we have MAJOR heart eyes for these romances !

mandbreads

May 24, 2020

5 min read

feeling lonely? need a distraction from the current state of our world? look no further! here is a list of some ~quality~ romances that bee has LOVED ;)

1. Beach Read by Emily Henry

With a title like Beach Read, how can you go wrong? This summer romance tells the story of a romance writer who has lost faith in love and a literary writer who could desperately use a happy ending. They end up challenging each other to swap genres in an effort to give their writing a little extra oomph, and go on adventures together to rediscover themselves!

It can get a bit dark at times, but it is SO worth the read! it’s such a perfect second chance romance, and let me tell you, I wouldn’t recommend it if I didn’t THOROUGHLY enjoy it. The banter is A+, and the slow burn is so angsty I could die. Augustus + January = perfection

“Anyway,” I said, still fighting a blush. “You never told me what you write, Everett. I’m sure it’s something really groundbreaking and important. Totally new and fresh. Like a story about a disillusioned white guy, wandering the world, misunderstood and coldly horny.”

A laugh barked out of him. “‘Coldly horny’? As opposed to the very artfully handled sexual proclivities of your genre? Tell me, which do you find more fascinating to write: love-struck pirates or love-struck werewolves?”

And now I was seething again.

“Well, it’s not really about me so much as what my readers want. What’s it like writing Hemingway circle-jerk fan fiction? Do you know all your readers by name?”

O M G! This was one of my FAVORITE scenes, and I’m sure you can see why! January has such a quick wit, and they are so perfectly matched. I was laugh/crying at the Hemingway comment. Will 100% be using it should I ever run into a hot, coldly horny writer. Sigh. One can dream!

2. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

The Hating Game is ABSOLUTELY my favorite rom-com of all time. There’s just something so yummy about enemies to lovers, and explains why I think that every guy who is mean to me is in love with me—because if I’m being honest, they should be. I’m amazing. No shame.

Anyway, this book is about Lucy and Josh, two coworkers at a publishing company who absolutely hate each other. They spend all of. Their time playing all sorts of silly games, but when they have to compete for the same promotion, that tension turns into something...more.

“So painting your nails tonight, desperately alone?"

"Yes. Masturbating and crying into your pillow, Doctor Joshua?"

"Yes. And don't call me that.”

I mean, THIS BANTER! It’s the stuff of rom-com dreams. Josh is such a bad boy/sad boy type, which is just so swoony. He is also surely the reason for my unrealistic standards and perpetual singleness. #bookboyfriendsftw

3. Well Met by Jen Deluca

Yall! This book is massively underrated. Well Met tells the story of a girl named Emily, who moves in with her sister to help her after a car accident. Every summer, this town organizes a well known rennasaince faire thrown by—the one and only—Simon. the book follows their love story in and out of the characters they play at the faire, and it is just AMAZING! It really takes something that a lot of people might think of as nerdy/strange and turns it into something cute and entertaining.

Simon’s day job teaching English, but at the faire he plays a pirate called Captain Blackthorne. He starts a little romantic flirtation with Emily, who plays a barmaid, as a part of the show.

“Odd.” He tilted his head and considered me, his eyes doing the same slow travel mine had done on him. It took everything I had not to fidget under his gaze. “Typically women don’t mind when I’m on my knees in front of them.”

I mean, GASP. That’s hot. It is. After I read this book I went straight to google looking for the nearest renaissance fair, because who doesn't want a hot pirate to talk to them like that!?

And may I just say...cover art?! Most of the books on this list have a similar cuteness overload twinkle to them, and I’m just living for it.

4. Dear Enemy by Kristen Callihan

This book is EVERYTHING! It follows the story of Delilah and Macon, two childhood frenemies. Macon has become an A-list celebrity, whilst Delilah is a chef. After Delilah‘s crazy sister steals a family heirloom from Macon, Delilah offers to become his assistant until she can get it back.

I honestly can’t describe the feels that this book gives me. I mean, the TENSION. UGH. It hurts so good if you know what I mean.

“It’s killing you, isn’t it?” he says, way too pleased. “The thought of being subservient to me.”

“What was your first clue, Detective?”

His grin is all teeth and anticipation. “I’ll own you, Delilah. For one year, your ass will be mine.”

As you can see, the banter is so, in a word, 😍. They’re both so stubborn, and this is SUCH a slow burn. When they finally get together I was just about ready to scream. And let me just say: the bath scene? No other way to describe it than: 🥵.

It’s steamy, pun intended.

This is a PERFECT read if you’re into the enemies to lovers trope. Highly recommend!

5. Roomies by Christina Lauren

Have you ever seen a subway musician and just totally fallen in love? Well, Holland knows the feeling. During one of her attempts at visiting him, she is robbed and pushed into the subway tracks (gasp!). She soon finds out he helped her, but couldn't

talk to the police because he was an Irish citizen staying in the US with an expired visa. As it turns out, Holland’s uncle needs a guitarist for his musical—so they decide to get married so that he can pursue his dream.

The whole fake relationship trope Has always been one of my favorites! It’s such a cute story, and who doesn’t love a sexy Irish musician? I know I do!

“Ugh. I’ve married him, and he has no idea I’ve been writing Holland/Hot Busker fic in my head for months.”

This book is for anyone who’s ever seen a handsome stranger in a public place and then fantasized about their life together. I see you. I am you. Shoutout to the french teenager I saw on the top of the Empire State Building when I was 11, I’m still

holding out hope that we will meet again. I’m sure my skinny sequined scarf frequents your memories.

Of course there are a billion other romances that I’ve loved, I can only put so many on this list!

Let us know if you’ve read any of these books in the comments, and see you next time!

—Bee