Read the 5 Most Loved Romance Novels — Are They Worth It?
I dearly loved some and loathed others
Reader’s slump can be annoying. It is hard to get into reading even your favourite book. Whenever I am stuck, I call on the romance genre for help.
They always rescue me with their simple yet profound words and worlds.
This time, I went across the five most popular contemporary romances of the time. Some, I wholeheartedly adored. Others, not much so.
Check out this much-awaited list!
The Wholesome Winners
1) Book Lovers by Emily Henry
You know the dreamy feeling you get when you think you have touched perfection in this wacky world? The elated and fulfilling experience after reading the magnum opus?
My words wouldn’t be able to do justice in praising Book Lovers.
This book contained everything not shown enough love.
In every traditional romance, there is a cold blonde girlboss of a woman who is the villain and gets dumped in the end. In Henry’s book, the protagonist was this kind of woman — a complete 180 ° from the traditions.
And care for Nora, I did!
There’s nothing better than a subversion of cliché tropes.
One major reason for awarding the book 5 stars is that instead of shaming her for preferring her career over love or villainising her for remaining childless while having other “feminine” traits, the book celebrated her choices.
The male lead added to the charm of the book.
Charlie — witty, handsome, and endearing— made me swoon with his words. All things that didn’t make much sense about him held meanings, which you’ll only get to know towards the end.
Their bond felt natural like two puzzle pieces rightly fitting into each other.
The banter between the couple made me break into a laugh several times. The prose flowed flawlessly, the dialogues realistic and engaging. You really yearned for them to stay together.
The third act conflict that kicked in was surprisingly not based on miscommunication like 99% of romances are.
The adults acted like adults for the first time. Priorities were set straight. Hearts broke.
However, romance isn’t all that this book is about.
This book also explores interpersonal relationships and derives a side conflict out of them, adding the thrill. We got to see the wonderful dynamics between Nora and her sister, and Nora and her late mother — and how these affected her life.
This is a book written about book lovers by a book lover for book lovers.
With so many items served fresh out of the oven, why don’t you try this book as well?
2) Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
I fancy the friends to lovers trope the most.
When done right, it is the best thing ever.
Love and Other Words did just this.
The book captured my heart by showcasing how delicately two young people could fall in love, how brutally it could be blown apart, and how many kinds of “love” there are in this vast world.
(Don’t you think we put too much pressure on the four-letter word?)
This book was also about words and how they can make or break one’s life.
We experienced two timelines in this book; one was the present and the other flashed back to the protagonist’s (Macy’s) youth.
I got to first-hand experience how awkward and fragile teenage love could be. It started with sharing common interests, becoming friends, and then something more.
By Jove, my skin felt the sparks due to the chemistry between Macy and Elliot.
Both the characters were instantly likeable and intriguing. You could picture them together in the future.
However, one teeny mistake and the bond can blow apart, as it did.
A page-turner, I was hooked by this book from chapter one, wondering why the bond between them had to snap, and why Macy was settling for someone else she barely understood.
The second timeline proved how the past never can leave us. The scars always remain and affect the present relationships. Running away rarely does good.
Things kept coming out of the blue and punched you hard.
The prose had a musical tinge to it.
Macy was forced to confront Elliot after years of no contact. What followed ahead is painful and eye-opening to both people.
You would get that insanely satisfactory sensation when the circle will complete itself — when the dots will join in the end.
The Honourable Mention
3) Twisted Hate by Ana Huang
I have twisted feelings for the Twisted Series.
I found the third book — Twisted Hate — the best.
Ana Huang improved as an author. The prose, which was cringe in the previous books, raised its standards. The read went forward smoothly!
With the enemies to lovers trope, the book was a slow burn. Realism is a vital element in your novel. Hence, I liked how realistically the book went forward with the romance.
The banter was spot on. The moment the tension was being built up nailed it!
The protagonists of this book, Jules and Josh, were complex and fantastically created. Both had backstories and dark pasts that affected the present, and both had flaws to keep them human.
Nothing was certain. You knew how great the characters would be together, but you also knew how life was not as simple.
To add spice to the novel, Ana Huang added a small heist/robbery in the book. I chewed my nails to death because of my excitement over this!
Yet, I had to cut a star because of questionable words and actions in a few chapters. Some may be able to overlook them; I couldn’t.
The Lamentable Losers
4) Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
Colleen Hoover is the rage these days.
I found most of her books overhyped and problematic, like Ugly Love.
I was very excited to delve into this much-acclaimed friends-with-benefits dynamics. The world allegedly cried when it read this heart-touching book.
Boy, I haven’t felt this disgusted in a long time.
Only the beginning, the tropes, and YouTube convinced me to complete the book. I regret wasting my time.
Here’s why:
- The underwhelming ride: My friend got over the moon and cried because of the “blowing” plot twist and the ending.
For me, everything went on predictably.
I had guessed what would happen, and instead of shedding tears, I rolled my eyes. The vital moments rolled out in a dreary fashion, partly because I couldn’t care about the characters. - The sexist wordings: Isn’t it ironical that the classics are more progressive and feminist than these contemporary romances?
The female lead had a career of no importance, nor did her feelings matter. When the guy and another girl played “house”, it was the girl cooking and the guy touching her. - The wrong message: What I surmised from this book:
If the guy does absolutely shitty things but is handsome and has trauma, the girl is supposed to absolve his crimes and love him unconditionally.
What are you conveying to the youth, Colleen Hoover?
Toxic relationships are never romantic. - Bad prose: Half of the book was a poem; the other half had monstrous nonsense filled.
Example One:
“Rachel is happy.
I make Rachel happy.
I make Rachel’s life better.
Her life is better with me in it.”
Example Two:
“We go to the beach.
Rachel wants to sunbathe while she reads.
I want to watch Rachel sunbathe while she reads.”
Example Three:
“Miles smiles
For no one else
Miles only smiles
For me.”
Colleen Hoover could do much better.
However, if you think this is the worst book, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
Even Satan gagged because of the last book on this list.
5) The Sweetest Oblivion by Danielle Lori
The Sweetest Oblivion was my first venture into the mafic-romance category.
I understand what draws people to mafia romances. It is the vibrant amalgamation of gruesome wars and the delicate proclamations of love with nothing fair or unfair.
This book was so bad that when I saw its four-star reviews I wanted to throw the phone.
Let’s start with the positives.
The prose — not so fancy, not so dry — made me read effortlessly. The fine storyline, full of violence and spice, and the building intrigues kept me reading.
And that’s about it.
Why I rated this book 1 star:
- The male protagonist: I have never understood why people will go crazy after mafias who are complete assholes to even those close to them.
(I’ll understand if the man is an actual softie inside and has to keep the brute side up due to the violence.)
But, if the person is being rude, a cheat and a liar to everyone repeatedly — even the female lead?
How can the author expect the readers to root for him?
Nico is an over-controlling maniac of an asshole. I’d have rather liked him to evolve like Mr Darcy: realising his mistakes and trying his best to improve just for the girl who stole his heart. - The anti-women sentiments: The misogyny in this book especially boggles my mind because a woman living in the States penned this damn book!
The women are only there as “pleasure objects” for the men. The blatant and unapologetic sexism practised made me want to throw up.
Women held no position of authority, had no sense of rebellion against the patriarchal traditions, propagated it rather, and were just there to cook, fuck, and be fragile.
The feminist inside me that was hoping for all this bullshit to be called out died. - The toxic relationship: The basis of this relationship was unhealthier than a whopper burger.
There was lust at first sight and some tension due to unknown past lives and competition. That’s it.
The guy liked her mysterious side and fantastic looks, so he took her. No consent, no deep conversations, no common interests.
I can bet my cents that this would break apart in a few months in real life.
Conclusion
Art is terribly subjective.
The books that turned me into a rant machine? You can adore them and absolve their sins.
The books that made my giggly and giddy voices emerge? You can turn Thanos on them.
Go ahead, pick different titles, and compare your views with the others.
What do you guys think about my takes?
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