Thanks! I've heard of this several times, but don't think I've ever read any yet. I love the characteristics you mentioned in the last sentence.Quote:
Originally Posted by California
Printable View
Thanks! I've heard of this several times, but don't think I've ever read any yet. I love the characteristics you mentioned in the last sentence.Quote:
Originally Posted by California
Thank you! I knew there must be a name for this type of book. I'll see what I can find using that search term.Quote:
Originally Posted by ahisma
Thanks to everyone for the quick replies! I'm off to the library to see what's on the shelves now.
Do you like mysteries? Carl Hiassen books are truly funny and always end well. Some romance in there but not bad. Also Janet Evanovich-One for the Money, that series is really funny. The earlier ones are much better (there are 20+ of them).
My FIL introduced me to the Brendan Chronicles by Ginny Dye as he knows I love reading anything and everything Civil War era. I flew through them during covid. There are 19 in the series currently and she continues to write. She’s working on the 20th now. They are wonderful historical fiction. The characters are really fleshed out and lots of changing views. Many issues raised are front and center the past few years as well.
https://www.fantasticfiction.com/d/g...an-chronicles/
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I like British chick lit for escape books. Sophia Kinsella, Jill Mansell, and Jenny Colgan are favorites. There is some romance but other relationship drama as well, always a happy ending, and fun British talk. I found Jennifer Bohnet on Kindle Unlimited during Covid and now have a strong desire to visit the French Rivera.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I just read 'Finlay Donovan is Killing It' for a book club. It's got a love triangle, but also a little mystery and comedy.
I agree I think you'd like Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I have mostly outgrown her writing (haha I used to sneak romance novels from my mom as a tween so I've been reading her forever) but she has a lot of more mature characters especially her more recent stuff. She is with a major publisher so should be widely available at the library.
Emma Chase is another good one.
My favorite for unique and interesting story lines is Aly Martinez, she's on Kindle Unlimited, all of her stories are great but they are more 'romance-y' but with more angst than the others mentioned.
a book i recommend all the time is "happiness for Beginners" by Center. It's great!
Also Check out Class Mom. it's a light, sarcastic, fun read. if you like it there are a few more in the series (newest coming out this month i think).
Last month i read "Lessons in Chemistry" and it was the best book I've read in such a long time! Don't judge this one by the cover.
One that just jumped to mind is an older book called "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand" by Simonson. it's fantastic.
In the Spring i read "The Sweeny Sisters" by Dolan -- def the best of her books.
A couple authors you might check out in the "Adult Contemporary Lit" or romance category are Susan Wiggs, Susan mallery, Heather Webber, Jennifer Weiner (her older books are much better than her newer ones IMO--start with Good in Bed and In Her Shoes), Sarah Addison Allen, Juliette Fay, Catherine Ryan Hyde (esp Allie & Bea), Lorna Landvik, Beth O'Leary (esp "the Flatshare), Barbara Delinsky, Maeve Binchy. Oh also love Lynn Kurland but that's def more romance --not smutty.
I would say Jodi Picoult isn't a romance writer, but her books are usually really compelling and easy to read. Usually on some issue that's not black and white and the story is told from the POV of several characters. I would start with My Sister's keeper, and then Plain Truth or Leaving Time.
HTH.
You might enjoy the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde. There is some romance added, but the protagonist (Thursday) is mid/late 30s and a war veteran. She's a member of British Special Ops, literary division and has to hop into books at times. The first book is called the Eyre Affair.