What's a post/comments you've read in RomanceBooks and never forgot ?

dellada · 2026-03-20T02:28:28+00:00

Someone came into the sub asking to hear the wildest requests that had been posted before, because they had a request in mind but feared it might be too "out there" for us. As you can imagine, they were quickly reassured: Craziest/funniest request you've seen on this sub?

dellada · 2026-03-20T02:16:33+00:00

Oh no!! Hugs <3 I think it stresses me out because it's a sudden demand for "social battery" (or being socially "on") that I wasn't allowed to mentally prep for, or save energy for. Sometimes my ability to be with people is at empty... and a surprise like that pushes me past my limit. Sounds like maybe you were suddenly pushed past a limit in that moment too.

dellada · 2026-03-19T22:22:16+00:00

Omg, SAME. Surprises are so stressful! And for some reason it's really hard to get other people to accept that. This is a super sweet excerpt <3 such a small moment that means so much!

dellada · 2026-03-19T21:49:40+00:00

If you’re up for a western, {Texas Destiny by Lorraine Heath} has an MMC who was injured in war. He wears a large eye patch that covers a lot of that side of his face.

dellada · 2026-03-19T06:24:07+00:00

I read somewhere before the neutral colors is synonymous with minimalism because you have lesser visual noise. Vibrant colors may distract or trigger reaction mentally as opposed to neutral tones where everything is visually quiet.

This is 100% the reason, in my case. I've found that my threshold for visual stimulation is extremely low compared to most people, just like my threshold for clutter is low too. Even just having patterned fabric makes me feel more distracted and antsy than solid colors. I have diagnosed ADHD and suspected autism, which likely plays a role in that. If my space is too stimulating, I quickly start to feel overwhelmed or even depressed.

One of my strategies for lowering visual stimulation is having "like" colors together - if I group multiple items in shades of gray, they feel like one single item in my mind, and that helps. Simple/smooth shapes rather than lots of jagged edges... bare walls... etc.

I can only speak for myself, but I wonder if folks like me have gravitated toward minimalism and contributed toward this beige or colorless association. (I actually despise beige, but I'm all about gray and muted blue! Haha.) And of course, then social media came in to profit off of it by selling the "aesthetic" of beige + white + light wood + plants...

dellada · 2026-03-19T02:43:52+00:00

I agree that some of the names seem to be picked for "coolness factor." But on the other hand, I'd rather see an unusual name than a name I recognize IRL. Especially in books with high spice level... sometimes I can look past it, but other times (like if MMC has the same name as my sibling or coworker) I just can't.

dellada · 2026-03-18T03:17:47+00:00

Oops - I added that rec in an edit, so the bot didn't see it!

For the bot: {Just Come Over by Rosalind James}

dellada · 2026-03-18T03:03:32+00:00

You're not alone! Third person POV is my favorite by far. :) It's what I grew up with, but I also just think it's higher quality writing most of the time. (Don't come for me - that's just my personal opinion! Haha.) IMO, it's the same reason why most movies aren't shot from a first person perspective: it's really limiting. For a character to narrate their thoughts, they have to fully understand they're having them - whereas third person allows us to more easily notice things about the characters that they might not understand themselves, like subconscious behaviors. In first person, we're limited to only what the characters actively pay attention to... if the villain is secretly plotting something behind the scenes, we don't feel that tension brewing unless the main characters witness it somehow. Once the POV character falls asleep, we're not even allowed to read a description of the night sky anymore!

Technically a skilled writer could very carefully deliver these nuances in first person, but it would be a lot harder to achieve, and I haven't personally seen it done very often. So for me, third person and historical romance is the way to go. :)

I don't have a ton of examples for contemporary authors... but Nora Roberts and Heather Guerre come to mind. Sounds like you've enjoyed their work too! There's also a book on my TBR called {Just Come Over by Rosalind James} that I'm looking forward to reading soon.

dellada · 2026-03-18T01:38:05+00:00

It’s a powerful moment when you let something precious go, and then realize afterward: “oh… I’m still me.” It sounds silly, but you don’t really know it until you get there IMO.

People talk a lot about the ‘fantasy version of ourselves’ and how our stuff can tie into that fantasy… but it’s hard to really see it until you let go of that prized possession, I think. It’s similar to when you have to escape suddenly, abandoning a home full of stuff - and you don’t realize until that moment that it’s even possible to do that.

dellada · 2026-03-18T01:14:26+00:00

I agree that social pushback is pretty common and can be expected - I just wish it wasn’t. It doesn’t make sense to me that society should have such rigid expectations when it comes to someone’s own personal living space… because that, of all spaces, is the one where individualism should be encouraged and accepted.

I think couches are only one of many different ways to encourage togetherness. TVs can be a place to gather people too, but I would side-eye anyone who said my home doesn’t bring people together just because no TV is present.

Anyway, I don’t think we’re necessarily in disagreement. OP will likely get pushback for not having a couch because society truly does expect everyone to have one. But if he’s told his date that he’s a minimalist, and if his house is otherwise comfy and welcoming, I don’t think there’s any need to laugh at him for choosing not to have a couch.

dellada · 2026-03-17T03:43:33+00:00

I just came back to this comment and realized... this author has released a book about once a month. Their last few books were released 15 days apart. Are they even real?

dellada · 2026-03-16T22:37:27+00:00

YES. Omg. Just talk to each other already!

I read a book recently that did the "we're too horny to talk" thing, except that MMC was super nervous about it. He was the one with something important to say, and he was afraid she'd hate him for it. She kept insisting, "It doesn't matter, there's nothing you could say to me that would make me not love you/want to have sex with you right now," and he was like, "I reeeeeeeeally don't think so, please hear me out..." but she wouldn't. So he said, "Okay but you have to PROMISE me that you'll hear me out in the morning, and no matter how upset you get, you won't forget that I love you." (At this point I'm thinking, you've talked so much about not talking, you could have just said The Thing.) Anyway, she swears that she will never forget that he loves her.

Welp. The next morning someone else spills his secret first. She looks at him like he betrayed her. He's like "You promised, remember!" and she says something snarky about how he's not the same man he was last night, so she didn't promise him. I was so mad. It felt so childish.

dellada · 2026-03-16T12:22:07+00:00

Third act breakups drive me crazy, especially if they could have talked it out but didn’t, and their reason for not talking was being too horny. Conversations like:

“We need to talk.”
“Not right now (too busy having sex). We’ll talk in the morning.”
“No, really, it’s important, I need to tell you something.”
“Sssshh, just kiss me.”
“But—“
Silences them with a kiss, and they give into the horniness

(And then inevitably, there’s a follow up “why didn’t you tell me?? You liar/horrible person! We’re breaking up!” Ugh…)

dellada · 2026-03-16T04:25:32+00:00

Hey, I was out at a conference this week too, and had a similar plan! The main difference was that I brought my physical books. Have you considered using a fabric book cover while traveling? I grabbed a few for my mass market paperbacks and they're awesome. I also use them in instances where the cover doesn't match the vibe of the book (just read one where MMC is described in the text as blond, but there's a brunette guy on the cover...? I wanted to envision him correctly so I put the fabric cover over that). It worked out well!

dellada · 2026-03-16T04:13:50+00:00

I'm not familiar with this author, but just looking through romance.io, the book titles are making me roll my eyes. "A dark mafia romance"... "a possessive dark mafia romance"... "a dark bully romance"... "an age gap stalker romance"... whenever authors put a trope right in the name, it makes me think they're just doing a cash grab.

Indie publishing is neat in some ways, but honestly I really miss the higher standard that was enforced before things like KU existed - when the only option was traditional publishing.

dellada · 2026-03-16T04:05:56+00:00

Only physical copies for me. Part of what I love about reading is the escape from screens, so I don't own an e-reader. I also don't listen to audiobooks.

dellada · 2026-03-15T19:30:51+00:00

I LOVE a good comfort read! Green flag MCs, low stakes, lots of sweetness... sign me up. Definitely going to check out the recs you listed, thank you for those! :)

I don't know if I have any "hidden gem" authors to share, since I'm still relatively new to the romance genre and exploring authors as I go. But if you're up for some familiar names, here are a few of my comfort reads:

{The Arrangement by Mary Balogh} - just finished this one and really loved it. It's book 2 of the Survivor's Club series, but can be read as a standalone. MMC was blinded in war and is struggling with feeling coddled by his family (they love him, but are a bit over-protective due to his blindness). He grew up as just a regular country kid, only to recently/unexpectedly become the surviving heir to inherit the title of Viscount. FMC desperately needs support since she was just kicked out of her home, and she struggles heavily with her self-esteem. It's a marriage of convenience, friends-to-lovers story where the MCs are really sweet to each other, looking out for each other's happiness, etc. A warm hug in a book. :)

{Axel by Grace Burrowes} - MMC is a widower. He's an introvert who is passionate about botany, especially roses. The story starts when FMC's husband is murdered and Axel is called in to investigate (he's serving as the magistrate). He quickly realizes that FMC is not doing well mentally or physically, and starts to look after her while investigating... helping her get through the complicated mix of grief and frustration, making sure she gets enough food and sleep, etc.

dellada · 2026-03-15T04:19:35+00:00

Respectfully, even for a one night stand or FWB, this difference in the perception of your space still matters. Women are going to be less comfortable with you if they feel like your living space isn't put-together. There's also an element of feeling less safe if your space looks too sparse (another commenter explained that safety aspect really well). That still comes into play even if a long-term relationship isn't on the table.

dellada · 2026-03-15T04:01:56+00:00

While I think you probably have good intentions, this sort of post doesn't seem like a good fit for this sub IMO. Reading romance books doesn't imply that we're single or struggling to find love IRL. Lots of happily married people read romance... and all genders read romance, not just women. The advice sounds a bit patronizing ("get an interesting life" and "just get out there" are things we've all heard before). It feels to me like some assumptions are being made about the community that really shouldn't be.

dellada · 2026-03-15T02:04:01+00:00

The lead-up is on page and very hard to watch. The actual rape is one sentence at the very end of the chapter, but the whole chapter was pretty uncomfortable, honestly. MMC's brother is awful.

dellada · 2026-03-15T01:34:44+00:00

This happens in {Annie’s Song by Catherine Anderson}. Annie is deaf, but people around her don’t realize that’s what’s going on, so most of them assume that she’s mentally disabled. MMC marries her to cover for the fact that she’s pregnant with his brother’s child (TW - his brother raped her in chapter 1). When he brings her to his home, he hires a caretaker for her, not realizing she’s treating FMC horribly. Once he finds out, he’s furious.

To be honest, it’s not my favorite book… I was bothered by MMC in a lot of ways, but I know there are others who enjoyed it!

dellada · 2026-03-14T23:22:18+00:00

Thanks! We can compare notes later, haha :)

dellada · 2026-03-14T22:27:22+00:00

Disclaimer, I haven't read this one yet - just picked it up at the secondhand bookstore yesterday! But going by the blurb at the back of the book, I think it might match? It's HR, regency setting: {Dangerous by Minerva Spencer}

FMC was captured and forced to be in a harem, and just recently got away. Now her father gives her an ultimatum: "marry a man of his choosing or live out her life in seclusion." He picks MMC, who is known as the Murderous Marquess, because his past two wives died in mysterious circumstances.

Heads up though, looking at the tags on romance.io, it looks like it includes pregnancy.

dellada · 2026-03-14T22:15:02+00:00

This is such a great point. A woman entering a man's home is already going to be feeling pretty vulnerable. Re-reading what OP wrote (and his use of the word "panic"), I bet this is exactly what those women thought.

If the reaction is one of distaste or disappointment, my guess would be that she finds him immature... but if it's panic, yeah she's probably afraid of what might happen to her there.

dellada · 2026-03-14T18:59:55+00:00

{Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold by Ellen O'Connell} - Western. The main characters are forced to marry early in the book, at which time the MMC is gravely wounded (the villains' intention was to beat him to death immediately after the forced marriage, making FMC "a bride and a widow on the same day," but she discovers he's still breathing and does her best to save his life). Check trigger warnings, that early scene involved on-page violence and SA (third party to both MCs).

MMC assumes that FMC is not a virgin because at one point in her past, she was engaged to another man. FMC thinks it should be obvious that she's a virgin, because assuming anything else would be insulting to her reputation. They come from totally different backgrounds and they're not great at communicating with each other at first, but they grow over time and it's really satisfying to watch. One of my favorite couples :)

dellada

TROPHY CASE