I'm With Cupid: Reading Romance

I was an English major in college, so I spent four years reading beautiful, dense, literary fiction, classics, and literary criticism. Don't get me wrong, these books were great — I learned a lot, loved the program, and even wrote a senior thesis about Toni Morrison.

But then I graduated.

In 2020.

Into a pandemic and a really weird job market.

And I didn't really have it in me to read dense, heavy literature all the time, no matter how well-written or educational or poignant. Along came a new (to me) genre: romance.

As a student, I had had certain ideas about what literature was "good" or "valid" or "worth reading." Romance did not fall into that category unless it was written centuries ago and considered "literary" (ex: the class I took on Austen and the Brontës).

But in 2020, as a recent graduate falling back in love with reading for fun, I discovered how wrong I was, and how much I enjoy — no, LOVE — a fluffy, silly, sweet, slightly sappy romantic comedy.

In honor of Valentine's Day, here are a few of my favorites:

Cassie's Favorite Romance Reads (In No Particular Order)

1. Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston – I think I have to credit this book with getting me into romance reading. It's a hilarious, sweet, queer love story about the son of an American president and his enemies-to-friends-to-lovers journey with a British prince. The writing made me laugh out loud, the characters are wonderful, and it really changed my mind about what a romance book can be. Casey McQuiston's One Last Stop is also an excellent read with an incredible cast of characters, McQuiston's signature wit, and a fascinating twist!

2. The Dating Plan by Sara Desai – I started with Sara Desai's first book, The Marriage Game, and immediately bought her subsequent books when they came out. The Dating Plan is her second, followed by The Singles Table, and I've loved them all! The Dating Plan was my favorite, though. It follows Daisy, a software engineer who has no time for love but wants to live up to her family's expectations. When she unexpectedly runs into her childhood crush, they hatch a plan to fake an engagement and marriage for mutual gain. But when they start to spend more time together to legitimize their relationship in the eyes of their families, they realize that their feelings might get in the way of their plan. Plot-wise, this was my favorite of Desai's books, but they all offer well-developed characters, important plot points that aren't solely based on the romance, and plenty of witty banter. I also love a rom-com that teaches me about another culture, and these are a great pick for that!

3. The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa – This was my most recent rom-com read, and it immediately earned a spot on this list! Main character Lina, a wedding planner, is left at the altar. Years later, she's faced with the biggest opportunity of her career — if she can put aside her differences with her ex-fiancée's awful younger brother, Max, and work with him on the presentation. I loved Lina and Max as characters and really enjoyed the build-up of their relationship. I also loved Lina's big Brazilian family and learning about their culture! Sosa also has another book, The Wedding Crasher, that I am adding to my TBR.

4. Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson – This book releases on February 15 and I can't wait for my physical copy! This is such a sweet story about books and publishing and finding yourself — read my whole review here! This book is also great for people who might like romance for the story but not the steam (like me).

5. ANYTHING by Jasmine Guillory – Jasmine Guillory's books are some of my favorites in general, romance or not. I love her blend of wit and humor, truly relatable and compelling character development, and entertaining storylines. Her best-known series starts with The Wedding Date and includes The Proposal, The Wedding Party, Royal Holiday, and Party of Two. One of my favorite things about this series is that they're interconnected, even though they can all stand alone. Main characters from each book show up as supporting characters throughout the rest of the series, giving the whole thing a really cool continuity. The Wedding Party is my favorite so far, but I would highly recommend any of Jasmine Guillory's books.

6. It Had To Be You by Georgia Clark – This was one of my favorite books of 2021. In vignettes a la Love Actually, it follows a large cast of characters in New York City, all exploring love and relationships in their own ways. The story centers on a widowed wedding planner forced to share her business with the woman her late husband cheated with — which is just as entertaining, hilarious, and surprisingly heartwarming as it sounds! I love Georgia Clark's writing and the way she gets to the root of her characters. Georgia's book The Bucket List is also excellent, and I can't wait for Island Time, out this summer!