Banter Banter Banter Dirigibles

Jenn Northington Jul 26, 2018

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This week Jess Pryde joins Jenn for a special romance episode of Get Booked.

This episode is sponsored by Engineering for Cats by Mac Delaney and our $500 YA Giveaway.

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The show can also be found on Stitcher here.

Questions

1. Hi Amanda and Jenn,

Love the show! I’ve read so many great books based on your recommendations.

I love to read romance novels, usually the steamier the better. But the thing I enjoy most about them is the sexual tension and building intimacy. I like to see that a couple actually cares for each other and it’s not just a one night stand. To give you an idea, some books that I’ve really enjoyed are Hold Me by Courtney Milan; Hate to Want You by Alisha Rai; Sarah J. Maas’ Court of Thorns and Roses series; A Bollywood Affair by Sonali Dev; and The Hating Game by Sally Thorne. I know there’s a ton more out there but would love to get your suggestions on some great ones. I’m open to pretty much anything.

Thanks!
–Becca

2. Hi ladies!

I’m looking for a novel that contains a great love story. A lot of romances written today (both contemporary and historical) turn me off because it seems like the couple has an immediate attraction that results in inevitable sex scenes while complications still exist, and then the rest of the book is the main characters finding out how to have an actual relationship in addition to the sex, despite whatever plot devices are in their way. I think Jane Austen spoiled me. Call me old fashioned, but I want a couple that fall in love without having sex first! I especially like stories where the guy has been in love with the girl for a long time but doesn’t think he has a chance for some reason. Think Molesley and Baxter from Downton Abbey (which I am STILL salty about not being resolved) or Professor Bhaer and Jo from Little Women. It doesn’t have to be an old book and it doesn’t have to be strictly romance; I’m perfectly willing to read any book as long as it makes me ACHE over several hundred pages for the prospective lovers to finally communicate their feelings! Thank you so much!

P.S. I forgot to mention that I read A Distant Heart recently, and that’s more in the realm of what I’m looking for since the sex came very late after the two had already had years of build up, but I’d still prefer a book where the profession of love comes before the sex!

–Brannan

3. Dear Jenn and Amanda,

I’m a huge fan of your show and Book Riot in general. I’m really looking forward to Book Riot Live! Thanks for being so amazing! I’m proudly a plus-sized/curvy (for lack of a better term) woman in her late twenties, and I was wondering if you had recommendations for books with female main characters who are also described this way. Growing up I really identified with Meg Murray because she felt out of place with her appearance like I did. Recently, I have loved reading Dumplin’, Size 12 is Not Fat, Duff, and Bet Me because they featured characters I could relate to physically who were described positively and had a happy ending that didn’t involve them losing a lot of weight. (I most recently read It Had To Be You, and didn’t love it.) I loved the body positive message of each book, and I’m a sucker for a makeover sequence, but I have always hated reading books where the fat/chubby girl found happiness after losing a few pounds. I plan on reading Shrill and 13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl, but I was wondering if you had any recommendations for fiction or romance books with more characters I could relate to that have enjoyable story lines. I have read too many non-fiction books and graphic novels, so I would prefer not to get books in those categories. I also have learned that I don’t do well with reading books with unlikeable characters, for example, I struggled with Girl On the Train and Gone Girl. I’m sorry for this incredibly long email, but I would really appreciate any help that you could give me! Thank you so much!

Sincerely,
–M

4. Hi Amanda and Jenn!

My TBR is getting ridiculous because of this podcast, but I still love it! I’m currently in grad school reading some very dry material about metadata, and I need something exciting to get me through this dull semester. Lately, I’ve been in the mood for some romance. Something non traditional like The Fever series by Karen Marie Moning. I love the slow and sexy build of the couple’s relationship and how for the majority of the series they didn’t trust each other, and fought all the time. However, they always had each other’s back. I love how you never knew if they were going to kill or kiss each other. I haven’t been able to find anything like this. I read all genres, so I’ll take any recommendations you’ve got!
Thanks!

–Ana

5. Until listening to different book riot podcasts and reading this site I was prejudiced against romance novels. When I was in middle school and starting to explore adult literature, I was also curious about sex and found some romance books to read. My thirteen year old self however just picked whatever free ebook I could find so my parents wouldn’t know what I was reading. Consequently I read some pretty bad novels, and have since considered romance “lesser literature” (yes yes I’m a bad person- but I’m trying to rectify the situation!). Also as I’ve gotten older I’ve found I find it harder and harder for a writer to convince me a romance is real, and I also enjoy a healthy dose of plot unrelated to romance.
I fall on the snooty side of reading classics and literary fiction, but I want to expand my horizons. I love historical fiction so if you know of any good romance set it in the past that is a plus. But really I just want to know what you think are some good romance reads for beginners that will get me interested in the genre.
Thanks!
P.S. My favorite kinds of romance are the forbidden kind, and the love/hate thing (i.e. Han and Leia, or Starbuck and Apollo from Battlestar Galactica). Yes I’m a cliche.

–Connie

6. Hello—I thought I was done with Romance (novels, not in real life, of course), but then I listened to your Podcast all about romance, decided to try a few you recommended and guess what? I am in love with Romance novels again! But–there are so many to choose from and I’ve been away from the genre for so long, I am hoping you can recommend some new ones for me. I am open to pretty much anything, but if you know of something kind of “Southern” and a bit more “intense” than some, that would be great. I’m also not adverse to same sex love stories –I read “Think of England” from your rec and loved it. Also Loved “Every Good Earl Deserves a Lover” and Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton Series. Loved them, just looking for a little bit more intense (sex and story). Can you help me?
Thanks so much.
–Debbie in Nevada

7. After years of reading exclusively literary fiction or non-fiction, I stumbled upon the Romance genre and am finding it very interesting and, often, a lot of fun. I’d love to share this experience…perhaps even with my (adventurous) book club. Any recommendations for a book within the romance genre that would make a good book club pick? (Bonus if there is a reading guide available!)

–BD

Books Discussed

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

After the Wedding by Courtney Milan

A Girl Like Her by Talia Hibbert (tw: intimate partner violence)

Under Her Skin by Adriana Anders (tw: flashbacks to domestic abuse)

Dear Aaron by Mariana Zapata

A Summer for Scandal by Lydia San Andres

If the Dress Fits by Carla de Guzman

The Heiress Effect by Courtney Milan

Soulless by Gail Carriger

Dating You / Hating You by Christina Lauren