Guest reccer Kristen Weber shares the books that made her fall in love with romance
And gives you even more to add to your TBR pile, honestly.
Hi readers! I’m Kristen Weber, @kristenwEditor on Twitter, and a freelance book editor (www.kristenweber.com). I worked in New York City for several major publishers before moving to Los Angeles to follow my television writer husband. In New York, I mainly read and edited crime fiction. I ran two dedicated crime fiction publishing lines, attended and spoke at writing conferences on crime fiction and writing in general, and I have edited hundreds of mysteries and thrillers you can find at your local bookstore. But one of my very first freelance clients asked me to help her transition from writing thrillers to writing romance. We both studied every romance we could get our hands on and, in the process, I fell completely in love. I still edit crime fiction, but I also edit an equal mix of romance. There’s nothing I love more than helping writers’ dreams come true, no matter the genre. Finding that kind of balance while working for myself has been a true happily-ever-after.
I’m a voracious reader. I read 115 books last year and I’m planning to read even more this year. When I saw Carly’s call for guest posts, I knew I had to share the books that made me fall in love with romance. And I wish you all a bookworm happily-ever-after too, whatever that looks like for you.
A Girl Like Her by Talia Hibbert (Indiebound)
(contemporary romance)
Before there was Chloe Brown (which is as brilliant as the entire romance world says, so run to it if you haven’t already!), there was Ruth Kabbah. There’s no way you can avoid falling in love with Ruth, an autistic comic web artist who lives unapologetically and authentically. Her small town doesn’t know what to make of her and all of the gossip has turned her into a pariah (the author includes a trigger warning in the forward, so read that first). Evan, her next-door neighbor and our hero, is just nice… and he wants to be nice to Ruth too, but she can’t figure out quite what to do with him. Until she does. When she decides to trust him, it is everything. A perfect, quirky, contemporary romance about a small town with edge. This book turned me into a complete Talia Hibbert zealot.
Wrong Bed, Right Roommate by Rebecca Brooks (Indiebound)
(contemporary romance)
I love romances that straddle the “new adult” line. This is the first book in a series centering on what can happen when you accidentally end up sharing a bed with a sexy stranger, which I can buy would happen often in the tiny apartments of New York City. In this one, Talia thinks subletting her apartment to her brother, Shawn, shouldn’t be a big deal, even if he doesn’t get along with Jessie, her roommate and best friend. But soon, all that hate turns to fireworks... and Jessie and Shawn have to hide their new relationship from Talia. This is a very fun romance with the perfect mix of heat and heart.
Teach Me by Olivia Dade (Indiebound)
(contemporary romance)
I could talk about this book for days. High School social studies teacher Rose Owen is happy with all of the classes she’s teaching and has her own classroom where she can hide and do lesson prep during breaks. But that changes when a bully of a superintendent gives part of her classroom and her favorite class to new teacher Martin Krause. They’re both divorced and over 40. Rose is an “ice queen” but she has so many layers and watching her melt as she realizes both she and Martin are dealing with different kinds of hurts is everything! I hated high school, so on paper, this seems like nothing I would want to read. But I trust all recommendations from The Ripped Bodice** and I snagged a copy. Any skepticism I had was blown away the minute I started. I just adored this slow-burn workplace romance.
**Also, I need to send love to The Ripped Bodice, the most magical dedicated romance bookstore that I feel lucky to have near me in Los Angeles. I am thankful for their booksellers who are always happy to chat and sell me books I am up loving. I wouldn’t be the romance reader I am without them.
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