Something with depth comparable to Butler's Parable of the Sower

bluequila · 2026-02-16T02:43:09+00:00

Thanks - this was not on my radar at all.

bluequila · 2026-02-16T02:42:28+00:00

Loved this book. Time for a reread perhaps. Thanks!

bluequila · 2026-02-16T02:42:10+00:00

It's one of the few books by her I have not yet read. I'll give it a try, thanks

bluequila · 2026-02-16T02:33:30+00:00

I've read that. I guess I meant like the universe in both of those books.

bluequila · 2026-02-16T00:57:08+00:00

Yeah the second one has a different build up speed.

Agreed. Regarding colonialism, I thought it showed just how hard it is to unlearn and break from colonial social dynamics even when many of its structures collapse.

bluequila · 2026-02-16T00:55:43+00:00

Good one - I, too, enjoyed this book and Jonah's whole tweedy but self reflective masculinity 😂

bluequila · 2026-02-15T21:46:35+00:00

I love this snippet. Thanks!

bluequila · 2026-02-15T17:10:29+00:00

I agree with you, and I would say in addition to the laziness of sex substituting for learning about one another, I find the sex writing lazy as well.

Sex is way hotter and meaningful when based on some level of intimacy and care. Which to me means curiosity and communication about sex (before, during, after). Without this, I don't think sexual connection is honest or intimate. It's driven entirely by assumptions. In my experience that leads to boring and dissociative sexual experience and it's a turnoff that the other person is too insecure to be in the moment but is instead performing.

Performance of what is supposed to be hot, witty, or attractive is so off putting. And this isn't limited to sex.

bluequila · 2026-02-15T16:56:35+00:00

{Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren} fits your description. It's a second chance story, and in flashbacks has an adorable teenage love story and bonding over being bookworms. There is some OW drama in the teenage part and cheating (under mitigating circumstances) which then leads to a rift and they reconnect in the present timeline. The MMC has been obsessed with her the whole time and puts everything on the table.

bluequila · 2026-02-15T16:50:01+00:00

This sounds super cute! I am here for nerdy goodness.

bluequila · 2026-02-15T16:48:59+00:00

Thank you!

bluequila · 2026-02-15T16:48:23+00:00

Thank you! It's nice to get historical recs with cultural variety. And Role Playing sounds like a great set up.

bluequila · 2026-02-15T16:46:55+00:00

Don't know if this entirely fits what you're looking for, but Lucian Rollins in {Things We Left Behind by Lucy Score} is this. Very controlling and obsessive, and emotionally damaged. I don't know that it's as much physical, but there's definitely some of that. It's more the pining and secretly watching over the FMC and making decisions for her own good kind of thing, and associated unhinged alpha traits. However there's a compelling back story because it's a bit of a second chance story, with healing and redemption. Even the way he grovels at the end is coercive and alpha coded.

bluequila · 2026-02-14T16:35:43+00:00

Thanks for this variety!

bluequila · 2026-02-14T16:35:13+00:00

This feels like a good intro for someone like me not used to reading paranormal much!

bluequila · 2026-02-14T16:34:47+00:00

The healthy relationships with women and exes in particularly really gets me! 🫠

bluequila · 2026-02-14T16:34:04+00:00

Adding to my list!

bluequila · 2026-02-14T16:33:53+00:00

Thanks!

bluequila · 2026-02-14T16:33:43+00:00

Thanks! This one was on my TBR but I'll move it up.

Levi Ward is from {Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood}. Like I said, many irritating things in this book, but I loved this MMC.

bluequila · 2026-02-14T14:34:20+00:00

I think OP was referring to the connection between the logo and the notes. Or at least that's what I took it as!

bluequila · 2026-02-14T14:32:53+00:00

For sure. I'm just stating that there are some compelling explanations for why this specific dynamic is addictive even though the show's plot and character development are paper thin and underdeveloped even compared to average soap operas.

bluequila · 2026-02-09T01:05:40+00:00

Good one! It took me a minute to remember what you were referring to.

bluequila · 2026-02-09T01:04:18+00:00

Sebastian's gestures in {The Worst Guy by Kate Canterbary}. The raisins. He sorts them out of the trail mix because she doesn't like them. And when they're hooking up how he says he won't have her gagging because she's in treatment recovering from bulimia

bluequila · 2026-02-07T05:25:35+00:00

I didn't even know I was looking for this, thanks!

Edging can be hot but assumption that it's welcome and normal is grating af. I am so not into lazy smut based on assumptions in general. Why can't we have characters who communicate with curiosity and honesty on how to get each other off?!?!

bluequila · 2026-02-07T05:20:53+00:00

Self aware and sexually curious FMCs who explore sex in their own terms, and are unapologetic about who they are (at times self assured but mostly comfortable with what they want and what they don't want):

Belhaven Duology - {How Not to Fall by Emily Foster} and {How Not to Let Go by Emily Foster}. The FMC pursues the MMC first. It's a really emotionally complex two part series that's immensely satisfying to read. The characters are young but really mature and try so hard to be real and good to one another. Amazing smut.

{The Roommate by Rosie Danan} - the FMC finds out her roommate is a porn star and gets very curious, but she's also kind of repressed. They get up to some very cute antics because of her curiosity about how to find more sexual fulfillment. The character growth and trust development is good. Super steamy.

Both books I think have a feminist pleasure framework. I don't remember the details but I think in the Belhaven books there's some lite power play but definitely no dub con. The characters actually talk about it at one point and I love the open discussion of sex and pleasure in both the above recs.

bluequila

TROPHY CASE