Looooved Orbital, ugh. Anita De Monte wasn't for me, but I've had my eye on The Book of Alchemy, and I watched you from the Ocean Floor sounds sooooo wonderful! great recs as always!
Thank you EJ! Anita was a slower read for me (I read that spicy romcom in between starting and finishing it) and I’ve heard some good debates about why it’s a bothersome book. And I agree with them to a degree! I liked the revenge and I liked the representation. I hated the men lol.
The Book of Alchemy is so lovely if you’re looking to cement your journaling practice or just take it in a different direction. Definitely pick it up if so! 🫶🏽
I’m plowing through Naomi Alderman’s “The Future” — WOAH! Highest recommendation. It’s chillingly current snd propulsive with a fascinating structure. If you enjoyed her earlier book, “The Power,” you will ❤️ this
I really wanted to love Anita De Monte Laughs Last, but I just couldn’t. I felt like the characters were stereotypes of college students. They felt very flat. I think she could’ve done more to add to their complexity. I also didn’t love that the author didn’t ask Ana Mendieta’s family for permission to use the artists story in the character of Anita (it’s basically a biography of her).
Okay so I didn't know about Ana Mendieta until I was writing this post and couldn't remember Jack's name and had to look the book up! I don't like that at all. Did Ana's family get upset about it?
I also put the book down halfway through to read the fun spicy romcom I wrote about over Mother's Day weekend, then picked it up and finished it. The second half was more engrossing to me than the first. I know what you're saying about the stereotypical college students. What I liked was the relationship between mother and daughter. But god, I hated Raquel's boyfriend and his family!
Thanks for sharing this. I guess I'm glad I didn't know about the lack of permission seeking until now!
I think they were upset. They felt that Ana didn’t get the recognition she deserved in life and they want to have some control over how she is portrayed in death. They also are afraid she will be portrayed as just another crazy Latina.
I agree the second half was better. Most people in my book club also wanted the connection between the two female characters to happen sooner.
It does help me to know my Guatemalan step sister approved. Now I want to ask her if it bothered her how they made Anita out to be a crazy Cuban. I wonder if it's simply a case of such a lack of representation that even this book feels like a win.
I bet they are so good and so fun (and hot too lol). I’m sure you’ll enjoy Along Came Amor even more than I did since you already know the girls! I really loved it. Just a fun, easy, quick read, even though it’s over 500 pages!
Hi there! I have a silly question for you! I love romances, but I am really uncomfortable with spicy scenes. Do you have any good quality romances you could recommend that focus more on the relationship dynamics and have more of a "fade to black" mentality? No shame for those who like them, I'm just looking for something a little different!
Hi Evelyn, not weird at all! That's a great question. I don't read a TON of romance so I may not be the best resource here, but I've heard Ali Hazelwood is great and her books aren't super spicy. I think Abby Jiminez writes pretty low-spice books as well, but I haven't read her either.
I've read several of Annabel Monaghan's books and there are sex scenes in them but they're nowhere near as spicy as the book I wrote about in this post, for example. My favorite of hers is Same Time Next Summer.
One other romance I read that I don't think was too spicy was Just One Taste by Lizzy Dent. I read it about a year ago so I can't say for sure, but I don't think there's much sex in it.
So for historical romance, you can't go wrong with Mimi Mathews. I would suggest starting with The Work of Art and then continuing with that series. I enjoy her self published work more than the ones she is publishing with Berkley. Also, I highly recommend The Letter Tree and Beyond Ivy Walls by Rachel Fordham are also excellent. If you want to try Jane Austen Fan Fiction I love Heather Molls books (not all are clean, but none are super explicit.) For contemporary, Sarah Adams books should be easy to get at the library. Authentically, Izzy and Italian Rendezvous are book sweet romance books I haven't read, but I plan to. I hope this helps get you started! Happy reading.
Looooved Orbital, ugh. Anita De Monte wasn't for me, but I've had my eye on The Book of Alchemy, and I watched you from the Ocean Floor sounds sooooo wonderful! great recs as always!
Thank you EJ! Anita was a slower read for me (I read that spicy romcom in between starting and finishing it) and I’ve heard some good debates about why it’s a bothersome book. And I agree with them to a degree! I liked the revenge and I liked the representation. I hated the men lol.
The Book of Alchemy is so lovely if you’re looking to cement your journaling practice or just take it in a different direction. Definitely pick it up if so! 🫶🏽
Ooh, I'm just heading to the bookstore; I am going to pick up ‘Better’ and give it a read on the way back from London today
Great! It’s gutting and honest and so real.
I’m plowing through Naomi Alderman’s “The Future” — WOAH! Highest recommendation. It’s chillingly current snd propulsive with a fascinating structure. If you enjoyed her earlier book, “The Power,” you will ❤️ this
I haven’t read that! Either one actually. Requesting from the library now, thank you Julie!
Ooooo!! You're in for a treat! Start with "The Power." Enjoy!
Will do! Thank you!!
I have The Book of Alchemy in my TBR stack. Moving it to the top. Thanks. 🙏
I really wanted to love Anita De Monte Laughs Last, but I just couldn’t. I felt like the characters were stereotypes of college students. They felt very flat. I think she could’ve done more to add to their complexity. I also didn’t love that the author didn’t ask Ana Mendieta’s family for permission to use the artists story in the character of Anita (it’s basically a biography of her).
Okay so I didn't know about Ana Mendieta until I was writing this post and couldn't remember Jack's name and had to look the book up! I don't like that at all. Did Ana's family get upset about it?
I also put the book down halfway through to read the fun spicy romcom I wrote about over Mother's Day weekend, then picked it up and finished it. The second half was more engrossing to me than the first. I know what you're saying about the stereotypical college students. What I liked was the relationship between mother and daughter. But god, I hated Raquel's boyfriend and his family!
Thanks for sharing this. I guess I'm glad I didn't know about the lack of permission seeking until now!
I think they were upset. They felt that Ana didn’t get the recognition she deserved in life and they want to have some control over how she is portrayed in death. They also are afraid she will be portrayed as just another crazy Latina.
I agree the second half was better. Most people in my book club also wanted the connection between the two female characters to happen sooner.
That’s so sad, I hate it! Especially since this whole book is about recognition. That seems like a big miss in my opinion.
Yeah I can totally see people wanting the women to connect sooner. More Anita, less Jack. So much less Jack.
Yes, that was the exact comment: we want Latina women connecting, not Jack and his ridiculousness!
YES!! More fun Latinas!
It does help me to know my Guatemalan step sister approved. Now I want to ask her if it bothered her how they made Anita out to be a crazy Cuban. I wonder if it's simply a case of such a lack of representation that even this book feels like a win.
The first two in the Primas of Power series are also excellent! I'm so excited to finally read Ava's story.
I bet they are so good and so fun (and hot too lol). I’m sure you’ll enjoy Along Came Amor even more than I did since you already know the girls! I really loved it. Just a fun, easy, quick read, even though it’s over 500 pages!
Hi there! I have a silly question for you! I love romances, but I am really uncomfortable with spicy scenes. Do you have any good quality romances you could recommend that focus more on the relationship dynamics and have more of a "fade to black" mentality? No shame for those who like them, I'm just looking for something a little different!
Thanks so much for this wonderful post!
Hi Evelyn, not weird at all! That's a great question. I don't read a TON of romance so I may not be the best resource here, but I've heard Ali Hazelwood is great and her books aren't super spicy. I think Abby Jiminez writes pretty low-spice books as well, but I haven't read her either.
I've read several of Annabel Monaghan's books and there are sex scenes in them but they're nowhere near as spicy as the book I wrote about in this post, for example. My favorite of hers is Same Time Next Summer.
One other romance I read that I don't think was too spicy was Just One Taste by Lizzy Dent. I read it about a year ago so I can't say for sure, but I don't think there's much sex in it.
My friend Melissa at @The Literary Assistant can probably help you! She's here: https://www.theliteraryassistant.com/
I hope you find something you love, thank you for asking for a recc!
Wow! Thank you so much for the great info!
Hello, hello!!!! Are you looking for contemporary, historical or both for your recommendations? I'm always happy to help. :)
I knew you'd be perfect for this 😁
Both would be great! Thank you!
So for historical romance, you can't go wrong with Mimi Mathews. I would suggest starting with The Work of Art and then continuing with that series. I enjoy her self published work more than the ones she is publishing with Berkley. Also, I highly recommend The Letter Tree and Beyond Ivy Walls by Rachel Fordham are also excellent. If you want to try Jane Austen Fan Fiction I love Heather Molls books (not all are clean, but none are super explicit.) For contemporary, Sarah Adams books should be easy to get at the library. Authentically, Izzy and Italian Rendezvous are book sweet romance books I haven't read, but I plan to. I hope this helps get you started! Happy reading.
Thank you so much! This is so useful!
You're so welcome. Happy reading!
Seriously… any time!