Bare chested cowboys. Scantily clad figures in a forest wearing torn clothes, obviously unleashing their inner beast. Regency ladies with 80’s beehives and décolletage spilling out whilst being passionately grabbed by a distinguished rogue.
I’m sure you have seen these romance book covers on our library shelves. You may have hastily walked past them or had a chuckle. You may have shaken your head in judgement as you passed. Perhaps once or twice you have even run a covert operation to discreetly borrow a few surreptitiously. Or you may have taken the safer road of reading them online.
There is undoubtedly a stigma attached to reading romance books. These books are sometimes viewed as crude, two dimensional, and perhaps written by authors who couldn’t get their literary novels published. As someone who has surrounded themselves with books in life and work, I admit I have been guilty of this judgement.
However, this attitude is unfair, particularly when, we do not hesitate to listen to pop songs which are dedicated to cheesy content about romance, love, and relationships.
I think there are two main reasons for the bold style of romance book covers. Firstly, you know what you are getting. Secondly, they’re meant to be weighed on the Fun Scale, not the Literary Scale (so stop being so serious!).
Let me offer you an analogy to clarify: If you go to a fast food chain for a dirty burger and fries… do you complain to the restaurant that it wasn’t a gourmet Michelin star- worthy meal? No. Because you know what you are getting, and let’s face it- it’s delicious and nothing else satisfies when you have the craving for that kind of meal. However, if you went to a two-hat restaurant, seeking a gourmet meal, and the waiter brings you a plate of unwrapped Maccas cheeseburger and fries, would you complain? Yes. Because the type of food and restaurant experience is not what you ordered.
These romance covers do not apologise for what they are. The readers who gravitate towards these stories know exactly what they are getting by looking at the covers… and just like our tasty junk food splurge, they enjoy every pleasurable page.
So next time you walk past the romance collection, hold your head up high with confidence… and give love a chance!
Here is a list of romance titles and authors that are very enjoyable, if you choose to look beyond their cover:
Bridgerton : The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
If you haven’t already jumped on the Bridgerton bandwagon (or curricle) I suggest you do! There is a 
reason why this regency romance series is so popular and has been adapted into a Netflix TV series. Each book follows the love life of a sibling of the Bridgerton family. You become invested in each sibling’s journey to finding their soul mate. Not only are the romances steamy, but Quinn explores deeper themes such as women’s rights, grief, and mental/emotional trauma.
When A Scot Ties The Knot by Tessa Dare
Another popular historical romance writer. I implore you to ignore the book covers and give Tessa Dare novels a go. The Duchess Deal and When A Scot Ties The Knot are great introductions to her books. They also handle themes of post war trauma beautifully.
The Kate Daniels and The Hidden Legacy Series by Ilona Andrews
This is a husband-and-wife team. How fun to write paranormal romance with your spouse! The Kate Daniels and The Hidden Legacy series have strong female protagonists and a perfect balance of fantasy, romance, and adventure to satisfy a wide range of readers.
The Psy Changeling Series by Nalini Singh
The Psy Changeling series by New Zealand author Nalini Singh is one of my favourite guilty reads. The story also has a decent level of fantasy world-building. The series is set in a future where there are 3 main races: Psy who have super mental abilities. Humans who…well, they haven’t changed much! And lastly, Changelings, who have the ability to shift into animal forms. This premise caters deliciously to the ‘forbidden love’ trope.
How To Find a Princess by Alyssa Cole
The Runaway Royals series is Alyssa Coles’ most recent work and certainly takes the royal romance genre to an exciting level. This series cover a wide spectrum of relationships, embracing culturally diverse and sapphic love stories.
Why not go back to the queen and creator of the historical romance genre, Georgette Heyer? Heyer’s books span almost 40 years starting from the 30’s, so there are over 60 books. She predominantly wrote romance and mysteries set in the Regency and Georgian era. Her attention to detail of the period and her witty prose and banter is what makes her incomparable when it comes to romance. If you want to cool the steam down a notch, and steer towards clever language and nuanced love stories, try some of Heyer’s novels starting with a fan favourite, Frederica.
Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon
If Georgette Heyer is one end of the spectrum, then Ruby Dixon is definitely the other end! Ice Planet Barbarians is an erotic science fiction series. Craft-wrecked women in a foreign planet habitated by blue big-horned aliens. Sounds ridiculous, right? Because it is, but surprisingly well written and exciting. If Tarantino decided to write erotic Sci-Fi, Ice Planet Barbarians would be the vibe. Jump into the deep end and give this series a go!