September 20, 2026
Despite my arguments that one ought to read good books, I do have a fondness for romance! Particularly some which those more online would call “hetslop”. First of all, I cannot change the way I am. Though as well reading these novels increases the range of explorable experience for the reader.
Some of these are simply good! François the Waif, Austen, and Brontë sister novels are technically romantic fantasies; their prose happens to be excellent as well such that they are classics. They do not need particular defending in this regard as such. But there are more modern novels which are nice!
If I Was Your Girl is a very formative book for me - I think that I read it in my senior year of high school? Prior to reading it I had felt as if my desires were wholly unique in the world and therefore unfulfillable. Books may capture a mode of existence so as to provide camaraderie for the reader of tomorrow.
Another friend recommended Kushiel’s Dart. I do not find Phèdre relatable. In fact, we are close to opposites. However, reading a book set in the mind of someone unlike you is good, particularly if one is in the case of needing to satisfy the desires of another! As well, the court politics of the book are incredible on their own.
There are also Sally Rooney novels; I love Rooney as a person but have a general distaste for millennial dissociative literary fiction. Regardless, her novels contain some relationship aspects, like along with their failure modes; this is great as they inform the reader ahead of time such that they can look for red flags.
Also, any human experience ought to be universalizable! My Big Fat Greek Wedding is an amazing romance & everyone should watch it. Some part of one’s life may unexpectedly connect to it. Twilight, while not “good,” is fun, and can be critically read into the desires of Mormons or just watched. Not everything has to be serious <3.