I love to read. I love love. Consequently, I love reading stories about people falling in love. I can devour romance novels in one sitting the same way I can devour a couple of lava cakes from Dominos, and this sometimes happens simultaneously. But like my very particular taste in dessert, I have a strict set of criteria that a love story must meet in order for me to deem it swoon-worthy.
Rule #1 is consent! Consent, consent, consent! Nothing kills the mood of a steamy scene quicker than ambiguous consent. This is nonnegotiable for me, and I have slammed many books shut because of it. Repeat after me: Consent is HOT!
Rule #2 is a healthy relationship. While my 13-year-old self might not have realized how toxic Edward and Bella’s relationship was in Twilight, my 21-year-old self does, and I’m not here for it—but also Team Edward forever, I said what I said. All jokes aside, I will not support a book that romanticizes unhealthy, codependent and abusive relationships— I’m looking at you, After series.
Finally, rule #3 is a strong female lead. As a woman, I like reading stories about women who don’t need a partner/relationship but want one. No damsels in distress here! I love female leads that know, or throughout the story learn, what they deserve and are not willing to settle for anything less.
During 2020 I, like many, had an endless amount of time to read, bake bread that could break a window , start redecorating a room that I still haven’t finished, etc. While many of my quarantine endeavors didn’t exactly pan out, I did read almost 30 books! I haven’t read that much since elementary school. Out of those 30 books, 18 were romance novels— stop judging me! So, based on my criteria of a good romance and a steam scale (because duh, this is romance!), here are my top three favorites that you need to run— not walk— and go read right now.
- “Bringing Down the Duke” by Evie Dunmore
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Let me preface this by saying, I have watched Pride and Prejudice no less than 40 times in my life and I’m still not sick of it, so this book was right up my alley. Dunmore’s “Bringing Down the Duke” is, *chef’s kiss*, historical romance perfection. Set in 1879 at Oxford University, BDTD is about Annabelle Archer, a spinster at the ripe old age of 28, who has sworn off love and marriage. After getting an unbelievable opportunity to study at Oxford, she joins a women’s suffrage group through the university where she’s tasked with convincing the Duke of Montgomery to change his position on women’s suffrage in an attempt to sway parliament. Easy, right? No. Montgomery is ice-cold and impossible to persuade— everyone’s scared of this man, everyone except Annabelle *wiggles eyebrows*. The chemistry between these two characters is insane and there’s a feminist theme. It truly doesn’t get better than this. Not to mention this is only the first book in Dunmore’s A League of Extraordinary Women series, which follows Annabelle and her friends’ love lives and fight for women’s rights. The second book in the series, “A Rogue of One’s Own,” is out now and even spicier than BDTD, if that’s possible.
Steam scale: 5/5
“Bringing Down the Duke” is make-you-blush, fog-up-your-glasses level steam. I almost closed the book to give Annabelle and Montgomery some privacy…almost.
- “Beach Read” by Emily Henry
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You guys, this story melted my heart. The characters, the setting, the story, it was perfect on so many levels. “Beach Read” is dubbed an anti-romance where “the story ends and no one falls in love.” Well, Emily Henry lied, let me just tell you. “Beach Read” follows January Andrews, a successful romance author who no longer believes in love and Augustus Everett, an acclaimed literary fiction writer who’s stuck in a rut. Oh, and did I mention that they were enemies in college? January and Gus strike up a deal to teach each other how to write again. Over the summer, Gus will help January write a gloomy literary fiction novel, and January will help Gus write a romance. Can you see where this is going? “Beach Read” deals with facing the aftermath of shocking revelations, life’s disappointments, heartbreak, grief and growing up. One review said “Beach Read” is “a romance with emotional depth” and that description hits the nail on the head. I could not love this story more.
Steam scale: 3/5
Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of steam, but it is nowhere near “Bringing Down the Duke” level steam, which is not a bad thing! I don’t want to blush like a high school freshman in health class every time I read a romance. “Beach Read” has solid steaminess without nearing X-rated territory.
- “One to Watch” by Kate Stayman-London
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If you love The Bachelor franchise, you will love this book! “One to Watch” follows Bea Schumacher, an insanely stylish plus-size fashion blogger, who has the perfect life…almost. She has a group of loving friends, thousands of loyal followers and one massively broken heart. After a drunken night of live tweeting while watching the Bachelor-inspired dating show, Main Squeeze, producers approach Bea about being the next “Main Squeeze.” She reluctantly agrees, but under one condition, she will not fall in love. This will only be a strategic, career-boosting move to promote Bea and help break harmful beauty standards. Yeah, right! This book is body positive, full of drama, and deals with the real insecurities and social judgment that women of all sizes face. This book had me in tears in one chapter and stitches in the next. Whether you have experienced living in a plus-size body or not, it’s so easy to relate to Bea and root for her happiness.
Steam scale: 2/5
Okay, so a review said “One to Watch” was “salacious,” which, in my opinion, is not true. There are a couple slightly spicy scenes, but overall, it’s very tame in the steam category. But the lack of steam doesn’t diminish the story’s quality in the slightest, and if you’re not comfortable getting the nitty gritty details, “One to Watch” will be a perfect romance for you!