Tag: reccomendations

Books for Every Type of Love | Romance Week 2021

February 14, 2021

Happy Valentines Day!

This week I’ve been celebrating all things love and have shared a few other posts to help everyone get into the romantic mood and spirit, so I thought I conclude this week with a few romantic recommendations.

I saw this trend over on Bookstagram, and knew I had to do it too! Below is a list of some of the different types of love and some romantic tropes we can’t help but love! I’ve decided to only include books I’ve read on this list, otherwise these recommendations would be as long as my TBR, but feel free to leave any other recommendations in the comments below!

Enemies to Lovers

Everyones favourite romance trope, and the start of some of my favourite fictional couples, including Feyre and Rhys, Anthony and Kate and Bryce and Hunt. What I love the most about these enemies to lovers tropes is the constant bickering and witty remarks that slowly uncover each others hidden feelings for one another and that moment of realisation where they declare their love! I just can’t get enough and I love that we know they’re going to end up together but they just don’t know it yet!

Fake Dating

Again another ‘unexpected love’ trope that pushes two people in intolerable circumstances to form a ‘fake romance’ in order to solve their problem. However, it’s not that simple, and things start to develop romantically!

Friends to Lovers

This ‘will-they-won’t-they’ trope, already has the strong foundations of friendship and sometimes things blossom into something more!

Arranged Romance/Marriage

What’s more romantic than two people being forced to fall in love with each other? This is very similar to our enemies-to-lovers trope but it’s still a classic theme in YA fiction that us readers can’t help but love. One of my favourites in this category is The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh, a beautiful reimagining of The Arabian Nights legend and series I hope to dive back into this year.

Forbidden Romance

Whether it goes against social conduct, family rules or just the universe pushing two people apart, forbidden romances prove that love can conquer anything and to find peace in those ephemeral moments of adoration. But it also teaches us the importance of communication, am I right?

I will never stop going on about how wonderful The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller is, and I highly recommend that it’s on next months TBR because it is such a beautifully heartbreaking read.

Heartbreak

These books broke my heart and left me emotionally shattered, so forewarning for anyone who has these books on their TBR to make sure you have your tissues at the ready. As expected not every relationship ends with a ‘happily ever after’ but it does remind us to cherish those fleeting moments of pure happiness and blissful adoration. They remind us to reflect on them, because these are the moments that ultimately aid us in the moulding of ourselves and our future. Heartbreak is something may of us will endure, but it’s what’s waiting for us on the other side that make it all worthwhile.

Slowburn Romance

There’s nothing I hate more than an ‘insta-love’ situation, I’m much more a slow-burn and gradual romantic development kind of person, ever if the anticipation and teasing does kill me at times! With a slow-burn relationship we’re able to truly see our characters grow and develop meaningful feelings for each other resulting in a strong connection and heartwarming romance that just melts my heart. These longer relationships also allow our characters to slow identify and appreciate each others little quirks and create something beautiful.

Loving Yourself

In the wise words of RuPaul, ‘if you can’t love yourself, how in the hell are you going to love somebody else?’! These books embrace who we are and celebrate loving ourselves unconditionally as we follow our characters on insightful and beautiful journeys of self-discovery and worth. The reading experiences I had with all these books was unlike any other and I’m grateful to have been apart of them.

Family Love

There’s more to love than just the romantic kind, sometimes love can be found within our family, whether they are blood related or a found family, and is the type of love that has no bounds and will be there unconditionally. These books celebrate and reflect on the importance and fragility of family, so be sure to have your tissues at the ready.

And Finally,

Highlander Romance

I know that this isn’t a type of ‘love’ but it is a love of mine! I’m obsessed with these trashy romance novels and I’m making it my mission to read as many as I can. It all started in a pub in Glasgow, where my best friend and I decided to start a book club with some friends from university, and since then I’ve forced them all to experience the wonderfully cheesy romance that is these highlander adventures. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon is the exception on this list, and is anything but a trashy romance, instead it’s the perfect alternative for anyone looking for a Scottish inspired historical romance.

Top Romance Books On My TBR – Romance Week 2020

February 11, 2020

Happy Romance Week! As many of you know Friday is Valentine’s Day so in celebration I’ll be posting a couple of romance themed posts. I have to thank Goodreads for the inspiration behind this weeks posts and I highly recommend that you’ve check out their list of best romance novels here! I haven’t read a contemporary romance book since last summer when I read If You Could Go Anywhere by Paige Toon, which was adorable, and since Valentine’s Day is only round the corner I thought I’d share a few of the romance books that are on my TBR for 2020! I’m sucker for all the tropes especially unique meet-cutes, love-hate relationships and a good-old fashioned slow burning romance, for me there’s nothing worse than an insta-love storyline; I need details and development! Anyway, I’d love to know what some of your favourite romance reads are in comments or if any of these books are also on your TBR!

Can You Keep A Secret by Sophie Kinsella – Everyone raves about Sophie Kinsella but I am ashamed to admit that I’ve never read one of her books, so it’s about time that I changed that. I remember seeing the trailer for this adaptation and it looked so good, so I’m sure that I’m going love this story, as its fair to say that the books are always better than the film.

Emma by Jane Austen – The ultimate romance novel about matchmaking, finding your equal and earning your happy ending!

One Day in December by Josie Silver – This book is more of a wintery read so I might save it for those cold December nights, but still I wait to read this one. Just from the synopsis I know that this book will touch my heart and reaffirm my faith in love. Laurie is pretty sure love at first sight doesn’t exist anywhere but the movies. But then, through a misted-up bus window one snowy December day, she sees a man who she knows instantly is the one. Their eyes meet, there’s a moment of pure magic… and then her bus drives away.

Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston – This book blew up last year and as always I’m last to the party when it comes to reading it! I’m all for royalty and romance, so I’m sure that I’m going to love this book as much as everyone else!

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne – Another book that is soon to be adapted into a film starring Lucy Hale and Robbie Amell. Like I mentioned earlier I’m a sucker for a love-hate romance, this book is all about that. Lucy Hutton is charming and accommodating and prides herself on being loved by everyone at Bexley & Gamin. Everyone except for coldly efficient, impeccably attired, physically intimidating Joshua Templeman. And the feeling is mutual. Trapped in a shared office together hours a week, they’ve become entrenched in an addictive, ridiculous never-ending game of one-upmanship. Lucy can’t let Joshua beat her at anything—especially when a huge new promotion goes up for the taking.

Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibanez – I will admit that I fell utterly in love with this cover and knew I had to find out more about it. Woven in Moonlight is an enchanting tale about magic and romance, that draws heavily from Bolivian politics and history to create a mesmerising literary tapestry. I know this isn’t a contemporary romance but I couldn’t resit including it on this list!

Lola and The Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins – I remember falling utterly in love with Anna and the French Kiss, so I’ve got no idea why I stopped reading this series. I ready for some more light-hearted and adorable moments as well as a guaranteed unique meet-cute.

Summer Days and Summer Nights by Various Authors – A diverse collection of heart-warming stories by various authors including Stephanie Perkins, Leigh Bardugo, Cassandra Clare and more!

Authors I Want To Read More Of

May 20, 2017

Over the years I’ve read so many books by different authors and occasionally I find an author who I fall in love with which then leads me on a path where I have to read every book they’ve ever published, so I thought I’d share a few of my favorites as well as recommending a few of my favourite books that they’ve written.

Stephanie Garber – I know she’s only written one, but I am obsessed with her writing and storytelling ability. If you haven’t yet read her first book ‘Caraval’ then I highly recommend you do, as it’s a magical, mystical adventure that I couldn’t put down and need more of!

Ryan Graudin – I am in love with Graudin’s ‘Wolf by Wolf’ series because they were full of action and adventure, plus I love anything to do with the War. I wish this series was longer, but I forgot that she’s realeasing a new book this year called ‘Invictus’ which sounds really intresting and will definetly be joining my ever growing TBR.

Sarah J Maas – Sarah could write anything and I will guarantee you that I will read it because I’m in love with her and her ability to create and tell wonderful stories. There’s just something about her writing which is just so captivating and magical and don’t get me started on her characters, all of which are powerful and loveable! I hope one day I can write like her. Her two series ‘Throne of Glass’ and ‘A Court of Thornes and Roses’ are just pure brilliance and need to be read by everyone who loves YA fiction.

Leigh Bardugo – Just like Sarah J Maas, I will read just about anything that Leigh Bardugo writes and I need more of her writing and characters because they are all incredible. The Grisha world she has created is a magical masterpiece which I could spend forever in, following the journey of her heroes and villains. I highly recommend if you haven’t yet read her ‘Shadow and Bone’ series or her ‘Six of Crows’ series because they are two of my favourites and if you love fantasy then you’ll love these.

Nicola Yoon – Nicola Yoon is the perfect contemporary author and her first two books had me in awe and I loved every minute of them. Her characters and storylines are what I love most about her books as they are all lovable, diverse and powerful. Her debut novel ‘Everything, Everything’ has been adapted for the big screen so this is the perfect opportunity to read the book before you watch the film.

Stephanie Perkins – Another great contempoary author who’s ‘Anna and the French Kiss’ Series introudeced me to contempoary fiction and is another series that I fell in love with. I know she’s co-written a few other novels but I need another fun and romantic series to fall in love with!

5 Ways to Cure a Reading Slump and Book Recommendations

May 14, 2017

If you’ve read my April 2017 Wrap Up post then you’ll know that for the majority of the year so far I have been suffering from a major reading slump and am seriously behind on my Goodreads reading challenge! I think I’m 3/4 books behind schedule, whoops! Anyway, my book slump was cured by Lesley Livingston’s ‘The Valliant’ which was a fast paced adventure that I flew through and loved. Since then I’ve spent my Easter reading my heart out as I have exams in May which means my reading time will probably be taken over by work and revision! Nevertheless, I wanted to share different ways to cure your reading slump as well as recommending some books that might get rid of that slump!

Go to a bookshop or scroll through Amazon – By doing this hopefully you’ll find a book that you’ve forgotten and really want to read or just something different that sparks your interest! If you don’t want to spend anything then going to a library is a nice alternative.

Sort our your bookshelves – You’re killing two birds with one stone with this one! I usually find it really refreshing when organising my bookshelf and in doing so you might find a book you didn’t know you had or a book on your TBR that you have been dying to read!

Try a novella – Usually, it’s the size of a book that puts me off reading so a novella is a nice alternative because they’re shorter but you still get that sense of adventure and fix of some of your favourite characters!

Re-read a favourite – You can’t go wrong in re-reading one of your favourite books as you can guarantee that you will enjoy it and personally I find by re-reading a book you discover bits you missed the first time!

Try a different genre – Whether this is going back and reading something from your favourite genre or switching it up and reading something completely different. When reading grows tiresome, a switch in theme and style can be the exact palate cleanser you need to get back in the groove.

Recommendations:

  • I find that anything fast paced will instantly cure my reading slump as it throws you straight into the action and will keep you wanting to read on. Recently I read ‘The Valliant’ by Lesley Livingston and ‘The Murder Complex’ by Lindsey Cummings both of which were really fast paced and equally exciting reads!
  • Other easy reads include ‘The Selection’ by Kiera Cass which is a royal twist on the bachelor or ‘Cinder’ by Marisa Myers which is a sci-fi retelling of Cinderella!