The Book Blog

When you think of romance novels, do you think of cheesy covers with half naked men? Do you think of predictable plot lines? Dumb heroines? Over the top heroes? Cringe-worthy scenes? If you do, that’s okay! But I am here to tell you that romance novels have come a long way since then and why you should give them a try.

For me, I was tired of having to read assigned books in school that held little to no interest for me. I lost my love of reading and really struggled to find something I enjoyed. For many years, I chose not to read, outside of schoolwork. From about middle school to my freshman year of college, I read nothing outside of assigned reading, and the most popular books at the time, which was Twilight and Hunger Games. (I didn’t even read Harry Potter!) I was burnt out on reading. But my best friend introduced me to romance novels, and I was hooked. Today’s romance novels come in a variety of plot points, heat levels, and much more. There really is something for everyone in this genre. Here is a quick breakdown of ways to find the perfect romance novel for you!

Plot Points (Tropes)

Romance novels are famous for specific plot points, also known as tropes. Knowing the trope of the book will give you an idea about what the book is going to be about. Here are a few popular ones: Friends to Lovers, Enemies to Lovers, Fake Relationship, Second Chance, Forbidden Love.

Heat Levels

Don’t like super sexy scenes? That’s okay! Don’t like when the book leaves you hanging? That’s okay! Romance novels usually give labels to let you know how descriptive the book gets. Think of them like movie ratings: Clean (G), Sweet (PG), Steamy (PG-13/R), Spicy (R).

Genres within Genres

To me, the best part about romance novels is that they cover a huge variety of other genres. In fact, the romance can actually take place alongside another point plot. Mysteries and thriller/suspense romances are two subgenres where the romance is just a side plot to the overall plot of the book. Here are a few subgenres that are popular within the overall romance genre: Paranormal, Sports, Contemporary, Historical, LGBTQ+.

Romance novels can be read by anyone. You can find a romance novel that has any combination of tropes, levels of spice, and subgenres. After high school, college, and graduate school, I was tired of having to read assigned books that held little to no interest for me. When my best friend suggested that I read a romance novel, I scoffed at the idea of reading something like that. I thought that reading had to be educational, impactful, and enlightening. But I was wrong. Reading can be whatever you want it to be, and it took me until I was 20 to rediscover that idea. Are the plots predictable? Sometimes. Can the characters be cheesy, over the top, or just plain dumb? Sometimes. But can’t you say the same for other books in other genres?

I hope this gives you a better look into the romance genre and will encourage you to pick one up and give it a try! Let us know what you are reading or if you would like any recommendations!

Check out what we have at SJR State!

 

 

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

ISBN: 9781984806758

Publication Date: 2021-05-11

THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!  A TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON SUMMER READS NOMINEE! Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2021 by Newsweek ∙ Oprah Magazine ∙ The Skimm ∙ Marie Claire ∙ Parade ∙ The Wall Street Journal ∙ Chicago Tribune ∙ PopSugar ∙ BookPage ∙ BookBub ∙ Betches ∙ SheReads ∙ Good Housekeeping ∙ BuzzFeed ∙ Business Insider ∙ Real Simple ∙ Frolic ∙ and more! Two best friends. Ten summer trips. One last chance to fall in love. From the New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read comes a sparkling new novel that will leave you with the warm, hazy afterglow usually reserved for the best vacations.   Poppy and Alex. Alex and Poppy. They have nothing in common. She's a wild child; he wears khakis. She has insatiable wanderlust; he prefers to stay home with a book. And somehow, ever since a fateful car share home from college many years ago, they are the very best of friends. For most of the year they live far apart--she's in New York City, and he's in their small hometown--but every summer, for a decade, they have taken one glorious week of vacation together.   Until two years ago, when they ruined everything. They haven't spoken since.   Poppy has everything she should want, but she's stuck in a rut. When someone asks when she was last truly happy, she knows, without a doubt, it was on that ill-fated, final trip with Alex. And so, she decides to convince her best friend to take one more vacation together--lay everything on the table, make it all right. Miraculously, he agrees.   Now she has a week to fix everything. If only she can get around the one big truth that has always stood quietly in the middle of their seemingly perfect relationship. What could possibly go wrong?

 

Beach Read by Emily Henry

ISBN: 1984806734

Publication Date: 2020-05-19

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER FROM THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION! "Original, sparkling bright, and layered with feeling."--Sally Thorne, author of The Hating Game A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters. Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast. They're polar opposites. In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they're living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer's block. Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She'll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he'll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. Really.

 

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

ISBN: 9781250244499

Publication Date: 2021-06-01

*INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER* *INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER* *INSTANT #1 INDIE BESTSELLER* From the New York Times bestselling author of Red, White & Royal Blue comes a new romantic comedy that will stop readers in their tracks... For cynical twenty-three-year-old August, moving to New York City is supposed to prove her right: that things like magic and cinematic love stories don't exist, and the only smart way to go through life is alone. She can't imagine how waiting tables at a 24-hour pancake diner and moving in with too many weird roommates could possibly change that. And there's certainly no chance of her subway commute being anything more than a daily trudge through boredom and electrical failures. But then, there's this gorgeous girl on the train. Jane. Dazzling, charming, mysterious, impossible Jane. Jane with her rough edges and swoopy hair and soft smile, showing up in a leather jacket to save August's day when she needed it most. August's subway crush becomes the best part of her day, but pretty soon, she discovers there's one big problem: Jane doesn't just look like an old school punk rocker. She's literally displaced in time from the 1970s, and August is going to have to use everything she tried to leave in her own past to help her. Maybe it's time to start believing in some things, after all. Casey McQuiston's One Last Stop is a magical, sexy, big-hearted romance where the impossible becomes possible as August does everything in her power to save the girl lost in time. "A dazzling romance, filled with plenty of humor and heart." - Time Magazine, "The 21 Most Anticipated Books of 2021" "Dreamy, other worldly, smart, swoony, thoughtful, hilarious - all in all, exactly what you'd expect from Casey McQuiston!" - Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author of The Proposal and Party for Two

 

Verity by Colleen Hoover

ISBN: 9781791392796

Publication Date: 2018-12-10

Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin. When Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, asks Lowen to complete the remaining books in a contract his permanently injured wife is unable to fulfill, Lowen has no choice but to accept. Lowen arrives at the Crawford home with the intention of only staying one or two nights--long enough to sort through Verity's chaotic home office to collect all the notes and outlines she'll need to start writing the first novel. But the more time Lowen spends with Jeremy Crawford, the less of a hurry she is in to leave. While there, Lowen uncovers a hidden manuscript. An autobiography containing chilling admissions Verity planned to take to her grave, including the truth behind the events that turned their lives upside down. A truth that, if revealed to Jeremy, would further devastate the already grieving father. Lowen decides to keep the manuscript a secret, allowing Jeremy to continue to believe Verity is merely an innocent, unfortunate victim of circumstance. But as Lowen's feelings for the devoted father and husband deepen, she wonders if keeping Jeremy in the dark is in her own best interest. After all, if Jeremy were to read his wife's autobiography, the disturbing truth would make it impossible for him to continue to love her. A chilling romantic thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover.

 

It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

Call Number: Popular Fiction PS3608.O623 I84 2016

ISBN: 9781501110368

Publication Date: 2016-08-02

"The newest, highly anticipated novel from beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author, Colleen Hoover. Sometimes it is the one who loves you who hurts you the most. Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up--she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost too good to be true. Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his "no dating" rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place. As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan--her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened. With this bold and deeply personal novel, Colleen Hoover delivers a heart-wrenching story that breaks exciting new ground for her as a writer. Combining a captivating romance with a cast of all-too-human characters, It Ends With Us is an unforgettable tale of love that comes at the ultimate price"-- Provided by publisher.

 

Hook, Line, and Sinker : a novel by Tessa Bailey

ISBN: 9780063212749

Publication Date: 2022-03-01

AN INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES AND #1 USA TODAY BESTSELLER In the follow-up to It Happened One Summer, Tessa Bailey delivers another deliciously fun rom-com about a former player who accidentally falls for his best friend while trying to help her land a different man... King crab fisherman Fox Thornton has a reputation as a sexy, carefree flirt. Everyone knows he's a guaranteed good time--in bed and out--and that's exactly how he prefers it. Until he meets Hannah Bellinger. She's immune to his charm and looks, but she seems to enjoy his... personality? And wants to be friends? Bizarre. But he likes her too much to risk a fling, so platonic pals it is. Now, Hannah's in town for work, crashing in Fox's spare bedroom. She knows he's a notorious ladies' man, but they're definitely just friends. In fact, she's nursing a hopeless crush on a colleague and Fox is just the person to help with her lackluster love life. Armed with a few tips from Westport's resident Casanova, Hannah sets out to catch her coworker's eye... yet the more time she spends with Fox, the more she wants him instead. As the line between friendship and flirtation begins to blur, Hannah can't deny she loves everything about Fox, but she refuses to be another notch on his bedpost.  Living with his best friend should have been easy. Except now she's walking around in a towel, sleeping right across the hall, and Fox is fantasizing about waking up next to her for the rest of his life and... and... man overboard! He's fallen for her, hook, line, and sinker. Helping her flirt with another guy is pure torture, but maybe if Fox can tackle his inner demons and show Hannah he's all in, she'll choose him instead?

I’ve been hearing the Brené Brown buzz for a while. In fact, I have a paperback copy of Daring Greatly on my home bookshelf that I have been steadily avoiding for years. I can’t really tell you why I’ve been avoiding her. Maybe it’s because she’s been too popular. Perhaps my little heart can’t take one more “too good to be true” self-help guru. Perhaps it’s because Oprah is a fan. When her work came up in some research on giving and accepting feedback, I finally decided she could no longer be ignored. I guess that happens when someone is talking about something you are incredibly interested in, darn her!

I decided to start small with Brené in the most literal sense. I chose her book The Gifts of Imperfection because it’s a slim one hundred and thirty-seven pages. Obviously, I didn’t want to invest too much time and effort into someone I was skeptical about. The premise of the book did intrigue me. The cover teases, “let go of who you think you’re supposed to be and embrace who you are.” That sounded good to me, but I was fearful that she’d just throw a bunch of surface-level vague notions of “be yourself” at me with no real action plan.

I pride myself on being an honest person, and I am happy to tell you that Brené was not what I expected. First, she’s a researcher, and her work is grounded in research- both her personal work and the work of other professionals. I didn’t know anything about her going into this book and was so thrilled to read within the first few pages that she’s not just some well-meaning (or money-grabbing) lady with a book deal. In fact, she has dedicated an entire chapter to describing her work and her research process. Gold star! She does an excellent job of presenting research in a readable and relatable way. She does this by using real-world examples and reframing complex ideas. For instance, she writes new and improved definitions for terms that can be difficult to understand based on her qualitative research. She’s talking to people and using their experiences and words to inform her work. She is also very transparent about how the ideas presented in her research take shape in her personal life. Brené talks about her own shame, guilt, joy, and fear.

Brené also impressed me by providing information about concrete actions I can take to improve areas of my life that need development. I appreciate that I can start working on myself today because of reading her book. I have already incorporated a few of her ideas into my daily life and intend on trying out other pieces of advice from the book.

Another thing that I loved about this book is that Brené mentions other researchers and authors by name and references their work. Because of her diligence and transparency, I have a great list of books to follow up on in different areas that I want to develop. I also plan on reading some of her other works because I was impressed by this one.

This tiny book packed a powerful punch. If you have an interest in developing in any of the following areas, this book is for you:

• Authenticity
• Self-Compassion
• Resilient Spirit
• Gratitude and Joy
• Intuition and Faith
• Creativity
• Play and Rest
• Calm and Stillness
• Meaningful Work
• Laughter, Song, and Dance

P.S. some of these themes aren’t what I initially expected. She was pleasantly surprising me all over the place!

The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brené Brown

ISBN: 9781592858491

Publication Date: 2010-08-27

Brené Brown's game-changing New York Times bestseller, The Gifts of Imperfection, has sold more than 2 million copies in more than 30 different languages and is celebrating its 10th Anniversary in print. Forbes magazine named Gifts one of the "Five Books That Will Actually Change Your Outlook On Life." Through this self-help classic we find courage to overcome paralyzing fear and self-consciousness, strengthening our connection to the world and helping us to believe we are worthy of self-discovery, personal growth, and boundless love. A motivational and inspiring guide to wholehearted living, rather than just the average self-help book, with this groundbreaking work Brené Brown, Ph.D., bolsters the self-esteem and personal development process through her characteristic heartfelt, honest storytelling. With original research and plenty of encouragement, she explores the psychology of releasing our definitions of an "imperfect" life and embracing living authentically. Brown's "ten guideposts"  are benchmarks for authenticity that can help anyone establish a practice for a life of honest beauty--a perfectly imperfect life. Now more than ever, we all need to cultivate feelings of self-worth, as well as acceptance and love for ourselves. In a world where insults, criticisms, and fears are spread too generously alongside messages of unrealistic beauty, attainment, and expectation, we look for ways to "dig deep" and find truth and gratitude in our lives. A new way forward means we can't hold on too tightly to our own self-defeating thoughts or the displaced pain in our world. Instead, we can embrace the imperfection.

 

Rising Strong by Brené Brown

Call Number: BF637 .S4 B8118 2015

ISBN: 9780812995824

Publication Date: 2015-08-25

"The physics of vulnerability is simple: If we are brave enough often enough, we will fall. The author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Daring Greatly and The Gifts of Imperfection tells us what it takes to get back up, and how owning our stories of disappointment, failure, and heartbreak gives us the power to write a daring new ending. Struggle, Brene Brown writes, can be our greatest call to courage, and rising strong our clearest path to a wholehearted life"-- Provided by publisher.
"With her 2010 TED talk on the power of vulnerability (over 18 million views), her bestselling books on the transformative gifts of shame and vulnerability, and her inspiring call for wholehearted living, Brene Brown has changed the cultural conversation. Her work has been embraced by Oprah Winfrey and corporate leaders alike making her a highly sought after public speaker. For Brene, the conversation about vulnerability and shame naturally evolves into a discussion of bravery--its origins, its catalysts, its chemistry. How we are brave. What constitutes bravery. What activates the impulse to be brave. And how to recognize where our own "hero’s journey" begins--in the depths of failure, disappointment, heartbreak, and grief--and how, once we grapple with our story, we are able to rise from those depths and determine how we want our story will end"-- Provided by publisher.

 

Daring Greatly by Brené Brown

Call Number: BF 575 .A85 B76 2012

ISBN: 9781592407330

Publication Date: 2012-09-11

Based on twelve years of research, thought leader Dr. Bren Brown argues that vulnerability is not weakness, but rather our clearest path to courage, engagement, and meaningful connection.

I’m excited to announce that three new contributors will now be adding content to The Book Blog! These three bloggers will expand the diversity and voice of the blog content. I’m excited to read what they will have to share! Here are some brief biographies to get you acquainted:

Letitia Bulic, Public Services Librarian, St. Augustine Campus Library

Letitia is the Public Services Librarian at the St. Augustine Campus Library. Letitia is a voracious reader of a variety of genres. She will also be the Vikings Read More Challenge and Book Club facilitator at the St. Augustine Campus starting in the fall. We’ll learn more about Letitia from her upcoming blog posts!

Brenda Hoffman, Academic Support Coordinator, Writing Center SAC (bio provided by Brenda)

Genres you like to read: memoir, mystery, humorous essays, history

Favorite books: Naked, Angela’s Ashes, Catcher in the Rye, The Sudden Appearance of Hope, Strangers on a Train, Cat’s Cradle, Of Mice and Men, Interview with a Vampire, Church of the Dead Girls… (I’ll stop here)

Least favorite books: The Bridges of Madison County, Hunger Games series, Twilight series, Manga

Authors you enjoy: David Sedaris, Frank McCourt, Kurt Vonnegut, David Foster Wallace, Stephen King, Ruth Ware…

Where, how, and why you like to read: I like to read outside with audible if the narrator’s voice suits the piece. Reading on a hammock is glorious with my dog, Axel, sitting by my side is wonderful, too. I’m enjoying audible books thanks to my sisters, Sara and Suzy, who encouraged me to read Claire North’s The Sudden Appearance of Hope whose narrator is a dream! I listened to Hope in a park filled with shady trees. Stephen King said in an interview that he reads a hundred books a year, and he offers suggestions for readers. I’m rarely disappointed when I follow King’s advice; I read Church of the Dead Girls on his recommendation. Wonderful read. I read on my Kindle (app and the Kindle). I read print books checked out from the SJR State library, SAC campus, as well as inter-library loan. I love opening print books because I miss using bookmarks! And Libby and Hoopla keep me in a never-ending supply of stories. I credit my mom with my love of reading. As the last of eleven children, I cherished time alone with my mom who was a voracious reader. Even when I was too young to read, I’d curl up next to her while she read, pretending that I could understand the jumbled words in her books. When I was of age, trips to the library introduced me to Nancy Drew. I was hooked. Losing myself in a book, devouring a perfect first sentence of book, or relating to a character in a book are reasons why I love reading. And reading reminds me of my mom, which is the best reason to read!

Kendall McCurley, Public Services Librarian, Orange Park Campus Library (bio provided by Kendall)

Favorite Books:  I don't actually have a favorite book but I do have my favorite genres which are historical fiction, true crime, mystery, and romance.

Least Favorite Books: My absolute least favorite book is Catcher in the Rye. I also am not a huge fan of science fiction.

Authors You Enjoy: I love Nora Roberts, Suzanne Collins, Samantha Whiskey, and many other authors that I can't think of right now!

Where, How, and Why You Like to Read: I rediscovered my love of reading about 10 years ago. Throughout middle and high school, I didn't really have the time to read and disliked a lot of the assigned reading that I had in school. In college, I discovered iBooks on my iPad and have been reading non-stop ever since. I typically read on my iPad through iBooks or with Kindle Unlimited. I try to read a little bit every day. Mostly, I end up reading picture books to my daughter but every now and then, I get a moment to read on my own! I just finished reading 'Confederates in the Attic' by Tony Horwitz and I'm currently reading 'The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.