Category: Kissing Books

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

Book Riot Romance

Here’s a round-up from Jess on some of the romances we can look forward to coming our way in May.

And here’s this piece I put together on some feel good queer YA rom-coms that are out there.

Around the Web in Romance

A good portion of the books listed here are romances or have a heavy romantic element and I know that we could also use something to lift our spirits so I’m sharing the sunshine.

This week’s Trope Tuesday from Love’s Sweet Arrow was a challenge indeed with Cheating and Infidelity with an HEA.

For Heartstopper fans, here are some of the cutest moments from the first season.

I felt the same way! The baby goat is a large part of why I picked this book up.

If you love doctors in love, check this list out.

Pick a Bridgerton character and get a book recommendation.

Not book related, but The Lost City is now available for streaming at Paramount+ for those who may have missed it in the theaters for whatever reason.

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

Recommendations

This last weekend while scrolling Netflix to pick something to watch, You’ve Got Mail popped up as an option. When my spouse mentioned he liked that movie, I replied that I had never seen it. He was a bit shocked, which in his defense is fair considering all the other romantic comedies I’ve seen, and promptly started it up.  

And overall, I enjoyed it. I can see where people have issues with it, but in my opinion, the active deception was barely a quarter of the movie. Sure, Joe figured it out early on but he didn’t start trying to make his online persona seem like a bad guy until almost the end. Which isn’t to say I begrudge people for having their issues with it but it is something that I could see myself watching again.

Stil, this pattern of falling in love behind words only is a pattern that has been in romances for quite some time and I can understand the appeal. It takes the “love is blind” concept and puts it to the test because it means that you are getting to know the actual person before you see them. True, people can still lie behind the screen, but there is something about someone who knows nothing about you but the handle you choose that makes you a little bit more honest.  Not always, but for the sake of this list we’ll go with that. 

And, while attraction is still a factor in any romantic relationship, it’s still a nice concept of falling in love with someone based on words alone. That leads me to my recommendations for today which are books that are similar to this movie. 

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And that’s all I have for you today. I’ll be back on Monday with another newsletter which, as a heads up, will look a little bit different than it has in the past. No worries though, you’ll still get all the goods. In the meantime, while you wait to see what Monday has in store, I can be found posting on Twitter under @PScribe801. Until then!

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

Happy belated Mother’s Day to those who celebrate. I know that it can be a bittersweet day for some, like myself, for multiple reasons. Regardless of whether or not you observed it, I hope that whatever you did was what was needed for you to recharge your batteries. 

In things bringing me joy, there’s a TikTok user who uploads what he calls “mature” thirst traps. Now, before you go wondering what I’m linking you to, by “mature,” he means what most women would likely find sexy if their partner did. Just click on this one which is a personal favorite at the moment cause yo, NGL…that is sexy as hell. 

In today’s edition of what I’m currently reading, I started The Donut Trap and D’Vaughn and Kris Plan A Wedding. I also got The Hacienda from Book of the Month, and started that for a Gothic fix. 

Reading Reflection:

Let’s be honest about something: we are not okay. And by “we,” I mean the the world as a whole is not okay, especially here in the United States. If it’s not one thing, it’s another. Recently, there was a “leak” that said that SCOTUS was trying to have Roe vs. Wade overturned. Mind you, this is a country where people still throw adult sized temper tantrums when asked to wear a mask. So, to say it’s disheartening is an understatement. Like, someone needs to come up with a new word to sufficiently and succinctly describe how devastating this is. 

And miss me all the freakin’ way with “The issue is the leak itself.” No…not it’s not. That’s someone trying to divert your attention from the dystopic hellscape overturning this would create.

Sometimes it’s hard to see any positivity in situations because honestly, like here, there are none. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t look to things that do bring us joy. As usual for when the proverbial poop hits the fan,  Romancelandia came through with this thread where people shared their favorite scene, lines, and moments from romance novels and movies. And I gotta say, it was very awesome, inspiring, and uplifting to see. 

These moments ranged within the medium and high spice level, which I loved. People’s responses showed how a scene that you may have given a passing glance to is one that someone else held close to them and what they recall whenever they need a serotonin boost. It just shows that romance is really for everyone, and I love that for us. It just feels like the sunshine is overthrowing the dark clouds a bit. 

Oh and for what it’s worth, I had a scene that immediately came to mind. It was from A Prince on Paper where Johan tells Nya, “If debauchery was what you wanted from me? I would do it. Thoroughly.” 

*fans self* I damn near melted.

Be sure to give that thread a read and even comment your own if so inclined. Keep that line of positivity alive.

Around the Web in Romance:

Check out this interview with Susie Dumond about her debut Queerly Beloved.

Ms. Bev shared this photo of Arabesque’s original line-up of authors and wow….the feels. And that’s just from being an outsider who started reading romances around that time; imagine being one of the pioneers pictured here. I will admit it is sad that some of these talented wordsmiths may have stepped away from the keyboard, but still, it’s a powerful picture.

Frolic’s latest book crush pick has been announced and it’s The Stand In by Lily Chu! This was originally released as an Audible Original narrated by Phillipa Soo (aka Eliza Hamilton), but it is now available in physical form as well.

Love’s Sweet Arrow’s Trope Tuesday this week was ‘Marriages in Trouble’. Give it a peek and get some recs.

I snorted at this and, like the commenter that mentioned it, I appreciate that they had to install GPS tracking on it since I am sure it kept getting stolen.

There’s an unofficial Bridgerton ball happening in Melbourne and, even with the ticket price, I’m a wee bit jealous. 

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

New Releases:

Here are a handful of new releases that will be hitting the shelves this week. As per the new normal though, some of these may be delayed, both physically and digitally, for various reasons.

Raised by Wolves by Christina C. Jones (5/6)

Burn by Aarti V. Raman (5/7) *

Out of the Ashes by Jenn Burke (5/10) 

Set on You by Amy Lea (5/10)

His Curvy Genius by Mary E. Thompson (5/10)

Risky Business of Love by Yahrah St. John (5/10)

Writer’s Block by Ali Vail (5/10) 

Love at First Stake by Mila Nicks (5/13)

*Author’s note says this does end on a cliffhanger

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And that’s all I have for you today. I’ll be back on Thursday with a fresh newsletter for you. In the meantime, you can always give me a follow over on Twitter under @PScribe801. Until then!

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

Last Saturday, I celebrated Independent Bookstore Day by checking out Black Pearl Books for the first time. And believe me, it won’t be the last time. I walked in and immediately felt relaxed. The space was open, warm, and inviting. The owners were friendly and it had a nice variety of books to choose from. They also had merchandise that I will need to go back and get some so I can promote them as I’m out and about since we all know how important it is to boost these types of bookstores so they can flourish. 

And of course I did snag a few books, including Savvy Sheldon Feels Good As Hell Taj McCoy for the romance pick. I can’t wait to get to it. 

Book Riot Romance:

Check out the latest episode of When in Romance, where Jess and Trisha discuss what they’re currently reading, give backlist recommendations, and discuss their opinion on the Tessa Bailey cover scandal as well as the history of romance novel covers. 

I don’t know about y’all, but bookish romances are the bee’s knees for me.

I adored this piece on why it was important to have fat men in romance novels too.

Around the Web in Romance:

It’s AAPI Heritage Month and prolific author Jackie Lau put together this list of books by Asian authors that are available for a good price for those who may also book buy on a budget.

Here are some of the Spring romances that we have to look forward to. Please note that the Tessa Bailey cover, for better or worse, has been changed.

If you’re specifically looking for some M/M Spring romances, here’s some more books for your reading consideration.

It’s always a good time to recommend a good historical romance.

Check out this interview with Golda Rosheuvel, aka Queen Charlotte, on being told to not come out and essentially saying eff off. I already admired her, and this just solidified that.

If you’re a fan of house renovations, flipping, or the like, then you may find happiness with some of the books listed here.

Check out these sexual tension situations and find out where you stand with others in terms of the heat level. 

And finally, I couldn’t help but share this after Monday’s newsletter since it made me laugh out loud…hard. There may have even been snorting.

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

Recommendations:

As mentioned earlier, May is AAPI Heritage Month! While I endeavor to read diversely all year around, I will admit to making a concentrated effort when it comes to awareness or history months. It can get very boring to only read about one specific type of person and reading about other cultures, even if genre fiction, can be illuminating on multiple levels. 

So, with that in mind, my recommendations for this week are books selected to highlight AAPI authors. I’m also planning on picking up the first one listed here once I finish one of my currently reading books since my reading rules for me this year are no more than 3 books at once.

Please also note that I am recommending these books for the authors themselves and that the books listed here may not necessarily feature AAPI characters.

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And that’s all I have for you today. I’ll be back Monday with a fresh newsletter. In the meantime, I can be found posting on Twitter under @Pscribe801. Have a great weekend and happy reading until then. 

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

I can’t believe it’s already May. I’m sure by now we’ve all been inundated with all the Justin Timberlake memes floating around, notifying us of what month it was going to be. Seriously, who knew that one line in a song from 22 years ago (yes it’s been that long, suffer with me) would have such lasting power? I have to say though that every time I see a variation of this meme, I immediately think of him making this face and I laugh even harder. 

Romance Reflection

I saw a tweet the other day that tickled a memory for me from way back when I was just diving into the world of romance. One day in French class after my work was done, I was reading a book. The teacher noticed me reading and when she saw what it was gave a sad little sigh. When I asked why, she replied that it was going to give me unrealistic expectations. 

This is a common argument against the romance genre. And, as much as it pains me to admit it, on some levels I get it. 

Hear me out before you get the pitchforks.

Based on what I read in early romance novels, I was somewhat terrified of having sex for the first time. Between the descriptions of the pain, the blood, and everything else…it was unsettling to say the least. Even more so when you factor in that in most of those same books, consent was not a thing and the male main character barely cared for her pleasure. 

Now, while I’m fairly confident that this wasn’t what the naysayers had in mind when they warned against unrealistic expectations, it is one of ones that I had. And it’s not a great one to have if you’re someone who wants to actually engage in intercourse. While there are selfish lovers out there, not everyone is that way. And, yes, the first time isn’t always pleasant; but it isn’t always as traumatic as those old school novels would have us believe. 

And honestly? This fear is something that can be avoided by implementing comprehensive sexual education in our schools. That way, everyone knows what to expect their first time and how to prepare for it. This would mean the removal of abstinence-only teaching, which is utter nonsense and no one can convince me otherwise. It is entirely possible to be in love with someone and be sexually incompatible with them. That kind of thinking could leave someone signing up for a lifetime of disappointing sex, which is just not fair. 

So, thanks romance haters; you inadvertently just came up with a great reason we should throw out abstinence-only teaching and focus on healthy sexual education. 

Around the Web in Romance

There’s a new all-romance bookstore for our purchasing pleasures now! It’s the Happily Ever After Bookstore and, while purchases are only available online currently, stores should be popping up around Toronto soon. 

Here’s an engaging interview with Sonya Singh on what prompted her to write Sari, Not Sari.

Take this quiz to find your Marvel crush, ex, and soulmate. I got Bucky, Natasha, and Sam respectively and I am a-okay with it.

Here are some more small town romances for your reading pleasure.

New Releases

Here are some of the new releases slated for release this week. That is of course barring any shipping delays or other forms of the various shenanigans that have been hitting the world as a whole lately.

Succession by B. Love (5/3)

One Chance Only by Elysabeth Grace (5/3)

Gaga Crazy by Camaa pearl (5/3)

A Bennett Wedding by Rhonda McKnight (5/3)

Singing With the Devil by Cassandra Rose Clark (5/3) 

Under One Roof by Ali Hazelwood (5/3) 

Rose and Wicked by Rebel Carter (5/3)

Still Loving You by Jay Quin (5/3)

Dark Savior by Melissa Combs  (5/3)

Queerly Beloved by Susie Dumond (5/3)*

By the Book by Jasmine Guillory (5/3)

The Duet by Harper Bliss (5/4)

Count On You by Sienna Waters (5/5) 

Everything About You by Jenna St. James (5/7) 

*Book Riot Contributor

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And that’s all I have for you today. I hope that your Monday started off on the right foot and even if it was a bit more of a challenge, here’s to the hope that it was the worst day you have this week. I’ll be back on Thursday with a fresh new edition and if you want a little bit more of me in the meantime, I can be found posting on Twitter under @PScribe801. Until then!

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

Monday was a challenging day for me. I lost power mid-morning and didn’t get it back until mid-afternoon, which meant I couldn’t do anything at all but sweat in the darkness. The perk of the day was the installation of my new dishwasher, even with the lack of light.

In things bringing me joy, since ‘lort’ knows I could use the boost, I recently discovered the game Spiritfarer and am thoroughly enjoying it. On Saturday night, I spent at least four hours just playing it and only stopped when I got the low battery warning.

Romance Reflection

Today’s reflection is brought to you by this tweet that I saw the other day. While I will agree that unrealistic expectations are put on women and their personalities, even in romances (more on that later), I have to disagree with the first sentence.

Real talk; a man can be too much of an arsehole for me to root for their HEA. I have DNFed romance books because I couldn’t stand the hero and their arsehole tendencies. I avoid entire sub-genres since that is exactly what the heroes are like. Hell, I will even skip books in a series if the hero is someone who previously was a jerk. I tried this with one series and it was a grudge read at best. I shan’t make that mistake again. 

There is also a huge difference between being grumpy and being an arsehole. Typically, with grumpy people, there is a reason for it. And, while your baggage shouldn’t be anyone else’s problem, it makes sense if someone is closed off because of it. When someone in a romance novel is an arsehole, they typically tend to be one just because they can.

Give me a grump or a cinnamon roll but an arsehole is always a pass for me.

Book Riot Romance

Jessica is out there paving the way for would-be Resident Romance Librarians everywhere!

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

Around the Web in Romance

Here is the cover reveal for Priscila Oliveras’ November release.

Small towns, big romances!

Take this quiz to see if you can match the wedding dress with the rom-com.

Recommendations

Following up on the previous expectation, it really does bother me that a lot of readers out there feel a woman who has to Pollyanna in order to be ‘worthy’ of love. It’s really fracking annoying to say the least. This is even further compounded when you factor in that a lot of readers who feel this way are the same people who cry that romance is for women only. So one would think that there wouldn’t be unrealistic expectations about how a woman should act in those novels. 

Make it make sense. 

I feel that women have the deck stacked more against them, by far. And no one can change my mind on that. So, it logically follows for them to be grumpy every now and then. Between the expectations that our world, work, family, and friends have of us all at the same time? Hell, sometimes I wonder why we’re not all more grumpy to be honest with you. 

All of this is to say that if arseholes can get an HEA, then prickly females can too. Fair is fair after all. So, with that in mind, I’m going to highlight romances where the heroine would be considered the grumpy one or prickly. 

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And that is all I have for you today. I’ll be back on Monday, where I’ll hopefully keep power all day, with a fresh new edition. In the meantime, I can be found posting on Twitter under @PScribe801 random, and usually bookish related, things. Have a great weekend, full of reading and relaxation.

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

I don’t know about y’all but my allergies have been beating me up over the last week. It has not been a fun experience overall. I mean, on the positive side I don’t have to suffer in an office around people since I’m WFH. But on the other hand, I still have to deal with it. 

One thing currently bringing me joy is Lady Grey tea. In the past, I haven’t been a regular tea drinker but I’ve since discovered this and it brings me joy. On days where my stomach can’t handle coffee for one reason or another, this is my go to beverage to still start my day off with a dose of caffeine.

Romance Reflection:

So there was quite a scuffle over in the Romance wing of Instagram and Twitter late last week over the comparison of two similar covers and well…it was wild y’all. Here is a tweet from Nick where you can see the two different covers in question.

Are they similar? Yes. Are they carbon copies? Not even. Should any artist be able to claim they created the clinch cover? *laughs in over 50 years of romance novel covers* 

I won’t lie. It’s giving off very “I’m going to copyright the word ‘cocky’ vibes.”  And trust, that is a camp that one does not want to find themselves in.

Now, I’m not here to debate which cover is superior or prettier. As with any form of art, it comes down to a preference. The issue here is that people really need to stop trying to copyright and claim something that is part of an entire genre as solely theirs. I know I was being snide above but we all know what ‘cocky-gate’ was. Recently, there was another issue with someone trying to claim they created the three act structure. When it has been part of storytelling for, like, EVER. And now this. It’s exhausting. 

This tale of two covers is not anywhere close to being copyright infringement. They are artists using what has been an available clinch pose and part of the genre literally for years. There’s bound to be overlap in some areas but it’s just that. It’s one thing if you were to write a book about a family called the Archertons who consist of eight siblings named in an backwards alphabetical order starting from Z whose comings and goings are written about by Madame Sirenup. Yeah, that’s copyright infringement and you’re gonna be held accountable for that. 

But artists using various poses of clinch covers that have practically been around since the inception of romance novels? Absolutely not.

Pick a different struggle, cause this ain’t it. 

And in a move that surprised absolutely no one, the cover will now be changed. Now, maybe the next one will be more accurate to the character within because the tone used for the male character caused more than a few eyebrows to be raised as well. 

Book Riot Romance:

Another ode to the single person POV in romance. I’m not sure why this is such a hot button topic since it comes down to preference, but here we are.

Around the Web in Romance:

I’m almost ashamed about how many times I listened to this brief audio clip. Almost.

Take this quiz to see how old you are based on the rom-coms you’ve seen. They overshot my age by a few years, I won’t lie, it stung more than a little a bit.

Here’s an article on the 10-year anniversary of Fifty Shades of Grey, and its impact on publishing as a whole. Because, regardless of which side of the line you end up on in that debate, you can’t deny its lasting effects.

In infuriating news, apparently a library in Enid, Oklahoma is canceling the ‘bodice ripper book club’. As sucky as this is, I am one who feels that maybe now that it is hitting home for some people when it wasn’t before, there will be more pushback on censorship as a whole.

Bookstore Romance Day is scheduled for August 20th of this year. In anticipation of this celebration, check out this shirt that displays that “Love is queer.” I’m probably going to snag one myself.

This purse is awesome!

Check out the cover reveal for this delightful looking holiday Sapphic romance!

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

New Releases:

Here are some of the new releases that, as of the writing of this newsletter, were showing a release date for the upcoming week. As per the new norm, this could be subject to change, depending on the supply and demand. 

The Book Boyfriend by Kris Ripper(4/26) 

The Long Game by Rachel Reid (4/26) 

Partner Track by Cat Wynn (4/26) 

Summoning Up Love by Synithia Williams (4/26)  

The Bookshop Rescue by Rochelle Alers (4/26)

Hidden With You by J. Kenner (4/26) 

A Fortune in the Family by Kathy Douglass (4/26)

Love, Hate, & Clickbait by Liz Bowery (4/26) 

The Beguiling Earl by Hildie McQueen (4/26)

To Love Again by Serenity King (4/29)

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And that’s all I have for y’all today. I’ll be back on Thursday with a fresh newsletter. In the meantime, though, you can always give me a follow over on Twitter under @PScribe801 to see what I’m up to in between the editions. Until then!

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

Romance Reflection

I know I tend to be quiet about the types of romances I shy away from because, for the most part, I genuinely do not like yucking someone’s yum. But, after seeing multiple authors mention their childhood buddies had found them on social media, it inspired me to write this week’s reflection.

I don’t like bully romances, especially since most aren’t a redemptive arc and the bullying is part of the romance and/or plot. I just can’t get behind that at all.

Now, I know that I’ve said I’m a fan of enemies/rivals to lovers and I stand by that statement. And that’s because there is a huge difference between someone you don’t get along with and someone who actively goes out of their way to make your life a living hell.

I had a lot of bullies in middle school. I am friends with exactly one now. The reason we’re friends is because he extended the olive branch shortly after this incident. And he he told me that he was genuinely sorry once we started talking as acquaintances and eventual friends.

Yes, bullying is an unfortunate part of life but guess what former bullies? No one owes you their forgiveness in any way, shape, or form. Saying sorry just means you recognize you were a jerk and want to make it right. However, forgiveness is contingent on the person you’re asking it of and not a guarantee.

Also, let’s just not be jerks. Seems like a good idea all around.

Book Riot Romance

Don’t forget to listen to the latest episode of When in Romance where Trisha and Jess discuss reader recommendations for monster romances, as well as announce the next book club pick, Katee Robert’s The Beast.

Here are some more fantasy romance novels.

A strong case for single POV romances.

Check out some of these sweet middle grade romance books for young book dragons in your life.

If you’re a fan of the one-bed trope, some of these books may strike your interest.

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

Around the Web in Romance

Here is the cover for Denise Williams’s September release.

If you’re eagerly looking forward to the Heartstopper series, check out this interview with the author.

Bring on the grumpy/sunshine romances!

It’s the smash or pass game, rom-com leading man edition!

If you still have Bridgerton on the brain and you’re an Anthony fan like yours truly, here is a round-up of some of his most swoon-worthy quotes from the page and screen.

This is a pretty boss bag. Feeling the tinges of jealousy over here.

Recommendations

Taking the smash or pass quiz above really made me want to watch some of those rom-coms, especially the ones where I would definitely smash the hero. I know these types of movies typically get a bad rep, much like romance novels, by snooty film types. Let’s be honest though; rom-coms aren’t going anywhere and I’m okay with it. I love them because they are, at their core, fun and sweet. They are the ocular versions of chocolate in that they release serotonin to make you happy. And we could all use a little happiness every now and then. 

With that said, here are my recommendations for y’all this week. 

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And that’s all I have for you today. I hope that your weekend is a wonderful relaxing one, full of whatever hobby you decide to embrace. I’ll be back on Monday with more romance news, reflections, and new releases. If you’re not already, give me a follow over on Twitter under @PScribe801. Happy reading!

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

It’s April 18th, which this year is also Tax Day. If you haven’t done yours yet, you have until midnight to get it done or extended. We did ours last week and ended up owing, which was not fun. Now granted, it isn’t as much as others I’m sure based on some of the tweets I’ve seen, such as Ms. Bev here. So, that is something to be grateful for but man…it still stings. 

I finished Dating Dr. Dil and overall thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m still currently reading Queerly Beloved and am almost done with Out on the Ice. 

Romance Reflection:

I know there is a lot of division on whether or not sex is necessary for a romance novel. I know I’ve said my piece on this, which is I don’t think it is since sex is not necessary for a romantic relationship. It can be an enhancer for sure, but it doesn’t make a relationship. 

That said, I’ve discovered one thing about me recently which is that I don’t care whether or not sex is in a romance novel. I just want to know going in what the sex scene status is. That way, I can prepare for it. Because if I’m going in and preparing for sizzling times and it’s off the pages, then I’m left feeling a tiny bit bereft. 

An example of this is Out on the Ice. Before I go further I would like to say that this surprise was of my own design, since it is stated very clearly on the author’s page that it is an off the pages romance much like the follow up, Unexpected Goals. So I could have prepared myself for it but didn’t. So, it was a lesson to me. When in doubt, always check the author’s web page because most do have those specific call-outs there. Still, I was slightly disappointed to turn the page to the morning after. 

That said, it hasn’t taken away from my enjoyment of the book, since I’m still loving it. It’s a great story and I love how Caro and Amy are learning how to be with each other at the point I’m at. And their communication is *chef’s kiss* even when they’re fighting.

Alternatively, there were a few scenes in Dating Dr. Dil that had me feeling like Regine did here. I was not expecting that level of spice in the book, and again, it was probably my own mistake since I was like “Oh it’s an illustrated cover, it will be tame.” How wrong I was. Again, enjoyed it! But it was a surprise.

All of this is to say that you never know the spice level of a book until you get into it. So, always expect to be caught off guard (unless you check authors’ web pages/authors’ notes). It’s a fun experience and something I’m sure will happen again. I’m simultaneously nervous and excited.

Book Riot Romance:

Isabelle has this round up of F/F romance fantasies with an enemies to lovers trope. I know that’s got to be a catnip combination KO for some people out there!

And here is a think piece from Tirzah on the polyamory representation in YA.

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

Around the Web in Romance:

Katee Robert’s Court of the Vampire Queen is getting a B&N exclusive cover. And I have to say, it is gorgeous.

A scratch off poster for romance novels? Sign me up. I’ll even take authors as long as the creators of this hypothetical poster remember that all representation matters. 

While not specifically romance related, as a staunch advocate of the library, I couldn’t not share this article that discussed people tweeting the various ways libraries had saved them over the years.

Take this poll to see how you match up with others on whether or not these popular couples from rom-coms would still be together.

Not sure how I missed this but it’s the second season of Bridgerton on rocks!

See if this build your own rom-com quiz can guess your zodiac sign accurately.

New Releases:

Here are some of the books slated for release this week. However, please bear in mind that these were the dates that were showing as of the writing of this newsletter, and may change due to supply issues and other unforeseen circumstances.

Paint by Numbers by Sheila Fowler (4/18)

Tell Me What You Want by Johana Gavez (4/18)

Her Reluctant Wife by Alexa Woods (4/18)

Something Bright by R. Cooper (4/19) 

Crowned by a Mafia King by Kimani Lauren (4/20)

It’s Not the Hookup, It’s the Chase by Elle Wright (4/21)

Honor: The Billonaire Bae by Amber Ghe (4/21)

A New Mantra by Sapna Srinivasan  (4/21)

Martinez Brothers Box Set by Mayra Stratham (4/21)

Looking by Katrina Jackson (4/22)

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And that’s all I have for you this Monday morning. I hope that your week started off on the right foot but, if it didn’t, then I hope that today was your most challenging day. I’ll be back on Thursday with a fresh newsletter, and in the meantime you can see me posting over on Twitter under @PScribe801. Until then!

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

Last Saturday, I went to watch my nephew’s baseball game in the nice spring weather. When I got home that night, I found a tan line from where my bracelet was. Y’all…the sun was that present and it’s just the beginning of April. If this is an indicator of how the summer heat will be, I will likely be staying indoors for most of it. 

I finished I’ll Come Back for You, which I highly recommend for a ‘horro-romance’ fix. I’m still reading Dating Dr. Dil and started an arc of Queerly Beloved by Book Riot’s own Susie Dumond. 

Quick note before we proceed. It was brought to my attention that while Marie Kondo stated that owning a max of 30 books was her preference, it was not intended to be a hard-set rule for others. Apologies for my misunderstanding on that!

Romance Reflection

Today I want to talk about how important music is when it comes to romances, especially the love scenes. True, this is mainly for movies, but I’ve noticed books in the last few years include playlists. Usually it is what the author was listening to when writing a particular scene in that chapter or illustrates the feeling the characters were going through at that point in the plot. 

And I dig it. Writing is a not an easy task, despite what people may think. Sometimes, you need inspiration to get into the mindset for the scene that is currently being written; so, it helps to have something extra to get the creative juices flowing. Music has always been, very integral to any kind of storytelling, even romances.

Take for instance the movie oft forgotten Boys & Girls, which was essentially When Harry Met Sally for a younger audience. When the two main characters finally hook up, Tyrese’s Lately is playing in the background. And that is for sure one of my go-to songs I think of when I think of slow dancing in all its various forms. 

I myself have a go-to song I will use for inspiration if I ever get back to writing romances: Billy Ocean’s Love Zone. It is a song that embedded itself in my brain as a young’un and I can’t remove it now, even if I wanted to. Which I don’t. 

Book Riot Romance

If you’re a huge fan of sports in your romances, here is a list of some books to check out.

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

Around the Web in Romance

Looking for some new beginnings romances? Check out some of the ones listed here.

I agree with those who have felt conflicted at seeing this type of display. On the one hand, yay for displaying romances. On the other one, the sign is a bit dismissive. A lot of the books featured there deal with heavy topics so to call them cheesy is more than a bit disingenuous.

Another Bridgerton quiz to find out which character you’re the most and least likely compatible with. I got Will and Edwina respectively, which honestly, tracks.

Recommendations

One thing I really liked about I’ll Come Back for You is the strong sibling relationship that was present throughout the book. It was clear that Whitney and Helen cared deeply about one another to the point they were willing to open up a business again. And they way they looked out for each other when the ghosting got real was amazing.

Between that and the fact that National Sibling Day was this past week, I decided to focus on book series that were about siblings. Please note that I’m going to be recommending the whole series as opposed to individual books and just give a general overview of them and the titles in the series. 

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And that is all I have for you today. I hope that your weekend is restful and relaxing since I hope to be doing that myself. I’ll be back Monday with a fresh newsletter. In the meantime, I can be found posting on Twitter under the handle @PScribe801. Happy reading!