Hello and welcome (back) to the Kissing Books newsletter. I’m PN Hinton, here to give you the rundown on the world of romance, including new releases, recommendations, and other entertaining ways to pass your time.
After staying stagnate for a bit, I feel like I’m on a book-finishing spree. In the last week I have finished Lone Women, That Summer Feeling, and Her Big City Neighbor. I’ve also been keeping fairly steady with trying to keep my intake and outtake balanced since I am both DNFing and unhauling regularly. Go me on keeping up with the bookish goals!
Are you looking for more in-depth insight into the bookish world from various professionals who are immersed into it. If so, then be sure to check out the Deep Dive. You can currently check out Sharifah’s The Power Reader’s Guide to Reading Logs & Trackers on us to get an idea of the content included and then head here to choose a membership level.
Bookish Goods
Read Queer Books Mug by BookishlyUK
We’re almost halfway through Pride month, which is why I’ve been trying to boost a lot of that swag lately. However, this sentiment is true all year ’round and genre wide, which means that you can use it for all your preferred beverages no matter what month it is. $17
New Releases
Mr. Play for Keeps by Kimmie Ferrell
When Nathaniel finds himself suddenly in need of a vendor for D.C.’s four-day long Juneteenth celebration, he turns to his FWB Stephanie, owner of her own holistic skin care company. Not only does he think she would make a great addition to the line up, but it will also give him the chance to try to prove to her that their temporary arrangement would be even sweeter as a permanent one.
Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
In addition to her job as an adjunct professor, Elise also has a somewhat lucrative side hustle as posing as the fake girlfriend for people who need it. Her worlds seem destined to collide when Jack, the man who is the head of physics at MIT and who ruined her mentor’s career, also turns out to be the brother of her favorite client. And the professional friction between them seems to run the risk of developing into something more like love.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
Last week I went out to dinner at a local wine bar with one of my friends and, as often happens with us, we got to talking about everything, including romance novels. She’s one of my longest friends and we discovered a love of romance novels together back in middle school, something which has stayed solid since.
Back when we started reading romances, the genre was nowhere near as robust as it is now. Presently, there are so many options out there that there is something practically for everyone, even if it may not be for us personally. One of my personal struggles is the dark romance genre. As I told my friend, I can’t do “dark;” the furthest I can usually go is “dusk,” and even then it’s pushing it.
However, I know that a lot of readers love dark romances and I’ve never been one to yuck someone’s yum. So, with that in mind, I’m going to recommend some dark romances for the readers that love it or want to dip their toe in that.
*Please* be sure to check for the various trigger and content warnings, though since, with it being dark romance, there will be more than usual.
Captive in the Underworld by Lianyu Tan
This is a dark Sapphic spin on the Hades and Persephone myth. When Persephone, away from her tyrannical mother’s grasp, is pulled into the Underworld, she quickly discovers she has traded one prison for another. However, beneath Hades controlling outer layer is a woman who yearns for romantic love.
Wretched by Emily McIntire
Evelina is the brains, brawn, and botanical mind behind her family’s drug empire, which makes her a Jacqueline of all trades. Needing one night off from the pressure of that life style, she engages in a one-night stand. Afterwards, she’s determined to get back to her life but what she doesn’t know was that her one-night stand was undercover DEA agent Nicholas, who is determined to take down her family’s empire no matter the cost.
Here’s one for my Taylor Swift fans.
If you’ve been feeling like romantasy, then this list has you covered.
And that’s all I have for y’all today. I’ll be back in your inboxes on Thursday with a fresh newsletter. In the meantime you can find me posting over on Twitter under @PScribe801. Until then, happy reading and stay hydrated.