Categories
Kissing Books

Supportive is Sexy

Hey y’all, welcome to the Kissing Books newsletter. I hope your spirit is doing well. I’m PN Hinton, your guide through the world of romance and the roller coaster ride that it can be. If it is your first time here, welcome and if you’re a regular reader welcome back. 

After this last week, I’ve determined that cedar is grown by the devil himself. In lighter news, I got my copy of Love & Other Disasters and started reading that for my romance read. And one thing bringing me joy right now is all the various audio clips of Elmo floating around on TikTok like this one. People are losing their mind over Elmo snapping on Zoey’s Rocco, and I am here for it. 

Romance Reflection

This isn’t exactly romance related (I do circle back to it later), but wow this AITA is something else. Essentially what happened is her husband was tired of her reading instead of paying attention to him and gave away all her books, some she had had since she was a teenager. And had the audacity to say it was ‘for her own good and the good of the marriage’. OP is definitely NTA here; her husband is and, honestly, she might want to consider a trial separation already.

I don’t feel like her being a reader is something she hid during their dating and engagement. He had an idea going in what it was all about and got his feelings hurt because she wasn’t constantly at his beck and call. Because I’m confident we all know what he really meant by ‘special time at night’.

Look, when you say all those wedding vows that include richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, it also includes hobbies. Believe me when I saw that if this post was about a woman who was jealous that her newly wedded husband bowled, even though he was part of like two leagues when they were dating, she would be the asshole if she gave away all his bowling stuff. 

This is why I partially agree with the joke that readers should be with other readers or gamers. With the former you can share books and increase your library and with the latter y’all can both be on the couch, engaging in parallel play while still taking mini breaks to talk every now and then. 

Book Riot Romance

When in Romance is back with their first episode of 2022, where Trisha and Jess discuss their reading goals for this year and talk a bit about their most anticipated reads.

While I usually prefer a slow burn, I can also be persuaded to enjoy books that employ the faster kind. Rioter Isabelle gives her reasons for loving fast burn romances here.

Around the Web in Romance

Quick correction: In the last newsletter, I mentioned that there will soon be another all romance bookstore in the United States. Meet Cute Romance Bookshop & Fizzery is scheduled to open up this April in La Mesa, California in San Diego County, not Mesa. So exciting!

This ‘Bad Romance Take’ is a bit old but it still made me chortle. Hate to break it to you honey but no one cares enough to change your mind.

This tweet warmed my heart a lot. Not necessarily for the idea of a second chance romance since even the poster admits that her brother’s ex-fiancee can do better. But just the fact that, all things considered, an ex still went to these lengths to help take care of someone they use to be with. That kind of kindness is rare and should be rewarded.

As this article shows, Scotland and romance novels seem to go hand in hand. I’m not complaining mind you; just making an observation.

In case you missed it, here’s the cover reveal for the upcoming Therese Beharrie novel.

Recommendations

The reflection above and conversations I’ve had with friends over the last couple of months got me thinking how important it is to have a supportive partner. I know that should go without saying, but it’s true. I know that the dating pool can seem more like a toxic waste dump than anything right now; so, sometimes people put up with things that maybe should be deal breakers. 

I think that is why the cinnamon roll is such a popular hero trope. The guy from the AITA above couldn’t even support his wife’s love of reading. And while the bar doesn’t have to be as high as say moving across the country for your significant other, it shouldn’t be so low where picking up their own damn shoes is considered a gesture of love. That leads me to today’s recommendations: cinnamon roll heroes! Because with how 2022 has started, we would all use that extra bit of comfort.  

cover of a prince on paper

A Prince on Paper by Alyssa Cole

Despite a somewhat inauspicious introduction, Nya and Johan enter into a fake engagement to help protect the future of Johan’s younger sibling. As often happens though, this develops into a a true connection, fueled by the desire they already feel, leading both to wonder if they are worthy of love, despite what the people in their lives have been telling them. 

cover of Work for It

Work for It by Talia Hibbert

After a passionate one-night encounter, Griffin and Keynes find themselves face to face again when the latter walks into the former’s shop. Despite his gruff exterior, Griffin finds himself drawn to the new-to-town stranger and is determined to break down the walls he has built up around the soft caring human being he really is.

cover of Not Like the Movies

Not Like the Movies by Kerry Winfrey

After it’s found out that Chloe’s best friend Annie used her and her boss Nick as the archetypes for her rom-com, their lives are thrown into the media spotlight. As the buzz continues to grow for the movie, Chloe is seeing more reasons why Nick is ‘boyfriend goals’ and begins to wonder if maybe there is a real happily ever after in the cards for them.

Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!


And that’s all I have for you this week. I hope that this weekend treats you well and you’re able to get a lot of rest and reading in. If you’re not already, give me a follow on Twitter under @PScribe801. Until we meet again.