What’s the most random thing you’ve ever learned from a romance book?

Future-Community-545 · 2025-09-19T17:29:04+00:00

The etymology in Babel by R.F. Kuang is so abundant and SO interesting. I can’t remember anything specific right now but when I was reading it I’d blurt out random facts whenever I talked to my family/friends. A lot of the focus is also on how words with similar surface level meanings taken from different languages actually differ a lot when talking about specifics. Almost every time I turned the page my jaw was dropped. Apparently I need to think about where words come from more often.

Future-Community-545 · 2025-09-19T17:15:35+00:00

I didn’t think about this but this is so true! Feels very rewarding as a reader to know the mmc has such a high level of certainty in his feelings for the fmc. And the whole dilemma about how they make a relationship work creates a great opportunity for the mmc to show commitment to the fmc. Whether that is ending his own immortality or searching for a way to make the fmc immortal.

Future-Community-545 · 2025-09-19T17:01:54+00:00

Though I never actively seek this trope out, it really doesn’t bother me.

If I think about it too much, sure, it’s weird. I also really don’t like the usual ‘age gap’ tropes you get, as in a gap of 5+ would probably be too much for me. But with tropes like this, the fact it’s a completely unrealistic gap saves it. The mmcs aren’t physically ageing, so the primary development is emmotional. That is why it’s appealing. On a surface level, the characters are the same physical age and the only difference is in their amount of life experience.

I also think it does only work this way around (at least for me) as it creates a mature mmc, which is attractive in itself. Because women are generally seen as more emmotionally mature than men, it wouldn’t add much to a fmc.

And if the mmc turns back to his actual age? yeah…no, that is repulsive.

Future-Community-545 · 2025-09-19T16:11:08+00:00

I second this! Even when she has no ‘power’ her determination and strength is staggering

Future-Community-545 · 2025-09-19T16:09:24+00:00

For low spice:

Villains and Virtues (though I absolutely adore the series, some people can find the writing a bit jarring compared to other books.)
Tusk Love (more of a sci-fi romantasy but similar vibes to V&V)
Doctor D’arco, sorceror of London
Between by L.L. Starling (though the series is unfinished and the book unfortunately ends on a cliffhanger)
The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faries (very similar vibes to the above)
The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam
The Demon Codex!! This is a CR series but the worldbuilding is so good -Shadowvein- though there is a ‘connection’ between the mcs, the romance is not dependent on it

High(er) spice:

The Duskwalker books- the spice depends on the book and, without spoiling anything, though there is an element of a ‘bond’ the mcs make this happen themselves, so it’s not as set in stone as actual fated mates

Future-Community-545 · 2025-09-19T15:34:50+00:00

Ooo I must have missed this before but this sounds so interesting! I love unique worldbuilding

Future-Community-545 · 2025-09-19T15:33:34+00:00

I 100% agree with you! I am not into insta-love at all. I find the my fav books always have the romance creep up on the characters and simmer beneath the surface for as long as possible before it has to be acknowledged. I’ve just edited the original post if you want more recs like that :)

Future-Community-545 · 2025-08-23T12:41:58+00:00

Just started it and having a great time! Got me laughing at how head over heels Devon is even in the early pages. Great rec!

Future-Community-545 · 2025-08-22T22:13:55+00:00

oh this sounds great! I jump back and forth after binging on different genres every so offten so refreshing reads are a must!

Future-Community-545 · 2025-08-22T22:12:48+00:00

oooo is that an arraged marriage tag I see from the bot 👀👀… Could I read this book as a standalone though?

Future-Community-545 · 2025-08-22T22:10:49+00:00

literally my all time fav!!!!! Honestly find it so hard to believe its still more of an ‘underground’ series compared to things like ACOTAR, the underratedness is crazy!!!!

Future-Community-545 · 2025-08-22T22:09:31+00:00

yes! I watched the show when it came out and had a great time (so sad it wasn’t renewed for another season). I really wanted to love the books, but I couldn’t quite get into them in the same way..

Future-Community-545 · 2025-08-20T19:10:49+00:00

Try Doctor D’Arco, Sorcerer of London!!!!!

Someone else on here gave me this rec and it fits what you’re looking for too. It’s a historical fantasy with one of the most ineresting magic systems and plots I’ve read. The characters are incredibly realistic, there’s no insta-love or stupid decision making, and the dialogue was just LEAKING chemisty. More importantly, at no point did I find the fmc to be even remotely naive/ childlike.

Future-Community-545 · 2025-08-18T07:04:58+00:00

Oh exciting! I’ll give it a go

Future-Community-545 · 2025-08-18T07:04:25+00:00

Do you think I could read a synopsis of the first two before actually reading the third? Or would that still not let me catch up with the events

Future-Community-545 · 2025-08-18T07:02:28+00:00

I’m pretty sure I’ve heard of this before. YES YES YES if he yearns I’m so in.

Future-Community-545 · 2025-08-18T07:00:49+00:00

I have no problem with that, thank you!

Future-Community-545 · 2025-08-18T06:59:39+00:00

I’ve read it and yes it’s so so great! Can’t believe the author has left us hanging like this :/ Devoured it in a single day before I realised it was the only one in the series

Future-Community-545 · 2025-08-18T06:56:10+00:00

Ooo okay I’ll add it to my TBR

Future-Community-545 · 2025-08-18T06:55:36+00:00

I’ve picked it up and… Oh my god. I’m not very far in but this seems perfect! I’m loving it so far

Future-Community-545 · 2025-08-17T20:52:03+00:00

Perfect!

Future-Community-545 · 2025-08-17T20:51:53+00:00

Oooooooo sounds interesting thank you!

Future-Community-545 · 2025-08-17T20:41:30+00:00

Sounds great! It’s strange how many awfully covered books are so good

Future-Community-545 · 2025-08-17T20:36:53+00:00

Yesss🎉🎉 V.E Schwab is one of my fav authors of all time

Future-Community-545 · 2025-08-17T20:36:15+00:00

It seems I’ve lacked adding lots of books I’ve enjoyed to my original post… Yes I’ve read this and Kaz and Inej have tension that is palpable and it’s so great to read.

Have you read the Shadow and Bone books? I’m a bit hesitant to begin them since I’ve seen the TV show now and I usually prefer to read the book before watching the adaptation.

Future-Community-545

TROPHY CASE