I may read a lot of books (too many books if I’m being honest), but every now and then I fall headfirst into a prolongued reading slump. Mainly, this looks like me searching through pages of kindle unlimited books, finally finding one that slightly interests me, opening it, and reading 10 pages before quitting and then starting the process all over again. Rinse and repeat. In the realm of problems, it’s not difficult for me to admit that this is well within the first world, but it still sucks. I love reading and I hate not finishing books. One time I made myself finish a book that was terrible because I was so annoyed by how much time I had already spent reading it (a sure sign of insanity!). Over the years, what I have come to discover, is that the only thing that can catapult me out of my reading slump cycle is picking up one of my tried and true comfort reads. These are books that I not only love, but books that I can read and re-read and re-read and never get sick of. I’m not talking about once or twice or even three times, I’m talking about, I have read these books 40 times and have multiple copies of each one. Now, this doesn’t mean that they are the best books ever written or even anywhere close to that, but, at least for me, they are the books that scratch my romance reader itch and make my brain happy. So, here they are: my ultimate comfort reads…
When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn
The most offensive thing about the Bridgerton TV series is that they have almost entirely cut Francesca out of the show. What. The. Fuck. Her book is easily my favourite of all of them, particulary as the series starts to drag after the third book. When He Was Wicked is a masterclass of forbidden love (man loves cousin’s widow) and heartbreak and pining and grief. It’s messy and chaotic and I absolutely love every bit of it.
“It wasn’t her hair, that rich, lush wave of chestnut that he was rarely so privileged as to see down. And it wasn’t even her eyes, so radiantly blue that men had been moved to write poetry—much, Michael recalled, to John’s everlasting amusement. It wasn’t even in the shape of her face or the structure of her bones; if that were the case, he’d have been obsessed with the loveliness of all the Bridgerton girls; such peas in a pod they were, at least on the outside. It was something in the way she moved. Something in the way she breathed. Something in the way she merely was”
You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle
Every single time I re-read this book I come across something new to love about it. There is simply no other romance book like it. It’s the insanity of Susan Elizabeth Phillips mixed with the tender beauty of Kennedy Ryan and a dash of Lisa Kleypas wit. The chaos and unreliability of Naomi’s inner dialogue, the realistic portrayal of a relationship on the rocks, and the humor, oh the humor! It’s a book that explores how difficult and complicated it can be to be with someone fully—to trust them and be vulnerable with them and to want to make a life with them. It’s about confronting selfishness and ego and choosing each other. Quite honestly, it may be the most romantic book that I have ever read. (Just a note, if you deal with RSD like me, Naomi (though not stated in text) reads like RSD rep).
“I know every microscopic detail of his face. I know the shape of his brows for every emotion. He is the most beautiful man who ever lived, and at one time I couldn't have said with any certainty what color eyes he had. He was no more memorable that a picture hanging on the wall that I'd long gotten used to. How many times did my gaze pass right over him, not realizing he was looking back at me? Always watching. Listening. Waiting.”
Act Like It by Lucy Parker
People often throw around “banter” when discussing dialogue in enemies to lovers romance books and 99% of the time the “banter” they are referring to is just people being mean to each other. Act Like It, however, is in that special 1% where you can feel the chemistry and the intimate rhythm of the characters’ interactions seeping off the pages. So, we got the banter of all banter, we got the starchiest of starchy heroes, we got the snarkiest of snarky heroines, we got a West End fauxmance, we got a prolongued sick bed scene, we got an ugly cat, we got everything needed for the perfect romance book.
“God, I love you.”
Lainie lifted her hands and laid them over his, linking their fingers. “Do you?”
“More today than yesterday.” He tilted her chin up with his thumbs. “More now than an hour ago. By the time I die at ninety of a sex-induced heart attack, I expect I’ll love you in a way I can’t even comprehend.”Walk of Shame by Lauren Layne
This book is fun. I don’t really know what else to say about it other than that. It’s not deeply emotional, or a book that makes you seriously ponder life and love. It’s lighthearted and whimsical and I would take it with me to a desert island if I had to because I love Georgie and Andrew and their chaos.
“I pop another piece of donut in my mouth and smile. “It’s fine. I won’t tell a soul you checked me out.”
“I wasn’t—” He clears his throat. “Forget it. You’re ridiculous.”
I’m grinning outright now, because that’s two you’re ridiculouses this morning, and when he takes to repeating himself, I know I’ve successfully gotten under his skin.
Georgie, one; Andrew Mulroney, Esquire, zero.”Something About You by Julie James
Julie James books are very sexy. Not swoony, not dreamy, not tender. Sexy. Hot. Bothered. You get the picture. This one also has the high stakes element of a murder plot and two main characters who legitimately hate each other. It’s fast paced, thrilling, and also in that special 1% banter club. Julie James please start writing books again I am begging you!!!!!!!!!!!
“You amaze me, Cameron.”
That got a slight smile out of her. “High praise, coming from someone who knows how to kill people with paper clips and everything.”
Jack looked over in surprise. “You know about the paper clips?” He stroked his chin. “Hmm. Now that was good. Even for me.”
Cameron stared at him, stupefied.
He laughed. “I’m just kidding.” Mostly. Staples maybe, but never paper clips. ”Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas
If I’m being honest this list could have been made up entirely of Lisa Kleypas books. But, I decided to limit myself to only one, and I immediately knew that it was this one. Normally, epistolary romances are at the bottom of my trope rankings. But this book. This fucking book! It makes my heart ache. I cry every single time I read it and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I’m fairly certain, Captain,” she said, “that the more you discover about me, the more you will dislike me. Therefore, let’s cut to the chase and acknowledge that we don’t like each other. Then we won’t have to bother with the in-between part.”
She was so bloody frank and practical about the whole thing that Christopher couldn’t help but be amused.
“I’m afraid I can’t oblige you.”
“Why not?”
“Because when you said that just now, I found myself starting to like you.”
“You’ll recover,” she said.
Her decisive tone made him want to smile. “It’s getting worse, actually,” he told her. “Now I’m absolutely convinced that I like you.”The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory
At this point you might be thinking, wow Georgia really likes opposites attract romances, and to that I say, “Buckle up cuz here’s another one!” (the next one is opposites attract too). I think overall, in the Jasmine Guillory canon, this one is a bit of a hit or miss for people, but I love it. I love Maddie and Theo. I love their absolute idiocy. I love how ridiculous they both are. I love that they they think they can do no strings attached without falling in love. I love that they spend the entire time thinking that they are too different for eachother when really they are perfect for eachother. They are so goddamn cute.
“She let him pull her off the couch and lead her down the hallway to his bedroom. He stopped at the doorway and dropped her hands.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” he asked her.
She rolled her eyes.
“No, of course it’s not. What a stupid question,” she said. “I thought you were supposed to be one of the smart ones.”
Then she pulled off her dress and threw it on the floor.
“Any more stupid questions?”
He shook his head.
“Not a one.”
Slightly Dangerous by Mary Balogh
This is one of those books that can I remember the exact time and place when I first read it. I was in my senior year of highschool, it was Christmas break, and when I finished it I remember thinking it was good. Nothing special, a good story with interesting characters. Then I grew up a bit, got my heartbroken, saw the world, and somewhere along the way I re-read it and it floored me. Balogh’s focus on the profound impact of class and status on her characters is masterful, and creates stories which fully examine what it meant to be a part of the aristocracy in the Regency era. The push and pull between Wulfric and Christine is heartbreaking and beautiful and real and now I am going to go re-read it once again.
"Look about you, your grace," she said. "Look at all the ladies.
He did so to oblige her. He even raised his glass to his eye. Freyja, he
noticed, was looking quite magnificent tonight in a flowing gold gown
with gold hair plumes and diamonds sparkling at her neck and ears and
wrists and on several fingers. But she was only one of many. All the other
ladies looked similarly elegant and richly clad.
"I have done so," he said, lowering his glass and turning back to Christine Derrick.
"And now look at me," she said.
He saw what he had already seen at dinner. Her gown was obviously
new. It was more stylish than the clothes she had worn last summer. But it
was simply styled and unadorned, and she wore no jewelry. Her shining
dark curls had no ornament. Her cheeks were slightly flushed. Her eyes were dark-lashed and widely spaced and intelligent. Her freckles seemed
to have disappeared. Her lips were soft and generous and slightly parted.
"I have done so," he said softly.
"Now tell me," she said, "that you do not see the difference.”
"I see all the difference in the world," he told her. "None of those other ladies is you."
Give one (or more) of these a chance :)
—xx Georgia
Ooh! This list reminded me that I already own Act Like It and it's so up my alley and I should really get on reading it. Also Slightly Dangerous sounds like another one I might dig. So thanks for that rec as well!