update #381: contemporary romance
It had been over three months since I'd last read a bunch of contemporary romance, and it was the end of term. Upon reflection, my recent reading choices make so much sense...
In other thoughts, I wish there was some way to turn off Kindle's auto hyphenation of words. I find it unnecessary and sometimes actively unhelpful, forcing me to go back to the previous line and reread now I know how the word ends. I do know how to convert ebooks so I can read them with a different app but that takes more effort -- and I think Kindle's popular highlights feature is interesting.
The Fandom Hearts series by Cathy Yardley:
• Level Up: A cute, fandom-y roommates romance. Tessa has a plan to help her new friends promote their bookshop by winning a fan contest. But if she’s going to build a successful computer game before the contest deadline, she will need help from her roommate Adam and from their colleagues.
I was initially taken aback by the mid 2010s fandom references -- old enough to feel dated, not old enough to feel vintage, I thought -- but then I settled into the story. More contemporary romance with fandom references, please.
• Hooked: This novella is about two of Tessa's colleagues and takes place during Level Up. I enjoyed the characters' interactions and would have liked this more if it hadn't felt rushed.
• One True Pairing: Mystics actor Jake hides from a mob of fangirls in the cafe where Hailey works. Jake’s in town for a fan convention, and Hailey soon decides they both need a different sort of con: Jake needs to improve his Q Score so his contract's renewed for the next season, while Hailey needs to promote her family’s bookshop, and a fake relationship will bring them both public attention.
This shows different a side of fandom to Level Up, but was enjoyable in its own way. I’m debating whether I want to devour more of this series now or later.
• Love at First by Kate Clayborn: Nora and Will have both inherited apartments in the same building. Will inherited his from an uncle he never knew, Nora from her beloved Nonna, with whom Nora spent summers growing up. She’s horrified by Will’s plan to turn his apartment into a short-term rental and enlists help from her neighbours, who are like family to her, to show Will that that sort of thing won’t work here.
I love Clayborn’s writing and I enjoyed reading this, but I didn’t like it as much as her other books. I have considered various possibilities and I’m still not sure why… Personal preference?
• Happy Trail by Daisy Prescott: A park ranger and a hiker shelter together during a storm.
I was fascinated by the insight into hiking the Appalachian Trail. Actually, I was fascinated just by the mere existence of the trail -- it’s much longer than any of the multi-day hikes I know of in this part of the world! (I’m unlikely to ever do any serious hiking -- I deal with being very prone to giant freckles, sunburn and reactions to sunscreen by avoiding going outside during the middle of the day as much as possible ‐‐ but I can see the appeal.)
I also enjoyed the contrast between Jay, who is in professional work mode, and Olive, who after hiking solo, pseudonymously, for months, is out of practise having a filter. “You should’ve met me six months ago. My filter had a filter. I was triple-filtered and rarely said what was on my mind.”
I thought the way the romance unfolded was somewhat anticlimactic and it was unsatisfying that Olive dealing with some family stuff happens off-screen. So, it wasn’t always what I want from a romance, but I don't regret reading it.
• Legacy by Stephanie Fournet: Corinne and Wes have never liked each other, but before Wes’ best friend Michael died, Wes promised to look after his girlfriend. So months later, when Wes learns that Corinne is struggling financially, he offers to move in and help out with the rent -- and Corinne, whose only alternative would require giving up her dog, agrees.
This sort of hurt/comfort appeals to me. I liked how seriously this story takes Corinne’s messy, consuming grief and how it gives her time. And I liked how Corinne and Wes discover each other’s vulnerabilities and support each other. They’re not characters I really want to spend any more time with, but I was very invested in seeing them reach a better place in their lives.
(I was a bit distracted by Fournet using “okay” and “ok” interchangeably but, hey, minor quibble.)
• Two-Step by Stephanie Fournet: A romance between an actress and a dance instructor.
I enjoyed reading this. I particularly enjoyed the way Beau helps Iris to deal with her anxiety about dancing and with her controlling mother/manager. He’s very supportive and understanding! But I finished this with a niggling feeling of dissatisfaction: Iris is a handful of years younger than Beau, but there are things which make her seem even younger -- like her lack of dating experience, her lack of confidence dancing and the influence her mother has over her life. To balance that out, Iris needed more opportunity to support Beau. There was potential for a variety of crises in Beau’s life that could have allowed Iris to demonstrate her agency, maturity and resources. The pieces were already laid out, ready to be played!
This may sound like over-analysis for a fluffy romance novel, but I do gain a sense of satisfaction from identifying what the problem was, so yeah. Originally @ Dreamwidth.
In other thoughts, I wish there was some way to turn off Kindle's auto hyphenation of words. I find it unnecessary and sometimes actively unhelpful, forcing me to go back to the previous line and reread now I know how the word ends. I do know how to convert ebooks so I can read them with a different app but that takes more effort -- and I think Kindle's popular highlights feature is interesting.
The Fandom Hearts series by Cathy Yardley:
• Level Up: A cute, fandom-y roommates romance. Tessa has a plan to help her new friends promote their bookshop by winning a fan contest. But if she’s going to build a successful computer game before the contest deadline, she will need help from her roommate Adam and from their colleagues.
I was initially taken aback by the mid 2010s fandom references -- old enough to feel dated, not old enough to feel vintage, I thought -- but then I settled into the story. More contemporary romance with fandom references, please.
• Hooked: This novella is about two of Tessa's colleagues and takes place during Level Up. I enjoyed the characters' interactions and would have liked this more if it hadn't felt rushed.
• One True Pairing: Mystics actor Jake hides from a mob of fangirls in the cafe where Hailey works. Jake’s in town for a fan convention, and Hailey soon decides they both need a different sort of con: Jake needs to improve his Q Score so his contract's renewed for the next season, while Hailey needs to promote her family’s bookshop, and a fake relationship will bring them both public attention.
This shows different a side of fandom to Level Up, but was enjoyable in its own way. I’m debating whether I want to devour more of this series now or later.
• Love at First by Kate Clayborn: Nora and Will have both inherited apartments in the same building. Will inherited his from an uncle he never knew, Nora from her beloved Nonna, with whom Nora spent summers growing up. She’s horrified by Will’s plan to turn his apartment into a short-term rental and enlists help from her neighbours, who are like family to her, to show Will that that sort of thing won’t work here.
I love Clayborn’s writing and I enjoyed reading this, but I didn’t like it as much as her other books. I have considered various possibilities and I’m still not sure why… Personal preference?
• Happy Trail by Daisy Prescott: A park ranger and a hiker shelter together during a storm.
I was fascinated by the insight into hiking the Appalachian Trail. Actually, I was fascinated just by the mere existence of the trail -- it’s much longer than any of the multi-day hikes I know of in this part of the world! (I’m unlikely to ever do any serious hiking -- I deal with being very prone to giant freckles, sunburn and reactions to sunscreen by avoiding going outside during the middle of the day as much as possible ‐‐ but I can see the appeal.)
I also enjoyed the contrast between Jay, who is in professional work mode, and Olive, who after hiking solo, pseudonymously, for months, is out of practise having a filter. “You should’ve met me six months ago. My filter had a filter. I was triple-filtered and rarely said what was on my mind.”
I thought the way the romance unfolded was somewhat anticlimactic and it was unsatisfying that Olive dealing with some family stuff happens off-screen. So, it wasn’t always what I want from a romance, but I don't regret reading it.
• Legacy by Stephanie Fournet: Corinne and Wes have never liked each other, but before Wes’ best friend Michael died, Wes promised to look after his girlfriend. So months later, when Wes learns that Corinne is struggling financially, he offers to move in and help out with the rent -- and Corinne, whose only alternative would require giving up her dog, agrees.
This sort of hurt/comfort appeals to me. I liked how seriously this story takes Corinne’s messy, consuming grief and how it gives her time. And I liked how Corinne and Wes discover each other’s vulnerabilities and support each other. They’re not characters I really want to spend any more time with, but I was very invested in seeing them reach a better place in their lives.
(I was a bit distracted by Fournet using “okay” and “ok” interchangeably but, hey, minor quibble.)
• Two-Step by Stephanie Fournet: A romance between an actress and a dance instructor.
I enjoyed reading this. I particularly enjoyed the way Beau helps Iris to deal with her anxiety about dancing and with her controlling mother/manager. He’s very supportive and understanding! But I finished this with a niggling feeling of dissatisfaction: Iris is a handful of years younger than Beau, but there are things which make her seem even younger -- like her lack of dating experience, her lack of confidence dancing and the influence her mother has over her life. To balance that out, Iris needed more opportunity to support Beau. There was potential for a variety of crises in Beau’s life that could have allowed Iris to demonstrate her agency, maturity and resources. The pieces were already laid out, ready to be played!
This may sound like over-analysis for a fluffy romance novel, but I do gain a sense of satisfaction from identifying what the problem was, so yeah. Originally @ Dreamwidth.