I love reading romance: it was the genre that really pulled me back into reading when I has fallen out of it for a few years. Since the, it's one that I just keep coming back to because of the lighthearted tendencies, emotional themes, and exploration of different forms of love. So, with Valentine's Day being later this week, I wanted to share some romance recommendations you should add to your TBR!
The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun
If you like The Bachelor, then this is a great pick for you. The novel follows Charlie Winshaw as he becomes the lead on a reality dating show called Ever After. While on the show, we're also introduced to producer Dev Deshpande as he works closely with Charlie behind the scenes. The two grow closer and begin to question their feelings for one another, which causes them to question what they thought they knew and their roles on the show.
The novel is a charming and hopeful look into the love that neither main character saw coming. It also explores themes of self-discovery, self-acceptance, change, diversity, and unexpected circumstances.
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
Chloe Brown is our titular character and is in the midst of a transformative period. She's lived a self-proclaimed safe life and desires to challenge herself. She puts down her goals in a list, and eventually gets help from Red, someone who works/lives in her building. The two challenge one another in their complimentary personalities, and growing affection for one another. This book, and Talia Hibbert's books in general, are sweet romances that feature many kinds of representation, and feature themes of growth, vulnerability, and taking chances.
Get a Life, Chloe Brown is the first book in the Brown Sisters Series, which also features Take a Hint, Dani Brown and Act Your Age, Eve Brown. All books in the series follow a different Brown sister and are great recommendations in their own right.
Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
Ali Hazelwood has dominated online popularity over the last few years, but I don't see Love, Theoretically talked about it as much as some of her other releases. Like other books by Hazelwood, it follows characters who work in STEM, and gradually grow closer as they spend time around each other. With some bumps in the road, of course.
Love, Theoretically follows Elsie Hannaway as she's looking to break out of positions she doesn't love and land her dream role in a physics lab. But, Jack Smith seems to pose a threat her professional because he's met her in her personal life. Not everything is necessarily as it seems, though, as Elsie spends more time with Jack and finds that he sees more to her than she might realize. This book explores past mistakes, unexpected connections, and prioritizing ourselves.