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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.
I mentioned last week that I was reading Not Quite a Husband for my romance read in mass market paperback format. As silly as it sounds, I forgot how much I like this format. It could be a nostalgic factor; when I first started reading romance, those were what were in. Now, every time I read any book in that format, I’m reminded of how awesome they are. They’re easy to hold with one hand. They’re easier to carry around. And they also hurt the least if you drop them on your face when you fall asleep reading.
And in ways TikTok attacked me this week, I present you with this gem. Seriously though, this account is awesome. If you’re on TikTok and not following her, you should be.
Romance Reflection
One thought bubble I’ve seen floating around a lot is that romance hits differently in non-romance books. I know that this mindset can cause a lot of ruffled feathers, but I actually agree with it because it covers both sides of that divided line. And here’s why.
If you’re one who claims to not like romance for whatever reason, then it does hit you differently. It allows you to read about a romance without having to read an actual romance novel. Personally, I think that’s a little weird; if you enjoy a romantic element at all, then one could argue you do like the romance genre. You just don’t want to admit it for <insert random reason here>. That’s completely on you and at the end of the day you should read what you like, regardless of how you try to justify it.
But for those that do love romance, it falls flat. It’s a watered down version of the awesome stories that we know are already out there that give us everything we’re wanting. While I read a variety of genres, I very much resent it when I get a book that is classified as romance only to find out that it is a small thread, if that, of the story. And, typically I avoid those authors from that moment on. The main issue with this thought is that it indicates that non-romance books with a smidge of a romantic element are better than actual romances. And that is simply not true.
Again, I’m not a converter of people. I will not try to dissuade anyone from their thought process or beliefs at all. I’m very much a person who says you should do what brings you peace and joy, especially in the current world state. But stop trying to get romance to change what makes it romance or barge into it without respecting the rules. That way only leads to heartbreak for you.
Also remember one crucial detail; “different” does not mean “better”.
Book Riot Romance
Aurora gives her round-up of some of the New Adult Romances headed our way this Spring.
Jess talks about all nuances of interracial romance, including how it was portrayed in Netflix’s Single All the Way.
And Isabelle ruminates on why we shouldn’t forget about the amnesia trope in romances.
Make sure to get your own Read Harder Book Journal from Book Riot to track your reading for the year!
Around the Web in Romance
So this happened last week and just…wow. Seriously, the quote that ran through my head when I saw this shenaniganry was “That’s a bold move, Cotton. Let’s see how it works out for them.” Spoiler alert! It won’t end well. The overlap in the Venn Diagram of “Romance Writers” and “People with a Law Degree” is way larger than most people think.
Also, this is one of the best clap backs I have seen in a bit for people who poo-poo romance novels.
Check out this list of over 150 Black romance novels from 2021 that you should read.
We’re still in January so there’s still time to ring in start of 2022 with some of these M/M New Year romances.
Here’s a list of more LGBTQ+ romances headed our way this year.
Congratulations to Charish Reid on her recent book deal announcement.
Here are some pictures for the upcoming season of Bridgerton. Did I squeal out loud when I saw Newton the Corgi? Yes…yes I did.
And speaking of dogs, this is not romance related, but still too cute to not share.
New Releases
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Getting Real by Emma Chase (1/24)
Got Me Looking by Casey Cox (1/24)
The Falcon and the Foe by A.J. Truman (1/24)
Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall (1/25)
Never Tell by Stacey Abrams (1/25)
D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding by Chencia C. Higgins (1/25)
My Famous Frenemy by Piper Rayne (1/25)
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Taming Clint Westmoreland and A Malibu Kind of Romance by Brenda Jackson and Synthia Williams (1/25)
It Started With a List by Tinia Montford (1/25)
His Fresh Start Cowboy by A.M. Arthur (1/25)
The Map to You by Rachel Stockbridge (1/25)
Beautiful Country by Laura Conway (1/26)
She Came From the Swamp by Darva Green (1/27)
Roses Aren’t Red: An African Romance Anthology (1/28)
Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!
That’s all for today friends! It’s been great and I’ll be back on Thursday with some more romance news and recommendations. If you’re not already, you can give me a follow on Twitter under @PScribe801. Have a wonderful week until then.