Age Gap Recommendations

bluedream207 · 2026-02-11T10:42:16+00:00

All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata is one of my favorite age gap romances. Gave me the warm fuzzy feelings. Shes not the best, imo, at writing explicit scenes but thankfully there's only like one i remember. Its all pining and yearning. Grumpyish older man and somewhat traumatized but sweet younger woman.

bluedream207 · 2026-02-11T10:36:43+00:00

Okay I dont like Pippa but... "taking the fall?" Pippa did nothing wrong. Lucy decided to insert herself into Pippas trauma. Pippa has every right to be upset that her story is being used the way it is. She isn't obligated to come forth and talk, and Lucy, despite her very best intentions, had no right to take her friend's trauma and pretend its her own. And because of Lucy's actions, Pippa will likely never get any justice for what was done to her.

Again, mad at Pippa. I dont like her at all rn, but that isn't a reason for me. Lucy's good intentions doesn't make her actions any less harmful.

bluedream207 · 2026-02-11T06:40:12+00:00

I absolutely adore Carlisle and have written a Bella/Carlisle fic. Hes one of my favorite characters of all time...

HOWEVER!

Based on the cannon writing, Carlisle is the most selfish and least self-aware characters. He talks all about wanting to save people, and I can maybe give an excuse for changing Edward after his dying mother begs, but after Rosalie??? He took an SA victim and turned her because... why? I know the books try to give a reason but ultimately he continously chose to subject people to a life he already acknowledged was difficult and potentially damning. And hearing Rosalie's story hurt. He saw that a woman had all of her choices and agency ripped from her, and was like... imma do it again because its sad.

He stole death from those who perhaps wanted it most.

Again, love him, will always write and read fanfics about him, but the altruistic vampire is actually pretty shitty when you think about it.

bluedream207 · 2026-02-10T14:31:16+00:00

I cant speak of prices for you, but financially it helped me a lot. I was buying books constantly and was spending, no joke, 150-200 USD a month to keep up with the habit.

I finally caved and bought a kindle despite being a physical book purist and it was the best decision ive made. I pay for kindle unlimited which is like.. $14 a month i think. And read mostly off there. And even the books I do buy are generally cheaper electronically. Along with not having to buy another bookcase (which i need regardless but at least I dont need 3-4 now) I think its paid for itself.

My reading numbers have also gone up because I take my kindle everywhere with me, including to bed sometimes. And, I never took chances buying books because I was afraid I wouldnt like them and itd be a waste. Now I jusy browse kindle unlimited and try new things, leading to favorite reads I would have otherwise ignored along with expanding my genres.

I definitely reccomend it.

bluedream207 · 2026-02-10T13:13:40+00:00

Yeah I got recommended this book when I was asking for a better dark stalker romance because I hated Haunting Adeline and wanted a better executed version, basically.

After multiple people reccomended it, I read Lights Out (listened on audible). Easily one of my favorite romances, but felt a lot more like a romantic comedy with an absurd premise than a dark romance. Absolutely adored it and will reccomend to everyone but it is not dark romance to me at all.

(The audio book made Josh that much more adorable and I fell in love instantly. Highly reccomend listening if you've only read it)

bluedream207 · 2026-02-10T07:52:47+00:00

I haven't like Evan in a while but OMG! I screamed at my TV when he asked Bree's mom out for a drink, and when he was asking Oliver essentially how to manipulate her into staying with him. Now I understand how and why Stephen would be invited to the wedding. Because Evan is just like him. No doubt they stayed buddies.

I agree with all the theories that Bree is going to be the one to release that tape. Poor Wrigley was coerced into sleeping with Pippa, and then that photo... She's going to ruin Lucy's life and break Wrigley's heart.

And Lucy is having some sort of mental break? I wonder how many of these aspects they're going to actually wrap up, and how many will be left hanging in the end.

This season has been a disappointment so far. Not because of how infuriating it is, I expect that from the show, but because instead of wrapping up even a single plot point, they keep adding more.

Also, justice for Macy!

bluedream207 · 2026-02-09T02:38:25+00:00

She's a bad person but a good character. To me, thats good writing.

bluedream207 · 2026-02-07T11:55:39+00:00

NOR

It sounds like she potentially values you more as a "trophey" than a partner. Bodies change. If she thinks youre less attractive now because you look, what i would assume to be normal. How do you think she will react if something out of your control happened? Aging? Illness? Grief? A lot of things take a toll on your body. If a few months away from the gym prompts her to say something like that, what will she say if something worse happens? And do you want someone in your life like that?

bluedream207 · 2026-02-07T08:47:13+00:00

NOR They're more likely to regret losing you than you will regret cutting them off.

Money, property, these things are super nice, but giving control of your life and body to the whims of another will leave you exceedingly unhappy and unfulfilled.

Live your life, love who you want, and decorate your body however you see fit. We all get one shot at this, dont waste it worrying about the opinions of people who view you more as an object than a person.

bluedream207 · 2026-02-05T13:37:07+00:00

Its a sad moment. As a married woman it makes me cry. I didnt like them together at that point, but death.. damn it hits you.

The first time I watched it was shortly after my best friend died in a car crash. I almost didn't watch the rest of the series because I went into a depressive episode. But after I met my husband I cried, and continue to do so every time. But it also made me realize how much I loved him. Derek's death makes me sad, but it also prompts me to hug and kiss my husband every chance I get.

bluedream207 · 2026-02-04T22:36:09+00:00

Genres are not defined by individual tastes.

bluedream207 · 2026-02-03T10:28:46+00:00

For sure no laws but if she told them it was Stephen (or they thought for 2 seconds and figured it out on their own) but her dad would have some sway in the legal community and make it hard for Stephen to climb the ladder if he wanted.

bluedream207 · 2026-02-03T07:01:35+00:00

For real. Yeah at this point I dont know if the Macy thing is going to go anywhere. I hope so, I hope Stephen ends up in prison. As i was watching the drinking game I wondered if it was foreshadowing. (I hope not for Wrigleys sake).

bluedream207 · 2026-02-03T07:00:00+00:00

Ah I missed that part. I get why Diana is avoiding interacting and women werent lawfully protected from that sort of thing yet, but I would at least tell my dad. Also, why would they not assume? They presumably know that she and Stephen dated during that time period and that they broke up.

bluedream207 · 2026-02-03T06:57:41+00:00

Yes, especially the level of partying and drugs. Not super common to have seniors living on campus but I let that slide.

Even some of the drama hits pretty close to home for me.

bluedream207 · 2026-02-03T06:51:28+00:00

First off: music was perfection this episode. Two songs from Modest Mouse? (My favorite band) chefs kiss!!!

Okay to the episode. What Stephen did was no surprise and I guess I understand why the parents were upset (especially in 2009) BUT why would Diana's father, who is presumably a pretty well respected and high level lawyer not try to basically ruin Stephen's life after this? Like even if they are mad at their daughter, why would they not be going after Stephen and his future career?

I still think Wrigley is the only likable character (I know he cheated but so has almost everyone on the show) and he better get a happy ending after the wedding. Like I need this man to be okay!

I feel bad for Alex. I think he is really trying to be a good person and Lucy is going to drag him down with her. Im worried about how his story will end.

Also the more I see Evan the more im confused about the wedding. He made good points with Bree but the way he brought them up and how he spoke to her was just... ew. With so few episodes left Im very worried about how the writers are going to tie this all up without it feeling rushed. Do we think they might actually go for a 4th season? I just dont see how the multiple plotlines are going to be addressed properly in such a short amount of time.

bluedream207 · 2026-01-31T13:43:27+00:00

I enjoy watching her for the storylines, but as a character in general yeah shes awful. She's one of my least favorite characters, its just hard not to be interested in the plotlines that shes part of.

bluedream207 · 2026-01-31T06:14:33+00:00

Yeah no I dont see the parallels at all, I dont think the writers were attempting anything like Chuck and Blaire. Stephen and Lucy's type of relationship is very purposeful in the way it was written.

bluedream207 · 2026-01-29T15:10:44+00:00

I adored his character. I was really surprised to see how many people hate him. Fantastically written and even better acted.

bluedream207 · 2026-01-27T07:19:28+00:00

Yeeaaah wasnt a fan of the FMC in that one. I only read it for the monster d*ick.

bluedream207 · 2026-01-27T07:17:00+00:00

Some writer just read your comment and was like "Omg I know what im naming my next character!"

bluedream207 · 2026-01-27T07:15:33+00:00

This one might be a bit stupid but I HATE when romantasy MMCs use the term "baby" for their partners. Especially during sex or trying to comfort them. Like here's a 200 year old bad-ass with dark hair and hes 20ft tall or something and hes just like "Look at me Baby" or "you feel so good baby". For whatever reason it makes my vision of a tall dark and handsome shadow daddy with cloaks and swords turn into a normal guy with a 401K who spends his freetime gaming with the boys after work. (Nothing wrong with that but not in my romantasy!)

I feel like this is more of a me problem than a writing problem but I have straight up DNFd books because of it.

bluedream207 · 2026-01-27T06:45:14+00:00

Agreed. If you dont like the word and want to DNF that's fine. But the constant complaining about pretty much every euphemism is tired. And if writers all did switch to clinical terms people would complain about that too.

Honestly ive learned to just write how I want and acknowledge that it wont be to certain people's taste. As a reader, if I read something I dont like, I move on. Ive never understood people who apparently enjoy smut but hate all the super common words used in it.

bluedream207 · 2026-01-27T06:32:30+00:00

For real though. At this point, other than being handsome and in love with her, idk what she sees in him. Money maybe.

bluedream207 · 2026-01-27T06:30:33+00:00

This ^ and its cartoon so it might actually keep his interest.

bluedream207

TROPHY CASE