This was super fun and I liked this format 😊 If you’re looking for queer and diverse romance, I would also recommend Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall (you get a very fun and funny odd couple dynamic with a mm romance by a male author), It’s A Fabulous Life by Kelly Farmer (sapphic It’s A Wonderful Life retelling), and Getting Schooled by Christina C. Jones (Black love romance, disabled hero).

I love this format! It’s great on the rewatch/if you make it to the live late! My guess on the Mercy Thompson thing is what happens to Mercy in the 3rd book, Iron kissed. It’s rough to read but well handled, and worth the read - but ONLY if you’re in a good place to see that type on content on page. Totally understandable if anyone chooses to skip the book or even the series as it has echoes throughout the series, as it should.

This was fun! Another sapphic romance recommendation is Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochran; it's a retelling of the film While You Were Sleeping and so cute!

I watched the top 10 on catch-up, and because we shared quite a few favourites, I wanted to make some recs 😊 for sapphic romance, I really loved Seasons of Love by Helena Greer this year; for fantasy romance with serious teeth, I love Milla Vane’s A Gathering of Dragons series.

I really enjoyed Business Or Pleasure this year! I picked it up from Aardvark Book Club. I also picked up Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Lord which is described as Bridgerton meets Agatha Christie and need to read it in 2024

no wonder i couldn’t find the 2023 romances 😂 rewatching this now in bed!!! cosy cosy 😊😊

The Hex series I think gets lost with things of the same name and witch vibe, it has been on my radar anyway but I always forget its existence, so thanks for reminding me! If you haven't read Jackie Lau, highly recommend giving her a try for contemprary. For sapphic, if you haven't read it Hen Fever by Olivia Waite is good, short and holidayish!

A rec for an Urban Fantasy romance, maybe Immortals After Dark by Kresley Cole? I haven't reread them recently so no idea if they hold up, but I remember liking the fantasy aspect a lot. There is also the Dark-Hunter series, they get very formulaic but still hit the spot when needed.

WHAT! What the hex is by Ruby Dixon?? No one ever mentioned THAT. Even more excited for it now, thank you

the undertaking of hart and mercy is so underrated. and yes, i believe theres a 2nd one coming in 2024. some recs swordheart by t kingfisher, the bromance series, and also the fiancee farce

It's interesting to me that a year you considered more of a comfort read is the year I have the most overlap with you in this category. Usually we read markedly differently in this category, so for my personal TBR, I hope you continue in this vein, and maybe find some new to you authors that will be new to me as well.

Oh! Delilah Green is SO GOOD. Definitely try it. Top tier romance for me.

VERONICA AND STOKER 5EVER! Trust me, it is worth it. I am only at book 5 in the series but I love them so much!! I also loved very secret society of irregular witches and the undertaking of hart and mercy - fantasy romance for sure with a sprinkling of cozy vibes. but hart and mercy less cozy because of the action sequences... also it made me ugly cry

Loved this format as a post live watcher!

Replay crew reporting! 🙋😊

What I love about Nora Roberts is her competency porn - for sure! Plus her hero’s are always such good men - a complete lack of toxic masculinity. I definitely need to add more of her books to my list for 2024❤. Once again I’ve added many of your faves. I too have had trouble with most contemporary romance and took a detour to speculative romance in 2023, with mostly PNR/Sci Fi/Fantasy romance… but also historical romance… calling my attention. I think it’s because it’s true escapism, and I’ve discovered a preference for plot-driven drama rather than character driven relationship-drama; it’s so much more interesting and fun.

I also don't like romances with kids in them lol but I also just don't like kids in general 😂

Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches lost a half star from me due to the 🌶️ scene - it completely blind sided me and nothing in the book prior to that time warned me that such a scene was coming. Over all I did enjoy the book but would have liked either no spice OR some handsy romance so I didn’t feel like I was suddenly thrown in an ice bath when the 🍆 came out