Let’s Talk Bookish: Romance Novels ft. OTPs!

✨ Welcome back to another week of LTB! ✨

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme created by Rukky @Eternity Books and co-hosted by Aria @Book Nook Bits and myself! In this discussion meme, participants get to talk about certain topics, share opinions, and spread the love by visiting each other’s posts! Learn more about LTB, past topics and future topics HERE.

This week’s topic is:

Romance Novels

Prompts: It’s almost Valentine’s Day, which means that the most popular book genre is bigger than ever! Do you like to read romance novels? Who are your favorite fictional couples? Which characters from different books or series do you think would be perfect for each other?

Do you like to read romance novels?

Well, I think if my blog subheading doesn’t give it away (Swoontastic Romance and Fantasy Adventures), then I don’t know what would! 🤭 I’m a proud romance reader, and I’m so thankful for the day that I found my first Nora Roberts and started my romance reader journey as an adult back in 2010!

This is a genre that has taught me so much about myself and others, about what healthy relationships can look like, how important healthy communication is, and simply what it means to be human, to make mistakes, but also to grow. I know that sounds like a lot to put on the genre, but honestly, you can learn so much from reading romances. Obviously, not all romances have to go that deep and you can get your fix of “turn-off-my-brain” reads and smut, but that’s also not all there is to the genre. In my opinion, those who dismiss romance or reduce the genre to just those elements don’t know what they’re talking about and are missing out on the possibilities for personal and interpersonal growth. But also, they’re just missing out on a really good and fun time, lol. 🤷🏻‍♀️ (but again, that’s not me saying everyone has to read and like romance!)

Who are your favourite fictional couples?

This is a bit unfair because I have so many favourite pairings that it took me ages to even come up with this short-list. I’m pretty terrible at choosing favourites (which is probably why I have so many of them) but these are the first ones that came to mind when I saw this question:

Stremmel x Shapiro from The Worst Guy by Kate Canterbary. They’re both grumpy, a little lonely, fragile messes but they couldn’t be more perfect for each other. The chemistry is off-the-charts with this duo and I loved seeing them become each other’s person. 🥹
Shay x Noah from In a Jam by Kate Canterbary. Okay, I can’t in good conscience make this list without naming this couple. Noah is hands-down my favourite Wife Guy and Shay deserves every bit of simping. They’re so good together!
Chloe x Red. Dani x Zaf. Eve x Jacob from The Brown Sisters by Talia Hibbert. These three couples were *chefs kiss* perfection! All of their romances are sexy, heartwarming, and hilarious, and I love them all so much. They deserve the world!
Addie x Henry from The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab. These two broke my heart and mended it in a cycle. They’re sad, lost, desperate souls who just… Ugh, made me feel all the feels. They’re the OTP. *sobs*
Shane and Eva from Seven Days in June by Tia Williams. Do I need to say more than they were “secretly” writing to each other through all the years. Their romance was so emotionally raw and consuming. I drowned in their love and was thankful for it. 😮‍💨
Hart and Mercy from The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen. Listen. This couple had sexual, physical, and emotional tension for days. If you’re a hate-to-love ft. “I hate them so much yet they live rent free in my head and I can’t stop staring at them whenever they’re around” then you’ll love these two. Seeing them go from hate to love to friendship to romance was amazing—I love them!
Shane and Ilya from Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid. Okay, how could I not include these two messy messy hockey players? Their romance blew up the internet for good reason!

^{The Worst Guy by Kate Canterbary, In a Jam by Kate Canterbary Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab, Seven Days in June by Tia Williams, The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen, Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid}

Which characters from different books or series do you think would be perfect for each other?

I feel like this is a tough question to answer because 1) my memory is that bad and 2) well, my memory is that bad. 😂 Honestly, I don’t think I ever think of characters outside of their world or meeting other characters from other worlds, so I’ve really never thought or considered who would suit from different books. So while this might be a boring answer, it’s what I’ve got! I’d love to hear your answers to this one though!

Don’t forget to check out the other bloggers who joined the discussion this week! 👇🏽

Lin @ Lin’s Perspective
Raji @ Worlds Unlike Our Own
Abyssal Librarian

If I’ve missed your post this week, don’t hesitate to let me know in the comments, and I’ll add you to this week’s list of community posts ASAP!