Bingeing this book on a flight rom CA to Vancouver Island

Where our story begins…

For the last several months, I have been reading quite a bit and have loved sharing my favorites and recommendations with friends. After typing out recs numerous times, I made a list and started sharing it via text and DM. “The List” has been passed around countless times and I absolutely love when friends and strangers alike share with me their progress. A couple of weeks ago, a dear friend reached out while standing in a bookstore saying, “I know you read this, this, and this, what do you recommend?”

I will be updating the list, so keep this link in mind! When searching for books, I invite you to consider supporting your local, independent booksellers and encourage checking trigger warnings before reading.

In my opinion, books are outlets for entertainment and/or learning. In this format, I’m not getting into critical writing styles, or any of that jazz. My grammar is horrendous (kept moving when it was covered in school and frankly never learned) and I have no hill I wish to die on in that regard. Simply put, if there is a heart next to it, I loved it. The number of chili peppers next to the title, the spicier it is!

Share with your friends, circle back for updates and let us know what we should read and add! While there are a few in the list below, I plan on making a concerted effort to read more books with BIPOC and LGBTQ2IA+ authors/characters and already have them waiting on my shelf!

Sarah J. Maas Multi-Verse

While her books are not the most academic examples of literature, I have thoroughly enjoyed the ride and Sarah’s storytelling kickstarted my reading craze. Deeply inspired by folklore and fairytales, but with a multi-faceted feminist spin, I’m currently trying to get all my friends to read them! The breadth of her work is as inspiring as the fact that Sarah started writing these books when she was just sixteen.

I personally recommend reading ACOTAR, Throne of Glass and then Crescent City in that order for the best impact

ACOTAR- Beauty & The Beast retelling optioned to be a HULU series produced by Ronald D. Moore of Outlander

A Court of Thorns & Roses by Sarah J. Maas 💕
A Court of Mist & Fury by Sarah J. Maas 💕🌶️ 🌶️
A Court of Wings & Ruin by Sarah J. Maas 💕🌶️ 🌶️
A Court of Frost & Starlight by Sarah J. Maas 💕
A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas 💕🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
THRONE OF GLASS SERIES- Cinderella, but she’s an assassin. There is an order to read them for maximum heartstring pulling
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas 💕
Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas 💕
Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas 💕
Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas 💕
Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas 💕
Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas- Read tandem with Empire of Storms 💕🌶️
Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas- Read tandem with Tower of Dawn 💕🌶️
Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas 💕🌶️
CRESCENT CITY- contemporary urban fantasy
A House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas (Read ACOTAR first)💕 🌶️
A House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas💕 🌶️ 🌶️🌶

Fantasy Romance- New Adult:

Kingdom of The Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco 💕🌶️ 🌶️ -set in Italy, seven deadly sins
Kingdom of The Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco 💕🌶️ 🌶️ -set in Italy, seven deadly sins

Kingdom of The Feared by Kerri Maniscalco (Pre-order) -set in Italy, seven deadly sins

King of Battle and Blood by Scarlett St. Clair 💕🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️

A Queen of Myth and Monsters by Scarlett St. Clair (Pre-Order)

The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab 💕- one of my absolute favorites of 2021
Heart of a Witch by Rebecca L. Garcia 🌶️

Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa - some folks were very critical of this series 🌶️ 🌶️
A Strange Hymn by Laura Thalassa - some folks were very critical of this series 🌶️ 🌶️
Dark Harmony by Laura Thalassa - some folks were very critical of this series 🌶️ 🌶️
From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout 🌶️ 🌶️
A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
The Crown of Gilded Bones by Jennifer L. Armentrout 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
Shadow and Ember by Jennifer L. Armentrout 🌶️ 🌶️
A War of Two Queens by Jennifer L. Armentrout 🌶️ 🌶️

Greek Mythology:

Gild by Raven Kennedy 🌶️ 🌶️- Midas retelling
Circe by Madeline Miller- Odysseus
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller 💕- Achilles + Patroculus
Electric Idol by Katee Robert -Psyche + Eros 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️

Wicked Beauty by Katee Robert (Pre-Order) - Achilles + Patroclus + Helen 🌶️ 🌶️

Hades & Persephone:

A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
A Touch of Ruin by Scarlett St. Clair 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
A Touch of Malice by Scarlett St. Clair 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
A Game of Fate by Scarlett St. Clair 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️

A Game of Retribution by Scarlett St. Clair (Pre-Order)

Neon Gods by Katee Robert- Enemies to lovers 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️

Young Adult Fantasy Romance:

Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jansen- 💕Enemies to lovers
Traitor Queen by Danielle L. Jansen- 💕Enemies to lovers
The Inadequate Hair by Danielle L. Jansen- Enemies to lovers 🌶️

Malice by Heather Walter🌶️- Sleeping Beauty retelling, but you love the villian

Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson- 💕Enemies to lovers
Vow of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson- 💕Enemies to lovers

Cruel Prince by Holly Black- Enemies to lovers
Wicked King by Holly Black- Enemies to lovers
Queen of Nothing by Holly Black- Enemies to lovers

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong- Romeo and Juliet retelling- Enemies to lovers
Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong- Romeo and Juliet retelling- Enemies to lovers

Once Upon A Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

Skin of The Sea by Natasha Bowen- Little Mermaid inspired

A Deal With The Elf King by Elise Kova - Hades and Persephone Retelling 💕
A Dance With the Fae Prince by Elise Kova

To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo - Little Mermaid Retelling

Contemporary Romance:

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams 💕🌶️
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang 🌶️

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood- Fake dating 💕🌶️ (There’s a spicy bonus chapter on her website)

The Fine Print by Lauren Asher - Disney-like CEO 💕🌶️ 🌶️
Terms and Conditions by Lauren Asher - Marriage of convenience 💕🌶️ 🌶️

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey- Inspired by Schitt’s Creek 💕 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
Hook Line & Sinker by Tessa Bailey (sequel) 💕🌶️ 🌶️

Beach Read by Emily Henry- Enemies to lovers 💕🌶️
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry- Friends to lovers 💕🌶️

Book Lovers by Emily Henry (Pre-Order)

To Love Jason Thorn by Ella Maise- Fake Marriage 💕🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
To Hate Adam Connor by Ella Maise- Close Proximity 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️

Wilder With You by Serena Bell- Fake dating 💕🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne- Enemies to lovers 🌶️
The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas- Fake dating, has a Marriage For One reference 💕🌶️ 🌶️
Marriage For One by Ella Maise- Marriage of convenience 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren- Fake married

Priest by Simone Sierra- just straight up spice served hot 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
Sinner by Simone Sierra- just straight up spice served hot 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston- LGBTQ2ia+ romance between Prince of England and US First Son 💕🌶️
By The Book by Jasmine Guillroy (Pre-order) Beauty and the Beast retelling
Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover 🌶️ 🌶️
A Brush With Love by Mazen Eddings- dental school romance
Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas 🌶️ 🌶️
Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas 🌶️ 🌶️

Historical Fiction Romance:

Outlander Series Diana Gabaldon 🌶️ -Starz Series
Bridgerton Series by Julia Quinn🌶️ - Netflix Series
Anything by Philippa Gregory- Starz Series

"The List" Brooke's Fantasy + Romance Book Recommendations Spring 2022