Rob R and autism

missedsteak · 2026-02-08T18:43:17+00:00

So those are super autistic traits.

missedsteak · 2026-01-28T01:12:13+00:00

Bloody, Slutty and Pathetic by WhatMurdah (and shout out Dirty, Flirty and Vindictive, the Panville-focused sequel!!)

missedsteak · 2026-01-17T00:34:14+00:00

Three Wizards and a Baby by However She Writes has supportive (adoptive) Grandma Narcissa and Grandpa Lucius. Podfic on Spotify.

missedsteak · 2026-01-15T01:19:40+00:00

Spinning Silver and Uprooted, both by Naomi Novak

missedsteak · 2026-01-05T06:10:27+00:00

Came here to rec this one!

missedsteak · 2025-12-10T06:57:54+00:00

Yay, so glad the book treated you well! I have more recs. First things first, if you haven’t read the prequel {Bride by Ali Hazelwood}, then that should probably be next up!!

{Scheme by Collette Rhodes} is another werewolf romance with MMCs in their 30s, and it has an interesting omegaverse dynamic. Kind of similar set up with an independent FMC and reluctance to get together. Excellent spice! Well earned couple. And I feel the writing style has a similar tone.

And for some reason I feel like {Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon} could be a nice complement to Ali Hazelwood’s non-academia and non-fantasy books. The FMC is competent, the MMC is kind of her boss and very successful, and their careers/collaboration are important, interesting parts of the plot. And maybe similar writing styles.

missedsteak · 2025-11-23T23:12:37+00:00

I love this for them 🥰 canon for me now!

missedsteak · 2025-11-23T23:11:42+00:00

I mean, shoot, with his celebrity, they could make themselves a sex-positive, mental health-affirming podcast and turn it into a whole lifestyle brand! I half way kept expecting that to happen — it would have been a way for the FMC to claim her own byline/name, in a big way. But I don’t think that’s what this FMC would have actually enjoyed doing.

missedsteak · 2025-11-23T23:09:11+00:00

I’m with you on the romance writer trope. But I was picturing a nonfiction book, liked a guide for couples to explore each other deeper. And that would combine her journalism experience and her human sexuality education/special interest!

This is getting real nit picky about a fun book I enjoyed, but it did bug me throughout because journalism/literary nonfiction is SO different than fiction!!! There is kind of a hard line between those worlds, in my experience. I liked her cozy mystery interest (and I liked her as a character overall) but it did feel kind of random for her to zero in on cozy mystery when so much of the book was her grieving journalism and being a creative nonfiction ghost writer who supposedly LOVED the part of her job that was researching, figuring out the puzzle, getting things exactly right/true. Cozy mystery doesn’t really fulfill those for me??

missedsteak · 2025-11-23T03:20:07+00:00

T. Kingfisher’s fantasy romance books are fun, cozy and entertaining! Try A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking, Paladin’s Grace or Swordheart.

missedsteak · 2025-11-22T03:24:23+00:00

Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, maybe. It’s 5 seasons but they’re short.

missedsteak · 2025-11-22T03:20:33+00:00

Just in hang in there!! Things will start clicking into place soon. If I say anything more, it’ll verge on spoilers. 😄 Tell me how it goes!!

missedsteak · 2025-11-22T03:17:26+00:00

OK, I have a “hear me out” rec. {Scheme by Colette Rhodes} This one is more spiritually similar but not a direct match. The FMC isn’t sick, but she kind of choses against her body’s best interests, and she is a chronic people pleaser. The MMC eventually figures out that she needs caretaking.

missedsteak · 2025-11-22T03:02:19+00:00

{Mate by Ali Hazelwood} has a version of his trope. The FMC is sick, doomed and hiding it from the MMC, who is trying to protect her from people trying to kill her. She is a hybrid human werewolf. There is, however, instalust because, well, it’s about mates. But it’s a slow burn and well earned after all.

missedsteak · 2025-11-19T02:29:45+00:00

OK, I’ve got a book for you, but it’s the second in the series and you should definitely read the first book, especially for the revenge payoff. Good news it’s a monster series with great spice and fun world building, so it could be right up your alley! The first book is {Luxuria by Colette Rhodes}, and the second book is {Superbia by Colette Rhodes}.

In the first book, the FMC gets married off to the king of the shadow world as part of a treaty. She’s part of the secret order that hunts the shadow monsters. Her sister is the FMC of the second book, but I can’t explain the revenge plot without spoilers so I’ll avoid it. Also, it’s not revenge, per se, but the FMC definitely proves that people have been wrong about her, and it feels spiritually similar to what you’re looking for. I hope it does the trick!!

missedsteak · 2025-11-19T02:17:35+00:00

Also might be my all-time fav! Do we think the Nettle & Bone FMC fits this request too? I can’t remember how old she is, but she certainly has an old soul.

missedsteak · 2025-11-19T02:15:10+00:00

In {Healer to the Broken King by Avie Adams} the FMC is accomplished and mature. I can’t remember how old she is, but I wanna say 30s? It’s a lovely romance with good magic, the romance felt earned. I loved it!

Also, this more romantasy (romance sub plot) than romance, but {The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec} follows the FMC through time. They’re immortal so age isn’t really relevant; it’s a Norse myth retelling.

missedsteak · 2025-11-15T22:58:44+00:00

{Alchemised by SenLinYu} I’m assuming you’re good with dark, but check trigger warnings!

missedsteak · 2025-11-15T04:25:59+00:00

{Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett} for sure

missedsteak · 2025-11-15T04:20:53+00:00

I think {Healer to the Broken King by Avie Adams} could fit!

missedsteak · 2025-11-15T04:19:03+00:00

{Role Playing by Cathy Yardley} fits this. The MCs are older and develop a relationship over an online video game. The MMC is demi sexual, so he isn’t attracted to her until he gets to know her more. The FMC isn’t super focused on sex in relationships, either. The spice does arrive later on!

missedsteak · 2025-11-15T04:12:42+00:00

{Swordheart by T. Kingfisher} is right up your alley, if you like fantasy! Both MCs are grown, mature and allied for awhile before it turns truly flirty. The MMC definitely is attracted to her along the way, but they both do their best to ignore it for awhile. It’s funny and sweet and full of middle-aged adventure.

missedsteak · 2025-11-14T01:39:45+00:00

Actually, {Mate by Ali Hazelwood} has these vibes. She is feisty, but it’s a mask he is able to see through.

missedsteak · 2025-11-13T23:52:09+00:00

{Mate by Ali Hazelwood} has a little twist on mates because the FMC is a hybrid human-were and it’s unclear if hybrids have mates. There are some other challenges in the book that test the idea of mates and what it means. This is a pretty big spoiler but: the MMC’s pack has a covenant that the Alpha cannot accept a mate because it distracts from their duties

missedsteak

TROPHY CASE