Confession time: I’ve never read anything by Nicholas Sparks. I’ve never even seen The Notebook! I’ve never thought of myself as the type of person who reads romances. I’m not sure exactly who I picture as the ideal romance reader but I was certain it was not me. Plus, I’ve always had trouble getting into romance as a genre. I do judge book covers and I’ve never been interested in the classic “bodice-ripper” with a long-haired Fabio-type on the front. My jaded self never considered the more modern romances either, considering those a little too saccharine.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I have observed that people take one of two routes in order to deal with current events. Some folks dive head first into books or movies with themes that match what is happening in our world. Several people I know took this even further by doing research on other pandemics like the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic or the polio scares in the late 1940s. For some, learning as much as possible seems to be a route to comfort.

Others take the escapist route and look for lighter fare. I have heard so many people say they have had trouble enjoying their usual artistic tastes, especially if they generally gravitate toward books or movies with heavier themes and topics. Some other readers have confessed that it was difficult to even focus on any type of reading during this spring’s quarantine period.

A coworker with similar taste in books was recently corresponding with me over our latest reads. Although I shouldn’t have been, I found myself shocked to learn that she had been exclusively reading romance novels ever since March. She admitted to being just as surprised as I was regarding her foray into this genre since she never thought of herself as a “romance reader.” But like many folks, she found she wanted an escape from everyday life when she picked up a book rather than untangling complicated plots or contemplating anything depressing.

I was intrigued. Why did I have such a distaste for romance novels? What’s wrong with a little escapism? Nothing, I decided. Once my coworker sent some recommendations for titles to try, my long-term relationships with fantasy and literary fiction were on hold. I was off on a summer fling with romance and I threw myself into it.

First, I started my journey with Jasmine Guillory, author of modern romances that feature strong female characters who are independent but looking for an equal partner. Guillory’s modern sensibility also means focusing on people of color as main characters and including interracial relationships in her stories. In The Wedding Date, Guillory artfully starts with the rather silly premise of two people getting stuck in an elevator and develops a realistic long-distance relationship between Alexa, an ambitious political operative in San Francisco, and Drew, an LA-based pediatrician. Drew and Alexa move from pretending they are together at a wedding into a steamy relationship that navigates distance, race, and when to get serious. Guillory penned several more novels in the “Wedding Date” series although they feature other couples from Drew and Alexa’s social circle.

My second recommendation features romance with a historical twist: In Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore, Annabelle Archer earns a scholarship at Oxford in exchange for supporting the women’s suffrage movement in Victorian England. She ends up advocating for her cause to conservative Duke of Montgomery, an influential aristocrat who is tasked with stopping the cause’s progression in Parliament by the Queen. This novel exhibits the more traditional features of a classic romance novel, albeit one with a strong willed heroine dedicated to a feminist cause. Annabelle refuses to give up on her dreams in spite of the limitations society tries to place. If you enjoyed the frustrated banter between Lizzie and Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice but are looking for something bit more spicy, this one’s for you.

Kevin Kwan’s debut series Crazy Rich Asians and subsequent film really put romantic comedies back on the map. Kwan tried to recreate the fast-paced, gossipy style and hilarious name-dropping footnotes that skyrocketed Crazy Rich Asians to instant success with his latest novel, Sex and Vanity. The final result is an uneven, overlong attempt to modernize E.M. Forster’s A Room with A View, a novel about a woman torn between two worlds, into a comedy of manners. This book was a bit too long and the style Kwan employs in his other work just didn’t translate well here. Kwan reimagines Lucie Churchill as a biracial art dealer from New York who is torn between two cultures while trying not to fall in love with the enigmatic George Zao. He thoughtfully illustrates the effects of the Churchill family’s explicit racism regarding Lucy’s Chinese heritage and her ensuing identity crisis, which is the novel’s highlight. I’m hoping his future works play into his strengths as a comic author and that he continues creating fresh stories instead of retreading ones from the past.

My final summer romance is the aptly titled Beach Read by Emily Henry. Be warned; there is nothing beach-y about this novel. Set on the shores of Lake Michigan, a writer of romance novels takes up residence in her father’s love nest after his untimely death and the revelation of his extramarital affair. January Andrews’ world is unraveling: her crippling depression prevents her from writing, she’s out of money, and her long-time boyfriend leaves her now that she’s not the upbeat person she once was. Her new neighbor is Augustus Everett, literary fiction writer and her old college nemesis. The two couldn’t be more opposite but end up challenging each other to write a novel in the other’s style. Old rivalries, insecurities and attraction flare as January attempts to teach Gus the tropes of the romance novel while they both research a local cult. This book has fully realized characters who enter into a believable relationship, making this title the best of the bunch.

Romance may never be my preferred genre but I’m happy I gave it a shot this summer. I can definitely see myself looking for more off-beat romance titles when I need a change of pace from my genres of choice. It’s a great reminder that we all need to stretch our reading muscles and try something new!

Kate Tigue is the Head of Youth Services at the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, MA. Look for her article in the August 27, 2020 issue of the Transcript and Bulletin.