Romance Recs
We're 3 romance obsessed besties sharing book recs broken down by genres and tropes, so you can be sure you’re getting exactly what you want out of your next read. We do the research so you don’t have to. You'll find new indie authors, the hottest new releases, interviews, and more. Our different tastes make sure we’ve got something for everyone here at Romance Recs. Mature content is discussed.
Romance Recs
Contemporary
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Do you love a good contemporary romance? Do you binge watch Hallmark movies and shows like Virgin River or Greys Anatomy? Are you looking for a new love story to swoon over? We've got you covered.
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Welcome to Romance Wrecks, where three book besties explore the world of romance novels and encourage you to expand your TBR. Join us as we dive into the hottest releases and hidden gems of the genre. You can find us on Instagram and TikTok at Romance Wrecks Pod. I am Jordan. And I am currently reading Oathbound by Hadley H. Hudson.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Hey guys, I'm Devonnie and I am reading The Nanny by Lana
Track 1Hello everyone, I'm Kristina and I'm currently reading Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole. So buckle up for some bookish banter.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714I will. Thank you.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Ooh, me too.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Welcome back everybody. Here
Track 1Hey guys,
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714we are. Fresh face. Oh. I just.
Track 1What are we talking about?
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714well, before we get to that let's talk about what we've already read in the last little bit. Does anyone have a rant or a quote? Because I have a funny one.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Okay, alright, yeah,
Track 1yeah, let's go, girl.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714one? Okay.
Track 1Yeah.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714of the day, everybody. This is from He's Not My Type by Megan Quinn. And this is, it's a hockey romance. The guys are in the locker room. Just to set the scene for you, the guys are in the locker room,
Track 1That's the best place.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714boy to, get with the girl. Metaphorically, if she got a look at your penis, I'm pretty sure it would scare her away. That shit has girth. It's my favorite quote of the book, and there are so many great quotes because the book is amazing. But it's just so
Track 1Girth.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713That
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Metaphorically, if she saw it, it'd scare her away. That shit has girth. Locker
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713That's hilarious.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714room talk written by women is amazing.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713It's so good. Oh, so good. And Megan Quinn is just so good at like
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Witty. Yeah, very witty.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713yeah, she's very witty. For real. I love that. I haven't, I don't think I've read that one actually.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714it's one of my favorites now. But I'll get into her more later in this episode too. So
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Okay.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714who else
Track 1What about you? Oh, me? Me? Okay. I thought this one went well with, since we talk romance, this was a scene out of My Dark Romeo. The main girl loves to read romance books, and so here's a quote. She says, Yet again, my romance books proved right. Love is an accident. Something that occurs completely out of your control, with no regard for your safety.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Poor baby. Yes, it is an accident. An accident we make over and over again in life.
Track 1If that's not the truth.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713though guys.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Take us home. Take us home. I don't like it. Oh,
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713pod just because Y'all know I just finished that book and I'm obsessed, I've been talking about it, it is like my new personality and that's just that. In this specific scene, the main character Ezra, he's like a very old soul. That's what I'm gonna say, you know, not to give too much away. He's a very old soul, and so he doesn't believe in cursing in front of women, and he just kinda he just says it's because he has manners. It's too vulgar for, you know, a woman's good sensibilities. Anyway. He's talking. To the Phoebe Obey character and he says then nothing else matters He told her love well eat well fuck well and leave the world better off And leave the world better off than you found it that success Ricky folded her arms across her chest You're not gonna apologize for fuck well Ezra curled his mouth into something dangerous somewhere between a smirk and a grin Leisurely he finished off his water apologize for fucking well.
Track 1Ooh! I
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713much less be so forward. But yeah, that, I had to highlight that passage immediately.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714that's cute.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713So today, we are talking about contemporary romances, which is like the chef's kiss of my genre loving
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714There it is. It's been an episode or two that we've heard chef's kiss. We didn't get it for the dark romance episode, but we're getting it today.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713You know, the dark romance episode was not really a chef's kiss kind of episode for me
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714And it's
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713was anything really chef's
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714yes for me.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Oh,
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714yes it is. It was all perfect. Yeah. Yeah.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713romance. This definition I saw on yellowroseromancebooks. com And I think they just had A really great, succinct way of describing the genre without all the World War II mentionings. look up the definition yourself if you're curious about why I mentioned World War II. just makes sense, but here's what yellow rose romance book says Contemporary romance is a genre that focuses on romantic relationships set in present day It often portrays the challenges emotions and dynamics of modern love making it relatable to readers who navigate similar Experiences in their own lives the genre thrives on authenticity exploring themes of connection personal growth and the myriad Complexities that love entails and I think that is absolute perfection as far as the
Track 1it. 100%.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Yeah, so that's what we're talking about today guys. I hope you're all buckled in we got some hot recs for you Yeah, I've got a couple I've got I tried to be a little diverse in my selections as far as what they
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714And you had a lot of options to work with. This is your Roman empire. This
Track 1Her forte.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713yeah, this is my thing but I had to pick I had to
Track 1Well, share them then, cause I can tell how much you want to.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Let's hear it.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713ain't gotta threaten me with a good time. Here we go. So first because I just mentioned a love song for Ricky Wilde. I am going to add that to this list. I mean, this is a new book for me. I literally just finished that book a couple days ago. But when I tell you I had the best time reading this book. The story follows Ricky and Ezra and their romance. Ricky is kind of the odd girl out in her family. She's the weirdo, the oddball, the one who's creative that they don't understand. Her family's pretty much like Atlanta royalty. And her sisters are all very rich and sophisticated and just influencer type women. They're just down to business. And Ricky's not like that at all. She shops at consignment stores and she loves thrift thing. And she wears like old school outfits while her sisters look like they've just come off the stage of a runway. So she's very different from her family. She gets an offer to basically up. Root her life to move to Harlem to open up her own store and she takes it and that's when her life kind of goes crazy there's so many synchronicity synchronicities and Coincidences that happen and that's where she meets Ezra who has a story of his own they fall in love, but there's such a twist and like I don't know the plot is just It is so cute. It is so beautiful. And like the story is modern. It does jump in timelines But it's a modern love story that also discusses the beauty of the Harlem Renaissance. Now, I'm a New Yorker Okay, I'm a New York girl. So I love Harlem I absolutely appreciate the rich culture and history there and seeing things brought hearing things like Brought up in this book that I know that I've had experience with And that they are now experiencing in the book. I was just, it was actually Chef's Kiss. It was, like, she talks about Sylvia. I'm like, yes, Sylvia is, yes. That food is, eat that down. Love it, delicious,
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Oh, so like specific places and everything like experience. Okay, that's awesome.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713they talk about the Cotton Club. They talk about all these things. And they're like, Tia did her research for this book, because the
Track 1That's great.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713the characters that are in there. And of course it's fiction, so she could've you know.
Track 1Made it up, yeah.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713It was beautiful. It was beautiful to relive the vibrancy of the Harlem Renaissance in such a short way, because I mean, that's a long history and the page, the book is only like 300 some pages, you know,
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714It's awesome.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713I will highly recommend it. Also, one thing about me, I'm a love black people falling in love. Yes. I'm a love them down. Absolutely. A little black girl, a little
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Love it I
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713ADHD. We're hitting a few notes there. We're hitting, things are connecting for me. My next suggestion to stray far from that is actually Cinderella is Faking It by Dylan Dyer. This is an indie book. Dylan is such a sweet, adorable person on Instagram and threads if you follow her. I think she also has TikTok, but her personality is so I don't know, I like, I want to squeeze her. She just seems so warm and cozy. But Cinderella is Faking It is about and Whose real name is August Beckett, I think. But everyone calls him Beck. And basically, the plot is, Delilah has four problems. No job, no money, no prospects, no orgasms. The first three should be easy to solve. I mean, that line
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714was like, it's giving pride and prejudice and then I was like, well, they weren't having any either So maybe that was their problem in pride and prejudice. So
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Exactly. But that, when I saw that, I was like, yep, I'm sold. I'm hooked. But all the potential employers dig a little too deep into her previous boss. She meets Cordelia Montgomery, reclusive heiress, and gets roped into a new job overnight where she has to pretend to be Cordelia.
Track 1Oh.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Beckett just wants Cordelia for her last name, since her father, who is now no longer with the living, has
Track 1Is it like a rom com? Okay. Yeah.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713He creates an elaborate plan to charm her, but ends up being the one being charmed. Now, he thinks he's charming Cordelia, but he's charming Delilah. And it's just a beautiful long con kind of vibe. There's a plot twist in there that changes. I mean It was such a fun read
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714interesting.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713the reader, yeah, you can see that y'all are conning each other. Y'all have no idea that. Yeah, I would definitely say it's rom com vibes. It's very much so rom com. So Cinderella is faking it is actually a part of a series that Dylan will be doing called the princess crossover. And her next book is called Rapunzel is losing
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Oh.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713which is about Cordelia, the actual heiress who
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Yeah.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713this. The reason I love this book is because there is so much mental health representation in it. Cordelia, the reclusive heiress, is actually agoraphobic. Is that the one where you don't like
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Yes.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713she's terrified.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714needs someone.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Delilah exactly, cause they kinda look alike and that's why Delilah ends up doing all this stuff. But Delilah herself also has You know, things going on. She has sensitivity issues like textures and feelings that play
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Oh.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713between her and back in the bedroom where no one else has paid attention to, but back notices it
Track 1Oh,
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Oh,
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713know. Yes, it is. It is such a sweet book. It is so funny. I think Dylan. Did a great job with this being her first book her debut book like excellent work.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714it's a debut book. Okay.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713it's a debut novel
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Love those.
Track 1gonna have to read this one.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713the next
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Okay.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Yes, and Rapunzel is losing It is like I said Cordelia and her bodyguard
Track 1Oh.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Oh, it's a bodyguard. You would love a good bodyguard.
Track 1Ha.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Ooh, baby.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714up your alley.
Track 1Ha.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Tatted MMA fighter. Ooh
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Shock.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Ties. Mafia Ties, which
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714I'm in.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713the first book.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714There we go.
Track 1You piqued her interest. Ha. Ha. Ha.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713next book Okay, I listened to this on audio. I There were so many times I had to pause the audio to clutch my pearls and to collect myself. If you have not listened to or read Sinner by
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Oh, I have not yet.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Please do it. Okay. So to be fair, this is a trilogy I read and there are some novellas sprinkled in between I read the first book. I also listened to it, which is Saint Is it Saint? Is Saint the first one? No, Saint might not be the first one. Priest. I'm sorry. Priest is the first book. It's a trilogy and Priest is the first one, which follows a father, like in the church who kind of loses his way. And there is a lot of smut
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Or does he find his way?
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713You know, actually, I would argue that he does
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714I guess it just depends on your personal relationship with God.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713He finds his way. The female main character. She absolutely did nothing for me. did nothing for me. She gave me
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714In the first one?
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713in the
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714not the one you're recommending.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713That's no.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Just to be clear.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713not my favorite just to be clear So if you read the first one and you're like, I absolutely cannot read any more in this series I am begging you to read the It will change your mind
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714you
Track 1Is it pre saint sinner?
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713You
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714The first one? No.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713priest sinner saint you do not have to read the first one because main character from the first one pops up in the second one, but not in a way that it's conducive to the plot or that you actually need, like you can get it if you don't read it. But Sinner follows Sean and Zenny. Zenobia. Ooh! It's a little interracial romance. Love that for them. Sean is obviously the brother of an ex father their entire family grew up in the church. Their family does suffer a very harsh tragedy. Content warnings for that one, just in case. But this tragedy kinda puts the three bro four brothers on their own trajectory. Sean is not in the church. He's not involved. He questions God. He doesn't like God. He's not like a fan. He tries to stay as far away from the church as possible because of what happened. He's the older brother and he kinda has this Responsibility kink. I don't know. To take care of Of cancer,
Track 1Oh.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713That puts his thing into high gear. He wants to save his mom.
Track 1Oldest sibling complex. Oh. Oh. Oh.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713They lose a sibling. Their one In a rough way. Sean's Best friend has a younger sister named Zenobia. They all grew up together. Like he, he used to call her Zennybug. You know, a whole little Is also
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714is this a best friend's sister? I do love those. I love those. It's awfully close to like my real life husband and I's all I love it.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713right. And it's really well done. Especially because she's grown now. And he does not recognize her when he first sees her. Is the whole time. And he hits on
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Love that. Okay.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713And he has no
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Sold.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713It is so good. But here's the twist. asks Sean To teach her about sex. Because she is
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714No. Not sold.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713he, I know, but he, she asked him specifically because in a month she will be taking her vows to become a nun.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Oh. Okay. Well. Thank Sold again.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713has not experienced the world. And so she wants to, you know, make sure she basically wants to remove doubt, which is like a big thing, like doubt that this is the path she should take and all those things. So it's a whirlwind and Sean, the audio book, the narrator. Again, I had to pause, thighs were clenched because he has a mouth on him and he is perfect. Chef's kiss. So if you're into that, I think you should check that out. It's very different. There's a lot of reference to Christianity, nope, actually Catholicism. There's a lot of Catholic references in there because that's what their
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Okay, Christina.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713God in
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Christina's I got some, I,
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Christina's
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714I,
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713me write that
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714She's I need to purge some feelings about that myself. Let me work through it, through smut.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Yes, and I've read other Sierra Simone books, but I really like the language I think is really beautiful in this book, especially in the way as someone who is not religious, I am not at all to see the way to read the way that she portrays God and Christianity and fate and religion. It was just really nice. To read like it was very refreshing and eye opening and I think I learned a little even though there was a lot of smut So definitely add that the last book follows their younger brother who is Dating Sean's best friend the guy
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Oh, it's
Track 1Oh.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713it's a
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Ooh, okay. Okay. I wasn't gonna get into it because of the religious themes.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Yeah,
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714my own stuff, but,
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713but it's, it it's done in a
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714you know.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713I'm like, I feel like if I walk into a church, the whole thing's going to catch on fire, but I really enjoyed, you know, like I'm the girl you don't want in the pew, like danger is afoot, you know, like when I'm there anyway, I enjoyed the book. So check them out. Sierra
Track 1I'm gonna
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713job
Track 1add it to my list now.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713But my very last one is actually Roommate Risk by Talia Hibbert, and it follows Jasmine and Rahul. This book had me cracking up. They are so unhinged. It takes place in London, I'm pretty sure. But these characters are so unhinged. They meet one day at the library at university, studying. And basically they decide to like, you know, They're, things are cute, let's like, try to do it. Let's try to
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Yeah, naturally.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713In the, right, naturally. You meet and you try to do it. They pause in the middle because Jasmine makes a choice that if she follows through with this, she can't be his friend, so he stops it and he's just rather have your friendship
Track 1Oh.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Oh, wow.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713that. It's, yeah, it's
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714We're both like, what? Oh.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713your friendship than not have you at all. But then five, six, seven years go by, and he's been pining for the whole time, he has been in love with her the whole time, and she sees him as her very best friend. The one who she
Track 1zone.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713to. It's the heaviest friend zone, the heaviest, but then she has an accident in her apartment where she has to move out and of course, who comes to save the day?
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Oh,
Track 1Oh, the friend.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713proximity, now it's best friend, now it's friends to lovers, now it's forced proximity, now feelings, now she's realizing that her fear of commitment is actually holding back. Her back from one of the greatest loves that she's ever known and it is so good. It is so funny And raul got a mouth on him
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Oh, I love that. I
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713as well roommate risk. It's a lighter but I guess there is a little bit of trauma because Jasmine is a mess y'all i'm not gonna lie. She's a mess She goes on dates and then comes back and tells raul about it like girl
Track 1Oh,
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713man just be sitting there and
Track 1poor guy.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714did that to so Payton is my husband, but we were friends for six months first. He was good friends with my cousin and lived with him and I would, that whole summer, the six months where I was just getting to know him, I'd come in and I'd be talking about what I did that weekend or who. And it was totally a test,
Track 1Oh,
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Poor guy, yeah. So I can't wait to read this book.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713relate. Yeah,
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Pete.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Risk by Talia Hibbert. those are my four suggestions. Love them all. They were all great, all different, and I hope that you guys read them now.
Track 1thanks for sharing.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714This is your area of expertise, so I will bow down to your recs.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713contemporary romance I've
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Yeah, and if you want any more after this episode Deb has a lot more,
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713yes, for
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Hit us
Track 1She's got a list.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714specifically. Christina, let's hear yours.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Christina, yeah. Yeah,
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Perfect.
Track 1Contemporary romance is not my forte I had to reach down into the depths of some books I've read. One is actually, it's pretty famous. It went famous on TikTok and Bookstagram, Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston? I'm sorry if I get that. It's actually a movie now on Amazon Prime that's cute.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713I saw that.
Track 1But this book follows Alex Claremont Diaz, the first son of President Ellen Claremont. So it's a woman president. He has an arch nemesis in Prince Henry, who's first in line to become king in, king of England. So it's first son and prince of Wales. And they kind of cause a kerfuffle. I love that word.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714I love that word.
Track 1Yeah.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Yeah.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Well,
Track 1They cause a little thing, and it threatens American British relationships. So the plan for damage control that the nations come up with is staging a fake friendship between the first son and the prince but their fake friendship turns into a little something more, you know? And then the president is running for, she's kicking off a re election bid, and but Alex finds himself in a secret relationship because he was worried that if it gets, If the press finds out about the relationship, it'll derail his mom's campaign. So he kind of has to decide whether, you know, his mom being president is more important than his love life. So that's gonna be heavy.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714you tell him that we need more women
Track 1And it's cute.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714suck it up. No.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Right.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Okay,
Track 1cute. It's a little gay love story between those two, but they're like in their early 20s, early to mid 20s, both of the characters, but it's very cute.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Haven't
Track 1yeah.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714It
Track 1I can only imagine.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714I have another friend that read it too and she
Track 1Yeah.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714So I've heard nothing but good things.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713have loved it. Same, yeah. People really
Track 1My oldest daughter is bi, so we actually read it together a few years ago.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Oh,
Track 1So it's kind of cute. Yeah,
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713cute.
Track 1so it's a little bonding moment for us. So she loves any of the, she loves to find a good LGBTQ story when she can. So that was one, and I think she has a few others. I haven't read them, but we read that one together, and we still have to watch the movie though, but it just recently came out. Yeah, so that's a good one.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Love that for you guys. That's
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Yeah, a
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714new one, right?
Track 1my other one is Fangirl Down. I actually just read this one. It's by Tessa Bailey. And there's actually, yeah, there's a sequel that'll be, it's like a spinoff sequel with her friend that'll be coming out this summer too, but this book follows Josephine Doyle, who is a golfer, Wells Whitaker's biggest fan. Her family owns a small golf pro shop, so she's huge into golf, and she has been since her since she was a child. She watches all of Wells matches. Wells was doing great early in his career but has had a few bad years. Josephine is a type 1 diabetic and her family's golf shop is struggling after a hurricane hits it. And so Josephine and Wells decide to team up to help each other out. She becomes his caddy to help him get his stroke back. And he helps to pay for her Yeah, I know, right? You know what? That's what it's called in golf, okay?
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714know golf terms, but
Track 1She helps his stroke. Thank you. She does.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Love a
Track 1helps his stroke a lot.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Yeah.
Track 1But she is a type 1 diabetic and has no health care because her business has been struggling. So she like has to buy her
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713America,
Track 1Yeah, she has to buy her supplies. Exactly.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713afford her medicine?
Track 1Yeah.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713this
Track 1So she
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Sorry, keep going. Christina is sounding
Track 1No, it's okay. She becomes his caddy, and he pays her a lot of money so she can fix up her golf shop and afford her medical supplies that, you know, she needs to live, but thanks to America. Anywho
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713I love it.
Track 1It says, as they travel together spending days on the green and nights in neighboring hotel rooms, sparks fly. Before long, they're inseparable, and Will starts winning again, and Josephine is surprised to find a sweet, thoughtful guy underneath all the gruff. The hot man wants to brush her hair. and take bubble baths with her. But Wells is technically her boss, and an athlete falling for his fangirl would be ridiculous. Right?
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713So ridiculous. Love it. I'm gonna
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714was just gonna say you started describing that and Dev is
Track 1I know, it's so sweet. And
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713I be like kicking back. I have the physical copy, so I may need to bump that up
Track 1One sweet little thing is she has one of the readers for her blood sugar on her arm. And so she's never given anyone access to she has it on an app. But she lets him have access so he can follow her blood sugars to make sure she's healthy. And it's so sweet.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713it right now. It is so cute. I'm gonna vomit. No, I love it's a caretaking trope I love that
Track 1And he's always he's your numbers are going down, and he's freaking out, and she's not answering the phone because it's the middle of the night. Oh my gosh, I love it. He's bursting down. I can't even, nope, no spoilers, but yeah.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Beep!
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713because I am gonna read it, but love it. Ah!
Track 1I know.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713over here.
Track 1Yeah, so those are my Tiki ones.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713I mean, Jordan's ew. Jordan's
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714that's adorable. That's,
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713I love that. Blank stare,
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714great. That sounds like my nightmare. That sounds like my absolute nightmare. I don't know, okay, for the listeners, I have serious control issues, and that just sounds like fat nope.
Track 1But it was sweet.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Right? Look, we're like, oh my gosh, he
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714I'm,
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713it's
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714I will not yuck your yum. I I love that for you. I love that for you.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713he tried to do that to Jordan, she'd put him in a headlock.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714No,
Track 1call one of her
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714would
Track 1Dark boyfriend's over.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714one of my reverse harem, dark bully
Track 1One of her mafia guys.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714take him out.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713yeah, for It's giving a Tate
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Yeah, they would come, he'd come and be like, no one talks to my queen like that. And just
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Yeah,
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714yeah,
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713him.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Don't, yeah,
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713it.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714I'm sorry. Really cute and it
Track 1and on that note, What
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713what are
Track 1you got for us, girl?
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Oh yeah, cuz dark romances are
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714oh yeah. Oh
Track 1They can be.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714the three that I suggested.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713like the light
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714No, that's what you need from contemporary. That's what
Track 1She's it's dark and fluffy feelings.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Now I'll be going back to the jar to the description to see but nope, all what the description
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714It's a time period.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713definitely include
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Yeah.
Track 1Authenticity. She's it's authentic.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714I know everyone's really looking forward to my recs.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713know.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714the first one I'm going to recommend is a super Schmexy Down and Dirty book,
Track 1Ooh,
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714So Lucky, K N O T, Not Lucky,
Track 1am intrigued. Color me intrigued. Perfect. Oh my god. Oh,
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Real simple premise, it's a hot headed NFL player overly independent woman, she's celebrating she's gonna open her own salon soon, and she's super excited. She never gets tied down. She will her rule is, she will never sleep with anyone more than once.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Mhmm. Yeah.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714he also doesn't, do attachments because he's in the NFL and he's focused on his career. I know, it's a novel idea. They meet in a club wasted in Vegas, end up partying together, they get drunk married in Vegas, wasted videos of them go online, of course, she does him and his two best friends their wedding night
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Interesting. Add to
Track 1Is that the video that went viral?
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714No, it's not that bad. But, so then they try to get it annulled, because that was their plan, they were like, we'll just get it annulled, no big deal. They went into this drunk knowing they were going to get it annulled, because it's Vegas, no one takes this seriously.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Right?
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Well, the judge refuses the annulment. Because of this big contract he has pending and he's kind of fucking over the team he's leaving because they fucked him It was it's this big drama thing with his past team, but he is a friend of whatever. It's not that far into it He's a friend of
Track 1Insert sports jargon here.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714So he's like doing this spitefully and It's no, so she has to live with him for 60 days Or however long I think it's 60 days and they have to stay married. So she can't leave the state to go to Her new salon to help you get ready.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713salon!
Track 1There's a movie about like this.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Yeah, I'm sure there's lots of premises similar to this, but it was hot. This was a hot book. The intimate scenes were fire. Absolute fire.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713I know Trulina writes some good ones.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714And this is technically the second in a series, but they're all completely independent. So the first one is about her sister and it's called Tangled in Tinsel and it's a reverse harem. And let me tell you, steamy,
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713good.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714any who,
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713so good.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714the sex is really hot.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Barely any plot. Barely
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Yeah. And that first one barely, and this, and what I just described for not so lucky, that's the plot too, but I like it. It's cute. The characters to me. I love them. They're funny the friends are funny too, because they kind of call him on his dare about not being like, attached to her. During this process, and they're like okay, then let's share her again. And so they test him with that and he like, goes caveman them. And
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Yep.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714great.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Yeah. I
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714that's my first contemporary.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Yay! So proud of you.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Thank you.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713I like that.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714And the second one, this is pretty well known. It's an Emily Henry book. It is Book Lovers. This one is great. it's about Nora Stephens. Her life is books. She's a book agent. She's really good at her job. She lives in New York. She's an independent woman, nora is just all about her job. she has been dumped in like every way like how in all the Hallmark or a lot of these contemporary books, there is that woman that he leaves the female main character for, and she's like the uptight woman who puts her job first. Is that woman. been left and she has a serious she's been dumped in so many different ways. Because she just lives her job and she doesn't want the stereotypical life.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Yeah.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714She goes to this town from her her sister and hers favorite book, right? Loves it and it's really just a small town. There's nothing special. Extremely special about it, but her sister makes her take a vacation and go there with her. She has, her sister has ulterior motives that you learn
Track 1vibes. Brooding.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714into this book editor that she knows of. a brooding book editor, Charlie LaStraw. She stays
Track 1Sparks
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714They get to know each other and, things start up. But then she has to choose because he had to move
Track 1are flying.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714family stuff. So he's not living in the city anymore. And she's I never want to leave the city. And she has to make the choice of what she really wants And I like it because it's not a typical love story. The whole time she acknowledges that she can never be that girl. And in the end she's not that girl either. So I just, it's, love it. It was great.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713it was good. I did enjoy it. That was my first time reading Emily
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Me too
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713I didn't like some of her others, but that one, I was like that
Track 1Hallmark vibes in that story.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Mhm.
Track 1I love Hallmark.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714a different kind of love and a relatable one. I think for a lot of people
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Mhm.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714refreshing because the love story is
Track 1Awesome.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714very sweet My last one is very different so my last one is
Track 1The evil smile.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714tell It is the first book in the Vancouver Agitators series by Megan Quinn.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Oh, love Megan.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714I mean, Megan
Track 1Tell me more.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714out books. She cranks them. it's a fun, they're fun contemporary books is the best way to describe her books. I didn't save this for a sports episode because I have so many other hockey ones and that this series is so solid, my opinion, it's I just, I had to highlight it. So this one, and Don't Tell, is the first book of the series. Each book follows a different hockey player. Five hockey players, cabin in the woods, and to be fair, it's woods and it's a cabin in Banff. Canada, if you know anything, it's bougie. So
Track 1Ooh.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714giant like mansion cabin in the woods. And,
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713They're
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714yep. Five hockey players.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713ha.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Besties. On the off season. And Winnie Berlin gets
Track 1One girl?
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714down. What?
Track 1I bet she gets something.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Yeah, she does. Her car breaks down. In the middle of nowhere so she sees this long driveway So she hikes up the long driveway because the storm is coming in and her little VW
Track 1murders happen.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Yeah, so she goes up to this cabin and there's these five super hot hockey players
Track 1Oh god.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714and you know in the Canadian Rockies and the thunderstorm is coming and So they let her stay there, of course
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713How
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714I, yeah,
Track 1was very kind.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714right? So it's really cute. She stumbles upon a cabin in the middle of nowhere. Soaking
Track 1Dun.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714greeted by five boisterous, brilliant, and insanely attractive men.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Wait, is it reverse harem?
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714No. That's the only thing that could have made this better.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Ha.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714out with everyone and is having a good time, but she really hits it off with one of them.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Ooh, I do not love Pacey's
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714no, and a lot of the names are similar and that's the one thing that I can't stand about this book, These books. They end up like kissing and doing stuff. She thought he was vaguely familiar when she met him, but she couldn't place it. So she let it go. He couldn't place it or either for a while, but they like kiss and I can't remember at what point they hook up. But he quickly realizes, Oh, shit. This is my brother's ex girlfriend. A brother that he is not on good terms with. And I can't remember if it's half brother or step brother. But he's not on good terms with him and he does not like his brother. He's not a great guy. He's not a good guy. And she was in a relationship with him for a really long time and she just got out of this breakup where he completely dumped her in a really bad situation, left her in the lurch,
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713God.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714and obviously she didn't know him because he was, like, removed from the family.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Yeah, they weren't. Wow.
Track 1This is deep.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Oh! He holds
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714He holds on. And and she lives in Seattle. And he of course lives
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713that
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Yeah, he lives in Vancouver It's just their story about how they you know Kind of fall for each other and then this truth comes out and then can I get over it and forgive him? are we gonna make this work?
Track 1Will he, won't he?
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714but the characters. I love the characters. The characters are So fun, and that's the best
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713is so good
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Yeah, and the whole series is amazing too. I just really wanted to highlight that one because it was such a fun way to introduce the series and it was Adorable.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713But I feel like I was reading another series by her and I vaguely remember that team being mentioned. And she also does that where
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Yeah, they're also connected to Not so meet cute that whole series They have character crossover the their business gets in league with the agitators So like they represent them socially like in their social medias and stuff.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Yes, I do remember that. That's what Did you know that Megan Quinn just be Like, got into bookstores recently? She's been popping out books for
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Is that recently?
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713ten years
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714She just put out, I'm so mad I missed it, because I did not order them. She put out editions for certain, only she selected specific books, and she did covers old school bodice rippers.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Yes!
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714mad I missed it. Oh,
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713know me
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714they're beautiful.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713wanted them They were so cute! When I saw them I was like, But I don't know. I just I wasn't paying attention enough. I saw her put them out Or sneak
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Yeah.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713and I was like, Oh cute! And then I missed it. I didn't realize when it came, they
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Yeah.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713But I, oh, so
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Yeah.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713think that was like her 10 year anniversary or something.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714yes.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713why she had published them like
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714But this series, that group of guys, I just love them so much. Like they are just a found family for each other and just the way they support each other but also they get into each other's business. Like when someone's getting into a relationship, they get in it and they're like no, give me your phone or they like take their phone and text them. It's just funny. It is so funny.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713And it's good to see guys like that
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Yeah.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Like gossip, little
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Oh, it's so great and each book, like each
Track 1So do they each have a book?
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714yeah, they each have a book and it's not done yet either, but each one has a different trope,
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Nice.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714So this one is I guess it's kind of a meet Q and brothers. It's kind of, it's like a few different things. There's an unplanned pregnancy, unexpected pregnancy.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Sign me
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714You would really like this one because
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Yes.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714great. And I don't like unplanned pregnancy, but this one was cute. There is
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Give me fake
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714forced proximity, fake dating, there's one more. What's the, I can't remember the other
Track 1Hitting all her words.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713You know right? Getting all my tropes.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714each one is a different trope, and it's so good. The last one she did, the one I read a quote from, the, That shit has girth. That quote at the beginning of the episode. That's from the most recent one to come out. not my type, I think it was called. But,
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713he's,
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714oh yeah, and that was I think my favorite one. The last one that came out. But I didn't want to highlight the last one in the series yeah. those are my cuties. And they're quick reads
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Light
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714and fun.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713fun. Typically, Megan's books are, you know, they're just a good
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Mhm.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713if you're looking for a good time palette cleanser, I think she does that really well.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Yes,
Track 1Good time, not a long time. Since they're short.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713How you know they're short?
Track 1Didn't she just say they were quick reads?
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714because you read through them so fast is what I meant.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713fast.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714They're,
Track 1Oh god.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714average, romance novel.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713not super long, but not
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Yeah.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713I think that's a good little bunch. think we all gave some cool suggestions about contemporary
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714some different stuff.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Yeah also yours are sports. I love that. I
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Two of them, and I still have enough to do a whole sports episode.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713yeah, I don't think I've read a lot of sports romances.
Track 1I just gave my only sports.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713We're in the same boat I
Track 1I gotta find some rugby books.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713we got a reason more
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714you
Track 1I know, I said I gave away my only sports.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Well,
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Bring it back up with the next if we ever do that trope or
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714we won't do it next time. But you know what we will do?
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713right?
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Paranormal is up
Track 1What?
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Yes! I already have the perfect So excited about Paranormal. I think everything I'm going to suggest might be indie. Just
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Great.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713it up, you know?
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Good. I think I have
Track 1Exciting!
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714For paranormal. I feel like you've got, can you get some AO3, some of your paranormal, that's what you gotta,
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713bring the AO3. Hehehehe.
Track 1I'll find some.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714AO3 rex,
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713one to share with the group. know, I still haven't read the two you sent me. I need to read them.
Track 1You do. That one with Az is good.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Yeah, I'm gonna read those. I'm excited about diving into AO3. Are we wrapping up?
Track 1I think so.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714That's what I have
Track 1though I know Dev would stay here all night and talk about him if she could.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713Yeah, shoot, shoot, the list is long. I really would, but I'm not going to keep harping about contemporary romance.
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Alright.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713guys, thanks for listening to us ramble, or me ramble, about my favorite contemporary romance books. If you're looking for more Romance Wrecks, be sure to follow us on Instagram and TikTok, at Romance Wrecks Pod. You can find our favorite book re I'm going to go ahead and end this video. We're going to be doing a lot of behind the scenes from our episodes as well as behind the scenes content. Again, that's at romancerexpod. So make sure to give us a follow
Track 1Squish.
devonnie_2_03-11-2024_220713next week with another episode.
Track 1Bye guys! Thank you!
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Thank
Track 1Bye!
jordan---she-her-_2_03-11-2024_220714Bye!