Task #10: A romance novel by or about a person of color

[Janet]

I 100% recommend anything by Selena Montgomery for this category. Why? This is the pen name for current Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.

https://www.harpercollins.com/cr-1044...

NOTE: Her work is classified as Romance/Suspense.

Granted, I have only finished part of one thus far (Hidden Sins)--but I really like her style and smarts. (And, yes, I will also be voting for her for governor.)

[Bonnie G.]

Janet wrote: "I 100% recommend anything by Selena Montgomery for this category. Why? This is the pen name for current Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.

https://www.harpercollins.com/..."

How did I not know this?! I lived in Atl for 16 years until about a year and a half ago, I know Stacey (she is a friend of several friends.) I know her sister! Thank you for letting me know. (I wish I was still there so I could vote for Stacey for Governor. She will be great in the role.)

[willaful]

Ellen wrote: "I love the Mercy Thompson series but never thought of the books as romance! Interesting."

They wouldn't be considered strict genre romance, but at least romance adjecant. :-)

[Julia]

Megan,

How far did you get in the Outlander saga?

Did you know last year she came out with a book of short stories and novellas in the series Seven Stones to Stand or Fall. Have you read the Lord John and the Private Matter books and novellas?

OK, just reread the challenge. There are POC in the Outlander 'verse, but I do not believe any of them are POV characters.

[Simant]

I am reading The Sun is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon for this prompt.

[Jessica]

I've been trying to do some research on this since I do not have any interest in romance fiction. I found this list today and it has a lot of interesting choices.

https://www.bustle.com/articles/15631...

[Eujean2]

Julia wrote: "OK, just reread the challenge. There are POC in the Outlander 'verse, but I do not believe any of them are POV characters."

Depending on how you define it, Diana Gabaldon can be considered POC. As per wikipedia: "Her father was of Mexican ancestry." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_G...) I do not know if she self-identifies as POC.

[novelteathoughts]

Simant ♥ Flipping Through the Pages wrote: "I am reading The Sun is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon for this prompt."

Hmmm, that would be a good idea! Since I'm reading it for my Reading Women Challenge for the immigrant or refugee viewpoint prompt. Two with one stone.

[Sam]

If you're looking for something not too steamy, and you're comfortable with LGBTQ+ romance, then I HIGHLY recommend Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz.

[Candace]

Simant ♥ Flipping Through the Pages wrote: "I am reading The Sun is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon for this prompt."

I want to read this too!

[Marie]

Jessica wrote: "I've been trying to do some research on this since I do not have any interest in romance fiction. I found this list today and it has a lot of interesting choices.

https://www.bustle.com/articles/..."

Great list!

[Simant]

Candace wrote: "Simant ♥ Flipping Through the Pages wrote: "I am reading The Sun is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon for this prompt."

I want to read this too!"

Do read. It was a great one!

[Simant]

novelteathoughts wrote: "Simant ♥ Flipping Through the Pages wrote: "I am reading The Sun is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon for this prompt."

Hmmm, that would be a good idea! Since I'm reading it for my Reading Women Challeng..."
Haha, Exactly :)

[Megan]

Julia wrote: "Megan,

How far did you get in the Outlander saga?

Did you know last year she came out with a book of short stories and novellas in the series [book:Seven Stones to Stand or Fall|3273..."

I'm up to Fiery Cross.

[Caitlin]

Kelli wrote: "I hate romance novels. Well, hate is a strong word. I guess I've never read one. Anyone have recommendations for a book in this category that isn't too . . . steamy?"

I second the vote for Dimple Met Rishi. I read it, and it was cute--and not at all steamy. Any YA romance would probably be safe.

[Heather]

Another vote for Dimple Met Rishi. If you enjoy a good romantic comedy, you'll really enjoy this, I think. I'm way out of the intended age range and I thought it was very charming and funny. I'm kind of bummed I already read it and can't use it for this.

[Georgia]

Is anyone else reading K Carr ‘Home’ for this one? Would it count as romance? It’s written by a woman of colour about a woman of colour and I absolutely can’t wait to read it

[Lauren]

If you're a YA fanatic like me, I would recommend Everything, Everything. It is an easy read, but also interesting concept. Also, To All the Boys I've Loved Before and Eleanor & Park would be great choices.

[willaful]

Eleanor and Park, though lovely, is a stretch here. (view spoiler)[no HEA or HFN (hide spoiler)].

I haven't yet read this but Beginner's Guide: Love and Other Chemical Reactions has been highly recommended.

[Melissa]

I read Hurts to Love You by Alisha Rai for this task - she is one of my favorite author "discoveries" in the last year or so. This whole series (Forbidden Hearts) is excellent.

[willaful]

Melissa - that was also my read. :-)

[Emily]

I'm very intrigued by Let's Talk About Love
Would we consider this romance?

[Maddie]

I read Month of Sundays last year and LOVED it. I haven't had an opportunity to read any other books by Yolanda Wallace yet.

Elise wrote: "Does anyone have a queer book that qualifies in this category? I'm not a fan of the romance genre, but I can tolerate LGBTQ romance a lot more than straight.

Ideally, I'd like to double-dip with b..."

[willaful]

Emily wrote: "I'm very intrigued by Let's Talk About Love
Would we consider this romance?"

Honestly, I can't tell.

[Riah]

Carrie wrote: "Melissa wrote: "I read Hurts to Love You by Alisha Rai for this task - she is one of my favorite author "discoveries" in the last year or so. This whole series (Forbidden Hearts) is..."

I was planning on reading Hate to Want You. I didn't realize it was part of a series!

[Amanda]

Samantha wrote: "If you're looking for something not too steamy, and you're comfortable with LGBTQ+ romance, then I HIGHLY recommend Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz."

Since I am also not into romance, I was lucky I'd already read this book this year, so I put it down in that slot. It was good for those who prefer less romance with their romance :)

[Natalie]

Not to get too into ethnicity rules or anything of the sort, but I’m in the middle of one of the Outlander books and it is as romance as I can stomach and so I’d like to use it for this challenge. My question is: would Diane Gabaldon count as a woman of color if her father is a a Mexican American?

[Candace]

Emily wrote: "I'm very intrigued by Let's Talk About Love
Would we consider this romance?"
I think this fits the bill! This looks good I may read it too.

[Brian]

I have never had the slightest interest in romance. Any recommendations for male reader?

[Amanda]

Brian wrote: "I have never had the slightest interest in romance. Any recommendations for male reader?"

I read this book with a male friend as a buddy read and there is romantic elements, but it is also a super wild ride: The Incarnations. We both loved it and he isn't about romance, either.

It's also set in China so there's another prompt covered if you're doubling-up.

[LYNDSEY]

I'm going to read this one....

[Elizabeth]

I read Forbidden by Beverly Jenkins. It was pretty fabulous (and actually my first time reading anything by Beverly Jenkins).

[Veronica]

Jessica wrote: "I've been trying to do some research on this since I do not have any interest in romance fiction. I found this list today and it has a lot of interesting choices.

https://www.bustle.com/articles/..."

Thanks for including this list! I was really struggling with what to pick. While I don't mind the occasional romantic plot, I don't really like plots that revolve entirely around the romance, especially the women-is-incomplete-without-man sort. I picked If You Could Be Mine and am actually quite interested to read a book that recounts an experience wholly different from my own and from what we see represented in the media every day.

[Melissa]

I think that I read a fair amount of romances ... I can't think of any that were published in the last 10 years that are the "women-is-incomplete-without-man" type ... if they still exist, I think that they must be in the minority. I think that this idea of what romance is/isn't is really outdated ... these books are predominantly written by women for women. I would totally suggest checking out Dani's post and especially reading the linked article about That Thing With Hillary Clinton and Romance Novels. More specifically this part:

"Romance novels are, for the most part, written by women, about women, for women. This is perhaps the only space where women’s voices predominantly shape the narrative about themselves in the world. When else does that happen? Not in Hollywood—those movies you also referenced are often written by men, directed by men, made by men...."

I know this article is an open letter to Hillary, but it could be written to any smart, well-educated, progressive woman that just hasn't taken the time to check these books out for herself.

[Erin]

Dani (Dani's Bookshelf) wrote: "I'm just copying over my post from the Read Harder Challenge List post. Also, www.wocinromance.com is a great resource for further recommendations!"

Thank you, Dani, SO MUCH, for that site rec! I found a whole section on geeky romances, which is my favorite subgenre. Now to just choose ONE. LOL.

[Erin]

Would anyone count A Suitable Boy for this? It's a romance SORT OF...

[Melissa]

ooooh .... if you like geeky romances, you could try the Fandom Hearts series by Cathy Yardley!

[Veronica]

Melissa wrote: "I think that I read a fair amount of romances ... I can't think of any that were published in the last 10 years that are the "women-is-incomplete-without-man" type ... if they still exist, I think ..."

You're right...I was basing my idea of romance on either older stories or what I've seen in movies. Thanks for calling out my misconception - I look forward to having that idea corrected with this challenge.

[willaful]

Veronica, if you want to try some overtly feminist romance by a POC, Courtney Milan is your go-to. But a great many of the authors mentioned here can be counted on the have gone beyond the old romance stereotypes. Alisha Rai is another great choice.

[Georgia]

I just Finished my book for this category and I think in retrospect I could have chose better. But like many this was a new genre for me. I read Home by K Carr and I found the main character completely unrealistic and unlikeable. It’s the first of the three I’ve read so far for this challenge that I’ve not enjoyed and it’s taken me ten days to finish because of this.

[Jenn]

I'm going with Americanah for this category. It's been on my tbr for too long.

[Bonnie G.]

Jenn wrote: "I'm going with Americanah for this category. It's been on my tbr for too long."

Americanah is definitely not a romance. It is more a rejection of romance. It is great, and I recommend the read though. I was trying to think of a prompt it worked for, and all I could think of was last year's immigration story.

[Marie]

Nigeria was once a colony, so Americanah would work for the postcolonial task.

[Rayne]

Simant ♥ Flipping Through the Pages wrote: "I am reading The Sun is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon for this prompt."

I read it for this prompt as well. Good read!

[Kerri]

This one is in my TBR pile.
When Dimple Met Rishi

[Ellyn]

I just finished Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe for this task and it was FABULOUS! I absolutely loved it! It's a really easy read and very well written!

[Catherine]

Would Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet count as a romance novel? What makes something romance vs a story with a romance?

[Robin]

Any thoughts on “The Wedding Date?” Features an interracial couple.

[Rainey]

Robin wrote: "Any thoughts on “The Wedding Date?” Features an interracial couple."

I just bought the kindle version - Roxane Gay of Hunger loved it. It has also gotten some good reviews for a contemporary romance .

[Emma]

I'm going to put another boost for Alyssa Cole's books for this challenge. Both An Extraordinary Union and A Princess in Theory look wonderful! On the YA front, I thoroughly enjoyed Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe and am halfway through The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, which I would consider an almost perfect book. Hilarious, clever, sweet, romantic, and angsty.