 

Just for reference, sliced bread was invented in 1928. - (x)

do you have any recs for romance novels that are like fanfic (but with original characters obv) in that they AREN’T those books w a shirtless guy on the cover that middle aged women love? idk ngozi posted a bit about sport news reporters on her pillowfort and it made me crave more stuff like that

1) don’t diss the old-school romance novels and, cliche as it may be, don’t judge a book by its cover. Romance writers and readers are dismissed all the time in spite of being one of the most successful genres in sales and reader numbers, and I have a lot of feelings about that. 

2) if you want romance recommendations regularly, I highly recommend following the bookstore The Ripped Bodice on social media. They’re in LA and while I’m internet friends with someone who works there, I have never been there, but their recommendations are always on point. There may be some other romance bookstores out there, but I like them. 

Okay now a few recommendations. Some of these feel more like fanfiction than others, but I liked them, so maybe you’ll like them, too. I’m linking them to bookshop dot org listings, because that benefits small bookstores; I signed up for an affiliate program, so full disclosure I could get money back if you choose to buy here, but I would just use that money to buy more books to read and recommend; also you can probably get e-versions from your library using Libby or Overdrive or Hoopla or whatever:

Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. 

Short summary: The son of America’s first female president and the prince of England totally hate each other. Wait, actually, the son of America’s first female president is a disaster bi who didn’t realize he had an enormous (reciprocated) crush on the prince of England. 

Why it’s good: Beautiful writing, like no straight people, political drama that’s like West Wing levels of stress, not Real Life levels of stress, and just the best romantic emails.

Nota Bene: I keep seeing this on YA lists. It is not YA. It’s aimed at younger adults, but it’s not aimed at 13-18 year olds. There is some actual sex in here and everyone is like 22. It could be categorized as New Adult. 

Also I can’t wait for her next book. 

ANYTHING by Meg Cabot. 

Okay this is a broad recommendation. I guess it doesn’t count her books for kids, because I haven’t read those. But! Meg Cabot writes a lot of great stuff and I love her. 

Most recent is No Judgments, so I’ll recommend that first. It’s a standalone book where a girl, Bri, who’s falling apart after several family crises rides out a hurricane in the Florida Keys. Unfortunately, the hurricane is way more severe than people thought, and pets that would’ve been okay being left at home for a couple days are going to be alone for weeks. Bri and a very hot man go around rescuing pets. They are smooching on the cover so I think you can guess how that ends up. 

Ok the next couple are ones that I’ve heard recommended, but that I haven’t read yet. 

The Kiss Quotient, by Helen Hoang, and her other books. 

A book about an autistic woman written by an autistic woman! I’ve heard it’s fun and sexy and good. It’s on my shelf; I got it at my local used bookstore in The Before Times. 

Jasmine Guillory’s books

Haven’t read them yet, but they’re highly recommended by a bunch of people. She’s generally writing about black couples, weddings, fake dating, and a touch of enemies to lovers. They also seem to be in a shared universe situation, so if you like being able to see characters in different books from different perspectives, this might be good for you. 

Recommendations from the bookseller I’m friends with when I was lamenting how I don’t think I’ve read any wlw-focused romance, in spite of being myself a wlw; I haven’t read them yet but look I have about ten thousand books on my to-read list:

Something to Talk About, Meryl Wilsner- not out yet but there’s some buzz around it

The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics, Olivia Waite. Looks like it’s historical, but I am intrigued. 

Hydra's absolutely ridiculous shackles for Steve Rogers

YES

I AM EXCITEMENT!!!!!! SO MUCH PRETTY!!!!!!