Top Ten Romantic Books & Why I Read Them

Valentine's Day approaches! And I have a confession: I don't really care. I don't mean that to be facetious but the reality is I haven't got much of a romantic bone in my body. I actually like the day after Valentine's a little better, because I can buy chocolate at next to nothing because it was all poured into a heartshaped mold that stopped being relevant the moment the clock hit midnight.

Given all that, it probably won't come as a shock to you that I don't read a lot of romance novels, and when I do, it's not usually the romantic elements that made me pick it up in the first place. My GoodReads 'Romance' shelf list 27 books in all, and some of them are sequels so I'm not sure they count. Because picking up romance is such a rarity for me, and it is Valentine's Day (almost), I decided my list today should be Top Ten Romantic Books & Why I Read Them. (hosted by ThatArtsyReaderGirl)


1. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. I like vampire novels, and a friend recommended it to me... And in case you're wondering where I stand on the whole love triangle thing: I'm Team Edward.

2. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. I know you are never ever supposed to admit you've done this, but I originally bought this book because I liked the cover.

3. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. Because I wanted to see what happens when you run away with the circus.

4. Plus One by Elizabeth Fama. Because I love a good dystopia and this is a world where some people live by day, others by night.

5. A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer. I love fairytales, I love retellings, and this was both.

6. The Shape of Water by Guillermo del Toro. The movie was great and I found the main character oddly relatable; I've never fallen in love with a sea monster, but I'm not a big talker and have been, on more than one occasion, singled out for that reason.

7. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. We're right back to retellings, and when I heard of this novel, I thought it's subject was made for a rather ambitious retelling.

8. Forging Silver into Stars by Brigid Kemmerer. Takes place in the same world as A Curse So Dark and Lonely.

9. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. The adventure of riding a dragon pulled me in.

10. Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. I saw the movie trailer and thought it looked funny.


So I have read romance, just not for romantic reasons.

Do you like Valentine's Day? Tell me why in the comments!

Comments

  1. AstilbeFebruary 11, 2025 at 1:09 PM

    I’ve heard such good things about Fourth Wing.

    Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.

    ReplyDelete
  2. LydiaFebruary 11, 2025 at 1:28 PM

    The Shape of Water was an excellent film!

    ReplyDelete
  3. YvonneFebruary 11, 2025 at 2:31 PM

    Twilight is the only one I read on this list. I used to like Valentine's Day, but now it's just another day. I don't even like to go out to eat on that day because it's so crowded everywhere.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Idea-ist @ GetLostinLitFebruary 12, 2025 at 6:56 PM

      I can see not wanting to eat out because of crowds...its no fun having to yell acros the table to be heard in a noisey restaurant.

      Delete
  4. Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!February 11, 2025 at 4:15 PM

    My youngest daughter doesn't like reading books where romance is the main focus of the book. She doesn't mind if it's like a sub-sub-subplot, but not the main focus. It makes it hard to find books recs under the YA heading as so many push romance.
    Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
    https://readbakecreate.com/favorite-romances-read-in-2024/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Idea-ist @ GetLostinLitFebruary 12, 2025 at 6:49 PM

      I agree, finding ya without romance has gotten tough. and it's not just that they push the romance, i notice they push the love triange dynamic a lot...i don't know if its great to teach young adults that its normal to juggle more than one suitor.

      Delete
  5. Jessica @ a GREAT readFebruary 11, 2025 at 5:11 PM

    Yeah I used to avoid romance books like the plague myself. I went from trying to pick books with none of it in them to slowly allowing "some" romance. Still prefer it as a side element and not have everything revolve around the romance, so that part hasn't changed! Lol. From your list I read the Kemmerer books and of course Fourth Wing, still need to read the rest of the series so far, but I fear the cliffhangers! Lol.

    Thanks for visiting my TTT!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Idea-ist @ GetLostinLitFebruary 12, 2025 at 6:39 PM

      romance on the side is fine, i agree, just a whole book of 'i love you' and nothing else is tedious. i was surprised by Fourth Wing, (i haven't read the other two yet) it was very romance light.

      Delete
  6. Karis DeHavenFebruary 11, 2025 at 5:19 PM

    I don't remember the romance in The Night Circus! Then again, I don't remember a lot about The Night Circus lol. I love Brigid Kemmerer's fantasy! (Couldn't get into her contemporary.) The Song of Achilles was really good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Idea-ist @ GetLostinLitFebruary 12, 2025 at 6:34 PM

      Celia and Marco were in love with each other in The Night Circus. i love how BK manages to mix angst with feel good vibes in her fantasy.

      Delete
  7. CindyFebruary 11, 2025 at 7:24 PM

    The only one I've read from your list is Twilight and I only read it because a friend bought me the book and I was feeling guilty for not having read it in 3 years, LOL! We don't celebrate Valentine's Day either, and I am fine with that, it's just another day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Idea-ist @ GetLostinLitFebruary 12, 2025 at 6:28 PM

      3 years on a shelf, and you still read it? if i have something sit on my shelf that long, the odds of the book getting read get smaller...

      Delete
  8. HazeFebruary 11, 2025 at 8:33 PM

    I've read Fourth Wing and The Song of Achilles and loved them both. I didn't care for Twilight, however. I also don't usually pay attention to Valentine's Day. I've been happily married for 17 years (I think, we also don't really pay attention to our anniversary! 😂) and I don't think we've ever celebrated Valentine's Day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Idea-ist @ GetLostinLitFebruary 12, 2025 at 6:25 PM

      If you're happily married, you two are doing something right.

      Delete
  9. Lindsi February 11, 2025 at 10:19 PM

    The Song of Achilles destroyed me. 😭

    ReplyDelete
  10. ShaineFebruary 12, 2025 at 12:12 AM

    Song of Achilles is one of my favorite books.
    I've seen the Red, White and Royal Blue on Prime. It is a good rom-com!

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousFebruary 12, 2025 at 1:01 AM

    I've read several of your list, but I barely see Twilight in these TTT posts :)

    My TTT: https://laurieisreading.com/2025/02/11/top-ten-tuesday-romances-on-my-tbr/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Idea-ist @ GetLostinLitFebruary 12, 2025 at 12:06 PM

      Im always surprised by that. I know critics didnt like it but it did sell millions of copies so someone liked it...

      Delete
  12. JoanneFebruary 12, 2025 at 2:54 AM

    I loved The Song of Achilles. Great list!

    ReplyDelete
  13. crackercrumblifeFebruary 13, 2025 at 8:24 AM

    Water for Elephants was so good!! I sobbed my eyeballs out though reading it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Idea-ist @ GetLostinLitFebruary 15, 2025 at 8:43 AM

      I loved how the opening paired so surprisingly with the ending. it was constructed really well.

      Delete
  14. Literary FelineFebruary 14, 2025 at 8:14 PM

    The day after Valentine's chocolate sales are the best part of the holiday. :-) I haven't always enjoyed reading romance, but I do read more of it now than I did for many years, but it's not the only genre I read. I don't think I would be happy reading only one genre all the time. And romance mixed with other genres is always a plus. I fell in love with the audio version of The Night Circus. I keep meaning to try the print version, but I worry that it won't be the same. The only other one on your list I've read is The Song of Achilles, which I really enjoyed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Idea-ist @ GetLostinLitFebruary 15, 2025 at 8:47 AM

      I jump around genre to genre a lot, but i don't visit romance very often. Achilles is probably my favorite on the list, it was so emotional. I'm usually not touchy-feely, but i was impressed with the way MM handled the subject matter.

      Delete
  15. AnonymousFebruary 16, 2025 at 7:37 PM

    I go back and forth on whether or not I like romances. When I do read them, I'm very picky, probably ridiculously so. I have read The Night Circus, partly for the same reason as you; it is a very pretty cover. Have you read Morgenstern's other book, The Starless Sea? I enjoyed both. TNT

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Idea-ist @ GetLostinLitFebruary 17, 2025 at 7:04 PM

      I did read Starless Sea, and really enjoyed it. She has an excellent imagination.

      Delete

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