Reading Recs - Tumblr Posts

I enjoy novels with a bit of romance just like the next guy, but I'm getting sick of reading the same lame ass relationship dynamic where a masculine man with anger issues and overprotective tendencies (that end up paying off in the end) is with a feminine woman who has little to no personality besides sarcastic comments and sex appeal (and was obviously written by a man who had no idea how to write women).

That being said, does anyone have any book recommendations featuring a relationship dynamic that's more interesting and less misogynistic? Preferably where the woman is the dominant, masculine one in the relationship and the man is softer and more feminine.

(Bonus points if there's a kidnapping involved. I eat that shit for breakfast.)

THE TRAVELLING CAT CHRONICLES IS SOOO GOOD OMG IM ACTUALLY SCREAMING CRYING THROWING UP IVE READ THE BOOK OVER AND OVER AGAIN BUT IT WAS MY FRIENDS COPY SO NOW IM GONNA BUY MY OWN ONE TO ANNOTATE AND WRITE IN A GO FUCKING CRAZY OVER :3

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. 

How to Use the Queer Book Master List

I have created a master list of queer fiction books which can be sorted and filtered by your preferences.  However, many have asked how to use it - so I have created a quick guide below!

This is not like google sheets - any filters you create will only be shown to you and will disappear when you exit that screen. So feel free to mess around! I promise you won’t ruin anything.

Step 1: Open the database

Step 2: Select the “Create Your Own Filter” view on the left-hand side.

Step 3: Click “filter” on the top bar.

Step 4: Input any filters you would like to organize the files by. The screen will automatically update with books that fit into all of your specifications.

Thank you so much @kukuandkookie

I appreciate it ^-^

I'll look more into the lists when I can. I do have some manhua and manhwas in mind already but I haven't listed them yet, like Tamen De Gushi, but I'm lazy :p

I haven't really ever had an interest in BL, but I'll see if anything is really cute or something.

GL though, gimme gimme~ I love W O M E N

My Reading List (Categorized) [wip]:

Short Hand Memos / Legend Key:

HSY = Haven't Started Yet, GuO = Gave Up On, NtF = Need to Finish, R = Read / Finished It

Light Novels:

Manga:

Wanna Skip School in the Infirmary? - Finished Chapter 5 / ? [ waiting for updates ]

IDOL×IDOL STORY! - Finished Chapter 1 / ?

Killing Me! - HSY

The Anemone Feels The Heat - HSY

How Do We Relationship? - Finished Chapter 4 / ?

Yuri Is My Job! - HSY

Manhua:

Manhwa:

Regular Books:

The Undetectables by Courtney Smyth - NtF

The Undead Complex by Courtney Smyth (AKA Undetectables 2) - HSY

Webtoons: