This is just what I needed! Good rom com reccomendations - and a good few I’ve not read yet! Have you tried any of Leeane Slades books on audible? They’re free with membership, she was my new discovery this year… and I’m now re-listening!
I don’t read rom coms, or watch them often, and I’ve just thought about why and realised I have a preference for things that make me sad/ angry: something to take to therapy lol. But I can see what you mean though and I think the same happens with pop music too - like, I grew up not feeling allowed to like boy bands because my very serious music fan brother was so scathing of their music.
Yeah I think the comparison is a good one. And I totally get not everyone enjoys the genre! But it’s when people love it on screen but get sniffy about it on paper that I find very interesting….. lol at your sad books. I like to have a funny/romantic chaser after a sad book 😂🫣
I'm writing a romantic comedy right now, and I'd actually be kind of disappointed if it got a map on the cover (the plot does involve a journey) rather than illustrations like they give to Emily Henry or Sophia Money-Coutts.
Oh I love EH’s covers too - it was more a comment on the lack of other options. And I know it’s meant to signal to readers that it’s a certain kind of book but I also think it stops other readers picking them up. I really hope you get the cover you want!! I would LOVE to see more rom-coms published by men 😃
Hooray for this list and the whole post, Penny! I need some proper escapism this festive, and was reminded the other night at the Substack reading how much joy and solace I got from reading India Knight about a decade or so ago. I loved Romantic Comedy last year, and have You Are Here on Audible... Se you on the other side and wishing you and yours a cosy time. Xx
The audio of Romantic Comedy was so good! I mostly listen to rom-coms - unless it’s the xmas hols and we’re sitting around in our pjs most of the day 😆
I had a similar attitude in my 20s, until I got bored of reading mostly literary fiction by mostly old white men. Now I love romance/rom-coms! If you like your romance with some fantasy and literary allusions - highly recommend India Holton.
Ooh I haven’t read her - will look her up. I think perhaps in our twenties we are overly concerned with how we appear to others . Thank god we got over it 😆
Funnily enough I don’t like ‘chick lit’ whereas my husband does. Which is sort of heartwarming for me. And heartwarming is often the essence of ‘chick lit’. I give up 😆
Ahh well Katherine Center writes a whole thing about how love stories encourage and celebrate pro-social behaviour, so I agree I think it’s a great sign if your husband enjoys them!
I have been thinking about the David Nichols book too, and wondering how it would be received if it was written by a woman. Your point about the cover hadn’t occurred to me, all of his books have been marketed really differently to most (written by women) rom coms, it’s pretty stupid!
I leaned heavily into romcom as a healthcare worker during Covid. I craved happy endings and now they have become a part of my regular reading. This is a great list, many I've read and a few I have not but will soon!
I love rom-coms, Penny. I love them because I know how the story will end. I love them because of the focus on relationships and the people in them. And I love your list! Thank you:)
I hate the term chick-lit even when used by people who enjoy the genre. There are so many great, fun, uplifting and emotional books out there to enjoy and I’m particularly partial to Christmas ones. There’s just not enough time to read them all!
Yeah it’s a pretty old fashioned term you don’t hear much anymore (thank goodness!). I really enjoy a Christmas rom-com too! Lindsey Kelk’s Christmas Wish is great. I’d love to know your favs
I enjoyed a Christmas Wish too. A few faves of mine would be all the Heidi Swain Christmas ones, Cathy Bramley’s Merry Shaw series, starting with The Merry Christmas Project, Emma Hannigan’s Driving Home for Christmas, Holly Martin’s Town Called Christmas, Carole Matthews’ With Love at Christmas…
So many! I’m now making myself want to reread old favourites but I’m really enjoying the new Sarah Morgan one I’m currently reading- The Christmas Cottage.
Yes to this! Noting down all the titles on your list I haven’t yet read… 💛
Feel free to shoot some back at me! I’m always looking for more to add to my audible wish list 🥰
This is just what I needed! Good rom com reccomendations - and a good few I’ve not read yet! Have you tried any of Leeane Slades books on audible? They’re free with membership, she was my new discovery this year… and I’m now re-listening!
Ooh will check her out!
Yes Penny! 👏 Gotta love a good Rom-com 👍🥰
I don’t read rom coms, or watch them often, and I’ve just thought about why and realised I have a preference for things that make me sad/ angry: something to take to therapy lol. But I can see what you mean though and I think the same happens with pop music too - like, I grew up not feeling allowed to like boy bands because my very serious music fan brother was so scathing of their music.
Yeah I think the comparison is a good one. And I totally get not everyone enjoys the genre! But it’s when people love it on screen but get sniffy about it on paper that I find very interesting….. lol at your sad books. I like to have a funny/romantic chaser after a sad book 😂🫣
You KNOW this is right up my street! And shall be adding all of the reccs you've shared that i haven't read onto my Storygraph immediately.
Ooh please share some authors back - I feel like this genre is teaming with great authors I haven’t read yet ❤️
I'm writing a romantic comedy right now, and I'd actually be kind of disappointed if it got a map on the cover (the plot does involve a journey) rather than illustrations like they give to Emily Henry or Sophia Money-Coutts.
Oh I love EH’s covers too - it was more a comment on the lack of other options. And I know it’s meant to signal to readers that it’s a certain kind of book but I also think it stops other readers picking them up. I really hope you get the cover you want!! I would LOVE to see more rom-coms published by men 😃
Hooray for this list and the whole post, Penny! I need some proper escapism this festive, and was reminded the other night at the Substack reading how much joy and solace I got from reading India Knight about a decade or so ago. I loved Romantic Comedy last year, and have You Are Here on Audible... Se you on the other side and wishing you and yours a cosy time. Xx
The audio of Romantic Comedy was so good! I mostly listen to rom-coms - unless it’s the xmas hols and we’re sitting around in our pjs most of the day 😆
I had a similar attitude in my 20s, until I got bored of reading mostly literary fiction by mostly old white men. Now I love romance/rom-coms! If you like your romance with some fantasy and literary allusions - highly recommend India Holton.
Ooh I haven’t read her - will look her up. I think perhaps in our twenties we are overly concerned with how we appear to others . Thank god we got over it 😆
Funnily enough I don’t like ‘chick lit’ whereas my husband does. Which is sort of heartwarming for me. And heartwarming is often the essence of ‘chick lit’. I give up 😆
Ahh well Katherine Center writes a whole thing about how love stories encourage and celebrate pro-social behaviour, so I agree I think it’s a great sign if your husband enjoys them!
That’s a nice thought!
I have been thinking about the David Nichols book too, and wondering how it would be received if it was written by a woman. Your point about the cover hadn’t occurred to me, all of his books have been marketed really differently to most (written by women) rom coms, it’s pretty stupid!
I leaned heavily into romcom as a healthcare worker during Covid. I craved happy endings and now they have become a part of my regular reading. This is a great list, many I've read and a few I have not but will soon!
Thanks for this reminder Penny! The Rom-Commers was the perfect holiday switch off. Also devoured The Bodyguard this week.
I love rom-coms, Penny. I love them because I know how the story will end. I love them because of the focus on relationships and the people in them. And I love your list! Thank you:)
I hate the term chick-lit even when used by people who enjoy the genre. There are so many great, fun, uplifting and emotional books out there to enjoy and I’m particularly partial to Christmas ones. There’s just not enough time to read them all!
Yeah it’s a pretty old fashioned term you don’t hear much anymore (thank goodness!). I really enjoy a Christmas rom-com too! Lindsey Kelk’s Christmas Wish is great. I’d love to know your favs
I enjoyed a Christmas Wish too. A few faves of mine would be all the Heidi Swain Christmas ones, Cathy Bramley’s Merry Shaw series, starting with The Merry Christmas Project, Emma Hannigan’s Driving Home for Christmas, Holly Martin’s Town Called Christmas, Carole Matthews’ With Love at Christmas…
So many! I’m now making myself want to reread old favourites but I’m really enjoying the new Sarah Morgan one I’m currently reading- The Christmas Cottage.