looking for realistic subtle IR books

[Julia971]

Hello,

I apologize in advance for my english, it's not my first language.

I am looking for a realistic, subtle, ennemies to lovers (if possible) IR book. I wan't the meeting and the falling in love to be natural, with its realistic flaws and unknown factors, not some kind of unrealistic force or too obvious sexual tension drawing them together. I would prefer it without insta love and insta sex, and I would like for the sex not to be over the top (since it's realistic) and not read about people having mindblowing orgasms as soon as they are licked. I want some real sex that doesn't take over the plot.

The few examples I have of what I'm looking for are from YA , which is not exactly what I'm looking for:
"Birdie" , "looking for Yvonne", ...
I can't think of something else :(

Thanks for your help.

[Eva]

Hello Julia, I'm Eva and I know exactly what you're talkong about. My partner and I try to make our romances realistic. If you don't mind, you can check them out. Cherish and Simon: The First YearEither way, we wish you happy reading!

[Julia971]

Eva wrote: "Hello Julia, I'm Eva and I know exactly what you're talkong about. My partner and I try to make our romances realistic. If you don't mind, you can check them out. [book:Cherish and Simon: The First..."

Thanks Eva, I'll check it out !

[SassafrasfromAmazon]

Hi Jula971. I would recommend some of J J Murray’s IR books. I believe I have written several reviews of his books. I think all of his books a realistic, no insta-love and the sex is hot but tastefully done. I’ll try to think of others, but I think a lot of the books were published before ereadrrs & Kindle were launched. I’ll have to think about it.

[Julia971]

SassafrasfromAmazon wrote: "Hi Jula971. I would recommend some of J J Murray’s IR books. I believe I have written several reviews of his books. I think all of his books a realistic, no insta-love and the sex is hot but tastef..."

Thanks a lot Sassafrasfromamazon :)

[Eva]

Thank you, Julia! Happy reading!!

[TinaNoir]

- Funny, with a nice hook, a little on the chick-lit side but still a romance

. BW and NAM. Older protagonists, late 40s? She has grown kids. Also there is a Netflix movie of this one called Juanita starring Alfre Woodard.

- BW/WM. Set in the Theatre/Ballet world. Lots of great stuff about ballet.

- BW/WM - Lawyers who are BFFs. Friends to lovers. I remember they attend the wedding of a mutual friend in the South of France and the setting is romantic lots of sexual tension as they decide to move from friends to lovers.

- BW/WM. I remember this one being really sweet. She's a librarian.

- BW/WM -- both older, late 30s. She's a wildlife photographer, he's a rockstar who finds fame later in life. Very slow burn romance, they become friends who skype for a year and that is how they slowly fall in love. Family drama is the rom conflict. His daughter doesn't like her cuz she is the first woman he's ben serious about since his divorce from her mother.

- BW/ WM. Rare romance novel that takes place during the Civil Rights movement. Hero is Jewish who feels a kinship with the movement because his grandparents escaped the Holocaust. Heroine is a shy church girl who decides to become part of the movement. They get invoved with the Freedom Rides and SNCC. Really well done and the romance is nice too.

[Julia971]

Tina wrote: " - Funny, with a nice hook, a little on the chick-lit side but still a romance

. BW and NAM. Older protagonists..."

Thanks Tina, I'll check them out , the last one seems really promising :)

[Justine]

You may like the following. They are two of the earliest books I ever read of the IR genre.

Arms of a Stranger
The Politics of Love

[Julia971]

Justine wrote: "You may like the following. They are two of the earliest books I ever read of the IR genre.

Arms of a Stranger
The Politics of Love"

Thank you Justine ! :)

[kittykat AKA Ms. Tortitude]

I hope you're ready for these (I love recommending) and that something tickles your fancy!

Well I don't know many enemies to lovers in particular as I don't track that trope in my romance but somewhat more realistic (not necessarily banging on the first meeting, less billionaire/CEO types and more everyday male characters and [some] dealing with some real-life [ie difficult and gutwrenching] issues) stories I can do as that is my preference too. Not all of these are favorite reads, and some I didn't like that much but they are all or include what I would consider much more realistic and/or romantic rather than just sexual storylines than many others. I'm going to break them down into different comments so it's not too long

[kittykat AKA Ms. Tortitude]

1

Some favorite authors I could gush about all day (with a couple of favs of theirs/first in a series) as most of or all of their's I've read so far is fantastic

Kennedy Ryan is a QUEEN and I've only just begun with her work

Talia Hibbert is another queen

Tiana Laveen and yet another queen

Pepper Pace was one of my first IR favorites due to the scope and creativity of her stories that cover a number of different sub-genres of romance. Admittedly her writing isn't always that polished and not all of her stories are enough to make me forgive that fact, but she is a master storyteller and all the ones I included here are ones of hers that I love.

[kittykat AKA Ms. Tortitude]

2

one of my all-time favorite standalones, a real hard hitter but beautifully done

some favorite series'


and these two controversial ones (same topic both)

[kittykat AKA Ms. Tortitude]

3

series books that I have enjoyed
*,



* these ones are enemies to lovers-ish that I recall

[kittykat AKA Ms. Tortitude]

4

standalones/duets or where I can only remember/have only read this one in the series
*,
this one has a unique twist

* these ones are enemies to lovers-ish that I recall

[kittykat AKA Ms. Tortitude]

5

Others

I kind of have a love/hate relationship with JJ Murray. Some of what I have read is great like these two, and the couple of others stink of unrealistic and golddigger (in the same books) which is not so great but someone upthread recc'd him so...

These are very good but are Christian romance the first one heavier than the second


a couple of not quite realistic but have other plus points

[Julia971]

kittykat wrote: (I love recommending)


I can see that ! :D

[Julia971]

kittykat wrote: "1

Some favorite authors I could gush about all day (with a couple of favs of theirs/first in a series) as most of or all of their's I've read so far is fantastic

[bookcover:The Kingmaker|45024651..."

I know Talia and Pepper. You are right about Pepper, I especially love that she doesn't stick to one type of romance: from sci fi romance , to vampire romance, to romance with a blind man... she has something in store for everybody.

[Carolin]

Promise to Keep by Priscilla Poole Rainwater

it had an interesting and strong hero and heroine, awesome friendship, a long read - one of my favourite!

[Julia971]

Carolin wrote: "Promise to Keep by Priscilla Poole Rainwater

it had an interesting and strong hero and heroine, awesome friendship, a long rea..."

Thanks ! :)